30th March 1942
CHINA
There were the usual daily Japanese bombing raids on various Chinese targets, including 48 Sonias in three waves attacking a Chinese Administration unit at Cenxi, SW of Wuchow. This is not a raid that would have normally found its way to the annals of (this) history, were it not for the prowling presence of AVG 2nd Squadron, who claimed 29 Sonias without loss. 2nd Squadron is flying P40Es, whereas the H81-A3, operating under similar conditions (range, aviation support, airfield size) seems to suffer horrendous OP losses. It’s time to turn the H81-A3 over to the Chinese, I think.
INDIA/BURMA
Japanese forces - 18th Div, 112th Inf Rgt, 10th Tank Rgt and 55th Mountain Gun Rgt - launched their first assault at Toungoo, and were held off. It did not go unnoticed that the Japanese had air support, and the Allies didn’t. Where is the RAF? Will the Indian formations’ morale hold up?
Allied air forces were actually in action over Burma. In a rare night raid 8 B17Es set off from Dacca to attack Rangoon. Four failed to hit the target, the other four failed to find it in the first place.
ABDA
Whilst attempting to evacuate the local Dutch Commando from Babo to Taberfane, CM Krakatau, PG Ashville and PC Kybra were caught and sunk by Bettys.
B17Ds attempted a high-level daylight raid on the port at Palembang. Three were lost in return for no appreciable damage.
SWPAC
KB is back in the Coral Sea, SW of Rossel Island. It seems the missing Battleships have reappeared nearby. Blamey is fairly relaxed this time. With troopships already having been diverted to Melbourne rather than Sydney there are few targets now north of the Tasman Sea, other than a small convoy leaving Port Moresby and a moderate concentration of shipping at Townsville. Port Moresby itself has two fighter squadrons, and Charters Tower and Townsville are covered by three and-a-half squadrons. Blamey’s intelligence is that the IJN is probably shielding a landing at Milne Bay anyway.
SOPAC
The Allied landing at Nukufetau is spotted by enemy patrol aircraft. Will the Japanese react?
While patrolling the French Pacific Islands, AMC Oiseaux des iles, under Lt Commander Praud, has run out of fuel. This is not for the first time, nor indeed the second. Someone needs to take Praud to one side and have a quiet word with him about some of the fundamental differences between a sailing ship and a motor vessel.
CENPAC
While the cat’s away, the mice will play. Sherman’s carriers will rendezvous with their oilers tomorrow and then head for the Marshalls. The strike is on!
SUBMARINE WARFARE
I-158 tries to torpedo S-38 off Soerabaja and misses.
Surcouf is in action for the first time, attempting and failing to torpedo a Japanese PB off of Aogashima.
SUPREME ALLIED HQ
Things are busy at Supreme Allied HQ - they always are. Blackadder is getting a taste for sacking theatre commanders - this time it is Kimmel at Pacific Fleet, replaced by Nimitz.
As well as planning to dump the H81-A3 on the Chinese …. ahem… generously hand over the H81-A3 to the Chinese, Striker and Capt Triggers are discussing what to do about the B17D. It has had only limited success as a bomber, but attempts to use it for long-range reconnaissance have been even less fruitful, with patrol aircraft producing far better results. Part of the problem is that there are few B17Ds with too many squadrons trying to operate them. Triggers calculates there are actually only 16 B17Ds in theatre, with no replacements expected. Realistically, that’s enough to keep just one squadron operational. The rest will either convert aircraft, or disband. Then of course, there is the question of bombing accuracy. Triggers thinks he has the answer, and has somehow persuaded a somewhat dubious Striker to let him teach his methods to the USAAF.
Meanwhile, the sub-committee on abbreviating the full title of Blackadder’s command has concluded its second meeting, and is no nearer a solution. The sub-committee, Marcel Marceau, Jones the Steam and chaired by Capt Mainwaring, will meet again soon. “We must get this sorted, and quickly” said Mainwaring. “Supreme Allied HQ, Pacific, Australia, Netherlands East Indies, India and China Command is just too much of a mouthful, especially when answering the phone. I've known people hang up before I've got as far as 'India'!"
A busy day indeed.
.
A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
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Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
SAIPANIC HQ?M Peaston: Supreme Allied HQ, Pacific, Australia, Netherlands East Indies, India and China Command
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
31st March 1942
CHINA
Sigint indicates that 15th Tk Rgt has pulled back from the Ningsia front and is now at Kweisui. 37th Div and 9th Tk Rgt are confirmed still at Ningsia. Have other units pulled back also, or are they still there?
INDIA/BURMA
At Toungoo 17th Indian Div is bombarded from the ground and the air, but there is no Japanese assault. There’s still no sign of the RAF, but morale is holding up well at the moment.
ABDA
Japanese bombers strike the airbase at Batavia again, damaging two Wirraways. The Japanese are developing a penchant for hitting the wrong airfields.
Meanwhile the Allied habit of sending units to destinations where they can’t unload continues. Only the light AA guns of 70th AA Rgt have unloaded at Saumlaki; the remainder are being sent to Darwin to re-stow. (I’m hoping an amphibious TF will do the trick).
SWPAC/SOPAC
The battleships Kirishima and Hiei put in another appearance, sinking 4 PT boats (perhaps the PT boats would have put up a better show if they had some fuel…) and bombarding Port Moresby. Casualties were relatively light, and 1 Marauder and 1 Airacobra were destroyed. A number of Catalinas were damaged, but luckily none were lost.
What was believed to be the Japanese APDs went to Shortlands; there is no apparent threat to Milne Bay developing at this moment in time.
Lt Commander Kremer of the sloop Katoomba gets a mention in dispatches. Not only did he manage to shepherd his small convoy unscathed into Port Moresby despite air attacks from KB’s Kates, but he also slipped his convoy past Kirishima and Hiei on the way out, not forgetting to give RO-66 a good stonking in the process.
CENPAC
The US carrier group has refuelled and is now heading for the Marshalls.
SUBMARINE WARFARE
Grayback sinks three landing barges by gunfire at Kwajalein
S-44 torpedoed and sank xAK Daihachikyo Maru at Shortlands
ALLIED SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
Blackadder puts on his hat and coat as he prepares to leave for the evening. He notices that all across HQ the lights are still burning.
Dirk Gently is reading the latest intelligence reports from Clouseau - at least four Japanese units, including the Imperial Guards Division, have been embarking on troopships at Singapore over the previous few days. Where could they be heading? India? Unlikely with KB in the Solomons/Coral Sea. Burma? Possible, but why? Java? The most likely possibility, the Japanese need Java, but haven’t established air superiority over Java despite having had ample time to do so.
Uncle Albert is planning a submarine campaign against Japanese shipping, and also devising a schedule for refitting US submarines.
Striker and Captain Birdseye are working on some madcap scheme with some crazy USAAF Colonel.
Sgt Bilko is Duty Officer, no doubt he is devising some kind of scam or other.
Captain Mainwaring, Jones the Steam and Marcel Marceau are still trying to find a suitable abbreviation for Allied Supreme HQ. “At this time of night? Aren’t they done yet” thinks Blackadder to himself “how hard can it be?”
CHINA
Sigint indicates that 15th Tk Rgt has pulled back from the Ningsia front and is now at Kweisui. 37th Div and 9th Tk Rgt are confirmed still at Ningsia. Have other units pulled back also, or are they still there?
INDIA/BURMA
At Toungoo 17th Indian Div is bombarded from the ground and the air, but there is no Japanese assault. There’s still no sign of the RAF, but morale is holding up well at the moment.
ABDA
Japanese bombers strike the airbase at Batavia again, damaging two Wirraways. The Japanese are developing a penchant for hitting the wrong airfields.
Meanwhile the Allied habit of sending units to destinations where they can’t unload continues. Only the light AA guns of 70th AA Rgt have unloaded at Saumlaki; the remainder are being sent to Darwin to re-stow. (I’m hoping an amphibious TF will do the trick).
SWPAC/SOPAC
The battleships Kirishima and Hiei put in another appearance, sinking 4 PT boats (perhaps the PT boats would have put up a better show if they had some fuel…) and bombarding Port Moresby. Casualties were relatively light, and 1 Marauder and 1 Airacobra were destroyed. A number of Catalinas were damaged, but luckily none were lost.
What was believed to be the Japanese APDs went to Shortlands; there is no apparent threat to Milne Bay developing at this moment in time.
Lt Commander Kremer of the sloop Katoomba gets a mention in dispatches. Not only did he manage to shepherd his small convoy unscathed into Port Moresby despite air attacks from KB’s Kates, but he also slipped his convoy past Kirishima and Hiei on the way out, not forgetting to give RO-66 a good stonking in the process.
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The US carrier group has refuelled and is now heading for the Marshalls.
SUBMARINE WARFARE
Grayback sinks three landing barges by gunfire at Kwajalein
S-44 torpedoed and sank xAK Daihachikyo Maru at Shortlands
ALLIED SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
Blackadder puts on his hat and coat as he prepares to leave for the evening. He notices that all across HQ the lights are still burning.
Dirk Gently is reading the latest intelligence reports from Clouseau - at least four Japanese units, including the Imperial Guards Division, have been embarking on troopships at Singapore over the previous few days. Where could they be heading? India? Unlikely with KB in the Solomons/Coral Sea. Burma? Possible, but why? Java? The most likely possibility, the Japanese need Java, but haven’t established air superiority over Java despite having had ample time to do so.
Uncle Albert is planning a submarine campaign against Japanese shipping, and also devising a schedule for refitting US submarines.
Striker and Captain Birdseye are working on some madcap scheme with some crazy USAAF Colonel.
Sgt Bilko is Duty Officer, no doubt he is devising some kind of scam or other.
Captain Mainwaring, Jones the Steam and Marcel Marceau are still trying to find a suitable abbreviation for Allied Supreme HQ. “At this time of night? Aren’t they done yet” thinks Blackadder to himself “how hard can it be?”
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
A look at air losses in the war so far:
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- Japan 2.png (893.03 KiB) Viewed 260 times
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
And the overall scores:
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Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
If only Blackadder knew the problems Captain Mainwaring had at the third meeting of the Sub-Committee for abbreviating the full title of Supreme Allied HQ Pacific, Australia, Netherlands East Indies, India and China then perhaps he would have been a little more understanding…….
CAPT MAINWAIRING: All we need is a simple abbreviation; just the initial letters will be fine - it doesn’t matter what order.
JONES THE STEAM: Righteo….hmmm…..A-C-N-P-I HQ.
MAINWARING: No, no that won’t do. Obviously, the most important task in this war is to defend the British Empire, especially India, so ‘I’ should come first.
JONES: Right then, ‘I’ it is. I-C-N-P-A HQ.
MAINWARING: Yes, that’s good; I like it. This is turning out easier than I thought. Let’s try it out. [Points to the phone on the desk at the end of the room]. Marceau, as you’re Head of Communications, you answer the phone. Jones, you make the call.
JONES: But there’s only one phone here.
MAINWARING: Just pretend, man! It’s not a real call. We’re just trying out the abbreviation!
[Marcel Marceau goes to the telephone; Jones walks to the other end of the room. There is an awkward silence.]
MAINWARING: Well, don’t just stand there, phone him!
JONES: Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnng! Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnnng!
[Marceau picks up the phone, followed by another awkward silence].
MAINWARING: [Looks at Marceau]. Well, say something!
[Marceau pulls his hand across his mouth, as if zipping it].
JONES: Er….is that Allied Supreme HQ? [More awkward silence]. Ummm…..er….sorry……I think I may have the wrong number….
MAINWARING: [getting very irritated with Marceau] What’s wrong with you! Say something!
[Marceau pulls his hand across his mouth again].
JONES: Er….Captain, I think he’s trying to say he doesn’t speak. He is a mime artist after all. Perhaps asking a mime artist to answer the telephone wasn’t the best idea.
MAINWARING: Right, I’ll answer the phone. [Strides to the desk]. Marceau, if miming is your thing then make yourself useful and mime out making the call. Jones, you do the ringing noises.
JONES: But he still won’t be able to speak.
MAINWARING: He doesn’t have to. All he has to do is make the call. I say, “good morning, I-C whatever whatever HQ” - job done. He doesn’t have to say a word. Then we’ll run through it a few time just to make sure we’ve got it right. Simple.
[Marceau shakes his head, then turns out his pockets].
MAINWARING: What now?
JONES: I think he’s saying he hasn’t got any money.
MAINWARING: What does he need money for?
JONES: Maybe he’s using a telephone kiosk.
MAINWARING: [Sighs] Then give him some change.
JONES: Me? You give him some. You’re paid more than me.
MAINWARING: I’ve got to settle my mess bill; anyway, it’s just mime!
[Jones, with obvious reluctance, reaches into his pocket and mimes giving Marceau some ‘change’. Marceau takes it, looks at it, then shakes his head.]
MAINWARING: Oh, for heaven’s sake, what’s the problem now!
JONES: I don’t know.
[Marceau starts tugging at his ear]
MAINWARING: What’s he doing?
JONES: Er…Er…. sounds like?
[Marceau points at Jones excitedly, and starts to mime climbing over something]
MAINWARING AND JONES TOGETHER: Yes, sounds like….er….Climb! Scramble! No…er…gate! Wall! No…er…er fence! Yes, fence! Sounds like fence! Er…..whence? I know…pence! Yes, pence!
MAINWARING: You gave him the wrong money, you gave him English coins.
JONES: But they’re only pretend!
MAINWARING [Becoming more exasperated] Just give him some different coins or we’ll be here all day.
JONES: What should I give him, francs?
MAINWARING: Francs? Don’t be ridiculous! Who’s going to be calling Allied Supreme HQ from Nazi-occupied France? Give him some cents!
JONES: [Muttering while reaching into his pocket]. As it seems I am the only one around here with sense. [Mainwaring picks up on the pun and glares at him].
[Mainwaring waits expectantly by the phone. Marceau walks off to the other end of the room and mimes opening a door. He pulls something out of his pocket, then mimes flicking through a book, running his fingers down the pages]
MAINWARING: Oh, hurry up and get on with it.
JONES: I think he’s looking for the number.
[Aha! Marceau finds what he’s looking for, and starts dialling. Jones tenses up, ready to make the ringing noises; Mainwaring clears his throat. Suddenly Marceau starts bashing and thumping; he kicks out and then stomps off around the room].
MAINWARING: Oh for God’s sake! What is it this time!
JONES. I think the phone’s not working- he’s looking for a telephone kiosk that does work.
[In another part of the room, Marceau mimes out opening a door, getting the book out of his pocket and looking through the pages. He lifts the ‘receiver’ and dials the number. Thumbs up!
JONES: Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnng! Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnnng!
[Mainwaring lifts the receiver; Marceau mimes putting in the coins].
MAINWARING: Good morning, I-C….
JONES [Interrupting] Actually, it’s afternoon.
MAINWARING [Slowly turning his head and glaring at Jones] Well, it was morning when we started! Marceau, do it again!
[Marceau dials the number again]
JONES: Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnng! Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnnng!
MAINWARING: Good morn….er good afternoon, I-C-A-Q…er, no…..I-J-C-D…..ummn no - I-H-N….oh bother!
JONES: Perhaps I should write it down for you?
MAINWARING: Yes, good idea.
JONES: Do you want to say Headquarters or just H-Q?
MAINWARING: [Decisively]. Headquarters. [Pauses]. no, H-Q I think…..er……no, I’ll stick with Headquarters.
[Jones writes it down, crosses off, writes again and leaves the paper on the desk in front of Mainwaring].
[Marceau does his stuff again]
JONES: Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnng! Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnnng!
MAINWARING: Good afternoon, I-C-N-A Headquarters, Captain Mainwaring speaking. There, how was that?
JONES: That was only four letters, I think you missed one out.
MAINWARING: No I didn’t.
JONES: You definitely said only four letters.
MAINWARING: I said exactly what was on here.
[Mainwaring and Jones study the paper].
JONES: Oh sorry, you’re correct, I wrote only four letters down - I missed one out. [scrawls on the paper]
MAINWARING: Right, let’s try again.
[A rather bored-looking Marceau goes through his mime again].
JONES: Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnng! Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnnng!
MAINWARING: Good afternoon, I-C-N-F-A Headquarters, Captain Mainwaring speaking.
JONES: You said ‘F’.
MAINWARING: I read it letter for letter.
JONES: That’s a ‘P’.
MAINWARING: It looks like an ‘F’ to me.
JONES: It’s ‘P’ for Pacific. What could ‘F’ stand for?
MAINWARING: I don’t know….Free French Islands?…..Frigging New Zealand? That’s definitely an ‘F’……..Oh, never mind. [Mainwaring tears up the paper, and writes on a new page]. Right - I-C-N-P-A Headquarters. Are we all agreed that’s what it says.
[Everyone nods]
MAINWARING: Right - once again; everyone ready?
[Marceau shakes his head sadly and turns out his pockets]
JONES: I Think he’s run out of money.
MAINWARING [Rolling his eyes to heaven]. Oh, God give me strength……..!
CAPT MAINWAIRING: All we need is a simple abbreviation; just the initial letters will be fine - it doesn’t matter what order.
JONES THE STEAM: Righteo….hmmm…..A-C-N-P-I HQ.
MAINWARING: No, no that won’t do. Obviously, the most important task in this war is to defend the British Empire, especially India, so ‘I’ should come first.
JONES: Right then, ‘I’ it is. I-C-N-P-A HQ.
MAINWARING: Yes, that’s good; I like it. This is turning out easier than I thought. Let’s try it out. [Points to the phone on the desk at the end of the room]. Marceau, as you’re Head of Communications, you answer the phone. Jones, you make the call.
JONES: But there’s only one phone here.
MAINWARING: Just pretend, man! It’s not a real call. We’re just trying out the abbreviation!
[Marcel Marceau goes to the telephone; Jones walks to the other end of the room. There is an awkward silence.]
MAINWARING: Well, don’t just stand there, phone him!
JONES: Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnng! Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnnng!
[Marceau picks up the phone, followed by another awkward silence].
MAINWARING: [Looks at Marceau]. Well, say something!
[Marceau pulls his hand across his mouth, as if zipping it].
JONES: Er….is that Allied Supreme HQ? [More awkward silence]. Ummm…..er….sorry……I think I may have the wrong number….
MAINWARING: [getting very irritated with Marceau] What’s wrong with you! Say something!
[Marceau pulls his hand across his mouth again].
JONES: Er….Captain, I think he’s trying to say he doesn’t speak. He is a mime artist after all. Perhaps asking a mime artist to answer the telephone wasn’t the best idea.
MAINWARING: Right, I’ll answer the phone. [Strides to the desk]. Marceau, if miming is your thing then make yourself useful and mime out making the call. Jones, you do the ringing noises.
JONES: But he still won’t be able to speak.
MAINWARING: He doesn’t have to. All he has to do is make the call. I say, “good morning, I-C whatever whatever HQ” - job done. He doesn’t have to say a word. Then we’ll run through it a few time just to make sure we’ve got it right. Simple.
[Marceau shakes his head, then turns out his pockets].
MAINWARING: What now?
JONES: I think he’s saying he hasn’t got any money.
MAINWARING: What does he need money for?
JONES: Maybe he’s using a telephone kiosk.
MAINWARING: [Sighs] Then give him some change.
JONES: Me? You give him some. You’re paid more than me.
MAINWARING: I’ve got to settle my mess bill; anyway, it’s just mime!
[Jones, with obvious reluctance, reaches into his pocket and mimes giving Marceau some ‘change’. Marceau takes it, looks at it, then shakes his head.]
MAINWARING: Oh, for heaven’s sake, what’s the problem now!
JONES: I don’t know.
[Marceau starts tugging at his ear]
MAINWARING: What’s he doing?
JONES: Er…Er…. sounds like?
[Marceau points at Jones excitedly, and starts to mime climbing over something]
MAINWARING AND JONES TOGETHER: Yes, sounds like….er….Climb! Scramble! No…er…gate! Wall! No…er…er fence! Yes, fence! Sounds like fence! Er…..whence? I know…pence! Yes, pence!
MAINWARING: You gave him the wrong money, you gave him English coins.
JONES: But they’re only pretend!
MAINWARING [Becoming more exasperated] Just give him some different coins or we’ll be here all day.
JONES: What should I give him, francs?
MAINWARING: Francs? Don’t be ridiculous! Who’s going to be calling Allied Supreme HQ from Nazi-occupied France? Give him some cents!
JONES: [Muttering while reaching into his pocket]. As it seems I am the only one around here with sense. [Mainwaring picks up on the pun and glares at him].
[Mainwaring waits expectantly by the phone. Marceau walks off to the other end of the room and mimes opening a door. He pulls something out of his pocket, then mimes flicking through a book, running his fingers down the pages]
MAINWARING: Oh, hurry up and get on with it.
JONES: I think he’s looking for the number.
[Aha! Marceau finds what he’s looking for, and starts dialling. Jones tenses up, ready to make the ringing noises; Mainwaring clears his throat. Suddenly Marceau starts bashing and thumping; he kicks out and then stomps off around the room].
MAINWARING: Oh for God’s sake! What is it this time!
JONES. I think the phone’s not working- he’s looking for a telephone kiosk that does work.
[In another part of the room, Marceau mimes out opening a door, getting the book out of his pocket and looking through the pages. He lifts the ‘receiver’ and dials the number. Thumbs up!
JONES: Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnng! Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnnng!
[Mainwaring lifts the receiver; Marceau mimes putting in the coins].
MAINWARING: Good morning, I-C….
JONES [Interrupting] Actually, it’s afternoon.
MAINWARING [Slowly turning his head and glaring at Jones] Well, it was morning when we started! Marceau, do it again!
[Marceau dials the number again]
JONES: Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnng! Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnnng!
MAINWARING: Good morn….er good afternoon, I-C-A-Q…er, no…..I-J-C-D…..ummn no - I-H-N….oh bother!
JONES: Perhaps I should write it down for you?
MAINWARING: Yes, good idea.
JONES: Do you want to say Headquarters or just H-Q?
MAINWARING: [Decisively]. Headquarters. [Pauses]. no, H-Q I think…..er……no, I’ll stick with Headquarters.
[Jones writes it down, crosses off, writes again and leaves the paper on the desk in front of Mainwaring].
[Marceau does his stuff again]
JONES: Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnng! Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnnng!
MAINWARING: Good afternoon, I-C-N-A Headquarters, Captain Mainwaring speaking. There, how was that?
JONES: That was only four letters, I think you missed one out.
MAINWARING: No I didn’t.
JONES: You definitely said only four letters.
MAINWARING: I said exactly what was on here.
[Mainwaring and Jones study the paper].
JONES: Oh sorry, you’re correct, I wrote only four letters down - I missed one out. [scrawls on the paper]
MAINWARING: Right, let’s try again.
[A rather bored-looking Marceau goes through his mime again].
JONES: Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnng! Brrrriiiinnng Brrrriiiinnnng!
MAINWARING: Good afternoon, I-C-N-F-A Headquarters, Captain Mainwaring speaking.
JONES: You said ‘F’.
MAINWARING: I read it letter for letter.
JONES: That’s a ‘P’.
MAINWARING: It looks like an ‘F’ to me.
JONES: It’s ‘P’ for Pacific. What could ‘F’ stand for?
MAINWARING: I don’t know….Free French Islands?…..Frigging New Zealand? That’s definitely an ‘F’……..Oh, never mind. [Mainwaring tears up the paper, and writes on a new page]. Right - I-C-N-P-A Headquarters. Are we all agreed that’s what it says.
[Everyone nods]
MAINWARING: Right - once again; everyone ready?
[Marceau shakes his head sadly and turns out his pockets]
JONES: I Think he’s run out of money.
MAINWARING [Rolling his eyes to heaven]. Oh, God give me strength……..!
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
1st April 1942
INDIA/BURMA
70th Division arrives at Karachi, and will be held in reserve.
17th Indian Division at Toungoo suffers another uncontested Japanese bombing raid.
ABDA
Also suffering another uncontested bombing raid is the Allied airbase at Batavia, leaving two Wirraways damaged. Those Wirraways at Batavia must be more patches than actual airframe now. As long as they can take to the air when the Japanese invasion comes….
182nd Rgt arrives at Babar
SWPAC/SOPAC
The Japanese land a small and so far unidentified force at Woodlark Island. They seem to be intent on trying to exploit a weak area in the Allied defences - a typical low-down shabby Japanese trick.
CENPAC
In the Marshalls the Allies proved that they can match the Japanese in their ability to strike the wrong airfields through poor intelligence, with the carrier strike on Roi-Namur finding little there.
The strike against the port at Kwajalein had more luck:
AS Jingei took two bomb hits and was left burning, AR Matsue Maru and AG Daido Maru took a bomb each, with a ‘massive explosion’ witnessed on the AG. So far nothing unexpected.
What did come as a surprise was that there were at least 5 Japanese submarines in port:
RO-65 and I-5 were reported sunk.
I-20 was hit three times
I-20 was hit twice and a ‘massive explosion’ seen. [*EDIT This should read I-24*]
I-16 took one hit.
Flak was fairly light and there was no fighter opposition. A Dauntless and a Devastator crashed on landing but no pilots were lost.
KB is still hanging around Shortlands so Lexington and Enterprise should make it to Pearl Harbor safely, in which case I’ll count this (through Allied Intelligence failing to spot the presence of the subs) as more of a success than planned for.
SUBMARINE WARFARE
Grayback sinks a landing barge at Kwajalein.
O-19 attacked (and likely destroyed) a landing barge off Singapore and attempted to torpedo an RTN xAKL, but subsequently took 3 hits from an ASW group and is returning to port with minor damage.
Off Singkep Growler raked xAKL Miyako Maru with machine-gun fire, but managed only a couple of hits with her 3in gun.
INDIA/BURMA
70th Division arrives at Karachi, and will be held in reserve.
17th Indian Division at Toungoo suffers another uncontested Japanese bombing raid.
ABDA
Also suffering another uncontested bombing raid is the Allied airbase at Batavia, leaving two Wirraways damaged. Those Wirraways at Batavia must be more patches than actual airframe now. As long as they can take to the air when the Japanese invasion comes….
182nd Rgt arrives at Babar
SWPAC/SOPAC
The Japanese land a small and so far unidentified force at Woodlark Island. They seem to be intent on trying to exploit a weak area in the Allied defences - a typical low-down shabby Japanese trick.
- Woodlark landing.png (3.26 MiB) Viewed 192 times
CENPAC
In the Marshalls the Allies proved that they can match the Japanese in their ability to strike the wrong airfields through poor intelligence, with the carrier strike on Roi-Namur finding little there.
The strike against the port at Kwajalein had more luck:
AS Jingei took two bomb hits and was left burning, AR Matsue Maru and AG Daido Maru took a bomb each, with a ‘massive explosion’ witnessed on the AG. So far nothing unexpected.
What did come as a surprise was that there were at least 5 Japanese submarines in port:
RO-65 and I-5 were reported sunk.
I-20 was hit three times
I-20 was hit twice and a ‘massive explosion’ seen. [*EDIT This should read I-24*]
I-16 took one hit.
Flak was fairly light and there was no fighter opposition. A Dauntless and a Devastator crashed on landing but no pilots were lost.
KB is still hanging around Shortlands so Lexington and Enterprise should make it to Pearl Harbor safely, in which case I’ll count this (through Allied Intelligence failing to spot the presence of the subs) as more of a success than planned for.
SUBMARINE WARFARE
Grayback sinks a landing barge at Kwajalein.
O-19 attacked (and likely destroyed) a landing barge off Singapore and attempted to torpedo an RTN xAKL, but subsequently took 3 hits from an ASW group and is returning to port with minor damage.
Off Singkep Growler raked xAKL Miyako Maru with machine-gun fire, but managed only a couple of hits with her 3in gun.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
2nd April 1942
INDIA/BURMA
The Japanese bombing of 17th Indian Div at Toungoo is becoming a nasty habit.
ABDA
The Japanese capture Baybay on Leyte, destroying the unfortunate 93rd PA Rgt and the Leyte Constabulary Bn.
On Sumatra the Japanese capture Sabang and Pakanbaroe, although the Dutch defenders hold out at Padang against elements of 5th Division.
An airstrip at Saumlaki is completed allowing a Dutch squadron of Hurricanes to deploy there.
SWPAC
Japan’s 8th Independent Coy captures Woodlark Island. KB is still hanging around the Solomons (still just off Shortlands) and is apparently undistracted by the Allied raid in the Marshalls.
Blamey thinks it is doubtful that KB’s presence there is solely to facilitate the landing of a single company on an otherwise (from a military viewpoint) unoccupied Island, and wonders what the main target is. Concerned though he is, he does think that in some respects his position is improving. Queen Elizabeth has arrived at Melbourne with 6th Marine Rgt, which will replace 2nd Marine Rgt as a reserve for the Islands east of the Coral Sea (New Caledonia, New Hebrides and Tulagi). This frees up 2nd Marine Rgt to occupy Milne Bay, and they will be reinforced by 2/7 Commando Bn. There are two minor problems with this plan: they have to get to Milne Bay, and they have to get there before the Japanese do. Still, just in case the opportunity arises the Marines and Aussie Commandos are entraining at Sydney bound for Townsville. In the meantime, Blamey is closing the Torres Strait for Allied shipping - with the growing Japanese presence in the Solomon Sea it’s just too dangerous to send supply convoys to Darwin from Sydney, and he can’t spare the escorts. ABDA Command will have to rely on being resupplied via Perth.
The other improvement in Blamey’s position is that the US 41st Division has disembarked at Adelaide. It will take over from the Australian 1st Armoured Div in reserve at Port Augusta, with the Australian division deploying to Western Australia (currently defended by only an infantry brigade and a couple of cavalry regiments).
SOPAC
102nd Separate Rgt and 276th Coastal Artillery Bn arrive at Bora Bora, providing some protection for the Island which is developing nicely as a refuelling hub.
CENPAC
Lexington and Enterprise have refuelled pretty much midway between Johnston Island and the Marshalls and are now heading for the US West Coast. The oilers will unload their remaining fuel at Pearl Harbor before also heading for the US.
USA
It’s busy at San Francisco. 27th Division, 1st Marine Pioneer Bn and 1st Marine Engineer Bn are loading up on a 14 knot convoy bound for Melbourne. 754th Tank Bn, 102nd Combat Engineer Rgt, 9th Port Maintenance Bn and 2nd Marine Pioneer Bn are loading up on a 10 knot convoy, also bound for Melbourne.
SUBMARINE WARFARE
O-20 destroys a landing barge at Bataan.
INDIA/BURMA
The Japanese bombing of 17th Indian Div at Toungoo is becoming a nasty habit.
ABDA
The Japanese capture Baybay on Leyte, destroying the unfortunate 93rd PA Rgt and the Leyte Constabulary Bn.
On Sumatra the Japanese capture Sabang and Pakanbaroe, although the Dutch defenders hold out at Padang against elements of 5th Division.
An airstrip at Saumlaki is completed allowing a Dutch squadron of Hurricanes to deploy there.
SWPAC
Japan’s 8th Independent Coy captures Woodlark Island. KB is still hanging around the Solomons (still just off Shortlands) and is apparently undistracted by the Allied raid in the Marshalls.
Blamey thinks it is doubtful that KB’s presence there is solely to facilitate the landing of a single company on an otherwise (from a military viewpoint) unoccupied Island, and wonders what the main target is. Concerned though he is, he does think that in some respects his position is improving. Queen Elizabeth has arrived at Melbourne with 6th Marine Rgt, which will replace 2nd Marine Rgt as a reserve for the Islands east of the Coral Sea (New Caledonia, New Hebrides and Tulagi). This frees up 2nd Marine Rgt to occupy Milne Bay, and they will be reinforced by 2/7 Commando Bn. There are two minor problems with this plan: they have to get to Milne Bay, and they have to get there before the Japanese do. Still, just in case the opportunity arises the Marines and Aussie Commandos are entraining at Sydney bound for Townsville. In the meantime, Blamey is closing the Torres Strait for Allied shipping - with the growing Japanese presence in the Solomon Sea it’s just too dangerous to send supply convoys to Darwin from Sydney, and he can’t spare the escorts. ABDA Command will have to rely on being resupplied via Perth.
The other improvement in Blamey’s position is that the US 41st Division has disembarked at Adelaide. It will take over from the Australian 1st Armoured Div in reserve at Port Augusta, with the Australian division deploying to Western Australia (currently defended by only an infantry brigade and a couple of cavalry regiments).
SOPAC
102nd Separate Rgt and 276th Coastal Artillery Bn arrive at Bora Bora, providing some protection for the Island which is developing nicely as a refuelling hub.
CENPAC
Lexington and Enterprise have refuelled pretty much midway between Johnston Island and the Marshalls and are now heading for the US West Coast. The oilers will unload their remaining fuel at Pearl Harbor before also heading for the US.
USA
It’s busy at San Francisco. 27th Division, 1st Marine Pioneer Bn and 1st Marine Engineer Bn are loading up on a 14 knot convoy bound for Melbourne. 754th Tank Bn, 102nd Combat Engineer Rgt, 9th Port Maintenance Bn and 2nd Marine Pioneer Bn are loading up on a 10 knot convoy, also bound for Melbourne.
SUBMARINE WARFARE
O-20 destroys a landing barge at Bataan.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
2nd April 1942 continued….
The fourth meeting of the Sub-Committee for abbreviating the full title of Supreme Allied HQ Pacific, Australia, Netherlands East Indies, India and China is in progress.
“What we need” explained Mainwaring, “is an acrimony; a nice, simple, easy to remember and easy to say acrimony; something that just rolls of the tongue”.
“Acrimony?” questioned Jones “I know what acrimony is. There is far too much of it around this place, we could do with a good deal less of it, not more. But I’ve never heard of AN acrimony. What exactly is an acrimony?”
“Well, it’s um…..well…..you know, a kind of word made up of different letters……” replied Mainwaring.
“As opposed to a word made up of the same letters?” said a rather confused Jones “I can’t think of many of them. Perhaps we should check the dictionary”. Mainwaring went off to get a dictionary.
The meeting reconvened after Mainwaring returned with a dictionary and Jones had made everyone a nice cup of tea.
Mainwaring spend some time looking through the dictionary before declaring: “Do you know, I can’t find it They’ve got acrimony here, but they’ve missed out defining what an acrimony is. Typical of the kind of shabbiness I’ve come to expect these days. I expect they were using a cheap printers”
May I have a look? asked Jones.
It was Jones’s turn to spend some time looking through the dictionary, while Marcel Marceau just sat there looking very bored. Eventually Jones found something. “Aha! I think ‘acronym’ is what you meant” he said, showing Mainwaring the dictionary.
“Isn’t that what I said” replied Mainwaring testily “that’s just a variant spelling”. Right, to get back to the point, we need a nice, simple acrimon…in…yin…thingy. We’ve got I-C-N-P-A, that’s two vowels and three consonants, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to make a word out of those.
After a long period of silence, during which there was much scribbling and rubbing out of letters, and a fair amount of pencil chewing, Jones suddenly said “Captain, I think I’ve got something here”. Mainwaring looked across at Jones’s paper. “By Jove Jones” exclaimed Mainwaring, “I think you have! That’s genius”.
Even Marcel Marceau managed to look excited, although maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised by this. He is, after all, a mime artist, and mime artists are well-practised in conveying emotion through expression, or so I’m told.
Meanwhile, on the quayside at San Francisco, Sergeant Bilko approaches one of the dock supervisors overseeing the loading of some of 27th Division’s equipment aboard a transport ship. “Those three trucks a the end” said Bilko, “are too prone to breaking down. It probably isn’t worth the effort of loading them on ship”. As Bilko spoke he pushed a small wedge of dollars into the supervisors pocket. “Just leave them in that warehouse over there, I’ll pick them up later” continued Bilko. “No problem, boss” came the reply. Bilko walked off to where the Marine units were being loaded.
After all, no-one is going to be too bothered if a handful of trucks from the motor transport pool get ‘accidentally’ left behind when the convoy departs for Melbourne, are they?
The fourth meeting of the Sub-Committee for abbreviating the full title of Supreme Allied HQ Pacific, Australia, Netherlands East Indies, India and China is in progress.
“What we need” explained Mainwaring, “is an acrimony; a nice, simple, easy to remember and easy to say acrimony; something that just rolls of the tongue”.
“Acrimony?” questioned Jones “I know what acrimony is. There is far too much of it around this place, we could do with a good deal less of it, not more. But I’ve never heard of AN acrimony. What exactly is an acrimony?”
“Well, it’s um…..well…..you know, a kind of word made up of different letters……” replied Mainwaring.
“As opposed to a word made up of the same letters?” said a rather confused Jones “I can’t think of many of them. Perhaps we should check the dictionary”. Mainwaring went off to get a dictionary.
The meeting reconvened after Mainwaring returned with a dictionary and Jones had made everyone a nice cup of tea.
Mainwaring spend some time looking through the dictionary before declaring: “Do you know, I can’t find it They’ve got acrimony here, but they’ve missed out defining what an acrimony is. Typical of the kind of shabbiness I’ve come to expect these days. I expect they were using a cheap printers”
May I have a look? asked Jones.
It was Jones’s turn to spend some time looking through the dictionary, while Marcel Marceau just sat there looking very bored. Eventually Jones found something. “Aha! I think ‘acronym’ is what you meant” he said, showing Mainwaring the dictionary.
“Isn’t that what I said” replied Mainwaring testily “that’s just a variant spelling”. Right, to get back to the point, we need a nice, simple acrimon…in…yin…thingy. We’ve got I-C-N-P-A, that’s two vowels and three consonants, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to make a word out of those.
After a long period of silence, during which there was much scribbling and rubbing out of letters, and a fair amount of pencil chewing, Jones suddenly said “Captain, I think I’ve got something here”. Mainwaring looked across at Jones’s paper. “By Jove Jones” exclaimed Mainwaring, “I think you have! That’s genius”.
Even Marcel Marceau managed to look excited, although maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised by this. He is, after all, a mime artist, and mime artists are well-practised in conveying emotion through expression, or so I’m told.
Meanwhile, on the quayside at San Francisco, Sergeant Bilko approaches one of the dock supervisors overseeing the loading of some of 27th Division’s equipment aboard a transport ship. “Those three trucks a the end” said Bilko, “are too prone to breaking down. It probably isn’t worth the effort of loading them on ship”. As Bilko spoke he pushed a small wedge of dollars into the supervisors pocket. “Just leave them in that warehouse over there, I’ll pick them up later” continued Bilko. “No problem, boss” came the reply. Bilko walked off to where the Marine units were being loaded.
After all, no-one is going to be too bothered if a handful of trucks from the motor transport pool get ‘accidentally’ left behind when the convoy departs for Melbourne, are they?
-
LargeSlowTarget
- Posts: 4886
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2000 8:00 am
- Location: Hessen, Germany - now living in France
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
LOL, I see it coming. Count to ten - then...
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
Shhh….don’t tell everyone
3rd April 1942
CHINA
Japanese forces bombard the 4th Guerrilla Corps at Poyang - possibly the start of a two-pronged assault towards Jingdezhen?
INDIA/BURMA
The Indian forces endure another day of ground and air bombardment at Toungoo. 1st Squadron AVG has flown into Mandalay and will start contesting the air over southern Burma in a couple of days.
ABDA
The Japanese capture Padang, leaving Sibolga as the last base held by the Dutch on Sumatra.
A Japanese surface force consisting of at least one light and two heavy cruisers plus escorts enters the Makassar Strait, just as SS-KX watching the strait leaves to refuel. Repulse and CAs Australia and Dorsetshire are ordered north from Port Hedland as a precaution.
SWPAC/SOPAC
KB is still hanging around in the Solomons, now just south of Gasmata, New Britain.
A small allied supply convoy arrives at Port Moresby and is attacked by Nells from Rabaul: 3 Warhawks were lost in return for 10 Zeros and 18 Nells claimed. The convoy was unscathed - well, almost. An xAKL received a large dent from a dud torpedo.
SUBMARINE WARFARE
I-10 torpedoes and damages xAP Wahine at Nukufetau. The remainder of the Allied TF, having completed the landing of the NZ forces, withdraws back towards Suva.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
Blackadder sat at the large conference table opposite Captain Mainwaring, Jones the Steam, and Marcel Marceau.
“Is…is this, is….this it?” said Blackadder, in that sort of pleading voice where you sense the inevitability but hope for some way out anyway. “Is this really all you could come up with?”
“Believe me, we have tried everything and exhausted all the possibilities” replied Mainwaring
“But…..but….” said Blackadder “there must be some alternative.”
“There really was nothing else remotely suitable” said Mainwaring “you wouldn’t believe the number of hours we put into this” he added, glaring at Marcel Marceau as he spoke.
“But….but…..” continued Blackadder, now almost in a whimper, “Do you have any idea how foolish this is going to make me look? I’ll be a complete laughing stock.”
“Well, I think most already think you’re a complete laugh….” Jones started to say, but a sharp dig in the ribs from Mainwaring stopped him in his tracks.
Blackadder just sat there, staring at the bundle of newly-printed headed paper - headed that is, with the new title of Blackadder’s HQ.
‘Supreme Allied PANIC HQ’
“Is…is this, is….this it?” said Blackadder, in that sort of pleading voice where you sense the inevitability but hope for some way out anyway. “Is this really all you could come up with?”
“Believe me, we have tried everything and exhausted all the possibilities” replied Mainwaring
“But…..but….” said Blackadder “there must be some alternative.”
“There really was nothing else remotely suitable” said Mainwaring “you wouldn’t believe the number of hours we put into this” he added, glaring at Marcel Marceau as he spoke.
“But….but…..” continued Blackadder, now almost in a whimper, “Do you have any idea how foolish this is going to make me look? I’ll be a complete laughing stock.”
“Well, I think most already think you’re a complete laugh….” Jones started to say, but a sharp dig in the ribs from Mainwaring stopped him in his tracks.
Blackadder just sat there, staring at the bundle of newly-printed headed paper - headed that is, with the new title of Blackadder’s HQ.
‘Supreme Allied PANIC HQ’
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CaptBeefheart
- Posts: 2590
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2003 2:42 am
- Location: Seoul, Korea
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
Heh. PANIC. Also, way to insert a backstory on one of the most annoying features of WITP:AE: the leaving behind of motorized support on the docks.
Cheers,
CB
Cheers,
CB
Beer, because barley makes lousy bread.
Re: A Good Place to Start - Matthew (A) v Fokko (J) - Bottlenecks Mod
Thanks CB. Even when I’ve sent a ship to pick up the fragment of motorised transport somehow an even smaller fragment of motorised transport gets left behind! It adds to the challenge - which is all good fun. Unfortunately it also adds to the number of mouse-clicks, which is not so much fun.CaptBeefheart wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 6:34 am Heh. PANIC. Also, way to insert a backstory on one of the most annoying features of WITP:AE: the leaving behind of motorized support on the docks.
Cheers,
CB
Apologies for the lack of any updates recently. My opponent has been working away from home quite a bit this year, and so I find myself waiting for 2-3 weeks for the turn file. I almost forget how to play.