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

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

....

Great action plan there, Cap'n. Having the SCTFs come in from the East, LRCAPed by carrier air still at a distance. Where did you come up with such a brilliant plan of action? [8|][:'(]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Help is on the way if the LYB carriers can be driven off.

Nothing says "Sod off" quite like a 1000lb bomb through the flight deck.

No. "Sod off" is in metric. "F*** off" still is notated in ye olde pound measurements.

[Cap Mandrake]

******************With VMSB 232, near Suva, 10:15, June 26, 1942****************

Major Griffin is very satisfied. The weather has been good. Cohesion with the Marine and Navy F4F's has been good. Recon was spot on. He looks to his right through the open canopy. There are 3 Jap flattops churning up circular arcs in the blue water. It is quite beautiful. He signals half the squadron to take the Northernmost carrier. His section will take the nearest carrier.

He depresses his mike button, "Game day boys! Kill me some Japs!" He deploys his air brakes partly and pushes over into a dive "**** you Nippon!"


[;)]

[Smeulders]

Spoilers or imagination ? The world wonders.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Great action plan there, Cap'n. Having the SCTFs come in from the East, LRCAPed by carrier air still at a distance. Where did you come up with such a brilliant plan of action? [8|][:'(]

Key not plan. Key is sacrifice to Great White Totonka.

Never EVER regift to Totonka. Totonka know.

[Cap Mandrake]

Totonka LIKE new Apple Air.............

[Cap Mandrake]

It might have gone better if English got in among the transports but..................


Morning Air attack on TF, near Nadi at 128,165

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
E13A1 Jake x 3



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 44
SBD-3 Dauntless x 55


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kisaragi
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
DD Mutsuki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Harusame
CS Chiyoda, Bomb hits 2
DD Urakaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Wakaba



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and
17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and
17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and
17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
Chitose-2 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Chiyoda-1 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Chiyoda-2 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hiryu
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hiyo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese CV
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Urakaze


The strike is superbly coordinated (except for the P-39's who go in ahead of the bombers...even this is fortuitous)..Totonka REALLY LIKE his new Apple Air. The escort number is greater than the CAP. Losses are amazingly low. It is a home run.

28% Hit rate for the SBD's. Not bad. Good enough. I don't know where Hosho went.

[rtrapasso]

Woo hoo!! Congratulations!!! [&o][&o]

[Chickenboy]

Cap'n: Nice shootin' Tex.

Lord Admiral Sprior: Jolly good show, old boy. Jolly good.

[Cap Mandrake]

And the afternoon raid. Note the "CAP" is reduced to a few Jakes, suggesting the 3 CV's are unable to conduct air ops.

Looks like Hosho lucked out by hiding in someone else's smoke.


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nadi at 128,165

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 4



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28


Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, on fire
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CS Chiyoda, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yamakaze
DD Harusame



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead
Chiyoda-1 with E13A1 Jake (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
Chiyoda-2 with E13A1 Jake (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese CVL

[Cap Mandrake]

Here is the preliminary. The Allied cruisers are intercepted by Yamshiro et al near Suva Hrobor. The thing I like about Adm English is he knows the better part of valor.

You might even say this was a minor tactial Allied victory in terms of damage but Yamashiro held the "field" and the transports are protected.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Suva at 132,160, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 3
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Mogami, Shell hits 3
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 2
CL Natori
DD Yukikaze
DD Hatsushima
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hatsuyuki

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 1
CA Vincennes
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 1
CL Trenton, Shell hits 2
CL Concord, Shell hits 1
DD Sims, Shell hits 1
DD Hughes, Shell hits 1
DD Morris, Shell hits 1
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Cassin



Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 96% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
English, Robert H. crosses the 'T'

[Cap Mandrake]

The only question now for Japan is whether to try to evac some of their troops. Anyone who stays around is going to get pounded.

It looks like all the ground troops are ashore at Suva as the LYB's are not taking casualties when their AK's get hit by shore fire. There are North of 60,000 LYB's on Fiji now.

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk

Hot HOA president . . . that's a fantasy I wasn't aware that I had yet.

That made me laugh out loud. My wife asked me what was so funny.

I lied.

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Somebody remind me to tell the story about the quite literally crazy ex roomate of my ex-neighbor who used to be married to the hot Native-American with the bolt-ons.

I think it should wait for later in the war when the level of cynicism is greater.

Does this story, by chance, have relevance in the pre-Christmas spirit or, perhaps is it in the spirit of our New Year? [:D]

No...not really...it's more in line with descending to the 7th level of Hell...whatever that holiday is.

Tax Day, April 15th ?

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

The only question now for Japan is whether to try to evac some of their troops. Anyone who stays around is going to get pounded.

It looks like all the ground troops are ashore at Suva as the LYB's are not taking casualties when their AK's get hit by shore fire. There are North of 60,000 LYB's on Fiji now.

Oh, it's going to be ugly for the LYB's when this is over. [8D]

Good work, guys!

[Moondawggie]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

And the afternoon raid. Note the "CAP" is reduced to a few Jakes, suggesting the 3 CV's are unable to conduct air ops.

Looks like Hosho lucked out by hiding in someone else's smoke.


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nadi at 128,165

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 4



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 28


Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, on fire
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CS Chiyoda, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yamakaze
DD Harusame




Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese CVL

In Tokyo, the emperor, after being briefed of the developments that are "not necessarily to our advantage," takes pen in hand and turns to commemorating the souls now entering the Yasusuni Shrine.

He composes the first line of a modified Haiku (Hey---It's good to be the emperor: you can use as many syllables in a line as you want, and you still get an "A"): "Sleep my sons, in the depths of the sea..."

Nicely done, Cap!

[Mynok]

No return strike?!? Well done! I think it is more than a foregone conclusion that their CVs are air op incapable. Indeed, you have forced a bunch of Zeros into the drink as I don't think they have a land recovery base in range.

Where were the limeys in that strike? Out of range?

Two, possibly three, dead Jap CVs. For sure.

[Grollub]

Good job guys! [&o]

... and as always, an entertaining read! [:D]

[sprior]

Where were the limeys in that strike? Out of range?

It was a land-based strike from Suva, the allied carriers aren't in range yet.

[Roger Neilson II]

Lovely to watch, an Island too far methinks.......

Roger