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

[Cap Mandrake]

***********March 30, 1943(e)*********

<Aboard LCT 149, 43 NM SSE Babar>

Sparks: Eagle Feather calling War Bonnet. Eagle Feather calling War Bonnet, over. ZZZZZZZZZccchzzzzz. DAMNIT! <smacks the MkVII(a) with a wrench> Goddmanded thing hasn't worked for three days. LT! NO LUCK ON RAISING DARWIN.....What was that?

[Cap Mandrake]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 76,119, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
DD Akizuki
DD Hamakaze
DD Wakaba

Allied Ships
LCT-149, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

F4F sqd had crappy morale so they were sent back to Darwin to "rest". This was a risk stripping Darwin like this but it does have good AAA and there are many ships to absorb hits....which is mostly what happens. Cape Alava went above and beyond on the absorption thingy.

Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
A6M3a Zero x 69
A6M5 Zero x 38
B5N2 Kate x 109
B6N1 Jill x 17

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 6 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B6N1 Jill: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP James B. McPherson, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Lowana, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Glenapp, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Clan Mactaggart, Bomb hits 1
xAP Cape Alava, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
SS KXIII, Bomb hits 2
SS Amberjack, Bomb hits 1
AP President Adams, Bomb hits 1
AP William Ward Burrows, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Goulburn, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Gideon Welles, Bomb hits 1
AS Zuiderkruis, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Tantalus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AKE Golden Gate, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Edwin Markham, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AS Platypus, Bomb hits 1
xAP Zachary Taylor, Bomb hits 1
AKE Donald McKay, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Port hits 3
Port supply hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Odd for Kates to participate in a fighter sweep.

Afternoon Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 83 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3a Zero x 17
B5N2 Kate x 2

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

What the Hell? How did they miss all the mines? Crappy shooting by the CD guns as well.

Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-70 Havoc: 11 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 damaged
Wirraway: 3 damaged
Wirraway: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

48 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 3
CA Tone
DD Wakaba, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hamakaze
DD Akizuki, Shell hits 1

Allied ground losses:
202 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 18 (4 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Airbase hits 21
Runway hits 34
Port hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Rabaul: Almost over at Rabaul. JJ is fading just with shore bombardment and arty duels. We suspend further landings. Don't want any more squads falling in the water.

Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5327 troops, 106 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 179

Defending force 26731 troops, 470 guns, 692 vehicles, Assault Value = 972

Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
11th Garrison Unit
3rd JNAF AF Unit
2nd JNAF AF Unit
44th Field AA Battalion
39th Field AA Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
11th RF Gun Battalion
20th Port Unit
1st Ship Engineer Regiment
15th Base Force
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
103rd Ship Eng Coy
38th Field AA Battalion
17th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
7th SA Armoured Brigade
164th Infantry Regiment
102nd Cmbt Engineer Regiment
9th Australian/A Division
53rd (Sep) Infantry Regiment
2nd Marine/B Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
9th Australian/C Division
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd Marine/A Division
14th NZ Brigade
131st Cmbt Engineer Regiment
2nd Marine/C Division
249th Field Artillery Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Pioneer Battalion

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

***********March 30, 1943(e)*********

<Aboard LCT 149, 43 NM SSE Babar>

Sparks: Eagle Feather calling War Bonnet. Eagle Feather calling War Bonnet, over. ZZZZZZZZZccchzzzzz. DAMNIT! <smacks the MkVII(a) with a wrench> Goddmanded thing hasn't worked for three days. LT! NO LUCK ON RAISING DARWIN.....What was that?

More than you ever wanted to know about a B29 radio on this electronic enthusiasts youtube channel. About a half hour. For serious grognards with no life only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74ZynoXL1xA

[RangerJoe]

Take a pencil eraser and clean the contacts for the radio antenna and the microphone. It also works for cable television as well. [;)]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

F4F sqd had crappy morale so they were sent back to Darwin to "rest". This was a risk stripping Darwin like this but it does have good AAA and there are many ships to absorb hits....which is mostly what happens. Cape Alava went above and beyond on the absorption thingy.

Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
A6M3a Zero x 69
A6M5 Zero x 38
B5N2 Kate x 109
B6N1 Jill x 17

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 6 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B6N1 Jill: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP James B. McPherson, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Lowana, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Glenapp, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Clan Mactaggart, Bomb hits 1
xAP Cape Alava, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
SS KXIII, Bomb hits 2
SS Amberjack, Bomb hits 1
AP President Adams, Bomb hits 1
AP William Ward Burrows, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Goulburn, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Gideon Welles, Bomb hits 1
AS Zuiderkruis, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Tantalus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AKE Golden Gate, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Edwin Markham, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AS Platypus, Bomb hits 1
xAP Zachary Taylor, Bomb hits 1
AKE Donald McKay, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Port hits 3
Port supply hits 1

Destroyed a Kate, too!

[Cap Mandrake]

3 of 8 new moms I saw at the hospital yesterday were COVID +. [X(] Two had mild symptoms and were recovering. 1 had no symptoms. Babies were negative so far. The community prevalence must be very high.

[Cap Mandrake]

******************March 31, 1943(e)*************

Darwin theater: JJ gets a lucky hit on Arizona at night. West Va is being pumped out. KB disappears.

Night Air attack on Dobo , at 83,116

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 77 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Darwin has the snazzy new P-70's

Night Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 65 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 17

Allied aircraft
P-70 Havoc x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

PI:After fighter sweeps, air to ground attacks at Clark.

Morning Air attack on 31st PA Infantry Division, at 79,76 (Clark Field)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-36 Ida x 9
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 10
Ki-51 Sonia x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-36 Ida: 6 damaged
Ki-36 Ida: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-51 Sonia: 5 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed by flak

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

[Cap Mandrake]

Another big attack at Clark but the arrival of Br 54 Brigade and 30 Shermans makes a big difference.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36142 troops, 406 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 876

Defending force 38917 troops, 476 guns, 368 vehicles, Assault Value = 986

Japanese adjusted assault: 372

Allied adjusted defense: 2971

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
5468 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 480 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Guns lost 26 (2 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
887 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
25th Division
33rd Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
14th/B Division
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
31st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regiment
54th British Brigade
51st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
71st PA Infantry Division
103rd PA Infantry Regiment
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd PA Infantry Regiment
4th Constabulary Regiment
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
24th PS FA Regiment
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
Clark Field AAF Base Force
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
4th PAAC Avn Sup
501st Coast AA Regiment
165th Field Artillery Battalion
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Another big attack at Clark but the arrival of Br 54 Brigade and 30 Shermans makes a big difference.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36142 troops, 406 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 876

Defending force 38917 troops, 476 guns, 368 vehicles, Assault Value = 986

Japanese adjusted assault: 372

Allied adjusted defense: 2971

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
5468 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 480 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Guns lost 26 (2 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
887 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
25th Division
33rd Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
14th/B Division
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
31st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regiment
54th British Brigade
51st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
71st PA Infantry Division
103rd PA Infantry Regiment
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd PA Infantry Regiment
4th Constabulary Regiment
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
24th PS FA Regiment
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
Clark Field AAF Base Force
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
4th PAAC Avn Sup
501st Coast AA Regiment
165th Field Artillery Battalion
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

I don't think that he will ever take Clark.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Another big attack at Clark but the arrival of Br 54 Brigade and 30 Shermans makes a big difference.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36142 troops, 406 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 876

Defending force 38917 troops, 476 guns, 368 vehicles, Assault Value = 986

Japanese adjusted assault: 372

Allied adjusted defense: 2971

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
5468 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 480 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Guns lost 26 (2 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
887 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
25th Division
33rd Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
14th/B Division
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
31st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regiment
54th British Brigade
51st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
71st PA Infantry Division
103rd PA Infantry Regiment
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd PA Infantry Regiment
4th Constabulary Regiment
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
24th PS FA Regiment
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
Clark Field AAF Base Force
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
4th PAAC Avn Sup
501st Coast AA Regiment
165th Field Artillery Battalion
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

I don't think that he will ever take Clark.

It will come down to supply. Getting sketchy on our side.


Bataan at 7700 and Clark at 20. The artillery attacks and air attacks consume quite a bit of our supply.

[Cap Mandrake]

Maybe I should get all engineers out of Clark so they don't waste supply repairing the AF?

[Cap Mandrake]

I sent more subs and some LCT's and Apc's coming up from New Ireland. See if we can barge some in from Palawan

[Cap Mandrake]

Jap defense of Boela has stymied the push toward Mindanao via the Banda Sea. The reduction of of Rabaul and New Ireland now permits pushing up the North coast of New Guinea. I started troops prepping for Yap, Wolei, Beazelbob and Truk.

[RangerJoe]

If you are not flying from Clark, then there is no need to repair the airfield unless you are building forts. If you do fly from Clark, then you will need the engineers unless you other ground units have them. If you are not flying from Clark, then you also don't need the air support. If you fly occassionally from Clark, then you need to keep the airfield repaired.

But if you have built up Bataan's airfield and have AAA there plus CD guns and mines, then you may not need Clark's airfield. In that case, I would move the aviation support units to Bataan and not worry about Clark's airfield. Keep the supplies flowing to Bataan and some will trickle to Clark and it only takes one unit of supply to have the unit a full effectiveness.

How soon can you push a larger convoy through to Clark? Retake parts of Luzon or some island bases in the Sulu Sea?