The little ship that could.

[1275psi]

May 23rd

Dawn
A weary man sits on the quarterdeck of zuiho, taking in the early morning light, the coolness of the morning. As usual, it is hazy, the light softening the ugliness of this place into something tolerable.

He has made a mistake. For a few minutes this man has allowed his mind to think of other things, of his home, of his son, of lives that should be happening other than like this.
They are sad thoughts, suiting this sad dawn.

But this is how it is. How he is, where he is.
There is a job to do.
He finishes his tea, hitches his shorts a little higher.
Smiles at the quartermaster.
The Charge re enters the battle.


‘OK! –open her up-truking carefully!”
Trick number two.
If you cannot find the leak initially –pressure the condensate side.
For a turbine –there is only one way to do this. Gland seal steam has been applied, and now, carefully, exhast steam from the other unit is being emiited into the condensor.
A dangerous business –with out the sea water flowing, the condensor is now nothing more than a pressure vessel –so easy to blow its sides out………..

4 psi………….

There is another problem now too –heating the condensor, dries out the tubes, evaporates whatever moisture is in them..
Out of the inspection hatch a wave of steam, hot air blasts –forcing heads to turn away, arms to rise in self defence
‘Bloody wimps” mumbles the charge, and his greasy body slides into the hole, this little version of hell.
‘Hatch on!”
Darkness.
Heat –immense heat –there is no sweat –too hot for that.
The black light goes on –and a immense wave of joy courses through him-there –glowing, the flouro dye as clear as a snails trail –trickles from a single tube.
‘The cavern, this oven, echos with the triumphant cry
“FOUND the TRUKER!”

he is dragged from the hole
he vomits
It does not matter
His body glows red –literally steamed, cooked, it does not matter
The faintness, does not matter

He has found the leak.
‘I have marked the tube – when its cooled down in there fix it……..”





Later
Minobe answers the knock
‘The charge pokes his head in ‘Condensor producing pure condensate sir”
Minobe considers his charge. How , at times, he hates him
And how, at times, he depends on him so much…………
‘Any problems chief?”
the lie, of course, is easy.
‘None at all sir”




Mitchell watches Tarawa fade into the horizon
He is going home
He came here, to change the world
It has -as it does to all of us – changed him instead.

He leaves, but he will come back.
Wearing the badge of the 4th marines………….

[1275psi]

24/5/42

Truk naval base

A large airfield
"144th Regiment, attention!"

Commander Izuki gazes back at his men.
So few.
Oh so few.
His lip trembles, and it is hard to contain himself.
We will rebuild. We must.
The first regiment to fail in japans modern history.....................

How will they ever, ever redeem themselves............?




Sorry Cantona -time to leave again, a new and nasty plan is forming again...............

[1275psi]

25/5/42

Combined fleet enters Japanese waters.
Soon she will split up, disperse to varius ports, and begin vitally needed refits and repairs.

The fleet is –to put it mildly, hard worked.
Lord high Dictator has decreed that he wants the fleet back at sea “within the week”
He will not be the first person in history to find out what happens to ships when you drive them, and drive them, with out proper maintenance.

By tomorrow, Fleet headquarters will be snowed under with a pile of reports marked urgent
“ serious defect to main engine discovered’
“Boiler tubes must be replaced”
“Bearing wear down readings excessive………..”

Like it or not. Screaming or not, the fleet must rest, repair, recuperate.
It will be a long, long month this next month for the Admirals of the fleet.




Hasegawa mounts the little platform that rings the bridge under the screens, bends to the broadcast.
‘This is your Captain speaking. Zuiho will depart for Home waters 0900 hours tomorrow.
That is all”

He turns to the men grinning with pleasure about him.
And some how , deep inside him, it makes him angry.
“Do not, gentlemen, think this will be a pleasure cruise…………….”


Hosho rests again.
This time, this time, he has really earnt it.
The battle for Magwe has been bitter, sharp, brutal.
Men, a good number, have fallen.
But the rewards have been good. Magwe has food for all, piles of British supplies, and even a good quantity of fuel and oil.
Not that the later concerns Hosho
Right now, he is enjoying the rare, and too him, unexpected delight of a can of spam………
(which almost makes me feel sorry for the poor buggar)

[PaxMondo]

You ok?  Missed you this weekend.

[1275psi]

Sorry
Nightmare weekend of repairing my shed - big hole punched in roof -so empty shed, rebuild a new roof -refill shed.
Vital stuff -as some of my model ship is in there

cantona is not too happy with AE at the moment -so walking on egg shells with game too..........
(Although he would never, ever quit -he is very honorable)

26/5/42


Around him the torpedo bomber vibrates and rattles, a living creature, a part of him.
Okura, for the thousandth time adjusts his stick, tiny movements, combating the bouncing of his bomber through the invisible thermals.

There are plenty of these today –the cumo is at a mere 5000 feet today, rows upon rows of them, small clouds , stretching as far as the eye can see over this clear, blue, sparkling sea.

Okura leads Zuiho’s flight at 4000 feet, skimming under each cloud –bouncing about as they pass under each one.

It has –so far, been a pleasant flight. Okura has led them nearly 200 miles due east of swift eagle –and found the destroyer Hasegawa has detached the day before.
No easy feat.
But they have done it, and now the destroyer fades into the back ground, ahead –swift eagle.

For the thousandth time he checks his heading, adjusts his grip upon the stick, rotates his head around, searching the sky.
There is no chance of real enemy opposition today –none at all – this sea is a Japanese lake –but its these actions –actions that must, are now, automatic -that can delineate the living from the dead.

“swift eagle will be in sight, ten minutes”
His navigator sounds cool, collected. A fine man, a small, well oiled piece of the machinery.
‘Thankyou –prepare for the attack”
Okura looks about – Kurihama -as usual, on his port wing, above –Diogawa, Ogawa in the zeros –little dark shadows flitting above the clouds.
The formation follows –engines beating.

He peers forward now –takes his glasses –raises them.

The Germans make very good binoculars –and Okura has a very, very good set.
He see’s them –tiny grey breaks on the horizon
‘Signal –attack formation!”
A green flare arcs away

Regrip the stick
Training or not –the excitement is there.
And now, 27 men prepare to do what peace would never allow.
But this is war –and war weans out the weak.
Training is what makes you strong.

Okura pushes the stick forward –the throttle to the wall –the familiar bellow –and the sea rises closer, and closer –and now it is a blur flashing underneath

1000 feet, 700, 500, 400, 300 –he brings the heavy beast down, down , down.
300 feet, nearly 200 knots –wings –what –60 foot long?
Little room for error

Gently, gently, he turns her – winging to port –two others following.
3 kates turn away the other way –three continue straight ahead.

The ocean flashes on, Okura mentally placing the now hidden ships in his mind – now they are there –sliding to his right, now they should be there-and he wheels her around –hard –ever mindful of the greedy waters waiting to snatch his life away so close below

Tension rising –rising –and there!! –they loom ahead –his little home already trying to haul away from the center flank attack.
Hammer
Anvil

Zuiho grows frightening fast –and he takes her even lower –lower –closer –closer –looming huge –
Hand snatches the release – and the dummy bomb plunge away –and its stick hard over, hard rudder –banking her, banking her –zuiho’s bow flashing underneath., Kurihama rising up and away behind him……….

A good attack.
Could have been better, but not bad after such a long break.




Hidaka faces them
Anger seethes in his face –literally seethes
“Obviously gentlemen –there has been too much drinking, too much Whoring in this unit lately..” His eyes –hard marbles, bore into them.
Frightening
And , and shamefully –they hit the truth……..
Drops too far away. Fighters separating from bombers. (a finger stabbing at Kurihama) –bombers turning across guns after attacks…………”


‘We will repeat the exercise…………”


from the Captains ships book

‘Conducted intensive damage control and fire fighting training today”

Hirate to Okano as they struggle to fire number ten for today “Do you think the captain has changed sides or something?’
‘No, no I don’t –I just think he’s been replaced by a devil disguised as him………”

[1275psi]

28/5/42

47th sentai have been moved from Burma. Now only 3 planes strong –accidents, action, breakdowns having claimed the rest, the little unit has been ordered to central China –apparently to be disbanded, the nine pilots absorbed back into the system.
But , as it tends to happen, this being a war and all, something has screwed up.
It takes a few weeks for them to realise it, but 47th find itself literally forgotten, with out an upper command to report to, -nor to be responsible to.

For these nine men – fighter pilots to the core – it is an ideal situation.
They have settled in here –commandeered a support group –and set about the business of the day –hunting.
Yesterday –at last – that sweetest of moments – a kill.
The AVG –or remnants of it –bounced in a single savage pass, one of their number tumbling down before they even knew what hit them.

Now, on this clear quiet morning –a day filling with promise, its WO Fuchida’s turn.
He approaches the tubby short winged beast, and smiles. He has come to love this ugly plane, its horrid squat, its nightmare taxiing , its awkward access.
All forgiven.
For here is a plane that climbs like the wind, turns as tight as anything he has ever flown, and carries a hit worthy of a warrior.
A hunters plane
A fighter pilots plane
A plane, a plane suited for him.

And today he will hunt.

She coughs into life, and again he wobbles the stick, blips the throttle, notes the manifolds, feels the air blast past, breathes the sweet stink of avgas.
Feels the excitement
A look left, right –his wing mates –ready.
A nod to the ground crew –the scramble of chocks –and the taxi –careful, careful, watching the edge of the strip.
Turn into wind –a final boost –manifolds still good –magneto good, revs good –the beast vibrating with restrained power –take me on!, take me Up!, lets go!, lets go!

His plane speaks to him
Ok then –we go

The great bellow –the opposite rudder against the torque –a bit of a side slip –and climbing away, over the paddies –over the staring faces of the eternal coolies watching the eagles roar overhead – a different world flashing past.
An exciting world, a fast world – a world of short, sharp lives.
If you are not good enough.
But no true fighter pilot thinks that.
Here –here in this delightful sky –you climb, king.

They climb –and turn due north –hunting

1000o feet –cool, crisp, clean
the great engine noise surrounds, beats, isolates you –but your eyes, your brain, searching, searching the sky, file the great noise away –and it fades, fades –as you see them – 3 small crosses –low down –there –tracking across the fields, 5000 feet –such a stupid height!

Fuchida rocks his wings –points –and then its stick, rudder , as one –and they peel down, and over –and the crosses grow –P40! –left to right – they have not seen them!
No!, they break, break up and at them, and Fuchida hauls himself tighter in, tighter in, vertical now – but the physics are no good –and he flashes past the enemy tail –damnation!

Continuing turn, fully expecting the 40 to be long gone……….a surge –NO! –there he is –continuing his turn – and they wheel across the sky, engines snarling, both on the edge, very edge of the stall, turning, turning…..and Fuchida slots in a little flap –and the circle closes nicely……………I have you now, have you now………
Shadows above –almost imperceptible –corner of the eye –but enough –instinctively he rolls her onto her back, down and under the diving 40’s –sweat now as he pulls out –three on one.
5000 feet –full throttle –and the hunters fall upon him –lining up, quartering in -time slowing, slowing –the tracer –coming down –and its full stick, rolling up and over, and peeling away, and two slide past astern, the other matching, matching,.

Momentarily, they fly side by side –and he is blond, and handsome –and hard –he can see it -hard -and good – and the challenge is there.
Again, Fuchida has to fling himself down, reverse looping down as the barsted slides behind, and they dive together, pivoting down, down, and the ground rushes up .

The chase begins –tracer spurts, and erupts ahead, to his side –dust bursting from the flashing field below –the ground close, close, flashing past –fields, a road, houses, a horse –and its one eye ahead, the other on the mirror –the 40, the blond still dancing there, dancing there.

Yet the grip on the stick remains light, and the left hand chops the throttle, another barrel roll –and the barsted slides –startled ahead.
Fuchida fires –into nothingness –OH yes –this blond is good, very good………..

The fields are growing now –small hills, valleys –and still they snarl across them –and its hot herein the sun, hot, and breathing is heavy

Fuchida fires again –and again misses, and the guns hiss –empty -------and finds himself sliding past………the enemy turns in to rake his flank –and he too must be empty for nothing comes –weaving behind, bouncing in his wake

And they fly parallel now.
30 feet apart
And Blondie, carefully, salutes

And Fuchida returns the salute


There are no kills by 47th today
But some how, today has been so much better………………

[british exil]

Very nice. Love the Air battle. I must salute you for your Fine writing.

Mat[&o]

[1275psi]

thankyou for kind comments

War is entering that dreaded phase of high tide for japan, and the pause before allied moves.
Afraid little happening today.

Even Hosho is resting in Burma.


29/5/42

Tarawa remains an isolated little pocket in the middle of the pacific.
Yamamoto called it a cancer –an apt description, quietly, it continues to grow.
All most unnoticed, the allied infection of the empire reaches makin island to its north, and ownership quietly passes to them.
Yamamoto desires to do something about it –needs to cut this cancer out.
But his sword –Mobile fleet –is blunt
It rests in harbour – and there it will rest for far, far too long.



Zuiho continues to work.
Today there are “fires”
Fires in the hanger
Fires on top of the hanger
Fires in the lower hanger

The exercises go well - an alarm condition that too few notice. The fire pumps always work, the hoses always run out OK. The comms never fail.
The fires always die at the first attack of the hose teams.

The men drill cheerfully –and why not? –they are headed towards home.
Zuiho is a happy ship today.
She is performing well –but with a severe case of lack of imagination.

[1275psi]

30/5/42

Extract from shattering the sword – a cantona production.

Tarawa – that little cancer –continues to grow. Although Combined fleet is still in refit, Yamamoto will try his best to starve the growth of supplies.
Echoing the germans, he places a pack of SS due east of Tarawa, and today, in a brutal battle, 2 AP’s, a AK, and a DD are sunk.
For the rest of the war, little occurs –and it is this week that Herbiesan makes his famous offer ‘for a negotiated settlement” with the Americans. (see my other book –mad, bad, in Charge –a dictators reign of terror)
The answer –as we know –was swift.
Never!




The cabinet meets

Herbiesan has quietly listened to all his ministers today –barely speaking as the reports come in.
All –not unnaturally –at this table are nervous –news of the allied rejection has spread like wild fire through the country.
Now they wait for his reaction.

‘So gentlemen –the situation –as I read it –is this. All phase one objectives achieved. China quiet, Burma almost secure. 3 American, 1 british carrier sunk.
Enemy battle line still in place, our Army strong, losses so far acceptable in ships and planes”

Silence

“But he refuses to surrender”
The minister for Armaments coughs, ventures forth “Not until we dictate terms in the white house –apparently”
Herbiesan glares……….bloody fools. Did they ever think –any of them, that America would fall through just the force of arms……

“No” he growls “ No, we won’t – but the American Public just might for us. I still believe that they have no desire to die for the british empire…………” he takes them all into his gaze –“What I want now men –are ways to make them bleed –bleed until they squeal for peace…………”

[1275psi]

This post for all who have served, and all those that have waited for them ..........


31/5/42

There are no exercises today

But double, triple lookouts
Zuiho is passing through ”the gap” –that narrow stretch of ocean between Taiwan and the Philippines – the natural hunting ground of the hated undersea sharks.

There is a new feeling now on board.
One, that, well, only those who have served can truly know.
Home approaches.
Do they feel joy?. You would expect so –but most do not.
Anxiety and fear stalks her decks – raises the hackles –causes the thousand and one harsh words spoken this night.
All, everyone, is on edge.
Five months away –death threatening every day. You shove your family away into that locked compartment of your mind –they are there –but you cannot hope, cannot dream to much of them –for they are impossible to have.
So, you do your job –hoping that each day will bring you closer.

But now, now the dream is almost a reality again.

To be sunk now…………………..

But this is not the real fear that passes through the mens minds. Other fears, fears never spoken, never shared. Fears that cause you to say harsh things to companions last week you would die for .

Will your children recognize you?
Will, your wife, be there, waiting for you?
Will home –still be home?

And , above all – can you shed this hard skin, encrusted by war – and love again?

[1275psi]

1/6/42
“I see the President has spoken to his reporters –believes that we must make a riposte’ against Tarawa- and that he does not expect to assume the offensive for many months yet. What do you think Hara?”
Captain Hara contemplates his Admiral –always so inscrutable –so hard to read. No wonder the buggar was so good at taking his money at the Poker table………….
‘I think, ………….” Hara pauses. What does he think?. Can he really, in this country, at this time –really say what he really thinks?
‘I think –I think I believe in ultimate victory –and the Empire enduring forever”
Yamamoto laughs- ‘Ha! A truly good answer Hara –one that keeps us alive in these days ney?”
For a while they contemplate the passing scenery – both men are traveling by train to Tokyo –where herbiesan awaits.
Yamamoto speaks again –serious again. “One thing I think. I cannot see cantona sitting around for many months……………




Last night before home
In peace time –traditionally –(and this is not for publication) it is not unknown for a lot of the crew to be well intoxicated this night –channels night is a tradition that peace allows.
But tonight –tension fills the ship.
Chokia has been hit by two torps – duds.
But nevertheless –hit.
Her attacker escaping unseen, un attacked.

Again that fear rises
To be sunk this close to home………….

Also, down below – all departments slave away. Zuiho is going to go into dock.
This has set of a tremendous chain of events –and all night the typewriters churn out tomorrows orders.

The ship must be de fueled.
De ammunitioned
Power has to arranged
The crew will have to move ashore –at least until the end of the docking – this period the galley is going to be dead.
The airgroup will be moving ashore –and Hidaka’s cherished plan is going to occur –the growing of the airgroups.
New pilots. New support crews.
Accommodation will have to be found.

Minobe is under siege –seemingly every department head has their piority job to be done –from new awnings, to new gun mounts –to Hasegawa’s pet project – a new bridge –on the flight deck.
(this will almost certaintly NOT happen this time around –this docking is NOT a refit –but a simple get her fixed period.)
Not that the department heads really understand that………..

So the lights burn deep into the night.
Docking. The damn docking

For the rest of the crew –only one thing fills their minds.
Leave
And will it be granted
After five months away – surely it will be?

‘

[1275psi]

2/6/42

Dawn
Zuiho glides towards her anchorage at a steady six knots –the waters of Hiroshima bay calm enough to reflect her image.
Her flanks are lined with her men –each in white uniform –each with a beating heart full of expectation, in any moment, the port itself should swing into view.


To Minobe –the nightmare unravels in a slow motion.
Rigid,, at his post at the rear of the bridge, he can see it all happen.

First –the signal man –face bright with exertion, entering the bridge –face tense, seeking his superior

The salute –the message passed, the communications officer pausing, reading it –stiffening, eyes widening.
The pacing, swift –to Hasegawa - -relaxed over the binnacle –taking another sighting.
The sudden stiffness in the man.
The glance around the bridge –as if seeking an escape.
The sudden, sudden stooping, slump of the shoulders

And then the message is passed to Him, in silence –and Minobe reads

“from
Combined fleet
To
Zuiho

Immediate

‘Enemy invasion fleet –many transports, cruisers, located 120 miles South east LUNGA.
Zuiho to remain at IMMEDIATE notice for sea.
Swift eagle to take aircraft reinforcements –and signal immediately when able to sail

Yamamoto


Softly –for this is the bridge after all –he can murmer just that one word…………..

[bbbf]

There are never enough thumbs to plug the dike.

[british exil]

Was thrilled to get a new post from the little ship but when I read the contents my first thoughts were:

You Basta**, how could you dare, as your AAR is a bit behind the game you knew what was coming.
I really felt sad for the crew of swift Eagle, they had really earned the rest.


Mat

[1275psi]

Hi british exile

No -not a barsted -the game is! -i have to follow the game.
Now -if this is what happens on the turn - (and what follows happens) i have to try to convey the results.
For me -in this case -this happened twice to me -once after 9 months away, as we entered the heads, a F-111 crashed up north -and away we went!
Anyway -when i get to it -more to come!
(but thanks for following -I do hope i conveyed what it would feel like)

[1275psi]

Yamamoto, Hara, and most of Combined fleet carriers Captains, have been deep underground, locked away with herbiesan, de briefing him on the “battle” for Tarawa.
It has not gone well.

For the third (or is it the fourth) –heavens –why does he not listen –Yamamoto tries to explain to the land lubber the intricacies of refueling at sea –and the delays this must incur.
As he explains, as simply as he can – he thanks providence that he is not a general –who has to explain the destruction of the 144th regiment –but then again –dead men don’t have to explain anything.

The meeting goes for an hour, and then herbiesan with draws, leaving them to stew for a while in the quiet of this bunker.

One of them utters a quiet curse –‘How in the hell did he end up in charge –some body remind me!”
Yamamoto gives his Captain a withering glance “I would remind you, that any man who can control the army like he does, drive the westerners from our land –and purifier her again –is no idiot.”
‘bah! –he is simply another brutal dictator playing at war –now over his head –and wondering what the hell to do about it!”

Men bristle –but before they can return, Herbiesan returns

‘Admiral –would I be correct in thinking that -if all you gentlemen are here –all the carriers are here?’
‘That is correct”
‘And the status of the fleet?
‘Hiryu, Soryu, immediate notice, 3cvl the same, Junyo at truk.
All others in dry dock – and deep in repair”
And the battleships?”
Bat div 1 –truk –bat div 2, 3, Singapore. The battle cruisers too are in dock.

There is a long silence
‘Quite a gamble, to disable the fleet ney?’
Yamamoto stiffens ‘No gamble –the Americans have but three carriers –they cannot possibly attack now”

“I see”

Herbiesan hands the signal to him –and Yamamoto cannot help but feel the sadistic delight his discomfort gives the dictator

From 24th flotilla Munda
“many ships coming our way
‘What shall we do?”

Yamamoto smiles “ It appears to me –that 24th flotilla will have to fight”
“yes, yes they shall. You are dismissed –deal with this –or else……….”



Hasegawa hesitates
He has fought
He has buried the dead
Yet, this , this is terrible.

But he wears the uniform, and this is war………..
He bends to the tannoy
“This is the Captain speaking. Men, you have worked hard, fought hard. Nobody knows more than I, that we need a rest. But this is war. The enemy are attacking Lunga –and once again, we appear to be it.
This ship will take on new aircraft, and await orders.
Ship is at 4 hours notice for sea. That is all”

That is all…………………. A thousand dreams shatter…………..




War is organized chaos.
And sometimes –it simply is not organized……………..


Extract from Shattering the Sword –a cantona production

Task force 123 completed training for the assault on Lunga on the 26th of may, and loaded its mix of engineering and support troops.
Assuming total radio silence –it departed as ordered and planned, heading for the rendezvous 240 miles due south of Lunga.
Unknown to its commander – or to anybody –the orders to it to cancel the operation had simply not been received –or garbled.
There is strong evidence that the cancellation order was simply never transmitted to task force 123 –being lost in the hectic operations of the Tarawa battle.
Three carriers were meant to cover the attack – Tarawa ensured they were not there.

And thus –on a clear morning of the 2nd of June – task force 123 found itself circling on a placid sea well within range of japans perimeter –wondering here the hell everyone was.
At 1000 hrs –the commander makes the astute decision. This was “no bloody place to linger”
But his withdrawal order came to late

24th flotilla –reacts violently against the threat.
Operating from Munda –now a veritable nest of bases and airfields –22 nells, 6 vals, 16 zeros attack in a horrific example of the power of aircraft over shipping .
CA Vincennes is struck by 2 torpedoes, Atlanta takes one –and a bomb
3 transports are hit, AK California explodes in a towering cloud of smoke.

It has been, regretfully –a complete FUBAR

But , as we know –the reverberations would ring for many, many months

[1275psi]

Okano stares into the sky, judging with skill the arc of the crane, and the zero fighter it suspends on its journey from the wharf to Zuiho’s flight deck.
He has volunteered for the job – at least here he can see Japan, even smell it.
There is truth, he thinks, in the saying that being a sailor is worse than being in prison.

Cramped accommodation, poor food, no freedom, harsh punishments
But worse, because in prison the chances of being drowned were pretty small……….
He , like everyone else, is in a fowl mood –and sullenness hangs over Zuiho like a shroud.
Damn the navy
Damn the war
Nagasaki seems so far away today. His 6 children -what of them, how would Mother explain to them, if he did not get home?


Hirate sits below, watching the online boiler.
Hiroshima
Home
Undoubtedly, Kuko, from their home in the hills –has spotted Zuiho – and would be wondering –why does he not call?
Why, husband, do you not come home?
Haven’t they done enough?
Surely some one else could go this time/
Damn the Navy
Damn the war……….


Hasegawa reads the signals
Fierce fighting south of Lunga
Heavy losses inflicted.
Surely signs of more to come
God, he is so tired. He should see the doctor. He knows it. The bleeding is bad now, sapping his strength.
But if he sees the doctor – he will be finished. This he feels, feels deeply.
The climatic battle must be coming, and he still has not cemented his place in history –not yet.
He would like to see his wife, his daughters –but that was something he dismissed the day he sailed –did he really expect to survive this war?
No
Every day a bonus.
Damn the Navy – and its doctors.
But he won’t damn the war.


Minobe too considers the harbour
As best an addled mind can
It is literally packed with warships – carriers to battle wagons
So many ships
So many fine –reliable ships
Damn the navy
Damn the war

The charge does not think of home –not today.
He is too busy for that – 24 hrs of moving fuel ready for docking –now has to be re moved –or the boilers will go black.
He is too busy to damn anything


The pilots too –are too busy to sulk
Each plane coming onboard has to be stowed away –and as new ones –the pilots are claiming them for their own as each one comes onboard. It does not matter who comes onboard tomorrow to boost the numbers –one thing for certain –they will not be getting these birds –the old crates will be for them……..

Hidaka watches the fighters come onboard.
Single, widowed –he has no desire for shore time –shore time is pain time.
No – here he is –and they are coming onboard. A sharper sword, a bigger club.
And tomorrow, the replacement pilots. .


And then, just near dusk, the rumor starts
Like all rumors –its source is unknown.. its truth unknowable
It is debated, it grows, it is dismissed as rubbish –it grows some more
It takes many shapes –but the central tenant remains the same
The allies have retreated from Lunga.

And then the miracle

“Do you hear there –the captain speaking.
Combined Fleet has released us from immediate notice. We will not be docking, but remain at 24hrs notice for sea.”

A long pause, and every heart stops beating.
‘as soon as shore services are connected, I will pipe leave, leave as per the original plan………………….”

[1275psi]

Editors note

Leave - I really don't want to "go home' with our characters - i give them their privacy!.
All crew will get 14 days leave - in shifts, with the characters in the story all returning on the 18th of the month.
During this time Zuiho, and the bulk of the fleet remain in refit in Hiroshima, and various ports.
Little happens in the war, at all.
Hosho -and the 112th regiment fight a chasing battle in Burma, pursuing the brocken British units north -the fighting is not serious -mostly.
Allied bombers bomb him a few times - but japanese fighters are overhead now every day.

I intend to return to Zuiho -and the fleet on the 18th of the month -where preparations for japans next massive operation are nearing completion, and Hosho in Burma begins to really fight.

One last reason for the jump forward
Zuiho is alongside -shut down, on shore services. She is a cold, dull, messy bitch at the moment - her maintenace period is such a depressing sight -one I really don't want to inflict on anybody!
Thanks to all reading - Zuiho has survived the first 6 months -i wonder (like you i hope -will she survive the next six?)

[PaxMondo]

Great read!  Thanks for this.

[kaleun]

Great work!