Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[thegreatwent]

I'm about 1/2 way through "Japanese Destroyer Captain" and have found it to be eyeopening. In terms of CF's narrative I can't even imagine the misery of a widespread sickness in such a close environment, the only thing that would be worse would be an outbreak on a fully loaded troopship.

CF you have succeeded in telling a story that allows for suspense of disbelief and personal investment on behalf of the reader in the welfare of your characters. Well done [&o]

[sadja]

It has been at least 30 years since I read that book. I have forgotten most of it. He ends his time as the captain of the lt cruiser that accompanies the Yamato on it's last mission.

[thegreatwent]

D'oh thanks for the spoiler[8|]

But it is a very good read [:D]

[1275psi]

Many years ago I served on a DE, crew of 250 -and somebody allowed the freezers to defrost - and then to hide the mistake re froze them........................

After the Chicken was served we had about 180 of us violently sick - uncontrollable runs, uncontrollable vomiting.
Literally the ship was crippled, and we crawled back into port, and stayed there for 3 days.

The after heads for our stokers mess had just 4 toilets, 2 showers.
I am totally un able to convey the misery of 40 of us trying to vomit, crap, and generally be very miserable all at once in that place over those 3 days.

Not even cuttlefishes great writing is going to come close to that little episode in my life................[8|]

[Dixie]

Picture of Hibiki, circa mid-January 1944 [:D]

[Terminus]

Eeeeew...[:D]

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Many years ago I served on a DE, crew of 250 -and somebody allowed the freezers to defrost - and then to hide the mistake re froze them........................

After the Chicken was served we had about 180 of us violently sick - uncontrollable runs, uncontrollable vomiting.
Literally the ship was crippled, and we crawled back into port, and stayed there for 3 days.

The after heads for our stokers mess had just 4 toilets, 2 showers.
I am totally un able to convey the misery of 40 of us trying to vomit, crap, and generally be very miserable all at once in that place over those 3 days.

Not even cuttlefishes great writing is going to come close to that little episode in my life................[8|]

I was going to post something about how episodes like the current one aboard Hibiki are more common than one might think, but 1275psi has made that unnecessary. Sorry to have brought back those memories!

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Picture of Hibiki, circa mid-January 1944 [:D]

Yuck! Funny, though.

[Cuttlefish]

January 15, 1944

Location: 360 miles southeast of Tokyo
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 9
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 232
Orders: Escort Yamato back to Japan

---

Forty-seven members of the crew become ill before the outbreak is checked. Based on the symptoms Nakagawa decides that it is some form of dysentery and not something more serious. The afflicted men are nonetheless miserable, even though all of them will eventually recover. Nakagawa traces the illness to one of the two main potable water tanks. That tank is flushed and ballasted with salt water and the crew resumes using the clean tank.

The crewmen who remain healthy are almost as unhappy. Not only do they get to stand extra watches, they get the burden of cleaning up after forty-seven sick men, all of whom have explosive diarrhea and many of whom are vomiting. Even sailors used to spending long months in confined spaces find the current conditions disgusting. The ship’s supply of soap dwindles rapidly.

---

“This outbreak comes at a bad time,” Captain Ishii tells Lieutenant Miharu. “It is dangerous to be short handed right now.” He holds up a message flimsy. “Yamato relayed a report this morning that five enemy submarines were spotted yesterday within 300 miles of Tokyo Bay.”

“If our planes saw five submarines there are probably twice that many that they didn’t see,” comments Lieutenant Miharu.

“Just so,” says Ishii. “They are sending out some of the new Type C and D escort ships to try and clear a corridor for us as we approach Tokyo, but the chances of an attack will still be high.”

“Do you think all those submarines are there to try and welcome Yamato home?” asks the lieutenant.

“It could be,” Ishii says. “Whatever the reason, we must be on our guard. The next forty-eight hours will be dangerous ones.”

[Feinder]

Meanwhile...



[:(]

-F-

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Meanwhile...



[:(]

-F-

Torpeeeeedo!!! To the Starboard!!

"You Arhgant assss! You've killed US!!!"

[Capt. Harlock]

“This outbreak comes at a bad time,” Captain Ishii tells Lieutenant Miharu. “It is dangerous to be short handed right now.” He holds up a message flimsy. “Yamato relayed a report this morning that five enemy submarines were spotted yesterday within 300 miles of Tokyo Bay.”
“If our planes saw five submarines there are probably twice that many that they didn’t see,” comments Lieutenant Miharu.

I do believe my question about American Intel on the Yamato has been answered . . .[:D]

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Picture of Hibiki, circa mid-January 1944 [:D]

Yuck! Funny, though.

At least the Captain's shower is working.

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Meanwhile...



[:(]

-F-

Do you really think that any sub would be able to survive in that water anywhere near firing range? [:D]

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Meanwhile...



[:(]

-F-

Do you really think that any sub would be able to survive in that water anywhere near firing range? [:D]

It's a chumline...

[Terminus]

Well, sharks ARE omnivorous...[:D]

[Cuttlefish]

January 16, 1944

Location: 120 miles southeast of Tokyo
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 9
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 204
Orders: Escort Yamato back to Japan

---

Captain Ishii stands on the port observation platform and scans the gray ocean. His gaze comes to rest on battered Yamato, steaming serenely along under a high overcast. The big battleship is a target that no submarine commander could resist, but so far today there have been no attacks. No periscopes have been sighted and none of the screening destroyers have had a sonar contact.

Ishii hears the drone of an airplane and looks up. A Kawanishi E7K float plane is cruising a few thousand meters over the task force. It is not the first plane Ishii has seen today; planes out of the airfields around Tokyo have been scouring the seas around and ahead of the task force since shortly after sunrise. That is not the only measure being taken to protect the pride of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Some miles out ahead of the task force a group of five patrol craft is sweeping the ocean, trying to clear a path.

Ishii turns and steps back onto the bridge just time to see Lieutenant Kuwaki come up the ladder. Kuwaki comes over and salutes.

“Still quiet, sir?” Kuwaki says. “Looks like our luck is holding.”

“I’m starting to think there is something to that silly snake superstition some of the men have,” Ishii says with a smile. “How is Lieutenant Sugiyura?”

“Weak and still a bit feverish, sir. He seemed to think I was his father.”

“Hm. I hope you were reassuring.”

“Don’t worry, sir, I told him I was proud of him,” says Kuwaki. “Lieutenant Nakagawa says that there have been no more new cases. Nakagawa looks tired, though. I’m glad we’ll reach Tokyo soon.”

“Me too,” says Ishii. “But we aren’t quite there yet.”

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Meanwhile...



[:(]

-F-

Do you really think that any sub would be able to survive in that water anywhere near firing range? [:D]

If they tried, the sub would sink from external corrosion shortly after getting the first targeting mark. [X(] [:'(]

[Durbik]

Well, Tokio should be a nice chance for the crew (and for us)to know how's the war going on other fronts...

[mdiehl]

The islands of Kwajalein Atoll fall astern and are soon lost to sight. No one aboard Hibiki suspects yet that the destroyer has just finished her last visit of the war to the islands, her home for much of the fighting so far.

I don't think that is necessarily so ominous. It may simply mean that by the time Hibiki gets her next assignment, Kwajalein will have become an American base. Hibiki may have caught a break in being assigned Yamato escort duty.