Extract from"Shattering the sword" a Cantona production.
For nearly two weeks, the Japanese airforce has been absent from Timor, only nuiscance night raids against lautern reminding Allied commanders that Timor was surrounded by a ring of Japanese airfields.
The invasion of Koepang would be the usual high powered affair, 2 marine divisions, masses of support troops.
It begins with a small cruiser force bombarding medan to the north, adding further to the carnage created by the heavy bombers from Darwin, northern Australia
At dawn, under cover of intermittant heavy showers, the marines come ashore, scattering light resistance.
And at dawn, japans airforce returns
The first strike, 32 tojos, , 29 Jills.
35 hellcats rise to meet them, but are considerably hampered by the heavy rain, they do however down 18 of the attacking bombers.
The survivors attack the CV Intrepid, miss, but hit the CVL Langley
The second strike , 46 oscars, 6 val bombers, runs in clear skies, and encounters 30 corsairs, 57 hellcats.
They drive the bombers away, shred the escorts to almost the last man.
Similar results for the third wave of attackers.
By midday, 13000 allied troops are ashore, facing only some 2000
1 CVL damaged, 100 plus enemy aircraft shot down.
It has taken a long, long time, but now, it appears, the allied steamroller is getting to work.
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.
8th July
Central china
Fuchida does not fly today.
But 22nd sentai is involved in savage fighting again over Changsha .
The bombers arrive first, are mauled heavily by the ambushing P51b's, The Tonies arrive, mix in the fur ball, and come off very, very poorly
22 nd clean up the mess, they lose another 3 fighters, destroy 12, lose no pilots to boot
They crack 100 kills
And the best the allies have.
Central china
Fuchida does not fly today.
But 22nd sentai is involved in savage fighting again over Changsha .
The bombers arrive first, are mauled heavily by the ambushing P51b's, The Tonies arrive, mix in the fur ball, and come off very, very poorly
22 nd clean up the mess, they lose another 3 fighters, destroy 12, lose no pilots to boot
They crack 100 kills
And the best the allies have.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
9th of July
0300 hours
Hidake hands the order sheet back to Takeji. He smiles. " Now they are what you call orders allowing one some latitude"
Takeji smiles too, yes, my friend, they are pretty loose no?
"From Abe, to all units"
Combined fleet will sweep into Timor area, operating from due west, engaging and destroying any enemy units encountered. 1st fleet shall strike from Northwest quandrant, and destroy targets of opportunity.
Upon successful completion of carrier operations, all surface units will attack and destroy remaining enemy units
Takeji re reads the order.
No definative objective.
No plans for co ordination.
Just orders to race in, and brawl............
But then, since when has any battle ever not really descended into just that?.
He rises up on the soles of his feet, bounces a little.
Feels zuiho alive around him.
Feels his ship, his sword, alive, ready for his very command.
A brawl
A brawl would suit him just fine.
0300 hours
Hidake hands the order sheet back to Takeji. He smiles. " Now they are what you call orders allowing one some latitude"
Takeji smiles too, yes, my friend, they are pretty loose no?
"From Abe, to all units"
Combined fleet will sweep into Timor area, operating from due west, engaging and destroying any enemy units encountered. 1st fleet shall strike from Northwest quandrant, and destroy targets of opportunity.
Upon successful completion of carrier operations, all surface units will attack and destroy remaining enemy units
Takeji re reads the order.
No definative objective.
No plans for co ordination.
Just orders to race in, and brawl............
But then, since when has any battle ever not really descended into just that?.
He rises up on the soles of his feet, bounces a little.
Feels zuiho alive around him.
Feels his ship, his sword, alive, ready for his very command.
A brawl
A brawl would suit him just fine.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Herbiesan sweeps his gaze around the table, eyeing his generals, his air marshalls, his naval staff one by one around the table.
"So, is there any sign at all of a second allied thrust?, anywhere?
The table remains silent.
Finally Navy speaks......we only count one fleet CV in Timor area sir,.............
"And you think the others have re deployed?
"They may be lurking south of Timor sir, or in the Arafura sea...........or.
"In short, you have no bloody idea?"
"No sir, we do not"
Herbiesan stares at the map. Damnation. They could be anywhere.
But then -he does know one place some enemy are.
The dictator makes a decision.
"I am ordering every single air group, every ship we have, to Timor. Commit the fleet.
I need a victory gentlemen, give me one!"
"So, is there any sign at all of a second allied thrust?, anywhere?
The table remains silent.
Finally Navy speaks......we only count one fleet CV in Timor area sir,.............
"And you think the others have re deployed?
"They may be lurking south of Timor sir, or in the Arafura sea...........or.
"In short, you have no bloody idea?"
"No sir, we do not"
Herbiesan stares at the map. Damnation. They could be anywhere.
But then -he does know one place some enemy are.
The dictator makes a decision.
"I am ordering every single air group, every ship we have, to Timor. Commit the fleet.
I need a victory gentlemen, give me one!"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOS9_lHd-W4
Combined fleet, sailing south, to decisive battle (again...LOL)
Combined fleet, sailing south, to decisive battle (again...LOL)
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
nice touch.....[:D] surprised no dolphins playing off the bows.
RE: The little ship that could.
9th of July
Combined fleet continues south, soerabaya slipping by this day down its port flank
Charge finally gets on top of his chemistry problems, but feed is down to 40 percent.
Fresh is also of course down as well. Today Zuiho will pass through several showers, and crewmen will gather fresh water in buckets, scoop it from depressions, catch it in the scuppers. They know the drill. Boilers are thirtsy, men can go on half water rations, the boilers cannot.
It seems impossible to believe, at times, that violence fills the world, that men south of them are dying, that ships are burning, that eagles are spinning down into the insatiable sea.. The sun shines, and yes, the dolphins play about her bows.
But there is a war , and now, as they come south, the radio room is beginning to pick up the chatter that surrounds this legal murder.
The air above Koepang and lautern growls and snarls with combat all day.
The crackling, whining radio focusses in, fades out on the chatter.........they hear men die, they hear men kill....
CV intrepid has been identified, a CVL, the bellue wood.
A CVE, has swallowed two fish.
Apparently, too, has the Nevada
But the troops, overwhelming in numbers, are still coming ashore.
Hidaka can do little but grimly listen this day.
The furnace burns white hot.
And they rush towards it.
Combined fleet continues south, soerabaya slipping by this day down its port flank
Charge finally gets on top of his chemistry problems, but feed is down to 40 percent.
Fresh is also of course down as well. Today Zuiho will pass through several showers, and crewmen will gather fresh water in buckets, scoop it from depressions, catch it in the scuppers. They know the drill. Boilers are thirtsy, men can go on half water rations, the boilers cannot.
It seems impossible to believe, at times, that violence fills the world, that men south of them are dying, that ships are burning, that eagles are spinning down into the insatiable sea.. The sun shines, and yes, the dolphins play about her bows.
But there is a war , and now, as they come south, the radio room is beginning to pick up the chatter that surrounds this legal murder.
The air above Koepang and lautern growls and snarls with combat all day.
The crackling, whining radio focusses in, fades out on the chatter.........they hear men die, they hear men kill....
CV intrepid has been identified, a CVL, the bellue wood.
A CVE, has swallowed two fish.
Apparently, too, has the Nevada
But the troops, overwhelming in numbers, are still coming ashore.
Hidaka can do little but grimly listen this day.
The furnace burns white hot.
And they rush towards it.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
9th and 10th of July 44
Battleship Yamashiro lies at ease, Waingapo.
She lies at ease, waiting for the dark. About her, her destroyers finalise topping of tanks, the CAP circles. As the sun descends into the sea, men breath easier, they have survived the day.
CV Intrepid operates a mere 240 miles to the east.
Now, as darkness falls, the battleship men prepare to do what day light is making suicidal..steam into the enemy presence, and engage him at close range.
240 miles.
At 26 knots, 9 hours...........
The men of Yamashiro are under no delusions, but they have done this before yes?
They will go in, punch the bukas on the nose, get out..........
Air support, a great deal of it is promised for tomorrow. The airforce is bleeding, but is not white yet.
Darkness falls
Yamashiro's great tower flashes, lights sending thanks to the field here, thanks for the airmens presence. Orders pass to the destroyers, the great anchor clanks aboard, the funnel belches.
"Full ahead all"
They will clear Waingapo, clear the point, turn left, and begin the dash east.
A simple plan.
But the Allies have one of their own
Waingapo holds 22nd flottilla.
Waingapo holds torpedo bombers, fighters, recon.
Waingapo is now a key to timor.
And they intend to kill it.
Ships passing in the night.
Heavy cruiser Boston , 4 destroyers run head long into Yamashiro's battle line 80 miles east of Waingapo, and its hard to say who is more surprised, both lines emerging from squalls simultanously, at a frightingly close 2000 yards, two lines of ships, steaming at high speed, passing in exactly opposite directions.
There are no tactics, no order. Just startled cries, swinging guns, men swarming to action, and a night shattered with simultanous gunfire, tracer, fire and death..
Boston smothers yamashiro, 8 inch shells, 5 inch, bofors........
The battlewagon gives as good as she gets, getting away three telling salvos before the single fish slams her stern, and ruins the party for tonight.
Both ships stagger into the night, ablaze.
A allied DD is split in two by 2 fish, one japanes destroyers bridge is wrecked, a few other hits on each side, and the rain swallows them all.
The battle -this knife fight, is over in 6 minutes...........
Yamashiro will struggle home, the strarboard outer shaft will be ripped from its bearings, destroy the inner shaft, flooding will reach (very prince of wales like) all the way to the fwd Engine rooms.
For the moment though, the battlewagon lives.
For all intent and purposes though, Japan has lost another battleship...............
The landings at lautern, CV Intrepid continue to operate unmolested.......
There is another attempt this night
6 MTB cover themselves with glory, placing 3 torpedoes into 3 AKs north of Koepang, before the destroyers put them down.
Battleship Yamashiro lies at ease, Waingapo.
She lies at ease, waiting for the dark. About her, her destroyers finalise topping of tanks, the CAP circles. As the sun descends into the sea, men breath easier, they have survived the day.
CV Intrepid operates a mere 240 miles to the east.
Now, as darkness falls, the battleship men prepare to do what day light is making suicidal..steam into the enemy presence, and engage him at close range.
240 miles.
At 26 knots, 9 hours...........
The men of Yamashiro are under no delusions, but they have done this before yes?
They will go in, punch the bukas on the nose, get out..........
Air support, a great deal of it is promised for tomorrow. The airforce is bleeding, but is not white yet.
Darkness falls
Yamashiro's great tower flashes, lights sending thanks to the field here, thanks for the airmens presence. Orders pass to the destroyers, the great anchor clanks aboard, the funnel belches.
"Full ahead all"
They will clear Waingapo, clear the point, turn left, and begin the dash east.
A simple plan.
But the Allies have one of their own
Waingapo holds 22nd flottilla.
Waingapo holds torpedo bombers, fighters, recon.
Waingapo is now a key to timor.
And they intend to kill it.
Ships passing in the night.
Heavy cruiser Boston , 4 destroyers run head long into Yamashiro's battle line 80 miles east of Waingapo, and its hard to say who is more surprised, both lines emerging from squalls simultanously, at a frightingly close 2000 yards, two lines of ships, steaming at high speed, passing in exactly opposite directions.
There are no tactics, no order. Just startled cries, swinging guns, men swarming to action, and a night shattered with simultanous gunfire, tracer, fire and death..
Boston smothers yamashiro, 8 inch shells, 5 inch, bofors........
The battlewagon gives as good as she gets, getting away three telling salvos before the single fish slams her stern, and ruins the party for tonight.
Both ships stagger into the night, ablaze.
A allied DD is split in two by 2 fish, one japanes destroyers bridge is wrecked, a few other hits on each side, and the rain swallows them all.
The battle -this knife fight, is over in 6 minutes...........
Yamashiro will struggle home, the strarboard outer shaft will be ripped from its bearings, destroy the inner shaft, flooding will reach (very prince of wales like) all the way to the fwd Engine rooms.
For the moment though, the battlewagon lives.
For all intent and purposes though, Japan has lost another battleship...............
The landings at lautern, CV Intrepid continue to operate unmolested.......
There is another attempt this night
6 MTB cover themselves with glory, placing 3 torpedoes into 3 AKs north of Koepang, before the destroyers put them down.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Dawn
10 July
"What do you think will happen Diogawa?"
I don't know Ogawa, but I know this friend. If I was an allied pilot in Timor, I would be getting bloody tired by now. Today, tomorrow, our land based fellows will keep them at it, then we will join the party..........."
Diogawa places his hand on Ogawa's back " But if you think you are going to catch my score..........."
10 July
"What do you think will happen Diogawa?"
I don't know Ogawa, but I know this friend. If I was an allied pilot in Timor, I would be getting bloody tired by now. Today, tomorrow, our land based fellows will keep them at it, then we will join the party..........."
Diogawa places his hand on Ogawa's back " But if you think you are going to catch my score..........."
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Pilot officer graham considers the river.
"hello old friend" he whispers.
Tonight, after dark, he will, come heaven or hell, swim across.
Tomorrow, proper English food. A bed, clean clothes.
And chance to do real damage to his Japanese "friends"
Hosho has been very much mistaken. One man can , in war do terrible damage.
Pilot officer Graham carries in his pocket the complete disposition of every japanes unit here at Moulmien, and those south of it.
He may be a pilot for gawds sake, but even he could tell you this, the defences at moulmien are a bloody facade..........
"hello old friend" he whispers.
Tonight, after dark, he will, come heaven or hell, swim across.
Tomorrow, proper English food. A bed, clean clothes.
And chance to do real damage to his Japanese "friends"
Hosho has been very much mistaken. One man can , in war do terrible damage.
Pilot officer Graham carries in his pocket the complete disposition of every japanes unit here at Moulmien, and those south of it.
He may be a pilot for gawds sake, but even he could tell you this, the defences at moulmien are a bloody facade..........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
11 July
Zuiho is low on water, but not on fuel. her thirsty escorts are, a day is wasted as the destroyers top tanks. There is nothing for it, there will be high speed steaming soon, fuel must be topped.
Today all ships refuel.
Today, also, an allied plane spots the fleet.
So be it.
We are still coming.
Timor remains at least 2 days away yet.
Koepang falls, to the last man.
Zuiho is low on water, but not on fuel. her thirsty escorts are, a day is wasted as the destroyers top tanks. There is nothing for it, there will be high speed steaming soon, fuel must be topped.
Today all ships refuel.
Today, also, an allied plane spots the fleet.
So be it.
We are still coming.
Timor remains at least 2 days away yet.
Koepang falls, to the last man.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
11 July
Signals recieved Zuihos bridge, this long, long day:
From Tanaka, Yamato battle group.
have engaged enemy forces Kepang area.
have destroyed 10 AP/AK vessels, and escorts.
many enemy soldiers in the water.
Am retiring undamaged.
From , Nishirihuma, Chokai heavy cruiser task force
have engaged enemy
8 APA, AP, 2 destroyers sunk, 9 LST sunk
CA Aoba lost to enemy air attack, DD shigure lost to Torpedo
Cruisers Mikuma, Tone, Furataka damaged by carrier borne aircraft
Am retiring
from
25th air flottilla
Regret that enemy heavy bombers have closed Waingapo airfield, Endah airfield
Regret will not be able to assist in current operations............
from, 11th airfleet, sajar island
Search confirms 1 fleet carrier, 2 CVL operating due south Koepang
From Abe
to all units, Combined fleet
Fleet will refuel 13th July, then advance south of Timor island, attacking, as planned, remaining allied forces.
Signals recieved Zuihos bridge, this long, long day:
From Tanaka, Yamato battle group.
have engaged enemy forces Kepang area.
have destroyed 10 AP/AK vessels, and escorts.
many enemy soldiers in the water.
Am retiring undamaged.
From , Nishirihuma, Chokai heavy cruiser task force
have engaged enemy
8 APA, AP, 2 destroyers sunk, 9 LST sunk
CA Aoba lost to enemy air attack, DD shigure lost to Torpedo
Cruisers Mikuma, Tone, Furataka damaged by carrier borne aircraft
Am retiring
from
25th air flottilla
Regret that enemy heavy bombers have closed Waingapo airfield, Endah airfield
Regret will not be able to assist in current operations............
from, 11th airfleet, sajar island
Search confirms 1 fleet carrier, 2 CVL operating due south Koepang
From Abe
to all units, Combined fleet
Fleet will refuel 13th July, then advance south of Timor island, attacking, as planned, remaining allied forces.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
July 12th
From , 11th air fleet
To
Combined fleet
Air search today............Main enemy carrier fleet detected, 120 miles due north darwin. 8 carriers reported, 3 battleships. Numerous, repeat numerous task forces detected south babar island
From
Abe
to combined fleet
'All units shall refuel tomorrow from tankers.
"I intend to then continue east, , and engage in battle."
"Air commander Hidaka, requested bridge"
Takeji sees his commander enter his bridge. I know this man so well now. Like a son. A japanese warrior ...........may his kind never fade.
"We are going to attack, we will need every bird my friend"
Hidaka smiles, the salute is rigid. 'At last!'
yes, at last.
It may be our last, but if not here, where?
he's coming, and we will meet him.
.
From , 11th air fleet
To
Combined fleet
Air search today............Main enemy carrier fleet detected, 120 miles due north darwin. 8 carriers reported, 3 battleships. Numerous, repeat numerous task forces detected south babar island
From
Abe
to combined fleet
'All units shall refuel tomorrow from tankers.
"I intend to then continue east, , and engage in battle."
"Air commander Hidaka, requested bridge"
Takeji sees his commander enter his bridge. I know this man so well now. Like a son. A japanese warrior ...........may his kind never fade.
"We are going to attack, we will need every bird my friend"
Hidaka smiles, the salute is rigid. 'At last!'
yes, at last.
It may be our last, but if not here, where?
he's coming, and we will meet him.
.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
A strong arm puls a gasping Graham from the river. "Steady on mate, I have got you"
Exhausted, the tattered pilot raises his head to give his thanks...."Hey, I know you!" Sniper greg Butler exclaims "I nearly shot you once"
"A good.......bloody thing too.........."
The sniper, so fit and clean and healthy, in contrast to this man at his feet, waits patiently for him to gather his breath. "Come on buddy, hot meal, a wash, a medic, a bed, your home now"
'No, not yet!..........A HQ, I need a HQ. .........." he takes his rescuers eye "Do you know how I got through the lines....?"
"A good question, there's millions of the buggars over there"
'No!, that it!, I know exactly whats over there..........and its not nearly as many as you think!"
Exhausted, the tattered pilot raises his head to give his thanks...."Hey, I know you!" Sniper greg Butler exclaims "I nearly shot you once"
"A good.......bloody thing too.........."
The sniper, so fit and clean and healthy, in contrast to this man at his feet, waits patiently for him to gather his breath. "Come on buddy, hot meal, a wash, a medic, a bed, your home now"
'No, not yet!..........A HQ, I need a HQ. .........." he takes his rescuers eye "Do you know how I got through the lines....?"
"A good question, there's millions of the buggars over there"
'No!, that it!, I know exactly whats over there..........and its not nearly as many as you think!"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
(results battles 12/13 July, Timor)
japanese losses,
1 DD
CA Aoba
2 heavy cruisers damaged , 1 badly damaged
Nearly 100 a/c lost, 60 on the ground!
Allied losses
15 APA/AK
3 P/C
7 LST
1 APA
3 AMC
1 DD
40 allied planes
Oh, and we drowned 7000 men, and a bucket load of vehciles.
Yes, his carriers are in the straights. We need to refuel, then we will be one days steam out.
japanese losses,
1 DD
CA Aoba
2 heavy cruisers damaged , 1 badly damaged
Nearly 100 a/c lost, 60 on the ground!
Allied losses
15 APA/AK
3 P/C
7 LST
1 APA
3 AMC
1 DD
40 allied planes
Oh, and we drowned 7000 men, and a bucket load of vehciles.
Yes, his carriers are in the straights. We need to refuel, then we will be one days steam out.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
possible "snap shot" of battle area?
RE: The little ship that could.
On the far horizon, the lamp flashes.
“Good luck, good hunting, we will wait for you”
Takeji reads the flashing lamp from the retiring tankers.
Thankyou, faithful friends, you are brave beyond words.
He sighs, girds himself, and re enters the bridge.
A dozen eyes turn to him, waiting, as they ever do, for their captain.
“Are we ready gentlemen?”
They nod, one by one. Fellow warriors, fellow Japanese. . But more than that, now, Trusted friends.
Zuihos men
They tell him they are ready, then, of course, they are. There is no doubt.
“Well then, get your tin hats men, I think, that we will soon need them”
They salute, and confident in themselves, their captain, their ship, move from the bridge to their stations through out Zuiho.
Takeji barely has time to settle, and the signal man calls
“Taiho signalling sir…….new course, 100 dgrees, speed 15 knots. Prepare for battle”
The fuelling hoses are stowed
Her tanks are full.
Once again, oh once again, the old man stalks Zuihos passageways, machinery spaces.
Charge’s eye roves, seeking anything, anything, that may effect the battle to come. He knows, knows this. A tangled fire hose, a portable pump with out fuel, a valve jammed from non use or neglet.
For want of a nail………..
As he roves, he talks, shares smokes, pats.
He has done this before, many times now. They expect it now.
But he does it for another reason. He does it for himself. There is comfort in this routine. Comfort in talking to his men, to feel their confidence. Comfort in visiting his machinery, to hear it, feel it beat on, carrying them to whatever the gods decree.
He finishes his rounds in the commanding engineroom, his second home, port engineroom. It is nearly 2 am, dawn action in 2 hours.
He takes out a spanner. That bloody governor needs a twiddle, pointless going to bed……….
Okano too checks his equipment. Smoke masts, respirators, crowbars, extinguishers, the 100 and 1 things in the fwd damage control locker.
Fate decrees, come dawn, he will be hear for dawn action stations. He suspects that this is where he will remain for tomorrow.
He finishes, looks about. Dawn is soon. He sits, pulls out a battered paperback. Tries to read, but the words will not flow.
A garage, a small home, family…………..they are too far away
Hirate turns the small valve, adjusting the gland steam controller. Strides back to the engineroom steaming platform, taps the vacuum guage (even though he knows he really shouldn’t).
His eyes rove around the engineroom, seeking something, anything, to keep his mind occupied.
The bells ring, a revolution increase, zuiho heels slightly………..changing course.
Dawn soon. Come on then, lets get this over with………….
Lurch peers into the furnace, grimaces. Moves to the blower throttle, gives her another 100 rpm.
Battle tomorrow……….good. Ships steam hard in battle,, and steaming hard is something he loves to do.
Minobe sleeps.
An easy thing to do, even before battle, when you truly no longer give a damn
Diogawa, Ogowa, Hidaka sleep too, sprawling about the ready room, faces unshaven, flight suits sweat stained, tattered.
Diogawa snores, a loud, wheezing rattle.
Uto sits opposite them, and wonders.
He wonders where such men come from
He wonders where else such courage, faith in each other comes from.
He wonders how he could be so lucky to meet , and serve with such as these.
And he wonders, how his father could waste men such as these in a senseless war
The fleet steams for a point 120 miles due east of Koepang
100 miles north of Darwin, the main enemy body
In Darwin itself, 180 plus ships reported, in port, or in task forces.
Further east, near babo island, vast numbers of more ships
Lautern, 20 bombers reported, 80 fighters
Darwin, 60 bombers, 40 fighters………
There are obviously more than that.
Tomorrow, every last japanes e plane available will attack. Combined fleet will advance
Time to see if cantona still fears Combined fleet, or not………….
“Good luck, good hunting, we will wait for you”
Takeji reads the flashing lamp from the retiring tankers.
Thankyou, faithful friends, you are brave beyond words.
He sighs, girds himself, and re enters the bridge.
A dozen eyes turn to him, waiting, as they ever do, for their captain.
“Are we ready gentlemen?”
They nod, one by one. Fellow warriors, fellow Japanese. . But more than that, now, Trusted friends.
Zuihos men
They tell him they are ready, then, of course, they are. There is no doubt.
“Well then, get your tin hats men, I think, that we will soon need them”
They salute, and confident in themselves, their captain, their ship, move from the bridge to their stations through out Zuiho.
Takeji barely has time to settle, and the signal man calls
“Taiho signalling sir…….new course, 100 dgrees, speed 15 knots. Prepare for battle”
The fuelling hoses are stowed
Her tanks are full.
Once again, oh once again, the old man stalks Zuihos passageways, machinery spaces.
Charge’s eye roves, seeking anything, anything, that may effect the battle to come. He knows, knows this. A tangled fire hose, a portable pump with out fuel, a valve jammed from non use or neglet.
For want of a nail………..
As he roves, he talks, shares smokes, pats.
He has done this before, many times now. They expect it now.
But he does it for another reason. He does it for himself. There is comfort in this routine. Comfort in talking to his men, to feel their confidence. Comfort in visiting his machinery, to hear it, feel it beat on, carrying them to whatever the gods decree.
He finishes his rounds in the commanding engineroom, his second home, port engineroom. It is nearly 2 am, dawn action in 2 hours.
He takes out a spanner. That bloody governor needs a twiddle, pointless going to bed……….
Okano too checks his equipment. Smoke masts, respirators, crowbars, extinguishers, the 100 and 1 things in the fwd damage control locker.
Fate decrees, come dawn, he will be hear for dawn action stations. He suspects that this is where he will remain for tomorrow.
He finishes, looks about. Dawn is soon. He sits, pulls out a battered paperback. Tries to read, but the words will not flow.
A garage, a small home, family…………..they are too far away
Hirate turns the small valve, adjusting the gland steam controller. Strides back to the engineroom steaming platform, taps the vacuum guage (even though he knows he really shouldn’t).
His eyes rove around the engineroom, seeking something, anything, to keep his mind occupied.
The bells ring, a revolution increase, zuiho heels slightly………..changing course.
Dawn soon. Come on then, lets get this over with………….
Lurch peers into the furnace, grimaces. Moves to the blower throttle, gives her another 100 rpm.
Battle tomorrow……….good. Ships steam hard in battle,, and steaming hard is something he loves to do.
Minobe sleeps.
An easy thing to do, even before battle, when you truly no longer give a damn
Diogawa, Ogowa, Hidaka sleep too, sprawling about the ready room, faces unshaven, flight suits sweat stained, tattered.
Diogawa snores, a loud, wheezing rattle.
Uto sits opposite them, and wonders.
He wonders where such men come from
He wonders where else such courage, faith in each other comes from.
He wonders how he could be so lucky to meet , and serve with such as these.
And he wonders, how his father could waste men such as these in a senseless war
The fleet steams for a point 120 miles due east of Koepang
100 miles north of Darwin, the main enemy body
In Darwin itself, 180 plus ships reported, in port, or in task forces.
Further east, near babo island, vast numbers of more ships
Lautern, 20 bombers reported, 80 fighters
Darwin, 60 bombers, 40 fighters………
There are obviously more than that.
Tomorrow, every last japanes e plane available will attack. Combined fleet will advance
Time to see if cantona still fears Combined fleet, or not………….
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Another one!
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
RE: The little ship that could.
I'm not shaving until the smoke clears.
RE: The little ship that could.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu