Thunder in the Pacific: Shark7 vs Schwartzkie

[Shark7]

24 January 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 90
Location: 240 miles south of Saigon
Course: North
Damage: System 02

Orders: Return to Saigon

***
Tamon met Katsuo in the walkway as he went for his morning cup of tea. The gunnery officer was looking down as he walked by. As he passed Tamon, he uttered a short phrase before moving down the corridor.

“Perhaps I was wrong.”

Nothing else was said as the two men moved in opposite directions. Tamon had a full understanding of what Katsuo was referring to. Tamon agreed.

[Shark7]

25 January 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 90
Location: 120 miles south of Saigon
Course: North
Damage: System 02

Orders: Return to Saigon

***
The code radio cracked to life early in the morning…

:::Cruiser Suzuya reports striking a mine at Palembang. Major flooding starboard. Request divert to Kuching for repair.:::

[Shark7]

26 January 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: Saigon
Course: South East
Damage: System 02

Orders: Proceed to Jolo Island

***
“Sir, new message from Combined Fleet Headquarters.”

“Very well Sugiyama, give it to me and I will decode it.”

“Yes sir.”

Tamon took the coded message and sat down with the daily codebook. This port stay would be very short as well. Kido Butai was reforming and heading south….

:::Form with 1st Carrier Division. Heading Jolo Island. Await further orders on arrival.:::

[bigbaba]

intresting point of view of the war. i hope the good old kasumi will survive the war.[&o]

[Shark7]

27 January 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: 240 miles south east of Saigon
Course: South East
Damage: System 02

Orders: Proceed to Jolo Island

***
“…possible submarine contact 80 miles south of task force 114.”

“What’s going on?” Tamon asked as he walked into the radio room.

“An E-13 has reported a possible submarine contact 80 miles south of the task force sir,” Seaman Isamu Yanagawa replied.

“Have they attacked it?”

“Not yet sir.”

Tamon and the rest of the radio room crew continued to listen until the search plane finally broke off without initiating an attack. The submarine had either been a simple shadow in the water, or perhaps it had dived deep to safety. Either way the task force would be more careful when heading further south.

[Shark7]

28 January 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: 480 miles south of Saigon
Course: south east
Damage: System 02

Orders: Proceed to Jolo Island

***
Commander Murakami had the ship’s officers assembled in the ward room for a brief meeting. Kasumi and TF 114 had been spotted by Allied search aircrafts early last evening, and now Admiral Nagumo was being more cautious. Being spotted by search aircraft was almost certain to bring enemy submarines. Once the officers had settled in, Commander Murakami began to speak.

“As you know, yesterday the task force was spotted by a Do-24K search aircraft we believe to be operating from Balikpapan. Enemy air search has increased in the area since then. The Reisens have managed to chase off a few of them, but it only takes 1 sighting and sending a radio message to cause problems.”

He continued. “As you are well aware, Allied air forces and surface forces have been completely ineffective to date. However, their submarines have been active and effective. Only two days ago an amphibious task force was attacked by an enemy submarine. The submarine was driven off, but not before it had severely damaged one of the transports which was still loaded with men and materials. Have no doubt, Allied submarines are very dangerous and have a voracious appetite, not unlike the sharks they share the ocean with. Are there any questions so far?”

With no response, he continued. “As you know, we are tasked with keeping submarines away from the carriers. I intend to find and sink submarines before they can attack the carriers. We will be making some changes to how we go about that. The biggest change will in our watch stations. That is I want them doubled. We will be actively prosecuting any contacts we make. XO Sanada has made the changes to the duty roster, see him after we dismiss for the details. If there are no questions, dismiss.”

Murakami was met with only nods and silence. With no questions, he returned to the bridge. Tamon checked with Lt. Commander Sanada and learned that even signals personnel would be an active part in watches. He would be short a man each shift, not something he could not overcome.

[Shark7]

29 January 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: 240 miles North West of Jolo Island
Course: South East
Damage: System 02

Orders: Proceed to Jolo Island

***
Kasumi had been placed on outer ASW picket duty for the task force for the next 48 hours. That meant going on ahead of the carriers in a series of sprints then drifting while the sonar searched for possible contacts. This combined with lookouts should allow the destroyer to detect any submarine long before it could make an attack on the carriers. Then again, things never work as they should.

Tamon’s entire shift went by with no submarines found. In Tamon’s way of thinking that was a good thing, since the submarine would have the advantage against any surface ship. What Tamon did find interesting were the various short wave radio intercepts of the day. It seemed the air war over Singapore was heating up, with the Allies now fully engaging in a bombing campaign.

***
“This is a BBC Radio News report. Singapore under siege. The Japanese continue to bombard the tiny island fortress by land and air. However, commonwealth troops are holding against the ferocious onslaught. A spokesman for the Army…”

[Shark7]

30 January 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: Jolo Island
Course: None
Damage: System 02

Orders: Await further orders

***
::: Cruiser Kashii requesting assistance. Under attack by large number of aircraft. Multiple torpedo hits. Need immediate assistance…:::

“Where is Kashii at?” Tamon asked.

“Last reported position was north west of Singapore sir.” Arata replied.

“Well it seems the British have decided to commit air forces to the defense of Singapore then.”

Again the radio sent through a coded message from Kashii…

:::Kashii under own power. Limited to 10 kts. Heading Kuala Lumpur. Requesting air cover.:::

“If they can get a fighter group to provide cover, can they make it back sir?”

“It is possible Sugiyama. It really depends on how bad the damage and flooding is.”

[Shark7]

31 January 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: Jolo Island
Course: None
Damage: System 02

Orders: Await further orders

***
While the task force may have been anchored at Jolo Island’s natural harbor, the job of submarine hunting continued. Kasumi was once again assigned to picket duty, only this time they had a much smaller search area to be responsible for. The waters here were also shallow giving a submarine less depth to hide in. Still the work was monotonous, and no submarines would be found this day.

The Imperial Navy had no set ASW system. Basically it was up to the captain of each ship on how they would go about finding and destroying enemy submarines. This would come to haunt the Japanese late in the war, but early on the problem with American torpedoes and the sheer lack of aggression on the part of Allied submarine commanders would lull the Japanese naval leaders into a false sense of security.

[Shark7]

01 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: Jolo Island
Course: None
Damage: System 02

Orders: Await further orders.

***

Excerpt from Arata Sugiyama’s personal diary:

Spent the day on lookout duty again. Watching the wind blow through a rice paddy is more interesting. Still one must do his duty, no matter how boring it is. What I really ask myself is why are we just sitting here instead of attacking the enemy.

The carriers are more powerful than anything the American’s have. We could just sail straight to America and end the war. Why aren’t we doing that?

[Shark7]

02 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: Jolo Island
Course: None
Damage: System 02

Orders: Await further orders

***
ASW picket duty again…could it get more boring?

[Shark7]

03 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: Jolo Island
Course: None
Damage: System 02

Orders: Await futher orders

***
Same patrol…different day.

***

“This is an RKO Radio News report. Chaos in China. Japanese forces have been stalemated at Nanning, but the Chinese are retreating on other fronts. The air war is having a significant effect on Chinese morale, while Chinese civilians suffer under the weight of Japanese bombs…”

[Shark7]

04 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: Near Jolo Island
Course: East
Damage: System 02

Orders: Unknown

***
Sometime during the hours before dawn, the task force left its moorings and began moving to the east. Along with Kido Butai was a very large replenishment task force with a dozen or more large fleet oilers. Where they were headed or what the mission would be was not divulged to the crew.

That afternoon in the signals room…

“We must be going to attack America itself. That is the reason we are headed east with so much fuel.” Arata was emphatic that this must be case.

“Not possible. Hawaii might be a possibility.” Isamu replied.

“Of course not, we are going to hunt the enemy carriers in the South Pacific. I bet they are hiding around Papaete.” Seaman Hideyoshi Sato replied.

“What do you think Ensign Harada-san?” Arata asked just as a coded message began to break through the air waves.

“I think we should copy and decode that message and let the Admirals worry about strategy Sugiyama.”

The message simply read: ‘Yokosuka 2nd SNLF reports Rangoon secured.’

[Shark7]

05 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: Cagayan
Course: East
Damage: System 02

Orders: Unknown

***
While it wasn’t apparent as to where they were going, it was very apparent that something big was about to happen. There were large numbers of ships anchored at Cagayan including the battleships Nagato and Mutsu. And then there were enough transports that Tamon could imagine turning them in a pontoon bridge all the way back to Tokyo.

Of course, the presence of so many ships only added fuel to the fire in the radio room. Now the sailors were conviced they were invading Hawaii. While such a move might not be out of the realm of possibilities, it was not a practical move at this point. Besides, Tamon was sure that if Combined Fleet had wanted to invade the Hawaiian Islands, they would have done so in December when the Japanese had the element of surprise.

The rumor mill being what it is on any ship in any navy, by the end of the day they had gone from invading Hawaii to invading Washington D.C. and taking President Roosevelt as a prisoner. Tamon, having been in the Navy several years found it humorous just how quickly the rumor can escalate.

And the fact that the Captain was not addressing the officers was not helping the situation. Tamon had no way of knowing that Admiral Nagumo knew exactly what was going on and had ordered the fleet to maintain radio silence; even the ship’s captain’s were not to speak of the target. Tamon would find out where they were going when they got there, just like every other member of Kasumi’s crew.

[Shark7]

6 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: Cagayan
Course: None
Damage: System 02

Orders: Unknown

***
For a second day, the ships of the task force remained in Cagayan’s anchorage watching troops and supplies load onto the awaiting transports. It was a large formation and an excessive number of supply pallets that were being loaded onto the merchant ships. The scene left no doubt as to the scope of the operation.

Tamon leaned on a deck railing watching the work proceed. It was then that he noticed even more ships arriving from the east. Another group of merchant ships and tankers along with its escorts docked at the pier. This one would be bringing supplies from the Home Islands and was unloading at Cagayan.

Still later that evening another group of transports arrived and dropped anchor in the bay. This task force was escorted by a large force of cruisers and destroyers. From Tamon’s vantage point, the ships of this task force seemed to be already loaded with men and material. Still further out to the bay Tamon could make out the massive silhouettes of the battleships Fuso and Yamashiro.

As Tamon returned to the interior of Kasumi to his bunk, he knew that something big was about to happen. It was undeniable with the sheer number of ships and troops committed to the operation. Still there was no word from the ranking officers as to what it was. They were being particularly guarded about the operation whatever it might be.

[Shark7]

07 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: 120 miles east of Cagayan
Course: South
07Damage: System 02

Orders: Unknown

***
In the hours before dawn, the task forces around Cagayan broke anchor and began to slip silently out of port. The ships headed to the east until they cleared Mindanao, then turned to the south. Still the crews had no idea where they were going.

With no idea what was going on and no specific orders, Tamon tuned in Radio Tokyo for the morning…

***
“This is a Radio Tokyo News report. The Americans continue to retreat in the face of our superior forces. Japanese Army and Naval forces have secured areas as far South as Canton Island, cutting the American convoy routes to Australia. Our forces report victory after victory in our struggle against the western aggressors.”

[Shark7]

08 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: Near Davao
Course: South
Damage: System 02

Orders: Unknown

***
The task forces continue to the south, plodding along at a leisurely pace. Or perhaps it was jut the fact that the transports were slow and Kido Butai was simply matching their pace. Either way, it didn’t seem like they were getting anywhere fast.

Tamon spent the day in the radio room trying to tune in short wave communications channels. He was rewarded with several transmissions, in Dutch. Tamon ended the day exactly how he had started it…completely in the dark.

[Shark7]

09 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: 240 miles south of Davao
Course: South
Damage: System 02

Orders: Unknown

***
“We are still heading south.” The comment from Katsuo was almost absent minded.

“Yes. Celebes perhaps? The Dutch have been flying out of Kendari, and their patrols are cutting into the supply lines.” Tamon replied.

“That is most logical. Kendari is one of the best airfields in the area. Taking control of it would effectively shut down the Allied supply lines to Java and South Borneo.”

“And American heavy bombers are operating out of Java. This morning they were very active around Singkawang. A lot of distress signals were going out from our ships.”

“You have been very quiet Hinata. What do you think?” Katsuo directed his attention to the ship’s engineer.

“I think the engines need an overhaul, and I think that port time to actually fix the boiler pipes would be nice. I try not to think beyond the immediate concerns of my engine room, I have enough to worry about there.”

“Perhaps the best policy.” Tamon replied as all three men returned to drinking their tea.

[Shark7]

10 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: 240 miles north of Kendari
Course: South
Damage: System 02

Orders: Unknown

***

Early in the morning the carriers turned into the wind and picked up speed. One after another, the planes of Kido Butai took to the skies and headed south. The only Allied base in range of the strike aircraft was Kendari on the island of Celebes.

In the radio room Tamon listened carefully to the short wave broadcasts from the flight leaders. It was apparent that they had hit the airfield hard, but not enough to shut it down completely. As the aircraft returned to the carriers, Tamon tuned in RKO Radio….another Glen Miller tune.

[Shark7]

11 February 1942

DD Kasumi attached to TF 114
Location: 120 miles south east of Kendari
Course: South
Damage: System 02

Orders: Provide air cover for landings at Kendari

***

Meanwhile at a training camp near Osaka…

Yoshiro Harada was drenched with sweat after a 5k run with full gear. The training officer was pushing the new recruits hard…really hard. After seven weeks of training, Yoshiro was nearing the end and for him it could not come soon enough.

Not that he was lazy, or lacked patriotism. To serve the Emperor was an honor exceeded only by giving one’s life in the Emperor’s service. Still training was hard, and the boy that entered the Army was being hardened into a cold and efficient killing machine.

“Get up you lazy maggots! Bayonet drills start now!”

And with that, Yoshiro found himself running headlong at a sack of rice and plunging his bayonet into it without thought, without fear, and without even considering the consequences of such an action. One after another the recruits attacked the sacks with reckless abandon, the mark of truly ferocious warriors. That was until Jiro Hishida’s turn came up.

Jiro was the youngest recruit in the training camp, and was every bit an uneducated, clumsy farm boy. Unlike the Allied armies, training in the Japanese Imperial Army could be brutal, and failure to correctly execute an exercise would usually result in disciplinary action, usually in the form of a severe beating. And unfortunately for Jiro, he lost his footing during the bayonet drill. Even more unfortunately for Jiro, this was not the first time his clumsiness had earned the wrath of the training officer.

Yoshiro felt sorry for the kid. He simply was not made of the stuff that makes a good soldier. Bloody and battered he was forced to do the bayonet drill again and again, well into the night. And while such treatment was supposed to make the boys into hardened men, Yoshiro could tell that Jiro was simply broken.

The result of the harsh treatment was very apparent the next morning when Jiro was found behind the barracks with his own bayonet impaled in his abdomen…