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

[Cap Mandrake]

With at least 6 carriers (probably more) and 450 carrier A/C accounted for I am going to try to run in some more supplies to Sumatra.

[Cap Mandrake]

I hope I don't jinx her but Arizona seems to have escaped Taberfane and is now screaming along at 4 kts!

[Cap Mandrake]

**********April 16, 1943(e)*******

The plan worked PERFECTLY......up to a point.

Everyone was to show up at Hollandia under the fighter umbrella and shoot down Jap planes....

Morning Air attack on TF, near Hollandia at 93,116

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 28
A6M5 Zero x 107
A6M5b Zero x 26
B5N2 Kate x 41
D3A1 Val x 15
D4Y1 Judy x 11

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 13
Hurricane IIc Trop x 4
Spitfire Vc Trop x 11
P-38G Lightning x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 30
P-40K Warhawk x 35
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 11 destroyed, 14 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 6 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu
DD Stanly
AM Katoomba, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APc-30, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Farenholt
APc-28
CL Richmond
DD Nicholas

Nice!

[Cap Mandrake]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Sarmi at 91,114

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Sarmi??? What?? No! Hory crap!

Morning Air attack on TF, near Sarmi at 91,114

Weather in hex: Severe storms

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 10
B5N2 Kate x 49
B6N1 Jill x 9
B6N2 Jill x 9
D3A1 Val x 15
D4Y1 Judy x 45
D4Y3 Judy x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 13 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B6N1 Jill: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 8 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Santa Fe, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Denver, Bomb hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Eaton
DD Fletcher
DD Bache, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Perth

[Cap Mandrake]

OK, what idiot left the Remain on Station button on?

[Cap Mandrake]

Hehe. The AI is deliberately spreading out the bad news with the good news so I don't throw the laptop against the wall. I'm not sure the paint is even dry on those Judys.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Hollandia at 93,116

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 142 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 19
D4Y1 Judy x 35

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 6
Hurricane IIc Trop x 4
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-38G Lightning x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 14
P-40K Warhawk x 17
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
F4U-1 Corsair x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 9 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Nicholas
DD Abbot

[Cap Mandrake]

Back at Sarmi

You can't trust the staff.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sarmi at 91,114

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 98 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 27
A6M5 Zero x 30
B5N2 Kate x 15
D3A1 Val x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 14 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CL Santa Fe, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Fletcher
CL Perth
DD O'Bannon, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Eaton

Denver and 2 DD's sunk. [:@]

[Cap Mandrake]

JJ has not given up on Biak, either. A naval Guard unit is landing.

Amphibious Assault at Biak (87,110)

TF 60 troops unloading over beach at Biak, 87,110

Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

15 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 89th Nav Gd /3

[Cap Mandrake]

Satisfyingly massive hemorrhage of carrier bombers. May even be worth the sacrifice of USS Denver.

[Cap Mandrake]

Indochina: Br 70 Div decides to break out of march column in the open 1 hex west of Pakse and this provokes a frenzy of attacks but the RAF and RAAF lads at Pakse come to their aid.

Morning Air attack on 70th British Division, at 62,64 , near Pakse

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 23,560 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 56

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 18
Kittyhawk III x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

Some planes get through after that huge sweep with Tojos.

Morning Air attack on 70th British Division, at 62,64 , near Pakse

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 61 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 4
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 33
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 25

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 5
Kittyhawk III x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 4 damaged
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 8 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

[Cap Mandrake]

Morning Air attack on 70th British Division, at 62,64 , near Pakse

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 18

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 8 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

[Cap Mandrake]

Vinh gets bombarded by sea and air again.

Our airfields in Sumatra get pulverized again

[Cap Mandrake]

Clark is attacked heavily with sweeps but 6 Corsairs from Bataan shoot down dozens of planes. Everyone in the squadron must be an ace by now

[Cap Mandrake]

Almost

[Cap Mandrake]

***************April 17, 1943(e)*************

New Guinea: JJ gives up on the carrier attacks for the day and detaches some heavies to attack Hollandia at night. A CL and DD from Sarmi have joined the Hollandia TF

Night Time Surface Combat, near Hollandia at 93,116, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Shell hits 5
DD Naganami
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1
DD Hamakaze
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 1
CL Richmond
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Fletcher
DD Abbot
DD Aulick, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Conway, Shell hits 1
DD Jenkins
DD Nicholas
DD Stanly
DD Farenholt

Improved night sighting under 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 92% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Asakura, Bunji crosses the 'T'
CL Perth engages BB Musashi at 11,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages DD Hamakaze at 11,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages CL Honolulu at 11,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Naganami at 11,000 yards
DD Nicholas engages DD Naganami at 11,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Jenkins at 11,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Conway at 11,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Oyashio at 11,000 yards
DD Abbot engages DD Hamakaze at 11,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Fletcher at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Honolulu at 7,000 yards
CL Richmond engages BB Musashi at 7,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Perth at 7,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Farenholt at 7,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Naganami at 7,000 yards
DD Nicholas engages DD Oyashio at 7,000 yards
DD Jenkins engages DD Hamakaze at 7,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Conway at 7,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Fletcher at 7,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Honolulu at 7,000 yards
CL Richmond engages DD Yugiri at 7,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Perth at 7,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Oyashio at 7,000 yards
DD Stanly engages DD Oyashio at 7,000 yards
DD Nicholas engages DD Naganami at 7,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Conway at 7,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Aulick at 7,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Abbot at 7,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Fletcher at 7,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Honolulu at 7,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Richmond at 7,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Perth at 7,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Farenholt at 7,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Stanly at 7,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Nicholas at 7,000 yards
DD Jenkins engages DD Oyashio at 7,000 yards
DD Yugiri sunk by DD Conway at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Honolulu at 5,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Richmond at 5,000 yards
CL Perth engages BB Musashi at 5,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Conway at 5,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Stanly at 5,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Nicholas at 5,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Jenkins at 5,000 yards
DD Conway engages DD Hamakaze at 5,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Aulick at 5,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Abbot at 5,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Fletcher at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Honolulu at 7,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Richmond at 7,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Fletcher at 7,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Farenholt at 7,000 yards
DD Stanly engages DD Oyashio at 7,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Jenkins at 7,000 yards
DD Conway engages DD Naganami at 7,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Aulick at 7,000 yards
DD Fletcher engages DD Hamakaze at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Musashi engages CL Honolulu at 12,000 yards
DD Fletcher engages DD Hamakaze at 12,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Aulick at 12,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Farenholt at 12,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Stanly at 12,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Nicholas at 12,000 yards
DD Naganami engages DD Jenkins at 12,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Naganami at 12,000 yards
DD Fletcher engages DD Oyashio at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Go figure. Our torpedoes work now.

[Cap Mandrake]

I put some barges out to draw in carrier attacks. Instead they bait in some CA's

Night Time Surface Combat, near Hollandia at 93,116, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
DD Yugumo
DD Kagero
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Matsukaze
DD Oite

Allied Ships
LCT-58, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
LCT-59
LCT-60
LCT-61, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC-699, Shell hits 1
YMS-86, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
APc-28, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
APc-31, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
APc-38, Shell hits 2, on fire
APc-39

[Cap Mandrake]

Nice. We must be running low on ammo.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Hollandia at 93,116, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Wakaba, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mikazuki, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CL Perth
CL Richmond, Shell hits 1
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Abbot
DD Aulick, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Conway
DD Jenkins, Shell hits 2
DD Nicholas
DD Stanly
DD Farenholt

[Cap Mandrake]

Jap CA's still about. Perth wrecked. Honolulu sunk and one DD. Two Jap DD's wrecked. Transports and AF protected.

JJ gives up the field. We win on a technicality.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Hollandia at 93,116, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 2
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 2
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kagero
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Oite

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Richmond, Shell hits 1
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Abbot, Shell hits 2
DD Aulick, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Conway, Shell hits 1
DD Jenkins, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nicholas, Shell hits 1
DD Stanly, Shell hits 1
DD Farenholt

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Jap CA's still about. Perth wrecked. Honolulu sunk and one DD. Two Jap DD's wrecked. Transports and AF protected.

JJ gives up the field. We win on a technicality.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Hollandia at 93,116, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 2
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 2
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kagero
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Oite

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Richmond, Shell hits 1
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Abbot, Shell hits 2
DD Aulick, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Conway, Shell hits 1
DD Jenkins, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nicholas, Shell hits 1
DD Stanly, Shell hits 1
DD Farenholt

Oh, well ... you'll always have Richmond! [:D]