Roosevelt was concerned that Blackadder did not seem to be particularly familiar with modern warfare, although to be fair Churchill pointed out that pretty much the same could be said of many Allied officers. Still, Roosevelt and Churchill agreed on a team of advisors to assist Blackadder in his decision-making, so all should be well.
First off, Air Advisor. Given the likely prominence of aerial warfare in the Pacific, Roosevelt was insistent that this be an American; Marshall and Stark recommended someone with good naval aviation experience - Ted Striker. Churchill, pouring himself another scotch, said he’d heard that Striker had something of a drink problem, but the President shrugged his shoulders - as long as he gets the job done, Striker can drink what he pleases.
Chief Air Advisor - Ted Striker.
Striker.jpeg (35.62 KiB) Viewed 836 times
As a concession, Roosevelt agreed to Churchill’s choice for an Assistant Air Advisor for aerial bombing, Captain Triggers, RFC. Churchill has heard that Triggers has a very good, if somewhat novel, solution to the problem of bombing accuracy.
Assistant Air Advisor (Bombing) - Captain Triggers, seen here on the left presumably offering two of his pilots a cup of tea.
There was less consensus on the Naval Advisor. Roosevelt wanted Nimitz. Churchill wanted Captain Pugwash. Neither would back down. Eventually, someone in the room (nobody remembers exactly who) suggested a compromise candidate, someone obscure enough that no-one knows enough about him to possibly have enough grounds to raise an objection.
Chief Naval Advisor - Captain Birdseye.
Capt Birdseye.jpeg (7.58 KiB) Viewed 831 times
Finding a suitable Assistant Naval Advisor for Submarine Warfare also proved tricky. Roosevelt was thinking of Captain Nemo, but Churchill was worried about Nemo’s anti-imperialist tendencies. The Man from Atlantis might have been a good choice, but apparently he has some kind of important role in the oil industry and can’t be spared. Eventually Roosevelt and Churchill settled on ‘Uncle’ Albert Trotter. Admittedly he never served on submarines, but as he was sunk at sea five times he probably has as much underwater experience as any.
Appointing a Chief Land Warfare Advisor was more straightforward. With his Great War experience (France 1919) and experience of command at the highest level (Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard), even Roosevelt had to admit that Captain Mainwaring was a shoe-in.
The temporary ceasefire still holds (Imperial Japanese High Command are away at the moment), so I need to fill up my AAR with something. I’ll continue to indulge myself then…
There are perhaps a number of people who would be suitable to advise the Generalissimo on intelligence, but Roosevelt and Churchill are both concerned to make Blackadder’s team more representative of the Allied nations, and that so far the Free French haven’t been given a role. This did rather narrow down the field, but they managed to find one suitable candidate:
Intelligence Advisor: Inspector Jacques Clouseau:
Clouseau.jpeg (7.59 KiB) Viewed 774 times
Of course, it’s not just a matter of gathering intelligence on the Japanese, but of disrupting and frustrating Japanese intelligence-gathering efforts against the Allies. Roosevelt knows just the man to be Blackadder’s Counter-Intelligence advisor; someone with enough similarities to Clouseau that they’re bound to get along.
Counter-Intelligence Advisor Sergeant Frank Drebbin, Detective Lieutenant Police Squad
Drebbin.jpeg (5.61 KiB) Viewed 774 times
Now, it is well known that intelligence functions best when done through multiple agencies with ill-defined and often overlapping responsibilities. In this vein Roosevelt and Churchill felt that maybe they should appoint someone specifically for covert human intelligence; someone good at handling agents/informers and with excellent interdepartmental skills. Churchill misheard Roosevelt and thought he said someone good at manhandling agents and informers; he therefore put forward whom he thought would be ideal…
Covert Human Intelligence Advisor, Inspector Jack Regan, Flying Squad.
Regan.jpeg (5.54 KiB) Viewed 774 times
Of course, the problem with Blackadder receiving advice on the same subject from three separate sources is that he may end up receiving confusing and/or conflicting information. The solution, obviously, is to add a fourth advisor, someone with the responsibility not to oversee the others but to ensure a degree of coordination between them. Someone who can see the big picture. Following precedent, Roosevelt felt they might have to outsource this to a private detective agency - and knew just the one: Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency.
BB Fanboy is correct; I had forgotten that Clouseau was indeed promoted to Chef Inspecteur. He'll have to remain a plain Inspecteur for now, we'll see if he manages to earn a promotion in due course.
I hope the turn arrives soon as Roosevelt and Churchill are getting towards the bottom of the barrel here….
Just as Lloyd George did during the Great War, Churchill turned to the rail industry for its transportation expertise, and has somehow persuaded Roosevelt that he knows the right person to advise Blackadder on transportation and logistics. With the knowledge and experienced gained from overseeing the operations of the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Ltd, who could have more expertise than Dai Station? He will have two assistant advisors, one for railways and one for motor transport.
Chief Transport Advisor Dai Station (with white cap) seen here at a resource allocation meeting with Jones the Steam, Assistant Advisor (Railways) (in orange jacket).
Dai Station.jpeg (22.76 KiB) Viewed 707 times
“We still need an Assistant Advisor for Motor Transport” said Roosevelt. (At least, that’s what he said according to the minutes of the meeting. Private records and diaries indicate that Roosevelt’s speech was actually slightly less coherent and slightly more slurred than the minutes indicate, in fact, almost as incoherent and slurred as Churchill’s). Who to appoint for Motor Transport…….let me think….who could do that job……..
Assistant Transport Advisor (Motor Transport) Sergeant Bilko.
Crikey - Capt Beefheart, your ground crews must have a shorter life expectancy than a Kamikaze pilot.
Some great stories there, Ranger Joe. Dr Frankenstein as Director of Medial Services…..nice idea….there are some quirks of the game where I could work him in, I think.
17th March 1942
The temporary truce is over, and the war continues.
INDIA/BURMA
A detachment of the Japanese 33rd Division recaptures Pegu. 13th Indian Bde managed to slip away just in time, despite the attention of some Sallys now operating out of Rangoon. I’d brought back a squadron of AVG from China to Toungoo; they’re going into action tomorrow sweeping Rangoon.
I’ve also moved up a squadron of B17Es to Dacca (unfortunately not quite a level 5 airfield yet). I’m planning to send them into action bombing Rangoon on the 19th, coinciding with a naval bombardment group (CLs Sumatra, Capetown, Colombo and DD Isis are just off Akyab) which should also reach Rangoon on the 19th. I know the Japanese have 2 DMSs there at least.
The purpose of these actions is to cause disruption to the Japanese advance. There are still a few places on the map where the Japanese can have a free lunch, but not many now.
ABDA
Forty Zeros sweep Batavia. It looks like I might have finally got the CAP settings correct, as the sweeps were unopposed as planned.
On Sumatra Japanese forces reach Langsa, where a few battered Dutch units plan to make a stand.
Bataan suffered the usual artillery and air bombardment, then the Japanese came again. The Allies suffered heavy casualties but held their ground. Clumsy Japanese armoured tactics cost them dearly, 37 vehicles destroyed and another 7 disabled.
USA
USS Pensylvania completes repairs at Mare Island and joins with Maryland, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico and Mississippi at Alameda.
SUBMARINE WARFARE
SS Bonita spots a six-ship TF at Nauru Island and takes 3 hits for her pains. Damage is moderate but she will remain on patrol for the moment. I want to know more about what the Japanese are up to.
At Tulagi SS I-24 tussled with DDs Gridley and Dunlap. No damage reported to either side, but I-24 reported the presence of at least 3 Allied xAPs. The Japanese must realise from this that I’ve reinforced Tulagi with more than a token garrison.
M Peaston wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2024 11:04 pm
Chief Transport Advisor Dai Station (with white cap) seen here at a resource allocation meeting with Jones the Steam, Assistant Advisor (Railways) (in orange jacket).
Dai Station.jpeg
Here is your assistant and his helper for Jones the Steam . . .
Blackadder is not pleased. He is supposed to be on the train to San Francisco, but here he is, still in Washington, trying to sort out some minor crisis that really should be beneath him.
It started out with the message from Blamey demanding to know why elements of I Australian Corps, bound for Perth, had been diverted to Socotra. Leaving aside the issue that he should be making demands of his theatre commanders, not vice versa (I’ll deal with that later, thought Blackadder to himself), he questioned Captain Mainwaring about the diversion. Mainwaring made some enquiries and as far as he could tell they were still due to go to Perth. Mainwaring delicately shifted the blame. Perhaps Captain Birdseye could shed some light on this?
Birdseye was found, made some enquiries of his own, and was eventually able to report back. “As far as the Captain in charge of the convoy is concerned, his orders were clear enough. Transport elements of I Australian Corps (2/9th Field Art Rgt, 2/11th Field Art Rgt, I Corps Engineer Bn and 2/1 AIF Pioneers) to Socotra, rendezvous there with USS Whipple, and proceed to Perth. There’s nothing about proceeding to Perth with the Australians still on board.”
On passes the buck to Dai Station, only with rather less finesse this time. It seems someone at Aden has bungled again!
It’s late evening, and Blackadder, Captain Mainwaring, Captain Birdseye and Dai Station have finally all got together, studying a large map. Geography was not Blackadder’s strong point, so he was quite relieved when he realised no-one else had the faintest idea where Socotra was either. Eventually it was found.
It was Captain Birdseye who came up with what he thought was a sensible solution. “Socotra has such a small port that they’re not even half-way unloaded yet. Let’s stop unloading them, get them all back on board and off on their merry way to Perth”. All agreed this was good solution. All that is, except Dai Station.
“Well, what it is, according to regulations you can’t have more than one unit aboard a ship at any one time. You can load up a single unit aboard as many ships as you like, but no matter how big or small, you can’t have two units aboard the same ship. And the convoy does not have any spare transports.”
“I don’t see the problem” said Mainwaring, “just get everybody back on board the ship they just came off.”
“Well” replied Dai Station “you see, according to regulations, when a unit is fragmented they are treated as different units. As soon as the first gunner or artillery piece comes off the ship they are treated as the main unit, and everybody and everything still on the ship is a fragment of the unit, and therefore technically treated as a separate unit.”
“I still don’t see the problem” said Mainwaring, “as soon as they’re back on board, they’ll be the same unit again”.
“Ah, but according to regulations they can’t go back on board” pointed out Dai Station,"because technically they are now separate units, and you cannot allow them to board a ship with another unit on board”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” exclaimed Mainwaring.
“So we have to wait until they’ve all unloaded before they can recombine as units and then reload?” said a bemused Captain Birdseye.
“I’m not getting any of this” said an even more bemused and by now somewhat confused Blackadder.
“It’s the rr-regulations, Mainwaring, rrrrr-regulations! said Dai Station, overemphasising his rolling ‘r’ for effect. “And if we don’t follow the regulations the insurance companies won’t cover our ships!
“Insurance? It’s an insurance matter…..in that case…
“Oh…well….I see now”.
“Hmmm….Insurance…..not much we can do”
“We’ll just have to go with it then”.
No-one really understood the details, or the rationale, but they all knew one thing; you can’t go against the insurance companies.
OK, that was funny. Thanks for the morning chuckle. The frustration of the inadvertent unloading.
If you have some spare time (who am I kidding: a lot of spare time), there's an epic AAR out there between GreyJoy and Rader where GreyJoy, being an Italian, has all sorts of malapropisms sprinkled throughout his AAR, the most famous one being "Scoodra" for Socotra. The fact that the island was even in play will give you an idea of the epic scope of that campaign. It's a classic underdog story, with the hapless, inexperienced GreyJoy being ground down by the evil IJ player who uses every trick in the book to advantage. But, being a morality play, just when it seems our hero is on the ropes for good, he comes back with a brilliant counterpunch to save the day for democracy, mom and apple pie.
CaptBeefheart wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 1:27 am
OK, that was funny. Thanks for the morning chuckle. The frustration of the inadvertent unloading.
If you have some spare time (who am I kidding: a lot of spare time), there's an epic AAR out there between GreyJoy and Rader where GreyJoy, being an Italian, has all sorts of malapropisms sprinkled throughout his AAR, the most famous one being "Scoodra" for Socotra. The fact that the island was even in play will give you an idea of the epic scope of that campaign. It's a classic underdog story, with the hapless, inexperienced GreyJoy being ground down by the evil IJ player who uses every trick in the book to advantage. But, being a morality play, just when it seems our hero is on the ropes for good, he comes back with a brilliant counterpunch to save the day for democracy, mom and apple pie.
Cheers,
CB
That was the AAR that got me interested in this game. I later bought it and it was not even on sale.
Seek peace but keep your gun handy.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).” ; Julia Child
CaptBeefheart wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 1:27 am
OK, that was funny. Thanks for the morning chuckle. The frustration of the inadvertent unloading.
If you have some spare time (who am I kidding: a lot of spare time), there's an epic AAR out there between GreyJoy and Rader where GreyJoy, being an Italian, has all sorts of malapropisms sprinkled throughout his AAR, the most famous one being "Scoodra" for Socotra. The fact that the island was even in play will give you an idea of the epic scope of that campaign. It's a classic underdog story, with the hapless, inexperienced GreyJoy being ground down by the evil IJ player who uses every trick in the book to advantage. But, being a morality play, just when it seems our hero is on the ropes for good, he comes back with a brilliant counterpunch to save the day for democracy, mom and apple pie.
Cheers,
CB
Thanks Capt Beefheart, I must take the time to read Greyjoy’s AAR. Others have often mentioned his famous exploits and I’ve certainly heard of Scoodra!
In a game of this scale and complexity I think it is inevitable that these type of administrative/technical mistakes will be made, no matter how careful I am - it’s just too much to double-check everything. I expect my opponent will make such mistakes from time-to-time as well, so I try to see the funny side and not get too frustrated.
CaptBeefheart wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 1:27 am
OK, that was funny. Thanks for the morning chuckle. The frustration of the inadvertent unloading.
If you have some spare time (who am I kidding: a lot of spare time), there's an epic AAR out there between GreyJoy and Rader where GreyJoy, being an Italian, has all sorts of malapropisms sprinkled throughout his AAR, the most famous one being "Scoodra" for Socotra. The fact that the island was even in play will give you an idea of the epic scope of that campaign. It's a classic underdog story, with the hapless, inexperienced GreyJoy being ground down by the evil IJ player who uses every trick in the book to advantage. But, being a morality play, just when it seems our hero is on the ropes for good, he comes back with a brilliant counterpunch to save the day for democracy, mom and apple pie.
Cheers,
CB
That was the AAR that got me interested in this game. I later bought it and it was not even on sale.
I must admit I bought this when buying a couple of other Matrix games in a sale, WITPAE was a bit of an afterthought - it was very cheap, and the blurb made it sound like Victory Games’s ‘Pacific War’, a battered copy of which I’ve still got.
; Julia Child
