Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Cuttlefish]

November 20, 1944

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

Orders: None

---

Letter from Shigeaka Handa to Ensign Izu:

1944-nen 11-gatsu 15-nichi
Izu-sama e

I trust that this letter finds you well. With the approach of winter the weather here in Hokkaido has begun to turn cold and the rain has been heavy. I hope that wherever you and your ship are when this reaches you that the weather is more pleasant and that the seas are favorable.

I am writing to inform you of the death of my son, Ensign Handa Tadashi. He was killed in action aboard his ship during the great victory at Iwo Jima. I regret that I can give you no further details, but I know no more than that myself.

My son wrote and spoke of you often and regarded you as his closest friend. It was his wish that you receive the accompanying package in the event of his death. Honoring that wish seems the least I can do for one who shared such friendship and so many adventures with my son. Even after he was transferred to other duty he spoke often of his days aboard Hibiki and it was obvious that he was proud to have served there.

Please feel free to write or visit my wife and I when the war is over. We would enjoy hearing about his time of service from one who knew him so well. Until such time, please take good care of yourself.

Handa Shigeaka

---

Ensign Izu, his throat tight, picks up the accompanying package and carefully removes the heavy paper wrapping. He then opens the box and removes the single item inside, gently shaking it free of the straw in which it was carefully packed. What he is holding is an ensign’s cap. Fastened to the top is the skeleton of a crab, neatly cleaned. The claws are rigged with a clever arrangement of springs and wires and wave at him cheerfully as he holds up the cap.

Unable to help himself, Izu bursts out laughing. He laughs for a long time, laughs until the tears come.

[Mike Solli]

Hey CF, have Ishii's stats changed since the start of the war?  I'm not sure if their stats can chang.

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

What he is holding is an ensign’s cap. Fastened to the top is the skeleton of a crab, neatly cleaned. The claws are rigged with a clever arrangement of springs and wires and wave at him cheerfully as he holds up the cap.

Pranked from beyond the grave . . .[X(]

Yet another inspired entry!

[Feinder]

[:(]
 
Is that the first death from our favorite crew?  (even as a former crew-member).
 
-F-

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Hey CF, have Ishii's stats changed since the start of the war?  I'm not sure if their stats can chang.

I'm not sure either. Ishii's stats have never changed, though, so I am guessing that the answer is that they don't.

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Is that the first death from our favorite crew? (even as a former crew-member).

The first death of a named character, yes. Hibiki did suffer 14 KIA during the two bomb hits back in 1942.

[FeurerKrieg]

Stats do indeed change. I've been using WITPDecoder on my turns for from Dec 7, 41 through Feb 6, 43, and everyday a few leader stats increase by 1.

I would guess that WITPTracker shows the same info.

[Feinder]

Was it Mutsu that Handa got transferred to?  Was he the one that got burned?  Sorry, I have a little trouble keeping track of everyone.
 
-F-

[Mynok]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

I had a Plymouth Colt (Mitsubishi Mirage) some years back... I used to tell people that it was a direct descendant of the Zero fighter. 

I had a Plymouth Champ (same car I think). Best car I ever owned. Sucker got 50 MPG on the highway - no lie!

Did it stop getting good mileage after five months? [8|][:'(]

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

I had a Plymouth Colt (Mitsubishi Mirage) some years back... I used to tell people that it was a direct descendant of the Zero fighter. 

I had a Plymouth Champ (same car I think). Best car I ever owned. Sucker got 50 MPG on the highway - no lie!

I had an actual Mirage. Loved it. Drove the wheels off of it as only a dumb@ss 16 year old can. [:D]


In fact, my first 3 cars were Mitsus. [&o]

[ColFrost]

No, I believe that was someone else who got burned, someone's brother. But Handa did get transferred to a BB.

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Was it Mutsu that Handa got transferred to?  Was he the one that got burned?  Sorry, I have a little trouble keeping track of everyone.

No need to apologize, even I have trouble sometimes keeping everything straight. Ensign Handa was transferred to Musashi. It is Taiki's brother Noboru who serves aboard Mutsu and was burned in an attack off Wake back in '42.

See this post for Handa's departure from Hibiki; see this post for what makes Handa's final gift especially significant.

[Onime No Kyo]

Wow, that was a powerful moment, CF! [X(]



[&o][&o][&o]

[Cuttlefish]

November 21, 1944

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

Orders: None

---

“I am sorry, honored sir,” says the proprietor of the shop. “I have no more to sell. No one in Tokyo does. Our supply came from England, as you know, and even with the large amounts captured earlier in the war there is no more to be had,”

Lieutenant Sakati practically reels. He grips the edge of the counter.

“No scotch,” he says, as if unable to comprehend such a thing. “No scotch!”

The proprietor looks distinctly unhappy. “I am terribly sorry,” he says. “It shames me greatly to have to report such news.” Sakati looks at him and makes an effort to pull himself together.

“We must all make sacrifices in wartime,” he admits sadly. “Very well, I will take two bottles of whiskey. Tullamore or Jameson would be fine.” The merchant shakes his head sadly.

“Nothing would please me more than to accommodate your request,” he says, “but sadly this worthless one is unable to do so.”

“All right, Bushmills, then!” says Sakati with exasperation. “Any port in a storm, eh?” If anything the proprietors face grows even longer. Sakati makes an exasperated noise and peers behind the man at the sparse collection of bottles visible on the shelves behind him.

“What’s that one?” he says, pointing at a dusty bottle. The proprietor brightens and, taking it down, holds it forth so Sakati can see the label.

“It is ‘Elderly Grandfather’ whiskey,” he says. “From America!” Sakati shudders and steps back.

“Take it away!” he says. “I am not that desperate!” In the end Hibiki’s chief engineer leaves with several bottles of sake. Even these are not premium quality and as he trudges through the rain-slicked streets back to the ship Sakati reflects glumly that it isn’t a shortage of steel, oil, or rubber that will mean the downfall of Japan. It will be the shortage of good liquor.

---

Historical Note #1: Sakati is not alone in his love of scotch. Thanks to the heavy Royal Navy influence on the IJN scotch was the drink of choice for many Japanese naval officers of the time.

Historical Note #2: It should be noted, for fans of American bourbon and whiskey, that almost all American brands of these drinks produced between the end of Prohibition in 1933 and the beginning of World War II were of notably vile quality.

[Hornblower]

excellent read

[Marc gto]

poor jack daniels

[bradfordkay]

For those who love their scotch or even, <shudder>, irish whiskey, bourbon comes across as far too sweet. I can understand Sakati's reaction...&nbsp;

[Mynok]

Agreed. It's good for cooking though....

[tocaff]

A real drinker wouldn't be so picky so I'm thinking that we have a man who enjoys his booze, but doesn't swim in it.&nbsp; A lousy, vile whiskey goes down easier with each swallow. &nbsp;[;)]

[Marc gto]

lol todd what would you know of good whiskey lol...do you still get that down there?

[Capt. Harlock]

Historical Note #2: It should be noted, for fans of American bourbon and whiskey, that almost all American brands of these drinks produced between the end of Prohibition in 1933 and the beginning of World War II were of notably vile quality.

An interesting note. That may explain why Andy Rooney developed his fondness for bourbon after he joined the Army.