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

[anarchyintheuk]

ORIGINAL: 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

Great article. The navy yard design being 2-3 times the cost of the private contractor designs gives you a wonderful feeling of assurance that things haven't changed much.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk

ORIGINAL: 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

Great article. The navy yard design being 2-3 times the cost of the private contractor designs gives you a wonderful feeling of assurance that things haven't changed much.

Yes, quite an entrepeneurial competition there. Not only did they risk money they risked their own lives. Can you imagine that amount of mahogany in 2021? You would have EarthFirst! putting sand in the fuel.

[rtrapasso]

...

[Cap Mandrake]

Yes. Important safety tip. If you hire a contractor don't forget to ask where their base of operations is. If it is too far away the supervision will suffer and you may find yourself giving instructions to the subs (sub contractors not undersea boats) before you go to work. The only positive to this is you can get the undersupervised subs to do work that the contractor perhaps thought was not in the contract. [8D]

This is particularly true for the painters and drywall guys who are lowest on the totem pole (which you can't say anymore..by ra way..you can't can's say "sitting Indian style" anymore either..it's un-PC..you have to say "criss-cross-applesauce"..which is silly and unhistorical but a 5 or 6 year old will think you are from Mars if you say "Indian style"..even though everyone over about 35 will have seen "Dancing With Wolves" and everyone over 50 will have seen about 50 westerns)

Anyway, the point is if you can speak Spanish they will start calling you "Patron" which means "boss" or perhaps more accurately "hacienda owner" and the stuff the contractor said WASN'T covered AFTER you signed the contract they will do if you just ask and then they will bill the contractor.[:D]

Now the more skilled contractors like the cabinet guys and electricians you have to schmooze with good reviews and hire on the side for cash projects.[:)]

[BBfanboy]

Ah! We have an explanation for your absence - you've been busy base building! I bet it even includes a landing strip!

[rtrapasso]

Home improvements continue apace... [X(]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

Home improvements continue apace... [X(]

That is the low water landscape design I turned in to the HOA

[Cap Mandrake]

The contractor talked me into a "shower seat" (raised tiled seat at back of the shower). It's all the rage, you see. That way I can shave my legs without tearing my hamstrings.

Anyway, the tile guy was good and the fancy large Ukrainian tiles look good..but there is just one problem. I will try to post a picture.

[Cap Mandrake]

***********August 3rd, 1943(e)************

Sumatra: Our recon patrols are much better over the Malacca Straight so we spotted a Jap SCTF coming up from Singers 2 days ago. Initially I though they might hit Langsa but the next morning they were east of Langsa still heading NW so it appeared Sabang was the target. Recon showed perhaps 6 DD's but you never know. Phillips was ordered to guard the airstrip at Sabang.

As predicted..here they come. RN and KNIL CL's guarding Sinabang. Sussex and a DD are taking temporary repairs at Port Blair after a previous fight and Suffolk, Caradoc and Kenya plus 3 DD's have just rearmed at Colombo

[Cap Mandrake]

The Royal Navy radar sets work but Phillips seems not to trust the things for targeting so he keeps boring in for a visual ID. Tragically, the captain of HMS Cornwall decides to turn the lights on so he can "see better"

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sabang at 44,70, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2
DD Makinami, Shell hits 1
DD Harusame, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shinonome
DD Isonami

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Meade, Shell hits 1
DD Smith
DD Norman, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Redoubt
DD Rotherham, Shell hits 1

Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 7% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Cornwall at 7,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CL De Ruyter at 7,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Redoubt at 7,000 yards
CA Mogami engages DD Redoubt at 7,000 yards
DD Redoubt engages DD Harusame at 7,000 yards
DD Redoubt engages DD Makinami at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Mogami at 2,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Mogami at 2,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CA Mogami at 2,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Harusame at 2,000 yards
DD Redoubt engages DD Ikazuchi at 2,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Isaac Sweers at 2,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Harusame at 2,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Smith at 2,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Meade at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CA Cornwall at 4,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages CA Mogami at 4,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CL De Ruyter at 4,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Harusame at 4,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Redoubt at 4,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Harusame at 4,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Rotherham at 4,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Meade at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Mikuma at 6,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages CA Mikuma at 6,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CA Mikuma at 6,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Rotherham at 6,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Norman at 6,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Harusame at 6,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Norman at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Shropshire at 7,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Rotherham at 7,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Shinonome at 7,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Norman at 7,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Harusame at 7,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Isonami at 7,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Smith at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Cornwall at 10,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages CA Mogami at 10,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CL De Ruyter at 10,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Redoubt at 10,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Norman at 10,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Isaac Sweers at 10,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Norman at 10,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Meade at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CA Cornwall at 11,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Shropshire at 11,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Norman at 11,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Harusame at 11,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Ikazuchi at 11,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Harusame at 11,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Norman at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Cornwall at 8,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Shropshire at 8,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL De Ruyter at 8,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Rotherham at 8,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Redoubt at 8,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Shinonome at 8,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Norman at 8,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages CA Mikuma at 8,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Shropshire at 8,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages DD Isonami at 8,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Norman at 8,000 yards
DD Redoubt engages DD Ikazuchi at 8,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Harusame at 8,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Norman at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Meade collides with DD Rotherham at 44 , 70
CA Shropshire engages CA Mikuma at 10,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Meade at 10,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Redoubt at 10,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Norman at 10,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Isaac Sweers at 10,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Ikazuchi at 10,000 yards
Phillips, Tom S.V. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL De Ruyter at 9,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages CA Mikuma at 9,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Norman at 9,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Rotherham at 9,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Redoubt at 9,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Isaac Sweers at 9,000 yards
DD Meade engages DD Harusame at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Mogami collides with DD Shinonome at 44 , 70
CA Cornwall engages CA Mogami at 11,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Shropshire at 11,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Norman at 11,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Rotherham at 11,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Norman at 11,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Harusame at 11,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Norman at 11,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Ikazuchi at 11,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL De Ruyter at 11,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CA Shropshire at 11,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Isonami at 11,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Rotherham at 11,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Redoubt at 11,000 yards
DD Redoubt engages DD Harusame at 11,000 yards
DD Norman engages DD Makinami at 11,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Harusame at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...

[Cap Mandrake]

Mogami runs into one of her DD's

[Cap Mandrake]

Mogami has been detached from the bombardment TF

Night Naval bombardment of Sabang at 44,70 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
DD Uranami
DD Makinami

Allied ground losses:
306 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2
Port supply hits 2

CA Mikuma firing at 7th RAN Base Force
7th RAN Base Force firing at CA Mikuma
DD Uranami firing at Sabang
DD Makinami firing at Sabang

[Cap Mandrake]

Some RAF dive bombers were moved up to Langsa in case there were cripples from the night battle. Nice plan except for the part of not hitting the cripple.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Langsa at 46,72

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 5
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
Mohawk IV x 2
Vengeance I x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, heavy damage

[Cap Mandrake]

This is short range. Evidently, the Vengeance does not carry heavier bomb loads.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Langsa at 46,72

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 5
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
Mohawk IV x 2
Vengeance I x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Harusame, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Vengeance I bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese DD

[Cap Mandrake]

Mogami and two DD's are claimed sunk. Based on daytime recon because it looks like the smaller group with Mogami is gone.

[Cap Mandrake]

Moluccas and the Sundas: Slow BB's bombard Boela and B-24's hit Ternate

Night Naval bombardment of Boela at 80,110

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
BB Nevada
CLAA Van Heemskerck
DD Harding
DD Gillespie
DD Bailey
DD Barton

Japanese ground losses:
284 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled

Oil hits 1
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7
Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 2

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

This is short range. Evidently, the Vengeance does not carry heavier bomb loads.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Langsa at 46,72

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 5
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
Mohawk IV x 2
Vengeance I x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Harusame, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Vengeance I bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese DD

That is all but they definitely have the numbers to make up for it - especially against lightly armoured targets and one that already have had damage - especially float damage.

[Cap Mandrake]

We spotted a Jap troop convoy headed through the Sulawese/Borneo gap (Makassar Strait). They are headed South perhaps to retake Bima or evacuate Makassar or Balikpapan

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

The contractor talked me into a "shower seat" (raised tiled seat at back of the shower). It's all the rage, you see. That way I can shave my legs without tearing my hamstrings.

Anyway, the tile guy was good and the fancy large Ukrainian tiles look good..but there is just one problem. I will try to post a picture.

We don't need pictures of you shaving your legs. Just use Nair.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

The contractor talked me into a "shower seat" (raised tiled seat at back of the shower). It's all the rage, you see. That way I can shave my legs without tearing my hamstrings.

Anyway, the tile guy was good and the fancy large Ukrainian tiles look good..but there is just one problem. I will try to post a picture.

We don't need pictures of you shaving your legs. Just use Nair.

[:D]