At dawn we slept...in the cab on the way back from Olongapo

[Cap Mandrake]

Ed Muskie was a cannibal? [X(]

[Cap Mandrake]

Mindanao: I sent some TBF's to Malaybalay to attack the Jap ground troops at Cagayan. They were young and impetuous and took off without escorts.

Morning Air attack on 10th Division, at 79,89 (Cagayan)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 30
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 5
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 4

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 destroyed

We lost 10-15 TBF's. Oh well...good news for Grumman Aircraft Company

[Cap Mandrake]

The Yellow Horde attacks at Mindanao. Looks like one more attack and we fold.

Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41642 troops, 419 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 1243

Defending force 10225 troops, 156 guns, 109 vehicles, Assault Value = 243

Japanese adjusted assault: 507

Allied adjusted defense: 297

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1061 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
503 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
10th Division
28th Division
14th Division
25th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
73rd PA Infantry Regiment
182nd Infantry Regiment
93rd PA Infantry Regiment
101st PA Infantry Division
Agusan Constab Battalion
Far East USAAF
134th Field Artillery Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
Mindanao Force
I/43rd PS Inf Battalion
Del Monte AAF Base Force /1
2nd RAA Med Arty Regiment
11th Base Group
54th British Brigade
4th Marine Def Bn /3

[Cap Mandrake]

4th Marine Regt is down to 180 cooks and clerks and they are supposed to be withdrawn tomorrow

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Ed Muskie was a cannibal? [X(]

I don't know about that but I was referring to the Esox fish, the bigger cousin of the Northern Pike. Think of a Barracuda in fresh water but it only grows up to 60 pounds or so. If they can fit it into their mouth, they will try to eat it. Those fish are most definitely cannibals.

[Cap Mandrake]

I was kidding about Ed Muskie. [;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

*************Malaybalay Airfield, Mindanao, 12:30, July 31************

A beautiful new Boeing 307 Stratoliner taxis down the runway. Under the cockpit there is a logo which reads "M&M Airlines: The Finest Machines Debt Instruments Can Purchase"

[Cap Mandrake]

Quite a nice looking plane. You can see the B-17 influence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_30 ... 629675.jpg

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Quite a nice looking plane. You can see the B-17 influence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_30 ... 629675.jpg

Apparently the warranty runs out in 2002 ....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_30 ... tt_Bay.jpg

[Disco Duck]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Quite a nice looking plane. You can see the B-17 influence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_30 ... 629675.jpg

My favorite Post WWII B-17 story is about the millionaire who had the bombardier position converted to a love nest for frequent trips to the mile high club.[:)]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Quite a nice looking plane. You can see the B-17 influence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_30 ... 629675.jpg

Apparently the warranty runs out in 2002 ....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_30 ... tt_Bay.jpg

Probably insured at 3x its actual value if M&M is involved

[Cap Mandrake]

************July 31, 1943(e?)**********

New & Improved Guinea: Growing better at recognizing patterns, the word went out to get the flyable A/C out of Sorong and Sansapor next door.

PT 103
PT 104
PT 107
[X(]
PT 111

Whew! I thought Nixon was going to win in 1960(e)...like he did in 1960(a) but then Mayor Daly threw the election for JFK. Of course who is to say Daly would have been Mayor in 1960(e). It might have been Pete Buttigieg Sr? Anyway, I am relived nothing like that happens in 2020(a)

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sansapor at 83,107, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
DD Naganami
DD Tamanami
DD Kagero
DD Murakumo

Allied Ships
PT-78
PT-103, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-104
PT-107
PT-111, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-247, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
BB Fuso engages PT-247 at 1,000 yards
DD Kagero engages PT-247 at 1,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages PT-247 at 1,000 yards
PT-78 engages DD Naganami at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
DD Naganami engages PT-247 at 2,000 yards
DD Naganami engages PT-111 at 2,000 yards
DD Kagero engages PT-247 at 2,000 yards
BB Fuso engages PT-103 at 2,000 yards
BB Fuso engages PT-78 at 2,000 yards
PT-111 sunk by BB Fuso at 2,000 yards
PT-247 sunk by BB Fuso at 2,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages PT-107 at 2,000 yards
DD Kagero engages PT-103 at 2,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages PT-78 at 2,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages PT-103 at 2,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages PT-104 at 2,000 yards
PT-78 engages DD Naganami at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
PT-104 engages DD Naganami at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages PT-104 at 4,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages PT-104 at 4,000 yards
PT-103 sunk by DD Naganami at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB Fuso engages PT-107 at 5,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages PT-104 at 5,000 yards
PT-78 engages DD Kagero at 5,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages PT-104 at 5,000 yards
Task forces

[Cap Mandrake]

ABSOLUTELY PERFECT Elco boat conditions. Virtual darkness...someone puts a fish into Fuso. PT-107, which perhaps managed to put a fish into Fuso in July 1943(e) was operating in July 1943 in the Solomons so it is plausible. 107 was an Elco boat design.

The absolutely EPIC US Navy torpedo boat design competition. Check out the "plywood derby". 16 foot waves!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PT_boat

[Cap Mandrake]

Speaking of boats and waves, SG and I booked a spot on a fishing boat out of Hilton Head a while back. Aware of my propensity to motion sickness I declined all alcoholic beverages the night before (a major sacrifice) and had only 2 oz of OJ for breakfast (an even more severe sacrifice because I usually have about 1/4 of animal at breakfast).
So, as we are motoring out I position myself on the bow near the midline near the center of the boat to get maximum breeze and minimum roll..but it starts getting REALLY rough. I have learned I can handle pitch but not roll. But the waves are from the beam so I am suffering. The good news there is a 10-12 year old girl who already whiter than Casper so at least I have a chance to preserve my manhood. Sure enough, she it taken back to the porcelain facility by her dutiful parents and I begin to feel more confident as the boat alters course and the waves are striking the bow so even though I can't feel my nose or fingers from the spray I begin to feel better. Hypothermia is superior to indignity. We reach the shallows and they drop anchor but immediately the boat begins to roll side to side about 45-50 degress. It was crazy. About a 5 second cycle. 2 1/2 to port...2 1/2 to starboard. I counted it in my head.

BRAAAAAAAP!

There goes the OJ. I asked SG if anyone noticed. She says...."everyone"

[Cap Mandrake]

PT 107

https://pacificwrecks.com/ships/ptboat/PT-107.html

[Cap Mandrake]

Fuso has trouble finding the target

Night Naval bombardment of Sansapor at 83,107

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
DD Murakumo
DD Kagero
DD Tamanami
DD Naganami

Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 2

[Cap Mandrake]

USS Permit takes out a Jap DD near Pelileu. Nice

Sub attack near Peleliu at 87,103

Japanese Ships
DD Tamanami, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Murakumo

Allied Ships
SS Permit

[Cap Mandrake]

Mindano: Another big attack at Cagayan and our guys fold. Too bad.

Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 41056 troops, 418 guns, 147 vehicles, Assault Value = 1598

Defending force 8455 troops, 129 guns, 75 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 343

Allied adjusted defense: 135

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cagayan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1488 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 103 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 18 (3 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2682 casualties reported
Squads: 99 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 144 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 69 (66 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 40 (40 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 12
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
10th Division
14th Division
28th Division
25th Division
25th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
101st PA Infantry Division
93rd PA Infantry Regiment
182nd Infantry Regiment
Agusan Constab Battalion
2nd RAA Med Arty Regiment
4th Marine Regiment
73rd PA Infantry Regiment
11th Base Group
Del Monte AAF Base Force /1
134th Field Artillery Battalion
I/43rd PS Inf Battalion
Mindanao Force
4th Marine Def Bn /3

[Cap Mandrake]

Sundas: Paras vs Paras at Bima. Close call. I need to get more guys up there.

Ground combat at Bima (63,110)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 417 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56

Defending force 506 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 25

Japanese adjusted assault: 19

Allied adjusted defense: 16

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Rgt /1
3rd Raiding Rgt /1

Defending units:
503rd Parachute Rgt /2
53rd British Bde /7

[Cap Mandrake]

August 15, 1943(e) is Navy Christmas....11 DD's, 3 DE's, a CVE, 10 subs, LSD, LCI's, a dozen PC's etc etc