Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[tocaff]

Obrigado.................

[Mike Solli]

CF, do you know anything about Ishii after 27 Aug 42?

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

CF, do you know anything about Ishii after 27 Aug 42?

I know frustratingly little. He never returned to sea, I know that. After his two weeks or so aboard Ikazuchi he conned a desk, I think in SE Asia but possibly in Japan, until he died of natural causes sometime late in the war. My guess is that he was forced out of sea duty by some illness that finally killed him, but that's just speculation. I would love to know more.

Here is a list of the ships he commanded before and during the war:

DD Uzuki - 15 December 1938 - 15 November 1939
DD Yayoi - 15 October 1940 - 10 September 1941
DD Hibiki - 25 September 1941 - 13 August 1942
DD Ikazuchi - 13 August 1942 - 27 August 1942

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

CF, do you know anything about Ishii after 27 Aug 42?

I know frustratingly little. He never returned to sea, I know that. After his two weeks or so aboard Ikazuchi he conned a desk, I think in SE Asia but possibly in Japan, until he died of natural causes sometime late in the war. My guess is that he was forced out of sea duty by some illness that finally killed him, but that's just speculation. I would love to know more.

Here is a list of the ships he commanded before and during the war:

DD Uzuki - 15 December 1938 - 15 November 1939
DD Yayoi - 15 October 1940 - 10 September 1941
DD Hibiki - 25 September 1941 - 13 August 1942
DD Ikazuchi - 13 August 1942 - 27 August 1942

Thanks Cuttlefish. Please don't let him die of natural causes in your AAR. That would really suck.

[BrucePowers]

How about old age?

[BigDuke66]

How about woman? [:D]

[Capt. Harlock]

It makes me think of the story of chuken Hachikô.” All of them are familiar with the famous tale of faithful dog Hachikô, who went every day to Shibuya station to wait for his master Professor Ueno to return from his work at the University of Tokyo and who continued to do so without fail for ten years after his master’s death.

Another excellent touch, working that story into the Hibiki plotline. (IIRC, there is now a statue of the dog just outside the railway station, but I don't know when it was installed.)

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

It makes me think of the story of chuken Hachikô.” All of them are familiar with the famous tale of faithful dog Hachikô, who went every day to Shibuya station to wait for his master Professor Ueno to return from his work at the University of Tokyo and who continued to do so without fail for ten years after his master’s death.

Another excellent touch, working that story into the Hibiki plotline. (IIRC, there is now a statue of the dog just outside the railway station, but I don't know when it was installed.)

I thought about trying to work the statue into the story, because it was installed sometime in the late 1930s and our sailors would have been familiar with it. The statue was metal and was melted down at some point during the war to contribute to the war effort. The current statue is a re-creation of the original and was installed after the war.

Here is how the statue, a very well-known landmark in Tokyo, appears today:

[Charbroiled]

Cuttlefish, This is truly amazing stuff. I just found out about this thread awhile back and I have been reading it from the beginning (sadly, I'm only on page 21 at the moment). You really need to print all of your post and use them as an outline for a novel. You have true talent! [8D]

[Cuttlefish]

June 19, 1944

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Await further orders

---

Riku comes down the gangway onto the pier in the morning. There is a large stack of crates on the pier containing food for Hibiki’s crew and Riku wants to check the contents against the manifest before the crates are loaded aboard.

Off to the side is a neatly coiled hawser and lying against this is a tattered object. It looks to Riku as though the object had been lying near the base of the gangway and someone had simply kicked it out of the way. If an officer sees that he won’t be pleased, so Riku goes over to pick it up and dispose of it properly.

He picks it up and then bursts out laughing. The item he is holding is a ragged and badly chewed shoe.

[Cuttlefish]

June 20, 1944

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Await further orders

---

“How long do you give them?” Lieutenant Kuwaki asks Lieutenant Sugiyura. The two men are discussing the Allied landings in Europe, news of which was awaiting the crew when they returned to Japan. The Japanese government has had little to say on the subject and the press has contented itself with passing on boastful German claims of hurling the Allies back into the sea. Among military men only the most hopeful give these claims any credence.

“They might be out of the war by the end of the year,” says Sugiyura. “Maybe if they are lucky they will last a little longer.”

“Then we will face the full strength of our enemies,” says Kuwaki. “Considering that their resources already seem like a well without a bottom that is a frightening thought.”

“Bah,” says Sugiyura. “Let them come. Unlike Germany we still have the sea for a defense and capable ships to patrol it with.”

“True,” says Kuwaki. “But do not forget we have Russia at our back.”

“Why would the Soviets attack us?” asks Sugiyura. “They must be drained from their long war and they have no quarrel with us anyway.”

“For gain, perhaps?” says Kuwaki. “What you say is true, but I think that trusting to the mercy and forbearance of Stalin is perhaps a bad idea.”

“Hm, maybe so,” says Sugiyura. “But they have no navy to speak of and so they do not concern me much.”

“I suppose that is true,” says Kuwaki. “Still, the Americans and British will be able to send more ships this way once Germany falls.”

“Let them,” says Sugiyura confidently. “We can always use more targets.”

[bradfordkay]

Thanks Cuttlefish. Please don't let him die of natural causes in your AAR. That would really suck.

I suppose that is entirely left up to the whims of the leader bug, not Cuttlefish...[;)]

[cantona2]

I reckon he goes down with the ship and Shun elects to go with him after saving his son in law

[princep01]

'tis our author's perogative, but for me, I hope Shun survives the war and dies of natural causes while peacefully swimming with the sea turtles off Okinawa.  The sea claims what it already owns.
 
He passes as a great-grandfather, loved and reverred by many and feared by a few. He is 86 years old.  He has few, if any, real regrets.

[Cuttlefish]

June 21, 1944

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Await further orders

---

Lieutenant Miharu is standing on the bridge when he spies a naval staff car rolling down the pier. It stops near the base of the gangway. The driver, a staff officer by his uniform, gets out and goes around to open the door for his passenger. When the passenger emerges the lieutenant sucks in a sharp breath.

“Captain,” he says, and something in his voice brings Captain Ishii over immediately. Ishii takes in the scene and then begins fastening the buttons on his coat.

“This should be interesting,” he says as he reaches for his cap.

---

Ensign Konada is currently the officer of the deck. As the stocky man in the white uniform comes up the gangway he feels himself starting to sweat. He takes a deep breath to calm himself and double-checks his uniform. As always the young ensign looks ready for a parade ground. Wait, is that a spot on his left shoe? Horror fills Konada but there is no time to do anything about it. The visitor has reached the top of the gangway. Konada snaps and holds a perfect salute.

“Permission to come aboard, Ensign?” the newcomer asks mildly.

“Granted,” says Konada, and to his relief his voice doesn’t squeak at all. “Welcome aboard Hibiki, Admiral Yamamoto.”

---

Near the end of the inspection Admiral Yamamoto and Captain Ishii stroll together. The ship is not in the immaculate shape Ishii would want for such an inspection but all things considered Ishii is pleased. He runs a tight ship and it shows, even while they are taking on supplies and doing minor repairs.

“Very nice, Captain Ishii,” Yamamoto says. “I apologize for appearing unannounced in this fashion.”

“It is your prerogative, sir, to appear when you please,” says Ishii. “No apology is necessary.” The two men exit the aft deckhouse and move towards the stern.

“I have been meaning to do this for some time,” says Yamamoto. “Today seemed suddenly like a good day. I have spent too many days lately in offices and briefing rooms. I needed to feel a deck under my feet and smell grease and fuel oil and fresh paint. Making a surprise inspection seemed excuse enough to get away.”

“We are glad to help, sir,” says Ishii. The men stop at the stern and Yamamoto turns to face Ishii.

“Hibiki has compiled an enviable record,” he says. “You have engaged enemy ships at Kuching, at Wake, three times at Gili Gili, and at Luganville. You have sunk seven enemy ships or submarines and can claim partial credit on four others. In addition you participated in the battles of the Phoenix Islands, of Timor, of Exmouth Bay, of Santa Cruz, and of Woleai. No merchant vessel under your protection has even been damaged, much less sunk. Am I leaving anything out?”

“No, Admiral,” says Ishii. He is proud of his ship’s record and proud that the admiral has taken time to review it.

“When this came to my attention,” says Yamamoto, “I had to ask myself why the captain of a ship with such a record remains a lieutenant commander. So I asked around. You have a reputation for speaking your mind to the wrong people, it seems.”

“Yes sir,” says Ishii a little uncomfortably.

“Good,” says Yamamoto. “Good. Then you are a man I wish to talk to. Tell me, Ishii, what do you hear from your sailors and other officers about the fact that the fleet remains in port while the enemy attacks the Marianas?” Ishii braces himself. As he looks at Yamamoto’s broad and impassive face it is obvious that the admiral is looking for the truth.

“Sir,” he says, “no one is happy about it. We hear that many enemy ships have been sunk in the battle. We know that our fleet is still strong. It is very hard to sit here while others fight, knowing that allowing the enemy to gain a foothold in the Marianas imperils everything. There is a lot of grumbling, sir.”

Yamamoto nods slowly. “Yes,” he says. “I hear it from above, too. They say the same thing in the Imperial Diet and at the Ministry of War. Many want me removed.” Ishii says nothing. After a moment Yamamoto goes on.

“But I think that I have divined our enemy’s intentions,” says Yamamoto. “They do not intend to threaten the Philippines, or Java or Borneo, or anywhere else. No, they are aiming straight at Japan itself. And to do that they must capture Iwo Jima. That is where we must fight them, Ishii, where we can bring our full power to bear. That is where the final battle will be fought. We have to preserve our strength for that battle. It is the only one now that truly matters.”

Yamamoto is now gazing out to sea as he speaks, gazing south. Ishii gets the feeling that that the admiral has almost forgotten his presence.

“I have had a strange feeling lately,” Yamamoto continues. “It is almost as if I am living somehow on borrowed time. Let them remove me if they can. Until then I will continue to do my job as I feel I must.”

Ishii remains silent. A breeze ruffles the water off the stern and from somewhere nearby comes the cry of a gull. After a long moment Yamamoto turns back around.

“Thank you, Captain Ishii,” he says. “I appreciate your candor. I fear I must return now before my staff notices that I have escaped and comes in search of me.”

“We have been honored by your visit, sir,” says Ishii. He means it.

The two men walk forward. There Hibiki’s crew has assembled. They stand at attention in silent rows along the rail, on the foredeck, and on the torpedo and gun decks. Admiral Yamamoto stops at the top of the gangway and at Lieutenant Miharu’s order they salute in unison. Yamamoto looks up and around at their faces and somehow every man aboard feels as though the admiral looks straight at him. Then Yamamoto returns the salute before turning and descending to the pier. The crew remains at attention as the admiral’s car backs up, turns, and drives off out of sight.

[Cuttlefish]

June 22, 1944

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Await further orders

---

Headline in the Mainichi Shimbun, June 22:
Gallant Imperial Soldiers Close to Victory on Guam

Headline in the New York Times, June 22:
Army, Marines Declare Troops in Control on Guam: Fighting Continues

[tocaff]

Iwo, huh?  I wonder.........nah.

[cantona2]

Loving the cameo's, though the way CF has written that makes me really wonder if Iwo was the Hibiki's last action and hes building up steam to it.

[tocaff]

That's what I was considering.  If it's true then Hibiki's demise doesn't need to be the end of this saga as survivors can carry on in Japan's hour of need.

[vettim89]

I guess it would be better to have Hibiki sunk near an island or land mass as it would be easier to justify saving a selected few cast members. If you were sunk in the middle of the ocean with no friends around, it would be a lot less plausible