Lambs to the slaughter (Lowpe (J) vs Jocke; BillBrown (A)) Finished

[Lowpe]

Just sent the turn to Jocke. I debated about holding off the attack on the AFVs at Comilla for another day, but the weather is good there now, so I sent the planes in but with a 20% rest order for the fighters and fighter bombers that are strafing, and a 10% rest order for the bombers.

I hope to really pound them. Tojo IIa are sweeping and LRCAP, and A6M5s are LRCAP.

If all goes well, there should be a lot of smoking wrecks around Comilla.

Still working on nailing the CVE near Coos Bay. Fingers crossed. Paratroopers are arriving at Mornington Island, hopefully I can rest them a day or two. Depends upon the DL that the Allies have.

[Lowpe]

Nov 1942

Very early in the month.

I lost a cheapo PB in the Malacca Straits, I think we had 3-4 sub encounters in that area.

No bombing in at Comilla. Bad weather. Perhaps today.

Allies move in force in two directions in India.

The Oz operation will launch tomorrow, everybody is resting today. I hope to get surprise, but I probably am pushing it in waiting another day.

[Lowpe]

1st Week of November, 1942

At Comilla.

I had been debating about sending in paratroopers to take the supplies. In hindsight, I should have.[:(]

A very nicely executed operation.[:)]

[Lowpe]

The 763rd Tank Battalion in happier days.[:)]

[SqzMyLemon]

Did you bomb with the Nick's and Oscar's at altitude or strafe at 100'?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Did you bomb with the Nick's and Oscar's at altitude or strafe at 100'?

They strafed.

It just feels better.[:)]

[Lowpe]

A sample squadron. Unfortunately, their low ground leaves a lot to be desired. Just imagine the carnage if their low ground was in the 70s.[X(]

[Lowpe]

Nothing at Charter Towers. [X(]

[Lowpe]

On a dark and moonless night in early November, I boats gather north of Sydney.

Unbeknownst to the Allies, Task Force Akagi is near Mornington Island. Her planes and pilots will launch with the dawn.

The 2nd SNLF Paratroopers are aboard their transports. Their mission Top Secret.

Oscars and Kates are lined up at the small Mornington runway alongside a few Babs. Their bomb loads are ready, but the clouds are worrisome.

At Port Moresby, Betties are lining up for takeoff.

On the morrow, we strike at dawn!

[Lowpe]

In other news: Chungking's AA has gone silent. Time to starve them...

The J2M3 starts research today. One size 30 facility with engine bonus. I haven't done the math, but I am guessing a 9/43 start date for the J2M3 and potentially a 10/43 start date for the J2M5. Only 4 squadrons of about 130 total planes, but they will be very good and what is even better -- very early.

[Lowpe]

Jack Bunt rode his horse west to Hughenden from Torrens Creek. The morning air was warm and his pack full of mail. Jack was what passed for authority in these parts. He was a mailman.

Well, to be honest, there was a new authority at Hughenden. A colored detachment of the United States Army was present. They were stockpiling ammunition in 20 ton piles upon the Town Common near the junction of the railroad. Already there were 6 piles of them, and more trains were arriving.

The troops were busy unloading trains, and making piles. When they weren't doing that they worked on firebreaks and controlled burns.

Dangerous as it was, the ammunition would be needed if the Japanese invaded the coast. Although, the papers seemed to think the Japanese had been halted and beat back in the New Hebrides. But, Jack didn't buy it. The blighters were in Port Moresby and had a fort at Horn Island. Everyday there had been reported sightings of Japanese planes, but Jack had yet to see one.

Dangerous times. Jack felt better knowing he had taken precautions. Slung across his back was a SMLE Enfield and at his waist 4 stripper clips of 5 rounds each. Shooting was something every mailman in these parts could do well.

[Lowpe]

In the dark moonless night the IJN heavy Cruisers come calling...walking their shells up and down the runway.

Mines and coastal guns now decorate the environs of Luganville.

[Lowpe]

Near the Cloncurry River, the cattle grazed in the early morning heat while overhead, the drone of engines could be heard. Really, really loud.

Sgt Willis raised his head, from examining his Type C rations, and thought...the runway here is very small. And then the bombs started dropping, whistling, exploding, and it dawned with a sinking realization that Willis was eating next to 6 piles of 20 tonnes of ammunition in the Town Center.

Sgt Willis found religion in that moment.

[Lowpe]

And then the Oscars came, screaming in low, just above the cattle seemingly and Sgt Willis released his hold on Earthly things.

[SqzMyLemon]

You definitely have strategic bombing down pat. I tried three days in a row bombing the resources at Cloncurry with two Sentai's of Sally's totaling 54 bombers. I didn't score a single city hit so I pretty much just gave up even trying to strategic bomb anymore. Maybe next time around I'll get it figured out.

[Lowpe]

A Dutch submarine is horribly damaged by a Japanese bomber...

[Lowpe]

In the distance, in the sky, there were small lazy clouds floating in the sky over Hughenden. Odd, thought Bunt.

The mailman, had had a strange day. Rumors of attacks from Townsville, and even Cloncurry. Who could believe that? Too much sun.

Bunt had his rifle and horse to keep him company as he resumed delivering the mail in the late afternoon. The drone of airplanes could be heard in the distance, coming from Hughenden but the clouds were now much lower. There was no airport there, just another ammunition dump run by the US Army.

Was this a drill?

Then the planes became visible. Twin engined transport planes, but they had a red meatball on each wing.

Oh, my, God! Bunt loaded his Enfield and circled off the road. He would give these nippers the what for!

[Canoerebel]

Did Jack Bunt happen to see Clint Morgan during his travels? Clint was last seen in my AAR wounded on the Kansas prairie, surrounded by hostiles. I haven't been able to find him.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Jack Bunt rode his horse west to Hughenden from Torrens Creek. The morning air was warm and his pack full of mail. Jack was what passed for authority in these parts. He was a mailman.

Well, to be honest, there was a new authority at Hughenden. A colored detachment of the United States Army was present. They were stockpiling ammunition in 20 ton piles upon the Town Common near the junction of the railroad. Already there were 6 piles of them, and more trains were arriving.

The troops were busy unloading trains, and making piles. When they weren't doing that they worked on firebreaks and controlled burns.

Dangerous as it was, the ammunition would be needed if the Japanese invaded the coast. Although, the papers seemed to think the Japanese had been halted and beat back in the New Hebrides. But, Jack didn't buy it. The blighters were in Port Moresby and had a fort at Horn Island. Everyday there had been reported sightings of Japanese planes, but Jack had yet to see one.

Dangerous times. Jack felt better knowing he had taken precautions. Slung across his back was a SMLE Enfield and at his waist 4 stripper clips of 5 rounds each. Shooting was something every mailman in these parts could do well.

[Lowpe]

Captains' Okada and Aoki toasted each other with sake this day!



Now, it is up to the Iboats hugging the coast north of Sydney to ambush the expected Allied response. No moon!

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Captains' Okada and Aoki toasted each other with sake this day!

Sigh, rub it in why don't you. [:D]