War in the Pacific Admiral’s Edition. Game vs Herb

Operation Wisp D-Day +1 12th April 1943

 

A chaotic and disjointed day in which lady luck favours and abandons both sides.

The action starts with a nocturnal sweep by 4 IJN destroyers of Suva Bay. Two battleships and two light cruisers stand guard and they have radar sets that gives them eyes at night. As such, despite a massive Long Lance attack, the USN is able to sink the destroyer Ushio and drive her three remaining sisters away with a whiff of  danger to the transports that keep unloading their troops and cargo on Lunga Point. This is where the operation starts to get disjointed as for no apparent reason the Massachusetts turns away and starts to steam for the Santa Cruz Islands, an action that will cause her Captain to suffer a court martial, a dishonourable discharge and two years in the brig. He was given specific orders to remain in place at Lunga regardless of the risk as the transports were the valuable targets and their mission paramount.

The Massachusetts BG dishing it before its untimely withdrawal.

As such three transport groups decide to also follow their cover out of Lunga but lacking radar and in the ensuing confusion they steam North East instead of South. Later in the day both the AP Fuller and the xAK West Ivis will be sunk by Bettys near Tulagi. Further disaster was averted when D3A2s were off target while attacking LSTs that had also left. Further chaos and disaster followed, this being the action that caused the Massachusett’s Captian to be jailed, when the Covering Force stumbled upon a screen of Japanese submarines that were able to sink the Nashville and hit the Massachusetts itself with one torpedo. One wondered whether the Japanese custom of seppuku should have been employed by said Captain.

A second naval engagement was fought to the West of Guadalcanal when a light surface raiding group, the light cruiser Columbia and four destroyers, stumbled across the IJN Sazanami which had also attacked Suva Sound. The Columbia was returning from an unsuccessful sweep of Munda when he radar came alive with a contact. Short work was made of the Japanese destroyer as she was heavily out gunned and out numbered.

Lady luck then once again smiled on Japanese eyes as the second escort carrier ferrying in transports, the Chenango, was hit by a Val and Kate launched torpedo. Her Wildcats, along with Martlets from the Victorious, had earlier beaten off two attack waves. Though the Chenango was still afloat she was heavily damaged and her flight deck was closed. Her fighters found refuge on the Wasp while her Avengers made safe haven at Utupua. This news was further compounded by the reports coming from the Marshall Islands were the CVE Sangamon had been heavily damaged by a submarine off Kwajalein, her AVGAS store going up in a massive sheet of flame and noise. Yet the Allies could count themselves lucky that the strikes invloving more than 100 enemy fighters and 30 bombers failed to hit either of the fleet carriers off Kirakira. Bombs, torpedoes and even aircraft in their death throes all missed the Wasp and the Victorious as both their fighter screen and aggressive manoeuvring  kept both ships intact and in the fight. Better news as well from Lunga where intial probing suggested a weak Japanese defence. Orders were to be given for an all out assault on the 13th as the situation was becoming dangerous. The Covering Force had retired and the CAP was down 50 Wildcats from the CVE’s. Submarines were also making the waters around the Southern Marshalls somewhat hazardous as well. Lady Luck needed to shine tomorrow on the USMC and US Army soldiers lumbering up for the fight in hills of Lunga.

GoT: Review of Storm of Swords Part One

The hectic action continues apace. A solid book that picks up where A Clash of Kings left off and true to Martin’s style it is strongly steeped in violent encounters, ravishing lust and twisting, snaking plot lines. Some major players come back on the scene, Tywin Lannister for example, and others have their storylines further developed and greatly enhanced, Daenerys Targaryen. Martin does have a penchant for compicating his plots however, yet he writes in such a style that the reader can follow the twists and turns quite easily. Arya’s storyline for example had me flicking through the chapters looking specifically for those dealing with her storyline in particular.

I feel that Jon Snow’s character also takes a massive step forward in Storm of Sword part one. I read in another blog that Jon is regarded as one character that can clearly be defined as ‘good’ and this made him a somewhat unpopular character. I on the other hand was drawn to his sense of duty and honour, further compounded by Book Three part two. We also get to see his more human side as he falls for the wildling girl. Truly his star is on the rise in this third book and I do hope his is not killed off as a large number of the main characters seem to be.

As somehwhat of a spoiler for part two, I was glad that Catelyn Stark was finlly got rid off as it was a character I hated. Impulsive and manipulative there is a scene in part two where her son Robb firmly puts her in her place. More about that in the review for book two, I have roughly about 120 pages of that one left. But once again it is Tyrion Lanniester that rises above all as a ginat, depsite his stature. I think Martin has certainly hit the bullseye by making this dwarf his fulcrum of so many story plots. Sometimes odious yet sometimes easy to sympathise with. He is well aware of his role in the Lannister family yet he clearly loves his House and would certainly enjoy some positive attention or notice from his Father. Surviving on his wit and guile we see flashes of a softer, dare I say nobler side to him. He is currently in a massive pickle in Part Two but I am sure that he will wriggle his way out of the dark hole he is in!

This brings me to the one character who is developed the most and I must admit, despite being the character I liked the least in the HBO series, one that I have enjoyed being developed: Jamie Lannister. For the first time his character becomes a POV character. Martin develops him as more that the lustful, ruthless individual we see in Books 1 and 2. His crippling by the Bloody Mummers humbles him somewhat and we begin to see some of the knightly honour he possesses in his thawing attitudes to Brienne of Tarth. Though he makes it to King’s Landing and reverts to his incestuous leanings, he does stand up quick strongly to his Father. I am hopeful Jaime Lannister’s development will continue.

The plot is gradually moved on but it is quite tiresome to have ‘yet another’ twist and turn every other chapter, when is Arya’s saga going to end for example. Martin’s writing is still top notch in Book three and I am quickly coming to the point in the series when one reviewer criticised Martin for elongating his tale. I understand the series was meant to be a trilogy, and certainly Book 2 reads as the middle of a trilogy, so I eager to find out how Book 3 finishes. There are several points in Book 3 where one gets the hint of the story coming to an end only for another twist to open. Book four and Book 5 (parts one and two) will be arriving at the end of March so I will wait patiently to see how the saga evolves. So far still a thumbs up but wishing for less twists and turns.

Manchester United 1 Ajax Amsterdam 2

Match corresponding to the UEFA Europa League and played at Old Trafford.

Well, well well. It wasn’t meant to have been like this. After United’s showing at the Amsterdam Arena last week it was meant to be a cake walk. It had all the markings of one when after 5 minutes Chicharito Hernandez out United ahead with a typical finish for his 10th goal of the season. Ajax got a smashing equaliser via the boot of Ozbiliz, though there was a hint of handball in the build up. De Gea didn’t have a chance. United in honesty dominated the first half but came out of the blocks very slowly in the second. Ajax started to dominate midfield with a tiring Cleverly fading out of the game. They piled on the pressure and David De Gea pulled off an excellent reflex save. Nani rattled the Ajax crossbar at 1-1 but Old Trafford, totally out sung by the fantastic Ajax away support, was left stunned after Ajax scored a second on 85 minutes via the head of Alderweireld. Things were not looking so rosy now and if Ajax got a third United would be out. Thankfully United did manage to wrest some control of the ball in the last 5 mintues of the game and saw the game out. Home defeat but 3-2 winners in aggregate. The Lions of Bilbao at San Mames next.

Manchester United Team

1    David De Gea

20 Fabio Da Silva

4    Phil Jones

12 Chris Smalling

21 Rafael Da Silva

17 Nani

13 Ji Sung Park

23 Tom Cleverly

18 Ashley Young

9   Dimitar Berbatov

14 Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez

SUBSTITUTES

Paul Scholes on for Tom Cleverly

Johnny Evans on for Ashley Young

Danny Welbeck on for Dimitar Berbatov

 

War in the Pacific Admiral’s Edition. Game vs Herb

Operation Wisp contd

Those Japanese fighters had instead been tasked to escort their bombers against the invasion force. The approach of the invasion fleets had been spotted by the Japanese, initially that did not cause much concern as the ship movements were intended as a feint to take attention from Port Moresby. Yet once the decision to go into Lunga was made the fact the ships had been detected was made moot. The first Japanese air raid came in over the main carrier task force off  Guadalcanal. Some 50 enemy fighters approached from the North West, A6M models. They ran into a CAP of F4F-4s and Martlets. A crazy melee ensued that saw planes lost on both sides. As the fighters jousted however Betty bombers carrying sleek torpedoes arrowed in at wave height.

The sky around them was turned black as hundreds of AA guns poured their fire into them. Several bombers broke up as they were torn to shreds by the shells fired at them. Two vic however homed in on the battleship Royal Soverign, whose guns were protecting the circling Victorious. Seaman and pilot alike held their breath as four bombers dropped their fish, they hit the water with a splash and arrowed towards their target. One of the Bettys disintegrated a mere second after releasing taking a 20mm hit full on the nose, the torpedoes however all missed as the helmsman had the Royal Sovereign at full to starboard and the torpedo wakes streaked away from her.

 

Simultaneously over Lunga a second fighter sweep came in. Both VF-60 and VF-35 from the escort carriers Suwanee and Chenango were up early and were able to shoot down 10 enemy fighters for little loss.

Yet the real danger were the D3A2 dive bombers the Zeroes were escorting into Lunga. Despite harrasment by Wildcats a reasonably large number of these second generation Vals began their rolls, turns and dives from about 12,000 feet on the CVE Suwanne. She was a Sangamon Class Escort Carrier and a veteran of Operation Torch in the European Theatre of Operations but she was not facing Vichy French pilots but rather veteran pilots of the IJNAF, veterans of many a dive on an enemy vessel. The first two bombs missed but the third anf fourth hit her smack in the middle of her flight deck. The second bomb was the one that really did the damage as it blew a wide hole in the deck and ruptured two main fuel lines. These promptly erupted into flame when the fifth and sixth bombs struck her sealing her fate.

USS Suwannee burns after her fuel lines erupt into flame.

As their ship burned its way to the bottom of the sea her pilots, still aloft and soon to be bereft of a home, wrecked a terrible revenge on the retreating Vals. Chasing them almost back to Munda they claimed 9 enemy planes shot down. Though the Suwanee was to later sink her Avenger sqaudron was able to land in one of the bases in the Santa Cruz while VF-60 found refuge on the decks of the Chenango, later they would rejoin VT-60 on Vanua Lava.

VF-60 avenge their sinking ship.

 

The real life Suwannee was a real veteran and she even survived a Kamikaze hit in Ocotober 1944. She was later used as a helicopter carrier post war. Read more about her here.

War in the Pacific Admiral’s Edition. Game vs Herb

11th April 1943

Operation Wisp

As the Battle of Port Moresby was being brought to a successful conclusion developments were afoot further to the East. Several units were in the process of being moved from recently finished operations in the Marshall Islands and had been earmarked for deployment in Port Moresby. The capture of this last base meant they were free for use elsewhere. Having had its eye on Lunga and Guadalcanal for while, South Pacific HQ now wanted these diverted units to land on Lunga and capture in a coup de main operation. The Japanese had withdrawn its 38 Infantry Division from there and intelligence suggested it was being moved to Babeldoab. Recon of Lunga and an extensive monitoring of enemy radio traffic suggested it was lightly held by two small units of marine infantry supported by two small air force base units. A USMC regiment and an Army regiment were readily available and aboard ships. Likewise two armoured battalions were also loaded and ready to go. The arrival of the carrier Wasp, the only surviving USN fleet carrier, and the Victorious, on loan from the Royal Navy, meant an small, blitz operation could be carried out. Two maxims however. Firstly, speed as Japan could reinforce quicker. Secondly, decisiveness in the assault as this had to be done quick.

The battleship Pennsylvania stole into Suva Bay in the small hours of the 11th April 1943 and fired a point blank range bombardment with all its available guns towards the area in and behind the main assault beaches. The light cruiser Concord also leant her steel and fire to the mayhem. Fitting that a ship there at Pearl Harbour on December 7th 1941 be the one the was dealing death and destruction to signal the start of the attack on the Solomon Islands.

Following immediately behind were four different columns of vessels each carrying a different part of the invasion force. The 1st USMC Regiment was the first unit to hit the beaches of Guadalcanal supported by tanks of the 1st USMC 1st Tank Battalion. Veterans of Wotje the Marines already had experience of landing against an enemy held shore. The second echelon comprised of the US Army’s 35 Infantry Regiment fresh from its engagement at Roi-Namur. The 3rd USMC Tank Battalion supported the US soldiers. Escorting destroyers opened fire on the enemy beach defences as it was evident that these had recovered somewhat from the Pennsylvania’s shelling. USN LST’s were involved in their second action of the war having cut their teeth during the operations on the Marshalls.

3rd USMC Tank Bn delivered by LSTs

 

Further support from the landings came from the flight decks of the USS Wasp and HMS Victorious. Both carriers had their dive and torpedo bombers prepped up for a bombing attack on the main Japanese defence line on Lunga. Dauntlesses and Avengers dropped 5,00lb bombs on the Japanese lines adding to the confusion and mayhem of battle. No Japanese fighters were in the air to intercept the. Those fighters had other duties to perform…

FAA and USN carrier bombers attack Lunga

 

War in the Pacific Admiral’s Edition. Game vs Herb

April 10th 1943

Operation Cobber D-Day +5

Australia Command was pleased to report today the recapture of Port Moresby from Japanese forces. The operation was successfully concluded on the morning of the 10th April following a third assault by the 1st Australian Division. Japanese unites defending the Northern end of Port Moresby were routed and put to flight into the Kokoda Tail and the unforgiving terrain of the Owen Stanley Mountains. Australian troops are now back on soil they occupied a year ago and the focus now centres on consolidating our position in Port Moresby and repairing the port and airfield installations. General MacArthur is well aware of the isolated position Port Moresby is facing but a second toe hold on New Guinea was essential. High hopes are now centred on a feint that has blossomed into a very welcome opportunity in the form of Operation Wisp. For now Australia’s men can bask in the glory of their achievement, obtained at the cost of three ships and very casualties on land.

War in the Pacific Admiral’s Edition. Game vs Herb

Operation Cobber D-Day+4

A third day of enemy air attacks over Port Moresby. Exhausted after three days of constant CAP and having their main field socked in by the heavy weather accosting much of the Eastern Australian seaboard no P-39s were flying CAP over the invasion fleet today. Enemy airplanes were thus granted a free run against the transports and warships in Joyce Bay. It seemed, however, that the Japanese were also suffering weather problems as only two small raids came in, and one only carrying torpedoes. The first raid brought in 7 Betty bombers one of which only scored a hit on the 3,500 ton Admiral Wiley. One hit however was enough to send the ship to the bottom.

The weather closing down the fighter fields was not affecting the aerodromes further inland being used by the heavy bombers of the Seventh USAAF. Three squadrons of B-24 Liberators were detatched from supporting the ground attack at Port Moresby and ordered to strike at the enemy airfield at Wewak on the far side of Papua New Guinea. They met opposition in the face of Ki-61 fighters but were able to deliver a heavy blow on Wewak. Several wrecked enemy planes were seen in post raid recon and it was clear that both the runway and the base itself had suffered damages.

Nevertheless the Japanese had a small window of opportunity to fly in some more reinforcements and as the second land assault went in  a fourth Japanese infantry unit was indentified, the Guards Mixed Brigade. This unit was thought destroyed during an ill fated Japanese counter attack on Ndeni in late 1942. Intell assumes that the unit was recreated from a cadre or these are small remnants that have been flown in to stiffen the garrsion. What the case may be their presence was able to stop the Australian attack in its tracks. Depsite this over 500 enemy casualties were reported despite the loss of several M-10′s amd M-3′s. A third assault had been ordered for tomorrow and the Revenge and her consorts have once again been asked to lend their guns to the assault.

War in the Pacific Admiral’s Edition. Game vs Herb

Operation Cobber Day 3 contd

As the 1st Australian Division began its attack on Port Moresby the shipping unloading men and supplies also began to feel the strain of battle. Five seperate attacks were made during the 8th by both elements of the IJAAF and the IJNAF. The first attack of the day saw 17 G4M1 bombers, escorted by 7 Zeroes, focus a direct attack squarely against the HMS Revenge. Her flak batteries covered the sky in black plumes of smoke and deadly shrapnel and despite a crowed Joyce Bay none of the 17 torpedoes launched struck her armoured hide. The second Betty attack of the day however did score.

The 4 Lightnings on CAP were able to down two of the escorting Zeroes but could do nothing to deter the 7 G4M’s heading straight to the fleet. Three peeled off to attack the Revenge once again while the remaining four honed in on the 7,300 ton troop carrier Santa Inez. The Japanese planes divided into two groups and attacked the transport in a hammer and anvil attack. The ponderous vessel was not lithe enough to evade all four torpedoes and she took one apeice on her port and starboard sides sinkng late in the afternoon.

The three Betties that attacked the Revenge were able to get through her flak screen and launch all their fish at her port side, one scoring a hit that inflicted minimal damage on her. Several of the G4M’s were also carrying bombs and carried out a level attack that missed all intended targets.

 

The remaining raids carried out by IJAAF level and dive bombers scored no hits though the xAP Colac did suffer a very near miss from a 500lb bomb dropped by a Sonia.

War in the Pacific Admiral’s Edition. Game vs Herb

Operation Cobber Day 3

 

Joyce Bay was full of ships. American attack transports, smaller landing craft shuttling troops to the beaches from the ships. Minesweepers and destroyers combing the waters for submarines and Australian auxiliary ships unloading supplies right onto the beach. Yet it was the majestic Royal Navy battleship Revenge that dominated above all. Her 15 inch guns kept ward over the transports and at the same time roared defiance to the IJN to venture into Joyce Bay. Having escorted her cares into Port Moresby she was then tasked to use her mighty guns to support the 1st Australian Division’s push into Port Moresby scheduled for the morning of April 8th. An hour before dawn her four twin turrets swung to port and the first 15 inch shells started to scream into the Japanese lines mere seconds later. For merchant mariner and Digger alike it was simultaneously the most spectacular and yet frightening sight they had seen. The sailors and soldiers still on the transports could hear the shells screaming over their heads as loud as a freight train, the soldiers already on the ground heard the massive explosions they made on impact and those closest to the front line felt the shock waves as not only the Revenge but her consorts too dealt fire and misery to the Japanese marines holding  Port Moresby.

 

As dawn broke smoke, dark billowing smoke covered the area of bombardment. As the 1st and 9th Australian Brigades limbered up to the fight explosions were heard in the main town area and the area immediately surrounding the port. Further explosions were also observed much closer to their positions as the 1st Jungle RAA Regiment joined the Division’s artillery in providing fire support from the nearby village of Vabukori. The attack order came in as the heavies from the mainland were finishing their bombing run. Amid the cordite fumes Australian infantry advanced into the lines of the Japanese 89th and 53rd Naval Guards. Chattering machine gun fire met their approach and soon men were dying on the main road into Port Moresby. 3 inch mortar support was required to blast away machine gun nests while the General Grants of the 2/5 lent their 75mm’s to blasting concrete emplacements apart. For two hours the Australians toiled against a fanaticism yet unseen by Australian forces who had fought the Afrika Korps in the desert. Slowly but surely a small wedge was being driven between both Japanese units and small pockets of Australian infantry were establishing strong points of their own in trenches formerly occupied by the Japanese marines. The Japanese seemed to lack artillery support of their own and this along with the days of aerial bombardment meant that the defence was somewhat disjointed. By late afternoon the 1st Australian had managed a slender foothold in Port Moresby as the first line of defence was broken. The 28th Infantry Brigade and the M-10′s of the 632nd Bn held in reserve would support the assault on the 9th April.

Situation at Port Moresby sundown 8-4-43

GoT: A Clash of Kings Review

Well its done I’ve finished reading book two of A Song of Fire and Ice and it topped the first book by a mile. A roller coaster of a story that delves into the civil war tearing the Seven Kingdoms apart.

We are introduced to some characters in greater depth. Namely Stannis and Renly Baratheon, the main contenders along with Robb stark and Joffrey Baratheon for the Iron Throne. The book itself is a 800+ page plus monster but the action is so fast paced and frenetic that the pages flow past faster than the Trident. Taking off from the point in Book 1 when Jamie Lannister is captured the story develops and the plots thicken and twist. The Imp, Tyrion Lannister plays a massive role and Martin I feel develops the storyline of this particular character masterfully. He is by far and away my favourite character in the series so far, despite my intense dislike of the Lannisters and their cause! He grows into his role as the Hand of the King and slaps the impudent King Joffrey more than once. Likewise his plotting and scheming  to cement his position of power using his wit, guile and clansmen is very well handled by the author. He also becomes somewhat of an unlikely hero in the Battle of King’s Landing as well.

Interesting as well the introduction of the Iron Men of Pyke as major protagonists in the storyline. I was not expecting the turn Theon Greyjoy makes and it was a pleasant, yet shocking, surprise to see how Martin uses these Westernos Vikings to further entwine and complicate his storyline. Running parallel we have the developing situation to the North of the Wall and the deepening sense of dread and danger posed by the wildlings and the hidden menace coming behind them. The very interesting twist within this sub plot is currently making me rip through the pages of part one of Book three! Jon Snow’s character is further developed and is shown to be a multi level and multi faceted character, much more so than the brooding bastard of book one.

Yet the crowing achievement of this book is Martin’s masterful handling of the pendulum swing of a civil war that is currently going on. At different times in the story the Lion of Lannister is paramount, at other times the Direwolf of the North howls supreme only to be cowed by the Kraken of the Iron Islands. The crowned stag of Baratheon as well as the new player, the Lord of Light are also on the brink of victory but fall short. Stannis comes the closest but in true fashion a climactic and truly epic battle evolves at the walls of King’s Landing. I honestly spent four solid hours yesterday afternoon eating up the last three hundred or so pages of this epic tale. What of Daenerys Targaryen? He dragons are growing up but I found her side of the story distracting from the main events of A Clash of Kings. I am sure that all her journeys and experiences in ACoK all have a relevance in the grand and final picture but they seemed somewhat out of place among the truly epic encounters in the story. Yet I do feel she is a major player and can’t wait to see how her role is developed in books 3-5.

In conclusion I can highly recommend this book to all. At times the book felt like I was reading The Two Towers or watching The Empire Strikes Back. That point in a trilogy when the bad guys bit back with a vengeance and their star seems on the rise. The great thing about Martin is his wonderful grasp of Medieval brutality and Machiavellian behaviours so characteristic of the time. Oh my Lord is dead, nevermind there’s another one to take my oath. At several times one or another protagonist is portrayed as the good or the evil side making the reader sympathise with all factions and at the same time dislike them. A great read that is now being followed by Book Three Part One, A Storm of Swords, Steel and Snow.