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

[Cap Mandrake]

*************May 11, 1942*************


No carrier battle today. This is good. None was intended but the Jap carriers disappeared for a day. They showed up near New Scotland so they could bomb the Heck out of New Perth.

New Perth was hit first by a cruiser night bombardment (not very effective) then an unescorted Betty and Nell raid which was met with 15 Allied fighters. 2 bombers were shot down and many damaged by others got through and hit the ground troops. A second raid of Nells came in with 9 Zeroes. One of each was claimed with one P-40 lost.

Next the Jap carriers attacked with a 160 plane raid, losing 4 and many Vals reported damaged.

Finally the Sallys and Lillys came in. By now all the Allied fighters were refueling so the raid seemed to do some damage. Final plane losses 10 J/2 Allied (not bad). You can see where this was going....


A LYB particularly chosen for his slavish fealty to the Emperor, stood up on top of the trench, waved a white glove and blew a whistle and 55,000 LYB's came charging out of the trenches toward Gryme's New Dyke Line.

This attack did take out one level of fortifications (now reduced to 1) but only achieved 1:2 and was repulsed with 4:1 casualties in favor of I Amphibious Corps.

Ground combat at La Foa (New Perth)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 55889 troops, 579 guns, 212 vehicles, Assault Value = 1984

Defending force 25164 troops, 569 guns, 935 vehicles, Assault Value = 757

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 776

Allied adjusted defense: 1804

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
3375 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 286 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 190 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 92 (20 destroyed, 72 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
923 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 109 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Vehicles lost 57 (5 destroyed, 52 disabled)


Assaulting units:
8th Recon Regiment
17th Infantry Regiment
48th Division
4th Tank Regiment
47th Naval Guard Unit
64th Naval Guard Unit
62nd Naval Guard Unit
4th Brigade
Guards Mixed Brigade
Kure 3rd SNLF
144th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
14th/C Division
2nd Air Division
8th Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
132nd Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Engineer Regiment
193rd Tank Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
34th Infantry Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
2nd Marine Regiment
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
161st Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
810th Engineer Aviation Battalion
1st USMC Air Wing Base Force
205th Coast AA Regiment
148th Field Artillery Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
147th Field Artillery Regiment
110th USA Base Force
811th Engineer Aviation Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment

Jap strength has grown significantly but still is not quite where it needs to be to succeed. They can't know this but supply on New Scotland is getting pretty dicey. I barely missed having the attck go in with the troops at New Perth undersupplied. Another item of note is the nearly 50 Bettys and 25 Nells who came out of their rat hole at New Ullapool.

That is an awesome ship-killing force.

[Cap Mandrake]

After bringing more troops ashore by fast transport convoys the past three days, the Japs attacked again at Tanna but couldn't budge Col. Edson's boys. I will try to get some supply to them as well, if I am able to get through to New Scotland.



Ground combat at Tanna (120,157)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2079 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 70

Defending force 1565 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 80

Japanese adjusted assault: 38

Allied adjusted defense: 59

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
333 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
II/84th Naval Guard Unit
I/66th Naval Guard Unit
2nd Indpt SNLF Coy
43rd Naval Guard Unit
50th JNAF Coy

Defending units:
1st Marine Raider Battalion
1st/102nd Infantry Battalion

[Cap Mandrake]

The Jap carriers have retreated to the NW of New Uallpool. Either they are headed back for reffitting or are lotiering in a safer location waiting for the fishies to come to them. New Edinburgh airfield runway is at 75% damage. Flight operations can resume at 70%. I am going to push the AK's forward. If the KB is going to come out and play it will be beyond Kate range from New Perth. It would be crazy to send the carriers into the Jap buzzsaw. The Bettys will be bad enough. The BB's will be forward with carriers when the time comes to eat some torps if need be and respond to a Jap surface sortie toward New Edinburgh.

The loss of Norfolk Is. is supremely annoying.

[BBfanboy]

Guadalcanal type situation in early '42 - great work. Unless something very bad happens you should keep growing stronger in the New Scotland area while his losses weaken him. Your carriers can remain on station longer than his so, paradoxically, oriental patience is your strength!

Re: Tanna - can your bombers at Suva reach his AKs or small surface force there or is it too late to catch them? Love to see LYBs landed without secure supply ...[:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Guadalcanal type situation in early '42 - great work. Unless something very bad happens you should keep growing stronger in the New Scotland area while his losses weaken him. Your carriers can remain on station longer than his so, paradoxically, oriental patience is your strength!

Re: Tanna - can your bombers at Suva reach his AKs or small surface force there or is it too late to catch them? Love to see LYBs landed without secure supply ...[:D]

The problem is the JAPS have air superiority over New Scotland and a place to rearm and replenish whereas I have to go back to Suva or Auckland. Quite possibly, their carrier force is superior too. I desperately need to get some supply in to Noumea in the next week or two or the next Jap attack will crack the line.

LB-30's can reach Tanna from Suva but are never going to hit ships without some training.

[Cap Mandrake]

**********Briefing Room. 90th BS(M), USAAF, Sydney, May 12, 1942******

Col. Cathcart:...next week, the squadron is scheduled to have a demonstration attack on stationary derelict ships. We will come in at 15,000 ft. I want the formations tight. General Dreedle will be observing...

Hirsute USAAF Officer: <stands up> Oh, OH, OH, Sir?

Col. Cathcart: Yes? What is it son? <slightly annoyed>

Hirsute USAAF Officer: 15 is too high sir. We will never hit anything.

Col. Cathcart: That's doctrine, son.

Hirsute USAAF Officer: Yes, I know Col., but the doctrine is full of crap. The Japs aren't going to sit still. It takes forever for a bomb to fall from 15,000 feet.

Col. Cathcart: Captain, are you telling me USAAF Bombing Command doesn't know what they are doing?

Hirsute USAAF Officer: Well, yes, yes I am. You see nobody has attacked an enemy ship from a B-25 yet..this time around I mean. I predict they will change the doctrine, sir.

Col. Cathcart: Oh, you do, do you?

Hirsute USAAF Officer: Yes sir. In fact, prediction isn't really the right word. I KNOW they will change the doctrine. Let us go in at 1,000. Then maybe some of these knuckleheads might actually hit something. <motions toward the other pilots in the room, most of whom now have mouths agape>

Col. Cathcart: <says something quietly to two burly MP's who then separate and head down the side aisles toward the hirsute office> What is your name, son?

Hirsute USAAF Officer: Yossarian, sir.

Col. Cathcart: Yossinovsky, do you have some kind of death wish?

Hirsute USAAF Officer: No sir, but it wouldn't matter if I did.

Col. Cathcart: <gives the high sign to the MP's who move down the row toward the hirsute officer> Despite Capt. Yossinovich's theory, the squadron will attack at 15,000 ft. Now, where was I............

[Onime No Kyo]

Another Cassandra wronged.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

**********Briefing Room. 90th BS(M), USAAF, Sydney, May 12, 1942******

Col. Cathcart:...next week, the squadron is scheduled to have a demonstration attack on stationary derelict ships. We will come in at 15,000 ft. I want the formations tight. General Dreedle will be observing...

Hirsute USAAF Officer: <stands up> Oh, OH, OH, Sir?

Col. Cathcart: Yes? What is it son? <slightly annoyed>

Hirsute USAAF Officer: 15 is too high sir. We will never hit anything.

Col. Cathcart: That's doctrine, son.

Hirsute USAAF Officer: Yes, I know Col., but the doctrine is full of crap. The Japs aren't going to sit still. It takes forever for a bomb to fall from 15,000 feet.

Col. Cathcart: Captain, are you telling me USAAF Bombing Command doesn't know what they are doing?

Hirsute USAAF Officer: Well, yes, yes I am. You see nobody has attacked an enemy ship from a B-25 yet..this time around I mean. I predict they will change the doctrine, sir.

Col. Cathcart: Oh, you do, do you?

Hirsute USAAF Officer: Yes sir. In fact, prediction isn't really the right word. I KNOW they will change the doctrine. Let us go in at 1,000. Then maybe some of these knuckleheads might actually hit something. <motions toward the other pilots in the room, most of whom now have mouths agape>

Col. Cathcart: <says something quietly to two burly MP's who then separate and head down the side aisles toward the hirsute office> What is your name, son?

Hirsute USAAF Officer: Yossarian, sir.

Col. Cathcart: Yossinovsky, do you have some kind of death wish?

Hirsute USAAF Officer: No sir, but it wouldn't matter if I did.

Col. Cathcart: <gives the high sign to the MP's who move down the row toward the hirsute officer> Despite Capt. Yossinovich's theory, the squadron will attack at 15,000 ft. Now, where was I............

[:'(]I can see it now - The good general Dreedle gets air sickness so he decides to observe from a specially constructed set of bleachers [complete with canopy and wet bar] from one mile away. All his staff are with him. I predict a change of command ... [8D]

[Onime No Kyo]

You're so bloody-minded BB. [:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

[:'(]I can see it now - The good general Dreedle gets air sickness so he decides to observe from a specially constructed set of bleachers [complete with canopy and wet bar] from one mile away. All his staff are with him. I predict a change of command ... [8D]

That is a really funny idea.....

<A general feeling of goodwill pervades the audience thanks to the iced adult beverages served by attractive WAC's in well-tailored skirts. The chatter slows as a flight of 3 B-25's, with brilliant sunshine reflecting off their aluminum skins, appear over the target area. Silently, a string of tiny black dots emerge from the aircraft in pefect unison. It is a stirring display. After some time, however...actually quite a long time just like Capt. Yossinovich had predicted...the black dots grow worrisomely larger and it is obvious to anyone in the crowd who has played a little baseball that these blacks may have turned from items of detached curiosity to something that will require prompt action on their part............>


But...it won't be. 90th BS(M) has gone to war....again.

[Cap Mandrake]

*********Mess Tent, 90th BS(M), Sydney, 13:30, May 12, 1942*********


Young man in fine linen slacks:...thank you again for coming to the 90th Bombardment Squadron Imitate the Colonel Contest. Just to remind you, 90% of the points awarded by the judges will be based on a correct imitation of the Colonel's voice and patterns of speech, only 10% on appearance. The winner will win a 51% ownership in the future Sydney Shore Golf and Spa Resort <he holds up an impressive looking document to a murmur of approval> Well, let me then turn it over to Capt. Yossarian who will introduce the first contestant.

Hiruste Officer: The first contestant is Master Sargeant Collingsworth <applause>.........

[Cap Mandrake]

********General Dreedle's Office, Brisbane, 17:40, May 12, 1942*******


General Dreedle: <on the phone> 1,000 ft? Damnit Cathcart, I love your spirit. If any of your men survive there will be a unit citation for all of them. <looks at map> Hmmm....Jap shipping. Got to be either Darwin or Fiji then, maybe Noumea if they can fix the runway. I think Fiji for now. There is a Dutch B-25 group at Katherine. Get you crews ready. You fly in to Suva tomorrow morning. Ground elements will follow by boat. You can use organic support at Suva. Cathcart, if I had 6 commanders like you I could be Air Boss for the Pacific. Good work, man!........

[thegreatwent]

<A general feeling of goodwill pervades the audience thanks to the iced adult beverages served by attractive WAC's in well-tailored skirts. The chatter slows as a flight of 3 B-25's, with brilliant sunshine reflecting off their aluminum skins, appear over the target area. Silently, a string of tiny black dots emerge from the aircraft in pefect unison. It is a stirring display. After some time, however...actually quite a long time just like Capt. Yossinovich had predicted...the black dots grow worrisomely larger and it is obvious to anyone in the crowd who has played a little baseball that these blacks may have turned from items of detached curiosity to something that will require prompt action on their part............>

Again with a Peckinpah moment. [;)] So I'll give you a quote

"Why should I give you an interview? All you journalists are plagiarists."
Sam Peckinpah

[sprior]

The forces for Operation Buggritt are gathering.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: sprior

The forces for Operation Buggritt are gathering.

Oh dear. These forces must be the end of the line.

[BrucePowers]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: sprior

The forces for Operation Buggritt are gathering.

Oh dear. These forces must be the end of the line.

You guys could use one of these......

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: sprior

The forces for Operation Buggritt are gathering.

Oh dear. These forces must be the end of the line.

How dare you cast aspertions on such fien Commenwealth troops. If I was a mine i'd take off my belt and by thunder my trousers would fall down!

[sprior]

You guys could use one of these......

Flags? Or a bell that can't ring?

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

The forces for Operation Buggritt are gathering.

Operation Buggritt:

There seems to be some dispute about the spelling. Apparently all the Norse god names and fancy latin-based, four syllable noun and adjective operation names were already taken.

I had my suspcions. So I checked Urban Dictionary


Contraction of 'Bugger It'. A phrase often used by Foul Ole Ron, a character from Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. He is an extremely repulsive entity who lacks the ability to speak coherently. Other phrases used by Foul Ole Ron include 'Buggrem' and 'Millenium hand and shrimp', bizarrely.


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=buggrit

[Cap Mandrake]

Now I suppose I have to name the relief of New Scotland "operation"...if it can be called that.