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

[Cap Mandrake]

Well, I'm at the secret HQ bunker. I had severe body aches and headache and nausea so they put me on lockdown even though the fast antigen test was negative. I seem to be getting better so perhaps I don't have...you know...IT.

Might just be some bad oysters. I only had two and SG slurped down 4 but she's fine. Go figure. You figure at $20 for 6 they would be free of Vibrio. If I am already getting better and I DON'T have ...it...I am going to be really angry.

[Cap Mandrake]

By ra way, Little Italy in San Diego is super cool right now. They closed off about 4 blocks to cars and pushed all the restaurants out into the street. Lights over the street. They moved most of the homeless guys with their hepatitis A down a couple of blocks. You do have to order food to get a drink. A bit too crowded in places to keep Dr Fauci happy

[Cap Mandrake]

I do seem to be having some subjective shortness of breath climbing stairs but I might just be getting neurotic. I ordered an oximeter from Amazon to chekc my O2 saturation every 5 minutes.

[Cap Mandrake]

***************April 2, 1943(e)*********


THEY NEW F6F'S ARE HERE! THEY NEW F6F'S ARE HERE!

[Cap Mandrake]

Zuiderzee:

ASW attack near Oosthaven at 46,97

Japanese Ships
CM Hatsutaka, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CM Kamome

Allied Ships
SS Gar

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Well, I'm at the secret HQ bunker. I had severe body aches and headache and nausea so they put me on lockdown even though the fast antigen test was negative. I seem to be getting better so perhaps I don't have...you know...IT.

Might just be some bad oysters. I only had two and SG slurped down 4 but she's fine. Go figure. You figure at $20 for 6 they would be free of Vibrio. If I am already getting better and I DON'T have ...it...I am going to be really angry.

"IT"...wait... Lemme guess...

Chlamydia?
Crypto?
Dropsy?
Bubonic Plague?
Scurvy?
Salmonellosis?
Shigellosis?
Campy?
O157:H7?
Cysticercosis?
Gall stones?
Biliary Hyperkenesis?
Pancreatitis?
Rubella?
Rubeola?
Demodectic mange?
Chagas' disease?
Malaria?
Scrub Typhus?
Chigger hypersensitivity?
Impetigo?
Vertigo?
.
.
.

Alright, I've given it my best. WHAT?

[Cap Mandrake]

New and Improved Guinea: This is between New Guinea and Peleliu, whatever that body of water is called. Might just be part of the Pacific. An AK trying to make New Britain from Mindanao is intercepted by Jap DDs.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Biak at 89,107, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Takanami
DD Yamakaze
DD Kisaragi
DD Matsukaze
DD Oite

Allied Ships
xAK Steel Seafarer, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Well, I'm at the secret HQ bunker. I had severe body aches and headache and nausea so they put me on lockdown even though the fast antigen test was negative. I seem to be getting better so perhaps I don't have...you know...IT.

Might just be some bad oysters. I only had two and SG slurped down 4 but she's fine. Go figure. You figure at $20 for 6 they would be free of Vibrio. If I am already getting better and I DON'T have ...it...I am going to be really angry.

Didja get a change in your sense of taste or smell? That's one of the wierder ones.

[Cap Mandrake]

Then the lucky bastards move 160 miles and happen upon a hapless AKL on a slightly different. In fairness, they might have been set on "react". This is the downside of sending unguarded trannies right past Jap bases. Some times they draw too much attention to the themselves

Day Time Surface Combat, near Manokwari at 88,104, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Takanami
DD Yamakaze
DD Kisaragi
DD Matsukaze
DD Oite

Allied Ships
xAKL Coolana, Shell hits 30, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Well, I'm at the secret HQ bunker. I had severe body aches and headache and nausea so they put me on lockdown even though the fast antigen test was negative. I seem to be getting better so perhaps I don't have...you know...IT.

Might just be some bad oysters. I only had two and SG slurped down 4 but she's fine. Go figure. You figure at $20 for 6 they would be free of Vibrio. If I am already getting better and I DON'T have ...it...I am going to be really angry.

Didja get a change in your sense of taste or smell? That's one of the wierder ones.

No, respiratory symptoms are very mild. Maybe I just swallowed the damn thing down my gullet without breathing. Sure knocked the stuffing out of me. By 5 PM I am ready for a nap. I tried to have a G&T. 4 oz later I was lying on the couch drooling for 2 hrs. like I had roofied myself. Could be Vibrio or Disney Princess cruise ship virus.

[Cap Mandrake]

Trying to help the Marines at Biak where the prior micro-battle keeps getting bigger. I send in the B-25's to help and the LYB's are flying CAP.

Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 87,110 (Biak)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 6 destroyed

We lose about 10 B-25's in one day over NG and Vietnam

[Cap Mandrake]

5 Beauforts too. [:(]

Afternoon Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 87,110 (Biak)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 18
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged

[Cap Mandrake]

Japs drop more of 1st Raiding Rgt on Biak and bring most of Yokosuka 3rd SNLF over by seaplane, I imagine. I started 4th USMC Raider Bn toward Biak by AP but called it off after getting a feeling they would send a SCTF down from Beazelbob. Some CB's get caught in the craossfire

Ground combat at Biak (87,110)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 712 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Defending force 923 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 36

Japanese adjusted assault: 13

Allied adjusted defense: 19

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

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

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

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

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Regiment
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF

Defending units:
7th Marine Rgt /3
44th British/B Div /6
41st US Naval Const Bn /1

[Cap Mandrake]

New Britain/New Ireland: After two cruiser night bombardments we pull the trigger at Rabaul and they fold on the first attack. Big bag o' Japs. [:)] The place is a wreck. Almost 100% AF and port destruction.

Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27733 troops, 470 guns, 694 vehicles, Assault Value = 1067

Defending force 12059 troops, 226 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 137

Allied adjusted assault: 522

Japanese adjusted defense: 23

Allied assault odds: 22 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Rabaul !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4986 casualties reported
Squads: 172 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 259 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 46 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 161 (129 destroyed, 32 disabled)
Vehicles lost 38 (38 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 13
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
224 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 65 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
14th NZ Brigade
53rd (Sep) Infantry Regiment
9th Australian/A Division
9th Australian/C Division
2nd Marine/A Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
102nd Cmbt Engineer Regiment
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd Marine/B Division
164th Infantry Regiment
131st Cmbt Engineer Regiment
7th SA Armoured Brigade
2nd Marine/C Division
249th Field Artillery Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Pioneer Battalion

Defending units:
11th Garrison Unit
39th Field AA Battalion
11th RF Gun Battalion
2nd JNAF AF Unit
1st Ship Engineer Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
38th Field AA Battalion
103rd Ship Eng Coy
44th Field AA Battalion
3rd JNAF AF Unit
15th Base Force
20th Port Unit
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
17th JAAF AF Bn

[Cap Mandrake]

Sumatra: Japs bombard our seaplane base at Eggano, off the southern tip of Sumatra. AF is 24% ready. Pretty soon they will take the place out, I suspect.

Night Naval bombardment of Enggano at 44,94

Japanese Ships
E Kari
E Hato
E Kasasagi
E Otori

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Port hits 10

[Cap Mandrake]

Lots of bombing and fighter sweeps over Padanag. The engineers there are giving up and moving east. Aus. 21 Brigade(-) will stay behind as a garrison,

Sawahloento to the east 40 miles is 40% AF ready.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

New Britain/New Ireland: After two cruiser night bombardments we pull the trigger at Rabaul and they fold on the first attack. Big bag o' Japs. [:)] The place is a wreck. Almost 100% AF and port destruction.

Go Green Machine and Diggers! [8D]

[Cap Mandrake]

Vietnam/Laos: We lose some medium bombers trying to defend Vinh right over out air base. Wire got crossed there, somehow.

2 Jap divisions crush the retreated Chicom troops NE of Hanoi. We are trying to just get out of the way but they catch up and slaughter us again. Wah crime.

Ground combat at 69,54 (near Lao Cai)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23986 troops, 213 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 677

Defending force 8136 troops, 62 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Japanese adjusted assault: 434

Allied adjusted defense: 58

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3236 casualties reported
Squads: 97 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 153 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (7 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 5
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Division
36th Division

Defending units:
52nd Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps /1
35th Group Army
4th War Area
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Base Force

[Cap Mandrake]

Pakse, in Laos. Worrisomely massive Jap attack at Pakse. We hold but they have 3 full divisions. Some Allied units are partial because they flew in by air transport. The heavy equipment had to be hauled all the way over from Moulmein. Should be there in 1 -2 weeks

Ground combat at Pakse (63,64)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 52716 troops, 507 guns, 587 vehicles, Assault Value = 1784

Defending force 19845 troops, 239 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 765

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1237

Allied adjusted defense: 1351

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
3749 casualties reported
Squads: 66 destroyed, 186 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 23 (5 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (3 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
2266 casualties reported
Squads: 53 destroyed, 119 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Indpt SNLF Coy
II/19th Naval Guard Unit
8th Tank Regiment
Guards Mixed Brigade
4th Raiding Regiment
47th Naval Guard Unit
37th Division
1st Tank Regiment
I/19th Naval Guard Unit
11th Division
23rd Nav Gd Unit
21st Division
2nd Tank Division
Sasebo 8th SNLF

Defending units:
84th Indian Brigade
25th Indian/B Division
19th Indian/B Division
29th British Brigade
50th Indian Para Brigade
77th LRP Brigade
1st Burma Brigade
46th Indian Brigade
99th Indian Bde /1
51st Base Group
2/4th Light AA Regiment
78th Light AA Rgt /1
81st Base Group /1

[Cap Mandrake]

Jap 1st Tank Div (from China) has arrived at Vinh with over 300 Ronsons. 3 units moving up behind them