Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
RE: Small Ship, Big War
You can't claim to be surprised...[:'(]
We are all dreams of the Giant Space Butterfly.
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Onime No Kyo
- Posts: 16846
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
No sir [:D]
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Spend the last days working thru this great AAR and oh boy what a pleasure it was.
Keep up this fantastic work!
Keep up this fantastic work!
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: BigDuke66
Spend the last days working thru this great AAR and oh boy what a pleasure it was.
Keep up this fantastic work!
Thanks and welcome aboard, glad you enjoyed wading through all that. Hibiki has been through a lot already, and there is more to come.
Speaking of which, I'm back from vacation and ready to try and catch up with the game, which is now at the end of April. So let's get to it...
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Cuttlefish
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- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
March 24, 1943
Location: 135 miles south-southeast of Balikpapan
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 298
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
The sun begins to set at the end of a long, tense day for the Japanese ships slowly zig zagging eastward across the Java Sea. There have been no attacks, no sightings or sudden alarms. No one aboard Hibiki has said “It’s quiet…too quiet,” but that thought, or something like it, has occurred to several people as the day has worn on.
Certainly Captain Ishii thinks so. He stands on the bridge, binoculars in hand, looking out at the choppy water. The enemy submarine is out there, he feels it in his bones. The commander of the sub, he thinks, is probably waiting for nightfall to make his move.
The six remaining destroyers in the task force have tried to make it difficult for an attacker, avoiding regular patrol patterns and keeping a watchful eye on the cruisers and carriers in their charge. The rain halted around midday, giving good visibility. This advantage, of course, is a knife that cuts both ways.
Ishii steps out onto an observation platform and looks back at the sun, now setting almost directly astern of the ships. The sunlight forms a blinding trail across the water, and Ishii is glad the task force is traveling east. Any other direction would provide excellent cover for a submarine trying to ambush the task force.
He next looks at Akagi, limping along at about 16 knots. The carrier is struggling but in no danger of sinking, provided of course she takes no further damage. She trails Zuikaku, with heavy cruisers fore and aft of the two carriers.
A signal light begins to flash aboard Zuikaku. The signal is for a course change to the northeast, bringing the task force into the Makassar Strait. Ishii has been waiting for this, and passes the order to the helm. Hibiki swings smoothly to port along with the rest of the ships.
Half an hour later, with the sun now just above the horizon, the task force begins to shift course to the north, part of the zig zag maneuvering designed to prevent a submarine from lining up a shot. It suddenly occurs to Ishii that if the enemy submarine was in fact trailing them this maneuver would give them a perfect opportunity. They could hide in the setting sun and line up a perfect shot at Akagi or any other target they cared to shoot at.
“Course change!” snaps Ishii to his helmsman. “Bring us left 90 degrees. Engine room, give me 30 knots!” He whirls around and yells at the sailor on the signal lamp. “Signal Minazuki to follow us!”
Ishii runs out onto the port wing, looking west as the crew responds quickly to his orders and Hibiki begins rumble around in a tight turn, gaining speed. Ishii has just stripped the port flank of the task force of most of its protection without waiting for orders. If something goes wrong now his career is over. Ishii is not thinking of that, however. All of his attention is bent to the west.
“Combat stations!’ he barks. “Pass the word, lookouts concentrate forward. Look near the setting sun!” Behind Hibiki destroyer Minazuki responds to Hibiki’s signal and also comes about, though more slowly.
Ishii’s intuition is not wrong. The submarine that torpedoed Akagi last night is SS Grayling, and she has been patiently stalking the crippled carrier all day. The enemy captain has realized his chance and is even now at periscope depth. Akagi is coming right into his sights, a perfect target and closer than he could normally risk getting.
It is Ensign Izu, the amateur bird watcher and one of the keenest eyed men aboard ship, who spots the periscope. He bawls out the warning. Ishii raises his binoculars. There, yes, there! Eyes watering from the glare, he orders the forward 5” turret to open fire.
The gunnery officer calculates quickly and passes the figures to the forward turret. The twin guns depress slightly, then boom in unison. The destroyer’s aim is slightly high. The shells pass right over the periscope and geyser into the sea beyond.
Aboard Minazuki they have been wondering what the hell Ishii is up to. Now, guided by Hibiki’s shot, they too see the enemy sub. They accelerate towards it, loading depth charges as they go.
The periscope is already descending beneath the surface. Hibiki gets off one more shot. These shells are closer, but there is no immediate sign a hit has been scored. Minazuki charges over the spot, flinging depth charges off her stern. More geysers of waters fountain upwards.
Hibiki and Minazuki seek the enemy submarine for another two hours, dropping the occasional depth charge in hopes of getting lucky. Grayling, though held down by the two destroyers, takes very little damage from the attack. She does, however, lose track of the Japanese carriers, who change course while Grayling is under attack. This time, at least, the enemy has been thwarted.
Location: 135 miles south-southeast of Balikpapan
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 298
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
The sun begins to set at the end of a long, tense day for the Japanese ships slowly zig zagging eastward across the Java Sea. There have been no attacks, no sightings or sudden alarms. No one aboard Hibiki has said “It’s quiet…too quiet,” but that thought, or something like it, has occurred to several people as the day has worn on.
Certainly Captain Ishii thinks so. He stands on the bridge, binoculars in hand, looking out at the choppy water. The enemy submarine is out there, he feels it in his bones. The commander of the sub, he thinks, is probably waiting for nightfall to make his move.
The six remaining destroyers in the task force have tried to make it difficult for an attacker, avoiding regular patrol patterns and keeping a watchful eye on the cruisers and carriers in their charge. The rain halted around midday, giving good visibility. This advantage, of course, is a knife that cuts both ways.
Ishii steps out onto an observation platform and looks back at the sun, now setting almost directly astern of the ships. The sunlight forms a blinding trail across the water, and Ishii is glad the task force is traveling east. Any other direction would provide excellent cover for a submarine trying to ambush the task force.
He next looks at Akagi, limping along at about 16 knots. The carrier is struggling but in no danger of sinking, provided of course she takes no further damage. She trails Zuikaku, with heavy cruisers fore and aft of the two carriers.
A signal light begins to flash aboard Zuikaku. The signal is for a course change to the northeast, bringing the task force into the Makassar Strait. Ishii has been waiting for this, and passes the order to the helm. Hibiki swings smoothly to port along with the rest of the ships.
Half an hour later, with the sun now just above the horizon, the task force begins to shift course to the north, part of the zig zag maneuvering designed to prevent a submarine from lining up a shot. It suddenly occurs to Ishii that if the enemy submarine was in fact trailing them this maneuver would give them a perfect opportunity. They could hide in the setting sun and line up a perfect shot at Akagi or any other target they cared to shoot at.
“Course change!” snaps Ishii to his helmsman. “Bring us left 90 degrees. Engine room, give me 30 knots!” He whirls around and yells at the sailor on the signal lamp. “Signal Minazuki to follow us!”
Ishii runs out onto the port wing, looking west as the crew responds quickly to his orders and Hibiki begins rumble around in a tight turn, gaining speed. Ishii has just stripped the port flank of the task force of most of its protection without waiting for orders. If something goes wrong now his career is over. Ishii is not thinking of that, however. All of his attention is bent to the west.
“Combat stations!’ he barks. “Pass the word, lookouts concentrate forward. Look near the setting sun!” Behind Hibiki destroyer Minazuki responds to Hibiki’s signal and also comes about, though more slowly.
Ishii’s intuition is not wrong. The submarine that torpedoed Akagi last night is SS Grayling, and she has been patiently stalking the crippled carrier all day. The enemy captain has realized his chance and is even now at periscope depth. Akagi is coming right into his sights, a perfect target and closer than he could normally risk getting.
It is Ensign Izu, the amateur bird watcher and one of the keenest eyed men aboard ship, who spots the periscope. He bawls out the warning. Ishii raises his binoculars. There, yes, there! Eyes watering from the glare, he orders the forward 5” turret to open fire.
The gunnery officer calculates quickly and passes the figures to the forward turret. The twin guns depress slightly, then boom in unison. The destroyer’s aim is slightly high. The shells pass right over the periscope and geyser into the sea beyond.
Aboard Minazuki they have been wondering what the hell Ishii is up to. Now, guided by Hibiki’s shot, they too see the enemy sub. They accelerate towards it, loading depth charges as they go.
The periscope is already descending beneath the surface. Hibiki gets off one more shot. These shells are closer, but there is no immediate sign a hit has been scored. Minazuki charges over the spot, flinging depth charges off her stern. More geysers of waters fountain upwards.
Hibiki and Minazuki seek the enemy submarine for another two hours, dropping the occasional depth charge in hopes of getting lucky. Grayling, though held down by the two destroyers, takes very little damage from the attack. She does, however, lose track of the Japanese carriers, who change course while Grayling is under attack. This time, at least, the enemy has been thwarted.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Phew!
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Good one! I think that we just witnessed an excellent tin can driver in action.
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
luckyyy
but how long can Akagi hide from the mighty USN [:D]
but how long can Akagi hide from the mighty USN [:D]
RE: Small Ship, Big War
hehe hey fishy check this out
Day Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 63,93
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
A6M2 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
SBD Dauntless x 69
TBF Avenger x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 3 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed
TBF Avenger: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
MSW Tama Maru
DD Inazuma
AK Lyons Maru
TK Toei Maru
AK Nissyu Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Myoko Maru
AK Nankai Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Muroran Maru
DD Hibiki, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Mito Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Nansin Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Sozan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kunikawa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Naruto Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
PG Koei Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Day Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 63,93
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
A6M2 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
SBD Dauntless x 69
TBF Avenger x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 3 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed
TBF Avenger: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
MSW Tama Maru
DD Inazuma
AK Lyons Maru
TK Toei Maru
AK Nissyu Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Myoko Maru
AK Nankai Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Muroran Maru
DD Hibiki, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Mito Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Nansin Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Sozan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kunikawa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Naruto Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
PG Koei Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
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Admiral DadMan
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
marky, please spam someone else's thread. thank you
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Capt. Harlock
- Posts: 5379
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- Contact:
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
The periscope is already descending beneath the surface. Hibiki gets off one more shot. These shells are closer, but there is no immediate sign a hit has been scored. Minazuki charges over the spot, flinging depth charges off her stern. More geysers of waters fountain upwards.
Hibiki and Minazuki seek the enemy submarine for another two hours, dropping the occasional depth charge in hopes of getting lucky. Grayling, though held down by the two destroyers, takes very little damage from the attack. She does, however, lose track of the Japanese carriers, who change course while Grayling is under attack. This time, at least, the enemy has been thwarted.
Impressive bit of work! Oh, well, Wolffpack can sink the Akagi some other day . . .
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
Impressive bit of work! Oh, well, Wolffpack can sink the Akagi some other day . . .
He is certain to have other chances. It's really kind of sad. At the moment Kido Butai still rules the waves. They, and our heroes aboard Hibiki, have no way of knowing how long the shadows across the Pacific are already getting.
As a side note, though, it won't be at the hands of submarine Grayling. Shortly after the events just related the sub heads west towards Singapore, where it has a fatal encounter with a Ki-21 bomber.
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
March 25, 1943
Location: 100 miles north-northeast of Balikpapan
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 261
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
A trio of destroyers from Balikpapan makes rendezvous with the task force. They will escort Akagi back into the base, where enough repairs will be done to allow her to return to the Home Islands for more extensive work.
This leaves Ozawa, who entered these waters almost three months ago with nine aircraft carriers, with only one carrier, Zuikaku. Of the others four have been damaged and four already dispatched to other areas.
Zuikaku and her escorts head towards Palau. While the Timor campaign was undoubtedly a victory for Japan there are few aboard Hibiki or any of the other ships who are sorry to leave behind the narrow seas and constricted straits of the Southern Resource Area. They point their bows towards the wide open waters of the Pacific and whatever the future holds for them there.
Location: 100 miles north-northeast of Balikpapan
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 261
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
A trio of destroyers from Balikpapan makes rendezvous with the task force. They will escort Akagi back into the base, where enough repairs will be done to allow her to return to the Home Islands for more extensive work.
This leaves Ozawa, who entered these waters almost three months ago with nine aircraft carriers, with only one carrier, Zuikaku. Of the others four have been damaged and four already dispatched to other areas.
Zuikaku and her escorts head towards Palau. While the Timor campaign was undoubtedly a victory for Japan there are few aboard Hibiki or any of the other ships who are sorry to leave behind the narrow seas and constricted straits of the Southern Resource Area. They point their bows towards the wide open waters of the Pacific and whatever the future holds for them there.
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
March 26, 1943
Location: 150 miles west of Manado
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 217
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
From the diary of Petty Officer Second Class Taiki Takahashi:
There’s still no word of where we will go after we reach Palau. Most of the men are hoping for a trip home. I am too. We are proud to serve, of course, and willing to go wherever we are ordered, but it is a long time since we saw Japan. If we headed there straight from Palau we might even be in time to see some cherry blossoms.
Provided no more ships get torpedoed, of course. Everybody is being especially vigilant on lookout. I think the crew feels that it would be nice to score against a submarine for a change. We have now encountered them five or six times and have yet to sink one.
Whenever we drop depth charges I used to think of how it must be to be in a shell under the water, feeling the explosions and waiting for the hull to crack and the water to come pouring in. I think if we ever do sink one, though, I will cheer as loudly as anyone. I want to strike back against those sneaky devils. I am tired of feeling as though I am in danger every second, even hundreds of miles from the nearest enemy stronghold. I do not think I am becoming bloodthirsty. I just think I want to get them before they get me.
There are bigger problems than submarines, though. I will have to decide what to say to Nanami Shun and write a letter to her before we leave Palau. I can assure her that Riku is safe and well and all that, but what do I tell her about why he hasn’t written? How do I explain why he has not even read her letter? The truth about the business between Riku and her father would probably be very distressing to her, and it might lead to all sorts of complications, none of which would be good. It might even end up with Shun’s hand around my throat, and I do not think I would like that!
Thinking about it is making my head hurt. Helping them both is my duty as a friend, but it is not a job I am very well suited for. I make a very strange nakôdo.*
*A professional matchmaker; the term literally means “middle person”.
Location: 150 miles west of Manado
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 217
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
From the diary of Petty Officer Second Class Taiki Takahashi:
There’s still no word of where we will go after we reach Palau. Most of the men are hoping for a trip home. I am too. We are proud to serve, of course, and willing to go wherever we are ordered, but it is a long time since we saw Japan. If we headed there straight from Palau we might even be in time to see some cherry blossoms.
Provided no more ships get torpedoed, of course. Everybody is being especially vigilant on lookout. I think the crew feels that it would be nice to score against a submarine for a change. We have now encountered them five or six times and have yet to sink one.
Whenever we drop depth charges I used to think of how it must be to be in a shell under the water, feeling the explosions and waiting for the hull to crack and the water to come pouring in. I think if we ever do sink one, though, I will cheer as loudly as anyone. I want to strike back against those sneaky devils. I am tired of feeling as though I am in danger every second, even hundreds of miles from the nearest enemy stronghold. I do not think I am becoming bloodthirsty. I just think I want to get them before they get me.
There are bigger problems than submarines, though. I will have to decide what to say to Nanami Shun and write a letter to her before we leave Palau. I can assure her that Riku is safe and well and all that, but what do I tell her about why he hasn’t written? How do I explain why he has not even read her letter? The truth about the business between Riku and her father would probably be very distressing to her, and it might lead to all sorts of complications, none of which would be good. It might even end up with Shun’s hand around my throat, and I do not think I would like that!
Thinking about it is making my head hurt. Helping them both is my duty as a friend, but it is not a job I am very well suited for. I make a very strange nakôdo.*
*A professional matchmaker; the term literally means “middle person”.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
This thread is sooo good!
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
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AU Tiger_MatrixForum
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Admiral DadMan
marky, please spam someone else's thread. thank you
marky? I don't see any marky. Oh yeah, I blocked him. Nevermind, forget I said anything.
Bravo CF! I have been too busy to keep up with the AAR, but this weekend I caught up through the last twenty pages. I was disappointed to reach the end. Perhaps I will go another several months without reading so I can enjoy a quiet Sunday like the last, sometime in the future.
"Never take counsel of your fears."
Tho. Jackson
Tho. Jackson
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Historiker
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
Who doesn't? [:D]ORIGINAL: AU Tiger
ORIGINAL: Admiral DadMan
marky, please spam someone else's thread. thank you
marky? I don't see any marky. Oh yeah, I blocked him. Nevermind, forget I said anything.
Great AAR CF!
Without any doubt: I am the spawn of evil - and the Bavarian Beer Monster (BBM)!
There's only one bad word and that's taxes. If any other word is good enough for sailors; it's good enough for you. - Ron Swanson
There's only one bad word and that's taxes. If any other word is good enough for sailors; it's good enough for you. - Ron Swanson
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
March 27, 1943
Location: 60 miles southwest of Morotai
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 173
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
“Why the long face, Seaman Kurumata?” asks Taiki, coming up beside Shiro. Shiro has been chipping and scraping away rust from the depth charge racks at the stern, but at the moment is standing and looking at the water churning away behind Hibiki. Shiro startles and comes to attention.
“I am sorry, Petty Officer,” he says. “I will…” Taiki holds up a restraining hand.
“Relax,” he says. “I am not here to berate you. I am just not used to seeing you look so gloomy.” Shiro sighs and relaxes slightly.
“I was just thinking about the girl,” he says.
“The one you were supposed to marry?” asks Taiki. Shiro nods.
“I know, it is water under the bridge and all that,” he says. “Still, it was nice to think about.” Taiki steps up beside Shiro and looks out at the water as well. Automatically he raises his binoculars and scrutinizes the sea between Hibiki and the next ship in line, Minazuki. After satisfying himself that all is well he lowers the binoculars.
“Women,” he says after a moment. “How long has it been since we’ve even seen one?”
“Well,” says Shiro, “there was that old native woman selling roasted lizards at Tjilitjap.” Taiki snorts.
“She was at least eighty and had no teeth,” he says. “I mean young women, Japanese women.”
“At Tokyo ten months ago,” Shiro says promptly. Taiki shakes his head.
“That’s a long time,” he says.
“Yes, it is.” There is a moment’s silence.
“Well, carry on,” says Taiki finally. He departs, now looking almost as gloomy as Shiro. Shiro picks up a scraper and turns back to the depth charge rack, where he begins to attack a patch of rust with great vigor.
Location: 60 miles southwest of Morotai
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 173
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
“Why the long face, Seaman Kurumata?” asks Taiki, coming up beside Shiro. Shiro has been chipping and scraping away rust from the depth charge racks at the stern, but at the moment is standing and looking at the water churning away behind Hibiki. Shiro startles and comes to attention.
“I am sorry, Petty Officer,” he says. “I will…” Taiki holds up a restraining hand.
“Relax,” he says. “I am not here to berate you. I am just not used to seeing you look so gloomy.” Shiro sighs and relaxes slightly.
“I was just thinking about the girl,” he says.
“The one you were supposed to marry?” asks Taiki. Shiro nods.
“I know, it is water under the bridge and all that,” he says. “Still, it was nice to think about.” Taiki steps up beside Shiro and looks out at the water as well. Automatically he raises his binoculars and scrutinizes the sea between Hibiki and the next ship in line, Minazuki. After satisfying himself that all is well he lowers the binoculars.
“Women,” he says after a moment. “How long has it been since we’ve even seen one?”
“Well,” says Shiro, “there was that old native woman selling roasted lizards at Tjilitjap.” Taiki snorts.
“She was at least eighty and had no teeth,” he says. “I mean young women, Japanese women.”
“At Tokyo ten months ago,” Shiro says promptly. Taiki shakes his head.
“That’s a long time,” he says.
“Yes, it is.” There is a moment’s silence.
“Well, carry on,” says Taiki finally. He departs, now looking almost as gloomy as Shiro. Shiro picks up a scraper and turns back to the depth charge rack, where he begins to attack a patch of rust with great vigor.
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
March 28, 1943
Location: 250 miles southwest of Palau
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 130
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
Communication from Combined Fleet headquarters to Admiral Ozawa:
[font="Courier New"]Enemy air and surface activity increasing in area New Guinea/New Britain. Expedite refueling and provisioning at Palau and proceed to Truk. There you will detach two destroyers to join forces operating out of Rabaul.[/font]
Communication from Admiral Ozawa to Combined Fleet headquarters:
[font="Courier New"]Orders acknowledged. Be aware that all ships in this command have just completed extended combat operations. Recommend fresh ships and crews be dispatched to Rabaul if possible.[/font]
Communication from Combined Fleet headquarters to Admiral Ozawa:
[font="Courier New"]Your concerns are noted. No other forces available in area at this time. Inform selected ships that we commend their performance and are confident they will continue to carry out their duties with proper fighting spirit.[/font]
Location: 250 miles southwest of Palau
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 130
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
Communication from Combined Fleet headquarters to Admiral Ozawa:
[font="Courier New"]Enemy air and surface activity increasing in area New Guinea/New Britain. Expedite refueling and provisioning at Palau and proceed to Truk. There you will detach two destroyers to join forces operating out of Rabaul.[/font]
Communication from Admiral Ozawa to Combined Fleet headquarters:
[font="Courier New"]Orders acknowledged. Be aware that all ships in this command have just completed extended combat operations. Recommend fresh ships and crews be dispatched to Rabaul if possible.[/font]
Communication from Combined Fleet headquarters to Admiral Ozawa:
[font="Courier New"]Your concerns are noted. No other forces available in area at this time. Inform selected ships that we commend their performance and are confident they will continue to carry out their duties with proper fighting spirit.[/font]