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

[sprior]

Neither do the old farts on this site.

(hopefully neither are our daughters)

[Chickenboy]

Even the crew of the Enterprise doesn't understand. Poor Chekov. [:(]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6Lb3kFwJRQ

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Well m'lud I was just shampoo-ing the old toggle and two when to my surprise...

Speaking of meticulous attention to the groin, I was in a small group of students and residents/interns making rounds at the VA hospital and an elderly vet was standing in the doorway of his room with the setting sun transilluminating his hospital gown. There was a truly astounding silhouette between his legs reaching down to his knees. Even I was impressed.

The Chief Resident asked, "Mr. Johnson (not his real name [:D]), would you mind if we examine your genitalia"?

Elderly Vet with impressive silhouette: Sure Doc! <with obvious pride. After the gown is lifted it is obvious it's all scrotum with a little shrunken kilbasa. It looks like a deflated basketball. Snickering professionally suppressed>

Chef Resident: Mr. Johnson, I notice your scrotum is quite swollen. How did that happen?

Elderly Vet with impressive silhouette: Yes sir! I exercise it every day!

[Cap Mandrake]

JJ is fighting hard for Horrycrappo-jima. It is confirmed. Parachute infantry will NOT drop on a friendly hex. Recon over Karenko today. Somewhat dangerous to go so close to Naha but Takao is also dangerous

[sprior]

Someone forgot to turn on the bloody radar...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 46,58, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 1
DD Yugure, Shell hits 3
DD Mikazuki, Shell hits 1
DD Oite

Allied Ships
BB Resolution, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Sussex
DD Aulick, Shell hits 1
DD Kalk
DD Voyager
DD Van Galen
DD Encounter, Shell hits 2
DD Hotspur
DD Inconstant
DD Nestor, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Redoubt


Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 35% moonlight: 8,000 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...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards

[sprior]

Meanwhile Toungoo falls:

Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 120 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Defending force 152 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 11

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Toungoo !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

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

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

Assaulting units:
50th Indian Para Bde /4

Defending units:
29th JAAF AF Coy

[Cap Mandrake]

Horrycrappo-jima: The incoming DD group finds some little fry. No cruisers.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Miyako-jima at 91,66, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-11, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
SC CHa-23, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
SC CHa-34, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
SC CHa-35, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
DD O'Bannon
DD Strong
DD Monssen
DD Lansdowne
DD Helm

We find some Jap transports, but they get away. Weak. Someone is going on a long vacation to US Naval Station Adak. In fairness, it was the third surface battle without rearming for some.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Miyako-jima at 91,66, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Tonegawa Maru
PB Ichiyu Maru
xAKL Nagaragawa Maru
xAKL Gyoku Maru

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
DD O'Bannon
DD Strong
DD Monssen
DD Lansdowne
DD Helm

[Cap Mandrake]

The carriers come under attack. Very well escorted raid. 3 Bettys get through but no hits.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,69

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
A6M3 Zero x 62
A6M3a Zero x 3
A6M5 Zero x 19
G4M1 Betty x 9
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 27

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 85

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 14 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed


Stragglers

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,69

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 8

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 63

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed

No Allied losses

Utoh. Kates, Vals in same attack with good escort of Zeroes. Don't tell me.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,69

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
A6M3a Zero x 12
B5N2 Kate x 34
D3A2 Val x 9

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 24 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A2 Val: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown


Yep, that's what it means


Morning Air attack on TF, near Naha at 93,70

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
A6M3a Zero x 17

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25
SBD-3 Dauntless x 13
SBD-5 Dauntless x 12
TBF-1 Avenger x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 10 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Ryuho
CLAA Tatsuta
CVE Chuyo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

[Cap Mandrake]

More Bettys. 1/3rd of the CAP is gone.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,69

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 46

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CV Wasp

Well, we got through the morning OK......

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ishigaki at 90,69

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
A6M3 Zero x 27
A6M3a Zero x 3
A6M5 Zero x 6
G4M1 Betty x 3
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 19

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 4 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 2

Horycrappo-jima!

[sprior]

We haven't seen Soryu for a while.

[Cap Mandrake]

Unescorted attack on the DD's at Horrycrappo-jima?

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Miyako-jima at 91,66

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 4

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

More... the Corsair LRCAP from Batan Is can't reach. Just some F6F's from the carriers.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Miyako-jima at 91,66

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 12

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 8 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Abbot

Even some Herens.

Afternoon Air attack on Miyako-jima , at 91,66

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

[Cap Mandrake]

Outgoing raid. No the BIGGER carrier. Attack the bigger carrier!

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Naha at 93,70

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
A6M3a Zero x 19

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25
SBD-3 Dauntless x 10
SBD-5 Dauntless x 11
TBF-1 Avenger x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
CVL Ryuho
CL Yubari
CVE Chuyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

We haven't seen Soryu for a while.

No, we have not.

2 torpedo hits on Wasp.

1 bomb hit on Soryu. Chuyo probably sunk or sinking.

You have to say that is bad for us taking half of our carriers out of action, even if there is now a retirement.

Very, very heavy air losses for the WJD's at least. We will probably give up the landings at Horrycrappo-jima for now.

[sprior]

I think you made them angry.

[Chickenboy]

Well, this is keeping with the finest traditions of this game of limping along on a shoestring, Cap'n. Impressive adherence to your narrative context. [8D]

Interesting that (FINALLY!) we're seeing some A6M5 in action for the IJNAF. Don't recall seeing these before. Still way too many A6M2s involved for my comfort.

[Cap Mandrake]

Well, I watched the replay. LBA is coming from Takao. The IJN carriers are about 120 nm ESE of the US carriers. Large numbers of US planes recovered to Batan Is., which means that Wasp cannot do fright ops. Both Soryu and Wasp had secondary exprosisons.

Also there was no afternoon attack by the IJN. Perhaps Soryu can't do fright operation either..or they have no pirots arive. One might also ask why the PBY's spotted the IJN inbound but did not spot one of the three carriers.

[Cap Mandrake]

Luzon: In other action, WJD ground units at Aparri were hit heavily by B-24's from Mindanao.

No attack at Vigan even though I moved all the ships and most of the aircraft out just in case. Hundreds of bombers sorties over Vigan got cancelled due to weather.

Bettys reach as far South as Iba to go after the 32nd ID convoy but were repulsed with fighters from Iba.

Small air attacks on shipping at Altimonan, probably frying from Manira, were repulsed by the CAP.

[Cap Mandrake]

More on Horycrappo-jima, Iriomote and the rest of the Ryukus: I was wrong about no air drop. 1st Marine Para has started landing at Horycrappo-jima. This is good because JJ tried again to get troops ashore there yesterday. They do have a garrison on Iriomote now. JJ has shipping at Kume-jima near Okinawa, probably putting troops ashore there as well.

They are trying to stop the "drop and plop" strategy.

[Cap Mandrake]

Pranning: Wasp will retire toward Batan Is. with cover from Yorktown. The IJN CVL is unhurt and Soryu may be able to fight but their air complements were decimated.

Amphibious groups likely have to turn around.

No landing at Naha until Essex arrives (late June).

We can try to get some support to Horycrappo-jima by LCT/LCI/LST.

In the meantime we can build up Batan Is and take Aparri and begin an air campaign over Takao.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

I think you made them angry.

Yes, looks that way. Quite a well-timed attack by Imperiar High Command. The combination of the carriers and the Bettys from Takao broke a carrier badly and took away half of our CV force. They had been scrimping for a bit to pull that off. The threat of an eventual level 7 airfield on Horycrappo-jima has their full attention.