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I think one of the Unryu class CVs at the Battle of Iwo Jima wasn´t explicitly stated to be sunk or have survived, as were Shoho and Zuiho. Can we assume these to be either sunk or too damaged to be back in action before the war ends?
 
Similarly, we know three Unryu class CV took part in Iwo Jima, and Ikoma is active now - what about the other two of the six in the database? Have they been completed?

May 30, 1945

Location: 50 miles northwest of Etoforu Jima
Course: West
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 346

Orders: Conduct training maneuvers in the Kuriles

---

Lieutenant Sugiyura is pacing back and forth in the officer’s wardroom. The small area does not give him much room, so the wardroom’s only other occupant, Lieutenant Sakati, hears a constant repetition of pace-pace-pace-turn as he tries to read. Finally the chief engineer looks up from his manual.

“Sit down, Sugiyura, won’t you?” he says. “You’re making me tired, lad.” Sugiyura stops pacing but does not move to sit down.

“I am sorry,” he says. “But there was a battle! Other destroyers sank three enemy battleships while were skulking about here in the Kuriles!”

Sakati leans back. “You do know,” he says gently, “that none of those destroyers came back?” Sugiyura grips the back of an empty chair and leans forward.

“What of that?” he says. “Our lives belong the Emperor. What better end could we ask for than to die while dealing the enemy a grievous blow?’

Sakati shrugs. “I am of our captain’s mind in this,” he says. “Ishii believes in striving for victory rather than glorious defeat.”

“I know that; I’ve heard him say so more than once. And I am not saying he is wrong. But what kind of real victory can we hope to win at this point?”

“One never knows,” Sakati says placidly. “But don’t fret, lad. We’ll be committed to battle soon enough, I’m sure. Until then, try to relax.”

“I will try,” says Sugiyura. “If only to be prepared when battle does come. But you know how I long to put some of my torpedoes into an enemy battleship, Sakati.”

“Not to worry,” says Sakati. “I very much doubt, lad, that the enemy will run out of battleships any time soon.”

“I am sorry,” he says. “But there was a battle! Other destroyers sank three enemy battleships while were skulking about here in the Kuriles!”
Sakati leans back. “You do know,” he says gently, “that none of those destroyers came back?”

Sounds like Tokyo Rose has been doing the usual exaggerating. Personally, I would rather have the Japanese destroyers back than Oklahoma -- she wasn't exactly the best even of the pre-war American BB's. And Exeter was a fair trade for the Chokai.

May 31, 1945

Location: 40 miles northeast of Wakkanai
Course: Southwest
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 311

Orders: Conduct training maneuvers in the Kuriles

---

The Korea Strait is only about 200 kilometers wide. Both the southern tip of the Korean peninsula and northern Kyushu have many airfields. This means that any Allied ship in the strait is, at most, about twenty minutes flying time from multiple Japanese bases.

Many Allied ships are in the strait and more are arriving every day. The Allied fast carriers have fanned out into the Sea of Japan to screen the strait from surface attack. With the airfield on Tsushima Island not yet ready for flight operations the task of screening these ships falls to numerous escort carriers. The harried crews of these small flattops quickly come up with a new name for the Korea Strait. They call it Hell’s Alley.

June 1, 1945

Location: Wakkanai
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: See below

---

Fuel gushes through the hoses that, along with several stout mooring lines, link Hibiki to the pier. Captain Ishii stands watching the operation for a moment and then turns and walks back onto the bridge. Lieutenant Sugiyura stands there talking to Lieutenant Kuwaki and there is an eager gleam in his eyes. He salutes as the captain approaches.

“Kuwaki has just told me of our orders, sir,” he says. “We are going hunting?”

“That’s right, Lieutenant,” Ishii says. “Enemy carrier forces have taken up position in the western Sea of Japan. We are going to wander over that way and perhaps pay them a visit.” The gleam in Sugiyura’s eyes increases.

“It could be another Malacca Strait!” he says. He is referring to the now famous night action earlier in the year, when battleships Fuso and Nagato intercepted the Royal Navy carriers covering the British landings at Alor Star and sank or heavily damaged four of them.

“We will see,” says Ishii placidly. “Certainly that is the idea. We will leave tonight, so see that your sections are ready.”

Kuwaki nods. “They will be, sir!” says Sugiyura. He salutes again and leaves quickly, a spring in his step. Ishii watches him go.

“He is a good officer,” he murmurs, “but I wish he would show a little more enthusiasm.” Kuwaki smiles a little but says nothing.

Location: Wakkanai
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Tsk, tsk. Hibiki's system damage has actually increased. A tongue-lashing is in order for Chief Engineer Sakati.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Location: Wakkanai
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Tsk, tsk. Hibiki's system damage has actually increased. A tongue-lashing is in order for Chief Engineer Sakati.

Sakati probably figures that, if Hibiki looks old and worn-out enough, the Allied ships and bombers will not concentrate their fire on her so much.

Good luck, Hibiki; you´re going to need it.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock


Tsk, tsk. Hibiki's system damage has actually increased. A tongue-lashing is in order for Chief Engineer Sakati.

Repair yards and ARs are beginning to become rare commodities for the Japanese and the ones available, such as at Ominato, are absolutely clogged. I think we can give Sakati a break, considering that the slowly mounting system damage probably reflects a real shortage of facilities, spare parts, and time on berth.

I think we can accurately picture Hibiki at this point with her flanks streaked with rust, her hull somewhat fouled, and with a host of slowly mounting failures in non-critical systems. But her three Kampon boilers still continue to provide the engines with power (though she may be making more smoke than Ishii likes) and the weapons are all well-maintained and ready. Which is just as well, because the destroyer faces action ahead and there is no real prospect for repairs any time in the foreseeable future.

ORIGINAL: SireChaos

I think one of the Unryu class CVs at the Battle of Iwo Jima wasn´t explicitly stated to be sunk or have survived, as were Shoho and Zuiho. Can we assume these to be either sunk or too damaged to be back in action before the war ends?

Similarly, we know three Unryu class CV took part in Iwo Jima, and Ikoma is active now - what about the other two of the six in the database? Have they been completed?

The last two Unryu-class, Kasagi and Aso, have yet to be completed. Given that Japanese heavy industry has been devasted by bombing attacks they may or may not ever be finished. As far as Shoho and Zuiho, well, if they haven't been seen by Hibiki or mentioned elsewhere one has to assume the worst.

June 2, 1945

Location: 240 miles west of Wakkanai
Course: West
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Bobmardment
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 439

Orders: Bombard Tshushima Island

---


Even as Yamamoto’s ships steam west Japanese plans change abruptly. Overnight the American carriers have departed the Sea of Japan, slipping through the Tsushima Strait by night and heading towards Okinawa. With them go most of the enemy surface forces. While the reason for this withdrawal is unclear the Japanese see an opportunity and determine to take it, though the risks are high. New plans are delivered to the task force by float plane.

In due course Ishii receives his share of the orders. They consist of a list of targets and coordinates on Tsushima Island. Ishii hands the list to Kuwaki without comment. Kuwaki studies them silently. If he thinks that now would be a good time to have his two missing 5” guns back he does not say so.

The task force picks up speed. The Japanese window of opportunity, if indeed it is anything but illusion, is likely to be very small. Yamamoto’s twenty-one ships race across the Sea of Japan towards Tsushima Island.

In due course Ishii receives his share of the orders. They consist of a list of targets and coordinates on Tsushima Island. Ishii hands the list to Kuwaki without comment. Kuwaki studies them silently. If he thinks that now would be a good time to have his two missing 5” guns back he does not say so.

Sugiyura, on the other hand, may be more vocal. There will be no opportunity to put torpedoes into an enemy battleship this time.[;)]

The rust on the hull will be the least of their worries in the near future.

Its nice to escape the noise of AE -and come and read the Good stuff.

CF, a few weeks ago, I decided to reread this AAR.  I try to spend some of my lunch hour reading it and am back to page 107.  Absolutely wonderful. 
 
By the way, fingers are crossed for this mission.
 
Thanks.

CF, a few weeks ago, I decided to reread this AAR.  I try to spend some of my lunch hour reading it and am back to page 107.  Absolutely wonderful. 
 
By the way, fingers are crossed for this mission.
 
Thanks.

Oops, double post.

June 3, 1945

Location: 180 miles north-northeast of Matsue
Course: West
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Bobmardment
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 403

Orders: Bombard Tshushima Island

---

Taiki sits on his bunk and writes a letter to Sayumi. Soon he will get some sleep, as tonight promises to be busy, but for now he is determined to finish the letter. Not that the letter says anything profound or important. Mostly it’s that writing it makes him feel as though he is talking to her.

Poor Ariga no longer frets outwardly for his wife. He has drawn in on himself, though, and is silent much more often than he used to be. That business with the Captain’s sword gave him something else to think about for a few days but that was an exception. I imagine he feels, as many of us do, that the prospect of battle is a relief. The reality of danger is in some ways better than constant fear.

Taiki stops writing and considers for a moment. He becomes aware of the thrum of the engines, driving Hibiki tirelessly toward Tsushima, and the motion of the ship in the light swell. So far their foray across the Sea of Japan seems to have been undetected. This coming afternoon will be the real time of danger, of course. Assuming they are not intercepted by enemy ships or planes they will arrive at Tsushima Island just a few hours after nightfall. Not that he can mention any of this to Sayumi, of course.

He reads what he has written so far and decides that it sounds too negative. It is time for something a little lighter.

Not that all is nerves and worry aboard ship, of course. There was a great deal of laughter just a couple of days ago when Benzaiten dropped out of a ventilation shaft onto Ensign Konada. He screamed as if struck with an axe but she just twined down him to the floor and slithered away.

He has told Sayumi about Benzaiten and the crew’s belief that she is the ship’s good luck charm. He could tell Sayumi did not take him entirely seriously. That’s all right. Taiki did not used to take it seriously either but ever since that strange experience at the shrine on Enoshima he has not been so sure. Perhaps when the war is over he will take Sayumi there.

And of course we are kept busy trying to keep the ship in good repair. There is also time for other activities. I have been sparring with Lieutenant Sugiyura and several others early in the morning and there is always time for a game of cards or two, and if we are in port many of the men go ashore in search of amusement.

Hm. Sayumi knows sailors well enough that she might take that the wrong way. Or worse still, the right way. It is time for some reassurance.

I mostly stay aboard ship, of course. I have become quite experienced with the radars under my care, which is well because they try to break down almost constantly. I have some ideas for improving the design. But what I mainly do is think of you. Sometimes it almost seems as though you are with me. And in truth you are not far away, not in kilometers, though the disruptions of the war make even that distance a formidable barrier.

He yawns. It is time to sleep. He finishes the letter, his pen scratching out the Japanese characters with as much care as he can muster given the movement of the ship.

I have written my brother and my parents. Please continue to look out for all of them for me. I worry about them all, especially Noboru. Being crippled as he is must be very hard for him. But he is a determined man and, given time, I think he will become determined to overcome what has happened. It will be easier for him once the war ends and he can begin to see that he did his part in it with honor.

Taiki concludes the letter and puts it away. He will mail it when they return to port. The young sailor stretches out on the tatami mat that serves the bunk as a mattress and relaxes. It is not that the eve of battle no longer holds any terror for him; quite the contrary. But he has learned, as every veteran campaigner has learned from the time of Alexander to the present, that one rests when one can. He closes his eyes and is quickly asleep.

Yep the letter home and sleep.  Isn't it great that you can develop the ability to fall asleep on a bed of nails in the middle of almost any situation when you have to?  The down side is that you can also develop the ability to awaken at the smallest noise that's out of the ordinary.

The one noise guarranteed to get me out of my Bunk in a hurry was always the sudden lack of noise...........[8|]

Hope Hibiki makes it!

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

The one noise guarranteed to get me out of my Bunk in a hurry was always the sudden lack of noise...........[8|]

Hope Hibiki makes it!

Yeah, especially if you were an aircrewman! [X(]

Chez