From here to...well...it SEEMS like an eternity

[Cap Mandrake]

***************Aboard RNN Piet Hein, 6 mi. off Moulemein landing beach Amber, 07:40, Feb. 8, 1943**************


Luitenant-Admiraal Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich, commander of TF 1183 and, in fact, Bevelhebber Strijdkrachten Oosten (commander of all Dutch forces in the East), was a proud man as he stood on the bridge of his flagship, Piet Hein. He was in charge of the ships carrying the men of the British 18th Infantry Division. He was the first Dutch Admiral to lead a major seaborn invasion fleet since.....well....hmmmmm.....let's just say it was a long time.

Of course, there had been some grumbling in the Royal Navy about a Dutch Admiral commanding the task force carrying a British division, but, considering the Dutch government in exile had sent a number of destroyers and their best troop carriers to aid in the invasion, there were certain political realities to consider. Not only that, but the Admiral had won the water-treading contest at the Eastern Fleet Winter bar-B-Q and team building exercise at Colombo in January. He hadn't told anyone but he really didn't need to tread-water, he pretty much just bobbed around and used his hands to keep himself upright. Even so, at 41 minutes, he had shattered the old record and the plaque he received from Admiral Phillips was still in his stateroom............

[Cap Mandrake]

Here is a really interesting Time magazine article from March 9, 1942 about Helfrich.


One of the decisive sea battles of history was fought last week in the placid waters between Java and Borneo. It was the naval battle for Java. It was a battle for the last bulwark against Japanese conquest of the Indies, a battle for the Southwest Pacific, a battle for a great chunk of the world's seas and sea power. It was a battle fought too late and in the wrong place, lost before it began.

The commander of the allied Dutch and U.S. Fleets* knew that the battle was lost. Vice Admiral C. E. L. Helfrich's orders to the Dutchmen and the gentle, excited Indonesians on his own ships, to the hard young men on the U.S. ships, said as much. His orders were to attack the oncoming, superior enemy at all costs, to kill Japs and sink Jap ships regardless of the risk to Allied lives and outnumbered Allied ships. If the Jap could not now be stopped at sea, almost within gunshot of the Java coast, at least he could be made to pay. (cont)

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... -1,00.html

[Cap Mandrake]

...

[Alfred]

Cap Mandrake,
 
In light of your recent postings, three things come to mind.
 
1.  I thought it was Doorman, not Helfrich at the Battle of the Java Sea.
 
2.  The last time I can remember there being a joint Anglo-Dutch sea invasion was during the war of the Spanish Succession, at Alicante - the landing occuring circa 1705.
 
3.  Admiral Sommerville seems to have cleaned up his language.  Could he be looking after his manners because of the presence of the Greek Orthodox Church, and will the atsmospherics cause any large crosses to appear in the Indian Ocean as they did off New Zealand?
 
Alfred

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Cap Mandrake,

In light of your recent postings, three things come to mind.

1. I thought it was Doorman, not Helfrich at the Battle of the Java Sea.

Helfrich was overall commander of RNN in the DEI. Doorman was the on scene commander. IIRC Doorman had to "pay" a high price himself. The author did seem to imply that Helfrich was at sea, but this was a contemporary article and there certainly were restrictions on details. In fact, it is amazing to me how much detail it has on Allied losses. Also amazing is the use of the pejorative "the Jap". To me that sounds worse than "Japs".

2. The last time I can remember there being a joint Anglo-Dutch sea invasion was during the war of the Spanish Succession, at Alicante - the landing occuring circa 1705.

I figured it must have happened before, and, given the knowledge of this forum on F-4U superchargers and the like, I figured someone must have known. [:)]

3. Admiral Sommerville seems to have cleaned up his language. Could he be looking after his manners because of the presence of the Greek Orthodox Church,

[/quote]

Well, even if one is not a church-going person, one might be inclined to hedge one's bet when one is sitting on the bridge of what is certain to be a torpedo and bomb magnet for hundreds of angry Jap bombers when the weather clears.

...... and will the atsmospherics cause any large crosses to appear in the Indian Ocean as they did off New Zealand?

Alfred

Ah, you mean the 5,000 foot tall cloud shaped like an Armenian Orthodox priest? Operation You Know What could use divine intervention for help in seizing the airfield. If they succeed there will be 50-60 P-38's and 70+ P-40E's over the landing beaches on the 9th. If that happens without the loss of single ship then Somerville will have no reason for potty language.

[Cap Mandrake]

********12th Army HQ, a pagoda near the village of Thanbyuzay, 15 mi. South of Moulmein, 18:15, February 8, 1943***********


There is a general state of chaos. Heavy rain pours off the tiled roof.

Radio Operator: Sir, it's General Scoones...he reports the Ghurkas have Moulemin airfield and 150 prisoners...the airfield is moderately damaged..main group of enemy have retreated across the Salween...Moulmein ferry sunk but rail bridge intact..river is running high..he will need powered craft to effect a crossing..he asks if the LCVP's can be brought up the river and asks the engineers be alerted to add a corduroy surface to the rail bridge to get the Grants across......

[Cap Mandrake]

Despite the thunderstorms, the Japanese large a number of large strikes on the 8th. A single squadron of Seafires is over the landing beaches while the remainder (about 50) cover the carriers 60 miles offshore. The largest raid from Bangkok fails to score a single hit. 3/4 of the escorting Jacks are destroyed and the Bettys are hammered by heavy AAA.

A single LCT (which is hit by three torps) and a coastal minesweeper are sunk. The transport Foch is torpedoes and may sink.

[Cap Mandrake]

*******STATUS, OPERATION YOU KNOW WHAT, 08:00, FEB. 9, 1943***********


Moulmein is fully in Allied hands.

The airfield is level 4, 35% damaged so it should be able to support at least a CAP. 45 x P-38, 72 x P-40E and 16 x Boomerang are in place as is one squadron of Beauforts.

Supply is good. Aviation support is good. 12th Army HQ is fully ashore. RAF HQ and support units ashore.

5th Indian Div is fully battle ready. 16th British is 80% ready. 23rd Indian 50%. 26th Indian still landing as are the combat engineers and the US Army EAB.

254th Armoured Regt is 80% combat ready.

Arriving today: A second armoured Regt and one brigade 20th Indian.

The RN carriers will retire to Ceylon at flank speed. Warspite and Valiant will return to the Moulemin CAP umbrella and reunite with Somerivlle's crusier force to provide surface security.

A flottilla of USN PT boats is in transit. Defensive mining will have to be done by submarine as there are no minelayers in the CBI theatre.

Ship losses to date:

1 x LCT
1 x MSW(coastal)

Expected enemy actions: An transport force appears headed to Tavoy or Vicotria Point. An enemy destroyer force was spotted at Sabang yesterday. No enemy carrier activity noted.

Enemy air threat still high for vessels leaving the Moulemin CAP umbrella or even for determined acting on ships at anchor.


Opportunities: Seizure of the Salween crossing will cut the enemy supply routes to Central and Northern Burma, isolating at least 7 infantry divisions and 300,000+ troops. 254th Regt, 5th Indian and 16th British have been ordered to cross the Salween. Portions of 26th Indian will move south toward Tavoy.

Future opportunities exist for basing of offensive bomber opeartions at Moulmein/Tavoy.

[Moondawggie]

Wow! That's one huge IJ Army you've cut off in Burma! [&o]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Moondawggie

Wow! That's one huge IJ Army you've cut off in Burma! [&o]

Technically, they are not cut off yet. They can still draw supply from Rahaeng..across to the coast north of the Salween (near Moulemein) then up the Burma Railway to Mandalay, but they are in serious peril. There is an apparent brigade (10,000 troops) moving up toward Rahaeng on the inland railway but they are at least 5-7 d away. There is a full division coming down from the railway North of Mandalay but they too are 5-7 d away. There is still some armor and infantry at Mandaly bu tthey are pretty well beat up, I think. If I get across the Salween, any attack coming from the North will have to shock attack across the Irrawaddy. They might be able to evacuate through Rangoon but that would be ugly in terms of shipping losses.

They will also have to give up the Burma Road. There best option is to try to get as much past the choke point as possible even if they have to deotur through the jungle.

[BrucePowers]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Yes, the "Vacuum pump gap" is what really doomed Japan during the war. They designed good planes but their lack of vacuum pumps meant they could never "upgrade" them in the same way as the Corsairs and Hellcats.

It is remarkable what an extra 3 inches of manifold pressure will do. Well, that's what I heard at least. I think it was even worse for the Empire because the word on the street is the Japanese were a bit behind in the manifold pressure department even before supercharging came along.

For want of a vacuum pump the Empire was lost.

Man, that just sucks. I can imagine Tojo going to Hirohito and saying, "Honorable Emperor, we must not allow a vacuum pump gap".

Am I the first one to see the vaccum pump and suck reference gag. Maybe it's my science background[:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

Am I the first one to see the vaccum pump and suck reference gag. Maybe it's my science background[:D]

Yes, I think you are. [:)]

I am still waiting on a turn back. The Jap team is asking for a hiatus because of real life obligations and have tentatively (but not formally) agreed to relinquish to another team. Are there any who are interested to bid time while we wait for AE?

Score as of 2-10-43

[Cap Mandrake]

Major Allied vessels sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

Major Japanese vessels

[Cap Mandrake]

Line of control

[Moondawggie]

My, my. Just look at all those green dots around Perth and Bunbury. Strong work!

Looking forward to the war continuing elsewhere.

Where, repeat where, is the next move? The world wonders! (with apologies to Chester Nimitz and Wm. "Bull" Halsey)

[bobogoboom]

hope someone pics this one up. this is one of my 2 fav aars

[Cap Mandrake]

Did get one turn back. John ordered his subordinate commander in SE Asia to commit sepuku [:)]

He is shopping things around for a replacement. More to come.

[bobogoboom]

so who is leaving the game john or his coplayer?

[John 3rd]

I would like to jump into the AAR a minute and thank my noble opponents for the last 12 months of gaming.  Marc and Rob have been wonderful and very supportive of my life conditions!  I wish that I could keep the campaign going but many of you know that my life is going in new directions and I need time to work on career, my marriage, and family.

Over the last few days I have found new players who are willing to take over the campaign.  They will be starting a new AAR to introduce themselves and try to figure out a way to stave off the disaster occurring in the Burma/Malaya Theatre which was not MY area of control.  They are solid players that you all know. I'll let them introduce themselves when the new AAR starts.

I look forward to seeing the Campaign continue and will enjoy reading along...