The little ship that could.

[1275psi]

Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku, Katsuragi, Kasagi, Zuiho, Chitose, Chiyoda, Myoko, tatsuta and 10 DD, (7 of which are Akizuki class) break away from the Hiyo, 2cvl and 3cve, the battleships nagato and Mutsu, Ise and Hyuga, who will follow after refuelling from the approaching tankers

For a week now nearly 20 ASW vessels have been working the channels ahead, with some 50 a/c patrolling.
Yet , too a man, few think that the fleets will get through untouched.
But they must try.
Full power ordered
Full strike prepped

Zuiho's Jills have been invited to the party.
Its going to be a wild one.

[1275psi]

Dusk, 8/3/44
Takeji enter the bridge

He does not look a captain, does our Takeji, round, short, that flash of humour that dances so often across his face.
Until he takes command, that is.
He has been asleep for the last 6 hours, for he is no fool. What lies ahead , whatever, is going to be a long , long affair.
he expects, that should sleep come in the next three days at least, it will be an eternal one

The task force is about to enter the straights, the narrow seas, and plunge through towards babor.
The moon is just past full, and hangs even now, low, red, huge on the horizon, the last glimmer of the sun on the glassy sea, the humidity of the day fading away.

It is that magical time in the tropics, time where one should be taking that second pink gin.
'Are we ready gentlemen?"
Silent nods. They are ready

"navigator?"
"Next course change due in 13 minutes sir"
"very good"
There are submarines (of course) about. The channels chosen narrow. The waters poorly chartered.
Speed is high.
A great many ships, in close company

Takeji strides zuiho's bridge. We can rest easy.
There will be no dramas coming from this bridge, these men.

[1275psi]

Dawn, 9/3/44

The signal man hands the flimsy to Takeji
he reads it, hands it to Hidaka with out comment

"Enemy forces on airfield, Saumlaki, long live the Emperor"

"Damnation...........this changes everything"
'hardly, in fact it just confirms one thing. The direction of thrust the enemy must come. No more doubt , no more guessing ney?""
The bridge decsends into silence.

No more guessing.
There is that, at least.

[1275psi]

extract from shattering the sword

....Saumlaki falls.
But at what a cost. 3rd marines wrecked, the Americal division, savaged, the 32nd division hollowed out.
Against a single regiment and a guard unit!
Babar repulses todays assualt.
And the allies, looking north, looking west..............There are few, if any, easy pickings.
Tokyo really, really remains a long, long way away.

[1275psi]

Had some time on my hands:
Tabular record of movement CVL Zuiho

December 4 1941 Captain Hasegawa takes command. Alongside Hiroshima
December 7 Transit to Palua
December 10 Palua
December 11, sail –support offensive operations DEI
December 13 Sinks 10000 ton tanker, small PG in support operations near JOLO Attacked by 2 Hudsons, no damage
December 15, attacked by 3 Hudsons, no damage
December 16, Palua
December 22, Sail in support operations Kendari, Ambon.
December 28, attacked by 2 Hudsons near Ambon, no damage
December 29, attacks and sinks CL Ceres
December 30 commence operations near Broome
1942
Jan 4, commence operations support Java invasion
Jan 4, attacked by 4 Martin bombers, no damage
Jan 7. Refuel Kendari
Jan 10 Palua
Jan 14. In command task force “Swift eagle”
Jan 14, sail for operations east Australia coast
Jan 19 Rabual
Jan 21 sail
Jan 29. In company CVL Shoho, Ryhujo, strike Sydney harbour
The strike achieves complete surprise, . Zuiho sinks 10000 ton tanker and contributes to heavy damage to Cruisers Australia, Canberra, Louisville, Adelaide, Achilles, Perth Marblehead. A large AP and AK are also hit Losses are light.
6 Feb. Strike Noumea. Strike is ambushed and suffers heavy bomber losses for no result
8 FEB, combined fleet finishes the job at Sydney.
11 Feb Rabual
14 Feb, sail
18 Feb. Zuiho suffers a burst tube, killing three sailors
19 feb. palua. Undergoes repairs
24 feb sail
28 feb, covering the bombardment of Batavia
3 march narrowly advoids CV clash british fleet operating off Sabang
3 march. Attacked by Dutch bombers and narrowly missed, some plates staved in and some engine damage sustained
4 march. Operations supporting siege of Singapore. Attacks and sinks a small AK blockade runner
9 March. Soerabaya
18 march sail to support strike against Palembang
20 March, strike against Palembang airfield
21 march second strike against Palembang
24 march Soerabaya
25 March Sail in command Perth invasion fleet
4 April Invasion Perth , strikes and sinks 2 destroyers, a tanker, a small AK
5 April, CAP over invasion landing
6 April, attacks enemy forces ashore, suffers very heavy losses
12 April Perth taken, return towards home
19 April Soerabaya
25 April-sail
28 April Singapore
7 may. Sail in support convoys to moulmien
14 may. Provide cover for Bombardment Port Blair
20 May narrowly missed in a ss attack
21 May, Singapore
29 may sail
2 June Hiroshima
24 June, sail for Gilbert operation in support combined fleet
5 July. Strike on Wake
10 July Truk
11 July, sail
15 July Batavia
16 July sail for Indian ocean raid. The allies , alerted, clear the Indian ocean of all shipping.
7 August Singapore
16 August sail
24 August Truk
32 August – Truk, “the night of the Jellyfish”
3 sept, sail
5 September, Battle of Tarawa
Swift eagle is utilised as “bait” to draw the allies into battle
The plan succeeds
7 Sept Zuiho part of strike upon Tarawa
9 Sept Zuiho bombers gain multiple bomb hits on BB North Carolina operating east of Tarawa
A heavy carrier strike comes at the task foce, Zuiho fighters leading in the successful defence of the task force
10 Sept Involved in surface action against BB North Carolina and several CA’s. CV Hiyo sunk. Zuiho suffers 3 eight inch hits, but only minor damage
10 September
Zuiho involved in strike upon BB North Carolina, her bombers attributed with sinking one DD
11 sept
Main carrier battle as combined fleet enters the fray. Zuiho bomber hits CV Saratoga
Zuiho involved in main strike. CV Yorktown sunk, CV wasp heavy damage
Cruisers Nashville, san diego hit, CA’s Indianapolis, Phoenix, Northhampton, Raliegh sunk
4 bombers attack Zuiho, 2 shotdown by her own guns, missed narrowly
Zuiho aircraft involved in second strike that damages BB Tennessee and 2 destroyers
12 September BB Yamato sinks North Carolina. Zuiho bombers attributed with bomb hits CV wasp
CL Atlanta, Durbham damaged in same attack
13 september
BB yamato sinks BB Tenessee. Final strike by Combined fleet damages unknown CL and DD
Captain Hasegawa dies whilst on his bridge
19 Sept Truk
20 Sept Captain Kato assumes command
28 Sept sail
2 Oct involved in strike on Mili
9 Oct Tokyo
18 Oct sail –engages and sinks AMC
19 Oct Tokyo
29 Oct sail
5 Nov Truk
6 Nov sail for operations gilberts
10 Nov
Zuiho part of long range strike against BB West Virginia, her bombers hit with 4 bombs
18 Nov Truk
25 Nov sail, pacific raid
1 Dec Fleet tankers supporting operation are sunk by enemy CV.
7 Dec Truk
25 Dec sail for strike on Naru
1943

Second battle of Tarawa
2 jan
Zuiho attacked by 10 dive bombers, CAP shoots them all down
3 january
Zuiho bombers credited with hit upon BB Washington
11 January Osaka
13 jan upgraded to AM3a
21 Jan, Tokyo
25 sail for raid on Pearl harbour that ultimately is a bust
28 Feb Tokyo
3 march, commence refit
17 April sail
17 April, Hiroshima
22 April sail
25 April Ulithi
28 April sail
9 may, commence operations north Lunga
10 may
Zuiho sinks 3 AK at Naru
20 may Truk
10 June sail
12 June. Zuiho attacked by liberator bombers, nil damage
19 June. Again missed by liberators
21 June. Truk
29 June, zuiho engages with light weapons SS in Truk lagoon
29 June sail
6 July Palua
14 July sail
17 July Singapore
18 July sail for deep raid Indian Ocean
27 July Singapore
31 July sail
1 Aug sail
2 Aug Indian ocean
5 Aug Singapore
Kato departs, Captain Takeji assumes command
18 Aug, sail
1 Sept palua
7 Oct joins combined fleet, sails
11 Oct, participates in Darwin strike
19 Oct, operating in Marcus area
3 Nov involved in operations off Kavieng
9 Nov palua
10 Nov sail
16 Nov Kobe
22 Nov sail
27 Nov Ulithi
28 Nov sail with combined fleet
2 Oct, kavieng
12 Dec, detach air groups to DEI
21 dec Singapore
24 dec Air groups rejoin
1944
1 Jan sail
3 jan semerang
13 Jan sail
18 Jan kendari
19 jan, sail, attacked by Liberators in Banda sea, no damage
1 Feb, battle of Arafura sea
As part of combined body, assists in sinking of CV Yorktown2, CVL Cowpens, CVL Independence, CL Leander, a DD
14 Feb Tokyo
28 Feb sail for operations Battle for Babar

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

extract from shattering the sword

....Saumlaki falls.
But at what a cost. 3rd marines wrecked, the Americal division, savaged, the 32nd division hollowed out.
Against a single regiment and a guard unit!
Babar repulses todays assualt.
And the allies, looking north, looking west..............There are few, if any, easy pickings.
Tokyo really, really remains a long, long way away.

Great defense so far. Can you retake it?

[1275psi]

Hi Pax!

At the moment.............no
I have but a division, division and a half of troop lift capacity left in the fleet, and I need that for transport Home islands to the front
However, if I kill his carriers, it will be on.

Killing them will be the trick.....................


10/3/44

Zuiho marks time , the base of Babo close on the horizon. Overhead, land based fighters add to the CAP. Behind, the other elements of the fleet are coming. Disapearing over the horizon, a cruiser and 8 destroyers, target Saumlaki, where already enemy fighters circle.
.A peacful day, a busy day, with fighters continously landing, circling.
A tense day.

Up forward, Hirate, Okano are paying Lurch a visit. The ship is, of course, at a high state of readiness, but this means doing damage control readiness rounds, a perfect excuse for going hard forward.
The cell is tucked hard forward, just under the focastle, nestled between the cable pipes for the anchor chains. It is tiny, hot, horrid.
'Hows the fist Lurch?' Hirate asks
"Its ok"
"Means you didn't hit him hard enough friend" Okano growls.
Lurch smiles. "Words like that will get you shot you know"
Silence falls. In reality, unless something dramatic happens, Lurch is in deep trouble when Zuiho returns to port.
Lurch breaks the silence
"What news of the war?"
'Heavens knows............hurry up and wait, the usual rubbish"
Silence, awkward and deep falls.
"Got to go buddy" Hirate hands through the narrow slit in the door a bottle of water, "keep swimming friend"
Lurch laughs, a bitter laugh. "If we go down, I won't be doing much of that in here!"

[1275psi]

10/3/44

Admiral Abe reads the latest intelligence reports.
The enemy carrier fleet rests in Darwin, replenishing its Hellcats no doubt. There are targets, plenty of small ships at Saumlaki, but the main fleets seem to have returned to darwin.
Getting more troops, no doubt.
I could strike, strike now at saumlaki, or, if the reports are correct, at the ships gathering near Hollandia..........and win.
And waste my precious fish on useless targets...........

I must play this Oh so carefully............................

The enemy boasts of three new fleet carriers are coming.
Taiho, Kaga, 3 Unryu class in 30 days for us...............

I must play this Oh so carefully.

[1275psi]

11/3/44
Dusk

From Admiral ABE
to

Combined Fleet

Tomorrow, at dawn, we will enter the Arafura sea, and attempt to engage the enemy in decisive battle
The fate of Japan may well rest on this single action
All will do their duty
Long live the emperor.




The enemy carriers have departed from Darwin, headed due North east towards Babar island
Abe, ruled more by emotion than anything else, gives the fateful order

Attack.

[1275psi]

Double post

[1275psi]

In the gathering dark, Takeji watches the giants peel away from the fleet, fading into the dark

The last thing he sees, is the great creaming wake on the sterns, like a light, fading slowly away

Mutsu, Nagato, Hyunga, Ise, their destroyers.

And now, sliding past, bow waves creaming as they work towards full speed, the heavy cruisers.
The battleships to smash whatever they find at Saumlaki, the cruisers the to lunge for where Abe guesses the enemy carriers will be at dawn.

Reluctantly, Takeji tears his eyes away. Tonight, more terribly dangerous navigation, they are going to skirt the great reef south of boela, turn hard, and move a little way south into the Arafura sea.
Hopefully 360 miles from the enemy, close enough for us, too far for him..............
Hiyo task force, gods willing, should then be forty miles ahead...........and act as the strike spunge.

Battle
He has warned his crew. His planes are ready. His men are ready, Zuiho is ready, as always.
As Always.

Mars, we have punched above our wieght always, smile upon us tomorrow................

[1275psi]

47th Sentai transfer in an incident free flight to Ambon

They refuel, seek billets

Tomorrow, Fuchida will sweep south, and seek battle.

If ever there was a time to commit the very best, now is it.

[Crackaces]

Excellent story!! Can you work in the status of Heavy Industry and Fuel stocks along with VP's to give a feel of the status of the game? From my curiosity I perceive that the IJ are very close to a victory from a game standpoint if things can bog down in the DEI .

[John 3rd]

BANZAI Baby!

[1275psi]

Hi crackaces
never look at the score, but its 36891 japan to 32723 allies

Fuel is terrible, HI even worse............barely hanging in there.

[1275psi]

12/3/44

"Give ma another position now navigator!" Takeji's voice cracks across the bridge.
Calmly, (For this is the only way for a naval officer to reply)..."1000 yards to the turn sir, clear water after that"

Takeji grits his teeth, steps yet again outside of the bridge, into the rain, the slowly lightening sky.
"TRUK!"

Rain. Again. Tropical sheeting down cow manure rain.
And decks closed, strike impossible, again....................

Somewhere south, CA haguro has engaged and sank a DE, 2large APs, and a AK.
No word yet from the battleships................

Hidaka enters the bridge, dripping wet, face a scowl of rage and impatience. "Any word from Abe?, do we launch?. A thousand to one this is the only place its raining!"
"I agree........ but there is no word yet on his carriers. patience Hidaka, patience........"



The day, wet, miserable, will drag on.
Hidaka, this time is right, Japan airfields at Ambon, Boela, Dilli, are clear. And the strikes go in.
Some 140 plus fighters , all zeros, will sweep or escort 30 odd Jill and Judy to Saumlaki, , and nearly 70 of them will never return.
The Allies have struggled to get the Corsair into the battle, into this war, but not today.
It is, in short, a murderous day.............

The Allied Carriers have sprinted towards Wessel island, the tactic becoming clearer with every hour, every search plane report....
Nearly 20 SS are reported, a solid line of lurking death just south of combined fleets position. If they had reacted south..........
The battleships fail.
delayed by 2 SS attacks on the run in, they fall short of Saumlaki field by 40 miles, the retribution is also harsh, beauforts torpedo Mutsu, Ise, and Mitchells bomb the Hyuga.
The battle wagons, beaten up (but in no danger of sinking), turn away.

But on Zuiho, all this is news to be recieved later.
Today is another great let down day. By dusk, with the enemy clearly not coming up to fight, Abe calls for retirement.
They will sprint clear of this nest of underwater vipers, refuel, and make for Balikapapn, and wait for reinforcements.
Tired, wet, frustrated (yet again), zuiho stands her flyers down, turns north, and speeds for safety.

[1275psi]

We are still feeding that boiler by hand

We are still rotating stokers through, 15 minutes on the valves, then downstairs to drink, stand under the blower, try to cool down.
Charge has three water tenders here, rotating continously. He had four, one is now in the sick bay, Korriii, the Medical Officer is struggling to save this man from Kidney failure..........

Zuiho turns for safety, and the fleet works again up to 27 knots.
The furnaces shudder, glow that infernal glow.
On the top plates, at the guage glasses, the thermometer stands at 148 degrees F.

[1275psi]

The Battle for Babar is about done. This allied attack breaks through on the left flank, threatening the entire defence. Low on Ammunition, without food or hope, the men make an almost common agreement. They gather behind their remaining officers.

"Final attack"
Not the first, in this war

And certainly now, not to be the last.

[kaleun]

Awesome. Simply awesome writing.

[1275psi]

13/3/44


Zuiho, 80 miles south of mallacca, attempts to refuel. Down below, Charge is at his station, fighting the toughest war of all, the one against sleep, against exhaustion.
he has been drunk, many times before in his life, this, this is almost as bad. Utter lethargy grips him, even the thought of getting up of his arse, of even doing that, is an effort almost beyond him.
He has the inevitable cup of tea in his hand, whether he has the strength to drink it...........

He is not alone.
This century is big on Zombies, on the living dead. On Zuiho, right now, 700 men are way ahead of that particular popular fad.
men stand, or sit at there stations, or pull on the ropes, transfer the orders, or monitor their guns or radar, and all think but one thing

To sleep. To be rid of this battle, this chore, this war, this task, just to lower ones head, just for a moment, just to sleep.
But they must fuel first. Then, maybe then, takeji, eyes as red as any one of his crew, face just as haggard, can order state 2, and allow some at least, for 2 precious hours, to sleep.

The hoses are across, despite the fumbles, the stumbles, the sheer slowbness of autter weariness.
Pump you truker, pump, and lets get this hell over with...............






On Babar, 3000 emancipated men storm out of the dark, flinging themselves with screams upon the American lines.
Soon, very soon, 2000 of them get plenty of sleep, sleep of the eternal kind.