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

[Cap Mandrake]

Meanwhile Haruna sank again (on Dec 7, 1941)...Zuiho and Ryujo are in mint condition. [:D]

With the loss of B5N1's this is probably Ryujo accounting for the "ground losses". We can dream it was Hiryu but I doubt it.

The B-17D squadrons in Suva are seriously grumpy. Can't imagine why.

[witpqs]

What's the plane capacity for Ryujo? Considering planes previously lost and not on the carrier, I'm wondering if that is too many planes for her. Hope for Hiryu...

[Cap Mandrake]

The big red pimple

[Cap Mandrake]

What you can generally rely upon...almost...are the plane counts in the mouseover. For the ship identification..not so much.
Clearly we have a problem with conservation of mass.

It is somewhat hard to believe that Ryujo could recover that many planes after getting the hory crap kicked out of her by Warspite.

We may still have a crippled Ryujo and Hiryu went under.

[Cap Mandrake]

**************************06:00, Feb 3, 1942(e), USN Seaplane base, Tanna**********************


Ensign McGoo: Is th-th-th-th-their any mo-mo-mo-mo-more coffee si-si-si-sir?

Lt. Black, CO, VP-21: I think you've had quite enough, McGoo. Listen up guys, these are hot-shot Zero jockeys. If you see something, get in the clouds
and make your report. Also, consider this. The Imperial Japanese Navy has 6 CV's and one was just confirmed torpedoed up by Tokyo so if you think you see more than 5 you're going to have some 'splaining to do. The cardinal feature of the carrier is the flat top. That is why they are called "flat tops". Got it?

[poodlebrain]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

"If you are upset about the gay marriage ruling...cheer up...think how awesome Gay Divorce Court will be. " [:D]

Why would the thought of distraught choreographers having hissy fits cheer me up? They will be too upset to function. I cringe when I imagine the final scene of Blazing Saddles choreographed by someone made distraught and unhappy due to the turmoil of divorce.

And what about designers? Would you trust someone to coordinate your colors who is emotionally conflicted by the issues surrounding his divorce?

Shame on you for your lack of empathy.

[desicat]

It is Feb 3rd 1942 and the entire KB is limping along somewhere southwest of Fiji; with no decent port to go to, nothing to strike, and probably short on fuel and sorties. I get that the US Navy has taken some losses, but what are the Brits up to in the IO?

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: poodlebrain

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

"If you are upset about the gay marriage ruling...cheer up...think how awesome Gay Divorce Court will be. " [:D]

Why would the thought of distraught choreographers having hissy fits cheer me up? They will be too upset to function. I cringe when I imagine the final scene of Blazing Saddles choreographed by someone made distraught and unhappy due to the turmoil of divorce.

And what about designers? Would you trust someone to coordinate your colors who is emotionally conflicted by the issues surrounding his divorce?

Shame on you for your lack of empathy.

I have been trying to work on this as I have determined that this is a weak are of mine. I greatly appreciate you keen insights .....ah...who am i kidding?

It's just funny. [:'(]

[poodlebrain]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: poodlebrain

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

"If you are upset about the gay marriage ruling...cheer up...think how awesome Gay Divorce Court will be. " [:D]

Why would the thought of distraught choreographers having hissy fits cheer me up? They will be too upset to function. I cringe when I imagine the final scene of Blazing Saddles choreographed by someone made distraught and unhappy due to the turmoil of divorce.

And what about designers? Would you trust someone to coordinate your colors who is emotionally conflicted by the issues surrounding his divorce?

Shame on you for your lack of empathy.

I have been trying to work on this as I have determined that this is a weak are of mine. I greatly appreciate you keen insights .....ah...who am i kidding?

It's just funny. [:'(]

The term over the top will need to be re-defined. I can't wait to see the Maury Povich type shows centering on break ups over allegations of cheating. Imagine the fights that will need to be broken up. Television gold.

[Cap Mandrake]

The big guys

[Cap Mandrake]

*********************Feb 3, 1942(e)**************


N&IC: The Seaplane Tender USS Williamson is ordered to get the Hell out of Koumac and try to sink something.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Koumac at 113,156, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
DD Harusame

Allied Ships
AVD Williamson

An opportunity but a couple of 4 inch guns are not enough.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Belep Islands at 113,155, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
AVD Williamson, Shell hits 3, heavy fires

I think the BB's are out of ammo

Day Time Surface Combat, near Belep Islands at 113,155, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
AVD Williamson, Shell hits 3, heavy fires

[Cap Mandrake]

USS Schley gets in among the transports at Koumac. Another opportunity lost.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Koumac at 113,156, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiranui
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 1
DD Yuzuki
DD Yunagi
LSD Shinshu Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Schley, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage

She later sinks.

[Cap Mandrake]

A couple of fast MSW's intercept the giant carrier scrum but encounter a dedicated SCTF

Night Time Surface Combat, near Anatom at 125,164, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu
CL Tatsuta
DD Kagero
DD Ayanami
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
DMS Wasmuth, Shell hits 2, on fire
DMS Trevor, Shell hits 1

The Royal Canadian Navy in its first surface action of the war. We'll take a mulligan.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Anatom at 125,164, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
DD Hayashio
DD Isokaze
DD Tokitsukaze

Allied Ships
KV Edmundston, Shell hits 10, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

Here comes the bombardment run on Noumea.

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

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CL Tama
CL Kiso
DD Asagumo
DD Shiratsuyu

Allied Ships
PT-20
PT-21
PT-22
PT-25, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-28, Shell hits 1
PT-30

[Cap Mandrake]

Well...not too bad. I think we can at least send back the fighters tomorrow


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

23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba
CL Kiso
CL Tama
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Asagumo

Allied ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1


Later guys! Don't forget to write!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 115,160, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CL Tama
CL Kiso
DD Asagumo
DD Shiratsuyu

Allied Ships
PT-38
PT-40
PT-46
PT-47, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

Some staff retard forgot to move the AK's out of Brisbane.

Morning Air attack on Brisbane , at 96,160

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
G4M1 Betty x 29
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK American, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Mobile City, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Dardanus, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Launceton, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Beltana, Bomb hits 2, on fire

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

Port hits 4

[Cap Mandrake]

We still have SCTF with 2 DD's near the carriers. No air attacks on any of our ships.

JJ has a Naval Guard unit ashore at Kouamc now. They will attack tomorrow and brush aside the paratroops

Ground combat at Koumac (113,156)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1822 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Defending force 38 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Assaulting units:
83rd Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
2nd USMC Parachute Bn /2

[Cap Mandrake]

33rd Div cant make any headway in the center of the island but soon our guys will be surrounded.

Ground combat at 114,158 (near La Foa)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 8100 troops, 98 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 264

Defending force 1171 troops, 39 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 27

Japanese adjusted assault: 189

Allied adjusted defense: 115

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
33rd Division

Defending units:
2nd USMC Tank Bn /2
2nd Pioneer Battalion
2nd Marine Defense Battalion

[Cap Mandrake]

Another big attack North of Brisbane fails. Good news.

round combat at 95,159 (near Brisbane)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22710 troops, 354 guns, 148 vehicles, Assault Value = 617

Defending force 8752 troops, 150 guns, 236 vehicles, Assault Value = 275

Japanese adjusted assault: 309

Allied adjusted defense: 449

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
940 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 95 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
553 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
38th Division
144th Infantry Regiment
2nd Recon Regiment
4th Infantry Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
14th LH MG Regiment
16th LH MG Regiment
5th LH Motor Regiment
1st Australian Brigade
25th Cav Recce Regiment
6th LH Motor Regiment
2nd A/Car Regiment
16th Fld RAA Regiment
2nd Cav Recce Regiment
1st RAA Med Arty Regiment


JJ pulled back a unit from Toowoomba

[Cap Mandrake]

Happy Independence Day. [:)]