Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Cuttlefish]

May 15, 1942

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 433

Orders: Wait at Tokyo Bay for new task force to assemble.

---

A restaurant in Tokyo. Captain Ishii is having dinner with his old friend, Captain Sojiro of the Aoba. Aoba was damaged in the Battle of Gasmata back in January. Seaworthy once again, she will be sailing with Hibiki in the Yamato battle group.

Captain Ishii: I imagine you are ready to return to the war, Sojiro.

Captain Sojiro: Oh yes. After three and a half months in Tokyo I am more than a little impatient to be at sea again. Finding ways to keep an edge of training on the men and listening to headquarters gossip have grown more than old.

Captain Ishii: Speaking of gossip, what do you hear about the victory at Efate?
What happened?

Captain Sojiro: Ah yes, Efate. I have been helping to evaluate the analysis of the battle. The news broadcast about Efate was based on the initial reports from the scene, and it seems they were a trifle optimistic.

Captain Ishii: Oh?

Captain Sojiro: The Americans tried another one of their little adventures, what you would call a reconnaisance in force against our position at Efate. Considerable force, actually. As at Noumea they found us more than ready to defend the place. G3M and G4M bombers from Noumea scattered the covering force, and then a column of our heavy cruisers got into the transports. The American destroyers with the transports were sunk, but they bought time for most of the transports to escape. The Americans withdrew, but a couple of days later some of our carriers showed up and sank anything too damaged or slow to get away. It was undoubtedly a victory, but the actual estimates are something like five enemy destroyers sunk, along with six or seven transports. We estimate that about three quarters of the American troops escaped.

Captain Ishii: Still, it sounds like a solid victory.

Captain Sojiro: No doubt! But while we hurt the enemy, we missed a chance to annihilate them. The Americans will lick their wounds and be back.

Captain Ishii: They do seem to be persistent.

Captain Sojiro: They are probing our defensive perimeter for weak points. The hope at the Ministry of War seems to be that once they see it is hopeless they will grow tired of the casualties we are inflicting on them and sue for peace.

Captain Ishii: Do you think they will?

Captain Sojiro: *shrugs* I do not know. My feeling, though, is that unless we can inflict a truly crushing defeat upon them they are unlikely to surrender.

Captain Ishii: Perhaps Wake Island will prove to be that victory.

Captain Sojiro: That is the hope. Here, a toast. To victory at Wake! *the two men raise cups filled with sake and drink*

[Cuttlefish]

May 16, 1942

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 433

Orders: Wait at Tokyo Bay for new task force to assemble.

---

In a bunkroom aboard the Hibiki:

Shiro: Mandalay is in Burma, isn't it?

Taiki: Yes, it's about in the middle of the country, along the Irrawaddy River. Why do you ask?

Shiro: More war news today. It seems the British have pulled out of the place, and our troops have captured it.

Taiki: I wonder if this means the Burmese will rise up and join us?

Shiro: I haven't heard anything about that. But do you suppose we will conquer India now?

Taiki: I don't know. India is a big place. But the way the war is going it could be possible!

Riku: There is an old legend...

Taiki: I did not know you were a student of old tales, Riku! What is the old legend?

Riku: *looks embarrassed* My mother used to tell them to me when I was a child. I enjoyed them. Anyway, I remember this one story about the coming to India of the war god Peezeebe. He brought fire and sword to the subcontinent and drove out the demons and devils there, freeing the country and bringing in an era of peace and prosperity and all that stuff.

Shiro: A fanciful tale! But they say all legends have a bit of truth in them somewhere.

Taiki: I've heard that too. Peace and prosperity, hm? Perhaps we too will bring peace to the peoples we free from colonialism.

Riku: And prosperity. Prosperity is also good.

[Cuttlefish]

May 17, 1942

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 433

Orders: Wait at Tokyo Bay for new task force to assemble.

[Cuttlefish]

May 18, 1942

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 433

Orders: Wait at Tokyo Bay for new task force to assemble.

[Cuttlefish]

May 19, 1942

Location: Tokyo
Course: South
Attached to: TF 62
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Proceed to Kwajalein.

---

Hibiki is docked, having just finished taking on fuel. Out in the bay the ships of task force 62 are beginning to gather. On the Yamato Rear Admiral Ishikawa signals that all ships are to prepare to sail. On the bridge of the Hibiki Captain Ishii is about to order the gangway removed and all mooring lines cast off.

Midshipman Izu: Captain, sir, there is an officer to see you. He requests permission to come aboard, sir.

Captain Ishii: What, now? Who the hell is it?

Midshipman Izu: His name is Lieutenant Umeda, sir. He's with the Tokeitai.

Captain Ishii: What could he want? Very well, I'd better see him. Escort him to the bridge, Midshipman, and be quick. We need to leave.

A moment later Midshipman Izu shows Lieutenant Umeda onto the bridge. Umeda is wearing a standard naval uniform, but the high black boots and insignia identify him as a member of the Tokeitai, the Navy military police. So too does the arrogant look on his face.

Lieutenant Umeda: Captain. *he salutes, and Ishii returns the salute*

Captain Ishii: What can I do for you, Lieutenant?

Lieutenant Umeda: I need to borrow your executive officer, Captain. It should not take long. He will be back within a day or so.

Captain Ishii: That is impossible, I am afraid. This ship is about to sail. And I am not going to Kwajalein without my exec.

Lieutenant Umeda: I offer a thousand pardons if my request is inconvenient. It is necessary, however. I must insist on speaking with Lieutenant Miharu.

Captain Ishii: This is my bridge, Lieutenant, and you will insist on nothing. Please accept my regrets for being unable to comply, but if you do not wish to visit the Marshall Islands I suggest you depart immediately.

Lieutenant Umeda: My apologies, sir. But if you insist, let us contact your commanding officer. This request comes from the Tokko, Captain, and the Tokeitai is handling it as a courtesy to them. I believe we both know what Fleet Headquarters will say if we contact them. If you wish to sail on time I'm afraid you must comply.

Captain Ishii: *looking grim* I think you might be surprised by what my superiors would say, Lieutenant, but very well. I have no time to waste with this. As we are quite busy here at the moment I request that you meet the Lieutenant on the foredeck. Chief!

CPO Shun: Yes, Captain?

Captain Ishii: Please escort Lieutenant Umeda here to the foredeck and then go and find Lieutenant Miharu.

Lieutenant Umeda: Thank you, Captain. I am glad we were able to come to an agreement. *he salutes and departs. Shun turns to follow*

Captain Ishii: Chief. *Shun pauses and turns*

CPO Shun: Yes, Captain?

Captain Ishii: *low voice* Please ask Lieutenant Umeda to be careful. Some patches of fuel may have spilled on the deck during refueling and it could be slippery. Dangerously slippery, in fact.

The Chief gazes at the Captain for a moment, and then a slight smile twitches his remarkably ugly features.

CPO Shun: Yes sir. Understood.

Shun departs. Captain Ishii paces the deck for a moment, then steps out onto the port observation platform. He is just in time to hear:

Lieutenant Umeda: Hey, what...? Aauugh!

There is a splash.

CPO Shun: Man overboard! *A life ring is scaled out over the rail*

Captain Ishii: *calls down* What happened, Chief?

CPO Shun: The poor devil slipped, Captain. I tried to catch him, but was too slow.

Captain Ishii: How is he doing?

CPO Shun: He seems to be a good swimmer, Captain. In fact, he's already clear of the bow.

Captain Ishii: Notify the dock that there is a man in the water. Take in all lines to starboard.

Ensign: All lines taken in fore and aft, sir.

Captain Ishii: Starboard back one quarter.

The deck plates of the Hibiki begin to vibrate as she backs slowly but smoothly away from the dock. By the time a sputtering Lieutenant Umeda is helped up onto the dock Hibiki as already well out into the bay. Shortly after taking her position in departing task force Hibiki flashes signals that her radio has malfunctioned. It remains out of commission for the next several days, despite dedicated efforts to repair it.

[FeurerKrieg]

Good stuff as always, CF. [&o]

[Barb]

Im afraid that if this happened in reality, cpt Ishii will be fining potatoes somewhere on the ground for the rest of the war. Just remember what happened Raizo Tanaka (tokio express commander)

[DuckofTindalos]

PeeZeeBee...[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Barb

Im afraid that if this happened in reality, cpt Ishii will be fining potatoes somewhere on the ground for the rest of the war. Just remember what happened Raizo Tanaka (tokio express commander)

Tanaka was the victim of the peculiar IJN mentality of Admirals being put on shore duty after they won major battles, while admirals who LOST battles were promoted. Despite his victories over overwhelming odds, the IJN decided that he would be one of the scapegoats for Guadalcanal.

The Japanese military had a very peculiar mind set - officers would frequently defy orders and not infrequently physically ASSAULT senior officers. They would not only get away with it, nothing would be said, and frequently they benefitted from their insubordinate actions.

Hara (in his book Japanese Destroyer Captain) recounts instances of his own insubordination - and he was never called to account for them (afaik - certainly wasn't mentioned in the book).

[Onime No Kyo]

I certainly hope there wont be an armed escort waiting for Capt. Ishii at the bottom of the gangplank when the Hibiki returns. [:(]

[Cuttlefish]

May 20, 1942

Location: 170 miles south of Tokyo
Course: South
Attached to: TF 62
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 409

Orders: Proceed to Kwajalein.

---

In the Captain's cabin aboard the Hibiki:

Captain Ishii: I see. I wish you had spoken to me about this before, Exec.

Lieutenant Miharu: My apologies, Captain. I should have done so. I did not wish to bother you, sir.

Captain Ishii: The crew of a destroyer is rather like a family, Exec, though a large and noisy family. We must trust and help one another.

Lieutenant Miharu: I understand, sir.

Captain Ishii: You say you haven't seen this brother of yours since January?

Lieutenant Miharu: Yes sir.

Captain Ishii: I would not worry, Exec. It may be awhile before we return to Japan, and if necessary I have some friends who can pull some strings. I do not think you will be troubled further by the Tokeitai.

Lieutenant Miharu: Is not the man you had thrown overboard likely to be upset?

Captain Ishii: Oh, no doubt. But remember that these police types are bullies, and very concerned about appearing formidable. I suspect that Lieutenant Umeda is going to be rather out of favor with his superiors.

---

The previous day, at the Tokeitai barracks in Tokyo:

Captain Ogata: Umeda! Your uniform is a disgrace! And where is your cap?

Lieutenant Umeda: Sir, I think I was pushed...

Captain Ogata: SILENCE! The story of you falling overboard is all over the harbor. We are being laughed at. Laughed at, Umeda!

Lieutenant Umeda: Sir, I offer the most humble apologies for my failure. If the Captain will allow me I will travel to Kwajalein and...

Captain Ogata: You already have new orders, Lieutenant. We have reports of possible thefts by natives of Navy stores at our base in the Nicobar Islands. You will go and investigate.

Lieutenant Umeda: But sir...!

Captain Ogata: Go, Umeda. Get that uniform cleaned. And get that piece of kelp out of your hair, you look ridiculous.

[Cuttlefish]

May 21, 1942

Location: 420 miles south of Tokyo
Course: South
Attached to: TF 62
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 400

Orders: Proceed to Kwajalein.

---

Task force 62:

[Cuttlefish]

May 22, 1942

Location: 180 miles southeast of Bonin
Course: South
Attached to: TF 62
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 400

Orders: Proceed to Kwajalein.

---

From the diary of Seaman First Class Taiki Takahashi:

So we are headed back to Kwajalein. Riku seems to be delighted, though I can't imagine why. He used to call the the place "Port Dull". At any rate it does not look like it will be quiet duty. Rumor says the Army has finally committed the troops and that Wake Island will at last be invaded.

Thinking about the planes that attacked us last time we were there I imagine my new training might be used soon. I have to admit that I am secretly rather proud of having been named gun captain. I hope I prove worthy of the honor! My crew and I are assigned to the forward Type 96 mount.

I wish I had heard from my brother again before we had to leave Tokyo. I imagine Mutsu must be headed back to Japan by now. I hope his injuries are not too serious. For the moment I must fight the war for both of us. I do not think I am particularily fierce, but I will have to try. Father always says that among our ancestors are many great warriors, and I will be shamed before them if I do not do my best.

[Capt. Harlock]

Re: Man Overboard.

Brilliant writing, as usual.[&o]

[cantona]

Indeed. This AAR is getting me back into WitP after about 10 months away

[Cuttlefish]

May 23, 1942

Location: 400 miles northeast of Pagan
Course: South
Attached to: TF 62
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 400

Orders: Proceed to Kwajalein.

---

On the bridge of the Hibiki:

Captain Ishii: Idiots!

Lieutenant Miharu: Sir?

Captain Ishii: I've just learned why we have been refueling every day. It seems someone on Admiral Ishikawa's staff has been calculating our fuel consumption based on a round trip from Tokyo to Kwajalein and back instead of calculating consumption based on Kwajalein as our destination.

Lieutenant Miharu: Thus doubling the projected length of our voyage. That seems...well, it seems...

Captain Ishii: You are too polite, Exec. The word you are searching for is "stupid".

Lieutenant Miharu: As you say, sir. Stupid.

Captain Ishii: Idiots!

[Cuttlefish]

May 24, 1942

Location: 400 miles northeast of Pagan
Course: Southeast
Attached to: TF 62
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 370

Orders: Proceed to Kwajalein.

[Cuttlefish]

May 25, 1942

Location: 300 miles northwest of Eniwetok
Course: Southeast
Attached to: TF 62
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 334

Orders: Proceed to Kwajalein.

---

It is near sunset in the Central Pacific. Midshipman Izu Tomio is on the bridge of the Hibiki. At the moment command belongs to Lieutenant Miharu, standing nearby. In peacetime a midshipman fresh out of the Naval Academy might be given a watch in good weather out in the middle of nowhere, but this is a war zone. Captain Ishii is not about to give the bridge to someone as untried as Izu when a submarine attack might come at any moment.

Midshipman Izu joined the crew at Kobe. He had just graduated from the Naval Academy and had hoped to be posted to the Yamato, or possibly to an aircraft carrier. It was with disappointment that he learned his orders were sending him to a destroyer, and not even one of the new ones at that. Already, however, he has caught some of the crew's pride in the Hibiki and its accomplishments. The men seem to feel they could take on a battleship and win if the Captain ordered it. Izu envies the casual way they talk of battles fought and dangers faced, and is eager to get into his share of combat too.

Right now he is covertly studying Lieutenant Miharu. Taller and more slender than Captain Ishii, Miharu does not project the crisp, commanding energy that the Captain does. Nonetheless he appears to be uncannily aware of everything that is going on around him, and his quiet, minimal commands are obeyed instantly. Izu attempts to emulate the lieutenant's relaxed posture and the way he stays braced against the tilting of the deck without apparent effort.

As if aware that he is being watched the lieutenant turns his head slightly and addresses Izu.

"Midshipman Izu," he says. "Please inspect the deck and ensure that everything is properly blacked out."

"Yes sir," the young officer replies. As he descends from the bridge and steps out onto the deck he can see the silhouette of the Yamato, some 1500 meters astern and to port of the Hibiki. Izu gazes out at the pride of the fleet for just a moment and then turns briskly to begin his inspection. For some reason he feels almost content now with his assignment aboard the Hibiki. Though he has not formulated the thought in so many words, what he is beginning to learn is that there is more to a ship than tonnage, more to it than its engines or weapons or armor. The heart of a ship is its crew, and the midshipman is slowly becoming a part of this one.

[Cuttlefish]

May 26, 1942

Location: 55 miles northwest of Bikini
Course: Southeast
Attached to: TF 62
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 298

Orders: Proceed to Kwajalein.

[Cuttlefish]

May 27, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: TF 62
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 274

Orders: Refuel and await new orders.

---

After an absence of 55 days Hibiki once again enters Kwajalein lagoon and drops anchor.