Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[marky]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Whoa! Two for the price of moderate damage to Shokaku and light damage to Kaga. Well done, Adm. Nagumo. The Emperor shall speak well of you and perhaps send you an autographed picture of Marky's signature "bouncy friend".

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Now that's just mean of Captain Ishii...[:D]

Reminds me of a prank I pulled on a fellow I disliked intensely when I was in the Navy... <g>

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: marky

ORIGINAL: princep01

Amusing...the business and commerical wheels are undeterred by political differences or even open hostilities, proving, yet again, the manifest superiority of capitalism to all other economic systems. Chocolate covered cotton anyone? [;)]

M & M Enterprises is reallly Milo & Milo Enterprises, isn't it.

Finally, don't misspell Auckland again in the letter masthead. The Kiwis will throw a fit and scuttle the Cuttlefish.

capitalism is evil.

???

[marky]

it is!!!!

money grubbing imperialists

[:(]

(I am NOT a communist!)


o that reminds me im workin on ur turn [:D]

[Japanese_Spirit]

Indeed an excellent and victorious update! Hopefully, it will give the Hibiki a little bit more breathing space and the rest of the Kido Butai before 44/45.

Looking forward, as always, to the next update!

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

ORIGINAL: marky

ORIGINAL: princep01

Amusing...the business and commerical wheels are undeterred by political differences or even open hostilities, proving, yet again, the manifest superiority of capitalism to all other economic systems. Chocolate covered cotton anyone? [;)]

M & M Enterprises is reallly Milo & Milo Enterprises, isn't it.

Finally, don't misspell Auckland again in the letter masthead. The Kiwis will throw a fit and scuttle the Cuttlefish.

capitalism is evil.

???

To understand why capitalism is evil it is necessary to check out Cap Mandrake's AAR "From here to...well, it SEEMS like an eternity...". To really understand the truth about salted sea urchin eggs one must go back in time to his "Fear and Loathing in the Pacific", for my money the funniest and most creative AAR ever.

[marky]

[:D]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

ORIGINAL: marky



capitalism is evil.

???

To understand why capitalism is evil it is necessary to check out Cap Mandrake's AAR "From here to...well, it SEEMS like an eternity...". To really understand the truth about salted sea urchin eggs one must go back in time to his "Fear and Loathing in the Pacific", for my money the funniest and most creative AAR ever.

Fair enough. I was about to get up on my soapbox for a minute or two. I am happy I showed restraint, although Rush would be disappointed in me. <g>

[Kane]

Hi all...
&nbsp;
I'm still reading this AAR Cuttlefish, i didnt gone away Nice text about the "Phoenix Battle", I enjoy it too much.
&nbsp;
I had an idea yesterday, while reading your travel with Kido Butai, could you insert an Box with the known crew?
&nbsp;
I apologyze for my poor english, it isn't my mother language..
&nbsp;
Greetings from spain!!

[Vetamur]

Cherry blossoms open in April in Japan, not March. Man. Get it right! (just teasing. good AAR)

[princep01]

Beware the curse of victory disease, Hibiki-san, nee Cuttlefish. While Japanese_Spirit is certainly correct that the Battle of Syndey Is. was an excellent victory, overextension can be a fatal bane for the Japanese. Be they applied to land or sea, the maxims of war still hold. As you get further from your supply and repair sources, the enemy becomes stronger as he is forced closer to his sources.

Good luck to your little ship and its valiant crew.

ORIGINAL: Japanese_Spirit

Indeed an excellent and victorious update! Hopefully, it will give the Hibiki a little bit more breathing space and the rest of the Kido Butai before 44/45.

Looking forward, as always, to the next update!

[TIMJOT]

ORIGINAL: Vetamur

Cherry blossoms open in April in Japan, not March. Man. Get it right! (just teasing. good AAR)

He did get it right. I can say categorically that cherry blossoms open in late March most years, in Tokyo at least, but of course it depends on the weather in a given year.

[Cuttlefish]

March 6, 1942

Location: 190 miles north of Wallis Island
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 427

Orders: Accompany Kido Butai away from the Phoenix Islands region.

[Cuttlefish]

March 7, 1942

Location: 200 miles east-southeast of Nanomea
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 403

Orders: Accompany Kido Butai back to Kwajalein.

---

On the bridge of the Hibiki:

Chief Torpedo Officer Sugiyura: Sir, our friend is back.

Captain Ishii: Ah? *he raises his binoculars and looks where Sugiyura is pointing* Oh yes, I see.

Dodging in and out of the clouds a few miles from the task force is a Catalina. The Zeros chase it, as usual, but as usual it fades into the clouds and escapes.

Captain Ishii: No matter. We are out of range of their bombers, and soon we will be out of the range of their patrol aircraft as well.

Sugiyura: We are heading back to Kwajalein, sir?

Captain Ishii: Yes.

Sugiyura: Do you think we will continue to escort the carriers, sir?

Captain Ishii: I have no idea what our orders will be. It is possible.

Sugiyura: Ah.

Captain Ishii: You sound disappointed, Lieutenant.

Sugiyura: Well sir, I admit that with Kido Butai around we are as safe as if we were in the Inland Sea. It's just that...

Captain Ishii: I understand. You want to test your mettle against some enemy warships.

Sugiyura: Yes. Though to do that first I must have some torpedoes. I feel as useless right now as a fan in winter.

Captain Ishii: Do not worry. We will find you some torpedoes. Somewhere.

[Cuttlefish]

March 8, 1942

Location: 180 miles north-northeast of Nanomea
Course: North by northwest
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 379

Orders: Accompany Kido Butai back to Kwajalein.

---

In a bunkroom aboard the Hibiki. Several of the sailors are discussing the war.

Shiro: But how can you say that? We have been out of touch for twelve days now, we don't know what is happening!

Tatsumi: Because the last we heard our forces had yet to meet with defeat anywhere! And since then we know that two American carriers have been sunk. The Americans cannot stomach such defeat, soon they must surely admit they are beaten and ask for peace.

Riku: They understand money and comfort, but they do not understand bushido. How can they stand against us?

Taiki: *slowly* I am not so sure...

Shiro: What do you mean, Taiki?

Taiki: That they know nothing of bushido. Do you remember that gunboat we fought at Wake?

Shiro: Of course!

Taiki: How big would you say that ship was? Maybe fifty meters long?

Riku: More like forty meters.

Taiki: We were at least three times their size. Yet they carried out their duty to try and protect the transports without wavering, in the face of certain death.

Shiro: True. And do not forget the big carrier battle. Remember the last group of American planes? All of them fell to our Zero-sen fighters, yet they attacked to the last, even knowing the battle was already lost and their carriers were gone.

Tatsumi: All right, so they do not lack courage. I will admit that. But I still say they will soon see their cause is hopeless.

Taiki: *laughs* I hope so. But if they continue to resist we can unleash Riku's feet upon them. What a smell!

Riku: It is not my fault we are out of water for bathing!

[Vetamur]

I live in Tokyo. I have lived hear for 11 years.&nbsp; I live 10 minutes from Ueno Park, the most famous park for cherry blossom viewing. Its generally at the beginning of April. The beginning of April is the beginning of the school year hear and when new employees start at their jobs. New employees first duty is often to save a space in a park for HANAMI parties for their company. The blossoms are a national obsession and starting in mid March on the news when they show the weather they also show a map of when cherry blossoms will open.
&nbsp;
LAST YEAR they opened in late March because..well..the weather is getting all messed up quickly in Japan...

[TIMJOT]

ORIGINAL: Vetamur

I live in Tokyo. I have lived hear for 11 years.  I live 10 minutes from Ueno Park, the most famous park for cherry blossom viewing. Its generally at the beginning of April. The beginning of April is the beginning of the school year hear and when new employees start at their jobs. New employees first duty is often to save a space in a park for HANAMI parties for their company. The blossoms are a national obsession and starting in mid March on the news when they show the weather they also show a map of when cherry blossoms will open.

LAST YEAR they opened in late March because..well..the weather is getting all messed up quickly in Japan...

Hello Vetamur, well I lived in Tokyo for about 6 years, right next to Aoyama Cemetary another prime Hanami location and as far as I can recollect everyone of our Hanami parties were in Late March. But truely we are splitting hairs since all he said " that SOON the cherry blossoms will open", whether its the last week in March or the first week in April the statement is nevertheless true. Anyhow I would be interested when they open this year please let me know. Aoyama is on a high ground so maybe they open sooner there than Ueno.

Regards

[Vetamur]

Well..yes..no point in arguing over weather. Lol.&nbsp; Ive never been to Aoyama Cemetary... I wonder why.
&nbsp;
They will probably be early this year..It never snowed this year, I never took out my heavy coat... the most I ever needed was a sweater under my leather jacket.&nbsp; This "heat island" things SUCKS.
&nbsp;

[Cuttlefish]

March 9, 1942

Location: 245 miles southeast of Tarawa
Course: North by northwest
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 345

Orders: Accompany Kido Butai back to Kwajalein.

[Cuttlefish]

March 10, 1942

Location: Off Apamama
Course: North
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 331

Orders: Accompany Kido Butai back to Kwajalein.

---

Excerpt from a letter from Lieutenant Miharu to his wife:

I wish I had the words to describe what we felt as we saw the carrier battle. Well, we saw our end of it, anyway. We only heard the reports from our planes on the other end. If I am spared in this war it is a tale I will be able to tell our children, how our forces met the Americans in the first battle of its kind and were triumphant.

I have been pondering what it means that no ship on either side saw an enemy ship during the battle. Most sailors, certainly most of my classmates at the Naval Academy, have until now hoped to be posted aboard a battleship. But I think that may change. It is our carriers, our mighty Kido Butai, that the enemy now fears.

I do not worry that destroyers are going to become unnecessary, though. In fact from what I have seen our destroyers are becoming more and more essential. We battle the enemies ships, his planes, his bases, and his submarines. We are sent when larger ships cannot be spared, or risked. It is not glamorous duty, perhaps, but it is important duty. If we are victorious in this war the historians will write about the battleships and the aircraft carriers, but it is destroyers and hundreds of other small ships who will have formed the backbone of our triumph.

Forgive me, you know I have a tendency to philosophize at times. I will turn my thoughts instead to you and our children. I hope that you are all well, and...