Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

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Mynok
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Mynok »


I wanna know what happened to the Kraut. [:D]
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Onime No Kyo
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Onime No Kyo »

ORIGINAL: Mynok


I wanna know what happened to the Kraut. [:D]

They traded him for an Italian and 2 future draft picks.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Mike Solli »

Thanks Onime.  That was one of those LOL moments at work.  I got a lot of strange looks.  Try explaining that to people who don't even know WitP, let alone Small Ship, Big War exists. [:D]
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Capt. Harlock
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Capt. Harlock »

Once again Capt Ishii and Hibiki bring their charges through unmolested. Heve they ever lost a ship to a sub?

Now that you mention it, I don't think they've so much as seen an Allied sub for at least a year and a half.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Shark7 »

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
Once again Capt Ishii and Hibiki bring their charges through unmolested. Heve they ever lost a ship to a sub?

Now that you mention it, I don't think they've so much as seen an Allied sub for at least a year and a half.

Ya know, that really isn't a bad thing. [;)]
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Cuttlefish »

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
Once again Capt Ishii and Hibiki bring their charges through unmolested. Heve they ever lost a ship to a sub?

Now that you mention it, I don't think they've so much as seen an Allied sub for at least a year and a half.

To this point no ship under escort by Hibiki has ever been lost to a submarine, though a couple of warships were damaged by them back in the Timor campaign. The destroyer's luck in this regard has been so good it's almost weird, because Allied subs have accounted for a LOT of Japanese ships.

The only recent encounter Hibiki has had with a submarine was a month ago, en route from Saipan to Woleai. The sub missed its target and Hibiki dropped a few depth charges to no apparent effect (post #2946). Hibiki has one claimed sub kill so far.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Cuttlefish »

April 6, 1944

Location: Iwo Jima
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 12
Mission: Transport
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 389

Orders: Escort troop ships to Iwo Jima (90% unloaded)

---

Ensign Konada escorts General Shigematsu to the bridge with all due courtesy and presents him to the captain. Salutes and greetings are exchanged as Ishii introduces the other officers present.

“Well, Captain Ishii, you were as good as your word,” says the general. “Not a man lost. On behalf of my entire command I extend thanks to you and your men.”

“Enjoy your new home, General,” says the captain.

Shigematsu smiles. “My men are so happy to be on dry land again it will be some time before they really take note of where they are,” he says. He turns and looks out at the nearby island. “It is a grim and forbidding place, is it not?”

“It is,” agrees Captain Ishii. “Like a piece of the moon fallen from the sky.”

“A poetic description,” says the general, “and rather accurate.” He pauses and looks closely at Ensign Izu for a moment. Izu tries not to fidget under the scrutiny.

“Ensign Izu,” the general says. “You look familiar. By any chance are you related to Colonel Uemura Izu?”

“Yes sir, he is my father,” says the ensign. “Do you know him, sir?”

“Indeed I do,” says the general. “A good man and a fine officer. He is in Japan right now, as his battalion is headed for Luzon within the next few weeks. Which is too bad, as I would be glad of his services here.”

“Luzon!” says Ensign Izu. “I did not know that, sir.”

“It is not being widely advertised,” says Shigematsu. “We are not eager to let the Soviets know we are stripping some of our best troops from Manchukuo. If he wrote to you with such news the letter would never make it past the censors.” He turns his attention back to Captain Ishii.

“Would you care for a tour of the ship, General?” the captain asks.

“Thank you, Captain, but I am needed ashore and cannot linger,” says Shigematsu. “May good fortune favor you and your men on the return voyage.”

“Thank you, sir,” says Captain Ishii. “Good luck to you as well.”

General Shigematsu turns and looks again out at Iwo Jima. “Save your wishes for any poor devils the enemy sends to attack such a place,” he says.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by tocaff »

Iwo the moonscape of death.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Feinder »

I was going to ask a different question, but I thought it was decidedly morbid, and will hold my tongue.

However, have you got any more flash-backs on Shun and Ishii coming down the pike?  Those are always cool episodes.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Capt. Harlock »

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish


The only recent encounter Hibiki has had with a submarine was a month ago, en route from Saipan to Woleai. The sub missed its target and Hibiki dropped a few depth charges to no apparent effect (post #2946).

Oh, right -- I'd forgotten about that episode.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Cuttlefish »

ORIGINAL: Feinder

I was going to ask a different question, but I thought it was decidedly morbid, and will hold my tongue.

However, have you got any more flash-backs on Shun and Ishii coming down the pike?  Those are always cool episodes.

I want to do another one. Those are a lot of fun to write. I haven't been inspired yet, though, but stay tuned. Something might occur to me.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Cuttlefish »

April 7, 1944

Location: 100 miles north of Iwo Jima
Course: North
Attached to: TF 12
Mission: Transport
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 375

Orders: Escort troop ships to Iwo Jima

---

The debarkation of the troops goes smoothly and as quickly as can be expected, though Captain Ishii fidgets at all of the last-minute delays. By late morning, however, the soldiers and their equipment are ashore. The transports are chivvied back into formation and the convoy soon heads back north.

Though the transports are now running empty Hibiki and the other three escorts are no less active and alert. Captain Ishii is mindful that there are still lives at stake and preserving them is his first priority. But this is also the first time he has had command of a task force and he is determined to return each and every ship safely to Osaka.

In the privacy of his own thoughts the captain wonders how much of this determination is vanity. He knows that he has probably spoken his mind to the wrong people too many times to hope for a promotion. This doesn’t really bother him; he is who he is and is content with that. But he and his ship have a growing reputation within the Imperial Navy for getting the job done and done well. Of this he is fiercely proud, not only for himself but for his officers and crew. Getting this convoy through intact where so many others have come to grief would be a noteworthy accomplishment.

But Osaka is still many miles to the north. They aren’t home yet.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Cuttlefish »

April 8, 1944

Location: 55 miles west of Tori Shima
Course: North
Attached to: TF 12
Mission: Transport
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 353

Orders: Escort troop ships to Iwo Jima

---

“Captain, I have a contact almost dead ahead,” says the sonar operator. “Five degrees right, range is only 500 meters.” Captain Ishii and other lookouts scan the water ahead. There is no sign of a periscope feather disturbing the waves.

“Combat stations,” Ishii orders. “Engines ahead one half.” The destroyer erupts with activity as it slows and approaches the spot where a submarine may be lurking. Guns are uncovered and men scramble to the depth charge racks.

“Contact is still there,” the sonar man says. “But it’s a little mushy, sir. It seems to be going deeper.”

Ishii frowns. If a submarine is out there he is about to give it a good target, but he needs more information. “Slow to eight knots,” he orders. “Sonar, secure from pinging for a moment. What do we have on passive?”

The operator adjusts his headphones and cocks his head slightly to one side. After a moment he reaches out and makes an adjustment to a dial, then listens again. Suddenly he smiles ruefully.

“Whale noises,” he says. “Very close, a humpback whale I think.”

Captain Ishii nods. “Secure from combat stations,” he orders. Another false alarm. The last one was a floating log. But better a dozen false alarms than one undetected submarine.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Cuttlefish »

April 9, 1944

Location: 120 miles south-southwest of Hamamatsu
Course: North
Attached to: TF 12
Mission: Transport
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 332

Orders: Escort troop ships to Iwo Jima

---

Riku is getting ready to rig his hammock and get some sleep when there is a dismayed wail from the back of the machine space where he and his friends bunk. He looks up, startled, to see Shoji standing there staring in horror at something in his hand.

“What’s wrong, Shoji?” he asks.

Shoji comes over at him. “This!” he says, and holds out the object. It is a wooden comb, snapped cleanly in half.

“So?” says Riku. Breaking a comb is supposed to bring bad luck, but Riku does not put much stock in such beliefs.

Apparently Shoji does not share his practical attitude. “I’m doomed, Ariga!” he says. “You know what my luck is like – even when it’s good it’s bad! I had better get off the ship fast, so I don’t take the rest of you with me!”

“Your luck isn’t always bad,” says Riku. “Remember when you and Yoshitake snagged that torpedo in the anchor chain? You got pretty lucky that day, I’d say!”

Shoji shakes his head miserably. “I’m the only one in the world so unlucky I could snag the anchor on a torpedo,” he says. “We escaped damage because the ship is lucky.”

“Look, Shoji,” says Riku reasonably, “it’s just a silly superstition, like believing that if you whistle at night you’ll attract snakes.”

“That one’s true!” says Shoji. In response Riku sticks his hands in his pockets and starts to whistle. Shoji looks appalled and lifts a hand in protest.

Suddenly there is a commotion in the pipes and conduits overhead. A dark shape hurtles out of the darkness above towards Riku, who ducks. The rat sails past him and smacks right into Shoji, where it tries to scramble up his chest and over his shoulder.

Shoji shrieks and beats at the rodent. Man and rat, both panicked, whirl around together in a bizarre dance. The dance comes to an abrupt end when Shoji’s forehead meets a low-hanging pipe with a dull “klonk”. The sailor’s eyes cross and he topples backwards. Riku lunges forward and catches him just in time to keep the back of his head from hitting the deck.

The rat jumps free and lands nearby. Before it can move a sinuous shape drops from above. Benzaiten’s jaws clamp shut around the rat’s head and in a twinkling the snake has two coils around its body. The rat squeaks once but after that can make no sound. The snake looks up at Riku as it squeezes, a satisfied look in its lidless eyes.

Riku looks down at Shoji. The sailor is out cold.
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Onime No Kyo
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Onime No Kyo »

Maybe there is something to this superstition junk? [:D]

I wonder whose mojo is stronger, Shojis or Benzaitens.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by NormS3 »

Great!!

Now I have got everyone looking over at me after reading your last post CF. Couldn't contain that bark of laughter!

Now they all think I'm crazy since there is not a video on the screen and I haven't offered to share the humor. (They just wouldn't understand)

Fantastic job yet again. Keep it up!

Guess the only mojo that I am worried about is that allied air or sub mojo.

Hurrah for the Hibiki!
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Capt. Harlock »

I wonder whose mojo is stronger, Shojis or Benzaitens

Benzaiten's, no question. Shoji was just knocked out: Benzaiten got a meal out of it. (To say nothing of Hibiki's amazing luck in action.)
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?

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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Cuttlefish »

April 10, 1944

Location: Off Takamatsu
Course: North-northeast
Attached to: TF 12
Mission: Transport
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 311

Orders: Escort troop ships to Iwo Jima

---

“…and I know what you mean. The first time I ever met him was on a dock in Okayama. I joined a group of men trying to dig him out of a big stack of empty crates that had fallen on him.”

“Remember the cone snail? And I’ll never forget the time…”

“I think he’s waking up!”

‘You’re right! Hello, Shoji, how do you feel?”

“What did he say?”

“I don’t know, but there’s the doc. Hey, Lieutenant Nakagawa, I think he’s coming around.”

“Is he going to be all right, Lieutenant?”

“Shh, let the lieutenant work.”

“He’s talking again.”

“I think I got it, this time. He said ‘Mother, the bat is in my hair’.”

“And then he said ‘I’m sorry the mill burned down’ What does that mean, Shoji?’

“What, Lieutenant?”

“Okay, sir. Come on, guys, let’s let Shoji rest.”

“We’ll come back later, Shoji. Glad you’re going to be okay.”

“Poor guy. I’m worried that he was delirious.”

“I’m worried that he wasn’t."
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Cuttlefish »

April 11, 1944

Location: Osaka
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 304

Orders: Await further orders

---

The task force reaches Osaka without encountering any submarines, at least as far as they know. At any rate all the transports reach port safely. The task force is broken up, with Hibiki anchoring this time off Kobe. Captain Ishii sends his thanks to the commanders of the other three escorts, all of whom did their jobs well.

“Well, Captain, your first chance to flag a task force was a success. Are you sorry it’s over?” Lieutenant Miharu asks Ishii that evening.

Captain Ishii snorts. “Hardly, Exec,” he says. “The extra work, the responsibility, having to deal with merchant crews who can hardly keep a straight course…I’m glad we’re done with it.”

“I see,” says the lieutenant. “Then you would be unhappy to be given command of, say, a destroyer division?”

“I did not say that,” says Ishii quickly. Lieutenant Miharu smiles. The captain gives him a sidelong look. “Of course, if I were promoted you might end up in command of this ship,” he says. “How does that sound to you?”

Miharu shudders. “No thank you, sir,” he says. “I would be a disaster as a captain.”

“I think you are wrong about that,” says Ishii.

“Thank you, sir, but I…” the lieutenant breaks off and eyes his commander suspiciously. “How did we go from talking about you to talking about me, sir?” he says.

“I have no idea,” says Ishii blandly. “Would you like to go over those section reports now?”

“Good idea, sir,” says Lieutenant Miharu.
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RE: Small Ship, Big War

Post by Cuttlefish »

April 12, 1944

Location: Osaka
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: See below

---

[font="Courier New"]From Headquarters, Combined Fleet, to Lieutenant Commander Ishii Hagumu, commander destroyer Hibiki:

Expedite refueling and resupply. Require Hibiki to arrive Tokyo by 1800 hours 13 April.
[/font]
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