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

[Cap Mandrake]

Okinawa: We throw together a scratch force to guard Naha. It's a marginal loss in material for us but the B-24's parked wingtip to wingtip are protected.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Naha at 95,66, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Oite
DD Urukaze, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Conway, Shell hits 14, heavy fires
DD Taylor, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DMS Hamilton
DMS Perry
DMS Wasmuth

[Cap Mandrake]

Shanghai: An S boat blows up Arare, which was probably trying trying to make Shanghai after damage yesterday.

Submarine attack near Shanghai at 96,58

Japanese Ships
DD Arare, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-36

[Cap Mandrake]

Bihoro: Never finished the previous day's battles and the courageous run of Chikuma.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Bihoro at 123,51, Range 1,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 5
DD Akizuki, Shell hits 2
DD Wakazuki

Allied Ships
CL Detroit, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Anthony, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Mustin, Shell hits 2
DD MacDonough
DD Talbot, Shell hits 1, on fire

We lost that fight. Not even close. poor performance by our DD's. A second SCTF is inbound toward Bihoro, poking its way through the sub pickets.

ASW attack near Bihoro at 124,51

Japanese Ships
DD Tachekaze

Allied Ships
SS Pargo

Nightime battle at 2000 yds. The 2 WJD DD's run into Maryland (best we had in terms of undamaged surface assets in area).

Night Time Surface Combat, near Bihoro at 123,51, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shimakaze, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Tachekaze, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Shell hits 2
DD Hutchins, Shell hits 1
DD Frazier
DD Frankford
DD Henley


The have a giant vat of Emperor-brand kool-aide on Chikuma. Gun battle at 1000 yds. Maryland is getting long in the tooth but her guns still work and you can hardly miss at 1000 yds.
Ultimately, Chikuma gives up and makes good her escape. We do manage to catch a couple of DD's with dive bombers from Bihoro in the morning.
Chikuma survives the sub gauntlet and the airstrikes. Wee Jap Dobbers on Chikuma...wee salute you!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Bihoro at 123,51, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Akizuki
DD Wakazuki

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Shell hits 7
DD Hutchins
DD Frazier
DD Frankford, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Henley

[Cap Mandrake]

************August 1, 1943(c)************

Hokkaido: We had to pull back our unloading transports due to lack of surface escorts.
Nothing bad Happened. We break a bunch of AK's with dive bombers and TBF's from Bihoro which is now fully operational.
Our tanks close on Sapporo, which has 15K LYB's. Surprise CAP discovered.


Morning Air attack on Utsonomiya , at 115,60

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 6
N1K1-J George x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed












[/quote]

[Cap Mandrake]

Kyushu: Fighters have been withdrawn from Nagasaki. We plasterize the airfield. Kanoya airfield now fully operational. Dive bombers at Kanoya just murder enemy AK's and TK's in western Japan. We hit a couple of the retreating DD's from yesterday's battle.

First air raid over Shimenoseki oil fields with B-24's meets a pretty good CAP. The B-24's are flying from Naha and Horycrappo-jima. The airfields are not big enough so half the B-24's are grounded every day.

[Cap Mandrake]

Burma: Brown jobbers capture Tavoy. It hardly seemed fair with us having horses and all. The defenders just had "Thai sticks"

Ground combat at Tavoy (54,60)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 17637 troops, 394 guns, 402 vehicles, Assault Value = 748

Defending force 2235 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Allied adjusted assault: 266

Japanese adjusted defense: 34

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Tavoy !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
922 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 34 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (3 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
113 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
Gardner's Horse Regiment
XXXIII Corps Engineer Battalion
72nd British Brigade
5th Indian Division
IV Indian Corps
8th RAN Base Force
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment

Defending units:
7th RTA/B Division
42nd JNAF AF Unit

[Cap Mandrake]

Sweet Baby Jesus! Admiral Lord SPrior wants to see the Golden Temple so much I think he is going to land at Rangoon![:)]

Submarine attack near Rangoon at 53,55

Japanese Ships
SS I-172, hits 30, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CLAA Van Heemskerck
DD Arunta
AMC Pansy
AP President Adams
xAP Taroona
xAP Kedah
xAP Glenartney
xAP Hadleigh
xAP Empress ' Scotland
xAK Tricolor
xAK Umtali
xAK Matiana
xAK Itria
xAK Havildar
xAK Fultala
xAK Catrine
xAK Caithness
DD Rotherham
DD Racehorse
DD Napier
DD Jupiter

[Cap Mandrake]

QUIZ: Who here knows what a "Thai stick" is without looking it up.

HINT: It wouldn't be a very effective weapon to defend Tavoy with.

HINT #2: The sitting President would probably know what it is.[:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

***********August 1, 18:25, IJN base, Sapporo*************

<A group of IJN officers queue up in front of a non-descript warehouse building. The camera moves inside. We see a senior IJN officer talking to a white man in green eyeshades>

Captain Asahi, CO Chikuma:..What-ah about rife insurance?

Mr. Cheatham, Esq.: No go, Captain. They will never pay for an act of war or suicide. I recommend a put option with say...10:1 leverage.

Captain Asahi, CO Chikuma: Mitsubishi Iron Works?

Mr. Cheatham, Esq.: I like the way you think Captain but I suggest you invest in what you know. Hmmmm...Chikuma...August 15 expiration date.

Captain Asahi, CO Chikuma: Chikuma? But-ah what if she survive two weeks? Asahi-san roose a rot of money.

Mr. Cheatham, Esq.: <tilts head back to peer at the Captain from under his eye shades, raises his eyebrows but says nothing>

Captain Asahi, CO Chikuma: Hai! Asahi-san understand.

Mr. Cheatham, Esq.: Splendid! Shall we say $10,000 in gold, 10:1 leverage? You are first in line. You might make 20:1 on your initial investment.

Captain Asahi, CO Chikuma: Sprenid-ah!

Mr. Cheatham, Esq.: Right..beneficiaries?

Captain Asahi, CO Chikuma: Hai. Mama-san Asahi 30%. Mrs. Asahi 10%. "Kitten" from Osaka 60%

Mr. Cheatham, Esq.: Ahhh...that's sweet, a daughter.

Captain Asahi, CO Chikuma: No, dancer with big breastesses and firm buttocks.

Mr. Cheatham, Esq.: Excellent! Diversification is always a good strategy!

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Mr. Cheatham, Esq.: Ahhh...that's sweet, a daughter.

Captain Asahi, CO Chikuma: No, dancer with big breastesses and firm buttocks.

Mr. Cheatham, Esq.: Excellent! Diversification is always a good strategy!

[:D][:D][:D]
I'd like to see you explain that one next time one of your buxom patients meets you while you are with SG!

[zuluhour]

I had to ask some pals....

[Cap Mandrake]

*****************August 2, 1943(c)***************

Quite an interesting turn. Kanoya was fully operational with a good complement of fighters so some TBF's armed with bombs were transfered in (none of the AIr HQ's there could draw torps yet) to augment the squadron of SBD's there.

A few B-25's on naval attack were moved to Ketoi-jima to cut off access to the Yerrow Sea. The B-25 range was chopped to 9 to avoid bases with heavy CAP and the naval bombers at Kanoya were set at full range.....then the sun came up. [:)]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

I had to ask some pals....

What happened to the picture? [:D] Copyright problem?

[Cap Mandrake]

First thing spotted are some transports milling about at Shimonoseki, which we discovered yesterday had a pretty good CAP. It is a thing of beauty to see so many disparate aircraft flying together in a strike package. They are all flagged to the same Air HQ. We have 34 escorts...they have 28 on CAP

Morning Air attack on TF, near Shimonoseki at 104,57

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M5 Zero x 8
J2M2 Jack x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 21
P-40K Warhawk x 10
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 7
F4U-1 Corsair x 6
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17
TBF-1 Avenger x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Sanuki Maru
xAK Nansin Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Nissyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ume Maru
xAKL Kaisyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ryoyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Hidaka Maru
xAKL Miiko Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk


A "late war" scenario. A couple of B-25's from Ketoi-jima skip bomb an AK trying to get to Fusan....and hit her. [:)]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 103,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 2

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Hachijin Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 100 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb


Then, an afternoon attack on the same port.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shimonoseki at 104,57

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
A6M5 Zero x 7
J2M2 Jack x 9
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 18
F4U-1 Corsair x 6
TBF-1 Avenger x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Sanuki Maru
xAK Uyo Maru
xAK Ume Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb


Dive bomber attacks near Fusan

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Fusan at 103,55

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 17
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 7
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Nishi Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Tokyo Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nichibi Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

[Cap Mandrake]

****************12:30, 16,000ft over Yerrow Sea, M&M Enterprises Executive PBY****************


Hirsute pilot: You know, Milo, if I didn't know any better, I'd say that is a Kaga-class down there and she's headed SE.

Man in fine linen slacks: <looks out window> Hmmm...you might be right. <goes back to reading stock reports>

Hirsute pilot: Well, that's it, you crazy SOB? Shouldn't we do something? After all, we are Americans, right?

Man in fine linen slacks: Bah, serves'em right for not buying the Yellow Sea Recon Rider.

Hirsute pilot: What if they are headed to strike Kanoya? The breastaurant is right near the ammo depot. <begins to pick up radio transmitter.

Man in fine linen slacks: DAMN! YOU'RE RIGHT! Give me that damn thing. Nobody is going to listen to a dead man.

[Cap Mandrake]

****************12:34, VII Fighter Command HQ, Kume Jima****************


Sparks: Captain, it's some civilian says he's over the Yellow Sea and sees a Jap carrier.

OOD: Tell him to **** off and get off our tactical frequency.

Sparks: <speaking into mic> The Captain requests that you sign off this frequency, over.........................Captain, he says he will give you give half price coupons for all Milo's Sushi Breastaurant locations if he can talk to you....

[Cap Mandrake]

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shaohing at 92,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 24
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 34

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 6 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Fumizuki
CL Kuma
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1
DD Mochizuki
DD Hayashio, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb


Stragler TBF's with no escort..no torps. Glide bomb attacks

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shaohing at 92,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugure
DD Hayashio, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb


SBD-5's without escorts...miss

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shaohing at 92,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2

Allied aircraft
SBD-5 Dauntless x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 14 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Myoko
DD Mikazuki


More SBD's. CAP is worn out now.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shaohing at 92,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
SBD-5 Dauntless x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Myoko
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage


B-25's and B-26's from Horrycrappo-jima. Kaga has sailed into Hell.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shaohing at 92,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 9
B-26B Marauder x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Fumizuki

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 7000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb


10 more B-25 sorties with no hits. 2 x B-25 lost to flak.


And just before sunset....

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shaohing at 92,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 22

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Isonami
DD Nagatsuki

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

[poodlebrain]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

QUIZ: Who here knows what a "Thai stick" is without looking it up.

HINT: It wouldn't be a very effective weapon to defend Tavoy with.

HINT #2: The sitting President would probably know what it is.[:D]

According to Cheech in the movie Up In Smoke, it's weed tied to a stick. In fact it was an early variety of sinsemilla from Thailand, very potent unfertilized female marijuana buds, that was tied to a stem from the marijuana plant. Quite sought after in California in the 1970s. At least in those parts Poodlebrain and his cronies frequented.

[Cap Mandrake]

HAI! Mohhhhst excerrent. Some peopurhs expert on wines. Young pooderbrain expert on unfertirized womans and Mary Jane.

Who knows the origin of "sinsemilla"? Here it is presented as the adopted Engrish word "sin-suh-MEE-yah".

Also, as bonus, who knows the meaning of "roofing", a term allegedly invented by the sitting POTUS while he was studying hard to gain his miraculous admission to Columbia?*


* All members of the White House staff, Secret Service, current or former DEA agents, Mrs. Cheech and Chong and Mr.. Poodlebrain are prohibited from answering.

[Cap Mandrake]

The raid of Kaga seemed a bit "last gaspish". Good idea though probably should have been earlier before all the Ryukius were built up as bases.

Perhaps she was still being repaired. If she had got down toward Yorktown by herself it would have been a fair fight. Soryu is still around somewhere as well.