Bring me the head of Diego Garcia...and the Mayor of Addu Atoll too!

[Cap Mandrake]

Look at this awesome collection of firepower at Toungoo. They are a little dinged up but still pretty damned impressive. Evidentry they have stopped to derouse and then ......

[sprior]

Meanwhile, on a quarterdeck somewhere.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Meanwhile, on a quarterdeck somewhere.

Casual readers might think that Sub Lt. Byron just needs to be deroused...but they would be wrong.

[Cap Mandrake]

Due to the heavy build-up of forces, Batan Is. approaches a dangerous geographic tipping point.


***********Thirteenth Air Force HQ, Batan Is., May 22, 1943(c)********

Gen Twining, CIC, Thirteenth Air Force: Tip over? That can't really happen, can it?

Col. Hank Johnson Sr, G2: Yes, sir, it is our estimation it might as we approach 30,000 troops.

Gen Twining, CIC, Thirteenth Air Force: Well, what if we just kinda' spread out?

[Cap Mandrake]

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=rep ... D5EFC498C7

[:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

Wait, you don't think Hank Johnson Sr. is working for Herr Hitler?

Hory Crap! I have wet spot after watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAEqXubT21I

[Cap Mandrake]

The build-up at Karenko. Another 2500 men of 158th RCT tried to get ashore last night. No arty ashore yet. It's 3 81mm mortars, 30 M-10's and light infantry/commandos. JJ's strength is up to 11K with some ronsons.

The good news is the airfield is now 65% ready. When we have a fighter strip, we can bring ashore some serious fighting power via APA/AK.

USS Washington arrives at Batan Is today (to weigh down one side of the island)

North Carolina and Massachusetts are finally repaired and left Manado today. We will have surface superiority in theater shortly.

[Cap Mandrake]

************May 22, 1943(c)***********

Formosa: WJD transports were spied moving West about 120 mi from Taihoku. Taihoku mouseover showed 2 BB's. This was not credible..so Newcastle and 3 USN DD's were ordered to raid the harbor (Somerville in charge). A pleasant time was had by all. There is the awkward bit about why a RN cruiser is operating near Formosa. I think she was in the repair yard until recently. [:)]

YEEEHAW!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Taihoku at 88,62, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Banshu Maru #56, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAKL Columbia Maru
xAKL Kinkasan Maru
xAKL Nissen Maru #2, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Reiyo Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAKL Saiko Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
xAKL Shoan Maru
xAKL Shuko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Yamakuni Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAKL Buyo Maru
xAKL Heiku Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAKL Kamishima Maru, Shell hits 2
xAKL Kyuei Maru
xAKL Ronsan Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Saiho Maru, Shell hits 12, heavy fires
PB Seki Maru #3, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

And, I think this was actually a second convoy..with troops aboard too.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Taihoku at 88,62, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Ryoyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Kokuryu Maru, Shell hits 10
xAK Bingo Maru, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Neikai Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Sanura Maru
xAK Toyu Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAK Zyuyo Maru, Shell hits 2
PB Kensyo Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
PB Hitora Maru, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAP Hakone Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
SC Ch 36, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Newcastle
DD Bache
DD Helm
DD Conyngham

Japanese ground losses:
221 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Now, stripped of escorts...well, it seems unsporting...OK, we're over it. Payback for intercepting our LCT's the last few days.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Taihoku at 88,62, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Ryoyo Maru, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kokuryu Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Bingo Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Neikai Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
xAK Sanura Maru, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Toyu Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Zyuyo Maru, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hakone Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Newcastle
DD Bache, Shell hits 1
DD Helm
DD Conyngham

Japanese ground losses:
2845 casualties reported
Squads: 92 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 66 destroyed, 50 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 41 (39 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Somerville plows on toward Taihoku. JJ puts up a stiff fight.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Taihoku at 87,63, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hagikaze
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 1
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 4, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Newcastle, Shell hits 5
DD Bache
DD Helm, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Conyngham

Sealion picks off a cripple.

Submarine attack near Taihoku at 90,62

Japanese Ships
xAK Neikai Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Sealion

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

A regiment of 17th Div, IJA is discovered at Karenko. Our lads get ashore safely.

[Cap Mandrake]

USS Colorado, having sailed all the way from Perth to Los Angeles, to spend a couple of months in dry dock from a torpedo hit and then to sail all the way back across the Pacific, through the Torres Strait is one day away from Batan Is. to take up bombardment duty.....and.....

Sub attack near Catbalogan at 84,84

Japanese Ships
SS I-27

Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Torpedo hits 1
DD Endicott
DD Mahan

[Cap Mandrake]

Luzon: The retreated WJD forces west of Aparri are pursued. After this, likely 2nd Div can rest and the armour take over.

Ground combat at 81,73 (near Aparri)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11180 troops, 308 guns, 323 vehicles, Assault Value = 427

Defending force 4674 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 72

Allied adjusted assault: 323

Japanese adjusted defense: 121

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1647 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 75 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 17 (6 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
2/10th Armoured Regiment
2nd British Division

Defending units:
Kure 7th SNLF
5th Makapili Regiment
40th JAAF AF Bn
22nd JNAF AF Unit
4th JNAF AF Unit
178th JAAF AF Bn

[zuluhour]

[:D][:D][:D][X(]

[sprior]

Happy Trafalgar Day everyone

[Cap Mandrake]

Burma: Some Vengeance drivers bomb the WJD unit south of Toungoo. Miraculously, we discover it is 2nd Guards Div.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Happy Trafalgar Day everyone

Not for Spaniards. [:)]


Doesn't that poster leave out the bit about him being killed? The decisive and glorious part is certainly true.


Also, quite a good "speech" he gave before the battle. Very concise, but it certainly reinforced the men.

[sprior]

It does lamented. I think that counts as acknowledging him dead.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

It does lamented. I think that counts as acknowledging him dead.

Santa Maria! You are right! That is the first meaning of "lament". I looked it up.

Around here it is more likely to be used to describe regret at not taking the easy field goal and failing to get a first on 4th down.

Maybe I should read more. [:D]

[Argos]

I fear the French, in addition to the Spaniards, may be a bit sensitive about best wishes for a Happy Trafalgar Day.

Warmest wishes in the pursuit of Copenhagenization of ones enemies might be an additional phrase to avoid.

[dcpollay]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=rep ... D5EFC498C7

[:D]

We have a memorial to Henry Johnson in Albany. He was a Medal of Honor winner. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_John ... f_Honor%29

Wasn't born in Albany. Didn't live in Albany. Didn't die in Albany. Isn't buried in Albany. Go figure.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Colonel Mustard

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=rep ... D5EFC498C7

[:D]

We have a memorial to Henry Johnson in Albany. He was a Medal of Honor winner. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_John ... f_Honor%29

Wasn't born in Albany. Didn't live in Albany. Didn't die in Albany. Isn't buried in Albany. Go figure.

Are you sure that isn't Henry Lincoln Johnson of 369th Inf Regt, winner of the Croix de Guerre and DSC?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lincoln_Johnson

I am going to go out on a limb and wager than neither one is related to Hank Johnson of the Georgia 4th [:)]

[dcpollay]

Or, maybe I'll go repeat history class....