Battleship Mutsu arrives in Japan for a refit following an extended stay in the Kuriles and Taiki gets to spend some time with his brother Noboro.
This period of calm comes to an abrupt end on February 17 when Hibiki receives orders directing her to make ready to sail and placing her in Task Force 33 under the command of Captain Shiro Shibuya. Rumor spreads like wildfire across the harbor and word quickly reaches Hibiki of what is going on. Powerful enemy forces have been spotted approaching Woleai atoll in the Caroline Islands. The quiet time is over. Hibiki is back in the war.
Things don't look promising for the IJN. With Yamato and Musashi in the body-and-fender shop, and Mutsu undergoing refit, the Sons of the Emperor are a quart low on both flattops and battlewagons.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
Well, I should associate this with the area in Japan, but there's a karaoke show on some polish music tv named like this - and a rather embarassing one.
Hope Hibiki won't be singing false tunes under cpt. Shibuya [:D]
I fear for the non-combatant members of our cast of characters. I notice the date and know that somewhere to the east there are squadrons of B-29's being assembled waiting for a base to wreak havoc upon the HI. That and the fact that the Shun's live on Okinawa brings me no comfort
"We have met the enemy and they are ours" - Commodore O.H. Perry
Well, I should associate this with the area in Japan, but there's a karaoke show on some polish music tv named like this - and a rather embarassing one.
Hope Hibiki won't be singing false tunes under cpt. Shibuya [:D]
Captain Shibuya was, historically, the commander first of CL Abukuma and then CA Nachi. He was later the commander of the 101st Escort Group, where he was killed in action aboard CL Kashii in Jan. 1945. He was postumously promoted to Vice-Admiral.
Location: 100 miles east-southeast of Tori Shima
Course: South
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 432
Orders: Proceed to Saipan
---
Task Force 33 consists of two light cruisers, Isuzu and Sendai, and eight destroyers. The ships leave early in the morning with orders to proceed to Saipan. What the plan is beyond this, or even if there is a plan, no one aboard Hibiki knows, not even Captain Ishii.
The ships form two columns, with Hibiki the trailing ship in the starboard column. Captain Shibuya has his flag in Isuzu. Hibiki’s crew has mixed feelings about this. They are fond of Isuzu, having accompanied the old light cruiser more than once. On the other hand the last time they followed Isuzu into battle, at Milne Bay back in June 1943, the mission went very badly. Hibiki was the only ship to escape sinking or serious damage.
At least the ships are heading south. There is a brisk wind blowing as the ships leave Tokyo Bay and once out into the open ocean Hibiki staggers through cold gray waves. Icy spray douses even lookouts up on the tower. The average February temperature in Saipan is around 25 degrees C., and that sound pretty good to most of the crew right now.
Location: 220 miles southeast of Iwo Jima
Course: South
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 389
Orders: Proceed to Saipan
---
“I confess, sir, I’ve hardly even heard of Woleai,” says Lieutenant Miharu. “What do we have there?”
Captain Ishii shrugs. “A small airstrip and maybe a few hundred men, the last I heard,” he says. “Though for all I know the defenses might have been increased since the fall of Manus.”
“The enemy might have an easy time seizing it, then,” says the lieutenant.
“Maybe,” says Captain Ishii. “There really isn’t much to the place. The enemy’s main problem will probably be that it’s within air range of many of our larger bases – Ulithi, Palau, Guam, Truk, and Hollandia, to name a few.”
“The enemy carriers will have to be there, then.”
“You may count on that,” says Ishii.
Lieutenant Miharu smiles faintly. “I imagine Lieutenant Sugiyura would enjoy the chance to torpedo an aircraft carrier,” he says.
“If that happens, and we live to tell the tale,” says Captain Ishii, “I will build a shrine for Seaman Oizuma’s python with my own hands.”
Location: 220 miles southeast of Iwo Jima
Course: South
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 389
Orders: Proceed to Saipan
---
“I confess, sir, I’ve hardly even heard of Woleai,” says Lieutenant Miharu. “What do we have there?”
Captain Ishii shrugs. “A small airstrip and maybe a few hundred men, the last I heard,” he says. “Though for all I know the defenses might have been increased since the fall of Manus.”
“The enemy might have an easy time seizing it, then,” says the lieutenant.
“Maybe,” says Captain Ishii. “There really isn’t much to the place. The enemy’s main problem will probably be that it’s within air range of many of our larger bases – Ulithi, Palau, Guam, Truk, and Hollandia, to name a few.”
“The enemy carriers will have to be there, then.”
“You may count on that,” says Ishii.
Lieutenant Miharu smiles faintly. “I imagine Lieutenant Sugiyura would enjoy the chance to torpedo an aircraft carrier,” he says.
“If that happens, and we live to tell the tale,” says Captain Ishii, “I will build a shrine for Seaman Oizuma’s python with my own hands.”
I sure hope this is a foretelling of the future!
Chez
Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
ASW Ops Center, Adak, Ak 1990-92
NRD Seattle 1992-96
VP-46, Whidbey Isl, Wa 1996-98
I was gone at a conference all week, and have finally gotten the chance to get caught up. Excellent.
Curious CF, how is it that you seem to know/understand so much about Japanese culture? You've probably said as much in earlier posts, but I'm lazy and don't feel like combing thru 95 pages of previous posts (almost to 100 pages!).
-F-
"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me
I was gone at a conference all week, and have finally gotten the chance to get caught up. Excellent.
Curious CF, how is it that you seem to know/understand so much about Japanese culture? You've probably said as much in earlier posts, but I'm lazy and don't feel like combing thru 95 pages of previous posts (almost to 100 pages!).
-F-
I could be forgetting something, but I don't think I've been asked this before.
I know a heck of a lot more now than I did when I started. Mostly it's been a lot of research; books, the internet, and some helpful friends who have spent time in Japan and have been willing to help me out. I have to say that, while I am glad that it has a realistic feel, I do not do Japanese culture full justice. Some of it is ignorance on my part and some of it is a concious decision. Humor is a good example of the latter; Hibiki's crewmen tend to display a rather Western sense of humor. The Japanese sense of humor is a little opaque to most westerners. Writing it realistically might leave most readers going "huh?" rather than smiling. So the AAR is a bit of a comprimise between accessibility and realism - and the amount of time I actually have available to do research.
Location: 60 miles northeast of Pagan
Course: South
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 346
Orders: Proceed to Saipan
---
A very heavy rain envelops the Japanese ships, though the temperature grows warmer as they continue to make good speed to the south. Lieutenant Kuwaki peers ahead through the rain-streaked glass on the bridge.
“I hate this,” he comments to no one in particular. “A submarine could get very close before we would see them.”
Captain Ishii looks up. “Of course, their visibility is also restricted,” he says.
“I know,” says Kuwaki, “but if the stories that their submarines have radar are true…” He breaks off and peers intently ahead. “Engines ahead one quarter!” he suddenly shouts. Ahead, through the curtains of rain, the stern of destroyer Akigumo is suddenly visible drawing rapidly closer.
The vibration of the engines diminishes almost immediately and Hibiki slows, now within about 150 meters of Akigumo, the ship ahead of them in the column. The distance continues to narrow for a moment and then the other destroyer begins to pull a little ahead again.
“The entire column has slowed,” Ishii observes with a frown. A signal light begins to flash from Akigumo.
“Why the hell…” begins Kuwaki angrily, then a lookout speaks.
“Signal from Akigumo,” he calls. “All ships slow to ten knots.”
“How did we miss the original signal?” Kuwaki demands. Ishii says nothing. Kuwaki has the bridge, this is his mess to handle. The lieutenant turns to the lookout tasked with keeping on eye on Isuzu to watch for such orders.
“Sir,” says the lookout with an almost audible gulp, “I thought I saw Isuzu’s signal light but couldn’t make it out through this rain. I was hoping they would repeat…”
“And meanwhile we almost collide with another ship!” says Kuwaki. “Bakayaro! You are on report!” The chastened seaman hangs his head in shame. Lieutenant Kuwaki turns to Captain Ishii. “Why do you think we have slowed, sir? At this speed a submarine could practically surface right next to us and we wouldn’t see them until it was too late.”
At this precise moment a submarine rises out of the sea less than 300 meters ahead and to starboard. Water cascades off its hull as it rises into view. Several lookouts cry out in unison and Kuwaki’s jaw drops.
He closes it abruptly. “Forward turret, prepare to…” he calls, then feels the captain’s hand on his arm.
“Stand down,” says Ishii. He gestures towards Akigumo. The submarine is almost beside the other ship and yet the destroyer is taking no action at all.
“Let this be a lesson, Lieutenant,” says Ishii quietly. “Chew out the lookouts after they are off duty. We missed another signal.”
Several men have come out on the deck of what is now obviously a Japanese submarine. A boat is dispatched from Isuzu, where it collects one of the men from the sub and returns. It’s mission accomplished, the submarine once again submerges and the Japanese ships return to cruising speed.
The visibility is too poor for anyone to make out the rank insignia, let alone the face, of the man from the submarine.
A mysterious person, probably an officer, picked up from a SUBMARINE in mid-ocean while wrapped in a driving rain......gentleman, please, a moment's reflection, and each all will know who this man must be. It can only be him.
