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************HQ, 21st USMC Rgt., Horn Is., August 16, 1942***********


An slightly built man in civilian clothing approaches the CO, he removes his borrowed helmet to reveal a bald dome which shines brightly in the August sunlight. A semicircle of rather long hair wraps partly around his head, sort of like the rings of Saturn.

His Majesty's Representative of the Council for the Humane Treatment of Prisoners: Colonel, allow me to introduce myself. I am Frank Longford, His Majesty's Representative of the Council for the Humane Treatment of Prisoners. I should like to inspect the Japanese prisoners please.

Lt. Col. Dallas, USMC: Mr. Longford, this is a United States Marine Corps operation. Nobody here voted for the King.

His Majesty's Representative of the Council for the Humane Treatment of Prisoners: Nevertheless, Horn Is. is Commonwealth territory, and is therefore in my purview. I'm afraid I shall have to insist that I view the prisoners, make sure they are well fed, have proper toiletries, medical care, that sort of thing.

Lt. Col. Dallas, USMC: <laughs> I am pretty sure they won't be needing medical care.

His Majesty's Representative of the Council for the Humane Treatment of Prisoners: Why not, Colonel?

Lt. Col. Dallas, USMC: Because they are dead, Mr. Longford.

His Majesty's Representative of the Council for the Humane Treatment of Prisoners: Dead? But what of the men of 65th Brigade? There were supposed to be some some 500 or so ashore here?

Lt. Col. Dallas, USMC: Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead! When the big guns of Idaho and Pennsylvania began bombarding the shore defences, they just ran out on the beach and danced around like Hotentots amid the incoming shot. Damndest thing I ever saw. We counted 404 of them and 13 extra arms and legs.

His Majesty's Representative of the Council for the Humane Treatment of Prisoners: Oh dear. Perhaps they were trying to surrender?

Lt. Col. Dallas, USMC: Well, then, they picked a damned inopportune place to do it. Hahahahahahaha. <several other Marines in the HQ begin laughing. After the laughter dies down the Col. continues> Mr. Longford, if you don't mind me asking, what the Hell happened to your hair?


The future Lord Longford later in life.

Ugh.&nbsp; Hippie Redcoat royalty?&nbsp; Around US Marines?&nbsp; Who'll take odds against Lord Longford getting off that rock in one piece?&nbsp; I'll lay 2:1 against.

There's a guy who will be cursing the lack of rum pretty shortly........

ORIGINAL: Mynok


There's a guy who will be cursing the lack of rum pretty shortly........

I Got the Horn when I saw this:

Pre-Invasion action off Horn Island

Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB Pennsylvania
AP Thomas Jefferson

Japanese ground losses:
404 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)



BB Idaho firing at 65th Brigade
BB Pennsylvania firing at 65th Brigade
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards

That wasn't even a bombardment force, those BB's were just escorting the amphibious landing taffy. I think it does help to have seaplanes from the BB's observing shot.

It also appears that Horn Is. IS an atoll, because 21st Marine suffered from the lack of maps during the forced shock attack. Even so, there wasn't a single Jap left on the island so the place fell and all troops (including the engineers) were disembarked in one turn. [:D]

Ground combat at Horn Island (91,128)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3072 troops, 94 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 69

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied adjusted assault: 5

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Horn Island !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+)



Assaulting units:
21st Marine Rgt /1
2nd USN SeaBees /1
F Det USN Port Svc /1
1st USN SeaBees /1

As for Lord Longford, he was a well-intentioned (but seriously misquided..yes..I know redundant) socialist who campaigned for prisoner's rights. Oddly, some found him erotic.

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

It also appears that Horn Is. IS an atoll, because 21st Marine suffered from the lack of maps during the forced shock attack. Even so, there wasn't a single Jap left on the island so the place fell and all troops (including the engineers) were disembarked in one turn. [:D]

Sorry Cap Mandrake. My mistake in post #4409. I must have lifted my eyes off the table on page 294 of the manual as I typed and inadvertently returned them to Hoorn which is the entry immediately above Horn.

Alfred

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

It also appears that Horn Is. IS an atoll, because 21st Marine suffered from the lack of maps during the forced shock attack. Even so, there wasn't a single Jap left on the island so the place fell and all troops (including the engineers) were disembarked in one turn. [:D]

Sorry Cap Mandrake. My mistake in post #4409. I must have lifted my eyes off the table on page 294 of the manual as I typed and inadvertently returned them to Hoorn which is the entry immediately above Horn.

Alfred

Not to worry sir. As Chick Hearn, former Los Angeles Laker basketball announcer, was fond of saying when one of the Laker stars delivered a brutal check on an opposing player and was not called for a foul....."No harm, no foul"

BTW, a shock attack upon landing is automatic for atolls of any size, and for islands of size 1 (6,000 capacity) or 2 (30,000 capacity) regardless of terrain.

More on Lord Longford...and the Pope


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPcDREaxsu8

Attention readers: We are going to take a few days off due to our collective interest in the Royal wedding. Even the Shinto boys are excited.

Check that. It seems that none of us got invites. Back to the war.

As to Admiral Lord sprior's question of why Horn Is., here is the scoop. Operation Drop Kick Me Jesus envisioned a landing on Russel Brand Is. to interdict communication to New Scotland, but when every Nettie in the South Pacific moved to Rabaul, I began to have second thoughts. It would have been bad for morale to slink back to Wellington, so I.......changed my mind.....that's it.

The BB's, fast transports and carriers will now move back toward Townsville, refuel and then move to Adelaide for employment in SOW. As Horn Is. airfield is operational, I moved in some P-40's which can cover the unloading of the smaller AK's at Horn. A group of PT's boats will provide security.

Shipping losses:

USN:

USS Swan (AVP) ...sunk

IJN:

I-5 (sunk in harbor at Noumea)
3 x AK (sunk in carrier raid Torres Strait)
Haruzake (DD) (sunk in carrier raid Torres Strait)
1 x CM

Air Losses:

Allied:

<10 aircraft all causes

IJA/IJN:

>40 aircraft

Strategic Consequences:

1) Japanese drawback from Tanna and Noumea permitting safer operations at Fiji.

2) Destruction of Port Moresby aerodrome and substantial damage to Madang

3) Capture of Horn Is. permitting safer passage through Torres Strait, much shorter strike range to Madang and possible exploitation to the NW.

4) Possible Japanese evacuation of Milne Bay.

5) Ummm...I'll get back to you

************SWPAC HQ, Brisbane, August 16, 1942**********


Gen MacArthur: ...right, next on the agenda is...geological briefing?

Col. Coreleone: Yes sir, if I may, this is Major Richter, Office of Geological Intelligence. He has a presentation of great importance.

Gen MacArthur: Office of Geological Intelligence? Never heard of it.

Maj. Richter: No sir, it's top secret. We like to say we are "rock solid", sir <giggles a bit>

Gen MacArthur: PRO-ceed, Major.

Maj. Richter: General, with the new photographic intel from the F-4's over New Guinea, we believe we have discovered a major Japanese geological warfare op. Slides please <a projector comes on>. Sir, these are maps of the Dutch New Guinea/Papua border from 1938. Please notice the two river systems...here...and....here <demonstrates with a pointer> NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. Now, here is the same area seen from an F4 Tuesday of last week.

Gen MacArthur: <puts on his glasses and approaches the screen> First slide again, Sargeant.......Now the second......Holy San Miguel! They mean to cut the island in two!

Maj. Richter: Precisely, Sir!

Gen MacArthur: For what purpose, then, a canal?

Maj. Richter: No sir, we believe they have a much more fiendish purpose. We belive they mean to break off Papua New Guinea and crash it into Australia!

Gen MacArthur: Wouldn't it just stay where it is?

Maj. Richter: No, sir, the gravitational forces are enormous. It will fall DOWN towards Australia. <moves to the map and demonstrates the relative positions of the two bodies>

Gen MacArthur: Oh, I see.........

..

[:D]

M&M made quite a mint on engineering equipment. Now it's time to start producing that anti-grav equipment for the Allies.

ATTENTION! SPOILER ALERT!

ORIGINAL: Smeulders

M&M made quite a mint on engineering equipment. Now it's time to start producing that anti-grav equipment for the Allies.

[;)]

***************SWPAC HQ, Brisbane, August 17, 1942***********


Gen MacArthur: Major, I've been wanting to ask. About this Papua New Guinea crashing into Australia idea.

Maj. Richter: Yes, sir?

Gen MacArthur: What I don't get is why the whole island does just fall down now? Wouldn't the whole thing have to weigh more than just the Papua half the Japs are trying to saw off?

Maj. Richter: Hmmm. <looks at map for 20-30 seconds> I will have to get back to you on that, sir .

Silly Mac...doesn't he understand centrifugal force?

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Silly Mac...doesn't he understand centrifugal force?