0400 hours
25/12/42
Tan stands at the back of the bridge,, in his usual position, well out of the way, and watches Captain Kato take his ship to sea.
He is a cold barsted, this Kato, but, he can handle a ship.
Tan enjoys coming here to the bridge, especially in this period, just before they sail. The nature of the process appeals to him, to his railways back ground. Railways are driven by timetables, by meeting specific departure times, with little room for error..
But errors occur.
To Tan, there is something deeply pleasurable being part of a beast that lives by meeting timetables, appointments, sailing times.
In these days, in this Navy, few if any ships fail to make sailing time. Few engineers survive if they do not..
To Tan, that’s part of the appeal.
In the still grey dark, the shadow of Kato turns to him. “Are we ready engines?”
Yes. Yes we are. Thankyou men. “ All four boilers on line sir, mains turning by steam, immediate notice, all generators online. Fuel at 108 percent, feed 98 percent, potable at 100 percent. Crew 100 percent”
“Good. No troubles below?”
‘A trouble free flash up sir, we are defect free”
And Kato turns away. He is dismissed, free to fade back into the background to observe the show.
Preparations follow a now familiar pattern to him
The XO reports his department correct. The Coxswain reports all hands correct, the gangway now closed.
Mail is confirmed ashore. The keyboard is correct. In peace time, the magazine keys would be gathered here, and secured. Now, the process is reversed, the magazines are open, and the gunnery Officer will join the crowd, make his report.
‘the guns are manned”
A potent reminder of the days they serve in
Zuiho singles up, the signal department scurries, so many flags, so many signals……
Tan listens carefully.”Ship at state one , condition zulu!, all damage stations closed up!’
There are submarines lurking out there…………
And Kato takes the reports, and digests them, and watches with a close, cold eye.
The navigator is one of the last to report. His job, the sailing brief.
It is, today, long, and tense.
Crowded anchorage Narrow channels. A tight schedule…..
Zuiho strains on her moorings.
Water swirls about her stern
Whisps of steam at the funnel, a heavy heat haze on her funnel, her side.
And the ting, ting of the elevator bells. The Kates are coming up, armed with bombs.
It is growing ever so lighter now, 0414 hours.
Around the world, men rise, and wish each other peace on earth.
And Zuiho meets the dawn, prepared for war.
It never amazes Tan, this moment.
Kato nods. Ropes are flung from bollards, splash into the stirring water, lines of men, haul them in…
‘Port ten. Slow slow ahead port, slow asterm starboard”
The helmsmans voice sings the reply, repeating the orders.
Telegraphs ring. The coxswain bending to the speaking tubes.
‘hard to port, stop both!
Admidships!
Slow astern both!
Starboard five
Admidships!
And they are gliding away, the wharf already 50 feet distant, another world..
Men wave. –until we see you again.
The rising sun flutters overhead, streams beautifully in her self made breeze.
Stop both!
Half ahead both!
Port 30!
Admidships.
And they are away
The first wake creams, the first white boils at the stern, the first bangs from below of boiler casings , the rising whine of the fans.
Alive again.
Men move constantly from side to side on the bridge, taking bearings , this is point A, that B. ‘Sir, next wheel over 250 yards!, recommend track 280, we are 20 yards to port of course!
A poets tale. A song that few will ever hear.
The sound of men at ease with a great craft.
Pipes shrill, and now the sun is up, and they slide past the flagship, her bridge a field of white uniforms
Even from here, there is no mistaking Yamamoto.
The tannoy blares “All hands, salute to starboard, IJNS Yamato!”
And then, ‘AKAGI!
And again. And again.
And now, there, the gap.
Safety about to pass astern
The waters ahead, deep, deep blue, flecked with white.
‘revolutions 196!”
the first swell, the first bone at the bow.
The first of a million tightenings of the calves, of the legs, as the swell gently moves the world beneath their feet.
The sea
The breeze
The great unknown.
It takes two hours to shake this task force into shape, five carriers, 2 cruisers, 8 destroyers strong, carriers line ahead, Hiyo leading, the cruisers on the flanks, the destroyers in doctrine position.
The main fleet will soon follow.
The sky is clear, blue.
A beautiful day.
At 1000 hours, this fleet turns to course 160, begins its long trek south.
Japan needs no Saviour. She will trust in the strength of men.
The little ship that could.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: ouch
Could Kato report the exact ships within the TF?
Query: Have you kept track of Zuiho's experience from the start of the war to now? If so, how much has it improved?
Thanks!
Query: Have you kept track of Zuiho's experience from the start of the war to now? If so, how much has it improved?
Thanks!
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: ouch
26/12/42
Zuiho does what she is designed to do. All day she launches and recovers fighters, 3 or 4 aloft at any one time, 3 or 4 at immediate standby.
They are not alone.
From dawn to dusk, the air throbs to the sound of growling aero engines, as the CAP circles endlessly at 5, 10, 15000 feet.
Below the CAP, floatplanes hunt unceasingly, crawling across the waves at a mere thousand feet.
For ten miles or more in every direction, Japans warships plow steadily south east.
Several submarines are sighted away from the fleet, but no attacks either way occur.
There are no illusions however.
The enemy must know that they are coming.
Yamamoto believes they will fight.
Hara, that this will be a punch into thin air.
Today gives no indication what will happen.
By Midnight, the fleets are 120 miles south west of Ponape.
It is the calm before the storm.
I read the above. And there are some things that have to be said.
A quiet day, a “dull” day.
But consider this. There are Navies, right now, that are learning, aor beginning to learn, or will soon have to learn, that you cannot just “take a carrier to sea, and operate”
Let alone a task force.
Every carrier here is launching and recovering aircraft as a matter of course……..but how many years to get to this point?. How many launch cycles?
How easily they seem to make it, this flawless cycling of planes and pilots from the hanger deck, the co coordinated turns into the wind, the arming, the dis arming, the fuelling, the allotting of sectors, the communications, the plane guard destroyers keeping station.
All of it.
We think our navies modern, and trained, and technical.
Carrier operations, the pinnacle of navy operations.
And Japans is the very best.
And Zuiho is right up there with them.
Zuihos bridge will be busy all day.
The wind is not on the bow, but a good 60 degrees from the course. Again and again, she will have to turn into this breeze, raise revolutions, recover, or launch. Again and again, she will have to resume her station.
Destroyers will dart each way and that. Several are being used as relay stations to the Main body to the west, and signal lights will flash all day.
In between , Kato will have to satisfy Tans demands from below, surface blows, a soot blow.
And they will be a matter of course.
A routine day.
But not dull. Not at all.
At dusk, Kato will leave the bridge, and sleep.
He knows he may not get much in the days ahead
Zuiho does what she is designed to do. All day she launches and recovers fighters, 3 or 4 aloft at any one time, 3 or 4 at immediate standby.
They are not alone.
From dawn to dusk, the air throbs to the sound of growling aero engines, as the CAP circles endlessly at 5, 10, 15000 feet.
Below the CAP, floatplanes hunt unceasingly, crawling across the waves at a mere thousand feet.
For ten miles or more in every direction, Japans warships plow steadily south east.
Several submarines are sighted away from the fleet, but no attacks either way occur.
There are no illusions however.
The enemy must know that they are coming.
Yamamoto believes they will fight.
Hara, that this will be a punch into thin air.
Today gives no indication what will happen.
By Midnight, the fleets are 120 miles south west of Ponape.
It is the calm before the storm.
I read the above. And there are some things that have to be said.
A quiet day, a “dull” day.
But consider this. There are Navies, right now, that are learning, aor beginning to learn, or will soon have to learn, that you cannot just “take a carrier to sea, and operate”
Let alone a task force.
Every carrier here is launching and recovering aircraft as a matter of course……..but how many years to get to this point?. How many launch cycles?
How easily they seem to make it, this flawless cycling of planes and pilots from the hanger deck, the co coordinated turns into the wind, the arming, the dis arming, the fuelling, the allotting of sectors, the communications, the plane guard destroyers keeping station.
All of it.
We think our navies modern, and trained, and technical.
Carrier operations, the pinnacle of navy operations.
And Japans is the very best.
And Zuiho is right up there with them.
Zuihos bridge will be busy all day.
The wind is not on the bow, but a good 60 degrees from the course. Again and again, she will have to turn into this breeze, raise revolutions, recover, or launch. Again and again, she will have to resume her station.
Destroyers will dart each way and that. Several are being used as relay stations to the Main body to the west, and signal lights will flash all day.
In between , Kato will have to satisfy Tans demands from below, surface blows, a soot blow.
And they will be a matter of course.
A routine day.
But not dull. Not at all.
At dusk, Kato will leave the bridge, and sleep.
He knows he may not get much in the days ahead
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
( I have just noticed what ships I attached to this fleet[&o][&o][&o][:'(])
27/12/42
A very steady breeze is whipping across Zuiho’s flight deck. It pulls at the mens uniforms, snatches words away. But words are not needed, the men have done this too many times now.
The fleet presses on, across a white capped ocean.
And still no sign of the enemy above the waves.
Below, a different matter. From the contacts, it is obvious. A vast patrol barrier of submarines is being crossed.
But so far, the patrols have kept them down
Okura lounges in one of the gun bays. His Kate is below , the great fish still strapped to her belly. He does not mind, his chance, he knows, will come soon enough.
There is not much room in the bay today. The goofers are extra thick.
Word has spread.
PO Uto , the Dictators Son, prepares to commence his duty.
Hidaka has chosen today for his first sortie
“You have asked for no special favours. I give you none. Today you will launch, and complete three traps. If you fail, you will have three choices. Kwaljien., Ponape, or ditching. I for one would not choose ditching, I would prefer to die unseen in my shame……..”
Three zeros proceed him, Diogawa leading a merry dance, he has taken to barrel rolling almost immediately after gear up . It is , he says, the only excitement he has in his life.
The fact that he is lucky to still have one does not seem to register.
Uto does his final checks, all seems good. The flight deck is so short………
He moves his head right, seeking the flight officer. The flag drops.
Excitement surges through him.
And he is away.
Kato, Hidaka watch the zero wobble into the air……..far too much rudder waggling for both mens liking, but, it could have been worse.
“Well,” says Kato gravely “hes not dead yet”
Hidaka speaks what has to be spoken ‘How in the hell do we manage it if he does get killed?’
‘You mean, with our Dictator?”
‘Yes, him”
“As you would expect Hidaka. He died fighting courageously in the service of Japan, taking many enemy with him”
‘as we all will”
‘as we all will”
Uto takes a long, leisurely lap around the task force, mentally ticking of the ships…Hiyo, Ryujo, ……Shoho, ..Ryujo………and his home, passing under the wing.
How good to be in the air again!
How good to be free.
No Father. No expectations. No prying eyes!
Just him. His plane, the sky, the sea..
Tone……..Chikuma……..ugly ships, ugly ships.
He does not know any of the destroyers.
An hour has gone, already!
He must face it. Three traps.
He will do it.
And now the knot of men in the gun bay is very tight. The entire ready room is watching.
Callously, bets are being placed.
Uto’s patronage means nothing now. His background, his education, his contacts, his friends. They mean nothing.
Now, he, he alone must become a naval aviator, or fail.
And failure in this navy means death.
There never has been, never was fuel to reach kwaljien., or anywhere else.
This is the code of these warriors.
The zero circles in, a little low, a little low, now a little off, center, but down!, and done!, and with a roar, back into the air again.
And despite himself, Okura has to smile.
Another brother will join them.
Uto survives the day.
Mentally, physically exhausted, he rests in the ready room.
Diogawa comes in, grins. ‘well done, young man. But next, you’ve really got to shoot some barsted down before you really have made the grade”
The fleet plows on
At 1400 hours, Captain Beppu on Hiyo flashes all ships. “destroyers to take fuel from carriers. Top up all tanks”
With out incident, Zuiho refuels Yugaze.
But Hibiki needs something more
“So what do they need Tan?’
Tan scratches his chin. “To be honestr sir, we don’t rightly know. It’s a feed pump governor, but our spare is a later model, I am not sure its suitable.”
Kato nods. This is a common problem. ‘So who are you sending across?”
‘I want to send PO Okano sir, he’s one of the best’
‘Alright then. Executive Officer!, prepare for light line transfer with Hibiki, Starboard side, station two!”
Okano, not surprisingly, is not amused.
‘if my wife saw me now, she’d kill me!’
He stands now, his feet in what he can only describe as a canvas sack, the governor sculling about his feet. Even now, in this fading light, Hibiki seems to be an enormous distance away, and the sea a terrifying long way down.
It is all horrifyingly unfamiliar to him.
The CPO Bosun grins. ‘Hang on Old man. Good thing I like you, or I might be tempted to give you a dunking”
‘You are joking ………right?”
‘”Of course, petty Officer, of course”
he is joking, right?
Oh Crap!……….with a “HEAVE!”, forty men pull on the line he will be suspended.
“walk BACK on the Jackstay!………the bosuns voice, one that could easily cut across the boiler rooms , blasts across the men
it’s a blur
One moment, on the deck, the next spinning giddily , bouncing, swaying across the rushing, hissing gap between the ships.
And onto Hibiki.
Hirate watches from up forward.
Lucky Sod………how come he got the adventure……….
Hibiki breaks away.
Four hours later,, after midnight, Okano repeats the journey back, this time thanking the inky darkness that hides his fear.
Hirate meets him, eager to hear
“How was it, how was it!”
The Charge simply wants to know –“the governor?”
‘The governor was fine Chief. It all was fine”
The Charge merely grunts. He is too busy to linger.
The two Petty Officers, inseparable now, retire to the mess. The tea is good
Suddenly, as if he had just remembered, Okano blurts out.
‘You know, strangest thing. Something I saw onboard that little ship. I am sure I saw a snake in the store room”
‘Oh stop it, nobody is going to believe a story like that”
27/12/42
A very steady breeze is whipping across Zuiho’s flight deck. It pulls at the mens uniforms, snatches words away. But words are not needed, the men have done this too many times now.
The fleet presses on, across a white capped ocean.
And still no sign of the enemy above the waves.
Below, a different matter. From the contacts, it is obvious. A vast patrol barrier of submarines is being crossed.
But so far, the patrols have kept them down
Okura lounges in one of the gun bays. His Kate is below , the great fish still strapped to her belly. He does not mind, his chance, he knows, will come soon enough.
There is not much room in the bay today. The goofers are extra thick.
Word has spread.
PO Uto , the Dictators Son, prepares to commence his duty.
Hidaka has chosen today for his first sortie
“You have asked for no special favours. I give you none. Today you will launch, and complete three traps. If you fail, you will have three choices. Kwaljien., Ponape, or ditching. I for one would not choose ditching, I would prefer to die unseen in my shame……..”
Three zeros proceed him, Diogawa leading a merry dance, he has taken to barrel rolling almost immediately after gear up . It is , he says, the only excitement he has in his life.
The fact that he is lucky to still have one does not seem to register.
Uto does his final checks, all seems good. The flight deck is so short………
He moves his head right, seeking the flight officer. The flag drops.
Excitement surges through him.
And he is away.
Kato, Hidaka watch the zero wobble into the air……..far too much rudder waggling for both mens liking, but, it could have been worse.
“Well,” says Kato gravely “hes not dead yet”
Hidaka speaks what has to be spoken ‘How in the hell do we manage it if he does get killed?’
‘You mean, with our Dictator?”
‘Yes, him”
“As you would expect Hidaka. He died fighting courageously in the service of Japan, taking many enemy with him”
‘as we all will”
‘as we all will”
Uto takes a long, leisurely lap around the task force, mentally ticking of the ships…Hiyo, Ryujo, ……Shoho, ..Ryujo………and his home, passing under the wing.
How good to be in the air again!
How good to be free.
No Father. No expectations. No prying eyes!
Just him. His plane, the sky, the sea..
Tone……..Chikuma……..ugly ships, ugly ships.
He does not know any of the destroyers.
An hour has gone, already!
He must face it. Three traps.
He will do it.
And now the knot of men in the gun bay is very tight. The entire ready room is watching.
Callously, bets are being placed.
Uto’s patronage means nothing now. His background, his education, his contacts, his friends. They mean nothing.
Now, he, he alone must become a naval aviator, or fail.
And failure in this navy means death.
There never has been, never was fuel to reach kwaljien., or anywhere else.
This is the code of these warriors.
The zero circles in, a little low, a little low, now a little off, center, but down!, and done!, and with a roar, back into the air again.
And despite himself, Okura has to smile.
Another brother will join them.
Uto survives the day.
Mentally, physically exhausted, he rests in the ready room.
Diogawa comes in, grins. ‘well done, young man. But next, you’ve really got to shoot some barsted down before you really have made the grade”
The fleet plows on
At 1400 hours, Captain Beppu on Hiyo flashes all ships. “destroyers to take fuel from carriers. Top up all tanks”
With out incident, Zuiho refuels Yugaze.
But Hibiki needs something more
“So what do they need Tan?’
Tan scratches his chin. “To be honestr sir, we don’t rightly know. It’s a feed pump governor, but our spare is a later model, I am not sure its suitable.”
Kato nods. This is a common problem. ‘So who are you sending across?”
‘I want to send PO Okano sir, he’s one of the best’
‘Alright then. Executive Officer!, prepare for light line transfer with Hibiki, Starboard side, station two!”
Okano, not surprisingly, is not amused.
‘if my wife saw me now, she’d kill me!’
He stands now, his feet in what he can only describe as a canvas sack, the governor sculling about his feet. Even now, in this fading light, Hibiki seems to be an enormous distance away, and the sea a terrifying long way down.
It is all horrifyingly unfamiliar to him.
The CPO Bosun grins. ‘Hang on Old man. Good thing I like you, or I might be tempted to give you a dunking”
‘You are joking ………right?”
‘”Of course, petty Officer, of course”
he is joking, right?
Oh Crap!……….with a “HEAVE!”, forty men pull on the line he will be suspended.
“walk BACK on the Jackstay!………the bosuns voice, one that could easily cut across the boiler rooms , blasts across the men
it’s a blur
One moment, on the deck, the next spinning giddily , bouncing, swaying across the rushing, hissing gap between the ships.
And onto Hibiki.
Hirate watches from up forward.
Lucky Sod………how come he got the adventure……….
Hibiki breaks away.
Four hours later,, after midnight, Okano repeats the journey back, this time thanking the inky darkness that hides his fear.
Hirate meets him, eager to hear
“How was it, how was it!”
The Charge simply wants to know –“the governor?”
‘The governor was fine Chief. It all was fine”
The Charge merely grunts. He is too busy to linger.
The two Petty Officers, inseparable now, retire to the mess. The tea is good
Suddenly, as if he had just remembered, Okano blurts out.
‘You know, strangest thing. Something I saw onboard that little ship. I am sure I saw a snake in the store room”
‘Oh stop it, nobody is going to believe a story like that”
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
british exil
- Posts: 1686
- Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 6:26 pm
- Location: Lower Saxony Germany
RE: ouch
Now I really believe the rumours about the snake on the Hibiki. If a crew member of the Zuiho saw that snake then it has to be true.
Had to smile about the Hibiki.
Mat
Had to smile about the Hibiki.
Mat
"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
RE: Hibiki Snake LIVES!
Thanks guys
I wonder if cuttlefish reads this?.............I am not worthy!
OK, action is looming...........
28/12/42
‘hands to action stations, hands to actions stations. Expedite all reports to damage Control central”
Tan settles into his chair.
There is special tension to this mornings dawn action stations, the fleet is now theoretically in range of Narau island bombers.
He is getting more comfortable now, less a blind man in a dark room, now a sighted man, in a dark room.
In front of him, the plans of the ship, , several of them. Some showing the fire mains, others stability, others just compartments.
In front of them , the communication talkers are receiving the reports, and his two right hand men, the CPO Chippee, the PO regulator, are also entering the cramped compartment.
Over the speaker, from the Port Engine room, the Charge is giving the machinery state, the number of fire pumps on line.
Within minutes, Zuiho will be closed down .
Flight deck operations are fully underway, today the Kates are aloft, ASW patrol.
And they are needed.
Yamamoto broods on the bridge of Yamato.
The oceans, it seems , are crawling with submarines “How many is that now?, six, seven?.
It is still just a thought, but it is a thought coalescing in him with every minute.
They have guessed he is coming, and the fleet is blundering into a trap.
But he is committed.
He has to continue. It is intolerable for such a plan , once committed to action, to be abandoned.
The cross the border of Northern Burma just North east of Malandy. They are high, so high that many will not spot them.
Nearly 30 strong, they circle over the area of the Imperial guards division, hidden some where under that green sea below.
And they wait.
But the Japanese are busy today over Ledo again, and no action takes place.
But things have changed now in Burma.
The P38’s are here.
The new Minister of production reads the reports. Damiensan can be well pleased.
That fool of a dictator has actually taken action.
Supply reserves…….going up
Resources, still going up
HI, stable, even still going up.
And finally, just when he thought that the cliff really would claim them, fuel reserves climbing again.
But he still has a long way to go.
2200 hrs
Po Hirate sits in the mess, waiting the clock down
He has the middle watch this week. Already he is tired. Finish watch at 0400. dawn action stations 0430 to 0700.
Defence stations watch, 1000 to 1200
Another watch to 1600
Dusk action stations at 1900 to 2100
Yes. He is tired. Another long watch ahead, another defence watch as well, staring at the walls.
Somehow, he thinks , it is going to be a very, very long week.
I wonder if cuttlefish reads this?.............I am not worthy!
OK, action is looming...........
28/12/42
‘hands to action stations, hands to actions stations. Expedite all reports to damage Control central”
Tan settles into his chair.
There is special tension to this mornings dawn action stations, the fleet is now theoretically in range of Narau island bombers.
He is getting more comfortable now, less a blind man in a dark room, now a sighted man, in a dark room.
In front of him, the plans of the ship, , several of them. Some showing the fire mains, others stability, others just compartments.
In front of them , the communication talkers are receiving the reports, and his two right hand men, the CPO Chippee, the PO regulator, are also entering the cramped compartment.
Over the speaker, from the Port Engine room, the Charge is giving the machinery state, the number of fire pumps on line.
Within minutes, Zuiho will be closed down .
Flight deck operations are fully underway, today the Kates are aloft, ASW patrol.
And they are needed.
Yamamoto broods on the bridge of Yamato.
The oceans, it seems , are crawling with submarines “How many is that now?, six, seven?.
It is still just a thought, but it is a thought coalescing in him with every minute.
They have guessed he is coming, and the fleet is blundering into a trap.
But he is committed.
He has to continue. It is intolerable for such a plan , once committed to action, to be abandoned.
The cross the border of Northern Burma just North east of Malandy. They are high, so high that many will not spot them.
Nearly 30 strong, they circle over the area of the Imperial guards division, hidden some where under that green sea below.
And they wait.
But the Japanese are busy today over Ledo again, and no action takes place.
But things have changed now in Burma.
The P38’s are here.
The new Minister of production reads the reports. Damiensan can be well pleased.
That fool of a dictator has actually taken action.
Supply reserves…….going up
Resources, still going up
HI, stable, even still going up.
And finally, just when he thought that the cliff really would claim them, fuel reserves climbing again.
But he still has a long way to go.
2200 hrs
Po Hirate sits in the mess, waiting the clock down
He has the middle watch this week. Already he is tired. Finish watch at 0400. dawn action stations 0430 to 0700.
Defence stations watch, 1000 to 1200
Another watch to 1600
Dusk action stations at 1900 to 2100
Yes. He is tired. Another long watch ahead, another defence watch as well, staring at the walls.
Somehow, he thinks , it is going to be a very, very long week.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
CLANG
29/12/42
0200 hrs
Hirate is standing at his steaming platform, hands resting easily above his head, one on the fuel valve, the other on the blower throttle.
It’s a position he has spent many, many hours in over these months. To an observer, to his fellow watch keepers, he stands relaxed, calm, in control.
He is far from it.
War is hard. All men begin war with a well full of courage, some deeper than others. But every day, regardless of action, they will draw from this well.
Some days, a cupful. Others, other days they will draw deep on the reserves.
Hirate has visited this well many times now. He has been blasted by a bursting boiler. He has been washed almost over board. He has suffered as all have, the shock of THAT night when Zuiho came under fire.
He has heard the crump of the bombs thudding alongside.
felt Zuihos guns hanmmer back.
Felt the terror of wondering what the truk is going on!
But above all, its that gigantic clang of the depth charges, giants beating on the hull, that have twisted his courage, stretched it thin.
He stands, easy.
But he is not.
For hours now, he has been imagining THAT sound –the CLANG!, of the torpedo warhead striking the hull-the momentary warning of oblivion to come.
It hardens his muscles. It sends a thickness to his belly. His legs are weak.
And not all the sweat on his brow can be attributed to the heat.
It is his private guillotine, waiting to drop.
He cannot escape…………
It is almost a relief, when it comes, those great clangs …………..
0200 hrs
Hirate is standing at his steaming platform, hands resting easily above his head, one on the fuel valve, the other on the blower throttle.
It’s a position he has spent many, many hours in over these months. To an observer, to his fellow watch keepers, he stands relaxed, calm, in control.
He is far from it.
War is hard. All men begin war with a well full of courage, some deeper than others. But every day, regardless of action, they will draw from this well.
Some days, a cupful. Others, other days they will draw deep on the reserves.
Hirate has visited this well many times now. He has been blasted by a bursting boiler. He has been washed almost over board. He has suffered as all have, the shock of THAT night when Zuiho came under fire.
He has heard the crump of the bombs thudding alongside.
felt Zuihos guns hanmmer back.
Felt the terror of wondering what the truk is going on!
But above all, its that gigantic clang of the depth charges, giants beating on the hull, that have twisted his courage, stretched it thin.
He stands, easy.
But he is not.
For hours now, he has been imagining THAT sound –the CLANG!, of the torpedo warhead striking the hull-the momentary warning of oblivion to come.
It hardens his muscles. It sends a thickness to his belly. His legs are weak.
And not all the sweat on his brow can be attributed to the heat.
It is his private guillotine, waiting to drop.
He cannot escape…………
It is almost a relief, when it comes, those great clangs …………..
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
A note from herbiesan
On purely game considerations, this whole op is madness. As a player, determined to win, I would not be doing this op. the fleet would be in home port, waiting.
But how boring!
Also, as Cantona and I try to play a game as close to real life as we can, I cannot conceive japan doing nothing with the allied carriers sunk. This op I think, is very much how I think the Japanese high command would react……….especially considering her fuel situation.
Now back to those clangs.
The fleet is ‘marking time’ Allocated to a empty spot in the ocean by Yamamotos plan, it is committed to reversing upon itself every six hours.
Ryujo is but 500metres away on the port bow, passing Zuiho going the other way, when the fish strike.
It is only by luck that Kato actually sees the strike, two small fountains near her bow, he will not hear the strike like Hirate.
The mind moves quickly……..
Ryujo’s port bow!
That puts the shark on my starboard bow!
“FULL AHEAD ALL!, HARD TO STARBOARD!, Call battle stations!……..
And , immediately afterwards……..
‘SEARCHLIGHTS TO STARBOARD!”
If the SS can see Ryujo, then she can already see them………..
Zuiho bursts into life, her deck trembling.
Telegraphs crash, and below the ever present fans begin to wind towards full power shriek
From three places, the search beams strike out.
And see her……….
‘PERISCOPE!, 300 metres!, bearing 090!”
The call is almost a shriek.
Zuiho begins to lean into the turn, barrels begin to seek the scope.
‘Destroyer Isonami…I have the target!”
Kato, eyes fixed on the binnacle, mind racing, mentally plotting tracks, courses, answers calmly.
Isonami was astern……….”Very good. Wheel admidships!, port 25”
The SS should be passing astern. This maneuver has been known to pre detonate a fish………..
“Ship at action stations sir………..passing 270 revolutions……..”
behind, the slamming crashes of depth charges.
That will keep the son of a barsted whores head down………….
Too Hirate, the rings of the telegraphs, the clanging of the alarms, are the breaker of the rising fear..
Now, now, he has more than enough to do………..
But he still jumps with the rest as the hammer blows of the charges slam against the hull.
Three destroyers attack the seawolf ( see amazon book – “A wolf in the pen” –1956)
Like the majority of Japanese attacks, these are more noise than danger.
She will get another chance.
Zuiho dodges this first attack at 0335 hrs, by 0342 Kato considers his ship safe from that threat.
But he has little chance to resume course, when on the other flank of the force Atago rolls her lucky six, two more duds slamming into her flank.
At 0400 hours, Zuiho, still at action stations, still drawing from that well, again alters her course, as CL Tenryu dodges another attack on her.
As dawn begins to pink , Zuihos bridge is of one thought.
They have stumbled into a briar patch.
Yamamoto thinks so too. At 0435, the signal comes. ‘Task force to cancel all anticipated strikes. Launch all TBDs on ASW patrol”
Hidaka is grim as he faces his men.
“the wolves circle us my friends. Get them off our throats!”
By 0630 , they are all aloft, circling under a grey, foreboding low cloud sky, over a dark, malevolent sea.
And Zuiho’s mood matches it.
Doubt seizes them all.
On purely game considerations, this whole op is madness. As a player, determined to win, I would not be doing this op. the fleet would be in home port, waiting.
But how boring!
Also, as Cantona and I try to play a game as close to real life as we can, I cannot conceive japan doing nothing with the allied carriers sunk. This op I think, is very much how I think the Japanese high command would react……….especially considering her fuel situation.
Now back to those clangs.
The fleet is ‘marking time’ Allocated to a empty spot in the ocean by Yamamotos plan, it is committed to reversing upon itself every six hours.
Ryujo is but 500metres away on the port bow, passing Zuiho going the other way, when the fish strike.
It is only by luck that Kato actually sees the strike, two small fountains near her bow, he will not hear the strike like Hirate.
The mind moves quickly……..
Ryujo’s port bow!
That puts the shark on my starboard bow!
“FULL AHEAD ALL!, HARD TO STARBOARD!, Call battle stations!……..
And , immediately afterwards……..
‘SEARCHLIGHTS TO STARBOARD!”
If the SS can see Ryujo, then she can already see them………..
Zuiho bursts into life, her deck trembling.
Telegraphs crash, and below the ever present fans begin to wind towards full power shriek
From three places, the search beams strike out.
And see her……….
‘PERISCOPE!, 300 metres!, bearing 090!”
The call is almost a shriek.
Zuiho begins to lean into the turn, barrels begin to seek the scope.
‘Destroyer Isonami…I have the target!”
Kato, eyes fixed on the binnacle, mind racing, mentally plotting tracks, courses, answers calmly.
Isonami was astern……….”Very good. Wheel admidships!, port 25”
The SS should be passing astern. This maneuver has been known to pre detonate a fish………..
“Ship at action stations sir………..passing 270 revolutions……..”
behind, the slamming crashes of depth charges.
That will keep the son of a barsted whores head down………….
Too Hirate, the rings of the telegraphs, the clanging of the alarms, are the breaker of the rising fear..
Now, now, he has more than enough to do………..
But he still jumps with the rest as the hammer blows of the charges slam against the hull.
Three destroyers attack the seawolf ( see amazon book – “A wolf in the pen” –1956)
Like the majority of Japanese attacks, these are more noise than danger.
She will get another chance.
Zuiho dodges this first attack at 0335 hrs, by 0342 Kato considers his ship safe from that threat.
But he has little chance to resume course, when on the other flank of the force Atago rolls her lucky six, two more duds slamming into her flank.
At 0400 hours, Zuiho, still at action stations, still drawing from that well, again alters her course, as CL Tenryu dodges another attack on her.
As dawn begins to pink , Zuihos bridge is of one thought.
They have stumbled into a briar patch.
Yamamoto thinks so too. At 0435, the signal comes. ‘Task force to cancel all anticipated strikes. Launch all TBDs on ASW patrol”
Hidaka is grim as he faces his men.
“the wolves circle us my friends. Get them off our throats!”
By 0630 , they are all aloft, circling under a grey, foreboding low cloud sky, over a dark, malevolent sea.
And Zuiho’s mood matches it.
Doubt seizes them all.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
british exil
- Posts: 1686
- Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 6:26 pm
- Location: Lower Saxony Germany
RE: ouch
Any idea how many subs are in that brair patch? How many boats have be sighted and "identified"? (not mistaking a sighting as a different sub)
Question from the other side of the pond.
Did US subs work in "Wolfspack" as the German Uboots did? Or were they fighting singular only coming together on special operations.
Mat
Question from the other side of the pond.
Did US subs work in "Wolfspack" as the German Uboots did? Or were they fighting singular only coming together on special operations.
Mat
"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
RE: ouch
Even though the US didn't operate "wolf packs" it would appear that they do in your game! The concentration of subs is a very good tactic. One that can pay dividends even with the torpedo failure rate as it is...Hal
RE: ouch
ORIGINAL: dr.hal
Even though the US didn't operate "wolf packs" it would appear that they do in your game! The concentration of subs is a very good tactic. One that can pay dividends even with the torpedo failure rate as it is...Hal
As a newbie AFB in a game right at the same period of time as this thread I would say it is a difficult decision that has to fit ones overall strategy in my opinion.
Send USN submarines into merchant sea lanes and the IJ has to cover their convoys even though probability is low for a hit and detonation. This adds fuel costs to every convoy for example.
Concentrate USN submarines into an area of expected capital ship action and the USN gathers intellgence, along with presenting some probability < P(.20) per torp of detection, torp attack, hit, and detonation. But IMHO) scenrario #1, before 1943 it only takes one CV smacked to change the game. This game experinced USN CV losses early and thus maybe more pressure to smack a IJN CV?
Ok back to the story ...
<edit:I changed 'event' to even .. I had a different context and did not realize I did not complete the change in thoughts>
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
-
ny59giants
- Posts: 9902
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: ouch
The "briar patch" will get some nasty thorns in a few days when Jan 1st rolls around and the dud rate goes down. I'm in Feb 43 and I've felt the effects. [:(]
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[/center]RE: ouch
The grey skies turn foul
Ceiling drops to 1500 to 2000 feet, wet, dark. The sky is filled with low clouds now, and the wind drives scattered showers across the ships across the growing fields of white caps.
As dramatic the language from Hidaka, words , mere words cannot defeat nature.
It is for Okura a grim day. Emerging from the shelter of the ready room, he is already damp before he has climbed into the cockpit.
The take off is…………interesting, blinded by flying spray and rain
The rest of the patrol is like flying in a fish bowl, a frustrating exasperating day of peering through rain streaked canopies, chasing will of the wisps.
They see nothing all day
Others do.
Again, and again, the kates report in.
Periscope sighted!
Attacking!
Shadow in the water!
Periscope sighted!
The fleet gathers itself together, keeps plowing south east, sheep harassed by wolves, herding themselves closer and closer, seeking the protection of the mob.
“We must abandon this mission” Hidaka growls
Kato raises an eyebrow, lowers his glasses. “ Not words I would expect from you, my friend. “
Hidaka spits over the side of the bridge wing, the wind whipping it away. “I would fight a hundred carriers instead of these hidden baka’s!” he wipes the rain from his face. Hands grip the coaming hard. “Maybe these seas will keep them down.”
“Hidden from us, more likely. I think we will need a great deal of luck tonight.” The Captain turns his glasses to the west.
There, illuminated by a rare patch of sun, the giant shadow of the fleet flagship shimmers on the horizon.
She should not be there. The nights ‘activities’ have made a shambles of the fleets formation.
What, thinks Kato, are our esteemed masters thinking of this?
‘This is madness”
Hara cannot contain the anger in his voice. “this is no mere patrol line we have punched through!. I count ten contacts in the last 4 hours. When darkness comes, and our shepherds land, what will keep them at bay then?”
Yamamoto does not answer. He cannot. Herbiesan insists this operation will go ahead. The Admirals insist on action.. And fate, it seems, draws them on.
“We have no choice but to continue, and to trust our destroyers will keep them at bay. The mission continues. We will dispatch the Narua strike at force at midnight as planned”
Dusk
Over 100 square miles, thousands of eyes peer into the gathering dark, across a ever growing more restless ocean.
Hirate is not alone. Hardly a mind a board every ship is not now screwed with tension, waiting, waiting for that terrible blow.
The long day fades.
Eight hours to dawn
Ceiling drops to 1500 to 2000 feet, wet, dark. The sky is filled with low clouds now, and the wind drives scattered showers across the ships across the growing fields of white caps.
As dramatic the language from Hidaka, words , mere words cannot defeat nature.
It is for Okura a grim day. Emerging from the shelter of the ready room, he is already damp before he has climbed into the cockpit.
The take off is…………interesting, blinded by flying spray and rain
The rest of the patrol is like flying in a fish bowl, a frustrating exasperating day of peering through rain streaked canopies, chasing will of the wisps.
They see nothing all day
Others do.
Again, and again, the kates report in.
Periscope sighted!
Attacking!
Shadow in the water!
Periscope sighted!
The fleet gathers itself together, keeps plowing south east, sheep harassed by wolves, herding themselves closer and closer, seeking the protection of the mob.
“We must abandon this mission” Hidaka growls
Kato raises an eyebrow, lowers his glasses. “ Not words I would expect from you, my friend. “
Hidaka spits over the side of the bridge wing, the wind whipping it away. “I would fight a hundred carriers instead of these hidden baka’s!” he wipes the rain from his face. Hands grip the coaming hard. “Maybe these seas will keep them down.”
“Hidden from us, more likely. I think we will need a great deal of luck tonight.” The Captain turns his glasses to the west.
There, illuminated by a rare patch of sun, the giant shadow of the fleet flagship shimmers on the horizon.
She should not be there. The nights ‘activities’ have made a shambles of the fleets formation.
What, thinks Kato, are our esteemed masters thinking of this?
‘This is madness”
Hara cannot contain the anger in his voice. “this is no mere patrol line we have punched through!. I count ten contacts in the last 4 hours. When darkness comes, and our shepherds land, what will keep them at bay then?”
Yamamoto does not answer. He cannot. Herbiesan insists this operation will go ahead. The Admirals insist on action.. And fate, it seems, draws them on.
“We have no choice but to continue, and to trust our destroyers will keep them at bay. The mission continues. We will dispatch the Narua strike at force at midnight as planned”
Dusk
Over 100 square miles, thousands of eyes peer into the gathering dark, across a ever growing more restless ocean.
Hirate is not alone. Hardly a mind a board every ship is not now screwed with tension, waiting, waiting for that terrible blow.
The long day fades.
Eight hours to dawn
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt