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*********Aboard HMS Ramilles, flagship of Bombardment Group, October 4, 1942********

She is down by the bow with a 5% list to port and can make only 11 kts, though she seems otherwise remarkably undamaged from the bridge.

Capt Tufnell, TF commander: Bloody Hell! Perhaps I should have gone with Dickens theme for my speech, instead of St. Crispen's Day. Do you think it was too bellicose?

XO: Oh, no sir. It was a lovely speech. I blame the Admiralty.

Capt Tufnell, TF commander: The Admiralty?

XO: It's ships name, sir. It's a <lowers voice>...jinx. You didn't see any adjective-named ships taking torpedoes did you?

Capt Tufnell, TF commander: Really, you think so?

XO: Oh, yes sir. I'm quite sure of it. Look at poor old Resolution. I mean, what threat was she to Johny Jap? Honestly? Nothing but star shells left in her magazines? If she had been named "Resolute" instead she would be good as new.

Capt Tufnell, TF commander: Interesting theory you have, but what about Chilliwick?

XO: Noun, sir. I'm quite sure. I don't think your average Redskin used adjectives, sir.

Capt Tufnell, TF commander: I had no idea you had such a fund of knowledge of linguistics.

XO: Oh, yes sir. I am a whiz at quiz games.

Capt Tufnell, TF commander: Really, how are you at Bridge? I should like to Tenant a lesson when we get back to Perth?....

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

TF 299. Wasp is apparently able to conduct flight ops.

Not with fires, even if small.

I just added it up. 102 Allied torpedo bomber sorties and one rousy torpedo hit on Kirishima.

We could do more damage with rice paper baloons or maybe Sam Snead hitting time-fused exploding golf balls off the deck of Wasp.

Maybe we should bring those biplanes back.

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

TF 299. Wasp is apparently able to conduct flight ops.

Not with fires, even if small.

I suppose you are going to tell me it's in the manual?

Her air groups were night "greyed out". Perhaps that just means they can safely fly off?

Do we go on or go back, replenish the air groups and then try again?

PS. Akagi suffered an ammo explosion and Soryu a fuel explosion.

ORIGINAL: sprior

Do we go on or go back, replenish the air groups and then try again?

PS. Akagi suffered an ammo explosion and Soryu a fuel explosion.

We already sunk Akagi and Soryu once (according to reports) and now they rise from the dead. [;)]

I'd say let's kill the vermin for good. It looks like we will have only 2 decks to deal with (perhaps even one if Soryu is disabled), +/- Netties. we dont want them trickling back to Soerabaja or Koepang and being repaired

I'd say keep the amphib group heaed South for safety. Maybe they can make Carnavon. Then the carriers can either loiter near the Amphib Group and be set to react or move North to increase liklihood of an intercept.

There are plenty of bombs on the carriers, even if a few are out of torps. We can kill cripples. The CAP can be set at 80% perhaps because JJ will probably not have good CAP over his cripples. I think we have the initiative with PH airfield shut down completely and most of the bombers moved from Wyndham.


In summary, i would say try to kill the cripples this turn, then consider sending the PH force back up and waiting on a landing at Broome unitl the carriers are restocked with F4F's

FYI, there are over 100 bombers at Koeapng and Broome is operational too. Weather permitting we can pound Broome with the heavies again.

BTW...what altitude do we set the torpedo bombers on if we want them to glide bomb?

Should we do that or just set to level bomb (over 10,000 ft as I recall)?

Alright, let's go for it. PH force to return to PH accompanied by surface units with full ammo loads, the CVs can head NE to catch the trailing JJ CVs. Wasp will head SW back to Geraldton.

Bomb Broome into dust

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

TF 299. Wasp is apparently able to conduct flight ops.

Not with fires, even if small.

I suppose you are going to tell me it's in the manual?

Her air groups were night "greyed out". Perhaps that just means they can safely fly off?

If they are night greyed out then maybe it's just soot from the fire.

ORIGINAL: sprior

Bomb Broome into dust

Amen, brudda'.

Just looking at map again. I'd make sure you stay out of Val and Kate range from Broome this turn even if it means missing some cripples. Can you imagine if some carrier Vals and Zeroes recovered there? I will order a night attack to try to mess things up but they would take off before any daytime attack can arrive over Broome.

I therefore rescind my suggestion on use of the "react" button. [:)]

One of you know it all JFB's...what is max range for kates and Vals in 10-42?

ORIGINAL: witpqs
If they are night greyed out then maybe it's just soot from the fire.

I think I subconsiously meant "nicht greyed out"

ORIGINAL: Grollub

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Looks like a more than fair exchange for you lot. I trust Wasp isn't too badly off? How's BB Resolution looking?

IMHO, that's a gross understatement. Could it be that our dynamic duo actually knows what they're doing? [;)]

Well, I'm speaking (well writing) to an Englishman half of the duo, so thought I'd use my understatement lingo.

For the sake of our Swedish compatriot and any Americans reading-so there's no misunderstandings-I offer the following assessment:

YEE-HAW! HOT HORSE S***! BEER AND VAGINAS!!! Y'ALL KICKED THE **** OUT OF THOSE ****ERS!!!!

Alright, PH force will retire to the west. CVs and the BBs will cover. Once Broome gets a good kicking we'll go in again. Meantime Wasp is ordered back to Perth with 3 x DDs as escort.

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

One of you know it all JFB's...what is max range for kates and Vals in 10-42?

D3A1 (Val) range @ 10/42 should be 6 normal / 7 max.
B5N2 (Kate) range @ 10/42 can't recall offhand-at "work". I'll look it up when I get home.

In hindsight, you guys did remarkably well in the damage exchange. Very little damage compared what you probably meted out.

You will make sure that you stay at least 14 hexes away from Koepang, won't you? 14 hexes is the max range of A6M2 with drop tanks. They'd be remiss if they set their torpedo bombers at anything greater than escort at this point.

I really should try to learn stuff like that.

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

Looks like 2 CV and a CVE will sink (if they haven't already)! [8D] [&o] [&o]

Naw. That's way too aggressive a BDA, IMHO. I'd say the Hosho is probably going to sink (but hasn't yet sunk), but I'd be surprised if almost all the others don't make Soerbaja. Maybe either Shokaku OR Akagi, will fall behind and get pounded, but not both.

As honorary JFB commentator, here's what I'd do:

After having the airgroup(s) commit hara-kiri, I'd throw Hosho at you. The flaming wreck oughta bork your autorouting on the carriers. She's a goner anyways, may as well use her to throw you off the scent.

Alternatively If I could get you to react into Koepang air range (14 being the magic number), by reacting to the flaming wreck of Hosho into the hot zone, I'd use it for bait that way and maybe throw CVL Ryuho at you to bork your pathfinding routine to the north.

I'm really surprised that after catching an alleged three bombs (1000lbs, I assume) that Ryuho is not heavily damaged. I suspect FOW at play re: the bomb hits.

All other combatants would be ordered to clear the area, making best speed for Soerbaja. Even badly damaged, the carriers should be able to open up 6 hexes by morning.

I approve of your plan to aggressively pursue the remnants of his air combat fleet. Makes for entertaining reading. Finally. [:'(][;)]