The little ship that could.

[1275psi]

Thanks Insano
Trust me, we don’t have to repeat it in the AAR very often, but nearly every day the Charge is having that sort of conversation with Minobe.
And today is one of them………..


May 14th
(system damage up yet another point


Swift eagle will return south today, cover the battleships as they pound Port Blair, and then return towards home.
Naval History will show exactly that –any and every text you read will give you the account – the four battlewagons, detached now from convoy escort –ranging up and down Port Blairs flank, sowing destruction and death.
If the text is a weighty one –it may even show Swift eagles track to the south, and, if you are lucky, her air operations for the day.

It would take a real historian , with access to Zuiho’s log, to get the real meaning involved in todays work.

Hasegawa eyes Minobes figure at his door. Instantly he can tell – the fat barsted has trouble for him.
“Yes engines?” there is a sigh with this…(who will rid me of the troublesome priest?)
‘Sir –as discussed, the boiler swings?”
Ahh, the boiler swings…….bloody inconvenient things “Can we delay another day Engines? –big day today”
“Ah……….No Sir, we can’t – salinity is really getting high, and we must conduct some soot blows today”
Silence

There it is, My Captain. You look at me as if I were a bug, and yet, all I tell you is this, the facts. Machines are machines. Physics is physics. Bushido will cannot force a boiler to stay clean…………..

Why are you so Inflexible?. Why do you not understand? –I need to launch fighters, to launch planes, to fight a war. Cannot you just give me this?
Bloody engineers.
Hasegawa considers the calm waters passing steadily under her bows. Overhead, the beat of Aero engines, another fighter about to depart.
On the horizon –four great towering pagoda structures – 1st fleet battlewagons hauling into view.
‘Alright then Engines. But –and I mean but –you will comply with my requirements……..”


later

Underneath the Turbo generator, Hirate and Okano steadily work on the Condensate pump. It now lies scattered across the work bench –and as expected, it was a worn impeller wear ring that has jammed the pump –shattered the bearing, brocken the flexible coupling –and other stuff.
With out discussion, in silent agreement –both men too see that the bearings should be changed as well.
A big job, but doable.

They work steadily, alone in the depths of the space.
Around them, the machinery hums along, and ears keep half cocked to what is happening-even down here, remote from the action, you can follow today.

A seaman comes down, opening the main engine drains – a sure sign that the boiler swing expected, is happening
‘This will be interesting” Note Okano
‘”say again”
This –the boiler swing –glad it is not me”
Hirate looks up –the engine is working up to high speed –again – definitely not ideal for a swing “Yes –it will be difficult”

Difficult
Yes, it will be
Three times today, they will bring the boiler to connection pressure –seek steady revs –and be refused
Three times.
Three shut downs, three re lights
By days end , frustration, weariness.
But successful completion.

One of the men will complain to the Charge –‘can’t they just understand?”
And get an answer he does not expect
“Its not our propulsion plant my friend –its Hasegawa’s –and don’t you forget it”

Hirate cuts himself on a burr of metal
“Ah, Truk!”
Okano laughs “ Ahh-now I know this job will work again”
‘What?” Hirate sucks the bleeding thumb ‘What the truk are you on about?”
‘It’s a blood sacrifice my friend –every repair demands one”
Hirate shakes his head. “You are bloody mad Okano”
Okano grins deeply “Hirate – have you ever wondered why I have the nice cool engine room watchkeeping , and you sweat your blood out in the boiler room?”
‘Because you suck, and I don’t?’
‘No! –because I bleed on every job –I know what this bitch of a ship wants……..”


Extract from Shattering the sword –a cantona production

Mobile fleet lurks east of Milne bay.
Taking advantage of the cover provided, Southern Command moves 24th Flottilla to Munda –no small operation for her stretched resources. Ironically, it is this naval movement that is discovered by the allies. Tracked by several SS, the large concentration of shipping is noted, and assessed.
Allied plans swing into action. Munda will be “messed up”





Dusk
Akagi’s bridge
Captain Hara hesitates. Should he take this to Nagumo? –or not.
Damn it. His guts tell him.
‘Sir?’
Nagumo – his moon face smiling, turns to Akagi’s Captain “Yes Hara?’
In for a penny………
‘Sir – I think we should sail due east – nearer to Lunga?
“How so?
A hunch sir a report of a lost search plane east of Lunga, another lost earlier to the south, but……….”
‘But?”
‘But mostly a hunch –I just…………just feel we should”

Nagumo considers his Captain
His younger, fighting captain
One who truly understands this carrier business..
‘A Hunch yes?”
‘Yes”

“Alright then……………turn Combined fleet east –take us to Lunga”

[1275psi]

15/5/42

Re fuelling
Already we have spoken many times about the liquid gold.
About its transfer between ships.
And about how short Japan is with it, here, where the war needs it.

Combined fleet –moving due east on Hara’s hunch –makes little progress today – spending hour after precious hour topping up destroyers tanks, Dusk will find them still 240 miles due east of Lunga

For Hara, the frustration level climbs. Not for the hundredth time does he ask him himself what damn fool insisted that the short range kamikaze class DD’s accompany them –almost useless in battle, yet still taking as long as any other ship to refuel.
His Anxiety only grows when another radio report comes in – many ships 120 miles North east –North east for heavens sake –of Lunga.
A reporting –and then a silence –another search plane gone.
Nagumo listens to his plea for a dash east –and merely shrugs – refueling.
Besides –the old man thinks that this is just another false report – how could an Allied task force possibly get there undetected by Munda’s planes?

But Munda is closed –stormed in – a fact Nagumo, Hara,, are blissfully unaware of……


Another piece of the puzzle however falls into place near midday
“many ships Tarawa” –from the Junyo.
She is in range
Tomorrow, at dawn, she will strike



Mitchell views the rusty buckets at anchor outside the lagoon wih pleasure.
Too him, one ship looks like another.
As soon as these fine transports have unloaded - he will be going home.
All things considered –in the end, this little adventure has been worth it – he will live with these memories forever.
He may even miss the place.
Even De Bashio too………

[kaleun]

Great buildup.

[1275psi]

16/5/42

Swift eagles mission is completed
25th Army has been delivered.
Port Blair neutralized by the battle wagons guns

Gratefully, pleased that another task has been done, Hasegawa turns his ships home




Dawn is breaking on Akagis’ bridge –that half light that hides so well everyone’s fatigue.
You can say what you like about Combined Fleets Commander –but this he knows –his duty.
For nearly 40 years now, he has met each dawn like this, on the bridge of some warship –on some sea.
Ten thousand dawns, ten thousand seas.
Everyone different. But everyone flowing into his veins –keeping him young, keeping him alive.
Hara joins him, and silently they contemplate the growing Dawn, simply pleased to share this.
It is a moment that only those of the sea know –and can appreciate.
Dawn. Another precious day begins

‘Admiral! –another sighting report! – many ships –steaming North east, 20 knots –120 miles east, Lunga!.
The two men turn to each other. There is nothing to be said between them.
Nagumo merely nods.
Hara bends to the voice tube
“Raise squadron signal. Course 090. All ships battle speed one”
And now Nagumo speaks, calm, considered. “So, Yamamoto was right ney?. A chase then it is. “
A chase. Already Hara can feel the increased vibration in his feet, as his Mighty ship begins hauling herself towards full speed
Nagumo’s voice holds a hint of rancor……”Hara –detach those useless kamikaze class too while we are at it, God knows why I brought them along……..”



Mitchell clambers into the small boat, takes his place. He has arrived here with Nothing but his clothes on his back. Now, he will go home much the same.
But the Lord would provide –this he is sure of.

The little boat, heavily loaded with walking wounded, put puts gently across the shallow lagoon towards the deep green of the break in the lagoon, and towards the AP Ormiston that will be their ride back home.

Mitchell day dreams – until rudely, a shout from the coxswain brings him back.
The beat of Aero engines overhead – and now the bang, bang, bang, crack, of AA guns, and the motor no longer Put, put, putting, but bellowing, straining, complaining about this full throttle load..
They are racing for the shore now –a thousand yards away, and never, ever, have they , has he , felt so exposed.
Overhead, the beat is now a great growl – rising to a shriek, as the dive bombers begin to dive

Mitchell has to look-does look –and immediately regrets it – the peeling bombers glint in the early sun –growing, growing, the noise , the shrieking rising –and he tries to hide, to shrink, but in this boat there is no where to hide……

Bomb falling

Curling up, praying ? –no –not praying –too scared to do anything but listen to death scream down at them –so exposed, they can’t miss, they can’t miss………..

KKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAATHUUUUUUMMMMMMPPPPPP!
Impact
AP Ormiston takes the first.
And another
The AK, one, two, three…………

A Val roars, deafeningly straight over head – her gunner sprays bullets their way, and the coxswain, so straight, slumps, and the boat lurches hard right, the motor to idle –and another Val comes towards them.
There is no time to think, to contemplate –Mitchell dives for the throttle, the tiller –and is urging her forward, come on! As the water erupts behind them –missing –and the bomber flashes over head so close he ducks, convinced that he is about to be hit.

And now the beach –the guns, the roar of fighters, the singing of bullets from the straffing, the splashing, the grabbing of bodies, the trench, and in –gasping, gasping, sand in the face, in the mouth –gritty, horrible –but saying, you live!, you live!

And De Bashio laughing – ‘Couldn’t leave me hey kid!”,

[kaleun]

Very well done!
I'm wondering who could play De Bashio in the movie. If it was done in the 60's I could see Robert Mitchum, unshaved standing on the beach with a bent Lucy Strike on his lips.
Today? Who knows among all these whippersnappers.

[1275psi]

17/5/42

Captain Masuyama is not very happy.
In fact –he is livid.
For the tenth time, he takes his star sighting.
Beyond annoyed, he clambers down I-169’s conning tower, plots his position.
For the tenth time, he checks the chart.
There is no doubt.
They are out of position –terribly. Bad weather , lack of sightings, excuses, yes.
Captain Masuyama does not do excuses.

‘We are 40 miles east of our ordered position.. “Come right –full ahead both –new course 180!”
Angrily he moves forward, steadying himself against the boats roll. Forty miles, a bad mistake. Two boats in the same area means a hole in the line….his hole.
And what if something slipped through?
Still angrily he makes to his cabin, begins to struggle with his oil skins, the damn toilet is too small for him wearing them.
He has barely sat………
“Captain! –noise contact –due south –many props –high speed!”
Timing, at times – is everything

He explodes. ‘”Captain here! –tell the damn Officer of the watch to dive the boat then! –hands to battle stations!”

Goddamn timing……………

A still angry captain enters the command center, the red light totally failing to disguise the fire in his eyes.
“let me have it!’
‘Many ships –still bearing south –they will come right over us at this rate!
‘Port ten –slow ahead both – depth 50 feet!”
Now, lets take a look…………
‘Up scope”

Eye to the scope……….and……..
‘Down SCOPE!, prepare for torpedo attack –prepare tubes one to six!”
he glances to his XO – ‘Enterprise carrier! – coming right at us – destroyers to Port –and starboard”
Timing is everything………
A snap shot……..all he has time for

“UP Scope! –lose our depth swain and you send us all to hell!”………..she is right THERE……… Port Five!, steady!.Fire ONE!, FIRE TWO!, FIRE THREE!, FIRE FOUR!, FIRE FIVE!, FIRE SIX! Dive us deep –full ahead all –hard to port –standby for depth charge attack!

And already overhead, the whoosh, whoosh, beat, beat of many screws……….

CRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAANG!
A hit!
CRAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNG!
Another hollow bang –another hit!
Ka bang! –was that another!

But no more time for contemplation, for the destroyers, already, are above them, and the nightmare must begin……………

[1275psi]

17/5/42

Mitchell awakens to gentle shaking.
It is still mostly dark, and two impressions enter his mind
De Bashio’s eyes, grim, and troubled.
And an island silent, silent except for the pounding of the waves on the beach
‘Time to get up kid, and make sure your loaded……”

Mitchell struggles out of his “rack” and peers out of his now totally familiar hole.
Dawn –apparently, is breaking.
But the sky today is grey, grey, grey. Grey sky, grey sea, and there –making his heart beat just a little faster………..the great towing shapes leading on the horizon – and beyond that – more grey shapes –hull down still, but unmistakable –transports.
Many, many transports.

Carefully Mitchell reaches for his canteen –mouth suddenly very, very dry……
‘Not unless you really need it kid”
De Bashio advises.’Its going to be a long day –save it until you really need a drink”
Mitchell nods
Silently, he places himself into the hands of God, and then, taking his rifle firmly into his hand, moves over to The sergeant
Two men, on the southern point of Tarawa, wait for whatever fate sends there way.



Zuiho continues south.
The condensate pump is fixed, but another one has failed too…………it goes like that at times.
Tomorrow they re enter the straights.
4 enemy subs have been sighted there this week alone
The escorts range ahead – searching. But sometimes, all you can do, is trust to luck…….

[PaxMondo]

3 into a Yorktown class CV?  Wow.  That hurt ...

[1275psi]

0900 hours

“144th regiment shall attack
Leave none alive.
Man the assault boats”


It takes quite a few hours, this preparation for the execution.
The two battleships slowly hauling into position opposite the southern end of the island, the transports forming up, the boats being loaded –the khaki swarming down the sides.

It takes time, and it happens in silence, tarawa’s guns waiting for the boats to come into range.
Arrogantly the Japanese go about their work, convinced that this invasion will follow all that have gone before, that the island will soon fall.
Finally, the pieces are in place. The great tubes turn towards them, and belching flame, Nagato and Mutsu begin the work.
And overhead, the Vals dive down again.


It must have seemed impressive –to the troops loading –the great guns barking –the terrible explosions ashore –palm trees being shredded, dust billowing.
For an hour the bombardment pounds, then, guns empty, the silence. Destroyers will move in to cover –three of them, and some PG’s –but they won’t be needed –nothing could survive THAT.
1000 hours –and a swarm of small boats depart the protection of the fleet –loaded to the hilt with troops, and begin to run towards the reef, the gap in the reef, and anywhere they can find on the southern tip of Tarawa.
Swords flash in the sun, and 144th draw near………


“Are you ready lad?”
Mitchell is ready
As far as he can tell –no one –not a man, has been hurt by the bombardment – not a bunker damaged, not a trench destroyed.
He grips his rifle, stands in his trench. “More than ready Sergeant, more than ready”
And much to his surprise, Mitchell is.
And as one –the defenders fire.



1021 hrs

“A message sir!’
From I-169 –have sunk Enterprise class CV, position 320 miles South east of Tarawa island –260 miles south east ocean island!”
Akagi’s bridge breaks into excitement, Hara races to the chart………
‘Damn! –they are still too far away!.
A carrier sunk!
But are there more? –what is the enemies intentions! –and, double damn –they could, if they continue course –hit the invasion tomorrow.
‘Do you think there are other carriers?’
Nagumo too, has thought the same. The Army can go to hell –but Mutsu, Nagato – they stand now in mortal danger.
‘Send to Junyo – enemy fleet coming your way – prepare for naval strike at once!
And this
“Get onto fourth fleet –get a search there! –I need a contact report other than this!”

1100
Mitchells gun grows hot in his hand –and his mouth tastes of sulphour.
His ears ring from the bedlam of battle……….
But he keeps on firing.
Again he takes aim at another figure frantically trying to wade across the shallow lagoon –again he fires –again the figure falls.
Another –bang, and then another.

This is not an invasion, it’s a slaughter………….


Extract from Shattering the sword –a cantona production.

Never, ever, has the foolishness of pitting men against steel, will against preparation, been so vividly portrayed.
Not a boat gets across the reef.
Not one
Tides –that should be in –are out –and just don’t come in
The men –sliced from all sides, hit by artillery, mortars, 500 guns, abandon the boats, and try to make for the point.
Some seek shelter, or find it by good fortune, in the freshly smashed coral of the bombing.
Many, a great many don’t.
By 1400 hours, of the 5000 men sent ashore –3000 are dead, and the survivors shelter on a tiny strip of beach, along a single rockwall –or struggle still, helpless on the reef.
Tarawa’s lagoon, literally turns red.


1800 hours
‘Message from Mutsu”
Nagumo nods
“landings in great difficulty. Will continue to try after dark. Losses heavy, but gaining”

For a few minutes Nagumo thinks.
He now has word from 4th fleet.
The enemy races ahead – 3 carriers strong –according to the reports.

But he, following hard North – remains unseen……..
The trap, so carefully set –may just yet snap shut.
‘Inform Mutsu – withdraw immediately. Junyo to cover. Leave light transports behind as bait.
Inform Tanaka to bring his Cruisers into strike range of Tarawa, but no closer.”
Nagumo turns to his staff ‘ The invasion was always the bait. It has been taken. If we remain hidden tomorrow, and he stays at Tarawa – we have them, us from the South, Junyo and Tanaka from the North.
Hara! –do we have fuel for another day at this speed?’
Bitterly, the answer – ‘No sir –we must slow down, we are down to 30%”

Only Nagumo’s clenching fist reveals the frustration.


He is tired now.
Shaking.
He has been sick.
Terribly sick.
Mitchell views the sea of corpses lapping the shore –and his very soul is torn.
Man is truly a terrible creature………..

A mere 100 yards away –in the dark –he can hear them –the Japanese girding themselves. Shouts. Calls, singing.
Madmen, madmen preparing to die.
And preparing to take some of the enemy with them.



Off shore, on the lead transport, blood here too.
144th’s commander has taken the honorable course. HE will not withdraw.
Never.
The transports hurry North though, carrying his body away……


2400 hours
They come
Screeching, screaming, yelling, they come.
Out of the dark –nightmarish shadows lit by the flares, jittering, in the tracer, shadows, falling, falling –and still they come..

A huge shadow crashes into Mitchells trench –and the stench of blood is thick –a flash of a bayonet –and De Bashio is pulling him up –‘You OK kid?’ –but another, and another fall into them –and a body is there –hard – and they claw at each other –rolling, rolling –and he is so strong this man –and desperation drives him –Mitchell bites –a scream –a taste of blood –and the figure slumps as his knife ( knife? When did I pick that up?) buries deep into him


A gurgle beside him
De Bashio - blood streaming from a shattered chest……….NO!, Not you,!, NO!
‘”So I guess I meet this Jesus guy huh………..
And there is nothing to be said, to do except to cradle a friend……..’’Yes I guess you will friend –and he will be glad to meet you……….”

And silence fills the battle field.
And soon it is dawn.
Dawn of the dead

[kaleun]

Awesome

[1275psi]

18/5/42

Zuiho steams steadily south, Victoria point of her Port beam.
Seas are calm

Below, for the Charge –it’s a long day

Condensate pump – “its truked”
Fire pump – ‘Its totally truked”
The myriad of steam leaks from valves through out the spaces “ You’ve gotta be truking me”
The defects are piling up below

Zuiho steams serenely across the calm seas – not unlike a duck –calm above the water line, mad frantic action below…………….


Tarawa.
Three more small transports join the growing masses of metal surrounding the island –Japanese this time –struck on dawn by “a vast number of planes attack us”
A useless report – sowing doubt amongst Akagi’s Command.
Asking for clarification is pointless – nobody Japanese remains able to answer.

But , and this is the crux of it –the Allied carriers have continued North –and Combined fleet –running on fumes –is forced to slow, and give up the chase –her tankers are a long way away.
For several hours Hara urges Nagumo to send Junyo in from the North – even to damage one enemy would give them a chance.
He refuses.
‘They cover the battlewagons”
Hara just knows Nagumo retains a soft spot for those dinosaurs…..

At 0900, a contacts is spotted, to the North –but just out of range.
Identity unknown –reported as ‘tankers”
The destroyers need refueling again, the contact must wait.

To say that Mobile fleet is frustrated is no understatement.
Only the enemy turning back south to Noumea will give them a chance now.





On the other side of the empire –Hosho contemplates a body before him
It is British –and has been lying here for some time………..
Hosho’s boots are had it.
Worn away, destroyed.
But this poor buggars – his feet look just about his size………..

Prome in Burma falls – and the Japanese Army swarms towards Mandalaby

It is midday when Nagumo makes a decision.
‘Set battle speed three. We will have to wait and see what happens”


What happens tomorrow, is confusing, to say the least..........

[1275psi]

19/5/42

At dawn, Nagumo sends Soryu’s deck strike North –over night it has become apparent that the allies are going to get away –two carriers tracked 40 miles due east of Tarawa overnight.
If anything, the tankers expected would not really satisfy the enormous expenditure of fuel and machinery wear this little adventure had cost.

To say the Men on Akagi’s bridge are stunned as the attack reports that the target is a carrier –escorted by but a single destroyer –is an understatement.

Which carrier?
Another one?
Could the torpedoed carrier of this week had survived that?

Apparently it could……..

This time –this time, the Hornet is definitely killed, her escort too.

The attack by them, however firmly reveals their position.
For the allies, with carriers reported to the North, others to the south, there is only one choice –they flee north east.

Combined fleet scours the oceans –and finds CL Honolulu to the east – 3 bombs strike her.

The second battle of the Gilberts has gone totally not how Japan expects it.
Tarawa holds
One allied carrier, a destroyer sunk
3 small Japanese ships lost –but two regiments shattered.

There is bitter disappointment in mobile fleet, as they set course for Truk

[PaxMondo]

USN CV's are tough, no question.  I never assume they are dead unless I see their airgroups destroyed and even then not always.

[1275psi]

20/5/42

0300 hrs

Hasegawa doses in his seat on the Starboard side of the bridge . He has succumbed to the inevitable, age, hours, stress. The seat is new.
But it is a trap. He intended to stay awake as Zuiho passes down these most dangerous of waters.
But right now, he snoozes………

Below, the charge sleeps.
Minobe sleeps
Hidaka too.

Hirate is on watch, Okano, in the matching Engine room. The watch is quiet, and they keep awake with banter over the comms circuit.
Lurch seeks tea in the mess.
All of our pilots sleep, most in the ready room.

Most of the ship sleeps, the strain of the last week overtaking them..
The lookouts, the watch keepers are awake , but we must admit –too many minds are turned towards Singapore this night.

Swift eagle passes through the dark night, silently, intent on making home.

Two miles ahead, a periscope turns their way.
Her crew, is most definitely not asleep……………….

[PaxMondo]

Uh oh ... Da da da da <jaws theme> ...

[kaleun]

What he said.

[1275psi]

Hasegawa is playing with his daughters, how beautiful they are.
They are in the dining room, building a temple with wooden blocks, the foundations now complete.

Suddenly, Kirii looks up……….and the real world comes crashing in, ALARM!, ALARM!
For a moment, he is stunned.
‘Ryujo reports torpedo strikes on her bow ! –duds!”
and almost immediately……. ‘Action ahead! – Star shells, shoot, shoot, shoot!”
The starboard forward 4.7’s fire –the crash both brutally loud and bright in the dark, and Hasegawa is still struggling from his chair, mind STILL groping for the reality, as the world ahead lights up in the glare of the shells.

‘Periscope! Dead ahead –200 yards!”

Sweet heavens……………he has us……………..what should I do?……….
Move Hasegawa you idiot, move!
Awake.
Awake now, vital moment lost, vital, but he has it now….
Crisp, clear.
‘Full ahead all! “ he barks “ Helmsman –ram it ! –“ starboard 20!”
“HIE!!!!”

Okano is writing up his log as the telegraphs crash to full ahead….
‘Crap!”
The rounds board is flung away, clattering across the plates, and Okano is reaching for the comms, even as the great throttle begins to spin under his hands
‘Full ahead Hirate! –hang on friend, give me steam !” –and hands are gripping the throttle –and it is turning, a race for revolutions against the needle of the steam pressure gauge.
His Third claw is bringing on the main circ – now bringing on the second ejectors.

Hirate, steamer of the watch, is not at his position…………..
Lulled by a days steady steaming, he is 10 feet away, polishing bright work –the Captain may not want to inspect the spaces , but he will be damned if they won’t be ready if he does.
There is a garbled message from Okano –the ring of the bells –and he drops his rag, races for the fuel throttle, the blower throttle.
Full ahead………….God -…..heavens Okano –wait!.


‘Action stations, action stations!, close all openings!’
The tanoy blares, and the ship bursts into life.

A mere twenty seconds have passed………


Zuiho begins to turn – the periscope pops under, 100 yards away, and the flares die –plunging them into dark –eyes blind now, night vision destroyed…..

Action stations at 3 am………..can only mean one thing. The ready room freezes –each pilot mentally, and physically tensing, waiting for the crash of the torpedo that must be coming their way……
Kurihara laughs –‘hey Ogawa! –hope you can swim –told you not to leave your preserver below in your cabin!”
It is a poor joke………….
The ready room hangs on against the heel of zuiho – about them the ship an ants nest……..

‘Come on Hirate! –give me steam!” Okano grits his teeth, mutters again, ‘Come on buddy!, come on!”
Their shaft is fully lagging the other by nearly thirty revs, far too many, far too many.
The comms burst into life –Minobe from damage central –where he can see perfectly well relayed pressures and revs ‘ Do we have a problem Okano!”
S$%t
‘No sir!, no problem, we are coming up now!”
“I think 30 revs and 50 lbs is a problem –fix it!”
‘Sir!’

Zuiho heels into the dark –her guns crash again –but the artificial starlight reveals nothing……..
‘Ship closed up sir!”
“very good……………damnation, that was too close……

A destroyer races past, cutting across their stern, heeling hard, lights flashing at her.
Hasegawa tries to see, , damn this under cover cave of a bridge! Moves to the port wing –and freezes - the destroyer has dropped a spread – close, very close to his stern –
‘Brace men, brace!”

Hammer blows as the charges go off –shaking little phoenix to the core.

‘Truk!” as one the ready room ducks.
As pilots, indomitable.
Here, as passengers, in the dark –mere men.
Giant hammers strike the ship –and almost as one –she curses that single expletive.


Okano ducks too –as does the Charge, now at his station beside him – and the lagging dust falls as rain about them.
‘All spaces damage report!’

For a few moments the space is quiet –except of course for the now thundering roar of the engines at full speed, the scream of the blowers sucking in the torrents of air for the boilers……..
‘No damage Starboard boiler room!’
No damage Starboard engine room!’
‘’I have lost 150 to 15 reducer here! “ Hirate is yelling –and even over the comms, they can hear the leak-got to isolate it!’
The charge answers –and grins as he does ‘ Do it –the cooks will love us again!”
He nods to Okano –“open the emergency cross buddy –and watch your gland steam closely”

‘Minor damage below reported sir – but maneuvering unimpaired”
Hasegawa wipes his brow – how in the hell did that sub penetrate the screen?
And how in the hell did he miss?
‘resume course and speed. Set condition two………..and get Minobe, I want to know why Zuiho responded so sluggishly……..”


Below, as the turbine begins to wind back towards more sane revolutions, the charge takes one last look about the space –dawn action stations is 90 minutes away, he has a day to plan .
His eyes freeze
The salinity probe coming of the main condensate pump is nearly off the scale….
He points to it-and Okano too freezes.
“test! – you (fingers stabbing towards the third hand) condensate sample –now!’
The young man grabs the sample bottle –disappears below the steaming plates, and for the men above, eternity passes.
Panting, he re emerges, pours some sample into the test tube.
They crowd around –the drop of silver nitrate hits the sample –and the cloud is instant, and thick…..
The main condensate is rotten to the core –some where in the condenser, salt water is freely mixing with the condensate –the bang has –undoubtedly – wrecked a tube –or tubes…..
Charge reaches for the comms
‘Bridge Port engine! –request emergency shut down port engine –trail shaft –contaminated condensate!”

Another eternity ………..”approved-trail port shaft. Charge to bridge………”
“Shut it down Okano! –and get cross connected!
Let me know when we are down!.’
And grimly now – ‘Another challenge for us from the bitch ney?’



(system damage leaps to 8! Today)







Midday
Hirate explains to Minobe the lack of boiler response.
It does not wash
Again –there is a beating.

[1275psi]

Domestic dramas - i am learning how to repair roofs! LOL

May 21

Zuiho travels for the next 12 hours ‘trailing ‘ the shaft.
The great propeller free wheels, and the turbine itself makes a distinctive, and unsettling whooshing noise, as the blades act like fans.
The Charge gets the watch keepers to remove inspection hatches to prevent the blades overheating, and the process of isolating the condensor sea water side takes place.
Precious feed water is dumped, and all preparations are made to effect repairs –when they get alongside in Singapore.

Get alongside

No easy task for a carrier on one shaft
Hasegawa is forced to use tugs, and they nestle her flanks against the timbers, there is a great deal of cursing, crunching, and scaring of paint involved…………….


“tell Minobe, and the Charge, that if I do not have both mains by sailing, they can bloody well slit their bellies….” The old man is simply furious as he leaves the bridge…



Hidaka however has good news

He meets his Captain in his cabin, and brings his senior NCO with him. This man is the driving force in the hanger, of the flight deck operations.
“Yes Hidaka?’
You sound tired, my Captain. But we all are. Maybe this will cheer you up. You never believed in carriers did you? –but now, now I think you do………
‘Sir – after considerable thinking, we have come up with a proposal…….”
‘A proposal? –what? –you have found a way to get the british to fight, or you have found a way to keep this bucket going-a HA35 driven propulsion system perhaps?’
Hidaka smiles. Poor Minobe. But maybe if he did not drink so much.
‘Sir?”
‘Oh never mind Hidaka –what is the proposal?”
‘Its pretty simple sir –with a better spotting plan, we think we could increase our strike to 18 zeros, 12 kates –and finally have some real bite”
‘Thirty aircraft?’
‘Yes, Thirty”
‘That’s as many as a formidable class”

yes – and is that not a delicious prospect? –truly one on one –but us with the greater reach.

“And Hidaka –how do you intend to prove this delightful prospect?” and there is no doubt about it –the old mans eyes show it- a genuine excitement here. That hunters look.

“The old fashioned way sir – suck it and see……………..”


Meiktila falls.
Hosho keeps marching North. They seem to have been marching forever……


Ogawa and Diogawa once again consider Singapore from the ‘balcony’
‘What are your plans friend?’ asks Ogawa
‘A simple one buddy –to get very, very, drunk”
“A good plan , a very good plan indeed”

Silence

Then, together, the two pilots ‘Woof, woof, woof!’


“Can you fix it Charge?”
Minobes face is creased with worry. Around them the ship bustles, this passageway a busy highway which flows around these two rocks.
‘yes” there is resignation here, resignation, but much anger, deep, down. “yes, but not if you keep breaking my men!’
The Charge turns, and disappears into the stream,………..

[1275psi]

May 22nd

Zuiho lies alongside a long and dark wharf, a great dark shadow.
It is near three AM, yet this , a city that truly never sleeps, bustles about them.
Singapore.
Jewel of the orient.
Singapore, strategic fortress.
Singapore, symbol of the British empire.

Now, now Japanese.
And yet to the swarms of coolies that work around her, loading, or unloading the treasures of the Indies, nothing has changed.
The hours remain long, the conditions brutal, the rewards minimal.
Only the color of their masters has changed.

Singapore continues to bustle, as always was, as always would, and the fleets of transports gather, awaiting their turns.

Deep inside Zuiho’s bowels, the work continues too.

A condenser is a great cooler, slung in this case beneath the turbines. The steam enters, passes over thousands, literally thousands of tubes, and condenses, gathers in a well, is pumped away.
Too do the condensing –sea water passes through these tubes, entering the ship through a vast hole in her hull, through her greatest valve, and into a chamber. From the chamber –confronted by a wall, then through the tubes, out into another chamber, and out through another great pipe to the sea.
A secondary pipe also feeds the condenser –this one passes through the great circ pump.

Now, the chambers are empty. The valves lashed shut, the sea water drained away.
The condenser side has been filled to the top with feed water.
All after noon, all evening, and now, into the night, men, using air hoses, have been drying the great tube banks –working in the tomb like space.
10000 miles worth of debris, caught in the tubes, has been cleaned out –dead fish, two crabs –and angry octopus, and many, many horrible stinking dead things…….
Now the great bank is basically dry-a wall of a thousand openings about an inch across.

It only takes one of these tubes to leak to contaminate the condensate.

But which one?






Hosho today –resting, as best they can- clear of the jungle now, (miles of rice paddies the battle fields now) watch the entertainment above.
A swirling , growling furball, P 40’s and KI-43’s –contesting the skies above mandalay.
It fill them with confidence, this battle.
The empire pushes north, and under her eagles –her men sing.



“Are you ready Lurch?” the charge calls out, from deep within the condensor.
‘Ready chief!”
‘OK! –tip it in”

Above the charge –in the light, Lurch tips a bucket of fluorescent dye into a small hatch – and then he starts the condensate pump up –on recirc, stirring the dye through out……..

This had better work.
Please, let this work………..just for bloody once let this work the first time….

“OK –put on the hatch!”
Above the charge, men place the access hatch to the chamber back on –plunging him into total, complete darkness.
Carefully, het turns on his black light……
Please -, just a trickle, where are you you barsted of a tube, which one of you is being a prig ney?

He looks, and looks. And see’s nothing………….

‘TRUK!”
Ok men, plan two……………
Some things, the impossible things just take a little longer……………….







On the other side of the empire.
‘So, what do you really think?’
About what?”
“The fact that the enemy carriers must have been ALREADY north east of Lunga when we began the operation off Tarawa”
Yamamoto pauses. This is why you must, must have a staff willing, able to talk to you………
‘Hara –you know, I never considered that. So, captain, your opinion?’
‘I think, I think, my Admiral, we interrupted an attack, or even, heavens, a landing on Lunga………..”
Yamamoto considers this
‘Hara, you may be right…………..

And of course, history shows now, that he was right…………

[kaleun]

Awesome writing.