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

[Cap Mandrake]

Hory Crap!

[Cap Mandrake]

***********************March 1, 1943(c)**************************

Near Boela: Another day, another I-boat. Yawn.

ASW attack near Boela at 81,110

Japanese Ships
SS I-6, hits 9, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Conyngham

[Cap Mandrake]

Jolo: Buckle your seatbelts for Hot Asian Action!

You may recall USS Washington was passing Jolo on her way to interedict LYB shipping at Taytay........something came up. Haruna and 2 cruisers show up at night. Washington's radar is working but her captain holds fire until visual sighting. He probably is an old guy and doesn't trust the "new fangled gear". This looks like a draw although Haruna is untouched.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Takao
CL Naka
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Hagikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Shell hits 4
DD Gwin
DD Sims, Shell hits 1
DD Fanning, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Phelps
DD Dewey

[Cap Mandrake]

Haruna forges on, encountering Concord which has been taksed with the actual defense fo Jolo.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Shell hits 1
CA Aoba
CL Agano, Shell hits 1
CL Kuma
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Asagumo
DD Tachikaze

Allied Ships
CL Concord, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Jarvis, Shell hits 1
DD Maury
DD Benham, Shell hits 1


Not bad, really. One Jap DD wrecked. But Concord has to give up the "field"

[Cap Mandrake]

The PT boat squadrons do their duty. Visibility 5000 yds.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Takao
CL Naka
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Hagikaze
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
PT-178
PT-179
PT-183

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Takao
CL Naka
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Hagikaze
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
PT-187
PT-189
PT-191
PT-299

No ruck.

[Cap Mandrake]

Now the sheep. These are the trucks (lorries) of the Kiwi Bn. at Cotobato which were slow in uloading and were moved back to Jolo for "safety" [:)] Oops. One of the "crusiers of the Victorian Era" gets sunk.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Takao, Shell hits 1
CL Naka, Shell hits 1
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Hagikaze, on fire
DD Kisaragi, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Caradoc, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAP Etolin, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Rochambeau, Shell hits 57, and is sunk
AK Algorab, Shell hits 35, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Mercury, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
SC PC-581, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
SC PC-582, Shell hits 19, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

Some 3000 ton AK's unloding suppries at Jolo. Oh well.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Takao
CL Naka
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
xAK Anhui, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Adelong, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Iron Prince, Shell hits 18, and is sunk

Hory Crap! Musashi is following Haruna! A small group detached to drop of II Bn/102nd. Ouch this one hurts. Probably the whole Bn. is toast.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
CA Aoba
CL Agano
CL Kuma
DD Natsugumo, on fire
DD Asagumo
DD Tachikaze

Allied Ships
DD Banckert
xAP Wahine, Shell hits 3, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
1265 casualties reported
Squads: 39 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[Cap Mandrake]

Mushashi and friends bombard Jolo, roughing up the P-38's and C-47's but the airfield remains operational.

Night Naval bombardment of Jolo at 74,90

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
C-47 Skytrain: 17 damaged
C-47 Skytrain: 1 destroyed on ground
P-38G Lightning: 8 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
Catalina I: 1 damaged
Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
CA Aoba
CL Kuma
CL Agano


Allied ground losses:
117 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 17
Port hits 17
Port supply hits 3

[Cap Mandrake]

The sun comes up and the PT boats have another go at Haruna.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,89, Range 25,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Takao
CL Naka
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
PT-178
PT-179
PT-183

[Cap Mandrake]

Yeah baby! The big show. Washington v Musashi in daylight. Range varies from 23,000 to 7,000. I have to say Washington won. Aoba and Agano and Asagumo in bad shape. Musashi burning heavily. 2 DD's sunk. We even got a trop hit. I predict yard time for Musashi.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Shell hits 10, heavy fires
CA Aoba, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Agano, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kuma
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Asagumo, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Tachikaze, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Shell hits 10, on fire
DD Gwin
DD Sims, Shell hits 2
DD Fanning, Shell hits 1
DD Phelps, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Dewey



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 23,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
BB Washington engages CL Kuma at 23,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Dewey at 23,000 yards
BB Musashi engages DD Phelps at 23,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Sims at 23,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Asagumo at 23,000 yards
BB Washington engages DD Natsugumo at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 17,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Dewey at 17,000 yards
CL Kuma engages DD Phelps at 17,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Sims at 17,000 yards
DD Sims engages DD Asagumo at 17,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Gwin at 17,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Phelps at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Musashi at 14,000 yards
DD Dewey engages DD Natsugumo at 14,000 yards
CL Kuma engages DD Phelps at 14,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Sims at 14,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Sims at 14,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Sims at 14,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Phelps at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 12,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Sims at 12,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Asagumo at 12,000 yards
DD Tachikaze engages DD Dewey at 12,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Natsugumo at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 11,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Asagumo at 11,000 yards
BB Washington engages CL Agano at 11,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Sims at 11,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Asagumo at 11,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Gwin at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 9,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Gwin at 9,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Asagumo at 9,000 yards
DD Tachikaze sunk by DD Sims at 9,000 yards
DD Gwin engages DD Asagumo at 9,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Sims at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 10,000 yards
DD Dewey engages DD Natsugumo at 10,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Natsugumo at 10,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Fanning at 10,000 yards
DD Sims engages DD Asagumo at 10,000 yards
DD Gwin engages DD Asagumo at 10,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Phelps at 10,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Phelps at 10,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Dewey at 10,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Dewey at 10,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Musashi at 10,000 yards
DD Dewey engages DD Asagumo at 10,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Natsugumo at 10,000 yards
DD Sims engages DD Asagumo at 10,000 yards
DD Dewey engages DD Natsugumo at 10,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Musashi at 10,000 yards
BB Washington engages CA Aoba at 10,000 yards
CL Kuma engages DD Phelps at 10,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Asagumo at 10,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Sims at 10,000 yards
DD Gwin engages DD Natsugumo at 10,000 yards
Arima, Kaoru orders Japanese TF to disengage
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 10,000 yards
CA Aoba engages BB Washington at 10,000 yards
CL Kuma engages DD Fanning at 10,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Phelps at 10,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Sims at 10,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Phelps at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 7,000 yards
DD Dewey engages DD Natsugumo at 7,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Fanning at 7,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Sims at 7,000 yards
DD Gwin engages DD Natsugumo at 7,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Musashi at 7,000 yards
CL Kuma engages DD Phelps at 7,000 yards
BB Washington engages CL Agano at 7,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Asagumo at 7,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Dewey at 7,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Gwin at 7,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Natsugumo at 7,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Fanning at 7,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Sims at 7,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Fanning at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 9,000 yards
BB Washington engages CA Aoba at 9,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Fanning at 9,000 yards
DD Sims engages DD Asagumo at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 11,000 yards
DD Dewey engages DD Asagumo at 11,000 yards
CL Kuma engages DD Phelps at 11,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Gwin at 11,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Fanning at 11,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Dewey at 11,000 yards
CL Kuma engages DD Dewey at 11,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Phelps at 11,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Sims at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 9,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Phelps at 9,000 yards
CL Kuma engages DD Phelps at 9,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Fanning at 9,000 yards
DD Phelps engages DD Asagumo at 9,000 yards
DD Sims engages DD Natsugumo at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Musashi at 12,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Dewey at 12,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Sims at 12,000 yards
DD Sims engages DD Asagumo at 12,000 yards
BB Musashi engages DD Gwin at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 16,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Sims at 16,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Natsugumo at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 19,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Fanning at 23,000 yards
Range increases to 27,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
BB Musashi engages DD Phelps at 30,000 yards
BB Musashi engages DD Gwin at 30,000 yards
Task forces break off...

[Cap Mandrake]

JJ have failed to knock out Jolo airfield. The USN SBD replacement squadron there is at about 2/3 operational strength. 2x1000 lbrs on Haruna and one on Takao.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 74,89

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 19


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 2
CL Naka
CA Takao, Bomb hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Afternoon raid on the same squadron from Jolo. 2 more 1000 lbr's on Haruna. She doesn't seem to be smoking but will surely have to rearm.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 74,89

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 2

[Cap Mandrake]

Kuma and 2 USN DD's blunder into each other about 40 miles from Jolo. Simms and Gwin had light or no damage and were Washington's escorts and Kuma was untouched from the Musashi group.

A draw.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Tapul at 73,90, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Shell hits 4

Allied Ships
DD Gwin, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Sims, Shell hits 2, on fire

[Cap Mandrake]

Taytay: The intrepid commander of the 8th Marine Regt amphibious group pushed all the way to Taytay and begins unloading.[X(] Hory Crap! That might have been a disaster. Even so, it looks like it might work out. Only an LYB AF Bn is ashore. Even without a full disembarcation, they may be able to take the base tomorrow.

Pre-Invasion action off Taytay (75,82)

18 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix
DD Kortenaer
xAP Empress ' Australia

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


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


CL Phoenix firing at 72nd JAAF AF Bn
DD Kortenaer firing at 72nd JAAF AF Bn

Those were evidently Zeroes at Taytay. They should beat feet by tomrrow or risk capture on the airfiled. Recon by bombing mission now is moot.

Morning Air attack on 72nd JAAF AF Bn , at 75,82 (Taytay)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14



Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged

[Cap Mandrake]

Cotobato: The attack succeeds. We now have another level 2 field to cross cover Jolo and a "safe" disembarcation point for a march on Davao or Northern Mindanao. This is good news. Dadjangas is an afterthought now.

Ground combat at Cotabato (78,90)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1942 troops, 13 guns, 157 vehicles, Assault Value = 131

Defending force 1284 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Allied adjusted assault: 57

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 57 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Cotabato !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
703 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st USMC Tank Battalion
30th NZ Battalion

Defending units:
16th Naval Guard Unit

[Cap Mandrake]

San Jose (the one on Panay not in California): 1 Coy of 503rd captures the airfield (level 1)

Ground combat at San Jose (78,84)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 110 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied adjusted assault: 3

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE San Jose !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)



Assaulting units:
503rd Parachute Rgt /12

[Cap Mandrake]

Sulawese Sea: Jap transports in the northern Sulawese Sea. Not sure what they were doing? Counterlanding for Dadjangas or Jolo or Sangi or even Cotobato perhaps. Rooks rike they have to turn around. First B-25's from Ternate. They seem to have something of value aboard because they have LRCAP.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Dadjangas at 79,94

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4



Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Kenyo Maru
xAK Taian Maru

Then some TBF's from Ternate. No torps for some reason. Probably some idiot toggled off the "torpedo" button.


Morning Air attack on TF, near Dadjangas at 79,94

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 8



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
TBF-1 Avenger x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Azuma Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Keihuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Taian Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Kenyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

[Cap Mandrake]

China (I think): Never, EVER fight a land war in Asia. Well, that's what we heard. 4 LYB infantry divisions, one armord division and 4 Ind. Brigades plus arty. Santa Maria! I hope these boys stay in China fighting Mistah Cahtlight.

Ground combat at Kienko (78,41)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 71953 troops, 764 guns, 465 vehicles, Assault Value = 2408

Defending force 23436 troops, 167 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 660

Japanese adjusted assault: 3061

Allied adjusted defense: 525

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
4246 casualties reported
Squads: 73 destroyed, 237 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Guns lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
5801 casualties reported
Squads: 410 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 321 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 60 (27 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Division
59th Infantry Brigade
36th Division
3rd Tank Division
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
32nd Division
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
12th Army
29th Ind. Engineer Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
68th JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
7th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Division
3rd Group Army
14th Group Army
22nd Group Army

[Cap Mandrake]

Burma: 1st Assam Kitchen Sink Air Force in action. Note that the first line LYB fighters are gone. Jap land units clsing on Myitkyina form the rail line to Mandaray.

Afternoon Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 2
A6M3a Zero x 11



Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 7
Martlet II x 2
Beaufighter VIc x 9
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
Vengeance I x 59
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6
DB-7B x 11
B-24D Liberator x 4
B-25C Mitchell x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Sea Hurricane Ib: 1 destroyed
Vengeance I: 3 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
DB-7B: 1 damaged

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



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 44

[Cap Mandrake]

That was a Hell of a turn. JJ is fighting back.