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

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Send in XXX Corps. [:)]

I understand they're busy back in Euroland. Some balderdash about running a bunch of tanks down a single road past German antitank defenders. They'll be a while.

In March 1943?

Tunisia

On 19 March, XXX Corps launched an attack on the Mareth Line as part of Operation Pugilist, with the British 50th Infantry and 51st Infantry Division in the lead. They managed to create a gap but it was quickly contained by Rommel's 15th Panzer Division. During Operation Supercharge II a force commanded by Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks composed of the New Zealand Corps and 1st Armoured Division from X Corps exploited a flanking position established by the New Zealanders during Pugilist and broke the German flank defenses on the night of the 26th/27th, forcing the outflanked German forces to withdraw northwards to Wadi Akrit.

In mid-April, XXX Corps attempted to attack the position head on but made little progress against determined German and Italian resistance. By that time the British First Army had broken through the German line on their left in central Tunisia and the Axis forces were forced to surrender.

[Walloc]

Nm, Simon says.

[Cap Mandrake]

Good news! The Pony Express rider with the turn in his saddle bag has just been ferried across the Colorado at Needles. 5 or 6 more horse changes and the turn will arrive! Huzzah!

[Cap Mandrake]

I got talked into that golf tournament again. I wasn't going to play because my neck hurts from the *** **** Obamacare-mandated electronic medical record at work..but then I saw Fred Couples doing pretty damn well in the Masters so I agreed.

Two days before the touranment I go out and hit a small bucket. Bad move. At the end of the small bucket I was still s***** AND I felt like I pitched 10 innings vs the Yankees. Then, after the round, they closed the bar down before I coudl use my second drink ticket.

Not sure if ALSP hits the links but it is a good thing we are both so ******* awesome at AE.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I got talked into that golf tournament again. I wasn't going to play because my neck hurts from the *** **** Obamacare-mandated electronic medical record at work..but then I saw Fred Couples doing pretty damn well in the Masters so I agreed.

Two days before the touranment I go out and hit a small bucket. Bad move. At the end of the small bucket I was still s***** AND I felt like I pitched 10 innings vs the Yankees. Then, after the round, they closed the bar down before I coudl use my second drink ticket.

Not sure if ALSP hits the links but it is a good thing we are both so ******* awesome at AE.

Over the years I have spent thousands of dollars on golf lessons .. usually the Pro tries to teach me their view of the world, which works for awhile and then my natural body mechanics take over and I am back to my ol' habits .. and scores [:(] But I found a local pro out here in the desert that adjusted my swing within my mechanics, and my scores have fone from high 90's to low 90's and an occasional high 80 ... The good news is that my mechanics have not changed signifcantly back to my ol' habits the last 2 years. if I can fix my short game and putting and I think I can break 90 much more consistently. If you are really serious about golf the new game improvement irons makes a huge difference ..however, that takes about 1K investement ...

As far as EHR's .. I suspect things are going to get worse with ICD-10 which has different and more detailed Dx's .. its going be a lot harder to select the "unspecified" whatever of anything .. not complying will mean not getting paid ... [8|]

Ok back to the AAR ..

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Not sure if ALSP hits the links but it is a good thing we are both so ******* awesome at AE.

I'd rather take the dog for a walk than carry a bunch of sticks around.

"A good walk spoiled"

[zuluhour]

I believe ALSP and the Capt'n believe in the Robin Williams view of golf I saw on U-tube. If you have not seen this skit, please, please do.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=rob ... liams+golf

[Cap Mandrake]

Yes, Twain pretty much had it right. Golfing is not about looking at the scenery.

I did make a couple of 30 foot puts but my drives were el stinko.

The Pony Express guy just rode up!

[sprior]

See - no transports lost.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

See - no transports lost.

AND, we have an airstrip at Ramree! Huzzah! I take it the Pony Express arrived at Kandy House as well. Quite an achievement, really.

Also note that JJ did make a run at the Port Blair transports...but missed. [:)] And that unit that was South of Akyab has already reached the hex SW of Ramree. I think they are on Schwinns, perhaps prototypes of the Black Phantom. They'll be at Prome in no time. [:)]


Send in some Lysanders to protect the lads at Ramree and tell 50th Indian Paras to leave their curry behind on the jump.

[Cap Mandrake]

[font="Courier New"]Admiral Lords SPrior
Kandy House

How is Vicky these days?

I was wrong about the B-24D1 inventory. I think one of the squadrons in the PI converted automatically.

I'll see if any of the C-47 squadrons in the DEI can reach India.

Also, there is a RN CA at Sydney that is fully patched up but she is supposed to go back to the Admiralty in 25 days. What do you want to do? She can likely make it to Ceylon without a DD escort taking the southerly route.

Can't get to turn until after 19:00 PST


With the warmest degree of tepidity

Fleet Admiral Mandrake[/font]

[Cap Mandrake]

*************March 31, 1943(c)*************


Luzon: A review of damage from LYB air raids on the ships off Lucena from the 30th showed 3 crippled/burning transports able to make only 5 kts and one with nearly 3000 troops aboard. South Dakota, which had taken two torps from Bettys yesterday had 34% flotation damage. Dozens of Bettys had raided yesterday with heavy Tojo escort. It was obvious that everyone needed to get out. Batangas had indeed fallen on the 30th but had no supply or aviation support yet. Even so, a few P-39's and RCAF Hurris were sent to Batangas and 11 fresh P-38's brought in to Lucena. Only PT boats and a docked AK would stay. North Carolina and Pensacola (in a separate TF) were to bombard Clark at night and retire to Jolo. The carriers were to move East and cover the retreating transports.

That was the plan, at least. [:)]

[Cap Mandrake]

Tokyo Rose (without make-up)

[Cap Mandrake]

Kung Fu fighting.........

[Cap Mandrake]

Here is what Admirar Rord Nerson sent via shortwave..

Well, that turn have gone waaayyyy better

I think, as he is a native Engrish speaker, he meant "could have gone" and just mistyped. He is right.

It was really a beautifully planned IJN attack. First they decaptiated our BB force on the 30th by damaging South Dakota, then they send in TWO UNSPOTTED BB task forces for a night raid on Lucena. Of course, we fool them, we no show up. [:)]

Can you imagine? One BB fights North Carolina..maybe loses..maybe wins, but certainly with only 60% main gun ammo left, North Carolina would be compelled to retreat and then we have 2 CL's to protect the transports. It might have been an epic disaster,

[Cap Mandrake]

The ticker tape..we lose a Dutch minelayer

Sub attack near San Jose at 77,84

Japanese Ships
SS I-27

Allied Ships
CM Gouden Leeuw, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AM Strive

Kongo dodges the subs and first encounters PT boats near Lucena so I suspect she came from the NW

Night Time Surface Combat, near Legaspi at 82,82, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
DD Makinami
DD Murasame
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
PT-225
PT-255
PT-257
PT-259, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

She moves SE, catching the criples. This could have been worse.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Boac at 80,80, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
DD Makinami
DD Murasame
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
xAP Royal T. Frank, heavy damage
xAP Largs Bay, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Malancha, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
KV Nigella


Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 126 (124 destroyed, 2 disabled)

And then she encounters Pensacola moving NW to bombard Clark. Maybe Penasacola's bridge was hit on the first volley. Just a pitiable response.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lucena at 79,79, Range 7,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
DD Makinami
DD Murasame
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
DD Hughes, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

Ticker tape (cont.)

Kongo turns around and hits a mine. [:)]

TF 161 encounters mine field at Lucena (79,79)

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Mine hits 1

Then Kirishima shows up...but everyone but the PT boats are gone. [:)] <makes Dominican baseball player good luck sign> Both Kirishima and Kongo head back home having completely missed North Carolina on here way to Clark. They do battle with another flotilla of PT boats at Calapan and somewhow escape an attack by the SBD's abaord the carriers, which must have been in range.

JJ are trying their own mining operations


Sub attack near Iba at 78,74

Japanese Ships
CM Hatsutaka, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Runner

And the one that hurts most.

Sub attack near San Jose at 77,84

Japanese Ships
SS I-27

Allied Ships
BB South Dakota, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
DD Kortenaer

There are many air attacks on Lucena and Legaspi and the transports, all repulsed with no shipping loss and signficant loss to LYB bombers. These are mainly choppy, unorganized raids thanks the the bombardment of Clark and B-24 raids on Manila.

The beginning of the end at Davao...finally.

Ground combat at Davao (79,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11815 troops, 333 guns, 318 vehicles, Assault Value = 256

Defending force 4291 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Allied adjusted assault: 125

Japanese adjusted defense: 82

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
404 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
132nd Infantry Regiment
22nd Marine Regiment
161st Infantry Regiment
225th Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
25th USN Naval Construction Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion
21/22 Field Regiment

Defending units:
15th Garrison Unit
Sasebo 8th SNLF /1
39th JNAF AF Unit
40th JNAF AF Unit
1st Engineer Co
108th JAAF AF Bn

[Cap Mandrake]

Also this. The sneaky LYB's managed to get Ashigara to Manado harbor without being spotted. We were ready for them. Clearly, however, we need some better recon. Not sure where they came from? Southern Borneo maybe?

Night Time Surface Combat, near Manado at 75,99, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1
DD Asakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
DD Barton
DD Carmick
DD Conyngham, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD MacDonough

[Cap Mandrake]

Burma: Ramree already to 1.5 airfield. P-40's and Hurris arrive.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ramree Island at 54,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 5
G4M1 Betty x 13
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 25
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 53



Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 2
Hurricane IIb Trop x 3
Hurricane IIc Trop x 20
P-40E Warhawk x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Sussex

ALSP cancelled the drop of the remainder of 50th Indian. JJ does not counterrattack at Prome.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Ground combat at Davao (79,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11815 troops, 333 guns, 318 vehicles, Assault Value = 256

Defending force 4291 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Allied adjusted assault: 125

Japanese adjusted defense: 82

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
404 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
132nd Infantry Regiment
22nd Marine Regiment
161st Infantry Regiment
225th Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
25th USN Naval Construction Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion
21/22 Field Regiment

Defending units:
15th Garrison Unit
Sasebo 8th SNLF /1
39th JNAF AF Unit
40th JNAF AF Unit
1st Engineer Co
108th JAAF AF Bn

Those are pathetic odds for such a preponderance of force. Why so low?