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

[Cap Mandrake]

*******October 28, 1942************

Oz: JJ had a group with heavy escort and possibly at least one troopship 240 N of PH, heading SW. We sent a 3 DD group in toward PH as scout/ASW and a heavy bombardment force (South Dakota and North Carolina) behind them. The DD force ran into Hyuga and escorts and did well.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 57,128, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Oite, Shell hits 1
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yukaze
DD Sanae

Allied Ships
DD Shaw, Shell hits 2
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Fortune

The bombardment group either got cold feet or stopped for some fishing and did not reach PH. Instead they got hit by Vals and Kates (probably from Broome). North Carolina was hit by 4 bombs but appears only lightly damaged. The LRCAP of P-38's from Carnavon was only 3 aircraft. Mutsu and Furutaka appear to be guarding a transport group with some minelayers. This group was hit by B-25's from Meekathara and Hudsons from Carnavon. One minelayer was hit. Raids on LYB ground troops at PH caused hundreds of casualties but a planned raid of all the B-17's on Broome got scrubbed. Wyndham was hit fairly well by B-24's.


Also, on the 27th, a Jap CV group was spotted by Admiral Lord Sprior 600 m West of Perth.[X(]

[zuluhour]

Also, on the 27th, a Jap CV group was spotted by Admiral Lord Sprior 600 m West of Perth.

Maybe you can nip them in the bud. [:D]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

*******October 28, 1942************

Oz: JJ had a group with heavy escort and possibly at least one troopship 240 N of PH, heading SW. We sent a 3 DD group in toward PH as scout/ASW and a heavy bombardment force (South Dakota and North Carolina) behind them. The DD force ran into Hyuga and escorts and did well.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 57,128, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Oite, Shell hits 1
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yukaze
DD Sanae

Allied Ships
DD Shaw, Shell hits 2
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Fortune

The bombardment group either got cold feet or stopped for some fishing and did not reach PH. Instead they got hit by Vals and Kates (probably from Broome). North Carolina was hit by 4 bombs but appears only lightly damaged. The LRCAP of P-38's from Carnavon was only 3 aircraft. Mutsu and Furutaka appear to be guarding a transport group with some minelayers. This group was hit by B-25's from Meekathara and Hudsons from Carnavon. One minelayer was hit. Raids on LYB ground troops at PH caused hundreds of casualties but a planned raid of all the B-17's on Broome got scrubbed. Wyndham was hit fairly well by B-24's.


Also, on the 27th, a Jap CV group was spotted by Admiral Lord Sprior 600 m West of Perth.[X(]

You are aware of the restrictions in USAAF (or IJAAF) air units flying LRCAP over naval units, right? Count on them providing miserable coverage if you use them in this capacity.

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

Also, on the 27th, a Jap CV group was spotted by Admiral Lord Sprior 600 m West of Perth.

Maybe you can nip them in the bud. [:D]

We're more the quick-kick-in-the-cobblers-and-run-away kind of guys.

[sprior]

It really does look like Port Hedland

Why wouldn't it?

[sprior]

You are aware of the restrictions in USAAF (or IJAAF) air units flying LRCAP over naval units, right?

Er, yes?

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

*******October 28, 1942************

Oz: JJ had a group with heavy escort and possibly at least one troopship 240 N of PH, heading SW. We sent a 3 DD group in toward PH as scout/ASW and a heavy bombardment force (South Dakota and North Carolina) behind them. The DD force ran into Hyuga and escorts and did well.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 57,128, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Oite, Shell hits 1
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yukaze
DD Sanae

Allied Ships
DD Shaw, Shell hits 2
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Fortune

The bombardment group either got cold feet or stopped for some fishing and did not reach PH. Instead they got hit by Vals and Kates (probably from Broome). North Carolina was hit by 4 bombs but appears only lightly damaged. The LRCAP of P-38's from Carnavon was only 3 aircraft. Mutsu and Furutaka appear to be guarding a transport group with some minelayers. This group was hit by B-25's from Meekathara and Hudsons from Carnavon. One minelayer was hit. Raids on LYB ground troops at PH caused hundreds of casualties but a planned raid of all the B-17's on Broome got scrubbed. Wyndham was hit fairly well by B-24's.


Also, on the 27th, a Jap CV group was spotted by Admiral Lord Sprior 600 m West of Perth.[X(]

You are aware of the restrictions in USAAF (or IJAAF) air units flying LRCAP over naval units, right? Count on them providing miserable coverage if you use them in this capacity.

I'm pretty sure this reduced effectiveness is only when flying LRCAP over CV TF's. Pretend I've read the manual but have a memory leak. [:D]

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Not sure that's worth the time or effort at this point, mate.

Incidentally, what's the 35th Chinese corps doing in the middle of Australia? Oi!

Formed from the decendants of the Chinese Gold Miners who came to OZ in the 1850's

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: sprior

It really does look like Port Hedland

Why wouldn't it?

There's grass and a tree, nothing like Port Hedland.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: sprior

You are aware of the restrictions in USAAF (or IJAAF) air units flying LRCAP over naval units, right?

Er, yes?

Good. Based upon the Cap'n's comments above, he seemed unimpressed by the CAP of only 3 P-38s over your naval forces. This would be more the expectation rather than the exception, IMO.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: USS America

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

*******October 28, 1942************

Oz: JJ had a group with heavy escort and possibly at least one troopship 240 N of PH, heading SW. We sent a 3 DD group in toward PH as scout/ASW and a heavy bombardment force (South Dakota and North Carolina) behind them. The DD force ran into Hyuga and escorts and did well.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 57,128, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Oite, Shell hits 1
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yukaze
DD Sanae

Allied Ships
DD Shaw, Shell hits 2
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Fortune

The bombardment group either got cold feet or stopped for some fishing and did not reach PH. Instead they got hit by Vals and Kates (probably from Broome). North Carolina was hit by 4 bombs but appears only lightly damaged. The LRCAP of P-38's from Carnavon was only 3 aircraft. Mutsu and Furutaka appear to be guarding a transport group with some minelayers. This group was hit by B-25's from Meekathara and Hudsons from Carnavon. One minelayer was hit. Raids on LYB ground troops at PH caused hundreds of casualties but a planned raid of all the B-17's on Broome got scrubbed. Wyndham was hit fairly well by B-24's.


Also, on the 27th, a Jap CV group was spotted by Admiral Lord Sprior 600 m West of Perth.[X(]

You are aware of the restrictions in USAAF (or IJAAF) air units flying LRCAP over naval units, right? Count on them providing miserable coverage if you use them in this capacity.

I'm pretty sure this reduced effectiveness is only when flying LRCAP over CV TF's. Pretend I've read the manual but have a memory leak. [:D]

Nein. I believe this affects any IJAAF or USAAF LRCAP of naval TFs.

[Cap Mandrake]

There were only 7 operable P-38's at Carnavon and they had to range out 8-9 hexes. 3 may be as good as it gets considering the short loiter time. The REAL plan was for the BB's to bombard PH at night and beat feet back toward Exmouth where they could be under the umbrella of the F4F's and the RAAF fighters.

I think the presence of Hyuga and the fight with the DD's spooked them.

Similarly, I think the LYB transport group got spooked. I would have loved to see a fight between North Carolina, South Dakota and Hyuga.

[witpqs]

Have a peek at that TF's routing - you might wish to adjust the threat tolerance.

[Cap Mandrake]

***************SWPAC HQ, Brisbane, Oct. 28, 1942***********


Patrician-looking general: Son, I must say I found your book a complelling read. Sorry to hear about the KIA thing. I have to say you look well.

Hirsute fellow: I've never felt better, sir, thank you.


Patrician-looking general: I enjoyed the spirituality of your book. Did your really alter a mission because you saw the vision of an Armenian Priest?

Hirsute fellow: Yes, sir, in a way, but he wasn't a vision. He was realy there and he was 5000 ft tall. I saw his arm move.

Patrician-looking general: <shifts uncomfortably> 5000 ft.? Well, that is quite a large priest.

Hirsute fellow: Yes sir, bigger than life, you might say.

Patrician-looking general: Indeed...well..I'll get to the point of the meeting. It seems we are receiving a trickle of 2,000 lb., ship-buster bombs.

Hirsute fellow: 2000 lb's, my, that is quite a large bomb, sir.

Patrician-looking general: Yes, indeed. Look, I suppose everyone knows it by now but we are a bit of a briar patch at Port Hedland. We need something that will crack open those damnable Jap battlewagons.

Hirsute fellow: 2000 lbs. armor-piercing might do it sir, if you have someone who can hit the damn things.

Patrician-looking general: PRECISELY! That is why I called this meeting. We need something with the range of the B-25 that can carry these things and hit a warship. The ordnance boys on the West Coast say they won't even release them until we have a squadron with an average experience of 70.

Hirsute fellow: 70, sir? I'm afraid SWPAC won't be able to field such a squadron unitl late 43, at least, based on my experience.

Patrician-looking general: What do you mean "based on your experience", son?

Hirsute fellow: Well, sir, this is the thrid time I've done this sir...

Young man in fine linen slacks: He means based on his professional opinion, sir.

Patrician-looking general: Right, so that is the task, get us to that point before late '43. What do you need?

Young man in fine linen slacks: Imported talent, sir.

Patrician-looking general: Imported, from where?

Young man in fine linen slacks: TRACOM, sir.

Patrician-looking general: TRACOM? Why, Washington will never release them.

Young man in fine linen slacks: They might with the proper motivation, sir.

Patrician-looking general: Proper, motivation?

Young man in fine linen slacks: Yes sir, suppose you were to call for a morale boosting tour of Australia with USAAF aces and then, when they get here, we make them an offer they can't refuse.

Patrician-looking general: Could that work, Colonel?

Col. Corleone, SWPAC Consigliere: Yes sir, I think it could.

Patrician-looking general: SPLENDID! Young man <turns toward the hirsute fellow>, I am going to make you a Major on the spot. Someone, get me a uniform for this young man.

Hirsute fellow: Sir, no offense, but I never wanted to be a Major.

Patrician-looking general: But some of these boys at TRACOM will outrank you. How about Captain, then?

Hirsute fellow: Sir, I never wanted to be a Captain, either.

Patrician-looking general: Weren't you a Captain when you were...errr...killed?

Col. Corleone, SWPAC Consigliere: Sir, I'm afraid that won't work, sir. He can't be recommissioned after he was KIA. It's the Truman Commission, sir. They are all over that.

Young man in fine linen slacks: Sir, I'd like to propose a different model. How about a professional services agreement? Suppose the former Cpt. Yossarian and I take majority equity positions in the new corporation, I can be titular CEO and he can be Vice President of Product Development. Then, when the TRACOM boys get here, we offer them minority equity positions. I am thinking a capitation fee plus a productivity adjustment...say $1500 per pilot, per sortie, plus a bonus of $15,000 for every hit on a Japanese warship to be split between the corporation and the individual crew. SWPAC owns the birds and promising to provide ground support, lodging, 401-K and 4 weeks vacation.

Patrician-looking general: <slack-jawed...then recovers> 401-K?

Hirsute fellow: And life insurance. We want life insurance...and never, EVER, are the words "milk run" to be spoken. Milo, what about field modification?

Young man in fine linen slacks: Yes, good point. The corporation retains the right to make field modifications of the 25's and assuems no liability for any damage. Now, General, if you don't mind I'd like to bring in Mr. Cheatham to work over some details with the Colonel...........

[Cap Mandrake]

In a temporary (I hope) fit of insanity, I went to Disneyland yesterday. I had a $200 gift certificate. This proved not enough to get into the park but I was able to buy 2 churros, a diet coke and Mousketeer Hat with "Cap Mandrake" sewn onto it.

For the first time ever, I went on the canoe "ride". It was on my bucket list. We had the most inept group of paddlers that were ever assembled in one place. The poor guide had to pretty much power us around. I tried to help but the chick in front of me was either deaf and missed the cadence or had a severe apraxia. She must have smashed my knuckles 10 times. I finally gave up as did most of the passengers. I figure that guide will need to put in a transfer to the Jungle Cruise before he goes poastal and kills someone because he was really geting pissed. On balance, i would say the Canoe Ride is WAAAY overrated.

Stalker Girl talked me into the Rainforest Cafe because she had a $5 coupon. What a tourist trap, although the food wasn't bad. We split a fajitas platter because she said she wasn't hungry then I had to fight her for the last tortilla.

Next on the bucket list, Legoland.

[witpqs]

Who's bucket list?

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Who's bucket list?

Well..to tell you the truth, I made up the bucket list thing. My brother, who is 18 mos younger than me was telling me about the backpacking trip he took to Havasupi Falls in Ariz. He said it was a "bucket list" thing. It creeped me out a bit. [:)]

He hiked down there with the guys he hangs out with at the cigar shop so it was quite a fit group as you can imagine.[:)] It's a 10 mile hike with backpacks. One guy was sporting 350 lbs and it wasn't all muscle either. He had to pay to be hoisted out by helicopter after they got down to the falls. [:)] They were all pretty beat up when the got done with the hike. One guy had to take a poorly timed dump at night and didn't want to walk the 200 ft to the outhouse so he put on his high tech LED headlamp and found a secret place closer to the tent. In the morning there was a curious cairn of rocks about 5 ft from the breakfast table. [:D]

So this got me thinking. How old are you supposed to be when you have a bucket list and why have I put off going on the canoe ride at Disneyland this long?

[Cap Mandrake]

[font="Courier New"]Admiral Lord Sprior
Grand Poobah of the Pongoes;


My Dearest Spri;

I was wondering what you think of sending Wasp and the Royal Navy CV (Insurmountable..or it Incomprehensible) out after the CVE's/CVL's off of Perth? This could be some kind of elaborate bait with Jap CV's loitering out of recon range, but my guess is they are there to try to catch transports/tankers coming into Perth from India or Cape Town. Do you think this is worth the risk?

With much heartfelt ambivalence


Fleet Admiral Mandrake[/font]

[Mynok]

Isn't the last one named Inflagrante?

[Grollub]

Or Intheatre?