Kizuka descends to the steaming platform in Akizuki. She has 3 boilers, but a single engineroom, with its mix of various turbines and single gearbox
It occupies nearly a 25% of the ships length, the boiler rooms another 25%.
It is not wasted space, Akizuki has seen 34 knots many a times, and right now, Kizuka knows she can do it again.
Its the usual watch of villians , the Engineering Officer of the watch, The throttle watchkeepers, a third hand, and his wiry Charge
The Charge, his senior non commissioned officer, his main maintenance man.
His friend
"All good today Charge?"
"All good sir"
Three words, and all the information he will ever need.
A fleet sent to die
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
Re: A fleet sent to die
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
BB ise
B turret Ise
4 times this war the great guns have fired in anger
4 great shoots against shore targets, nearly 200 rounds per gun, 200 rounds with barely a stoppage.
But LT Tokiwana has one now
The men work at it, its a hydraulic pump, a bad leak. All he can do is wait for the word- stoppage cleared.
He sits in his chair, and the seconds crawl by.
God help them if this happens in battle
4 times this war the great guns have fired in anger
4 great shoots against shore targets, nearly 200 rounds per gun, 200 rounds with barely a stoppage.
But LT Tokiwana has one now
The men work at it, its a hydraulic pump, a bad leak. All he can do is wait for the word- stoppage cleared.
He sits in his chair, and the seconds crawl by.
God help them if this happens in battle
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Re: A fleet sent to die
Its only October, countryside around here still very green, but it will only take a week of hot dry windy weather....
1 July 44
Wo Goto and Watambe are waiting with their little tankette at 18th Army HQ
"its a stupid place for a HQ" grumbles the older man "Too damn near the airfield if you ask me"
Watambe smiles, he know that for Goto, anyplace within 10 miles of the airfield is too close for his boss, in fact, anywhere within 10 miles of the front is too close too.
Its another stinking hot humid day, its going to piss down rain in the afternoon, and once again, make them miserably wet
Since the kuffufal of a few days ago, things have been quiet, the bombers seemingly concentrating on Port Blair still.
The HQ lies beside the road- a motley collection of tents, a dozen ramshackle wooden huts, all however camoflaged extremely well.
A collection of AA guns- (mostly ineffective ) are scattered about, a few trucks, and the 7 tankettes that the general uses for message dispatch.
He (quite rightly) is wary of using his radio, believing that it can be pin pointed if kept static too long
And in this, too, he is correct
The dozen or so B-26's that sweep in at 1000 feet, seeking that very radio, gain complete surprise.
One moment, the quiet of the jungle, and the murmer of men attending to duty, the truck idling over there- the next, the thundering roar of radial engines at full throtlle, the chaotic crack of multiple 50 cal guns, the whine of bombs, the crump, CRUMP!, BANG!, Crump! of the bombs, and the screams of men....
Goto and Watambe react like startled cats, diving straight into the nearest slit trench, the dust, dirt and other un identifiable bits raining down upon them.....
The raid is over before it's begun......the silence is almost shocking.
Carefully they crawl out, and survey the damage.
2 tents shredded, an AA gun points askew, and their preciuos Tankette lies neatly upside down, very much like a turtle on its back
They both share a single four letter word, beginning with F
1 July 44
Wo Goto and Watambe are waiting with their little tankette at 18th Army HQ
"its a stupid place for a HQ" grumbles the older man "Too damn near the airfield if you ask me"
Watambe smiles, he know that for Goto, anyplace within 10 miles of the airfield is too close for his boss, in fact, anywhere within 10 miles of the front is too close too.
Its another stinking hot humid day, its going to piss down rain in the afternoon, and once again, make them miserably wet
Since the kuffufal of a few days ago, things have been quiet, the bombers seemingly concentrating on Port Blair still.
The HQ lies beside the road- a motley collection of tents, a dozen ramshackle wooden huts, all however camoflaged extremely well.
A collection of AA guns- (mostly ineffective ) are scattered about, a few trucks, and the 7 tankettes that the general uses for message dispatch.
He (quite rightly) is wary of using his radio, believing that it can be pin pointed if kept static too long
And in this, too, he is correct
The dozen or so B-26's that sweep in at 1000 feet, seeking that very radio, gain complete surprise.
One moment, the quiet of the jungle, and the murmer of men attending to duty, the truck idling over there- the next, the thundering roar of radial engines at full throtlle, the chaotic crack of multiple 50 cal guns, the whine of bombs, the crump, CRUMP!, BANG!, Crump! of the bombs, and the screams of men....
Goto and Watambe react like startled cats, diving straight into the nearest slit trench, the dust, dirt and other un identifiable bits raining down upon them.....
The raid is over before it's begun......the silence is almost shocking.
Carefully they crawl out, and survey the damage.
2 tents shredded, an AA gun points askew, and their preciuos Tankette lies neatly upside down, very much like a turtle on its back
They both share a single four letter word, beginning with F
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
1 July, Miri anchorage
Smn Asada crouches under the left wing of the TBD, his back to the blast of the propeller, his eyes firmly fixed on the flight deck officer.
His chock sits hard under the bombers tyre, its rope firmly twisted about his hand
All about him is noise, and heat and vibration
The little flag points at him, sweeps left and right
With the practice of many launches he pullls the rope, frees the chock., scampers clear, always aware of the great spinning skythe of the propellers.
The TBD surges forward, lumbers down the deck, and climbs painfully away
Even now, with only 2 miles to run until anchor, Shoho's Skipper takes no chances, the ASW patrols continue
His chock sits hard under the bombers tyre, its rope firmly twisted about his hand
All about him is noise, and heat and vibration
The little flag points at him, sweeps left and right
With the practice of many launches he pullls the rope, frees the chock., scampers clear, always aware of the great spinning skythe of the propellers.
The TBD surges forward, lumbers down the deck, and climbs painfully away
Even now, with only 2 miles to run until anchor, Shoho's Skipper takes no chances, the ASW patrols continue
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
1 July Miri- CV Junyo
2nd Lt Asada wearily climbs down from his Zero
Somehow, he has survived another landing. They still terrify him
He makes his way across the flight deck, and into Junyo's island, turns left, descends the ladder, and left again into the narrow , stinking Ready room
He hangs helmet and goggles onto his hook, removes his flight jacket.
He is tired, will they rest for today?, or will the punishing routine continue?
"My report sir"
The de briefing/intelligence officer looks up from his small desk, pen poised
"Nothing to report, nothing seen"
Dutifully this is copied down
Asada leaves the ready room, makes his way through the labrynth of passageways forward to the wardroom.
6 other pilots are there, and as Asada makes his tea, the conversation , again, turns to the tactics proposed "for this decisve battle"
They have been told, bluntly, that Junyo, Hiyo, the CVLs and 3 CVE's with them have but 2 roles to play
Combat air patrol for the battleline, ASW protection for the battle line
Asada can see the sense in that
But the other parts?
It has become known that Nagumo, that Yamaguchi intend to fling everything at the enemy that they have, leave not a single CAP fighter in place, and if necessary, use the then empty carriers as bait for the counter strikes
It fills Asada with dread. Sacrifice the carriers?, and by implication, the strikes?
Where would they land?
How could they launch a second strike?
And did it really mean, as many seemed to totally ignore, that the admirals expected the strikes to be shredded?
Somehow, he has survived another landing. They still terrify him
He makes his way across the flight deck, and into Junyo's island, turns left, descends the ladder, and left again into the narrow , stinking Ready room
He hangs helmet and goggles onto his hook, removes his flight jacket.
He is tired, will they rest for today?, or will the punishing routine continue?
"My report sir"
The de briefing/intelligence officer looks up from his small desk, pen poised
"Nothing to report, nothing seen"
Dutifully this is copied down
Asada leaves the ready room, makes his way through the labrynth of passageways forward to the wardroom.
6 other pilots are there, and as Asada makes his tea, the conversation , again, turns to the tactics proposed "for this decisve battle"
They have been told, bluntly, that Junyo, Hiyo, the CVLs and 3 CVE's with them have but 2 roles to play
Combat air patrol for the battleline, ASW protection for the battle line
Asada can see the sense in that
But the other parts?
It has become known that Nagumo, that Yamaguchi intend to fling everything at the enemy that they have, leave not a single CAP fighter in place, and if necessary, use the then empty carriers as bait for the counter strikes
It fills Asada with dread. Sacrifice the carriers?, and by implication, the strikes?
Where would they land?
How could they launch a second strike?
And did it really mean, as many seemed to totally ignore, that the admirals expected the strikes to be shredded?
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
204 KUS-1
"Why are we stood down. They are bombing the crap out of us to the east?"
Shiga asks the question, and Kanda doesn't blame him for his frustration
Tamiguchi clears his throat, clearly intending to answer
This is so surprising to the other 4 leaders that all conversation ceases, he NEVER has an opinion
'I am told" , he pauses, " I am told by a friend of mine that the fleet is at Miri, and we " Again, the pause, and pause, and pause, " And we are being held in reserve to provide LRCAP for those useless battleships as they pass through the passage"
The group contemplate this
As one, all think the same thought
We would be better off doing offensive sweeps.
But apparently not....
Shiga asks the question, and Kanda doesn't blame him for his frustration
Tamiguchi clears his throat, clearly intending to answer
This is so surprising to the other 4 leaders that all conversation ceases, he NEVER has an opinion
'I am told" , he pauses, " I am told by a friend of mine that the fleet is at Miri, and we " Again, the pause, and pause, and pause, " And we are being held in reserve to provide LRCAP for those useless battleships as they pass through the passage"
The group contemplate this
As one, all think the same thought
We would be better off doing offensive sweeps.
But apparently not....
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Hyuga
Whether its a small pump to a motor, or a great turbine to a shaft, the Ban, the process is still the same.
Today, they must rough align the beast, must manouver the turbine to an approximation of alignment, one a straight edge
can guide you with.
Get the shims ready, get the jacking bolts ready
easily said, not so easily done
Even to his naked eye, the turbine is 1/4 of an inch too low, tilted towards the rear, and nearly an eighth to far to starboard.
In short, its a shammozle
'we have to lift it- both ends together!
The chain blocks begin their rattle, the sweat flows
Hyuga 44 days to go
Today, they must rough align the beast, must manouver the turbine to an approximation of alignment, one a straight edge
can guide you with.
Get the shims ready, get the jacking bolts ready
easily said, not so easily done
Even to his naked eye, the turbine is 1/4 of an inch too low, tilted towards the rear, and nearly an eighth to far to starboard.
In short, its a shammozle
'we have to lift it- both ends together!
The chain blocks begin their rattle, the sweat flows
Hyuga 44 days to go
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Re: Hyuga
Never done this on a ship, but I had to do it once for a power plant ... the first attempt proved that the $$^@#$#!! construction crew had miss-poured the concrete pad for the turbine. We had to remove it and re-pour. 14 days delay ... 2 days for the removal, 2 days to re-pour, 10 days curing ... this was at a shipyard ... to say that the shipyard manager was a little upset ...1275psi wrote: Mon Oct 26, 2026 5:50 am Whether its a small pump to a motor, or a great turbine to a shaft, the Ban, the process is still the same.
Today, they must rough align the beast, must manouver the turbine to an approximation of alignment, one a straight edge
can guide you with.
Get the shims ready, get the jacking bolts ready
easily said, not so easily done
Even to his naked eye, the turbine is 1/4 of an inch too low, tilted towards the rear, and nearly an eighth to far to starboard.
In short, its a shammozle
'we have to lift it- both ends together!
The chain blocks begin their rattle, the sweat flows
Hyuga 44 days to go
This was in Korea back in the late 70's ... I never saw the original construction crew again ... I don't know, but I strongly suspect, that they were relegated to some "fun" duties along the DMZ ... this was just after Park was assassinated ... a different era ...I should also note that the crews worked 24 hours/day for those 14 days ... I would sleep on a table behind the control panel ...
Pax
Re: A fleet sent to die
Ahh pax, Ill have to be careful then with my description, or you will poke holes in it
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
2nd July 44
Unryu rests
Everything has been stood down, others provide CAP over the anchorage
Even the crews have been stood down to the extent that a ship anchored can be
No Drills
No inspections
No callisthetics
Many of the sailors aboard actually almost feel lost. A japanese sailor not working an 8 day week?
Ashishi spends some of the day doing his watch, scanning the sky (and the shore to be honest) through the binoculars, then like many, meanders to the flight deck
sailors cannot stay still
Soon a volley ball net appears, (from where?, a mystery always when these things appear), and a ball
Its hard to describe, volleyball, 30 plus a side...
Everything has been stood down, others provide CAP over the anchorage
Even the crews have been stood down to the extent that a ship anchored can be
No Drills
No inspections
No callisthetics
Many of the sailors aboard actually almost feel lost. A japanese sailor not working an 8 day week?
Ashishi spends some of the day doing his watch, scanning the sky (and the shore to be honest) through the binoculars, then like many, meanders to the flight deck
sailors cannot stay still
Soon a volley ball net appears, (from where?, a mystery always when these things appear), and a ball
Its hard to describe, volleyball, 30 plus a side...
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
2 July 44
Akizuki is anchored at Brunie, sharing it with the rusty tankers there
She too rests, steaming auxiliary on the forward boiler.
They have refuelled, re supplied.
Some of the men try some fishing......and actually catch a few
Morale, Kizuka can see, is very good.
Almost to a man, he feels, they are going to give those yankee barsteds hell
She too rests, steaming auxiliary on the forward boiler.
They have refuelled, re supplied.
Some of the men try some fishing......and actually catch a few
Morale, Kizuka can see, is very good.
Almost to a man, he feels, they are going to give those yankee barsteds hell
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
2 July 44
like the rest of the fleet, Ise rests at anchor, awaiting her turn to top the tanks
Lt Tokiwana takes advantage of the day
" my darling wife'
I cannot tell you where we are, but today I am confident you will get this letter. We just got a heap ourselves,
and your words filled me with hope
We are resting here, preparing for the next "adventure"
I would hope to think that after it, we should return home, this ship is due a refit, and home is the logical place for it
But first, we must deal the yankees another blow...
Give my love to the children
As for the garden.......
Lt Tokiwana takes advantage of the day
" my darling wife'
I cannot tell you where we are, but today I am confident you will get this letter. We just got a heap ourselves,
and your words filled me with hope
We are resting here, preparing for the next "adventure"
I would hope to think that after it, we should return home, this ship is due a refit, and home is the logical place for it
But first, we must deal the yankees another blow...
Give my love to the children
As for the garden.......
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
2nd July
Wo Goto does not rest
its a horrible 12 hours for him
The tankette is easily rolled back upright with the help of a truck.
But nothing else will be
it has half filled with mud and water, one track is broken, and the machine gun bent
But he is not a WO for nothing
Orders are barked
Men "assigned"
Parts 'aquired"
By midday, the little beast is mobile again
But the WO will not be happy
2 bottles of Sake smashed.....
its a horrible 12 hours for him
The tankette is easily rolled back upright with the help of a truck.
But nothing else will be
it has half filled with mud and water, one track is broken, and the machine gun bent
But he is not a WO for nothing
Orders are barked
Men "assigned"
Parts 'aquired"
By midday, the little beast is mobile again
But the WO will not be happy
2 bottles of Sake smashed.....
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
ban begins the next step
Vertical angular alignment
Simply put, lets have the center lines of the couplings going in the same direction, and in this case at the 4 degree downward slope required
For today, and probably tomorrow as well, the chain blocks will rattle, and shims will carefully go in, mostly at the arse end of the turbine
The distances between the two couplings, measured at the top, and at the bottom, must be identical.
Absolutely identical
They sweat, they labour
ban encourages, cajoles, curses.
Hyuga, 40 days to go
Vertical angular alignment
Simply put, lets have the center lines of the couplings going in the same direction, and in this case at the 4 degree downward slope required
For today, and probably tomorrow as well, the chain blocks will rattle, and shims will carefully go in, mostly at the arse end of the turbine
The distances between the two couplings, measured at the top, and at the bottom, must be identical.
Absolutely identical
They sweat, they labour
ban encourages, cajoles, curses.
Hyuga, 40 days to go
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Re: A fleet sent to die
Never. And your flow is so good ... most of the time I can "fall" right into your story just like I was there ... feel the heat, smell the sweat ...1275psi wrote: Tue Oct 27, 2026 5:16 am Ahh pax, Ill have to be careful then with my description, or you will poke holes in it
Pax