At dawn we slept...in the cab on the way back from Olongapo

[Cap Mandrake]

Just finished fling Gen. Stinker and the Seventh Air Farce up to Saumlaki. Dugout Doug is in Darwin.

Also, I just spotted a single P-39 from the same squadron rusting away in Bola. That is likely the hold up.

[Cap Mandrake]

*******Twas 3 nights before Christmas and************

Solomons: Landing at Rekata Bay commences.

Night Naval bombardment of Rekata Bay at 113,134

Allied Ships
BB Indiana
DD Bailey
DD Barton
DD Buchanan

Japanese ground losses:
153 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 1

Slow gals left behind for Lunga

Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide
PG Charleston

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Runway hits 5
Port hits 12
Port supply hits 1

CL Adelaide firing at Lunga
PG Charleston firing at Lunga

[Cap Mandrake]

We brought noisemakers too. When the invasion support ships fire at an aviation support unit it usually means the infantry unit is in the crapper.

Pre-Invasion action off Rekata Bay (113,134)

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB West Virginia
DD Frazier
AP McCawley

BB West Virginia firing at 49th JNAF AF Unit
DD Frazier firing at 49th JNAF AF Unit
DD Frazier fired at enemy troops

[Cap Mandrake]

No landing craft or amphibious assault ships so somebody always drives of a sand bar or something.

Amphibious Assault at Rekata Bay (113,134)

TF 298 troops unloading over beach at Rekata Bay, 113,134

Allied ground losses:
104 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 19 (0 destroyed, 19 disabled)

[Cap Mandrake]

We give the A-20 crews something to do so they feel important. The A1 variant has swiveling drink holders and lights around the license plate.

Morning Air attack on II/19th Naval Guard Unit, at 113,134 (Rekata Bay)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-20A1 Havoc x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

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

[Cap Mandrake]

They are just murdering our guys on Buka. If the idiot staff had not finished the runway they would have never known.

Afternoon Air attack on 3rd USMC Parachute Battalion, at 109,128 (Buka)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[Cap Mandrake]

Opposing forces at Rekata. Looks like we brought plenty of force. Perhaps we can attack tomorrow before everyone is ashore.

Ground combat at Rekata Bay (113,134)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 694 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Defending force 3941 troops, 59 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 207

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

Assaulting units:
II/19th Naval Guard Unit
49th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
24th (Sep) Infantry Rgt /1
30th Australian Bde /1
3rd USMC Tank Bn /2
110th Cmbt Engr Bn /1
193rd Tank Bn /1
8th NZ Brigade
2nd/102nd Infantry Bn /1
148th Infantry Rgt /1
2nd Fiji Bn /2

[Cap Mandrake]

2 Commonwealth brigades. 2 US Army RCT's, 2 Bn tanks and combat engineers and even some fire dancers from Fiji.

[Cap Mandrake]

Sundas and New Guinea: Japs attack Roti (near Koepang) and the Koepang CAP comes to their aide. Nice.

Morning Air attack on Roti , at 67,116

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 29
G4M1 Betty x 19

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16

2nd wave has a big Zeke escort but our lads break through the escorts.

Morning Air attack on Roti , at 67,116

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
G3M3 Nell x 22

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane XIIb: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 6

[Cap Mandrake]

Oops. JJ sneaks some Vals into Port Moresby and attack some construction engineers near Horn Island. We lose one AP. Fortunately, it is at extreme range so the Vals are carrying Piccolo Petes. I blame the recon staff.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,129

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
D3A1 Val x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PG Soerabaja, Bomb hits 2
xAP Duntroon, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Token, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP J. Franklin Bell, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Harpoon, Bomb hits 3

Allied ground losses:
166 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AP J. Franklin Bell

[Cap Mandrake]

PI: I think the Zulus sent two guys in zebra-skin shields and loin cloths to test our firepower on Mindanao.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Davao at 80,93

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 4
A6M2 Zero x 3
A6M3a Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 5
SC Ch 4

[Cap Mandrake]

Scratch two Zulus in loin cloth...but it wasn't worth the planes.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Davao at 80,93

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 4
A6M3a Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 5
TBF-1 Avenger x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 10, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC Ch 6, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

No attacks on Luzon. Either it was the volcano again or it's the Emperor's birfday again.

[Cap Mandrake]

SE Asia: 7th Hussars signed up for a tour of Angkor Wat with Chinese tour guides.

Afternoon Air attack on 7th Hussars Regiment, at 58,60 , near Nakhon Ratchasima

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 27

Allied aircraft
P-66 Vanguard x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 2 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 7 damaged

No Allied losses

[Cap Mandrake]

Situation in Burma and Siam.

Mexican standoff at Tavoy. We bombard with arty every day and naval bombardment when we can. They are dug in. Nobody wants to go to Mergui. No supply getting through except by air. We have exploited down from Rahaeng but the supply route is crappy.

[Cap Mandrake]

Everything OK there Jeff? [;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

Situation: New & Improved Guinea

[Cap Mandrake]

Terapo is buildable to 8 and is protected from easy naval bombardment. Wau and Salamua are buildable to 6 and Nadzab, the dot base NW of Lae is buildable to level 9.

Nadzab does have a port number but I don't see any sea hexsides so it should not be subject to naval bombardment. Wau already has a Walmart and 3 Dennys and 21K supply. It takes 4 headhunters to carry a new washer through the jungle.

[Cap Mandrake]

Rabaul is a beast. 41 units. 54000 LYB's, 200+ planes. I wonder if they have anyone at Gasmata?

[Cap Mandrake]

Did you know that an actor who says anything gets paid more? If you just get carried around limp pretending to be dead you are dog meat.

I was in a commercial once and was cast as a "principal actor". I was a "weekend fisherman", which I found offensive but the money was good. They had me talking to this Native American actor dressed up like an Inuit hunter or something. Massive harpoon. He was from Oklahoma but they had him in like a walrus coat and mukluks. He was insulted too but the money was good. The director comes on the bus where we were filming and sticks a camera in our faces and says "Ask him something"

Weekend fisherman: What are you fishing for there Chief? Narwhal? I hear they're good eatin'.

Guy from Oklahoma pretending to be Nanook of the North: Uhhhh <nods>

Weekend fisherman: Say, Chief, do you have a license for that thing? Fish and Game might throw you in jail or something if you don't.

Guy from Oklahoma pretending to be Nanook of the North: Uhhhh <nods>

Arrogant bastard director who thought he was freaking Orson Wells or something CUUUT!

The crew liked our improvisation but Orson Jr cut it. Fortunately I was in a shot waving at the camera saying "Hay!" so I got an extra $6K [:)]