Mainwaring’s idea seemed a good one at the time - we keep missing the train due to some crisis or another, but wouldn’t it be quicker just to fly to San Francisco anyway? Flying appealed to Blackadder. Not only will it be quicker, but in the event of another ‘crisis’, no-one would be able to contact him in the air. Peace and quiet. There would be no urgent cables, and especially no annoying cables from Blamey.
Blamey…Blamey….what to do about Blamey? The man’s worse than a problem, he’s becoming a nuisance. He kept sending so many irate messages about the cock up with I Corps at that island, what’s it called? Scoto….Costor…..Soctor…..uhh…Scoodra, that’s it I think…..anyway, so many irate messages that Blackadder ended up sacking him.
However, one very angry telephone call from Prime Minister Curtin later, and Blackadder had to unsack him. It turns out that Blackadder is answerable to more people than just Roosevelt and Churchill; Churchill must have forgotten to mention that bit. This job is going to be more complicated than Blackadder originally thought.
Okay, so Blamey can’t be got rid of, but he can be sidelined. Blackadder’s plan is simple. Set up a new command which area of responsibility covers much of Blamey’s old command - particularly the front-line areas. Technically, Blamey won’t be sacked - he will still be in charge of the same command - but Blackadder won’t have to deal with him anywhere near as much. It will need someone in charge that Roosevelt is keen on, so that Roosevelt will be forceful enough in persuading Curtin. Blackadder knows that Roosevelt is keen on MacArthur. Blackadder doesn’t know much about MacArthur, but surely he can’t be too difficult to deal with. Not as difficult as Blamey anyway. At least he won’t keep going over Blackadder’s head to his political masters….
There’s only one problem with this plan - MacArthur is still missing.
Still, it’s a long flight, so no need to worry about this, or anything else, for some while……ahhh…some peace and quiet at last….
Peace and quiet? AAARRRRGHHHH!!!!
Roosevelt was anxious about too many advisors traveling on one aircraft, so Captains Birdseye and Mainwaring traveled on one plane, Blackadder and Dai Station on another. Dai Station proved very chatty. He is very enthusiastic about his work on the railways, and very knowledgeable about them too, or at least one small stretch of railway. Post Office Crossing….the main line out of Merioneth…Llanmad…..Llaniog Station……the signal box outside of Ivor’s shed…….how much of this can a mortal human take?
The plane touched down in San Francisco (what relief!) where there was a car waiting to meet them. Only there wasn’t. Mainwaring and Birdseye had got there first, and hadn’t waited. Eventually Blackadder and Dai Station had to get a taxi. Unfortunately, no-one had thought to tell the city’s taxi-drivers about the secret location of the new Allied Supreme HQ, and they drove around and around while Blackadder had to continue to listening to more of Dai Station’s tales. “God, if I have to hear just one more story about delivering coal to Grumbly Gasworks……”
Finally, after Mainwaring sent out a search party, Blackadder made it to Allied Supreme HQ, or, to give it its full title, Pacific, Australia, Netherlands East Indies, India and China HQ. (“That’s a bit of a mouthful” thought Blackadder, “it needs a neat abbreviation or something like ABDA has…..I’ll get someone working on it”). Blackadder accepted the salute from the guard outside, and walked in. Oh dear! Insufficient records, few written orders, no-one knowing what is going on, people running around like headless chickens, chaos, disorder, bedlam!
Oh dear!
A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
24th March 1942
Blamey looks at the reports with concern, but also with just a little bit of smug satisfaction. A week ago this could have been a lot worse; a lot, lot worse. Eight Japanese carriers spotted 80 miles north of Rossel Is. He questions the young staff major standing in front of him.
“All fighter squadrons at Port Moresby and Charters Towers are at full alert, Sir”.
“And the shipping at Townsville?”
“Raising steam now, sir. HMAS Adelaide, a few sloops and a couple of dozen merchants. They’ll scatter among the ports between Cairns and Rockhampton.”
“Good. Do the Americans still have that flotilla of PT boats at Port Moresby?”
“Yes Sir”
“Excellent! With luck they’ll get a crack at the Japanese, if they get too close”.
[What Blamey doesn’t know is that It’s not luck that the PT boats need, as they swing uselessly at the quayside; what they need is fuel.]
Blamey studies the map on his wall. According to the reports the Japanese could be in a position to hit anywhere from Horn Is. to Brisbane tomorrow, and Blamey notes there are no air defences between Charters Towers and Sydney.
“Do we have that squadron of Kittyhawks at Sydney?”
“Yes Sir”.
[Raw pilots straight out of flight school, carrying out training flights only. No-one thinks they’re ready for action, but Blamey didn’t ask about combat readiness].
The situation, thinks Blamey, is serious, but manageable. A week or so ago a Japanese foray into the Coral Sea could have proved disastrous, but now 6th Division is digging in at Port Moresby, and ditto the US Marines at Luganville and Tulagi. The pieces are all starting to come together now, and 41st Division is due at Sydney in a couple of days.
CHRIST!!!!!
The Japanese could hit Sydney in two days!
“DIVERT THEM TO MELBOURNE!!” “The 41st Division! Get them diverted! MELBOURNE!!!!”
CHINA
41st AA Rgt and Heavy Art Rgt arrive to reinforce Wuchow.
Chinese bombers again attack Japanese positions at Ningsia.
The heavy cruiser Yakumo bombards Wenchow. SS Perch is on patrol off Shanghi; she has been diverted towards Wenchow on the off-chance intercepting the Yakumo.
INDIA/BURMA
CLs Mauritius and Caledon sweep the Andaman Sea south of Rangoon but find nothing other than the lashing rain, torrents and torrents of the stuff.
Intelligence reports indicate that the Japanese are starting to construct some kind of railway from Thailand up into Burma…..
ABDA
2nd Sasebo Coy SNLF captures Morotai (Moluccas).
93rd PA Infantry Rgt attacked the Yokosuka 1st SNLF which landed at Tacloban yesterday. The attack was a dismal failure. Reinforcements are en route in the shape of the Leyte Constabulary Bn.
SWPAC/SOPAC
In addition to the 41st Div, Queen Mary with 164th Rgt, also due Sydney in a day or so, is diverted to Melbourne. A nearby fuel convoy was also diverted, but apparently didn’t get the signal…
Blamey looks at the reports with concern, but also with just a little bit of smug satisfaction. A week ago this could have been a lot worse; a lot, lot worse. Eight Japanese carriers spotted 80 miles north of Rossel Is. He questions the young staff major standing in front of him.
“All fighter squadrons at Port Moresby and Charters Towers are at full alert, Sir”.
“And the shipping at Townsville?”
“Raising steam now, sir. HMAS Adelaide, a few sloops and a couple of dozen merchants. They’ll scatter among the ports between Cairns and Rockhampton.”
“Good. Do the Americans still have that flotilla of PT boats at Port Moresby?”
“Yes Sir”
“Excellent! With luck they’ll get a crack at the Japanese, if they get too close”.
[What Blamey doesn’t know is that It’s not luck that the PT boats need, as they swing uselessly at the quayside; what they need is fuel.]
Blamey studies the map on his wall. According to the reports the Japanese could be in a position to hit anywhere from Horn Is. to Brisbane tomorrow, and Blamey notes there are no air defences between Charters Towers and Sydney.
“Do we have that squadron of Kittyhawks at Sydney?”
“Yes Sir”.
[Raw pilots straight out of flight school, carrying out training flights only. No-one thinks they’re ready for action, but Blamey didn’t ask about combat readiness].
The situation, thinks Blamey, is serious, but manageable. A week or so ago a Japanese foray into the Coral Sea could have proved disastrous, but now 6th Division is digging in at Port Moresby, and ditto the US Marines at Luganville and Tulagi. The pieces are all starting to come together now, and 41st Division is due at Sydney in a couple of days.
CHRIST!!!!!
The Japanese could hit Sydney in two days!
“DIVERT THEM TO MELBOURNE!!” “The 41st Division! Get them diverted! MELBOURNE!!!!”
CHINA
41st AA Rgt and Heavy Art Rgt arrive to reinforce Wuchow.
Chinese bombers again attack Japanese positions at Ningsia.
The heavy cruiser Yakumo bombards Wenchow. SS Perch is on patrol off Shanghi; she has been diverted towards Wenchow on the off-chance intercepting the Yakumo.
INDIA/BURMA
CLs Mauritius and Caledon sweep the Andaman Sea south of Rangoon but find nothing other than the lashing rain, torrents and torrents of the stuff.
Intelligence reports indicate that the Japanese are starting to construct some kind of railway from Thailand up into Burma…..
ABDA
2nd Sasebo Coy SNLF captures Morotai (Moluccas).
93rd PA Infantry Rgt attacked the Yokosuka 1st SNLF which landed at Tacloban yesterday. The attack was a dismal failure. Reinforcements are en route in the shape of the Leyte Constabulary Bn.
SWPAC/SOPAC
In addition to the 41st Div, Queen Mary with 164th Rgt, also due Sydney in a day or so, is diverted to Melbourne. A nearby fuel convoy was also diverted, but apparently didn’t get the signal…
Drebbin is on the case.
Meanwhile, Frank Drebbin is on the case. Blackadder made it clear to him that finding MacArthur is his number one priority. Clouseau is trying to find out what involvement, if any, the Japanese had in MacArthur’s disappearance, and Dirk Gently is coordinating the whole investigation from his deckchair on the beach. However, the Allies are no nearer solving the mystery of what happened to MacArthur. The Queensland Police, Commonwealth Police, Military Police, Military Intelligence, even the Grand Union Canal Police (how did they get in on this?) all came to the same conclusion - MacArthur simply ‘dispersed’ on the train in Queensland, just as Quezon did.
It’s wasn’t much to go on.
Then Drebbin received a cable from Inspector Regan.
GEORGE ON BLOWER WHISPER FROM SNOUT CLAPHAM
Why can’t the signallers decode these before handing them to him? Drebbin was about to go back to signals with the message, but thought better of it. Why waste his time? It’s probably means that Regan is about to do something that involves getting blethered; that’s what he normally does.
“Blethered” - another new word he’s picked up from Regan. He’s learned a lot of new words from him, many of them quite unrepeatable.
Regan though, was on to something…..
It’s wasn’t much to go on.
Then Drebbin received a cable from Inspector Regan.
GEORGE ON BLOWER WHISPER FROM SNOUT CLAPHAM
Why can’t the signallers decode these before handing them to him? Drebbin was about to go back to signals with the message, but thought better of it. Why waste his time? It’s probably means that Regan is about to do something that involves getting blethered; that’s what he normally does.
“Blethered” - another new word he’s picked up from Regan. He’s learned a lot of new words from him, many of them quite unrepeatable.
Regan though, was on to something…..
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
25th March 1942
CHINA
There was a humiliating defeat for the Chinese at Sihong as the defenders offered hardly any resistance to the Japanese assault before capitulating.
INDIA/BURMA
Mauritius and Caledon are ordered back into the Andaman Sea; surely there must be some Japanese activity to report back on?
SWPAC/SOPAC
The Catalinas quickly locate the Japanese carriers, tracking them as they enter the Coral Sea and reporting on their position. Tense Ops rooms receive updates on KB’s progress, gunners stand by their Ack-Ack guns, endless fighter patrols circle the skies above Port Moresby, Charters Towers and Townsville. Air-raid sirens sound across eastern Australia as jittery observers report anything and everything as Japanese bombers. More tense moments as the weather closed in and contact with the KB was lost, regained only at sunset with the carriers reported 120 miles west of Tagula Island. There were, however, no Japanese air attacks - not today at least.
Some 480 miles south of Fiji Vice-Admiral Sherman reads the signal; do Lexington and Enterprise have enough fuel to hit the Marshalls and make it to Pearl Harbor? The answer is yes - barely. There’s not much margin for things like taking evasive manoeuvres or making a high-speed dash, i.e. the sort of things one might want to do if going into action. He’s going to need those oilers….
There was no sign of the Japanese cruisers spotted yesterday ahead of KB. At Sydney the heavy cruisers Chicago, Pensacola and San Francisco have been ordered to sea in case the Japanese SAG is heading south.
USA
Repairs on the USS Tennessee have been completed and she joins up with the Pacific Fleet’s major units at Alameda.
A reinforcement convoy starts loading at San Fransisco bound for Australia:
12th, 13th and 14th Marine Air Group HQs
96th AA Rgt
1/30th Coastal Artillery Bn
2nd Marine Amtrac Bn
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Bn
97th Field Art Bn
Two Banshee squadrons
Two Aircobra squadron
One squadron of B17Es
SUBMARINE WARFARE
Growler sank a small tanker, RTN Samui, off Singapore.
Sculpin torpedoed xAK Zuiko Maru off Shanghai
At Bataan Sealion sank a landing barge.
CHINA
There was a humiliating defeat for the Chinese at Sihong as the defenders offered hardly any resistance to the Japanese assault before capitulating.
INDIA/BURMA
Mauritius and Caledon are ordered back into the Andaman Sea; surely there must be some Japanese activity to report back on?
SWPAC/SOPAC
The Catalinas quickly locate the Japanese carriers, tracking them as they enter the Coral Sea and reporting on their position. Tense Ops rooms receive updates on KB’s progress, gunners stand by their Ack-Ack guns, endless fighter patrols circle the skies above Port Moresby, Charters Towers and Townsville. Air-raid sirens sound across eastern Australia as jittery observers report anything and everything as Japanese bombers. More tense moments as the weather closed in and contact with the KB was lost, regained only at sunset with the carriers reported 120 miles west of Tagula Island. There were, however, no Japanese air attacks - not today at least.
Some 480 miles south of Fiji Vice-Admiral Sherman reads the signal; do Lexington and Enterprise have enough fuel to hit the Marshalls and make it to Pearl Harbor? The answer is yes - barely. There’s not much margin for things like taking evasive manoeuvres or making a high-speed dash, i.e. the sort of things one might want to do if going into action. He’s going to need those oilers….
There was no sign of the Japanese cruisers spotted yesterday ahead of KB. At Sydney the heavy cruisers Chicago, Pensacola and San Francisco have been ordered to sea in case the Japanese SAG is heading south.
USA
Repairs on the USS Tennessee have been completed and she joins up with the Pacific Fleet’s major units at Alameda.
A reinforcement convoy starts loading at San Fransisco bound for Australia:
12th, 13th and 14th Marine Air Group HQs
96th AA Rgt
1/30th Coastal Artillery Bn
2nd Marine Amtrac Bn
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Bn
97th Field Art Bn
Two Banshee squadrons
Two Aircobra squadron
One squadron of B17Es
SUBMARINE WARFARE
Growler sank a small tanker, RTN Samui, off Singapore.
Sculpin torpedoed xAK Zuiko Maru off Shanghai
At Bataan Sealion sank a landing barge.
Drebbin is still on the case...
Drebbin wasn’t entirely sure whether to believe him. In fact, Drebbin thinks Regan might have been drinking again. The signs were there, even if it took a detective of Drebbin’s experience to read them: the slight sway, the slurred speech, the smell of alcohol, the near-empty bottle of scotch in Regan’s pocket...
….Yet Regan was insistent. According to his information, MacArthur was here - right here - in San Francisco!
Well, it may or may not be true, but at least it is something to work on, so Drebbin got to work. But San Francisco is a big city….
….Yet Regan was insistent. According to his information, MacArthur was here - right here - in San Francisco!
Well, it may or may not be true, but at least it is something to work on, so Drebbin got to work. But San Francisco is a big city….
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
26th March 1942
The Picket
The life of a naval picket can be a lonely one, but sometimes it can be brutal - and short. USS Helm was unlucky. Detached from a convoy to temporarily cover a gap in air search until PG Isabel could arrive on station, Helm was on her way back to join up with the heavy cruisers Pensacola, Chicago and San Francisco, on the hunt for the Japanese cruisers. Helm’s lookouts spotted the Cruiser group east of Rockhampton, dark shapes against the not-quite-so-dark night sky. The captain didn’t like it, and ordered action stations; the US cruisers shouldn’t be this far north yet. Two smaller shapes, possibly destroyers, peel off from the main group and approach Helm. One of them flashes a recognition signal - a strange, unfamiliar signal - a Japanese signal! In response the captain gives the order to open fire. Guns flash and crash, flares light up the sky, chaos! Helm twists and dodges this way and that - the captain is determined to get a good look at the Japanese force before Helm makes her escape. Unfortunately the Japanese gunnery is good, too good, and within a few minutes the US destroyer is a burning, sinking wreck. Those few minutes, however, were just enough time for Helm to get off her crucial message - the battleships Hiei and Kirishima are just 280 miles east of Rockhampton.
The General.
Blamey digests the report. He makes a mental note to send some decent glasses to the search pilots. Cruisers? My arse! Those are battleships out there. Japanese battleships! Blamey gives his orders: 41st Division will disembark at Adelaide. The US cruisers will fall back and cover the Bass strait. Sydney harbour is to be cleared of all shipping. He asks for a call to be put through to the Prime Minister….best to let him know what is happening…
The Prime Minister
Curtin cannot believe what he is hearing. The Japanese navy is steaming just a few miles off the east coast of Australia, and Blamey says there’s not a damned thing he can do about it. There’s not a single Allied battleship between Port Hedland and Alameda. Curtin felt he’d been hoodwinked by Churchill’s promises, and regretted allowing half of I Corps to go to India. Yes, Churchill had sent 18th Division, two Hurricane squadrons, two torpedo bomber squadrons, Repulse, Hermes, Dorsetshire and Cornwall. It seemed like a good deal at the time, but they’re all protecting the north. Who cares about Broome, Port Hedland, Darwin? The Japanese are coming for the east; it’s Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra under threat! Cynically, Curtin is beginning to suspect that the British forces are in the north so they can be more easily withdrawn to India should the need arise…..
The Prince
At Allied Supreme HQ in San Francisco Blackadder considers the series of cables from Blamey, and now from Curtin too. Blamey and Curtin are asking for - nay, demanding - the return of Lexington and Enterprise to the Coral Sea. It was Captain Birdseye who advised otherwise.
“Let the Japanese steam up and down the Coral Sea if they want. Sure, they can cause some damage, but they can’t do us any real harm, and they can’t stay there for ever. We must hold our nerve. Our carriers should continue heading north. Now is the time to strike back.”
As a substitute for the two carriers Blackadder offered to transfer control of a squadron of Wildebeests, currently at Waikpapakauri, to Blamey's command, but Blamey wasn't mollified.
INDIA/BURMA
Japanese sympathisers revolt in the settlement of Kemapyu, east of Toungoo. Once again, ‘B’ squadron, 3rd Hussars reverses direction and is ordered to reassert Britain’s authority there.
ABDA
The Japanese continue their drive on Sabang, capturing Lhokseumawe.
CM Krakatau successful dodges Japanese air attacks whilst evacuating Dutch units from Babo.
SOPAC
Up until today Waipapakauri in New Zealand has not had a mention, and may well go the remainder of the war without being mentioned again. However, fate has is that today Waipapakauri appears twice in the history of the Pacific War. For it is today that elements of the 1st NZ Bde at Waipapakauri receive their delivery of 8 new 25 pounders. None of the men stop to ponder why it is they have been prioritised for the new guns over the units facing the Japanese onslaught in Burma, India and the DEI with their Edwardian-era 18 Pounders…..
The Picket
The life of a naval picket can be a lonely one, but sometimes it can be brutal - and short. USS Helm was unlucky. Detached from a convoy to temporarily cover a gap in air search until PG Isabel could arrive on station, Helm was on her way back to join up with the heavy cruisers Pensacola, Chicago and San Francisco, on the hunt for the Japanese cruisers. Helm’s lookouts spotted the Cruiser group east of Rockhampton, dark shapes against the not-quite-so-dark night sky. The captain didn’t like it, and ordered action stations; the US cruisers shouldn’t be this far north yet. Two smaller shapes, possibly destroyers, peel off from the main group and approach Helm. One of them flashes a recognition signal - a strange, unfamiliar signal - a Japanese signal! In response the captain gives the order to open fire. Guns flash and crash, flares light up the sky, chaos! Helm twists and dodges this way and that - the captain is determined to get a good look at the Japanese force before Helm makes her escape. Unfortunately the Japanese gunnery is good, too good, and within a few minutes the US destroyer is a burning, sinking wreck. Those few minutes, however, were just enough time for Helm to get off her crucial message - the battleships Hiei and Kirishima are just 280 miles east of Rockhampton.
The General.
Blamey digests the report. He makes a mental note to send some decent glasses to the search pilots. Cruisers? My arse! Those are battleships out there. Japanese battleships! Blamey gives his orders: 41st Division will disembark at Adelaide. The US cruisers will fall back and cover the Bass strait. Sydney harbour is to be cleared of all shipping. He asks for a call to be put through to the Prime Minister….best to let him know what is happening…
The Prime Minister
Curtin cannot believe what he is hearing. The Japanese navy is steaming just a few miles off the east coast of Australia, and Blamey says there’s not a damned thing he can do about it. There’s not a single Allied battleship between Port Hedland and Alameda. Curtin felt he’d been hoodwinked by Churchill’s promises, and regretted allowing half of I Corps to go to India. Yes, Churchill had sent 18th Division, two Hurricane squadrons, two torpedo bomber squadrons, Repulse, Hermes, Dorsetshire and Cornwall. It seemed like a good deal at the time, but they’re all protecting the north. Who cares about Broome, Port Hedland, Darwin? The Japanese are coming for the east; it’s Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra under threat! Cynically, Curtin is beginning to suspect that the British forces are in the north so they can be more easily withdrawn to India should the need arise…..
The Prince
At Allied Supreme HQ in San Francisco Blackadder considers the series of cables from Blamey, and now from Curtin too. Blamey and Curtin are asking for - nay, demanding - the return of Lexington and Enterprise to the Coral Sea. It was Captain Birdseye who advised otherwise.
“Let the Japanese steam up and down the Coral Sea if they want. Sure, they can cause some damage, but they can’t do us any real harm, and they can’t stay there for ever. We must hold our nerve. Our carriers should continue heading north. Now is the time to strike back.”
As a substitute for the two carriers Blackadder offered to transfer control of a squadron of Wildebeests, currently at Waikpapakauri, to Blamey's command, but Blamey wasn't mollified.
INDIA/BURMA
Japanese sympathisers revolt in the settlement of Kemapyu, east of Toungoo. Once again, ‘B’ squadron, 3rd Hussars reverses direction and is ordered to reassert Britain’s authority there.
ABDA
The Japanese continue their drive on Sabang, capturing Lhokseumawe.
CM Krakatau successful dodges Japanese air attacks whilst evacuating Dutch units from Babo.
SOPAC
Up until today Waipapakauri in New Zealand has not had a mention, and may well go the remainder of the war without being mentioned again. However, fate has is that today Waipapakauri appears twice in the history of the Pacific War. For it is today that elements of the 1st NZ Bde at Waipapakauri receive their delivery of 8 new 25 pounders. None of the men stop to ponder why it is they have been prioritised for the new guns over the units facing the Japanese onslaught in Burma, India and the DEI with their Edwardian-era 18 Pounders…..
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
- Hiei and Kirishima.png (1.63 MiB) Viewed 798 times
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
27th March 1942
INDIA/BURMA
The Japanese appear to be advancing on Toungoo in force.
ABDA
In a rare Japanese night-time raid, 7 Lillys bomb Batavia, causing little damage to the airfield.
A few Dutch troops fall back on Sabang to make a stand there.
There’s bad news at Tacloban as the Japanese reinforce their stalled landing with the 8th Tank Rgt and elements of the 81st Naval Guard unit. It’s not all doom and gloom for the Allied defenders though, as they are expecting reinforcements any day now. Let’s hope the arrival of the Leyte Constabulary Bn can tip the balance in the Allies’ favour…
SWPAC/SOPAC
There’s no sign of the Japanese battleships that were off Rockhampton yesterday, but the enemy carriers have moved northwest and are now just west of Tagula Island. This could be unfortunate for the small supply convoy (3xAKs and 2 sloops) heading for Port Moresby.
In what was the highlight of an otherwise (unexpectedly) quiet turn, a small Japanese patrol pushing out for Saidor in New Guinea occupied the settlement of Gusap.
NORPAC
49th Base Group Base Force is embarking at Prince Rupert bound for Adak.
INDIA/BURMA
The Japanese appear to be advancing on Toungoo in force.
ABDA
In a rare Japanese night-time raid, 7 Lillys bomb Batavia, causing little damage to the airfield.
A few Dutch troops fall back on Sabang to make a stand there.
There’s bad news at Tacloban as the Japanese reinforce their stalled landing with the 8th Tank Rgt and elements of the 81st Naval Guard unit. It’s not all doom and gloom for the Allied defenders though, as they are expecting reinforcements any day now. Let’s hope the arrival of the Leyte Constabulary Bn can tip the balance in the Allies’ favour…
SWPAC/SOPAC
There’s no sign of the Japanese battleships that were off Rockhampton yesterday, but the enemy carriers have moved northwest and are now just west of Tagula Island. This could be unfortunate for the small supply convoy (3xAKs and 2 sloops) heading for Port Moresby.
In what was the highlight of an otherwise (unexpectedly) quiet turn, a small Japanese patrol pushing out for Saidor in New Guinea occupied the settlement of Gusap.
NORPAC
49th Base Group Base Force is embarking at Prince Rupert bound for Adak.
The Search For MacArthur Continues.
Over the last two days Drebbin hadn’t slept. He trawled the clubs and the bars, the cafes and the markets, pulled in the burglars and the fences, spoke to everyone and anyone, and he was exhausted. Not just tired, but totally exhausted - the sort of exhaustion where you cannot take another step, shake another hand, stay awake another second, or drink another whisky, but yet you do, you must, necessity, duty drives you on. However, no one had heard anything about MacArthur - not anything at all. Maybe it’s a long shot, but there’s still someone left to try. Johnny sometimes hears things; Johnny the shoe-shine man. It’s too late tonight though; Drebbin will catch a couple of hours sleep and try Johnny in the morning.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
28th March 1942
CHINA
Japanese forces attack the Chinese blocking force at Anyang but make little headway.
ABDA
A heavy Japanese daylight air-raid on Bataan damages the airfield and one of the six Wirraways based there. Luckily most of the Allied air forces on Java are based elsewhere.
Leyte Constabulary Bn arrives at Tacloban just in time for the Japanese to kick it straight back to Baybay.
SWPAC/SOPAC
KB finally bares its teeth….and receives a small slap in the face. That small convoy managed to reach Port Moresby, and air cover, before the strikes came in. After tense days of endless combat patrols the USAAF pilots welcomed the chance to mix it with Japan’s finest, with 36 Zeros and 12 Kates being met by 75 Warhawks and Aircobras. Six Zeros and 11 Kates were claimed in return for the loss of 3 Warhawks and 2 Aircobras, with the convoy reaching Port Moresby unscathed. I don’t know why KB’s strike was so small, but the advantage in numbers certainly helped the Allies. Will the Japanese be looking for revenge?
There’s still no trace of those two Japanese battleships in the Coral Sea; how can such a large amount of floating metal just completely disappear? Supreme Allied HQ needs to review air search/naval picket policy sometime soon.
CHINA
Japanese forces attack the Chinese blocking force at Anyang but make little headway.
ABDA
A heavy Japanese daylight air-raid on Bataan damages the airfield and one of the six Wirraways based there. Luckily most of the Allied air forces on Java are based elsewhere.
Leyte Constabulary Bn arrives at Tacloban just in time for the Japanese to kick it straight back to Baybay.
SWPAC/SOPAC
KB finally bares its teeth….and receives a small slap in the face. That small convoy managed to reach Port Moresby, and air cover, before the strikes came in. After tense days of endless combat patrols the USAAF pilots welcomed the chance to mix it with Japan’s finest, with 36 Zeros and 12 Kates being met by 75 Warhawks and Aircobras. Six Zeros and 11 Kates were claimed in return for the loss of 3 Warhawks and 2 Aircobras, with the convoy reaching Port Moresby unscathed. I don’t know why KB’s strike was so small, but the advantage in numbers certainly helped the Allies. Will the Japanese be looking for revenge?
There’s still no trace of those two Japanese battleships in the Coral Sea; how can such a large amount of floating metal just completely disappear? Supreme Allied HQ needs to review air search/naval picket policy sometime soon.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
- Port Moresby 2.png (1.92 MiB) Viewed 701 times
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
In a small alleyway off the main street Drebbin slumped into Johnny’s shoe-shine chair.
“Hello Mr Drebbin, I’ve not seen you for a while”.
Drebbin looked furtively left and right down the alleyway, then leant forward.
“What do you know about MacArthur’s whereabouts?” he said quietly.
“Hey, what would I know about MacArthur?” replied Johnny.
Drebbin straightened up, took some cash from is pocket, leant forward again, and gave the money to Johnny.
Johnny said quietly “Apparently MacArthur is somehow mixed up in a top secret government project. Top, top secret. So secret that only Roosevelt and a very small handful of his closest advisors even know of its existence”.
“Where can I find MacArthur?” asked Drebbin.
Johnny just shrugged his shoulders. Drebbin leaned forward and handed him a few more dollars. This time it was Johnny who looked furtively left and right down the alleyway, before putting the money into his jacket. Johnny lowered his voice. “The project is being run by a certain Dr Stein. He’s got a small laboratory in an office block here in San Francisco”. Johnny paused to reach into his pocket and produced a small piece of paper. “Here’s the address. Apparently he’s working on MacArthur there. That’s all I know, Mr Drebbin”
“Thanks” said Drebbin, pulling himself out of the chair and started walking off down the alleyway, acknowledging the Army Air Force Colonel approaching Johnny, and forgetting to wait to have his shoes shined.
The Colonel sat himself in Johnny’s Chair.
“Hello Colonel Doolittle, nice to see you again.”
“Johnny, I want to try and use an aircraft carrier to launch a bombing raid on Japan - what’s my best bet?” asked Colonel Doolittle.
“I don’t know nothin' about no bombers.” replied Johnny.
Doolittle looked up and down the alleyway, rather as Drebbin had done, and then reached into his pocket, passing some banknotes to Johnny. Johnny put the money into his jacket and looked thoughtful for a moment before whispering “you won’t get close enough to Japan to use single-engined carrier aircraft; you’re going to need to use something with a longer range - it’s possible to fly twin-engined bombers off a carrier. Use the B25 Mitchell. It has a bigger payload than the Havoc, and a much shorter take-off than the Marauder. It’s shorter wingspan means you can get more of them onto a carrier. Fix collapsable fuel tanks into the bomb bays to increase the range……” Doolittle was busy taking notes.
“Hello Mr Drebbin, I’ve not seen you for a while”.
Drebbin looked furtively left and right down the alleyway, then leant forward.
“What do you know about MacArthur’s whereabouts?” he said quietly.
“Hey, what would I know about MacArthur?” replied Johnny.
Drebbin straightened up, took some cash from is pocket, leant forward again, and gave the money to Johnny.
Johnny said quietly “Apparently MacArthur is somehow mixed up in a top secret government project. Top, top secret. So secret that only Roosevelt and a very small handful of his closest advisors even know of its existence”.
“Where can I find MacArthur?” asked Drebbin.
Johnny just shrugged his shoulders. Drebbin leaned forward and handed him a few more dollars. This time it was Johnny who looked furtively left and right down the alleyway, before putting the money into his jacket. Johnny lowered his voice. “The project is being run by a certain Dr Stein. He’s got a small laboratory in an office block here in San Francisco”. Johnny paused to reach into his pocket and produced a small piece of paper. “Here’s the address. Apparently he’s working on MacArthur there. That’s all I know, Mr Drebbin”
“Thanks” said Drebbin, pulling himself out of the chair and started walking off down the alleyway, acknowledging the Army Air Force Colonel approaching Johnny, and forgetting to wait to have his shoes shined.
The Colonel sat himself in Johnny’s Chair.
“Hello Colonel Doolittle, nice to see you again.”
“Johnny, I want to try and use an aircraft carrier to launch a bombing raid on Japan - what’s my best bet?” asked Colonel Doolittle.
“I don’t know nothin' about no bombers.” replied Johnny.
Doolittle looked up and down the alleyway, rather as Drebbin had done, and then reached into his pocket, passing some banknotes to Johnny. Johnny put the money into his jacket and looked thoughtful for a moment before whispering “you won’t get close enough to Japan to use single-engined carrier aircraft; you’re going to need to use something with a longer range - it’s possible to fly twin-engined bombers off a carrier. Use the B25 Mitchell. It has a bigger payload than the Havoc, and a much shorter take-off than the Marauder. It’s shorter wingspan means you can get more of them onto a carrier. Fix collapsable fuel tanks into the bomb bays to increase the range……” Doolittle was busy taking notes.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
That afternoon Drebbin made his way to the address Johnny gave him. It was a fairly small office block-type building, six stories high. Quickly he scanned the name plates and saw what he was looking for:
‘Dr Frank N. Stein - 4th Floor’.
It seems like Dr Stein’s establishment occupies the entire floor. “Good, I’m in the right place” Drebbin thought to himself as he walked in, showed his credentials at reception, and made his way to the fourth floor. It looked like Dr Stein’s establishment occupied the entire floor.
When Drebbin reached Dr Stein’s offices he received something of a surprise. For standing there, unusually well-dressed and certainly looking much fresher than Drebbin, was Dirk Gently! “How did HE get here?” wondered Drebbin.
“Hullo Frank” said Gently, who did not look surprised to see him.
At this point all Drebbin’s training and years of experience as a detective kicked in. He realised he wasn’t going to find any answers just by wondering; he was going to have to ask.
“Hello Dirk, how did you get here?”
“I walked in through the door the same as you, Frank.”
Dammit! The man’s obviously been thoroughly trained in anti-interrogation techniques. Still, a detective of Drebbin’s ability should be able to crack him eventually.
“No, I mean what brings you here. I thought you were at the beach.”
“Bit cold” replied Gently “so I worked instead from a nice little cafe I found on the waterfront. There I met a very delectable lady, and we had lunch together. It turns out she works as a laboratory assistant for a certain Dr Stein”. “Apparently” continued Gently, lowering his voice just a little “Dr Stein is working on MacArthur.”
Working ‘on’ MacArthur. An odd turn of phrase, thought Drebbin, and hadn’t Johnny used the same expression? He didn’t pay too much attention to it though, as he was more than a little peeved, being tired, hungry and dishevelled having worked his balls off over the last few days, only to find this crazy Englishman reaches exactly the same point by lounging around, drinking tea and having lunch dates! Either Gently is a charlatan, a genius, or just plain lazy - maybe all three?
Perhaps though, there might just be something in these ‘holistic’ methods he keeps going on about?
At this moment the door at the end of the waiting area opened. “Dr Stein will see you now”.
“You could have cleaned your shoes Frank” whispered Gently to Drebbin as they walked in.
An hour later the two detectives, looking very shocked and pale, are standing in the street outside Dr Stein’s offices.
“I can’t believe what I’ve just seen”.
“Me neither”
“Blackadder needs to know this, right away”.
“I agree, but first of all……I need a drink!”.
“Me too. There’ll be plenty at HQ though. Come on.”
That evening the two detectives were standing in Blackadder’s office, still looking pale and shocked, but now slightly worse for wear too - although at least Gently had clean shoes.
“My god!” exclaimed Blackadder “what’s up with you two? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
‘Dr Frank N. Stein - 4th Floor’.
It seems like Dr Stein’s establishment occupies the entire floor. “Good, I’m in the right place” Drebbin thought to himself as he walked in, showed his credentials at reception, and made his way to the fourth floor. It looked like Dr Stein’s establishment occupied the entire floor.
When Drebbin reached Dr Stein’s offices he received something of a surprise. For standing there, unusually well-dressed and certainly looking much fresher than Drebbin, was Dirk Gently! “How did HE get here?” wondered Drebbin.
“Hullo Frank” said Gently, who did not look surprised to see him.
At this point all Drebbin’s training and years of experience as a detective kicked in. He realised he wasn’t going to find any answers just by wondering; he was going to have to ask.
“Hello Dirk, how did you get here?”
“I walked in through the door the same as you, Frank.”
Dammit! The man’s obviously been thoroughly trained in anti-interrogation techniques. Still, a detective of Drebbin’s ability should be able to crack him eventually.
“No, I mean what brings you here. I thought you were at the beach.”
“Bit cold” replied Gently “so I worked instead from a nice little cafe I found on the waterfront. There I met a very delectable lady, and we had lunch together. It turns out she works as a laboratory assistant for a certain Dr Stein”. “Apparently” continued Gently, lowering his voice just a little “Dr Stein is working on MacArthur.”
Working ‘on’ MacArthur. An odd turn of phrase, thought Drebbin, and hadn’t Johnny used the same expression? He didn’t pay too much attention to it though, as he was more than a little peeved, being tired, hungry and dishevelled having worked his balls off over the last few days, only to find this crazy Englishman reaches exactly the same point by lounging around, drinking tea and having lunch dates! Either Gently is a charlatan, a genius, or just plain lazy - maybe all three?
Perhaps though, there might just be something in these ‘holistic’ methods he keeps going on about?
At this moment the door at the end of the waiting area opened. “Dr Stein will see you now”.
“You could have cleaned your shoes Frank” whispered Gently to Drebbin as they walked in.
An hour later the two detectives, looking very shocked and pale, are standing in the street outside Dr Stein’s offices.
“I can’t believe what I’ve just seen”.
“Me neither”
“Blackadder needs to know this, right away”.
“I agree, but first of all……I need a drink!”.
“Me too. There’ll be plenty at HQ though. Come on.”
That evening the two detectives were standing in Blackadder’s office, still looking pale and shocked, but now slightly worse for wear too - although at least Gently had clean shoes.
“My god!” exclaimed Blackadder “what’s up with you two? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
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CaptBeefheart
- Posts: 2594
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2003 2:42 am
- Location: Seoul, Korea
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
Johnny the Shoeshine Guy. Well done, Sir! Every now and then I'll see a clip from the show or the movie and remember how great the concept was.
Good luck finding those two battlewagons.
Cheers,
CB
Good luck finding those two battlewagons.
Cheers,
CB
Beer, because barley makes lousy bread.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
CaptBeefheart wrote: Tue Jan 21, 2025 7:32 am Johnny the Shoeshine Guy. Well done, Sir! Every now and then I'll see a clip from the show or the movie and remember how great the concept was.
Good luck finding those two battlewagons.
Cheers,
CB
Thanks Capt Beefheart, Johnny’s one of my favourite TV characters; as you say, a great concept and one that I am more than happy to steal.
I should have spent less time looking for MacArthur and concentrated a little more on finding those battleships - I don’t fancy having those sitting astride my convoy routes. Perhaps I should ask Johnny…..
No turn to update on yet as my opponent is rather busy with work.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
29th March 1942
CHINA
Japanese armoured forces take Changyaun, east of Kaifeng.
INDIA/BURMA
Japanese forces arrive on the outskirts of Toungoo, where the 17th Indian Div, 13th Indian Bde and 27th Indian Mountain Gun Rgt await them.
ABDA
Japanese bombers hit the airbase at Batavia hard; luckily the flight of Wirraways based there emerged unscathed.
Heavy Japanese air-raids on Panay have effectively destroyed the Roxas Constabulary Bn as a fighting unit.
Japanese forces occupy Saharan Karoe in central Sumatra.
SWPAC/SOPAC
Aboard Lexington Vice-Admiral Sherman considers the latest signal on KB’s movements. The Japanese carriers are reported to be leaving the Coral Sea and are now just off Shortlands, heading northeast - possibly towards Nauru Island where Allied intelligence suspects they have some kind of refuelling base, or at least it’s oilers shelter there.
Sherman has some decisions to make. His carriers, Lexington and Enterprise, are southeast of the Gilberts and steaming towards the Marshalls; however, they are low on fuel. His oilers are just west of Johnston Island, heading west. Lexington’s ASW patrols have reported ‘shadows in the water’ but no positive sightings.
Sherman assumes that he hasn’t been spotted. If Lexington and Enterprise continue their current course, they will most likely be spotted tomorrow (the forecast is for clear skies), then the chase will be on!
If Sherman’s fleet continues at cruise speed, KB might be able to intercept him at the Marshalls, assuming it has the fuel to go high speed.
If Sherman goes high speed he should be able to hit the Marshalls tomorrow afternoon, but then would need to refuel dangerously close to the Marshalls with KB on his tail.
Continuing at present course and speed, hoping not to be spotted, is an option - but if KB is heading in his direction anyway it doesn’t change the fundamental problem - not having sufficient fuel to evade KB at high speed - and may leave him with the worst of both worlds, i.e. putting his carriers at greater risk but still not being able to hit the Marshalls.
No matter how much he stares at the charts, no matter how much his staff redo the fuel calculations, nothing changes. He needs to know whether KB has sufficient fuel to reach him at high speed. He NEEDS to know, and damn it, he doesn’t know.
Sherman orders his fleet to turn northeast, and signals his oilers to proceed southwest. He’ll refuel first, and see what happens.
If only KB had remained in the Coral Sea for one more day…..
164th Rgt of the Americal Div arrives in Melbourne on the Queen Mary and entrains for Perth.
41st Div starts to disembark at Adelaide. The 41st Div will go into reserve, freeing up the Australian 1st Armoured Div to deploy to Western Australia.
New Zealand troops land at Nukufetau in the Ellice Islands.
There’s still no trace of the Japanese battleships in the Coral Sea. The threat appears to be receding; I assume if they were still around they’d have bombarded some poor, unsuspecting settlement or stumbled across an equally unsuspecting juicy convoy by now.
SUBMARINE WARFARE
Swordfish hits xAKL Kisogawa Maru with a dud torpedo off of Takao.
CHINA
Japanese armoured forces take Changyaun, east of Kaifeng.
INDIA/BURMA
Japanese forces arrive on the outskirts of Toungoo, where the 17th Indian Div, 13th Indian Bde and 27th Indian Mountain Gun Rgt await them.
ABDA
Japanese bombers hit the airbase at Batavia hard; luckily the flight of Wirraways based there emerged unscathed.
Heavy Japanese air-raids on Panay have effectively destroyed the Roxas Constabulary Bn as a fighting unit.
Japanese forces occupy Saharan Karoe in central Sumatra.
SWPAC/SOPAC
Aboard Lexington Vice-Admiral Sherman considers the latest signal on KB’s movements. The Japanese carriers are reported to be leaving the Coral Sea and are now just off Shortlands, heading northeast - possibly towards Nauru Island where Allied intelligence suspects they have some kind of refuelling base, or at least it’s oilers shelter there.
Sherman has some decisions to make. His carriers, Lexington and Enterprise, are southeast of the Gilberts and steaming towards the Marshalls; however, they are low on fuel. His oilers are just west of Johnston Island, heading west. Lexington’s ASW patrols have reported ‘shadows in the water’ but no positive sightings.
Sherman assumes that he hasn’t been spotted. If Lexington and Enterprise continue their current course, they will most likely be spotted tomorrow (the forecast is for clear skies), then the chase will be on!
If Sherman’s fleet continues at cruise speed, KB might be able to intercept him at the Marshalls, assuming it has the fuel to go high speed.
If Sherman goes high speed he should be able to hit the Marshalls tomorrow afternoon, but then would need to refuel dangerously close to the Marshalls with KB on his tail.
Continuing at present course and speed, hoping not to be spotted, is an option - but if KB is heading in his direction anyway it doesn’t change the fundamental problem - not having sufficient fuel to evade KB at high speed - and may leave him with the worst of both worlds, i.e. putting his carriers at greater risk but still not being able to hit the Marshalls.
No matter how much he stares at the charts, no matter how much his staff redo the fuel calculations, nothing changes. He needs to know whether KB has sufficient fuel to reach him at high speed. He NEEDS to know, and damn it, he doesn’t know.
Sherman orders his fleet to turn northeast, and signals his oilers to proceed southwest. He’ll refuel first, and see what happens.
If only KB had remained in the Coral Sea for one more day…..
164th Rgt of the Americal Div arrives in Melbourne on the Queen Mary and entrains for Perth.
41st Div starts to disembark at Adelaide. The 41st Div will go into reserve, freeing up the Australian 1st Armoured Div to deploy to Western Australia.
New Zealand troops land at Nukufetau in the Ellice Islands.
There’s still no trace of the Japanese battleships in the Coral Sea. The threat appears to be receding; I assume if they were still around they’d have bombarded some poor, unsuspecting settlement or stumbled across an equally unsuspecting juicy convoy by now.
SUBMARINE WARFARE
Swordfish hits xAKL Kisogawa Maru with a dud torpedo off of Takao.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
I'd never really stopped to consider before now just what a ridiculously large area KB can potentially hit the following day from any current location.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
“And so” continued Dr Stein, “by studying available photographs, descriptions and moving pictures, and by feeding into the brainwave matrix all the details from things like appreciation papers, after-action reports, exam papers, promotion board reports, personal letters, anything published or unpublished, I have been able to recreate not only the appearance and movements of an individual, but their military acumen too”.
Those gathered in the room - Blackadder, Mainwaring, Striker, Birdseye, Drebbin and Gently - were speechless, staring alternatively at Dr Stein and the figure of the new General MacArthur, who to be fair looked and moved pretty lifelike. The silence was broken by Mainwaring whispering (just a bit too loudly) to Striker “I think he’s put his left hand on back to front”.
“It is not just deceased or missing Generals I can recreate” said Dr Stein as he strode rather theatrically to the door on the far side of the room. “Given sufficient detail, I can recreate anyone, living or dead. So for example, if a general is taken prisoner, you need never fear their abilities being lost for the Allied cause.” As he said this he opened the door, and in walked (in an awkward fashion) a very tall, thin - one might say lanky - figure who looked so unimpressive despite the British Army General’s uniform he (or it?) was wearing.
“Percival!” cried Blackadder and his team in near-perfect unison.
“I knew you’d be pleased” said Dr Stein with an unmistakable air of smug satisfaction.
[After MacArthur ‘dispersed’ in Queenstown I found him in the reinforcement queue being ‘rebuilt’ in San Francisco - I really couldn’t resist the storyline. Also Percival has appeared as an available replacement leader, even though his HQ was destroyed in the capture of Singapore].
Those gathered in the room - Blackadder, Mainwaring, Striker, Birdseye, Drebbin and Gently - were speechless, staring alternatively at Dr Stein and the figure of the new General MacArthur, who to be fair looked and moved pretty lifelike. The silence was broken by Mainwaring whispering (just a bit too loudly) to Striker “I think he’s put his left hand on back to front”.
“It is not just deceased or missing Generals I can recreate” said Dr Stein as he strode rather theatrically to the door on the far side of the room. “Given sufficient detail, I can recreate anyone, living or dead. So for example, if a general is taken prisoner, you need never fear their abilities being lost for the Allied cause.” As he said this he opened the door, and in walked (in an awkward fashion) a very tall, thin - one might say lanky - figure who looked so unimpressive despite the British Army General’s uniform he (or it?) was wearing.
“Percival!” cried Blackadder and his team in near-perfect unison.
“I knew you’d be pleased” said Dr Stein with an unmistakable air of smug satisfaction.
[After MacArthur ‘dispersed’ in Queenstown I found him in the reinforcement queue being ‘rebuilt’ in San Francisco - I really couldn’t resist the storyline. Also Percival has appeared as an available replacement leader, even though his HQ was destroyed in the capture of Singapore].
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LargeSlowTarget
- Posts: 4901
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2000 8:00 am
- Location: Hessen, Germany - now living in France
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
Nice story! 
The LCUs "holding" MacA and President Quezon are fragile because they are composed of few devices. Adding more devices would create load cost problems for transportation on PTs and planes.
However, I believe MacA just went hiding in some dugout at Townsville, wallowing in shame and self-pity about the dishonourable way he has left behind his troops in the Philippines.
What you see rebuilding at San Francisco is his temporarily deflated ego - given time, it will rebuild to its former grandiose self!
Curious to know who is commanding that rebuilding MacArthur LCU?
The LCUs "holding" MacA and President Quezon are fragile because they are composed of few devices. Adding more devices would create load cost problems for transportation on PTs and planes.
However, I believe MacA just went hiding in some dugout at Townsville, wallowing in shame and self-pity about the dishonourable way he has left behind his troops in the Philippines.
What you see rebuilding at San Francisco is his temporarily deflated ego - given time, it will rebuild to its former grandiose self!
Curious to know who is commanding that rebuilding MacArthur LCU?
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
LargeSlowTarget wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 9:43 am
Curious to know who is commanding that rebuilding MacArthur LCU?
A good question. I checked, it is actually MacArthur.