It is said he reached final rank of Captain, and his final position is Staff Officer of Southwest Fleet (Taiwan). And he didn't survive the war.... His final rank also indicated this, as staff officer of an area fleet never reached rank of captain, but IJN promoted officers who died in the duty posthumously by one level of rank.
Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Thanks. I didn't know that.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
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Onime No Kyo
- Posts: 16846
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:55 am
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: flanyboy
the magzine just blew up everyone was incinerated... the end.[:(]
That'd be hard for the storyline....one of them is supposed to write a book after the war....
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
RE: Small Ship, Big War
He was thrown clear of the ship and is the lone survivor. [:'(]
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ugggggggggggggggg withdrawl.
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
July 11, 1943
Location: Okayama
Course: Disbanded in port
Attached to: None
Mission: None
System Damage: 15
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: Proceed to Okayama for refit
---
Here in the summer of 1943 life in Japan goes on much as it always has. It was a cold winter and the last rice harvest was not the best, but this has been offset by large shipments of food from Japan’s southern conquests. The wartime economy is doing well, bolstered by war spending and imports of oil and raw materials. Marriages are arranged, business deals are made, songs are written, houses are built.
The war is far from a distant subject, of course. The Japanese are fiercely proud of their armed forces and their husbands and sons in the military. They have carved out an empire and held it for a year and half against the combined might of the Allies, and there does not seem to be any reason to think this state of affairs will not continue.
Even while Hibiki was sailing back to Japan, for instance, word arrived home of another crushing Japanese victory. The headlines are still talking about how Japanese carriers descended on enemy ships in the Solomon Sea and sank many of them. A number of proud enemy warships now lie on the bottom, and the beaches in the area are said to be covered with the floating bodies of American soldiers drowned when their troopships sank. And all this without the loss of a single Japanese ship! Many in Japan believe that surely now the Americans will realize they are beaten.
Only Captain Ishii received a somewhat accurate version of events when Hibiki reached Okayama, and he has not yet passed this information on to anyone else in the crew. Around twenty enemy vessels were indeed sunk off Buna, mostly minesweepers, sub chasers, troopships, and cargo vessels. But the carriers struck after Buna had already been seized by the enemy and there seems little hope of getting the base back. This puts additional pressure on the Japanese troops already under siege at Port Moresby, and on the beleaguered bases at Rabaul and Lae. But none of this is known to Japan’s civilians.
For the men of Hibiki already on leave it seems strange to be in a place where the war is simply one preoccupation, albeit an important one, among many. But it is very good to see loved ones and to experience the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of home. They have been away for a long time. Some of them remember watching one hundred and fifty heavy bombers clobber the airfield at Rabaul or think of that last horrible night off Gili Gili and believe the opinion they encounter everywhere that the war is as good as over is far too optimistic.
But they say very little of this. It is not just that the Kempeitai and Tokeitai have ears everywhere. It is partly that it is their job to defend these people, and for most of them that means shielding them from unpleasant truths as well as the ships and planes of the enemy. And it is partly that there are many more things they would rather do than talk about the war they have left behind for two precious weeks. Besides, to a man they do believe Japan is going to win this war, even if it may be harder and take more time than most people think.
Location: Okayama
Course: Disbanded in port
Attached to: None
Mission: None
System Damage: 15
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: Proceed to Okayama for refit
---
Here in the summer of 1943 life in Japan goes on much as it always has. It was a cold winter and the last rice harvest was not the best, but this has been offset by large shipments of food from Japan’s southern conquests. The wartime economy is doing well, bolstered by war spending and imports of oil and raw materials. Marriages are arranged, business deals are made, songs are written, houses are built.
The war is far from a distant subject, of course. The Japanese are fiercely proud of their armed forces and their husbands and sons in the military. They have carved out an empire and held it for a year and half against the combined might of the Allies, and there does not seem to be any reason to think this state of affairs will not continue.
Even while Hibiki was sailing back to Japan, for instance, word arrived home of another crushing Japanese victory. The headlines are still talking about how Japanese carriers descended on enemy ships in the Solomon Sea and sank many of them. A number of proud enemy warships now lie on the bottom, and the beaches in the area are said to be covered with the floating bodies of American soldiers drowned when their troopships sank. And all this without the loss of a single Japanese ship! Many in Japan believe that surely now the Americans will realize they are beaten.
Only Captain Ishii received a somewhat accurate version of events when Hibiki reached Okayama, and he has not yet passed this information on to anyone else in the crew. Around twenty enemy vessels were indeed sunk off Buna, mostly minesweepers, sub chasers, troopships, and cargo vessels. But the carriers struck after Buna had already been seized by the enemy and there seems little hope of getting the base back. This puts additional pressure on the Japanese troops already under siege at Port Moresby, and on the beleaguered bases at Rabaul and Lae. But none of this is known to Japan’s civilians.
For the men of Hibiki already on leave it seems strange to be in a place where the war is simply one preoccupation, albeit an important one, among many. But it is very good to see loved ones and to experience the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of home. They have been away for a long time. Some of them remember watching one hundred and fifty heavy bombers clobber the airfield at Rabaul or think of that last horrible night off Gili Gili and believe the opinion they encounter everywhere that the war is as good as over is far too optimistic.
But they say very little of this. It is not just that the Kempeitai and Tokeitai have ears everywhere. It is partly that it is their job to defend these people, and for most of them that means shielding them from unpleasant truths as well as the ships and planes of the enemy. And it is partly that there are many more things they would rather do than talk about the war they have left behind for two precious weeks. Besides, to a man they do believe Japan is going to win this war, even if it may be harder and take more time than most people think.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Oh boy I feel the next cruise of our lovely DD may be very nail biting...[:(] I hope the Allies forge their Rings Around Rabaul before our DD returns to the area and thus have this great DD avoid serious danger for at least awhile.
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
July 12, 1943
Location: Okayama
Course: Disbanded in port
Attached to: None
Mission: None
System Damage: 14
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: Proceed to Okayama for refit
---
Riku is tired of looking at paperwork. Lieutenant JG Kataoka has gone on leave and left Riku with a great pile of requisitions and other forms. Wading through them the sailor is amazed that anything in the Navy ever gets done. There must be more people creating and filing papers than actually crewing the ships, he thinks.
Riku’s own approach to acquiring items for the ship is more direct and personal, involving barter, persuasion, and scrounging. But he knows Kataoka expects to find the paperwork completed properly. And besides, there are some items here that he suspects it will be easier to get by going through channels rather than around them. New glass for the bridge, for example.
He finishes working on a small stack of papers then slips them into a folder and stands up. If he hurries he can get these to fleet headquarters a few blocks away before lunch.
As he steps into the companionway a couple of sailors go trotting past him, heading up on deck. Both are in full uniform, and one of them is adjusting his cap as he goes. Riku stares after them curiously. Could some admiral be making a surprise inspection of the ship?
---
“Father, may we go aboard? Just for a moment?” Nanami asks. She is standing on the pier looking at Hibiki with her grandmother and her father, Chief Petty Officer Shun. Even with one turret missing and a gaping hole in her deck the destroyer looks lean and rakish.
Shun hesitates. He does not think this is a good idea, but Nanami rarely asks him for anything. And it isn’t against regulations as long as the officer of the deck allows it.
“I will ask,” he says after a moment. “Wait here.” He leaves the two women and strides swiftly up the gangplank onto the ship. There he locates Ensign Handa. The ensign glances over the rail at the two women and immediately gives his approval. As soon as Shun departs he turns to spread the word for everyone to look sharp, but the deck has been miraculously cleared.
Word spreads across the ship like lightning that Shun is bringing his mother and daughter on board. Sailors hastily wash their faces and comb their hair. Clean uniforms are donned at record speed. Shun’s mother ascends the gangplank slowly, leaning on her son’s arm, and by the time the three of them stand on deck the crew is beginning to reappear.
Ensign Handa steps forward to welcome them aboard. Behind him sailors begin to form up in review fashion, falling into ranks without any orders needed. They stand silently and respectfully at attention. Nanami gazes at all the men in their splendid white uniforms and her eyes shine with pride.
Shun looks around in astonishment at this gesture of respect. Admiral Yamamoto himself could find no fault with this display. He is so moved that he does not notice his daughter glancing here and there as if looking for someone in particular.
---
Riku still does not know what is going on, but he heads out on deck to find out. He gets to the steep, narrow stairs at the end of the companionway and his foot is on the first treader when a hand descends on his shoulder. Taiki is standing behind him, and his face is grave.
“Seaman Ariga,” he says, “please go immediately to the chain storage locker and make sure that everything is properly stowed. Take your time about it. Take at least half an hour.”
“Yes, Petty Officer,” he says, confused. He lowers his voice. “Taiki-san, what is…?”
“Just do it,” grates Taiki.
“Yes, Petty Officer, at once,” Riku says stiffly. He turns and hurries forward. Taiki looks after him for a moment, pained by the puzzled and hurt look on Riku’s face. Then he turns and hurries up on deck.
---
Lieutenant Miharu himself arrives to give the women a brief tour of the ship. Everyone goes out of their way to be proper and helpful. Nanami is obviously impressed and pleased to get a glimpse at the world where her father spends most of his time. As the tour nears its end, however, she does begin to look around a little anxiously. As they return to the deck by the gangplank she smiles brightly to see Taiki standing nearby. She glances at her father, then steps over to him.
“Mr. Takahashi, it is good to see you again,” she says. Taiki catches Shun’s eye. The Chief nods ever so slightly.
“It is an honor to have you on board, Miss Shun,” he says with a slight bow. “And you as well, Mrs. Shun,” he says to her mother. The older woman inclines her head to him. Whatever thoughts she is having she keeps to herself for the moment.
“If I may ask,” she says, “I have not seen your friends, Mr. Kuramata and Mr. Ariga. Are they on board?” As her back is to her father she does not see his back stiffen. Taiki does, however.
“Seaman Kuramata is on leave,” he says formally. “Seaman Ariga has duties elsewhere at the moment. I will be sure to give both of them your regards.”
“Oh,” she says, a little sadly. Her father steps forward.
“Come, Nanami,” he says. “Your grandmother is getting tired. It is time we went to dinner.” Nanami rejoins him and Lieutenant Miharu accompanies the three Shuns down to the pier. Up on deck Taiki lets out a deep sigh and gives a small of prayer of thanks that disaster has been averted. He is unaware that others are staring at him. Soon there is wild speculation all over the ship about why Shun’s beautiful daughter chose to speak to Taiki alone of all the noncoms and enlisted men, and especially about why Shun seemed inclined to let him live afterwards.
Location: Okayama
Course: Disbanded in port
Attached to: None
Mission: None
System Damage: 14
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: Proceed to Okayama for refit
---
Riku is tired of looking at paperwork. Lieutenant JG Kataoka has gone on leave and left Riku with a great pile of requisitions and other forms. Wading through them the sailor is amazed that anything in the Navy ever gets done. There must be more people creating and filing papers than actually crewing the ships, he thinks.
Riku’s own approach to acquiring items for the ship is more direct and personal, involving barter, persuasion, and scrounging. But he knows Kataoka expects to find the paperwork completed properly. And besides, there are some items here that he suspects it will be easier to get by going through channels rather than around them. New glass for the bridge, for example.
He finishes working on a small stack of papers then slips them into a folder and stands up. If he hurries he can get these to fleet headquarters a few blocks away before lunch.
As he steps into the companionway a couple of sailors go trotting past him, heading up on deck. Both are in full uniform, and one of them is adjusting his cap as he goes. Riku stares after them curiously. Could some admiral be making a surprise inspection of the ship?
---
“Father, may we go aboard? Just for a moment?” Nanami asks. She is standing on the pier looking at Hibiki with her grandmother and her father, Chief Petty Officer Shun. Even with one turret missing and a gaping hole in her deck the destroyer looks lean and rakish.
Shun hesitates. He does not think this is a good idea, but Nanami rarely asks him for anything. And it isn’t against regulations as long as the officer of the deck allows it.
“I will ask,” he says after a moment. “Wait here.” He leaves the two women and strides swiftly up the gangplank onto the ship. There he locates Ensign Handa. The ensign glances over the rail at the two women and immediately gives his approval. As soon as Shun departs he turns to spread the word for everyone to look sharp, but the deck has been miraculously cleared.
Word spreads across the ship like lightning that Shun is bringing his mother and daughter on board. Sailors hastily wash their faces and comb their hair. Clean uniforms are donned at record speed. Shun’s mother ascends the gangplank slowly, leaning on her son’s arm, and by the time the three of them stand on deck the crew is beginning to reappear.
Ensign Handa steps forward to welcome them aboard. Behind him sailors begin to form up in review fashion, falling into ranks without any orders needed. They stand silently and respectfully at attention. Nanami gazes at all the men in their splendid white uniforms and her eyes shine with pride.
Shun looks around in astonishment at this gesture of respect. Admiral Yamamoto himself could find no fault with this display. He is so moved that he does not notice his daughter glancing here and there as if looking for someone in particular.
---
Riku still does not know what is going on, but he heads out on deck to find out. He gets to the steep, narrow stairs at the end of the companionway and his foot is on the first treader when a hand descends on his shoulder. Taiki is standing behind him, and his face is grave.
“Seaman Ariga,” he says, “please go immediately to the chain storage locker and make sure that everything is properly stowed. Take your time about it. Take at least half an hour.”
“Yes, Petty Officer,” he says, confused. He lowers his voice. “Taiki-san, what is…?”
“Just do it,” grates Taiki.
“Yes, Petty Officer, at once,” Riku says stiffly. He turns and hurries forward. Taiki looks after him for a moment, pained by the puzzled and hurt look on Riku’s face. Then he turns and hurries up on deck.
---
Lieutenant Miharu himself arrives to give the women a brief tour of the ship. Everyone goes out of their way to be proper and helpful. Nanami is obviously impressed and pleased to get a glimpse at the world where her father spends most of his time. As the tour nears its end, however, she does begin to look around a little anxiously. As they return to the deck by the gangplank she smiles brightly to see Taiki standing nearby. She glances at her father, then steps over to him.
“Mr. Takahashi, it is good to see you again,” she says. Taiki catches Shun’s eye. The Chief nods ever so slightly.
“It is an honor to have you on board, Miss Shun,” he says with a slight bow. “And you as well, Mrs. Shun,” he says to her mother. The older woman inclines her head to him. Whatever thoughts she is having she keeps to herself for the moment.
“If I may ask,” she says, “I have not seen your friends, Mr. Kuramata and Mr. Ariga. Are they on board?” As her back is to her father she does not see his back stiffen. Taiki does, however.
“Seaman Kuramata is on leave,” he says formally. “Seaman Ariga has duties elsewhere at the moment. I will be sure to give both of them your regards.”
“Oh,” she says, a little sadly. Her father steps forward.
“Come, Nanami,” he says. “Your grandmother is getting tired. It is time we went to dinner.” Nanami rejoins him and Lieutenant Miharu accompanies the three Shuns down to the pier. Up on deck Taiki lets out a deep sigh and gives a small of prayer of thanks that disaster has been averted. He is unaware that others are staring at him. Soon there is wild speculation all over the ship about why Shun’s beautiful daughter chose to speak to Taiki alone of all the noncoms and enlisted men, and especially about why Shun seemed inclined to let him live afterwards.
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Onime No Kyo
- Posts: 16846
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:55 am
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Uh-oh!!! [X(]
Well, at least Shun seems to have found a whole new way of promoting a healthy spirit of spit and polish aboard ship. [:D]
Well, at least Shun seems to have found a whole new way of promoting a healthy spirit of spit and polish aboard ship. [:D]
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
RE: Small Ship, Big War
oh oh Taki and Riku gonna get in a fight over rumors...[:D]
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: flanyboy
oh oh Taki and Riku gonna get in a fight over rumors...[:D]
oh i think so, soap opera hits the Hibiki [:D]
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: Small Ship, Big War
I have been lurking for some time and thoroughly enjoying the tale of Hibiki and her crew. Thank you Cuttlefish for rekindling my interest in the Pacific War Campaign after some years. I played Gary Grigsby's original "Pacifc War" many years ago when it first came out. Now I am well and truly hooked on "War in the Pacific". It's all down to the Hibiki and your excellent writing skills.
I found this image of the Hibiki recently on the web. I think the date is 1st April 1933. She's the ship (no.6) in the background. I hope it comes out OK, I don't fully understand how to do the link.
EDIT. removed the link because it didn't work, if anyone can tell me how to add a photo please do and I will give it another go.
I found this image of the Hibiki recently on the web. I think the date is 1st April 1933. She's the ship (no.6) in the background. I hope it comes out OK, I don't fully understand how to do the link.
EDIT. removed the link because it didn't work, if anyone can tell me how to add a photo please do and I will give it another go.
- Attachments
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- Hibiki anc.. on slip.jpg (45.4 KiB) Viewed 387 times
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DuckofTindalos
- Posts: 39781
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:53 pm
- Location: Denmark
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Select "Click here to upload!", choose the picture to upload (200Kb maximum) and then tick the "Embed picture in post" box before submitting the post.
We are all dreams of the Giant Space Butterfly.
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Chitose
I have been lurking for some time and thoroughly enjoying the tale of Hibiki and her crew. Thank you Cuttlefish for rekindling my interest in the Pacific War Campaign after some years. I played Gary Grigsby's original "Pacifc War" many years ago when it first came out. Now I am well and truly hooked on "War in the Pacific". It's all down to the Hibiki and your excellent writing skills.
I found this image of the Hibiki recently on the web. I think the date is 1st April 1933. She's the ship (no.6) in the background. I hope it comes out OK, I don't fully understand how to do the link.
Glad you have been enjoying the AAR, and thanks for posting this. I have not seen this photo before. Hibiki looks brand new, and she should, having been commisioned less than a month before this was taken. I notice that the bridge is not yet enclosed. That happened sometime before the beginning of the war, but I don't know exactly when.
I wonder what ship is being launched in the foreground?
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DuckofTindalos
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- Location: Denmark
RE: Small Ship, Big War
My guess would be that it's the Hatsuharu, which was launched on 2/27/33. Not sure that's the Hibiki, though. I've seen another picture of that ship with the "6" on, identifying it as the Ikazuchi.
We are all dreams of the Giant Space Butterfly.
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Pkunzipper
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Tue May 21, 2002 1:27 pm
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Terminus
My guess would be that it's the Hatsuharu, which was launched on 2/27/33. Not sure that's the Hibiki, though. I've seen another picture of that ship with the "6" on, identifying it as the Ikazuchi.
The ship on the background is the Hibiki.
The "6" identified all the ships of Akatsuki class, while the ship itself was identified by the symbols on the side. Hibiki is the only ship of that class with a "t" like symbol at the end of the symbol sequence (just visible under the first shaft).
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DuckofTindalos
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- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:53 pm
- Location: Denmark
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Okay, I figured it was just a Western-style hull number...
We are all dreams of the Giant Space Butterfly.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Cuttlefish, the ship on the slipway being launched is the Chidori (Tomozuru Class Torpedo Boat)