The little ship that could.

[1275psi]

26th September

Hiyo drops anchor Miri.
Takeji plans for a 48 hour stop, time to check the shoring, time to refuel, refresh.


He does not know it, but south of him, near balikapapn, sees three allied DDs sink an entire 8 ship convoy.
before turning in, he will inspect Hiyo carefully, peer into her deepest holes, talk to her black gang (unthinkable on a IJN warship (but this is not a usual situation, yes?), wander her darkened, abandoned hanger.

And wonder if Hiyo will ever again carry her flight group, and take it into battle.

[1275psi]

In singapore, a dozen men sit in a circle, the grass cool about them. They sit on a mostly empty field, 8 tattered zeros, a dozen Judy dive bombers behind them.
Poor remnants indeed, of Hiyos flight group.

Since leaving Hiyo, these men have languished at sabang, unsupported, forgotten almost. Now, apparently, they will be sent to stem the menace prowling the seas of the DEI.

20 planes.

Lt Kurihamo is respected by his men, an acehe is "the old man" of the unit. At 23 years of age, a incouragous term, but suitable for the baby faced pilots he flies with.
The men are waiting for a fuel truck, once fuelled, they will fly south, apparently.
Talk fills the circle.
How to stop the enemy?

They have discussed it now, for nearly an hour.
None truly believe tht the bombers can be escorted through, let alone score telling hits..........
Kurihamo cuts the gordian knot.

'When we attack, I will hit. I will guarrantee it. I will dive my plane into my target, and die.
But so will a great many Americans, who unlike myself, are afraid to die. That is how we will stop the americans"

There is silence.
Nobody replies to Lt Kurihamo. None have too.
Silently, invisibly, a pact has been made.

Later that day, Japans first (and fully volunteer) "special attack unit" will depart Singapore
They will not be the last.

[1275psi]

kamis activated.
I do not know yet, to what extent I will use them.

[1275psi]

September 27th


Diogowa is suiting up, when the messenger races to him, face red with exertion. "You are requested commanders office, immediately!"

Ogowa is already there, as are a great number of the other instructors. ' There is a train to Yokohama, 252nd sentai, training unit......type O's. You are all assigned to it for temporay combat duties, I have no other details. Time is of the essence, get going!'

A truck is waiting for the pilots, a dozen men clamber in, it roars away in a cloud of dust.
"Can't be good" Ogowa mentions " all this rush"
Diogawa turns to his friend...... ' No, it can't be..........have you noticed how we have missed lunch?'






Enemy carriers sighted, 640 miles due east Chichi Jima, course North West..............straight at Tokyo.

[ny59giants]

..

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

kamis activated.
I do not know yet, to what extent I will use them.

Carefully.

I really plan out my kami conversions because of course the groups cannot convert back, so I want to be sure that my airgroups converted are well supported by my kami ac pools. You also have to be sure you have plenty of kami - grade pilots. Then when I use them, I use them big. 1000 plane strikes. Modelled from Nemo's testing. So, if I'm going to expend 36,000 HI on a strike, my target(s) need to be worth it ... and then, I have a re-assembly plan ... getting the kami airgroup remnants back to a base where they can be re-constituted.

For me, kamis are a big equalizier. They seem to get a higher hit percentage as compared naval attacks.

[1275psi]

Nearly a dozen fletchers sunk now, some you will soon hear about.

Great advice re the kamis

But

in the spirit of the game (which has helped make it so good), they will be used as per real life, so no coming over at max altitude, or in huge strikes -the only time that will happen is if Home island is invaded, as was planned in real life.

I fear the kamis will be in packets, a unit here, another there.........

But, as about to be revealed, they are certainly going to get the chance...........

The storm is breaking!!!

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

... so no coming over at max altitude ...

Doesn't matter much on your altitude setting. My understanding is that kami attacks are like TB attacks, the attack profile is hard coded. I think they enter at like 11,000 no matter what you set. Setting higher only increases the range that radar will detect you. Besides some of your best kami planes (Tsurugi) have max altitudes of like 20,000 ft ...

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

... or in huge strikes -the only time that will happen is if Home island is invaded, as was planned in real life ....

I beleive they considered everything from the PI to the Kuriles as part of their HI inner circle. Definitely considered Formosa part of the HI ... also note that the latest beta (not sure which version you are playing) decreases coordination a lot. Since kami units are low exp units by definition, sending 1000 planes will end up in the 'drips and drabs' in terms of attack profiles, not the solid 1000 planes that Nemo experienced. I.E. very close to the historical results.

Just some thoughts for you to consider ... the game is great.

[1275psi]

Ok, I lost two days of AAR with the crash, will have to do a re write.
back tomorrow, I suppose

Not a biggie, chin up matrix!, we still loves ya!

[1275psi]

September 28th
deep into the night
The atmosphere in Imperial HQ,is tense.
herbiesan faces his command staff, the map, as always , before them.
"They are coming gentlemen?"
"With the dawn sir, yes , and they even boast of it on the radio, vowing to smash our teeth in"

'I see...........'

A dangerous moment. yet, even now, I see an opportunity. Monstorous, even deadly to myself if these men should guess.

But first..........
"The airforce?"
'We are mustering everything we have .........Tokyo should muster 150 fighters, Yokohama, 50 more. We plan no counter attack, they will, we believe, try to set a massive CAP trap"

150 fighters..............maybe enough, maybe not. But how much damage can a raid do.?
I will wear it.
I have to.

'the Navy?"
terrible looks of discomfort............in dock sir, refitting. Only Yamato, Mutsu have feedom of manouvre, there are no destroyers, no other vessels available.........."

"In short, we are caught pants down ney?"
"I regret, sir yes"

Sir?"
yes.........oh, this will be good, they have only thought of Him now.
"Sir, The Emperor is on the Yamato, he wished to view her gunnery at work tomorrow, acceptance work, then a dinner............if we bring Yamato in, she might be caught alongside, or......"
"Or worse........the emperor could be caught in a small boat transfer."
"Yes sir.........but to have him hurt..........."

"Would raise such a anger as ever seen.........yes, unthinkable he could be harmed, I could never stand it. Leave him aboard, Yamato is unsinkable, he will be safest there"


My greatest gamble.
if he is harmed, I must kill my self.
But if the public should believe he has been targetted...........

[1275psi]

The train, as expected, is late

For several hours, 40 odd of Japans finest pilots sit idly on a platform. Rumours fly about, there has been an invasion of Siapan, and invasion of the phillipines, some poor fool insists that its a carrier raid upon Japan itself
Ogowa cannot believe THAT.........that would be impossible

Eventually the train arrives, they pile aboard. new orders have arrived, its to a field north of Tokyo now, the Yokosuka KU-s2 unit, flying the K1 george.
Diogowa is relieved " Go back to a zero after that plane........."

The trip, however takes a un expected turn. Three Kempetai officers, the secret police, work their way through the carriage
"papers please"
Ogowa, Diogowa look up at them with bemusement
"papers please"
'Ogowa makes the universal, empty hand gesture 'We are officers of the Imperial Navy...........who's papers unfortunately lie at the bottom of the sea"
'A likely tale, if it is true, why have you not gained some more?"

"Because fighting men don't have time, friend"...Diogowa growls

It goes down hill from there.............


The train carries on, Ogowa, Diogowa do not. They will be "guests" "until new papers can be arranged" at cetral Tokyo police headquarters. They are free to move about the building, to nap on its benches, but not, yet, to leave

Ogowa growls, scowls

Diogowa does what he does best. Even Ogowa has to smile when he gets a new friend (a regular police man) to bring them a meal.
'Tuna, by gods............"

[1275psi]

September 29th
Dawn.
It is bucketing down over the Hiyo, one of those torrential monsoon type showers that pound the waters into froth, drown out all conversation with the hammering upon her steel, that runs across her slanting deckin torrents
Her bow is barely visible from the bridge, her escorts completely lost in the sheets of rain
How the submarine actually hits her this miserable morning is an absolute mystery. But hit her she does, twice.
Dull thuds, dead admidships, she rocks a little. The baulkhead for the remaining boiler room splits 6 feet long, the shoring collapsing.
There is no panic, the men abandon the room in plenty of time, the safety valves released. , Hiyo screaming her frustration and rage.
Takeji slumps onto his seat on the bridge, gives a single, despairing curse.
“Get the men up EX, she can’t survive that”
Her 100 odd men gather on the flight deck, soaked, gathered in miserable groups, a destroyer slides alongside, waiting for the final act.

Okano and Hirate , join them, they have secured the now useless engineroom, shut the hatches behind them, and now, cold, miserable, and yet relieved that the nightmare may soon end, wait for the word.
Hiyo has halted, silence envelopes her, the rain streams down
Time passes. 30 minutes, 45.
She does not sink

The AR Sinsei Maru, comes alongside, that friendly face pale in the rain
He raises a loud hailer, speaks to the lonely Captain of Hiyo across the gap separating them
“Well, are you sinking, or not?, or do we keep fighting?”
Takeji considers the grey sky, the grey seas, the miserable waters, men about him.
Truk you ship, it would be so easy to just give up…………..
Jesselton, 80 miles away
“Another bottle of scotch, we won’t make it”
“Your on”

Rule one of damage control. Never give up the ship.
Hiyo, the ship they couldn’t kill.

It is a beautiful Autumn morning in Tokyo, and her people are busy at work,.
Her factories hum, her streets bustle. After three years of war, everyone, it seems, is at work, or in uniform. There are shortages, of this and that, on the streets, but nothing critical.
Japan , economically, remains strong. The papers hint at merchant ship losses, at the desperate convoy battles (this very night just past saw no less than 6 escorts lost) that carry the resources and oil, and fuel home. But overall, war has not harmed the home islands. Her people remain blissfully un aware of the danger they are in.
The war is where?, Timor?..............the other side of the world yes?
At 9 am, the sirens sound, another air raid practice.
Some respond, the vast majority simply shrug, they are too busy for such nonsense.
But overhead, the air seems to be filling with the growl of fighters, dozens of them, circling. Enough to bring people to a halt in the streets, to look up, point, stare.
Suddenly, things change.
New planes, strange planes, stubby clipped wings.
Hellcats.
Tokyo stops, and turns its face to the sky.
21 hellcats.

Ogowa, Diogowa watch from the door of the police station.
There is cold fury in Ogowas eyes, as he turns towards the Kempantai officer. “feel vindicated, you barsted?’

For twenty minutes , the show goes on, the fighters wheeling across the sky. Occasionally, one, or another streams down.
A hellcat crashes near the palace, another in the Ginza, an American floats down, a crowd gathers about him, curious. They stare at him, him at them, until a uniform comes up, and shoots him dead…….
The battle fades way. The streets ring with excitement.
“So that was the Americans, the Yankees . Bold, but so stupid. And how the Bushido boys handled them!
But the sirens ring again………
100 plus this time.
The crowds remain, but now they have fallen silent.
About them, the AA guns begin to bark, new, loud, scary sounds. Children scream, cry. The sky fills with violence.
Down in the docks, in the port, the thud of bombs, the rising smoke and flames…………



Unseen by most, Yamato spears across the waters of the bay, her guns barking. Captain Ishii shouts his orders. He is beyond angry. Externally he remains calm, inside, he could tear the world apart.
Three dive bombers are peeling over, coming at the port side.
That barely touches him. Its HIM, HIM, standing behind him, and if he tries to look out yet again.
Bloody hell,, he’s going to try to look…………..
Behind him, the Emperor of Japan, the son of heaven, moves to the corner of the bridge, seemingly oblivious to the danger screaming down upon Yamato
Captain Ishii curses, “Sir!, please, ……….Hard to starboard!”

Somehow, Yamato escapes……….

The raids come in, again, and yet again, Yokohama too is attacked.
And this attack, bold to the nth, succeeds.
Kaga , in dry dock, is struck by two bombs, the first landing in the dock nearby, punching a hole in her side. The second plunges into the quarterdeck.
Shokaku takes two bombs, both explode on her flight deck, punching small holes
Zuikaku takes three in her dock, all miss her, but explode in the concrete canyons about her. Acetylene cylinders explode, her tormentors will mistake their explosions as her very end.
Shoho shrugs her hit off
Kongo, Kirishima, Musashi take a bomb each, they will do little harm

The damage, overall, is of little effect. All these ships were already helpless, in refit, under repair.
They will all still be available again in 30 to 40 days.
145 allied aircraft have been shot down this day.





The attack, in itself, would , did, shake Japans population. . Maybe it needed it.
But the papers will carry but one story

Assassination attempt upon the Son of heaven!
Americans attack the Yamato, bearing his highness!
100 million swear to fight to prevent this ever happening again!




And somewhere in the Pacific, Admiral King turns to Kinkaid
“Jesus Jim, look what Halesly gone and done . Now he has just made the little yellow barsted angry!"


Hiyo, 43 system, 79 flood, 54 engine



And over Thialand, a dozen tojos lay a trap, and it closes.
They shoot down two planes, mosquitos.
Long pig goes down again.

[koniu]

When i read about Long pig only person i can think of is Admiral Benson from Hot Schots! movie.

Quote:
"You know, I've personally flown over 194 missions and I was shot down on every one. Come to think of it, I've never landed a plane in my life."

[1275psi]

October 1st
Hi Koniu!

Long pig is a fellow worker, he sat down and read the entire AAR in one hit, as a “reward” he gets the occasional visit…especially whenever I need a character on the ground at certain flashpoints.
I do however, only have him shot down when the game shoots down his plane, cantona and I usually co operate on this.
Plus it’s a good giggle in the office!!!










The AR Sensei maru is yet again, lashed to the side of the hiyo. A destroyer is towing the darkened carrier at just over three knots, a good effort.
The carrier refuses to sink. Her flooding stands at 75%, her propulsion plant little better/. Fundamentally, she’s been gutted.
Jesselton will be made, whether she is worth taking from there, is yet to be seen.
Below, in the hot humid, wet dark, two stokers bash yet again at the shoring timbers, and wonder just what else the fates will throw their way.


The allied carriers withdraw, vanishing east of Marcus.
Japan remains in shock.
Yesterday, the Americans………….an honourable foe, misguided, misled, decadent. Now, now, …….evil incarnate, 100 million lives swear to never allow the son of heaven to come near harm again………


Two men crouch behind a mound of earth, hidden well in the underbrush. A few feet away, the still surprisingly intact remains of a mozzie fighter bomber. Behind that, across the dry rice paddy, the great scar of its less than controlled return to the earth.
Pilot officer Bigglesworth (yes- Bigglesworth) lies himself down alongside Longpig.
‘I knew you were a Jonah, Longpig……….they warned me about you, how many trucking times have you been shot down now?’
There is no malice in the question, the two men are good friends, 23 combat missions together has cemented them together
Long pig scratches his arse, repositions himself. “Three, I think now. “ he grins. “Stick with me boy, things happen when Flight officer graham goes to war!”
The two men have been busy. One of the mozzie’s nose guns now rests between them, overlooking the fields.. water, supplies lie stacked behind, and better yet, far, far better yet, the growl of an allied aircraft circling overhead.
This time Long pig is not alone. The allied army is but ten miles away, and coming. Of the enemy, there is no sign.
Not yet, anyway.

[1275psi]

Hosho addresses his company
They gather about him in the deep bunker carved into the hillside, faces ghosts in the murky light.
55 division has been re orientad to face the north west, 3 enemy divisions have crossed the hills, many more are reprted to be coming south from bangkok.
Dust trickles down from the roof, outside, the bombers are still about their work, as they have been for days now.

Hosho addresses his men, company commander now.
'We have been ordered to stand and fight here. Not one step back. Not one. We fight, we die here.. But I forbid, do you hear me, i forbid anyone to die before they have killed 10 enemy.
This order is irremutable."
The men do not speak. Nor murmur.
These are Japanese soldiers, conditioned to fight to the death, to defend the emperor to the last.
If not fight here, if they retreat again (and how sick of marching are they), do they stop where?...........the imperial palace?
No
Never
10 enemy for one.

They can do this.
They will

[1275psi]

October 2nd

The patrol comes for Long pig just after midday, a long line of men, shivering, indistinct in the heat,.
They come, spread abreast, slowly, almost disconcently.

At 3000 yards, they re just men, Japanese?, Burmanese?.
"Crap" curses Long pig.'They re going to find us.how many rounds Bigglesworth in that gun of yours?"
"Enough"
"You sure?'
"I am sure"...........Bigglesworth points to the sky "I am sure"

For weeks now, Longpig hs been bombing Japanese troops, a detached, sureal operation, the bombings, the scattering figures not quite real.
This, this is frightengly real.
The Tbolts , just 4 of them, race in from the flank, engines roaring , the 1000 lbers wobbling slightly as they come down upon the line of men.

Longpig ducks his head, the ground shakes, the CRAK! ssualts the ears...
"Crap!"

Carefully they raise their heads..........
The dust settles.
The line is no more, here, there, few still forms, one waves a rm, it drops.
A few survivors are stumbling away.

Bigglesworth is right. he has more than enough ammunition.

[1275psi]

Hiyo ..43 system, 75 flood, 52 engine.

Takeji seeks a dozen volunteers, all that will be needed to watch, tend the tow lines. He intends to try again.

The crew transfer to destroyers.
Hirate, Okano volunteer and remain.

They have followed Takeji this far. Too late to turn back now.

[Long pig]

With long pigs luck he will killed by a 1000 pounder delivered by his own side, keep your head down!

[1275psi]

3rd October
Ogowa, Diogowa finally rejoin their new squadron, the yokosuka KU-s2, and both will immediately fly a CAP patrol today over Tokyo
The allied attack, was clearly now seen as what it was, a raid.
Nevertheless, it was still an effective one. Japan has but one effective carrier today, the Taiho.

Japan needs thirty, thirty five days to rebuild, refit, regather.
Surely Cantona won't give them that time?

[1275psi]

Medan is bombed by B-29's -!!!
Balikapapan fights her raid off

japanese convoys have literrally sucked palembang, balikapapan, soerabaya dry, but only carried most of the precious oil and fuel as far as Manilla, Miri.
The writing is on the wall.
Irionic, Japan actually has more tankers than the oil and fuel she can suck from Palembang. If the Army in Northern malaya cracks, they are quickly going to be out of a job.