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

[Cap Mandrake]

**********Aboard Mandrake luxury driving machine that has $650 power window regulators made out of cheap plastic and straw**********


FAM: <talking to himself> I wonder how those Emperor's Boys figured out we were landing at Laoag??? Hmmmmmm? <mumbling>

NSA!!!

[Cap Mandrake]

North Carolina got hit by 3 250kg bombs. Merely a flesh wound.

[BBfanboy]

[:D]
IRL South Dakota was hit on the turret roof by a 250kg bomb during the battle of Santa Cruz. The turret crew heard a heavy "thump", and went about their business. [&o]

The only casualties were on the bridge where bomb splinters were not stopped by glass windows.

[Cap Mandrake]

We did an Electronic Medical Record "system upgrade" this week. Hah, I say! "Upgrade" my posterior! A couple of screen size changes and a few font changes from the old Stratford-on-avon font they were using. In exchange we get a shedload of completely useless bull shed to comply with the "Affordable Care Act". [8|] The standard is called "meaningfull use" as if to rub salt in the wound. Then, in a consumate act of sadism, they give us ICD-10 which is a massive compendium of numeric codes for every diagnosis. There are like 50 codes for ******* turtle attacks. "Turtle assault resulting in open wound to <face, L 5th toe, L 4th toe, L 3rd toe......buttocks, scrotum>". A group of pinheads in Washington thought this would help control medical costs by "increasing efficiency". Soon to follow, no doubt, is a rule that the antibiotic is not covered for turtle bites to the ass because the NIH funded a study on it. I am going to purposely use the least specific code I can use in every situation just on principle.

Never have so many complained so much for so little.

[Cap Mandrake]

Bataan flipped to Arried control passively because it was ungarrisoned and we had the surrounding bases (except for Manira and Clark).

Turns out it has 48K suppries and nearly 2000 fuel. The closest SOUPAC base that well supplied is Auckland. [:D]

7th Aus Div accidentally returned to Lucena then accidentally started to unload there. [:@]

I blame the staff.

8th Aus Div just left Sydney for Aparri.

Br. 2nd Div along with some armor almost loaded at Port Hedrand.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

7th Aus Div accidentally returned to Lucena then accidentally started to unload there. [:@]

This was on purpose to confuse the WJDs about your intentions, right? [;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

7th Aus Div accidentally returned to Lucena then accidentally started to unload there. [:@]

This was on purpose to confuse the WJDs about your intentions, right? [;)]

Ease up on the incisive operational and strategic insights there, amigo. Like I said, the NSA is probably...well...you know.

[Nemo121]

You know, sometimes I do wonder just how many of us are on watch lists because of emails talking about bombs, San Francisco, Imperialists and how many thousands died in operation x or y. Guess the proof will be whenever I visit the US [8D]

[Chickenboy]

Hey, he's not the one that put an old D-day French underground radio code word as the subject line to his AAR, mate. You know, just sayin'.

[Walloc]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

You know, sometimes I do wonder just how many of us are on watch lists because of emails talking about bombs, San Francisco, Imperialists and how many thousands died in operation x or y. Guess the proof will be whenever I visit the US [8D]

Piece of advice Nemo... Dont read counterterror warfare books while waiting 3 hours for a connecting flight in Baltimore international.....

I should have figured that, but i guess i was too naive. Lesson learned.

Rasmus

[Cap Mandrake]

************April 17, 1943(c)*************

Man that turn took us a while and I was a big part. There must be 15 amphibious or landing craft taffys swarming all over the PI's. It was pretty obvious JJ had stoked up their aircraft on Luzon so I had to move aircraft and task forces around....and then there was the HOA and the letter explaining the harmless JPG I sent......honestly, wow, talk about miscommunication...whoever voiced the opinion that they weren't flirting is likely right, but they may just be playing hard to get.

Batan: JJ sent their MTB's covering Clark in toward our small stuff landing troops and parchesi boards at Bataan. a true Clash of Midgets. The LCTs have too shallow a draft for torpedoes so it was all gunfire...with the largest caliber being a .50. We got a few LCT's shot up, 5 maybe..then a single PT boat can't stop them, then an ASW broup of SC's draws a blank....... And then..........our heavy stuff showed up, culminating in the 15th Battle of Subic Bay.......

[Cap Mandrake]

..epic..did I say "epic". The Epic 15th Battle of Subic Bay.


Day Time Surface Combat, near Iba at 77,75, Range 13,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
MTB G-1
MTB G-3, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
AM Conflict
PG Charleston
KV Quesnel
AM Caraquet

[Cap Mandrake]

Iba/Lingayen: JJ threatened to avenge our DD raid on Aparri...they send in subs. The loss of the DM's several days back in the mining of Iba is partly redeemed. The good news is, when striking a mine with a minisub, there is no drowning involved.

TF 385 encounters mine field at Iba (78,75)

Japanese Ships
SS RO-62, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 13 encounters mine field at Iba (78,75)

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-21, Mine hits 1, heavy damage


ASW takes care of a suicide boat.

ASW attack near Iba at 78,75

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-23, hits 6, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SC PC-580

A Jap sub hits USS Cleveland, in the SCTF covering the carriers. It could have been worse. It might have been Wasp.

Sub attack near Iba at 77,74

Japanese Ships
SS I-166, hits 4

Allied Ships
CL Cleveland, Torpedo hits 1
CLAA Oakland
DD Hobby
DD Taylor
DD Conyngham
DD Meade

What follows is then a spectacular number of air attacks on the ships at Iba and Lingayen and the carriers 40 miles to the west. Here is the the first attack, very well escorted.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Iba at 78,75

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 102 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 59
G3M3 Nell x 10
G4M1 Betty x 3
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 30

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 4
Spitfire Vc Trop x 8
Hurricane XIIb x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 40
P-40B Warhawk x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27
F4U-1 Corsair x 17
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 14 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAK Benjamin Ide Wheeler

An attack on Wasp while her CAP, and that of the CVE's, is covering Iba. Interesting that the game engine accounts for this. Almost cost us.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Iba at 77,74

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 2
G4M1 Betty x 13
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CV Wasp

Out first B-24 raid on San Fernando (just NE of Lingayen). We lose at least one B-24 and then another on a smaller raid. I guess the fighters at Lingayen were too busy to help.

Morning Air attack on San Fernando , at 80,74

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M3a Zero x 4
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 8

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 18
B-24D1 Liberator x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17

[Cap Mandrake]

A raid over Lingayen gets through on some AK's. I guess the CAP is worn out from all the previous attacks (some not shown)

Morning Air attack on TF, near Lingayen at 79,75

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Florence Luckenbach
xAK Birchbank, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Jalabala, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

[Cap Mandrake]

Lucena/Batangas (Central Luzon): WJD air is using that "vitamin" that McGwire used. They are juiced up today.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batangas at 79,78

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 110 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 5
P-40B Warhawk x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Perth

The Vals seem not well escorted.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batangas at 79,78

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 8

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-40B Warhawk x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
F4U-1 Corsair x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed

No Allied losses

And another

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batangas at 79,78

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 58 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 8

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 7
P-40B Warhawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
F4U-1 Corsair x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Over Lucena

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lucena at 79,80

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 6

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

[Cap Mandrake]

Aparri: Chicago is sent east during the night to bombard Aparri and maybe catch some transports. Bombardment pretty good...transport catching...not so much.

Night Naval bombardment of Aparri at 82,73

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ia Oscar: 8 damaged
Ki-43-Ia Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Chicago

Japanese ground losses:
144 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22
Port hits 5

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Chicago
CA Chicago firing at Aparri

We were probably low on ammo because the WJD ships are just sitting there in broad daylight


Day Time Surface Combat, near Aparri at 82,73, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DMS W-22
AV Sagara Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Tsushima Maru
xAP Tenzan Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AK Nichiyu Maru
xAK Siberia Maru
xAK Daibu Maru

Allied Ships
CA Chicago
DD Helm

P-38 sweep to make way for anti-shipping attacks.

Morning Air attack on Aparri , at 82,73

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ia Oscar: 2 destroyed

Oh..Howler Monkey droppings! No escort.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Aparri at 83,72

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Daibu Maru
xAP Tenzan Maru, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Tsushima Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


TBF's without torps.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Aparri at 82,73

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 22

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Tamanami

[Cap Mandrake]

Altimonan: A staff flunkie forgot to turn off the attack button 2 days...or is it 3 days...in a row. Even so, JJ is fading. Some Stuarts arrived (the tank not the royalty)

Ground combat at Atimonan (80,79)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3106 troops, 64 guns, 67 vehicles, Assault Value = 122

Defending force 2662 troops, 21 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 14

Allied adjusted assault: 23

Japanese adjusted defense: 18

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
34th Infantry Regiment
1st USMC Tank Bn /1

Defending units:
20th JAAF Base Force
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
30th JNAF AF Unit

[Cap Mandrake]

I doubt Imperial High Command is going to be satisfied. Very heavy plane losses (by early '43 standards) and they managed only to dent two AK's.

At Iba alone I count at least 31 Zeroes, 12 Oscars, 4 Nells, 21 Bettys and 4 Helens over Iba plus a bunch of Vals over Batangas. Probably one of those morale-breaking days as Nippon.

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

North Carolina got hit by 3 250kg bombs. Merely a flesh wound.

Was Captain Ballard R. the best leader you could find for the North Carolina? While he ostensibly is an inspiring leader, his leadership skill seems to be a little bit low.

[Cap Mandrake]

Burma: The EF-5 tornados cleared over Rangoon and the bombers flew, wrecking some airframes on the ground. ALSP has some more troops inbound toward Ramree (I suspect). JJ is waiting for them at Port Blair. [:)]

Sub attack near Port Blair at 46,59

Japanese Ships
CL Yura
CA Takao
DD Oite
DD Mochizuki
DD Kosugiri
DD Yukaze

Allied Ships
SS Triton