Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
RE: Small Ship, Big War
The distance was cut down more than a bit and the flooding "only" increased by 2. She might actually have an outside chance of making it. Still a long way to go. CF is supplying me with some of the best reading I've had in a while.
Todd
I never thought that doing an AAR would be so time consuming and difficult.
www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2080768
I never thought that doing an AAR would be so time consuming and difficult.
www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2080768
RE: Small Ship, Big War
A rare Saturday rendition of the Hiryu Sagas. Kaleun, you should thank the storyteller for his largess. I do.
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Mike Solli
- Posts: 16012
- Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2000 8:00 am
- Location: the flight deck of the Zuikaku
RE: Small Ship, Big War
I am curious about the PO mess on this ship. I know that CPO's in the IJN nowdays have there own mess separate from the lower ranks (in the RN and USN tradition). It would seem very unusual to me third class PO's would be in the same mess as CPO's. There is less distinction between seaman and PO3's in the USN than there is between CPO's and the next rank down, 1st class, let alone 2nd or 3rd. Of course the Hibiki is quite small and crapped compared to any modern destroyer. I know something about all this having served 20 years in the USN, now almost ten years retired (CPO). I once visited the CPO mess on a Japanese destroyer, quite a pleasant experience.
Great AAR as always, keep the pumps at full speed! [:)]
A CPO Shun fan...
Great AAR as always, keep the pumps at full speed! [:)]
A CPO Shun fan...
"I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer."-Note sent with Congressman Washburne from Spotsylvania, May 11, 1864, to General Halleck. - General Ulysses S. Grant
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: brisd
I am curious about the PO mess on this ship. I know that CPO's in the IJN nowdays have there own mess separate from the lower ranks (in the RN and USN tradition). It would seem very unusual to me third class PO's would be in the same mess as CPO's. There is less distinction between seaman and PO3's in the USN than there is between CPO's and the next rank down, 1st class, let alone 2nd or 3rd. Of course the Hibiki is quite small and crapped compared to any modern destroyer. I know something about all this having served 20 years in the USN, now almost ten years retired (CPO). I once visited the CPO mess on a Japanese destroyer, quite a pleasant experience.
Great AAR as always, keep the pumps at full speed! [:)]
A CPO Shun fan...
A good question. The short answer is, I just don't know.
You would be amazed how hard it is to find answers for something like this. I can tell you exactly were every weapon and almost every other piece of equipment was located aboard Hibiki. There is a lot less information about the human factor. First hand accounts I’ve read, such as Hara's "Japanese Destroyer Captain", don't tend to mention this sort of detail except by accident.
It is clear that Japanese enlisted men put up with conditions aboard their destroyers before and during World War II that would have appalled even the prisoners at Alcatraz. I don't think even PO3's were treated quite as badly; since as far as I can learn there was only one mess for petty officers aboard Akatsuki-class destroyers I decided it was likely that all petty officers ate there.
I could very well be wrong. The Japanese modeled a lot of their practices on those in the RN, as you mentioned. If so I will try to claim creative license. It made a pretty good story, so lacking concrete information I wrote it that way.
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
March 11, 1943
Location: 360 miles southeast of Tjilitjap
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 427
Orders: Escort damaged carriers to Tjilitjap for emergency repairs
---
Training in the Japanese Navy is brutally calculated to instill unquestioning obedience. During training, and aboard some ships, physical punishment is handed out almost at random and for any infraction, including failing to respond to a superior quickly enough or even for failing to respond with the appropriate amount of enthusiasm.
Captain Ishii despises this practice and forbids random physical punishment, but nonetheless runs a tight ship. As per regulations, most discipline is handled by the offender’s immediate superior. Some more serious cases are passed up to the executive officer, Lieutenant Miharu. In some instances he will in turn pass the case up to Captain Ishii, but this is rare.
Nonetheless he is wishing he could do that right now. The large box on the wardroom table keeps twitching, and Miharu is having trouble not shifting away from it every time it does. He maintains his imperturbability with an effort, however, and focuses on the young sailor standing on the other side of the table. Though the young man is standing rigidly at attention Lieutenant Miharu can tell that he is very nervous. This is probably not helped by the fact that the only other man in the room is Chief Petty Officer Shun, who is standing just inside the wardroom door.
“Seaman Oizuma,” the Miharu says, indicating the box. “This box contains a snake that was retrieved from the forward engine room, where it was curled up around a pump. It liked the heat, no doubt. I am told that you may know something about this snake.” He finishes and looks expectantly at Oizuma. Something inside the box rustles restlessly.
“Yes sir,” says Seaman Oizuma. He swallows nervously. “That’s my snake, sir.”
“I see,” says Miharu. “Go on. Tell me, please, about this snake, and why it is aboard Hibiki.”
“She’s a Borneo blood python,” says Oizuma. “I got her at Balikpapan. She’s, uh, she’s for the rats, sir.”
“Rats?”
“Yes sir, we have some rats in our bunk area. There was a man selling snakes at Balikpapan, and he said she would take care of the rat problem.” Lieutenant Miharu leans back in his chair, a move that seems casual but actually puts him another foot farther away from something called a “blood python”.
“I see,” he says. “You know, of course, that regulations forbid crew from bringing pets or any other animals aboard ship.”
“Yes sir,” says Oizuma. “I offer no excuse, sir.”
“Very well,” says the lieutenant. “You are deprived of all leave for one month, that should keep you out of trouble for a while at least. Oh, and kill the snake and dispose of it.”
“Kill Benzaiten, sir?” says Oizuma in dismay.
“Benzaiten?” answers Miharu. He is rather amused by the name, though he doesn’t show it. “Yes, you heard me correctly. We can’t have this thing running around the ship any more.”
“Yes sir,” says Oizuma stoically. He receives help from an unexpected source as Shun suddenly stirs from immobility behind him.
“Permission to speak, Lieutenant,” he says in his gravelly voice.
“Granted,” says Miharu.
“Sir,” says Shun, “the rodent population aboard ship has dropped noticeably since we left Balikpapan.” Lieutenant Miharu thinks for a moment. He knows Shun well enough to know that the Chief would not speak up without good reason, though he has doubts that one snake could eat enough rats in two weeks to make a difference.
Reluctantly he stands and takes the lid off the box on the table. Curled inside is a four-foot snake with a tan and brown body and a reddish head. It flicks its tongue at him. Really, it doesn’t look so bad.
“All right,” he says. “I will grant a stay of execution. Oizuma, build a proper box for this thing. Your duffel bag doesn’t seem to do the job. If it ends up in the engine room again I am not answerable for what Chief Engineer Sakati does. The rest of your punishment stands. “
“Yes sir, thank you sir,” says Oizuma happily.
“Dismissed,” says the lieutenant. “And take this thing with you,” he says, indicating the box. Oizuma salutes and does so. After the door closes Miharu looks at Shun.
“All right, Chief,” he says, “what’s the real reason?” Shun steps forward, looking as though he was expecting the question.
“It’s the name,” he says. “Benzaiten is a lucky goddess. She is connected to the sea and to snakes and dragons.” He stops and looks at the executive officer. Miharu shakes his head, not understanding. Shun’s expression doesn’t change, but Miharu gets the impression Shun thinks he is being dense.
“Hiryu,” says Shun, and suddenly the lieutenant understands.
“Flying dragon,” he says. “You think that if I order the snake killed and the carrier sinks…”
“Then people will say it’s because we killed the snake, yes sir,” finishes Shun. Lieutenant Miharu shakes his head.
“That’s ridiculous,” he says.
“Sir, with respect you are an intellectual, an educated man,” says Shun. “Perhaps you forget how deep old beliefs go, and how superstitious most sailors are.” Miharu considers this for a moment.
“All right,” he says, giving in with a laugh. “I trust your instincts, Chief. And who knows, perhaps Benzaiten will help save Hiryu.” Shun looks grave.
“Yes sir,” he says, “maybe she will.”
---
Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 68, Fires 0: Distance to port: 360 miles
Location: 360 miles southeast of Tjilitjap
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 427
Orders: Escort damaged carriers to Tjilitjap for emergency repairs
---
Training in the Japanese Navy is brutally calculated to instill unquestioning obedience. During training, and aboard some ships, physical punishment is handed out almost at random and for any infraction, including failing to respond to a superior quickly enough or even for failing to respond with the appropriate amount of enthusiasm.
Captain Ishii despises this practice and forbids random physical punishment, but nonetheless runs a tight ship. As per regulations, most discipline is handled by the offender’s immediate superior. Some more serious cases are passed up to the executive officer, Lieutenant Miharu. In some instances he will in turn pass the case up to Captain Ishii, but this is rare.
Nonetheless he is wishing he could do that right now. The large box on the wardroom table keeps twitching, and Miharu is having trouble not shifting away from it every time it does. He maintains his imperturbability with an effort, however, and focuses on the young sailor standing on the other side of the table. Though the young man is standing rigidly at attention Lieutenant Miharu can tell that he is very nervous. This is probably not helped by the fact that the only other man in the room is Chief Petty Officer Shun, who is standing just inside the wardroom door.
“Seaman Oizuma,” the Miharu says, indicating the box. “This box contains a snake that was retrieved from the forward engine room, where it was curled up around a pump. It liked the heat, no doubt. I am told that you may know something about this snake.” He finishes and looks expectantly at Oizuma. Something inside the box rustles restlessly.
“Yes sir,” says Seaman Oizuma. He swallows nervously. “That’s my snake, sir.”
“I see,” says Miharu. “Go on. Tell me, please, about this snake, and why it is aboard Hibiki.”
“She’s a Borneo blood python,” says Oizuma. “I got her at Balikpapan. She’s, uh, she’s for the rats, sir.”
“Rats?”
“Yes sir, we have some rats in our bunk area. There was a man selling snakes at Balikpapan, and he said she would take care of the rat problem.” Lieutenant Miharu leans back in his chair, a move that seems casual but actually puts him another foot farther away from something called a “blood python”.
“I see,” he says. “You know, of course, that regulations forbid crew from bringing pets or any other animals aboard ship.”
“Yes sir,” says Oizuma. “I offer no excuse, sir.”
“Very well,” says the lieutenant. “You are deprived of all leave for one month, that should keep you out of trouble for a while at least. Oh, and kill the snake and dispose of it.”
“Kill Benzaiten, sir?” says Oizuma in dismay.
“Benzaiten?” answers Miharu. He is rather amused by the name, though he doesn’t show it. “Yes, you heard me correctly. We can’t have this thing running around the ship any more.”
“Yes sir,” says Oizuma stoically. He receives help from an unexpected source as Shun suddenly stirs from immobility behind him.
“Permission to speak, Lieutenant,” he says in his gravelly voice.
“Granted,” says Miharu.
“Sir,” says Shun, “the rodent population aboard ship has dropped noticeably since we left Balikpapan.” Lieutenant Miharu thinks for a moment. He knows Shun well enough to know that the Chief would not speak up without good reason, though he has doubts that one snake could eat enough rats in two weeks to make a difference.
Reluctantly he stands and takes the lid off the box on the table. Curled inside is a four-foot snake with a tan and brown body and a reddish head. It flicks its tongue at him. Really, it doesn’t look so bad.
“All right,” he says. “I will grant a stay of execution. Oizuma, build a proper box for this thing. Your duffel bag doesn’t seem to do the job. If it ends up in the engine room again I am not answerable for what Chief Engineer Sakati does. The rest of your punishment stands. “
“Yes sir, thank you sir,” says Oizuma happily.
“Dismissed,” says the lieutenant. “And take this thing with you,” he says, indicating the box. Oizuma salutes and does so. After the door closes Miharu looks at Shun.
“All right, Chief,” he says, “what’s the real reason?” Shun steps forward, looking as though he was expecting the question.
“It’s the name,” he says. “Benzaiten is a lucky goddess. She is connected to the sea and to snakes and dragons.” He stops and looks at the executive officer. Miharu shakes his head, not understanding. Shun’s expression doesn’t change, but Miharu gets the impression Shun thinks he is being dense.
“Hiryu,” says Shun, and suddenly the lieutenant understands.
“Flying dragon,” he says. “You think that if I order the snake killed and the carrier sinks…”
“Then people will say it’s because we killed the snake, yes sir,” finishes Shun. Lieutenant Miharu shakes his head.
“That’s ridiculous,” he says.
“Sir, with respect you are an intellectual, an educated man,” says Shun. “Perhaps you forget how deep old beliefs go, and how superstitious most sailors are.” Miharu considers this for a moment.
“All right,” he says, giving in with a laugh. “I trust your instincts, Chief. And who knows, perhaps Benzaiten will help save Hiryu.” Shun looks grave.
“Yes sir,” he says, “maybe she will.”
---
Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 68, Fires 0: Distance to port: 360 miles
RE: Small Ship, Big War
She makes it...or the snake gets the chop!!!
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
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Capt. Harlock
- Posts: 5379
- Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: Los Angeles
- Contact:
RE: Small Ship, Big War
“It’s the name,” he says. “Benzaiten is a lucky goddess. She is connected to the sea and to snakes and dragons.” He stops and looks at the executive officer. Miharu shakes his head, not understanding. Shun’s expression doesn’t change, but Miharu gets the impression Shun thinks he is being dense.
“Hiryu,” says Shun, and suddenly the lieutenant understands.
“Flying dragon,” he says. “You think that if I order the snake killed and the carrier sinks…”
“Then people will say it’s because we killed the snake, yes sir,” finishes Shun.
I am impressed still more [&o] [&o]. You've clearly done an extraordinary amount of research on this!
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Please...
I have barely any nails left and , what is worse, you made me write my 3rd post in 6 years
just to beg for more.
Although there is a couple of good AARs, which I follow on a daily base, this one is my absolute favorite.
Thanks Cuttlefish for your efforts 
and may Hibiki survive [&o]
I have barely any nails left and , what is worse, you made me write my 3rd post in 6 years
just to beg for more.
Although there is a couple of good AARs, which I follow on a daily base, this one is my absolute favorite.
Thanks Cuttlefish for your efforts
and may Hibiki survive [&o]
RE: Small Ship, Big War
How much time and thought goes into this saga? It's well worth it and the admission is free! Damned good entertainment CF!
Todd
I never thought that doing an AAR would be so time consuming and difficult.
www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2080768
I never thought that doing an AAR would be so time consuming and difficult.
www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2080768
-
Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
March 12, 1943
Location: 250 miles southeast of Tjilitjap
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 412
Orders: Escort damaged carriers to Tjilitjap for emergency repairs
---
Time seems to have slowed to a crawl for the men of the Indian Ocean Strike Force. Tjilitjap draws slowly but steadily closer, but the pace is so glacial compared to what the sailors crewing these fast warships are used to that it seems as though they are hardly moving at all.
The only ones who are too busy to feel this way are the men fighting deep below decks aboard Hiryu to stave off the flooding. The work is backbreaking and dangerous, but while the waters are slowly winning the men have thus far limited the damage enough to give Hiryu a chance to reach port.
Men and machinery are reaching their limits, however. Pumps begin to fail after a week of heavy use, and manual labor too is beginning to falter as men reach their limit. More pumps and men are transferred from Zuikaku in an effort to keep Hiryu afloat just a few more days.
---
At Tjilitjap a pair of small transports drop anchor in the harbor. These ships contain support staff and damage control experts from Second Fleet headquarters in Singapore. As these men disembark another ship arrives. This is the repair ship Kitahuku Maru, also from Singapore. The chief repair engineer inspects the harbor facilities and shakes his head sadly. The facilities are suitable for coastal luggers and tramp steamers, not for fleet carriers. Still, they will do what they can with what they have to work with if Hiryu successfully makes port.
---
“Hey, Oizuma!” calls Shiro cheerfully. “I finished it.” He and Riku enter the chain storage locker that Oizuma and a number of other sailors use as a bunk room. They are lugging a sturdy wooden rectangular crate. Seaman Oizuma looks up from his hammock, then expertly times his roll out of it with the roll of the ship. He comes over to the two men as they set down the crate.
“That looks good!” he says enthusiastically. “Thanks a lot, Kurumata!” He looks the crate over. “You really should not have gone to so much effort, I am not worthy of the amount of time you obviously put into this.”
“Nonsense,” Shiro says. “My poor efforts are hardly good enough for Benzaiten.” Riku laughs.
“I still can’t believe you named her Benzaiten,” he says. “That’s pretty cheeky, Oizuma.”
“I thought maybe it would bring us luck,” says Oizuma, looking a little embarrassed.
“Let’s see this famous snake,” says Shiro. Oizuma brightens. He leads the other two over to a large leather satchel stowed under his hammock. “She’s in here,” he says. Shiro kneels down and unfastens the clasps on the bag. Riku, not quite as fond of snakes, hangs back a little. Shiro peers inside.
“I’ve made a mistake,” he says in dismay. “She’s much smaller than I thought. The crate I made will never hold her.”
“What?” says Oizuma in confusion. He bends over beside Shiro, pushing the hammock out of the way. In the center of the bag is a tiny snake. It looks just like Benzaiten, but much smaller. Shiro carefully lifts it out. Oizuma looks at it, then lifts the bag and peers more deeply into it.
He reaches in and pulls out a fragment of eggshell, and then another. Then he reaches in and pulls out three more small snakes, cradling them gently. One bites his finger, but he hardly notices. Shiro reaches out and pokes his fingers through a hole at one end of the bag.
“Oh no,” moans Oizuma. “The Lieutenant is going to kill me!” Riku shakes his head.
“Nonsense,” he says. “That won’t happen. He’ll have Shun do it. Painfully.”
“Messily,” Shiro agrees. Oizuma leans against a bulkhead and slides slowly down it until he is sitting on the floor, still holding the snakes. Shiro bends over and adds his snake to the little writhing bundle and then roots through the satchel for a moment.
“Maybe we have all the snakes except Benzaiten,” says Oizuma hopefully.
“I count twenty-two empty eggshells,” says Shiro.
“Only eighteen missing, then,” says Riku. “And Benzaiten, of course.” Oizuma groans and hangs his head. From the companionway outside comes a sudden shriek of surprise and fear.
“Seventeen missing,” says Riku cheerfully.
---
Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 70, Fires 0. Distance to port: 250 miles
Location: 250 miles southeast of Tjilitjap
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 412
Orders: Escort damaged carriers to Tjilitjap for emergency repairs
---
Time seems to have slowed to a crawl for the men of the Indian Ocean Strike Force. Tjilitjap draws slowly but steadily closer, but the pace is so glacial compared to what the sailors crewing these fast warships are used to that it seems as though they are hardly moving at all.
The only ones who are too busy to feel this way are the men fighting deep below decks aboard Hiryu to stave off the flooding. The work is backbreaking and dangerous, but while the waters are slowly winning the men have thus far limited the damage enough to give Hiryu a chance to reach port.
Men and machinery are reaching their limits, however. Pumps begin to fail after a week of heavy use, and manual labor too is beginning to falter as men reach their limit. More pumps and men are transferred from Zuikaku in an effort to keep Hiryu afloat just a few more days.
---
At Tjilitjap a pair of small transports drop anchor in the harbor. These ships contain support staff and damage control experts from Second Fleet headquarters in Singapore. As these men disembark another ship arrives. This is the repair ship Kitahuku Maru, also from Singapore. The chief repair engineer inspects the harbor facilities and shakes his head sadly. The facilities are suitable for coastal luggers and tramp steamers, not for fleet carriers. Still, they will do what they can with what they have to work with if Hiryu successfully makes port.
---
“Hey, Oizuma!” calls Shiro cheerfully. “I finished it.” He and Riku enter the chain storage locker that Oizuma and a number of other sailors use as a bunk room. They are lugging a sturdy wooden rectangular crate. Seaman Oizuma looks up from his hammock, then expertly times his roll out of it with the roll of the ship. He comes over to the two men as they set down the crate.
“That looks good!” he says enthusiastically. “Thanks a lot, Kurumata!” He looks the crate over. “You really should not have gone to so much effort, I am not worthy of the amount of time you obviously put into this.”
“Nonsense,” Shiro says. “My poor efforts are hardly good enough for Benzaiten.” Riku laughs.
“I still can’t believe you named her Benzaiten,” he says. “That’s pretty cheeky, Oizuma.”
“I thought maybe it would bring us luck,” says Oizuma, looking a little embarrassed.
“Let’s see this famous snake,” says Shiro. Oizuma brightens. He leads the other two over to a large leather satchel stowed under his hammock. “She’s in here,” he says. Shiro kneels down and unfastens the clasps on the bag. Riku, not quite as fond of snakes, hangs back a little. Shiro peers inside.
“I’ve made a mistake,” he says in dismay. “She’s much smaller than I thought. The crate I made will never hold her.”
“What?” says Oizuma in confusion. He bends over beside Shiro, pushing the hammock out of the way. In the center of the bag is a tiny snake. It looks just like Benzaiten, but much smaller. Shiro carefully lifts it out. Oizuma looks at it, then lifts the bag and peers more deeply into it.
He reaches in and pulls out a fragment of eggshell, and then another. Then he reaches in and pulls out three more small snakes, cradling them gently. One bites his finger, but he hardly notices. Shiro reaches out and pokes his fingers through a hole at one end of the bag.
“Oh no,” moans Oizuma. “The Lieutenant is going to kill me!” Riku shakes his head.
“Nonsense,” he says. “That won’t happen. He’ll have Shun do it. Painfully.”
“Messily,” Shiro agrees. Oizuma leans against a bulkhead and slides slowly down it until he is sitting on the floor, still holding the snakes. Shiro bends over and adds his snake to the little writhing bundle and then roots through the satchel for a moment.
“Maybe we have all the snakes except Benzaiten,” says Oizuma hopefully.
“I count twenty-two empty eggshells,” says Shiro.
“Only eighteen missing, then,” says Riku. “And Benzaiten, of course.” Oizuma groans and hangs his head. From the companionway outside comes a sudden shriek of surprise and fear.
“Seventeen missing,” says Riku cheerfully.
---
Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 70, Fires 0. Distance to port: 250 miles
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Ooooh, four hexes and a bit. It's down to the proverbial wire...
We are all dreams of the Giant Space Butterfly.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
The system and flood damage levels are nearly static. Much to my surprise, Hiryu, may make it to port. Congrats to Cuttlefish on making this a most dramatic trek.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Hibiki, however, is awash in...yep, snakes. Maybe the screenplay should be Snakes on a Fighting Ship.
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: princep01
Hibiki, however, is awash in...yep, snakes. Maybe the screenplay should be Snakes on a Fighting Ship.
Tune in next time, when we will hear:
Captain Ishii: You are kidding me.
Lieutenant Miharu: No sir. I'm afraid that's the situation.
Captain Ishii: Lieutenant, get those m....
Lieutenant Miharu: Don't say it, sir. Please.
Captain Ishii: What?
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
March 13, 1943
Location: 120 miles southeast of Tjilitjap
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 396
Orders: Escort damaged carriers to Tjilitjap for emergency repairs
---
The Great Snake Hunt is underway aboard Hibiki. Teams of men comb the ship, looking in every tiny nook and cranny. And there are a lot of nooks and crannys in a destroyer.
Captain Ishii was initially annoyed over the incident and had a few harsh words for his executive officer. After some reflection, however, he has decided to make the best of the situation. The slow pace of the voyage and the stress of long weeks of sea have taken a toll on the men, and this makes a nice diversion. He has the word passed that an extra day of leave will be granted to anyone who captures a snake. To say that this spurs enthusiasm for the hunt is an understatement.
Benzaiten herself is quickly recovered and placed ceremoniously in her new and hopefully escape-proof crate. The young ones are smaller and faster and prove to be quite a challenge. By the end of the day seven have been found, leaving ten still at large. As night falls almost every man aboard ship who has any free time continues to look for snakes, and a betting pool over when the last snake will be recovered does brisk business.
Captain Ishii is far more concerned about Hiryu than he is about errant reptiles. A report from the carrier indicates that the waters have made further inroads and that if Hiryu does not get help soon she is doomed. Fortunately Tjilitjap is now only a day away, provided the task force can make any speed at all.
---
Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 76, Fires 0. Distance to port: 120 miles
---
A Borneo blood python:
Location: 120 miles southeast of Tjilitjap
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 396
Orders: Escort damaged carriers to Tjilitjap for emergency repairs
---
The Great Snake Hunt is underway aboard Hibiki. Teams of men comb the ship, looking in every tiny nook and cranny. And there are a lot of nooks and crannys in a destroyer.
Captain Ishii was initially annoyed over the incident and had a few harsh words for his executive officer. After some reflection, however, he has decided to make the best of the situation. The slow pace of the voyage and the stress of long weeks of sea have taken a toll on the men, and this makes a nice diversion. He has the word passed that an extra day of leave will be granted to anyone who captures a snake. To say that this spurs enthusiasm for the hunt is an understatement.
Benzaiten herself is quickly recovered and placed ceremoniously in her new and hopefully escape-proof crate. The young ones are smaller and faster and prove to be quite a challenge. By the end of the day seven have been found, leaving ten still at large. As night falls almost every man aboard ship who has any free time continues to look for snakes, and a betting pool over when the last snake will be recovered does brisk business.
Captain Ishii is far more concerned about Hiryu than he is about errant reptiles. A report from the carrier indicates that the waters have made further inroads and that if Hiryu does not get help soon she is doomed. Fortunately Tjilitjap is now only a day away, provided the task force can make any speed at all.
---
Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 76, Fires 0. Distance to port: 120 miles
---
A Borneo blood python:
- Attachments
-
- borneo_blood_python.jpg (52.88 KiB) Viewed 212 times
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Those few remaining rats on Hibiki, haven't got a chance.
Benzaiten might have been trying to swim over to the floundering, Hiryu. The local rats have to be nearly to the flight deck in their effort to stay ahead of the rising water. A virtual smorgasbord would have awaited the python and whatever youngsters might have made the swim.
Benzaiten might have been trying to swim over to the floundering, Hiryu. The local rats have to be nearly to the flight deck in their effort to stay ahead of the rising water. A virtual smorgasbord would have awaited the python and whatever youngsters might have made the swim.
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Capt. Harlock
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
A report from the carrier indicates that the waters have made further inroads and that if Hiryu does not get help soon she is doomed. Fortunately Tjilitjap is now only a day away, provided the task force can make any speed at all.
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Hiryu watch: Sys 43, Flood 76, Fires 0. Distance to port: 120 miles
And no visits from Allied submarines. Wolffpack hasn't lived up to his name![:-]
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
RE: Small Ship, Big War
If Hiryu does go down, we could change the name of the screenplay to Rats on a Raft.