Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Onime No Kyo]

I just hope its not a thrilling narrative of Hibiki's last moments afloat. [X(]

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

I just hope its not a thrilling narrative of Hibiki's last moments afloat. [X(]

Yeah, "small lifeboat, big war" wouldn't be quite the same. [:(]

[Alikchi2]

I'm all on tenterhooks over here! Nice foreshadowing!

As a great actor once said, "Oh God oh man oh God oh man oh God oh man oh God oh man"

[Commander Stormwolf]

A blanket of B-29 droppings perhaps

[8D]

[cantona2]

Cry Havoc and let loose the Dogs of War

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: Shark7

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

I just hope its not a thrilling narrative of Hibiki's last moments afloat. [X(]

Yeah, "small lifeboat, big war" wouldn't be quite the same. [:(]

Ohhh Shark! You missed a great opportunity!

"Small Lifeboat, Big Shark"!!!!!!!

[Cuttlefish]

A screen shot of Hibiki in action from the previous turn.

[tocaff]

A mere nothing on the way to the main event.

[Canoerebel]

What if that had been the SS Cuttlefish engaged against the Hibiki?

[Capt. Harlock]

Racing, though they don’t yet know it, into the heart of the greatest air and naval battle of World War II.

Hmm . . . I seem to recall that Morris Eliot Samuelson described the fracas that turned the tide to the Allies as the "Greatest Naval Battle in History".

Gambare, Hibiki!

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

What if that had been the SS Cuttlefish engaged against the Hibiki?

THAT would have been funny!

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Racing, though they don’t yet know it, into the heart of the greatest air and naval battle of World War II.

Hmm . . . I seem to recall that Morris Eliot Samuelson described the fracas that turned the tide to the Allies as the "Greatest Naval Battle in History".

Gambette, Hibiki!

Good memory! He referred to the Battle of Santa Cruz using those terms. I will plead that what he meant was that it was the biggest naval battle to that point. The upcoming battle is unquestionably larger in scope. I also think that I am safe in predicting that this version of the war, now in April '45, will not see one larger.

[String]

Nngghhh.. and i thought it was an update...[:o]

[Cuttlefish]

November 8, 1944 (prelude)

Location: ?
Course: ?
Attached to: TF 27
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: ?
Float Damage: ?
Fires: ?
Fuel: ?

Orders: Engage enemy forces at Iwo Jima

---

Admiral Yamamoto’s goal is to prevent the Allies from landing enough troops to capture Iwo Jima. He knows the Army has many troops there and that they are well dug-in and well supplied. He has to trust that if he gives them a chance they can hold the island. But he also knows that if the enemy is allowed to land unopposed no amount of courage or supplies will enable Japan to win.

His objective, then, is to sink or damage as many of the enemy’s transports as possible. Most of his subordinates burn with eagerness to come to grips with the enemy warships, now pinned in place protecting the invasion, but Yamamoto knows that there is no way to attempt this and win. Even a year ago he too would have made it his primary objective, but things have changed. The only possible way now to ensure Japan’s survival, he believes, is to keep the enemy’s fighters out of range of the Home Islands and prolong the fighting to the point where the enemy is willing to once more willing to negotiate. It is not a good chance, he knows, but it is all he has left. That means denying Iwo to the enemy, and that means destroying the bulk of the enemy’s forces before they can land.

So the transports are the target. The tactical problem confronting the dour admiral is how to break through the enemy’s powerful surface and carrier groups to achieve this. The traditional Japanese night attack will not work: carrier forces surround the island and any Japanese force that attempts to get close enough for a night attack will be promptly destroyed.

So Yamamoto has evolved a plan. It is simple in concept but requires precise timing. Japan’s carrier force has been partly rebuilt over the past year with the addition of Taiho and three Unryu-class carriers. It is no match at all for the Allied carriers, of course, but it is a force too strong to be ignored. These carriers will depart Kagoshima and proceed east, approaching Iwo Jima from the northwest.

They will, of course, be detected. Yamamoto is counting on the enemy carrier forces moving northwest to intercept his own carriers, leaving the island uncovered. At the same time three Japanese surface forces will race in from the northeast. Arriving at the island unmolested by enemy airpower they will strive to evade or break through the enemy surface forces and get to the transports.

This, at least, is the plan. As the sun rises on November 8th the Japanese forces are in motion under clear skies, six task forces comprising almost 100 warships. The time for planning is over. The time for battle is at hand.

[thegreatwent]

Sounds kinda like the plan at Leyte[X(]. I just hope some of those carriers have aircraft.

[Alikchi2]

A good plan.. well, the ONLY plan with any hint of success..

*steels himself*

[Mynok]

"Success" might be a bit strong of a word. [:'(]

[Feinder]

Sounds kinda like the plan at Leyte

Yeah, and we all know how that turned out...

-F-

[thegreatwent]

Well hopefully Taffy isn't in the way[:)]

[Heeward]

For him to succeed all he has to do is to take the Island and establish a supplied base force.
 
If allied fighter cover make your air strikes essentially ineffective then he can ignore your air combat task force(s) and hold off Iwo Jima. You may have to send the CV's as a direct sacrificial cover force for your surface combat surface task forces.
 
Does your opponent have long range air search ability in this area?