April 21, 1942
Operation FUDD--No Longer in Cloud Cuckoo Land
"Cloud Cuckoo Land refers to an
unrealistically idealistic state where everything is perfect. ("You're living in cloud cuckoo land, mate.") It hints that the person referred to is naïve, unaware of reality or deranged in holding such an optimistic belief.
The reference comes from The Birds,[1] a play by Aristophanes in which Tereus helps Pisthetairos (which can be translated as "Mr. Trusting") and Euelpides ("Mr. Hopeful") erect a perfect city in the clouds, to be named Cloud Cuckoo Land.
Uses in politics
--Adolf Hitler used the phrase in Mein Kampf to describe the proposals of his political opponents.
--Margaret Thatcher famously used this phrase in the 1980s, reflecting the values of the time: "The ANC is a typical terrorist organisation... Anyone who thinks it is going to run the government in South Africa is living in cloud-cuckoo land."
--Paul Krugman used the phrase referring to inadequate German economic politics toward failing members of the European Union: "Basically, it seems that even as the euro approaches a critical juncture, senior German officials are living in Wolkenkuckucksheim — cloud-cuckoo land.""
Wikipedia
There is an American idiom--"gettin' busy"--which has varied meanings your correspondent will not delve into, but it applies to today. Folks were gotten busy upon and in return granted busyness to the Allies. Some actions went one way and some the other. At the end of the day though, it is clear that Operation FUDD has thrown off its air of inevitability and entered the next phase of scrambling and ad hoc action to salvage the effort. Much depends on the next 48 game hours and the IJN air force.
1) In the night phase it is discovered that "the cruisers" did not hie off to the south, but were in fact the TF seen yesterday in Rangoon. A strong force, they intercept the tiny minesweepers heading for Pegu to scout, and maul them.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 11,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CL Isuzu
CL Tama
DD Hayashio
Allied Ships
AM Ballarat, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
KV Auricula, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
KV Nigella, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
(sinks later)
AM Poole
2) Proving that IJN subs have been lurking, I-164 shoots at xAK Catrine, but misses. DD Fortune prosecutes the sub, but it slips away. Sufficient ASW is around for the Allies, but it is not a top priority.
Possibly thinking that Allied subs are about as well (they are not; they're south, in the Strait) a lone IJN DD is found and dispatched by the RN. Screenshot already posted.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 23,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
Allied Ships
BB Revenge
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Ramillies
BB Resolution
CL Enterprise
DD Fortune
DE Sutlej
Only 10 hits are needed to generate a magazine explosion which sinks the vessel, leaving most of the BBs in good shape ammo-wise.
3) Allied worries that the landing forces will once again flee are removed as the troops do start going ashore in the night phase. Three full phases of unload are achieved for two of them, and one phase for a third. CD efforts are weak, and suppressed by the many cruisers which do fit up-river. But the supporting gunfire begins to reveal a troubling set of data--more LCUs are present than any recon previously revealed. As infantry and light tanks stream ashore the escorts continue to pound the landing zones. Allied losses are light. The primary landing division had 100% prep, but the supporting units only about 40%, but reported disruption is not bad. This is a large port, not an atoll. Still, it would be nice to have the Corps HQ now resting on the bottom of the Bay of B.
A new, never-before-heard recording of Orphan Ann is heard by the Allies. (After four years this game still surprises.) I had never amphib invaded Rangoon in a previous game. A new "warning" is issued; "thousands" of my soldiers will soon be floating to shore according to Ann.
4) One very bad moment occurs when the IJN heavy cruiser TF, ignored so far by the BBs and all of the carrier air, encounters another TF headed in, more lightly escorted than the first wave. Fortunately, either the randoms or the ops points smile on the Allies, and no fighting occurs.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 21,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CL Isuzu
CL Tama
DD Hayashio
Allied Ships
CL Emerald
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Nizam
xAP Devonshire
xAKL Nanchang
xAKL Wosang
xAKL Nordhval
xAP Aorangi
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 21,000 yards
Japanese TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 21,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat
5) Down in the Strait the IJN TF assumed yesterday to be headed for Georgetown instead has continued on, giving excellent intel that this is the probable route for ingress to Rangoon. S-39 is attacked in shallow water by DD Yamakaze, but escapes. Ahead for the TF are some mines and more subs. But even if it transits safely valauable information is gained. It is unclear if this ship is alone or if the rest are simply unsighted.
6) Air phase activity near Rangoon is extremely intense. Japan has seen the danger and throws everyting it can (really, everything) at the invaders. This screen shot shows a Mavis bombing run by 12 attackers.
Won't detail each raid. They are varied. Mostly Oscars and Zeros atacking low, with cannon, MG, and light bombs. Many lost as they bore in on cruisers with good AA, but some system damage accrues and a few 60kg bombs hit. They also attack HMS Hermes, but are refused. The Martlets and Sea Hurricanes give a good account of themselves. My figures show 8 Oscars, 3 Zeroes, 1 Nell destroyed, with over a score damaged. Fleet Air Arm looses about five plus ops losses. By the time the Mavis strike comes in the carrier CAP is exhausted; the lumbering beasts get a pass. Attack vectors are all around the compass--Rangoon, up-country Burma, Pegu-ish, the bombers look like Bangkok. Have to assume there is no torpedo HQ locally. Singers still gets plastered by bombers today; if this force shifts north it's not good.
The third RN carrier joins up, giving the Air TF three. I'm uncertain if this force can stay inshore another day now that at least what might be a "hold" force is ashore at Rangoon. Much depends on actual CAP damage.
7) In the midst of wave after wave of Japanese attacks (did I mention MAVISES?!!!!), the RN gets off a juicy TB strike from the carriers. "Here we go!" I think (the cat not being interested), but alas. Well, here it is. Twenty Albacores . . .
Morning Air attack on TF, near Moulmein at 54,55
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 20
Fulmar II x 2
Sea Hurricane Ib x 5
Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CL Tama
CL Isuzu
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Fulmar II bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
6 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
8 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
6 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
8) The Allies sit pat at Rangoon, but Japan bombards. A free intel read, and it's chilling. HOW was Allied recon so poor? All of these units participate in the shelling, so they are not just in from the north or east, still in strat mode. I am doing something seriously wrong with my air recon missions. Have to look hard at that. Still, looking deeper into the results, it looks like the armor units at least may be damaged refugees from up by Toungoo. Despite so many LCUs the attack numbers are modest for Japan. The Allied units unloading are good, especially the Aussie 7th Div. If Bassein can be opened and if the on-coming marching units get to Prome in time FUDD may still hold together. The enemy stack coming south from Toungoo is bombed with everything scrape-able, but I'm not sure it is mode-knocked. The Allies need to take Rangoon fast and get the terrain bonus onboard before this stack arrives.
Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 7574 troops,
64 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 775
Defending force 1122 troops, 41 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 110
Assaulting units:
16th Guards Regiment
15th Guards Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
112th Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
5th Guards Engineer Regiment
3rd RTA Division
5th Guards Cav Regiment
15th JAAF AF Bn
55th Const Co
7th JAAF Base Force
15th Army
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
29th JAAF AF Coy
Defending units:
B Sqn 3rd Hussars Rgt /2
7th Armoured Bde /2
19th Indian Div /1
7th Australian Div /1
21st Light AA Rgt /2
9) Elsewhere . . .
Sea of Japan patrols pulled out to cool off the ASW zone. USS Grayback continues to build her rep as the unluckiest boat in the Force as she shoots at an xAK and duds x4 again near Toyohara. Then shoots and misses x4 against a 2-DD ASW TF.
The recent CAP relo to Singers (since pulled back to Batavia) seems to have made Japan jumpy. Almost 90 fighters sweep open skies. Glad they're not at Rangoon. Then the bombing. 47 heavy bombers. Usual flak losses.
Allies bomb "stopper tanks" in the Chinese mountains and destroy another.
Chengtu gets medium bombing. No real effect. Forty planes are used to achieve 1 supply hit, 2 airbase, and 4 runway. There are no planes at this base.
Port Blair airfield goes to Level 5. Pearl Harbor forts go to 7.
