When the giants died
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: When the giants died
January 4th
Off Tarakan
"Where?!!"
"1000 metres to starboard, bearing 300 true!, eastern end of the beach sir!"
DAMNATION!. Anger sweeps through Tonuji, anger, and not a little fear.
he moves swiftly to Kongos bridge wing, the seaman at the glasses moving aside. he bends, focusses the german lenses.
"Damnation!" he hisses again. DD Suzuki, healing, burning, undoubtably going down.
A mine, undoubtably.
The anger, barely suppressable, bubbles.
Mines, for gods sake, mines. Exposed to air attack one day, submarines the next, and now that idiot in high command
risks Kongo, HIS Kongo, to those underwater menaces.
Fornwhat?
Mobile artillery for the army?
How often had we practised tht pre war ney?
Thats right..........we never bloody did.
His handsgrip the guard rail. "I should never have exposed you to this my Mistress, never, ever, ever....."
"How long until the landings are due to complete?"
"Another hour sir"
An easy decision
"There has been little rresistance, lets get the hell away from here, new course, 090!, set speed 15 knots!"
Off Tarakan
"Where?!!"
"1000 metres to starboard, bearing 300 true!, eastern end of the beach sir!"
DAMNATION!. Anger sweeps through Tonuji, anger, and not a little fear.
he moves swiftly to Kongos bridge wing, the seaman at the glasses moving aside. he bends, focusses the german lenses.
"Damnation!" he hisses again. DD Suzuki, healing, burning, undoubtably going down.
A mine, undoubtably.
The anger, barely suppressable, bubbles.
Mines, for gods sake, mines. Exposed to air attack one day, submarines the next, and now that idiot in high command
risks Kongo, HIS Kongo, to those underwater menaces.
Fornwhat?
Mobile artillery for the army?
How often had we practised tht pre war ney?
Thats right..........we never bloody did.
His handsgrip the guard rail. "I should never have exposed you to this my Mistress, never, ever, ever....."
"How long until the landings are due to complete?"
"Another hour sir"
An easy decision
"There has been little rresistance, lets get the hell away from here, new course, 090!, set speed 15 knots!"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: When the giants died
Extract from
"An unexpected war", by Herbiesan
Amazon press.
Here, in the Palace, we attended each daily briefing with anticipation.
January 7th was a especially heady day
I still remember the Naval Chief of staff,s enthusiasm.
Never, he proclaimed , had such Naval power gathered in one place.
It was easy to believe him
Nagumo's Carriers passing unchallenged up the Maccassar straight towards the Celebes sea, accompanied by
2 battlecruisers
2 more battle cruisers leaving Cagayan, intending to join
Mutsu, Nagato just off Tarakan, also awaiting Nagumo
Such a gathering!
I remember now, the claims that conquest would come so quickly.
And I remeber now, the words that none of us paid any attention too at the time, words though that we would from here
on hear again, and again, and again
Words that pre cursored doom.
"However, the fuel situation is tight.........."
"An unexpected war", by Herbiesan
Amazon press.
Here, in the Palace, we attended each daily briefing with anticipation.
January 7th was a especially heady day
I still remember the Naval Chief of staff,s enthusiasm.
Never, he proclaimed , had such Naval power gathered in one place.
It was easy to believe him
Nagumo's Carriers passing unchallenged up the Maccassar straight towards the Celebes sea, accompanied by
2 battlecruisers
2 more battle cruisers leaving Cagayan, intending to join
Mutsu, Nagato just off Tarakan, also awaiting Nagumo
Such a gathering!
I remember now, the claims that conquest would come so quickly.
And I remeber now, the words that none of us paid any attention too at the time, words though that we would from here
on hear again, and again, and again
Words that pre cursored doom.
"However, the fuel situation is tight.........."
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: When the giants died
sorry, most nights i only have 2 hours to play 2 turns, and do the AAR, and paint the next wall in the renovations war........ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
totally … shakes setting in ...
Really appreciate the support, !
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: When the giants died
Herb, I get it. Add in a 10yo like I have and those 2 hours completely disappear most nights. My last turn in my game was in January, and I'm not sure when I will get the next one in … [:(]ORIGINAL: 1275psi
sorry, most nights i only have 2 hours to play 2 turns, and do the AAR, and paint the next wall in the renovations war........ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
totally … shakes setting in ...
Really appreciate the support, !
That you can manage turns is GREAT news for us!!!!!
[&o][&o][&o]
Pax
RE: When the giants died
January 8th
Battleship Mutsu
Overhead, Yamamato hears the comforting growl of Nagumo's zero's circling overhead
There, 20 miles ahead, the faint grey outlines of the carriers, their escorts.
And over there, to the North, Kongo and Kirishima
A great gathering of strength, especially in rifles.
But, he thinks wirly, little chance to deploy them as so many of his Captains had dreamed of doing.
The American battle line is gone
The british down to one wounded Capital ship, a few cruisers.
All destroyed by that comforting growl circling overhead
He had been right, yes?, right all along
So it will be a carrier war then. The enemy must already sense the lack of current effort in the Pacific, probably
, no, almost certainly would try to exploit it.
So be it
Secure the resources, the oil first.
Then the clash
And hopefully, a chance for his impatient, shortsighted battleship men to finally achieve their dreams.
Not on a battle line, but against shattered carrier hulls....
But first, the oil........
Battleship Mutsu
Overhead, Yamamato hears the comforting growl of Nagumo's zero's circling overhead
There, 20 miles ahead, the faint grey outlines of the carriers, their escorts.
And over there, to the North, Kongo and Kirishima
A great gathering of strength, especially in rifles.
But, he thinks wirly, little chance to deploy them as so many of his Captains had dreamed of doing.
The American battle line is gone
The british down to one wounded Capital ship, a few cruisers.
All destroyed by that comforting growl circling overhead
He had been right, yes?, right all along
So it will be a carrier war then. The enemy must already sense the lack of current effort in the Pacific, probably
, no, almost certainly would try to exploit it.
So be it
Secure the resources, the oil first.
Then the clash
And hopefully, a chance for his impatient, shortsighted battleship men to finally achieve their dreams.
Not on a battle line, but against shattered carrier hulls....
But first, the oil........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: When the giants died
Slowly, deliberately, death is dealt
Indiscriminate death
Uncaring death
Death not deserved, but dealt anyway
Death for chinese guns, chinese troops
But death for civilians too, indiscriminate death.
Yamashiro's guns sow it for all.
Outside of Wenchow, 2 divisions wait. Under theis steady rain of Battleship terror, Wenchows defences melt away
And melt can be taken literally, for wenchow burns.
A city beyond burning, a city blazes.
Indiscriminate death
Uncaring death
Death not deserved, but dealt anyway
Death for chinese guns, chinese troops
But death for civilians too, indiscriminate death.
Yamashiro's guns sow it for all.
Outside of Wenchow, 2 divisions wait. Under theis steady rain of Battleship terror, Wenchows defences melt away
And melt can be taken literally, for wenchow burns.
A city beyond burning, a city blazes.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: When the giants died
Burn baby, burn! 
Or as Smokey the Bear puts it, only you can prevent forests!
Or as Smokey the Bear puts it, only you can prevent forests!
Seek peace but keep your gun handy.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
; Julia Child
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
; Julia Child-
durnedwolf
- Posts: 896
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 5:05 am
- Location: Nevada, US of A
RE: When the giants died
ORIGINAL: RangerJoe
Burn baby, burn!
Or as Smokey the Bear puts it, only you can prevent forests!
or jungle fires? lol.
DW
I try to live by two words - tenacity and gratitude. Tenacity gets me where I want to go and gratitude ensures I'm not angry along the way. - Henry Winkler.
The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. - Herbert Spencer
RE: When the giants died
ORIGINAL: durnedwolf
ORIGINAL: RangerJoe
Burn baby, burn!
Or as Smokey the Bear puts it, only you can prevent forests!
or jungle fires? lol.
Jungles are forests!
Seek peace but keep your gun handy.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
; Julia Child
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).”
; Julia Child-
durnedwolf
- Posts: 896
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 5:05 am
- Location: Nevada, US of A
RE: When the giants died
ORIGINAL: RangerJoe
ORIGINAL: durnedwolf
ORIGINAL: RangerJoe
Burn baby, burn!
Or as Smokey the Bear puts it, only you can prevent forests!
or jungle fires? lol.
Jungles are forests!
Run Forest! Run!
DW
I try to live by two words - tenacity and gratitude. Tenacity gets me where I want to go and gratitude ensures I'm not angry along the way. - Henry Winkler.
The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. - Herbert Spencer
RE: When the giants died
january 9th
Near Cagayan.
Captain Tonuji watches the cat carefully.
There, just on the horizon, again that glint of aluminium.
The sun is almost gone, that period where sea, sky, and soon ships merge into the grey, into the night.
It is the time for the hunter
For Cats
"I think, sir, its making its run"
The Captain agrees silently with his lookout.
Yes, here the barsted comes.
The Cat is 5000 yards astern, angling slihtly to his port side, silent so far, Kongo is making too much wind from her headlong rush to be able to hear it yet.
4000 yards
3000
Timing, timing.
The cat slides further to port
Captain Tonuji bends to the speaking tube
'Port ten!, all batteries, barrage fire STARBOARD!"
Kongos main battery fires- range 2500 yards
Her secondaries fire, range the same
The target, the sea
A wall of water, a wall of shrapnel
Which the second cat, nearly invisible, flies straight into
It disintergrates.
The first Cat wheels away.
"Admidships"
"Well done everyone"
War, the great teacher
And Kongo is learning
Near Cagayan.
Captain Tonuji watches the cat carefully.
There, just on the horizon, again that glint of aluminium.
The sun is almost gone, that period where sea, sky, and soon ships merge into the grey, into the night.
It is the time for the hunter
For Cats
"I think, sir, its making its run"
The Captain agrees silently with his lookout.
Yes, here the barsted comes.
The Cat is 5000 yards astern, angling slihtly to his port side, silent so far, Kongo is making too much wind from her headlong rush to be able to hear it yet.
4000 yards
3000
Timing, timing.
The cat slides further to port
Captain Tonuji bends to the speaking tube
'Port ten!, all batteries, barrage fire STARBOARD!"
Kongos main battery fires- range 2500 yards
Her secondaries fire, range the same
The target, the sea
A wall of water, a wall of shrapnel
Which the second cat, nearly invisible, flies straight into
It disintergrates.
The first Cat wheels away.
"Admidships"
"Well done everyone"
War, the great teacher
And Kongo is learning
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: When the giants died
January 10th
The Japanese hammer descends.
6 fleet carriers, 2 fleet Battleships, 4 battlecruisers, 8 heavy cruisers cover the oncoming invasions
Today it is ternate
Soon, Ambon, Kendari, Babo
16th Army will be delivered safely
The invasions of the Indies continue
Yet, and this is only whispered, understood, but never acknowledged in the wardrooms, things
are not going as expected
Losses
There have been losses
Destroyers mostly.
4 of Palembang
2 more near Batavia
several of the phillipines
Others
So many Capital ships at sea, all needing an escort. The shields against those underwater Buka's
A shield, at this rate, that will become too thin.
The Japanese hammer descends.
6 fleet carriers, 2 fleet Battleships, 4 battlecruisers, 8 heavy cruisers cover the oncoming invasions
Today it is ternate
Soon, Ambon, Kendari, Babo
16th Army will be delivered safely
The invasions of the Indies continue
Yet, and this is only whispered, understood, but never acknowledged in the wardrooms, things
are not going as expected
Losses
There have been losses
Destroyers mostly.
4 of Palembang
2 more near Batavia
several of the phillipines
Others
So many Capital ships at sea, all needing an escort. The shields against those underwater Buka's
A shield, at this rate, that will become too thin.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: When the giants died
Ach, the Achilles heal for the IJN: DD's. There are never enough, not even close to enough.
Pax
RE: When the giants died
january 12th
Bridge, Battleship Kirishima
0200 hrs
CMDR Ashigari, XO, enters the red light of Kirishima's heart and soul quietly, as he is always wont to do
For a minute, whilst he lets his eyes adjust, he takes in the bridge, the men in it.
LT Hara, standing relaxed, but undoubtably in charge beside the young helmsman. There are quiet murmers between the two,
Ht Hara, undoubtably taking this quiet time to improve the young seamens knowledge.
Good
SMN ito has been with Kirishima nearly 12 months now, but there is always something to learn
The lookouts are at their stations, alert, bent slightly at the massive binoculars. There have been rumours of a new allied weapon, British, a thing called Radar. Damned if he knew what that meant, or could do.
He, Ashigari would always prefer Japanese MK 1 eye ball to anything.......
The assistant OOW is bent over the chart, plotting. Even with Kirishima in the heart of this massive fleet,
one must never trust another's plotting. Never.
Other than that, the bridge is empty, and quiet.
He moves in, moves to the FWD windscreen, stares ahead.
The moon is half tonight, enough for the bUKA's to see them, but to be able to hide too. A devil of a situation.
Still, the screen is thick, and he has confidence in it.
Kirishima follows Hiryu tonight. Ashigari like Hiryu. A true greyhound of a ship. If ships are designed to go fast, let them
go fast.
Kirishima, of course goes fast. Engines, that funny little man, has never let them down. How he does it....
But he does.
Ashigari's thoughts turn away from the ships about him. The war, so far, appears to go to plan
Malaya falling quickly
Borneo taken
14th Army entering Manilla
And now 16th Army finally getting under way
But in his bones, Ashigari knows this Kirishima's fate, Japans fate, does not rest here in these conquests.
Somewhere in the Pacific, The decisive battle.
It must come
Must
Bridge, Battleship Kirishima
0200 hrs
CMDR Ashigari, XO, enters the red light of Kirishima's heart and soul quietly, as he is always wont to do
For a minute, whilst he lets his eyes adjust, he takes in the bridge, the men in it.
LT Hara, standing relaxed, but undoubtably in charge beside the young helmsman. There are quiet murmers between the two,
Ht Hara, undoubtably taking this quiet time to improve the young seamens knowledge.
Good
SMN ito has been with Kirishima nearly 12 months now, but there is always something to learn
The lookouts are at their stations, alert, bent slightly at the massive binoculars. There have been rumours of a new allied weapon, British, a thing called Radar. Damned if he knew what that meant, or could do.
He, Ashigari would always prefer Japanese MK 1 eye ball to anything.......
The assistant OOW is bent over the chart, plotting. Even with Kirishima in the heart of this massive fleet,
one must never trust another's plotting. Never.
Other than that, the bridge is empty, and quiet.
He moves in, moves to the FWD windscreen, stares ahead.
The moon is half tonight, enough for the bUKA's to see them, but to be able to hide too. A devil of a situation.
Still, the screen is thick, and he has confidence in it.
Kirishima follows Hiryu tonight. Ashigari like Hiryu. A true greyhound of a ship. If ships are designed to go fast, let them
go fast.
Kirishima, of course goes fast. Engines, that funny little man, has never let them down. How he does it....
But he does.
Ashigari's thoughts turn away from the ships about him. The war, so far, appears to go to plan
Malaya falling quickly
Borneo taken
14th Army entering Manilla
And now 16th Army finally getting under way
But in his bones, Ashigari knows this Kirishima's fate, Japans fate, does not rest here in these conquests.
Somewhere in the Pacific, The decisive battle.
It must come
Must
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: When the giants died
January 14th
Battleship Kongo slides to a halt.
"Let go Fwd!, slow astern all!"
With that familiar crash and rattle the battleships Pick seeks the Ocean floor.
"'Stop engines, finish with main engines" growls Captain Tonuji, the scowl almost permanently
fixed upon his square face.
"XO!, he barks, sea boats away, and double the lookouts......"
What a daamned situation. Another shining example of his so called High Command.
Kongo and her sister lie now off Tarakan, almost helpless.
The Oil refinery, that prize so eagerly sought, burns still. Useless
Useless, and fuel less.
Just like his ship.
And God knows for how long.
If balikapapan does not fall with a good catch........
Sorry Cantona mate!.......time to exit because I want to give any followers the grand plan.......
Battleship Kongo slides to a halt.
"Let go Fwd!, slow astern all!"
With that familiar crash and rattle the battleships Pick seeks the Ocean floor.
"'Stop engines, finish with main engines" growls Captain Tonuji, the scowl almost permanently
fixed upon his square face.
"XO!, he barks, sea boats away, and double the lookouts......"
What a daamned situation. Another shining example of his so called High Command.
Kongo and her sister lie now off Tarakan, almost helpless.
The Oil refinery, that prize so eagerly sought, burns still. Useless
Useless, and fuel less.
Just like his ship.
And God knows for how long.
If balikapapan does not fall with a good catch........
Sorry Cantona mate!.......time to exit because I want to give any followers the grand plan.......
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: When the giants died
Ouch, Tarakan badly damaged. Long term not really an issue, but short term can mess with the schedule pretty badly.
Pax
RE: When the giants died
Gawd, hasnt life been tossed upside down
Jan 15th
Banda sea
Battleship Mutsu falls out of action stations.
Another Buka, maybe even 2
But no harm done. Admiral Yamamato impatiently hurrries from her bridge down to the Wardroom,
the daily intelligence briefing has been delayed.
Plans
War is about plans, and how, supposedly, the first contact with the enemy destroys them.
But, so far, not his.
The invasion of the phillipines continues to plan.......and the allies seem detirmined to hold Manilla
There will be no retreat from Manilla, only destruction
Malaya seems to proceed
But above all, the oil fields are falling, and the planned outposts in the pacific have been siezed
The plan is simple
Sieze the oil fields, burma, Biak , and not much more.
This is the key as he see's it.
A tight perimeter, a perimeter easy to defend, fortified to the hilt
The allies, aggressive he is sure, will not be able to resist to rush North, up the coast of PNG, towards palua,,
into his nest
And to decisive battle
Yes, the war goes well.
But there will be a even more deadly one , he knows will come.
Fighting high commands demands----move south!, move south!
Jan 15th
Banda sea
Battleship Mutsu falls out of action stations.
Another Buka, maybe even 2
But no harm done. Admiral Yamamato impatiently hurrries from her bridge down to the Wardroom,
the daily intelligence briefing has been delayed.
Plans
War is about plans, and how, supposedly, the first contact with the enemy destroys them.
But, so far, not his.
The invasion of the phillipines continues to plan.......and the allies seem detirmined to hold Manilla
There will be no retreat from Manilla, only destruction
Malaya seems to proceed
But above all, the oil fields are falling, and the planned outposts in the pacific have been siezed
The plan is simple
Sieze the oil fields, burma, Biak , and not much more.
This is the key as he see's it.
A tight perimeter, a perimeter easy to defend, fortified to the hilt
The allies, aggressive he is sure, will not be able to resist to rush North, up the coast of PNG, towards palua,,
into his nest
And to decisive battle
Yes, the war goes well.
But there will be a even more deadly one , he knows will come.
Fighting high commands demands----move south!, move south!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: When the giants died
Great posts.
And I love the comradery between you and your opponent. Quite admirable.
T Rav
And I love the comradery between you and your opponent. Quite admirable.
T Rav