Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[tocaff]

Any kind of good op for Japan that really hurt the Allies at this point in the war would be a major coup.  

[Cuttlefish]

August 17, 1944

Location: 300 miles south-southeast of Okinawa
Course: North
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 312

Orders: Return to Kagoshima

---

Hibiki and the other Japanese ships speed north under a clear night sky. Those aboard the blacked-out ships can see stars overhead in numbers and brightness that would astound a city dweller. The mere sliver of waning moon hanging low on the eastern horizon does nothing to offset their brilliance.

The air is warm and the seas fairly calm. On the bridge Lieutenant Miharu checks the ship’s heading. A few faint hooded lights illuminate the instruments but otherwise the bridge is dark. Miharu can barely see the other men standing nearby, some with bulky night vision glasses around their necks or held to their eyes. From behind him comes a low murmur of voices in the dark as some matter of ship’s business is discussed.

A lookout on the starboard side suddenly speaks up. “Sir, something is happening with the starboard screen.” Miharu raises his own glasses and scans the destroyers he can see beyond the bulky carriers. One destroyer, Akishimo he thinks, is swinging out of formation. As he watches the ship’s signal light begins to flash.

---

What has happened is that an alert lookout aboard Akishimo has spotted the faint feather of phosphorescence made by a periscope. The destroyer comes around to attack, her forward guns firing once before the periscope disappears. The submarine responds by taking a bow shot at the destroyer. The torpedoes miss and Akishimo launches depth charges over the spot where the periscope was last seen.

The result is inconclusive. Akishimo and sister ship Asashimo criss-cross the area and drop several patterns of depth charges. Some oil appears, more readily smelled than seen in the starlit dimness, but no debris are observed. Certainly the submarine is kept too busy to further attack or pursue the task force, however.

---

This contact is only the first with the wolf pack sent to lurk between the Japanese ships and home, however. Not long after the sun rises there is another alert in the task force as a patrolling plane spots a diving submarine nearby. And around noon an undetected submarine gets close enough to launch torpedoes against one of the carriers.

The target is light carrier Ryujo. One torpedo slams into the veteran ship forward. For a short time it looks as though the damage is minor, but then fire touches off vapors from a ruptured avgas storage tank. The resulting explosion causes fire to race quickly to a bomb storage locker and a second and even larger blast rips through the ship. The front of the flight deck is deformed upwards and casualties are heavy.

The carrier comes to a halt, all power lost, while destroyers frantically try to find the enemy sub and protect the stricken carrier. For a while it looks as though Ryujo is lost but slowly the fires are brought under control. Several hours later the crippled carrier is able to get underway again and with three destroyers assisting slowly follows the other Japanese ships to the north.

[Cuttlefish]

August 18, 1944

Location: 110 miles south of Kagoshima
Course: North
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 266

Orders: Return to Kagoshima

---

At some point during this operation Hibiki picked up another point of experience and is now at 82/69 (started the war at 71/66). Screen shot from the previous turn:

[Jzanes]

Once she returns to port, looks like the Hibiki will be receiving another upgrade.  I suspect that means time for shore leave and shore drama.  Payback time for Shun vs. the crime syndicate?

[tocaff]

It's a long way home through troubled waters for the Ryujo.  A costly op for the IJN.  The crew of Hibiki will have lots more on their minds now that nowhere seems to be safe anymore.

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

The target is light carrier Ryujo. One torpedo slams into the veteran ship forward. For a short time it looks as though the damage is minor, but then fire touches off vapors from a ruptured avgas storage tank. The resulting explosion causes fire to race quickly to a bomb storage locker and a second and even larger blast rips through the ship. The front of the flight deck is deformed upwards and casualties are heavy.

The carrier comes to a halt, all power lost, while destroyers frantically try to find the enemy sub and protect the stricken carrier. For a while it looks as though Ryujo is lost but slowly the fires are brought under control. Several hours later the crippled carrier is able to get underway again and with three destroyers assisting slowly follows the other Japanese ships to the north.

OK, that's definitely more than a marginal victory for the Allies, even if you only consider Ozawa's TF![:(]

[Cuttlefish]

August 19, 1944

Location: Kagoshima
Course: None
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Return to Kagoshima

---

A faint plume of steam from the cone of Sakurajima rises into the summer sky as the Japanese ships, minus Ryujo and her escorts, enter Kagoshima Bay. All vessels take their turn refueling at the docks and then drop anchor in the wide inlet.

The anchor chain rattles through the hawsepipe as Hibiki’s starboard anchor splashes into the bay. It is visible for just a moment descending through the sunlit water and then it vanishes from sight.

As Kagoshima is within range of the enemy’s “silver bees” in China, and was raided once last spring, the crew cannot relax completely. Some degree of readiness has to be maintained in case of an air raid. It seems strange to the men to have to be on alert while in a Japanese port. It is like the old days when they were stationed at Rabaul. Those days seem like a long time ago, but in reality it has only been a year.

No one knows what orders the ship will be given next. Everyone on board knows that Hibiki is due to be equipped with radar. Some are more interested in the new equipment than others, but for one man on board the matter is of compelling interest indeed.

---

“Petty Officer Takahashi, have you heard when we are going to receive the new radar equipment?”

“No, Ariga, I haven’t. But I promise you that I will tell you as soon as I hear anything.”

“Thank you, Petty Officer.”

“Be patient, my friend. It will probably be sooner rather than later.”

[Cuttlefish]

August 20, 1944

Location: Kagoshima
Course: None
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 471

Orders: Await further orders

---

“Have you heard anything yet, Petty Officer Takahashi?”

“No, no word yet. I said I will tell you as soon as I heard, and I will.”

[Cuttlefish]

August 21, 1944

Location: Kagoshima
Course: None
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 468

Orders: Await further orders

---

“Any word yet about that radar, Petty Officer?”

“Ariga! If I had heard anything I would have told you. I know you have waited a long time, but please, be patient.”

[Cuttlefish]

August 22, 1944

Location: Kagoshima
Course: None
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 465

Orders: Await further orders

---

“I just thought I would ask, you know, if….”

“Aaaargh!”

[Shark7]

It's like riding to Disney Land with the kids:

'Are we there yet?'

"No!"

'Are we there yet?"

"NO!"

"Are we there yet?"

"NOOO!!!"

[:D]

[BrucePowers]

Living in Florida, Disney wasn't that far away thank heavens. The radar on the other hand.....who knows[:)]

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: Shark7

It's like riding to Disney Land with the kids:

'Are we there yet?'

"No!"

'Are we there yet?"

"NO!"

"Are we there yet?"

"NOOO!!!"

[:D]

OMG Shark! I was thinking the same thing before I read this post....

[John 3rd]

Keep it rolling CF!
 

[Feinder]

True story -

Back in college (so this is almost 20 years ago), my friends and I had driven down to see Disney for the day.  We were standing there in line, waiting to buy our tickets. 

From where we stood, you could see an area where you could drop-off folks.  This mini-van pulls up, and out pours a family with 4 kids about 5 - 10 years old; all every excited to finally be at Disney.  Mom is there there marshalling the kids, and Dad gets out.  He takes a look at the lines (they weren't bad, I've been to Disney enough to know what -is- bad), folds his arms on his chest and says, "Everybody back in the van.  The lines are too long.  We're going home."

What followed was such wailing and cries of despiration that even now the plantive cries of those children still ring in my ears ("Well, Clarice - have the lambs stopped screaming?" No!).

But in all fairness, there has to be some place in about the 6th level of hell for fathers that take their kids all the way to Disney and say, "Everybody back in the car, we're going home!".

-F-

(and yes, they got all pack up and drove off)

Kinda funny in a sick way.

[Cuttlefish]

August 23, 1944

Location: Kagoshima
Course: None
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 462

Orders: Await further orders

---

“Ah, here we are,” says Captain Ishii as he walks up the street. Several of his officers trail behind him and most of them look confused. Ishii has lead them ashore and on a long hike through Kagoshima without telling them what they are up to. They have arrived in the Kachiyacho district of the city, an old area of well-kept estates where samurai once lived. Ahead is a low stone wall pierced by a gate. A house and garden can be glimpsed beyond. Next to the gate a small plaque is affixed to the wall.

Ishii turns and faces them. “I have brought you to the birthplace of my hero,” he says, “that we may all draw inspiration from his example.”

“Hank Greenberg was born in Kagoshima?” says Lieutenant Sugiyura in puzzlement.

“No, no,” says Ishii. “While the great Greenberg is worthy of esteem I speak of someone more important.”

“Togo Heihachiro, sir, am I right?” says Lieutenant Miharu.

“Yes indeed,” says Ishii. “Admiral Togo was born there.” He points at the dwelling visible through the trees. His officers, impressed, look at the place with renewed interest. There is no greater name than Togo’s in Japanese naval history.

“Consider his example,” Ishii continues. “He led his forces to victory at Tsushima Strait*, a battle no one thought Japan could win. Certainly this is something we should all remember. If any of you ever think that we seem headed for defeat recall Togo at Tsushima and resolve to go forward in the same spirit.

“But he was not just a great military man,” Ishii continues. “He was respected for his judgment and for the example he set in how he lived his life. Though he disdained politics he was known as a leader. So highly was he thought of that no one else was trusted to see to the education of our Emperor when he was young. And it was not just here in Japan that he was held in such esteem. When he died America, Britain, the Netherlands, and China were among the nations who sent warships to participate in the naval procession held in his honor. All of whom, I scarcely need mention, are among our enemies today. Let us remember that and resolve to fight with such skill and determination that at some future time even our enemies will look back at our deeds with respect and admiration.”

The half dozen officers stand silently as they ponder these words. Ishii rarely if ever gives inspirational speeches. If he felt the need to drag them here and give one he must have good reason. In truth they do feel their spirits lift a little as they stand where Togo walked as a boy and contemplate his deeds.

Ishii is done giving speeches but slowly and then with more enthusiasm the others begin speaking. As the men walk back to the harbor district they talk of Togo and then of naval matters in general. Before they return to the ship they stop at a popular restaurant and dine well. By the time the men are back aboard their legs are tired from the unaccustomed long walk but their mood is excellent. Admiral Togo, exercise, good food, and several bottles of sake have done their work well.

---

*The Japanese usually refer to the engagement as the Battle of the Sea of Japan but I used the Western name of the battle for clarity.

[Shark7]

OK, I'll take the bait...

Who is Hank Greenburg?

[Menser]

LOL Shark ..... You forget that Hibiki's Captain is a huge baseball fan Go Wiki it

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: Menser

LOL Shark ..... You forget that Hibiki's Captain is a huge baseball fan Go Wiki it

Hehe, perhaps its just the fact that *I* am not a baseball fan.

[Menser]

As a side note .... Greenburge should be currently scouting out B29 bases in the CBI as a lietenant in the Army Air Force