Hoshos company, now but 45 men strong, have fought a running battle through the remains of a banana plantation, pushed incessantly by the Australians..........and even as the battle rages, Hosho cannot but admire the relentless pressure, skill and sheer bravado of the lanky barsteds facing them.
Today though , the Australians have been relieved by the Indians, and a more "reasoned" battle is clattering away.
After all, why risk it, they know, the clever barsteds, that in the hour Hosho's men will retire from this position, back another couple of miles, and they will be able to take it with out risk
Hosho is resting, a culvert providing cover. 1000 yards down there, the shattered remains of the plantation, and the Indians
The bananas were good, some a little green.....................
there are many horrors on a battlefield.
This, Hosho thinks, is the worst
Attempting to defecate whilst under fire
he peeks carefully over the edge, peers down the road. its quiet
"here, take this.' he hands his rifle to a private
Frantic wriggling, pants coming down,............and the pfft, pfft, pfft, of mortars firing from down the road..........
'Oh crap...........'.as they scream down upon Hoshos little band
war IS HORRIBLE.
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.
It is very hard to move with your pants down! Two choices, the dilemma pants up or off?
RE: The little ship that could.
update father in laws
Fires burnt down houses 4 blocks away, moving east, the fire then moved north (lovely flanking movement), burning down more of chain valley bay, then, doubled back (completed the encirclement), burnt down some of the retirement village (apparently), and was stopped literally 4 blocks away .
So, his street is an island in a sea of ash at the moment, bloody thing.
But it has had one positive effect, we have wanted thecranky old buggar to sell up, move back down here for years now
he now, finally, agrees............
Fires burnt down houses 4 blocks away, moving east, the fire then moved north (lovely flanking movement), burning down more of chain valley bay, then, doubled back (completed the encirclement), burnt down some of the retirement village (apparently), and was stopped literally 4 blocks away .
So, his street is an island in a sea of ash at the moment, bloody thing.
But it has had one positive effect, we have wanted thecranky old buggar to sell up, move back down here for years now
he now, finally, agrees............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
1 november 44
(amazing date for the state of the empire)
Chiburi proves a lot easier to dry dock than Zuiho ever was
She rests now in a small floating dry dock, the dock anchored at the very end of the naval base, (any bloody further towards the end and we will still be on patrol in the bay, Ugaki growls) her rotten bottom raising a stink as the marine growth dies. The work planned is actually light on in engineering/weapons details, its the upgrading of her useless radar, sonar that will take most of the time
But light on, I suppose is subjective, both mains are going to recieve 10000 hourly rebuilds, removal of pistons, replacements of big ends, the usual crap.
Hirate, Okano, of course, will remain onboard for the first leave shift, (last on, last off), they get the easy bit, the strip down, the replacement tasks.
They will have to wait ten days for leave. But this is Hiroshima.
From the dock, across the width of the bay, they can see, vagually, depending on the sea mist, home.
(amazing date for the state of the empire)
Chiburi proves a lot easier to dry dock than Zuiho ever was
She rests now in a small floating dry dock, the dock anchored at the very end of the naval base, (any bloody further towards the end and we will still be on patrol in the bay, Ugaki growls) her rotten bottom raising a stink as the marine growth dies. The work planned is actually light on in engineering/weapons details, its the upgrading of her useless radar, sonar that will take most of the time
But light on, I suppose is subjective, both mains are going to recieve 10000 hourly rebuilds, removal of pistons, replacements of big ends, the usual crap.
Hirate, Okano, of course, will remain onboard for the first leave shift, (last on, last off), they get the easy bit, the strip down, the replacement tasks.
They will have to wait ten days for leave. But this is Hiroshima.
From the dock, across the width of the bay, they can see, vagually, depending on the sea mist, home.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Mioko is just about to enter the house, when the message boy runs up , breathless. Iko is apopular boy in the village, 12 years of age, a ready grin, thin, and, well, fast.
He runs everywhere, does Iko
Now, after school, he earns small pocket change running messgaes from the post office, for anyone.
Now breathless, he stands before Mioko. "message Mistress!"
The hand is outstretched, awaiting its small coin.
Mioko feels a thrill of fear race through her. A message..........too many, far too many messgaes these months have been of those hated black lined telegrams........
Iko , maybe sensing her fear, grin "Not that!"
The coin vanishes rapidly......"A phone call, at the post office.its on hold"
She is almost breathless too, when she places the phone to her ear.........
"hello?"
A world will change
A husband is home
He runs everywhere, does Iko
Now, after school, he earns small pocket change running messgaes from the post office, for anyone.
Now breathless, he stands before Mioko. "message Mistress!"
The hand is outstretched, awaiting its small coin.
Mioko feels a thrill of fear race through her. A message..........too many, far too many messgaes these months have been of those hated black lined telegrams........
Iko , maybe sensing her fear, grin "Not that!"
The coin vanishes rapidly......"A phone call, at the post office.its on hold"
She is almost breathless too, when she places the phone to her ear.........
"hello?"
A world will change
A husband is home
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
herbiesan stares across tokyo bay
Out there, Taiho, Shokaku rest at anchor. Almost alone, the destroyers gonne to shepherd chitose from the west.
The fleet is reforming.
What to do with it?
Yamato, Musashi, Mutsu, rest in northern japan, the bulk of the fleet available to him. But soon, soon, the refits complete, the repairs finish
To deploy?, or to wait?
Ruteng has fallen, boela as well. The cancer spreads north, but oh so slowly.
Where will the enemy strike, where will the hail mary pass fall?
herbiesan can but guess.
Alright then, he will.
he turns to Abe, still Admiral of the fleet
"As ships become available, gather them at Ominato........to win by mid 45, its his only option"
A guess, based on nothing but gut.
But gut has gotten him this far, yes?
Out there, Taiho, Shokaku rest at anchor. Almost alone, the destroyers gonne to shepherd chitose from the west.
The fleet is reforming.
What to do with it?
Yamato, Musashi, Mutsu, rest in northern japan, the bulk of the fleet available to him. But soon, soon, the refits complete, the repairs finish
To deploy?, or to wait?
Ruteng has fallen, boela as well. The cancer spreads north, but oh so slowly.
Where will the enemy strike, where will the hail mary pass fall?
herbiesan can but guess.
Alright then, he will.
he turns to Abe, still Admiral of the fleet
"As ships become available, gather them at Ominato........to win by mid 45, its his only option"
A guess, based on nothing but gut.
But gut has gotten him this far, yes?
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Chiburi lies quietly on her blocks.
A single lonely quartermaster mans her gangway, below, his relief sleeps, waiting for his turn to see the night through.
They are her sole crew.
for Hirate, there is no honeymoon, no holiday away.
Just two nervous people, coming together to begin a lifes journey.
There will be no need for a special holiday, for anything other than the cheap room above the busy road.
A blossoming love will need no more.
Chiburi has 20 days alongside. As usual in this story, our men have earn't their privacy.
Lets let them have it, yes?
A single lonely quartermaster mans her gangway, below, his relief sleeps, waiting for his turn to see the night through.
They are her sole crew.
for Hirate, there is no honeymoon, no holiday away.
Just two nervous people, coming together to begin a lifes journey.
There will be no need for a special holiday, for anything other than the cheap room above the busy road.
A blossoming love will need no more.
Chiburi has 20 days alongside. As usual in this story, our men have earn't their privacy.
Lets let them have it, yes?
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
A quiet day, another one
The pursuit of japans shattered army continues in Malaya.
Troops are loaded at Siapan, begin the journey towards home.
The Biak triangle also is being stripped of many of its troops.
Next month, American elections.
Both candidates promise a swift conclusion to the war.
The American public, hopes Japan, just wants one
The pursuit of japans shattered army continues in Malaya.
Troops are loaded at Siapan, begin the journey towards home.
The Biak triangle also is being stripped of many of its troops.
Next month, American elections.
Both candidates promise a swift conclusion to the war.
The American public, hopes Japan, just wants one
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
cantona very busy, no turns until week end
bummer
bummer
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
And then Cantona slips a quickee in................YEAH!!!
3rd November
It is evening, a calm, beautiful one. The chill of cold creeps about, but this evening, old man winter has eleswhere to be.
Ogowa, Diogowa are sitting together on the steps of the ready room, the airfield spread before them.
It is quiet, the last fighter down, the setting sun reflecting of cnopies, red light glimmering.
The noise of Tokyo, a distant rumble, fights gainst the sound of summers lasts crickets.
Ogowa pours another draft of liquour into Diogowa's mug.
"thankyou friend"
Silently they drink. Its been a long day
"And your father, Ogowa?", the question is gentle
" Much to my surprise, good"
"Good?"
"Yes, the old warrior is mellowing in his age, plus, and I think this was the key, he's back in uniform again"
"Uniform?"
"118th AA regiment, central tokyo, private Uzawa has been given a gun again, gods preserve us"
Diogowa sniggers " Maybe he just wanted a way to shoot his wayward fighter pilot son down eh?"
"Oh lay off, you fat buggar...........although we did discuss poor aiming..................."
It is another quiet day for the war.
Taiho is dispatched north from Tokyo
Hoshos army continues its flight south.
2 divisions begin loading at siagon, malaya army last hope.
the evacuation of siapan continues.
And still no sign of an allied attack
3rd November
It is evening, a calm, beautiful one. The chill of cold creeps about, but this evening, old man winter has eleswhere to be.
Ogowa, Diogowa are sitting together on the steps of the ready room, the airfield spread before them.
It is quiet, the last fighter down, the setting sun reflecting of cnopies, red light glimmering.
The noise of Tokyo, a distant rumble, fights gainst the sound of summers lasts crickets.
Ogowa pours another draft of liquour into Diogowa's mug.
"thankyou friend"
Silently they drink. Its been a long day
"And your father, Ogowa?", the question is gentle
" Much to my surprise, good"
"Good?"
"Yes, the old warrior is mellowing in his age, plus, and I think this was the key, he's back in uniform again"
"Uniform?"
"118th AA regiment, central tokyo, private Uzawa has been given a gun again, gods preserve us"
Diogowa sniggers " Maybe he just wanted a way to shoot his wayward fighter pilot son down eh?"
"Oh lay off, you fat buggar...........although we did discuss poor aiming..................."
It is another quiet day for the war.
Taiho is dispatched north from Tokyo
Hoshos army continues its flight south.
2 divisions begin loading at siagon, malaya army last hope.
the evacuation of siapan continues.
And still no sign of an allied attack
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
5th of November
Two men stand beside each other, a large, very large map of the pacific spread before them.
tension crackles, ill will, and blood, can almost be seen in the room, so thick does it hang in the air. many feet behind them, the staff stand still, impassive, witnessing to history.
herbiesan pauses, and takes deep breath.
The Emperor, impassive, waits.
For years, since his siezing of power, the Emperor has been a virtual hostage to Herbiesan, kept in his palace, kept incommudicado with Japans people. But months go, that changed. With the raid on Tokyo, since "the attempt" on his life, that has changed dramatically.
When you are needed, you gain power.
Herbiesan has needed the Emperor greatly this last month.
And the emperor has been busy.
Almost daily, he has been seen, inspecting army units, visiting factories, even, heavens, being in the prescence of the common people.
One emperor, one people, one nation.
The media have trumpeted, almost daily this, and the people have responded.
So too the generals, the admirals, the air chiefs.........................
Herbiesan knows what has happened, knows that winds of discontent blow, that rumours are leading to conversations, conversations to plots............
He needs to convince this barsted, that he, herbiesan, still has the war well in hand..................
"Our defences..........sir,............"
Two men stand beside each other, a large, very large map of the pacific spread before them.
tension crackles, ill will, and blood, can almost be seen in the room, so thick does it hang in the air. many feet behind them, the staff stand still, impassive, witnessing to history.
herbiesan pauses, and takes deep breath.
The Emperor, impassive, waits.
For years, since his siezing of power, the Emperor has been a virtual hostage to Herbiesan, kept in his palace, kept incommudicado with Japans people. But months go, that changed. With the raid on Tokyo, since "the attempt" on his life, that has changed dramatically.
When you are needed, you gain power.
Herbiesan has needed the Emperor greatly this last month.
And the emperor has been busy.
Almost daily, he has been seen, inspecting army units, visiting factories, even, heavens, being in the prescence of the common people.
One emperor, one people, one nation.
The media have trumpeted, almost daily this, and the people have responded.
So too the generals, the admirals, the air chiefs.........................
Herbiesan knows what has happened, knows that winds of discontent blow, that rumours are leading to conversations, conversations to plots............
He needs to convince this barsted, that he, herbiesan, still has the war well in hand..................
"Our defences..........sir,............"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The briefing will be a long one, but here is the guts of it
From Parishimo to Hokkado:
All bases have at least a regiment, behind full forts
Hokkado:
5 divisions, good forts
3 BBs, a CV, escorts enough
about 200 a/c
The Bonins:
15000 men on Iwo Jima, more arriving for all the islands there, good forts
The Marianas
Only garrisoned now, they are being stripped
Ponape, Truk, Eniwetok
All but empty, interestingly, supply ships have got through unmolested or sighted
Biak, noemfoor, manowakwari and Palua
A strong triangle , each base a regiment, or more strong, big forts
To the north, in the moluccas, tempe, moriati and those bases, a Division on Moriati, a regiment on all the others.
All bases in the Celebes have a regiment, at least, Kendari a lot more
Bima, has the 65th regiment
java, two divisions
The Phillipines are a fortress, the bulk of the remaining army and naval forces here.
There are no empty dot bases!
Malaya
Another attack on the army north of Chumphon failed, this army will, i think now escape, as Chumphon has 340 AV of fresh men behind level five forts. 3 regiments are entraining north as reinforcements, and two divisions are at sea loaded at Siagon
Vietnam
That river running north is now basically defended, 5 divisions holding it
(this was a house rule at start of this game, no restriction on land units, allied or Japanese marching across borders. China is a hollow shell, why Cantona has not launched offensive there beyond me)
China
Quiet,
(I have conquered little here in this game, maybe two cities, see above for why!)
The fleet:
CV taiho
Shokaku
CVL chitose
Unryu- 2 days
Ryuho- 11 days
Zuikaku-12 days
Kaga-48 days
Yamato, Musashi, Mutsu, nagato, Kongo, Kirishima
Hiei, 9 days
Ise, converted, 17 days
8 cruisers, about 30 DDs
Pilot pools are full of elite pilots, there are no pilot shortages, 100 elite available, 300 very good ones, at least
Airframes, however, are low, radical culling of plane production is underway, fighters dominating, with Dive bombers next.
Industry pools are thin however, I have never subscribed to a end of war bank of HI, in this game, I think it has paid off, its November 44, and the oil lanes remain open, thanks to the lavish production of 43.
The best news.
The SS menace has been defeated!, the huge output of the new E boats has paid off, no less than 20 ss killed in the last 30 days, all definate kills, many, many more damaged.
I find this easy to justify too in game turns
What military, after losing so many CVs to SS, would not swing everything it hd to a program to kill them?
Donitz lost the U boat war eventually, once sufficient resources were thrown at it, why not now, the Americans?
Finally
Cannot see in any way, Cantona reaching Japan by mid 45 using a conventional approach, north up through the phillipines, or even marcus, Okiwana, formosa route.
There is only one way left for him, via the north.
Thus every SS I have left is headed there, looking, seeking.
Any campiagn there I can make last months, and every month fighting there will be another month of oil flowing
, thus all reinforcements are moving north from now on.
Score
he leads by a mere 1000
Thats only 3 Essex class right[:D][:D][:D]
From Parishimo to Hokkado:
All bases have at least a regiment, behind full forts
Hokkado:
5 divisions, good forts
3 BBs, a CV, escorts enough
about 200 a/c
The Bonins:
15000 men on Iwo Jima, more arriving for all the islands there, good forts
The Marianas
Only garrisoned now, they are being stripped
Ponape, Truk, Eniwetok
All but empty, interestingly, supply ships have got through unmolested or sighted
Biak, noemfoor, manowakwari and Palua
A strong triangle , each base a regiment, or more strong, big forts
To the north, in the moluccas, tempe, moriati and those bases, a Division on Moriati, a regiment on all the others.
All bases in the Celebes have a regiment, at least, Kendari a lot more
Bima, has the 65th regiment
java, two divisions
The Phillipines are a fortress, the bulk of the remaining army and naval forces here.
There are no empty dot bases!
Malaya
Another attack on the army north of Chumphon failed, this army will, i think now escape, as Chumphon has 340 AV of fresh men behind level five forts. 3 regiments are entraining north as reinforcements, and two divisions are at sea loaded at Siagon
Vietnam
That river running north is now basically defended, 5 divisions holding it
(this was a house rule at start of this game, no restriction on land units, allied or Japanese marching across borders. China is a hollow shell, why Cantona has not launched offensive there beyond me)
China
Quiet,
(I have conquered little here in this game, maybe two cities, see above for why!)
The fleet:
CV taiho
Shokaku
CVL chitose
Unryu- 2 days
Ryuho- 11 days
Zuikaku-12 days
Kaga-48 days
Yamato, Musashi, Mutsu, nagato, Kongo, Kirishima
Hiei, 9 days
Ise, converted, 17 days
8 cruisers, about 30 DDs
Pilot pools are full of elite pilots, there are no pilot shortages, 100 elite available, 300 very good ones, at least
Airframes, however, are low, radical culling of plane production is underway, fighters dominating, with Dive bombers next.
Industry pools are thin however, I have never subscribed to a end of war bank of HI, in this game, I think it has paid off, its November 44, and the oil lanes remain open, thanks to the lavish production of 43.
The best news.
The SS menace has been defeated!, the huge output of the new E boats has paid off, no less than 20 ss killed in the last 30 days, all definate kills, many, many more damaged.
I find this easy to justify too in game turns
What military, after losing so many CVs to SS, would not swing everything it hd to a program to kill them?
Donitz lost the U boat war eventually, once sufficient resources were thrown at it, why not now, the Americans?
Finally
Cannot see in any way, Cantona reaching Japan by mid 45 using a conventional approach, north up through the phillipines, or even marcus, Okiwana, formosa route.
There is only one way left for him, via the north.
Thus every SS I have left is headed there, looking, seeking.
Any campiagn there I can make last months, and every month fighting there will be another month of oil flowing
, thus all reinforcements are moving north from now on.
Score
he leads by a mere 1000
Thats only 3 Essex class right[:D][:D][:D]
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
China, watch China. If you haven't contested it and he is able to get supply into it... at the very least all of those CHI corps now have good morale and 45 exp. Many of those corps can attain +700 AV. If he gets Shanghai its like losing Okinawa, or the Korean penninsula is the same as losing Hokkaido. Changsha to Shanghai is a short march ... Chengting to Fusan is longer, but ...
Pax
RE: The little ship that could.
Score ...he leads by a mere 1000
There are two big factors in the Victory formula . the numerator and the denominator. The VP's for bases affects both and in some cases strikingly..
Big swings take place in the numerator and denominator when the allies take Singapore as an example .. and like Pax explains . China can lead to the loss of Hong Kong . a really big point swing as the IJ lose a bunch of points (the denominator in the equation)...
Also Strat bombing can accumulate a 1,000 points in one raid [the numerator for sure]
However, that little comment about 3 Essex class CV's has some merit. Every point the IJ accumulate in LCU and Ship losses the Allies has to either find a base to take away of like VP's or accumulate 2:1 in the LCU/Ship loss column . A 1,000 VP's for the IJ means the Allies have to kill 2,000 points in strat bombing, LCU losses, ship losses or capture bases that equal a 2:1 gain ...
Good Luck!
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
RE: The little ship that could.
I'm starting to get Little Ship AAR withdrawals!
RE: The little ship that could.
So was I, a turn in the box at last..............teachers and holidays[8|]
9th of November
Work on Chiburi moves slowly. Very, very slowly
For 4 days now, nary a workman has stepped aboard the escort, she has been literally left to her own devices.
The reason lies at the other end of the shipyard, Battleship Hiei has commenced warming flashes, daily her great turrets swing this way and that.
Long ant lines of men swing stores across her gangways, and alongside, 3 sparkling new float planes daily depart for cruises around the bay.
She is not alone, behind her, Nagato too shows a heat shimmer above her stack.
CV Unryu has also slid into the bay, another capital ship repaired.
Hirate and Okano exchange glances at each bother each evening as they hurry towards the trains for that sweet happiness across the bay.
Battleships need crews.
Chiburi , tub that she is, is more than sufficient for now.............
Okano solves this problem the sailor way.
It requires a heavy sacrifice, an evening at home forsaken.
He simply invites their new Charge, Chief Ito, out on a spectacular night on the town.
It costs a heavy price in yen, even a heavier one in sore heads.
"What a fine pair you are" will groan Ito the next day......."When will we do it again?"
9th of November
Work on Chiburi moves slowly. Very, very slowly
For 4 days now, nary a workman has stepped aboard the escort, she has been literally left to her own devices.
The reason lies at the other end of the shipyard, Battleship Hiei has commenced warming flashes, daily her great turrets swing this way and that.
Long ant lines of men swing stores across her gangways, and alongside, 3 sparkling new float planes daily depart for cruises around the bay.
She is not alone, behind her, Nagato too shows a heat shimmer above her stack.
CV Unryu has also slid into the bay, another capital ship repaired.
Hirate and Okano exchange glances at each bother each evening as they hurry towards the trains for that sweet happiness across the bay.
Battleships need crews.
Chiburi , tub that she is, is more than sufficient for now.............
Okano solves this problem the sailor way.
It requires a heavy sacrifice, an evening at home forsaken.
He simply invites their new Charge, Chief Ito, out on a spectacular night on the town.
It costs a heavy price in yen, even a heavier one in sore heads.
"What a fine pair you are" will groan Ito the next day......."When will we do it again?"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Long pig emerges from the medical tent, and chucks a withering look in the direction of Bigglesworth.
There is little consolation that Bigglesworth suffers the same fate
"Crabs my friend, and not the eating kind.............."
There is little consolation that Bigglesworth suffers the same fate
"Crabs my friend, and not the eating kind.............."
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The heavies come for 55th again
Again Hosho seeks the most precious of things, a hole in the ground.
Again the bombs scream down, the earth shakes, dust boils, men scream
The bombers drone away
20 miles to the new defence line at chumpon.....just twenty , you can do it Hosho, you can do it
He crawls from the shallow depression that has sheltered him, and stands, or attempts to.
His leg, numb..........
The pain flares, and he stares almost in disbelief.
A shard of shrapenel, two inches across lies imbedded in his right calf.
It is still smoking.
20 miles to the trains...............might as well be 2000
More in frustration, less in the pain, he utters that well known curse....................
Again Hosho seeks the most precious of things, a hole in the ground.
Again the bombs scream down, the earth shakes, dust boils, men scream
The bombers drone away
20 miles to the new defence line at chumpon.....just twenty , you can do it Hosho, you can do it
He crawls from the shallow depression that has sheltered him, and stands, or attempts to.
His leg, numb..........
The pain flares, and he stares almost in disbelief.
A shard of shrapenel, two inches across lies imbedded in his right calf.
It is still smoking.
20 miles to the trains...............might as well be 2000
More in frustration, less in the pain, he utters that well known curse....................
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt