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

[Cap Mandrake]

************Boardroom, Bell Aircraft, Buffalo********

Chairman:...thank you for that information. Mr. Minderbinder, have you any information on the contract extension?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Ummmm..is the "1" model of the Corsair carrier capable...or does that start with the "1A"?

Historically, the USN had trouble bringing the the Corsair into action on the carriers due to the extra pilot training required.

Why don't you load up one of your carriers with it and find out? [;)]

Oh, I'm kidding. Don't. The F4U-1 is *not* carrier capable. Classic rookie mistake putting it on flattops. BTW, you can see this information by selecting your plane and ship database.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Ummmm..is the "1" model of the Corsair carrier capable...or does that start with the "1A"?

Historically, the USN had trouble bringing the the Corsair into action on the carriers due to the extra pilot training required.

Starts with the 1A.

[Cap Mandrake]

Yes, that's what I thought. Fortunately, due to some fortuitous planning, the USN now has more carrier fighter squadrons than they have CV decks so the Corsair 1 can grace a USN Navy or Marine squadron for flying off dirt.[:)]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

*********Ad hoc barroom, Customs House, Townsville********


Lt "Sparks": <enters excitedly> SIR! Intercepts show with a high level of confidence that Cam Rahn Fortress is at Cam Rahn Bay!

FAM: Why, that's splendid, son! Smashing even. Next time Milo is in town Ill see if he has one of those native golf bags you've been pining after. Sparks, I don't think I am overstating this is the kind of information that could change the outcome of the war!

Lt "Sparks": Thanks you sir! Thank you very much!

FAM: You deserve it. Now, be sure to let us know anything else that comes up.

Lt "Sparks": Yes sir! <salutes and practically skips out of the bar>

Moana: Boss, where ELSE would the Cam Rahn Fortress be?

FAM: It's good for morale. Say, did I mention how fetching you look tonight?

Moana: Thank you boss, but have you forgotten the briefing from SouPac HR?

FAM: Bloody Puritans! How do they expect anyone to have fun during the war?

Let us know (in detail) if you find a way to boost both Moana's morale and yours. Wacky Jungle Tobacci doesn't count!

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

And why is the US Army still buying the P-39 in late '42?

Because the new model P-39 isn't available until mid-'43.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

And why is the US Army still buying the P-39 in late '42?

Because the new model P-39 isn't available until mid-'43.

Wouldn't the new and improved P-39 be the P-40? Isn't that available now? [&:]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

And why is the US Army still buying the P-39 in late '42?

Because the new model P-39 isn't available until mid-'43.

Wouldn't the new and improved P-39 be the P-40? Isn't that available now? [&:]

You must've missed the "new math" when you were a kid!

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

And why is the US Army still buying the P-39 in late '42?

Because the new model P-39 isn't available until mid-'43.

Wouldn't the new and improved P-39 be the P-40? Isn't that available now? [&:]

It is so much better that they call it the P-400! A giant leap in technol- ... ummm .... profit!

[Bif1961]

P-40 was already taken so the export version of the P-39 was called P-400 as it was actually not an improved version of the basic P-39 but an export version of the P-39. The P-400 substituted the 37 MM nose cannon for 20 MM one and 30 cal machine guns for .303 MGs are requested by the British who order 675 of the P-400 but only used 80 in combat and decide because of the lack of the Turbo supercharger the performance was sub -par and passed 200 of them to the Russians via Lend-Lease and returned 250 back to the US, who used them in combat.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

P-40 was already taken so the export version of the P-39 was called P-400 as it was actually not an improved version of the basic P-39 but an export version of the P-39. The P-400 substituted the 37 MM nose cannon for 20 MM one and 30 cal machine guns for .303 MGs are requested by the British who order 675 of the P-400 but only used 80 in combat and decide because of the lack of the Turbo supercharger the performance was sub -par and passed 200 of them to the Russians via Lend-Lease and returned 250 back to the US, who used them in combat.

I never noticed the switch from .50 cal to .303 before, but the 20mm Hispano cannon was a much better weapon for shooting at flying aircraft than the slow-firing/limited ammo 37mm. I haven't tried the P-400 on barges yet but I bet they rock!

[witpqs]

BB: P-39N1 IIRC is the upgrade I was referring to.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

BB: P-39N1 IIRC is the upgrade I was referring to.

I guessed that, but wanted to build on Cap's "higher number must be better" theme. Everything I typed along that line was with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek (the facial ones, guys!)[;)]

[Disco Duck]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

P-40 was already taken so the export version of the P-39 was called P-400 as it was actually not an improved version of the basic P-39 but an export version of the P-39. The P-400 substituted the 37 MM nose cannon for 20 MM one and 30 cal machine guns for .303 MGs are requested by the British who order 675 of the P-400 but only used 80 in combat and decide because of the lack of the Turbo supercharger the performance was sub -par and passed 200 of them to the Russians via Lend-Lease and returned 250 back to the US, who used them in combat.

And the Russians loved them

[Cap Mandrake]

How do you solve a problem like the P-400? You get them shot down until they stop sending them.

[witpqs]

Splendid! Bravo!

[:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

************December 26, 1942(e)**********

Pretty tame. Not a lot of crying in teepees.

PI: The sweep wars continue over Luzon and Mindanao. The PI are consuming resources from both sides. We are still narrowly losing in the air, even after I carefully weeded out the underachiever pilots. We have some more planes coming from CBI theater and a squadron coverting to P-38 in Darwin but it takes forever to glue the wings back on on those thing.

Morning Air attack on Bataan , at 78,77

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 26,190 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 17

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 2
P-38G Lightning x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

Morning Air attack on Malaybalay , at 80,90

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 26,560 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 24

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 1
P-38G Lightning x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

gaak

Morning Air attack on Malaybalay , at 80,90

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 21,190 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 19

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 7
P-40K Warhawk x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

We are just outnumbered, chiefly.

Morning Air attack on Malaybalay , at 80,90

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 27,560 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 21

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

Fortunately, the Bettys are holding down the Southern fortress at Kendari so the Japs don't have very effective bombing raids. We are still able to keep all the bases open on Luzon and Mindanao.

Morning Air attack on Bataan , at 78,77

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 16
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 6

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

And Malaybalay

Morning Air attack on Malaybalay , at 80,90

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 8

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

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

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

And Luzon again.

Morning Air attack on Bataan , at 78,77

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 15
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 15
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 19

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 5 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 7 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 12