Page 257 of 788

RE: Well, well, well....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:37 pm
by Chickenboy
ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Alright-color me surprised. Not.

What are you doing with the CVs and the invasion forces. Strongly recommend withdrawal, lest that division be sunk en masse.

I realize I was unclear here. I wasn't advocating for the withdrawal of the PH invasion force so much as the withdrawal of the 33rd ID which is afloat in the vicinity of Carnavon. That was my major worry-your now Western arm of the attack.

RE: Well, well, well....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:59 pm
by sprior
Yes, 32ID is sailing direct to Geraldton.

RE: Well, well, well....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 2:20 pm
by BrucePowers
Things are getting interesting[:)]

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 4:49 pm
by Cap Mandrake
********Aboard HMS Repulse, flagship of a surface task force that will accompany the Western Strike Group, 90 mi NW of Carnavon**********


Lt. Etherington is in the officer's mess with some other junior officers. There is an announcement over the loudspeaker.

Captain: "This is the Captain speaking. Men, we are to sail into perilous waters. At times like these I often to refer to the great works of literature of the English language. I am reminded of one in particualr..." <there is a paper rustling sound over the loud speaker>

Lt. Etherington: <to his comrades> Oh! I bet it's the St. Crispens' Day speech from Henry V. That's my favorite!

Captain: .....as Tiny Time so memorably said, "God bless us every one". That is all.

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:11 pm
by sprior
********Aboard HMS Repulse, flagship of a surface task force that will accompany the Western Strike Group, 90 mi NW of Carnavon**********


Leading Stoker Jones is in the stokers' mess. There is an announcement over the tannoy.

Captain: " D'ye hear there? This is the Captain speaking. Men, we are to sail into perilous waters. At times like these I often to refer to the great works of literature of the English language. I am reminded of one in particualr..." <there is a paper rustling sound over the loud speaker>

LS Jones. "Oh bloody hell, I hope he's not going to bang on about that git Nelson and England expects.., What about us Welsh?

Stoker Johnson. "Shut up Taffy. Anyway, what does he expect us to do?"

Captain: .....as Tiny Tim so memorably said, "God bless us every one". That is all.

Stoker Johnson. "Stupid old sod."

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:28 pm
by Cap Mandrake
[:D]Is LS Jones related to Tom Jones?

Looks like we might have a morale problem aboard Repulse.[:D]

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:32 pm
by sprior
Aboard HMS Repulse, flagship of a surface task force that will accompany the Western Strike Group, 90 mi NW of Carnavon**********


Marine Smith is in the marines' mess. There is an announcement over the tannoy.

Captain: " D'ye hear there? This is the Captain speaking. Men, we are to sail into perilous waters. At times like these I often to refer to the great works of literature of the English language. I am reminded of one in particualr..." <there is a paper rustling sound over the loud speaker>

Captain: .....as Tiny Tim so memorably said, "God bless us every one". That is all.

Marine Smith, "Who's Tiny Tim?"

Marine Hanson, "Buggered if I know."

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:59 pm
by BrucePowers
ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

********Aboard HMS Repulse, flagship of a surface task force that will accompany the Western Strike Group, 90 mi NW of Carnavon**********


Lt. Etherington is in the officer's mess with some other junior officers. There is an announcement over the loudspeaker.

Captain: "This is the Captain speaking. Men, we are to sail into perilous waters. At times like these I often to refer to the great works of literature of the English language. I am reminded of one in particualr..." <there is a paper rustling sound over the loud speaker>

Lt. Etherington: <to his comrades> Oh! I bet it's the St. Crispens' Day speech from Henry V. That's my favorite!

Captain: .....as Tiny Time so memorably said, "God bless us every one". That is all.


Who's Tiny Time?[:D]

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:01 pm
by sprior
Buggered if I know

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:03 pm
by BrucePowers
That's what I figured[:)]

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:11 pm
by sprior
Repulse at sea:



Image

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:14 pm
by sprior
Report from bomardment gorup off Port Hedland:

[T]he thunderous blast of the guns struck the chest like the blow of a baseball bat. The sharp crack of the five-inch was skull splitting, even more painful to the ears. Like waiting for the other shoe to drop, the next 16-inch salvo could not be anticipated. No matter how one might try to brace his body in advance, there was no way to avoid bruises inflicted on elbows, knees and shins, as the entire ship lurched in angry recoil with every main battery salvo. Dust and debris would burst from every crack and corner, asbestos lagging would fly from piping, and insulation would tear loose from the overhead. Every object not bolted down would bounce or ricochet as though kicked by angry gremlins. Topside, solid sheets of flame with great clouds of searing gas and smoke erupted from the gun muzzles with every salvo. Often as not, much of this was carried by the wind back across the ship, to envelop men at exposed stations and be sucked inside through the ventilation system. At the end of such a day, all hands suffered from throbbing headaches, and most were virtually deaf. Red-rimmed eyes smarted from the pall of smoke. Every man's entire body was grimy with dust and the abrasive residue of burned gun powder. All of this could be, and was, endured. There was no pleasure whatever in it; only the grim satisfaction of helping our soldiers survive to win the battle ashore.

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:16 pm
by sprior
HMS Repulse leaving Perth:



Image

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:18 pm
by Cap Mandrake
Beautiful ship because of her narrow beam, although I wonder about those secondary batteries sticking out over promenade deck like that.

Also looks like A turret needs some Viagra.

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:20 pm
by Cap Mandrake
ORIGINAL: sprior

Report from bomardment gorup off Port Hedland:

[T]he thunderous blast of the guns struck the chest like the blow of a baseball bat. The sharp crack of the five-inch was skull splitting, even more painful to the ears. Like waiting for the other shoe to drop, the next 16-inch salvo could not be anticipated. No matter how one might try to brace his body in advance, there was no way to avoid bruises inflicted on elbows, knees and shins, as the entire ship lurched in angry recoil with every main battery salvo. Dust and debris would burst from every crack and corner, asbestos lagging would fly from piping, and insulation would tear loose from the overhead. Every object not bolted down would bounce or ricochet as though kicked by angry gremlins. Topside, solid sheets of flame with great clouds of searing gas and smoke erupted from the gun muzzles with every salvo. Often as not, much of this was carried by the wind back across the ship, to envelop men at exposed stations and be sucked inside through the ventilation system. At the end of such a day, all hands suffered from throbbing headaches, and most were virtually deaf. Red-rimmed eyes smarted from the pall of smoke. Every man's entire body was grimy with dust and the abrasive residue of burned gun powder. All of this could be, and was, endured. There was no pleasure whatever in it; only the grim satisfaction of helping our soldiers survive to win the battle ashore.

Better hope Dewey, Cheatham and Howe don't find out about the asbestos.

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:29 pm
by sprior
LS Jones. Stokers Johnson and Matheson.

Image

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:31 pm
by sprior
Formidable landing on.

Image

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:37 pm
by sprior
AA crew closed up ona pom-pom (not the kind you shake):



Image

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:42 pm
by Cap Mandrake
ORIGINAL: sprior

LS Jones. Stokers Johnson and Matheson.

Image

I can definitely see the resemblance between CS Jones and his more famous nephew, Tom

RE: Lost opportunities....

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:43 pm
by Cap Mandrake
ORIGINAL: sprior

Formidable landing on.

Image

I hope that is archival. I thought we unloaded all those damn biplanes?