27th July 44
Takeji leads his men down DD harusume's gangway.
Never has he been so glad to step ashore. Twice , yesterday, he has thought of vacating Captains Akadori's cabin, thought of stepping out of the little steel cell, and flinging himself into the sea.
harasume's captain has given him his cabin, a clean uniform, food, water, and a look of scorn that has seared his soul.
No words spoken, but the message has been horribly clear in the destroyer mans eyes.
"Why are you here, why did you survive?
Only duty has kept takeji alive.
One duty.
Now, as the last of Zuiho's survivors form on the wharf, he must perform it.
They face him, a hundred and fifty sun burnt faces, many still black from zuihos oil.
They face him, expectant.
So many faces missing..........so many.
Last duty then
"men..........men......................Thankyou, you fought as japanese, you fought as well as anya captain can expect.
But now, now we will be broken up, disperesed.
You go to new ships.
Please serve them, as well as you served me.
"Thankyou"
He steps down.
A hundred and fifty men are silent.
But a hundred and fifty arms are raised in stiff salute.
And for takeji, this is more than enough to restore his soul
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.
CL Jintsu patrolling near salajar, is struck by a baufort launched fish, and in the afternoon, a bomb. So is an escorting destroyer
New airgroups are moving in.
The furnace of war is about to go to full throttle again.
New airgroups are moving in.
The furnace of war is about to go to full throttle again.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The big flying boat touches down smoothly into the filthy waters of manilla bay.
Diogowa, Ogowa gratefully climb down into the waitig boat, never more pleased to be off a plane in their life.
To have been killed by that moron of a pilot...............
A crisp, clean soldiser awaits for them on the wharf, and , surprise, surprise, he has a truck. They travel in silence to clarke field, through the packed streets of the city, passed the choked wharves
They say nothing, but the eyes have little trouble seeing, manilla is booming, the shipping, the trucks, the soldiers everywhere, even the goods piled up waiting for shipment. Many parts of the empire are suffering. manilla is most certainly not.
They arrive at Clarke, that great expance of concrete. It is completely repaired now, but also very quiet.
But there is something that still can stir their hearts, no matter how weary after so many miles
36 gleaming NK1's lined up as if for parade
Ogowa pokes Diogawa, points at the nearest brand new fighter "I want that one"
Diogowa, Ogowa gratefully climb down into the waitig boat, never more pleased to be off a plane in their life.
To have been killed by that moron of a pilot...............
A crisp, clean soldiser awaits for them on the wharf, and , surprise, surprise, he has a truck. They travel in silence to clarke field, through the packed streets of the city, passed the choked wharves
They say nothing, but the eyes have little trouble seeing, manilla is booming, the shipping, the trucks, the soldiers everywhere, even the goods piled up waiting for shipment. Many parts of the empire are suffering. manilla is most certainly not.
They arrive at Clarke, that great expance of concrete. It is completely repaired now, but also very quiet.
But there is something that still can stir their hearts, no matter how weary after so many miles
36 gleaming NK1's lined up as if for parade
Ogowa pokes Diogawa, points at the nearest brand new fighter "I want that one"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
ps, thankyou again everyone for all the kind comments.
we are a little behind the game now..........and things are happening already for some!
we are a little behind the game now..........and things are happening already for some!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hows the research coming? Are we going to see our valiant pilots in Shindens, A7's and Jets before the end?
RE: The little ship that could.
28 July 44
Okano and Hirate spend an uncomfortable night in a large warehouse. They are fed, given rough kahki uniforms shorn of insigna, given a sleeping mat.
Nearly a thousand men share the warehouse, survivors from the disaster that has overtaken combined fleet. They have some showers, a medic gives them a look over.
Guards surround the warehouse, and no one is allowed to leave
They have little desire to do so, not tonight. Sleep, sleep would be very welcome.
As they settle, Okano murmers "What ever happens Hirate, we must stick together, we are just a number now, tomorrow, keep close, keep an eye out. It would be too bloody easy to be turned into infantry right now.............."
Okano and Hirate spend an uncomfortable night in a large warehouse. They are fed, given rough kahki uniforms shorn of insigna, given a sleeping mat.
Nearly a thousand men share the warehouse, survivors from the disaster that has overtaken combined fleet. They have some showers, a medic gives them a look over.
Guards surround the warehouse, and no one is allowed to leave
They have little desire to do so, not tonight. Sleep, sleep would be very welcome.
As they settle, Okano murmers "What ever happens Hirate, we must stick together, we are just a number now, tomorrow, keep close, keep an eye out. It would be too bloody easy to be turned into infantry right now.............."
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hirate is woken in the dark
"get up", hisses Okano "things are afoot"
Blearily, Hirate crawls, stands. Okano has left him, is talking earnestly with the smartest dressed petty officer he has ever seen.
The Petty officer glances his way, Hirate stiffens, trying, mostly unsuccessfully, to not look like the shipwrecked orphan he is.
Okano leaves the Petty officer, "Its cost me every thing i own, but......." he looks earnestly into Hirate's eyes "what ever you are asked, the answer is yes!"
Whistles blast the air, and the warehouse bursts into a swarming mass of men, quickly formed into a parade
It is no accident that Hirate finds himself at the front, too the left, okano at his side
An officer begins to march down the ranks, clipboard in hand. The petty officer follows closely, and indicates our Zuiho men
'Name?"
"Hirate sir!"
"Gunnery, correct?"
"Ahh..........Yes sir!"
"Good........get on the truck"
Even as he doubles away, he can hear Okano too giving the same answer, been given the same order
They are crowded into the back of the truck, many others joining them
"Gunnery?" he whispers.'Why in the hell, did you say that, we are stokers for truk sake"
Okano grins " I suspect the ship that picked us has stokers enough, gunners, especially since a refit, not so much. Getting a ship ney?, staying together........"
The truck arrives at the wharf, they tumble out
Okano has chosen well.
By dusk, they are at sea again, strangers on a strange ship, with strange billets, and new, strange tasks
But Guns enough
Battleship Yamato
"get up", hisses Okano "things are afoot"
Blearily, Hirate crawls, stands. Okano has left him, is talking earnestly with the smartest dressed petty officer he has ever seen.
The Petty officer glances his way, Hirate stiffens, trying, mostly unsuccessfully, to not look like the shipwrecked orphan he is.
Okano leaves the Petty officer, "Its cost me every thing i own, but......." he looks earnestly into Hirate's eyes "what ever you are asked, the answer is yes!"
Whistles blast the air, and the warehouse bursts into a swarming mass of men, quickly formed into a parade
It is no accident that Hirate finds himself at the front, too the left, okano at his side
An officer begins to march down the ranks, clipboard in hand. The petty officer follows closely, and indicates our Zuiho men
'Name?"
"Hirate sir!"
"Gunnery, correct?"
"Ahh..........Yes sir!"
"Good........get on the truck"
Even as he doubles away, he can hear Okano too giving the same answer, been given the same order
They are crowded into the back of the truck, many others joining them
"Gunnery?" he whispers.'Why in the hell, did you say that, we are stokers for truk sake"
Okano grins " I suspect the ship that picked us has stokers enough, gunners, especially since a refit, not so much. Getting a ship ney?, staying together........"
The truck arrives at the wharf, they tumble out
Okano has chosen well.
By dusk, they are at sea again, strangers on a strange ship, with strange billets, and new, strange tasks
But Guns enough
Battleship Yamato
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
hi saros!
Little research happening, cannot afford it
A little on Shindens, but not enough I think
You are optomistic that they will survive to then!
This war is now truly turning brutal
Little research happening, cannot afford it
A little on Shindens, but not enough I think
You are optomistic that they will survive to then!
This war is now truly turning brutal
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
An invasion fleet arrives at Waigapoe, triggering a savage response from the 11th air fleet
Based at Salajar, 11th fleet HQ ties in maccassar, Kendari, multiple air bases in the celebes.
For the moment, there is no shortage of supplies, of torpedo capable bases
From Soerabaya, multiple bases are full to the brim with replacement groups, and the harbour is full of ships.
CL Jintsu is sunk by a SS
destroyers clash, Nizam is sunk, a tanker too.
The airstrikes go in, battle ship Mississippi is struck by a fish, South Dakota avoids hers
japan loses 50 odd planes, the allies 20 odd.
barely a trickle, compared to the floods to come
Based at Salajar, 11th fleet HQ ties in maccassar, Kendari, multiple air bases in the celebes.
For the moment, there is no shortage of supplies, of torpedo capable bases
From Soerabaya, multiple bases are full to the brim with replacement groups, and the harbour is full of ships.
CL Jintsu is sunk by a SS
destroyers clash, Nizam is sunk, a tanker too.
The airstrikes go in, battle ship Mississippi is struck by a fish, South Dakota avoids hers
japan loses 50 odd planes, the allies 20 odd.
barely a trickle, compared to the floods to come
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
22nd Sentai, at full strength, wing their way south. A long leg this, manilla to Jolo.
Fuchida enjoys the flight, it is one of the most beautiful he will ever undertake. The emerald sea, the seemingly endless vista of island, of hidden bays, of towering mountains, of clouds towering to the heavens.
They wing south, confident, young, proud.
Undefeated, sure in themselves, their planes, their own immortality.
Fighter pilotrs, winging towards battle, towards harsh reality.
Fuchida enjoys the flight, it is one of the most beautiful he will ever undertake. The emerald sea, the seemingly endless vista of island, of hidden bays, of towering mountains, of clouds towering to the heavens.
They wing south, confident, young, proud.
Undefeated, sure in themselves, their planes, their own immortality.
Fighter pilotrs, winging towards battle, towards harsh reality.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
28th of July
There is a battle, south of moulmien
The aussie 9th division, against seemingly (to them) every little yellow barsted in Burma.
9th division not only wins.
They crush the enemy attack
reeling, the japanese 5th, 9th, 12th, 56th and 2nd guard divisions stagger back, 10000 dead and injured left in the green hell behind them.
Burma army (mostly) has been broken
There is a battle, south of moulmien
The aussie 9th division, against seemingly (to them) every little yellow barsted in Burma.
9th division not only wins.
They crush the enemy attack
reeling, the japanese 5th, 9th, 12th, 56th and 2nd guard divisions stagger back, 10000 dead and injured left in the green hell behind them.
Burma army (mostly) has been broken
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The following officer is posted to CV Hiyo, Executive officer.
Takeji
There are others, of course, Hiyo is nearly repaired now, due for sea again in 16 days.
She needs men
Good men
Takeji
There are others, of course, Hiyo is nearly repaired now, due for sea again in 16 days.
She needs men
Good men
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
29th of July
A day in the war...........just another day
Destroyers Arare, Natushio race into waigapoe, encounter a heavy Cruiser, 3 light cruisers, 5 destroyers.
They are lucky to escape with minor damage.
swarms of T bolts, P 38's sweep salarjar, the franks, georges, oscars rise and give battle.
30 odd tojos escort 13 betties south, there is a dozen Cap
2 APD's are sunk
30 zeros, 30 jill make up the next strike, , only a light Cap confronts them.
30 fish expended, a LST is sunk
The allies counter, sink a DD and a AK at Boela
In the afternoon, 100 japanese fighters, 20 Jill, 16 Betties burst through the CAP, a bomb strikes the Arizona.
The South Dak is hit by a fish.............but its a Dud.
Just a day in the war. It costs japan nearly 50 planes.......again.
High command studies the situation, studies it carefully. There is a noticable lack of enemy carriers. They have , they claim, endless numbers of CVE's.
But maybe, after losing nearly a dozen this month............
Kaga, Shokaku, Taiho, Chiyoda, Shoho sail from batavia.
3 Kongos too.
Yamato, musashi too are coming .
Just another day of the war...just another day.
A day in the war...........just another day
Destroyers Arare, Natushio race into waigapoe, encounter a heavy Cruiser, 3 light cruisers, 5 destroyers.
They are lucky to escape with minor damage.
swarms of T bolts, P 38's sweep salarjar, the franks, georges, oscars rise and give battle.
30 odd tojos escort 13 betties south, there is a dozen Cap
2 APD's are sunk
30 zeros, 30 jill make up the next strike, , only a light Cap confronts them.
30 fish expended, a LST is sunk
The allies counter, sink a DD and a AK at Boela
In the afternoon, 100 japanese fighters, 20 Jill, 16 Betties burst through the CAP, a bomb strikes the Arizona.
The South Dak is hit by a fish.............but its a Dud.
Just a day in the war. It costs japan nearly 50 planes.......again.
High command studies the situation, studies it carefully. There is a noticable lack of enemy carriers. They have , they claim, endless numbers of CVE's.
But maybe, after losing nearly a dozen this month............
Kaga, Shokaku, Taiho, Chiyoda, Shoho sail from batavia.
3 Kongos too.
Yamato, musashi too are coming .
Just another day of the war...just another day.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hirate, Okano are "welcomed' aboard yamato, and led through the bewildering maze of her innards.
Things are diffenet on Yamato, very, very different.
They are led to a crowded messdeck. A cold, silent messdeck, one where the welcome is glacial.
"No happy phoenix here friend" whispers Okano as they sling their hammocks.
A Petty officer calls them, and leads them up two decks, into the bowels of what must be a turret, a 4.7 inch turret.
Luck is with them.
4.7 inch shells come up a hoist. A man takes them, passes them up to another man, he passes them into the turret, to the guns.
Hirate, Okano, will be those two men.
The guns are drilling.
For an hour, they sweat, heaving the shells up from below, breathing the stink of cordite.
The drills complete, they are released.
Within ten minutes, they are hoplessly lost..........
Things are diffenet on Yamato, very, very different.
They are led to a crowded messdeck. A cold, silent messdeck, one where the welcome is glacial.
"No happy phoenix here friend" whispers Okano as they sling their hammocks.
A Petty officer calls them, and leads them up two decks, into the bowels of what must be a turret, a 4.7 inch turret.
Luck is with them.
4.7 inch shells come up a hoist. A man takes them, passes them up to another man, he passes them into the turret, to the guns.
Hirate, Okano, will be those two men.
The guns are drilling.
For an hour, they sweat, heaving the shells up from below, breathing the stink of cordite.
The drills complete, they are released.
Within ten minutes, they are hoplessly lost..........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
22 nd sentai move out onto the fields at balikapapan, next stop, Maccassar.
Fuchida climbs in, the ground crew gives the thumbs up. he presses the starter, the engine whines, coughs, fires, and bangs with a horrible expensive clattering sound of disaster.
the propeller shudders to a halt
'Truk"
he is not alone
The Frank is a great fighter.
Just a pig to keep in the air.. 4 will remain home, broken
They might, in hindsight, be the lucky ones
Fuchida climbs in, the ground crew gives the thumbs up. he presses the starter, the engine whines, coughs, fires, and bangs with a horrible expensive clattering sound of disaster.
the propeller shudders to a halt
'Truk"
he is not alone
The Frank is a great fighter.
Just a pig to keep in the air.. 4 will remain home, broken
They might, in hindsight, be the lucky ones
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
CockneyWeasel
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2013 12:24 pm
- Location: Adelaide, Australia
RE: The little ship that could.
I registered on these forums just now, solely so I can say awesome this story is!
I found this aar a few days ago after stumbling across a link to it. Ive just spent the past few days of my spare time reading this excellent story, finding it hard to stop reading even at 2am and having work early the next morning [:D]
Awesome work!
I found this aar a few days ago after stumbling across a link to it. Ive just spent the past few days of my spare time reading this excellent story, finding it hard to stop reading even at 2am and having work early the next morning [:D]
Awesome work!
RE: The little ship that could.
Welcome Cockneyweasel.
Yes, we know how it is.
Awesome read.
You might want to look for "Big war little ship, the adventures of Hibiki" or something like that. It is another story in the same style by Cuttlefish.
Worth every minute too.
Yes, we know how it is.
Awesome read.
You might want to look for "Big war little ship, the adventures of Hibiki" or something like that. It is another story in the same style by Cuttlefish.
Worth every minute too.
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.
Thankyou, that was an effort then!
(Made my day, those comments, they did!)
30/7/44
Yamato and Musashi steam south, two great giants.
Giants fully aware now, that the hunt has turned against them.
But even the most cornered beast, in extremis, can inflict terrible wounds upon its tormentors before the final kill.
And these two great beasts have claws enough.
The great Yamato, as any warship will, calls her men to stations at dawn.
Hirate and Okano do not get lost, not this time, but they are the last to arrive at the turret.
The I/C, a mean faced little barsted of a petty officer, bawls them out, and for the first time, in a long, long time, Okano feels the slap of the palm across the face.
"Faster, you fool!" screams the petty officer
Okano, almost forgetting himself, sways.......but training, no, the indocrination of recruit school, saves him.
"HIEI!",.........the fists clech, but do not rise.
Later, in the mess hall (food, vastley poorer than Zuiho's mind you), he utters what Hirate, (in deference to his friend) dare not .
'I think this was a mistake"
Hirate looks about him, at the gleaming fittings, the massive steel doors, thinks of the great guns above, the great majesty of this ship.
And knows this. Its all merely metal. Men, mens hearts, are the soul of a ship
And Yamato's is empty.
(Made my day, those comments, they did!)
30/7/44
Yamato and Musashi steam south, two great giants.
Giants fully aware now, that the hunt has turned against them.
But even the most cornered beast, in extremis, can inflict terrible wounds upon its tormentors before the final kill.
And these two great beasts have claws enough.
The great Yamato, as any warship will, calls her men to stations at dawn.
Hirate and Okano do not get lost, not this time, but they are the last to arrive at the turret.
The I/C, a mean faced little barsted of a petty officer, bawls them out, and for the first time, in a long, long time, Okano feels the slap of the palm across the face.
"Faster, you fool!" screams the petty officer
Okano, almost forgetting himself, sways.......but training, no, the indocrination of recruit school, saves him.
"HIEI!",.........the fists clech, but do not rise.
Later, in the mess hall (food, vastley poorer than Zuiho's mind you), he utters what Hirate, (in deference to his friend) dare not .
'I think this was a mistake"
Hirate looks about him, at the gleaming fittings, the massive steel doors, thinks of the great guns above, the great majesty of this ship.
And knows this. Its all merely metal. Men, mens hearts, are the soul of a ship
And Yamato's is empty.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Fuchida's fghter stays broken. The four men play cards, walk a lap around the field, watch with envy the CAP detach.
The place is hot, dusty, smells , no, stinks of oil and gasoline from the refinery.
Fuchida has a comment. ignorant, yes, but understandable
'Who in the hell would want to fight over this %^&%$ hole anyway?
The place is hot, dusty, smells , no, stinks of oil and gasoline from the refinery.
Fuchida has a comment. ignorant, yes, but understandable
'Who in the hell would want to fight over this %^&%$ hole anyway?
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Extract from shattering the sword, a cantona production
This day, as the troops wade ashore at Waingapoe, can be countered as a japanese win.
The air raids keep coming in, and the LRCAP from Koepang is simply too porous to stop them
2 APA, 2 AP are struk, 2 L(L) also go down
Battleship south dakato spends another frantic hour dodging fish.
A lucky ship, this one
Japanese SS strike near Koepang, sinking four cargo ships
The allies attempt to bomb macassar, to stop the raids, the bomber pilots returning report "enemy fighters of exceptional tenacity and aggression"
The landing is a regiment of the Americal division, a tank battalion, sea bees, a support unit.
And from the moment they touch horns with the wating enemy,it is obvious that this will never be enough.
This day, as the troops wade ashore at Waingapoe, can be countered as a japanese win.
The air raids keep coming in, and the LRCAP from Koepang is simply too porous to stop them
2 APA, 2 AP are struk, 2 L(L) also go down
Battleship south dakato spends another frantic hour dodging fish.
A lucky ship, this one
Japanese SS strike near Koepang, sinking four cargo ships
The allies attempt to bomb macassar, to stop the raids, the bomber pilots returning report "enemy fighters of exceptional tenacity and aggression"
The landing is a regiment of the Americal division, a tank battalion, sea bees, a support unit.
And from the moment they touch horns with the wating enemy,it is obvious that this will never be enough.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt