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

[Cap Mandrake]

We kill or disable 500 Jap engineers at Bathurst from the air but they pulverize our guys too.

Morning Air attack on 4th Ind Engineer Regiment, at 89,166 (Bathurst)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 9
A-20A Havoc x 5
B-26 Marauder x 10

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
386 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled

Our attack fails.

Ground combat at Bathurst (89,166)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 704 troops, 17 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 124

Defending force 1697 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Allied adjusted assault: 2

Japanese adjusted defense: 17

Allied assault odds: 1 to 8 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), morale(-)

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

Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
14th Australian Brigade
104th LH Motor Regiment

Defending units:
64th Nav Gd /1
4th Ind Engr Rgt /1

[Cap Mandrake]

The B-17's at Melbourne don't get off the ground.

[Cap Mandrake]

Usual stuff on N&IC. We attack both La Foa and Koumac AF to shut everything down. Then we can switch to ground attack.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Do youeven have 46 B-17s?

67 actually, though most are being repaired. Now, it seems they all are.

[Cap Mandrake]

Our small rearguard at Tamworth is crushed. VC medals (posthumously) for someone.

Ground combat at Tamworth (91,163)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14498 troops, 249 guns, 128 vehicles, Assault Value = 907

Defending force 216 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Japanese adjusted assault: 387

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 387 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tamworth !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
276 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Regiment
2nd Division
2nd Raiding Regiment
38th Division
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
2/4th Ind Coy

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

More scary Hudson III's

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sydney at 92,168

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 8

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Husimi Maru, heavy fires
xAP Hakozaki Maru, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
144 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Looks like they scared the transports into colliding with each other - in the previous combat report Hakozaki Maru had no signs of fire. [:D]

[John B.]

Either that or the two xAP captains were laughing so hard at the very thought of being attacked by Hudson III's that they ran into each other. [:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

More scary Hudson III's

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sydney at 92,168

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 8

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Husimi Maru, heavy fires
xAP Hakozaki Maru, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
144 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Looks like they scared the transports into colliding with each other - in the previous combat report Hakozaki Maru had no signs of fire. [:D]

Yes, this is likely what happened. The whole convoy needed some practice in seamanship. It was the second collision of the day. Not sure of the idea of using one CVE to escort a convoy. A couple of crappy Claudes don't offer much protection. It's more like a homing beacon for SBD's.

I predict Sydney AF is going to get plasterized tomorrow. Perhaps the SBD's can move to Newcastle.

[Cap Mandrake]

Supply is going up every day in Sydney and Newcastle. This is probably still coming overland via rail through Wagga Wagga. Not sure if the Jap tank regiment at Wagga Wagga interrupts that. We have a total of 5 reserve brigades in the "Sydney pocket" counting the ones at Port Kembla and Newcastle and out camping in the woods and 3 full strength arty
regiments. Sydney has 3 AAA units.

[Cap Mandrake]

Most likely the main effort is still at Melbourne in which case most of the stuff coming down from Brisbane will be needed there. The goals near Sydney will be to fall back in good order on Sydney, take the supply with us from Newcastle and find some good stewed dog meat recipes to hold out until Admiral Lord SPrior comes overland from Adelaide.

[Cap Mandrake]

Partisan groups are being organized near Sydney. Curiously, all the attractive women in the country seem to have congregated there. Apparently it is sort of like Hollywood. This has had a salubrious effect on male volunteerism. Unfortunately, the shipment of black jeans from M&M Enterprises is delayed. Something about union rabble-rousers in Lahore.

[zuluhour]

Hope LADM Sprior doesn't get distracted.....

[Cap Mandrake]

**********Queensland Home Defence Force Training Center, Sydney***********

Col. Throckmorton, an old guy with a moustache, a former junior officer in the Boer war:

Now,lads, I want you all to notice the formation shown above. This is what we like to call the "Flying Wedge". If the leader falls, the remainder close ranks. It's and adaptation of the Macedonian phalanx. Quite effective! RIGHT! Any questions then?


Teen male volunteer: <raises hand and is recognized> Colonel, will there be any girls joining the unit. We were led to believe that would be the case, sir.

[Cap Mandrake]

What am I doing awake at 5:30 AM on a Sunday. Can someone explain that to me?

[Cap Mandrake]

***********Farmer's Almanac, March 20, 2016(a)***********

Rain followed by warm weather = nice azalea bloom

Daffodils are curiously late = Global Cooling has already started. We are doomed, of course, but don't worry.

Saul, the Mexican gardener with the Jewish name has apparently quit. Just as well. Trying to hit on the bosses wife is a frowned upon where I come from.

Here is what it would look like if you were in the "Sydney Pocket"

[desicat]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

What am I doing awake at 5:30 AM on a Sunday. Can someone explain that to me?

Global Warming

[Cap Mandrake]

Sometimes, I feel like we don't give enought thanks for what we have in life.


I'll start. Mr. Sans-a-belt, I would like to thank your for your wonderful invention.

[John B.]

A hearty "well done" to the nameless drone at Silver Manufacturing who first thought of taking the belt out of slacks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sansabelt His name may be lost to the ages, but his beltless pants live on.

[Cap Mandrake]

Wait, do you mean to tell me there is no Mr. Sans-a-belt? That is very demoralizing. I idolized the man. Right up there with Thomas Edison and Mr. Post-it.

[Cap Mandrake]

*******************Lawn Bowling Club, Suva*******************

FAM: What the Hell is the problem with coms today? All the frequencies are jammed. Is it the Japs?


Sparks: No sir, it's the basketball tournament.