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

[Itdepends]

Something you might want to work on in case the Japanese activate the Soviets before your mechanised upgrades are complete.

No helmet but note the kneepads that allow the driver to exit the vehicle at speed if they come under fire.

[sprior]

Hi boys, I'm back. Sorry, the ol' black dog was upon me again.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Hi boys, I'm back. Sorry, the ol' black dog was upon me again.

Give the ol' dog a "bow wow" for us. Welcome back!

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Hi boys, I'm back. Sorry, the ol' black dog was upon me again.

Must be another 4th rotor thing.

[desicat]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

If y'all are able to behave yourselves here is a political science quiz:

Which current US presidential candidate actually made a contract with M&M Enterprises, Political Consulting Division and purchased half of that candidates Facebook followers? [:)]

Out of curiosity, were they purchased with WW II dollars and appreciated to today's dollars or did they use current value?

Knowing the entity involved they may have offered War Bonds (Confederate of course).

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Hi boys, I'm back. Sorry, the ol' black dog was upon me again.

Hope you're feeling better soon, Lord Admiral. [:(]

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: sprior

Hi boys, I'm back. Sorry, the ol' black dog was upon me again.

Hope you're feeling better soon, Lord Admiral. [:(]

Yes, thanks. just spent a week away in North Devon with almost no internet - it was great.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: desicat

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

If y'all are able to behave yourselves here is a political science quiz:

Which current US presidential candidate actually made a contract with M&M Enterprises, Political Consulting Division and purchased half of that candidates Facebook followers? [:)]

Out of curiosity, were they purchased with WW II dollars and appreciated to today's dollars or did they use current value?

Knowing the entity involved they may have offered War Bonds (Confederate of course).

Something about cattle futures...and first right of refusal on a round of golf with Babe Didrikson.

[Cap Mandrake]

Now, I know what you are saying. "Wait a minute Mandrake, that's Jeff Bridges, right?"

Nope, that's Babe.

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Now, I know what you are saying. "Wait a minute Mandrake, that's Jeff Bridges, right?"

I don't remember saying that.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Now, I know what you are saying. "Wait a minute Mandrake, that's Jeff Bridges, right?"

I don't remember saying that.

Well, perhaps an English actor then?

[sprior]

Here's the new CommsCen at Kandy House.

[Cap Mandrake]

Is that Miss Funfanny?

[Cap Mandrake]

***************January 14, 1942(e)***************

Not a bad day for the Allies.

New and Improved Caledonia: USS Allen, first reinforcement to reach Noumea is ordered to bombard the beach at La Foa. About as much as you would expect from one DD with no recon.

Night Naval bombardment of La Foa at 114,159

Allied Ships
DD Allen

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

Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Whoa, the portions of 4th Div not yet disembarked turn around and decide to land at Koumac instead. Evidently, they did not know a USMC Def Bn was there.

Pre-Invasion action off Koumac (113,156)

56 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Matsue Maru, Shell hits 3
DD Arashio
DD Tanikaze
TB Sagi
DMS W-4
DMS W-3
DMS W-2
xAP Shanghai Maru

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


They seem to be mostly support troops

Amphibious Assault at Koumac (113,156)

TF 92 troops unloading over beach at Koumac, 113,156

15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 4th Div /1
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 4th Div /1
15 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 4th Div /1
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 4th Div /1

I think the casualties we take here are from support fire from the ships. Might be some arty ashore?

Invasion Support action off Koumac (113,156)

31 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Matsue Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Tanikaze
DMS W-4
DD Arashio
xAP Shanghai Maru

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Matsue Maru at 5,000 yards
DMS W-4 firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Matsue Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Tanikaze firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

[Cap Mandrake]

Again 3 x 1000 lb bombs on one of the BB's but not much damage. Noumea airfield is still in good shape.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Koumac at 113,156

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
SBD-3 Dauntless x 21

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 3
BB Mutsu


2 x B-26's squadrons fly in from Fiji to be used in ground attack. Airfield is level 2 only.

Morning Air attack on 4th Division, at 114,159 (La Foa)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 17

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 24th Special Base Force ...
Also attacking Maizuru 2nd SNLF ...
Also attacking 21st Air Flotilla ...
Also attacking 4th Division ...

[Cap Mandrake]

Lord Howe Island: HMAS Perth and some Frenchies inflict a serious smackdown on Jap transports at Lord Howe. That's what they get for stealing His Majesty's land..even it wasn't very useful and consisted mostly of a colony of takers waiting for cargo. You see, it's the principle.

It seems JJ's have become incautious after pounding the US Navy for two weeks after a severe staff error. No SCTF for a landing on Lord Howe??
Oh well, the cow had already left the barn and they hold the island..now we can perhaps smack down those ashore so they don't build and airfield.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Lord Howe Island at 100,169, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DMS W-7, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-9, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
DMS W-12, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Azuma Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
xAK Kano Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Toho Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAP Kamo Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
xAP Manzyu Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 1
DD Le Triomphant

[Cap Mandrake]

Oz: Success suppressing the airfield at Rochampton. No CAP anymore. Mouseover shows 77% runway damage.

Morning Air attack on Rockhampton , at 95,152

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 7
B-17E Fortress x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

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

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 21

More raids later.

B-26's go after Ronsons moving south from Rockhampton.

Morning Air attack on 8th Tank Regiment, at 94,153 , near Rockhampton

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3
B-26 Marauder x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

[Cap Mandrake]

Mini-KB is annoyingly parked off Darwin. Having only found a few AKL's on naval attack, they switch to port attack. We dont't have enough P-40's to go around.

Afternoon Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 7
A6M2 Zero x 30
B5N1 Kate x 24

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 6 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP Leonard Wood, Bomb hits 1
xAP Candioa, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Situation: New and Improved New Caledonia