At dawn we slept...in the cab on the way back from Olongapo

[Cap Mandrake]

Noumea: Yesterday WJD were spotted at the NW tip of New and Improved Caledonia
headed SE..likely to La Foa or Noumea: We had brought in air support troops to Noumea previously but
a USMC regiment had to turn around after the carriers were seen W of New Caledonia 2 d ago. Despite vigorous air searches, the carriers are nowhere to be seen.

One thing can be said for sure. They aren't covering the landing at New Caledonia very well. SBD's fly over from Oz. La Foa is
unguarded but Noumea and Koumac have USMC defense forces. All the covering surface forces have scattered from the carriers threat.

Morning Air attack on TF, near La Foa at 114,159

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Ryoyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Ukishima Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Yamaura Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
2563 casualties reported
Squads: 84 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 32 (26 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

[Cap Mandrake]

Ahhhh...that is sublime. Then an attack on the covering BB's.

Morning Air attack on TF, near La Foa at 114,159

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 3, on fire
BB Nagato

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Seems like 3 x 1000 lb bomb hits would break something. Damage does not seem very severe.

[Cap Mandrake]

Afternoon. No CAP at all. Evidently they underestimated the defenses on New and Improved Caledonia.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near La Foa at 114,159

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Hokuriku Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Mito Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Terukuni Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAP Hakozaki Maru
DD Suzukaze

Japanese ground losses:
296 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

We miss the BB's in the afternoon.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near La Foa at 114,159

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CA Tone

[Cap Mandrake]

Killing or disabling 122 squads of infantry will not stop 4th ID. Very likely, something will bombard Noumea tonight. Let's hope the poor intel will hamper the bombardment.

Amphibious Assault at La Foa (114,159)

TF 92 troops unloading over beach at La Foa, 114,159

Japanese ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 4th Div /2
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 4th Div /4
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 4th Div /6
75mm T90 Field Gun lost in surf during unload of 4th Div /6
15 Engineers lost from landing craft during unload of 25th JNAF AF Unit
15 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 25th JNAF AF Unit
17 troops of a SNLF Inf Squad 41 lost from landing craft during unload of Maizuru 2nd SNLF
17 troops of a SNLF Inf Squad 41 accidentally lost during unload of Maizuru 2nd SNLF
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad accidentally lost during unload of 4th Div
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost in surf during unload of 4th Div
15 Aviation Support troops lost overboard during unload of 21st Air Flotilla

[Cap Mandrake]

Brisbane: Inbound bombardment force, no doubt. Serves the Little Yellow Bastards right.

TF 3 encounters mine field at Brisbane (96,160)

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio, Mine hits 1

Payback. Ouch. Still, wildly inflated. That is twice the number of B-26's at Brisbane.

Night Naval bombardment of Brisbane at 96,160 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 38 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 8 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 11 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged
Hudson I: 5 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

21 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CL Yura
CL Nagara
DD Yamagumo
DD Yukikaze

Allied ground losses:
172 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 48

[Cap Mandrake]

We try to shut down the airfield at Rockhampton (level 3). Nice raid.

Morning Air attack on Rockhampton , at 95,152

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 10
B-17E Fortress x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

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

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 18
Runway hits 21

Lt. Corrigan, lead navigator.

Morning Air attack on Rockhampton , at 95,152

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Darwin: Mini KB was spotted transiting the Torres Strait. Surface combatants at Darwin fled west. The slow stuff is buttoned up in port.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 76,124

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 7
A6M2 Zero x 14
B5N1 Kate x 8

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAKL Wollongbar, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Patras, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

13 year old SG III arguing with me about treatment of an ear infection. [:@]

FAM: Did you finish your antibiotic?

SGIII: My dad said I didn't need it anymore. <she has just returned from a week away..a blind rage comes over the older participant...he seems to be trying to control himself..after a short while the facial suffusion resolves..>

FAM: Look, you don't argue with Tom Brady about how to throw a football

SGIII: I don't get it.

FAM: Thus it is demonstrated.

The trouble with conversations like that is the main point goes over their head, but pointing out such is so far over their head it's practically in orbit. [:(]

[Chickenboy]

Reminds me of various dog flea treatment and prevention discussions I've had with relatives over the years. They'd rather take advise from some pimply-faced puke working at the local pet store. [8|]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Reminds me of various dog flea treatment and prevention discussions I've had with relatives over the years. They'd rather take advise from some pimply-faced puke working at the local pet store. [8|]

Could you elaborate - what diseases do dog fleas get that people want to treat?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Reminds me of various dog flea treatment and prevention discussions I've had with relatives over the years. They'd rather take advise from some pimply-faced puke working at the local pet store. [8|]

Could you elaborate - what diseases do dog fleas get that people want to treat?

Isn't there some pimply faced puke working at the local pet store that you'd rather ask? [:'(]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake


Payback. Ouch. Still, wildly inflated. That is twice the number of B-26's at Brisbane.

Night Naval bombardment of Brisbane at 96,160 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 38 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 8 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 11 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged
Hudson I: 5 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

21 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CL Yura
CL Nagara
DD Yamagumo
DD Yukikaze

Allied ground losses:
172 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 48

The combat report doesn't describe it well - "38 B-26s damaged" actually means 38 bits of damage (holes) on some B-26 aircraft.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Reminds me of various dog flea treatment and prevention discussions I've had with relatives over the years. They'd rather take advise from some pimply-faced puke working at the local pet store. [8|]

Could you elaborate - what diseases do dog fleas get that people want to treat?

Isn't there some pimply faced puke working at the local pet store that you'd rather ask? [:'(]

Well, in my opinion.....

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: witpqs



Could you elaborate - what diseases do dog fleas get that people want to treat?

Isn't there some pimply faced puke working at the local pet store that you'd rather ask? [:'(]

Well, in my opinion.....

Those aren't pimples, those are mosquito bites that caused some exotic tropical disease!

[Cap Mandrake]

Advance of IJA begins to mirror WWII(d)...except faster.

***************January 13****************

USS Hulbert ordered to defend against the almost certain arrival of WJD BB's. Hulbert go glug glug.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 115,160, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu
CA Tone
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Arare
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
AVD Hulbert, Shell hits 8, and is sunk

A couple of AKL's unloading supplies are waxed and then the expected bombardment. Most of the planes have been moved out but two squadrons of SBD's are
left behind.

Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CA Tone
DD Kasumi
DD Arare
DD Tokitsukaze

Allied Ships
xAK James Lykes, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Alabaman, Shell hits 1
AD Dixie, Shell hits 1
xAK Mangola, Shell hits 1

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Resources hits 1
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 20
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Here is what they have at La Foa. The adjusted combat strength is shockingly low. Probably the 4th Div is resting.
A USN DD was sent via circuitous route toward La Foa. Either she did not make it or JJ sent their transports packing.

Ground combat at La Foa (114,159)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1815 troops, 21 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 383

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

Japanese adjusted assault: 23

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 23 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE La Foa !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+)

Assaulting units:
4th Division
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
21st Air Flotilla
24th Special Base Force
25th JNAF AF Unit

[Cap Mandrake]

<face palm> It's the Lord Howe Gambit...and it might actually work!

Ground combat at Lord Howe Island (100,169)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4024 troops, 29 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

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

Japanese adjusted assault: 56

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 56 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lord Howe Island !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+)

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF
6th Naval Construction Battalion
35th JNAF AF Unit

[Cap Mandrake]

Preparatory air attacks at Soerabaja and Plaembang.

Victoria Point captured.

[Cap Mandrake]

***********Bar, Royal Hawaiian************


FAM: That was a stirring defense by USS Hulbert. What do you guys think about a unit citation?

Odd rooking ferrow in fresh Hawaiian shirt: Who accept unit citation? Hahahaha.

[Cap Mandrake]

******Booth at Royal Hawaiian, normally this might be described as a "romantic booth" but that would be silly*****

FAM:..now wait, what do you mean "not enough interest"? It's a world war. Hundreds or perhaps thousands of people are being killed
daily, and no small number of them in the South Pacific recently, I might add.

Young enthusiastic US Army sergeant in impossibly well pressed uniform: No sir, not the war. As you say, wars have a habit of attracting
attention. I mean the after action report.

FAM: What the Hell is that? And why should I care.

Young enthusiastic US Army sergeant in impossibly well pressed uniform: Several reasons sir. Branding..co-marketing opportunities...product placement revenue..
merchandising.

FAM: Merchandising?

Young enthusiastic US Army sergeant in impossibly well pressed uniform: Sure..CentPac coffee mugs..branded 40 mm shell casings..salted sea urchin roe..endless really

FAM: Well, what do you suggest, more nudity?

Young enthusiastic US Army sergeant in impossibly well pressed uniform: Oh, heavens no, that's so 30's. I'm talking about acquiring readers with a modest expenditure.

FAM: Wait a minute, do you mean money?

Young enthusiastic US Army sergeant in impossibly well pressed uniform: I would say "capital" sir, but yes. Everyone's doing it. Even in Presidential campaigns.

FAM: What? You don't mean FDR do you?

Young enthusiastic US Army sergeant in impossibly well pressed uniform: <makes "quiet" signal with two fingers near lips>