Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: tocaff

Imagine how difficult it must've been to reload the tubes while under way and in action.

So much so that the WitP engine refuses to do it. [:D]

[Cuttlefish]

November 3, 1944

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: TF 27
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Await further orders

---

Excerpt from a letter written by Lieutenant Miharu to his wife, to be delivered in the event of his death:


Raise Yuchiko to follow the paths of virtue, for attainment without virtue is a hollow thing, like a bright balloon of pretty colors that is nice to gaze upon but without substance. She should grow up with respect for tradition and for the past, but she should also be taught to look towards the future. I do not know what Japan will be in the years to come but whatever happens I think things will be much different, and that is the world in which she must make her way.

Do not neglect her education. Cultivate within her an inquisitive mind, for this exercises the brain the way that running and playing exercises the body; both are necessary for a healthy and forward-looking outlook. Yet teach her to be modest and to refrain from excess, for these are virtues a woman should possess.

Most important of all tell her that her father loved her very much. And tell her that even though we never met in life her father’s spirit watches over her and cherishes her.

I am sorry to leave you with this burden, my wife, though I know your strength and I am sure you will do well…

[Cuttlefish]

November 4, 1944

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: TF 27
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Engage enemy forces at Iwo Jima

---

The Allied fleet seems to cover the ocean. In the van are fast carrier task forces, screened by swift and powerful new battleships. On the flanks prowl strong cruiser forces. Bombardment groups of older battleships smash relentlessly through the waves. Destroyers and destroyer escort groups on anti-submarine duty dart about like schools of fish.

And this is only the beginning. There are long lines of minesweepers. The tankers and oilers with their escorts make an impressive display all on their own. Small but powerful forces of escort carriers seem to be everywhere. And at the center there are almost endless columns of troop ships and transports.

It is an enormous and impressive display of power, and it is aimed right at Iwo Jima.

---

“Lieutenant Miharu!”

“Yes, Captain?”

“Enemy forces are moving north. We have orders to make ready to sail. Please recall all men ashore and make preparations to get under way.”

“Yes sir.”

“Ensign Izu.”

Sir!”

“Deliver my compliments to Chief Engineer Sakati and inform him that we will be departing within a few hours.”

“Yes sir.”

Captain Ishii’s voice is matter-of-fact but in his eyes is a glint of resolve. The brisk energy of his movements states more clearly than words that he is glad the waiting is over and that battle is at last at hand.

“Step smartly, everyone,” he says crisply. “Let’s not keep the enemy waiting!”

[John 3rd]

"once more unto the Breach..."

[Marc gto]

I hope Hibiki survives

[bradfordkay]

I've got the same anxious feeling for the Hibiki that I get when I send off a PBEM turn with an impending carrier fight... [&o]

[ChezDaJez]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

I've got the same anxious feeling for the Hibiki that I get when I send off a PBEM turn with an impending carrier fight... [&o]

Ya mean, like now in our game?

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

I've got the same anxious feeling for the Hibiki that I get when I send off a PBEM turn with an impending carrier fight... [&o]

I'm learning the fine art of avoidance...that is any time I see US Carriers I tend to run the other way...very fast. [:D]

[bradfordkay]

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

I've got the same anxious feeling for the Hibiki that I get when I send off a PBEM turn with an impending carrier fight... [&o]

Ya mean, like now in our game?

send me the turn so I can find out... this waiting on pins and needles is getting uncomfortable! [:'(]

[Cribtop]

The tension here is at an all time high, CF.
 
I'll be interested to see what your battle plan is and how it will play out.  Since the events occurred months ago in real time I suppose there's no harm in speculating.
 
One thought I had was that based on your description, the Allies have island hopped their way here.  Does this leave an opportunity for a major rear area attack aimed at supply lines (e.g. Eniwetok)?  Or would that take too long to matter?  The weakness of this idea is that you'd probably have to make two assaults, one aimed at closing the New Guinea - Marianas LOC and one at the Marshalls LOC.
 
Still, I can't think of a way to win by directly opposing the Death Star approaching Iwo, but your posts seem to indicate you have a trick up your sleeve.
 
I'm getting my popcorn ready either way.

[John 3rd]

I vote for Rear-Area Attack!

[tocaff]

A good, fast & hard shot to the rear is always going to hurt.  [;)]

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: tocaff

A good, fast & hard shot to the rear is always going to hurt.  [;)]

Based on the game date, its a given that its going to hurt. [X(]

[Capt. Harlock]

“Step smartly, everyone,” he says crisply. “Let’s not keep the enemy waiting!”

As opposed to your readers . . . (sorry, cheap shot, but I just couldn't resist.)[:D]

[Cuttlefish]

November 5, 1944

Location: 180 miles south-southeast of Tokyo
Course: Southeast
Attached to: TF 27
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 449

Orders: Engage enemy forces at Iwo Jima

---

Task force 27, consisting of battleships Yamato and Musashi, heavy cruisers Suzuya and Tone, one light cruiser, and nine destroyers, moves slowly southward. The enemy fleet is still en route to Iwo Jima and so the main goal of the Japanese at the moment is not to stray so far south that they risk detection. There is always danger of being spotted by one of the seemingly omnipresent enemy submarines, of course, but the only real way to minimize that risk is to not put out to sea in the first place.

Of all the thousands of men in the task force only Admiral Tashiro knows what their orders actually are. Tashiro spends most of his time pacing Yamato’s flag bridge and waiting for the arrival of a single code word, ika. Until that word is received the orders remain locked in his cabin. Tashiro does not need to look at them, anyway. He knows every word they contain by heart.

[Cuttlefish]

November 6, 1944

Location: 480 miles southeast of Tokyo
Course: Southeast
Attached to: TF 27
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 403

Orders: Engage enemy forces at Iwo Jima

---

Captain Ishii slowly scans the southern horizon and then lowers his binoculars, having seen nothing. There are a dozen other men engaged in the same activity and Ishii knows they are alert, and he also knows that the ship’s radar is sweeping the skies ahead. He still can’t help taking a look himself every now and again.

Ensign Konada appears at his elbow and salutes. “Pardon, sir, but the radio room has intercepted a report from Iwo Jima. They say they are being heavily shelled by enemy battleships and that a large invasion force has taken up positions off the island.”

Ishii nods slowly. “Tomorrow morning, then,” he says. “That’s when the enemy will start trying to come ashore.”

“Are we going to attack, sir?” asks Konada. Ishii looks at him.

“I imagine so, Ensign,” he says. “But we will see. ”

[Cuttlefish]

November 7, 1944

Location: 175 miles south-southeast of Tokyo
Course: Southwest
Attached to: TF 27
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 361

Orders: Engage enemy forces at Iwo Jima

---

An ensign brings Admiral Tashiro a message flimsy. On it is just one word: ika. Tashiro reads it, then folds it carefully and puts it in his pocket.

“Send to all ships,” he says. “Increase speed to twenty-four knots. Set course for Iwo Jima.”

---

“Captain!” says the sonar operator. “I have a contact, about 1200 meters to starboard, relative bearing forty degrees. It’s solid, sir.”

“Combat stations,” orders Ishii calmly. “Helm, slow to sixteen knots, change course forty degrees starboard. Signal Yamato and inform them that we are prosecuting a possible submarine contact.”

The klaxon sounds as Hibiki heels out of the column and, slowing slightly, begins to stalk the contact.

“Still there, sir,” says the sonar man. “Going deeper, though, I think he knows we’re after him.”

“Set depth charges to 150 feet,” says Ishii. “Prepare to launch.” As Hibiki cruises over the submarine’s suspected position he gives the order and the Y-guns on the stern fling two charges to either side. There is a pause as the weapons sink, then the ocean bulges in Hibiki’s wake and geysers are flung violently upward.

Hibiki maintains the contact and Ishii brings the destroyer around three more times, now setting the charges to 200 feet. The destroyer expends sixteen charges before the contact fades and is lost.

“Damn,” says Ishii. “We may have banged him up a bit but we didn’t kill him.”

“And now the enemy knows we’re here,” says Lieutenant Kuwaki.

“That doesn’t matter now,” says Ishii. “We’d have been spotted soon anyway.” Ishii gives further orders and Hibiki moves to rejoin the column as the Japanese ships continue to race towards Iwo Jima. Racing, though they don’t yet know it, into the heart of the greatest air and naval battle of World War II.

Ishii calculates that they should reach the island about 9 am tomorrow morning.

[Lecivius]

Ye gods, and CF is gonna be away again?&nbsp;&nbsp; <goes back to biting his nails>

[tocaff]

...and the suspense continues to grow....[:(]

[FeurerKrieg]

Of course he'll be away. He has to take a few days to write his largest entry in this AAR yet. I have high expectation of a thrilling narrative coming our way...