The little ship that could.

[kaleun]

Great, another ambush.

[1275psi]

30/4/42

War, or peace, Mighty navies, tin pot small affairs, there are some things that never change.
Hasegawa eyes the card with some trepidation, and not a little disgust.
Balefully he flicks it across the heavy wardroom table to Hidaka, who takes the heavily gilded card, and opens it.

It is a small card, but the writing is ornate and beautifully done, are perfect example of the art of calligraphy.

It reads.

The Captain and Crew of IJS ISE invite the Captain and selected officers to a formal mess function, this evening, 1900 hours, to celebrate the successful operations conducted so far, and to toast the future of forth coming operations

Hidaka whistles “who commands Ise?”
A Captain Hosagawa , I believe…………and three months seniority too”
“damn ……. I suppose selected officers would include me”
Hasegawa grimaces. “I will be damned if I have to drink their beer with out some sort of back up………..you, my friend, will be charged in ensuring I get home in one piece”


Formal mess dinners –again in any navy-are no trifling matter. Careers end at these things. Careers are made too. A misspoken word can undo a years successful fighting..
But there are some differences between this Japanese fleet and their opponents.
There will be the formal matters, the toasts, the meal, the stark white uniforms.
And the port.

Then the Japanese navy often deviates. There will be drinking. Much drinking. And then –when barriers are down, one may, must, is expected to speak there mind –violently if needed.
It is a well known fact in this navy, that CaptainYamada actually came to blows over the cancelled Pearl operation –challenging Yamamoto to fight harder for its go ahead.
Hidaka often wonders what would have been perhaps, if he had of won.

Zuiho’s small boat approaches Ise’s great side –all over the harbours, other small boats too approach –white uniforms gleaming in the setting sun
Pipes shrill, and Hasegawa hauls himself up the steep gangway, takes the salute.
Eyes cannot help themselves, and he notes quickly her still blackened and blistered main tubes, the rust stains on her side.
But he notes too, that Ise is very much shipped away, a battlewagon proudly showing off her work.
A Subbie takes his salute –and leads the way below.
Its going to be a big night.



It is many hours later, and many drinks too………
Hasegawa has reached that happy state of inertia, the one where the whole world, universe, everything, is as clear as glass –but just a little out of reach, and , and not a little confusing.

Captain Hosegawa abruptly thumps down in the seat beside him – he will have to almost shout to be heard –in one corner of the wardroom a battle song is being sung, another the carrier verses battleship discussion is going badly for the carriers, in another - .well you get the picture.

Hosegawa sways a little, pours another glass for himself “ will this op do it you think?”
‘Do what?’
‘if we take Burma –will it win the war for us, will there be peace?’

hasegawa blinks at the stubby man before him. It is a question he has not considered. Win?. Peace?. The allies give up?……….

“I hardly think so, battleship man, I hardly think so…………”
Hosegawa drains his glass morosely. ‘That’s what I figured. You know Old man –at least when I get sunk –I will be able to see my enemy –eye to eye. Me –I aim to ram the first enemy battle wagon I see…………”

Hasegawa too sips his drink. He is drunk, this he knows. But his host has a point. Just how does Japan expect to end this little adventure?

[1275psi]

1/5/42

Zuiho at rest.
her crew -as many as Hasegawa can spare today -at rest. A "make and mend day" A day onboard to attend to those things you just have to get around to -that loose button on your shirt -thet badge becoming frayed. The mess decks will be thourhly hucked out, and through out the ship, today becomes a general tidy up day.
She goes to war again soon does little zuiho, but today she pauses, and catches breath.

Hidaka does not rest today. but he is so pleased that he has a good cause to.
At last the replacement fighters have arrived, and Hidaka will watch there uncrating, asembling, and testing very closely.
With Minobe reporting his depart,ment defect free (other than the now famous cement repair), her magazines full, het tanks topped, these fighters are the last piece of the puzzle..

The Imperial division, and 25th Army is already enroute to Singapore from Bangkok. Upon arrival, swift eagles simple mission -get them to rangoon in one piece.

[1275psi]

Mr Iwaya, deep inthe depths of the ministry of defence, works hard to 'repair ' the damage of his predessor.
For one -the decision to halt production of the battle wagons ..rescinded.
Production of AM2's -halted 'there being sufficient in stock' -recinded.
production of light tanks -also temporarily halted - recinded.
and so it goes.

his next guests enter the office
'Ahh, Mr Nakajima -a good trip I hope?'
The industry figure in front of him nods gently, 'yes , thankyou minister............your arrangements were.........satisfactory"
Mr Iwaya smiles. "and you read my letter, the terms are agree able?'
Nakajima stiffens -but Iwaya can tell -ahh, yes, he can always tell... 'A return of cancelled HA-35 engines production by 80 units per month........"
'And?'
''with a small......donation to your wifes patronage of the arts of 10000 yen per month"
'yes - the arts are important don't you think -what with a war and peoples moral to sustain no?'
'yes Minister ........you are right"
'Good, that is all"

Nakajima leaves.
Mr iwaya looks at the small picture of his wife on his desk. the photo is fading a little -not surprising really, she has been dead for years now.............

[BigBadWolf]

I think I liked Okura better...

[PaxMondo]

A "Yes Man" promoted .... what a surprise!  [:D]

[kaleun]

[:D]

[1275psi]

(I don't like Mr Iwaya iether![:D])


1/5/42

Young Mitchell contemplates the small can of spam .
He is completely sick to stomach of the stuff, having had little else for the last week to eat.
But then again, if he counts his blessings, he has something to eat at least.

With a sigh, he takes his can, wanders down to the beach, places his back against the shattered remains of a palm tree, and contemplates the endless blue of the ocean.
There is much to think about. He has made some friends here – so many of these men come from the great plains of home –men to whom Sunday is meant to be a day of rest and worship.
There has been very little rest though here, behind him the beat of aero engines tells the story of a small field carved from the coral. To the men here, its nothing special. To the Japanese who fly over every day –its nothing less than astonishing.

But construction has slowed these last days –those bulldozers need fuel –and there has been pitifully little of that of late.
So Mitchell contemplates the sea, and wonders at the breadth of the world, at its beauty, and how, because he simply does not understand, why this insignificant rock should mean so much?
The sun is setting, a huge ball into the sea. It is quite a beautiful sight, and so, for not the first time this week, he silently gives thanks for the day given, and prays that he, and his new friends might be given many more.



Minobe knocks on Hasegawa’s cabin door
‘Enter’
‘Monthly books for your signature sir”
‘Ahhhh, good. All is well I hear below?’
“yes sir – ready for your rounds “
Hasegawa blanches –a poor moment, Minobe cannot help but notice the look of distaste pass over his face “I am not really up to that at the moment –next week maybe ney?’
Minobe bites his tongue. Of all the impertinence, arrogance, ignorance. It is no small thing to prepare for captains rounds………to delay ..is………damn him.
‘Sir?’
‘Are you deaf Minobe? –I am not up to it. Next week”
‘Sir”

Silence as Hasegawa signs the necessary spots, anotes comments here and there, his pen scratching in the silence.
With a thud he closes the books……’Anything else Engines?’
Minobe takes a breath. ‘Sir –this matter of the Charges promotion record……..”
Hasegawa cuts him off –abruptly “there will be no discussion of that man do you hear –none!”
Minobe cannot answer. He just…cannot. ‘
‘anything else?’
‘Fire drills sir –we must conduct more basic drills……….’
‘Fire drills are for your department engines –I will fight this ship –you will make it go, now, I have much to do………..”



‘Captain Hara!’
‘Sir?’
‘Our glorious leader…..” Yamamoto smiles –the mere tone of that sentence spoken in that manner in Japan would get him shot “ has approved our Tarawa operation”
‘All of it?”
‘all of it”
“ let the games begin again then”
‘yes, let the game begin again”

[1275psi]

2/5/42

Po Hirate lies in his hammock, feet askew, writing a letter.
The mess is relatively quiet, many of his companions already asleep. He has to go on watch in 90 minutes time – too short a time to sleep, to long a time to the next watch..

My dearest Kuko,

Greetings from somewhere in the war 0where we have seen some action, but nothing for you to worry about!
Send my wishes to your family, and to my father!
It is quiet here, and I will soon have to go back to work – so different from home let me tell you.
I have managed to keep clear of trouble with you know who too –and my face is getting better –although I am afraid the dashing gentleman you married is a bit worn now!
You asked me once about what I do.
Today I am doing what we call 24’s – we steam just one boiler to keep the lights on, allowing all the broken stuff (which is never ending) to be fixed.
We do 4 hours on, then 4 off, for the 24 hrs.
Because the watch is quiet, it is very boring.

Imagine this.
You are at home, and some total stranger rudely shakes you awake.
You stumble to our bathroom –and find 20 other fellows trying to share our sink!
After a splash of water –go to the living room –and share tea with those twenty fellows.
Then, to the kitchen!
Turn on everything –the stove, -stoke it red hot. Put on all our kettles.
Turn on the radio.
Now every 5 minutes – shuffle the kettles –note the steam flow –and record it.
Shout out to the radio every ten minutes –‘I can hear you!’
Walk around the kitchen constantly –and clean it. Again
Sometimes for fun, we all move to the lounge room –run out fire hoses –and fight fires.
Occasionally we all dash out to the front fence –and count heads –that’s abandon ship!
You would be pleased to know –well maybe not – (seeing how I never got the kitchen done before we left –sorry!) that I have repainted my position two times now – white –and then more white!
The Navy is very funny how we do things…..

We have all been cleaning things like mad for captains rounds – I will be glad to get home -but you might find me a changed man –I have been completely domesticated!
Well – that is all for now. I am still safe –the war is quiet –for now –and I am keeping a low profile.
I do so miss our daughter, with spring, Hiroshima is so beautiful –take her to the park as often as you can –and don’t scold when she gets dirty!
Love
Hirate


Extract from ‘Shattering the sword” a cantona production.

May 42
The war has been subdued for a month now, both sides busily repositioning troops, making plans.
Yet it is Japan that still considers itself holding the initiative. With 14th Army approaching Cagayan, high command releases enough ships for the next phase of operations.
But it is Burma that attention now turns, 20th and 3rd armies have arrived, and the assault north begins…………..




“Our mission is simple” Hidaka waves his hands over the map in the ready room
‘swift eagle is to ensure the safe passage of the bulk of 25th Army from Singapore to Moulmien, traveling in three separate convoys”
He takes the eye of each of his pilots. “there is much debate on our role –close escort –or do we sail to the west –distant cover”
He reaches his pointer to a small spot on the map ‘the complication being, of course –this place –Port Blair –still firmly in allied hands –and undoubtedly crawling with search planes –or worse”
Okura raises his hand, accepts Hidaka’s nod ‘I would have thought it obvious we neutralize it first ? –then there will be no problem”

Hidaka nods –‘yes –but as our strikes on palembang showed –we don’t carry enough weight –and what if the British carriers should turn up? –then what?”
‘we sink the bloody things!’
Laughter.
Laughter –how good to hear it. Moral is good . Hidaka decides. They will go for distant cover –deliberately trail the coat – stuff the army –its time to fight.

[kaleun]

Fanfare.

[1275psi]

3/5/42

Our pilots are at their favorite place –the ‘balcony’ on the starboard side – mainly to escape the heat of below decks, and mainly to keep out of the way-and out of sight.

A fat dirty scow of a ship –an AG – is nestled along side, and a great snake of men are throwing sacks of rice to each other, the snake leading from the flight deck where the AG’s crane is dumping them, to somewhere deep inside Zuiho.

Another snake is bringing on stores, and down near the stern, the Charge is supervising a crew bringing on several large rotating assemblies.
All around them Zuiho bustles with the unmistakable indications of imminent sailing.

It makes them uncomfortable –to watch while others work –yet orders are orders –pilots will not be risked in manual labour!

So they watch silently as each sack is hustled aboard.

“it appears that we are planning for quite a trip” observes Ogawa.
“yes” replies Nashiguchi, his voice –did it break then? –yes it did ‘I hope it is worth it. I believe that each sack represents ten Malays who will starve to death this month……….”
He abruptly leaves.
And on the balcony, discomfort truly reigns.



Corporal Hosho is now a veteran.
He can pitch a bivouac in minutes, fall asleep in a moment.
He can smell, and scrounge a free meal at 500 yards.
He can steal what he needs with out detection.
Not a single piece of kit he carries is not needed –what was not, has long been ‘lost’
He knows , intimately –that one can never carry enough ammo
His gun, is, and will always be his best friend
And he would die for the empire reluctantly –for his friends –immediately

For days, weeks? –they have been camped here at Pegu –waiting, wringing the last drop from a very tenuous supply train. The trucks simply have not been arriving –and those few that do –have been empty.
But now the answer to the truck problem is becoming evident.

They stream past –heading west towards Rangoon, battalion after battalion of them –20th army. China veterans too –Japans toughest troops
Hosho knows exactly what to do. Carefully he buries his kit –the only way he can hide it –and moves to watch the marching columns.

Creased eyes watch carefully –the pickings will be very, very good………..



Tarawa
Young Mitchell tries to sleep –but he is simply too tired too.
If he digs another hole it will be one too many.

A dark shadow appears at the edge of his hole – lifting the tarp that covers it.
‘You awake?’
Sergeant de Bashio. Mitchells heart sinks –de bashio always means work, or a message to deliver, or something…….
“yes sir, I am here”
The large bulk of the man scrambles in, carefully rearranges the tarp.
He fiddles with something for a moment –then the comforting glow of a lantern fills Mitchells hole.
“How you doing Kid?’
‘Alright I suppose”
‘Enough to eat?”
‘yes, thankyou”

There is a long silence. Bashio eyes Mitchell for a few moments, and the youngster comes to a startling conclusion –this tough , tough man is nervous about something…..
‘Tough being a civilian here hey?’
Mitchell nods
‘Anyone taught you how to handle that?’
that being a battered rifle “ yes sir -I can shoot –on the ranch sometimes it was the only way to guarantee supper”
‘Ah, tough days then……….”

The silence stretches
And then, like a man finally leaping from that cliff, Bashio clears his throat
‘tell me about this God of yours hey?’

[1275psi]

you still with us hosho?

[hosho]

always!

this story is an irreplaceable part of my day.

it is a wonderful writing mate mate!

[PaxMondo]

Yeah, really brilliant stuff.  Thanks!

[kaleun]

I am playing a game as Japan and keeping records in case it turns into an AAR. Every time I check on Hosho's pilots I remember this thread.
It is a riveting tale.

[1275psi]

(I am glad you are still with us Hosho – a bit of action for 112th regiment is coming!)


Lieutenant Bando points a thin finger directly at Hosho’s chest.
‘Point!”
Damn, only one thing for it then……..
Hosho’s finger points to his friend, private Bando ‘On me then!’
And so it begins.
Each journey –to use that well worn phrase, begins with a single step.
They shoulder their gear, , scan carefully for anything forgotten, then with feet crunching loudly on the railway bed, Hosho leads 112th regiment directly north.

He settles into a steady gait, his friend at his side. There is a long way to go.
But, they are Japanese. It won’t really be that far………..



Zuiho remains at anchor, awaiting orders to sail.
It is a normal day today, almost peacetime routine – only the guns scanning the sky remind you that she remains in potential, but remote danger.
0700 hours, and the engineering department gathers on the focastle-a mass of men, missing only the half dozen or so that currently keep the lights on.

The Charge scans them.
They have changed, these men of his. No longer young, carefree. Faces are harder now, thinner now.
Overalls are tattered here and there, many hands deeply stained too.
No boys any longer.
Men .
‘Ok –attention please”
The mass quietens. How many does he really know? How many really know him?
How does he wield them?, mould them?, lead them?.


The men look towards their charge, and await his word.
To a man, they know where he stands with the invisible Command behind them on the bridge.
To a man, it binds them to him…..but they will never tell him that –never
The Charge represents them, is them, carries them.
And they will try to carry him in turn.

‘Not much today men – valve repacks as per the list. We are on 4 hours notice –so no bloddy Truk ups OK?”
Nods
‘No seriously –if you see something truked up-let some one know. The last thing we need at the moment is command on our backs again”
More nods.
‘if all work is satisfactory by 1300 –I intend a departmental stand down –and a beer issue. That is all”
And that is enough.


The young sailor works at the valve
He has carefully isolated it.
Undone the gland follower nuts.
Carefully worked the old stem packing out, checked the gland clear.
Cut the new packing
Tamped it in, careful to stagger the joints, careful to ensure it is fully home.
He does up a follower nut –and as so often happens, it slips, and tinkles away, gone forever into the bilges.
A curse –of course –and he goes to the bench in the boiler room, scrambles around for another nut in the bits and pieces drawer.
Back to it.

Soon, finished.
The main steam to Starboard aft boiler Forced Draft blower is repaired –another job of the list.

Pity is –one of those gland nuts is steel –the other, a low strength alloy…………

[bbbf]

You are just being sadistic towards the poor old charge!

[1275psi]

trust me mate -everything that the poor charge experiences a certain charge i know really well once experienced -but probably in a lot more hectic fashion[8|]

[PaxMondo]

Those "bits and pieces" drawers (or cans, or whatever they are in) are just made to cause failure.  Hate'em and luv'em.  They let you finish something quickly, but you got to remember to replace it with a "real" part later.  That "remember" portion is what always bites me ...
 
feel bad for both the mate and the charge on this one .... so easy to happen ...

[whippleofd]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Those "bits and pieces" drawers (or cans, or whatever they are in) are just made to cause failure.  Hate'em and luv'em.  They let you finish something quickly, but you got to remember to replace it with a "real" part later.  That "remember" portion is what always bites me ...

feel bad for both the mate and the charge on this one .... so easy to happen ...

Those "bits and pieces" drawers (or cans, or whatever they are in) are just made to cause failure. Hate'em and luv'em. They let you finish something quickly, but you got to remember to replace it with a "real" part later. That "remember" portion is what always bites me ...

feel bad for both the mate and the charge on this one .... so easy to happen ...

Ayup. Been there done that.

Whipple