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

[Bif1961]

Sorry for your loss. My parents are locked down in an assisted living facility in the thumb of Michigan. Luckily there are only 8 confirmed cases of COVID-19 there.

[Cap Mandrake]

****************Feb 14, 1943(e)**************

SE Asia: JJ sneaks up again on a couple of AKL's unloading supply for the Mexican standoff at Port Blair.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 46,58, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
DD Hayashio
DD Ikazuchi

Allied Ships
xAKL Kwai Sang, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
xAKL De Klerk, Shell hits 22, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

This Kiungshan thing seems unlikely to amount to much but it at least keeps Jap bombers busy.

Morning Air attack on Kiungshan , at 71,61

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 13
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 10

[Cap Mandrake]

Lots of bombers sorties over 44th Indian East of Tavoy

Morning Air attack on 44th Indian Brigade, at 55,60 , near Tavoy

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 14
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 6 damaged

[Cap Mandrake]

We hit back at the bastards who took Nakon

Morning Air attack on 16th Garrison Unit , at 58,61 (Nakhon Ratchasima)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 24

Allied aircraft
P-43A-1 Lancer x 2
Beaufort I x 10
Wellington Ic x 14
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-43A-1 Lancer: 1 destroyed
Beaufort I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Wellington Ic: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
290 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[Cap Mandrake]

Morning Air attack on 21st Division, at 58,61 (Nakhon Ratchasima)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 24

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 22
Hurricane IIc Trop x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 7000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

[Cap Mandrake]

Morning Air attack on 21st Division, at 58,61 (Nakhon Ratchasima)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 19

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 9

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

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

[Cap Mandrake]

Morning Air attack on 16th Garrison Unit , at 58,61 (Nakhon Ratchasima)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
Beaufort I x 10
B-24D Liberator x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[Cap Mandrake]

B-24's can take punishment better than the crappy beauforts.

Morning Air attack on 16th Garrison Unit , at 58,61 (Nakhon Ratchasima)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 4
B-24D Liberator x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[Cap Mandrake]

44th Indian Brigade gives up too easy.

Ground combat at 55,60 (near Tavoy)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12141 troops, 73 guns, 107 vehicles, Assault Value = 470

Defending force 3108 troops, 6 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 128

Japanese adjusted assault: 238

Allied adjusted defense: 119

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
386 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1032 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (5 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
15th Garrison Unit
18th Garrison Unit
14th Tank Regiment
1st RTA/A Division
1st RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
44th Indian Brigade

[Cap Mandrake]

PI: Lots of bomber sorties over Clark and then an arty bombardment.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 498 troops, 22 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 1404

Defending force 33524 troops, 419 guns, 363 vehicles, Assault Value = 751

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 17 (13 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
48th Division
25th Division
68th Division
33rd/A Division
16th Division
33rd/B Division
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
21st PA Infantry Division
31st Infantry Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
31st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
1st Constabulary Regiment
71st PA Infantry Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
4th Constabulary Regiment
209th Field Artillery Battalion
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
35th Avn Sup
501st Coast AA Regiment
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
1st USMC AA Battalion
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
4th PAAC Avn Sup
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
165th Field Artillery Battalion
24th PS FA Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

[Cap Mandrake]

New Guinea and the Sundas: Mostly quiet.

[Cap Mandrake]

********Feb 15, 1943(e)*********

PI:

Cleveland sent back up to Busuanga...still no sign of the KB.

Night Naval bombardment of Busuanga at 77,80

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 11 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Cleveland
DD DeHaven
DD Fletcher

Japanese ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 10
Port hits 3

[Cap Mandrake]

Lots of bombing raids on Clark. Now they are on ground attack.

Morning Air attack on 11th PA Infantry Division, at 79,76 (Clark Field)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 21
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 1 damaged

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

[Cap Mandrake]

JJ spotted our shipping activity at Puerto Princesa.

Morning Air attack on Puerto Princesa , at 73,83

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 22

No Japanese losses

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

We put some bombers back on Mindanao. Really really close.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 85,101

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-29 Hudson x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Ryoka Maru

[Cap Mandrake]

I sent some B-24's and 17's to Davao to hit Busuanga. This was quite effective. Fighters from Cebu

Morning Air attack on Busuanga , at 77,80

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 9

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 22
P-40K Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 7 damaged

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

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 18

[Cap Mandrake]

I sent the AKE to Siquior (NW of Cagayan) and an AK to offload some supply. P-38's andSpits were supposed to cover from Cebu. Something went wrong...most notably the return of Jap carriers.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Siquijor at 78,87

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
A6M3a Zero x 21
B5N2 Kate x 21
D3A1 Val x 30

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
xAK Day Star, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CL Cleveland, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD DeHaven

[Cap Mandrake]

Partial payback. Nice bombing.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Davao at 80,93

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 4

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Tokiwa Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

[Cap Mandrake]

Oh crap. Thought we dodged the big hit at Siquior. REMEMBER THE MAINE!

Maybe Cleveland too.

Afternoon Air attack on Siquijor , at 78,87

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 100
A6M3a Zero x 20
B5N2 Kate x 68
D3A1 Val x 25

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 12 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Cleveland, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Crown City, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Arcata, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Maine, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Fletcher

Port hits 7
Port supply hits 2