Bring me the head of Diego Garcia...and the Mayor of Addu Atoll too!

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

I think the bigger question for the Cap'n is why his Allied SigInt is completely 'bare'. Someone's not loading the right bits of the Allied save files into his directory.

Seriously, dude, you've got to take advantage of the Allied SigInt in the game. It will help dramatically.

I assumed it was because I dont run the combat replays......no?

Spiror could send you the replay files that you could use combat reporter and WitPTracker to put together the intelegence story ..

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

I think the bigger question for the Cap'n is why his Allied SigInt is completely 'bare'. Someone's not loading the right bits of the Allied save files into his directory.

Seriously, dude, you've got to take advantage of the Allied SigInt in the game. It will help dramatically.

I assumed it was because I dont run the combat replays......no?

In my furtive 2x2, we 'ported' over the save game and the 001 replay file. This was sufficient for our Allied dog opponents to generate the necessary OPS, SigInt, Combat events and the like.

You may want to synchronize who 'opens' the 001 file between you and Sprior first. That file execution (and all attendant report generated) should be consistent between you and your partner. Synch or other replay problems may arise if you each open the 001 file and start working on the turn.

If Sprior replays the 001 first, then his reports should probably accompany the 001 and save file to you. Import the reports to your 'save' directory for the turn. If you do this, you don't need to watch the 001, but you'll still have the reports available for your perusal.

At least that's the way I see it.

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

Mandrake trying another experiment?

I suppose this could be either good or bad. Probably bad....

That is slanderous sir! Or maybe it's libel? Either way, my left eye looks nothing like that!

I'm sorry for the confusion my dear Mandrake. What I had meant to say was that I have it on good information that you are the smiling chap in the co-pilot seat....happy to be present at the birth of the Tannanese Air Force.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

Mandrake trying another experiment?

I suppose this could be either good or bad. Probably bad....

That is slanderous sir! Or maybe it's libel? Either way, my left eye looks nothing like that!

I'm sorry for the confusion my dear Mandrake. What I had meant to say was that I have it on good information that you are the smiling chap in the co-pilot seat....happy to be present at the birth of the Tannanese Air Force.

Oh...yeah...sorry, I guess I've been a bit on edge. I found picture of a post-war Tannanese naval aircraft with its distinctive "skid mark" roundel. This was assumed to be a wry reference to Chief Ubowatamee's inaugural flight at the dawn of Tannanese military aviation.

[BBfanboy]

Out of curiousity, how much coconut milk does it take to fill each of those wing jug tanks? Must be a whole cottage industry there draining coconuts to keep the air force flying!

[Itdepends]

Surely they'd use palm oil? The Tannanese air force- your environmental option for killing the enemy.

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: Grollub

Heh, it took me some time before I understood what you guys were talking about. [;)]

You're well ahead of me - I almost never understand what they're talking about.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

ORIGINAL: Grollub

Heh, it took me some time before I understood what you guys were talking about. [;)]

You're well ahead of me - I almost never understand what they're talking about.

Which, of course, is precisely the whole point of the exercise. Admiral Lord SPrior, for example, only pretends, I think, to know what Jackspeak means. In fact, I am pretty sure he made it all up.

[Cap Mandrake]

Wow..page 2. This joint be jumpin'


*************************Jan. 5/6, 1943(c)**************************


Darwin: 2 IJN DD's were spotted headed SE 320 mi WSW of Darwin. The transports unloading at Darwin and Bathurst were sent East and one CL-based task force each was tasked to cover Darwin and Bathurst. Maryland and Colorado were inbound to Darwin for a bombardment mission.

In fact, the 2 DD IJN taffy was a bit more robust. HMS Ceres and 4 USN/RN DD's (Arleigh Burke in command..yes..a bit awkward, I agree..we were out of PP's so there were no good RN commanders [:)]) were tasked with patrol duties at Darwin.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2
DD Makinami
DD Natsushio
DD Natsugumo
DD Shikinami
DD Sagiri
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Ceres, Shell hits 2
DD Chevalier, Shell hits 1
DD Balch, Shell hits 19, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Fortune
DD Jupiter


Reduced visibility due to Rain with 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 0% moonlight: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
Watanabe, Seishichi crosses the 'T'
CL Ceres engages CA Chokai at 3,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Oboro at 3,000 yards
DD Fortune engages DD Oboro at 3,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Balch at 3,000 yards
DD Fortune engages DD Natsugumo at 3,000 yards
DD Balch engages DD Makinami at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Ceres engages CA Chokai at 2,000 yards
DD Balch sunk by DD Oboro at 2,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Fortune at 2,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Chevalier at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Ceres at 8,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Fortune at 8,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Fortune at 8,000 yards
DD Chevalier engages DD Oboro at 8,000 yards

Uggh. No moonlight. Radar on the fritz? Watanabe crosses Burke's T.

Next up is the inbound BB's with a bombardment mission (the cautious VAdm Early in command).

Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 12, on fire
DD Makinami
DD Natsushio
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sagiri
DD Oboro, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Colorado, Shell hits 5
DD Voyager
DD Hotspur
DD Inconstant, Shell hits 3
DMS Hovey, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk



Poor visibility due to Rain with 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 0% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
Early K. crosses the 'T'
BB Colorado engages CA Chokai at 1,000 yards
BB Maryland engages CA Chokai at 1,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD Inconstant at 1,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages BB Maryland at 1,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Voyager at 1,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DMS Hovey at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CA Chokai engages DD Voyager at 2,000 yards
BB Maryland engages CA Chokai at 2,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages DD Inconstant at 2,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Hotspur at 2,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Voyager at 2,000 yards
DMS Hovey sunk by DD Natsushio at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Chokai engages DD Voyager at 4,000 yards
CA Chokai engages BB Maryland at 4,000 yards
DD Inconstant engages DD Sagiri at 4,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Inconstant at 4,000 yards
Task forces break off...

This time Early crosses the T and Colorado and Maryland depress their main batteries to fire at 1000 yds. at night with no moon and a rain squall. [X(]

Chokai gets hit hard but Colorado and Hovey get Rong Ranced. The BB's withdraw without bombarding Darwin. Oops. An big ground attack is already ordered at Darwin.

[Cap Mandrake]

Saumlaki: Ineffectual sparring. Saumlaki airfield may be ready today. Not sure yet.

Morning Air attack on 5th Marine Defense Battalion, at 78,117 (Saumlaki)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 13



No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,117

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 6
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PT-168
PT-26



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 100 kg SAP Bomb

[Cap Mandrake]

Port Hedrand: Got some P-40K's sitting around itching to get into the fight? Figure they would level bomb from 15K? [:'(] Dumb ***. (Admiral Lord SPrior is completely off the hook on this one...the SP is out looking for the guilty party.

Afternoon Air attack on 16th Army, at 57,129 (Port Hedland)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 22


Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 5 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed by flak



Aircraft Attacking:
22 x P-40K Warhawk bombing from 100 feet *

[Cap Mandrake]

Back to Darwin: B-24 and B-17 prep raids from Alice and Merauke are grounded. Instead we get this limp-wristed effort from the LB-30's.

Afternoon Air attack on 38th/A Division, at 76,124 (Darwin)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

So, let's review. The BB-force is repulsed. The B-24's and B-17's sit idle. This doesn't look good. Too late to call it off.

First, JJ, inexplicably tries another arty bombardment.


Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12074 troops, 114 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 460

Defending force 44686 troops, 764 guns, 784 vehicles, Assault Value = 1416

Japanese ground losses:
436 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

[sprior]

Th tension builds... Dare I look?

[Cap Mandrake]

Here we go. 60 M-10's and M-3's, 15K infantry and 760 artillery/mortar tubes.

Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38947 troops, 716 guns, 749 vehicles, Assault Value = 1416

Defending force 15374 troops, 152 guns, 147 vehicles, Assault Value = 428

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 2914

Japanese adjusted defense: 180

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Darwin !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 16 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4721 casualties reported
Squads: 86 destroyed, 50 disabled
Non Combat: 200 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 130 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 99 (85 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 141 (133 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Units retreated 9
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
1036 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 79 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 42 disabled


Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Engineer Regiment
7th Australian Division
193rd Tank Battalion
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
2/1 AIF Pioneer Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
22nd Marine Regiment
6th Australian Division
6th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Regiment
2/2 AIF Pioneer Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion
2/9th Field Regiment
South Pacific
2nd RAAF M/W Sqn
134th Field Artillery Battalion
21/22 Field Regiment
2nd Australian Hvy AA Regiment
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
8th Marine Defense Battalion
369th Coast AA Regiment
I US Amphib Corps
2/11th Field Regiment
16th USN SeaBees /1

Defending units:
18th Tank Regiment
4th Engineer Co
38th/A Division
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
38th/B Division
52nd JNAF AF Unit
22nd Ind.AA Gun Co
107th JAAF AF Bn
53rd JNAF AF Unit
5th Div /2

Huh...how about that? Odd that the defenders were less prepared.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Th tension builds... Dare I look?

Sure, dare.

[Cap Mandrake]

**************SOUPAC Communications tent, Darwin, 18:24, Jan 6, 1943(c)**************


Sparks: Sir, you might want to see this. It was in the clear, from a....<looks at message> Rord Admirar Fabertong.

OOD: Read it.

Sparks: "......I left a few personal items at my villa in Darwin......could you just bag them and pop them in the post for me?"

OOD: Villa?

Sparks: Yes sir. I think so. Might have been "Virra"

[Grollub]

[&o]

Good to see what you can achieve with long-ahead planning and well read (I'm talking about the manual) players. [:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

Thanks Grollub. All the steps did work well.

1) 18th Div advances on Katherine to draw IJA units south at least one Regiment of 38th Div

2) Gove ready in time to provide LRCAP and logistical support

3) Operational surprise achieved. No garrison on Bathurst. 50% of the IJA infantry in the area at Katherine. No CD guns at Darwin.

4) Merauke ready in time to support 4E bombers. Transfer of bombers to Alice and Merauke apparently did not tip them off on the target. Darwin arifield largely reduced by aerial bombardment.

5) This wasn't part of the plan but the IJA counterattack at Dobo consumed essentially 2 divisions of reserves.

6) Airfield at Bathurst made it safer to disembark the second wave troops at Darwin.

IJN carrier losses in the fight for Port Hedrand made them unable or unwilling to risk a carrier duel over Darwin.

[Cap Mandrake]

Pretend I didn't read the manual. Why was the Allied Assault Value doubled in the Darwin attacK?

There were no (+) attacker modifiers listed.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Pretend I didn't read the manual. Why was the Allied Assault Value doubled in the Darwin attacK?

There were no (+) attacker modifiers listed.

Good ol' Western know how!