The little ship that could.

[1275psi]

You probably don't remember private Uzawa.
he of the "Tokyo's iron umbrella"

They have a few more rounds available now, not many, but a few more
They have even fired the gun a few times.

His days are fairly simple now, report for duty at 4 PM, go home at 4 AM, and try not to freeze to death in the mean time.
The nights are long , and hard.

Almost overnight, it seems, Tokyo has become short of everything, including food.

Its just after 3 am, that the crushingly boring routine is disturbed

Trucks begin to rumble towards the palace, army trucks, a great many of them. Some, nearly 30 in number, drive straight into the forbidden city...........and this is astonishing in itself.

But the movement of the troops, hundreds of them, leaves him, his gun crew transfixed.

They deploy, left, right, facing outwards, establishing a perimeter right about the palace
And, and heavens, they begin to dig in.........

A major walks to the gun.
"Who is in charge here?"

Uzawa looks about, at the moment, he obviously is
He salutes.'private Uzawa, sir"

"Good, listen carefully .........from this point on, you will obey no order unless issued from HQ, 112th division, not from home command, not from general HQ, eastern HQ, nobody but HQ, 112th division..is that clear?"

No, not at all. But a good Japanese soldier can answer in but one way
"Hiei!"

[1275psi]

Hosho swings his feet over the edge of the Hospital bed

he is..gods, he is so weak

The toilet is but 20 feet away, and its a march that almost defeats him

Goddam it...........I have marched the length of Asia, and never faltered.............but this, this malaria is ridicoulous.........

[1275psi]

IJNS Chiburi lies quietly alongside an insignificant berth in Toko harbour, her crude shapes and angles slowly being softened by the snow that now falls steadily across the capital.

The night is dark, and silent, few people are on the streets, some at home because the City now offers little in the way of entertainemen, many because the cold has driven them there.
The rest?

Invisibily, the ripple has gone across the city, its citezens have seen this before, too many times. revolution, coup, violence upon violence by those in power.
When the giants fight, best to close doors, windows, avoid the streets, and await the dawn to see who is the new master now.....

Rumours abound

They fly from corner to corner.......
"did you see the troops around the palace?'
'I have a friend, he mans a gun there, he says they answer to only the emperor himself!"
"Impossible!. The emperor does not lower himself into the realm of men!'

"Then why is the 93rd division here, ney?, herbiesans men?......."
"Evil.........pure evil, he cannot challenge the emperor, to even threaten him means to slit his belly!"
"If a hundred million Japanese did not first!"
True, true brother.............. what will he do, form a new goverment?'
'he must.......he can't rule himself"

"gods help us, who is there in Japan who can lead us to victory in this war, is there anyone we can follow?"

Chiburi, another little ship, lies alongside, forgotten, almost, by the nation she serves.

[1275psi]

Dec 17th

The fleet sucks greedily at the tankers, loyal beasts, still plodding on
They are fewer in number now, even shabbier in appearance than ever, but they contain fuel enough.
Combined fleet fills to the brim

120 miles due east davao, still undetected, she waits.
Where are you going firts marines?
Where, oh where, will we kill you?

[1275psi]

18th december 1944

Its always been about one thing, hasn't it?
Fuel
We went to war over it
Our strategies have been shaped by it.
Now, with Abe's tanker empty, and little prospect of getting them filled again, with reports that the enemy may be coming North again, Abe decides.
His tanks are fulll.
His men ready

As dusk falls, the fleet turns, faces south by south west, and builds towards flank speed.

Forecast. Clear skies
If the enemy remains as he has, we will be at 320 miles range at dawn..........

We cast our fate to the god of war.

[1275psi]

"Get up!'
Hirate struggles out of the sleep.
The Charge peers at him closely.......growls....."We are getting underway as soon as we can, you, Okano have the flash up, as quick as you can"

Hirate swings out of his hammock........'Is it the Americans Chief?"
The laugh is ugly, bitter in the dark, "I wish, that I could handle..........enough questions, we have to get going as quickly as possible!"

Hirate shivers as he dresses, "hurry up!, is there ever a time a stoker is asked to take your time?"
Not that he can remember.




Ugaki shivers too, less from the cold. "How long Chief?"
'twenty minutes...........is our passenger comfortable?"
Grimly Ugaki nods
Amazing how quickly things fall apart.
Even promises...........

What a goddam mess.
"Charge..............make it ten, we , I think, have to move....."

[1275psi]

Carrier battle, Celebes sea.



From the very moment Abe gives the order to attack, he regrets it.
As the darkness settles over the fleet, the great white wakes, creaming bow waves the last glimmering indications of the fleet, he takes his position near the binnacle, and avoids every mans eyes
This is, will be, must be a gamble.
So many ifs...............
if the enemy remains fixed in place
if he remains concentrating on providing CAP.
If he does not advance
If some hidden Buke does not kill them...............
So many ifs

The fleet charges on, great funnels shovelling the smoke, the screws vibrating the plates, the distant howl of the forced draft blowers.
At midnight, it begins to rain, the sky flashes with lightning, etheral, dancing across the white CAPs.
His captain sidles up to him.
"Sir, you must get some sleep, tomorrow will be a busy day, you will need to be fresh"

Fresh?. I will need to be fresh?. Tired or not, will that help if the bombers come?
I have given my orders..gods help me.
"I can sleep when i am dead captain."

in the red light of the bridge, the Captains teeth, exposed in humourless grin, look blood red..
'maybe not tomorrow yes?'
No maybe not Captain..........but there are so many ifs.............







Tanaka too does not sleep.
Excitement grips him. This is Command. 32000 tons of warship, 30 knots, the wind screaming through the rigging, the great guns loaded.

A sudden laugh escapes him, startling those about him.
'Sir?"
Tanaka waves at the wild weather about them, the wipers losing the war against the rain belting against the bridge.
'reminds me of a terrible novel I once read..it was a dark and stormy night..........."
his men grin

Yes. It is a dark and stormy night. And evil things are about.

[1275psi]

Hosho sleeps
The fever, at last, has broken

Japan sleeps too
History never does

[1275psi]

"Come in Commander, take a seat"

'Long pig hesitates, Commander...........a term he is still struggling to come to terms with. Mountbatten getures to the seat.
Now, thinks the newly minted man, I find out the cost of this sudden and precipitate promotion .Now, I think, the piper demands payment for the tune.........

The famous man stares hard at Long pig, eyes piercing, for a minute or two, as if wieghing up the choice of words he is about to make. Which, of course, he is about to do.
'our Armies, as you know Commander, are finally bringing us into B-29 range of Japan. Europe is winding down, in the next three to six months, massive bombing forces, British, and America, are going to be deployed."

The general turns away, faces the busy airfield outside the office.
'The Americans have requested a small team of liason officers. Your name, for various reasons that elude me, seems to be very well known."

he turns towards Long pig, a frown now creasing his brow
'Thus your promotion........I am sending you to Lee May, Commander of the American Airforces........there's going to be a lot of friction I fear, over airstrips, over supply, over every damn thing.......are you up for the job?"

Up for the job?
No pressure Long pig, no pressure..........

"of course sir"

[1275psi]

19th december, 1944

0200 hours

You are woken gently by the steward
'it is time sir"
You nod, yes, it is time.

Carefully, you swing yourself out of the hammock, feel the cold of the steel, feel the vibration beneath your feet. Your companions gather about you, and dressing is awkward, elbows, arms, backsides, the stink of sweat fills the mess.
The flight suit is tight.
You feel the sweat run freely now, the thick leather and wool is designed for the cold of flight, not the heat or humidity of these tropical climes.
Carefully you adjust the thousand stitch belt, the accesories, your lucky charm.

(So strange that one still carries a childhood toy ney?..........but one knows, just knows, that to lose it is catastrophic)
The que to the shrine is long, you bow, clap, the mind...........prays?
No
The mind is blank........and the mind is turmoil............


Flight deck

The planes are shadows in the discreet deck lighting, the men around them white ghosts.. The deck glistens, the wind is brisk, Zuikaku is racing on, great old girl that she is.

You gather around HIM

Genda
Living legend
'We will not wait for the search results..........there are targets enough to the south. Piority targets..........carriers, tankers, transports..........you know what needs to be done. Good luck"

The climb into the big bomber is steep, you need the rope to haul yourself up onto the wing.
She is rumbling, vibrating, gasoline, dope, oil, grease, salt fills your senses.

Your fish glistens
You sit, and prepare for the flight.
Probably your last flight............but that is war yes?
It is time to do your duty.


dawn glimmers faintly on the horizon, a dark grey angry sea, a black sky, stars dying
Zuikaku heels gently, the steam streams down towards you

The light flashes, blink, blink, blink
You take your deep breath, grasp the throttle hard

'Commence launching"

[1275psi]

19 th december
0400 hours

Combined fleet, 40 miles south of Talaud Eilanden, exactly 320 miles from the enemy, has arrived at her launch point undetected.
Surprise is total

ATTACK!

[1275psi]

AAR open to Cantona
he deserves it

[1275psi]

Chiburi bounces acrossa short, sharp viscous swell. This is the reality so few write about. You hear of the great storms, sometimes even, of the beautiful days.
But of these days, the "normal' days, you hear little. There is no glamour, no glory. What there is , is this. Bloody awkwardness, bloody inconveniance, and tiredness.
Hirate is trying to wash, trying to shave.
No easy task, around him the world bounces, it pitches, it rolls. A million things bang and rattle. The water slops out of the sink, the soap slides away.
The towel, wrapped around the waste, slides down towards the floor. If he tries to hold it up, one less hand to hang onto something, and as that other hand is busy with a razor.........

A curse, easier to let the towel fall. After all, nothing nobody on this tub has not already seen and joked about before.
He peers into what passes as a mirror.
Warships keep glass to an absolute minimum, what passes for a mirror here is actually a highly polished stainless steel plate.
And it sucks
Big time

Chiburi lurches yet again, outside the crash of the swell, the running water thundering down the decks.
Another curse
He waits patiently for a moment, razor poised.
From the steel reflects a scarred, angry red face, ruined by war.
he cuts himself, and curses again
"Keep still you bloody bitch!"
Bloody weather. Bloody little ships, bloody war!
Who's bloody idea was this.?

He has, of course, much to curse. A comfortable life snatched from him. 3 years of pain, of boredom, of terror, of near death, how many bloody times now?
And a face ruined.
And now, somewhere behind him, a new wife, a growing new life.........for all this crap!
He finishes his abulutions, turns to leave.

A strange figure lurches into the heads, finds the toilet, and wretches the pitiful wretch of a man in ultimate sea sick misery.
Hirate freezes
face green or not, there is no mistaking THAT face
The face that all his misery can be laid at the feet of

That miserable prick, herbiesan

[1275psi]

Abe watches the strike depart, wings glinting in the rising sun
I have made my play, now I must wait.............and hope.

The Donggala reinforcement convoy has arrived......good
I remain unspotted, still
better
The strike is enroute.

All is done
'Anyone for a cup of tea?"

It is another hour before the call comes, a lifetime in carrier warfare

"Aircraft!, bearing 100!, range 12 kilometres!, 4 engines sir!"
Spotted.
But have they spotted us in time?

[1275psi]

The big Jill vibrates hard around you.
Its a good plane this, fast, long legged, almost comfortable
But you also know she is Oh so vulnerable.

You look around you, and take courage from what you see

It is a long, long time since Japan has flung a strike like this
140 zeros, spread across the sky, weaving above the 45 TBDs, the 20 odd DBs
A beautiful sky, a deep blue sea.
Islands, green, sliding below.


And there, ahead, the tiny little dots, multiplying as the Jill swallows the miles, revealling greater numbers by the second, the enemy fleet.
And above it, in horrifying numbers, the hellcats swarming frantically for altitude

[Lecivius]

"Look out below. 'Cause here we go!"

[PaxMondo]

200 plane attack against the Allied Deathstar ... oh, I don't think this is going to end well ...

BANZAI!!!

[1275psi]

And now your entire world, your entire life, narrows down to this moment.
There is no time to be afraid
You just have to, have to get a strike

Instantly you push the stick forward, open the throttle wide, and the bomber begins to gain momentum
Above you, the zeros, peeling away, some up, many streaking below you

18 strong, Zuikaku's Jills lead the attack

You see it instantly, to attack straight in, is suicide.
So does your leader, the unit banks gently to the left, now the enemy gunners have a three dimensional problem.......if you get close enough

You sense them more than really seeing them, the hellcats banking in, slicing in from the flank
Your rear gunner fires.......a pathetic hammering in the wave of chattering cannons and guns flling the sky about you

A hellcat screams past, and both men to your left fall flaming, and you can do nothing but hunker down, and grimly pick your target

Zeros, S bending ahead, weaving, rolling, trying to hold of the enemy fighters, planes falling all around you as you reach 300 feet, bank again to the right, and make your run
There is an Essex, there, nearly 3 kilometres away, dead ahead.........two more of your campanions disintergrate, the flack is streaming towards you, the sea erupting ahead, under, below, shrapnel rains and clatters upon your beast, and you know, you will never make it.

Wasp is sliding past your right, towars of bombs about her, and almost alone, their are only four of you left now, you slam the stick over, fighting to hold her nose up, balancing lift, slip, drag, that monstrous wieght strapped to the belly, you need to put in top rudder to keep the bitches nose up, you have never flown so well, been so in the moment, got it so right.............
Stick hard back, groaning she responds, holes string across the wing, a cry, a scream of agony behind you, the release under your hand, a scream of rage, of triumph, of life, you cannot miss...

You roar over wasps bow..moments frozen in time, men scattering, a man, in cooks whites for heavens sake staring at you...and the column of water rises hard against her belly...........Banzia!

And then something slams her from behind, ,drifting, no controls.....spinning, ocean.............




wasp 1 TT hit, one bomb hit
40 zeros lost
Just 11 bombers return

[1275psi]

Ashen faced, Genda climbs the ladder to Zuikaku's bridge
Abe does not need a report from him, his face tells the story

And he can count the returns himself


But genda surprises him
"Sir, we are now in Dive bomber range, if we strike Sorong, waingapoe........."
'You recommend a second strike?"
"he cannot come at us, the invasion fleet is too vulnerable. Let us try again sir"

madness
But we must

"approved"

[1275psi]

120 fighters, 40 odd bombers strike south

They should not have bothered

a single DD is sunk, and again losses are heavy.

But genda is correct, there is no reaction North, no counter strike

Abe recovers his shattered airgroups, turns tail, and flees towards Jolo island.
150 odd aircraft, the last of his veteran pilots gone.

A win, but why does everything taste of defeat?