Tonga Tea Party Part Deux (Full Version)

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tabpub -> Tonga Tea Party Part Deux (1/15/2009 8:34:52 PM)


[image]local://upfiles/9730/68592E257D034DD288095A6F42E56B93.jpg[/image]


*********Aboard an LCI somewhere East of Suva************

Scene - on the deck of an LCI pitching thru the rollers of the South Pacific, the sun is just rising over the bows. Two privates with Raider patches huddle in the lee of the superstructure; one is commiserating his partner who is puking in his helmet rather violently.

Puking Private - Didn't this battalion and the 2nd Raiders hit this same island a couple of weeks ago? And why are we pitching so much?! <ralph>

Raider Veteran - Yep. You missed it, being that you were just a replacement point on a Liberty ship back then. Fun time it was, but there were too many little folk there and the 2nd got a bit chopped up and we had to leave.

Puking Private - <looks up greenly at the vet> But what's to say it works this time?

Raider Veteran - <points to 3 heavily laden LST's burrowing their prows thru the waves> Them....look close and you can see the tops of the turrets on the upper deck; an Army tank battalion is along for the ride this time. All we have to do is cover them from infantry close assaults with our fire and they will take care of the MG bunkers that we found there.

Puking Private - <rushes to the rail to expel a noxious stream of bilious stomach contents, turns and sits on the deck, back to railing> But don't the Japs have planes in the area?

Raider Veteran - That's covered this time also. Look around....
<the sun is higher in the overcast now and thru the mist around one can see the boxy shapes of carriers off near the horizon, with smaller ships surrounding them> We have plenty of cover this time, not just 3 little carriers like the last operation....

Puking Private - <color returns to his face a bit> Wow. Thought they were up in the New Hebrides. How do we rate this?

Raider Veteran - SB has it that it's a flyby operation; they can give us two days of cover, then they are off for something else. Something about recovering the colors of a Marine unit; I'm not sure what that is about, the jarhead telling me that was drunk and looking like he was tearing up and about to cry before he passed out in Leo's Tavern in Suva. He was a guard at SouPac HQ, but his patch read 2nd Marine....oh, look there go the Navy bombers heading East. Must be getting close....let's go get some chow, they got powdered eggs in the mess. <departs down a hatch>

Puking Private - <whispers> Oh, Christ......powdered eggs....





Cap Mandrake -> RE: Tonga Tea Party Part Deux (1/15/2009 10:35:48 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tabpub


[image]local://upfiles/9730/68592E257D034DD288095A6F42E56B93.jpg[/image]
Raider Veteran - SB has it that it's a flyby operation; they can give us two days of cover, then they are off for something else. Something about recovering the colors of a Marine unit; I'm not sure what that is about, the jarhead telling me that was drunk and looking like he was tearing up and about to cry before he passed out in Leo's Tavern in Suva. He was a guard at SouPac HQ, but his patch read 2nd Marine......


Oh, oh...I know what tha means...the recovering the colors part..pick me, pick me! <waves hand wildly in air>


BTW, does an LCI really have a galley or are they using a microwave to cook up the eggs?

I had powdered eggs once. They are REALLY bad.



Moondawggie -> RE: Tonga Tea Party Part Deux (1/16/2009 2:23:05 AM)


"I had powdered eggs once. They are REALLY bad."



Actually, during my tour with the 3rd MAR DIV, I found that their taste perfectly complimented the savory ketone flavor of the embalmed beef served on the same breakfast plate.

AH, there's nothing like a meal in the field...

Now get those colors back, pronto! [sm=00000036.gif]



Alfred -> RE: Inchworm II (1/16/2009 3:37:33 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

What to do after Babo (assuming it works)?

Three general options present themselves:

1) Broaden the shoulders of the growing Allied salient (Lautem on Eastern Timor for eg.)

2) Grind forward under air cover (Amboina and Sorong for eg.).

3) Leap forward bypassing Amboina/Sorong (the most risky option especially without carriers).



Amboina is a level 4 airfield with ca. 23,000 troops and likely well fortified (inclduing CD guns).

Sorong is a level 2 with 6,000 troops.

Lautem is a level 4 field (85-100% destroyed)and 14,000 troops.

Kendari is level 4 but poorly reconed.

At this time I really have only enough sealift capacity for 1 1/2 divisions at a time.

This is the fun part of WITP. [;)]




Cap Mandrake,

Remember all those unemployed NoPac Seebees up at San Francisco...now is the time to start thinking about converting them for use in the DEI.

With your limited sea lift for post Babo operations, why not bypass all enemy garrisoned bases and instead land on enemy beaches with Seabees (plus small infantry garrison) and build up the 0 AFs. Beaches to consider include Bulla, Biak etc.

Even if it takes you up to 2 months to get the engineers transported to northern Australia you will still catch the enemy by surprise, particularly if you can capture a swag of empty beaches like tenpins bowling.

Alfred



Cap Mandrake -> RE: Inchworm II (1/17/2009 6:39:56 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alfred



Cap Mandrake,

Remember all those unemployed NoPac Seebees up at San Francisco...now is the time to start thinking about converting them for use in the DEI.

With your limited sea lift for post Babo operations, why not bypass all enemy garrisoned bases and instead land on enemy beaches with Seabees (plus small infantry garrison) and build up the 0 AFs. Beaches to consider include Bulla, Biak etc.

Even if it takes you up to 2 months to get the engineers transported to northern Australia you will still catch the enemy by surprise, particularly if you can capture a swag of empty beaches like tenpins bowling.

Alfred


Yes...the ones bothering all the women in Bremerton, you mean? I think they were in NorPac so they are probably building a golf course on Adak or something. I will check.



Cap Mandrake -> SWPac (1/17/2009 3:20:23 PM)

***********Gen. Short's Office, SWPac HQ, April 19, 1943***************

Gen Short: <depresses intercom mike again> Sargeant, we need to get ourselves a couple of those cool Seabee units. Did you put that in the letter?

Sargeant over intercom: No sir. No Seabees.

Gen Short: Ah, well let's redo it. I hear those guys are good.

Sargeant over intercom: Yes sir, so it would seem.

Gen Short: Sargeant, that reminds me. Do we have a copy of the Fighting Seabees with Mr. John Wayne.

Sargeant over intercom: I imagine so sir. I will check.

Gen Short: Great! I love that film. Have you seen it sargeant?

Sargeant over intercom: Yes sir, 11 or 12 times I think.

Gen Short: Remember that bulldozer seen? That was great.

Sargeant over intercom: Which bulldozer seen is that sir?

Gen Short: You know...the one where Mr. Wayne jumps up........



Cap Mandrake -> Mr. Wayne (1/17/2009 3:32:52 PM)

Gosh, he is handsome [:D] How did Susan Hayward get in a movie about the Seabees? Oh well.

[image]local://upfiles/7983/302AC44A78484BD9B4205EA5DA71703F.jpg[/image]



Cap Mandrake -> Alerte aux Marines (1/17/2009 3:36:45 PM)

Un film de Edward Ludwig [:D]

[image]local://upfiles/7983/D5FDB34087964F1483F1BE3561B67BB6.jpg[/image]



Cap Mandrake -> Station HYPO (1/19/2009 11:28:13 PM)

*******Station HYPO cryptography center, Pearl Harbor, April 20, 1943**********



A couple of odd-looking braniacs ponder over a newly decrypted message from Japanese High Command.


"I had a base called Tongatapu
Though I never knew what it was for
I guess it doesn't matter now
'Cause the base isn't mine any more"


Captain Thomas H. Dyer: It is curious. It seems almost a lament?


Captain Joseph John Rochefort: Yes, I believe you are right. Haiku?


Captain Thomas H. Dyer: Hmmm....I was thinking limerick, but the syllables seem wrong. Perhaps it got scrambled a bit.


Captain Joseph John Rochefort: Yes the 2nd and 4th seem to rhyme. I suppose if it started "there once was a base, Tongatapu". Still, I'm not sure I've ever seen a limerick in Japanese....Oh, well, let's send it on. It'd like to get back to the Subterranean Cells and Reptilian Beasts.

Captain Thomas H. Dyer: Cool, I had a local carve a new dodecahedron die of Koa wood.


Captain Joseph John Rochefort: Dodeca! Why Thomas, that is BRILLIANT! I still think the title needs work.........






FeurerKrieg -> RE: Station HYPO (1/19/2009 11:32:42 PM)

Is he going to get a icosahedron from the locals as well?



Cap Mandrake -> RE: Station HYPO (1/19/2009 11:58:06 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

Is he going to get a icosahedron from the locals as well?


Shhh. You will give the competition ideas.



Cap Mandrake -> Synch Problem (1/20/2009 5:52:10 PM)

This was wild. So I'm watching my combat replay....then just after the AM phase...my WITP game switches to live coverage of the coronation..err..I mean inauguration. I had to hit "Ctrl Z" to get back to the game. I hate when publishers put hidden code in the games they sell.



Cap Mandrake -> Babo limerick contest (1/20/2009 6:20:20 PM)

Remember, it's a family thread, sort of.

In honor of D-Day for Operation Inchworm II:


There once was a town in New Guinea
With ten thousand Japs on the skinny
....the locals said, "Hey!"
....would you please go away"
"No", said the Japs, "we're too many"



Cap Mandrake -> Invasion envy (1/20/2009 6:33:34 PM)

I have to scrimp and save to get Prince of Wales and a couple of polyglot destroyers together for Inchworm II, meanwhile Lord Admiral Tabpub takes 5 fleet carriers, 2 CVL's, 4 fast BB's, 3 prewar BB's and enough destroyers to raise the sea level in the Pacific just to take back Tonga. Bloody hell, even his minesweeper TF's have BB's. [:@]



Cap Mandrake -> RE: Invasion envy (1/20/2009 6:34:10 PM)

OK...I'm over it.



witpqs -> RE: Invasion envy (1/20/2009 6:42:11 PM)

Look at it this way: they always give the most to do with the least resources to the best.

[Don't tell Grand Admiral Tadpub I said that. [;)]]



Cap Mandrake -> RE: Invasion envy (1/20/2009 7:06:11 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Look at it this way: they always give the most to do with the least resources to the best.

[Don't tell Grand Admiral Tadpub I said that. [;)]]


It's not really so bad. I've decided the Admiralty is not going to get back the carrier they wanted and the RN carriers are converting to Avenger I's. And the Corsair IV's arrive in June (if Milo doesn't sell them to the Uruguayans or something).[:)]



Cap Mandrake -> RE: Tonga Tea Party Part Deux (1/20/2009 7:28:04 PM)

*****Chronology, Tonga Tea Party, Part Deux********

April 19:

01:30: 19th BG(H), equipped with B-24's, attacks Pago Pago airfield at night from Fiji, claiming 1 Betty destroyed and 13 damaged.


07:20: USN transports, with 1st and 2nd Marine Raider Bn's and 193rd Tank Bn embarked, are spotted just West of Tonga.

07:50: 80+ SBD's and TBF's attack costal gun and other defensive positions on Tonga.

09:10: 37 x B-25C of 42nd BG(M), based in Fiji, attack Jap coastal defences on Tonga.

10:40: 26 x Betty bombers from Pago Pago approach the covering carriers without escort. They face a CAP of > 130 Wildcats. The bombers are destroyed 100%.

14:20: An afternoon attack of 5 Zero and 9 Betty approach. All are destroyed with the loss of 1 Wildcat.



Cap Mandrake -> RE: Tonga Tea Party Part Deux (1/20/2009 7:37:38 PM)

*****Chronology, Tonga Tea Party, Part Deux********

April 20: The carriers move East during the night to bring Pago Pago's airfields within range. Pago Pago is again attacked at night by B-24's from Fiji. When the sun comes up, 170+ carrier-based bombers and 39 Wildcats attack the airfield on Pago Pago. The USN loses 5 bombers while 9 Tonys and some transports are destroyed. The Bettys are gone. There will be no attacks on the ships today.

The landing goes well with little disrutpion and the Japanese forces melt away with the first attack. The number of Japs lost (840) seems too low for a a SNLF brigade and base force. Perhaps some of them were evacuated by air to Samoa?

Tonga is back in Allied hands. HUZZAH! Nice landing. Still no Jap carriers. I don't really blame them. After the fall of Fiji and Efate, Tonga is a bit of a backwater. As a matter of fact, the garrison of Samoa has to be a bit concerned as well.



Cap Mandrake -> Inchworm II (1/20/2009 8:01:19 PM)

*******SITREP, Inchowrm II, April 20, 1943********

The landing forces close to within 120 miles of Babo. A daylight landing on the 21st is planned. There will be lots of mines. Something will blow up.

Despite rain, 90 B-24's from Darwin pulverize Amboina. The airfield is trashed and is empty except for hulks and some scout planes.

40 B-24's raid Sorong airfield with moderate success. The Vals previously stationed there are gone.

Medium bomber raids planned from Kai are cancelled due to weather (not the SPCA this time). Yossarian gets the day off.

LB-30 raids on Babo are also scrubbed due to weather. New intel shows 10,000 plus troops at Babo.


USS MacFarland (AVD) has anchored at Kiamana Beach SE of Babo in support of a squadron of Coronados to reach out NE of New Guinea to make sure Jap carreirs dont; show up. They could still sprint in and cause real problems. 40 P-38's and a squadron of RAAF Beaufighter Mk 21's are assigned to LRCAP over the landing force. The chief land-based air threat would be the Bettys now at Kendari or less likely Bettys from Lae. There is nothing at Palau. The Timor airfields seem to be free of bombers still.

There is no night raid on Darwin on the 19/20th after the surprise appearance of The Beaufighter nightfighter squadron the previous night.



Cap Mandrake -> Babolicious (1/21/2009 10:01:13 PM)

On an Easterly course for the Babo
with nary a word from the Blago

..."where is he", I said
...with his big helmet head

Not here said a salt, he's in Pago


********SITREP, Babo, New Guinea, April 21, 1943*******


As planned, the invasion fleet drops anchor at dawn. PoW and two RN CA's and LB-30's from Darwin rough up the defenders pretty well. Shore fire is ineffectual. Most of 32nd ID and 12th Aus Inf Brig are already ashore as is all of 2nd Armoured Regt. Unloading of supplies is going very slowly so there will be no attack today. No Jap air appears over the invasion beaches and no enemy surface forces are spotted.

HMAS Warramunga eats a mine and sinks. One Ak also hits a mine but is still afloat. Better than I thought.



Cap Mandrake -> AKAGI SUNK! (1/22/2009 4:21:17 PM)

*********Office of CINCPAC, Honolulu, 07:23, April 22, 1943*******

There is a large commotion in the hallway with sounds of jubilation. There is an urgent knock then the door swings open.

Communications Officer: Sir, we have fantastic news from Tinosa.

Adm. Nimitz: I'm listening, Captain.

Communications Officer: Yes sir. We just received this.

Adm. Nimitz: From your reaction I've no doubt you haven't been sitting on this. Why don't you READ me the message, Capt.

Communications Officer: Yes sir. <hands trembling> Here is the message. It's really fantastic news, sir.

Adm. Nimitz: THAT is what USS Tinosa sent, "It's really fantatstic news, sir"? They broke radio silence for that?

Communications Officer: Oh, no sir. I didn't get to it yet sir.

Adm. Nimitz: OK, Capt., take a BIG cleansing breath......that's it...now, when you are ready, I want you to begin reading the message. Slowly and without any preamble or editorial comment. Just nod when you are ready.

Communications Officer: <nods 4 ro 5 times>

Adm. Nimitz: OK, proceed

Communications Officer: <looks at message> Have attacked and torpedoed Akagi <message garbled> with four fish...stop...vessel sinking...stop...am rescuing survivors...stop..postion 65 nm ESE Takao harbor end <looks up earnestly>

Adm. Nimitz: Well, that IS splendid news. Instruct Tinosa to scout for other carriers...also we need postion and speed of Akagi at time of attack....and signal "Well done".

Communications Officer: <stands there with silly grin on his face>

Adm. Nimitz: Capt., the day is a wasting.



HMS Resolution -> RE: AKAGI SUNK! (1/22/2009 7:00:32 PM)

Hot damn! What a great time to come back to reading the AAR!

Also, that Lindbergh essay is a bit slanted. I'd recommend reading American Axis for a full description of Lindbergh and Henry Ford's frankly treasonous activities.



Cap Mandrake -> RE: AKAGI SUNK! (1/22/2009 8:11:15 PM)

********Aboard USS Tinosa, 65 nm ESE Takao, 11:20, April 22, 1943***********

Lt. Cdr. Eddington, CO of Tinosa, stands in the sail of his boat, which is surfaced in a heavy rain squall. A wooden lifeboat approaches from the port quarter. An armed squad of sailors awaits the approaching boat. A younger officer bounds up the ladder.

Ensign: SIR, MESSAGE FROM CINCPAC, DIRECTLY SIR!

Lt. Cdr. Eddington: Cincpac?! Are you sure, son?

Ensign: YES SIR!

Lt. Cdr. Eddington: Very well, read it Ensign.

Ensign: YES SIR! It reads, "well done! You are directed to scout for other carriers and report course and speed at time of attack when situation permits. Recovery of survivors secondary"

Lt. Cdr. Eddington: Carriers? Carriers? Are you quite sure it is directed to us, son?

Ensign: Yes sir. That is how it decodes sir. We checked it three times.

Lt. Cdr. Eddington: What on Earth? <he furrows his brow for several seconds before his mouth gapes open and he turns pale....you know...like when you get that feeling that you have screwed up BIG TIME...like that>

The wooden life boat draws closer. A sodden group of Japanese sailors work the oars. Many are burned. In English, the letters Akagi Maru are stenciled near the bow.





Cap Mandrake -> RE: AKAGI SUNK! (1/22/2009 8:14:01 PM)

Dirty trick? Yes.

Cuttlefish pulled it on us when he sent the turn back. That was the title of his email[:)]



HMS Resolution -> RE: AKAGI SUNK! (1/22/2009 9:17:30 PM)

Shoulda seen that coming, I guess.



Cap Mandrake -> RE: AKAGI SUNK! (1/22/2009 9:32:00 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HMS Resolution

Shoulda seen that coming, I guess.


I opened the email half-expecting to see a gigantic carrier battle off Pago Pago. Instead, the Akagi Maru eats 4 fish. [:)]

BTW, I tend to agree with you that Lindbergh had his wires crossed. I have some sympathy for Isolationism but once USS Arizona turned turtle with the loss of hundreds of sailors it seems to me some rethink of his former position was in order.



Cap Mandrake -> Defamation (1/22/2009 9:41:21 PM)

Editor's Note (Anon.): A number of readers and contributors have besmirched the memory of a former guest editor of this series who has now gone missing. It is hard enough to find guest editors without having to endure such mean-spirited criticism. I, for one, even if the other Board memebers are more cautious, would like to stand up and show my disapproval for <POOOF>



Cap Mandrake -> Papua (1/22/2009 9:53:37 PM)

The mosquitos are giant in Papua
and half of them carry the Scrofu'a

The palm trees are nice
But I've thought once or twice

I'd rather fight Nazis in Padua



******SITREP, Babo, April 22, 1943*********


The weather grounds all the bombers from Darwin and Kai (that is 2 days off straight for Yossarian). HMS Empire Chivalry hits a mine and will have to be withdrawn but the carnage from mines is still less than expected. 32nd ID is now 95% ashore and in good supply. Australian 12th Brigade is still low on ammo. General Gill (32nd ID) orders an attack with support from 2nd Armoured's tanks for the 23rd.

No Jap air at all. 2 P-38's are lost to accident on LRCAP duties.



bradfordkay -> RE: Papua (1/22/2009 10:02:00 PM)

Lt Cmdr Eddington? I thought he was lost flying a Mitchell in a search for the Yamato? 



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