Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
Alright-color me surprised. Not.
What are you doing with the CVs and the invasion forces. Strongly recommend withdrawal, lest that division be sunk en masse.
ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
********Aboard HMS Repulse, flagship of a surface task force that will accompany the Western Strike Group, 90 mi NW of Carnavon**********
Lt. Etherington is in the officer's mess with some other junior officers. There is an announcement over the loudspeaker.
Captain: "This is the Captain speaking. Men, we are to sail into perilous waters. At times like these I often to refer to the great works of literature of the English language. I am reminded of one in particualr..." <there is a paper rustling sound over the loud speaker>
Lt. Etherington: <to his comrades> Oh! I bet it's the St. Crispens' Day speech from Henry V. That's my favorite!
Captain: .....as Tiny Time so memorably said, "God bless us every one". That is all.
ORIGINAL: sprior
Report from bomardment gorup off Port Hedland:
[T]he thunderous blast of the guns struck the chest like the blow of a baseball bat. The sharp crack of the five-inch was skull splitting, even more painful to the ears. Like waiting for the other shoe to drop, the next 16-inch salvo could not be anticipated. No matter how one might try to brace his body in advance, there was no way to avoid bruises inflicted on elbows, knees and shins, as the entire ship lurched in angry recoil with every main battery salvo. Dust and debris would burst from every crack and corner, asbestos lagging would fly from piping, and insulation would tear loose from the overhead. Every object not bolted down would bounce or ricochet as though kicked by angry gremlins. Topside, solid sheets of flame with great clouds of searing gas and smoke erupted from the gun muzzles with every salvo. Often as not, much of this was carried by the wind back across the ship, to envelop men at exposed stations and be sucked inside through the ventilation system. At the end of such a day, all hands suffered from throbbing headaches, and most were virtually deaf. Red-rimmed eyes smarted from the pall of smoke. Every man's entire body was grimy with dust and the abrasive residue of burned gun powder. All of this could be, and was, endured. There was no pleasure whatever in it; only the grim satisfaction of helping our soldiers survive to win the battle ashore.
ORIGINAL: sprior
LS Jones. Stokers Johnson and Matheson.
ORIGINAL: sprior
Formidable landing on.
