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

[Cap Mandrake]

**********Former commercial airstrip, Noumea, Jan. 19************

Maj. Gen Upshur, newly arrived CO, 21st Marine Air Group: <inspecting a newly arrived F4F from VF-42> Very, very nice. Where do the bullets come out?

[Cap Mandrake]

******************Fighting from Jan 18*******************

Oz: Gotta love those PT boats. PT boats from Brisbane scare off transports unloading at Rockhampton.
[:'(]

Day Time Surface Combat, near Rockhampton at 95,152, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Murakumo
DD Asagiri
xAK Nankai Maru
xAK Kenyo Maru
xAK Tatutaki Maru
xAK Naruto Maru
xAK Noto Maru

Allied Ships
PT-44
PT-45
PT-46
PT-47
PT-48

[Cap Mandrake]

B-26's from Brisbane work to finish off the airfield at Rockhampton. JJ still managing to get a CAP up. We still have lousy recon because nobody in the US, Australia, New Zealand or the UK considered that recon aircraft might be a good idea if a war started.

Morning Air attack on Rockhampton , at 95,152

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 11

Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged

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

Runway hits 3

It's best not to get the party early.

Morning Air attack on Rockhampton , at 95,152

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

B-17's from Sydney. The other thing war planners forgot to plan for was someone to fix the B-17's and B-26's

Morning Air attack on Rockhampton , at 95,152

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 6

[Cap Mandrake]

B-17's from Brisbane try to take out the airfield at Mackay which may be supplying LRCAP over Rockhampton.
I think it just a flat spot in the dirt with a dog to scare away the baby wallabys.

Morning Air attack on Mackay , at 94,148

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

New and Improved New Caledonia: The airfield is stacked with fighters for a second day as the transports are still trying to unload pack howitzers, 2 1/2 ton truck and support troops of 8th Marine Regt.


Morning Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 115,160

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
B5N2 Kate x 27
D3A1 Val x 48

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 25
P-40E Warhawk x 28
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 14 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAK Alaskan, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Santa Maria, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Allen, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Chevreuil, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AMC Monowai, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Wahine, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Alabaman, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

[Cap Mandrake]

Air losses

[Cap Mandrake]

******************January 19***************

New and Improved New Caledonia: SBD's are brought in to take a shot at either the carriers or transports 80 miles off La Foa. Predictably, JJ sends in a bombardment force. We have nothing but shore guns to defend ourselves. The troop transports make a break for Suva.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 115,160, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CL Tama
CL Kiso
CL Oi
DD Oboro
DD Fuyo
DD Karukaya

Allied Ships
xAK Alaskan, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Ouch.

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

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 29 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground

21 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba
CL Oi
CL Kiso
CL Tama
DD Karukaya
DD Fuyo
DD Oboro

Allied ground losses:
454 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Resources hits 1
Light Industry hits 2
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 28
Port hits 17
Port fuel hits 5
Port supply hits 2

Lt. Craven and USS Dilligence singlehandedly drives off the Jap transports at La Foa. This perhaps was frustrating for the Empire..OK..over it

Night Time Surface Combat, near La Foa at 113,159, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Isonami
DD Ayanami

Allied Ships
PC Diligence

[Cap Mandrake]

Decoy convoy makes a run to Norfolk to draw attention from the transports headed to Suva.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Isle of Pines at 115,163

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A1 Val x 10

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAK J.L. Luckenbach, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Canadian, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

[Cap Mandrake]

The big show. At the start of the night there were 43 operational F4F's and 47 SBD's at Noumea. The naval bombardment is critical and the first air attack from Noumea has inadequate fighter escort.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koumac at 112,158

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 destroyed

Damn. Big opportunity there. Shockingly weak CAP considering the stakes.
Another squadron goes in without fighters and gets shout up.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koumac at 112,158

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku


It might have gone differently. [:(]

[Cap Mandrake]

Oz: Whoa! Another opportunity. At least one carrier has been detached to the Rockhampton area. The PT boats close to 9000 yds. The escort is dangerously weak.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Rockhampton at 95,152, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
PT-36
PT-37
PT-38
PT-39
PT-40
PT-43

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-43 at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
PT-43 engages DD Ushio at 6,000 yards
PT-39 engages CV Soryu at 6,000 yards
PT-38 engages CV Soryu at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-40 at 9,000 yards
PT-38 engages CV Soryu at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-43 at 11,000 yards
DD Ushio engages PT-38 at 11,000 yards
DD Ushio engages PT-36 at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
PT-43 engages CV Soryu at 14,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-43 at 14,000 yards
PT-38 engages CV Soryu at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
DD Ushio engages PT-39 at 16,000 yards
Tilden, C. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 18,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-43 at 18,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-37 at 18,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages PT-36 at 18,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Another shot.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Rockhampton at 95,152

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed

[desicat]

p.s. Monkeys can be dangerous!

"King Alexander I of Greece is known as a careless pet owner who died after being bitten by his monkey 02 October 1920. He tried to protect his pet from an attacking dog, but he was bitten slightly by his own pet in the process. The infection set in and the sepsis eventually poisoned King Alexander’s entire system.
After Alexander died, his father, Constantine I returned to the throne. Eventually he led a war against Turkey that caused many deaths on both sides. Winston Churchill wrote that it was a monkey bite that caused the death of 250,000 people."

[zuluhour]

what appening in here?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

what appening in here?

Looks like monkey abuse to me! Instead of a cancer stick he should be provided with access to home rollies with wacky-tabacky filler.

[Cap Mandrake]

Situation on New and Improved Caledonia

[desicat]

It is funny to watch this, the Japanese are committing and risking irreplaceable assets on the extreme fringe of the Empire. If they win - so what, but if they lose any of their carriers it cripples them for the rest of the war. This happens in almost every AAR.

If the Japanese player takes N&I Caledonia how long would it be viable to defend? How long until it was just bypassed? All that needs to happen now is for the Allies to capitalize (Operation Labour Monkey?) - can they do it?

[BBfanboy]

The phrase "Labour Monkey" doesn't ring any bells here. [&:]
How about Brass Monkey? - nautical and nice!

[zuluhour]

smoking keeps the chilled monkey brains enthusiasts away, as well as butt fleas.&nbsp;

[Cap Mandrake]

Another week...another day in wwii(e)


***************Jan 21, 1942(e)**************


New & Improved Caledonia: The airfield is quite "knackered" and some of the air groups were demoralized after the previous night nval bombardment. We moved out the malcontent squadrons leaving only 11 operational SBD's and a combiantion of F4F's and P-39's and P-40's. The SBD's were chopped downt to range of 3 so they wouldn't fruitlesslya ttack the carriers. The Jap carriers seem to have accepted more fighters, perhaps from Rabaul or perhaps because more carriers joined up. There was a WJD surface group with the carriers at the Northern tip of the island. They might have been: 1) retreating bombardment group from the night before 2) SCTF to guard the carriers..or 3) inbound bombardment group.

Naturally, it was the worst option.

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

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 11 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 19 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged

7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CL Nagara
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Yamagumo
DD Michishio

Allied ground losses:
98 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Resources hits 1
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 19
Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 4


Gaak.

[Cap Mandrake]

2 small surface groups have been ordered to proceed to La Foa at flank speed. Fighters from Noumea will try to cover them. They won't be able to reach La Foa until after daylight. One group obeys orders.

Day Time Surface Combat, near La Foa at 114,159, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Asagao, Shell hits 1
AMC Asaka Maru, Shell hits 36, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Melbourne Maru, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kinai Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Goyo Maru, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
xAP Katori Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Suwa Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kitano Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CL Raleigh
DD Case
DD Cushing

Japanese ground losses:
596 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Nice! I think these are support troops of 33rd Div.

[Cap Mandrake]

Some B-17D's have been brought in to Suva. They can just barely reach Noumea.


Morning Air attack on Maizuru 2nd SNLF, at 115,160 (Noumea)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 4 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb