herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[1275psi]

From
Burma Command
to Pacific command


Top secret
Immediate

SCOTCH intelligence for today:

Marianna's defence

"Not considered as high piority -navy insists will never be invaded"

Guam
31st army HQ
1 regiment, 2 naval guard units, 1 SNLF - 3 base forces -50000 men

Tinian
19th army
30th div, 3 eng units, 2 base support units - 40000 men

Siapan
1st guards div, 11 mix regiment
2 coastal gun regiments, support troops, 51000 men

9 fighter units, 5 bomber units in islands -"but many reserves held back in Phillipines"

SCOTCH considers that invasion Siapan impossible.
Also believes considerable reinforcements slated for these islands.

islands heavily fortified.

[1275psi]

10/4/44

Juni dives.

Cold, cold, cold, the eyes hard flints, the face that killer mask -the burns down one side glowing

The great Liberator lumbersahead, and above - and Juni smiles -how sweet not to have to close so close as in the 44 -now he can...........

The cannons hammer - solid banging, banging, banging -he holds them to brief bursts -following, noting the hits -the flashes on the enemy

One of its engines stop.

adjust

he is humming.

he fires again -the flashes break out all over her again..........and something falls, flashes past his cockpit -and the eyes grab the vision forever -a single bloody arm....

Another burst.................and the guns his empty.

he pulls away to the side, studies the wounded beast -calculating, calculating. Will she fall?, or will she crawl home -flying carnage and gore?

And he decides.
let them see what coming over here really means -what bombing costs
The Barsteds
Bomb the land of the son of heaven?

No - go home American, drown in your blood.

Cooly, he turns away -and begins to think of the meal planned for tonight...................

[1275psi]

Somewhere in Washington an industrial expert reads a small report marked top secret
The mans expertise -mass production, and he has a intimate knowledeg of Japans pre war industry.

One day, this man will become one of America's greatest manufacturers.


............latest intelligence reports of japanese fighter production

Ki-84 - 17 per day
zeke - 6 per day
KI-61 - 2 per day
jack -1 per day
George -3 per day


17 Gales per day!
The man whistles
"Remind me when this war is over to offer this Iwaya character a job!"

[CV Zuikaku]

This was most interesting and enjoying AAR so far. But I'm not sure that doing suicide is going to be interesting. And by giving all this info you are doing seppuku. -and that is not gonna be very enjoyable to watch. Maybe it's just me...

[1275psi]

fair point -but I obviously don't agree
All I think I am doing at the meoment is giving a picture of Japans strength at the moment -and there has been little he should not have known already

Due to the 'security breach," a lot of forces are already being moved, planned to be moved.
Finally, IRL, Allies had Japan intelligence by 44 far better than this............... and cantona and I are trying to play a real game.
Anyway, I really appreciate the comments, and people following.
Seppuka ain't my style - I have a few tricks up my sleeves yet

For cantona
In light of above comment - I think Iwaya will only give one more freebie -I think he has realised his peace plan was futile
Send your last question mate - and use what you got wisely!

[1275psi]

12/4/44

Miyazuki circles, as he has done and done, and done, seemingly forever.
Around him, 47th sentai maintain CAP -waiting for the next days struggle.

Then, 5000 feet below -, plain against the endless green -two silver crosses.
Miyazuki has a second take -yes -just two bombers -doing God knows what.

And Nakamura calls "Miyazuki -its been a while -take em"
And suddenly the fear of failing him -not of the forthcoming battle is the dominate feeling

He grits his teeth, takes a deep breath, and pulls her into the dive

Its been a while, this committing to the Nakamura Knife - he pulls it off beautifully.
The lead bomber floats into view almost at the complete moment - the dive is steep and pure and beautiful and just OH so right, and the tracer reaches, and touches, and the cockpit explodes, and he is past, nary a sratch, and it has been so, so perfectly done -he must remember this forever, and he pulls her up, and turns, and watches, and watches as the broken beast falls, and falls into the earth below.

karma



(Miyazuki finally gets a second kill)

[1275psi]

12/4/44

China launches a serious attack on central front -pushing towards Nanchang -and Homan too is under attack.
The China monster stirs now that it is being fed properly.

Nobody in Japan hears of this, of course, but large numbers of troops are immediately affected. Japan has neglected this front for too long -soon the streets of Tokyo, and many other ports will reverb to the pounding of marching boots.


Eleswhere in the pacific -Captain Umeya looks up at the flag with pleasuer.
This skull and cross bones must be fully 20 feet across -and today it whips in the ships steady breeze.
Commanding a task force he thinks, was well and fine.
Raiding the far corners of the world is somehow more interesting. If , of course you get away with it.

[1275psi]

Tanaka's hip hurts.
But it is a god hurt, one bought about by too much physical activity -and this is activity he likes -the bracing of one's self against the roll of the sea

This,he knows, is where he belongs
Not somewhere plotting, not somewhere in the muck of politics.
here, on the bridge of a warship -at the head of many other warships -steaming, steaming, looking for trouble.


The coup attempt , Iwaya's defection, have for the last two weeks almost paralysed Japans military. But now, as if waking from a bad dream, her navy is shaking its head, and returning to the job.
She remains immensly strong -and immensly aggressive. And immensly detirmined to take the fight to the enemy -wherever they are................

[1275psi]

14/4/44

Every battle is different
Each evolves in its own way 0sometimes the combatents drive the action, sometimes it seems fickle fate takes charge, and uses mere men forits amusement

Today is such a day

The CAP, once again circles over the front line North of Moulmien field, waiting for the Allies to come.

The weather is patchy, another angry sky full of clouds, and below, patches of rain and mist.
Chuzaburo -, who leads this flight today -detaches the KI-61's for home -and they peel away, and dive for the field some 30 miles away to their south.
Our men watch enviously as the little planes fade from view below and to the rear - those lucky barsteds will take the pickings of the daily meal for sure, and then nearly 40 men stare in surprise as the twin tailed devils flash below them -out of the clouds -hot on the heels of the tonies.

The 15 KI-61's see them -and put their noses down, throttles to the wall -and run.
47th lead the Frank chase -violent gut crushing turn dives, and engines on full emergency boost -they chase the pursuers.
15 Tonies, weaving frantically before 42 diving 38's -who now have their hands full with 40 odd chasing Franks

But nobody is going to give up the chase, or their quarry...........

And then, coming in almost at right angles -20 odd P-61's try to join the fun.

This running fight (for those who live) becomes THE classic for them -a mad house of slipping, sliding, rocking, climbing, diving, rolling, dodging and firing -all the time getting lower, and lower.
Nearly 120 magnificent pieces of machinery pressed to the limits, nearly 120 of two nations very finest in the ultimate race.

6 P38 fall, 4 frank, a tony fall
47th lose none, and take down two 38's -kills now 123

That evening, the men will spend many, many hours recounting the flight, all, to the last man, know that this has been the ultimate test of skill and courage.
Luck has taken a holiday today
None will mention those who fell.

Today -quite simply -they were not good enough.

[1275psi]

bridge of the Mushia

'Enemy CVE's spotted due south wewak, many APs as well, fleet is moving north'

"Shall we sail sir?'
Yamamoto stares out at the men ecercising on his mighty forepeak.
"When I know if its worth it, I will. Let the Army deal with it"

[1275psi]

15/4/44


Able seaman Miyazuki takes his place. A promotion. Watch leader, main observation area, directly underneath the main director.
Below him, the great ship bustles -yet more drills

Miyazuki is being as studious as he possibly can be -less than 4 feet away, THE great man is in conversation, and our young man strains to hear everyword spoken, with out seeming to listen

An invasion (aitape? -where the hell is that?) is being discussed between Admirals -but it is this sentence that thrills him
"I don't think the Allies are coming just yet -because they can't - despite everything Yamada -I do believe we can win this yet -just one more carrier killing............"

[1275psi]

Extract from shattering the sword, a cantona production

..............and this concluded the third B-29 raid on Japan - a 20 bomber raid on ToyoHama -again with poor results.
On Japans part - satisfaction. Staging these great planes from the Alutiens must be taking a huge effort -and with weather, airfield restrictions and the rest - "these new wonder weapons" posed no real threat. No, The Allies must, must sieze a large field somewhere else.. But as April 44 rolled on, many begin to think, maybe, just maybe, they don't have the capability to..............








I know this is not important but score is about 44000 to 26000 at the moment (i think) and the list of allied CV's / BBs sunk is awful long, and I think he is still fixing a few banged up ones.[:'(]

[cantona2]

Captain Saxby handed the prisoner over to the MPs and watched the car as they drove him away. One minute he was talking freely, expressing his hatred of the Dictator and his love of country and family. Of how he feared that Japan would eventually be made laid to waste by the new B-29 bomber. All of a sudden, from one day to the next, he unexpectedly clamed up, an attack of the concscience perhaps? He refused to talk no more, and not even the threat of war crime charges had made him change his mind. Yet the information provided was crucial and was already having an influence in the field. Saxby would miss the old man, a genuinely confusing feeling as he was responsible for the many planes and bullets killing his fellow soldiers all across the Pacific.

[1275psi]

16/4/44


The night is not just dark -but that inky blackness that causes you to stumble and grope even here on the bridge of the ship you have spent so many hours upon.

'darkness is my friend' thinks Tanaka, feeling the breeze on his face - but with radar, a very uncertain friend
tanaka geads south, at full speed, his 7 destroyers line ahead - with DD Matsukaze 2 miles ahead, his trip wire.
The enemy are at Aitape -but there is no guarrantee he will rech there -Tanaka expects truoble well before then..............

"Go and poke a stick into them Tanaka, let them know the Imperial fleet still wants to play" Yamamoto had told him.
Sometimes though, when you poke sticks into dark places, nasty things happen.....

Matsukaze flashes -"many ships ahead -and simultanously his radar reports the same -a mass of enemy ships ahead.
Things happen quickly - "Hard to port! -torpedo action to starboard!"

Guns begin to bark -swift, sharp bangs -and night is rent into day by flashes of fire up and down the line.

Frieght trains shriek overhead -and the sea erupts into mountains of white phosphorous..........8'' at least
And now to starboard - 8000 yards away -a line of fire.
The decision is easy, now with the fish gone. " Hard to Port -thats enough stick poking!"

First action of Aitape takes just seven minutes. It costs the Matsukaze, shredded by a dozen heavy hits, and tomorrow will cost two more DD's -struck by the Avengers.

Yamamoto knows now though -what is coming from the south -2 BB's, 2CA's, 2CL's and far too many DD's.
Just how many ships do these buggars have!?

[1275psi]

From
Hollandia garrison
to
Southern command

Our airforces have sunk 1 CVE.
Enemy lands Aitape

This base has been obliterated -150 heavy bombers plus attacking

Long live the empire!

[1275psi]

Captain Hara, as always, wakes an hour before dawn
His day is a routine. he will rise, and read the days latest missives, speak to the engineer, the XO, and the airgroup commander

he will then eat lightly -usually on the bridge, propped up in one corner, watching carefully over the dawn watch OOW.
Dawn raised, early CAP away, a quick walk around some part of the ship - always letting Akagi's men know he cares, and thinks of them.
Always seeing if the old girl is ready with his own eyes.

After that- what ever the day brings.

The missives today are many -the invasion at Aitape -tanaka's report, B-29's hitting Ponape, and Liberators hitting Marcus.
Marcus
Ponape

He glances over to the Mushia -what does Yamamoto think of that ney?

If it was up to him, thinks Hara -this fleet would already be steaming hard east -'not waiting for events"

[1275psi]

17/4/44


The men gather around Nakamura, behind them over 100 engines beat, the noise beating into everyones bones.
Despite the strain, the weariness, excitement ripples through the pilots, many men shiver -not from the early morning chill.
"Right -who is sick of this daily crap ey? -time to dish some back'

Offensive sweep! -target -Akyab!

Nakamrua has "borrowed" a sentai of Nicks from Burma command -they have had a lazy war -hunting non existant Subs south of Bangkok -today they will put their low flying skills to the test.

Its another memorable day - no massed formation beating across the heavens - Nakamura is learning all about this thing called radar - he leads the great stream of fighters and fighter bombers north through the valleys, hugging the jungles.

For the japanese soldiers on the front - its overwhelming - first the hidden beat -somewhere in the hills, the jungles -the beat rising to a growl - heads look up, eyes searching the heavens -then they come flashing around the valey curves -aluminium glinting, wings over to the left, now to the right -and the tremendous bbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm as fighter after fighter howls so closely over head - the noise pressing your eardrums in - and the stunned infantry men, now cheering infantry men can even see the pilots so clearly -and the crouching tigers of those that have kept the bombers away for this heaven sent respite.

They stream over-again, and again, and agian -and nobody will ever forget that sight -and the noise, that tremendous glorious heart swelling noise goes up the valley, and fades away, and 10000 men go back into their holes, confident now, certain now -that with THAT behind them -they can never be beaten.

47th achieve complete surprise.
they burst over the last ridge, sweep down on the field -and catch nearly a dozen spitfires in circuit.
There is no real combat -just a few lucky men get to kill 7 very unlucky ones -and then the Nicks scatter a few bombs down the field, shoot up a truck, a few other minor things - and the raid is gone, and Akyab lies stunned in the growing sun.


Nakamura is pleased - many things accomplished today -and 47th have 126 kills total today .
Juni is not quite -Chuzaburo now has 9 -and is back in the lead............

[1275psi]

There are minor celebrations in the mess this night -2 more ACEs have been created - but they cannot go far -terribly alchol is short -not even Juni can produce a bottle tonight.

Nakamura hears them from hisoffice -the flimsies piled up to read in the mosquito laden light.
Hanoi bombed by the new heavy bomber............
Impressive plane
Another future problem to solve no doubt.

[1275psi]

0001 hr, 17/4/44

AB's Agarshi, Shimto formally take over the watch in Ryujo's port engine room -the whine of the turbine, the hum of the auxillaries, the same overpowering oppressive heat.
Nothing has changed in the last 8 hours -and the men do their oil rounds -topping up the main circ pump, adjusting the evaporator ever so slightly.

Rounds complete, they take their usual spots under the great ventilation outlets, take tea, and watch the instruments, and allow time to crawl by. Later - when it is coled, a purifier needs to be cleaned -but not just yet -that will fill the worst hour trying to stay awake nicely.
0030 -and telegraphs ring, rev indicatorbells tingle.

The numbers jingle - and rest on 270!
Full ahead!
Garble words on the voice pipe for the engineer of the watch - he nods -gives them a grin across the noise. -and points to the main circ pump.

Shimto takes its throttle -opens it -moves to the steam ejectors -opens the second one, and already the whine of the turbine is rising -getting even a small carrier to thirty knots is not an instant task.

Japanese engine systems are not terribly sophisticated -they are slightly more manpower extensive than american systems -but they rest on 100 years of british tradition.
They ARE reliable

Ryujo reaches 30 knots - and a white clad vision comes into the space -the Engineer himself!
He smiles -pats shoulders -spreads cigerretes.
"hanger deck is frantic men -look for a battle tomorrow. They say the entire fleet is here! Yamato herself is of our starboard beam! Now well done -and good luck with the dawn!'

Mobile fleet three -steams as hard as she can -due South - towards the packed invasion fleet of Aitape........

[1275psi]

Extract from Shattering the sword, a cantona production

Chapter 18
Battle for Aitape

"The slaughtering of the sheep"

Dawn sees..................