I would think, although I may be completely wrong, that most reading this little tale, have some knowledge of the war at sea, of the great battles fought, of the clashes great and small.
Already Zuiho has had her share, maybe, her men might think, more than their share of these desperate struggles.
None doubt, deeply, that there will be more to come.
Yet, it is obvious, that even the busiest of ships only see battle rarely. Some, a great many in this war (especially on the allied side I would think) will spend the entire war with out even seeing battle.
But when it comes, it usually comes quickly, with out warning, and with violence impossible to imagine.
To survive, no, to do more than survive, to actually win, to gain victory, never depends on the battle itself. Never
Ever.
No, the battle is won now, in these quiet days, in these transits.
In the training, of course. That’s what Herbiesan is going to say, isn’t he, In the training, in the drills, the never ending exercises that Takeji, the XO, Hidaka, even the charge inflict upon their men. Drills that even now, at the end of this first day, are just winding down.
And its true, they are vital.
But after 2 and a half years, countless battles, Zuiho can gain little more from them.
No
Its deeper than that.
Zuiho has been driven hard, her men even harder.
How easy, here, just in transit, to ease a little…………to take that shortcut, to ignore that regulation.
This is the great battle. The real battle. 800 plus individual battles.
800 men, who individually, must never relax, who must never short cut.
And on Zuiho, because this is Zuiho, the little ship, nobody does.
A thousand and one tasks are occurring on this ship this day.
Ammunition is being inspected, readied, counted, stacked,, deep in her bowels, or high in her gun tubs.
Bread is being baked. Stores are being counted, stored, moved, sourced.
Forms are being filled. A tooth is being pulled.
Rounds on a hundred gauges and machines are being done.
Charts are being updated.
Spark plugs on a Jills radial are being carefully installed, and signals, precise signals are being passed, received, deciphered.
A table is being carefully laid for dinner.
800 different men, 800 different tasks. All being done
Proffessionally
The only way
The Zuiho way.
Takeji sits easily in his chair, guiding her steadily south. The clouds darken about Japan. Battle calls.
He has a million things to worry about.
Zuihos men, are not one of them.
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
RE: The little ship that could.
May 13th
0900 hrs
Sparkling blue seas, a mild chop, but little swell. Zuiho pushes south at 20 knots, the ting, ting of her elevator bell whipped away by the wind she makes as she carves south.
The Jill arrives, gleaming, fresh, and the white overalled men swarm about her. With muscles clearly straining, they line its fwd wing edge, and begin to hustle its tonnes aft.
Tail almost hanging over the creaming wake, the chocks are placed.
A mechanix swings himself into the beast, and shortly the engine coughs, great shovels of smoke, coughs again, the blade hangs, then blurrs into life, the beast growls.
The mechanic smiles, gives the thumbs up.
Flighted suited men emerge from the shade of Zuihos tiny flight deck tower, with out drama they settle into the Jill.
The engine roars, settles, beats,.
The chocks vanish
Zuiho heels slighly, the wind rises. Thick smoke belches from her stack............(no hirate on watch today down there), steam streams from the flight deck leading edge.
The flight deck officer raises a flag.
The pilot nods, the flag drops, the great beast lumbers down the deck, drops , climbs agonisingly away.
30 seconds later, a different Jill slams down onto the third wire., comes to its halt.
The white overalls swarm again..............
Okano sighs. 'You know, one could watch this crap forever"
Hirate nods "its sort of hypnotic isn't it"
The gun bay is crowded, the day is too good, the sight too grand to not, even for a moment, come and watch, come and view.
Overhead the growl is continous, in every direction, the Jills, the petes, the Jakes circle, some close, some far on the horizon.
The fleet, fully 90% of japans strength, spreads further than the eye can see, great columns of grey.
The two men watch the next plane depart, the next arrive.
Morning watch is over, breakfast too. There are no urgent defects, in fact, Zuiho is behaving perfectly today, and no exercises are planned.
For just a moment, Okano will feel guilty, surely there must be something they should be doing, but if there is, its escaped him for now.
The sun is rising, and this good morning is becoming perfect
A decision.
The shirt comes off, he settles in. After all, who knows when they will get a day like this again?
0900 hrs
Sparkling blue seas, a mild chop, but little swell. Zuiho pushes south at 20 knots, the ting, ting of her elevator bell whipped away by the wind she makes as she carves south.
The Jill arrives, gleaming, fresh, and the white overalled men swarm about her. With muscles clearly straining, they line its fwd wing edge, and begin to hustle its tonnes aft.
Tail almost hanging over the creaming wake, the chocks are placed.
A mechanix swings himself into the beast, and shortly the engine coughs, great shovels of smoke, coughs again, the blade hangs, then blurrs into life, the beast growls.
The mechanic smiles, gives the thumbs up.
Flighted suited men emerge from the shade of Zuihos tiny flight deck tower, with out drama they settle into the Jill.
The engine roars, settles, beats,.
The chocks vanish
Zuiho heels slighly, the wind rises. Thick smoke belches from her stack............(no hirate on watch today down there), steam streams from the flight deck leading edge.
The flight deck officer raises a flag.
The pilot nods, the flag drops, the great beast lumbers down the deck, drops , climbs agonisingly away.
30 seconds later, a different Jill slams down onto the third wire., comes to its halt.
The white overalls swarm again..............
Okano sighs. 'You know, one could watch this crap forever"
Hirate nods "its sort of hypnotic isn't it"
The gun bay is crowded, the day is too good, the sight too grand to not, even for a moment, come and watch, come and view.
Overhead the growl is continous, in every direction, the Jills, the petes, the Jakes circle, some close, some far on the horizon.
The fleet, fully 90% of japans strength, spreads further than the eye can see, great columns of grey.
The two men watch the next plane depart, the next arrive.
Morning watch is over, breakfast too. There are no urgent defects, in fact, Zuiho is behaving perfectly today, and no exercises are planned.
For just a moment, Okano will feel guilty, surely there must be something they should be doing, but if there is, its escaped him for now.
The sun is rising, and this good morning is becoming perfect
A decision.
The shirt comes off, he settles in. After all, who knows when they will get a day like this again?
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hidaka and Takeji watch the latest departure from the starboard bridge wing.
"Any problems Hidaka?"
"No sir, all our eagles are ready.........if their are Bukas out there, we will find them"
"Oh, I have no doubt they are out there..lets just keep their heads down yes?"
Takeji hands Hidaka the latest signals....
"There are movements, I think. Enemy carriers stooging off Broome...a decoy. Another fleet in the Arafura sea.........maybe a decoy, though who knows.........."
Hidaka looks up sharply."This report states there are 15 carriers operating in Australian waters.........15!, and you think its a decoy?'
(Oh Hidaka, haven't you realised my friend, that the Americans are churning out ships like chickens crap eggs?. You really do think we are going to still win, don't you?)
"It might be..........I just wish they would do something........"
"Any problems Hidaka?"
"No sir, all our eagles are ready.........if their are Bukas out there, we will find them"
"Oh, I have no doubt they are out there..lets just keep their heads down yes?"
Takeji hands Hidaka the latest signals....
"There are movements, I think. Enemy carriers stooging off Broome...a decoy. Another fleet in the Arafura sea.........maybe a decoy, though who knows.........."
Hidaka looks up sharply."This report states there are 15 carriers operating in Australian waters.........15!, and you think its a decoy?'
(Oh Hidaka, haven't you realised my friend, that the Americans are churning out ships like chickens crap eggs?. You really do think we are going to still win, don't you?)
"It might be..........I just wish they would do something........"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Charge prowls port boiler room top plates. His torch swings its beam over number one feed pump. He bends, examines the glands. The follower is almost screwed down to the flange, and precious condensate is streaming out of the gland.
"Buka"
Job number one for the day..........
He descends to the steamers platform, bends his ear to the PO's ear "Hows the newbie going?"
"He's a natural........helps being such a big barsted"
The newbie is Lurch, now trainee steamer, hands resting easily above him on the fuel, blower throttles.
"Good........I want number one feed pump repacked please, do it after lunch, I don't want to be down a feed pump for evening action"
Job one.........how many more will he have after these rounds?
He observes Lurch, aware that the big man is nervous under his gaze. The bells ring, the big meat slabs Lurch has for hands grip the valves, the blower screem rises.........the steam pressure barely wobbles.
The ship trembles -another Jill landing.
Good, thinks Charge, good............another steamer in the works....a man he can trust.
"Buka"
Job number one for the day..........
He descends to the steamers platform, bends his ear to the PO's ear "Hows the newbie going?"
"He's a natural........helps being such a big barsted"
The newbie is Lurch, now trainee steamer, hands resting easily above him on the fuel, blower throttles.
"Good........I want number one feed pump repacked please, do it after lunch, I don't want to be down a feed pump for evening action"
Job one.........how many more will he have after these rounds?
He observes Lurch, aware that the big man is nervous under his gaze. The bells ring, the big meat slabs Lurch has for hands grip the valves, the blower screem rises.........the steam pressure barely wobbles.
The ship trembles -another Jill landing.
Good, thinks Charge, good............another steamer in the works....a man he can trust.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Did I miss a post, I thought Lurch would have gotten his court martial while the ship was in Home waters.
Great writing.
Great writing.
RE: The little ship that could.
Hi!
Minobe was forced to come to an "agreement", Uto had "a quiet word" to him...........
Even in war, careers and promotions must progress
Thankyou for reading/comment
Minobe was forced to come to an "agreement", Uto had "a quiet word" to him...........
Even in war, careers and promotions must progress
Thankyou for reading/comment
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
May 14th
Burma front
A silent jungle, mist on the water, a peacful dawn, the cool of the morning.
A crack
The tinkle of a shell casing, hot, smoking, bouncing , bouncing, falling into the soft earth
A thousand yards away, a red mist spray............
Greg Butler smiles, carefully reloads, measured, in control movements.......
"14 "he whispers
Burma front
A silent jungle, mist on the water, a peacful dawn, the cool of the morning.
A crack
The tinkle of a shell casing, hot, smoking, bouncing , bouncing, falling into the soft earth
A thousand yards away, a red mist spray............
Greg Butler smiles, carefully reloads, measured, in control movements.......
"14 "he whispers
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Buka!, the bloody Buka!
Hosho quietly groans to himself.
Somewhare, over there, the barsted has moved.
Again
14. 14 good men. Japan has plenty of men, men can be replaced. Fighting moral, however..........
A regiment stands frozen on a river front, too afraid to move, to expose itself, to fight.
Frozen by one man, one gun.
Buka!..........something growls Hosho, has to be done.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
A spitfire sweeps across the burma front at 20000 feet
The cameras whir.
pilot officer "long pig" graham yawns. another day, another photo. Confirmation today that Burma command has stripped its Artillery, sent it south , Tavoy probably.
Below him, at 15000 feet, the Liberators are streaming south, wings glittering in the sun
And below that, a 100000 starving japanese...........
Good.
Starvation he knows.
He yawns again..........another day, another dollar.
The cameras whir.
pilot officer "long pig" graham yawns. another day, another photo. Confirmation today that Burma command has stripped its Artillery, sent it south , Tavoy probably.
Below him, at 15000 feet, the Liberators are streaming south, wings glittering in the sun
And below that, a 100000 starving japanese...........
Good.
Starvation he knows.
He yawns again..........another day, another dollar.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
It happens
Charge has detected the leaking gland follower.
The pump has been shut down
A youngster, almost aa an afterthought, has been dispatched to fetch new packing, whilst the leading seaman has removed the old rounds.
It's hot up here, hot, humid, unpleasant.
The job needs to be done quickly. The pump is isolated, the gland follower removed. The packing rings come out easily. The youngster cuts new ones, hands them to the leader.
It happens
Does he look at the packing closely?
No, not this time
In it goes, the follower follows.
De isolation, open the steam to the turbine
Hovering, spanner in hand, waiting to adjust the leakage the leader is stunned not to see leakage, but flames, and a horrible screeching scream of metal upon metal
Which is what you get when you use steam valve packing (wire reinforced) in a high speed pump gland.
It happens
A stupid mistake, occuring in moments. But is just caused a crap load of work.
Charge shakes his head sorrowfully over the dead pump. One day of defect free, and now it begins again.
Charge has detected the leaking gland follower.
The pump has been shut down
A youngster, almost aa an afterthought, has been dispatched to fetch new packing, whilst the leading seaman has removed the old rounds.
It's hot up here, hot, humid, unpleasant.
The job needs to be done quickly. The pump is isolated, the gland follower removed. The packing rings come out easily. The youngster cuts new ones, hands them to the leader.
It happens
Does he look at the packing closely?
No, not this time
In it goes, the follower follows.
De isolation, open the steam to the turbine
Hovering, spanner in hand, waiting to adjust the leakage the leader is stunned not to see leakage, but flames, and a horrible screeching scream of metal upon metal
Which is what you get when you use steam valve packing (wire reinforced) in a high speed pump gland.
It happens
A stupid mistake, occuring in moments. But is just caused a crap load of work.
Charge shakes his head sorrowfully over the dead pump. One day of defect free, and now it begins again.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
There's massed shipping now in Port headland. More at Wessel island, that just hovers there.
Bombing in burma, and Port blair.
Everywhere else, absolute silence
I can't figure it out, japan high command cant.
Its nearly mid 44, and the empires boundries have not moved for many many months.
Something, something MUST be coming! . But what?
Bombing in burma, and Port blair.
Everywhere else, absolute silence
I can't figure it out, japan high command cant.
Its nearly mid 44, and the empires boundries have not moved for many many months.
Something, something MUST be coming! . But what?
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
May 15th
"Coming onto bearing now sir!"
"very good" snaps Takeji " Starboard 20, new course will be 250 degrees"
"Stbd 20 sir!, new course 250 degrees!"
The helm rumbles, Zuiho heels, steadies.
"The Phillipines are ahead gentlemen, and I need not remind you what lurks there...............lets see the bukas first ney?"
Suriago straight, tricky enough, then the palawa passage, and then, gods willing, Singapore.
But first, tonight, Suriago straight, fun times indeed, trying to squeeze this lot through that, in the dark........
But that is tonight............
Takeji turns to his next job...........'Ah, Minobe.......up and about, over your bangkok belly?"
The smile is cold, humourless............'genuine this time sir, no scotch involved at all"
Takeji laughs.......'Then i am sorry to hear that, a crook belly with out any compensating pleasure before hand is cruel ........so, how are things below?"
The Engineer shrugs, looks out at Yamato ahead of them.........."We are doing Ok, we can still beat that floating palace at any rate.........down a feed pump, a couple of other minor things"
"But we have full power?"
"Of course"
Takeji joins him, raises his glasses , takes in the bemouth ahead, how small the figures on her fan tail!
He passes the glasses to Minobe
"So Engines......how would you like to serve on her ?"
Minobe lowers the glasses, hands them back. "I hear her stokers never see the sun.........and thats no life for a man, no matter how much steel you have over you against the bombs"
"Unlike us?"
"Unlike us"
Inwardly, Minobe shivers. To be so many decks below........at least, here on Zuiho, if it ever went bad, they had some chance of getting out. But on that monstrosity...............
No. Sometimes he hates this rust bucket, hates the fates that have put him here. But it could be worse.
A lot worse
"Coming onto bearing now sir!"
"very good" snaps Takeji " Starboard 20, new course will be 250 degrees"
"Stbd 20 sir!, new course 250 degrees!"
The helm rumbles, Zuiho heels, steadies.
"The Phillipines are ahead gentlemen, and I need not remind you what lurks there...............lets see the bukas first ney?"
Suriago straight, tricky enough, then the palawa passage, and then, gods willing, Singapore.
But first, tonight, Suriago straight, fun times indeed, trying to squeeze this lot through that, in the dark........
But that is tonight............
Takeji turns to his next job...........'Ah, Minobe.......up and about, over your bangkok belly?"
The smile is cold, humourless............'genuine this time sir, no scotch involved at all"
Takeji laughs.......'Then i am sorry to hear that, a crook belly with out any compensating pleasure before hand is cruel ........so, how are things below?"
The Engineer shrugs, looks out at Yamato ahead of them.........."We are doing Ok, we can still beat that floating palace at any rate.........down a feed pump, a couple of other minor things"
"But we have full power?"
"Of course"
Takeji joins him, raises his glasses , takes in the bemouth ahead, how small the figures on her fan tail!
He passes the glasses to Minobe
"So Engines......how would you like to serve on her ?"
Minobe lowers the glasses, hands them back. "I hear her stokers never see the sun.........and thats no life for a man, no matter how much steel you have over you against the bombs"
"Unlike us?"
"Unlike us"
Inwardly, Minobe shivers. To be so many decks below........at least, here on Zuiho, if it ever went bad, they had some chance of getting out. But on that monstrosity...............
No. Sometimes he hates this rust bucket, hates the fates that have put him here. But it could be worse.
A lot worse
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
"We will make him a Sergeant, I think" announces Hosho, 'A nice fat, careless one"
The men grin. '"So, a little more belly I think, and, I think he needs a moustache, can we do that?"
Hosho inspects his latest recruit. Its the ugliest creature ever to serve with him, 5 feet of uniform, straw stuffing, and a Oh so carefully crafted carved face of palm wood and paint.
With his uniform, his webbing, tin hat, the dummy from 10 feet will fool nobody..........but from 1000 yards.........
"How many heads do we have?"
"Three spare ones sir, do you want a moustache on them all?"
"Ah no.......They tell me private Kuchii is the best shot in all of 55th division, but even so, I think we are going to need this strapping young mans services a few times before this is over"
"Do you think Kuchii can do it sir, get the devil?'
"Why not?, sniper against sniper...........warrior against warrior.............but we are more cunning yes?"
Gods, he hopes so. This bunker is getting fouler by the day..........But what if it does not work?, what then?
No, don't think that. This will work. It must.
The men grin. '"So, a little more belly I think, and, I think he needs a moustache, can we do that?"
Hosho inspects his latest recruit. Its the ugliest creature ever to serve with him, 5 feet of uniform, straw stuffing, and a Oh so carefully crafted carved face of palm wood and paint.
With his uniform, his webbing, tin hat, the dummy from 10 feet will fool nobody..........but from 1000 yards.........
"How many heads do we have?"
"Three spare ones sir, do you want a moustache on them all?"
"Ah no.......They tell me private Kuchii is the best shot in all of 55th division, but even so, I think we are going to need this strapping young mans services a few times before this is over"
"Do you think Kuchii can do it sir, get the devil?'
"Why not?, sniper against sniper...........warrior against warrior.............but we are more cunning yes?"
Gods, he hopes so. This bunker is getting fouler by the day..........But what if it does not work?, what then?
No, don't think that. This will work. It must.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
From
26th flottilla, Ambon
to
Combined fleet
Latest recon from Wessell island, Arafura sea
15 CV, CVL, CVE, 4 BB, 8 CA, multiple DD, APA, LST still holding station
Enemy task force Wyndham has been lost, suspect now Darwin
All forces remain on high alert, request immediate reinforcement.
From Combined fleet
to 26th Flottilla
'Even a knife, wielded correctly, is as deadly as a sword'
There will be no reinforcements. There are none available.
26th flottilla, Ambon
to
Combined fleet
Latest recon from Wessell island, Arafura sea
15 CV, CVL, CVE, 4 BB, 8 CA, multiple DD, APA, LST still holding station
Enemy task force Wyndham has been lost, suspect now Darwin
All forces remain on high alert, request immediate reinforcement.
From Combined fleet
to 26th Flottilla
'Even a knife, wielded correctly, is as deadly as a sword'
There will be no reinforcements. There are none available.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Great writing. Tension builds.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: The little ship that could.
This is a story about war.
Ships at war.
But war, or peace, for ships somethings are eternal. Navigation for one.
Tonight, hundreds of thousands of tons of shipping will penetrate Suriago straight, in the dark, at speed.
As zuiho enters the maw of the channel, Hibiki's pale stern light a dancing dot a thousand yards ahead of her, Takeji silently thanks the gods that this is a mere passage, and not a dash into battle.
The night is too dark, the waters too restricted........
No, no place to fight, not here.
Hibiki shines a light, just her stern light, a terrible risk indeed in war, but essential tonight. All the ships do. Abe leads the fleet through, line ahead, the dark almost impeneratable, the land about them even darker.
Zuiho steams at state two, closed up. Below, men sweat. Above, men sweat too.
They will pass through, incident free, and enter the Sulu sea at dawn.
One eternal enemy is conquered for now. Now for the newer one.
Sulu sea.
How many hidden Buka's lurk here?
Takeji retires from his bridge. They will reveal themselves, he is sure, whether he is asleep today or not.
Ships at war.
But war, or peace, for ships somethings are eternal. Navigation for one.
Tonight, hundreds of thousands of tons of shipping will penetrate Suriago straight, in the dark, at speed.
As zuiho enters the maw of the channel, Hibiki's pale stern light a dancing dot a thousand yards ahead of her, Takeji silently thanks the gods that this is a mere passage, and not a dash into battle.
The night is too dark, the waters too restricted........
No, no place to fight, not here.
Hibiki shines a light, just her stern light, a terrible risk indeed in war, but essential tonight. All the ships do. Abe leads the fleet through, line ahead, the dark almost impeneratable, the land about them even darker.
Zuiho steams at state two, closed up. Below, men sweat. Above, men sweat too.
They will pass through, incident free, and enter the Sulu sea at dawn.
One eternal enemy is conquered for now. Now for the newer one.
Sulu sea.
How many hidden Buka's lurk here?
Takeji retires from his bridge. They will reveal themselves, he is sure, whether he is asleep today or not.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
takeji sleeps
And thus it should be, battle is coming, he must be fresh.
Below, the work continues. The feed pump repair continues, the same nightmare as usual, the same sweat, the same strain, the same pain.
The passage completed, there are many things to do.
Soot blows, surface blows, burner change outs. The routines continue
The Jills prepare for another day, the bombs glistening.
Uto , Diogawa and Ogawa also take to the air today. CAP is established.
No chance of the enemy bombers today............but soon.
The trick, is of course, to remain hidden a few days longer.....
And thus it should be, battle is coming, he must be fresh.
Below, the work continues. The feed pump repair continues, the same nightmare as usual, the same sweat, the same strain, the same pain.
The passage completed, there are many things to do.
Soot blows, surface blows, burner change outs. The routines continue
The Jills prepare for another day, the bombs glistening.
Uto , Diogawa and Ogawa also take to the air today. CAP is established.
No chance of the enemy bombers today............but soon.
The trick, is of course, to remain hidden a few days longer.....
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The Dinahs have flown every day from Biak.
Once, only days ago, it seems to the shocked men of the unit, they were 18 strong.
Now but 6 remain.
Each mission now is, almost certainly, a one way trip.
Launch, search the arc 180 to 220 degrees ...............near wessel island. Transmit as long as you can, report what you see.
Until the giant swallows you
And a giant it is.
A fleet dwarfing what Zuiho sails in, is being tracked, tracked by dying men.
High command knows to the inch the position of the giant. Now, will they act upon this blood soaked knowledge?
Once, only days ago, it seems to the shocked men of the unit, they were 18 strong.
Now but 6 remain.
Each mission now is, almost certainly, a one way trip.
Launch, search the arc 180 to 220 degrees ...............near wessel island. Transmit as long as you can, report what you see.
Until the giant swallows you
And a giant it is.
A fleet dwarfing what Zuiho sails in, is being tracked, tracked by dying men.
High command knows to the inch the position of the giant. Now, will they act upon this blood soaked knowledge?
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
18th May
0630 hours
Takeji enters Zuihos bridge quietly, with out fuss.
Nobody has called him, he is just here.
Quiet good mornings.
He moves to his favorite position near the starboard bridge wing, stands still.
As if waiting.
And it begins
'Destroyer Hamanami has been attacked sir, bearing 090, three kilometres!'
Takeji nods........."action stations please"
First attack, destroyers wheeling about out there, the crump of the charges...........
"Zuiho closed up sir"
2 minutes.........very good indeed..........but this is hardly a surprise of course, nobody really expected today to be quiet, did they?
"A cup of tea please....."
Second attack, 0700 hours, still out there, still out to the north. Destroyers still weaving.
Same submarine, or another?
Battleship yamashiro suddenly heels hard, wake creaming............attack number three, 0730 hours............
No, surely not one acting alone..............
hard to remain calm ............bloody bukas, barsteds...............
0745 hours
attack number 4
And kaga is hit.
0630 hours
Takeji enters Zuihos bridge quietly, with out fuss.
Nobody has called him, he is just here.
Quiet good mornings.
He moves to his favorite position near the starboard bridge wing, stands still.
As if waiting.
And it begins
'Destroyer Hamanami has been attacked sir, bearing 090, three kilometres!'
Takeji nods........."action stations please"
First attack, destroyers wheeling about out there, the crump of the charges...........
"Zuiho closed up sir"
2 minutes.........very good indeed..........but this is hardly a surprise of course, nobody really expected today to be quiet, did they?
"A cup of tea please....."
Second attack, 0700 hours, still out there, still out to the north. Destroyers still weaving.
Same submarine, or another?
Battleship yamashiro suddenly heels hard, wake creaming............attack number three, 0730 hours............
No, surely not one acting alone..............
hard to remain calm ............bloody bukas, barsteds...............
0745 hours
attack number 4
And kaga is hit.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Kaga?! Oh, com'on!!!!!!![:@][:@][:@]