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

[Cap Mandrake]

International Lexicon question:

In the US a "trannie" is something to control the application of force to the drive wheels or drive shaft.

In AE a "trannie" is a transport ship (as far as I am concerned)

In the UK, a "trannie" is apparently something entirely different [:D]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Rupluse is inbound to bombard Port Blair

HMS Rupaul?

ETA: Looks like you fixed the original spelling, but the diagnosis is clear, doc. You've got 'trannies' on the brain. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Cap Mandrake]

She's pretty cute. [:)]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
HMS Rupaul?

ETA: Looks like you fixed the original spelling, but the diagnosis is clear, doc. You've got 'trannies' on the brain. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I think I spelled it "Rupulse"[:)]. It is permitted to like "trannies"...just not to want to be one.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
HMS Rupaul?

ETA: Looks like you fixed the original spelling, but the diagnosis is clear, doc. You've got 'trannies' on the brain. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I think I spelled it "Rupulse"[:)]. I think it is permitted to like "trannies"...just not to want to be one.

Of course not. There's not much of a future in being a gear box that connects a driveshaft to the engine. Seems kind of a silly thought, IMO.[&:]

[sprior]

Like these?

[sprior]

Why the armed forces run resettlement courses

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Like these?

Is this the secret trail from Meekathara to Port Hedrand?

[sprior]

It is. The trannies are ready and willing.

[Cap Mandrake]

********Royal Indian Air Force Training Command, Calcuttta, Squadron Assignment Ceremony**********


Flt. Lt. Vindantum: <Praying quietly> By Vishnu, I ask that I be granted the honor to serve in the Vengeance squadron....

Flt. Lt. Chowdry: <slaps his friend> Don't say that! Are you lacking in cognitive abilities? The Vengeance is a widow-maker. And stop it with that silly worshipping of invented deities. This is the 20th century. Nobody does that any more.

Flt. Lt. Vindantum: But I am unmarried. How can my wife be made a widow when I have none?

Flt. Lt. Chowdry: Look, it's just an expression. Don't be so concrete you cognitively-imapired SOB.

Flt. Lt. Vindantum: What I don't understand is why I would not want to fly the Vengeance. It is the most advanced plane we have.

Flt. Lt. Chowdry: Yes, exactly.

Flt. Lt. Vindantum: And so?

Flt. Lt. Chowdry: So it is being used in combat. My cousin Jorhat tells me they are falling like bush-beaters on a Maharajah's tiger hunt.

Flt. Lt. Vindantum: Do you swear by the Rig Veda?

Flt. Lt. Chowdry: I swear by the Kama Sutra. If you must pray, pray for the Wapiti.

Flt. Lt. Vindantum: To whom then do I pray?

Flt. Lt. Chowdry: Anyone but elephant head. Try something more modern, Odin perhaps.

Flt. Lt. Vindantum: That is Ganesha, my friend. Who is this Odin?

Flt. Lt. Chowdry: I'm not sure but at least he doesn't have a trunk coming out of his face. Maybe some horns.

Flt. Lt. Vindantum: Horns?

Flt. Lt. Chowdry: Yes, horns. Look, I didn't just make this up. Everyone is praying to Odin these days.

Flt. Lt. Vindantum: Very well. <they begin to pray together> By Odin, we humbly ask to be assigned to the Wapiti squadron..............

[Grollub]

[:D]

... as a true Viking descendant, I fully endorse this AARs contribution of converting the heathens to the true faith. [;)]

[Chickenboy]

What is that? Transvestism? We were just talking about transvestism, weren't we?

[Grollub]

Unless Odin suddenly has become a transvestite, I think we've moved on in the discussion.

[Cap Mandrake]

*************April 7, 1943c)*******


PI: *@(#*$() Kuma on the prowl again...but these are perfect waters for PT boat attacks and it's nearly moonless.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lucena at 79,79, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Torpedo hits 1
DD Tanikaze
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
PT-26
PT-147
PT-264

JJ heads north ...same PT boats react in daylight.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Calapan at 78,79, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
PT-26
PT-147
PT-264

I thought I had the SBD range at San Jose chopped down so this wouldn't happen (flying into the Manila or Clark hornet's nests). I blame the staff.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Manila at 79,77

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M3a Zero x 2
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 15
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 8
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 12



Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

NO..WAIT! COME BACK! Uggh. No escorts.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Manila at 79,77

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M3a Zero x 2
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 11



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 13


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 9 destroyed

Evidentry, one of the SBD's squadron commanders does not do well with pattern recognition.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Manila at 79,77

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 60 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
A6M3a Zero x 3
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 11



Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

Probably a whole USMC SBD squadron destroyed just to drop one egg on @*#(#)@) Kuma.

[Cap Mandrake]

JJ attacks the convoy with SWPAC aboard again. I think it's personal.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Manado at 75,99

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 66 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 7



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 7
P-40K Warhawk x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

[Cap Mandrake]

Burma: Guards Tank Division, with their 89hp supercharged Ronsons is at Shwebo. When firing AAA at a diving Vengeance, if you miss the engine or pilot, don't worry, the tail will be along in a little while.

Morning Air attack on Guards Tank Division, at 59,45 (Shwebo)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 3
Beaufighter VIc x 8
Vengeance I x 39


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged

Somebody's cousin must own stock in the Vengeance plant. Look at all of these things. [:D]

Morning Air attack on 4th Guards Division, at 59,45 (Shwebo)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 12



Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 7
Hurricane IIb Trop x 3
Hurricane IIc Trop x 6
Vengeance I x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged

Realzing the inadequacy of the Tojo as a night fighter, JJ switches back over to Tojo sweeps over Ramree. This time we do a bit better. The Beaufighter jockeys take it in the shorts.

Morning Air attack on Ramree Island , at 54,48

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 58 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 35



Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 6
Sea Hurricane Ib x 6
Beaufighter VIc x 11
Hurricane IIc Trop x 12
P-38G Lightning x 10


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 2 destroyed
Sea Hurricane Ib: 1 destroyed
Beaufighter VIc: 4 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

China: Does anyone care? Really? [:)]

[Chickenboy]

Well...I imagine the Chinese are partial to the outcome.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

China: Does anyone care? Really? [:)]

FDR recently had a visit from American MSG manufacturers, insisting that the war will be won or lost in this vital area, and therefore it should get all of America's efforts. They left FDR some cans of Won Ton soup and a few fortune cookies. He opened a cookie and the slip of paper read "Tell Dugout Doug to go really far forward to view the action and report back, daily"