Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Cuttlefish]

March 14, 1943

Location: Tjilitjap
Course: none
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 381

Orders: Escort damaged carriers to Tjilitjap for emergency repairs

---

The harbor at Tjilitjap is shallow and the port facilities, as already mentioned, are barely adequate. The access channel is narrow. It is bounded on one side by Nusa Kambagan, the notorious prison island, and on the other by the old Dutch fortress of Bendeng Pentem.

The Japanese ships make their way up this channel in the late afternoon. They arrived earlier but had to wait until high tide to try and get Hiryu to the docks. The stricken carrier is by now so low in the water that grounding her within sight of the repair facilities is a real possibility. As it is her bottom scrapes mud as she is towed into position.

Nonetheless Admiral Ozawa breathes a deep sigh of relief. If the men waiting to aid in the repairs do their work at all well Hiryu should be able to leave Tjilitjap under her own power before long and proceed to Singapore for further repairs. Hiryu’s air groups fly off the other carriers before they drop anchor and head for Singapore, where they will wait for their carrier. The men on the ships look around at the small town and base, surrounded by wooded ridges and fetid swamps, and gaze after the planes with envy.

---

Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 80, Fires 0: In port (size 4, 1 AR and 1 fleet HQ)

---

Map of Tjilitjap (aka Tjilitajap, aka Cilacap):

[Lecivius]

They made it! [X(]

[kaleun]

SHe made it! Bravo!

[Cuttlefish]

March 15, 1943

Location: Tjilitjap
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 381

Orders: Await further orders

---

Tjilitjap was occupied by the Japanese in February 1942. For months afterwards it was home to only a token occupation and administrative force. As the war went on, however, and it became clear that the Allies were not going to fold their tents and leave the Pacific to Japan, Japanese planners cast a critical eye along their defensive perimeter and concluded that a surprise attack by the Allies across the Indian Ocean towards Java could have devastating results. As the likely target of such an invasion would be Tjilitjap, troops were brought in. A brigade of infantry and several base force units have occupied the town since late in previous summer.

The base is also home to a handful of G4M bombers and a few H8K flying boats. The Dutch fortifications were captured almost intact and these have been strengthened and improved. Despite this activity, however, Tjilitjap has remained a quiet backwater. Ships rarely call here, and only the arrival of occasional supply convoys from Batavia or Soerabaja break the routine.

The biggest enemy, in fact, has been malaria. Almost all of the Japanese supply of quinine comes from Java, so the drug is in plentiful supply, but despite this the disease remains the bane of Japanese troops assigned to the area.

The arrival of Ozawa’s ships creates the biggest surge in activity the base has seen since it was captured. Repair crews swarm over Hiryu, and for the first time since the attack the flooding in the carrier’s hull begins to recede. Progress is slow, however, and it is obvious that it will take some days before the carrier is ready to proceed to Singapore.

Captain Ishii has Lieutenant Miharu draw up a generous shore leave schedule for the crew. The men are delighted to have more than a few hours to spend ashore, even in such a quiet place as Tjilitjap. For those still on board, however, hunting for snakes remains a popular activity. There are four still to be found, and everyone is eager to earn some “snake leave” in anticipation of Singapore, which seems likely to be Hibiki’s next port of call.

---

Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 73, Fires 0

[vonCommander]

Great!! [:D]

[brisd]

Congrats and well done to the brave crew of Hiryu! Great story as always.

[Cuttlefish]

March 16, 1943

Location: Tjilitjap
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 381

Orders: Await further orders

---

Junior officers on a small ship like Hibiki often wear a lot of different hats. One of Ensign Handa’s is that of mail officer. That duty is keeping him very busy today, as Hibiki’s mail has caught up with her for the first time in many weeks.

The crew knows the mail has arrived and everyone from the Captain on down is waiting. Handa and a couple of sailors are sifting through the bags as quickly as possible. Handa quickly sorts through the letters, cards, and parcels, flicking them into different piles.

Suddenly he pauses, looking at the letter currently in his hand. It is addressed to that young petty officer, Takahashi. That isn’t unusual. It is who the letter is from that catches Handa’s eye. It’s from Nanami Shun, the Chief’s daughter.

Like everyone on the ship, Handa knows there was serious trouble last year between Shun and one of the sailors over this daughter. Handa does not know the details, few do, but it is clear that Shun is extraordinarily sensitive on the subject.

Handa shrugs, then flicks the letter into a pile. It isn’t his business. He makes a mental note to himself to keep his mouth shut about it, though. There’s no point in stirring up trouble.

---

Taiki is delighted to see a letter from his brother and another from his parents. When he sees the third letter, though, he stands frozen for a moment, then sighs. He would rather be holding a poisonous viper. He had thought that his role in this business was over.

A part of him, though, knows that this is not true, not as long as he has that unopened letter from Nanami to Riku stowed in his personal possessions. Riku had given him the letter and asked him to keep it, forbidden from reading it by his oath to Shun. Now Taiki is holding another letter, and there is no oath that keeps him from reading this one.

Finally curiosity overcomes his qualms and he opens the envelope. Nanami writes with a good hand, he notes, and her characters are both elegant and strongly formed. Taiki reads the short letter and then reads it again, more slowly. Then he carefully folds it and puts it away.

It is clear he is going to have to reply. But not today. He needs to think about this, because right now he has no idea what he should say. He puts the matter out of his mind for the moment and opens the letter from his parents.

---

Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 70, Fires 0

[Mike Solli]

That's just plain mean. [:D]

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: vonCommander

Great!! [:D]

Curses![:@] I was really hoping for an epic sub-vs-escort battle,

with a Dutch submarine getting a fatal fish into the Hiryu.

Oh, well, this is not the right AAR for an Allied fanboy. [:D]

[Terminus]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

That's just plain mean. [:D]

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!"[:D]

[vonCommander]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

ORIGINAL: vonCommander

Great!! [:D]

Curses![:@] I was really hoping for an epic sub-vs-escort battle,

with a Dutch submarine getting a fatal fish into the Hiryu.

Oh, well, this is not the right AAR for an Allied fanboy. [:D]

I`m always on the writers side [:)] Japanese or Allied, I dont care...... but a Konvoischlacht would have been great[:D]

[Cuttlefish]

This is just a note to let everyone know that new posts may be slow in coming for the next week or two. My eldest daughter has given birth to twin boys, so I am journeying to California to do the grandparent thing. I will update the AAR when I can, but the twins take a front seat even to the fate of Hibiki.

I am, of course, far to young to be a grandfather, but my kids are ignoring this and having children. Inconsiderate young whippersnappers.

As an aside to Capt. Harlock: patience, the Hibiki version of "The Enemy Below" is coming up in the not too distant future.

[Redd]

Hey, congrats' CF. Grandkids are great. You get to revel in the beginning of new life, share in the family joy, and then retire to normalcy while your deserving offspring do the heavy lifting. Makes being older worthwhile. Aahhh, the memories!

Meanwhile, we'll all get along without you, but I for one will be watching for the next update [:)].

[marky]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

This is just a note to let everyone know that new posts may be slow in coming for the next week or two. My eldest daughter has given birth to twin boys, so I am journeying to California to do the grandparent thing. I will update the AAR when I can, but the twins take a front seat even to the fate of Hibiki.

I am, of course, far to young to be a grandfather, but my kids are ignoring this and having children. Inconsiderate young whippersnappers.

As an aside to Capt. Harlock: patience, the Hibiki version of "The Enemy Below" is coming up in the not too distant future.

yaaayyy!!!!

congrats cuttlefish!!! [:)]

[bradfordkay]

I suspect that after a week or so visiting a house with newborn twins, cuttlefish will be happy to retire to the peace and quiet of WITP... [;)]

[marky]

agreed [:D]

i cant wait to have kids [:)]

[Terminus]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

This is just a note to let everyone know that new posts may be slow in coming for the next week or two. My eldest daughter has given birth to twin boys, so I am journeying to California to do the grandparent thing. I will update the AAR when I can, but the twins take a front seat even to the fate of Hibiki.

I am, of course, far to young to be a grandfather, but my kids are ignoring this and having children. Inconsiderate young whippersnappers.

Yeah, how dare they?!?[:D][:D]

[tocaff]

CF

CONGRATS to all!  I'm sure the crew of the Hibiki are toasting you and yours with some sake.

[aztez]

Congrats! [:)]

[kaleun]

Cheers