The little ship that could.

[1275psi]

Zuiho races East at full power.
Just after 3am, one of the feed pumps suddenly emits an incredible high pitch screech -an ear splitting squeal of distress.
The water tender hurridly shuts it down, and gets the last standby pump online.

Secured, the offending pump is tested under hand throtle - and not un expectantly -does not turn.
There are the usual curses.
The piece of rubbish that has entered this pump is probably no bigger than a grain of rice - the amount of work its is going to cause far, far greater

the men curse. This is a fairly regular occurance on Zuiho -this feed pump rebuild process -but that does not reduce the effort that lays ahead......


(Zuiho system damage leapt from 0 to 2 during the high speed attack run/with drawal)

[1275psi]

30/1/42

Extract from 'Shattering the Sword" A Cantona production (by Amazon books)

.............and the tentacles continued to spread over the Pacific. The end of January saw the empire still hard on the attack
In Malaya, 25th Army stood poised to jump the straights, the allied army in dire straights. Although the British navy had fought a good, hard agressive fight -with one outstanding victory at Sinkawang - the net is now ruthlessly closing.

In Java -the 16th army continued the great underhook -marching North now towards batavia, but with eyes already rising to far further objectives.

In the Solomons, Port Moresby has gone -the defenders struggling now in the jungles. The Imperial fleet is supreme here -the raid on Sydney a stunning blow.

Two allied carriers already lie at the bottom, and Yamamato will spare no effort to get the last ones -if he can.
But all is not doom and gloom - no japanese advance occurs yet in Burma -and the british here are digging in.
The real digging in, takes place in the Phillipines - manilla may be gone -but Clarke field holds -and the japanese appear to have stalled.
And not a single Imperial soldier has yet landed in Minando - this will surely be a tough nut to crack....

Feburary comes quickly -and the Allied Supreme commander is holding to his vow -no retreat, fight every step.. If Japan is going to win -if that impossible dream could be even contemplated -she will have to truly be bold in the months ahead.

This the great Dictator, herbiesan, is detirmined to do.............

[1275psi]

The Minister for Industry, Mr Okura, waits as he does every day outside the dictators rooms.
The dictator is a busy man - so is Okura -but he will wait with out complaint. It is something Japanese are very good at.
Finally, he is ushered into the room. The Dictator -that short angry little turd, is bent over the chart table -as usual.
In the room, quiet. Too one side, a small bar -a giant map of the pacific on one wall. A portrait of the Emperor -a jarring sight considering Japans recent history- and in a small alcove -protected by light curtains -the half hidden sight of a messed up bed -a bed of the european style -another jarring note.

Okura notes -with no surprise at all -that the bed is occupied by the dictators latest 'secretary' -her small form half covered by the silk sheets

"Ahhhhh, Okura, my man -how goes the war on production?'
'well sir -probably the most important detail - kate production is finally happening to order"
The Dictator niether smiles, nor frowns -sometimes one wonders if he actually pays attention to what you say -like a husband listening to a wife -but then, just when you think..................

'Good. I have some news -Zuiho struck Sydney today - your Son is safe -a good hard blow"
'Sydney?"
'Yes - I was clever to think of that -Yamamato said I was a fool, but.......

Okura says nothing. Giving opinions in this place can be very, very dangerous.

herbiesan nods to the Chart. " I have reviewed your figures -and find them acceptable so far. However, a new job Okura.
How much ship lift can we spare for .........THIS........"
THIS -is a plan, already detailed, already well into the process.
Okura briefly takes it in............heavens -, heavens. Does he really mean this!?. Are we really going to do this?......

"Well?"

Give me a minute monkey man, give me a minute........

'I will have to study this sir -its, its .......

'enourmous ney?. Alright. 24hrs -then begin assigning shipping -we will be doing this Okura -all or nothing............"

[1275psi]

30/1/42

Zuiho task force escapes into the pacific wastes -and refuels -this time in sparkling clear calm seas.
Hasegawa receives new orders.
They are...........interesting
Hidaka merely whistles when he reads them. Ok -they can do this............


Below, Zuiho comes down to two boilers again - but keeps the other two 'banked"
It saves fuel -but leaves her free to launch in under an hour.
The Charge and his black gang begin the work on the feed pump.
No, the Charge sets the work -its Okano who draws the short straw to actually do it.


Okano does not mind -this is what he likes -him verses the bitch of a machine he will set right again, good work, honest work with his hands -work one can see progress, see results with -work that really matters.
He will whistle a lot in the days ahead

He will have three men to assist -and by request Lurch is amongst them, Okano actually gets on well with this giant, the tatoos do not worry him, nor the deformed little finger-he likes his quiet strength and stamina.

They will need it. The feed pump is located on the "top plates" - and here the temperature hovers around 140 to 150 degrees f. The nearest blower is three feet away -and the men will take turns under it.
The work begins -the easy part first -yet not the easiest -all the valves associated to the machine are lashed shut -some are in awkward places indeed - lLurch won't be doing these -he wont fit up there amongst the pipes.

Then the spanner work begins -the taking of of auxillary pipe work, the removal of the packing boxes and stuffing.
The men sweat, they pant, they drink copious amounts of water -and need more.

Now for todays real task. 36 bolts -1 and a quarter inches in diameter -each torqued down to many hundreds of pounds -they have to come off to release the cover.
It begins. Lurch swings the sledge, Okano holds the spanner, the others take the nuts, finish the removals.

It will take many hours. Much sweat. Time will pass, and they will barely notice it.
They will beat this bitch.........

[1275psi]

In the ready room - lassitude. They have fought, they have struck. Three men have died.
Now, now that it is over, they have time to think about it

It happened to Tanaka Oh so fast................

[1275psi]

For Mitchell......

A kate

[1275psi]

31/1/42
LTJG Kurihama settles into his seat -adjusts his goggles one last tme. Ahead of him the great blade blurs, blowing the air in a solid blast over him, over the cockpit.

Ahead, Zuiho's bow gently rises and falls -not much, but enough nevertheless if he gets it wrong.
This bloody flight deck is so short..............
The bow drops -and he takes the throttle -pushes it solidly forward, and feels the great blade bite hard into the air.
But it moves so slow...........

Left rudder a tad, a bit more, fighting the torque of the blade, abdthe tail is coming up, gently, gently, and she drops that sickening drop as the flight deck simply runs out, and once again the balancing act - don't stall!, don't stall!
And away, the ocean blue and sparkling below them.
gently climbing now, easing back on the throttle, settling the flaps into place -but the canopy stays back today -it is simply too glorious a day to enclose one self.
2000 feet -and all is good, and he gently banks his big bird, joins the circle of bombers lapping the fleet.
briefly a zero joins him -Diogawa gives a wave, then peels up and away, taking station some where up there.

Kurihama likes this height -likes work of flying these steady laps - likes looking at the ships they protect.
Face it -he likes flying -almost as much as he likes , well as he likes other things.

The ocean, again today, remains empty of anything.
The pacific is a very, very, big place. More than big eneough to hide them in .

[1275psi]

The Cover is off the pump, the wear rings checked. As expected -one has a nasty groove -the piece of rust no bigger than that grain of rice they expected to find has done its devilish work.

The chain blocks swing with Zuiho's motions across the swell -a gentle one today -a blessing -manouvering the cover in heavy weather does not bear contemplating.
Now the drudgery begins. Each face of the pump casings are sealed with gaskets -gaskets that must be scrapped off, measured, traced, hole punched, checked.
The fight every inch of the way, the men bend over the work -over metal as hot as fry pans, patiently scarping the old gaskets away, inch by inch.

They gleam in the boiler room, mostly stripped to nearly nothing, skinny men, young men, fighting a battle few will see.
But it is a battle that welds them all together -immutable, unbreakable.
Bonds of steel, that one day, will be put to the ultimate test.
But not today.
Today they simply work.

[british exil]

Where's the little ship that could?

Need my daily dosage, already having withdrawal symtoms.

Mat

[1275psi]

"For heavens sake! -hold the bloody thing still!"
The cover of the pump, weighing nearly 200 kilos, swings above the pump, the tackle creaking and rattling.
Zuiho is tracking now across the swell, and rolling steadily -and the cover swings with it
Lurch grunts -and strains against the roll -and holds the cover still.
'Steady", Okano almosts whispers. 'steady my little fat dumpling, my little girl, you son of a bitch -soon I will have you in place"
he strokes the warm steel, looks at the gap again between the covers, checks the wear rings yet again -they must not-must not lean, this will lead to a catastrophic jam.......
he nods to the man on the tackle -carefully -more afraind of a rebuke from Okano than anything -he lets the cover down another inch -now a mere three to go.
The ship sways, and the men wait - now, now it is all in the timing......
"Another moment my sweet. another moment...."
Okano may not realise it -but his wife would be totally familiar with his tone of voice now.
This pump is less than being re assembled , more seduced into action.........

Zuiho steadies herself for a moment -and down the cover comes........

'Got you you sweet little trucker............"
Everyone grins, the battle is well on the way now.
The petty officer grabs the shaft 0yes, it turns freely still.
"Ok , lets get the bolts in"
The men turn to obey - now for the next step.

[1275psi]

posts will be slow, cantona away, i am chewing into bank of turns, I like to post a week or so behind events, cantona back very soon I hope.
Thankyou for comments.
I need to put faces to the men -anyone know some good sights with photos of japanese military personal!?

[1275psi]

2/2/42

Task force swift eagle has a new mission, and is currently fullfilling it.
To the men on the little ship, what that mission is remains beyond their pay scale. Only Hasegawa, Hidaka know it, and they fret over it daily. But for now, as the ships trek across the endless wastes, there can only be patience.

The day goes slowly, and how many minds today turn thoughts to home. You can see them -the mechanic who, bent over a cowling, pauses in mid reach for that spanner, the cook, who momentarily stops the great ladle stirring inthe cooker, or the gunner who stops oily that barrell. They stop -and eyes goes blank, they go still -and the thought of home fills them, thoughts of children growing -first steps that will be missed, or anniverseries not celebrated together.

And then, the real world will come racing back in - this world of blue wild seas, the pitching of the ship, its creaks, groans, rattles, the smells, and the ever present whine of the forced draft blowers.

And the work continues

Regularily, the Kates will rumble down the deck -become dots in the blue -searching the wastes. And regularily they will come home -some jolting, bouncing, some having to try again. But so far none have been lost, and that is a blessing so far.
Men eat, sleep, watch, and wait.

From the bridge, occasionally, snippets of the war -that war that is happening somewhere else. The battle for Java continues, but singapore remains defiant.

In the main though, the war may as well be on another planet.






Below, in the stink - the bolts around the casing are in -each now has to be labourisly tightened down, first to 50, then 100. then 250, then 500 KN.
The torque wrench is huge -and the men will add a length of pipe to its handle to gain advantage . But the process will be slow -pipe work rarely allows a clear swing -you will have to tighten a little, remove the socket, move it a flat, and go again.
And maybe again.
There is little talking now, and few jokes. Exhaustion is setting in, and life boils down to grunting, sweating, swearing, grabbing some air under the blower, and going again.
By midnight, they are done.
Okano repacks the pump himself - trusting no one else with this vital task.

At 3 am, the throttle is cracked, and the pump turns, begins the bedding in of the packing.
There will be a few smiles.
The charge will simply say -well done -and that is nearly reward enough 'Go to bed -and take tomorrow off" -is more then enough reward



'Minobe on the phone sir"
'Captain speaking"
'Feed pump repairs complete sir"
'Ahh, very good engines, thank you"
Hasegawa returns to the signal '"Strike @#$%$#"


(Zuiho's system damage reduces from 2 to 1 while at sea)




Operations LOG
Continue to fly 30% CAP/search missions.
No contacts, no sightings, nil incidents

From Captains Log

Ordered to strike at new objective.
Will require refuelling first, and a hard steam. We can do it.


Diary of the charge

Quiet day
Repairs to feed pump complete.
Conducted routine boiler swings, soot blows, bottom blows.
feed good, fresh good, fuel good. Food crap.

[hosho]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

'enourmous ney?. Alright. 24hrs -then begin assigning shipping -we will be doing this Okura -all or nothing............"

nice to see that his deviousness is up to new plans. another great aar herbs! keep it going

ORIGINAL: 1275psi
feed good, fresh good, fuel good. Food crap.

nice touch [:D]

[1275psi]

HI Hosho! -genuinly pleased to hear from you again!!

(would you like another guest spot as the story develops?)

[1275psi]

3/2/42

Yamamoto bends over the chart.. Around him his staff stand and wait. Overhead, beating futily in the humid air, a fan casts endless shadows around the room.
On one wall, quietly, supposedly hidden from every eye in the room (although every eye is aware of it) a gecko clings against the rough concrete, waiting for supper to fly by.
It is very quiet -except for the fan, but the air is very thick, and heavy with expectation.

Combined fleet has worked, sweated, slaved over this chart, this plan. Now Yamamoto stares at it, seeking to find a flaw.
There is, of course many damn flaws in the plan -the first being at bloody war with the Americans in the first place -if only he could have hit pearl as he had wished too -damn conservative navy Staff -damn them.
Too risky -why bring down the wrath of America, they had said.
Well, sending Lexington and yorktown to the bottom had made them angry enough!

He contemplates the chart -the little pins representing so many ships, so many men. So much risk.

"The weather?" he asks
'It is turning lousy sir"
he grunts -'Good, lousy is very good"

If first fleet thought Pearl was crazy -let them chew on this. But they can't stop this -not now -Nagumo is too deep now..

He straightens " Alright then. Rolling Thunder is ordered. Signal Hasegawa - strike as planned"

[1275psi]

Nagumo is wakened. For a moment, he wonders where he is -then, as he has done so many times before, he reaches for the light -takes the signal from the patient seaman.
'Three am sir" -he does not need to be asked -Nagumo always asks....

The Signal is brief
'execute"
'Inform Captain Hara -he knows what to do"

he falls swiftly asleep again - barely noticing the increased vibration as Akagi works to full speed.


Hasegawa too is awakened.
He too takes the signal -nods. But he does not return to sleep, instead he slips on his slippers, and gently shffles onto the bridge.
It is very still -and quiet - Zuiho gently nosing the swells.
"Its very quiet sir -no contacts, nothing seen. Formation is tight -visibility good" The OOW sounds confident, relaxed -and this is what really tells the state of the watch .

'Good"

For a few minutes he stands in the dark -and is surprised to think -there is nothing to do -now. The die is cast then. Soon we go into action again. but for now -how easy to think its 22 again -and we are about to see the lights of San Fransico......
ahhhhhhhhh, so long ago. Such good times.
And now we must fight them.
The world truly is mad.

time is ticking -and sleep is so precious.......... "call me 15 before dawn"
"Aye sir"

Wearily, he slides back into bed. A last thought, its a wierd war when you fight it in slippers.......

[hosho]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

HI Hosho! -genuinly pleased to hear from you again!!

(would you like another guest spot as the story develops?)

it is also nice to see that your writing is still superb! if you think that it wouldn`t spoil this aar... than i am all for it [8D]

[1275psi]

4/2/42

Just before dark, Hasegawa enters the bridge. All eyes turn to him, awaiting the order.
his tone -now so familiar, is gentle. 'Once more into the breech ney?"
The men nod. The OOW becomes rigid, and salutes his Captain. "we are ready sir"
Hasegawa takes post before the binnacle, Here he will remain until this ends, one way or the other.
Now the voice, trained by years of command, is sharp, clear -and hard
"general quarters. Prepare aircraft for strike. Starboard ten, full ahead all"

Zuiho turns nimbly, settles into her new course, bow rising, creaming in the growing swell. Ahead, a glowing sun, dipping below the horizon -a horizon of solid dark grey clouds, the ocean dark, menacing, racing by.
Zuiho turns, into the unknown again.



Zuiho is at action stations now -her guns manned, her lookouts posted.
In her hangers, the crews labour, the bombs again being winched up the armoured trunks, fitted to the chain blocks, placed into the trollies -and with grunting effort pushed under the birds.
Other men polish wings, others hand pump the gas, 100's of gallons at a time -and the smaell of gas, grease, oil, lingers in the air.
Here the lights are bright, the activity ordered, and time flies by, there is little time to think of what lies ahead.

It is not so easy in other areas.
Zuiho, below all this action, is a quiet ship -her passage ways deserted. Scattered through out her -pockets of men, closed up behind bolted down doors, dogged hartches. They sit at repair bases, or in Danmage control central, or in isolated auxillary compartments -and wait.

No it is not so easy in these areas, as Zuiho rides the swells, there is plenty of time to think............



Hidaka gathers the men in the ready room, bracing himself against the ships movements. Chairs occasionally move, and the model planes hanging from the ceiling, play their own little dog fights, swirling, twirling on the end of their strings.
Even the map moves.

His pointer slaps the target.
'gentlemen -target -Noumea"
His men barely react -he may as well have said target -the dark side of the moon. And this is no surprise -for they know as much about Noumea as they do of the hidden second light
'Strike will be at 0500 - launch at 0400. We intend to launch standard naval search as rostered these last three days at 0300"
"Crud" Kamisaka growls, he has drawn the short straw.
'targets sir?" Ogawa ventures

Now for the difficult bit. how do you tell them this? like you tell every warrior -straight up -as they deserve.
he smiles -"Not known -whatever we find"
That gets a reaction..............and many pilots shift uneasily in their seats
'Opposition?"
The smile broadens -after all, what else is there in this ridiculous situation?
'Unknown -probably very little"
A few snorts of disgust fill the room -but that is all. After all -all know that if a thousand fighters awaited them -they would still go............

Hasegawa places his hands on his hips -'men the dope is this. No recon, no warning. total surprise. we are here to, and I quote our military genius Yamamoto - 'to make a nuisance of ourselves." This we will do - we will strike -hit whatever looks juicy -get the hell out"

silence

'Any questions?
There are none
'Alright then -here are the operational details..............."






The Charge -again, prowls. Labouriously again making his way around the ship -checking, checking. He shares tea in the Port boiler room, something stronger in the main engine room.
Zuiho is in good shape, ready for whatever comes at her.
This time -despite her movements, her steady rise and fall, her roll, he finds nothing loose, nothing free to fly.
By midnight he too is in his position.

There is nothing to do now, but wait.

[british exil]

There is nothing to do now, but wait.

This is the hard bit now, just waiting for the planes to return and the pilots to tell their tales.

Mat

[1275psi]

5/2/42

Just after 3 am, the weather -already bad -turns worse.
Now Zuiho buries her bows into the dark masses of sea, and great phosphorous rapids crash across the focastle, and, as the hour passes, begin to smash into the base of the bridge.
It begins to rain -not your piss poor temperate zone rain, but a tropical deluge -and much of it blown almost parrallel.
Hasegawa watches, and judges, and watches -but he must acknowledge the facts -keep slamming into this...........
'reduce to ten knots -we must ride this out"

Unbidden, but well in tune to the events around him, Hidaka soon too turns up on the bridge.
"We cannot strike in this"
The men glance at each other -and both commanders know full well what this could mean. In two hours time, it will be daylight, and Swift eagle will be barely 100 miles off Noumea -helpless.

Hidaka states the obvious " If there are bombers at Noumea -and they are not socked in like us.........."
Hasegawa grips the binnacle tightly "a long day ahead.........we must stay ready. The gun crews are going to hate this"


A long day indeed.
All day, in the grey angry sea, the task group inches forward, the grey sky scudding close overhead.
Flying is impossible from her decks -even attempts to move the planes below a deadly task.
Hasegawa is right, the gun crews, the lookouts will spend a miserable day - wet, and ironically here almost on the equator -cold.

Below decks, misery too. Sea sickness stalks the passageways -vomitting is a catching disease -once one man places his head down -many are going to follow.........

Time will crawl today -a nightmare of waiting, waiting, waiting for bombers to burst from the grey...........

Oh yes, it will be a long day indeed...........