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

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Your troops are in a rough spot, Cap'n. I'd consider it an emergency right now. Can you find a reason why the (undisrupted) 5th ID and company shock attack shouldn't put 2:1 or 3:1 odds on you and force you from the hex?

ETA: Prep levels of Allied troops, perhaps?

32nd ID is not fully prepped for PH, but almost certainly neither is Jap 5th Div. We don't know, of course, how much disruption our previous air bombardments have done at PH.

Well, your previous bombardments have focused on the airfield, no? I would not assume any appreciable effect on the enemy LCUs in the hex (other than AAA) from airfield attacks. It's ground attacks that you now need to inflict disruption, sir.

[Chickenboy]

The Japs are going to love the surfeit of field kitchens that they recover at PH, Cap'n. What's the regional resale market like for those anyways? They could probably use a middleman to help broker a sale for them.

[witpqs]

Hit 'em with the mediums too. And bring in those extra troops to make sure of things.

[witpqs]

And put the mediums at 4,000' for maximum effect. Damn the flak, full speed ahead!

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Hit 'em with the mediums too. And bring in those extra troops to make sure of things.

Do they have the range to fly from Geraldton?

[witpqs]

Don't know, what about those other bases - meerkatville or something?

[Cap Mandrake]

B-25's and Hudsons can reach PH from Geraldton as can the heavies.

B-26's and the RCAF mediums have to fly from Meekathara.

Beauforts cant reach unitl Exmouth is ready.

[CT Grognard]

The 5th "Carp" Division is a crack division. I believe it starts with 80 XP, and will have been used by your opponent in Malaya.

He has the recon and engineer regiments for 56th "Dragon" Division - which would also have been used during Malaya - which I think offhand start at 70XP.

He then has 4th Infantry Regiment - part of 2nd "Courageous" Division - which starts the war in Sendai prepped for Singapore, also 70 XP.

I'm not sure why he's not recombined 56th and 2nd Division, if split up they tend not to have their constituent units destroyed as easily.

Then there is also 65th Brigade, which starts in Formosa, but only has about 50 XP - might have gone up to around 60 during fighting on Luzon?

What experience is your division of Yanks, your division of Brits and your brigade of colonials?

You're facing some crack and experienced IJA units there, Cap.

[CT Grognard]

Essentially, it looks like you are facing the equivalent of two full-strength IJA divisions with average experience of around 70-75.

You have, I believe, two-and-a-half divisions' worth with experience around 50-55.

Preparation points, terrain and supply are now all vital. I agree with Chickenboy that you need to use your bombers on his ground troops to keep their disruption high.

On the positive side - if you manage to pull this one through - you would be in a position to destroy 25,000 experienced Jap troops!

[Cap Mandrake]

**********At PH*********

Br 2nd....67 Exp....88 Prep...0/5 Dis/Fatigue

102nd Eng....60 Exp....12 Prep...0/3 Dis/Fatigue

US 32nd....58 Exp....18 Prep...28/11 Dis/Fatigue

East Africa....54 Exp....75 Prep...0/4 Dis/Fatigue

102nd Eng still has 14,000+ supply which is being slowly redistributed. Disruption of 32nd ID is a bit worrisome. This will turn into another New Scotland/New Fiji slugest. One side is going to lose big.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: CT Grognard

The 5th "Carp" Division is a crack division. I believe it starts with 80 XP, and will have been used by your opponent in Malaya.

Huh? What are the Carpathians doing fighting for the Little Yellow Bastards?

[CT Grognard]

Ah, jolly good. I believe your Northerners - the 2nd Infantry Division - will swing it - did they pick up combat experience in India/Burma?

Nice preparation posts on the East Africa Brigade, too.

You're right, it is going to turn into a slow, bloody battle of attrition.

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

**********At PH*********

Br 2nd....67 Exp....88 Prep...0/5 Dis/Fatigue

102nd Eng....60 Exp....12 Prep...0/3 Dis/Fatigue

US 32nd....58 Exp....18 Prep...28/11 Dis/Fatigue

East Africa....54 Exp....75 Prep...0/4 Dis/Fatigue

102nd Eng still has 14,000+ supply which is being slowly redistributed. Disruption of 32nd ID is a bit worrisome. This will turn into another New Scotland/New Fiji slugest. One side is going to lose big.

[CT Grognard]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: CT Grognard

The 5th "Carp" Division is a crack division. I believe it starts with 80 XP, and will have been used by your opponent in Malaya.

Huh? What are the Carpathians doing fighting for the Little Yellow Bastards?

Koi are a domesticated variety of the carp that was introduced to Japan from China...they are treated with affection and seen as good luck.

For some reason the 5th Imperial Japanese Division decided it was a good idea to name themselves after the koi - perhaps they were trying to mirror Roman legions called "Felix" since they were lucky?

[CT Grognard]

ORIGINAL: CT Grognard

Nice preparation posts on the East Africa Brigade, too.

[/quote]

Oops - "nice preparation points"

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
102nd Eng still has 14,000+ supply which is being slowly redistributed. Disruption of 32nd ID is a bit worrisome. This will turn into another New Scotland/New Fiji slugest. One side is going to lose big.

I think your greatest concern will be the near term, Cap'n. If you can buy yourself a few weeks with no Japanese counterattacks in the hex, you ought to be OK. You probably have the supply to hold out for it. If the 5th ID is undisrupted, they'll be motivated to attack sooner rather than later.

I'd be very interested in knowing your opponent's supply and disruption levels. Any insight on these from previous PH combats / bombardments? Your persistent LB airfield attacks should have paid dividends on reducing PH reserve supply level at least...

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: CT Grognard


For some reason the 5th Imperial Japanese Division decided it was a good idea to name themselves after the koi - perhaps they were trying to mirror Roman legions called "Felix" since they were lucky?

That is undoubtedly what happened in WWII but this is WWII(c)[;)]


*********Offices of Polish Government in Exile, London, October 21, 1942*********

I. Dunn Cheatham, Esq.: <Sets down a heavy valise on the desk> Here are the "investment returns" for Carpathian Division, Colonel.

Military Attache: Please, use the term Project Koi.

I. Dunn Cheatham, Esq.: Very well. Fish Farmer Yamashita is very pleased.

Military Attache: Splendid! You said you had a new proposition.

I. Dunn Cheatham, Esq.: Yes. A second party of interest would like the participants of Project Koi to shave off a few points.

Military Attache: I'm afraid I don't understand, sir.

I. Dunn Cheatham, Esq.: Well, in essence, this second party of interest will offer items of value in exchange for the Project Koi folks not trying quite as hard. Perhaps displaying more fatigue or taking longer to reorganize after suffering some disruption, a turn-over or two, maybe a little less aggressive offensive rebounding, that sort of thing. Of course, they shouldn't make it too obvious. We wouldn't want Fish Farmer to become suspicious.

Military Attache: Mr. Cheatham, am I to understand you are representing both parties in an adversarial situation? Isn't that a conflict of interest?

I. Dunn Cheatham, Esq.: Colonel, I'm afraid you don't know the lead contractor very well..........

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
102nd Eng still has 14,000+ supply which is being slowly redistributed. Disruption of 32nd ID is a bit worrisome. This will turn into another New Scotland/New Fiji slugest. One side is going to lose big.

I think your greatest concern will be the near term, Cap'n. If you can buy yourself a few weeks with no Japanese counterattacks in the hex, you ought to be OK. You probably have the supply to hold out for it. If the 5th ID is undisrupted, they'll be motivated to attack sooner rather than later.

I'd be very interested in knowing your opponent's supply and disruption levels. Any insight on these from previous PH combats / bombardments? Your persistent LB airfield attacks should have paid dividends on reducing PH reserve supply level at least...

It would be very nice to know their supply situation but they are playing it close to the vest.

There have been numerous airfield and port supply hits and until 2 days ago, almost all the medium bombers have been on ground attack for about a week.

They have not conducted any ground bombardment attacks since our landings but their counterbattery fire is strong. I infer from this that the supply situation is not critical. They also seem to be able to repair damage at the airfield. The fact that the attack of HMS Decoy destroyed some 5th Div troops certainly means that the transport group was not completely unloaded. Most likely, there are support troops still aboard.

[Cap Mandrake]

*********October 22, 1942*********

Quite an interesting turn. Two small PT boat squadrons had been detached from Exmouth toward PH. Also USS St Louis and 4 DD's arrived PH at night. St. Louis and escorts first encountered a minelayer and sunk her with gunfire. They then encountered CL Tatsuta and one DD which had perhaps been sent to deal with our singlet DD strategy of last turn. They may have also been an ammo-eater sacrifice for the big boys following behind them. Tatsuta was hit by four rounds and set afire. Both TF's broke off.

North Carolina and Repulse then steamed in at 27 kts and bombarded PH and 5th Div, causing 190 casualties ahore. It has been my experience that the AI directs its bombardments against the least disrupted unit. I infer from this that the other LYB units ashore are in worse shape. This may not be true but I can believe what I want to....<makes raspberry sound>.

A second minelayer was then sunk by 3 PT boats. When the sun came up, Yamato, 2 CA, 2 CL and 6 DD's showed up and engaged a total of 7 Elkos at 19-22K yards. 2 PT's were sunk. As you might imagine, Yamato was not hurt very badly but somebody is not going to be happy with the use of those 18 inch rounds.

A dozen B-25 sorties failed to hit Yamato. PH was socked in bad. A massive planned raid on PH got scrubbed for a second day. [:@] This despite 45 minutes of work moving almost evey bomber in Oz to attack from Perth, Geraldton, Carnavon and Meekathara, adjusting the targets and altitude, grouping by HQ, managing pilots, etc. etc.

Now I am 45 minutes older and I am NOT getting that back. It will be my epitaph.

"Here lies Cap Mandrake. He wasted 45 minutes planning a massive air raid on Port Hedland and then some stupid random number generator decided to make the weather bad so instead of looking some self-imagined genius he just wasted another 45 minutes that might have been better used being nice to real people so that more would come to his funeral. Even worse, nobody but the gardener is going to read this and 3 to 1 the guy won't even speak English".

[Cap Mandrake]

Admiral Lord Sprior
Chief Bondo Tech
Geraldton Paint and Body


My Dearest Spri;

How go the repairs? I hear metallic flake paints are in right now.

Just wanted to let you know we all think your idea of sending Aus. I Corps to Port Hedland is a splendid one. If the Corps HQ is about somewhere perhaps they can go too. I will send a Bn or two of Stuarts from Fiji. There are some M-10's lying about in Australia somewhere as well.

As per your suggestion, I will try to find a spot without LYB aeroplanes somewhere around New Scotland to invade.

With the Greatest Warmth I Am Able to Muster;


Cap Mandrake


Sitzkrieg Supervisor, SouPac

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[Cap Mandrake]

Get this. US 32nd ID and 192nd Eng are at level 4 forts. [:)]

The Brits and Idi's old outfit are at level 2,