29 April 1945
Captain kawjiwara stands on the starboard side of Susuzuki's bridge, braced against the still considerable swell rolling in from the east.
He reads the communique yet again, and wonders what in the world the convoy commander will do about THIS.
He is a good captain, is Kawjiwara, although he would be surprised to hear himself described as one, the wieght of Command has borne heavily upon him these last 18 month, a good commander?.no,he might be willing to call himself a lucky one, but not a good one.
Now he has yet another decision to mke, one far more difficult than merely manouvering his warship through the turbulent seas.
Does he inform Susuzuki of this news?, or is ignorance better?
The ships lurches, and spray crashes against the bridge, on the wing affected, a curse.......
No, its not that difficult really, .we are all in this together yes?.and who knows, nothing like the devil on your arse to improve efficiency...
he reaches for the broadcast.
"Men of Susuzuki..........I have some inews that may bear greatly upon this mission. I do not know what our convoy Comander will do, but I have great faith in his, in our ability to get this convoy through."
he pauses, time to let the last men to gather around the speakers, to tune in......"Today at dawn an American carrier task force struck the Bonin islands, Iwo Jima......this obviously puts themselves directly between us and Tokyo. In Addition, a second enemy carrier force has been sighted North of Leyte gulf..........."
Between the hammer, the Anvil..........gods
."Continue with your duties........I will inform you of developments.."
Carefully he replaces the microphone.......If they catch us, there can be but one development........
"Signal from flagship sir!"
"Read it"
"New course, North by North west, to Okiwana..........allships to make utmost effort to increase speed"
So, we run for home...at ten bloody knots, we run for home.............
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.
YIKES...
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: The little ship that could.
30 th of April
Refuelling at sea.
A wet, cold, miserable process in these green angry seas.
Hirate and Okano score tank dipping, Hirate on the forward sluice, Okano the aft
Their duties, in principle, are easy.
Susuzuki is refuelling from Hosho forward, the carrier trailling her fuel hose through her wake, giving Kawjiwara a devil of a job to make sure it does not get stretched and break.
The fuel, pumping aboard at nearly a ton per minute, enters Hirate's tank first, arrayed around him in the passage way floor are the remote valve opening points,, opening specific valves delivers fuel to specific tanks, or aft, to okano's tank, where he does the same there for the aft tanks.
Its a hell of a job, especially in this pitching, rolling enviroment.
Hirate is short dipping, the tank is 10 feet deep, the dip tube 18 feet long, the maths maddening..........
The dip tape is poised.......the nut on the string on the wall swings, swings, momentarily is vertical...........
The tape plunges......now the frantic retreival, the sighting of the black line........."8 foot 3 inches 57-0!"
his head phones crackle......."Open 64-4 5 turns"
"Open 64-4 5 turns........
Dip tape now between his knees, he takes the T bar, places it into the valve, turns it 5 turns,
"The voice barks...."Quick dips, quick dips!"
Silently Hirate curses.bloody bouncing destroyers...........carriers were never like this...........and Yamato never bloody moved...........
Fuelling continues...........
In an hour Susuzuki detaches, takes her point ........300 miles ahead, Naha, and aircover..............
Refuelling at sea.
A wet, cold, miserable process in these green angry seas.
Hirate and Okano score tank dipping, Hirate on the forward sluice, Okano the aft
Their duties, in principle, are easy.
Susuzuki is refuelling from Hosho forward, the carrier trailling her fuel hose through her wake, giving Kawjiwara a devil of a job to make sure it does not get stretched and break.
The fuel, pumping aboard at nearly a ton per minute, enters Hirate's tank first, arrayed around him in the passage way floor are the remote valve opening points,, opening specific valves delivers fuel to specific tanks, or aft, to okano's tank, where he does the same there for the aft tanks.
Its a hell of a job, especially in this pitching, rolling enviroment.
Hirate is short dipping, the tank is 10 feet deep, the dip tube 18 feet long, the maths maddening..........
The dip tape is poised.......the nut on the string on the wall swings, swings, momentarily is vertical...........
The tape plunges......now the frantic retreival, the sighting of the black line........."8 foot 3 inches 57-0!"
his head phones crackle......."Open 64-4 5 turns"
"Open 64-4 5 turns........
Dip tape now between his knees, he takes the T bar, places it into the valve, turns it 5 turns,
"The voice barks...."Quick dips, quick dips!"
Silently Hirate curses.bloody bouncing destroyers...........carriers were never like this...........and Yamato never bloody moved...........
Fuelling continues...........
In an hour Susuzuki detaches, takes her point ........300 miles ahead, Naha, and aircover..............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
North of Iwo Jima
Clear skies
calm, sparkling seas.........
Grey shapes, towing, indomitable, carving white highways across the blue.........carriers, cruisers, inumerable destroyers.
And now, new sparkling shapes, racing across the waters, streaking over the horizon, seeking to kill these imperious barsteds...
The allied CAP pounces........and the streaks flame, and fall, the clean waters become cluttered, littered, polluted by oil, by flame, by blood...........
150 odd aircraft will attack this fleet today, only 2 will even see the ships..........
And so few, so very few return.
History has a very satisfactory word for today, for an allied fleet so badly beaten up over the years
IMPUNITY
"task force 38 operated today near Iwo Jima, moving steadily west, with Impunity...........all attacks upon it were defeated"
Clear skies
calm, sparkling seas.........
Grey shapes, towing, indomitable, carving white highways across the blue.........carriers, cruisers, inumerable destroyers.
And now, new sparkling shapes, racing across the waters, streaking over the horizon, seeking to kill these imperious barsteds...
The allied CAP pounces........and the streaks flame, and fall, the clean waters become cluttered, littered, polluted by oil, by flame, by blood...........
150 odd aircraft will attack this fleet today, only 2 will even see the ships..........
And so few, so very few return.
History has a very satisfactory word for today, for an allied fleet so badly beaten up over the years
IMPUNITY
"task force 38 operated today near Iwo Jima, moving steadily west, with Impunity...........all attacks upon it were defeated"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The war continues in Malaya.........temoulah falls, the defenders literally crushed
3 new regiments had stood here, regiments painfully brought from the Celebes at great cost in fuel, in shipping space, in time
They may as well remained there...........
3 new regiments had stood here, regiments painfully brought from the Celebes at great cost in fuel, in shipping space, in time
They may as well remained there...........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
1 May, 1945
The sea, so carpricious until now, is mirror calm as dawn breaks over the straggling convoy
Okiwana lies low on the horizon, and will slide slowly down their starboard flank as the day progresses.
There are Japanese fighters, and bombers on Okiwana of course, but none join the little CVE provided CAP, they are preparing to strike the enemy if he should keep coming.
And by midday, there is no doubt, he is.
Well North West of Iwo Jima now, the enemy carriers trail their coat.
japan lies doggo.......and conserves his powder.
The second even larger carrier force enters the seas directly off legaspi, and terror spreads through the phillipines for any patrol craft, escort or light cargo vessel still creeping about in these waters.
Unknown numbers are sunk this day, un remarked, un heeded, barely recorded.
Only their unfortunate crews will remember their passing.
Japan does however today bite back
Kamikaze's, 18 betties attack destroyers near Davao. Interestingly, they are reported dead in the water.out of fuel perhaps?
Destroyers Newcomb, O conner , and an AK are sunk.
This is the war.........a race to get home, a race against the closing gate.
But Hirate, Okano do not care.
Today, the greatest of news
"This is the Captain speaking.............we have received the following directive.............upon arrival Japan, Susuzuki shall proceed to Hiroshima, and commence our long, long overdue refit.............."
The sea, so carpricious until now, is mirror calm as dawn breaks over the straggling convoy
Okiwana lies low on the horizon, and will slide slowly down their starboard flank as the day progresses.
There are Japanese fighters, and bombers on Okiwana of course, but none join the little CVE provided CAP, they are preparing to strike the enemy if he should keep coming.
And by midday, there is no doubt, he is.
Well North West of Iwo Jima now, the enemy carriers trail their coat.
japan lies doggo.......and conserves his powder.
The second even larger carrier force enters the seas directly off legaspi, and terror spreads through the phillipines for any patrol craft, escort or light cargo vessel still creeping about in these waters.
Unknown numbers are sunk this day, un remarked, un heeded, barely recorded.
Only their unfortunate crews will remember their passing.
Japan does however today bite back
Kamikaze's, 18 betties attack destroyers near Davao. Interestingly, they are reported dead in the water.out of fuel perhaps?
Destroyers Newcomb, O conner , and an AK are sunk.
This is the war.........a race to get home, a race against the closing gate.
But Hirate, Okano do not care.
Today, the greatest of news
"This is the Captain speaking.............we have received the following directive.............upon arrival Japan, Susuzuki shall proceed to Hiroshima, and commence our long, long overdue refit.............."
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Grat yarn.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: The little ship that could.
Thanks kaleun, you have always been a great encouragement
2nd May
Okiwana disapears into the convoys wake, and their course begins to bear more easterly, its Commander confident in the shield of air power based on the island chain
The shield, it appears, will be tested, the carriers are coming east still.
But it is the second great Armada that begins the killing.
A great number of patrol craft have saught safety in Manilla bay, home of what remains of Japans 14th air army.
Its a misplaced trust.
The raids come in, and in, and in, overwhelming the fighters aloft, those trying to get aloft, those that never get aloft.
Nearly 20 E class ships are lost this day, hunted down, straffed, bombed, and straffed again.
They die burning.
One strike attacks a convoy of 8 large AKs at Legaspi.........a last desperate effort to supply the army trapped at Minando.
80 Tonies and Tojo's give their all, and this time, keep the buka's at bay.
35th Army , ignorant of the sacrifice to its north, starves on, and thinks itself abandoned.
2nd May
Okiwana disapears into the convoys wake, and their course begins to bear more easterly, its Commander confident in the shield of air power based on the island chain
The shield, it appears, will be tested, the carriers are coming east still.
But it is the second great Armada that begins the killing.
A great number of patrol craft have saught safety in Manilla bay, home of what remains of Japans 14th air army.
Its a misplaced trust.
The raids come in, and in, and in, overwhelming the fighters aloft, those trying to get aloft, those that never get aloft.
Nearly 20 E class ships are lost this day, hunted down, straffed, bombed, and straffed again.
They die burning.
One strike attacks a convoy of 8 large AKs at Legaspi.........a last desperate effort to supply the army trapped at Minando.
80 Tonies and Tojo's give their all, and this time, keep the buka's at bay.
35th Army , ignorant of the sacrifice to its north, starves on, and thinks itself abandoned.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hosho settles down behind the rock, sights his heavy machine gun the three hundred yards down the green valley.
About him, the jungle is still, hot, the insects filling the world with humming.
Nothing it seems , breathes, nothing moves.
Sweat pours from his brow, stinging his eyes. But he lets it roll down, remaining perfectly still, another boulder in this reef of rock serratting the valleys side.
About him, unseen, silently, hidden 1000 yards each side of him, 55th division also sweats, and waits.
Down the track.........movement, green figures cautiously pushing forward........and now, above the humming, the sound of diesels, the clank of armoured vehicles.
6th division, sent to test just what still lurks in these mountains.........
Carefully, slowly, the safety comes off...........................
It is a brief action this day, heavy, hard, decisive. 6th division fight well, give almost as best as they get.
That is what they will say.
But you can take this to the bank............6th is finished as a fighting unit.
About him, the jungle is still, hot, the insects filling the world with humming.
Nothing it seems , breathes, nothing moves.
Sweat pours from his brow, stinging his eyes. But he lets it roll down, remaining perfectly still, another boulder in this reef of rock serratting the valleys side.
About him, unseen, silently, hidden 1000 yards each side of him, 55th division also sweats, and waits.
Down the track.........movement, green figures cautiously pushing forward........and now, above the humming, the sound of diesels, the clank of armoured vehicles.
6th division, sent to test just what still lurks in these mountains.........
Carefully, slowly, the safety comes off...........................
It is a brief action this day, heavy, hard, decisive. 6th division fight well, give almost as best as they get.
That is what they will say.
But you can take this to the bank............6th is finished as a fighting unit.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
2nd May
It is the last night before port.
Hirate and Okano finish their watch just upon midnight. They meet in the central passageway, and then make their way to the stokers mess.
There is quiet euphoria in the mess, no one has gone to sleep, and from a hundred hidden places the sake and scotch has emerged.
Tomorrow they make home, tomorrow, they will walk on friendly land, tomorrow, they will be safe
There are few things on the mens minds now other than this............the hours left until they see their loved ones. many, a great many think of sailors ashore as men detirmined to tie on the bender, to get as drunk as they possibly can.
For some, yes true. But for most, this is the sweetest moment, the chance for that spark, love, so long purposely pushed under, buried, to re emerge.
Tomorrow, the sweetest thing becons............life normal, as men again, as husbands, as lovers, as fathers............
It is the last night before port.
Hirate and Okano finish their watch just upon midnight. They meet in the central passageway, and then make their way to the stokers mess.
There is quiet euphoria in the mess, no one has gone to sleep, and from a hundred hidden places the sake and scotch has emerged.
Tomorrow they make home, tomorrow, they will walk on friendly land, tomorrow, they will be safe
There are few things on the mens minds now other than this............the hours left until they see their loved ones. many, a great many think of sailors ashore as men detirmined to tie on the bender, to get as drunk as they possibly can.
For some, yes true. But for most, this is the sweetest moment, the chance for that spark, love, so long purposely pushed under, buried, to re emerge.
Tomorrow, the sweetest thing becons............life normal, as men again, as husbands, as lovers, as fathers............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
3rd of May
In China, the canton offensive has entered the city, and been flung out again.
In the North, Chengchew has fallen, and that is by far not the worst of it..............in the north, a great collapse is underway, Singyang is being abandoned before it becomes surrounded.
The allied carriers approach legaspi again, through out the phillipines what vessels that survive, flee,
The Convoy arrives, begins to disperse to ports through out Japan.
There will be few victories of any sort from here on, have actually been very few a long time now, but this is a great victory.
Nearly 40 tankers, filled to the rim with oil and fuel.
How many more planes will this build, how many more guns?
Enough to kill a great many allied fliers..................sailors, and soldiers.
This is the only chance we have now.............to destroy their will.
One kill at a time.
In China, the canton offensive has entered the city, and been flung out again.
In the North, Chengchew has fallen, and that is by far not the worst of it..............in the north, a great collapse is underway, Singyang is being abandoned before it becomes surrounded.
The allied carriers approach legaspi again, through out the phillipines what vessels that survive, flee,
The Convoy arrives, begins to disperse to ports through out Japan.
There will be few victories of any sort from here on, have actually been very few a long time now, but this is a great victory.
Nearly 40 tankers, filled to the rim with oil and fuel.
How many more planes will this build, how many more guns?
Enough to kill a great many allied fliers..................sailors, and soldiers.
This is the only chance we have now.............to destroy their will.
One kill at a time.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
+1
A great story told by a master story teller! Many humble thanks.
A great story told by a master story teller! Many humble thanks.
-
Smoky Stoker
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:34 pm
RE: The little ship that could.
ORIGINAL: 1275psi
(japans situation)
Supply 1,700,000
Fuel, 1, 650,000
HI, 526,000
Oil, 298,000
So how does the oil look now?
"Leveling large cities has a tendency to alienate the affections of the inhabitants and does not create an atmosphere of international good will after the war." -Rear Admiral Daniel V. Gallery
RE: The little ship that could.
Hi Smokey, get back to you on that, game is a fair way ahead of AAR, I think we cracked about 350000 tons, it was fuel that cracked 2000000 that was the most pleasing thing.
4th of may
Susuzuki sails in line ahead with the other 7 destroyers of her division through the calm waters of Japans inland sea, Hiroshima the destination
Only those members of the ships company who are on watch are below, her upper works are crowded with men watching , almost in a daze, japan, beloved beautiful japan slide by.
The waters here are thick with fishing boats, and every single one seems to give a wave of greeting, and gets one in return.
The ship has been washed down, her upperworks "stowed away', the fenders placed ready, the berthing ropes coiled.
Now she makes the last few miles across the bay, the city growing ever larger, ever more distinct.
Hirate and Okano however, are on watch, have only just gone below.
This will be the longest watch ever..........
For the last 12 hours there has been but one conversation, one hope, one fear. Susuzuki's refit is programmed for 21 days, and all have been promised 7 days leave, one third at a time
Who will go first?
The Engineer has placed the list on the notice board but two minutes ago, and the news travels fast.........
"hey Hirate!"
"Hiei!'
"Leave, we have the first leave.............."
And now the watch is going to take an eternity.
What does an eternity really involve?
The long sail into the harbour............
The seemingly endless manouvering to come along side
The reduction to one boiler steaming, the insertion of the turning gear, the long, long turning at half vacuum.
Then the water tests, the topping of boilers, the bottom blows of the secured boilers, the surface blow of the steaming one......
The connection of shore power
The breaking of vauum, the securing of the engines, the final shut down of the mains, the turbo generators, all the associated pumps
It is late in the evening before Susuzuki's plant is secured.
It is only minutes later that two sailors, hearts beating just that little bit quicker, bounce down the gangway, and tackle the next task, the best task.
Getting home.
4th of may
Susuzuki sails in line ahead with the other 7 destroyers of her division through the calm waters of Japans inland sea, Hiroshima the destination
Only those members of the ships company who are on watch are below, her upper works are crowded with men watching , almost in a daze, japan, beloved beautiful japan slide by.
The waters here are thick with fishing boats, and every single one seems to give a wave of greeting, and gets one in return.
The ship has been washed down, her upperworks "stowed away', the fenders placed ready, the berthing ropes coiled.
Now she makes the last few miles across the bay, the city growing ever larger, ever more distinct.
Hirate and Okano however, are on watch, have only just gone below.
This will be the longest watch ever..........
For the last 12 hours there has been but one conversation, one hope, one fear. Susuzuki's refit is programmed for 21 days, and all have been promised 7 days leave, one third at a time
Who will go first?
The Engineer has placed the list on the notice board but two minutes ago, and the news travels fast.........
"hey Hirate!"
"Hiei!'
"Leave, we have the first leave.............."
And now the watch is going to take an eternity.
What does an eternity really involve?
The long sail into the harbour............
The seemingly endless manouvering to come along side
The reduction to one boiler steaming, the insertion of the turning gear, the long, long turning at half vacuum.
Then the water tests, the topping of boilers, the bottom blows of the secured boilers, the surface blow of the steaming one......
The connection of shore power
The breaking of vauum, the securing of the engines, the final shut down of the mains, the turbo generators, all the associated pumps
It is late in the evening before Susuzuki's plant is secured.
It is only minutes later that two sailors, hearts beating just that little bit quicker, bounce down the gangway, and tackle the next task, the best task.
Getting home.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The hunting carriers lunge towards Okiwana...2 days too late.
japan strikes at them, confident that such impudence can again be punished
44 franks, 13 oscars, 1 lousy betty
20 franks go down in the cloud of corsairs and hellcats.
The betty misses (no fairy tails today)
Another strike, 80 fighters, a dozen betties.................
Cv Lake Champion easily avoids the suicidal bombers.
there are other attacks, Dive bombers, TBDs, all, "regrettfully" unescorted.
50 lives, gone...........un heralded, soon forgotten..........unless, of course, they are your son, father, husband.
The carriers lose a few planes, not many.
And all japan can do is wonder where they will go next.
japan strikes at them, confident that such impudence can again be punished
44 franks, 13 oscars, 1 lousy betty
20 franks go down in the cloud of corsairs and hellcats.
The betty misses (no fairy tails today)
Another strike, 80 fighters, a dozen betties.................
Cv Lake Champion easily avoids the suicidal bombers.
there are other attacks, Dive bombers, TBDs, all, "regrettfully" unescorted.
50 lives, gone...........un heralded, soon forgotten..........unless, of course, they are your son, father, husband.
The carriers lose a few planes, not many.
And all japan can do is wonder where they will go next.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
ORIGINAL: pws1225
+1
A great story told by a master story teller! Many humble thanks.
+2
a masterpiece of a story [&o]
the first ones are remembered
RE: The little ship that could.
5th of may
Battleships Yamato and Musashi have for weeks now dominated Tokyo harbour, a sight that literally tens of thousands have viewed every day, and thought, we are safe, nothing can harm japan as long as they exist.
But now, this beautiful morning, they will wake, and find them (and the carriers) gone
A disconcerting feeling............
It is good that the people do not know where they have gone.
There is no way to hide this, they have fled to japans north, fled to find fuel, fled to find shelter.
For as today showed, no where really, will soon be safe
The Allied carriers have swept towards formosa today, or towards manilla
And reaped a harvest
naha launches 30 TBDs and 60 fighters at the first raid, it is shattered.............
In reply the carriers hit a convoy, and kill it
D
Near manilla, another one is hit
25 AKs sunk
Hq can but look at the carnage, and conclude, anything south of Takao will be now doomed to starve
Battleships Yamato and Musashi have for weeks now dominated Tokyo harbour, a sight that literally tens of thousands have viewed every day, and thought, we are safe, nothing can harm japan as long as they exist.
But now, this beautiful morning, they will wake, and find them (and the carriers) gone
A disconcerting feeling............
It is good that the people do not know where they have gone.
There is no way to hide this, they have fled to japans north, fled to find fuel, fled to find shelter.
For as today showed, no where really, will soon be safe
The Allied carriers have swept towards formosa today, or towards manilla
And reaped a harvest
naha launches 30 TBDs and 60 fighters at the first raid, it is shattered.............
In reply the carriers hit a convoy, and kill it
D
Near manilla, another one is hit
25 AKs sunk
Hq can but look at the carnage, and conclude, anything south of Takao will be now doomed to starve
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Miori and Mioko sit side by side on the garage's front doorstep, carefully stitching the net, eyes straining in the flickering light of the candles
There is no oil for the lamp, has been none for a long , long time.
.
So much now depends upon this net. A single tear, a single missed fish. Disaster.
For today the last of the rice, the last vegetable has gone.
Although neither will say it aloud, but desperation drives their fingers. They must fish tomorrow, must fish and succeeed.
Mioko feels the new life inside her stir, shifts unconmfortably
Miori notices, stops sewing for a moment, and reaches across the light to take her hand.
'It will be alright sister...we will be alright"
And then, out of the dark...........""yes, yes it will be"
And a miricle emerges.........two miricles, tall, and strong...............
There is no oil for the lamp, has been none for a long , long time.
.
So much now depends upon this net. A single tear, a single missed fish. Disaster.
For today the last of the rice, the last vegetable has gone.
Although neither will say it aloud, but desperation drives their fingers. They must fish tomorrow, must fish and succeeed.
Mioko feels the new life inside her stir, shifts unconmfortably
Miori notices, stops sewing for a moment, and reaches across the light to take her hand.
'It will be alright sister...we will be alright"
And then, out of the dark...........""yes, yes it will be"
And a miricle emerges.........two miricles, tall, and strong...............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
may 6th
Susuzuki lies alongside at Hiroshima, just ahead of the drydock that tomorrow she will enter.
She rides high, having de fuelled and de ammunitioned today, emptying herself of dangerous items. There is hull work, and a lot of welding to conduct.
But , and this is far different to other times, Susuzuki has lost other things
Hirate, Okano have carried home kit bags bulging, bulging with food, with rice, with dry meats, with whatever they can take. And they have not been alone. The cool room, the storerooms have been emptied for the refit.
the food, a lot of it indeed, seems to have simply vanished...............
Susuzuki lies alongside at Hiroshima, just ahead of the drydock that tomorrow she will enter.
She rides high, having de fuelled and de ammunitioned today, emptying herself of dangerous items. There is hull work, and a lot of welding to conduct.
But , and this is far different to other times, Susuzuki has lost other things
Hirate, Okano have carried home kit bags bulging, bulging with food, with rice, with dry meats, with whatever they can take. And they have not been alone. The cool room, the storerooms have been emptied for the refit.
the food, a lot of it indeed, seems to have simply vanished...............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt