'Its begun"
Almost with a sigh, Takeji hands Hidaka the latest flimsy
"Have been attacked by SS, position x, Java sea. No damage, enemy submarine confirmed sunk" IJNS Hiyo
Hidaka scowls. "As if"
That brings a smile to the captains face, "Actually, she surfaced, tried to fight it out"
'And?"
'There were no survivors"
"Good"
"Yes.............good"
Zuiho plows on south towards the Java sea
Yes, another year, and it begins as expected, with a SS action.
But today, not quite as some would expect.
The little ship that could.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: The little ship that could.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
A mighty fleet sails east of Wewak, tracking back and forth across a small square of ocean, mighty shepherds to the fleets busy at the beaches of PNG's flank
On the carriers, the men are preparing for another days work, loading the hell divers, the Avengers, the hellcats.
How poetic these names are, how true to the names these Americans have given them.
Outside of the carriers, mighty battleships steam, waiting, begging for a chance to fight.
Destroyers are scattered as if confetti about them, and even more numerous the destroyer escorts are escorting the transports south, or north, a river of steel to the front.
It is another dawn, another day. Confidence runs high, Japan is taking a beating, to quote Hitler, one solid kick, it appears, will bring the whole rotten structure down.......
At 0414, CVE Anzio erupts into a column of flame and steam as the first fish finds her sides.
Another tower of water rises at her side, and then another.
She rides to the head of the fleet, heading due west
As the counter attacking destroyers race in, the fleet is turned due North, into the wind
Straight across the packs nose.
0423: AP Morinda suddenly, brutally, has no bow. Steaming at 28 knots, she steams straight on, baulkheads collapsing, waters piling higher and higher onto her bridge............she literally dives for the bottom.....
0426 AP Corio is hit. She just stops, spewing steam and soot.
0436, Battle ship Royal soverighn somehow avoids a spread of 6 fish, she is still trying to avoid, her destroyer escorts still racing towards the scope...........when at
0438 CV Wasp is slammed by a single devastaing hit, a fighter flings off a rising elevator, and the deadly cry of fire, fire on the hanger deck rings out.
5 seperate attacks, for the stunned men on the upper decks, it seems as if the entire ocean has come alive to the sound of charges, to the reports of torpedoes and periscopes.
Many are false, panicked calls. But some are not.
Battleship Washington never see's her attacker . 2 fish get her, and hurt her hard.
An Attacking destroyer wheeling to drop a pattern on the Washingtons tormentor is struck clean admidships, her front half rolls over, the aft half will wallow in the swell for many hours, before joining the front in the depths
30 minutes.
The perfect ambush
The counter attacks will be savage, 3 enemy ss claimed sunk (one in actuality)
3 more ss will be atatcked at midday, they will be beaten off..
Japan has deployed 10 ss in one wolfpack. 6 remain viable. Tomorrow, a second pack , 15 strong, enters the fray.
On the carriers, the men are preparing for another days work, loading the hell divers, the Avengers, the hellcats.
How poetic these names are, how true to the names these Americans have given them.
Outside of the carriers, mighty battleships steam, waiting, begging for a chance to fight.
Destroyers are scattered as if confetti about them, and even more numerous the destroyer escorts are escorting the transports south, or north, a river of steel to the front.
It is another dawn, another day. Confidence runs high, Japan is taking a beating, to quote Hitler, one solid kick, it appears, will bring the whole rotten structure down.......
At 0414, CVE Anzio erupts into a column of flame and steam as the first fish finds her sides.
Another tower of water rises at her side, and then another.
She rides to the head of the fleet, heading due west
As the counter attacking destroyers race in, the fleet is turned due North, into the wind
Straight across the packs nose.
0423: AP Morinda suddenly, brutally, has no bow. Steaming at 28 knots, she steams straight on, baulkheads collapsing, waters piling higher and higher onto her bridge............she literally dives for the bottom.....
0426 AP Corio is hit. She just stops, spewing steam and soot.
0436, Battle ship Royal soverighn somehow avoids a spread of 6 fish, she is still trying to avoid, her destroyer escorts still racing towards the scope...........when at
0438 CV Wasp is slammed by a single devastaing hit, a fighter flings off a rising elevator, and the deadly cry of fire, fire on the hanger deck rings out.
5 seperate attacks, for the stunned men on the upper decks, it seems as if the entire ocean has come alive to the sound of charges, to the reports of torpedoes and periscopes.
Many are false, panicked calls. But some are not.
Battleship Washington never see's her attacker . 2 fish get her, and hurt her hard.
An Attacking destroyer wheeling to drop a pattern on the Washingtons tormentor is struck clean admidships, her front half rolls over, the aft half will wallow in the swell for many hours, before joining the front in the depths
30 minutes.
The perfect ambush
The counter attacks will be savage, 3 enemy ss claimed sunk (one in actuality)
3 more ss will be atatcked at midday, they will be beaten off..
Japan has deployed 10 ss in one wolfpack. 6 remain viable. Tomorrow, a second pack , 15 strong, enters the fray.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
YES! Pay back the allies with their same coin!
RE: The little ship that could.
Fuchida is at 7000 feet, immediately above Biak airfield, circling waiting.
About him, 6 other tigers, on the ground, 12 more, men in cockpits, waiting.
To the south, at the same altitude, a pack of gearge fighters. At 14000 feet, some more. And somewhere, way up there out of sight, up sun, 20 plus more.
Waiting.
Carefully, he reaches down, takes his water bottle from its pocket. Sticks the stick between his knees, unscrews the Cap, drinks carefully.
The leader rocks his wings.
'bandits, 20 plus, 20000 feet, 3 oclock" Calm. Controlled. In charge.
There is no hurry. Replace the bottle, check about, slide the canopy forward , take the stick lightly as ever, throttle to the wall......
They climb
They climb steeply, they climb fast.
The p 38's dive, sacrificing hieght for speed, seeking the zeros they hope to slaughter.
But these are no zeros.
The thirty eights fall upon the gearges, the goerges sidestep.......pull up and away, or roll clear, almost......almost contemptously.
The thirty eights do what they do, boom, and zoom...........straight into the second wing diving down upon them........
Furball.
"Attacking!"
47th swing in, the classic follow me down attack, down into this mad snarling cat and dog fight in the blue........
Fuchida D, follows his friend, and wingman Fuchida G down, down, still banking, ...........
A 38 drifts across their bow..floating, floating, Fuchida G fires, fires, the 38 rolls, bursts into orange and death, falls underneath, banking hard left now, hanging on, hanging on, wingman down and lower on his shoulder, they seek, seek that next 38 turning inboard of them, and some buka races across, aiming for, for G, D fires, fires, misses, the 38 zooms up, up, away, ..........and a george nails him.
Speed, energy, hieght, team work. Stick with your man, protect his arse............
A 38 slants in from behind, twinkling lights on his nose, stick slam into thigh, rudder thumping to the stop, opposite rudder, rskidding, skidding, , under the barsted, stick, rudder, head bouncing, teeth gritting, plane rolling like a wet log in the stream, under him, FIRE!, hit!, hit the barsted!, barsted shovelling smoke.........and get away as some other buka flashes past.
And the sky is clear.
The true battle for Biak begins
16 p38 die today
For 1 george
47th sentai take 3, now they have 34 kills
Fuchida would like to claim his. But he does not.
There will be opportunities enough tomorrow.
About him, 6 other tigers, on the ground, 12 more, men in cockpits, waiting.
To the south, at the same altitude, a pack of gearge fighters. At 14000 feet, some more. And somewhere, way up there out of sight, up sun, 20 plus more.
Waiting.
Carefully, he reaches down, takes his water bottle from its pocket. Sticks the stick between his knees, unscrews the Cap, drinks carefully.
The leader rocks his wings.
'bandits, 20 plus, 20000 feet, 3 oclock" Calm. Controlled. In charge.
There is no hurry. Replace the bottle, check about, slide the canopy forward , take the stick lightly as ever, throttle to the wall......
They climb
They climb steeply, they climb fast.
The p 38's dive, sacrificing hieght for speed, seeking the zeros they hope to slaughter.
But these are no zeros.
The thirty eights fall upon the gearges, the goerges sidestep.......pull up and away, or roll clear, almost......almost contemptously.
The thirty eights do what they do, boom, and zoom...........straight into the second wing diving down upon them........
Furball.
"Attacking!"
47th swing in, the classic follow me down attack, down into this mad snarling cat and dog fight in the blue........
Fuchida D, follows his friend, and wingman Fuchida G down, down, still banking, ...........
A 38 drifts across their bow..floating, floating, Fuchida G fires, fires, the 38 rolls, bursts into orange and death, falls underneath, banking hard left now, hanging on, hanging on, wingman down and lower on his shoulder, they seek, seek that next 38 turning inboard of them, and some buka races across, aiming for, for G, D fires, fires, misses, the 38 zooms up, up, away, ..........and a george nails him.
Speed, energy, hieght, team work. Stick with your man, protect his arse............
A 38 slants in from behind, twinkling lights on his nose, stick slam into thigh, rudder thumping to the stop, opposite rudder, rskidding, skidding, , under the barsted, stick, rudder, head bouncing, teeth gritting, plane rolling like a wet log in the stream, under him, FIRE!, hit!, hit the barsted!, barsted shovelling smoke.........and get away as some other buka flashes past.
And the sky is clear.
The true battle for Biak begins
16 p38 die today
For 1 george
47th sentai take 3, now they have 34 kills
Fuchida would like to claim his. But he does not.
There will be opportunities enough tomorrow.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Zuiho steams still across a calm green blue sea.
On the Northern horizon, the mere hint of the coast of borneo, to the south on that horizon, the enevitable growing thunderhead clouds
But here, clear skies, streaming blue wakes.
It is far too hot and humid to remain below if one can avoid it, Zuiho's progress makes for a pleasant breeze. Even her exhaust has deemed it suitable to trail free of her.
Six zeros are on deck, silent, on standby. But they will not be needed today, in fact , for once, nothing will disturb her passage.
There are no breakdowns, no sighting reports, no personal clashes. She just is.
her pilots will walk her decks, exercise.
Her gunners will lounge in the tubs, and gain even deeper tans.
The stokers will complete quiet, routine watches, and Takeji will catch up on the inevitable paperwark, and even find himself sitting on his chair on the bridge, simply taking in the view.
A boring day, yes?.
But deep down, I think, essential. The elastic has been stretched far too hard these months.
Zuiho steams south, her crew recharging themselves simply by having a normal day.
They will need to re charge I think.
Its 1944, and America's war machine builds up steam.
On the Northern horizon, the mere hint of the coast of borneo, to the south on that horizon, the enevitable growing thunderhead clouds
But here, clear skies, streaming blue wakes.
It is far too hot and humid to remain below if one can avoid it, Zuiho's progress makes for a pleasant breeze. Even her exhaust has deemed it suitable to trail free of her.
Six zeros are on deck, silent, on standby. But they will not be needed today, in fact , for once, nothing will disturb her passage.
There are no breakdowns, no sighting reports, no personal clashes. She just is.
her pilots will walk her decks, exercise.
Her gunners will lounge in the tubs, and gain even deeper tans.
The stokers will complete quiet, routine watches, and Takeji will catch up on the inevitable paperwark, and even find himself sitting on his chair on the bridge, simply taking in the view.
A boring day, yes?.
But deep down, I think, essential. The elastic has been stretched far too hard these months.
Zuiho steams south, her crew recharging themselves simply by having a normal day.
They will need to re charge I think.
Its 1944, and America's war machine builds up steam.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Very interesting story. Took me three days to read it.
Thank you for all the effort.
Most of the boiler room stuff is "hyperdrive" or "photon engines" or "warp engines" stuff to me, but I'm making progress
I'm learning things, which is a thing I like.
I believe that the correct term for "two legged pork" is "long pig".
Brys
Thank you for all the effort.
Most of the boiler room stuff is "hyperdrive" or "photon engines" or "warp engines" stuff to me, but I'm making progress
I'm learning things, which is a thing I like.
I believe that the correct term for "two legged pork" is "long pig".
Brys
RE: The little ship that could.
[X(][X(] I hope you didn't learn that from personal experience, Borys!ORIGINAL: Borys
Very interesting story. Took me three days to read it.
Thank you for all the effort.
Most of the boiler room stuff is "hyperdrive" or "photon engines" or "warp engines" stuff to me, but I'm making progress
I'm learning things, which is a thing I like.
I believe that the correct term for "two legged pork" is "long pig".
Brys
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: The little ship that could.
Perish the thought, no
I picked up the phrase in some ATL story - the main character was greeted by chants of "long pig tonight!" when he found himself on a ship with a quite suspect looking crew (they were in a teasing mood, see ... ). I googled the phrase and it was mentioned by various cannibalism and/or Pacific Islander related sites.
Borys
I picked up the phrase in some ATL story - the main character was greeted by chants of "long pig tonight!" when he found himself on a ship with a quite suspect looking crew (they were in a teasing mood, see ... ). I googled the phrase and it was mentioned by various cannibalism and/or Pacific Islander related sites.
Borys
RE: The little ship that could.
Hi Borys, welcome aboard, and many thanks for kind comments.
Turns have been slow............
3/1/43
Semarang harbour, Duth east Indies
Charge stands behind Okano on the Port engine room steaming platform, eyes darting across the guage boards.
Vacuum, steam pressure, oil pressure, auxiliary steam pressure.........there is an army of guages to look at, he see's them all with practiced, easy sweeps of his eyes..
For Stokers, this is one of those hard times, where you simply must not get it wrong.
Zuiho is coming along side.
Takeji eyes the rickity wharf 250 yards ahead, sliding towards his starboard bow..
There is not going to be much room today..
"Slow ahead both"
'Slow ahead both rung down and repeated sir!' the coxswains voice sings across the crowded bridge.
The bells ring, and Charge swings the telegraph to match.
Okano eases the great wheel that controls his throttle, and her shaft settles at 30 rpm.........
"Stop both!"
Besides Okano, a surprisingly young able seaman (the throttly) swings open the astern throttle, braking the shaft, while Okano swings his closed. The shaft stops, throttles swing the other way, and then, to stop the turbine bending, Okano trickles her rolling slowly forward again at 2 or three revs......
This is the dance. They have done it many times before, they will do it many times again
50 yards to go.......
"Half astern both!"
Slow astern both!
hard to port!, half astern starboard.........slow ahead port!"
Admidships!
The orders come, quick, sharp, confident. Other captains have struggled with this cow of a handling ship, not Takeji.
The ropes are flung across, small ones, followed by the heaving lines, the mooring ropes.
Zuiho nestles hard to this sorry excuse of a wharf, safe again.
"Stop both"
"Stop both, down and repeated sir"
"Finished with main engine..........4 hours notice for sea"
Zuiho will burst into life. There is much to do when you come alongside, regardless of how long you have been at sea.
In peactime, one has courtesy calls on the mayor, or others, in war, the local garrison commander must be seen about security.......
There are 2 medical cases on board today, one must go ashore.
One of her lone Jill pilots, who has chased them all over the Dutch east indies, will come onboard
Supplies await loading.
Men will swarm ashore, within an hour, water and fuel wil lbe flowing into her tanks, and waste and rubbish will be getting carted off in a steady stream.
Signals, secret telegrams, a small town is reconnecting to the world...........
Below, the work is not nearly done.
Turning gears are engaged, guard valves shut, throttles drained, vacuums reduced. 4 hours notice for sea ............one boiler will remain lit.
Semerang harbour is small, stinking, and no place to linger.
But it has fuel, and plenty of it.
But not much else going for it.
Our pilots watch it all from the balcony, they are some of the lucky few whom all this activity means little.
Diogawa and Ogawa lean on the railings.
"What a dump ney?" Diogawa eyes the leaning ware houses, the rusting excuse of a crane, the sad fishing boats on the other piers "How come we are alongside, and not in the roads with the rest?'
'Torpedoes"
Hidaka answers the question, emerging from the ready room passageway behind them " We are swapping them out, its been so bloody long since we used any, Gunnery and myself thought it prudent to get some new serviced ones"
Okano nods 'Sounds fair..........has it really been that long since we used our fish?"
Hidaka's screw of disgust on his face is answer enough.....".seems like 42 was a life time ago"
Diogawa laughs "when , I am reliably told, Japanes aircraft carriers actually, you know, fought things"
'We will get our chance fat man, just wait, I don't think you will feel so happy when we meet these hellcats I am hearing so much about"
'hellcats, bearcats, pussy cats, one and the same...........i will shoot them down regardless"
Hidaka does not answer that. I wish I shared your confidence my friend. I really do.
Turns have been slow............
3/1/43
Semarang harbour, Duth east Indies
Charge stands behind Okano on the Port engine room steaming platform, eyes darting across the guage boards.
Vacuum, steam pressure, oil pressure, auxiliary steam pressure.........there is an army of guages to look at, he see's them all with practiced, easy sweeps of his eyes..
For Stokers, this is one of those hard times, where you simply must not get it wrong.
Zuiho is coming along side.
Takeji eyes the rickity wharf 250 yards ahead, sliding towards his starboard bow..
There is not going to be much room today..
"Slow ahead both"
'Slow ahead both rung down and repeated sir!' the coxswains voice sings across the crowded bridge.
The bells ring, and Charge swings the telegraph to match.
Okano eases the great wheel that controls his throttle, and her shaft settles at 30 rpm.........
"Stop both!"
Besides Okano, a surprisingly young able seaman (the throttly) swings open the astern throttle, braking the shaft, while Okano swings his closed. The shaft stops, throttles swing the other way, and then, to stop the turbine bending, Okano trickles her rolling slowly forward again at 2 or three revs......
This is the dance. They have done it many times before, they will do it many times again
50 yards to go.......
"Half astern both!"
Slow astern both!
hard to port!, half astern starboard.........slow ahead port!"
Admidships!
The orders come, quick, sharp, confident. Other captains have struggled with this cow of a handling ship, not Takeji.
The ropes are flung across, small ones, followed by the heaving lines, the mooring ropes.
Zuiho nestles hard to this sorry excuse of a wharf, safe again.
"Stop both"
"Stop both, down and repeated sir"
"Finished with main engine..........4 hours notice for sea"
Zuiho will burst into life. There is much to do when you come alongside, regardless of how long you have been at sea.
In peactime, one has courtesy calls on the mayor, or others, in war, the local garrison commander must be seen about security.......
There are 2 medical cases on board today, one must go ashore.
One of her lone Jill pilots, who has chased them all over the Dutch east indies, will come onboard
Supplies await loading.
Men will swarm ashore, within an hour, water and fuel wil lbe flowing into her tanks, and waste and rubbish will be getting carted off in a steady stream.
Signals, secret telegrams, a small town is reconnecting to the world...........
Below, the work is not nearly done.
Turning gears are engaged, guard valves shut, throttles drained, vacuums reduced. 4 hours notice for sea ............one boiler will remain lit.
Semerang harbour is small, stinking, and no place to linger.
But it has fuel, and plenty of it.
But not much else going for it.
Our pilots watch it all from the balcony, they are some of the lucky few whom all this activity means little.
Diogawa and Ogawa lean on the railings.
"What a dump ney?" Diogawa eyes the leaning ware houses, the rusting excuse of a crane, the sad fishing boats on the other piers "How come we are alongside, and not in the roads with the rest?'
'Torpedoes"
Hidaka answers the question, emerging from the ready room passageway behind them " We are swapping them out, its been so bloody long since we used any, Gunnery and myself thought it prudent to get some new serviced ones"
Okano nods 'Sounds fair..........has it really been that long since we used our fish?"
Hidaka's screw of disgust on his face is answer enough.....".seems like 42 was a life time ago"
Diogawa laughs "when , I am reliably told, Japanes aircraft carriers actually, you know, fought things"
'We will get our chance fat man, just wait, I don't think you will feel so happy when we meet these hellcats I am hearing so much about"
'hellcats, bearcats, pussy cats, one and the same...........i will shoot them down regardless"
Hidaka does not answer that. I wish I shared your confidence my friend. I really do.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
There is war news, of course, none of which will reach Diogawas ears.
A CVE begins operating 80 miles north east of Darwin
Hellcats, Avengers...........does it matter what you call them? Diogawa may disparage them, but the Americans know their business now, and they do it brutally, sinking a patrol boat near Dobo island.
Combined fleet, the bulk at soerabaya, now has to decide.
A decoy?, a genuine thrust?, a invasion prelude, or just a convoy escort taking advantage?
They decide to sit, and wait.
Theres not enough fuel to be pissing about anymore .............
A CVE begins operating 80 miles north east of Darwin
Hellcats, Avengers...........does it matter what you call them? Diogawa may disparage them, but the Americans know their business now, and they do it brutally, sinking a patrol boat near Dobo island.
Combined fleet, the bulk at soerabaya, now has to decide.
A decoy?, a genuine thrust?, a invasion prelude, or just a convoy escort taking advantage?
They decide to sit, and wait.
Theres not enough fuel to be pissing about anymore .............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
5th of the 1st, 1944
Zuiho remains alongside.
Barely a man onboard wishes they weren't.
There is no breeze here, only baking tropical heat and humidity, and temperatures inside are climbing to horrid levels.
The men striking down the new fish work stripped to the bare essentials, and still sweat streams from them.
In the Starboard boiler room, conditions are hellish.
Take your oven, screw it to 150 degrees F.
Ok, stick you head in.
And now throw a bucket of water over your head.
And try to work, at , oh, I don't know, lets re assemble a governow or something with lots of fiddly bits...........
There are, of course, the fans, with out them, life could not endure down here, the outlets are like small oasis's in deserts of baking pain.
The men on watch huddle under them, and simply endure.
How long will they remain here?. Only the war will detirmine that. Zuiho is burning a ton of fuel an hour, all the ships anchored here, nearly 30 all up, per hour.
In the scheme of things, a mere drop in the bucket compared to the extravagances of the last 6 months.
But even this, this barely keep them alive amount, is too much........
Zuiho remains alongside.
Barely a man onboard wishes they weren't.
There is no breeze here, only baking tropical heat and humidity, and temperatures inside are climbing to horrid levels.
The men striking down the new fish work stripped to the bare essentials, and still sweat streams from them.
In the Starboard boiler room, conditions are hellish.
Take your oven, screw it to 150 degrees F.
Ok, stick you head in.
And now throw a bucket of water over your head.
And try to work, at , oh, I don't know, lets re assemble a governow or something with lots of fiddly bits...........
There are, of course, the fans, with out them, life could not endure down here, the outlets are like small oasis's in deserts of baking pain.
The men on watch huddle under them, and simply endure.
How long will they remain here?. Only the war will detirmine that. Zuiho is burning a ton of fuel an hour, all the ships anchored here, nearly 30 all up, per hour.
In the scheme of things, a mere drop in the bucket compared to the extravagances of the last 6 months.
But even this, this barely keep them alive amount, is too much........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The corsairs sweep Biak, 13 strong
4 are shot down
3 tigers, 1 N1K1 goes down
47th lose 2 good men.
The commanders words "They are irreplacable" in this case are true. Japan will never see their likes again.
(Two 90 experience pilots lost[:(])
4 are shot down
3 tigers, 1 N1K1 goes down
47th lose 2 good men.
The commanders words "They are irreplacable" in this case are true. Japan will never see their likes again.
(Two 90 experience pilots lost[:(])
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
And now, with CVE-s off Darwin. invasion fleets coming ,( I think up the PNG coast again), my esteemed opponent takes holidays again!!
Oh, to be a school teacher! LOL
So, no turns until Friday..............[:(]
Oh, to be a school teacher! LOL
So, no turns until Friday..............[:(]
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
[:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]ORIGINAL: 1275psi
So, no turns until Friday..............[:(]
RE: The little ship that could.
6/1/44
Pilot Officer(forever to be known as Pilot Officer "long pig" Graham) shifts his arse into a more comfortable spot in his seat.
The British airforce has wasted no time in sending him back into the war "get back on the saddle and all that old boy" but this time, at least, they have given him an aircraft he can love.
He has known this Mozzie, this wooden wonder, but for a week, and already he loves her.
from that brilliant, unmistakable snarl of her merlins, to the guns up front, from her handling to her sheer speed, she is simply, a wonder machine.
And British to boot.
But best of all, he actually has room in her seat...........
"Fighters"
His Observer breaks the silence, as if he was announcing lunch, so little concern in his voice "Six of them, Oscars, 3000 feet astern and below"
Graham turns his plane to bring them into view...............six small dots in the sky, dwarfed by the clouds about them.
They can't catch him.
He reaches out for the throttles, pushes them forwards a little, raises the nose, and begins to plot the course ahead through these towering floating mountains.
The enemy fighters fall further, further behind.
A few minutes later, Bangkok appears below, and the camera whirs to life.
Pilot Officer Graham ("long pig forever") will soon head for home, confident that in this beast at least, he should never end in that green hell below again..
For two weeks the british airforce has not been seen in Burma
Japans high command is not fooled. Just like Graham , they must soon return with a whole new selection of shiny toys, toys which they must fight with the same old tired Tojos and 43's.
Pilot Officer(forever to be known as Pilot Officer "long pig" Graham) shifts his arse into a more comfortable spot in his seat.
The British airforce has wasted no time in sending him back into the war "get back on the saddle and all that old boy" but this time, at least, they have given him an aircraft he can love.
He has known this Mozzie, this wooden wonder, but for a week, and already he loves her.
from that brilliant, unmistakable snarl of her merlins, to the guns up front, from her handling to her sheer speed, she is simply, a wonder machine.
And British to boot.
But best of all, he actually has room in her seat...........
"Fighters"
His Observer breaks the silence, as if he was announcing lunch, so little concern in his voice "Six of them, Oscars, 3000 feet astern and below"
Graham turns his plane to bring them into view...............six small dots in the sky, dwarfed by the clouds about them.
They can't catch him.
He reaches out for the throttles, pushes them forwards a little, raises the nose, and begins to plot the course ahead through these towering floating mountains.
The enemy fighters fall further, further behind.
A few minutes later, Bangkok appears below, and the camera whirs to life.
Pilot Officer Graham ("long pig forever") will soon head for home, confident that in this beast at least, he should never end in that green hell below again..
For two weeks the british airforce has not been seen in Burma
Japans high command is not fooled. Just like Graham , they must soon return with a whole new selection of shiny toys, toys which they must fight with the same old tired Tojos and 43's.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Uto and Hidaka are sharing the bench that serves as their dining table.. The Wardroom is empty at the moment, nestled as it is under the forecastle, it is recieving pitifully little cool air from outsid, and the ventilation fans simply move hot air from outside the ship to inside.
If you are seeking relief today, you will be on the quarterdeck.
The two men are shring a simple rice meal, both have been held up by other duties well past the scheduled meal hour.
But those faceless men, the stewards, know how to look after them.
'So, anyword on sailing yet Hidaka?"
"I heard we go out to the roads tonight............after that.who knows. At least this damn humidity can't follow us out there"
"Nor the stink"
'No, you are right in that. Minobe will be pleased, all that vegetation piling up against our sides is giving him grief downstairs I hear'
"What?, he was sober long enough to notice the black out this morning?"
Hidaka laughs. "No........he noticed because he couldn't find the bottle"
They eat
"So" asks Uto "How are we going to defeat these bukas you think?"
Hidaka pauses "I thought the grand strategy was your fathers domain, isn't he the one running this monkey poo fight?"
Uto does not look up, but the anger is there....."My father is nothing more than a common killer dressed in peacock feathers, feathers that no longer dazzle"
'Truly?"
'Truly"
A long silence follows, one that Hidaka suddenly realises, has gotten awkward
When Uto speaks, his eyes are filled with tears "They will hang him when we lose, you know. As much as i hate him at times, he is still my father........."
If you are seeking relief today, you will be on the quarterdeck.
The two men are shring a simple rice meal, both have been held up by other duties well past the scheduled meal hour.
But those faceless men, the stewards, know how to look after them.
'So, anyword on sailing yet Hidaka?"
"I heard we go out to the roads tonight............after that.who knows. At least this damn humidity can't follow us out there"
"Nor the stink"
'No, you are right in that. Minobe will be pleased, all that vegetation piling up against our sides is giving him grief downstairs I hear'
"What?, he was sober long enough to notice the black out this morning?"
Hidaka laughs. "No........he noticed because he couldn't find the bottle"
They eat
"So" asks Uto "How are we going to defeat these bukas you think?"
Hidaka pauses "I thought the grand strategy was your fathers domain, isn't he the one running this monkey poo fight?"
Uto does not look up, but the anger is there....."My father is nothing more than a common killer dressed in peacock feathers, feathers that no longer dazzle"
'Truly?"
'Truly"
A long silence follows, one that Hidaka suddenly realises, has gotten awkward
When Uto speaks, his eyes are filled with tears "They will hang him when we lose, you know. As much as i hate him at times, he is still my father........."
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
There are only three of the bukas, Liberators, those bloody Liberators...........
They come in low, hard, fast, their path lit by the full moon
Palua anchorage glimmers under them, a shiny dinner plate of tasty morsels..............
They come in low, hard, fast, their path lit by the full moon
Palua anchorage glimmers under them, a shiny dinner plate of tasty morsels..............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Extract from shattering the sword, a cantona production
..............and although the bombers missed thier targets, the shock was still the same. Palua anchorage was no longer safe...........
Japans fleet must move.....but where to?
..............and although the bombers missed thier targets, the shock was still the same. Palua anchorage was no longer safe...........
Japans fleet must move.....but where to?
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Davao? Tarakan?
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
-
Gridley380
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:24 pm
RE: The little ship that could.
ORIGINAL: 1275psi
Extract from shattering the sword, a cantona production
..............and although the bombers missed thier targets, the shock was still the same. Palua anchorage was no longer safe...........
Japans fleet must move.....but where to?
I hear Pearl is nice this time of year...