Gulf of Tomini

Gulf of Tomini (Full Version)

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Cap Mandrake -> Gulf of Tomini (4/5/2009 5:03:19 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Dili Pykrite and Project Habakkuk?? The inventive Mr.Pyke Yes..have heard of Pykrete...I wonder if other types of natural fiber would work.[:)] The fundamental problem here is Tomini really does sit almost on the Equator and it really is June and Milo (not the Admiral version) really did make up the whole global cooling thing...I think. ******Beach on the Gulf of Tomini, June 2, 1943*** A disorderly convoy of almost every type of conveyance queues up to offer their goods to an important-looking white man in green eye shades. Stretching back for at least four miles is the entire cocconut harvest for all of North and Central Sulawese. I. D. Cheatham, Esq: NEXT! That's 50 cents a ton for husks..1 dollar a ton for copra. Poor Sulawesi: But that is a very poor price. Even in 1941 we got 10 times that much. I. D. Cheatham, Esq: Look, there is a war on, my friend. The market for cocconut cream pies is zero. Do you see all these other people in line? If you don't sell, they will. Is it yes or no? Poor Sulawesi: <looks downward in defeat> Yes. I. D. Cheatham, Esq:** Fine, see the bursor. Thank you for doing business with M & M Enterprises Agricultural Division. Out on the water, hundreds of laborers carry bundles of coconut husks onto large rafts of floating husks bound by hemp and sisal. Further down the beach another group spreads the white copra on top of the husk mats. The reflected light coming off the copra is blinding in the June Equatorial sun....

BrucePowers -> RE: Gulf of Tomini (4/5/2009 6:06:18 PM)
Is there an uh-oh here?[:D]

witpqs -> RE: Gulf of Tomini (4/6/2009 2:32:16 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake The fundamental problem here is Tomini really does sit almost on the Equator and it really is June and Milo (not the Admiral version) really did make up the whole global cooling thing...I think. He probably didn't, but the really good news is that it's June. You see, at noon the sun is pretty much overhead on the equator in March and September. In June it's farthest North (and farthest South in December). As an added bonus, the earth is closest to the sun sometime in January, which means it is farthest away sometime in July. Operation iceberg may get a cool reception, but it's a hot time for it.

Cap Mandrake -> RE: Gulf of Tomini (4/6/2009 3:22:09 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: witpqs quote: ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake The fundamental problem here is Tomini really does sit almost on the Equator and it really is June and Milo (not the Admiral version) really did make up the whole global cooling thing...I think. He probably didn't, but the really good news is that it's June. You see, at noon the sun is pretty much overhead on the equator in March and September. In June it's farthest North (and farthest South in December). As an added bonus, the earth is closest to the sun sometime in January, which means it is farthest away sometime in July. Operation iceberg may get a cool reception, but it's a hot time for it. That makes sense...the sun can't be directly overhead at the same time both at the Equator and at the Tropic of Cancer (for eg.) I looked it up. The average high temperature at Manado (couldn't find it for Tomini but it is close) in June is 28C. The average high is also 28 in every other month except in November and December where it plumets to 27 [:)] Of course, this is before Global Cooling set in. It might have been hotter in 1943(b).

Cap Mandrake -> RE: Gulf of Tomini (4/6/2009 3:37:51 AM)
**Sitrep, Jolo, Sulawese, the Moluccas and New Guinea, Jan 3, 1943 Jolo: The Japs found an effective counter to the LCT's. They now have a bunch of Tojos on strafing missions at Cotobato in Northern Mindanao. Even so, the Dutch Bn landed successfully at night on Jolo. In the morning, Jap fighters and Vals sunk 4 PT boats and hit half a dozen LCT's at Jolo. Jolo is just our of LRCAP range from Menado. There is an unkown Jap unit at Jolo. They have no artillery as there was no shore fire but the KNIL Bn is very small and will reload aboard LCT's and divert to Tawi Tawi (50 mi to the W) which is curently unoccupied and has a level 1 airfield. This will have to serve as a fighter strip to cover a more fulsome landing on Jolo. Tawi Tawi will have a LRCAP of P-38's to cover the landing and prevent Jap troops flying in. The Jap carriers are gone and the Jap BB's retired to Palau. Menado:** Prince of Wales and friends made it safely to Menado. 2 1/2 divisions are dismebarking there. A B-25 raid on Davao from Menado was only marginally effective. Most of the 25's had to go back for R&R. Amboina: The airfield is now fully repaired but supply is still marginal so the B-24's there did not take off for a planned raid on Davao. Hollandia: The Japs sent a small surface group of subchasers to Hollandia but they were intercepted by Piet Hein which was dispatched from Sansapor. I am not sure what the purpose was but they were sent packing with heavy losses. Hollandia now has Kittyhawks.

witpqs -> RE: Gulf of Tomini (4/6/2009 3:38:36 AM)
Are these guys the PyKrete construction team? [image]local://upfiles/14248/439A5472B57A446A8FB0D8F104ACDE08.jpg[/image]

EWGuttag -> RE: Gulf of Tomini (4/8/2009 5:55:19 PM)
Witpqs, So you know about Pykrete, eh? Pyke (a true brillant but eccentric individual) was also the force behind the Weasel, as well as what became the "Devil's Brigade."

witpqs -> RE: Gulf of Tomini (4/8/2009 6:12:17 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: EWGuttag Witpqs, So you know about Pykrete, eh? Pyke (a true brillant but eccentric individual) was also the force behind the Weasel, as well as what became the "Devil's Brigade." I confess that I saw it on a show some time ago about some of Churchill's more outlandish projects on the UFO-channel.

Cap Mandrake -> RE: Gulf of Tomini (4/8/2009 6:30:48 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: witpqs Are these guys the PyKrete construction team? [image]local://upfiles/14248/439A5472B57A446A8FB0D8F104ACDE08.jpg[/image] I think that is a shot of the "Iceberg" 22c nightshift crew covered with copra dust after a long night's labor at the Gulf of Tomini..... "Come Mr. tally man, tally mi white copra daylight come and me wan' go ho-ome Me say day, me say day, me dayyy-o"

Cap Mandrake -> SITREP (4/8/2009 7:46:18 PM)
*****SITREP, the PI, Sulawese and the Moluccas, June 4, 1943**** Tawi Tawi: The KNIL Bn. landed at Jolo is evacuated by LCT to Tawi Tawi which has no garrison. The evacuation from Jolo is a bit disorderly so the Bn. has lost its supply. One AK was orderd to continue unloading supply at Tawi Tawi under cover of P-38 CAP from Menado. The KNIL Bn is sufficiently disorganized after the cluster at Jolo that I am not sure they will be able to overcome the local Tawi Tawi Constabulary and Fish and Game Warden and capture the needed airfield. I have therefore dispatched 4 AK's and about 2/3 of Aus. Cav Brig. toward Tawi via LCT from Menado. Beaufighters and P-38's will attempt to cover both the Tawi landing and the relief force. This is really wearing out the P-38's at Menado so one group was rested on the 3rd. 3 sinking LCT's were left at Jolo to draw fire. This worked well, drawing repeated attacks from strafing fighters based at Iolio and Cotabato. One LCT was also hit at Tawi with the loss of two Jacks downed by the 8-9 P-38's over Tawi. The Beaufighters over the relief force discoraged any atacks on them. All of the Jap combatants from the big bombardment TF's recovered to Palau and are poorly placed to intervene at Tawi. However, a TF reported to contain numerous cruisers (probaly DD's) is steaming WNW toward Mindanao. My guess, is they will circumnavigate Mindanao to the North and threaten the Tawi Tawi oepation. Another PT group is being sent to Tawi to replace the group that was wrecked by Vals from Davao. Davao: The aifield was hit heavily by a 50+ bomber B-24 raid from Amboina. Most of the Jap planes at Davao have been wrecked or withdrawn. Menado:** Two full Australian Div and a host of support troops are landing at Menado. Prince of Wales and friends cover the transports. After the failure of the last bombardment attempt, I doubt the Jap will try that again. A carrier raid at Menado now might be risky for the IJN but could sink many ships (there are thousands of troops still onboard ship). Once Tawi Tawi has an opeartional airfield, I will load 12th Aus Brig for Jolo aboard fast AP's.

Cap Mandrake -> It's just a little place... (4/9/2009 8:57:51 PM)
Why all the fuss? The suspected Jap cruiser force off the East coast of Mindanao proved to be a real Jap crusier force off the coast of Mindanao....except in the middle of the night they made it to Tawi Tawi, presumably by sailing North of Mindanao. By my estimation this was about a 600 mile run...or about 17.3 hrs at 30 kts. I was sure they were headed for Tawi but I figured they would not try to make the run from that range and run the risk they might not clear B-25 range from Menado by daybreak. I was wrong [:)] They sunk 2 AK's and 2 damaged LCT's at Tawi. A PT boat group from Menado arrived too late. There were no troops aboard the Ak's and the KNIL Bn at Tawi now has good supply but apparently the Tawi Tawi Fish and Game Warden is hole up in his hut and will not surrender. About 2/3 of a Cav Brig is already on its way from Menado and should arrive late on the 5th or early on the 6th. I will probably have to send a real surface force to Tawi despite the risk. [image]local://upfiles/7983/86F0049E7196401782D5838FE2200D68.jpg[/image]

Cap Mandrake -> Destiny at Tawi Tawi (4/11/2009 4:59:52 PM)
*****Aboard USS Iowan, off the Tawi Tawi beachead, 02:20, June 5, 1943*** Adm. Draemel: <speaking over ship's PA> Men, we are tonight destined to...well...I guess you would say....meet our destiny. Soon, in all likelihood, we will encounter an enemy surface force which can better us in speed, armor and firepower.....but we have one thing they do not....<it appears to the men listening, the Admiral is pausing for dramatic effect. In reality, he is looking at his notes>....ummmmm....oh..yes..we have an eternal brotherhood. I am proud to have served with you all. In readiness for what may lie ahead, I would like to review a set of rules...<he looks again at his note cards and drops several. In the darkness, he does not realize a card of a different color has been reshuffled to the top. He stands back up and continues reading> A life preserver will be found in each bunk and will be replaced where found before debarking. The use of tobacco, either smoking or chewing is prohibited at all times in the berthing spaces. Smoking is permitted on open decks only. No food will be eaten the berthing spaces or..latrines..oh good Lord......<He stops to look more closely at his notes. A gentle sursuration of stifled laughter can be heard throught the ship> Ummm..oh my... Lookout: SEARCHLIGHTS OUR PORT BOW! <all eyes turn in that direction> Adm. Draemel:** <Now back on familiar territory, the Admiral becomes a man of action> ALL HANDS PREPARE FOR ACTION! MAKE OUR COURSE ZERO ONE FIVE. SIGNAL THE ENGINE ROOM, WE WILL NEED ALL THEY'VE GOT. SIGNAL ARIDED. THERE WILL BE NO FIRE UNTIL MY COMMAND. <His eyes grow wide with excitement. His pulse quickens. He feels a man of twenty again. He thinks to himself: "This must be what it was like at Jutland". He throws his head back and produces a sound which easily makes mute the gathering din around him> Linie voran Anordnung!

Cap Mandrake -> RE: Destiny at Tawi Tawi (4/11/2009 5:04:23 PM)
****07:20, June 5, 1943, Tawi Tawi beach****** Along with other flotsam, a water-logged card, yellowed with age, lodges on the sand. [image]local://upfiles/7983/5367E4BEAD9F4313835C260953E2F1E0.jpg[/image]

Cap Mandrake -> RE: Destiny at Tawi Tawi (4/11/2009 5:04:55 PM)
.. [image]local://upfiles/7983/CED11F34045D48F3B1154973776A9818.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: Destiny at Tawi Tawi (4/11/2009 7:31:12 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake ****07:20, June 5, 1943, Tawi Tawi beach****** Along with other flotsam, a water-logged card, yellowed with age, lodges on the sand. [image]local://upfiles/7983/5367E4BEAD9F4313835C260953E2F1E0.jpg[/image] Yow! This does not bode well for our beloved Admiral. [8\|] That guy sure seems to be a magnet for any nearby IJN ordnance.

Cap Mandrake -> RE: Destiny at Tawi Tawi (4/12/2009 6:07:34 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Moondawggie Yow! This does not bode well for our beloved Admiral. [8\|] That guy sure seems to be a magnet for any nearby IJN ordnance. Yes...I am afraid you are right. It seems Mrs. Draemel on that nice quiet street in King of Prussia is in for some more heartache. [:(] I feel bad for that nice Lt., JG who saved his life too. The Admiral must have had 6 or 7 ships shot out from under him in WWII(b). This time the other AK and the two LCT's were sunk before the Iowan so he had nowhere to transfer his flag to. If he is gone for good, at least it wasn't a slip and fall accident. He also had the satisfaction to see a round from the Iowan's forward 4 inch gun stike Chikuma. Of course, it did not turn out well (11 gunnery hits and 3 torps on the Iowan)[sm=00000054.gif]

Cap Mandrake -> Dairy scam uncovered! (4/12/2009 6:02:09 PM)
So I am buying nonfat milk the other day and I notice it is the same price as whole milk....but then I walk over to buy some whipping cream and a quart costs as much as almost a gallon of milk! The clever bastards! I pay them to take the cream out of my milk and in the rare case I actually want the stuff back they charge me again!!!! Big night intercept off Mindanao. Retribution for Admiral Draemel! Now..if I could just figure out how to get even with Big Milk! [image]local://upfiles/7983/44B67D2416084BCAA79F393EFDF6E2CE.jpg[/image]

Cap Mandrake -> RE: Dairy scam uncovered! (4/12/2009 6:05:27 PM)
And a gratuitous screenshot. I left Prince of Wales and Australia behind in Menado because they coudln't make 30 kts. [image]local://upfiles/7983/1EA305BA9AC741D3B4911319E171C87F.jpg[/image]

Cap Mandrake -> Readiness Report (4/13/2009 7:39:29 PM)
.. [image]local://upfiles/7983/0EEA3499A2884F90ACE7ED63DD6B1784.jpg[/image]

Cap Mandrake -> Las Cucarachas de la Mar (4/14/2009 2:48:33 AM)
La cucaracha, la cucaracha, ya no puede caminar porque no tiene, porque le falta marijuana que fumar. Aj Caramba! PT's laboriously shuttled up from Darwin sink 2 Jap DD's and Bosie and Rocket score a second mid ocean intercept in 2 nights. The obvious place for the Jap transports to escape was to the North (out of the clutches of Allied bombers from Babo and Amboina.....which is exactly why I surmised they might head East to Palau [;)] [image]local://upfiles/7983/D4543F8607C8474683E19A77572205B5.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: Readiness Report (4/14/2009 4:44:53 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake .. [image]local://upfiles/7983/0EEA3499A2884F90ACE7ED63DD6B1784.jpg[/image] Hey, it sounds like Doc Daneka knows what he's talking about---[:-] BTW, Mandrake, is "Tuscan Autumn Squash" approved as an acceptable color by your HOA Landscaping and Architectural Review Committee? Living in a house (or flying a plane) that color could easily drop my morale by 40 points! It sounds like the color of Frau Braun's eyeliner...

Cap Mandrake -> Truth serum (4/19/2009 5:58:40 PM)
So one of my nieces, the poor thing, fractured her leg on a skateboard and was admitted to the hospital where Stalker Girl works. So, naturally, Stalker Girl goes down to see her on her break. My niece is all hopped on morphine but she recognizes her immediately and greats her warmly.."Oh hi, Stalker Girl! I always liked you the best of all the other girls Uncle Mandrake dated." <cue the needle scratching needle across the record sound....you know..."SCREEEEECCCCHHHH> [:D][:D][:D] I don't know whether she was trying to be funny or just confabulating but I had some serious 'splaining to do. Stalker Girl confronted me with the "revelation" and I couldn't help but laugh which just made her more mad which just made the situation even more funny to me which just made her more mad...yada yada yada. Ah...good times. Apparently my "you have got to be kidding" laugh is very similar to my "I am so busted" laugh. I am still trying to beat that Asperger's thing. OK...back to the war. Landings at Jolo, Cotabato and Jesselton today. A few Zeroes strafe the LCT's at Jolo but otherwise all goes well. Cagayan and Davao airfields are esentially abandoned. There are 20-30 bombers of some descripttion at Iolio (which is beyond reach of the B-24's from Amboina). Mogami and pals retreated to Cam Rahn Bay in Indochina and the few DD's spotted at Manila are apparently gone. The Jap carriers are nowhere to be seen. Time to commit some serious assets to the Mindanao landings. [image]local://upfiles/7983/E12F0039790749478B805266229050A7.jpg[/image]

tabpub -> RE: Truth serum (4/19/2009 10:24:34 PM)
Mandrake, You continue to astound me sir; like a door to door salesman that won't take no for an answer, you have just stuck your shoe in the jamb and shoved your way into the living room and seem to be heading for the Master bedroom as we speak...amazing....I am crawling like a waterbug up the leg of a Cape Buffalo compared to your blitz thru the underbelly....Hell, next it will be the 81st PA Division landing at Cavite to liberate Manila with the 3 members of the marching band in the lead..... Though, one has to think of the terrible retribution that might be unleashed if the IJ High Command can get their "stuff" in a pile, rather than scattered about. As you were, I was confounded when the IJN carrier group 'appeared' to leave the Celebes area on a HI course; rather than the Palaus where some major surface units still appear to be based at. Well, I am trying to accelerate my moves in SoPac; I don't want to land somewhere and find your SWPac boys waiting there to "greet" me, ala Monty at Messina, Sicily....ugh. Oh, btw; what is the timetable on Lashio? Looks like the Chinese from Mtyik should be there in a week or so; the quicker you can reduce that pocket there, the quicker I can get those veterans back to China where we can start counter-attacking rather than sitting in the trenches at Sian hurling shells at one another.....

Cap Mandrake -> Horse trading (4/20/2009 3:53:12 PM)
.... [image]local://upfiles/7983/727B03F9F8F145D68FAC7D6ACCF49643.jpg[/image]

Cap Mandrake -> Optimism (4/21/2009 7:45:57 PM)
.. [image]local://upfiles/7983/D4CAB6C7B63E4058B1C7028071B25DD5.jpg[/image]

Cap Mandrake -> plexiglass (4/22/2009 8:49:02 PM)
.. [image]local://upfiles/7983/D4EE461AFBF7479EABD77889D735BF07.jpg[/image]

BrucePowers -> RE: plexiglass (4/22/2009 8:56:53 PM)
Now maybe if you had let Harry Truman inspect the plexiglass..........[:D]

Cap Mandrake -> RE: plexiglass (4/25/2009 9:32:00 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BrucePowers Now maybe if you had let Harry Truman inspect the plexiglass..........[:D] Truman is a bit under the weather, I think. [:)] [image]local://upfiles/7983/B7C6E545B9914AA2A8E1FD926D95DA36.jpg[/image]

BrucePowers -> RE: plexiglass (4/25/2009 10:07:06 PM)
Was thorazine around back then?

Moondawggie -> RE: plexiglass (4/26/2009 3:25:49 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BrucePowers Was thorazine around back then? If not, it shoulda been! [:)]

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