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

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
We were looking for the more dangerous Kates and Vals.

Maybe use crever Arried trick? Move CVE, xAP and LCIs near Takao? You find many Kates and Vars. Hai! [&o]

We try crevah Arried trick. CVE's broken now.

[Cap Mandrake]

Aparri: The big show. It is the will of Allah (PBUH,AFL/CIO,IBEW,ACLU) that Japan-mens not-ah have coastah defense guns at Aparri. The amphibious TF commander is Rear Admiral Danckwerts, who is Lutheran, I think. Evidentry, they are more favored ovah Shinto-mens.


Pre-Invasion action off Aparri (82,73) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

191 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Concord, Shell hits 1
DD Meredith, Shell hits 1
CVE Long Island
AK Procyon
DD Isaac Sweers

CL Concord firing at Kure 7th SNLF
Kure 7th SNLF firing at CL Concord
Kure 7th SNLF firing at DD Meredith
DD Meredith firing at Kure 7th SNLF
DD Meredith fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

[Cap Mandrake]

*******USS Long Island, 01;20, May 1, 1943(c), 10 miles off landing beaches at Aparri*******

Ship's Chaplain, Fr. O'Bannon: ...in the name of Jesus, we beseech thee to smite the guns of the enemy, especially any that might be 75 mm or larger and which might be facing seaward, in order that our men, your believers, might be saved and that we might be victorious...

Admiral Danckwerts: Say something about Mohammed too, father.

Ship's Chaplain, Fr. O'Bannon: Mohammed, Admiral?

Admiral Danckwerts: You heard me father.

Ship's Chaplain, Fr. O'Bannon: Very well, sir. We also beseech thee, Oh Lord, that any believers of Mohammed be saved so that they may see the light of your grace...

[sprior]

JJ takes a crack at the troops on Andaman Islands:

Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 13374 troops, 125 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 405

Defending force 6289 troops, 65 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 231

Japanese adjusted assault: 239

Allied adjusted defense: 153

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1895 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 163 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
434 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled

Assaulting units:
10th Garrison Unit
55th Infantry Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Provisional Base Force

Defending units:
44th Indian Brigade
45th Indian Brigade
173 Wing
13th Indian Light AA Regiment
120th RAF Base Force

[sprior]

Shwebo falls quickly.

Ground combat at Shwebo (59,45)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38112 troops, 492 guns, 1324 vehicles, Assault Value = 1570

Defending force 5565 troops, 140 guns, 366 vehicles, Assault Value = 445

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 2040

Japanese adjusted defense: 95

Allied assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Shwebo !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2503 casualties reported
Squads: 96 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 137 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 32 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 86 (81 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 300 (275 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
93 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
16th Light Cavalry Regiment
23rd Indian Division
150th RAC Regiment
50th Tank Brigade
254th Armoured Brigade
25th Indian Division
26th Indian Division
India Command
6th Medium Regiment
1st Madras Construction Battalion
15th Indian Engineer Battalion
24th Indian Engineer Battalion
8th Medium Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment
163rd Light AA Regiment
12th Indian Engineer Battalion
RAF 222 Group Base Force
43rd Cavalry Engineer Regiment
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
14th Naval Guard Unit
Guards Tank Division

[Cap Mandrake]

Aparri:

Somebody forgot the tank snorkels.

Amphibious Assault at Aparri (82,73)

TF 110 troops unloading over beach at Aparri, 82,73

Allied ground losses:
257 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (0 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (2 destroyed, 20 disabled)

10 troops of a Brit Inf Section lost overboard during unload of 2nd British Div
M3 Grant/Lee accidentally lost during unload of 2/10th Armoured Rgt /4
Motorized Support accidentally lost during unload of 2nd British Div /10

Rooks rike prayer worked. It's Kure 7th SNLF.

Invasion Support action off Aparri (82,73) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

216 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Concord, Shell hits 3
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 1
DD Woodworth, Shell hits 1
CVE Long Island
AK Procyon

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

CL Concord firing at Kure 7th SNLF
Kure 7th SNLF firing at CL Concord
Kure 7th SNLF firing at DD Isaac Sweers

And then the sun comes up. We threw up a large CAP over the landing beaches (even though other areas were somewhat thinned as you shall see later). The carrier aircraft are coming from 80 miles to the SE. Tremendously well escorted raid but it isn't enough.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Aparri at 82,73

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
A6M3a Zero x 10
G4M1 Betty x 9
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 14

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 5
Boomerang C-12 x 6
P-38G Lightning x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 13
P-40K Warhawk x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 40
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 51

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Sea Hurricane Ib: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

JJ has 71 AV at Aparri. Rooks rike we brought enough. Probably, we won't be ready to attack for a couple of days.

Ground combat at Aparri (82,73)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1034 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 71

Defending force 3260 troops, 76 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 181

Assaulting units:
Kure 7th SNLF
4th JNAF AF Unit
40th JAAF AF Bn
22nd JNAF AF Unit
178th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
2nd British Div /2
3rd Marine Rgt /1
II Aus Corps Engr Bn /2
637th TD Bn /1
2/10th Armoured Rgt /1
640th TD Bn /1

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

JJ takes a crack at the troops on Andaman Islands:

Yes, that is a relief it was only 1:1. Maybe that will keep the LYB's quiet for a while. Some of our lads are eating their own shoe leather. Give somebody a VC.

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: sprior

JJ takes a crack at the troops on Andaman Islands:

Yes, that is a relief it was only 1:1. Maybe that will keep the LYB's quiet for a while. Some of our lads are eating their own shoe leather. Give somebody a VC.

I was thinking some Indian lance-corporal, always makes the lads happy.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: sprior

JJ takes a crack at the troops on Andaman Islands:

Yes, that is a relief it was only 1:1. Maybe that will keep the LYB's quiet for a while. Some of our lads are eating their own shoe leather. Give somebody a VC.

I was thinking some Indian lance-corporal, always makes the lads happy.

How about lance-corporal Singh? Do we have one of those?

[Cap Mandrake]

Vigan: This is directed at the task force unloading 8th Aus Div. I have no idea where all these annoying LYB's are coming from. It's like Aldertag.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Vigan at 80,73

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 91 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 19
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 31

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 2
P-38G Lightning x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AMC Kanimbla
xAP Murada
PG Charleston
AM Skylark
APA George Clymer

And the WJD's darken the sky in the afternoon as well. The P-39's rise to their duty...not very high because of their crappy high altitude performance...but it works.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Vigan at 80,73

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 82 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
A6M3a Zero x 2
G4M1 Betty x 30
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane XIIb: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Arcturus
CL St. Louis
LCM 542A
DD McCalla
DD LaVallette
LCM 532A
LCT-128

[Cap Mandrake]

Batangas: Prince William, previously damaged by a sub, tries to make the "safety" of Batangas, creeping along at 12 kts from Iba. We find some Vals. Damnit! But....it is the will of Allah (PBU,ASPCA,BPOE) that they only have 60 kg bombs. [:D]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Batangas at 79,78

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 10
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 49

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 6
P-40B Warhawk x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 7
P-40K Warhawk x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 3 damaged
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Prince William, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Dangerous Bettys go after Wichita. The CAP is burned out. This is one spot that was over-thinned to cover Aparri.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Batangas at 79,78

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G4M1 Betty x 3
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Wichita

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

More of 'em. Somebody stepped a Red Imported Fire Ant colony.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batangas at 79,78

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M3a Zero x 1
B5N2 Kate x 3
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 21

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
LCI-63

Oh, Sweet Baby Jesus! Please don't let her be sunk by 30 kg bombs! Who is going to write the AAR on that action?

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batangas at 79,78

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-36 Ida x 5
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 11

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Prince William, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-36 Ida bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 30 kg GP Bomb

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

It's like Aldertag.

Is that when only old geezers fly the bombers?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
We find some Vals.

Very successfur! Hai! [&o]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

It's like Aldertag.

Is that when only old geezers fly the bombers?

Yes. And everyone gets a Traveler's Companion to deal with the prostate issues.*


*Note: This is something you strap to your leg, not a coed from SUNY willing to go with you to the Caribbean if you pay for everything.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: sprior

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

It's like Aldertag.

Is that when only old geezers fly the bombers?

Yes. And everyone gets a Traveler's Companion to deal with the prostate issues.*


*Note: This is something you strap to your leg, not a coed from SUNY willing to go with you to the Caribbean if you pay for everything.

The kind in the note sounds better.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
We find some Vals.

Very successfur! Hai! [&o]

It-ah caahed recon-ah by exprosion!

[Cap Mandrake]

Altimonan: Sweet Baby Jesus! Is no place safe? These were unladen transports heading from Batan Is to the "safety" of Altimonan.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Atimonan at 80,79

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
A6M3a Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 14
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AP McCawley, Torpedo hits 1
DM Sicard

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

<raspberry sound>

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Atimonan at 80,79

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
A6M3a Zero x 3
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AP McCawley

[Cap Mandrake]

Cagayan/Butuan (Mindanao): ****! Damn yellow-skinned vermin! I can't even remember what these ships were doing at Cagayan. I think they were just unloading some supplies for the heavy bombers. Where did they get all these damned fighters from all of a sudden?

Morning Air attack on Cagayan , at 79,89

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 108 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 2
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 12

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP Elihu Thomson, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AKE Dorothy Luckenbach, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AVP Fazant, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AE Lassen, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

I was worried that JJ might spot our two damaged CVE's at Butuan. There was a Corsair squadron at Butuan to cover them. The Corsairs got moved up to cover the ships at Aparri. Of course, they pick THIS turn to do a port attack at Butuan. Only 16 Martlets trying to cover both Cagayan and Butuan. It's like Phirripine whack-a-mole and we are the mole.

Morning Air attack on Butuan , at 80,89

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 13

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 2

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CVE Nassau, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 5000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

These Herens were hunting the CVE's as well...but missed.

Morning Air attack on Butuan , at 80,89

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 21

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

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

Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Iba: Why not? It's the only place North of Manado not attacked today? Oh well...not so bad.


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Iba at 78,75

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 5
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-40B Warhawk x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
KV Quesnel
xAP Limerick, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

JJ tests the waters at Iba. Any opportunity for IJA attack there is now lost. Maybe they know that and are just seeing if they have to watch their back? Looks like we won't have enough to attack until 37th ID is fully ashore..at a minimum.

Ground combat at Iba (78,75)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4252 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 399

Defending force 28165 troops, 455 guns, 365 vehicles, Assault Value = 817

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

Assaulting units:
31st Engineer Regiment
22nd Tank Regiment
54th/A Division
54th/B Division

Defending units:
21st Marine Regiment
34th Infantry Rgt /2
1st Marine Raider Bn /1
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
22nd Marine Rgt /1
30th NZ Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
161st Infantry Regiment
37th Infantry Div /3
131st Field Artillery Battalion
36th Aviation Base Force
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
Southwest Pacific
259th Coastal Artillery Battalion
77th RAAF Wing /2
10th Marine Defense Battalion
137th USA Base Force
38th USN SeaBees /2

[Cap Mandrake]

Lingayen: The pea soup fog, lightning, hail, snow, rain and St Elmo's fire went away so our bombers attacked. We lost a few RAAF Beauforts which went in first without escorts but it was tremendously effective, causing perhaps 2,000 casualties or disablements. I won't post it all. It would go on for 3 pages.