Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Terminus]

I think that falls under the heading Famous Last Words, though whether it's Riku or the Hibiki that will go under remains to be seen.

It's easy to forget while we gorge ourselves on Cuttlefish's magnificent talent, but he's writing out the result of game turns. If the Hibiki was sunk in battle, then she has to go down.

Hopefully, he won't follow the Hollywood template that says an honourable death is impossible...

[Skipjack]

I thought it was about time for a Benzaiten cameo.   I too have a bad feeling - October 43 is not so favorable a time for the IJN to enter a carrier dual - Hellcats, Proximity fuses and BBs bristling with AA firepower - we will see how much the KB can do against that.  I'm thinking Hibiki should be ok - the IJN CVs should be the focus of enemy air action.

[histgamer]

Still in terms of planes the IJN will prolly have a 1-2 advantage with the advantage of more skilled pilots. I am hoping for at least a big explosive draw.[:D] Of course the IJN cannot afford draws seeing as they produce at something like 1-10th the rate of the allies.[X(]

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: flanyboy

Still in terms of planes the IJN will prolly have a 1-2 advantage with the advantage of more skilled pilots. X(]

It is fun to speculate while we wait, but the Allied CV losses to this point I think are well over 10, while the IJN has yet to lose 1. Cuttlefish has already hinted that his carrier airgroups still include most of the pilots that made the initial strikes on Pearl Harbor. The Hellcat is good, but a zero flown by a couple hundred skill-90 pilots will still make it very ugly. There will be no "Santa Cruz Turkeyshoot"

Additionally, Cuttlefish has hinted that basically the whole IJN was in the area of operations very recently. If I recall correctly, I don't think the Allies have managed to sink a single IJN ship larger than a DD, or maybe a CL...And it is the end of 1943!

My guess, pretty close to the mythical "Decisive Victory"

[John 3rd]

Come on Cuttlefish!  The suspense is creating a GREAT amount of chaos...
 

[histgamer]

Allies got a battleship awhile ago. It was an older one though. The Yashimero or w/e it was.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: flanyboy

Allies got a battleship awhile ago. It was an older one though. The Yashimero or w/e it was.

I missed that. Guess that means I should go back and re-read previous sections while we wait...

[Cuttlefish]

November 7, 1943

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: TF 4
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 447

Orders: Await further orders

---

Riku’s search for replacement parts for the torpedo hoist take him south to the island of Kwajalein itself. It proves to be thirsty work, so around lunchtime he stops at a navy bar for a drink. This particular establishment, really just an oversized shack, is near the airfield there, and Riku finds himself in conversation with the pilot of a G4M bomber whose unit has just arrived from Luganville.

“We didn’t wait around,” the pilot is telling him. “As soon as we got reports that enemy planes were flying into Noumea we got out of there. Good thing, too. They say that the next day our airbase was flattened by their bombers.”

“I heard you guys did some good work there, though,” says Riku.

The pilot finishes his drink and calls for another. “Yeah, we did all right for a while,” he says. “Those new carrier fighters of theirs are murder, but they can’t be everywhere at once. We learned pretty quick that if we went in low and in small numbers we could find a transport or something, score a hit, and get out of there safely.” He picks up the new drink and stares into the glass. “I lost some friends, though. We’re at about half strength now.”

“That’s rough,” says Riku sympathetically.

The pilot nods. “It’s war, though, what do you expect? We’ll get back up to strength while we’re here. New planes and crew. I like the new Model 22 planes we’re getting, but the pilots? What a joke! They don’t know a propeller from a lateral stabilizer. Most of them are lucky if they can land without wrecking the plane.”

“That’s a hard way to learn the job,” Riku admits.

“Yes it is,” says the pilot. “Still, I don’t envy you sailors. I get sick every time I’m on a ship. But I’ll bet it’s safer.”

“Probably,” says Riku. “It isn’t all that safe, though. I’ve already been wounded once,” he adds, with just a touch of pride.

“Really?” says the pilot. “Where?”

“Off Borneo, back in the first month of the war,” says Riku.

The pilot laughs. “No, I meant where was the injury?”

“Oh,” says Riku. “Right here.” He indicates his shoulder. “I took a piece of shrapnel.”

The pilot looks sympathetic and lifts his glass. “Here’s to peace and quiet and keeping a whole skin,” he says.

“I’ll drink to that,” says Riku, and does.

[histgamer]

[:(][:(] Poor Japanese.[:D]

[Tupolev]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace
It is fun to speculate while we wait, but the Allied CV losses to this point I think are well over 10, while the IJN has yet to lose 1. Cuttlefish has already hinted that his carrier airgroups still include most of the pilots that made the initial strikes on Pearl Harbor. The Hellcat is good, but a zero flown by a couple hundred skill-90 pilots will still make it very ugly. There will be no "Santa Cruz Turkeyshoot"

Wonderfully written AAR, Cuttlefish!!! [&o]

But I'm just wondering how you get so many skill-90 pilots at this late stage of the war. Can you get them with regular naval air combat ops and careful management or do you need a special training program for them too?

[histgamer]

Tupolev that wasnt Cuttlefish who said that. we have no clue how many 90 skilled avaitors cuttlefish actually has. We just know that the KB has kicked the ass of the allies in every single engagment thus far without taking to heavy of losses apparently in terms of planes so its reasonable to assume he has high experanced pilots. How high... no way to tell unless he tells us.[:D]

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Tupolev


But I'm just wondering how you get so many skill-90 pilots at this late stage of the war. Can you get them with regular naval air combat ops and careful management or do you need a special training program for them too?

ORIGINAL: flanyboy

Tupolev that wasnt Cuttlefish who said that. we have no clue how many 90 skilled avaitors cuttlefish actually has. We just know that the KB has kicked the ass of the allies in every single engagment thus far without taking to heavy of losses apparently in terms of planes so its reasonable to assume he has high experanced pilots. How high... no way to tell unless he tells us.[:D]

And this being the kind of AAR it is, you won't be seeing that kind of specific information. Speaking generally though, Tupolev, I will say that when playing Japan I never use any kind of training program or tricks for my carrier pilots. I hoard the naval pilot replacement pool for the almost exclusive use of my carriers and I try to avoid head-on engagements that will cost me a lot of pilots. In general I try to use Kido Butai as a rapier, not a sledge hammer.

I'm not exactly an expert; this game was my third PBEM , which on the Japanese side I think still qualifies me as a novice. I've since started a fourth, which is in early '43. If you want to see what can be done with Japanese carriers check out Pauk or Pzb's AARs, or for a recent inspiring example what Honda just accomplished in his game against Raverdave.

[Tupolev]

Thanks for the reply, Cuttlefish. Your pilot management skills must be awesome nonetheless.

Seeing as you're still very much in control of the overall military situation in late 1943 (!) I think when the war is finally over (won) and if you're up to it, perhaps you could provide a summary of some of the major naval battles. I for one believe there's plenty to be learned from your experience, and of course it'll be a very juicy read [:)]

[HMS Resolution]

I predict Japanese victory; nothing else seems likely, given the current progression of events.

[histgamer]

Maybe the USA will deploy the tactical nuke on torpedo's and whipe out the KB that way.[:D]

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Tupolev

Seeing as you're still very much in control of the overall military situation in late 1943 (!) I think when the war is finally over (won) and if you're up to it, perhaps you could provide a summary of some of the major naval battles. I for one believe there's plenty to be learned from your experience, and of course it'll be a very juicy read [:)]

Once the AAR is over I am planning to do a complete recap of the game from the player's perspective.

[Cuttlefish]

November 8, 1943

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: TF 4
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 444

Orders: Await further orders

---

Captain Ishii comes back aboard following a visit ashore. Shortly afterwards he calls his officers into a brief meeting in the officer’s wardroom. Once everyone is settled in he comes quickly to the point.

“The enemy has a great many ships at Noumea,” he says. “Reconnaissance photographs show a lot of transports there. There are enemy surface forces near Efate, and our positions there have been under almost constant air attack for the last two days. It seems almost certain that Efate will be invaded soon. Our fleet will head south before dawn tomorrow in an effort to meet and smash this invasion.”

There is a stir among the officers. “Excuse me, sir,” says Lieutenant Miharu. “Do you know why? I thought we had already largely evacuated the place and conceded it to the enemy.”

Captain Ishii taps a finger on the table, thinking. Then he looks up at the assembled officers.

“What I am about to say does not leave this room,” he says. “I should not even know it, but Admiral Ozawa does not believe in leaving his men in the dark. Am I clear?” There are nods and a chorus of “yes sirs” from around the table.

“Naval intelligence has been able to put together an idea of the size of the enemy fleet,” he says. “It is a force of formidable size. We do not care whether we lose the island or not, but we do care about that fleet. The fact is, gentlemen, that they have more ships than we do. More carriers, more battleships, more of everything.”

Lieutenant Sugiyura makes a scoffing noise. “How could they have so many ships?” he says. “Especially with the losses we have inflicted on them?”

“I do not know,” says Ishii. “Most of the British fleet is there as well, we know that. As for the rest, Admiral Yamamoto and the rest of the Navy seems to believe the reports.” Even Sugiyura looks dismayed at this.

“There are two factors at work here, gentlemen,” Ishii says. “First, there is a peace proposal in the hands of the Americans and British even as we speak. If accepted, it would guarantee the safety and power of Japan for the foreseeable future.” At this even the usually quiet Sakati looks up, eyes intent. “The second factor,” Ishii continues, “is this. The enemy is adding new ships with terrifying speed. If we do not face and defeat them now, we may lose the chance to do so.” There is silence as the assembled officers absorb this.

“There you have it,” says Ishii. “If we win a convincing victory it may well end the war. If we fail the war shall continue and likely become a desperate one for us indeed. I am not one for giving speeches, you all know that. But the battle before us will indeed be the decisive battle. I know that I can count on each of you to do his duty to the utmost. For the Emperor, for our national essence, for all of Japan, we must not fail.”

Lieutenant, Kuwaki slowly pushes back his chair and stands. “Sir,” he says, “your words fill me with resolve. We will not let you down, sir.” The other officers also stand.

“I know you won’t,” says Ishii. He looks around the table. “That is all. Let’s get this ship ready to sail.”

[Fishbed]

Wow, there's a Mother Of All Battles on the way!

[Capt. Harlock]

Looks like this war's version of the Battle of the Philippine Sea will take place in '43 instead of '44. A possibly vital point: what kind of fighters do the British CV's have in their hangers? We'll find out . . .

[Terminus]

Seafires and Martlets, most likely...