The little ship that could.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: The little ship that could.
afb jab, she is impressive.
RE: The little ship that could.
The Emperor contemplates his Cabinet.
It has been, he thinks, a devastating war on more than one front. Not a single member of the government
that dragged us into this depressing mess remains.
Killed of by herbiesan, or resigned, or taken the way of Seppuka
Leaving us poor devils to see this through.
An interminable pain, that can only get worse.
A pain, I cannot see a way out off...........
"Sir?"
he snaps back into focus...........the minister for production awaits him
"Yes Sato, you have good news perhaps?.....an undiscovered oil field perhaps here in Hiroshima?"
The Minister for production smiles wanely........"We did get 6 tankers in this month sir, a little oil
.
"But not enough to run a nation yes?"
"No...............but"
But
There is a but?
The Minister swallows nervously........"Your Highness, the but........the but"
"Is very sensitive perhaps?"
"Is that"
"Our people Starve, our Navy lies rusting on the bottom of the ocean, Korea is falling, China is gone,
and you believe things are still sensitive?!.........give me wisdom Minister, give it unblemished,
give it true"
The Minister nods, sweat bright on his brow.
"It is this sir..........none here believe we can last longer than to the middle of 46,
and winter will kill many.
Our factories lie quiet. But there is this. We have reserves, reserves for one last burst of production
that could take us through at least the next 3 months."
"3 Months?"
"But there will be utterly nothing left post war......"
A quiet, an almost deadly quiet fills the room.
Post war?. They are thinking post war?....and what, as I suspect, the Allies plan to wipe
the word Japanese from existence?
But what if they do not?
What, if they apply mercy?.......a strange idea, that.
They killed my father.........they Killed the Emperor..........
No
"A man, or woman can be warm with work........."
"These resources, what will they give us?"
"Thirty planes a day"
That is a lot of planes by spring
The decision is easy. Blood is easy to spill. Especially American blood.
"release tem..........re open the production lines"
Restarted all aircraft production!..........going to run her dry.......
It has been, he thinks, a devastating war on more than one front. Not a single member of the government
that dragged us into this depressing mess remains.
Killed of by herbiesan, or resigned, or taken the way of Seppuka
Leaving us poor devils to see this through.
An interminable pain, that can only get worse.
A pain, I cannot see a way out off...........
"Sir?"
he snaps back into focus...........the minister for production awaits him
"Yes Sato, you have good news perhaps?.....an undiscovered oil field perhaps here in Hiroshima?"
The Minister for production smiles wanely........"We did get 6 tankers in this month sir, a little oil
.
"But not enough to run a nation yes?"
"No...............but"
But
There is a but?
The Minister swallows nervously........"Your Highness, the but........the but"
"Is very sensitive perhaps?"
"Is that"
"Our people Starve, our Navy lies rusting on the bottom of the ocean, Korea is falling, China is gone,
and you believe things are still sensitive?!.........give me wisdom Minister, give it unblemished,
give it true"
The Minister nods, sweat bright on his brow.
"It is this sir..........none here believe we can last longer than to the middle of 46,
and winter will kill many.
Our factories lie quiet. But there is this. We have reserves, reserves for one last burst of production
that could take us through at least the next 3 months."
"3 Months?"
"But there will be utterly nothing left post war......"
A quiet, an almost deadly quiet fills the room.
Post war?. They are thinking post war?....and what, as I suspect, the Allies plan to wipe
the word Japanese from existence?
But what if they do not?
What, if they apply mercy?.......a strange idea, that.
They killed my father.........they Killed the Emperor..........
No
"A man, or woman can be warm with work........."
"These resources, what will they give us?"
"Thirty planes a day"
That is a lot of planes by spring
The decision is easy. Blood is easy to spill. Especially American blood.
"release tem..........re open the production lines"
Restarted all aircraft production!..........going to run her dry.......
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
7/11/45
The Russians crush resistance at Seoul
There is nothing, absolutely nothing now between them and Fusan.........
Korea, with its lost Army trapped at Gezan.
The Japanese public, will, of course, not hear of this.........according to
the "Government", the war in the East "proceeds well"
But the Japanese public will notice something else
Upon the thousands the knock on the doors come....."and could you humbly present yourself at work tomorrow?'
The Factories begin rolling again........
The Russians crush resistance at Seoul
There is nothing, absolutely nothing now between them and Fusan.........
Korea, with its lost Army trapped at Gezan.
The Japanese public, will, of course, not hear of this.........according to
the "Government", the war in the East "proceeds well"
But the Japanese public will notice something else
Upon the thousands the knock on the doors come....."and could you humbly present yourself at work tomorrow?'
The Factories begin rolling again........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
ny59giants
- Posts: 9888
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: The little ship that could.
I guess Kia's and Hyundia's will now just vanish from the highways. [:D]
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RE: The little ship that could.
Yeah, but you can look forward to Ladas! [X(]ORIGINAL: ny59giants
I guess Kia's and Hyundia's will now just vanish from the highways. [:D]
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: The little ship that could.
8th of November
There is a brisk, cutting breeze sweeping across Hiroshima bay.
It slices through Mioko's threadbare coat, and she cannot help but shiver
Miori stands facing her on the door step, Mioko's baby hard against her chest.
'Are you sure you want to do this?", she asks
"No I do not want to, but I need to..........the food packages from the field feed us, but they do
not buy us oil, or coal, or a million things.....we need Money .....
and the Factory will pay for them"
" But"
"Mioko hardens her face " there can be no but........if the bombers come, they will come here
, not there......"
Miori nods. There is that. How quickly they have gotten used to that grey floating mountain opposite them,
it, all the gun pits about the village, the endless soldiers....the bloody mud.
Yes, if the bombers come , it won't be for the factories.......
Miori smiles......"who knows, maybe you will be able to see our Husbands....that would be so good"
'yes, yes it would........I will be home by dusk......sorry I must leave her with you"
Miori jiggles the little bundle...."a mere baby?......I do have a few of my own remember"
"Alright then.....I am off"
There is a methane powered bus at the post office. Not a small number of passengers. An hours journey
around the bay, then along the river.
The factory
Her position on the line dark, cold, dusty.
But presently machinery begins to hum
As if she has never left, she takes up her tools, and begins to work.
Across Japan, millions again take up their tools, and begin to work.
There is a brisk, cutting breeze sweeping across Hiroshima bay.
It slices through Mioko's threadbare coat, and she cannot help but shiver
Miori stands facing her on the door step, Mioko's baby hard against her chest.
'Are you sure you want to do this?", she asks
"No I do not want to, but I need to..........the food packages from the field feed us, but they do
not buy us oil, or coal, or a million things.....we need Money .....
and the Factory will pay for them"
" But"
"Mioko hardens her face " there can be no but........if the bombers come, they will come here
, not there......"
Miori nods. There is that. How quickly they have gotten used to that grey floating mountain opposite them,
it, all the gun pits about the village, the endless soldiers....the bloody mud.
Yes, if the bombers come , it won't be for the factories.......
Miori smiles......"who knows, maybe you will be able to see our Husbands....that would be so good"
'yes, yes it would........I will be home by dusk......sorry I must leave her with you"
Miori jiggles the little bundle...."a mere baby?......I do have a few of my own remember"
"Alright then.....I am off"
There is a methane powered bus at the post office. Not a small number of passengers. An hours journey
around the bay, then along the river.
The factory
Her position on the line dark, cold, dusty.
But presently machinery begins to hum
As if she has never left, she takes up her tools, and begins to work.
Across Japan, millions again take up their tools, and begin to work.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Palembang, Batavia.
Still in Japanese hands, but useless now to her.
But they have radios still, and news to report
There are British carriers operating in the area.
The British fleet, at least, looks active.
Still in Japanese hands, but useless now to her.
But they have radios still, and news to report
There are British carriers operating in the area.
The British fleet, at least, looks active.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
I have been silently devoted to this story from the very first post.
This is truly a most amazing story line and Tom Clancy had nothing on you.
I can't even imagine how you couldn't get a book deal out of this.
Thank you so much for devoting so much of your experience in this a well as an impeccable writing style (spelling not withstanding).
This is truly a most amazing story line and Tom Clancy had nothing on you.
I can't even imagine how you couldn't get a book deal out of this.
Thank you so much for devoting so much of your experience in this a well as an impeccable writing style (spelling not withstanding).
525MI Saigon 67/68 TET VET
RE: The little ship that could.
+1 [&o]ORIGINAL: RayYoung
I have been silently devoted to this story from the very first post.
This is truly a most amazing story line and Tom Clancy had nothing on you.
I can't even imagine how you couldn't get a book deal out of this.
Thank you so much for devoting so much of your experience in this a well as an impeccable writing style (spelling not withstanding).
I am constantly amazed at how you can paint a picture, complete with emotional situations in just a few phrases - something I could not match in several paragraphs! I even care about your characters because of it!
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: The little ship that could.
November 9th
Hirate shifts his arse upon the hard seat, sighs deeply, and reaches for the next
form
For a few minutes he frowns, and struggles to understand the language of what is contained
in this report, and why in the hell Tan has given it to him
It takes a minute or two, then he figures it out
On page 4, bottom corner, a hand drawn red circle around the drawing, and Tans distinctive
writing.....in this case, a simple question mark.
Ahhh, now he see's it.Tan wants to know if Musashi's current cooling system can handle
this latest proposed change.
Hirate shakes his head. Somewhere some one is definitely living in a cuckoo land.
Japan has, had, planned a great build of Akutsuki class DDs....a plan long, long
ago abandoned. Now, though, someone has found that nearly a dozen of the 4.7 inch dual turrets
for them have been built, and languish, forgotten in some wharehouse , ironically just down the
street.
So why not fit them to Musashi instead?
And why not? wonders Hirate, as he scribbles a quick note on the plans, why the truck not?
In 20 days she is ready to sea again, apparently........and in all likely hood on the bottom
one day after that (with me aboard!)........
So why the Truck not?
Somewhere, he thinks bitterly, there is more than a village missing its idiot, theres a whole
country missing them.
Hirate shifts his arse upon the hard seat, sighs deeply, and reaches for the next
form
For a few minutes he frowns, and struggles to understand the language of what is contained
in this report, and why in the hell Tan has given it to him
It takes a minute or two, then he figures it out
On page 4, bottom corner, a hand drawn red circle around the drawing, and Tans distinctive
writing.....in this case, a simple question mark.
Ahhh, now he see's it.Tan wants to know if Musashi's current cooling system can handle
this latest proposed change.
Hirate shakes his head. Somewhere some one is definitely living in a cuckoo land.
Japan has, had, planned a great build of Akutsuki class DDs....a plan long, long
ago abandoned. Now, though, someone has found that nearly a dozen of the 4.7 inch dual turrets
for them have been built, and languish, forgotten in some wharehouse , ironically just down the
street.
So why not fit them to Musashi instead?
And why not? wonders Hirate, as he scribbles a quick note on the plans, why the truck not?
In 20 days she is ready to sea again, apparently........and in all likely hood on the bottom
one day after that (with me aboard!)........
So why the Truck not?
Somewhere, he thinks bitterly, there is more than a village missing its idiot, theres a whole
country missing them.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
japan sends a not too subtle message
No less than 130 Oscars escort 10 peggy bombers to Vladivostock. They brush the opposition
aside, leaving the bombers free to attack the Russian destroyers forming up in the bay
There are 5 there, afterwards, only 4
A peggy, loaded to the hilt, slamming into a destroyer is a blow few ever wish to see again
But if the Americans come, I think we will, again, and again, and again.
No less than 130 Oscars escort 10 peggy bombers to Vladivostock. They brush the opposition
aside, leaving the bombers free to attack the Russian destroyers forming up in the bay
There are 5 there, afterwards, only 4
A peggy, loaded to the hilt, slamming into a destroyer is a blow few ever wish to see again
But if the Americans come, I think we will, again, and again, and again.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
10/11/45
Genzan, North Korea
Trapped against the coast, the Manchurian army holds against the Russian hordes.
There are currently 125000 men "in the pocket"
Outside, possibly nearly 3/4 of a million
But, and this is a great but, one must not get the wrong picture of this pocket.
At its base, along the coast, 42 miles are in Japanese land
42 miles that includes the city, a river mouth, a port, beaches, and many, many wharves.
At its deepest, the Japanese lines lie 40 miles inland, they are bent, yes in places, but
rest nevertheless hard on the mountains to the north, the hills to the west, the river to the south
40 miles by 40
A lot of land
So, for many "in the pocket", they know they are trapped, but there is little "feeling" of being trapped
Men go to the front, do time, then can retire to the city
There is little panic, little sense of helplessness (yet).
Nearly every second day, the transports slip in.......
As long as THAT keep happens, men of Nippon can, and will fight
as well as any man.
The Russians, of course, know this. They had a navy.........now they only have 4
destroyers
Not enough to stop those transports
So, the airforce must
And of course, japan must defend.
Its a busy day above Genzan today, entertainment a plenty for the soldiers resting.
The Yaks against Oscars, in good old dog fights.
They lose 12, we lose 6
Another Japanese squadron blooded, more men gaining experience
japan can keep this , this small effort, up forever
Genzan, North Korea
Trapped against the coast, the Manchurian army holds against the Russian hordes.
There are currently 125000 men "in the pocket"
Outside, possibly nearly 3/4 of a million
But, and this is a great but, one must not get the wrong picture of this pocket.
At its base, along the coast, 42 miles are in Japanese land
42 miles that includes the city, a river mouth, a port, beaches, and many, many wharves.
At its deepest, the Japanese lines lie 40 miles inland, they are bent, yes in places, but
rest nevertheless hard on the mountains to the north, the hills to the west, the river to the south
40 miles by 40
A lot of land
So, for many "in the pocket", they know they are trapped, but there is little "feeling" of being trapped
Men go to the front, do time, then can retire to the city
There is little panic, little sense of helplessness (yet).
Nearly every second day, the transports slip in.......
As long as THAT keep happens, men of Nippon can, and will fight
as well as any man.
The Russians, of course, know this. They had a navy.........now they only have 4
destroyers
Not enough to stop those transports
So, the airforce must
And of course, japan must defend.
Its a busy day above Genzan today, entertainment a plenty for the soldiers resting.
The Yaks against Oscars, in good old dog fights.
They lose 12, we lose 6
Another Japanese squadron blooded, more men gaining experience
japan can keep this , this small effort, up forever
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
On Musashi, a moment
Slowly, ponderously, the two forward turrets turn to port, the barrels raise, lower, tremble slightly.
And far, far above, the director turns too.
Alignments begin.
21 days until ready to fight again.
Slowly, ponderously, the two forward turrets turn to port, the barrels raise, lower, tremble slightly.
And far, far above, the director turns too.
Alignments begin.
21 days until ready to fight again.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
11/11/45
A small bar near the docks, Hiroshima
Sometime after knock off time, but before meal time, and well in advance of too much to drink time
Beer has been drunk, yes, but barely enough to kick the evening off, and too little to callit a night
Tan, Hirate, and Okano contemplate the passing jostle of the people streaming home, or streaming
to work.
There is a row of warehouses between the bar and the wharves, but from here Musashi's tower and mast
can be seen
And between them, the slight haze of boiler smoke
Musashi is alongside now, and on her own power.
Basin trial has been a total success, much to Tans surprise, but not to the Chiefs.
There is, they both agree, simply too many resources available to them for that to fail.
It is a strange place to be, thinks Hirate, as he sips his beer, being a stoker
and awaiting for other departments to be ready.
But that is coming fast.
repairs, it is said, are ten days away from completion
5 days for alignments
Then, into the inland sea, and gunnery trials
And after that..........
He swallows deeply. Easier to not think about it
He nods towards Tan, towards the menu........'you buying"
A small bar near the docks, Hiroshima
Sometime after knock off time, but before meal time, and well in advance of too much to drink time
Beer has been drunk, yes, but barely enough to kick the evening off, and too little to callit a night
Tan, Hirate, and Okano contemplate the passing jostle of the people streaming home, or streaming
to work.
There is a row of warehouses between the bar and the wharves, but from here Musashi's tower and mast
can be seen
And between them, the slight haze of boiler smoke
Musashi is alongside now, and on her own power.
Basin trial has been a total success, much to Tans surprise, but not to the Chiefs.
There is, they both agree, simply too many resources available to them for that to fail.
It is a strange place to be, thinks Hirate, as he sips his beer, being a stoker
and awaiting for other departments to be ready.
But that is coming fast.
repairs, it is said, are ten days away from completion
5 days for alignments
Then, into the inland sea, and gunnery trials
And after that..........
He swallows deeply. Easier to not think about it
He nods towards Tan, towards the menu........'you buying"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
For interest sake:
PRODUCTION today:
6 Oscar
4 frank
6 francis
3 shinden
3 betties
3 zeros
2 George
2 grace
2 sam
1 tsurugi
1 peggy
1 dinah
1 irving
losses today
5 oscars
PRODUCTION today:
6 Oscar
4 frank
6 francis
3 shinden
3 betties
3 zeros
2 George
2 grace
2 sam
1 tsurugi
1 peggy
1 dinah
1 irving
losses today
5 oscars
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Amazing to think that you are able to get even this many my friend, I wonder though how many the Allies produced on the same day ?
RE: The little ship that could.
Damn!
This is like a fast-paced novel.
I am going to have to find the time to start at the beginning.
Well done, 1275psi!
Best Regards,
-Terry
This is like a fast-paced novel.
I am going to have to find the time to start at the beginning.
Well done, 1275psi!
Best Regards,
-Terry
"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one."
-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven
-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven
RE: The little ship that could.
Hi Rio
Starting at the back hey!..........get to the front and I hope you enjoy the ride
November 12th
Pilot Officer Graham (known now and forever as "Longpig" to his friends, Ahmen) hesitates at the thin
ladder leading up into the belly of the B-29, gleaming above him
"Have you ever wondered Bigglesworth, how it is that some of us seem to just
keep getting involved in s@#t, again, and again, long after we have done our fair share?"
Bigglesworth (about the only man in the entire British airforce who will actually fly with this -nearly?-
reverse ace, grins " I think old boy, that somewhere, there is a carpricios god of
circumstance who is taking too much evil pleasure in writing our lives story"
Long Pig snorts in derision "mate, I make my own life story...not some idiot in the sky"
They settle into the big bomber, Long pig in the co pilots seat, bigglesworth near the bomb aimer.
There is the usual pre mission tension.......what would they find over Japan today.
The pilot, (Jones-yes another Jones, how many of them is there in the bloody airforce ) this time, is not young. He's at least 23, veteran of 25 missions over Europe.
A symbol of the new broom sweeping bomber command in the Pacific
Germany has been ground and burnt to black dust
The veterans of that affair are now flooding the airfields of asia, here to show "those pacific pansies"
how it is done
60 Bombers depart.
target, Oita
Much to Long pigs astonishment, the mission is a good one
Clouds, heavy weather across the south china sea, patches of crap over southern Japan
Clear weather over the target.
There are fighters a plenty......useless fixed undercarted Nates of pre war vintage, planes
not even able to intercept
Oita is smited hard, and no bombers are lost
On the ground Jones will smile "What the hell have you cats been up to?....compared to the Nazi's
that was a cake walk"
Long pig can only shrug........someone, he thinks, is soon to have his delusions shattered.
Starting at the back hey!..........get to the front and I hope you enjoy the ride
November 12th
Pilot Officer Graham (known now and forever as "Longpig" to his friends, Ahmen) hesitates at the thin
ladder leading up into the belly of the B-29, gleaming above him
"Have you ever wondered Bigglesworth, how it is that some of us seem to just
keep getting involved in s@#t, again, and again, long after we have done our fair share?"
Bigglesworth (about the only man in the entire British airforce who will actually fly with this -nearly?-
reverse ace, grins " I think old boy, that somewhere, there is a carpricios god of
circumstance who is taking too much evil pleasure in writing our lives story"
Long Pig snorts in derision "mate, I make my own life story...not some idiot in the sky"
They settle into the big bomber, Long pig in the co pilots seat, bigglesworth near the bomb aimer.
There is the usual pre mission tension.......what would they find over Japan today.
The pilot, (Jones-yes another Jones, how many of them is there in the bloody airforce ) this time, is not young. He's at least 23, veteran of 25 missions over Europe.
A symbol of the new broom sweeping bomber command in the Pacific
Germany has been ground and burnt to black dust
The veterans of that affair are now flooding the airfields of asia, here to show "those pacific pansies"
how it is done
60 Bombers depart.
target, Oita
Much to Long pigs astonishment, the mission is a good one
Clouds, heavy weather across the south china sea, patches of crap over southern Japan
Clear weather over the target.
There are fighters a plenty......useless fixed undercarted Nates of pre war vintage, planes
not even able to intercept
Oita is smited hard, and no bombers are lost
On the ground Jones will smile "What the hell have you cats been up to?....compared to the Nazi's
that was a cake walk"
Long pig can only shrug........someone, he thinks, is soon to have his delusions shattered.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Will be a delay in posts
Cantona has moved house, and His ISP has totally mucked it up, so no
turns for a while
buggar
Cantona has moved house, and His ISP has totally mucked it up, so no
turns for a while
buggar
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Time to put your model in the water again and post some more pics!ORIGINAL: 1275psi
Will be a delay in posts
Cantona has moved house, and His ISP has totally mucked it up, so no
turns for a while
buggar
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth