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

[capmandrake2]

LYB fighters turn their attention to Sinabang, our resource center off the coast of Sumatra. The RAF never has enough replacement planes. I blame Mr. Churchill

Morning Air attack on Sinabang , at 42,76

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 26,560 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 35

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 1
Hurricane IIb Trop x 3
Hurricane IIc Trop x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed

[capmandrake2]

Wave after wave of fighter sweeps over Sinabong. We run out of planes.

Morning Air attack on Sinabang , at 42,76

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 25,560 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17

No Japanese losses

[capmandrake2]

Medium bombers from Malaya are new redolent base on the East coast of Sumatra. Now it smells like Water buffalo dung, cordite and burnt chicken nuggets

Morning Air attack on Tandjoengbalai , at 47,78

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 9
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 25
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tandjoengbalai , at 47,78

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 20
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 23

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tandjoengbalai , at 47,78

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

[capmandrake2]

By ra way, chicken nuggets with ranch are the favorite food of kids with autism. I tell kids who don't eat any veggies that chicken nuggets are "chicken sawdust they sweep off the floor". This is only a slight exaggeration. They usually keep eating the things anyway because there is something in the breading that goes right to the hypothalamic pleasure centers.

[capmandrake2]

Our guys can't seem to hit anything.

Morning Air attack on 38th Division, at 45,75 , near Langsa

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-25D1 Mitchell x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged

[capmandrake2]

NW of Medan

Ground combat at 45,75 (near Langsa)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12748 troops, 291 guns, 153 vehicles, Assault Value = 443

Defending force 12447 troops, 99 guns, 37 vehicles, Assault Value = 406

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

Assaulting units:
5th Indian Division
IV Indian Corps

Defending units:
38th Division

[capmandrake2]

The lack of adequate ports in NW Sumatra is a serious obstacle

[capmandrake2]

Mindanao: Our guys evacuated from Malaybalay trying to hack their way NW whilst supplied by air all the way from New Guinea. Already there is a strong Jap unit blocking the way.

Ground combat at 79,90 (near Davao)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 540 troops, 33 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 644

Defending force 18495 troops, 242 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 256

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
25th Division
2nd Division
25th Army
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
3rd Marine/A Division
182nd Infantry Regiment
54th British Brigade
101st PA Infantry Division
31st Infantry Regiment
93rd PA Infantry Regiment
55th British Bde /2
US Forces Far East
I/43rd PS Inf Battalion
II Corps
Del Monte AAF Base Force
Far East USAAF
73rd PA Infantry Regiment
116th Base Group
Asiatic Fleet
11th Base Group
4th Marine Def Bn /3

[capmandrake2]

I think the Japs are going to capture MacArthur. Not to worry MacArthur2 is in Darwin.

[capmandrake2]

*********************************Sept 4, 1943*****************************


Flores, Timor, Sumba etc: JJ was picking on the poor P-39 drivers on Sumba so I sent in some wing tailed devils.

Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 24,560 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 37

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 22560 feet *

[capmandrake2]

Beazelbob, Pelialiu, Yap etc. I sent about 30-40 landing craft of various types and some AK's and DD's north from Biak, NG toward Pelialiu and Yap as a feint.
They were spotted by float planes quickly as planned. B-24's attack Yap to add some credibility.

Morning Air attack on Yap , at 96,97

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K5 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 14000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[capmandrake2]

Recon activity and attacks on Truk also increased greatly here.

[capmandrake2]

Mindanao: Another arty attack on our guys in central Mindanao

Ground combat at 79,90 (near Davao)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 540 troops, 33 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 657

Defending force 18557 troops, 242 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 261

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
25th Division
2nd Division
25th Army
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
101st PA Infantry Division
31st Infantry Regiment
3rd Marine/A Division
93rd PA Infantry Regiment
54th British Brigade
182nd Infantry Regiment
55th British Bde /2
Asiatic Fleet
11th Base Group
II Corps
Far East USAAF
Del Monte AAF Base Force
73rd PA Infantry Regiment
116th Base Group
US Forces Far East
I/43rd PS Inf Battalion
4th Marine Def Bn /3

[capmandrake2]

**********************************Sept 5, 1943*********************************

Pelialieu, Beazalbob, Yap, Uhilite:

I sent a MSW to sweep for mines for credibility as the LCT's and other little boys plow on. It seems somebody took notice.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Peleliu at 90,98, Range 22,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Tamanami
DD Fujinami
DD Hatakaze
DD Akikaze

Allied Ships
YMS-272, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

[capmandrake2]

Raid over Wolei, trying to draw major forces East. It seems to have worked as Beazelbob now has 3x the fighters plus bombers.

Morning Air attack on Woleai , at 101,103

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 16

[capmandrake2]

Fighter sweep from Sorong toward Bealzebob to make more noise.

Morning Air attack on Babeldaob , at 90,97

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 30,440 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 42

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed

[capmandrake2]

Sulawese: An AK headed for Mindanao has a serious pucker moment when she is attacked by carrier planes. It turns out the IJN carriers that had been at Kendari have moved about 120 m NE. I think they had to draw fuel and ammo at Kendari and are headed to Bealzebob

Morning Air attack on TF, near Donggala at 68,98

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Admiral Halstead

[capmandrake2]

Mindanao: Another
arty attack on central Mindanao

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 79,90 (near Davao)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 540 troops, 33 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 667

Defending force 18636 troops, 240 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 266

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
25th Division
2nd Division
25th Army
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

[capmandrake2]

Mindanao: Another full division and some green Army men landing at Zamboanaga. If we are going to save these guys there needs to be a change of the status quo

Pre-Invasion action off Zamboanga (75,89)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

50 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Wakatake
DD Yukaze
AK Kensei Maru
CS Mizuho

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

DD Wakatake firing at 8th NZ Brigade
DD Yukaze firing at 8th NZ Brigade
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Zamboanga (75,89)

TF 13 troops unloading over beach at Zamboanga, 75,89

Japanese ground losses:
521 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (0 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (0 destroyed, 21 disabled)

17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad accidentally lost during unload of 68th/A Div /3
15 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 14th Army /3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[capmandrake2]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Sept 6, 1953^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Feint Attack: Night raid Bealzebob and naval bombardment Wolei

Night Air attack on Babeldaob , at 90,97

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Woleai at 101,103

Allied Ships
DD Arunta
DD Frazier
DD Bradford
DD Fletcher

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 8
Port hits 3

DD Arunta firing at Woleai
DD Frazier firing at Woleai
DD Bradford firing at 16th Naval Guard Unit
DD Fletcher firing at Woleai