The little ship that could.

[1275psi]

23rd of january 1945


The enemy attack again at Victoria point

The japanese army shatters


It is scattered, dispersed, many of the survivors fading into the jungles.
There bones will be found in the decades ahead

Three full divisions, 3 brigades, nearly half a dozen support units, removed from japans TOE, forever.
With brutal logic, Japans high command still counts this as gain.
Better to lose those men in Malaya, than on the shores of the home islands.............


For the british, the australian, the African, Indian divisions..........the survivors of these battles look left and right, look at the gaps , the great many gaps in their ranks, and wonder how any of them will ever survive this war.

[1275psi]

24th january

The B-29s come for Singapore again

The fighters rise, again

The bombs, stream down again, and the string of explosions stitch across the airfields

In Singapore harbour, 20 of Japans largest tankers are filling as fast as they can
Time, obviously now, is running out.

[1275psi]

I think I want a divorce!
After god knows how many years of steady play cantona tells me turns will be slow, he's Beta testing a new game!

The adulterer!!

He's after another game!!!!

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....................bring me chocolate!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

24th january

The B-29s come for Singapore again

The fighters rise, again

The bombs, stream down again, and the string of explosions stitch across the airfields

In Singapore harbour, 20 of Japans largest tankers are filling as fast as they can
Time, obviously now, is running out.

If you're still getting fuel through now tat's quite good! My last shipment was around this time.

Keep it up!

[1275psi]

Hi Obvert!
A game note

Everyone else has always seemed to say, stock HI and stock fuel ect.
herbiesan has spent everything, spend, spend, spend., build, build, build.............
I really think, that for this game, this policy has worked........ it has allowed a good aircraft, ship production schedule............I am still carting oil, building stuff, and I expect to still be getting fuel through to Home islands mid 45.

And here is something else, every second convoy has been going to manilla, which is very nicely stocked with oil especially.
So, when I lose Palembang and soerabaya, I will still be able to supply Home islands
I retain 75% OF MY ORIGINAL TANKER FLEET, plus builds....so this last minute carting has not been restricted by lack of ships, but limited by having palembang sucked dry!
Some posts to come up, as Yamamato considers how to get the last drops...........

[1275psi]

25th of January

Chiburi refuels

It is no pleasant task today, the temperature hovers around minus ten degrees, and it is snowing steadily. Scattered across Shikuka harbour, small ice floes bump and grind against each other

Hirate and Okano shiver on the fuelling point, ice hanging from eyebrows . No matter how hard they stamp their feet, they cannot get them warm.
The fuel comes from a small barge, no more than a floating tank really, manouvered into place by an evil smelling tag.
There is a hut on the barge, incredibly, it appears that it is home for an old, old man.

"He doesn't have far to travel to work, does he"? sourly notes Okano
"Nor particularily hard work at that" Hirate adds.
The old man has emerged from his hut, passed the small hose up to them, started a noisy pump, and disapeared.
Our two stokers don't blame him.......the rate that the pump is pumping, it will be many hours yet before Chiburi has replenished.
The two men shiver.
Hirate nods down at the barge, its rusted flanks, the ramshackle hut. "I wonder if he knows?"
"Knows what?"
"Just what the value of all that fuel has "
'In yen?"

'No, blood"

[1275psi]

26th of January
The rythm of the war

Every day the war rages . So much of it we have not seen, for our men have not been involved in every corner.
Submarines attack, merchant men die
Some times, frequently now, the submarines attack, and die in return

Patrol planes fly into the sky, and take the crews into Gods arms, never to be seen again.

The allied bombers bomb a dozen isolated bases and soldiers, adding to the steady reapers crop, adding to the misery of starvation and disease.

Regiments are melting away in China, in Malaya, in Vietnam.

But history does not care.
Its the battles that reverb down the years. How many have we had now over these long, long years?

Too many

But they have always, always, begun with very simple words.

And tonight, from Yamato's bridge, the lamp flashes the words to the fleet again

'All units, raise steam"

[1275psi]

27th January 1945


Morotai falls

Inadequate words indeed, for the savage fighting that continues to kill on its slopes, in its jungles, in the caves and pill boxes still

The airfield is in allied hands

It will take a little while yet to kill the divisions worth of men that remain.

[1275psi]

Chiburi steams once again in her designated position at the rear of the convoy, steaming steadily south once again.
Soon, the straights again, and again, many reports of the hidden Buka's

But what can you do?

keep your eyes peeled, and trust to luck.


The three tankers are not quite full, Shikuka has been sucked dry again. A fact not unoticed by high command
With tens of thousands of tons of the liquid gold still sitting in tanks at tarakan, balikapapan and soerabaya, this is no way to efficiently use your fleet.

Chiburi's days of ice and cold are going to shortly come to an end
Ahead, sun, heat..........and probably fire.

[1275psi]

The men of Yokosuka KU S-2 are gathered in a tight knot about their Commander, breath hanging in the cold air. Behind them, in a perfect straight line, the 36 brand new George fighters stand, blanketed in snow, canvas coverings over cockpits, engines covered as well.

For three days now they have stood thus, and for a few more all here expect as well.
To be called abruptly like this, fills many of the men with misgivings

They are right to have them


The Commander mounts a wooden box.
'gather around men. S401 Hikota, also NK1 equiped like ourselves, has been in heavy action, southern phillipines. The unit, apparently, has been withdrawn, and is expected here within 2 , 3 days, weather dependent. "

He looks up, looks his men in the eye. " I know how many of you have felt lately, trapped on the ground here. High Command has demanded a reserve, you have been it. Now, I think, a chance for those who are sick of restricting their fighting to snowballs. "
he pauses.

Ogowa and Diogowa are in the middle of this group.
A moment, if you please.

So many friends killed.
So many battles
Almost certain death in combat in the south
Comfort, and relative safety here in Japan...........

But another chance to fight, to fly, to be a fighter pilot again............


"I am seeking twenty replacement pilots for duty with the 401st"

To a man, Yokosuka S-2 step forward.

[1275psi]

Morotai has fallen, yes, but it has taken 4 allied divisions to do it, one, the 32nd, is ruined, another, the Americal, is not much better for wear either.
The 54th division fights on, battling the aussie 9th mainly, dieing grimly in the caves and holes to the north of the strip. Ironically for the Japanese troops, the sky, so long filled with allied planes, now rattles with the sound of combat, fighter sweeps from Djangles, Davao.

Yamamato, Abe think, this time, as one.
Allied attention , eyes, have turned to the next invasion, the next target
Manando is being hit by the B-29's, ternate too.
Morotai airfield is still unusable


Combined fleets navigators are getting used to this now

Once again, they thread Suriago straight in the dark of night, and head south.

[1275psi]

29th January 1945

Japans submarine fleet is now just 11 strong, and 2 of these are elderly RO boats
Two Transport SS are at Koepang, beached, out of fuel.

The Allies, maybe, have dismissed this threat.
But not after tonight.
Not now.

At just after 3 am, 5 grey wolves slip into the waters off Waigo.
For their commanders, things could be no better. The bay is deep, half moon shaped, and literally packed with shipping.

Night discipline, particularily amongst the many barges, small boats shuttling from the beaches, is poor.
Incredibly, several of the transports and AKs are showing lights...........the pressure of loading upon them.

Four of the wolves submerge, I-175, bolder, mans her gun, and motors in

She can, with out fear. The sheep are corralled, ........
And there are no shepherds.
None.


Boat 16 strikes first. 2 fish............The Granville Stuart is the first victim, her hull spewing fuel , fire, and soon death.
Boat 37 misses the Granville Stuart but the fish travel on, and slice the large AP Blomfonten into two
Boat 176 strikes the Robert J Walker, turns very slightly, hits the AGC Appalachan with her next two fish. She will re load, and depart, claiming the AK Gainsar to complete her nights cull .
Boat 37 tries again, and puts an extra fish into the Granville stuart, two into the Hutchinson.


Chaos, of course, has erupted through out the bay.
I-175 stirs it to the extreme.
At full speed her Captain charges into the bay........the Jaques Laramie is hit with her rear tubes, the LST 343 with her gun, two fwd fish...........and the James H Breasted is given her final one..........

5 boats
7 AKs, an AP, a LST...........15 shocking minutes
A DE , the Finnigan will finally race towards the bay, in the lurid light of burning dying ships she will sow charges left and right.
I-16 will be badly shaken, but live.
Sataited, the wolves slip away...................

[1275psi]

Maybe the allies are distracted.
Maybe Japan is just lucky today

maybe Abe is right.

Does it matter?

45 Frank sweep over Morotai, and find just one corsair on patrol
he 44 oscars following find nothing
The 33 Jill find no fighters, but plenty of ships

One LSL is hit by 3 bombs, a APA, an AK as well.
Two of the Jills do not bomb.
They fly straight, true, horrifyingly true, deep into another AKs guts.

And how many men, frozen by the mushroom cloud of destruction this attack causes, do not think."Gods, Tokyo is still 2000 miles to go, and they are prepared to do THAT?"


80 miles to the east, Grace TBDs also find another convoy, also wit out CAP
2 more APs sunk

In the afternoon, more strikes, BB Mexico is hit by a single bomb.
There has been little CAP.
The enemy are somewhere else, it seems.

[1275psi]

Abe bends over the map
It gently places his pencil down, and watches it vibrate gently towards the edge of the table.

There are two elderly BBs at Morotai, a lot of Merchant shipping, maybe a CVE or two.
Too the east, travelling Gods know where, another huge convoy. Palua perhaps?, or trying to take a short cut home?
Morotai reported closed, the field still a moonscape..........

The pencil drops to the floor.

Gravity
Is inevitable

Like certain orders must be.

He stabs the map
'Launch point will be here................."

I wonder, if this will be the final time?
"All ahead Flank, battle speed one"

[british exil]

Slowly the spider weaves his web. Will Abe catch his prey?
Can he turn the war into Japans favour? Will the Allies get war weary, due to the heavy losses the IJA and IJN are inflicting?

Can't wait for the next episode.

Mat

[1275psi]

30 th january

Ensign Samson cradles his Coffee in the wet Dawn light on the Port bridge wing of the Texas. He grips it tightly, and tries hard to hide the shaking in his hands.
He can still taste the cordite on his lips.

A firm hand sudenly clasps him on his shoulder, surprising him
'Steady there young man, don't spill the coffee on Skippers deck!"
Its Thompson, Battlewagon Texas's Old Executive officer. 'less than two months onbaord, and already a battle hey son?"
Samson cannot answer, merely nod.
'Im sure there will be more". The elderly man, "Pops" to everyone onboard, passes into the bridge.
He looks old, and stooped, and tired.

Samson contemplates the bay here at Moriatio, the shipping about them
Texas is old, an old ship.
Her crew, with Pops possibly the only exception, is young, far too young.

Two months ago, they told him in the States, that Japan was finished, that mopping up only was left to be done.
That victory was certain

Now, now after these days, he knows that few, if any on Texas believes this anymore.
Last night, with her 12 inch guns, Texas sank a destroyer.
A single ship, charging straight at them, undoubtably intending to ram.....

They should be exhualtant, they should be celebrating a victory.
But they are not.

'We have been hung out to dry", is what Texas thinks. Old ships, expendable..............


Overhead, the roar and whine of superchargers.........40 P51ds wing above them, long range tanks glittering
"Ensign Samson!" its the Captain
"Sir!"
"Quit gawking......I need an un biased pair of eyes on the state of the hit up forward, Engines is feeding me shite!, get to it!"
"Sir!"
He hurries of the bridge, past urgent conversations
.............'A single carrier of davao...........nothing else?...........goddam bloody rain!"

[1275psi]

The B-29's go for Tjepoe again. Yesterday, the opposition consisted of a bare handful of zeros, fighters barely able to climb and engage.

Somehow, thinks Long pig, the enemy are not going to allow that to happen twice. Not over an oil field.
No way. No how.

He leans over the pilots shoulder, looks about.
"We lose someone?"
"yes........engine trouble."

Somehow, knowing how things are now in the bomber command, Long pig doubts it.
Engine trouble...............

That leaves five, just five bombers striking for Japans jugular.

'Oh crap"

He see's them even as the pilot curses
Fighters
Franks
Higher than them already.
And there are bloody swarms of the little yellow barsteds..

..........................

[1275psi]

Samson drinks yet another cup of what pretends to be coffee, rubs his eyes. he is tired, but apparently, doing with out sleep for two days is nothing special here.
His job , here on the bridge wing is really simple.
"Son, in battle, any sort of battle, you watch the Mexico, just her, nothing else, come hell, come heaven, come Jesus Christ himself, if she signals us, I want you to see it, I want to know it"

Mexico is signalling, her stck bellowing sudenly heavy, heavy thick smoke.

'Bogies inbound, bearing 090 degrees, range 80 miles........250 plus!"

Stunned silence on the bridge............'heaven in a hell basket..........general quarters, full ahead all, lets get some manouvering room gentlemen!"

Texas bursts into life.
And Pops is beside him, time even now for a word of encouragement as he heads aft to his station
"Duty son, duty"


44 Mustangs.
Not even they can get through 120 escorts, not with so little warning


Samson does his duty
he never moves his eyes from the mexico.
Not when the guns begin to hammer
Not when the bark of the bofors rise to a cresendo
Not when the air fills with the howl of screaming diving planes, plunging, whining bombs

He does not even flinch as the halford is hit, as the bombs crash around them

he barely blinks as APA Holbrook erupts, as other destroyers are hit, .
He wiill remain staring at mexico, duty done, even in death, as the first of the three Judys bury themselves into the bridge

[1275psi]

Abe has lost 62 aircraft
there has been no counterattack

Many have willingly sacrificed themselves this day, tomorrow, many more


'Execute"

from davao, Heavy cruiser Chokai will attack, she has no less than 9 Akitsuki class DDs with her
CVL Shoho will sacrifice herself, the designated bomb spunge, the diversion for what wrath must come

The carriers turn North
They are shorn of escorts.

Its the Giants turn
Yamato, Musashi plan to obliterate whatever stands in their path

[1275psi]

Abes strike
3 kamis on the texas
3 DDs struck
1 APA sunk
1 AK sunk

And KB gets away scott free...............where the hell are his CV's???