The little ship that could.

[1275psi]

gawd -thats all I need, pressure! LOL
hang in there Hosho mate -"You" are in for quite a bit down the track -the game is miles ahead of me now!


24/3/42

“we are missing a man”
“overboard?”
“Almost certainly – a young cook –smn Agarshi”

Hasegawa straightens from the binnacle – The turn into Soerabaya is in ten minutes
“make a note of it Ex in the ships log”

In the hanger deck, two aircraft maintainers bend over the jagged hole in Kate 019 wings.
It is nearly fist size – what ever came through here only needed to be 2 inches another way to have taken the main spar out.
But such is war

“pass me the snips”
“Did you hear?”
“What?”
“We lost Agarshi over the side during the night”
“Moonface?”
“Yes, him. I am beginning to think this ship has a curse…”


Two men bend over a fire pump – carefully lowering the new rotating assembly into the casing
“Did you hear?”
That we lost Agarshi over the side?”
“Yes, careful! –don’t pinch the ring!”
‘I am beginning to think this ship may have a curse on it”
‘You think?!!!”

[1275psi]

Twelve hours

You can do a lot in twelve hours.

On Zuiho –a lot needs to be done

First –personal.
3 new Kate crewmen join –they are met with grins and back slaps –many here like to see Chinese veterans instead of rookies –and this crew is very, very experienced.
Although Hidaka does not know it –Okura’s father (mr industry) –has been very busy in the background –experienced men for replacements are very short in the empire now………

Several new smn stokers join too – they have an unhappy joining –meeting Minobe within minutes of joining…………..but it could have been worse –they could have run into the Charge.

Fuel, water, stores, ammunition……….there are men enough, time enough to get this onboard –especially under the wrathful watch of the executive officer and Hasegawa

It is below decks, (again) out of sight, and mostly mind, that it really happens
Zuiho has been on four boilers all of this mission, and now all four must be shut down, bottom blowed, and at least one brought back on line.

This goes well down aft – but 1A –living to her reputation as a real cow –does not play the game.
It is shut down, and after the appropiate time, the bottom blows take place, the water is re topped up –and preparations made to get her back online –1B still needs to be done
Its then that the watch spot it –the mud drum door (water drum door for you lubbers) gasket, is weeping.

Rapid expansion, rapid contraction –maybe (and the Charges suspicion of this is right ) a little warping thanks to that burst tube incident-and the spiral gasket leaks.

Then again –this is a notorious Japanese boiler problem.

The Charge- of course- is informed

He has not yet had that breakfast – water is critical for today, and he is down on the cargo hatch on the lower hanger deck personally confirming the water barge is along side –and that water is being delivered..

He can but utter one very coarse expletive – and rush to this the latest crises.
But he does not make it –intercepted by another harassed face, sweaty and worried
“The vap has fallen over”
‘Do you know what is wrong with it?”
“No –we are trying to get it going again”
‘OK –just truking fix it OK!”

Now for the boiler.

The climb down is long –and he notices, almost casually –that the leg trembles are back.
He needs sleep.
He needs some food.
Even a wash would be good –anything to freshen him up……….

Yes –the boiler is f^%$#@ed
Nothing for it.
“Dump it to bilge –get it open –the spare gaskets are on the back of the door into the workshop –use the grey one –those green ones are crap!’


Minutes later, Minobes cabin

‘How long Chief?”
‘Dump –30 minutes, open her up, 10, new gasket, 30 minutes, backfill –an hour .
I will feed pump squeeze her – another thirty minutes.
Light off, an hour later, maybe two-depends on her initial dose I suppose”

Minobe nods. He too knows all about leaking gaskets.
‘Good work”



Hasegawa cannot believe his ears

Arrival in port –and a shut down –and now down a boiler –for how long?
Six hours.

That little barsted did this to me deliberately………….
He can barely hide his displeasure, scowling at engines
“We sail in 6 hours Minobe –100% availability do you hear –100%!!!”



The vap goes –this time. But, he feels it –something is not quite right………
But he is too tired to spend time on it now –and too many things call –he has to witness the squeeze yet, witness the fire pump set to work, and then there will be Test main engines……….
And, Damn –he has missed lunch now too……….

[1275psi]

‘Bridge main Engines”
‘Bridge”
‘Test main Engines complete. Steaming 1A, 2A boilers, 1B, 2B banked at 30 minutes Notice.
3 Fire pumps available, 2 TG’s available, fuel at 98%, feed 76%, Fresh at 79%”

“Very good. All spaces, Obey telegraphs”

Zuiho slides slowly out of Soerabaya harbour again.
Behind her – 20 transports, each packed to the gills with troops.
Two cruisers Tone, Chikuma, on the flanks.
Half a dozen destroyers yipping at the flanks

Somewhere already ahead –the replenishment tankers

Nestled in the heart of the convoy – Hosho, Taiyo (her decks lined with army fighters)
Everything you need to take a war to another country…..

A huge investment by Japan.

All of it, resting upon a 62 year olds shoulders………….

[kaleun]

Amazing read.

[1275psi]

Thankyou, its only because the game has such great depth I have so much to write about!
So far everything has, and will continue to reflect the game very closely
Also -all the defects Zuiho has reflect what i had in real life -but actually, probably not nearly as heavy a real load, nothing "made up" here -so thats easy to tell!
Anyway, thanks for encouragement -spread the news!

1275psi
(turns to play, update soon)

[1275psi]

25/3/42


Surprisingly, Swift eagle clears Soerabaya with out incident, sails south, and turns, just before midnight, for the Sunda Straight.

For Okano, taking the middles now –there is one brief moment of excitement.
The shaft, turning at a steady 120 RPMs, suddenly slows dramatically, the needle falling back towards 100 – eyes frantically search for the meaning………until the far more experienced hand he shares the watch with speaks into his ear- “we are entering the straight –going against the tide –wait until we get through, then you will suddenly overspeed……..”

He is right, two hours later they leave the funnel of the straight, and enter the Indian ocean true.

Zuiho’s bows begin to rise and fall –once again, she begins to bite a true swell.



Poor nashiguchi also feels the swell, and knows instinctively, this is going to be a long journey,………



The charge, at last, sleeps a while.

Hasegawa too.

Hidaka completes his operational orders for the attack on perth.
Priority –shipping – then the enemy defences. . he will have to trust that perth is not heavily air defended, the last week has rammed this home, swift eagle does not have the strength to close a field down in one hit.

He will just have to trust to luck………….


The day goes quietly enough, Hidaka maintains a very light CAP –but a very heavy search , his pilots are quite weary by days end.
Nothing, however, is sighted.

All in all, a good beginning.









OK, lets talk evaporators

Simple beasts.
Raise a vacuum in a large container (use a pump, or steam driven air ejectors”
Fill it with sea water
Heat some coils with steam (exhaust or saturated)
Boil

Catch the left over brine near the top of the drum in a funnel arrangement that has a large hole in the middle –pump the brine overboard

In this large hole –place a garbage can –fill it with filters –this is where your evaporated water passes, any salt is caught-goes with the brine.

Cool the evaporated steam –you have lovely condensate –feed water, fresh water.

A simple beast

But the charge is right, there is something wrong.

A hairline crack has developed in the funnel, right at the join of the filter, and now, now, (who bloody knows why –it just does) it cracks –crack wide

For the poor operator, one moment the level is nice in the chamber, the next, its green, flooded, and the gauges are going crazy.
Fortunately, he is quick to act, ‘dumping the made to bilge’

For the next two hours Hirate will try to get the Mother F456387 B*&^tch to go.
No success.



And once again, the space reverberates to the charges singlular opinion of the matter

“Its F$%#ed!

“OK, lets get the inspection hatch off –and see what in the hell is going on”

[thegreatwent]

A tense fun read. Thank you for your efforts. I just read all the way through and Truked up may enter my vocabulary.[:D]

[1275psi]

26/3/42

From
Pacific fleet HQ
To
Tarawa occupation force


Our SS patrols report multiple sightings Japanese carrier aviation south east of Truk.
All intelligence reports that bulk of Combined fleet and first fleet have deployed to Truk
Am rushing Sea bee units to you.

You are ordered to fortify and hold tarawa against all odds
Good luck


“Howling mad Smith’ re reads the flimsy.
He has been handed some tough tasks in his time, but this, this potato was red hot!




Akagis bridge

‘Swift eagle has cleared into the Indian ocean, and radio silence is enforced. Our diversionary force approaches Darwin –and has been sighted.
A large convoy approaches Tarawa”

Yamamoto considers the brief. Around him the pacific stretches smooth and calm, and empty. Combined fleet is in position, the chess pieces in place. The Queen unsighted.
Very good

“Captain Hara! We have come a long way on this little fishing trip. Time to bring in the net and to see what we catch. Make course for tarawa please”


Okura circles swift eagle, preparing to come into circuit.
Every bone in his body aches, his back aches, his bum is numb, his fingers numb, his arms sore.
It has been a long, long patrol this one, a long patrol circling the fleet at 2000 feet under the hot sun.
Swift eagle is near the equator now –and 2000 feet is not nearly enough to escape the heat, or the humidity, and Okura (and his crew) are literally wet with sweat, the heavy flying suits a terrible item to wear for this low altitude flying, the canopies merely magnifying the rays.

For the hundredth time he wipes his brow, rubs his chin –the bloody helmet strap annoying .
He is tired, he hot, he is cranky
‘Zuiho is flashing us sir”
‘And?”
‘deck open, come in”
‘About bloody time…….

He joins circuit.

Set flaps
Set speed.
Trim
‘harnesses everyone?”
Good.
Gear down, throttle, why are these beasts so bloody awkward with the gear down?
OK - down wind
Speed
Speed
Angle, angle – angle is good……….

Zuiho passes down his Port wing, altitude now 1000 feet, disappears under the port wing
Stick, rudder over together, keep it crisp, keep it smooth, skidding a little

Flying the cross leg now the deck now again on his Port quarter , and………
Turn onto final –flaps fully out now, lining up the lights, got them, green, green, green, good.

500 yards to go, 400, sinking a little, sinking a little, throttle, throttle……

100 yards.
Red, red, ……….too low, too low!
‘Ahm, TRUK! ‘ Sorry guys, going around!”
Full throttle!
Beast bellowing, deck underneath, faces looking up –crap, Hidaka shaking his head –and climbing away again, and now the sweatt is a river down his spine

And try again


This time, down –hard –but safe…………
And they all breathe again.
No matter how many times he does it …this piddling deck never gets any bigger…

Wearily they climb out, he hands his sword, his flight board, his bits and pieces to his crew –shakes his head at Hidaka –no contacts- and makes his way to the ready room, already stripping the flight suit from his body –aware now that the deck is a literal furnace –the sun glaring down.

Ready room, and washroom.
This he has been looking forward to for hours…..
Okura turns the tap – and nothing happens
‘Hey! What the hell is going on with the water!”
And from the ready room, Diogawa answers, his voice too full of disgust
“Minobe has turned it of. Restrictions”
‘restrictions?”
‘yes –some bloody thing has broken again down stairs”

Okura stares at the non functioning tap ‘But I need a wash!’
Diogawa pokes his head in, wrinkles his nose, laughs ‘ yes –no argument there you stinky barsted!”

Equatorial waters
Waters where sea temperature hits 34 C
Waters where the wind sometimes never blows –leaving a mirror calm
Waters where the sun beats down for 16 hours a day

Hot waters
Very, very hot waters

On the flight deck – the frying pan. The sun blazes, and even though she is making 16 knots –her self made breeze makes little difference to happy phoenix’s deck.
It still stinks of fuel, of engine exhausts.
The great radials as they warm up add to the heat, the unpleasantness .
There is no shelter, no shade
Like dogs, the men pant, and sweat, and work –and drink enormous quantities of water –and remain thirsty

Below decks –the sauna
Dozens of fans, dozens of ventilation systems -and all they do is move the humidity from one corner, to another
In the galley especially –nestled forward of the Port boiler room –the walls run with condensation, and the cooks whites stick like wet sheets to bodies that are slick.

The cookers cook rice today – the water boiling –adding to the humidity.
And here too, again, and again, the men reach for the canteens, and remain thirsty

The spaces

Hell now.
The lower hanger sits at 110 degrees F
Open the hatch to the boiler room –and the extra heat blasts your face.
To touch the ladder with bare hands is to burn them.
You will take a breath, and hold it as you descend to the “cooler’ bottom plates.

The top plates – if you stay for long, hover at 150 to 160 degrees F
The bottom, 130 to 140.
The men huddle under the fans, and struggle , literally, to stay conscious, to stay alive

Work takes place in spurts. You cool under the fan, you drink. You gird yourself, and venture away from the fan, and do your work –feeling your skin dry out, your blood pound in your head. You will gasp, and all energy will drain away –sucked away by this viscous heat. You will do your task, or some of it –and then retreat –gasping under the fan.
Some body else’s turn…………….


Six men work on the vap
The inspection door is off, and a young mans feet stick out of it – the only one skinny enough to fit.
“Pull me out!”
He emerges –body white with salt –face the colour of beetroot - “the funnel is cracked wide –huge crack”
‘The main baffle?’
‘yes”

It as he suspected. Damn. A big job. A dockyard job –normally. But not now.
‘What will we do charge?’

What do you bloody think we will do?, go home?.
‘Fix it of bloody course!” Alright – 3teams -4 hours about only. I want good men on this –Okano, Hirate –crap –need some muscle too –get Lurch as well. First thing, get the condensate pipe off the top – get the strainer out – that will do for a start –then we will think about the baffle……..”

Anything else?, have I forgotten anything?. Its going to be bloody hot –very bloody hot up there on top of this bitch –no fans there at all. Going to need a block and tackle too………..and, where do I get another bloody baffle from? –think about that when we get to it………
Alright then, lets do this, God, need a drink………

“alright then –stop gawking, lets go -! Get some spanners –and a bloody big hammer!”



Captains Log

Have taken swift eagle to the North of the invasion fleet –if enemy carriers are about, this is where Hidaka tells me he would like to be. I personally would like to have the cruisers here………
Have entered the Indian ocean, rough seas last night, brilliant calm today – no contacts thank the heavens.
Both replenishment task forces too away safely
Ship is on water restrictions, Engineering tells me they have developed a “significant defect’ on main evaporator. I suppose we will all just stink then..


Operations Log

Continued search pattern
Shoho on standby with full strike – I have elected to send all Zuiho’s kates on search –un armed -to allow easy launching, greater range, quicker turn around.
Nil incidents today.

Charges diary

Bloody vap!
Heavy expenditures last night after blows, feed now 65%, fresh 60 %
Minobe has somehow won the skipper over for water restrictions , a minor miracle that!

This is going to be a big job……
Had four men faint while on watch today –have instructed water tenders to do 15 about –doubled up the watches, cancelled DC patrols to fill the gaps.
New seaman bloody useless –three of the four faints were new guys –I think we broke
them!


27/3/42
Extract from Shattering the Sword-a cantona production
Tarawa had been taken with out a shot from the Japanese.
But now, as the Americans begin to fortify the outpost, the true exposure of the base is revealed

A Japanese ‘Wolfpack” (a real misnomer, in no way were these vessels operating in concert unlike the Germans) attacks a reinforcement convoy.
In a brutal night, a transport and 2 cargo ships are sunk, along with vital supplies.
It is a small action, in the scheme of the war-but it marks for History what would become later known as “the long struggle’
The battle for Tarawa had begun


Zuiho’s stokers enter day two of their ‘Long struggle’
What drives men?
What gives them the strength to tackle the impossible?
Pride?
Stubborness?
Sheer necessity?

Or is it –as this battle is becoming – the sheer determination to not be beaten by the challenge presented?

Much drives men –especially in war. Never let your companions down. Never let yourself down.
And then there is the Japanese psyche –how dishonourable to admit one cannot do this –this simple task?

The great lid of the evaporator is off –swung aside – skinny bodies,bent over it –patiently scraping the old gaskets of it – bodies literally cooking.
The strainer too, is out – and now two men work on the Brocken baffle
Okano holds the spanner, lurch swings the hammer
The clanging begins –the attack on the ring of one inch bolts has begun.
Clang!, Clang!, Craang!’

A stream of curses fills the space
The head of the bolt has sheered off……………

What drives men?
Many things
But soon, down here, in this version of hell, the most common, the most efficient of motivators will drive these men.
Hatred

There is no way on Gods earth they will stop now, not until this bitch works again
“Get me a truking drill!”



Zuiho heels slightly as she turns away from the tankers stern.
As hot as it is, as hard as the glare is, these seas make refuelling a simple task.

Hasegawa leans over the bridge wing, and yells down to Minobe, how did we do Engines?

“Fuel again at 98% sir!’
Good –at least THAT is no problem –yet
He leans over, the sun beating at his neck.. “And the latest on the water?”
‘feed at 60%, fresh 58%!’
‘And the repairs?’
Minobe holds his hand across his brow against the sun, looking up at his captain
It hides his face well….

‘Progressing”

( editors note -this bit about the game I love –but not right now! Incident happened yesterday –but I left it for today for the AAR)


There is no doubt –for those of us who have experienced it –that there is something intoxicating about being on the deck of a powerful warship going at speed.

There is something almost animalistic about the sheer power, the vibration, the wind, spray, noise, as the great engines open up –and 16000 tons of metal cleave the oceans.
The Captain of the Tone is only human, and as his cruiser pulls out from behind the tanker, he fullfills “tradition”
Full ahead all!, hard to Port!
Break away…………….Smooth seas, creaming white wakes, churning seas, power, power, power……….

Tone circles, cutting through the task force, heals around –and something terrible goes wrong

I suppose, now days –it would make a classic U tube moment

Tone Crashes into the side of Chikuma –and momentarily the two ships are locked together, side by side, the classic side swipe.
The damage is fearful………..




Hasegawa watches his crippled cruisers fade over the horizon, fading into the dusk.
With them fades any chance of proper support for the troops during the landing…

But he has no choice
Yamamto calls for swift eagle to drag allied eyes to the west –while he lurks in the east.
This madness must continue…………….






28/3/42

His head pounds
Take a breath. Take a breath. Hirate tries to steady the drill.
Come on you bitch………..
22 of the 24 bolts are out.
Sweat has been spilt
Blood too
Knuckles bruised
Men have fainted, cursed –and laughed.
Sheer madness in this heat.
But if it is madness –and you cannot laugh at it –then you truly are……….



On Akagi

Captain Hara lies in his bunk –a classic western in his hand. The baddy is definitely in trouble –a long ride ahead of him. A terrible book really –but some how he cannot resist these descriptions of endless vista’s

‘Captain, Bridge”
The Voice tube interrupts
With a sigh he puts the book down –am I never to finish this?
‘yes?’
‘RF reports a submarine broadcasting to our west sir”

Hara thinks
‘Close?”
‘Enough sir”
‘Thankyou –let me know if any thing is sighted”

He returns to his book.
The baddie –he thinks , is in trouble. But not nearly as much as Yamamoto’s plan is now. Surprise has been lost………….



Hara, smiling, climbs the short ladders to his bridge. It is evening, book finished to satisfaction, another day with out incident. Akagi operating well.

“message from ssI-7 sir”

“Read it”

At this moment Yamamoto too enters the bridge, face alert –excited.
Gamblers face –Hara can see it – Yamamoto thinks he has drawn an Ace……
‘message reads – “have torpedoed Colorado class BB, 40 miles due east, Tarawa
Stop.
‘Have been attacked by carrier borne aircraft ‘ message ends.

Then again, maybe he has………….

‘All ships – battle speed one!”



Zuiho water watch
Feed 48%
Fresh 42%

[kaleun]

Bites nails eagerly.

[pws1225]

ORIGINAL: kaleun

Bites nails eagerly.

+1

[british exil]

ORIGINAL: kaleun

Bites nails eagerly.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kaleun

Bites nails eagerly.



+1

What fingernails??? mine have long been bitten off.

Great AAR,

Mat

[1275psi]

29/3/42

The funnel/baffle –whatever you wish to call it, now rests on the quarterdeck, out side the Shipwrights shop.
The CPO Shipwright views it with some disdain –“Charge, you really must stop breaking crap” he jokes.
The baffle is a complicated shape, –and the crack –totally salt impregnated, is impossible to re weld .
A new one will have to be manufactured..
Out of Curiosity , Hasegawa too is here in the workshop –totally out of place in his clean white uniform, amongst the dirty overalls, stripped down burly bodies.
He views the round piece of metal, and feels some what powerless.

The equation, for him, is very simple. If the vap is not repaired, water will run out, and Zuiho will have to return.
The Perth operation must be cancelled.
And he will ignominiously fail –and disappear into history shamed.

“Is it fixable Chief?”
The Chippee looks up –genuinely surprised .”Sir, this is a warship –anything is fixable!’
And then, as he and the Charge bend over the plate again, a whispered conversation ‘ Can you really do it?”
‘Buggar off Charge –yes –if I can find enough copper………”




It’s a terrible invasion
Full of yelling, screaming, indignation, and terrible resolve
The battle goes for some 20 minutes –but the outcome is inevitable –might, at times, really is right.

Six burly stokers enter the galley –and despite the protestations, the threats of violence from the head cook, they
go to work.
Zuiho sailed with 6 operating copper rice cookers.
Now she will have to feed her men with but two…………


Herbiesan takes up the phone
‘Ahh, Minister for production?”
‘Yes Sir”
“You might be pleased to know –Palembang is ours”
“and the refinery –the oil?”
‘’Intact my friend, Intact. The war is going well again don’t you think?’




Akagi greets the dawn with excitement.
On her decks –a packed naval strike awaits.
On her bridge –Captain Hara wears his steel hat –a sure sign that action is pending
Her guns are manned, and she cleaves the water at 27 knots –battle flag streaming.

Over the Horizon, unseen, a great web of search planes is spreading, covering a thousand square miles of ocean around Tarawa
From Kwaljien, the great sea planes too add to the search arcs.

Mobile fleet seeks the battle.

But, as so often happens in war –the day wear on, the excitement wanes.

The Oceans east of Tarawa are frustratingly empty.

At Midday Yamamoto calls a conference.
Disappointment is heavy on his face.
“Gentlemen, I regret that we have been sprung”

Silence falls in Hara’s cabin.
“what then?” Hara asks the obvious.
So much has been based on surprise. The allied carriers were meant to have been caught, Swift eagle……….
‘What of the Perth operation sir? –surely now its pointless…….”
Yamamoto shakes his head. “That, I am afraid, is out of our hands now. Its an Army show. Hasegawa must go ahead.”
More silence –around them Akagi rings to the sounds of its work.
‘We go to plan B. If we cannot trap the enemy carriers –let us see how badly they want to retain Tarawa………….

He regretfully takes up his Cap –“ a damnable disappointment I know. Return to cruising speed captain, I have to contact a lot of people…….”



From
South eastern Command
To

#$@!@ unit
$#@! Unit
#$%^&* unit
%^&*%$# unit
1st fleet-amphib lift command
6th fleet
4th fleet

Above units to commence Planning and all preparations for amphib assault operation against Tarawa.

The ready room –normally a pretty smelly place –truly is unpleasant today
The men are tired –another day of fruitless searching.

‘Just how bloody slow are those transports?’
‘I am sure enough for the soldiers, they are fast enough –every day gets them closer to battle you know”
‘Good point. “
A long pause
‘Does any one know at all what we expect there at Perth?”

A silence again.

Kurihama bends down to the small table, takes up the pamphlet there.
It’s a small document, distributed through out the ship, one of a series produced for the troops – (the jungle is your friend, let the enemy feed you, protection against malaria, attacking if your ship is sunk before the beach)

This one is labelled “Australia’

‘let me read this to you…..and I quote…. The Kangaroo is a large Bipod animal, frequently nearly 5 foot tall. It has powerful hind legs and a great solid tail –and is capable of tremendous leaps.
It defends itself by using its hind legs to kick and disembowel its enemies.”
Gravely-in mock seriousness Kurihama adds “ I suspect the Aussies are a bit like that –only armed with machine guns……….”


Zuiho water watch

Feed 48%
Fresh water 33%

[herwin]

Reminds me of working with submariners. They took pride that they could fix or do without anything that broke. I suspect they had compilers and source code on board for all their software!

[dr.hal]

I've been reading the AAR and I too must give it praise. Although I was a deck officer (spending MANY hours on a bridge keeping the world safe from democracy) I certainly know of the snipe's world and the concept of water hours. On my last ship (DDG-21 as the weapons officer) the minute we left port (Pearl) we were on water hours, the feed supply came first! Then the coffee. Thanks for being realistic about this AAR. I think I can safely say that we are all interested in how well this little ship will do. Hal

[1275psi]

Corporal Harrison - Bluey to his mates, had always listened to his father-God rest his soul- Son, he had said so many times -when the wind starts blowing, and the clouds start to gather -clever people-meaning him - they get in first

And he had been right.
At 30 years of age, with the clouds of war gathering in Europe, Bluey ahas announced to his wife - time to do something dear about the future - jumped on his bike, and peddled down to the nearly deserted Fremantle Artillery regiment -and signed on.

It being 1938 -and war certaintly a million miles away from ever happening in Fremantle, it had not been to hard to (what with his background in civil Engineering) to swing a draft to the local coastal battery regiment.
Things had been perfect - a cushy posting to Rottenest island, where most of the day was spent chasing wildlife, fishing, and occasionally testing, practising on the two big 9 inch guns.
(They never got fired of course -ammunition being too precious)
Then, on Fridays -the ferry home.

Then the war came -and stuffed it all up.
Some bright spark decides that the local battery of 6 inch guns near the barracks needed to be moved to Lieghton Hieghts..........and somebody else remebers his qualifications..........

Today Bluey -still on his bike, peddles towards work.
Yesterday was a very good day - 4 of the six guns are now in place on the hill -barrells directly overlooking City beach - infildating? ( was that the bloody army word -pointing down the beaches length!) it.
The shoulder of the hill providing protection from the sea.
Yesterday -a firing - and too everyones surprise -a good one.
Accurate -a good rate of fire.............

But today -well, he just knew what that old fart in charge would be doing - what they all would be doing.
Digging tunnels, underground stores, turning the place into a fortress........

Firing those guns was good for moral- but really -who in the hell really expected the japanese to come here?

[1275psi]

30/3/42

Zuiho leading task force swift eagle now plows through a brilliant blue green sea. A stiff breeze now blows, and she rises and falls over a steady 2 metre swell, capped by numerous white caps.
Temperatures, mercifully, are falling almost by the hour. The great mass of ships press on through the middle of no where.

Few know exactly where they are –but the Navigators measure carefully every day –many, many miles to the east, “the corner’ of Australia has slid past. Broome, Geraldton may, or may not support search planes, Hasegawa is taking no chance.

Swift eagle has to be spotted at some time –but not just yet.


Work on the vap continues steadily -the stokers creed –universal I am sure in every fleet – the impossible we can do –miracles just take longer.
The baffle nears completion.

Of course –as important as this work is –the rest of the ship does not pause waiting for its turn

The Stokers have a set of boiler swings to do today (more water blown out the bottom after shut down), a cooling pump to rebuild, the usual collection of small defects.
Hidaka has his planes –still searching endlessly on search –and his hanger crews too slave long, long hours keeping them in the air.

Hasegawa takes a promotion board exam for the four midshipmen onboard. Besides being shocked-again –at how young these men appear to him –they please him, and surprisingly, they all pass.
If Zuiho survives this mission, there is going to be quite a celebration in Soerabaya.

So the routines continue.
Probably the only thing onboard today of real note occurs at meal time.
It is very apparent that the Engineers rations are not quite the same size as everyone elses……



The war, however continues elsewhere.
South of Singapore, there is a very timely reminder of the sort of nation swift eagle will soon battle

HMAS Vampire –a tiny WW1 era destroyer, encounters Light cruisers Jintsu, Kashi –and attacks –and only stops her charge under the bows of the Jintsu, driven under, and smashed to pieces.

112th regiment –Hosho at its very tip –continues to push into Burma, attempting to right hook through the jungle around Pegu.
The difficulties of warfare here now are already becoming apparent –rations already are short, unless Rangoon falls –there will be no Northern offensive

But Zuiho knows none of this of course
She plows slowly south, speeding up only to launch and recover – getting further and further from home –and steadily smellier, and smellier.


Zuiho water watch
Feed 45%
Fresh water 30%

All washing banned. Potable water for drinking only
Ship moves to hard tack rations to conserve water
3 sailors caught wasting water –and charged.

[1275psi]

1/4/42

Whilst the battle below moves towards its finish, other battles are taking place on Zuiho

In a way –as hard as the work is, the men below have the easier job
They can see , now, what confronts them, they can analyse it, confront it, defeat it.
And now, as the lid gores back onto the top of the vap, they can see victory approach.

For others, it is a far different battle. This one is internal, unseen, hidden, and I think, far, far harder

Soon the men in the ready room will have to board their planes –and go into battle.
What will they find there?. What confronts them? How many will return? –if any?


Hidaka stalks the hangers –checking again, and again his birds –has the plan overlooked anything?. Are they all ready?
What if perth is protected by modern fighters? –what then? –does he close –or attempt to close the fields –or silence shore guns?
And what if there are Carriers about?
So he stalks the hanger. Whatever happens –his birds will do their best for the Empire

One thing for sure –if this does succeed, sans any heavy support –what of the battleship then?
But he fears that soon he will lose too many friends……..

He does not sleep well these nights –it is probably the hardest job of all –watching fellow flyers depart at your command – and too wait to see how many come back….

Nashiguchi (who again is not enjoying this growing swell0, does what he can to distract the mind from what is ahead.
He reads –reads a lot.
It worries him that he still has not proven himself in battle, and is painfully aware that some see him as weak because of his faith.
He barely thinks of his possible death these days –proving himself is what matters.
A kill would solve so many problems…….

Ogawa worries too, not about death –he accepts this as inevitable –it’s the roster that fills him with doubt
9 zeros – 12 pilots.
Somebody is going to miss out.
What would his father say to that – he can hear it now “typical that my son sits onboard while others fly…….” he has three kills already – and it means nothing to him. What should fill him with confidence only reinforces the doubt that he lives with every day
Now, he knows, others expect so much of him when he enters that cockpit.
It is a burden he struggles to carry.

Diogawa feels excitement.
For some, war is an adventure.
He is a fighter pilot –let another chance to fight come!



Okura spends his days on patrol –as all the Kate pilots do – endless laps looking at nothing.
Endless laps for most
But not for Okura

Taiyo -the little escort carrier –her decks packed with nates under canvas –hates him
Every day –Okura’s kate will slice through the convoy –banking, sweeping, weaving, conducting mock attacks on them.
It is a terrible risk – everyone agrees, either he will cart wheel in-mis judging a run, or plow into some poor plodding transport.
Or –the most likely –some idiot gunner is going to mistake him for an enemy…..

There are three men however who support him 100% -his two crew, and Hidaka.
Okura spends his days thinking mainly just one thing.
Gutting another ship with his fish…

Kurihama – Kurihama scowls, and bites, and growls.
His crew –airborne and in the hanger –quietly hate him
Many suspect a terrible thing –this war has nothing to do with the empire.For Kurihama., its all about satisfying his sadism.




Extract from ‘Shattering the Sword ‘ a Cantona production.

Clarke field –the key to the allied defences in Luzon, collapse. The shattered units flee south towards Bataan for the last stand.
They have done well –these amateurs –they have made 14th Army bleed………



2/4/42
Hasegawa picks at his breakfast
At home, on the rare occasions he got home, eating breakfast with his daughters was always the best part of the day . How he missed them!.
Of everything that command brings, this –this separation of command – meals are the worst bit, the eating alone. It reduced meals to just something to be consumed –not shared.

There is a knock on the door

‘ah, Minobe? –no problems I hope?’
Minobe is sweating, obviously just from up below.
He enters, and places a large glass of water on the table
‘Compliments of the Charge and his gang. The first litre produced”
‘The vap is fixed then?”
“yes sir –it is”
“Good –its important that men go into battle clean no?’

Zuiho water watch -feed 30%, fresh at 20% -but rising again

[1275psi]

2/4/42

The tannoy calls, loudly, insistently
‘Captain requested bridge”

And minutes later

“Lieutenant Hidaka, requested bridge”

In the hanger decks, on the flight deck, and through out the ship, mens eyes meet each other.
On the Starboard ‘balcony’, several of the fighter pilots also look each other in the eye, and then make their way into the ready room –and begin dressing.


Hasegawa hands the latest signal to Hidaka
‘What do you think?’

From
AMC Asaka Maru
To
Combined fleet

Have encountered and chased enemy convoy -6 un escorted AKs – unable to engage in heavy weather -am continuing pursuit.
Stop

‘Where is she?”
“exactly 120 miles due east Perth, it will be interesting to see what she flushes out”


3/4/42


Asaka Maru has been sent to die.
Her Captain has accepted the mission calmly, knowing exactly what he is being sent for –to draw out the enemy.
All night he attempts to make the enemy pay –but the weather, and a violent change of course by the convoy defeats him -and dawn finds him 100 miles due West of Perth.

Two small enemy destroyers haul over the horizon, DD Pope, DD Isis, and battle is joined

Swift eagle listens to the morse, and can do nothing to help.
It should make a stirring novel –the brave merchant raider battling off the destroyers –but there is nothing stirring to relate here –just reality, grimness, and death.
Asaka’s gunnery is poor –landing a single shot on the Isis, the enemies good.

The flow of morse stops suddenly, and never resumes
‘So now we know –Perth has some teeth”
‘yes –and no matter how small –they are undoubtedly sharp –we will have to eliminate them first”
Captain and operations officer share the same thought. Only a month ago an entire Japanese convoy was destroyed by a small force such as this. Hasegawa counts the destroyers about him –and wonders what would happen if a cruiser –or two –got in amongst this lot one dark night?

No wonder he lies awake at night…………



4/4/42

‘New course140’
“new course 140”
Zuiho turns towards Perth, the run in has begun

Her tanks are full, her guns loaded.
In her hangers, the strike is waiting.


In the pacific, Combined fleet slides again in towards Tarawa, again an enemy fleet – if it is that , has been spotted south of it .

To the north of Darwin, Nachi, Ashigari, and a small task force of empty transports also slide into search range –

And at dusk, word is passed around to Zuiho’s lookouts “we are now in enemy air range –eyes peeled!’


And Yamamoto receives the following from signals intelligence

‘have intercepted a message from pacific fleet to all units – enemy fleet spotted”
“yes” growls Yamamoto “ but which damn fleet!”




Fuchida flies
The stick is firm, vibrating in his hand, the engine a bellowing comforting growl around him, ahead of him, in him.
For the thousandth time, you check your six, check your 3 companions, bouncing and wobbling through this clouded sky

It is cold, getting colder, and the oxygen is dry, and tasteless, and your mouth is dry too –and your stomach empty –and tight.
You climb, whisps of cloud sweeping past –and then, brilliant susnshine – and there –there –ahead, above –the bombers!

A thrill passes through you- and then to work, mind racing, calculating angles, intercepts –and you climb, and even from here –you see the guns swivel your way
They are beautiful birds these B17’s –big, beautiful –and terrible to behold

Abruptly –you and your prey bounce into the upper air –and now, so many miles below –they can look up –and follow if you live or die by your snowy white trail..

The bombers are ahead, below, and still you climb, controls mushy now –pushing , pushing, the bombers fading into smaller crosses –sun glinting on wings, canopies……….guns.

The world up here, is so enormous………

You rock your wings, and lead the attack

Stick over hard, rudder jammed in, peeling down, and you let her invert into the dive, looking “up”, head straining back, and the dive is a shriek, and she looms, looms, growing larger, larger, huge!, huge!, and the trigger is squeezed, and tracer reaches out, and the great shape flashes past –and the controls are like Iron, and non responsive, throttle back, desperate kick, begin to slide, and she slows, and you can pull her, pull her back up from the dive, face straining, blood rushing down, the world closes in, grey, grey, and you pull out, turning climbing, ready to try again.

There were 6 bombers –now –now there are 5 –and all four of you still live.

Did you hit? –did you bring him down?

They are fast these B17’s –and another attack is not going to happen.
Not today………

Fuchida -47th sentai –claims a ‘possible’


















Hirate, Okano sit on the quarter deck, drinking tea.
It is a fine sight, this one today –the staely lines of ships streaming into the dusk –the destroyers on the flanks –and the other carriers on the horizon.
The seas are calming, and tomorrow –tomorrow, fine weather

“have you ever seen a battle?” Hirate asks
‘other than that attack on us?”
“Yes –no I mean a land battle.”
‘No, I haven’t. But from what I hear – they are not pretty”
A long silence
“Do you think they will succeed?’

He does not need to say who they is – they have brought a lot of men a long way.
“We must trust our soldiers. We must trust their fighting spirit. I suspect” he throws the rest of his cold tea over the side “that this mission is a do, or die”






Instructions to soldiers

A glorious chapter beckons you
Determination, fighting spirit will allow us to prevail
Push forward at all costs, inflict confusion upon the enemy.
Bypass strong points –attack from the rear

Should your ship be sunk –do not panic –swim to shore –carry the attack
If your officers fall –continue the attack
Our fighting spirit will crush the enemy


From
Hasegawa
To
All captains

Final brief
Attack will proceed as planned
Should your ship be struck by gunfire –beach it.
Make all effort to turn your ship to protect unloading troops.
There will be no turning back
Burning ships must attempt to cover undamaged ships.
If we get the troops ashore –we must prevail

Good luck –and boldness!






From
Hidaka
Operations orders

We will attack all, and any shipping encountered
There will be minimum CAP – maximum naval strike
All kates to be ready to launch by 0400 hrs – 500 lb bombs as per briefing
Good luck.



Bluey rides to his guns –and almost crashes his bike –startled by the snarl of p40 fighters careening overhead.
They are impressive beasts, those birds………….

[PaxMondo]

Ahhh ... how does it play out? 
 

[kaleun]

Her tanks are full, her guns loaded.
In her hangers, the strike is waiting.

There is such a Haiku feel to your lyrics, err... I mean your prose.