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345th Base Group runs out of gas in the South Pacific so they drift for 30 days, pretty much wreck their transport and come ashore on Tubuai. It's paradise..essentially Tahiti with better weather.

Well, a replacement transport has arrived to pick them up......

****************345th Base Group HQ tent, Tubuai************

<several soldiers run by with pina coladas made in actual coconut shells. They chase giggling young brown-skinned women, bare breasted with perky breastesses. It's 78F with a wonderful breeze, sunny. Everything smells good>


Men speaking with the Captain: ...but sir, the Army doesn't even know we are here. Who is going to miss the 345th Base Group. We can let them know we aren't missing later...oh...please....please...please, sir..."

Nearly 4 year old hears his mom cough once and yells "YOU GOT THE COVID!" and then runs through the house "THE COVID IS HERE!" [:D] He was completely yanking her chain. Then he tells her later his "body was tingly". She brings him in. Looks fine. EKG nl. I order some labs. I think he is yanking BOTH of our chains now. The kid is like a 3 ft tall Filippino version of Robin Williams.


*****************Feb 17, 1943(e)*************

Ceram and New Guinea: More pressure on Boela. 28 fighters at Boela and there is LRCAP from Ternate, which has 100+ fighters.

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

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CL Nagara
DD Yugumo
DD Oyashio
DD Yukikaze

Allied Ships
PT-222
PT-297, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-298
PT-299
PT-300
PT-301

Here is Tubuai by ra way.

Not good PT boat condidtions. Nearly full moon. Plus, many of the boats have not even reloaded their torps. Their chief job is to expend the ammo of the defenders.

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

Japanese Ships
DD Minegumo
DD Umikaze
DD Sazanami
DD Kikuzuki

Allied Ships
PT-176
PT-177
PT-191, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-219, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-220
PT-221

Ise and Fuso headed back to Kendari as suspected. Indiana under Carpender is headed to Boela

ASW attack near Kofiau at 78,107

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

Allied Ships
SS Guardfish, hits 3

Jap subs arr ovah prace.

Sub attack near Gorong at 81,113

Japanese Ships
SS I-22, hits 2

Allied Ships
DD Radford
DD Chevalier
DD Gansevoort
DD Lansdowne

Too bad. It starts well. Carpender turns on the radar and we get the jump on them with every USN ship getting off salvos before the Japs know where we are. The problem is Indiana cannot shoot. Jap CL is wrecked and we lose a DD plus Indiana takes one up the chuff.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 4
CL Nagara, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Indiana, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Chevalier
DD Radford
DD Duncan, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Lansdowne, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Gansevoort

Improved night sighting under 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 92% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 8,000 yards
BB Indiana fires at BB Hiei at 8,000 yards
DD Lansdowne launches Torpedoes at BB Hiei at 8,000 yards
DD Duncan launches Torpedoes at BB Hiei at 8,000 yards
DD Radford launches Torpedoes at BB Hiei at 8,000 yards
DD Chevalier launches Torpedoes at BB Hiei at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Hiei at 5,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Gansevoort at 5,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Radford at 5,000 yards
DD Chevalier engages DD Yukikaze at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB Indiana at 2,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Nagara at 2,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Chevalier at 2,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Duncan at 2,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Radford at 2,000 yards
DD Chevalier engages DD Yukikaze at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB Indiana at 5,000 yards
CL Nagara engages DD Radford at 5,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Lansdowne at 5,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards
DD Radford engages DD Yugumo at 5,000 yards
DD Chevalier engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Hiei at 6,000 yards
CL Nagara engages DD Lansdowne at 6,000 yards
DD Lansdowne engages DD Oyashio at 6,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Gansevoort at 6,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Chevalier at 6,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Chevalier at 6,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Hiei at 6,000 yards
CL Nagara engages DD Duncan at 6,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Lansdowne at 6,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Duncan at 6,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Yugumo at 6,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Chevalier at 6,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB Indiana at 6,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Gansevoort at 6,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Duncan at 6,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Oyashio at 6,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Duncan at 6,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Chevalier at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Hiei at 8,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Gansevoort at 8,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Lansdowne at 8,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Yugumo at 8,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Radford at 8,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Chevalier at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Duncan sunk by BB Hiei at 7,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Gansevoort at 7,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Lansdowne at 7,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Radford at 7,000 yards
DD Chevalier engages DD Yugumo at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB Indiana at 6,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Nagara at 6,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Lansdowne at 6,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Radford at 6,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Chevalier at 6,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB Indiana at 6,000 yards
CL Nagara engages BB Indiana at 6,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Gansevoort at 6,000 yards
DD Radford engages DD Yugumo at 6,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Lansdowne at 6,000 yards
Shinoda, Tarohachi orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB Indiana at 9,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Gansevoort at 9,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Chevalier at 9,000 yards
DD Radford engages DD Yukikaze at 9,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Chevalier at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Hiei engages BB Indiana at 10,000 yards
CL Nagara engages DD Gansevoort at 10,000 yards
DD Lansdowne engages DD Yukikaze at 10,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Radford at 10,000 yards
DD Chevalier engages DD Yukikaze at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Hiei at 12,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Gansevoort at 12,000 yards
DD Radford engages DD Yukikaze at 12,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Radford at 12,000 yards
DD Chevalier engages DD Yugumo at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Pretty effective night raid by a Betty squadron.

Night Air attack on Dobo , at 83,116

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 53 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 11

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 9 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

This one too.

Night Air attack on Kaimana , at 83,113

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

This is why we paid Boeing so much money for these damn things. Pathetic

Night Air attack on Ambon , at 76,109

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Runway hits 2

and...really?

Night Air attack on Boela , at 80,110

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5

No Allied losses

[8|]

Night Air attack on Taberfane , at 82,117

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 6

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 2 damaged

Runway hits 3

Look at this one. I think Minderbinder sold them the Norden bombsight.

Night Air attack on Malaybalay , at 80,90

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 8

No Japanese losses

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 9

After the long ride from the Coral Sea, the Jap shipping has departed Manokwari so we have to content ourselves with blowing shit up.

"Admiral Fenwick, are we there yet <sigh>?"

Night Naval bombardment of Manokwari at 85,109

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 5 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CL Montpelier
CL Honolulu
CL Marblehead
CL Richmond
DD Taylor
DD Strong
DD Cony

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

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 32
Port hits 2

More PT boat attacks. It's like they are made out of plywood or something.

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

Japanese Ships
DD Kisaragi
DD Matsukaze
DD Oite

Allied Ships
PT-159
PT-183

Well, DAMN it all! Air ASW assets all up. Good flying weather. Carpender transfered to the two undamaged DD's and left Indiana with only 1 DD. Dumbarse.

64% flooding, 40% systems. If she survives it's all the way back to Pearl.

Sub attack near Kai-eilanden at 82,114

Japanese Ships
SS RO-62, hits 10, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Indiana, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Gansevoort

SE Asia: JJ pushing hard at Pakse. We are flying in some of British 29 Brig.

Morning Air attack on 29th British Brigade, at 63,64 (Pakse)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 22
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 9 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

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

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

and...really?

Night Air attack on Boela , at 80,110

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5

No Allied losses

Really not sure what you'd expect from a small group of 4EBs at 15,000 feet at night in thunderstorms trying to pinpoint bomb some miniscule dirt runway in the middle of nowhere. Other than a bunch of OPS losses that is.

They are just pouring it on. Fortunately there are lots of trees to hide under.

Morning Air attack on 29th British Brigade, at 63,64 (Pakse)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 12
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 24
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 22

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 5 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 14 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

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

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Pretty effective night raid by a Betty squadron.

Night Air attack on Dobo , at 83,116

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 53 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 11

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 9 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Yeah it is. Ridiculously so.