Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Mike Solli]

I'm curious to know if Lieutenant General Mutaguchi actually died.  I've never seen this happen in land combat.

[Speedysteve]

Fantastic writing Cuttlefish

[Capt. Harlock]

Simply brilliant AAR. I'm amazed that the Americans were able to hold without support from the USN. Were there any losses to subs or mines?

[kaleun]

It looks like they reinforced very well and then the Japanese landed poorly.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

I'm curious to know if Lieutenant General Mutaguchi actually died. I've never seen this happen in land combat.

Nah. He is commanding a squadron of C-47's now.

[Mike Solli]

[:D]

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

I'm curious to know if Lieutenant General Mutaguchi actually died.  I've never seen this happen in land combat.

No, that was purely an invention for the AAR. In the same vein Maj. General Horii is probably going to be expected to "apologize" for the defeat, but the closest I can come to simulating that is replacing him. The person who really deserves to be taken out and shot for the whole debacle is of course the one sitting in front of the computer issuing all the orders. But I think that would be taking the game a little too seriously. [8|]

[Cuttlefish]

July 24, 1942

Location: 75 miles west of Wake
Course: Holding position
Attached to: TF 76
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 271

Orders: Escort CV Shokaku in operations around Wake Island.

---

Ensign Izu stands on the starboard observation platform on the tower. Every now and then he raises the binoculars he is holding and sweeps a patch of ocean. The sun is high overhead and the seas are fairly calm, excellent conditions for spotting periscopes. Earlier in the day Hibiki received a report that a submarine had been detected and chased off as it stalked the carrier Junyo, and just an hour ago the pilot of one of Shokaku’s dive bombers reported scoring a near miss on a submarine not 20 miles to the north.

About 700 meters away Shokaku is recovering a trio of fighter planes. A smudge of smoke and haze on the horizon beyond marks the position of Wake Island. Izu knows that the evacuation of Japanese troops from the island is well underway now. The failure of the attack is depressing and is weighing on the minds of Izu and the rest of the crew, but Izu knows that this is not the time to brood upon it. He needs to stay alert. He is not the only one on lookout; there are many pairs of eyes scanning the ocean all around the ship. But he finds it useful to pretend that he is the only one looking, that if an attack is to be averted he must be the one to do it. It helps keep him sharp.

He looks again in the direction of Wake Island. Not for anything in the world would he trade places with one of the soldiers there right now. Danger might approach the Hibiki from the air, from under the water or on it, but at the moment Izu has a nice breeze, the sunlight on the water, and the solid deck of a warship under his feet. He is suddenly very happy he did not let his father succeed in talking him into going into the Army.

Hibiki continues her protective circuit around Shokaku. Ensign Izu raises his binoculars and begins another slow, thorough examination of the ocean.

[Cuttlefish]

July 25, 1942

Location: 100 miles south southwest of Wake
Course: South
Attached to: TF 76
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 474

Orders: Escort CV Shokaku in operations around Wake Island.

---

On the bridge of the Hibiki:

Captain Ishii: We have a signal from Captain Jojima, Exec. The evacuation is complete. We are going to move slowly to the south to allow the carriers to cover the transports as they return to Kwajalein. All destroyers are to refuel from Shokaku before we depart.

Lieutenant Miharu: Yes sir. Are many of the transports damaged?

Captain Ishii: I’m not sure. I know we lost a minesweeper in the initial landings and that several transports were hit by mines or shore fire, so I think we can assume that the retreat will be a fairly slow one. The transports are not the fastest of vessels even under the best of circumstances.

Lieutenant Miharu: Is there any sign yet of the American fleet, sir?

Captain Ishii: None. It seems we will be allowed to retire unhindered. A pity, really. It would give us a chance to redeem this defeat.

Lieutenant Miharu: Another day, perhaps.

Captain Ishii: No doubt. It does not look as though this war will be over soon.

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

I'm curious to know if Lieutenant General Mutaguchi actually died.  I've never seen this happen in land combat.

No, that was purely an invention for the AAR. In the same vein Maj. General Horii is probably going to be expected to "apologize" for the defeat, but the closest I can come to simulating that is replacing him. The person who really deserves to be taken out and shot for the whole debacle is of course the one sitting in front of the computer issuing all the orders. But I think that would be taking the game a little too seriously. [8|]

Dont be so hard on yourself. At least now you can do an extended peice on the harsh struggle of man versus fate as the crew of the Hibiki find a Japanese soldier floating around Wake on an empty ammo crate...or something. [:D]

[Cuttlefish]

July 26, 1942

Location: 250 miles south of Wake
Course: South
Attached to: TF 76
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 444

Orders: Escort CV Shokaku in operations around Wake Island.

---

As the Japanese fleet moves further away from Wake Island the Americans return some planes to the battered airfield there. Around mid-morning Hibiki recieves an alert that enemy planes are inbound from the north. Captain Ishii orders combat stations and all anti aircraft guns are uncovered and trained skyward.

As it turns out, however, there is no need. The raid consists of a dozen F4F fighters and 15 B-25s. The vengeful Japanese combat air patrol shoots down most of the American fighters. After a pair of B-25s are shot down the rest turn around and return to Wake without dropping any bombs.

Later that day one of the damaged transports founders and sinks. The crew is taken off in good order and the Japanese continue the long, slow journey back to Kwajalein.

[Cuttlefish]

July 27, 1942

Location: 510 miles south of Wake
Course: South
Attached to: TF 76
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 407

Orders: Return to Kwajalein

---

Excerpt from a letter from Lieutenant Miharu to his wife:

…and no doubt you will hear little if anything of what happened at Wake. Anything I tell you will be censored, so I will just say that the ship is safe and that I and the crew have not been in any danger.

We have been protecting some transports, but this morning we received new orders. As we are now beyond range of possible enemy air attack we are to leave them behind and return to Kwajalein with all speed. I am just guessing, but it sounds as though something is happening somewhere else and the carriers are needed. Whether we will accompany them or be given new orders is anybody’s guess right now.

Things aboard ship are going smoothly. That ugly business I told you about between Shun and Ariga seems to be over. Shun is the same as ever and Ariga has been doing enough work for any two men. There has been quite a change in him. I somehow have the feeling it will persist, too, though we will have to see.

I trust there you have heard nothing further from my brother, and have had no further trouble from the Tokeitai. If either of these things changes please write to me immediately. It of course takes some time for your letters to catch up to me, but Captain Ishii assures me that he can contact friends who will help if there is need.

Please give my warmest greetings to your mother when you see her, and the rest of your family as well…

[Cuttlefish]

July 28, 1942

Location: 110 miles northeast of Kwajalein
Course: Southwest
Attached to: TF 76
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 371

Orders: Return to Kwajalein

---

The use of the term “bunkroom” aboard a Japanese destroyer is a bit misleading as far as enlisted men are concerned. For them bunkrooms tend to be machinery spaces or just about any other available space where there is room to sling hammocks. Shiro, Riku, and a number of others appropriated the space ahead of the forward ammunition hoist long ago. Not only does it tend to be reasonably quiet, but it is one of the best-protected areas of the ship.

Riku enters and begins rigging a hammock. From another hammock nearby Shiro peers down at him.

“Extra duty again?” Shiro asks. Riku nods. Shiro shakes his head. “How long can you keep this up?”

“As long as it takes,” says Riku simply. He expertly weaves his head around a valve fixture as he finishes his work.

“Even being the best sailor in the Imperial Japanese Navy is not going to do it, you know,” says Shiro.

“I know that,” says Riku. “But it’s a necessary place to start. Shun needs to know I can work hard and be reliable.” He climbs into his hammock. Shiro is quiet for a moment, then he speaks again.

“Taiki finishes Sargeant School tomorrow,” he says.

“He does?” says Riku. “Good! It hasn’t been the same with him gone.”

“We don’t know he will be coming back to the Hibiki,” says Shiro.

“Well, I hope so,” says Riku. “Now let me get to sleep. We’re going to reach Kwajalein tomorrow and I am going to have a lot to do.”

[Cuttlefish]

July 29, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Take on fuel and supplies

---

It is late afternoon at Kwajalein. Hibiki has been at anchor since that morning. As ordered Captain Ishii departed for 6th Fleet headquarters via ship’s boat as soon as the ship’s anchor dropped. He now returns. He climbs up the ladder over the side and exchanges salutes with Lieutenant Miharu, who is waiting for him.

“Welcome aboard, sir,” says the lieutenant.

“Thank you, Exec,” says the captain. “We need to finish taking on fuel and supplies quickly. We are leaving tomorrow as part of Kido Butai’s screen.” He gestures for the lieutenant to follow him and walks down the deck to a spot by the center torpedo mount. Once in this relative privacy he continues.

“The day after our invasion began at Wake the British and Australians launched a very large operation against Gili Gili, at the eastern tip of New Guinea. They tried to land two divisions there under the cover of carrier fighters. It didn’t go well for them, but they did get most of the divisions ashore.”

“Didn’t go well?” asks Lieutenant Miharu. Ishii nods.

“Apparently they tried to knock out our airfields in the area using heavy bombers flying from Australia, but it didn’t work. Our land based planes hit them hard. Carriers Illustrious and Hermes are confirmed sunk, and two other British carriers took torpedo hits and were last seen afire. Once their carriers were gone the transports were exposed. We sank many of them. There is also word that a battleship and several cruisers were sunk, but I don’t know how reliable that is. One of the cruisers sunk was supposed to be the Boise.”

“I thought we sank Boise at Singapore?” says Lieutenant Miharu. Ishii nods.

“Exactly my point. At any rate, there are now some unknown thousands of Australian soldiers trapped at Gili Gili. They have overrun the airfield there, but we have a lot of airbases in the area. They have tried to move in some planes but have suffered very heavy losses as a result.”

“So what is our mission, sir?” asks Miharu.

“Admiral Yamamoto has developed a plan that calls for the bulk of our carriers to move south in complete secrecy. No radio transmissions, not even any search planes out in case they should be spotted by enemy submarines. We are to move down to the Santa Cruz Islands area and wait.

“It has been observed that our enemies are both impatient and opportunistic. Virtually every time we have committed our carriers the Americans or the British have immediately made a move elsewhere. Right now they have two isolated conquests, at Nanomea and now Gili Gili. Once we are in position in the south the plan is to have one or two carriers show themselves somewhere up north just long enough to make the other side think that’s where our strength is. It is believed that they will then make a move to resupply one or both garrisons, or perhaps even try another attack. And when they do we will be waiting for them.”

“It will require patience,” comments Lieutenant Miharu. Ishii nods.

“We know that in the long run the Americans can produce everything faster than we can,” he says. “Everything, perhaps, except for that. Patience. We will be the spider in the center of the web, Exec.” Lieutenant Miharu considers for a moment.

“I see. Well then, I wonder what kind of fly we shall catch?” he says.

“We shall see,” says Captain Ishii.

[John 3rd]

Go get them! 
 
BANZAI!
 

[tocaff]

Captain Ishii is due for promotion when?  

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish


“The day after our invasion began at Wake the British and Australians launched a very large operation against Gili Gili, at the eastern tip of New Guinea. They tried to land two divisions there under the cover of carrier fighters. It didn’t go well for them, but they did get most of the divisions ashore.”

“Didn’t go well?” asks Lieutenant Miharu. Ishii nods.

“Apparently they tried to knock out our airfields in the area using heavy bombers flying from Australia, but it didn’t work. Our land based planes hit them hard. Carriers Illustrious and Hermes are confirmed sunk, and two other British carriers took torpedo hits and were last seen afire. Once their carriers were gone the transports were exposed. We sank many of them. There is also word that a battleship and several cruisers were sunk, but I don’t know how reliable that is.

Those sneaky Allies! Wolffpack is doing an impressive job of starting the counterattack early.

[Cuttlefish]

July 30, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: South by southwest
Attached to: TF 79
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Proceed to the Santa Cruz Islands area.

---

Japanese ambitions have met a setback at Wake, but the war goes on. Under cover of darkness three Japanese aircraft carriers depart Kwajalein and head southwest. Other Japanese ships and carriers are en route from different ports to rendezvous with them off the Santa Cruz Islands. And in Japanese waters a small but powerful carrier task force prepares to depart for a raid on American bases and shipping in the Aleutian Islands.

Hibiki takes up position in the destroyer screen. By sunrise the task force has already cleared the Marshall Islands and is headed out into the wide reaches of the Central Pacific.

---

A bored ensign is sitting behind a desk at 1st Fleet headquarters in Yokohama filing reports. Petty Officer Third Class Taiki Takahashi approaches the desk and snaps a salute. The ensign looks up.

“Yes?” he says. Taiki holds up a folded sheet of paper.

“Sir, I am supposed to report aboard the destroyer Hibiki. But no one seems to be able to tell me where she is.” The ensign leans back in his chair.

“Hibiki is not in Japan right now,” he says.

“Yes sir, so I have gathered. But then where is she? I am supposed to report aboard immediately.” The clerk shrugs.

“I am afraid I do not know,” he says. “I’d try asking at Commander Hashimoto’s office.”

“I did that, sir,” says Taiki. “They told me to ask you.” The ensign looks annoyed.

“That is typical,” he says. “They probably know the location of every geisha and every sake distributor in Tokyo, but they can’t keep track of where our warships are. I am very sorry, but I truly do not know where your ship is. Try asking over at DesDiv Six, perhaps they know something.”

“I’ve been there too, sir,” says Taiki. “Sir, if I can’t report to my ship won’t I be in violation of orders?” The ensign shrugs.

“Possibly. Let me see those orders.” Taiki hands them over. The ensign unfolds the crisply creased paper and scans the document. “No,” he says, “see here, it says to report aboard ‘as soon as possible’. You’re okay, there is a great deal of room for interpretation there.” He folds the orders and hands them back to Taiki. Taiki tucks them away, looking more disconsolate than relieved.

“Look,” says the ensign, relenting slightly “you seem like an okay sort. I’ll tell you what. I can find a temporary assignment for you here at headquarters. Sooner or later your ship will be back in Japan, and you can report aboard then.” Taiki shakes his head.

“Sir, your offer is more generous than I deserve,” he says. “and I thank you. But those are my friends out there. I can’t let them down like that.” The ensign tilts his head slightly to one side.

“You are that determined? Well then. The last I heard Hibiki was in the Central Pacific. That’s a big area, but if I were you I would try and track her down at Kwajalein. At any rate they might know more there. A flying boat makes a weekly run down there, with a stop at Marcus Island. It leaves tomorrow. If they have any room you might perhaps talk them into taking you along.” Taiki brightens.

“Thank you, sir!” he says. “I will do as you suggest.” He salutes and hurries off. The ensign looks after him for a moment, then returns to filing reports.

---

[Cuttlefish]

July 31, 1942

Location: 50 miles north-northwest of Jaluit
Course: South by southwest
Attached to: TF 79
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 436

Orders: Proceed to the Santa Cruz Islands area.

---

The H8K flying boat finishes refueling at Marcus. The handful of passengers who are stretching their legs on the dock are waved back aboard. Taiki reboards the plane with the others and takes a seat atop several sacks of mail.

The four big engines power up and the flying boat pulls slowly away from the dock. It wallows slightly as it heads out to sea, but as the speed increases the motion stabilizes. As the engines roar to full power the plane smashes across the wave tops with a series of bone-jarring thumps. Taiki clutches a stanchion to keep from toppling off his perch. Then the big plane lifts off the water and calm is restored. Taiki forces his fingers to let go of the stanchion and settles back for the long flight to Kwajalein.

[Cuttlefish]

August 1, 1942

Location: 115 miles north-northwest of Nauru Island
Course: Southwest
Attached to: TF 79
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 339

Orders: Proceed to the Santa Cruz Islands area.

---

“Why, you just missed the Hibiki,” says the warrant officer down by the docks at Namur in Kwajalein Atoll. “She departed two days ago.”

“Where is she headed?” asks Taiki. The warrant officer shrugs.

“I don’t know for certain. No one does, except maybe Admiral Shimizu. It’s being kept pretty secret. I heard a rumor, though, that they were heading southwest, maybe towards Noumea.” Taiki sighs.

“How can I get to Noumea?” he asks.

“From here? You can’t, not really. All the traffic to that area goes through Truk.”

“In that case, how can I get to Truk?” asks Taiki. The warrant officer thinks.

“Well,” he says, “if you are in a hurry, I would get down to the airstrip at Kwajalein. There’s a daitai of G4M bombers heading to New Guinea via Truk. They are supposed to be leaving today. Maybe you can travel with them.” Taiki thanks the warrant officer and hurries off to look for a boat to take him to the other end of the big atoll.

---

“The bombers? Oh, they left an hour ago,” says the clerk at the airstrip. Taiki’s shoulders slump. “Except for those two,” continues the clerk. He points to a pair of twin-engine bombers parked down at the far end of the strip. “They were having engine trouble. They’ll follow the others tomorrow.”

---

“Sure, we can take you along” says Ensign Nawano, pilot of one of the two bombers. “As long as you don’t mind manning one of the gun positions. I’m short of crew.” Taiki says that would be fine. “Very good, then. Be here at dawn tomorrow. If we can get this thing in the air we should have an easy flight to Truk.” Taiki decides it would be diplomatic to avoid voicing his doubts about taking to the air in a plane with dubious engines. At any rate, he has no intention of missing this chance to get to Truk. He thanks Ensign Nawano and leaves.