Fantastic Work!
The little ship that could.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: The little ship that could.
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: The little ship that could.
11 OCT 44
And so this is war.
Ugly, furious, animal
Two great empires are grappling to the death
They send great Navies at each other, that fight tooth and nail
The navies consist of ships, individual ships.
Ships, that go at each other these next nights like terriers
And drag with them, poor unfortunate men
The allied landings on kendari sort themselves out, but have barely gotten underway properly, when the message goes out.
'cancel unloading, get underway, enemy ships approaching"
Some, apparently, get the message. Some continue to unload. And, how it occurs, we may never know. 24th, 25th division commence an evacuation of the beaches.
Its a mess.
And then Furatuka, 3 DD arrive, and really, really mess it all up.
And so this is war.
Ugly, furious, animal
Two great empires are grappling to the death
They send great Navies at each other, that fight tooth and nail
The navies consist of ships, individual ships.
Ships, that go at each other these next nights like terriers
And drag with them, poor unfortunate men
The allied landings on kendari sort themselves out, but have barely gotten underway properly, when the message goes out.
'cancel unloading, get underway, enemy ships approaching"
Some, apparently, get the message. Some continue to unload. And, how it occurs, we may never know. 24th, 25th division commence an evacuation of the beaches.
Its a mess.
And then Furatuka, 3 DD arrive, and really, really mess it all up.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Blood streams down Hirates arm, source ruined, cut, battered fingers.
It sounded so easy, seperate the ventilation from the deck head. oh, it sounded so easy..
The deck slopes, wet, and slippery. There is no way something can be assembled to stand upon. They have rigged a crude web of ropes, ropes that swing, move underfeet. The heat is oppressive, sweat pours from Hirates eyes.
They have no tools, a chisel, a hammer...........no, not even a chisel, a screwdriver that they are using as a chisel......
But that is not the worst of it.
Their torches are dying.the utter pitch dark of the tomb.............
Its about them, pressing in, breathing down their necks.
There has only been one way to remove the trunk in the circumstances.
Brutally. They have torn at the thin metal, ripped at it, bent it.
Swore at it, cursed it, spat at it.
Bled on it, as it fights back.
Hirate pauses, gasping, arms aching.
The blood drips..........
And the dark closes in.
Hiyo 43 system, 81 flood, 43 eng
It sounded so easy, seperate the ventilation from the deck head. oh, it sounded so easy..
The deck slopes, wet, and slippery. There is no way something can be assembled to stand upon. They have rigged a crude web of ropes, ropes that swing, move underfeet. The heat is oppressive, sweat pours from Hirates eyes.
They have no tools, a chisel, a hammer...........no, not even a chisel, a screwdriver that they are using as a chisel......
But that is not the worst of it.
Their torches are dying.the utter pitch dark of the tomb.............
Its about them, pressing in, breathing down their necks.
There has only been one way to remove the trunk in the circumstances.
Brutally. They have torn at the thin metal, ripped at it, bent it.
Swore at it, cursed it, spat at it.
Bled on it, as it fights back.
Hirate pauses, gasping, arms aching.
The blood drips..........
And the dark closes in.
Hiyo 43 system, 81 flood, 43 eng
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Extract from Shattering the Sword, a Cantona production.
These, then , were another set of those classic japanese attacks, so often executed during the war.
The rapid , no holds barrred approach, the violet contact, the flash and crash of the guns, the hiss of the tubes, the violent death of ships...........
Furatuka and 3 DDs, heavy rain.
Tracked , at times, inward by the allied radar.
This time as the Japanese squadron burst from the rain, at 11000 yards, the defenders are ready
Fish leap from both sides, the Japanese go for the transports, immediately hitting a large AP, gunfire dancing across her cliff like sides
Moments later, another large AP is split in two as a Long Lance strikes home.
7000 yards, the Japanese line is curving, guns going to work at the fleet lying before them
Destroyer Tanihakaze vanishes, a bright flash, a dull boom................wreckage
The Allied destroyers, three of them, stem straight for them, turn, wheel, run parrallel, the guns barking like machine guns
Arashi becomes the victim, at 2000 yards, the distance almost suicidal, she fights the Mustin, the morris
Furatuka is free, her guns seek another large AP, , the liner Mariposa, she is burning
The action breaks, the Japanese curving course takes it out of the bay, clear of the Kendari headland.
The Kendari invasion fleet is left, three large ships burning, the troop landings totally disorganised
2 dead Japanese destroyers, 3 damaged allied
900 drowned soldiers
These, then , were another set of those classic japanese attacks, so often executed during the war.
The rapid , no holds barrred approach, the violet contact, the flash and crash of the guns, the hiss of the tubes, the violent death of ships...........
Furatuka and 3 DDs, heavy rain.
Tracked , at times, inward by the allied radar.
This time as the Japanese squadron burst from the rain, at 11000 yards, the defenders are ready
Fish leap from both sides, the Japanese go for the transports, immediately hitting a large AP, gunfire dancing across her cliff like sides
Moments later, another large AP is split in two as a Long Lance strikes home.
7000 yards, the Japanese line is curving, guns going to work at the fleet lying before them
Destroyer Tanihakaze vanishes, a bright flash, a dull boom................wreckage
The Allied destroyers, three of them, stem straight for them, turn, wheel, run parrallel, the guns barking like machine guns
Arashi becomes the victim, at 2000 yards, the distance almost suicidal, she fights the Mustin, the morris
Furatuka is free, her guns seek another large AP, , the liner Mariposa, she is burning
The action breaks, the Japanese curving course takes it out of the bay, clear of the Kendari headland.
The Kendari invasion fleet is left, three large ships burning, the troop landings totally disorganised
2 dead Japanese destroyers, 3 damaged allied
900 drowned soldiers
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Long Pig and Bigglesworth are sharing a bench , enjoying a meal. Of course, thinks Long pig, when one has once been so hungry that the smell of human flesh cooking has almost tricked you, tempted you, eeven Spam can be considered a good meal.
They are sharing the meal with six other pilots and crewmen, various survivors that the Chindits have recovered in the last few days from these central plains of Thialand
It is a very vivid reminder , that here, at least, Japans air force still has teeth.
The plan, for the last two days, has been simple. "A truck will be provided at first opportunity, to transfer you chaps back to Bangkok"
it has not happened. There are plenty of trucks, it seems, coming south, going south, supporting the pursuit of the retreating enemy.
But none headed North
Rumours however, are thick
"There are three Japanese Divisions coming North"
"We are pulling out"
"We are going to counter the counter attack"
The usual trollop of stuff
Bigglesworth elbows Long pig.
"A truck"
"Where?"
"There, under the trees, and look my friend, thats a brocken two pounder in the back, you don't fix them here, but you do in a rear depot"
"Like, say, bangkok?"
"Like bangkok'
casually, so as not to attract attention, the two men leave the table, saunter over to the truck.
swiftly, discreetly, it gains two passengers
Shorthly after, it does depart north
the gun, is yes, a two pounder.
But its not broken, only broken down for ease of transport, a gun for a airborne regiment
the truck drives north 20 miles, then, abruptly, it turns south , the main road, bangkok to Phon Phen, Siagon
It drives all night, hard, where it is desperately needed, the front
They are sharing the meal with six other pilots and crewmen, various survivors that the Chindits have recovered in the last few days from these central plains of Thialand
It is a very vivid reminder , that here, at least, Japans air force still has teeth.
The plan, for the last two days, has been simple. "A truck will be provided at first opportunity, to transfer you chaps back to Bangkok"
it has not happened. There are plenty of trucks, it seems, coming south, going south, supporting the pursuit of the retreating enemy.
But none headed North
Rumours however, are thick
"There are three Japanese Divisions coming North"
"We are pulling out"
"We are going to counter the counter attack"
The usual trollop of stuff
Bigglesworth elbows Long pig.
"A truck"
"Where?"
"There, under the trees, and look my friend, thats a brocken two pounder in the back, you don't fix them here, but you do in a rear depot"
"Like, say, bangkok?"
"Like bangkok'
casually, so as not to attract attention, the two men leave the table, saunter over to the truck.
swiftly, discreetly, it gains two passengers
Shorthly after, it does depart north
the gun, is yes, a two pounder.
But its not broken, only broken down for ease of transport, a gun for a airborne regiment
the truck drives north 20 miles, then, abruptly, it turns south , the main road, bangkok to Phon Phen, Siagon
It drives all night, hard, where it is desperately needed, the front
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Kinugasu clears the headland. her captain wheeling her around to try again.
4 Allied cruisers emerge from the rain, and engage
before this violent encounter peterst out, the Gambia is burning, the Arashi is sunk, Furatuka a shattered mess.
they came in the usual way, they were met, in the usual way.............
Japan is running out of ships
At Ambon, here too, another battle
Kumano, 3 DDs.
6 allied DDs
Clear weather, a clear night
A totally different encounter. The Allies, radar directed gunfire, the Japanese seeking blindly the enemy, all three DDs quickly crippled
The turn away
Defeat
But here too, the allied invasion fleet has with drawn someway, such is the reputation of these battles.
Dawn breaks on wreckage strewn seas.
dawn brings the airforces.
4 Allied cruisers emerge from the rain, and engage
before this violent encounter peterst out, the Gambia is burning, the Arashi is sunk, Furatuka a shattered mess.
they came in the usual way, they were met, in the usual way.............
Japan is running out of ships
At Ambon, here too, another battle
Kumano, 3 DDs.
6 allied DDs
Clear weather, a clear night
A totally different encounter. The Allies, radar directed gunfire, the Japanese seeking blindly the enemy, all three DDs quickly crippled
The turn away
Defeat
But here too, the allied invasion fleet has with drawn someway, such is the reputation of these battles.
Dawn breaks on wreckage strewn seas.
dawn brings the airforces.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
4000 japanese troops rise as one, and sweep down the hills towards the invasion beach at kendari
They find...............nothing
Equipment, supplies, bodies, brocken boats, a beached and burning LST
A dog
24th, 25th Division have , for whatever reason, failed.
They find...............nothing
Equipment, supplies, bodies, brocken boats, a beached and burning LST
A dog
24th, 25th Division have , for whatever reason, failed.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
With a cry of triumph, Okano drags the valve assembly, its jagged metal casing free. It falls into the dark engineroom with a resounding crash. Savegedly Hirate kicks it down the sloping deck.
Both men look up the dark, no, pitch black shaft.
A silence fills the engine room. Both men are painfully aware of the sound below their feet.
Its the sound of running water.
The sea, apparently, will not be denied
Suddenly, from somewhere, a long, long somewhere above them, a call.................
"below!"
And gods be praised, a rope comes banging down the trunk
Hirate stares at the rope, flicking about in the almost exhausted light of the torch.
Faintly, faintly, he can Okano curse and swear, bang and struggle his way up the ventilation trunk
These minutes stretch, stretch to the impossible to bear.
salvation is so close................
there are moments , I suppose , in life, in all of our lives, when we must think of these things:
death, life, salvation.
God, I suppose
In this hour, Hirate will climb up , climb up from dark and death, to life again
First step, in a journey he does not know will come, but will take him to places he will vever imagine
Both men look up the dark, no, pitch black shaft.
A silence fills the engine room. Both men are painfully aware of the sound below their feet.
Its the sound of running water.
The sea, apparently, will not be denied
Suddenly, from somewhere, a long, long somewhere above them, a call.................
"below!"
And gods be praised, a rope comes banging down the trunk
Hirate stares at the rope, flicking about in the almost exhausted light of the torch.
Faintly, faintly, he can Okano curse and swear, bang and struggle his way up the ventilation trunk
These minutes stretch, stretch to the impossible to bear.
salvation is so close................
there are moments , I suppose , in life, in all of our lives, when we must think of these things:
death, life, salvation.
God, I suppose
In this hour, Hirate will climb up , climb up from dark and death, to life again
First step, in a journey he does not know will come, but will take him to places he will vever imagine
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
12th of October
The T bolts are circling, cueing up a mile behind the front, waiting their turn to strike the Japanese army ahead of them
Long pig and Bigglesworth are watching them, the side of the road their seat. A truck is going North in the hour, lasts night diversion has been...............well, embarressing.
To the south, the crackle of small arms, the rising columns of smoke
regularily, a T bolt will be called, will peel of, dive overhead, and disapear behind the trees.
A satisfactory rattle of guns, the thud of bombs............
Suddenly, other planes................
They scream down, dozens of them...........
"Jesus!", gasps Biggleswoth..........."Japs!'
Japs indeed
22 nd bounce, 22nd get the kills
One pass..............the T bolts are gone, and 8 columns of smoke, and flame, dotter the plains about them.
The T bolts are circling, cueing up a mile behind the front, waiting their turn to strike the Japanese army ahead of them
Long pig and Bigglesworth are watching them, the side of the road their seat. A truck is going North in the hour, lasts night diversion has been...............well, embarressing.
To the south, the crackle of small arms, the rising columns of smoke
regularily, a T bolt will be called, will peel of, dive overhead, and disapear behind the trees.
A satisfactory rattle of guns, the thud of bombs............
Suddenly, other planes................
They scream down, dozens of them...........
"Jesus!", gasps Biggleswoth..........."Japs!'
Japs indeed
22 nd bounce, 22nd get the kills
One pass..............the T bolts are gone, and 8 columns of smoke, and flame, dotter the plains about them.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Kinugasa sinks
Hiyo, 44/79/43, and still 14 days from manilla, if they are lucky
And, totally by surprise, an allied unit cuts the road south of 15th army
It, and 23rd, and, of course, Hosho and his men, are surrounded.
Worse, there is no doubt now, at least ten divisions are pouring across the hills, down the road, readying themselves, to smash them, and open the door to Malaya
Hiyo, 44/79/43, and still 14 days from manilla, if they are lucky
And, totally by surprise, an allied unit cuts the road south of 15th army
It, and 23rd, and, of course, Hosho and his men, are surrounded.
Worse, there is no doubt now, at least ten divisions are pouring across the hills, down the road, readying themselves, to smash them, and open the door to Malaya
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
13oct
dawn
how many times now, has our story opened with that word
dawn
A new day
A long night has passed, a long night of hidden terrors and dangers, enemies stalking you in the dark.
Now, now, at least, thinks Nishimura, I can at least see them
men are tired pre dawn, men who have stood at guns,, at boilers, on the bridge, below, for the night. But it takes but one sentence to wash the fatigue away
"Enemy in sight!:
Heavy cruiser Myoko leads the way, her bows leaping, plowing through the swell, waves creaming, breaking, rushing over her focastle, behind her, close , Mikuma, Agano, the ugly tatsuta, 3 destroyers.
he seas are grey, the sky close, dark, heavy with rain.
On the horizon, low, the port of Ambon, yet a shadow. The enemy, small, indiscrete spots, smoke rising in columns, as ships struggle to get away
The wind is cold upon Nishimura's face,
he raises his glasses, 12000, 13000 yards?.....a cruiser, 5 destroyers, peeling towards him.....
But sweeping down from port, a great curtain of rain.........
"Port 15!, prepare for action, starboard!"
The enemy line ripples with fire, bright flashes in the grey light, and then, coldly, abruptly, the rain pounds down.
'radar!"
""Blind as a bat sir!"
And so they shoulc be too.........
Nishimura looks about his bridge, at the men who follow him. They will not flinch, HE, will not flinch.
The heavy cruisers guns are swung to starboard, they have little elevation......
The rain pours down,. in the silence, in the wet, they plungs on
""Standby men........this will be nasty"
It is.
The rain, as abruptly as it begins, ends......
2000 yards away, parralel, guns pointing at them, CL Montepellier, the destroyers
And hell breaks lose
dawn
how many times now, has our story opened with that word
dawn
A new day
A long night has passed, a long night of hidden terrors and dangers, enemies stalking you in the dark.
Now, now, at least, thinks Nishimura, I can at least see them
men are tired pre dawn, men who have stood at guns,, at boilers, on the bridge, below, for the night. But it takes but one sentence to wash the fatigue away
"Enemy in sight!:
Heavy cruiser Myoko leads the way, her bows leaping, plowing through the swell, waves creaming, breaking, rushing over her focastle, behind her, close , Mikuma, Agano, the ugly tatsuta, 3 destroyers.
he seas are grey, the sky close, dark, heavy with rain.
On the horizon, low, the port of Ambon, yet a shadow. The enemy, small, indiscrete spots, smoke rising in columns, as ships struggle to get away
The wind is cold upon Nishimura's face,
he raises his glasses, 12000, 13000 yards?.....a cruiser, 5 destroyers, peeling towards him.....
But sweeping down from port, a great curtain of rain.........
"Port 15!, prepare for action, starboard!"
The enemy line ripples with fire, bright flashes in the grey light, and then, coldly, abruptly, the rain pounds down.
'radar!"
""Blind as a bat sir!"
And so they shoulc be too.........
Nishimura looks about his bridge, at the men who follow him. They will not flinch, HE, will not flinch.
The heavy cruisers guns are swung to starboard, they have little elevation......
The rain pours down,. in the silence, in the wet, they plungs on
""Standby men........this will be nasty"
It is.
The rain, as abruptly as it begins, ends......
2000 yards away, parralel, guns pointing at them, CL Montepellier, the destroyers
And hell breaks lose
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hosho is counting ammunition when the messanger arrives
"'Battalion requests you sir"
Hosho curses, more depressing news, for sure
he leaves the pill box, climbs the short distance up the slope of the hill it occupies, enters the deep, deep trench.
All about him, 55th division is preparing for battle, the men making final checks. Ammunition lies in piles, grenades in neat piles.
he enters the bunker
It is the prince.
A changed man now, war has stripped away all the pretensions that he brought to Burma, so many months, so many, many miles ago. Now Hosho fronts a thin, almost emancipated figure. The eyes , now, show knowledge, show weariness, show..........wisdom even.
And, he can see it.....resignation?
the Prince cuts straight to the chase
"The road south has been cut by two enemy cavalry units............horses, it seems, still have their uses."
The prince smiles, with out humour. His great white stallion, went into the pot weeks ago..............
'We are cut off. Worse, we count some ten, yes, ten divisions about to attack. We are ordered to make a fighting retreat south, if at all possible. "
A pause.
Ah, Hosho thinks, the depressing news..........
"55th division will hold the line, retiring only when all other units are clear. "
he takes Hosho in the eye. "There will be no banzia attacks, no madness here. If we are destroyed, so be it. But destruction means the opening of Malaya............"
The Prince hands Hosho a scrap of paper. "This is an allocation of my last ammunition reserves, 5 units worth. use them wisely Hosho, make them pay"
And if to enforce the orders, distantly, the tattoo beat of heavy guns
"'Battalion requests you sir"
Hosho curses, more depressing news, for sure
he leaves the pill box, climbs the short distance up the slope of the hill it occupies, enters the deep, deep trench.
All about him, 55th division is preparing for battle, the men making final checks. Ammunition lies in piles, grenades in neat piles.
he enters the bunker
It is the prince.
A changed man now, war has stripped away all the pretensions that he brought to Burma, so many months, so many, many miles ago. Now Hosho fronts a thin, almost emancipated figure. The eyes , now, show knowledge, show weariness, show..........wisdom even.
And, he can see it.....resignation?
the Prince cuts straight to the chase
"The road south has been cut by two enemy cavalry units............horses, it seems, still have their uses."
The prince smiles, with out humour. His great white stallion, went into the pot weeks ago..............
'We are cut off. Worse, we count some ten, yes, ten divisions about to attack. We are ordered to make a fighting retreat south, if at all possible. "
A pause.
Ah, Hosho thinks, the depressing news..........
"55th division will hold the line, retiring only when all other units are clear. "
he takes Hosho in the eye. "There will be no banzia attacks, no madness here. If we are destroyed, so be it. But destruction means the opening of Malaya............"
The Prince hands Hosho a scrap of paper. "This is an allocation of my last ammunition reserves, 5 units worth. use them wisely Hosho, make them pay"
And if to enforce the orders, distantly, the tattoo beat of heavy guns
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
A body floats in the grey, grey sea
Once, a man, a man with honour, power, influence
Now, body corruptible
We pull back, expnd our view of this water. More bodies, wreckage, oil,
Only Mikuma has survived this battle, she crawls north, fighting the fires from the shell hits, the hell divers bombs.
behind her, the bodies, the wrecks of her comapnions.
Nishimura's body bobs, bounces of another, whiter one
American
Montepellier, two destroyers, they add to the floating field of dead
The invasion fleet has been saved.
But the sea of bodies, bobbing, floating, they care not.
Once, a man, a man with honour, power, influence
Now, body corruptible
We pull back, expnd our view of this water. More bodies, wreckage, oil,
Only Mikuma has survived this battle, she crawls north, fighting the fires from the shell hits, the hell divers bombs.
behind her, the bodies, the wrecks of her comapnions.
Nishimura's body bobs, bounces of another, whiter one
American
Montepellier, two destroyers, they add to the floating field of dead
The invasion fleet has been saved.
But the sea of bodies, bobbing, floating, they care not.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hiyo, 44 system, 77 flood, 43 engines
The tow, turns due west towards Manilla, still t least ten days way
Fuchida, 22nd Sentai fly to georgetown, there to take replacements, to regather.
An army, apparently, needs help.
The tow, turns due west towards Manilla, still t least ten days way
Fuchida, 22nd Sentai fly to georgetown, there to take replacements, to regather.
An army, apparently, needs help.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
15th October
HoSho's position is dead centrl in 55th Divisions front
A series of interlinking bunkers and pill boxes occupying a low 500 foot high ridge, runiing almost due north east. The ridge is split at about half mile intervals with gullies and water courses, giving the defence line a series of "bumps"
The Jungle is mostly gone, blasted away from weeks of bombing, it lies shattered on the slopes below the positions.
What has survived has been cleared for several hundred yards to the front. The whle area bakes under the blazing sun.
Dust, dirt, debris. They dominate
The ridge line is laced with trenches, hidden tunnels, the heavy buried box pillboxes. These are thick , layers of tree trunks, palm mostly, many are two layers thick, all are buried.
The line , as stated, runs North east. There , however lays one problem, 20 miles to the North, 23rd armies flank has been turned, forcing a re orientation.
But this , for now, and onwards, will mean little to 55th division. They fight almost as independent unit.
In front...........6th and 7th Australian divisions, and an unknown Indian one.
Japans forces are short of everything
The allied ones lack for nothing.
With a shattering roar, their artillery opens fire.
' a message from MGEN Okamoto sir, plese hold for 24 hrs, before first retirement"
"24 hours", thinks Hosho, as the ground shakes, the shells scream in, the dust explodes.........'who is he kidding?"
HoSho's position is dead centrl in 55th Divisions front
A series of interlinking bunkers and pill boxes occupying a low 500 foot high ridge, runiing almost due north east. The ridge is split at about half mile intervals with gullies and water courses, giving the defence line a series of "bumps"
The Jungle is mostly gone, blasted away from weeks of bombing, it lies shattered on the slopes below the positions.
What has survived has been cleared for several hundred yards to the front. The whle area bakes under the blazing sun.
Dust, dirt, debris. They dominate
The ridge line is laced with trenches, hidden tunnels, the heavy buried box pillboxes. These are thick , layers of tree trunks, palm mostly, many are two layers thick, all are buried.
The line , as stated, runs North east. There , however lays one problem, 20 miles to the North, 23rd armies flank has been turned, forcing a re orientation.
But this , for now, and onwards, will mean little to 55th division. They fight almost as independent unit.
In front...........6th and 7th Australian divisions, and an unknown Indian one.
Japans forces are short of everything
The allied ones lack for nothing.
With a shattering roar, their artillery opens fire.
' a message from MGEN Okamoto sir, plese hold for 24 hrs, before first retirement"
"24 hours", thinks Hosho, as the ground shakes, the shells scream in, the dust explodes.........'who is he kidding?"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hirate and Okano are working in Hiyos hanger, re arranging the portable pump hoses, moving the jerry cans.
There are six smll diesel pumps on the deck, the noise is simply horiffic.
Today, it seems they are winning, the seas, calm and smooth, have helped, and the hoses have been firm all day. Now, however, one is "gasping", the compartment below dry.
The two men haul at it, drag its great wieght to another hole, feed it in.
The hose hardens, the diesel beat deepens
"How much fuel left?" Okano asks
"heaps........but"
Okano finishes the sentence for him......."yes, I know, some of thes barsteds sound sick, we are going to lose pumps soon"
Hiyo, 44/ 75/43
There are six smll diesel pumps on the deck, the noise is simply horiffic.
Today, it seems they are winning, the seas, calm and smooth, have helped, and the hoses have been firm all day. Now, however, one is "gasping", the compartment below dry.
The two men haul at it, drag its great wieght to another hole, feed it in.
The hose hardens, the diesel beat deepens
"How much fuel left?" Okano asks
"heaps........but"
Okano finishes the sentence for him......."yes, I know, some of thes barsteds sound sick, we are going to lose pumps soon"
Hiyo, 44/ 75/43
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hirate sits on Hiyos fantail, braced on the capsta against her list
The world about him, is Beautiful. Blue sea, blue, endless sky. The clouds, as ever, rising on the horizon.
Even the ugly warships seem acceptable.
a mind works overtime, thinking of that dark, dark, cramped ventilation trunk. The rope, tight, taught, its steady progress as he was hauled from darkness to light.
A mind contemplates.
Life, death, eternity
If he survives this crap, he must seek some answers.
The world about him, is Beautiful. Blue sea, blue, endless sky. The clouds, as ever, rising on the horizon.
Even the ugly warships seem acceptable.
a mind works overtime, thinking of that dark, dark, cramped ventilation trunk. The rope, tight, taught, its steady progress as he was hauled from darkness to light.
A mind contemplates.
Life, death, eternity
If he survives this crap, he must seek some answers.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
herbiesan takes a deep breath
Cowardly bloody Generals!
"manchuria does NOT need these divisions!", he screams........."the Russins have given me their word, their word, that they will not declare on us!. You WILL move three divisions ready for transfer by months end!"
Too many holes, too many failing dykes.............I need men!
Cowardly bloody Generals!
"manchuria does NOT need these divisions!", he screams........."the Russins have given me their word, their word, that they will not declare on us!. You WILL move three divisions ready for transfer by months end!"
Too many holes, too many failing dykes.............I need men!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Long pig and Bigglesworth ride yet again in the bck of a truck
This time, fortunately, they head North. The great panic, apparently is over, the Jpanese counterattack has faltered, pounded three days stright by heavy bombers, it has thought better of it.
The truck pulls over off the road, nestles under some trees
The driver and his companion climb out......"Tea break fellows?
Bigglesworth grins.'Don't mind if we do, old chap, don't mind if we do"
Long pig climbs painfully down. The road stretches endlessly on across the paddy fields. The traffic is light, some locals clatter past on abandoned japanese bicycles.
Its going to be a hot day.
Another vehcile drives up, a jeep.
A tall angular LT climbs out.
"Is this the road to bangkok chaps?"
"Eventually sir........"
"Good. Look, there is a japanese unit cut off two miles over there........" he points vagually to the east, "apparently its moving this way, be good chaps and keep that in mind eh?"
"The road is going to be cut sir?"
'Oh, I doubt it.....but you know"
The jeep drives away, dust rising
The tea is good
Quiet descends, except , of course, the ever present growl of aero engines of the allied air in the area.
Tea finished, the men begin to gather their kit.
Overhead, un noticed, three mosquitos are circling.
They wing over, and come in to attack..........
This time, fortunately, they head North. The great panic, apparently is over, the Jpanese counterattack has faltered, pounded three days stright by heavy bombers, it has thought better of it.
The truck pulls over off the road, nestles under some trees
The driver and his companion climb out......"Tea break fellows?
Bigglesworth grins.'Don't mind if we do, old chap, don't mind if we do"
Long pig climbs painfully down. The road stretches endlessly on across the paddy fields. The traffic is light, some locals clatter past on abandoned japanese bicycles.
Its going to be a hot day.
Another vehcile drives up, a jeep.
A tall angular LT climbs out.
"Is this the road to bangkok chaps?"
"Eventually sir........"
"Good. Look, there is a japanese unit cut off two miles over there........" he points vagually to the east, "apparently its moving this way, be good chaps and keep that in mind eh?"
"The road is going to be cut sir?"
'Oh, I doubt it.....but you know"
The jeep drives away, dust rising
The tea is good
Quiet descends, except , of course, the ever present growl of aero engines of the allied air in the area.
Tea finished, the men begin to gather their kit.
Overhead, un noticed, three mosquitos are circling.
They wing over, and come in to attack..........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The Mosquitos make but one pass.
One moment Long pig is climbing into the back of the truck, the next the world is filled with the KAWWWAAAAK, KAAAWAAAK of lead striking the truck all about him, of dust spurts, of the roar of merlins....
So many times, he has delivered this hailstorm from his plane, now the sheer terror sheets home
But it does not freeze him, instinctively he flings himself at the ditch, lands rolls, eats dirt
Silence
Cautiously he raises his head
Bigglesworth rises carefully from the rear of the truck, inspects himself, dusts of his front
"Bloody Jonah Long pig, I have said it before, I'll say it again, you're a bloody Jonah"
Somehow, nobody has been hurt.
A miracle indeed
The driver curses, kicks his truck, it is patently never going to go again.
he does not have to say anything to his too pilot passengers, you can imagine yourself the look they recieve.
"Come on Long pig, before they come back...........we had better start walking"
he falls in beside his friend....."One thing though, you may be a Jonah, but you are a better shot than those idiots"
One moment Long pig is climbing into the back of the truck, the next the world is filled with the KAWWWAAAAK, KAAAWAAAK of lead striking the truck all about him, of dust spurts, of the roar of merlins....
So many times, he has delivered this hailstorm from his plane, now the sheer terror sheets home
But it does not freeze him, instinctively he flings himself at the ditch, lands rolls, eats dirt
Silence
Cautiously he raises his head
Bigglesworth rises carefully from the rear of the truck, inspects himself, dusts of his front
"Bloody Jonah Long pig, I have said it before, I'll say it again, you're a bloody Jonah"
Somehow, nobody has been hurt.
A miracle indeed
The driver curses, kicks his truck, it is patently never going to go again.
he does not have to say anything to his too pilot passengers, you can imagine yourself the look they recieve.
"Come on Long pig, before they come back...........we had better start walking"
he falls in beside his friend....."One thing though, you may be a Jonah, but you are a better shot than those idiots"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt