May 26, 1945
Location: Hakodate
Course: None
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: Await further orders
---
Shun enters the storage room where Riku is counting sacks of rice. Riku only notices his entrance because he happens to be looking in that direction. The sailor can’t help looking about a little nervously; this is the same place where Shun tried to kill him over three years ago. But many things have changed since then and this time Shun has only come to talk. He steps over to Riku.
“That business with the sword was well done,” the Chief says in his gruff voice.
“Well,” says Riku, “after what he did for Shoji it seemed like the right thing to do.” Shun nods.
“I have known the captain for many years,” he says. “I have never seen him so moved. So I wished to thank you.” Riku blinks. After trying for so long and so hard to win this man’s approval it is nevertheless rather disconcerting when he gets it.
“I have to confess, Chief,” he says, “that all I did was collect the money and buy the sword. I did not have the original idea. That was Takahashi.”
“Yet it must not have been easy to get such a blade,” Shun says. He looks pointedly at Riku. “You did acquire it fairly?”
“It was a straightforward business transaction,” says Riku. “Um, it was fair as far as anything is fair in business.” Shun looks at him curiously. Riku struggles to put his thoughts into words. “It is kind of like this; you need something. You find a man who has what you need. Then you study him to determine what his weak spots are. This enables you to provide what he needs, or more important, what he thinks he needs. So by putting enough pressure on this weak point you get what you want for the least amount possible. If you do it right, the other man thinks he has gotten the best of the bargain.”
Shun studies him for a moment. “I retract the question of fairness,” he says wryly. “You make business sound like a judo match in a dark alley.”
“It isn’t nearly that nice,” says Riku.
Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
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Cuttlefish
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
May 27, 1945
Location: Hakodate
Course: None
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: Await further orders
---
Aboard Hibiki orders are issued, leaves are cancelled, and steam is brought up in the ship’s three boilers. This same flurry of activity can be seen among all the warships in the anchorage. Lieutenant Miharu arrives on the bridge late in the day to find Ishii overseeing preparations to get under way. Ishii notes his arrival and comes over to greet him.
“Good afternoon, Exec,” he says. “It seems as though our time of rest is over.”
“Good afternoon, sir,” says the lieutenant. “What is going on?”
“From what I hear,” says Ishii, “there is an enormous enemy force in the East China Sea, moving north. Hundreds of ships. Some of the sighting reports have sounded nearly hysterical. Be that as it may, it is clear that the enemy is launching a major invasion.”
“I see” says Miharu, but he looks a little mystified. “But where, sir? What is their objective?’
“I have no idea,” says Ishii. “But it will not be long before we find out. Wherever they are going they will get there soon.”
Location: Hakodate
Course: None
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: Await further orders
---
Aboard Hibiki orders are issued, leaves are cancelled, and steam is brought up in the ship’s three boilers. This same flurry of activity can be seen among all the warships in the anchorage. Lieutenant Miharu arrives on the bridge late in the day to find Ishii overseeing preparations to get under way. Ishii notes his arrival and comes over to greet him.
“Good afternoon, Exec,” he says. “It seems as though our time of rest is over.”
“Good afternoon, sir,” says the lieutenant. “What is going on?”
“From what I hear,” says Ishii, “there is an enormous enemy force in the East China Sea, moving north. Hundreds of ships. Some of the sighting reports have sounded nearly hysterical. Be that as it may, it is clear that the enemy is launching a major invasion.”
“I see” says Miharu, but he looks a little mystified. “But where, sir? What is their objective?’
“I have no idea,” says Ishii. “But it will not be long before we find out. Wherever they are going they will get there soon.”
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nashvillen
- Posts: 3835
- Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:07 am
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
Operation Downfall?
What else is there? The USA holds most of Okinawa, Iwo Jima and the various other Jimas. Could be Manila or Formosa but with Okinawa in hand the blockade of the Japanese homeland should be pretty airtight already.
What else is there? The USA holds most of Okinawa, Iwo Jima and the various other Jimas. Could be Manila or Formosa but with Okinawa in hand the blockade of the Japanese homeland should be pretty airtight already.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
There is over 1000 VP for the Allies on Formosa
"We have met the enemy and they are ours" - Commodore O.H. Perry
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Capt. Harlock
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
There is over 1000 VP for the Allies on Formosa
"Take down your map, sir, and you will find . . ."
--Sen. Charles Sumner "The Crime Against Kansas" speech
The East China Sea is bounded on the south by Formosa. If the Allies are headed north, that would mean in the direction of Kyushu.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
May 28, 1945
Location: 60 miles southwest of Kunashiri Jima
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 432
Orders: Conduct training maneuvers in the Kuriles
---
By the following afternoon the enemy invasion fleet is less than 100 miles west of Nagasaki and still moving north. The Japanese high command, trying desperately to guess where they are going, can thus at least cross southern Kyushu off the list of possible invasion sites.
The enemy fleet, like some kind of steel typhoon, leaves a trail of wreckage behind it. Japanese ports and airbases from Kagoshima to Sasebo are pounded by swarms of carrier planes as the Allies pass.
Right now the huge force is headed straight at the tip of the Korean Peninsula. This is not necessarily their target, of course. They might bypass it to the west and head into the Yellow Sea. They might make for northern Kyushu. They might even attempt to pass through the Korea Strait and into the Sea of Japan, though Japanese strategists consider this to be the least likely move.
Whatever the enemy does, however, this thrust will produce something unforeseen and unexpected. No one on the Japanese side had anticipated such a move. Imperial forces begin to move to try and stay out of range of the deadly enemy carrier attacks, at least until the enemy commits to a landing site.
Location: 60 miles southwest of Kunashiri Jima
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 432
Orders: Conduct training maneuvers in the Kuriles
---
By the following afternoon the enemy invasion fleet is less than 100 miles west of Nagasaki and still moving north. The Japanese high command, trying desperately to guess where they are going, can thus at least cross southern Kyushu off the list of possible invasion sites.
The enemy fleet, like some kind of steel typhoon, leaves a trail of wreckage behind it. Japanese ports and airbases from Kagoshima to Sasebo are pounded by swarms of carrier planes as the Allies pass.
Right now the huge force is headed straight at the tip of the Korean Peninsula. This is not necessarily their target, of course. They might bypass it to the west and head into the Yellow Sea. They might make for northern Kyushu. They might even attempt to pass through the Korea Strait and into the Sea of Japan, though Japanese strategists consider this to be the least likely move.
Whatever the enemy does, however, this thrust will produce something unforeseen and unexpected. No one on the Japanese side had anticipated such a move. Imperial forces begin to move to try and stay out of range of the deadly enemy carrier attacks, at least until the enemy commits to a landing site.
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nashvillen
- Posts: 3835
- Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:07 am
- Location: Christiana, TN
RE: Small Ship, Big War
The enemy fleet, like some kind of steel typhoon, leaves a trail of wreckage behind it. Japanese ports and airbases from Kagoshima to Sasebo are pounded by swarms of carrier planes as the Allies pass.
I can't wait to see the "Storm Stories" for this one! Great description CF!
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Cuttlefish
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
May 29, 1945
Location: 220 miles southeast of Etoforu Jima
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 389
Orders: Conduct training maneuvers in the Kuriles
---
During the night the Allied force, shadowed by many planes and harassed by the Special Attack Corps, rounds Kyushu and enters the Tsushima Strait. This is the last thing the Japanese expected but they react with all the vigor they can muster. A scratch force of fourteen destroyers, led by heavy cruiser Chokai, meets the enemy near Iki Island. The Japanese ships are able to get close in the confined waters and press home their attack with suicidal vigor.
Every sailor on the fifteen Japanese warships is aware of the significance of the fact that the battle is occurring here, near the spot of the great victory over the Russians in 1904. They must all feel the spirit of Admiral Togo looking over their shoulders, for despite being hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned they inflict a surprising amount of damage before they are destroyed. Every Japanese ship is lost but they take with them to the bottom the battleship Oklahoma, heavy cruiser Exeter, and five destroyers or destroyer escorts.
The Allies have avoided bombing the Iki and Tsushima fortresses until now to preserve the element of surprise but as day breaks enemy battleships begin to duel the fort’s big guns. The battleships are aided by almost two hundred B-24s and many carrier planes. Under this cover troops begin to come ashore on both islands.
The Japanese respond with heavy air attacks of their own. Hundreds of suicide and conventional sorties are flown. Most of the conventional attacks are made by the excellent Ki-67 and P1Y bombers but their fighter support is inadequate and many of the pilots are poorly trained. Scores of planes are lost and no hits are scored. As the day goes on, however, a Special Attack Corps pilot in a D4Y crashes his plane aboard American carrier Bon Homme Richard. The carrier loses speed. Two more suicide planes, guided by the plume of smoke rising into the air, strike and mortally wound the big ship.
The Japanese also unleash around twenty Ohka flying bombs, carried from bases in central Honshu. One of them strikes a freighter, causing the ship to vanish in a thunderous explosion, and two of them hit the same escort carrier with devastating results. The small carrier sinks within minutes.
By the end of the long, terrible day of fighting American troops are well ashore on both Iki and Tsushima islands. The big Japanese guns are at last silent, though several of the older American battleships that engaged them are trailing smoke from major-caliber hits. At some cost the enemy is now established in the Korea Strait. The big question now is why, and where will they go next?
---
Note: Technically, on the stock WITP map, the base in the center of the Korea Strait is “Ikitsuki.” This is rather confusing, as in reality Ikitsuki is a rugged, scenic island just off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture with no military value. The Iki Fortress unit assigned there really belongs on Iki Island in the Korea Strait, so that is how I have written it. The AE map and order of battle corrects these errors, showing Ikitsuki as an unnamed blob in the same hex as Nagasaki/Sasebo and giving Iki and Tsushima islands their correct locations and forts.
Location: 220 miles southeast of Etoforu Jima
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 389
Orders: Conduct training maneuvers in the Kuriles
---
During the night the Allied force, shadowed by many planes and harassed by the Special Attack Corps, rounds Kyushu and enters the Tsushima Strait. This is the last thing the Japanese expected but they react with all the vigor they can muster. A scratch force of fourteen destroyers, led by heavy cruiser Chokai, meets the enemy near Iki Island. The Japanese ships are able to get close in the confined waters and press home their attack with suicidal vigor.
Every sailor on the fifteen Japanese warships is aware of the significance of the fact that the battle is occurring here, near the spot of the great victory over the Russians in 1904. They must all feel the spirit of Admiral Togo looking over their shoulders, for despite being hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned they inflict a surprising amount of damage before they are destroyed. Every Japanese ship is lost but they take with them to the bottom the battleship Oklahoma, heavy cruiser Exeter, and five destroyers or destroyer escorts.
The Allies have avoided bombing the Iki and Tsushima fortresses until now to preserve the element of surprise but as day breaks enemy battleships begin to duel the fort’s big guns. The battleships are aided by almost two hundred B-24s and many carrier planes. Under this cover troops begin to come ashore on both islands.
The Japanese respond with heavy air attacks of their own. Hundreds of suicide and conventional sorties are flown. Most of the conventional attacks are made by the excellent Ki-67 and P1Y bombers but their fighter support is inadequate and many of the pilots are poorly trained. Scores of planes are lost and no hits are scored. As the day goes on, however, a Special Attack Corps pilot in a D4Y crashes his plane aboard American carrier Bon Homme Richard. The carrier loses speed. Two more suicide planes, guided by the plume of smoke rising into the air, strike and mortally wound the big ship.
The Japanese also unleash around twenty Ohka flying bombs, carried from bases in central Honshu. One of them strikes a freighter, causing the ship to vanish in a thunderous explosion, and two of them hit the same escort carrier with devastating results. The small carrier sinks within minutes.
By the end of the long, terrible day of fighting American troops are well ashore on both Iki and Tsushima islands. The big Japanese guns are at last silent, though several of the older American battleships that engaged them are trailing smoke from major-caliber hits. At some cost the enemy is now established in the Korea Strait. The big question now is why, and where will they go next?
---
Note: Technically, on the stock WITP map, the base in the center of the Korea Strait is “Ikitsuki.” This is rather confusing, as in reality Ikitsuki is a rugged, scenic island just off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture with no military value. The Iki Fortress unit assigned there really belongs on Iki Island in the Korea Strait, so that is how I have written it. The AE map and order of battle corrects these errors, showing Ikitsuki as an unnamed blob in the same hex as Nagasaki/Sasebo and giving Iki and Tsushima islands their correct locations and forts.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
I take it the Hibiki was not a part of the Japanese fleet that was called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice? I she was, I would have expected to read of a miraculous victory!
As an almost completely (but remotely not) irrelevant track: I saw that the "The Seven Samurai" was on Turner Classic Movies the other day. I only got to watch a few minutes before I had to attend to my Honey-Do list. But I thought it was cool.
-F-
As an almost completely (but remotely not) irrelevant track: I saw that the "The Seven Samurai" was on Turner Classic Movies the other day. I only got to watch a few minutes before I had to attend to my Honey-Do list. But I thought it was cool.
-F-
"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Awesome, as usual.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Small Ship, Big War
14 Destroyers & a heavy cruiser? Wow, mustn't be much left at this point.
Never Underestimate the Power of a Small Tactical Nuclear Weapon...
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Canoerebel
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
This was a lopsided Jap tactical victory, but I suppose the losses are irreplaceable for the Japs and barely noticed for the Allies. As the Brits said after their triumph at Guildford Courthouse, North Carolina, during the American Revolution: "Another such victory and we shall be ruined."
Cuttlefish, if time permits can you give us a general idea of what the major Jap naval assets remain and where located?
Cuttlefish, if time permits can you give us a general idea of what the major Jap naval assets remain and where located?
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
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Capt. Harlock
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
the battleship Oklahoma, heavy cruiser Exeter
Well, they lived longer than they did historically, but the weight of their names seems to have caught up with them.
A major airbase on Tsushima Island would be a critical problem to all of southern Japan. And what will the effect on Japanese morale be?
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
This was a lopsided Jap tactical victory, but I suppose the losses are irreplaceable for the Japs and barely noticed for the Allies. As the Brits said after their triumph at Guildford Courthouse, North Carolina, during the American Revolution: "Another such victory and we shall be ruined."
They cribbed that line from Pyrrhus of Epirus, inventor of the pyrrhic victory.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
I'm paraphrasing, but "there is nothing so terrible as a battle lost, as a battle won."
Spoken by the Duke of Wellington after Waterloo.
Spoken by the Duke of Wellington after Waterloo.
Never Underestimate the Power of a Small Tactical Nuclear Weapon...
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Strange move made by the Allies in landing there...
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Strange move made by the Allies in landing there...
In hindsight, not really. It is perfect for cutting the Yellow Sea off from the Sea of Japan, and vice versa. It puts the Korean ports (not to mention most of Honshu) within range of medium bombers, and thus prevents any remaining freighters from moving resources from Korea and Manchuria to Japan.
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Cuttlefish
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
This was a lopsided Jap tactical victory, but I suppose the losses are irreplaceable for the Japs and barely noticed for the Allies. As the Brits said after their triumph at Guildford Courthouse, North Carolina, during the American Revolution: "Another such victory and we shall be ruined."
Cuttlefish, if time permits can you give us a general idea of what the major Jap naval assets remain and where located?
Here are the major ships Hibiki's crew knows to be afloat because they are with them or nearby in the Kuriles:
Carriers: Ikoma
Battleships: Hiei
Heavy Cruisers: Takao, Suzuya, Tone, Chikuma, Nachi, Kinugasa
Light Cruisers: Isuzu, Oyodo, Kitakami, Tenryu, Sakawa
Destroyers: 21 assorted front-line
In addition, a carrier force consisting of CVs Junyo, Hiyo, and Katsuragi and CVLs Ryujo and Ryuho is known to be operating in the DEI, along with CA Furutaka, CLs Sendai and Abukuma, and maybe 12 DDs. There may be two or three other battleships still afloat but these are hidden away undergoing repair. There are also several dozen second-line destroyers about, mostly Matsu-class and the like. These are mostly concentrated around Hokkaido.
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Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
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RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Strange move made by the Allies in landing there...
It certainly took me by surprise. There are times, however, when I should remember that my opponent is a 1st Sergeant in the armored cavalry. Allied intentions in making this move will become clear very quickly.