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ORIGINAL: maikarant

Cuttlefish,

In face of your excellent narrative, especially concerned the japanese homelands, I wonder if you read

Japan at War.

It is an excellent read and almost the only collection of Japanese - civilian and military - interviews about Japan in wartime. I'd recommend it for anybody.

Thanks for the recommendation. In a bit of a coincidence a friend told me about this book just a few days ago and offered to loan me a copy. I hope to start reading it soon.

March 4, 1944

Location: Saipan
Course: None
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 464

Orders: Prepare to sortie

---

“But what if Kira had died while they were waiting, of illness or something?” Oizuma asks. “They would have lost their chance for revenge and been forever disgraced.”

Riku stretches in his hammock. “But Kira was waiting for them, that first year,” he says. “Their attack would have failed.”

Oizuma places a fresh bowl of water in Benzaiten’s crate and closes the lid. “But would that have mattered?” he says. “I think that dying in a bold attack would have been closer to the spirit of Bushido than what they actually did.”

“But they would have lost!” says Riku. “Kira would be alive and they would have no revenge. What do the rest of you think?” Shiro, Yoshitake, and Shoji have all been listening to the debate between the two about the forty-seven ronin, the tale of honor and revenge from the early eighteenth century.

“Does it really matter?” Yoshitake asks. “It all happened a long time ago. The time of the samurai is long past.”

‘I’m not sure that’s true,” says Shiro slowly. Everyone turns their attention to where he is sitting against a bulkhead, whittling. Shiro lowers his knife and the piece of wood on which he is working.

“I’m not sure that it doesn’t matter,” says Shiro, clarifying. “I think the choice they faced is one that we may all face, sooner or later.” He pauses, searching for words. The others wait; they have all learned to respect the quiet man’s opinions. “We are fighting a strong enemy. Our inclination, as Japanese, is to follow Bushido and attack. But if we do, we would face the same fate as the ronin would have; we would be defeated.” Shoji makes a scoffing noise, and Shiro looks at him.

“It is true,” he says. “I do not like to say it. But think. We have seen our carriers burning, the pride of our strength destroyed. Two summers ago we were fighting around Fiji and New Zealand. Last summer we were fighting around New Guinea and New Caledonia. This summer it seems we will be fighting in the Carolines and the Marianas. Where will we be fighting next summer?” Shoji makes no answer to this, and the others are all silent.

“It is hard to do as the ronin did,” Shiro says, “to conserve our strength, to plan and wait until the moment is right. But I think that is what we must do if we are to have a chance to win.”

“There are a great many,” Oizuma says quietly, “who would say that honor is more important than victory or defeat, and many of them are admirals.”

Shiro nods. “And if we are ordered to die gloriously,” he says, “then we will, for we are men of the Imperial Japanese Navy and we understand loyalty and honor. But I fear for Japan, for my family and for the future.”

A somber silence fills the room after Shiro finishes speaking. It is late. The men turn in, one by one, each occupied with his own thoughts until he falls asleep.

Yet another brilliant scene. From what I know, the story of the forty-seven ronin is as popular in Japan as the story of Robin Hood is in Western culture -- and similarly, it involves going outside the law. The different reactions of the various crewmen are very interesting to read.

March 5, 1944

Location: Saipan
Course: None
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Prepare to sortie

---

Captain Ishii takes the orders from the young ensign standing in front of him and looks them over. When he is done he looks up.

“I see,” he says. “Thank you, Ensign. Give my greetings to Captain Shibuya and please inform him that Hibiki will be ready to sail.”

“Yes sir,” says the ensign. He salutes and leaves, heading back for his boat. He has several other ships to visit. Captain Ishii turns to Lieutenant Sugiyura.

“Lieutenant, please recall all troops ashore and pass the word that we will be leaving Saipan tonight. Make all preparations to get under way.”

“Yes sir,” says Sugiyura. “Do we know where we are going, sir?”

“We are going to rendezvous with some heavy cruisers off Ulithi,” says Ishii. “From there the two forces are going to attack enemy shipping and facilities at Woleai.”

“Very good!” says the lieutenant. “Do we know what kind of opposition we will be facing, sir?”

“Somebody might,” says Ishii. “I hope so. But I don’t have a clue.”

March 6, 1944

Location: 180 miles northeast of Ulithi
Course: South
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 434

Orders: Attack enemy shipping and facilities at Woleai atoll

---

Shibuya’s task force makes their appointed rendezvous with the heavy cruiser division, four heavy cruisers and six destroyers. Tomorrow the two task forces will move a short ways south, putting themselves close enough to Woleai to sprint in under cover of darkness and get far enough away by daybreak to avoid the worst of any retaliatory air strikes.

The weather is fair and the seas moderate. The fair weather is not necessarily a blessing; the Japanese would much prefer heavy cloud cover for this operation. But the skies remain free of any patrolling Allied aircraft and the Japanese ships remain undiscovered.

Japanese reconnaissance shows only light enemy shipping at the atoll. It seems, so far at least, that the mission to inflict a damaging blow to the facilities there has a good chance for success.

March 7, 1944

Location: 175 miles east-northeast of Ulithi
Course: South
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 402

Orders: Attack enemy shipping and facilities at Woleai atoll

---

Hibiki is once again the trailing ship in the starboard column. The task force is moving slowly south, with the heavy cruiser task force following them by a couple of miles. It is late morning, and so far the day has been without incident.

The quiet comes to a sudden end. The center ship in Hibiki’s column, destroyer Akizuki, suddenly heels to port in a violent turn. The sound of a klaxon rolls across the water.

“Captain Ishii, sir, I see torpedo wakes!” calls a lookout, his binoculars trained ahead and to starboard. A blinker begins to flash from the destroyer immediately ahead, confirming a submarine attack.

The columns are thrown into disarray, the port column not only by the need to avoid Akizuki’s turn but to avoid the torpedoes as well. Aboard Hibiki Captain Ishii issues quick orders and Hibiki turns to starboard and charges back down the torpedo tracks, seeking the submarine that launched them.

“Sonar?” he barks.

“Sir, I have a contact,” says the sonar operator. “Fifteen degrees to port, range 800 meters.” Ishii orders a course change to port and waits. “Contact is still there,” says the sonar man, “but it’s fading a little. He’s running, sir.”

“Going deep to lose us and then change course,” growls Ishii. “Let’s get him before that happens. Prepare for depth charge attack.”

The Y-guns are manned and ready. Hibiki raises the pennant indicating that she is launching a depth charge attack and sprints over the sub’s position. At Ishii’s order the Y-guns rattle and hurl their destructive loads to either side. A moment passes and then the sea boils in Hibiki’s wake.

“Bring us around again,” Ishii orders. “Set the charges for 200 feet this time.” Again Hibiki passes over the spot and launches four depth charges.

“Engines ahead one quarter,” Ishii orders after the charges explode. “What do you have, sonar?” The sonar operator hunches forward as the destroyer slows, adjusting his instruments and concentrating. After a moment he makes a frustrated gesture.

“Nothing, sir, we’ve lost him,” he says. “I am sorry, sir.”

“It’s not your fault,” says Ishii, though he is obviously unhappy. He turns to the rest of the bridge crew. “Maybe we hurt him, anyway. But I bet you a month’s pay that he broadcast our position before he attacked. We may have some visitors before long.”

Hibiki rejoins the task force, which has sorted itself out and is back in formation following the attack. Akizuki is unscathed, though it was a close call. The ships continue south.

---

“Here they come,” says Taiki, standing beside the forward 25mm AA mount and looking south through his binoculars. Around him his gun crew puts on their helmets and gets ready to fire. “I count ten planes, American B-25 type,” he says. It has been less than two hours since the submarine attack. The enemy is right on schedule.

Taiki continues to track the planes as they draw closer. “Altitude is 3000 meters. No, wait, what are they doing?” As the B-25s come on they drop in altitude until they are barely above mast height.

“Is this a torpedo attack?” he mutters, then checks the position of the ships ahead. The enemy is now so low that there is a real danger of hitting friend instead of foe. He orders his gun to track a plane out of line with any of the ships in the task force and waits to give the order to open fire.

What develops is not a torpedo attack but something even more terrifying. The bombers come in low, blasting ahead with their heavy machine guns, and attempt to bounce their bombs off the water into the sides of the Japanese ships. Their have been rumors of this new enemy technique but no one aboard Hibiki has ever seen it in practice.

The task force dissolves into a swirl of independently maneuvering ships as anti-aircraft fire sleets outward towards the oncoming planes. No plane comes directly at Hibiki, but Taiki’s crew and the other AA guns fire in support of the ships under attack.

The attack ends as quickly as it developed. The enemy planes roar close by overhead and then depart, chased by a few last bursts of anti-aircraft fire. Akigumo has taken a bomb and machine-gun fire but the other ships are unhurt. They linger long enough to make sure that the damaged destroyer can return safely to Saipan unaided and then they head south, nine ships now instead of ten. Behind them come the cruisers, still intent on their mission of destruction.

What develops is not a torpedo attack but something even more terrifying. The bombers come in low, blasting ahead with their heavy machine guns, and attempt to bounce their bombs off the water into the sides of the Japanese ships. Their have been rumors of this new enemy technique but no one aboard Hibiki has ever seen it in practice.

More pulse-pounding action! If Hibiki hasn't seen skip-bombing until March '44, she's indeed a lucky ship.

Wolffpack must be annoyed that both his submarine attack and the airstrike went after DD's instead of the more important heavy cruisers.

Actually, the skip-bombing would have been (nearly) worthless vs. the CAs.  Even if the B-25s passed all their checks and carrying 2000# GPs, skip bombing is vs. the belt armor, and would have done little to the CAs (unless they were Furutakas).
 
-F-

I don’t say very much about the game as such in this AAR, but I wanted to step out of the storytelling role long enough to give a nod to my opponent. Recently in the game hundreds of Japanese land-based aircraft attacked the massed Allied carrier force. The result, coming as it did in the summer of 1944, will probably surprise no one: the Japanese planes were annihilated. Not one hit was scored on the Allied ships.

I was philosophical about it when I sent the turn to wolffpack – I really hadn’t expected anything else – but his response surprised me. He thought that watching Japanese planes being wiped out like that made the game less fun for both players and suggested redoing the turn with his carrier forces being a little more spread out.

So we did. This time the Japanese again suffered heavy losses but a CV took a torpedo. In addition a large strike lunged past the fleet carriers and did major damage to his replenishment task force, sinking two CVEs and damaging others. My opponent cheerfully accepted the result and the game continued.

This gesture of sportsmanship comes in a tightly contested game. The style of this AAR tends to obscure wolffpack’s presence, but I thought this was worthy of mention.

This brings another point.  It's really too bad that Wolfpack can't enjoy this wonderful AAR that the rest of us look forward to every day.

Why can't he? Isn't this AAR a good deal behind the game in time frame?

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Why can't he? Isn't this AAR a good deal behind the game in time frame?

iirc, he has been allowed to read at least some of it.

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Why can't he? Isn't this AAR a good deal behind the game in time frame?

iirc, he has been allowed to read at least some of it.

Right. The game is far enough ahead these days that I've told him he can read whenever he wants to.

March 8, 1944

Location: 120 miles northeast of Ulithi
Course: North
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 367

Orders: Attack enemy shipping and facilities at Woleai atoll

---

Night lies over Woleai. It is a dark night; the moon is visible but is only a thin sliver low in the sky, two days past new. Hibiki and the other ships in Captain Shibuya’s task force arrive off the northeast corner of the atoll and turn west, cruising outside the encircling reef. There is no sign so far of any opposition and any shipping present seems to have already fled.

Still the Japanese ships go warily. The darkness can conceal many surprises and the enemy knows they are coming.

The Japanese ships are now in single column, with Hibiki second from the rear. They have not gone far when suddenly the night is ripped by an explosion. Directly in front of Hibiki destroyer Kazagumo has been struck by something on the port side forward. The destroyer slows and sheers out of line.

“Torpedo?” says Captain Ishii. “Or was it a mine?” The lookouts have spotted no torpedo wakes. Ishii orders Hibiki to come in close to render assistance. Extra lookouts scramble to the bow to watch for mines, though there is little chance of seeing them in the dark water until too late.

The explosion has revealed the presence of the Japanese ships to watchful eyes and there is a swift response. The Japanese are not caught off guard, however. As Hibiki slows searchlights stab out from the forward ships in the column. Their probing glare reveals half a dozen enemy torpedo boats slipping stealthily towards them through a gap in the reef.

The two light cruisers and the forward three destroyers all open fire. The torpedo boats are caught in a horrible position, lacking room to maneuver and unable to return fire. Four of the six are caught in a hail of shells and sunk. The two trailing boats, however, are able to turn back into the lagoon and escape into the darkness.

Kazagumo’s captain signals that he thinks his ship has been mined. The destroyer is down a little at the bow but reports the flooding is under control for the moment, so the two destroyers rejoin the column, Kazagumo limping along at the rear.

The task force proceeds ahead warily, now wary of mines. The next attack, however, comes from another squadron of six torpedo boats. These bear down on the Japanese column from ahead, but again alert lookouts spot them coming. The light cruisers turn swiftly to uncover all their guns and open fire. It is not easy to hit such small, fast opponents in the dark, but the Japanese fire quickly finds two of the torpedo boats. The resulting fires make easier targets of the others and the surviving four turn and flee.

On continue the Japanese ships. They approach the western end of the atoll and Captain Shibuya is about to contact the cruiser force to let them know that they may proceed with their bombardment when tracers suddenly lance out of the darkness from behind the column. The two surviving torpedo boats from the first attack have returned. Creeping up on the Japanese they now launch torpedoes and open fire on damaged Kazagumo.

The torpedoes miss but 20 mm shells rake the destroyer. Kazagumo returns fire.

Aboard Hibiki the rear 5” turret joins in and other destroyers turn to help. To Lieutenant Kuwaki’s frustration Kazagumo hits both targets before Hibiki can claim another torpedo boat kill. One of the torpedo boats takes a direct hit from a 5” shell and explodes, while the other is set afire and left adrift. Kazagumo has more casualties but is still seaworthy, at least for the moment.

At last the night is quiet once again. Shibuya now signals the heavy cruisers, not failing to mention the location of the probable mine field. Hibiki and the other ships turn north as the cruisers and their escorts move in to begin their work. As the atoll recedes behind them secondary explosions on the low, flat islands are already sending columns of flame high into the night sky.

Well written Sir.
 
I think your comment about Wolfpack is quite nice.  I think we forget about your opponent while reading the narrative.  He made a very gallant offer!
 
We just had something similar occur on the Forlorn Hopes AAR where I made a major mistake but caught it (thanks to my loyal readers) before anything terrible could occur.  I think it is one of the strengths of this forum that--while intensely competitive--WitP is about fairness, playablity, and fun!
 
BANZAI to Wolfpack!
 
 

Talking of carrier battles in 1944, I just fought one against the AI. Almost the entire Japanese carrier fleet sank 1 CV and 3 CVL without loss. Except that is for 250 aircraft, including just about every veteran pilot the fleet had. Average experience is now about 45, and I don't know whether to celebrate or cry.

Reality...
 

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

Aboard Hibiki the rear 5” turret joins in and other destroyers turn to help. To Lieutenant Kuwaki’s frustration Kazagumo hits both targets before Hibiki can claim another torpedo boat kill.

And yet another gripping combat scene! At least Kuwaki now has an example he can point to for his complaint about removing one of the after 5" turrets.

March 9, 1944

Location: 320 miles east-northeast of Saipan
Course: North
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 331

Orders: Proceed to Osaka

---

Kazagumo is diverted to Saipan. The eight remaining ships of the task force are ordered to return to Japan and dawn finds them making good speed to the north. Long wakes trail behind them as they steam towards home.

“Good morning, sir,” says Lieutenant Miharu. “Did you sleep well?”

“Quite soundly, all four hours of it,” grumbles Captain Ishii. An ensign hands him a cup of tea, which he accepts with a grateful nod.

“We are now out of enemy air range,” says the lieutenant. “Course is north, speed 24 knots. No sign of enemy submarine activity.”

“That fact that we suffered no air attacks on the way out is a good sign we did some damage,” comments Ishii. He sips at his tea. “Go get some rest, Exec. I relieve you.”

“I stand relieved,” says Lieutenant Miharu. He salutes and then heads below. Captain Ishii squares his shoulders and turns to face another new day.

March 10, 1944

Location: 550 miles southwest of Iwo Jima
Course: North
Attached to: TF 33
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 302

Orders: Proceed to Osaka

---

Riku goes off duty and comes out on deck to get some air. He finds Oizuma standing by the port rail and joins him.

“Hey, Snake Man,” he says. “Looking at something, or just thinking?”

“Hello, Ariga,” says Oizuma, looking up. “Just thinking. There’s something about watching the water go past, it is very soothing.”

“I think that technically we are going past the water,” says Riku, “but I know what you mean. It must be why fountains are so popular in gardens.”

Not far from the ship a fin cuts through the water. Both men get a clear look at the shark before it falls astern, diving down and away from the noisy destroyer.

“Big one,” says Riku. “Four meters, at least.”

“I’ve seen those big blue ones before,” says Oizuma. “What kind of sharks are they?”

Riku shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe Takahashi does, he knows a lot of stuff. Petty Officer Takahashi!” Taiki, who is passing by, strolls over. Both sailors come to attention before Taiki tells them to relax.

“What can I do for you two troublemakers?” Taiki asks.

“Those blue sharks, Petty Officer, do you know what kind they are?” Riku asks.

Taiki shakes his head. “I don’t know anything about sharks,” he says, “except that they eat you if you fall in the water. But I’ll bet that Chief Shun knows. He’s right over there.”

“No need to bother him…” Oizuma says quickly, but it is too late. Taiki already has Shun’s attention. The Chief walks over to the small group and the sailors again come to attention.

“Forgive the interruption, Chief,” says Taiki, “but we have a question about sharks. The big blue sharks, the ones with the large tail fin, what are they called?”

“Blue sharks,” says Shun.

“Yes, Chief Petty Officer Shun, the blue ones,” says Oizuma.

“That’s what they are called, idiot. Blue sharks,” growls Shun.

“Oh,” says Oizuma. “I see.”

Shun steps to the rail and looks down at the ocean before returning his attention to the others. “They are attractive fish,” he says. “All sharks are. Graceful and perfectly suited to their purpose.”

“I never thought of them that way, Chief” admits Taiki. “I did not grow up around the water, as you did. I mostly worry about them eating me if I ever have to go overboard.”

Shun shakes his head. “I have swum with and near sharks many times,” he says. “A man in the water has little to fear from them, unless he is bleeding. Usually.”

“Usually, Chief Shun?” Oizuma asks a little nervously.

Shun grins a wicked grin. “Yes, usually,” he says.

“What is the largest shark you have ever seen, Chief?” Riku asks.

“It was a whale shark, and those are truly harmless,” says Shun. “It was around 12 meters long.” He pauses. “Once, as a boy in the Ryukyus, I found a shark tooth on the beach,” he says. “I took it home and measured it carefully. It was 12 centimeters long, almost 17 centimeters on the diagonal.” He holds his big hands apart to indicate a tooth of truly alarming size.

The others make sounds of amazement. “How big would such a shark be?’ wonders Taiki.

“Big. Very big,” says Shun. He gestures at the ocean. “The waters now beneath our keel are among the deepest in the world, did you know that? No one knows what is down there. The spirits of the ocean guard many secrets. We sailors, we spend our lives on the surface and some make the mistake of thinking they understand the sea. We don’t. Not until the ocean swallows us and takes us down to the depths in her final embrace will we know, but what we learn there we can never tell. The ocean keeps her secrets.”

Shun falls silent for a moment and turns to look back out at the ocean. The others say nothing, not daring to intrude on the big petty officer’s thoughts. After a moment Shun turns back to face them.

“Leave sharks alone and they will probably leave you alone,” he says. “It’s a better deal than you will get from your fellow humans.” He gives Taiki a nod and departs.

After he is gone the others are quiet for a moment, then Oizuma breaks the silence. “I wonder if he knows anything about sea snakes?” he says.

“Let’s ask him another time,” says Riku.