Bring me the head of Diego Garcia...and the Mayor of Addu Atoll too!

[sprior]

I fear we may have painted some our most productive squadrons into the proverbial corner. The Vildebeests and part of the AVG are at Soerabaya and have no bases to rebase too from there in advance of the Japanese hordes now heading their way. I'm considering risking a few lightly escorted AKs to bring them out and assist in the defence of Darwin.

So far we (that is SEAC and ABDA) have identified 3 complete divisions operating in our area. The IG and another div are in Burma, 38th is in Sumatra. It will be interesting to see what units are used to invest Singers. There are also 2 amphibious brigades, one at Tarakan which was almost wrecked in the fighting there and another at Macassar. Not sure what, if anything, that leaves for the Ambon-Darwin axis which seems to have been temporarily abandoned.

Interestingly the Macassar attack was way over escorted with all kinds of heavy units involved. Looks the experiences at Merak have left a scar.

[Cap Mandrake]

Sign in for today "YOAVEL" which is Hebrew for "shrew-like woman with jiggly cheeks and upper arms"

I think Lord Admiral Alfred may actually be right. I have not confirmed it yet, but I think resource pts. are being consumed at Manila. They might, however, be being attrited somehow by Jap bombardment.

In any event, it isnt enough. The boys are into the orange at Manila. I am going to try to run in some more AK's.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

OK, pretend I didn't read the manual for AE...or WITP either.

Now that I have a goodly number of "volunteers" trapped in the Manila perimeter, will those chaps draw sustenance from the resource pts available there?

I have a vague notion that resource pts + (something) = supplies [:)]

No. They get no supply production if there's an IJA unit keeping them company in the same hex. Of course, you would know this if you had read...wait a minute-I'm pretending that you didn't read the manual for either game whilest furnishing this response.

Why do you say this? It is not consistent with what the manual says on pages 230-232 nor the actual praxis in WITP classic. Has a developer said somewhere else something which supports this conclusion and therefore makes what I outlined in my post #528 to be incorrect? I would be more than happy to be shown to be in error as I do not wish to provide, nor personally operate in my own games, erroneous information.

Alfred

Alfred

Me too, Alfred. I am repeating what I have heard numerous other *AE* posters state and what my own experiences are in *AE*. I'm open to correction if correction is due. Anyone else care to weigh in?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: sprior

I fear we may have painted some our most productive squadrons into the proverbial corner. The Vildebeests and part of the AVG are at Soerabaya and have no bases to rebase too from there in advance of the Japanese hordes now heading their way. I'm considering risking a few lightly escorted AKs to bring them out and assist in the defence of Darwin.

Simon,

I assume that you've:

1. Toggled 'drop tanks' on to see what new bases could be reached? Could you 'upgrade' the AVG to P-40s that can use drop tanks? You don't need to upgrade all of them to make the unit switch.
2. Considered flying your a/c to ANY base regardless of support between Darwin and Soerbaja? You would (obviously) need an airfield size of one to use this technique. Could you not then fly in support to that same base from Darwin in order to repair the damaged airframes? Are your transport aircraft (or flying boats) up to the task?
3. Consider flying your a/c to ANY base with an airfield of one and a port size of one that is away from JJ's onslaught. You can pick up your damaged airframes there with your xAKs.

I doubt you'll get your xAKs with planes out of Soerbaja alive. If you did this extrication from elsewhere in the Timor / Moluccas / Flores area you may be able to escape JJs wrath for a turn or two. In any case, what have you got to lose?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: sprior
Looks the experiences at Merak have left a scar.

Scars are good! They build character.

[Cap Mandrake]

..

[sprior]

Consider flying your a/c to ANY base with an airfield of one and a port size of one that is away from JJ's onslaught

Now that's a good idea.

[Cap Mandrake]

Lord Admiral Sprior (High);

Several issues have cropped up:

1) I converted the understrength B-17D squadron at Soerabaja to E's. This was a mistake. The average "repair time" was 10 d. Apparently, there was some kind of screw up at Boeing. Accordingly, I converted them to the awesome B-18 Bolo and moved them to an accessory airfield to take the pressure off Soerabaja.

2) Re. your problem with the Vildebeest, I see several possibilities.

A. Can they go to Koepang via Den Paser?
B. Can they convert to Hudsons or Beauforts or the fearsome Wapiti?
C. You could keep them in Java for now and when the curtain is closing, switch the pilots to reserve and then pick them up in your Swordfish squadron where they could use their talents. I think the Swordfish can upgrade to Albacores.
D. Are they carrier capable? Could they fly off to a carrier?
E. You could crate them up and get them off by AK which would be dangerous with Kaga sitting off Makassar.

3) Re. the tally of Jap land forces, I can account for 3 full infantry regiments plus several brigades and 300-350 tanks on Luzon. There is at least one full briage at Port Moresby. I suppose we will have the intel chaps to remind us about that.

4) I agree with your assessment about the pace of their advance in the DEI. It is good to hear we got something for a carrier and two crusiers. I was considering the idea of moving the two USN carriers
to Northern Oz to be used around Timor/Ceram if needed, but I have instead decided to send them East to loiter South of Suva.

I am sure there is something else. Oh well, that is why we have staff, eh?

Cheers

Cap Mandrake
BA, Art History, cum laude, Butte Community College (1934)

[Cap Mandrake]

Speaking of "average repair time", when you are advised the repair time is 10 days, does that mean 10 days per airframe in a sequential fashion or can the repairs be done concurrently?

Imagine, for eg., that you had not read the manual and you foolishly wasted 8 brand new B-17E's by upgrdaing a B-17D squadron in Java. Would the full repairs then take ca. 80 d [X(]?

[Smeulders]

No, I'm quite sure it's per plane, so if 5 planes show 1 day, you'll get 5 extra planes the next day.

[witpqs]

Remember too that you can divide many air groups into 3 pieces. That means you get to risk 3 times the xAK's in the hopes at least some aircraft survive in the event of attack.

[Chickenboy]

Cap'n: Where is 'Genral Distribbution' in the chain of command in the DEI? Does he answer directly to MacArthur?

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Speaking of "average repair time", when you are advised the repair time is 10 days, does that mean 10 days per airframe in a sequential fashion or can the repairs be done concurrently?

Imagine, for eg., that you had not read the manual and you foolishly wasted 8 brand new B-17E's by upgrdaing a B-17D squadron in Java. Would the full repairs then take ca. 80 d [X(]?

Check the "Planes" button at the bottom of the airgroup screen. This will tell you how long each individual plane will be out of service.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Cap'n: Where is 'Genral Distribbution' in the chain of command in the DEI? Does he answer directly to MacArthur?

No...ABDA. I think he is Moluccan or something.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Speaking of "average repair time", when you are advised the repair time is 10 days, does that mean 10 days per airframe in a sequential fashion or can the repairs be done concurrently?

Imagine, for eg., that you had not read the manual and you foolishly wasted 8 brand new B-17E's by upgrdaing a B-17D squadron in Java. Would the full repairs then take ca. 80 d [X(]?

Check the "Planes" button at the bottom of the airgroup screen. This will tell you how long each individual plane will be out of service.

Will do ..thx

[Cap Mandrake]

The phantoms reported moving SE from Truk showed themselves as they were spotted by PBY's from Luganville and carriers planes attacked a hapless AK serving as a pickett.

They are now bearing SW, entering the gap between the Solomons and the Santa Cruz Islands. Looks like New Caledonia or the New Hebrides.

A Marine Def. Bn., with it's shore guns just finished unloading at Noumea. They will move to Koumac along with one Inf. Regt and will join the French detachment and the Kiwi Bn. already there. They wont get there in time for the first landing if this is the target, but it will be a slow debarkation.

The two US carriers are transiting the Bass Strait North of Tasmania and a US crusier force is returning to Suva for possible employment.

I can fly in B-26's from Suva to Noumea if they are needed but no more fighters can reach Noumea by air.

[Cap Mandrake]

A Jap transport force with cover from Zuiho and Kaga is spotted only 80 miles from Koepang.

Lord Admiral Sprior forgot to take his medicine again and is sending Force Z [:D]

So as to not be called a sissy, I set the USN crusiers at Darwin to follow Force Z. Tally Ho!

[Smeulders]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
I can fly in B-26's from Suva to Noumea if they are needed but no more fighters can reach Noumea by air.

Both P-40E and P-39 can reach Noumea from Brisbane and Suva when using droptanks, so you may want to try that.

[Cap Mandrake]

*******Bridge of Edward Luckenbach, 260 nm SE of Lunga, 07:50, Feb. 1, 1942******

Lupe, the Fillipino cook (or is it Philippine cook, or The Philippines cook, oh Hell it doesn't matter): Captain, here is your coffee sir.

Cpt. Cuckold: Ah, splendid, thank you Lupe. A fine morning isn't it?

Lupe, the Fillipino cook (or is it Philippine cook, or The Philippines cook, oh Hell it doesn't matter): Yes, sir. <pauses> Sir, there is something a number of us has been wondering about.

Cpt. Cuckold: Yes, Lupe, what is it?

Lupe, the Fillipino cook (or is it Philippine cook, or The Philippines cook, oh Hell it doesn't matter): Well sir, do you remember how you told us we were ordered here on a mission clandestino to refuel and rearm the submarines?

Cpt. Cuckold: Yes, that is right.

Lupe, the Fillipino cook (or is it Philippine cook, or The Philippines cook, oh Hell it doesn't matter): Well sir. How come we don't have any torpedoes or fuel hoses?

Cpt. Cuckold: <pauses..an odd expression of disquieting revelation comes over his face> Hmmmm...Lupe, I must admit that is quite the incisive question...<the discussion is interrupted by an excited shout>

Lookout: Many enemy planes our starboard bow!

[Cap Mandrake]

Why is it called New Caledonia? Shouldn't it be Nouvelle Loire Valley or something?