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

[rtrapasso]

Company Cook: Thanks for bringing in these weird beasts, men! I've never seen anything like them, but the natives hereabout call them "elongated hog" or something (their lingo in kinda tough for me...) i kinda think it tastes like chicken!![:D] [;)]

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

Company Cook: Thanks for bringing in these weird beasts, men! I've never seen anything like them, but the natives hereabout call them "elongated hog" or something (their lingo in kinda tough for me...) i kinda think it tastes like chicken!![:D] [;)]

The Jap soldiers got suspicious when they saw a unicorn and a dragon watching them.

[Disco Duck]

the crocodiles are worse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuqslS_yV2U&app=desktop

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

the crocodiles are worse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuqslS_yV2U&app=desktop

This is an amusing story, but unlikely (according to many) - mostly based on "Well 900 went in, and ~500 came out - the rest must have been eaten by crocodiles!"

They didn't believe they could have allowed ~400 Japanese to escape.

No doubt some Japanese were eaten, but the claim about the massacre of 400 troops by crocs is pretty dubious... at least according to some more sober critics.

[Cap Mandrake]

****************January 10, 1942(e)****************

The Sundas, Timor, Flores & New Guinea: We send Marblehead to bombard Ambon and run into Kumano. Not sure if Kumano was headed toward our bases or they were purposely on station at Ambon. I think we are lucky to get out with being Rong Ranced. Pretty good show by they USN.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ambon at 76,109, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Shell hits 2
DD Makigumo
DD Kagero, Shell hits 1
DD Yayoi
DD Matsukaze

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1
DD Woodworth, Shell hits 1
DD Frazier, Shell hits 2

[Cap Mandrake]

Sorong is repaired. Time for visitors.

Morning Air attack on Sorong , at 82,107

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 24,810 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 24

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 22810 feet

[Cap Mandrake]

Wow. 93 bomber sorties and 90 Zeke sorties. I am impressed they can keep this up this many days in a row.

Morning Air attack on Sorong , at 82,107

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 62
G3M3 Nell x 58
G4M1 Betty x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 5 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 23

[Cap Mandrake]

Nagato is perhaps bound for Kopeang or Roti. Our small air forces on Flores have a run at them.

Domo arigato, Mrs. Nagato

Morning Air attack on TF, near Larantoeka at 68,114

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 2 destroyed
Beaufighter VIc: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato

[Cap Mandrake]

JJ is building a base at Bima on the island NW of Flores. We cant even hit Tofurkey Maru which is just sitting there at anchor.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Bima at 63,110

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Tofuku Maru

[Cap Mandrake]

Solomons: Desperately trying to stage a shoestring offensive in the Solomons to get the Japs to move some of the planes out of Kendari and Luzon. They don't seem to be buying it.

Night Naval bombardment of Auki at 115,136

Allied Ships
CL Detroit
DD Hotspur
DE Kennison

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

There are 20 fighters and some medium bombers left at Rabaul. I think the Netties are gone.

Morning Air attack on Buka , at 109,128

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

[Cap Mandrake]

Morning Air attack on 4th Marine Raider Battalion, at 109,128 (Buka)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 26

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

[Cap Mandrake]

We attack Shortlands and Buin which they are not currently defending with fighters.

Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 110,132

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 7
Mitchell II x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 10

and

Morning Air attack on Buin , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 27

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 20

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buin , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6

No Allied losses

Runway hits 5

[Cap Mandrake]

We have numerous ground units nearly 50% prepped for Buin. I have a feeling if we send amphibious forces up there the KB will show up again. This would be bad.

LYB's trapped on Guadalcanal are growing weaker. Probably they could use a good snake recipe about now.

Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 23899 troops, 374 guns, 202 vehicles, Assault Value = 831

Defending force 12272 troops, 155 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 237

Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Division
164th Infantry Regiment
53rd (Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion
22nd Marine Regiment
102nd Cmbt Engineer Regiment
5th Marine Regiment
14th NZ Brigade
97th Field Artillery Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
4th Field Artillery Battalion
168th Field Artillery Battalion
181st Field Artillery Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Pioneer Battalion

Defending units:
14th Naval Guard Unit
41st Naval Guard Unit
III/19th Naval Guard Unit
86th Naval Guard Unit
10th Garrison Unit
Sasebo 5th SNLF
Yokosuka 5th SNLF /1
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Maizuru 3rd SNLF /1
17th JAAF AF Bn
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
18th Div /1

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

JJ is building a base at Bima on the island NW of Flores. We cant even hit Tofurkey Maru which is just sitting there at anchor.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Bima at 63,110

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Tofuku Maru

Hit 'Tofuku Maru'? Can your pilots even say 'Tofuku Maru' without laughing?
Don't ask what its cargo is.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

JJ is building a base at Bima on the island NW of Flores. We cant even hit Tofurkey Maru which is just sitting there at anchor.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Bima at 63,110

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Tofuku Maru

Hit 'Tofuku Maru'? Can your pilots even say 'Tofuku Maru' without laughing?
Don't ask what its cargo is.

What's its cargo? [&:] [:'(]

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

JJ is building a base at Bima on the island NW of Flores. We cant even hit Tofurkey Maru which is just sitting there at anchor.

Hit 'Tofuku Maru'? Can your pilots even say 'Tofuku Maru' without laughing?
Don't ask what its cargo is.

What's its cargo? [&:] [:'(]

Wise guy.

Have you ever seen 10,000 soldiers eating tofu?

[Cap Mandrake]

..

[Cap Mandrake]

Now Mandarake-san see why it take 4 days to issue ordahs. Nobody say anything. [:D]

[BBfanboy]

Activation in January 1942? He was not watching his garrison numbers in Manchukuo!
Either that or he thought he should try and take Russia so the Germans could come and help here!