April 4, 1942
Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 6
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: Escort heavy cruiser Kako back to Japan.
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Since the crew of the Hibiki has a few days in Kwajalein before CA
Kako is ready to go let's take a moment and look around the place.
The very large lagoon at Kwajalein is encircled by 97 islands. Many of these are quite small, and the total land area of all the islands is only about 16.8 square kilometers. Japanese activity is centered on the islands of Roi and Namur at the north part of the atoll and the largest island, Kwajalein itself,
at the southern end, though there is also activity on some of the other islands.
The islands are flat, most no more than 20 feet above sea level. Many of the islands are thickly covered with brush, grass, and palm trees. The ring of islands is pierced by a number of passages, though only a few are navigable by large ships. The lagoon itself is one of the largest in the world, though there are shallow areas the Japanese vessels are careful to avoid. Coral reefs are unforgiving to even steel-hulled warships.
Right now the atoll is a very busy place. There are some 50 Japanese ships docked or at anchor in the lagoon. Dominating the scene are the battleships
Hyuga and
Mutsu. There are also seven cruisers and a dozen destroyers. At the moment 16 transport or cargo vessels are riding at anchor, and there are four submarine tenders in the lagoon, each with one or two submarines tied up alongside. Numerous small boats are busy running personnel and supplies to and from from the various ships.
Three tankers are lined up, taking turns offloading their supply of fuel into the storage tanks on Kwajalein. At a dock at Namur a cargo ship is loading food and ammunition for a run down to Tarawa. Kwajalein is the hub of all Japanese shipping in the Marshall islands, and from here fuel and supplies are constantly being shipped out to the rest of the Marshalls and to the recent Japanese conquests of the Gilberts, Nanomea, and Baker Island. Shipments to locations further southwest, such as the Solomons, New Caledonia, and Port Moresby, are currently being handled out of Truk.
There are also a lot of aircraft present. An airstrip on Roi is currently the base of a daitai of Zero-sen fighters. South at Kwajalein are over 60 G3M and G4M bombers. The lagoon is home to a number of smaller floatplanes and nine of the big H6K patrol planes, though several of these are absent at any given time on search missions.
Japan has occupied Kwajalein since the end of World War I. Until recently, however, it was a pretty sleepy place. Some new construction began about two years ago, and since the start of the war the pace has increased considerably. Right now the focus is on expanding the airfields and building up the port facilities, especially the fuel storage tanks. New barracks, headquarters, and storage buildings are going up all over the atoll. At the moment few defenses are being constructed. This is a base for offensive operations, and the thought that the atoll might someday come under American attack has crossed few minds as yet. Most aboard the Hibiki would laugh if it were suggested; the major subject of discussion aboard ship is how long it will be before the Americans realize they are beaten and sue for peace.
Most of the work is being done by a large contingent of Korean laborers, overseen by civilian and military engineers. There are few of the native Marshall Islanders in evidence; since the war began most of them have been displaced to the smaller islands in the atoll.
In addition to the Japanese naval personnel there is a small but growing Japanese army presence on the island. After several regrettable incidents they are now somewhat segregated from the Imperial Navy sailors and troops. The crew of the Hibiki has heard quite a bit about the current argument between the Army and the Navy. The Navy is more than ready to attempt to regain Wake Island and recover the face they lost when the Americans recaptured it. The Army, however, has so far dragged its feet, claiming that the necessary troops are unavailable. The Navy, having little choice, has reluctantly agreed to postpone the invasion until May or June.
At the moment the only risk to Japanese forces in the area comes from American submarines. Several of these are known to be lurking at the north end of the Marshalls between Eniwetok and Rongelap. There are about a dozen patrol craft operating in several small task forces working to keep the shipping lanes safe. All of these ships are away from the atoll at the moment, though they come back every few days to refuel.
Amid all this activity the Hibiki is quietly anchored. The crew is using this respite to catch up on a lot of routine maintenance, trying to stay ahead of the wear and tear inflicted by the many long miles she has recently traveled. Despite this the time in port is a welcome break for the crew. They have spent a lot of time at sea lately, and while relatively little of the time has been spent in actual combat the possibility of attack from on or under the sea or from the air has been always present. It feels good to spend some time ashore and to not be exposed to constant danger, though virtually everyone aboard continues to scan the air and sea almost as a reflex.
And they have another reason for going energetically and cheerfully about their duties. As willing as all of them are to stay and fight, they are looking forward to their upcoming voyage home.
