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

[Cap Mandrake]

Big attack at Clark. Best results yet for the IJA. This strategy will likely work eventually.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 33623 troops, 310 guns, 88 vehicles, Assault Value = 1017

Defending force 33501 troops, 419 guns, 362 vehicles, Assault Value = 757

Japanese adjusted assault: 917

Allied adjusted defense: 1873

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2566 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 181 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 25 (3 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
705 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
16th Division
68th Division
48th Division
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
11th PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
1st Constabulary Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
4th Constabulary Regiment
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
1st USMC AA Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
24th PS FA Regiment
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
165th Field Artillery Battalion
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
209th Field Artillery Battalion
501st Coast AA Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
4th PAAC Avn Sup
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
35th Avn Sup
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

[Cap Mandrake]

Ceram: I send in the PT boats to wear out the Jap SCTF's at Boela. Hoping they don't have AKE's there.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 22,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Kumano
DD Isonami
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Uranami
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri

Allied Ships
PT-76
PT-143
PT-144, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-158
PT-160, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

and Ise wasting main gun ammo at 29K yds. [:)]

Day Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Ise
CL Isuzu
DD Makigumo
DD Maikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Arashi
DD Natsugumo
DD Kawakaze

Allied Ships
PT-163
PT-166
PT-169
PT-172
PT-174

[Cap Mandrake]

Indochina (Laos is my guess): JJ attacks at Pakse and it goes badly for them. Did some of the units not participate. We shot a ton of transports down over Pakse today. Probably paras from 4th Raiding Regt aboard. Must be 37th Div only supplied arty support or something.

Ground combat at Pakse (63,64)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5553 troops, 27 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 557

Defending force 6699 troops, 106 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 270

Japanese adjusted assault: 38

Allied adjusted defense: 353

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 9 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1056 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Raiding Regiment
Guards Mixed Brigade
37th Division
10th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
50th Indian Para Brigade
84th Indian Brigade
29th British Bde /1
99th Indian Bde /1
51st Base Group /1

[Cap Mandrake]

As for KB...confirmed...the sneaky baaaahstards looped around Mindanao to the South somehow and are now in the Celebes Sea about 160 mi SW of Cagayan. I can get the DD's out to the NE probably but USS Cleveland will be another matter. No need to remember the Maine as she is still afloat.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Oh crap. Thought we dodged the big hit at Siquior. REMEMBER THE MAINE!

Maybe Cleveland too.

Remember Cleveland? Ugh. Do we have to?

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

As for KB...confirmed...the sneaky baaaahstards looped around Mindanao to the South somehow and are now in the Celebes Sea about 160 mi SW of Cagayan. I can get the DD's out to the NE probably but USS Cleveland will be another matter. No need to remember the Maine as she is still afloat.

I beg to disagree. You should "Remember the Maine". It is a fine cocktail.

Alfred

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

As for KB...confirmed...the sneaky baaaahstards looped around Mindanao to the South somehow and are now in the Celebes Sea about 160 mi SW of Cagayan. I can get the DD's out to the NE probably but USS Cleveland will be another matter. No need to remember the Maine as she is still afloat.

I beg to disagree. You should "Remember the Maine". It is a fine cocktail.

Alfred

Wait ... what? Sooooo - Maine is not toast but is used in a toast?

[Disco Duck]

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/remember-the-maine/[:D]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/remember-the-maine/[:D]

Soooo... Manhattan is in Maine? Or is Maine in Manhattan? I'm so confused ....

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/remember-the-maine/[:D]

Soooo... Manhattan is in Maine? Or is Maine in Manhattan? I'm so confused ....

Such rye humour.

Alfred

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/remember-the-maine/[:D]

Soooo... Manhattan is in Maine? Or is Maine in Manhattan? I'm so confused ....

Such rye humour.

Alfred

[:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

**********Feb. 16, 1943(e)**********

Ceram et environs: Send in the PT boats!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Ise
CL Isuzu
DD Makigumo
DD Maikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Arashi
DD Natsugumo
DD Kawakaze

Allied Ships
PT-163
PT-166
PT-169
PT-172, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-174, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

Crowded waters. PT-76 runs into some converted fishing boats.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Misool at 81,108, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Kiso Maru
PB Nishi Maru

Allied Ships
PT-76
PT-143
PT-158

[Cap Mandrake]

***************Aboard Kiso Maru, 40 mile ENE Boela**************

Cpt, Hata: HORY CRAP! PURR IN RONG RINE! PURR IN RONG RINE! HORY JESUS! PT BOATS HURRY UP!

[Cap Mandrake]

Something goes awry and "Ching" Lee arrives before the big PT boat flotillas.

We are marginally outgunned and were too proud to use radar. We get Rong Ranced. Jap CA's have to give up the field as well. Wichita will need to go to Brisbane. Perth too although her damage is light.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2
CA Kumano, Shell hits 2
DD Isonami
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Wichita, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1
CL Perth, Shell hits 5
DD Waller, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Wilson
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 1

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 89% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Lee, Willis "Ching crosses the 'T'

[Cap Mandrake]

Most of the PT boats show up after dawn even though they are faster and were closer to the target than Lee. Crap!

Day Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Ise
CL Isuzu
DD Makigumo
DD Maikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Arashi
DD Natsugumo
DD Kawakaze

Allied Ships
PT-66, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT-127, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-176
PT-187, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-188, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-189, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-190, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

Separate DD squadron

Day Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 13,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Minegumo
DD Umikaze
DD Sazanami
DD Kikuzuki

Allied Ships
PT-177
PT-191
PT-196, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-219
PT-220
PT-221

[Cap Mandrake]

Day Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 13,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Minegumo
DD Umikaze
DD Sazanami
DD Kikuzuki

Allied Ships
PT-297
PT-298
PT-299
PT-300
PT-301

[Cap Mandrake]

Sorong gets bombed again.

Morning Air attack on Sorong , at 82,107

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 damaged

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

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

[Cap Mandrake]

PI: Bombing of Clark. USS Cleveland makes Baybay on Leyte but has 20% fire and 22% flotation damage and is wrecked topside. She might be able to limp back to Midway after putting the fire out.

KB is looping around South of Mindanao..probably to help out at Ceram.

Maine sinks from her damage.