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

[Cap Mandrake]

**************SOUPAC naval HQ, Darwin, 07:45*************


Sparks: Message from task force 27, that's Colroado sir.


OOD: Read it.


Sparks: Have slowed to admire wonderful fluorescent wakes encountered west of Roti. Many dolphins and flying fish spotted near Roti. Very lovely. Heading East now toward Koepang. End.

OOD: "Very lovely"? It actually says that?

Sparks: Yes sir. That's how it decodes.

OOD: Sweet baby Jesus! Get me the Admiral on the phone.

















*****************************Jan 23, 1943(c)*************************


Koeapng: Things went precisely NOT as planned. To begin, both Colorado and Washington are exactly 1 hex west of Koepang adjacent to Japanese held isrands. I should have put them on sprint. D'oh!

The P-38's show up to tangle with the CAP. They had been moved up to Darwin because there were insufficient supplies for drop tanks at Katherine. This is a good thing. The fighter sweep before the bombers.


Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed

Here come the annoying LYB's. The BB's have outdistanced their LRCAP from Bathurst. I might have left the carriers closer but there was no way to cover both Lautem and the BB's.


Morning Air attack on TF, near Roti at 67,116

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 58 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 8



Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Washington
BB Colorado, Torpedo hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Gaak. At least it doesn't look so bad. It might have been worse. I think the Bettys came from Kendari. There seesm to be no attack from Koepang. Probably the runway damage.

Here come the B-24's

Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42



Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 58


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 21 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed on ground
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed on ground
L3Y2 Tina: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

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



Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 49

Darned effective. Now there is more runway damage. Hard driving SOB CO of the P-38 squadron sends them BACK in the morning (they only had 15 operational aircraft at daybreak)? I have never seen this.

Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

3 more Bettys go after Washington <makes Dominican good luck sign>

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Roti at 67,116

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 6
G4M1 Betty x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Washington
Gracias a Dios!

Sallys from somewhere go after Colorado.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Roti at 67,116

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 8



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Colorado

[Cap Mandrake]

.Slow forum posts messing up my rhythm.

[Cap Mandrake]

Lautem: This part goes better. The P-40's can't get off the ground but the carrier CAP is brutal.

Bettys with a good escort from Kendari go after the transports at Lautem. Less Bettys tomorrow. Plus, the carriers can stand off as the P-40's should be up in the air.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 73,115

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
A6M3a Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 4



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 19
F4F-4 Wildcat x 122


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

CBI: Admiral Lord SPrior snuck up behind the LYB's at Kienko and tried to cut them off. Some of them were apparently in move mode. Even so, it is good defensive terrain and there were 2 brigades.

Ground combat at Kienko (78,41)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17613 troops, 123 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 629

Defending force 11679 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 406

Allied adjusted assault: 222

Japanese adjusted defense: 597

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
470 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1606 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 175 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled


Assaulting units:
95th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Division
14th Group Army
3rd Group Army
22nd Group Army

Defending units:
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
68th JAAF AF Coy /1

JJ Tank Regt on the road bewtween Mandaray and Myitkyina has Tojos overhead. Don't now if our Chindits advancing on Myitkynia have been spotted yet.


Afternoon Air attack on 14th Tank Regiment, at 60,43 , near Katha

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 22



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 15
Hurricane IIb Trop x 7
Hurricane IIc Trop x 6
Liberator II x 15
Wellington Ic x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 16


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

[BBfanboy]

*************** IJN Fleet HQ, Tokyo ******************
Admiral Inoue is in conference with his senior staff when the direct line phone rings. His aide, fearful of interrupting the Admiral's conference answers it quickly and then, hesitantly says "Prease excuse Admirau - Meester Miro insist on toking to you"

Admiral Inoue quickly goes to the phone, eager to find out what deal Milo has for him this time. His staff listen for clues to the mystery:

] Herro Miro ...... what is this SOSUS? ...... No way! ....... Hahahaha! Good one Miro. You think I bereive that one, hahaha. Rook, I very busy now. Your joke very funny - make my day, but you not cau again untiyau you have real offer, OK? [hangs up the phone quickly].

Seeing the inquisitive looks on his staff's face, the Admiral, now in a good mood decides to share the joke with them"

That Miro from M&M. He try to sell us interrigence from something caued SOSUS. He say it is a network of microphones under the sea that can detect a submerged submarine at 40 mires and a surfaced one at 100 mires! What a crock. Can you imagine trying to hear a sub over whayo farts and shrimp mating! Next thing you know he going to claim he can tell us where Russian subs are! Hahaha

His staff laugh along with the admiral, but several of them exchange glances that say "What if Miro is telling the truth this time? What if he sells to the enemy?"

[Cap Mandrake]

*********16:40, Jan 23, 1943(c), Grocery Store, Darwin**********


<Outside a worker is finishing up a sign that reads "Famous Bali Hai Club:Beautiful Tahitian Girls:Exotic Drinks">

Hirsute man: That wasn't really Tokyo, was it?

Man in fine linen slacks: Sure it was Yossarian, you doubting SOB, Miyagi 5055 as a matter of fact.

Hirsute man: Do you mean to tell me you are selling the same intelligence to both sides?

Man in fine linen slacks: No, no, no, no, no! We tell the Americans where the Jap subs are and we tell the Japs where the American subs are. Nobody is going to pay to know where their own subs are, you crazy SOB.

Hirsute man: Well, even so, what about Leavenworth?

Man in fine linen slacks: Do they have subs?

Hirsute man: No, I mean the prison

Man in fine linen slacks: Buwahahaha. Yossarian you crazy SOB. Nobody is going to put me in jail. I know too much.

Hirsute man: What about Ito, then? What if you give away Ito's position and they sink his sub?

Man in fine linen slacks: Ito-san? Nah, I'm not worried about him.

Hirsute man: Oh, so you don't share intelligence on his sub?

Man in fine linen slacks: No, it's not that. I have cargo insurance on him. Lloyds of London.

Hirsute man: What if he gets killed, your crazy SOB? I thought he was your friend?

Man in fine linen slacks: No, not really. I like the guy and all, but more in the way you would a Golden Retriever.

Hirsute man: Damn! Milo, you are a cold SOB.

Man in fine linen slacks: Cold? Nah, I would say "reserved"

Hirsute man: Reserved, eh? Is that what you call it? <takes a drink...seems pensive> Milo, am I your friend?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Hirsute man: Reserved, eh? Is that what you call it? <takes a drink...seems pensive> Milo, am I your friend?

Milo: Nah - Lloyds won't insure a guy who is already dead. [:'(]

[Cap Mandrake]

Man, this place is jumpin'! Page 2


******************Aboard LCT-64, 01:20, Jan 24, 1943(c), 20 miles North of Ceram******************


Lt.JG, J.T. Kirk: <urgently> Scotty, better ring up 8 knots.

Machinist Mate Scott: She won't dooo it Lt.

Lt.JG, J.T. Kirk: <walks over and grabs Scott by collar> See that Scotty? That's a Jap crusier and 4 destroyers.

Machinist Mate Scott: I'll see what I can do.

Lt.JG, J.T. Kirk: See that you do, Scotty. CHECKOV! Make our course 30 degrees and chase the splashes. Spock, better make smoke too.

Gunner's Mate Spock: Make smoke, sir?

Lt.JG, J.T. Kirk: Light the oil rags on fire, idiot. Do I have to do everything around here?

[Cap Mandrake]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 79,109, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
DD Hatsushima
DD Sagiri
DD Hatakaze
DD Tadeyame

Allied Ships
LCT-64

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 89% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Allied Barge TF evades combat

[:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

Boela: A surface group of unkown strength was seen bearing down on Ceram from the West in the late afternoon of the 23th. The obvious target was Boela, so I evacuated the transports trying to unload some recalcitrant bulldozers and sent them southward with the small CL/DD force standing guard. The PT boats were left behind as security and another amphibious group headed toward Namlea was turned around.


Some aviation support had been flown in to Namlea the day before and some supplies landed by APD so I sent in a replacement squadron of SBD's (Namlea is level 2). Chikuma dueled with the PT boats, sinking 2, then turned back West toward Kendari. When the sun came up, they were spotted NW of Ceram and the little trap actually worked.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bara at 72,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsushima
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 1

Sadly, LCT-64 was again intercepted by Chikuma after daylight and this time they were out of oily rags.

[Cap Mandrake]

Koepang: I sent Colorado back toward Darwin without abut 15% flood damage. Washington did bombard Koepang.

Night Naval bombardment of Koepang at 68,116

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
L3Y2 Tina: 3 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 4 damaged
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 1 destroyed on ground
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Washington

Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled



Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 1

Then the B-24's came back in the afternoon


Afternoon Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 14



Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 45
P-40E Warhawk x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 6 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed on ground
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed on ground
L3Y2 Tina: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed



Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 10


That should shut the place down.

[Cap Mandrake]

**************Life raft, 20 mi North of Ceram, 14:40, Jan. 24***************


Gunner's Mate Spock: It was illogical to turn around after we evaded Chikuma, Lt.

Lt JG, J.T. Kirk: Shut up Spock. You know, you can really be an asshole at times. Did you know that?

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Sadly, LCT-64 was again intercepted by Chikuma after daylight and this time they were out of oily rags.

But her crew will have come to the attention of Captain Murray, who will request that they be transferred to his ship... unless the Big E was already sunk in WWII(c), I can't remember.

Though given how much you've trashed the USN, at this point it ought to be easy to keep track of what's afloat and not in the yards...

[Cap Mandrake]

Lautem: Through a combination of APD's and C-47's flying from Bathurst and Saumlaki, enough supply reached Lautem to allow the P-40's to fly CAP. This was a good thing.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 73,115

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 110 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
A6M3a Zero x 11
G3M2 Nell x 5
G4M1 Betty x 15
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 25



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 34
F4F-4 Wildcat x 117


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Wasp
CV Yorktown

Nice smackdown. Then this smaller attack over Lautem itself. Apparently the P-40's were out of ammo or were out over the carriers?

Morning Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 72,115

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Sadly, LCT-64 was again intercepted by Chikuma after daylight and this time they were out of oily rags.

But her crew will have come to the attention of Captain Murray, who will request that they be transferred to his ship... unless the Big E was already sunk in WWII(c), I can't remember.

Though given how much you've trashed the USN, at this point it ought to be easy to keep track of what's afloat and not in the yards...

We have only Wasp and Yorktown [:(]..plus the CVE's. Of course the IJN is hurting too.

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

We have only Wasp and Yorktown [:(]..plus the CVE's. Of course the IJN is hurting too.

USS Yorktown was also a Constitution-class cruiser - I think Lt(JG) Kirk should be assigned to her.

OK, now I may be showing my geekiness - wasn't Kirk assigned to the Yorktown earlier in his career? Mentioned in the original series episode where he got court-martialed (the time he ACTUALLY got court-martialed, not the 49 times he DESERVED to be court-martialed).

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

OK, now I may be showing my geekiness - wasn't Kirk assigned to the Yorktown earlier in his career? Mentioned in the original series episode where he got court-martialed (the time he ACTUALLY got court-martialed, not the 49 times he DESERVED to be court-martialed).

Acknowledgement is an important step to recovery.

Court martial level offenses were nothing compared to the over-acting. That was the worst part.

[Cap Mandrake]

I talked Admiral Lord Sprior into setting some LRCAP over his brigade in the jungle in Burma because JJ attacked without escort last turn.

Morning Air attack on 14th British Brigade, at 61,43 (Katha)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 25
Ki-51 Sonia x 28



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 5


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
28 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 4000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb

[:)] Well, at least they stopped the attack. I think what happened is the Tojo LRCAP over the same hex joined in.

[Cap Mandrake]

Derby: Landing there started uneventfully.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Boela: A surface group of unkown strength was seen bearing down on Ceram from the West in the late afternoon of the 23th. The obvious target was Boela, so I evacuated the transports trying to unload some recalcitrant bulldozers and sent them southward with the small CL/DD force standing guard. The PT boats were left behind as security and another amphibious group headed toward Namlea was turned around.


Some aviation support had been flown in to Namlea the day before and some supplies landed by APD so I sent in a replacement squadron of SBD's (Namlea is level 2). Chikuma dueled with the PT boats, sinking 2, then turned back West toward Kendari. When the sun came up, they were spotted NW of Ceram and the little trap actually worked.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bara at 72,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsushima
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 1

Sadly, LCT-64 was again intercepted by Chikuma after daylight and this time they were out of oily rags.

[:D]
Alas - our brave Trekkers did not take up M&M's offer of a Klingon Croaking Device, since it required purchase of a golf course share as a pre-requisite ... but they did buy the Enterprise Mark IV escape pod, so all is not lost for future Trekking!