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ORIGINAL: Feinder

(* leaves an offering rat for Benzaiten *)

-F-

Seconded. Fingers very crossed.

Though the three remaining battleships are all of WW I vintage they are still formidable and in any event amount to three more battleships than the Japanese are bringing.

Interesting. What happened to Hiei?

And Where is the Royal Navy in all of this?

ORIGINAL: Heeward

And Where is the Royal Navy in all of this?

When they heard that they were up against Hibiki, they all went and got roaring drunk.

Hey guys...after our little herioc hibiki story ends why not check out tocaff aar its also a very good read
tm.asp?m=2080768

Thanks for the kind words Marc, but let's say that my skills pale compared to CF's.  If I'm dedicated and lucky maybe I can spin a story 1/2 as good as this tale is. 

Kudos to you CF.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

What happened to Hiei?

An important question. There is a story there and we will hear it soon.

ORIGINAL: Heeward

And where is the Royal Navy in all of this?

The Royal Navy was largely withdrawn from the Pacific following Iwo Jima to support the amphibious invasion of Malaya and they are still heavily involved there.

June 16, 1945

Location: 215 miles north-northwest of Kanazawa
Course: Southwest
Attached to: TF 21
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 403

Orders: Attack Allied forces at Fukawa Bay

---

Hibiki is just about right in the middle of the Sea of Japan. There is no enemy air attack. The gallant destroyer and the other Japanese ships accelerate and head for Fukawa Bay.

They will get there tonight. Rather than dwelling on the thoughts of the crew or dragging out the tension for another day let us go and see what happens.

And somehow that's far more ominous than all the foreshadowing in the world!

June 17, 1945

Location: 75 miles north of Matsue
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 9
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: See below

---

There are two stories to be told of the Battle of Fukawa Bay. One is the overall tale of the battle, a clash by night between two forces in an area of islands and deep bays. The other is Hibiki’s tale, and a strange one it turns out to be.

First, the battle itself. It is a dark night. Cloud cover is over fifty percent and the quarter moon slips in and out of view. The powerful American surface forces that had been in the area are absent, having withdrawn to Tsushima to cover the vital incoming convoy. What is present is a bombardment force based around battleships Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado. These are passing the mouth of Fukawa Bay when the approaching Japanese ships are picked up on radar. Screened by the island of Omishima, the Japanese are within 5000 meters before they are detected. The American battleships open fire.

The Japanese are surprised but respond with ferocity and soon inflict damage. Two Allied destroyers are hit hard and Arizona takes a pair of torpedoes, one each launched by Asashimo and Akishimo. But the torpedoes that are the only answer the Japanese have to the armor and firepower of the old American battleships fail them after that. The battle slowly but inexorably turns against Japan. Ship after ship is stricken or lost and only the darkness of the night and the confused nature of the developing battle saves the Japanese from complete destruction.

The second story to be told is Hibiki’s, and it is a much different tale. At the outset of the battle Hibiki, along with Hamanami and Isokaze, is ordered to follow Tamanami. The four destroyers are to work their way around the left flank of the Allied destroyer screen and execute a torpedo attack on the enemy battleships.

As it happens, however, they circle too far and by the time they return the battle has moved on. The remainder of the night is a frustrating time. Again and again they see gun flashes in the distance and move towards the battle, only to find that by the time they get there the fighting has gone elsewhere. Several times they find only debris, and survivors struggling in the oily water.

During the search the small flotilla picks up three other destroyers that have become separated from the fighting. These are Akishimo, Shimakaze, and Hayashimo. The latter two have sustained damage but are still seaworthy. Aboard Shimakaze is Admiral Yamamoto, who transferred there when it became obvious that his flagship Chikuma was doomed. He orders his much-reduced command to seek for the enemy but nowhere can they be found. The Allied force, damaged and low on ammunition, has withdrawn. At last, with dawn only a couple of hours away, Yamamoto orders his ships to leave the area.

The mood aboard Hibiki as they withdraw is unhappy. They have just participated in a great naval battle and emerged unscathed yet again. They have fired no weapons, nor were they fired upon. But survival was not their goal. While the men have almost gotten used to survivor’s guilt by now never before have they failed to carry out their assignment. There are many harsh words regarding Tamanami’s captain. Captain Ishii does not speak but turns the ship over to Lieutenant Miharu and retires to his cabin. Even Lieutenant Sugiyura says nothing. The only thing that betrays his extreme frustration is the clenching of his jaw.

The battle has been a sound tactical defeat. But it might have helped the mood aboard Hibiki had the crew known that by their very presence they have won an important strategic victory. The Allied command is unwilling to risk their vital troop convoy in the face of such attacks and so the convoy remains in Tsushima Strait.

---

The opening of the battle:

The remanants of the task force, redesignated TF 9, on the morning following the battle. I am at a loss to explain their fuel state.

I'm thinking they refueled from... damaged cruisers?

Better to have full fuel bunkers than to find that somehow there's not enough left to make it back to base.

That is one lucky ship and crew to still be alive and combat effective, whatever the reason.

*also leaves an offering rat for Benzaiten*

[note: the alter has been visited quite often lately by the looks of things......]

Captain Ishii does not speak but turns the ship over to Lieutenant Miharu and retires to his cabin. Even Lieutenant Sugiyura says nothing. The only thing that betrays his extreme frustration is the clenching of his jaw.

That can't be good for Ishii's ulcer -- and Sugiyura might be developing one of his own.

Hmm. It appears Japanese intel mis-identified Nevada as Texas. But I imagine Colorado did the most damage.

Didn't Japan had already Radar at this time?

Phew!

Were the Japs able to identify the heavy and two light cruisers that accompanied the American TF?

ORIGINAL: Dili

Didn't Japan had already Radar at this time?

Radar, yes. Good radar -- not so much.[;)]

ORIGINAL: Admiral DadMan

I'm thinking they refueled from... damaged cruisers?

I think that must be right. There were still heavily damaged cruisers afloat when the battle ended.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Were the Japs able to identify the heavy and two light cruisers that accompanied the American TF?

What you are seeing there is actually CL Dauntless and a pair of Fletcher-class DDs.