March 11, 1942
Location: 50 miles west of Makin
Course: North
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 307
Orders: Accompany Kido Butai back to Kwajalein.
---
On the bridge of the Hibiki:
Radio operator, via speaker tube: Captain, we are picking up a broadcast from Noumea.
Captain Ishii: Yes? What is it?
Radio Operator: Sir, they report they are under heavy attack by American carrier planes. They report many warships and transports approaching the island.
Captain Ishii: What? Carrier planes? Are you sure?
Radio Operator: Yes sir.
Lieutenant Miharu: Sir, it must be true. Noumea is too far from Fiji for it to be anything else.
Chief Torpedo Officer Sugiyura: But we found and sank their carriers!
Captain Ishii: *slowly* Perhaps not, Lieutenant. Or rather, perhaps we did not sink the carriers we went looking for.
Lieutenant Miharu: That explains a great deal. I wondered why we found their carriers so far to the east of where they had been reported, and heading west at that.
Captain Ishii: That makes sense, Exec. We did not sink the carriers at Fiji, we sank the carriers coming to join them.
Lieutenant Sugiyura: Will we then turn to strike at this new attack?
Captain Ishii: We will soon find out. Admiral Nagumo and Admiral Goto have no doubt already reached the same conclusion we have. We must await their orders.
Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
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Cuttlefish
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Cuttlefish
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RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
March 12, 1942
Location: 16 miles southwest of Jaluit
Course: North
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 283
Orders: Accompany Kido Butai back to Kwajalein.
---
On the bridge of the Hibiki. Captain Ishii returns from the radio room, where he has been hovering over the shouder of the radio operator for much of the morning.
Lieutenant Miharu: Captain, sir. What is the news?
Captain Ishii: Not much, Lieutenant. Radio reports are spotty. It is obvious that a large battle is taking place. Our bombers report they have struck an American carrier and sunk or damaged it, but nothing is clear.
Lieutenant Miharu: And yet we are still heading north.
Captain Ishii: Noumea is well defended. The reason for not hurrying to the battle has not been explained to me, but I can guess well enough. *he gestures out at the aircraft carriers not too far distant* They had to leave Kwajalein before being fully refueled. They may now be too low on fuel to reach Noumea. And two of the carriers are hurt, and they are no doubt low on bombs, torpedoes, and aviation fuel.
We may not like it, but I agree with it. When we face the Americans we can afford no mistakes. It must be on our terms, not theirs. Noumea is well defended. They must hold without us this time, if they can.
Location: 16 miles southwest of Jaluit
Course: North
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 283
Orders: Accompany Kido Butai back to Kwajalein.
---
On the bridge of the Hibiki. Captain Ishii returns from the radio room, where he has been hovering over the shouder of the radio operator for much of the morning.
Lieutenant Miharu: Captain, sir. What is the news?
Captain Ishii: Not much, Lieutenant. Radio reports are spotty. It is obvious that a large battle is taking place. Our bombers report they have struck an American carrier and sunk or damaged it, but nothing is clear.
Lieutenant Miharu: And yet we are still heading north.
Captain Ishii: Noumea is well defended. The reason for not hurrying to the battle has not been explained to me, but I can guess well enough. *he gestures out at the aircraft carriers not too far distant* They had to leave Kwajalein before being fully refueled. They may now be too low on fuel to reach Noumea. And two of the carriers are hurt, and they are no doubt low on bombs, torpedoes, and aviation fuel.
We may not like it, but I agree with it. When we face the Americans we can afford no mistakes. It must be on our terms, not theirs. Noumea is well defended. They must hold without us this time, if they can.
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AU Tiger_MatrixForum
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RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Excellent storytelling. I was excited to see my subscription notice in my e-mail.
Keep up the good work!
Keep up the good work!
"Never take counsel of your fears."
Tho. Jackson
Tho. Jackson
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Cuttlefish
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RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
March 13, 1942
Location: 173 miles southeast of Kwajalien
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 259
Orders: Accompany Kido Butai back to Kwajalein.
---
On the bridge of the Hibiki:
Radio Operator, via speaker tube: Captain! Sir, a signal from Admiral Goto. He has received word that the American landing has been repulsed! They are pulling out!
Captain Ishii: Great news! Is there any more?
Radio Operator: No sir. He says details will have to wait until we reach Kwajalein tomorrow.
Lieutenant Miharu: I wonder what happened?
Captain Ishii: I wonder indeed.
---
Excerpt from "Naval Battles of the Pacific, Volume 1: Steel Sunrise" by Morris Elliot Samuelson; Harper, Row, and Fujimori, New York, 1965
Following the disaster off Sydney Island Nimitz telegraphed Admiral King and recommended that the Noumea operation be postponed. King refused. The Japanese carriers, he said, were in no shape for another fight so soon and in any event appeared to be withdrawing to the north. By the time they could react Noumea would be back in American hands. It would be Wake Island all over again. Nimitz reluctanty agreed.
Neither man knew that their plan was based on badly flawed intelligence. Instead of a few float planes and some special landing force troops the Americans were sailing against the dug in Japanese 4th division and over 100 aircraft.
Despite this the operation began well. Two light cruisers were damaged by air attack during the initial bombardment on March 11, neither seriously. The 2nd Marine Division began landing on schedule. Though opposition was light at first it stiffened quickly, and by mid-morning the marines found themselves on the defensive as the Japanese high command slowly awoke to the fact that this was no minor raid.
The carrier strikes and naval bombardment that were supposed to knock out the airfield caused only superficial damage. This allowed more Japanese "Nell" and "Betty" bombers flew in from Port Moresby during the day, and these began harrasing the Enterprise and Yorktown on March 12. Enterprise suffered minor damage from a bomb hit in the morning, but it was an afternoon attack against Yorktown that effectively ended the operation.
Late in the afternoon three Nells dropped out of the clouds near Yorktown, having successfully evaded the combat air patrol. Two near misses rattled the carrier, but the third bomber placed its bomb in the center of the flight deck just forward of the island. The bomb penetrated to a crowded hanger; the initial explosion was followed by several others as a number of aircraft burned, and for a time Yorktown was in serious trouble. Heroic efforts put out the fires, however, and by nightfall the carrier was able to steam out the area under her own power.
As darkness fell the Marine advance was stalled less than a mile from the beaches. Nimitz realized that with Enterprise and Yorktown forced to leave the area the transports would be massacred by air attacks once the sun rose, leaving the marines ashore in serious danger. He gave the order to withdraw.
The subsequent evacuation of an entire division under the noses of the Japanese was a remarkable accomplishment. The Japanese awoke on the morning of the 13th to find the waters around Noumea clear of ships. The Marine positions, held until the last moment by a small rear guard that kept up a convincing appearance that the division was still in place, were deserted.
Marine casualties during the battle were...
Location: 173 miles southeast of Kwajalien
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 259
Orders: Accompany Kido Butai back to Kwajalein.
---
On the bridge of the Hibiki:
Radio Operator, via speaker tube: Captain! Sir, a signal from Admiral Goto. He has received word that the American landing has been repulsed! They are pulling out!
Captain Ishii: Great news! Is there any more?
Radio Operator: No sir. He says details will have to wait until we reach Kwajalein tomorrow.
Lieutenant Miharu: I wonder what happened?
Captain Ishii: I wonder indeed.
---
Excerpt from "Naval Battles of the Pacific, Volume 1: Steel Sunrise" by Morris Elliot Samuelson; Harper, Row, and Fujimori, New York, 1965
Following the disaster off Sydney Island Nimitz telegraphed Admiral King and recommended that the Noumea operation be postponed. King refused. The Japanese carriers, he said, were in no shape for another fight so soon and in any event appeared to be withdrawing to the north. By the time they could react Noumea would be back in American hands. It would be Wake Island all over again. Nimitz reluctanty agreed.
Neither man knew that their plan was based on badly flawed intelligence. Instead of a few float planes and some special landing force troops the Americans were sailing against the dug in Japanese 4th division and over 100 aircraft.
Despite this the operation began well. Two light cruisers were damaged by air attack during the initial bombardment on March 11, neither seriously. The 2nd Marine Division began landing on schedule. Though opposition was light at first it stiffened quickly, and by mid-morning the marines found themselves on the defensive as the Japanese high command slowly awoke to the fact that this was no minor raid.
The carrier strikes and naval bombardment that were supposed to knock out the airfield caused only superficial damage. This allowed more Japanese "Nell" and "Betty" bombers flew in from Port Moresby during the day, and these began harrasing the Enterprise and Yorktown on March 12. Enterprise suffered minor damage from a bomb hit in the morning, but it was an afternoon attack against Yorktown that effectively ended the operation.
Late in the afternoon three Nells dropped out of the clouds near Yorktown, having successfully evaded the combat air patrol. Two near misses rattled the carrier, but the third bomber placed its bomb in the center of the flight deck just forward of the island. The bomb penetrated to a crowded hanger; the initial explosion was followed by several others as a number of aircraft burned, and for a time Yorktown was in serious trouble. Heroic efforts put out the fires, however, and by nightfall the carrier was able to steam out the area under her own power.
As darkness fell the Marine advance was stalled less than a mile from the beaches. Nimitz realized that with Enterprise and Yorktown forced to leave the area the transports would be massacred by air attacks once the sun rose, leaving the marines ashore in serious danger. He gave the order to withdraw.
The subsequent evacuation of an entire division under the noses of the Japanese was a remarkable accomplishment. The Japanese awoke on the morning of the 13th to find the waters around Noumea clear of ships. The Marine positions, held until the last moment by a small rear guard that kept up a convincing appearance that the division was still in place, were deserted.
Marine casualties during the battle were...
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Cuttlefish
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RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
March 14, 1942
Location: Kwajalien
Course: None
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: None as yet.
---
It is midafternoon at Kwajalein. Less than an hour earlier Hibiki had slipped through one of the passages and anchored within the sheltered waters of the lagoon. Now the door of the naval quartermasters shack bursts open and Captain Ishii strides in. The clerk behind the desk tries not to flinch as the captain strides up to him.
Captain Ishii: Well?
Quartermaster: Sir, um, welcome back. May I make known to you Commander Kanzaki, sir? *he indicates a naval officer standing off to one side*
Captain Ishii turns and looks the man over. The Commander salutes Captain Ishii. Captain Ishii automatically returns the salute.
Commander Kanzaki: I am pleased to make your acquantiance, Captain. Specifically, I am captain of torpedo tender AD-3161. We arrived from Ominato just a few days ago.
Captain Ishii: *smiles broadly* I am most pleased to make your acquaintance as well, sir.
Commander Kanzaki: With your permission we will tie up alongside this afternoon. We have eighteen Type 93 torpedoes for you to deliver to the Americans.
Captain Ishii: Permission granted!
---
It is an hour later. Captain Ishii has arrived at 6th Fleet headquarters, and is now speaking with Vice Admiral Shimizu.
Admiral Shimizu: Captain, I need to detach two more destroyers to escort Shokaku and Kaga back to Japan. How would you feel about going?
Captain Ishii: Sir, Hibiki is ready to do whatever is asked of her.
Admiral Shimizu: I do not doubt it, Ishii. But that is not what I asked. You may speak your mind freely.
Captain Ishii: Thank you, sir. It is my feeling, if I may be bold, that Hibiki has already done her share of playing nursemaid to stricken aircraft carriers so far this war. The Americans are not going away, sir. The men and I want to be out here fighting them.
Admiral Shimizu: *nods* I thought you might feel that way. Very well. You will remain under Admiral Goto's command. Get your ship ready quickly, Ishii, you depart in the morning.
Captain Ishii: Yes sir. Thank you. What is our mission?
Admiral Shimizu: You are needed at Wake. We have been shuttling task forces between here and Wake, raiding the island and intercepting shipping. So far we have caught and sunk something like five destroyers or destroyer transports and maybe seven or eight frieghters. Our submarines and planes have been active as well, so it hard to get an accurate count. *he chuckles* The men are calling the run "the Kwajalein Express".
Admiral Goto has already been fully briefed, of course, and will give you further details. Be careful! American bombers are active in the area once the sun rises, so you need to be well clear of the island by then. So far we have been lucky, the only ship hit was Ise, and the damage was minor.
Captain Ishii: Very good, sir. We will be ready to sail.
Admiral Shimizu: Good hunting, Captain.
---
On the docks at Roi-Namur, Kwajalein. Two sailors face each other for a moment, not speaking. One is a sailor, one an ensign. The sailor begins a salute, but is wrapped in a fiece bear hug by the ensign.
Noburo: None of that! I wish for now to torment you as an elder brother, not as an officer.
Taiki: Yes sir...I mean Noburo...
Noburo releases his brother and laughs.
Noburo: You look well, Taiki! I hear you and your ship have been busy!
Taiki: We have! And how about you? It is so good to see you safe!
Noburo: We have been riding the Kwajalein Express. Your turn tomorrow, I hear.
Taiki: Yes, we sail tomorrow. And you?
Noburo: The same. Not to Wake this time, though. The Mutsu has other orders. But come, we have much to talk about and little time. Walk with me. I hear you saw mother and father! How are they?
The two men fall into step, the war forgotten as they talk. For a short while they are not just two sailors on a bit of coral a very long ways from home. They are family again, and neither man could ask for a greater gift.
Location: Kwajalien
Course: None
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: None as yet.
---
It is midafternoon at Kwajalein. Less than an hour earlier Hibiki had slipped through one of the passages and anchored within the sheltered waters of the lagoon. Now the door of the naval quartermasters shack bursts open and Captain Ishii strides in. The clerk behind the desk tries not to flinch as the captain strides up to him.
Captain Ishii: Well?
Quartermaster: Sir, um, welcome back. May I make known to you Commander Kanzaki, sir? *he indicates a naval officer standing off to one side*
Captain Ishii turns and looks the man over. The Commander salutes Captain Ishii. Captain Ishii automatically returns the salute.
Commander Kanzaki: I am pleased to make your acquantiance, Captain. Specifically, I am captain of torpedo tender AD-3161. We arrived from Ominato just a few days ago.
Captain Ishii: *smiles broadly* I am most pleased to make your acquaintance as well, sir.
Commander Kanzaki: With your permission we will tie up alongside this afternoon. We have eighteen Type 93 torpedoes for you to deliver to the Americans.
Captain Ishii: Permission granted!
---
It is an hour later. Captain Ishii has arrived at 6th Fleet headquarters, and is now speaking with Vice Admiral Shimizu.
Admiral Shimizu: Captain, I need to detach two more destroyers to escort Shokaku and Kaga back to Japan. How would you feel about going?
Captain Ishii: Sir, Hibiki is ready to do whatever is asked of her.
Admiral Shimizu: I do not doubt it, Ishii. But that is not what I asked. You may speak your mind freely.
Captain Ishii: Thank you, sir. It is my feeling, if I may be bold, that Hibiki has already done her share of playing nursemaid to stricken aircraft carriers so far this war. The Americans are not going away, sir. The men and I want to be out here fighting them.
Admiral Shimizu: *nods* I thought you might feel that way. Very well. You will remain under Admiral Goto's command. Get your ship ready quickly, Ishii, you depart in the morning.
Captain Ishii: Yes sir. Thank you. What is our mission?
Admiral Shimizu: You are needed at Wake. We have been shuttling task forces between here and Wake, raiding the island and intercepting shipping. So far we have caught and sunk something like five destroyers or destroyer transports and maybe seven or eight frieghters. Our submarines and planes have been active as well, so it hard to get an accurate count. *he chuckles* The men are calling the run "the Kwajalein Express".
Admiral Goto has already been fully briefed, of course, and will give you further details. Be careful! American bombers are active in the area once the sun rises, so you need to be well clear of the island by then. So far we have been lucky, the only ship hit was Ise, and the damage was minor.
Captain Ishii: Very good, sir. We will be ready to sail.
Admiral Shimizu: Good hunting, Captain.
---
On the docks at Roi-Namur, Kwajalein. Two sailors face each other for a moment, not speaking. One is a sailor, one an ensign. The sailor begins a salute, but is wrapped in a fiece bear hug by the ensign.
Noburo: None of that! I wish for now to torment you as an elder brother, not as an officer.
Taiki: Yes sir...I mean Noburo...
Noburo releases his brother and laughs.
Noburo: You look well, Taiki! I hear you and your ship have been busy!
Taiki: We have! And how about you? It is so good to see you safe!
Noburo: We have been riding the Kwajalein Express. Your turn tomorrow, I hear.
Taiki: Yes, we sail tomorrow. And you?
Noburo: The same. Not to Wake this time, though. The Mutsu has other orders. But come, we have much to talk about and little time. Walk with me. I hear you saw mother and father! How are they?
The two men fall into step, the war forgotten as they talk. For a short while they are not just two sailors on a bit of coral a very long ways from home. They are family again, and neither man could ask for a greater gift.
RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
[&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]
I declare all ye WITPers to bow to the master of creative writing!
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
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RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Thanks for the compliment. I'll have to show my wife the impressive armada of smileys, maybe then she'll understand that running 15 turns of WitP this weekend against two opponents and getting the 7 latest AAR entries written was worth not getting the garage cleared out...
RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
Thanks for the compliment. I'll have to show my wife the impressive armada of smileys, maybe then she'll understand that running 15 turns of WitP this weekend against two opponents and getting the 7 latest AAR entries written was worth not getting the garage cleared out...
And yet... i somehow think she'll fail to grasp the point... [:D]
RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
Thanks for the compliment. I'll have to show my wife the impressive armada of smileys, maybe then she'll understand that running 15 turns of WitP this weekend against two opponents and getting the 7 latest AAR entries written was worth not getting the garage cleared out...
Chocolats, maybe flowers, and a surprise trip to the spa for the Fuhrer and Cuttlefish is home free! And, as a bonus, he clears another two free hours for playing his games and writing his great AAR. The masses are pleased, Mama is happy, Cuttlefish is not in the dusty garage. Hey, I may be older, but wisdom often comes with the experience of age.
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Ron Saueracker
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RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Perhaps the wife would enjoy cleaning the garage herself....maybe she is bored with giving orders?[8D]
Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan
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goodboyladdie
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RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker
Perhaps the wife would enjoy cleaning the garage herself....maybe she is bored with giving orders?[8D]
Jeez Ron. I though bartenders were supposed to be good at stopping fights, not starting them...[:D]
Art by the amazing Dixie
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Japanese_Spirit
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- Location: United Kingdom
RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Excellent update my good sir!
A very nice touch you added in there with both Taiki and Natsumi. Let us hope that both brothers survive the war.....and live to tell the tale to future generations. [:)]
A very nice touch you added in there with both Taiki and Natsumi. Let us hope that both brothers survive the war.....and live to tell the tale to future generations. [:)]
RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
(can we change Natsumis name? Its a girls name.... Summer Beauty)....
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Cuttlefish
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RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
There's an interesting story behind that. Natsumi was the Takahashi's firstborn child, and before he was born his mother had a dream that he would be a girl and that she should name her after her own grandmother. The old lady, then nearly 90, was quite pleased by this.
It was thus a shock when a healthy baby boy was born instead. His mother knew that her grandmother had been clinging to life so that she could see her namesake born, and feared that the disappointment of giving birth to a boy instead would kill her. So they kept the name as Natsumi and pretended to the old lady that the baby was in fact a little girl. The father was so pleased to have a son that he went along with the plan, on the condition that his name be changed to Akemi once the grandmother died.
The grandmother, however, lived another several years. Natsumi's name was then duly changed to Akemi, but by this time everyone in the family was so used to calling him Natsumi that the name stuck. So his actual name is Akemi to everyone outside the immediate family, but that is not what Taiki calls him.
---
Edit 5/29/07: Natsumi's name has since been changed to Noburo throughout the AAR.
It was thus a shock when a healthy baby boy was born instead. His mother knew that her grandmother had been clinging to life so that she could see her namesake born, and feared that the disappointment of giving birth to a boy instead would kill her. So they kept the name as Natsumi and pretended to the old lady that the baby was in fact a little girl. The father was so pleased to have a son that he went along with the plan, on the condition that his name be changed to Akemi once the grandmother died.
The grandmother, however, lived another several years. Natsumi's name was then duly changed to Akemi, but by this time everyone in the family was so used to calling him Natsumi that the name stuck. So his actual name is Akemi to everyone outside the immediate family, but that is not what Taiki calls him.
---
Edit 5/29/07: Natsumi's name has since been changed to Noburo throughout the AAR.
RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
(Akemi is also a girls name.. the "mi" means beautiful. But I will play a long. I will be helpful..mens first names often end with "ru", "ro", "hiro", and "hiko" and "kazu". Girls names often end with "-ko". I will give you some names to play with since those are difficult: Takahiro, Teppei, Toshikazu, Akira, Hiro, Jun, Junichiro, Taisuke, Daisuke, Motohiro, Masaharu, Masayuki, Ryuji, Ryu, Fumihiro, Naosuke, Ryuichi, Gen, Yuu, Hideki, Hideo, Masao, Toshi, Takao. Hope that helps. Keep up the work!)
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Cuttlefish
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RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Ah, thank you Vetamur. In this case I will blame faulty reference material that specified Akemi as a male name. It does point up the perils of doing an AAR like this, though. First there is the danger of "over-Americanizing" the crew; I try to keep their outlook at least somewhat Japanese in nature, but this is not always easy. There is a lot of cultural background information that I simply do not have. I try and do my research, but my own cultural background is 65 years and an ocean apart and I am sure there are questions I don't even think to ask.
Then there are some of the other details. I have no problem at all finding information about what kind of weapons the ship carried, details on her engines and boilers, and things like that. What is maddeningly hard to come by are more commonplace things about life aboard a Japanese warship in WWII. What did they eat? What were the sailor's sleeping accomodations like? What kind of funeral services did they hold aboard ship for fallen shipmates?
So far my best reference has been Hara's "Japanese Destroyer Captain", and the things I find most useful in the book are the occasional details he drops in passing about day to day life aboard ship. I have found and ordered an old Tamiya 1/700 Waterline series model of the Hibiki and a set of model building plans for sister ship Inazuma and should have those shortly. If anyone has any references they can suggest it would be appreciated.
Anyway, apologies in advance for any other factual errors that may creep into the AAR. I do try and get everything right, but my materials and to some extent my time are limited. In a way what I am telling here is a story, and I am sure that most people here have had the experience of having an otherwise good WWII novel or movie marred by glaring factual errors. I will try and avoid that as much as possible as we go along.
Then there are some of the other details. I have no problem at all finding information about what kind of weapons the ship carried, details on her engines and boilers, and things like that. What is maddeningly hard to come by are more commonplace things about life aboard a Japanese warship in WWII. What did they eat? What were the sailor's sleeping accomodations like? What kind of funeral services did they hold aboard ship for fallen shipmates?
So far my best reference has been Hara's "Japanese Destroyer Captain", and the things I find most useful in the book are the occasional details he drops in passing about day to day life aboard ship. I have found and ordered an old Tamiya 1/700 Waterline series model of the Hibiki and a set of model building plans for sister ship Inazuma and should have those shortly. If anyone has any references they can suggest it would be appreciated.
Anyway, apologies in advance for any other factual errors that may creep into the AAR. I do try and get everything right, but my materials and to some extent my time are limited. In a way what I am telling here is a story, and I am sure that most people here have had the experience of having an otherwise good WWII novel or movie marred by glaring factual errors. I will try and avoid that as much as possible as we go along.
RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Youre doing a great job. Im not trying to nit pick. I live the AAR thats why I thought I would sort of help you along. If you like I can give you a few tidbits here and there and whatever insight I might have. For example, the IJN is famous for its Japanese style curry. That would be one of their main foods. Berths (since you mentioned sleeping) were an afterthought in ship design in Japan most of the time. They will be crammed in even more than on US ships. I dont know anything about funeral services but can probably easily find out if you would like. Remember they are Buddhist, so they will probably burn incense and say a prayer to a picture of the deceased or (failing that) a personal item.
If you want more tidbits, feel free to PM me. I would love to add in a bit of detail to your excellent AAR.
If you want more tidbits, feel free to PM me. I would love to add in a bit of detail to your excellent AAR.
RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
ORIGINAL: Vetamur
Youre doing a great job. Im not trying to nit pick. I live the AAR thats why I thought I would sort of help you along. If you like I can give you a few tidbits here and there and whatever insight I might have. For example, the IJN is famous for its Japanese style curry. That would be one of their main foods. Berths (since you mentioned sleeping) were an afterthought in ship design in Japan most of the time. They will be crammed in even more than on US ships. I dont know anything about funeral services but can probably easily find out if you would like. Remember they are Buddhist, so they will probably burn incense and say a prayer to a picture of the deceased or (failing that) a personal item.
If you want more tidbits, feel free to PM me. I would love to add in a bit of detail to your excellent AAR.
Not to hijack your wonderful AAR, Cuttlefish, but it is a delightful surprise to this newbie poster to find such a breadth of knowledge and skills demonstrated in this Forum. The international gaming community adds such a wide prespective on play, as well as tidbits like, the meaning of Japanese names and when the cherry trees blossom in Toyko. Very nice added touches to a really well written AAR. Thanks to all that contribute.
And Marky, the guy with the sword should know that it is very dangerous to bring a knife to a gunfight. Super scene....LOL!
RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Cuttlefish..on my way back home tonight in my taxi (caught a midnight showing of Gladiator... Tokyo is so random..) I had a couple of thoughts.
1) The name thing. Japanese men never use first names with each other. Even dear, close friends refer to each other by the family name. I dont even know the first name of my 2nd best friend in Japan...(the initial is "I", Ive seen it on the post box..). To show familiarity they might add a different suffix (the famous one, "-san", being formal is replaced with "-kun"). So maybe go with last names. Obviously your call.
2) How about introducing us to a pilot as well. When the Hibiki is sort of "in between" stuff.. we could switch to a scene from a fighter pilot sentai. I would think it would have a wealth of material and would let us go through a career of early mastery of the sky, to watching the Allies "catch up", his frustration as he meets new types but is kept on flying the same machine, the sadness of the increasing death rate of his fellow pilots.. if your game goes long enough even the emotions when he starts to wonder if his sentai will be designated a "tokko" group (kamikaze).
just my ideas.
1) The name thing. Japanese men never use first names with each other. Even dear, close friends refer to each other by the family name. I dont even know the first name of my 2nd best friend in Japan...(the initial is "I", Ive seen it on the post box..). To show familiarity they might add a different suffix (the famous one, "-san", being formal is replaced with "-kun"). So maybe go with last names. Obviously your call.
2) How about introducing us to a pilot as well. When the Hibiki is sort of "in between" stuff.. we could switch to a scene from a fighter pilot sentai. I would think it would have a wealth of material and would let us go through a career of early mastery of the sky, to watching the Allies "catch up", his frustration as he meets new types but is kept on flying the same machine, the sadness of the increasing death rate of his fellow pilots.. if your game goes long enough even the emotions when he starts to wonder if his sentai will be designated a "tokko" group (kamikaze).
just my ideas.
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
March 15, 1942
Location: Rongelap
Course: North-northeast
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 451
Orders: Proceed to Wake Island. Engage enemy ships there. If no ships are present proceed with bombardment of enemy positions and installations.
Location: Rongelap
Course: North-northeast
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 451
Orders: Proceed to Wake Island. Engage enemy ships there. If no ships are present proceed with bombardment of enemy positions and installations.