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

[BrucePowers]

Number 2 is not so bad for the allies either....

[Onime No Kyo]

I dont suppose the plot of Final Countdown coming true is an option?

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

I dont suppose the plot of Final Countdown coming true is an option?

I could use a few F-18's (or even A-6's) instead of the utterly useless TBD's and the dive bombers with fabric covered wings.

On the 22nd, a large Jap convoy arrived at Noumea (doubtless to bring in air support troops and the like). They were escorted by 2 CA's. I had a USN 4xCA, 7xDD force within sprint range for a night intercept, but decided not to send them as any stragglers would be murdered by the Jap air at Koumac. I WANTED to kill something but decided it wasn't worth it.

A big Jap attack at La Foa failed at 1:2 but supply is almost to zero. I withdrew the heavily damaged dive bomber squadrons and all the PBY's. Hornet is still not close enough to fly off most of the F4F's still left. I drew down the best pilots and sent them to training command or general reserve. If the Japs attack again today we may lose the RAAF Kittyhawks and USN and RN F4F's (12 planes or so but I dont want to lose the squadrons). I suspect they will bring in some of the infantry from Noumea to boost their attack.

[Onime No Kyo]

I can try and scare up a few MiG-15s. [:D]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

I can try and scare up a few MiG-15s. [:D]

Don't they have yet to historically 'license' / steal the engine from Rolls Royce?

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I propose some other turn outcome options:

1) A brilliant plan executed flawlessly, making Inchon look like Operation Tiger.

2) Another day of attrition warfare as the Imperail war machine is slowly ground to dust.

3) There was a bright flash in the western sky followed by a huge cloud that reached the heavens.

or

4) I can't believe these crappy die rolls.

5) Man, that was seriously gamey.

6) This game is so Borked.

[:D]

[Moondawggie]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

I can try and scare up a few MiG-15s. [:D]

Don't they have yet to historically 'license' / steal the engine from Rolls Royce?

I understand that M&M Enterprises had previously sold the licensing rights to the RR Engine design to the Mikoyan "Corporation" in exchange for some long-term Siberian Oil and Mineral rights...I think DW&C handled the legal end of the agreement.

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: Moondawggie

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

I can try and scare up a few MiG-15s. [:D]

Don't they have yet to historically 'license' / steal the engine from Rolls Royce?

I understand that M&M Enterprises had previously sold the licensing rights to the RR Engine design to the Mikoyan "Corporation" in exchange for some long-term Siberian Oil and Mineral rights...I think DW&C handled the legal end of the agreement.

Untrue. Uncle Joe is too wily to get involved with the likes of Milo. There are some rumors, however, of certain discussions with Chiang.

[Cap Mandrake]

**********May 24, 1942**********

New Scotland: The men of the I Amphibious Corps at La Foa spend another day as free men. Oddly, the units that were red in supply on the 23rd are now all well supplied. I suspect the logistical staff of I Apmphibious Corps redistributed things. In any event, they remain a substantial fighting force for now. Suprisingly, about half a dozen or more damaged aircraft (F4F's and medium bombers and PBY's) were repaired and have been flown off to Fiji or Brisbane. PBY's flying from Fiji are trying to get out who they can. So far, small fragments of all the most important units have been got out. About 1/4 of the Marine Raider Bn is out and about half of the Marine Air Wing. Even an armored unit was brought out.....well....honestly it was just a mortar section. [;)]

754th Tank Bn. reached Noumea after the fall of the town (one day too late). Now they are an annoyance to the Japs who cannot come to aid the force at La Foa. The Japs attacked with knee mortars and knocked out 25 Stuarts...although there were many hundreds of ACL injuries among the attackers. I decided it was safer to send Hornet to New Zealand to pick up 2 F4F squadrons before she closes on New Scotland to pick up the RN and USN F4F's trapped at La Foa. La Foa was bombarded by a total of 4 Jap CA's. Another attack will come soon.

I have considered the idea of landing some engineers at Tanna and building the airfield to level 2 and flying in supplies to La Foa. Of course, Tanna has no port so it would be a challenge to get supplies in there and it would be susceptible to naval bombardment once they figure out what is happening. It would also be very difficult to get any dozers into Tanna so the engineers would have to do it without heavy equipment. Anyone have a guess how long that might take? Another option is a counterattack at Norfolk which already has a level two field but I have no units prepped for Norfolk.

The Kimberly: It has been clear for some time the attack across the Kimberly is no diversion. IJA 5th Div and 2nd Recon Regt are 40 miles west of Katherine. B-26's dedicated to the defence of New Scotland are now redeployd to Katherine. There is a Jap armored brigade moving down the Southern track to cut the road between the two bases South of Katherine.

[Cap Mandrake]

*******Pacific Fleet HQ, Pearl, May 24, 1942*******

Aide: This just in from Eastern Fleet, Columbo, Lord Admiral Sprior.

Adm. Kimmel: <looks at message> "Gits"? That's it? "Gits"?

Aide: Yes, sir. Quite engimatic.

Adm. Kimmel: Enig..what?

Aide: Enigmatic, sir..as in poorly understood or unsolved.

Adm. Kimmel: Then just say "poorly understood". Don't pull that English major crap on me Captain.

Aide: Yes sir. Sorry sir.

Adm. Kimmel: Well, get this message down to the codebreakers and see if they can figure it out. And can someone explain to me why we keep calling them "Eastern Fleet" when they are West of us. It's Goddamned confusing.

Aide: Yes sir. I'll have the code boys work on that too.

[Cap Mandrake]

[font="Courier New"]*****INCOMING MESSAGE******

TO: LORD ADMIRAL SPRIOR (CIC BROWN JOBS)
FROM: FLEET ADMIRAL MANDRAKE

CHECK YOUR CARRIER PIGEON INBOX STOP LAST MESSAGE SENT WAS ENDSAVE FILE STOP WILL NEED REGULAR SAVE FILE OR JOHNNY JAP WILL KICK EFFETE WESTERN IMPERIALIST ASS THIS TURN END[/font]

[BrucePowers]

Have you considered replacing Kimmel. He dosen't know English[:D]

[sprior]

32ID is currently disembarking at Melbourne, 100k of fuel will soon be delivered there too having made its way slowly from Abadan. At least we know that route is still open. 100k of fuel will soon be arriving from Cape Town too.

We have identified (another) Guards Div at Shwebo. I'm going to try and pin these guys down while we sneak around into Mandalay.

I didn't know JJ had any Armoured Brigades but one is bearing down on Daly Waters. Gits.

[Cap Mandrake]

**************Briefing room, 90th BS(M), 14:10, Noumea, May 21, 1942***************

<there is a sense of urgency in the air...oh who am I kidding, it's panic. 28,000 Japs are closing on the airfield and one can imagine they will not be very charitable to POW's because they are Little Yellow Bastards and they will be extra grouchy for having lived on grubs and beetles for 2 months>

Tall hirsute USAAF officer: <climbs up on chair and whistles loudly> HEY EVERYBODY! LISTEN UP! The road to La Foa has been cut. The Japs are two miles from the airfield and it don't look good. The Colonel is in the latrine with a bad case of the Noumea two step, his trousers around his ankles and 30 medals on his chest. Nobody is making any decisions around here so here is my proposition. My bird has a badly shot up rudder from Jap shrapnel and the tanks are almost dry but I think I can make La Foa, so me and my crew are getting out. I can take along a few riders. Anyone want to go? <he turns to an officer with greying temples> How about you Doc?

Doc Daneka: Normally, I don't fly with crazy people Yossarian, but I need the flight time this month.

Tall hirsute USAAF officer: OK, Doc's in, how about you Padre?

Father Emmanoulides: Yes, I can go, Yossarian. I'll get my Last Rights kit.

Tall hirsute USAAF officer: HAHAHA! Last Rights, Hahahaha. Padre, you are a laugh riot. <turns to the senior officer in the room> How about you, Major?

Major Major Major: I can't Capt., I have to finish the May Squadron Req list.

Tall hirsute USAAF officer: Major, you crazy SOB, there are 28,000 angry Japs on the other side of the wire. They don't care about your Req list.

Major Major Major: Look, Yossarian, I'll just be in the office.

Tall hirsute USAAF officer: Your crazy SOB! That is the first place they'll look.

Major Major Major: <approches the younger officer and says quietly> Look, Yossarian, I don't fly, OK? I'll see you in Suva, perhaps. And, by the way, You have to say New Perth, not La Foa.

Tall hirsute USAAF officer: New Perth? HAHAHA. You crazy SOB, the Japs are going to own the place in a week. They can call it whatever they want. OK, the Major is swimming, anyone else? <he turns toward a young man in civilian clothes who smokes a fine cigar, his feet propped up on a nearby chair, his eyes closed in serene thought> How about you, Milo, you crazy SOB?

MM: <opens his eyes and smiles> No, thanks Yossarian. I have a ride from Ito-san. I made him a deal.

Tall hirsute USAAF officer: What could he possibly want in Noumea?

MM: <tilts his head back, blows a perfect smoke ring and smiles broadly>..........

[Cap Mandrake]

*******Small break in the reef, 5 mi SW of Noumea, 21:14, May 21, 1942******

A man in fine linen trousers steps aboard the deck and is greeted by a stern-faced IJN officer.

A man in fine linen trousers: Thanks Ito-san. You drive a hard bargain. You are getting better at this kind of thing you know? <he hands him a large key ring>


Stern-faced IJN officer: Ito rearn from Miro.

[Cap Mandrake]

*********Downtown Noumea, May 26, 1942**********


Stern-faced IJN officer: <his hands tremble slightly with excitement as he tries the keys to a 30x80 foot warehouse. The industrial door swings open. Inside are revealed large stacks of brightly colored clothing nearly reaching the ceiling. He can scarcely believe the treasure. He apparoaches the nearest stack. He unfolds a very small hemp shirt, dyed bright yellow, on which has been stenciled, "Mom and Dad went to New Edinburgh and all I got was this lousy T-shirt">

[Chickenboy]

Locker keys to a treasure trove of starfish roe? Stores of 'Blandy'?

ETA: D'oh! Cross posts!

I hope MM has already secured passage, lest there be some beheadin' goin' on when the stern-faced IJN officer realizes he's been had.

[BrucePowers]

how do you know he's been had? Those shirts may sell like hotcakes.[:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Locker keys to a treasure trove of starfish roe? Stores of 'Blandy'?

ETA: D'oh! Cross posts!

I hope MM has already secured passage, lest there be some beheadin' goin' on when the stern-faced IJN officer realizes he's been had.

For months I wondered what the 60,000 "resource points" at New Edinburgh were. Now we know. Lot of bloody good it did.


PS...Miro is OK

[BrucePowers]

See. What did I tell you? Those things are going to sell like hotcakes. Every seaman in the IJN is going to want one.[:D]