24/12/43
ssI-33 puts 2 fish into BB Alabama
Wewak falls, to the last man
20 weary pilots walk up Zuihos gangway.
Diogawa kneels on her deck, and kisses it.
"I will never abuse you again, old girl, never again."
Zuihos children have returned.
The little ship that could.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: The little ship that could.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
Gridley380
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:24 pm
RE: The little ship that could.
Love this story. I didn't know there were three ways to clean a boiler!
RE: The little ship that could.
25/12/43
The boiler clean is completed, and now Minobe and the Charge are inside the steam drum conducting the inspection.
It is not going well, certainly not improved by the staleness of Minobes breathe, a mix of old whiskey, cigar and seaweed.
But in reality, that is the least of The Charges worries.
Officially, the Charge is not qualified as a boiler inspector, he is not an "engineer"
But of course, he has been crawling around in these steel tubes for more years than he cares to remember.
Minobe is the Engineer.
Charge MUST bow to his decisions, must conceed to his opinions. And right now, internally, he is violently opposed to Minobes opinions.
What inspections are meant to look for are pittings, wear, cracking in the areas where tubes enter the drum. Sometimes you even encounter lose ones (they surprisingly are easiest to fix, here "get a bloody big hammer" is half the solution)
Now, in the crazy shadows of the swinging torch, Charge sees tube with pitting after pitting, some, to his eyes with alarming wear .
"Sir, this one, what do you think?" (cannot you hear it in my tone of voice you mad buggar, this is terrible!)
"Yes, there is some pitting. Acceptable" ( I cannot go to Takeji with demands for a boiler re tube, not now, I cannot)
"Sir......" ( No, this is useless. Very well. So be it..........I just pray she makes it to the refit, if the gods are good.)
'Stop fretting Chief. I see they are bad..........I have seen worse. How many hours steaming to refit yes?. I have seen enough. Box her back up"
And with that the Engineer crawls to the Steam drum door, his great bulk almost totally blocking the light as he squeezes out.
For a minute Charge is plunged into dark.
A dark almost as deep as his thoughts.
The boiler clean is completed, and now Minobe and the Charge are inside the steam drum conducting the inspection.
It is not going well, certainly not improved by the staleness of Minobes breathe, a mix of old whiskey, cigar and seaweed.
But in reality, that is the least of The Charges worries.
Officially, the Charge is not qualified as a boiler inspector, he is not an "engineer"
But of course, he has been crawling around in these steel tubes for more years than he cares to remember.
Minobe is the Engineer.
Charge MUST bow to his decisions, must conceed to his opinions. And right now, internally, he is violently opposed to Minobes opinions.
What inspections are meant to look for are pittings, wear, cracking in the areas where tubes enter the drum. Sometimes you even encounter lose ones (they surprisingly are easiest to fix, here "get a bloody big hammer" is half the solution)
Now, in the crazy shadows of the swinging torch, Charge sees tube with pitting after pitting, some, to his eyes with alarming wear .
"Sir, this one, what do you think?" (cannot you hear it in my tone of voice you mad buggar, this is terrible!)
"Yes, there is some pitting. Acceptable" ( I cannot go to Takeji with demands for a boiler re tube, not now, I cannot)
"Sir......" ( No, this is useless. Very well. So be it..........I just pray she makes it to the refit, if the gods are good.)
'Stop fretting Chief. I see they are bad..........I have seen worse. How many hours steaming to refit yes?. I have seen enough. Box her back up"
And with that the Engineer crawls to the Steam drum door, his great bulk almost totally blocking the light as he squeezes out.
For a minute Charge is plunged into dark.
A dark almost as deep as his thoughts.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
25/12/43
Off wewak japans SS cover themselves with shame
In 12 hours, there are no less than 11 attacks launched against a wide variety of APs, AKs and LSTs, by no less than 6 different submarines
SS-I-70 kills a LST, hits another one
Everyone else misses...............
All the submarines are ordered home............there will be command changes.
Off wewak japans SS cover themselves with shame
In 12 hours, there are no less than 11 attacks launched against a wide variety of APs, AKs and LSTs, by no less than 6 different submarines
SS-I-70 kills a LST, hits another one
Everyone else misses...............
All the submarines are ordered home............there will be command changes.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Biak spends a quiet day, the airfield is fully repaired, and work continues on the support facilities. 47th sentai licks its wounds, and waits for the next round.
In Burma, Hosho and his division continue to rest and refit. The enemy heavies have begun a new blitz, 60 liberators smashing Chiang mai. But like Biak, the engineers swarm like ants moment after the nest has been upturned. The Bombers are now on longer supply lines than Japans, and Japan is detirmined to stay this time, alive or dead.
And finally, Zuihos Jills return, on barges, lifted aboard. Takeji's instructions about pulling the JIll apart and putting it back together again may now pay off. Regardless, the hangers now literally ring to the sound of work.
The allies are attacking at Wewak, if cantona is to stick to form, a thrust here in the Indian ocean must surely be expected soon.
Its the cantona way.
In Burma, Hosho and his division continue to rest and refit. The enemy heavies have begun a new blitz, 60 liberators smashing Chiang mai. But like Biak, the engineers swarm like ants moment after the nest has been upturned. The Bombers are now on longer supply lines than Japans, and Japan is detirmined to stay this time, alive or dead.
And finally, Zuihos Jills return, on barges, lifted aboard. Takeji's instructions about pulling the JIll apart and putting it back together again may now pay off. Regardless, the hangers now literally ring to the sound of work.
The allies are attacking at Wewak, if cantona is to stick to form, a thrust here in the Indian ocean must surely be expected soon.
Its the cantona way.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hi gridely-------- they are all equally dirty and unpleasant!
Glad you are enjoying the story.
and too all those who drop in anomonously..(spelling[8|]).....thankyou for the visits!
Glad you are enjoying the story.
and too all those who drop in anomonously..(spelling[8|]).....thankyou for the visits!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
It is we who silently thank you.
Common Sense is an uncommon virtue.
If you think you have everything under control, you don't fully understand the situation.
If you think you have everything under control, you don't fully understand the situation.
RE: The little ship that could.
Christmas day
Zuiho's hangers ring to the sound of work.
In 48 hours, 11 of her torpedo bombers have been re assembled, and all but one zero is ready
Each plane is brought to the deck in turn and run to full power.
For obvious reasons, the pilots are fully involved.
Diogawa is riding in the cockpit, Uto on the wing, as another zero is raised up the elevator.
Uto leans in 'hell of a way to spend Christmas"
"Diogawa looks up, slightly bemused "Christmas, Japanese don't celebrate Christmas.........although we did have a Christain flying with us once"
"Oh, who was that?'
For a moment Diogawa thinks, his face screwing up into concentration " You know, I can't remember, I forget. He's dead anyway"
Uto does not answer, but the thought is there "dead, forgotten..........as i am sure we all one day will be"
Zuiho's hangers ring to the sound of work.
In 48 hours, 11 of her torpedo bombers have been re assembled, and all but one zero is ready
Each plane is brought to the deck in turn and run to full power.
For obvious reasons, the pilots are fully involved.
Diogawa is riding in the cockpit, Uto on the wing, as another zero is raised up the elevator.
Uto leans in 'hell of a way to spend Christmas"
"Diogawa looks up, slightly bemused "Christmas, Japanese don't celebrate Christmas.........although we did have a Christain flying with us once"
"Oh, who was that?'
For a moment Diogawa thinks, his face screwing up into concentration " You know, I can't remember, I forget. He's dead anyway"
Uto does not answer, but the thought is there "dead, forgotten..........as i am sure we all one day will be"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
They come again for Biak
20 strong this time, and yet again low and fast and hard.
Fuchida does not fight in this battle, in fact few do.
he is at 7000 feet when he spots them, low and hidden against the green,..........and behind them.
Bukas!
There are things some of us will never experince.
That slam of the throttle, that push into the seat, that stick over, the delightful way she just goes where you want her to go, wings vertical to the world, sun earth, sky, all at your control.
And today, all for nought.
They are too far ahead.
Even as the chase develops, the zeros swarm down, a buzzing, weaving frustrated attack.
Zeros fall, and so do the bombs.
Fuchida will land, guns not fired
And taste ashes.
20 strong this time, and yet again low and fast and hard.
Fuchida does not fight in this battle, in fact few do.
he is at 7000 feet when he spots them, low and hidden against the green,..........and behind them.
Bukas!
There are things some of us will never experince.
That slam of the throttle, that push into the seat, that stick over, the delightful way she just goes where you want her to go, wings vertical to the world, sun earth, sky, all at your control.
And today, all for nought.
They are too far ahead.
Even as the chase develops, the zeros swarm down, a buzzing, weaving frustrated attack.
Zeros fall, and so do the bombs.
Fuchida will land, guns not fired
And taste ashes.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Of course, war rages elsewhere, especially in the skies over Burma
24 liberators put craters onto more craters at Chiang mai
19 try for Moulmien, and are savaged by the CAP.
Japanese fighters sweep rangoon, filling the skies with snarling combat against mustangs and p 40's.
Some of these P 40s then get to pounce on Helen bombers, and extract a bloody revenge.
It is a day of victories, of defeats
55 japanese go down
50 allied
Lets call it a draw.
24 liberators put craters onto more craters at Chiang mai
19 try for Moulmien, and are savaged by the CAP.
Japanese fighters sweep rangoon, filling the skies with snarling combat against mustangs and p 40's.
Some of these P 40s then get to pounce on Helen bombers, and extract a bloody revenge.
It is a day of victories, of defeats
55 japanese go down
50 allied
Lets call it a draw.
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: The little ship that could.
ORIGINAL: 1275psi
Christmas day
Diogawa is riding in the cockpit, Uto on the wing, as another zero is raised up the elevator.
Uto leans in 'hell of a way to spend Christmas"
"Diogawa looks up, slightly bemused "Christmas, Japanese don't celebrate Christmas.........although we did have a Christain flying with us once"
"Oh, who was that?'
For a moment Diogawa thinks, his face screwing up into concentration " You know, I can't remember, I forget. He's dead anyway"
Uto does not answer, but the thought is there "dead, forgotten..........as i am sure we all one day will be"
You know what? I had forgotten about him too. I remembered, a certain character in the story after reading this post.
But I can't remember his name, what he flew and how died. In action or in a tragic accident on board. Or even maybe on shore leave.
Time has a different meaning and feeling in war, I suppose.
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: The little ship that could.
26/12/43
How much concentration do you apply to starting and driving your car?
After a few years, I would guess, that on most occasions, not much.
Fighters are not anything like that at all.
Climbing into the cockpit, Fuchidas mind is trying to keep 2 steps ahead of his hands and feet. He's flown nearly 400 missions now, so movements do come practiced , almost automatic, but no matter how practiced he is, you just cannot escape this fact.
Radials can be a bitch.
Radials with litle maintenance, little care, exposed to brutal enviromental conditions, can be stubborn , stubborn bitches.
This morning, with the bombers coming, she won't go.
Pump the fuel, primed, reset the swithes, kick the start, pump, pump, choke, pump, curse, whir, whir, whir, cough, whir, stall.......
In frustration he slams the outside of the cockpit with his left arm, but that is not going to help. 2 tired men are now peering inside the engine cowling, and a short curse soon emits from there too.
"U/S sir!, you have cracked 2 heads, maybe a third!"
"Damnation!" .
In the distance, the growing hum of the bombers. On the far end of the field, guns begin to point skyward, and three barrage balloons begin to rise rapidly into the sky
The hum is now a buzz, growing into a growl, interlaced with the scream of fighters.
Buckles undone, out. "Leave it, wheres the trench?"
Trying to stay calm, trying even harder to appear calm, Fuchida walks towards the trench.
The mechanics are more practical, they are already there, diving in.
The growl is now the pounding roar of heavies, the guns begin to bark.
And too soon, the screams of the bombs begins
Fuchida climbs into the trench, and peeks out.
A liberator crumps into the Jungle south of the strip, the rising ball of flame suddenly hidden as the bombs begin the dance........
A good time to keep low.
The ground shakes, thumps, thumps, THUMPS, the whistles grow louder, louder, closer, closer...........curl your self into a smaller ball......
But this time the nearest bomb has fallen 100 yards away.
Smack onto Fuchidas fighter.
'Truk"
47th is reduced to a mere 8 goers. Tonight it will with draw to palua, to rebuild, to refit.
Her planes are broken. But her spirit is not.
How much concentration do you apply to starting and driving your car?
After a few years, I would guess, that on most occasions, not much.
Fighters are not anything like that at all.
Climbing into the cockpit, Fuchidas mind is trying to keep 2 steps ahead of his hands and feet. He's flown nearly 400 missions now, so movements do come practiced , almost automatic, but no matter how practiced he is, you just cannot escape this fact.
Radials can be a bitch.
Radials with litle maintenance, little care, exposed to brutal enviromental conditions, can be stubborn , stubborn bitches.
This morning, with the bombers coming, she won't go.
Pump the fuel, primed, reset the swithes, kick the start, pump, pump, choke, pump, curse, whir, whir, whir, cough, whir, stall.......
In frustration he slams the outside of the cockpit with his left arm, but that is not going to help. 2 tired men are now peering inside the engine cowling, and a short curse soon emits from there too.
"U/S sir!, you have cracked 2 heads, maybe a third!"
"Damnation!" .
In the distance, the growing hum of the bombers. On the far end of the field, guns begin to point skyward, and three barrage balloons begin to rise rapidly into the sky
The hum is now a buzz, growing into a growl, interlaced with the scream of fighters.
Buckles undone, out. "Leave it, wheres the trench?"
Trying to stay calm, trying even harder to appear calm, Fuchida walks towards the trench.
The mechanics are more practical, they are already there, diving in.
The growl is now the pounding roar of heavies, the guns begin to bark.
And too soon, the screams of the bombs begins
Fuchida climbs into the trench, and peeks out.
A liberator crumps into the Jungle south of the strip, the rising ball of flame suddenly hidden as the bombs begin the dance........
A good time to keep low.
The ground shakes, thumps, thumps, THUMPS, the whistles grow louder, louder, closer, closer...........curl your self into a smaller ball......
But this time the nearest bomb has fallen 100 yards away.
Smack onto Fuchidas fighter.
'Truk"
47th is reduced to a mere 8 goers. Tonight it will with draw to palua, to rebuild, to refit.
Her planes are broken. But her spirit is not.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The enemy begin to land at Hollandia.
For much of the morning, the ships unload in the shade of giant thunderstorms, mountainous clouds, with almost pitch black sheets of rain beneath them.
But after midday, Hollandia radios,"weather breaking"
255 th KU, 36 Betties strong, waits.
It has been a long long time since japans navy bombers have done this, loaded torpedoes, and conducted a true navy strike.
Surrounded by 26 zeros, the first strike of 18 departs, half an hour later, with another 15 escorts, LT Ban leads the second flight of eighteen into the angry sky.
They march down the coast, at 7000 feet, bouncing in the tropical air, sky here clear, horizon ahead however full of ominous thunderheads.
Flight time nearly 90 minutes
LT Iwaya leads the first wave. A veteran of the china war, he flies totally confident about the battle ahead, about the fighters escorting them.
20 minutes to target "Gunners, man your guns"
The clouds are growing ever larger, he checks the map for the hundreth time, the landmarks of the coast sliding past to schedule....
"Fighters!"
he twists in his seat, head craning, searching to find them..........
three zeros ahead of him wheel up and way, peeling behind.good, that will.......
Guns chatter, and three startling blue stubby birds race past, and his wingman abruptly falls..........
'Close up!, close up!"
More fighters, ahead, wheeling in, screaming past, his gunners are firing, pathetic small bursts..........sound whipping away.
A zero passes from below and behind, banks across his nose at 200 yards, three hellcats on his tail, for a moment, just a moment , as the zero turns into a fireball wheeling across his nose............
Close up!, close up!"
Confidence has evaporated. Now, now near panic grips them, as the fighters swarm, and bomber after bomber, after bomber falls away, or bursts into flame,.......... Ronson lighter, one shot and they burn............
And suddenly there are no fighters left defending them, and Iwaya leads just 6
Exhausts glowing, they dive towards the bay, the masses of shipping...........five left, now four............
Life wins over duty. The fish drops free, the bomber leaps, and the clouds swallow them into safety...........
45 fighters have killed this strike in less than 6 minutes.............
LT Bans flight reaches Hollandia 30 minutes later, to find it buried under the storm.
They push on.
50 miles south of there, 20 odd enemy rise from behind to intercept, the zeros wheel about, and freed to fight, fall behind them in a fur ball of death.
The bombers plunge into rain, out, descend into clear sky, enter another band of rain at 1000 feet, and burst into the sun again over a grey white capped sea.
It would make a beautiful painting
The great bay, dark, grey, dirty, white capped.
The background, the mighty clouds, the black, black screen of rain sweeping across.
And the sun, shining brilliantly upon the gleaming ships just washed by that rain, ships standing upon the waters as if under Gods spotlight.
Out of the grey, out of the murk, the bombers race
Two will be chopped down, but it is a torpedo bombers dream
CVE Notoma bay will take 4 fish. She collapses , as if an old womans walking frame has been snatched from him.
The real horror is the AP Mungana bay, 8000 tons.
Only one fish takes her, she lists, lists, and just keeps right on rolling............
1500 men will forever remain in her holds..............
Miss Betty is back.
For much of the morning, the ships unload in the shade of giant thunderstorms, mountainous clouds, with almost pitch black sheets of rain beneath them.
But after midday, Hollandia radios,"weather breaking"
255 th KU, 36 Betties strong, waits.
It has been a long long time since japans navy bombers have done this, loaded torpedoes, and conducted a true navy strike.
Surrounded by 26 zeros, the first strike of 18 departs, half an hour later, with another 15 escorts, LT Ban leads the second flight of eighteen into the angry sky.
They march down the coast, at 7000 feet, bouncing in the tropical air, sky here clear, horizon ahead however full of ominous thunderheads.
Flight time nearly 90 minutes
LT Iwaya leads the first wave. A veteran of the china war, he flies totally confident about the battle ahead, about the fighters escorting them.
20 minutes to target "Gunners, man your guns"
The clouds are growing ever larger, he checks the map for the hundreth time, the landmarks of the coast sliding past to schedule....
"Fighters!"
he twists in his seat, head craning, searching to find them..........
three zeros ahead of him wheel up and way, peeling behind.good, that will.......
Guns chatter, and three startling blue stubby birds race past, and his wingman abruptly falls..........
'Close up!, close up!"
More fighters, ahead, wheeling in, screaming past, his gunners are firing, pathetic small bursts..........sound whipping away.
A zero passes from below and behind, banks across his nose at 200 yards, three hellcats on his tail, for a moment, just a moment , as the zero turns into a fireball wheeling across his nose............
Close up!, close up!"
Confidence has evaporated. Now, now near panic grips them, as the fighters swarm, and bomber after bomber, after bomber falls away, or bursts into flame,.......... Ronson lighter, one shot and they burn............
And suddenly there are no fighters left defending them, and Iwaya leads just 6
Exhausts glowing, they dive towards the bay, the masses of shipping...........five left, now four............
Life wins over duty. The fish drops free, the bomber leaps, and the clouds swallow them into safety...........
45 fighters have killed this strike in less than 6 minutes.............
LT Bans flight reaches Hollandia 30 minutes later, to find it buried under the storm.
They push on.
50 miles south of there, 20 odd enemy rise from behind to intercept, the zeros wheel about, and freed to fight, fall behind them in a fur ball of death.
The bombers plunge into rain, out, descend into clear sky, enter another band of rain at 1000 feet, and burst into the sun again over a grey white capped sea.
It would make a beautiful painting
The great bay, dark, grey, dirty, white capped.
The background, the mighty clouds, the black, black screen of rain sweeping across.
And the sun, shining brilliantly upon the gleaming ships just washed by that rain, ships standing upon the waters as if under Gods spotlight.
Out of the grey, out of the murk, the bombers race
Two will be chopped down, but it is a torpedo bombers dream
CVE Notoma bay will take 4 fish. She collapses , as if an old womans walking frame has been snatched from him.
The real horror is the AP Mungana bay, 8000 tons.
Only one fish takes her, she lists, lists, and just keeps right on rolling............
1500 men will forever remain in her holds..............
Miss Betty is back.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
28/12/43
The boiler internals are back in place, the final checks for anything left behind done.
The water wall hand hold doors, steam drum and Mud drum doors are back in place.
Now comes the tricky part.. A hose is fitted to the back of the boiler, and nearly an hour is spent back filling it. Water erupts from the air vents. The pump begins its work, pffft, pffft, pffft.
In every obscure corner of the space, the stokers wait with sledge hammers in hand. Everything, of course leaks, but as the pressure slowly rises, the men can use this to their advantage. Nuts tight , soon become lose, and then the hammers ring.
What takes a paragraph to describe, takes 6 hours to achieve. Another 8 hours will be needed to replace the boiler casings, another 12 to light them off, establish chemistry.
But there is no rush, Zuikaku is still in dock. Nobody is going anywhere, it seems, until she is ready.
Biak, Noemfoor and Manokwari launch another strike on Biak.
45 zeros, and 27 of the brand new Francis torpedo bombers. They gather over Biak, and fade into the south.
None return.
Not one
There is nobody to even ask, what happened?, what consumed them?
Only silence, and empty bunks.
And the not knowing.
Which is the worst of all.
The boiler internals are back in place, the final checks for anything left behind done.
The water wall hand hold doors, steam drum and Mud drum doors are back in place.
Now comes the tricky part.. A hose is fitted to the back of the boiler, and nearly an hour is spent back filling it. Water erupts from the air vents. The pump begins its work, pffft, pffft, pffft.
In every obscure corner of the space, the stokers wait with sledge hammers in hand. Everything, of course leaks, but as the pressure slowly rises, the men can use this to their advantage. Nuts tight , soon become lose, and then the hammers ring.
What takes a paragraph to describe, takes 6 hours to achieve. Another 8 hours will be needed to replace the boiler casings, another 12 to light them off, establish chemistry.
But there is no rush, Zuikaku is still in dock. Nobody is going anywhere, it seems, until she is ready.
Biak, Noemfoor and Manokwari launch another strike on Biak.
45 zeros, and 27 of the brand new Francis torpedo bombers. They gather over Biak, and fade into the south.
None return.
Not one
There is nobody to even ask, what happened?, what consumed them?
Only silence, and empty bunks.
And the not knowing.
Which is the worst of all.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Extract from Shattering the Sword, a Cantona production.
If things over head of the Hollandia landings were working to plan, on the beaches things were definately not.
For the Japanese, there is some good news. This is the Marine 1st and 3rd division in action again, proof, if anymore is needed, that PNG remains the main thrust.
There has been too little time to prepare, to little time to plan, to rehearse. The japanese defenders take a small toll, the surf, the coral, the foundering landing craft a tremendous toll.
They will get ashore, but over 50 % of them will not be fighting today............
If things over head of the Hollandia landings were working to plan, on the beaches things were definately not.
For the Japanese, there is some good news. This is the Marine 1st and 3rd division in action again, proof, if anymore is needed, that PNG remains the main thrust.
There has been too little time to prepare, to little time to plan, to rehearse. The japanese defenders take a small toll, the surf, the coral, the foundering landing craft a tremendous toll.
They will get ashore, but over 50 % of them will not be fighting today............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
New years eve
Takeji takes in the circle of faces about him. How things have changed so quickly. two months ago, in this same room, so much confidence, so much bravisimo....
Now, now grimness.
Too, so many faces missing. Akagis' captain, Taiho's, Ryujos, Taihos, Unyos........... not to mention Yamaguchi's.
Gone. And all taken by the underwater sharks, sharks they must brave again.
The newest admiral, a face Takeji does not know, nor draws inspiration from, speaks
"Hollandia has fallen. 4 enemy divisions have been involved, and many carriers. Our plans for the battle for Biak"
Biak. Damnation, the knife is drawing closer to our arteries......
"The crises is upon us. I have been ordered to surrender the bulk of the AO's to 2nd fleet, to become fuel and oil haulers."
An angry buzz fills the room.
"Gentlemen!!!
Slowly, slowly the angry buzz dies away.
"It is what it is..........the empire is strangling for lack of fuel. Factories are closing down. The war is coming towards the oil fields, thus we must turn to them for our wants"
'But sir........"
"BUT NOTHING!"...........it is, what it is. We are gathering Mutsu, Nagato, Ise, Hyuga and Fuso at palua, supported by CVL Ryuho and Shinyo. I am sending Kongo, Hiei, haranua and Kirishima to davao, you will sail today.
Carrier battle group 1, Zuikaku, Shokaku , Hiryu, Soryu, shoho and Zuiho shall sail tomorrow at dusk, carrier battle group 2 will sail tonight. Carriers will refuel at Soerabaya, and then wait to advance across the banda sea when the enemy moves"
The Admiral sweeps his eye across the room.
Maybe, thinks Takeji, I have under estimated this man, he seems keen to fight, and this plan may work.........
"Any questions?"
There are none
As the sun sets, Singapore harbour again bursts into life. Japan has 4 divisions invested in the Biak area, and the bulk of her airforces. This is where they must stop them.
If not here, then where?
Takeji takes in the circle of faces about him. How things have changed so quickly. two months ago, in this same room, so much confidence, so much bravisimo....
Now, now grimness.
Too, so many faces missing. Akagis' captain, Taiho's, Ryujos, Taihos, Unyos........... not to mention Yamaguchi's.
Gone. And all taken by the underwater sharks, sharks they must brave again.
The newest admiral, a face Takeji does not know, nor draws inspiration from, speaks
"Hollandia has fallen. 4 enemy divisions have been involved, and many carriers. Our plans for the battle for Biak"
Biak. Damnation, the knife is drawing closer to our arteries......
"The crises is upon us. I have been ordered to surrender the bulk of the AO's to 2nd fleet, to become fuel and oil haulers."
An angry buzz fills the room.
"Gentlemen!!!
Slowly, slowly the angry buzz dies away.
"It is what it is..........the empire is strangling for lack of fuel. Factories are closing down. The war is coming towards the oil fields, thus we must turn to them for our wants"
'But sir........"
"BUT NOTHING!"...........it is, what it is. We are gathering Mutsu, Nagato, Ise, Hyuga and Fuso at palua, supported by CVL Ryuho and Shinyo. I am sending Kongo, Hiei, haranua and Kirishima to davao, you will sail today.
Carrier battle group 1, Zuikaku, Shokaku , Hiryu, Soryu, shoho and Zuiho shall sail tomorrow at dusk, carrier battle group 2 will sail tonight. Carriers will refuel at Soerabaya, and then wait to advance across the banda sea when the enemy moves"
The Admiral sweeps his eye across the room.
Maybe, thinks Takeji, I have under estimated this man, he seems keen to fight, and this plan may work.........
"Any questions?"
There are none
As the sun sets, Singapore harbour again bursts into life. Japan has 4 divisions invested in the Biak area, and the bulk of her airforces. This is where they must stop them.
If not here, then where?
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
47 th return to biak
The field is repaired, as are many of the services
Tomorrow, 3 sentai of George fighters and 47ths of Tojos will be on CAP above this base. It is, they have been told, the key to the Phillipines. Should this place fall, the enemy will be free to spread across the myrid bases to the north like a cancer, a cancer that will throttle completely her seaways to the oil fields.
The navy, it is rumoured, is gearing up again to fight. But they have heard that too many times before.
The airforce will believe it, when they see it.
They are here with the best they have. Few think anything else than that once again, they will have to do it alone.
The field is repaired, as are many of the services
Tomorrow, 3 sentai of George fighters and 47ths of Tojos will be on CAP above this base. It is, they have been told, the key to the Phillipines. Should this place fall, the enemy will be free to spread across the myrid bases to the north like a cancer, a cancer that will throttle completely her seaways to the oil fields.
The navy, it is rumoured, is gearing up again to fight. But they have heard that too many times before.
The airforce will believe it, when they see it.
They are here with the best they have. Few think anything else than that once again, they will have to do it alone.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
New years eve
Night orders, Zuiho Engineering department
Ship is under sailing orders
All compartment I/Cs to report to me state of ship by no later than 1200 hrs tomorrow
Full watch below, 1300 hours, light off 1A, 2A boilers for full steaming
Test main engines 1700 hrs
Sailing expected 1900 hrs, dependent on Zuikaku movements
Light off 1B, 2B boilers 1400, to be banked at 10 minutes notice.
Secure all compartments for action
All personal to ensure that they have field dressing, respirator on them
All personal to have torch!
Do your duty.
Signed
The Charge, for Minobe
Minobe is unconcious again...............pissed to the gills
Night orders, Zuiho Engineering department
Ship is under sailing orders
All compartment I/Cs to report to me state of ship by no later than 1200 hrs tomorrow
Full watch below, 1300 hours, light off 1A, 2A boilers for full steaming
Test main engines 1700 hrs
Sailing expected 1900 hrs, dependent on Zuikaku movements
Light off 1B, 2B boilers 1400, to be banked at 10 minutes notice.
Secure all compartments for action
All personal to ensure that they have field dressing, respirator on them
All personal to have torch!
Do your duty.
Signed
The Charge, for Minobe
Minobe is unconcious again...............pissed to the gills
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
Smoky Stoker
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:34 pm
RE: The little ship that could.
Historical trivia: the oil of Borneo was and is "light, sweet crude". That means that in WW II, steam plants could burn it as it came from the ground, with no refining necessary. Unless your ship got the dregs of the tank, the settled sludge... in some places called 'donkey poo'.
"Leveling large cities has a tendency to alienate the affections of the inhabitants and does not create an atmosphere of international good will after the war." -Rear Admiral Daniel V. Gallery