Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Alikchi2]

I know almost nothing about baseball, but reading your descriptions of it sparked a bit of interest for me. Even if it did not, I really do enjoy these little vignettes - it fleshes out the characters, shows new sides to them. For some reason I came away from the baseball bits with a higher opinion of Okubo - maybe because he put his devious nature to work for his team as a whole, for once. [;)]

[BrucePowers]

Alikchi, you send it much better than I did. It does "flesh out" the characters.

[Durbik]

It can't be all combat.

Hey, I'm not bitching about lack of combat here - "non-combat" storyline is a very interesting thing in this one. Just my personal desinteressement about baseball. For historical reasons it couldn't be american football (which I enjoy a lot more) or maybe even... criquet!

Just leave the grumbling Pole alone, proceed with your fine story!

[Cuttlefish]

December 27, 1943

Location: 60 miles east of Jaluit
Course: South
Attached to: TF 25
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 439

Orders: Attack enemy forces at Espiritu Santo

---

The Japanese ships depart Kwajalein shortly after midnight. The seas are calm and the sky is clear. There is no moon tonight and the stars overhead shine brilliantly as the ships clear the lagoon and turn south.

In addition to heavy cruisers Takao and Chokai the task force includes light cruisers Natori and Noshiro. There are eight other destroyers in addition to Hibiki – Uranami, Ariake, Shigure, Amatsukaze, Wakazuki, Makigumo, Michishio, and Wakaba. The ships proceed swiftly southwards, heading for a rendezvous with the enemy.

[Cuttlefish]

December 28, 1943

Location: 60 miles northeast of Nauru Island
Course: South
Attached to: TF 25
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 396

Orders: Attack enemy forces at Espiritu Santo

---

Ensign Izu has just completed an examination of the lowering mechanisms for the ship’s boats when he is approached by Midshipman Konada. Konada’s bearing, as always, is ramrod-straight and his uniform is impeccable. He comes up to Izu and salutes crisply.

“Hello, Konada,” Izu says. “What can I do for you?” At Lieutenant Miharu’s request he has ceased tormenting the young midshipman with practical jokes, but it hasn’t been easy. Konada is always so painfully stiff he makes an almost unbearably tempting target.

“Sir, may I speak with you about a private matter?” Konada asks. Izu raises an eyebrow. Konada has never figured out that Izu was responsible for the practical jokes and seems to look up to him, though Izu doesn’t know why. Konada rarely speaks about anything other than ship’s business, though, so this might be interesting.

“Certainly, Midshipman,” he says. “What is on your mind?”

“Sir, I have already completed my first combat cruise,” says Konada. “As you know, it is customary for midshipmen to receive a promotion following their first cruise. Yet I remain a midshipman, not an ensign.”

“And you want to know why,” says Izu. “Have you spoken to the captain or the executive officer? They are the ones responsible for the decision, of course.”

“No sir,” says Konada. “I though…I thought that perhaps such a conversation might go better if I first had some idea about the direction it might take.” Which proves, Izu thinks to himself, that the young man is not entirely stupid.

“I understand,” Izu says. “And while I do not know the reason, of course, I can make a guess if you would like to hear it.”

“Sir, please,” says Konada. “If you would speak frankly I would take it as a favor.”

“Very well,” Izu says. “I will begin with a question. Why, in your opinion, do you think you deserve the promotion?”

Konada thinks for a moment. “Sir, I have carried out all my duties punctually and according to regulations. I do not think there have been any flaws in my bearing or appearance. Given that, and the fact that a promotion is customary, why wouldn’t I be promoted?”

Izu sighs. “I am going to tell you something that should not be a surprise to you,” he says. “Captain Ishii does not give a damn about appearances or regulations. Oh, if Hibiki is to be inspected we turn out as well as any ship in the navy, you may be sure. But the captain is a fighter. He wants officers who will fight and who can inspire the men under them to do the same.”

“I am ready to fight,” says Konada.

“I am sure you are,” Izu says. “But I think the captain is waiting to see it. I would guess that he wants to see that you can show initiative and lead men, not just follow regulations and orders.”

“I think I understand, sir,” says Konada thoughtfully. “Thank you for your honesty and advice.”

“Good luck,” says Izu.

“Thank you, Ensign Izu,” Konada says. He salutes and departs. Ensign Izu turns and looks out over the water. He suddenly remembers a conversation he had with his father a long time ago. He stands lost in thought, remembering.

---

The place is Korea and the year is 1930. Young Tomio Izu is walking with his father down the street towards the division headquarters where his father is currently posted. Tomio has a new uniform and is as proud of it as he is of his father, who he is convinced is the best and most important officer in the Japanese Army.

“When I am an officer,” Tomio announces proudly, “I will shout orders and all the soldiers will obey.” He raises his high, piping voice. “Attention! Forward, march!” His father laughs.

“But there is more to being an officer than just shouting orders, Tomio,” he says. “An officer must study and learn so that he knows what orders to give, and when. He must be able to obey orders as well as give them. And he must be an example to his men, so that they have confidence that his orders are wise.” Tomio thinks about this as he hurries along, trying to keep up with his father’s long strides.

“Then I will study hard and learn to be a good officer so that I can give good orders,” he says.

His father looks down at him. “You will be a fine officer one day, I am sure,” he says. “Just remember that leading men is not the same thing as just ordering them around. Some officers never do learn the difference. Ah, here we are, and here is the photographer. Stand here, as straight as a soldier. Just so. Now remain still.” Father and son stand together as the photographer takes the picture.

---

[Alikchi2]

Very good. It amuses me to see Izu helping a new Midshipman fit in - we've come full circle. The photograph is a nice touch, too.

[Feinder]

As always, excellent writing CF.
 
-F-

[tocaff]

Great writing and the pic...you are certainly putting lots of effort into this saga.  

[bobogoboom]

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: tocaff

Great writing and the pic...you are certainly putting lots of effort into this saga.  

I owe thanks for that particular picture to DW, who thought of Ensign Izu when he saw it and sent it to me a while back.

[marky]

ORIGINAL: tocaff

Great writing and the pic...you are certainly putting lots of effort into this saga.

indeed!!

3 cheers for Cuttlefish!!

HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!
HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!
HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!



[&o]

New page tithe [:D]

[Capt. Harlock]

Wow, again -- that picture turned the vignette from excellent to superb.

[Cuttlefish]

December 29, 1943

Location: 300 miles south-southwest of Nauru Island
Course: South
Attached to: TF 25
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 353

Orders: Attack enemy forces at Espiritu Santo

---

As he goes about his duties Ensign Izu thinks about his friend Ensign Handa, now part of Musashi’s crew. His conversation yesterday with Midshipman Konada reminded him how much he misses Handa. He knows there is fighting around Truk and that Musashi is supposed to be there. Izu hopes that Handa is okay.

---

At this moment, in the northern part of the Truk archipelago, Ensign Handa is confronting a wall of fire on Musashi’s after deck.

“Come on!” he yells. “Get those hoses up here! Move it!” Over the sound of the fire he can hear the roar of aircraft. Musashi shudders from a bomb hit somewhere forward. Handa has lost track of the hits and isn’t sure whether that is number five or six.

The air over Truk has been furiously contested for several days. Nearly 100 American carrier planes have been shot down, and over twice that many Japanese aircraft have been lost. But the enemy now dominates the sky, and that makes this a good place to leave. Musashi and her escorts are making a run for it, but their dash has not gone undetected.

The hoses come up and salt water cascades across the deck. The fire is forced back. Clouds of steam rise up and the now bare metal glows a dull red in places. Handa drives the men forward, trying to ignore the scream of descending dive bombers. Another hit here and they will be able to carry he and his men home in a bucket.

Harried by planes the big battleship heads north. She is trailing smoke but her speed is undiminished. Anti-aircraft guns still blazing the big ship sweeps majestically away from the islands and heads for Japan and home.

[Cuttlefish]

December 30, 1943

Location: 120 miles east-southeast of Reef Island
Course: South
Attached to: TF 25
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 311

Orders: Attack enemy forces at Espiritu Santo

---

“No sign of submarines, no sign of aircraft,” says Captain Ishii to Lieutenant Sugiyura. “I am pleased it means we are probably undetected, but it feels like an insult. Do they think so little of us now?”

“Then we shall have to teach them a little caution,” Sugiyura says grimly. “Any word of what awaits us there?”

Ishii shakes his head. “Our troops still on the island have been pushed back to the north and there has been heavy cloud cover there the last couple of days,” he says. “There could be anything there, or nothing.”

“I guess we will find out tonight, then,” Sugiyura says.

“Indeed we will, Lieutenant,” says the captain. “It may be a long night. I will get some rest now, while I can. You have the bridge.”

“Yes sir,” says Lieutenant Sugiyura. He doesn’t say anything, but Ishii recognizes the light in his eyes. He can tell that his chief torpedo officer is hoping Hibiki doesn’t return to Kwajalein carrying a full load of torpedoes.

The Japanese ships increase speed. They should reach Luganville by midnight.

[marky]

great stuff [:)]

Youre truly the master of cliffhangers Cuttlefish!

[Capt. Harlock]

“Come on!” he yells. “Get those hoses up here! Move it!” Over the sound of the fire he can hear the roar of aircraft. Musashi shudders from a bomb hit somewhere forward. Handa has lost track of the hits and isn’t sure whether that is number five or six.

The air over Truk has been furiously contested for several days. Nearly 100 American carrier planes have been shot down, and over twice that many Japanese aircraft have been lost. But the enemy now dominates the sky, and that makes this a good place to leave. Musashi and her escorts are making a run for it, but their dash has not gone undetected.

Just what I was hoping for -- a report of the situation elsewhere. Yet another excellent idea of linking other battles to Hibiki. It looks like Musashi is hors de combat for a while, but she'll be back. You need torpedoes, not bombs, to do really crippling damage to her or Yamato.

But it's also interesting to note that Truk is (by my calculations) out of LBA distance for the Allies. An invasion of the Admiralty Islands and a simultaneous strike at Truk must tie up a lot of resources. Things are looking good for Tanaka's raid.[:)]

[Cuttlefish]

December 31, 1943

Location: Off Ndini
Course: North
Attached to: TF 25
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 419

Orders: Attack enemy forces at Espiritu Santo

---

Night lies over Espiritu Santo. A crescent moon provides thin illumination through scattered cloud cover as the Japanese column cruises south off the west coast of the island. On all ships men are alert and sharp eyes peer through the darkness in every direction. So far there has been no sign of enemy surface forces. No groups of torpedo boats have charged out of a cove or bay to challenge the intruders.

Admiral Tanaka plans to swing around the south side of the large island and enter Segond Channel from the west. The channel is deep and narrow, only some two kilometers wide, and runs for almost fifteen kilometers between Espiritu Santo and Aore Island. It provides a sheltered anchorage for any ships calling at Luganville and Tanaka knows that any enemy shipping will be found there.

Around midnight the Japanese ships clear South Cape at the southwest corner of Espiritu Santo and turn east. There is still no sign of the enemy. Straight ahead, about twenty five kilometers distant, is the dark bulk of Malo Island. Tanaka angles his ships to pass north of Malo and they head for the entrance to the channel.

It takes the better part of an hour to reach the channel. As the Japanese ships approach they spot a ship just inside the entrance. The darkened vessel is lying close against Aore Island and there is no sign yet that it has seen the approaching Japanese ships. Guns train towards the ship as the Japanese draw closer.

---

The ship is seaplane tender Ballard. The seaplanes she is to service will not arrive for a day or two and so the tender lies quietly at anchor. Most of the crew is sound asleep.

One lookout, however, sees Japanese ships, mere ghostly silhouettes in the darkness. He calls them to the attention of the ensign who currently has the bridge. The ensign is at first inclined to dismiss them as friendly warships – there have been a lot of them in these waters recently – but he does not recognize what he can make out of their profiles and something about the situation just doesn’t feel right. He sends someone to wake up the captain and orders a message broadcast.

[font="Courier New"]**Alert. Unknown ships entering channel. Alert.**[/font]

---

Tanaka sends destroyer Shigure to deal with the lone vessel. Shigure closes swiftly and executes a textbook attack. Two torpedoes and multiple shells slam into Ballard. Fire leaps into the sky and Tanaka orders his ships on into the channel.

---

Well down the channel, near Luganville, DE Stadtfeld cruises slowly to the west. Stadtfeld is one of four destroyer escorts assigned to protect the convoy of seven freighters currently unloading here, but at this hour of the night the only other DE active is Fleming. The two ships are cruising back and forth along the channel on anti-submarine patrol. Stadtfeld has recently passed Fleming and the other ship is now receding to the east.

Lieutenant George Stubbins, inevitably nicknamed “Stubby” despite his lanky 6’ 2” frame, has the bridge when Ballard’s message comes in. Stubbins frowns and trains a pair of binoculars ahead, but can see nothing.

“Better get the captain up here,” he orders. It does not take long for Lieutenant Commander Hansen, Stadtfeld’s captain, to arrive. Stubbins shows him the message.

“Raise Ballard,” he orders the radio room. “I need more information.” Ballard’s position is screened by the curve of the channel, but suddenly a dull red glow flickers against the underside of the clouds from somewhere in that direction. A moment later the faint sound of explosions comes rolling across the water.

“Sound general quarters,” Hansen says. He suddenly no longer expects a reply from Ballard. “Engines ahead full.” Stadtfeld surges ahead, coming up to her top speed of 19 knots. Anxious eyes scan the dark channel ahead.

“I’ve got something, sir,” says the radar operator a little while later. “Multiple ships, 15,000 meters ahead. They are just clearing Aore, sir.”

Hansen raises his binoculars again. “I see them!” he says. “Look at those superstructures. Those are Japs. Two heavy cruisers and a lot of smaller stuff.” He orders an urgent warning broadcast to the ships behind him. Then he orders Stadtfeld to change course to intercept the oncoming ships.

“Uh, sir, those are Jap heavy cruisers,” Stubbins points out. “Our 3” guns will bounce off those things like ping pong balls.”

“I know,” says Hansen grimly. “But those freighters behind us are sitting ducks. We have to give them enough time to get underway and scatter.”

“Yes sir,” says Stubbins. Hansen is a reserve officer and he has been slighted for that status more than once by regular navy men. But he knows his duty and he knows his men will follow his orders. In the finest tradition of the United States Navy Stadtfeld moves out to engage the enemy.

---

It is twenty minutes later. Stadtfeld is dead in the water, down at the bows from a torpedo hit and afire from a merciless storm of 8” shells. Captain Hansen stands on the bridge as Stubbins, who is also injured, wraps a bandage around his shattered left forearm. Half of the bridge crew is dead and the deck is slippery with blood. The port side of the bridge is a twisted mass of metal open to the weather. Fire leaps up from somewhere below and flames curl in around the edges.

“Abandon ship,” Hansen orders through gritted teeth. Another shell crashes into Stadtfeld and then the shelling abruptly stops. Stubbins helps Hansen down to the weather deck, where the surviving crew are trying to launch the undamaged boats. Amazingly no further Japanese shells come their way.

“Oh shit,” says somebody. A Japanese destroyer looms out of the murk, bristling with weapons that are all trained on the stricken ship. The crew stops and stands mutely as death sweeps within 100 meters of them. Reflected firelight shows expressionless oriental faces regarding them from the bridge and elsewhere on the destroyer. Suddenly somebody aboard the Japanese ship bawls an order. The Japanese come to attention, facing Stadtfeld, and salute.

“I will be god damned,” says one of Stadtfeld’s petty officers as the destroyer sweeps past and vanishes into the darkness. The spell is broken and Stadtfeld’s crew resumes the scramble to get off their ship before it sinks under them.

---

Stadtfeld offers the only resistance the Japanese encounter. Fleming comes charging back down the channel but takes an 8” shell in the engine room and is out of the fight before really entering it. The other two DE’s never even manage to clear the docks.

In the channel the white light of Japanese star shells soon mixes with the red glow of burning ships as the Japanese pursue the fleeing freighters. Near the rear of the Japanese column Hibiki has been seeking a target. Suddenly one is found.

“Freighter fifty degrees to starboard, range 3500 meters,” calls a lookout. Captain Ishii raises his binoculars. An enemy ship is trying to slip away undiscovered almost under the shadow of mountainous Aore Island.

“There is our target,” he says. “Lieutenant Kuwaki, commence firing. Lieutenant Sugiyura, prepare a torpedo attack. You may launch when you are ready.” A moment later Hibiki’s 5” guns boom. The first salvo is short of the target, but Kuwaki makes adjustments and the guns fire again.

The target, though they do not know it, is the Liberty ship Charles F. Amidon. The 441’ freighter has a top speed of 11 knots and has no chance to get away from swift Hibiki. Shells begin to find the range and then, for the first time in a year and a half, Hibiki launches a spread of torpedoes. Two strike the freighter, sealing her fate.

“Well done,” says Ishii. Sugiyura merely nods. Now that they are again in battle the enthusiastic torpedo officer is carrying out his duties with cool, methodical precision.

No further targets present themselves. Elsewhere other ships are similarly chased down and attacked. Finally Tanaka signals all ships to follow and the Japanese column proceeds down the channel, where they exit its east end and turn north. Behind them the narrow passage is covered with oil and debris and dotted with dead and dying ships. Men struggle in the water, trying to stay afloat for the rescue boats that are already putting out from Luganville.

It has been a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. By the time the sun rises on New Year’s Day, the most important holiday of the year for the Japanese, Tanaka’s ships are well on their way back towards Kwajalein. Spirits are high among the crews as they head back north.

---

Tanaka’s track around Espirtu Santo:

[Cuttlefish]

Hibiki engages Charles F. Amidon:

[ChezDaJez]

Outstanding... Hibiki strikes and strikes hard! I kept waiting for heavier US forces to show as I read your narrative. Thank gawd none were present. Sugiyura can die happy now that he has used his torps to good effect.

Chez

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

Outstanding... Hibiki strikes and strikes hard! I kept waiting for heavier US forces to show as I read your narrative. Thank gawd none were present. Sugiyura can die happy now that he has used his torps to good effect.

Chez

He can always start whining about not having a chance to fire on a warship.