A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere

[Cap Mandrake]

**********************May 29, 1942(d)*****************

Doh!

[Cap Mandrake]

Sink ******* adjective carriers: Formah Captain Hiroshi Imazato have-ah expricit instructions..

PROCEED POSITION CROUCHING CRANE 35 NM SE HORN ISRAND PATRORH UNTIRH CONTACT STOP DO NOT ARROW PASSAGE ENEMY VESSURHS AT ANY COST END

[Cap Mandrake]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,129, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 2
DD Kagero
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 1
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 2
DD Hokaze
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 1
DD Kuretake

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
CV Illustrious
CV Formidable
CL Mauritius
CL Newcastle
DD Hammann
DD Helm, Shell hits 1
DD Preston
DD Reid
DD MacDonough
DD Napier
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 1

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CV Formidable at 12,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CV Illustrious at 12,000 yards
DD Wakatake engages CV Formidable at 12,000 yards
CL Newcastle engages CL Tenryu at 12,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages CV Illustrious at 12,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Tjerk Hiddes at 12,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Napier at 12,000 yards
DD Reid engages DD Asagiri at 12,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Preston at 12,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Hammann at 12,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Preston at 12,000 yards
DD Reid engages DD Wakatake at 12,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Mauritius at 12,000 yards
DD Reid engages DD Shikinami at 12,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Napier at 12,000 yards
DD MacDonough engages DD Shikinami at 12,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Reid at 12,000 yards
DD Wakatake engages DD Preston at 12,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Asagiri at 12,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Kuretake at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CV Formidable at 11,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CV Illustrious at 11,000 yards
DD Wakatake engages DD MacDonough at 11,000 yards
CL Newcastle engages CL Tenryu at 11,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Mauritius at 11,000 yards
DD Tjerk Hiddes engages DD Shikinami at 11,000 yards
DD Wakatake engages DD Napier at 11,000 yards
DD Reid engages DD Asagiri at 11,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Preston at 11,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Asagiri at 11,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Kuretake at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CV Formidable at 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CV Illustrious at 7,000 yards
DD Wakatake engages DD Preston at 7,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Helm at 7,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages DD Asagiri at 7,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Tjerk Hiddes at 7,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Helm at 7,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Reid at 7,000 yards
DD Kuretake engages DD Preston at 7,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Helm at 7,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Hammann at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CV Formidable at 12,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Kuretake at 12,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD MacDonough at 12,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Asagiri at 12,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Tjerk Hiddes at 12,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Reid at 12,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Preston at 12,000 yards
DD Wakatake engages DD Helm at 12,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Hammann at 12,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Absorutery pathetic. What-ah about awesome Rong Rance, idiot? So many sprashes around carriers decks covered with anchovies.

[Cap Mandrake]

AMC covah Northern side Horn Isrand but take one up chuff.

Sub attack near Horn Island at 90,127

Japanese Ships
AMC Hokoku Maru, Torpedo hits 1
TB Tomozuru

Allied Ships
SS Halibut, hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Asashio try join up at Torres Strait but run into ******* adjective carriers.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 87,127, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Asashio, Shell hits 4, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
CV Illustrious
CV Formidable
CL Mauritius
CL Newcastle
DD Hammann
DD Helm
DD Preston
DD Reid
DD MacDonough
DD Napier
DD Tjerk Hiddes

[Cap Mandrake]

IJN everything in area with gun.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Gove at 86,128

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AMC Asaka Maru, Bomb hits 1
CM Itsukushima

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

[Cap Mandrake]

Mandarake-san not-ah suppose Bettys fry from reverh 3 (Darwin)?

[Cap Mandrake]

..

[Cap Mandrake]

Situation:

THREE CV's

Escorts probabry row on burets

Somebody nust-ah be row on gasorine

CA force 40 nm behind carriers can make 30 kts but row on gasorine in DD's

Rever 3 AF at Darwin, No air HQ

Refer 4 at Ambon but no aviation support.

Rever 4 at Koepang

IJN carriers 22 hexes behind

[Chickenboy]

Chickenboy-san raff and raff!

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Situation:

THREE CV's

Escorts probabry row on burets

Somebody nust-ah be row on gasorine

CA force 40 nm behind carriers can make 30 kts but row on gasorine in DD's
Split out CAs and damn the torpedoes! (They actually did that at Midway...)

Rever 3 AF at Darwin, No air HQ

Refer 4 at Ambon but no aviation support.

Rever 4 at Koepang

IJN carriers 22 hexes behind

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Chickenboy-san raff and raff!

****************Seaside Virra, Truk Ragoon*************


Southern Freet Chief Counsurh: Position of Imperiarh Japan-mens Navy targeted assassination anyone with Japan-mens accent permissiburh but very important have prausiburh deniabirity. Personarry, best approach probabry drowning accident with heavy weights but not-ah hear this from Hata-san. Watah pretty deep by Phirripines.

[Cap Mandrake]

*******************May 30, 1942(d)******************

Prease to not-ah make fun of Japan-mens navy.

Pursuit of F****** Adjective Carriers: Dutch-mens rittah ship detached perhaps because run out of gas or perhaps to srow down Japan-mens bitchen cruisers.
Tjerk act rike compretah jerk. Akebono ratah go grub grub


Night Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 87,127, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Kinugasa
DD Akebono, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Bitchen Japan-mens crusiers catch up and forrow correct path but Akebono rit up rike Roman candurh. Vice Admirarh Kawasaki comprete pussy. Next time use Admirarh Yamaha.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 87,126, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 3
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 1
DD Akebono, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable, Shell hits 1
CV Illustrious, Shell hits 1, on fire
CV Formidable
CL Mauritius
CL Newcastle, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hammann, Shell hits 1
DD Helm, Shell hits 1
DD Preston
DD Reid
DD MacDonough
DD Napier

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Mauritius at 12,000 yards
CA Tone engages CV Illustrious at 12,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Akebono at 12,000 yards
CA Tone engages DD MacDonough at 12,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Preston at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Tone engages CV Formidable at 11,000 yards
CA Tone engages CV Illustrious at 11,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Hammann at 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Preston at 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Napier at 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD MacDonough at 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Reid at 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Helm at 11,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Akebono at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CV Formidable at 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages CV Formidable at 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages CV Indomitable at 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages CL Mauritius at 7,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Akebono at 7,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Reid at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Mochizuki at 7,000 yards
Ammo storage explosion on CV Illustrious
CA Tone engages CV Illustrious at 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages CL Newcastle at 7,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages CA Tone at 7,000 yards
DD Reid engages DD Akebono at 7,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Preston at 7,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Mochizuki at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Akebono at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CV Formidable at 11,000 yards
CA Tone engages CV Formidable at 11,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Hammann at 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD MacDonough at 11,000 yards
CA Tone engages CL Mauritius at 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD MacDonough at 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Hammann at 11,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

[Cap Mandrake]

At-ah reast Tichibana guy have pair of barrs. Irrustrious burning.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Wessel Islands at 85,125, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Kiyosumi Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
CV Illustrious, heavy fires
CV Formidable
CL Mauritius
CL Newcastle, on fire
DD Hammann
DD Helm
DD Preston
DD Reid
DD MacDonough
DD Napier

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Tachibana, Masao crosses the 'T'
AMC Kiyosumi Maru engages CV Formidable at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
AMC Kiyosumi Maru engages DD MacDonough at 7,000 yards
DD Preston engages AMC Kiyosumi Maru at 7,000 yards
AMC Kiyosumi Maru engages DD Helm at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CV Formidable , CV Illustrious , CV Indomitable screened from combat
- escorted by DD Napier , DD MacDonough , DD Reid ,
DD Preston , DD Helm , DD Hammann
CL Newcastle engages AMC Kiyosumi Maru at 5,000 yards
AMC Kiyosumi Maru engages CL Mauritius at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CV Formidable screened from combat
- escorted by DD Napier , DD MacDonough , DD Reid ,
DD Preston , DD Helm , DD Hammann
AMC Kiyosumi Maru engages CV Illustrious at 8,000 yards
AMC Kiyosumi Maru engages CV Indomitable at 8,000 yards
CL Newcastle engages AMC Kiyosumi Maru at 8,000 yards
AMC Kiyosumi Maru engages CL Mauritius at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CV Formidable , CV Illustrious , CV Indomitable screened from combat
- escorted by DD Napier , DD MacDonough , DD Reid ,
DD Preston , DD Helm , DD Hammann
CL Newcastle engages AMC Kiyosumi Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages AMC Kiyosumi Maru at 10,000 yards
Tachibana, Masao orders Japanese TF to disengage
Tachibana, Masao orders Japanese TF to disengage
Task forces break off...

[Cap Mandrake]

Kongo Maru bunch of pussies.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Wessel Islands at 84,124, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Kongo Maru
CM Tsubame

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
CV Illustrious, heavy fires
CV Formidable
CL Mauritius
CL Newcastle, on fire
DD Hammann
DD Helm
DD Preston
DD Reid
DD MacDonough
DD Napier

[Cap Mandrake]

Ummm...nice escort but what-ah hahppen to othah 40 Betty on Ambon?

Morning Air attack on TF, near Bathurst Island at 78,121

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 18
Martlet II x 20
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 2 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Formidable

[Cap Mandrake]

Tonga Isrands: Arried-dogs sneak engineers into Vaaa'a'a'vuuaa'aa and send cruisers to protect. Japan-mens bitchen crusiers kick ass.

Canberra and Java reported sunk. Java confirmed.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Vava'u at 141,165, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
CA Nachi, Shell hits 2
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1
CL Kitakami
DD Nenohi
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
CL Java, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Blue
DD Smith

And..nice finare

Night Naval bombardment of Vava'u at 141,165

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 5 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Nachi
CA Chokai
CL Kitakami
DD Ariake
DD Nenohi

Allied ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26
Port hits 14
Port supply hits 7

Daytime gunnery batturh. Ariake probabry make Suva OK

Day Time Surface Combat, near Vava'u at 141,165, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2
CA Nachi, Shell hits 1
CA Aoba
CL Kitakami
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 2
DD Ariake, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Java, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Blue, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Smith, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

[Cap Mandrake]

Probabry 2 more days to hit with rand based air unress Arried-dogs have enough gas to sprint. KB 19 hexes back...make up 5 hexes yestahday. Hiryu in orange...might have to detach tomorrow. One partiarry firred oirer at Kopeang.

[Cap Mandrake]

Serious charrenge evacuate....err.....redeproy everyone from Austraia. Very important to shut down Rockhampton AF. Probabry have to sacrifice some rearguard units to srow down giant horde of Arried divisions come up coast road.