The little ship that could.

[1275psi]

6/3/42

Zuiho continues to steam south towards Soerabaya.

Hasegawa is mainly absent from the bridge today -he spends the morning catching up on sleep -and awakens -still tired, very tired.
He notes grimly to himself as he crawls out of bed -every bone aching -that seniority works well -in peace time. But war, war is for the young. And not for the first time since taking command, he wonders if he is past it.
he writes some letters to his children, one to his wife -and wonders if they will ever recieve them

Then , then its the paperwork war, and a first attempt at massaging the "general intention" Yamamoto has given him -into some sort of concrete planning order.
But even as he begins -it strikes him again, and again -its a long, long way to go.......

[1275psi]

Minobe spnds his day, as he spends many, behind his closed door. today though -there is work - 6 monthly fitness reports.
They stand, a huge pile, on his desk.

He detests them -as most naval men do. At the very least -a necessary evil. Oh for the old days -where war brought rapid promotion -where one could be promoted by the CO on the spot -like he was -not like this -this red tape nightmare.
He sighs, reaches for the first in the pile.

CPO Fuchida -The charge

for a moment he contemplates the page of little boxes............crap it -he needs a drink.

[1275psi]

Okano has a quiet day -Forenoon and firts now -so he has caught up on sleep.
The boiler room bores him today -and he wonders if Hirate will ever return -its the only way it seems he will be able to get back to the engine room - and progression.

It will be for him a forgettable day.

[1275psi]

PO Hirate - in actual fact -is coming, he has been seconded onto little Hosho -which is enroute to support "the OP"
he is having a terrible time of it. Stranger to every one -and only here for a short time -no one really speaks to him, or wants to really acknowledge him -he is not Hosho crew.
(He personally thinks they are all pretensious snobs -but that is another story)
He does his work -wonders at his scars -and hides from the medics as best he can the pain he still feels.

he won't truly be well again until he walks the deck of the happy Phoenix

[1275psi]

Lurch tends to his machinery -and wonders at the cruelity of the world.

has he not twice now -performed exactly as he has been trained to do?
has he ever made a real mistake?
Isn't he really the most skilled man here on the throttles?

Why then, do they keep treating him as an idiot?
he may look like one at times - and thats hardly his fault he is so large - but when will any one really trust him? a

[1275psi]

Hidaka too spends today on paperwork -and worry

He , The captain, the XO, the Navigator alone are privy to the true war news.
And it frankly worries him, worries any true son of the empire

Singapore holds
Clarke holds

And the smneaking suspicion that Japanese arogance may have left an opening for the allies
Just how many troops did the British get into singapore? -and what other miscief were they up to as the invasion of the DEI's slowly turned into a morass?

[1275psi]

The Charge ttends to paperwork - (its a common theme isn't it -this paperwork. trust me -there is mountains of it -and every year since the creation of the warship -that little pile has gotten a little bigger - a modern minesweeper today has more than a 45 battleship I am sure)

The work is piling up -and he will soon have to start juggling things - boiler cleans, turbine bumps -overspeeds, even the diesel generator 5000 hrlys -they need to be planned, manned, conducted.
easy in peacetime -now -heavens knows when.

The Charge works -sticking to his last promised maintenance date -mid June, 99% knowing that he has a snow balls chance in hell of seeing it.
In fact, he suspects, the Zuiho may soon slide into a whole new maintenace philosophy -wait until its f%$#@!d -then try to fix it................

[1275psi]

mistake

[1275psi]

PO Nashiguchi has a good day -a very good day

CAP at 10000 feet -way out there

No hassles, smooth air, clouds to sport about in

Just three fighters alone in the sky

Then home -a good book, calm seas

And no sea sickness

Oh -did he say -no sea sickness today

That makes it a very good day indeed.

[1275psi]

PO Ogawa too has a great day.
Flying tucked in behind nashiguchi's wing all day
Enjoying the flight, the air time -the smooth air too.

And wondering what Nashiguchi's face will look like when he finally opens his locker -and finds it crammed to the hilt with lose rice.........

[1275psi]

PO Diogawa has a so, so day

He too spends the day on CAP, tucked into their finger three.

However, unlike the other two -he needs three go arounds to get down this afternoon -and wonders if Hidaka notices....

Which is a stupid thought -for Hidaka see's everything to do with the flight deck.

he will spend a sleepless night will Diogawa - not the first either, wondering if he will ever be good enough to be a carrier pilot.

[1275psi]

And finally Okura and Kurihama who are stood down today, try to play chess -but niether have there hearts in it.
They break up -and try to find work to do - Zuiho is a small prison for them today.
Action, any action, is better than this quiet time -there is too much time to think.

[1275psi]

7/3/42

Hosho does not watch the bombers with awe today, no , not today.
today is too filled with terror today to watch anything, except the very dirt in front of his nose

The B17s have come for his regiment today -and its hard not to think -for him personally

They thunder overhead -at a mere 8000 feet -and the shrieking of the bombs is a howl coming from the very gates of hell itself

CRUMP!, CRUMP!, CRUMP! -the earth shakes, and the shallow trench he quivers in becomes a shower of mud and crap, vegetation and god knows what else

Almost in a desperate act of distraction, he watchs some poor bug trying to climb up the edge of his trench -CRUMP! -and the poor bug disapears in a mini landslide, falling back into the trench
To Hosho -it reminds him terribly that this trench -or some future trench, may well become his grave too.

[1275psi]

Minobe enters Damage Control central , drops the huge pile of reports onto his regulators desk. "For Captains signitures -and no peeking"

he is pleased -as he should be -thats the dirtiest job on board done.

[1275psi]

On feed water>

We are going to hear a lot about feed water soon on the little Zuiho – for feed water is life to a steam ship.
We may even dive in –if we dare –at a later date –on how we control its Chemistry, and what happens if we don’t –(although we have seen that once already!).
But –to put the next months ‘adventures’ into perspective –a basic, basic description of the water circuit

Steam exhausting from the turbines (another story in itself there!) enters the main condenser slung underneath the turbine –where sea water rushing through thousands of tubes cools and condenses it.
This help maintains the condenser’s vacuum –and you can see why vacuum is so critical –no vacuum, no condensation –no steam flow –no go –and then even worse things happen!

The condensate is pumped out in prodigious quantities. What happens next depends very much on the design of your ship – with its british background, Zuiho’s condensate goes to several places

Some is used as a cooling medium in the air ejectors –steam devices used to initially create and then maintain the vacuum, but most travels directly back to the boiler room.
Here it enters a de aerator –oxygen kills boiler tubes –we must get rid of it.
From there –big feed pumps send it to the feed check valve –the feed regulator, and then the boiler.

It is a closed loop – at the de aerator, excess condensate will be diverted by the water tender back to the feed tanks –, shortages he will draw the same via the condensor vacuum

Evaporators –Zuiho has two –a HP Saturated steam , single effect evaporator, and a low out put exhaust steam plant –are used to make up for losses –which on Japanese ships are excessive.

All turbines have drains –and these gather waste feed, it gathers in a tank –and we suck it too into the condensor

Zuiho has 4 small reserve feed tanks, and just two fresh water tanks.
Japanese sailors do not shower –they bird bath from basins – and consumption of fresh is very small compared to allied ships.
To be honest – (they cannot tell, because they are all in the same boat) most of our characters smell at the moment –quite badly.

At the moment, both evaporators are working well –boiler chemistry is good –and feed and fresh are both over 90 % -even after todays regular 12 hrly ‘bottom blows’
But –as any steam sailor can tell –this can change, very, very quickly.

[1275psi]

8 March 1942

Fire!. Fire, Fire, fire in the main hanger deck! –damage control parties to the scene!

The tannoy rings out the alarm, and the crew react

It is –before we panic – just yet another exercise –and like so many exercises, it goes well.

The fire is “attacked”, then “contained” and finally “extinguished”
But why wouldn’t it –everyone knew it was coming, where it would be held, and of course , every thing worked


On completion, the interested parties gather in the hanger – Minobe, the CPO Shipwright, the leading hands, the men who actually “fought the fire”
The de brief is –as usual, almost perfuctionary – minds wish to be elsewhere – and to be honest, only Minobe shows any keen interest.

It is at this moment that the Charge wanders into the circle –he is normally not involved in Fire drills – his Action/damage post is in the engine room.
For a few moments he listens to the de brief –and shakes his head

Unlike any one else here –he has served on other ships, in other Navies. And although he is a long, long way from the true truth of the matter –only he has a sense that really –Zuiho’s damage Control is –well, can we say it –a joke?

He listens carefully to the final comments –and finally, catches Minobes eye.
“Ahh, Chief –any comments?’

Many things swing on small moments such as this. Tomorrow is Port –and a mountain of things to do –yet, yet he must, must comment.
‘Ahh, yes sir.”
Minobe hesitates –this was not the answer he expected.
The Charge views the men. ‘ I note that every single time we have a hanger fire – the sprinklers run –and we have plenty of fire main pressure. May I ask – how many of you here can actually start the emergency diesel fire pump?”

Silence
Oh crap, the atmosphere says –The Charge is throwing his weight around.
“well, how many? –a show of hands”

A few go up –Stokers mainly –but many do not.
‘’Isn’t that the Stokers job Chief?’ a seamen asks
“Fires are every mans job”
he addresses the Engineer. “If I may suggest sir –next fire –lets have a few things go wrong ? –and see what happens”

He leaves – and behind him Minobes Anger almost explodes……..







He is deep in the bilges –checking yet again the concrete repairs on the shattered sump pipe, when he gets the message -‘Minobe wants to see you in his cabin –now”



‘You do know what happened on the Junyo Charge?”
‘A little, yes”

Minobes eyes harden. His whole body hardens “Do you really think –I –above any one would treat fires lightly on this ship –especially after that!’

I must tread carefully here…………..But,………but I cannot let this lie……….
‘Sir – I speak with the utmost respect. But please hear me out. I have served on British ships –and American ship –merchant I know – but in the ports, I saw many things –and My eyes were opened. “

Minobe remains silent – and I will credit him this –he is still listening.
‘Sir –we need to ramp the training up. Include all the crew. Increase every ones knowledge.”

……I am too busy for this, but its my arse too………

“Sir –let me run the next exercise –let me make it as realistic as possible –and let me show you how far short I think we are”

His Boss opens his mouth. Shuts it –thinks.
“Alright then…………… you can have your exercise………would you like a drink?”


Operational notes
Zuiho continues sailing south towards Soerabaya.
The Japanese Army continues to fight for the reservoir at Singapore –and is still held off.

At Clarke – they remain stalled

However, south of Batavia –three full Divisions entrain south to Soerabaya, where, much to Mr Okura’s chagrin –probably 50% of available sea lift awaits them – many already packed with all the auxillory troops this invasion will require.

PO Hirate, on the Hosho, waits there too –and marvels at the sea might gathered here – he can see all 6 fleet carriers, 4 battleships –and at least three heavy cruisers as well –all merging into the tropical haze.
Even he –a mere tiny cog in the wheel –can feel that he is near the center of great things, mighty things that soon must begin.
He will be well pleased to know –that Zuiho will be in the middle of them.

[1275psi]

9/3/42

For 2 hours Zuiho rides at anchor in the Soerabaya roads –a thick mist lingers in the cool air of the dawn –it will burn off soon enough.

When it does –much like a curtain being drawn –not a few whistles emit from the bridge –and from every viewing advantage point on the ship.

The first sight is the most impressive – Akagi leading Mobile fleet slowly out into the ocean – her bridge dotted with dozens of immaculate white uniforms –uniforms befitting the importance of the coming operation.

The flight deck crews, and pilots on both ships wave enthusiastically to each other –caps in the breeze
On the lower landings, in the gun bays and on the companion ways –other men wave their caps as well –and not a few hearts swell with pride.

Hidaka is on the bridge –“I say “ and he adapts a very British accent “ most impressive hey what?’
Hasegawa is not fooled –the accent is the only way he knows his operations officer can control the emotion of the moment.

But then it is all action, as the morse signals flash –and the messages begin to fly there way from the Flagship.
They boil down to this.

The operation “is on”
And
“how soon will you be ready?’


Hasegawa turns to his Engineer –who too is ogling the view –with different feelings however. The packed anchorage tells him one thing. The cement repairs will have to hold a lot longer yet……
‘How long Engines until we can sail?’
he scratches his chin
“As soon as the Army is loaded –we can go sir –no problems”
‘good – I don’t want to hear of any this time”

By midday, Zuiho is at anchor in the harbour –and alongside a much needed barge –and dozens upon dozens of oil drums.
It will take all night to strike it down –a long, long night indeed.

[1275psi]

Hosho’s squad forms up in the jungle
A feeling of dread fills the men –dread, yet detirmination.
Rumour has it that today the river will be forced…………..


‘men –today we advance”
The Young lieutenant smiles. “ But no chance for Glory I think –the allies have withdrawn – I am pleased to say one of our regiments have outflanked them – they think the jungle impenetrable.
We, of course, think of it as a highway………..”


The little speech goes on for some time, but the message is simple.

15th army, and Hosho, are on the move.

[1275psi]

‘My God Hirate! –you look like half a lobster!’
for a moment Hirate isn’t quite sure whether Okano is being cruel or not –
‘but gee man, it is so good to see you”

Hirate relaxes, takes the proffered hand, and smiles “Yes, it is good to be back friend – I return, a lot uglier, I admit –but ready to sort you lot out.”

His face - half still that horrible raw redness from the recently healed flesh –almost glows in the dimness of the gangway under the flight deck
‘So –how is the bucket going anyway –has it tried to kill any one else yet?

Okano grins –it is so good to see his friend again –and good to see him mentally un scarred. He always thought he was the tougher one ‘No, but you are returning to the beast –port boiler room again I am afraid while……….”
‘While you walk over my almost still warm carcass back to the engine room”


‘Don’t worry friend –I need some one on the throttles I can trust”


It is dawn, 10/3/42, and essentially Zuiho is ready for sea again –chances for dock yard time being nil –the concrete repair will simply have to wait.
Other than the select few, no body of course knows what lies ahead - you can guess –far too many troop ships here at the moment – but the details are vague.

The Charge takes a punt –and while the carrier steams auxillary on the aft unit this week –he totally secures the forward one –and a large number of minor tasks –mainly valve leaks will be tackled.

The main Evaporator too is shut down –and the tube nest, the baffle plates and internal strainers pulled out to be totally cleaned and de scaled.
Nobody tells him anything re the future –but he can guess –soon Zuiho will have a long journey ahead indeed –and water will be critical.


And so Zuiho rests today –baking, sweltering in the stink of Soerabaya harbour, doing what so many in the military do
Hurry up and wait

[1275psi]

11/3/42

Extract from "Shattering the Sword" a cantona production

...............Mermack simply was a crime. packed with refugees, and the tattered remains of the dutch and british units that had been driven here like sheep before the dogs, it was a city ready for the taking.

To deliver the power of 6 battleships against this almost defencless place could only serve one message - that of terror.
We will never know the cost in civilian lives... it certaintly guarranteed that the resistance offered to the invading Japanese troops would be very in effectual indeed.

................and thus resistance ended. Now the rail system groans under the movement of the japanese army, south to soerabaya, and ultimately the critical battle of the war........