18/11/42
refuelling
mail
Stores
Spares
and new men.
Zuiho's new pilots line her quarter deck. Hidaka moves down the line, noting the still hard leather on the flying jackets, the clean goggles, the neat unworn gloves, boots with out scuffs.
They smell........they smell fresh these men. Punched out by the great war machine in Japan.
Young
No doubt
Brave
No doubt
Ready to die.....
no doubt
"Your total hours young man?'
'Thirty one sir"
Thirty one?
'And in torpedo bombers?"
'Ten sir"
Ten?
Did he say ten?
A cold fury rises in him. Hidaka hides it, moves to the next.
28 hours sir
32 sir
21 sir
64, sir
Sixty four!, my Gods, a regular veteran this one!
How can they do this?, send, send boys like this..........to here?
I will have to start all over again...........But how, and will the enemy allow us?
A disaster. this is a disaster.
'Pack your Kit away men. Welcome onboard. We will start immediatly on those hours ney?"
Hidaka does not note these new mens names. Will not bother to learn about them. After first battle, he knows this will be so much wasted effort.
The little ship that could.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: ouch
19/11/42
There is no leave at Truk
Instead, in the finest traditions of the Japanese navy, and under Kato's careful eye, the men drill
And drill
And drill some more
Under Hasegawa, certain unpleasant traits of the Japanese Navy had quietly faded away
Under Katos cold gaze, they return
The men drill
And now, if they drill poorly, they are beaten.
There is no leave at Truk
Instead, in the finest traditions of the Japanese navy, and under Kato's careful eye, the men drill
And drill
And drill some more
Under Hasegawa, certain unpleasant traits of the Japanese Navy had quietly faded away
Under Katos cold gaze, they return
The men drill
And now, if they drill poorly, they are beaten.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
Yamamoto considers yet again, the great map
So much time wasted
So many opportunities lost.
Yamaguchi stands opposite him. He has said little, if anything, on his rivals promotion.
Now he stands, and waits for Yamamoto to speak
The squat man looks up from the map, and smiles. "It is good to have you back"
Silence
Both men know, that another day, and KB would have struck Columbo.
One considers this good fortune, the other, a wasted chance.
"A situation briefing, Yamaguchi, to bring you up to speed after that little cruise."
The stubby finger points to Burma
"The Army has nearly 12 divisions in Burma, and the great bulk of its airforce. Navy is supporting with some zero units, and several bomber units. Surface wise, a small fleet only, a few cruisers, a lot of bluff. Akyab is holding, and the front seems solid."
The finger waves over the DEI's.......16th army, 14th army. Lightly supported. But, we are here, and if the allies move on mearuke, we will counter. However, i don't think this is going to be the area of main action."
Yamamoto looks Yamaguchi in the eye.......'Do you think a strike on darwin is worth it?'
'I have considered it "
'Good, so have I"
Again the finger stabs
"The Solomons. The main area of operations, too many heavy bombers, too much invested in built up fields, too many units deployed. The enemy is committed here, I am certain of it"
Yamaguchi nods "I agree, but where do we fight, is the Army available?"
"two divisons only"
"That is not enough!"
Quietly, yamamoto agrees "no, that is not enough"
'And the marshall islands?'
And now the Admirals face truly frowns. " herbiesan orders it to be "lightly covered"
"What the hell does that mean?"
'I believe, hold the bloody islands, but don't lose or commit anything of value"
Yamaguchi shakes his head. "When will our glorious leader just let us do the fighting?"
'Victories for the politicians my friend, defeats for the generals"
Yamamoto wipes his brow. "KB will stay here, Task force Hiyo will be reinforced with another CVL, maybe two if trials are completed. They will be the light cover, whatever that means.........."
So much time wasted
So many opportunities lost.
Yamaguchi stands opposite him. He has said little, if anything, on his rivals promotion.
Now he stands, and waits for Yamamoto to speak
The squat man looks up from the map, and smiles. "It is good to have you back"
Silence
Both men know, that another day, and KB would have struck Columbo.
One considers this good fortune, the other, a wasted chance.
"A situation briefing, Yamaguchi, to bring you up to speed after that little cruise."
The stubby finger points to Burma
"The Army has nearly 12 divisions in Burma, and the great bulk of its airforce. Navy is supporting with some zero units, and several bomber units. Surface wise, a small fleet only, a few cruisers, a lot of bluff. Akyab is holding, and the front seems solid."
The finger waves over the DEI's.......16th army, 14th army. Lightly supported. But, we are here, and if the allies move on mearuke, we will counter. However, i don't think this is going to be the area of main action."
Yamamoto looks Yamaguchi in the eye.......'Do you think a strike on darwin is worth it?'
'I have considered it "
'Good, so have I"
Again the finger stabs
"The Solomons. The main area of operations, too many heavy bombers, too much invested in built up fields, too many units deployed. The enemy is committed here, I am certain of it"
Yamaguchi nods "I agree, but where do we fight, is the Army available?"
"two divisons only"
"That is not enough!"
Quietly, yamamoto agrees "no, that is not enough"
'And the marshall islands?'
And now the Admirals face truly frowns. " herbiesan orders it to be "lightly covered"
"What the hell does that mean?"
'I believe, hold the bloody islands, but don't lose or commit anything of value"
Yamaguchi shakes his head. "When will our glorious leader just let us do the fighting?"
'Victories for the politicians my friend, defeats for the generals"
Yamamoto wipes his brow. "KB will stay here, Task force Hiyo will be reinforced with another CVL, maybe two if trials are completed. They will be the light cover, whatever that means.........."
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
20/11/42
Disasters can usually in retrospection, be easily spotted approaching. Twenty, twenty hindsight is a wonderful thing
But surely this could have been forseen
Why, on this day, were so many valuable ships gathered at Rabual? Why were the docks so crowded, the ships not dispersed?
And who the hell re deployed the fighters covering the base?
Only eleven liberators have attacked, coming in low and fast.
They carry a lot of bombs, and there were plenty of targets
Cl Kiso, an AV, two APDs, 2 large APs, an AR, and a AG, all heavily hit.
Chaos.
The allies have few tools to use still, but what they have, they are using to great effect.
Disasters can usually in retrospection, be easily spotted approaching. Twenty, twenty hindsight is a wonderful thing
But surely this could have been forseen
Why, on this day, were so many valuable ships gathered at Rabual? Why were the docks so crowded, the ships not dispersed?
And who the hell re deployed the fighters covering the base?
Only eleven liberators have attacked, coming in low and fast.
They carry a lot of bombs, and there were plenty of targets
Cl Kiso, an AV, two APDs, 2 large APs, an AR, and a AG, all heavily hit.
Chaos.
The allies have few tools to use still, but what they have, they are using to great effect.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
very little occurs for the next few days. Hosho continues to get fat in reserve in Burma. The navy and airfiorce successfully get major supplies into Akyab, despite allied attempts to stop them
Supplies move, convoys carry, allies bomb merauke
Zuiho trains, and trains, every pilot dragged into the air by Hidaka
Tan, the charge, get Zuiho shipshape again-system back to zero
we will pick up again on the 24th...........Zuiho goes back to war very, very shortly....
Supplies move, convoys carry, allies bomb merauke
Zuiho trains, and trains, every pilot dragged into the air by Hidaka
Tan, the charge, get Zuiho shipshape again-system back to zero
we will pick up again on the 24th...........Zuiho goes back to war very, very shortly....
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
back into the war........
24/11/42
Okano is in the chippees shop, hacking away at a lump of metal with a hacksaw
He’s making a bracket.
Like a lot of sailors, he’s come up with a local solution to a problem the designers never anticipated, this bracket is part of a small project that will eventually allow hot water , boiling hot water , to be delivered to a vital area.
Ie –where they make the tea in the engine room.
It is important stuff………
The Chippees work shop overlooks the quarterdeck, and as he works, he sees through the open door quite a crowd of sailors gathering.
Curious, he joins them.
Ships, new ships, a straggling past them, driving them to silence
Burnt ships. Smashed ships. Horribly mutilated ships.
Here, they scream silently at them, is what can happen to you.
This is what a single bomb can do.
It is a brutal lesson. This steel under your deck, over your head, is an illusion of strength.
Safety is a fantasy………..
There are no words spoken as the glide by, heading deeper into the lagoon.
Not until they have passed anyway
It is an anonymous voice that speaks for all of them, spitting the words out
“We will make those barsteds pay”
Much later, another group of ships slide into the lagoon
CVL Ryujo joins task force Hiyo
Most of her destroyers will drop anchor and remain here, the carrier takes fuel
Just on dusk, Hiyo’s mainmast bursts into color, flags fluttering
‘Task force shall sail, 0600 hours’
Hidaka reads the order. Kato standing beside him
“What is the mission sir?”
Kato does not smile. What he thinks is indiscernible. “I believe, flight officer, that we are going to go poke them in the eye, and see what happens”
And sometimes, that is all war is about.
Poke em, and see what happens.
Okano is in the chippees shop, hacking away at a lump of metal with a hacksaw
He’s making a bracket.
Like a lot of sailors, he’s come up with a local solution to a problem the designers never anticipated, this bracket is part of a small project that will eventually allow hot water , boiling hot water , to be delivered to a vital area.
Ie –where they make the tea in the engine room.
It is important stuff………
The Chippees work shop overlooks the quarterdeck, and as he works, he sees through the open door quite a crowd of sailors gathering.
Curious, he joins them.
Ships, new ships, a straggling past them, driving them to silence
Burnt ships. Smashed ships. Horribly mutilated ships.
Here, they scream silently at them, is what can happen to you.
This is what a single bomb can do.
It is a brutal lesson. This steel under your deck, over your head, is an illusion of strength.
Safety is a fantasy………..
There are no words spoken as the glide by, heading deeper into the lagoon.
Not until they have passed anyway
It is an anonymous voice that speaks for all of them, spitting the words out
“We will make those barsteds pay”
Much later, another group of ships slide into the lagoon
CVL Ryujo joins task force Hiyo
Most of her destroyers will drop anchor and remain here, the carrier takes fuel
Just on dusk, Hiyo’s mainmast bursts into color, flags fluttering
‘Task force shall sail, 0600 hours’
Hidaka reads the order. Kato standing beside him
“What is the mission sir?”
Kato does not smile. What he thinks is indiscernible. “I believe, flight officer, that we are going to go poke them in the eye, and see what happens”
And sometimes, that is all war is about.
Poke em, and see what happens.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
BANZIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Midnight, 25/11/42
Hirate taps Lurch reassuringly on the shoulder.
“listen to what my water tender tells you to do, do exactly as he says, and “ (this with a grin)” remember if you cock up, and we run her dry, you will only kill us Ok!”
Lurch nods, and looks as nervous as he feels. Promotion brings new responsibilities, a new job. Trainee watertender.
‘Right!” the senior leader tilts his head “follow me”
Port boiler room is quiet, soon Hirate will cross connect auxiliary steam from next door, and the process of bringing this space to life will begin
“Lets align our systems ney?’ Lurch is lead to the aft baulkhead, and the process begins
Opening bulkhead condensate valves, opening to the feed heater. Prestarts on the feed pumps, inlet valves, outlet valves, steam supply, drain, exhaust………a bewildering procedure, the senior kellick moving smoothly from valve to valve, machine to machine.
‘Ok, this is how we stroke water level controller, now watch…”
Lurch watches. He takes it in. He works, he learns.
Watertending is hard. Hardest job in the fleet. Any fleet.
When hand feeding a boiler, he will have to stand on the top plates, at the gauge glass.
Temperatures here will not be pleasant. Not pleasant at all.
But water tending is the true first step on the promotion ladder. Prove yourself here, prove yourself anywhere.
Lurch listens. And learns.
He has come a long way since Minobe called him a fool.
If he survives the war, he will go a long way indeed.
If he survives the war.
Zuiho comes to life. Before dawn, she is ready for sea. Her flight deck prepped. Her guns manned. Her props spin slowly at ease, her anchor chain at the slack.
Kato sniffs the morning air. A chance of rain. Smooth seas ahead.
He stands , as always, coldly surveying the world about him, closely watching these final preparations for sea.
What awaits them this time? A convoy to kill?, or another invasion to thwart?
Or the shock of that hidden submarines torpedo?
It does not matter. Excitement grips again
The sea beckons.
“obey telegraphs!, slow ahead both!”
26/11/42
Extract from Shattering the Sword” a cantona production
Once again, Admiral Cunningham races CV Illustrious towards the enemy shipping anchored at Akyab
CVL Hermes, leads the squadron, 1000 yards ahead, her ugly frame appearing, fading into the scattered showers.
Conditions were perfect
And for the morning at least, all goes very well indeed
The first strike, a dozen swordfish, a matching number of fighters, arrive uncontested over the bay, and swiftly go to work.
Three small cargo ships are promptly sunk, for no loss, and a lone Japanese light cruiser is spotted a mere 80 miles to the south.
It is while a second strike is being prepared for the fleeing Japanese warship, that the first inclination that all was not as it should be filtered to the Carrier
Japans planes strike Cornilla. Not a small strike of a dozen or so planes typical of the last month, but a sweep of nearly 100 plus fighters –many, a great many naval fighters.
And the reports keep flowing in…..another seventy fighters, and as many bombers……
Overnight, it seems, Burma has become lousy with Japanese airpower
Thourghly alarmed, Cunningham recovers his (unsuccessful) cruiser strike, and runs west.
But Hermes is just too slow.
The first Japanese strike is 26 fighters, 16 betty strong
Cap is a mere five fighters.
This first attack is dodged
The second, 13 elderly Nells, has no Cap to contend against.
CVL Hermes is struck just once, and her elderly design dooms her.
Massive fuel fires erupt, a volcano of fire, a torrent of smoke.
Sunk or not, it makes no difference. Yamamoto, herbiesan know now, there is no need for a Navy in the Indian ocean at all , the British have just neutered themselves.
The entire Japanese fleet can turn its attention to the pacific again
Hirate taps Lurch reassuringly on the shoulder.
“listen to what my water tender tells you to do, do exactly as he says, and “ (this with a grin)” remember if you cock up, and we run her dry, you will only kill us Ok!”
Lurch nods, and looks as nervous as he feels. Promotion brings new responsibilities, a new job. Trainee watertender.
‘Right!” the senior leader tilts his head “follow me”
Port boiler room is quiet, soon Hirate will cross connect auxiliary steam from next door, and the process of bringing this space to life will begin
“Lets align our systems ney?’ Lurch is lead to the aft baulkhead, and the process begins
Opening bulkhead condensate valves, opening to the feed heater. Prestarts on the feed pumps, inlet valves, outlet valves, steam supply, drain, exhaust………a bewildering procedure, the senior kellick moving smoothly from valve to valve, machine to machine.
‘Ok, this is how we stroke water level controller, now watch…”
Lurch watches. He takes it in. He works, he learns.
Watertending is hard. Hardest job in the fleet. Any fleet.
When hand feeding a boiler, he will have to stand on the top plates, at the gauge glass.
Temperatures here will not be pleasant. Not pleasant at all.
But water tending is the true first step on the promotion ladder. Prove yourself here, prove yourself anywhere.
Lurch listens. And learns.
He has come a long way since Minobe called him a fool.
If he survives the war, he will go a long way indeed.
If he survives the war.
Zuiho comes to life. Before dawn, she is ready for sea. Her flight deck prepped. Her guns manned. Her props spin slowly at ease, her anchor chain at the slack.
Kato sniffs the morning air. A chance of rain. Smooth seas ahead.
He stands , as always, coldly surveying the world about him, closely watching these final preparations for sea.
What awaits them this time? A convoy to kill?, or another invasion to thwart?
Or the shock of that hidden submarines torpedo?
It does not matter. Excitement grips again
The sea beckons.
“obey telegraphs!, slow ahead both!”
26/11/42
Extract from Shattering the Sword” a cantona production
Once again, Admiral Cunningham races CV Illustrious towards the enemy shipping anchored at Akyab
CVL Hermes, leads the squadron, 1000 yards ahead, her ugly frame appearing, fading into the scattered showers.
Conditions were perfect
And for the morning at least, all goes very well indeed
The first strike, a dozen swordfish, a matching number of fighters, arrive uncontested over the bay, and swiftly go to work.
Three small cargo ships are promptly sunk, for no loss, and a lone Japanese light cruiser is spotted a mere 80 miles to the south.
It is while a second strike is being prepared for the fleeing Japanese warship, that the first inclination that all was not as it should be filtered to the Carrier
Japans planes strike Cornilla. Not a small strike of a dozen or so planes typical of the last month, but a sweep of nearly 100 plus fighters –many, a great many naval fighters.
And the reports keep flowing in…..another seventy fighters, and as many bombers……
Overnight, it seems, Burma has become lousy with Japanese airpower
Thourghly alarmed, Cunningham recovers his (unsuccessful) cruiser strike, and runs west.
But Hermes is just too slow.
The first Japanese strike is 26 fighters, 16 betty strong
Cap is a mere five fighters.
This first attack is dodged
The second, 13 elderly Nells, has no Cap to contend against.
CVL Hermes is struck just once, and her elderly design dooms her.
Massive fuel fires erupt, a volcano of fire, a torrent of smoke.
Sunk or not, it makes no difference. Yamamoto, herbiesan know now, there is no need for a Navy in the Indian ocean at all , the British have just neutered themselves.
The entire Japanese fleet can turn its attention to the pacific again
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: BANZIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK. One threat lessoned. Where does Zuiho go for this mission?
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: BANZIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
27/11/42
herbiesan considers the figures, and inwardly, he smiles.
His political opponents (while still alive, of course) , appeared to have been right.
The Irony does not escape him
Centalised, goverment controlled, Industry is a bust
Socialism is a failed system
Of course, with out it, he wouldn't be here, would not have this power, but for actually having a thriving, driving, producing economy...........the capatalists were right.
he looks up at his Industry minister. "is it really that bad?"
'There is no lack of resources coming in sir, but we have made some serious mistakes in how we use them"
herbiesan considers the figures again. "maybe we need to go and kidnap that henry ford fellow ney?'
''maybe sir........"
herbiesan takes a big breath. Makes a decision. "Ok, this is what we will do.........."
Kato hands the signal to Tan. 'you worked for the goverment, what do you think?"
The signal is a proclamation
To all memebers of the glorious empire
To celebrate one year of success against the Imperial british and americans, the Emperor is granting a three day national Holiday
All factories, all shipyards, all fellow members of the empire shall take a well earned rest.
Refreshed, revitalised, we shall, together, face the new year confident in ultimate victory
Tan shakes his head. 'there are rumours sir........I think there might be a supply crises at home"
Kato nods
" You know Tan, sometimes I fear the future very much"
1275psi's comments
i have totally cocked up the economy...LOL
herbiesan considers the figures, and inwardly, he smiles.
His political opponents (while still alive, of course) , appeared to have been right.
The Irony does not escape him
Centalised, goverment controlled, Industry is a bust
Socialism is a failed system
Of course, with out it, he wouldn't be here, would not have this power, but for actually having a thriving, driving, producing economy...........the capatalists were right.
he looks up at his Industry minister. "is it really that bad?"
'There is no lack of resources coming in sir, but we have made some serious mistakes in how we use them"
herbiesan considers the figures again. "maybe we need to go and kidnap that henry ford fellow ney?'
''maybe sir........"
herbiesan takes a big breath. Makes a decision. "Ok, this is what we will do.........."
Kato hands the signal to Tan. 'you worked for the goverment, what do you think?"
The signal is a proclamation
To all memebers of the glorious empire
To celebrate one year of success against the Imperial british and americans, the Emperor is granting a three day national Holiday
All factories, all shipyards, all fellow members of the empire shall take a well earned rest.
Refreshed, revitalised, we shall, together, face the new year confident in ultimate victory
Tan shakes his head. 'there are rumours sir........I think there might be a supply crises at home"
Kato nods
" You know Tan, sometimes I fear the future very much"
1275psi's comments
i have totally cocked up the economy...LOL
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
british exil
- Posts: 1686
- Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 6:26 pm
- Location: Lower Saxony Germany
RE: BANZIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1275psi's comments
i have totally cocked up the economy...LOL
At least Japan's population get a 3!!! day holiday.
I suppose no rest for the crews of the Navy and Airforce not to mention the little devils in Burma.
Mat
"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
RE: BANZIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Too funny. Cribtop has the exact same issue at the same time!!!ORIGINAL: 1275psi
1275psi's comments
i have totally cocked up the economy...LOL
Pax
RE: ouch
OH, I have the grand poo bar of industry cockups.
Oil levels..........less than i million
HI -nil..........yep, nil
No ships getting built..........well , almost none
But Ive got 800 HA35 engines in the pools! [8|]
It will take three days IRL to sort this lot out....LOL
back to the war
28/11/42
100 miles north kwaljien
Diogawa shifts around in his seat. Zero seats are hard, and the chute under his arse is not quite right.
The sun beats into the cockpit, the glass magnifying its heat. Even here, at 260 knots, 10000 feet, he is comfortable.
Not warm, but not freezing either.
He takes his head away from the eternal scan of the sky around him, reaching for the soft rolls he has smuggled into the cockpit.
Combat patrol is fine. Combat patrol from 10 am to 2 pm, is hard.
No lunch.
What the stewards leave out for returning pilots is not fit for pigs, personally……..
Straggling behind him, he leads 5 other fighters in this gentle curve to the north east of the fleet, the sky full of the typical cumulous of the equator zones.
The fleet is behind them, a dozen miles distant at least.
And the sky is very large indeed today.
Chewing on the roll, Diogawa again checks on the eagles following him, Mother hen to the chicks, for these are the rookies.
Get them flying, give them air time, experience, especially here in the middle of no where, where chances of combat are slim.
Slim, but not impossible.
He sees them, same height, well before the others do.
Bombers.
Liberators
Four of them, and intercept is inevitable, must happen
They are closing , almost head on, rock wings, safety off, swing in, they are growing, growing, picking a target.: enemy fire!, enemy fire!, he rolls her as they flash through, his gun firing, diving inverted away, down, down, engine howling, pulling around. Soft roll floating about the cockpit……..
He levels out, parallel to the four bombers……and the barsteds are still there, guns pointing menacingly his way.
Looking left, right, behind, below………….and only 2 fighters are with him.
And below, so far below, two shattered zeros twist and turn, plummeting, cratering into the sea in that other world below.
Gone
Diogawa gives a single curse.
He should attack. Everything tells him to attack……….
But he is between the bombers and the fleet, the still invisible fleet
Bad enough that they have encountered them out here.
Worse to give the nature of what hides down below the clouds away.
For three long, long minutes the bombers continue to pound south towards the marshall islands, and he flies with them, just out side the range of those guns
Satisfied, he peels away, decoying to the north, his remaining men following
The giants fade from view
And Diogawa tastes bitterness in his mouth.
Oil levels..........less than i million
HI -nil..........yep, nil
No ships getting built..........well , almost none
But Ive got 800 HA35 engines in the pools! [8|]
It will take three days IRL to sort this lot out....LOL
back to the war
28/11/42
100 miles north kwaljien
Diogawa shifts around in his seat. Zero seats are hard, and the chute under his arse is not quite right.
The sun beats into the cockpit, the glass magnifying its heat. Even here, at 260 knots, 10000 feet, he is comfortable.
Not warm, but not freezing either.
He takes his head away from the eternal scan of the sky around him, reaching for the soft rolls he has smuggled into the cockpit.
Combat patrol is fine. Combat patrol from 10 am to 2 pm, is hard.
No lunch.
What the stewards leave out for returning pilots is not fit for pigs, personally……..
Straggling behind him, he leads 5 other fighters in this gentle curve to the north east of the fleet, the sky full of the typical cumulous of the equator zones.
The fleet is behind them, a dozen miles distant at least.
And the sky is very large indeed today.
Chewing on the roll, Diogawa again checks on the eagles following him, Mother hen to the chicks, for these are the rookies.
Get them flying, give them air time, experience, especially here in the middle of no where, where chances of combat are slim.
Slim, but not impossible.
He sees them, same height, well before the others do.
Bombers.
Liberators
Four of them, and intercept is inevitable, must happen
They are closing , almost head on, rock wings, safety off, swing in, they are growing, growing, picking a target.: enemy fire!, enemy fire!, he rolls her as they flash through, his gun firing, diving inverted away, down, down, engine howling, pulling around. Soft roll floating about the cockpit……..
He levels out, parallel to the four bombers……and the barsteds are still there, guns pointing menacingly his way.
Looking left, right, behind, below………….and only 2 fighters are with him.
And below, so far below, two shattered zeros twist and turn, plummeting, cratering into the sea in that other world below.
Gone
Diogawa gives a single curse.
He should attack. Everything tells him to attack……….
But he is between the bombers and the fleet, the still invisible fleet
Bad enough that they have encountered them out here.
Worse to give the nature of what hides down below the clouds away.
For three long, long minutes the bombers continue to pound south towards the marshall islands, and he flies with them, just out side the range of those guns
Satisfied, he peels away, decoying to the north, his remaining men following
The giants fade from view
And Diogawa tastes bitterness in his mouth.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
Welcome to the dark side! So easy and it can happen so fast ... good to know you are getting it squared away.ORIGINAL: 1275psi
OH, I have the grand poo bar of industry cockups.
Oil levels..........less than i million
HI -nil..........yep, nil
No ships getting built..........well , almost none
But Ive got 800 HA35 engines in the pools! [8|]
It will take three days IRL to sort this lot out....LOL
Pax
RE: ouch
My long-term Economics Minister (NYGIANTS) might be available as a hired gun. His lessons are tough, he is brutal, but one DOES slowly yet SURELY learn under his tutelage. Good LUCK!
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: ouch
Its quite funny, every other game I have gone well with industry, this one I sort of, got greedy...........[8|]
Anyway, Industry under massive cut back, re organisation.
(makes these quiet days /turns interesting)
But , Cantona is being very busy, for those following, more action coming.....................
29/11/42
There are many things that only sailors can experience
All servicemen experience comradeship. It is why many serve
To be with brothers in arms
Sailors are of a special fraternity. They have service. They are comrade in arms
But above all, they have the sea.
For thousands of years, men have gone to sea to war.
It is a history, it is a now, that binds them together.
Three great tankers follow task force Hiyo eastward
AO, Erimo, AO Kyokuto, AO Tsurumi, have been faithfully following Zuiho for a year now.
Through weather fair, or foul, they have been there.
Great rusty flanks, snaking stinking fuel hoses, great thudding beat of diesels in Kyokuto, shoveling smoke from the other two.
And always, THEY have been there. Fellow sailors, waving, sending over hot pork rolls with the stores and fuel, or messages of good luck.
Sailors have no fixed home, but these great beasts of burden, have served well enough as shelter.
Kato stands on the starboard bridge wing, waiting
‘Fuelling complete sir!”
Our Captain comes to life “Very well Mr Tan. XO, disconnect hose please”
The seas are calm, an oily deep blue today, and the fleet carves great highways of white across its pallet.
‘”Hoses clear sir!’
Good, very good. Belly full again. Now, now we really can hunt. And in his mind, the map, and those great empty spaces where allied convoys must roam….
“Full ahead all”
Kato takes Zuiho up the port flank of Tsurumi at 100 yards .
Pipes blow, and men come to rigid attention. Flags flutter.
And salutes of respect, of companionship are exchanged.
(and down aft, the stokers wave the traditional cleaning cloth wave, matched from their friends on the tanker)
‘Good luck Zuiho, and good hunting’
Men wave, and watch each other dwindle into the distance, before returning to work
Until we meet again.
It is impossible to think, that they never will………….
Anyway, Industry under massive cut back, re organisation.
(makes these quiet days /turns interesting)
But , Cantona is being very busy, for those following, more action coming.....................
29/11/42
There are many things that only sailors can experience
All servicemen experience comradeship. It is why many serve
To be with brothers in arms
Sailors are of a special fraternity. They have service. They are comrade in arms
But above all, they have the sea.
For thousands of years, men have gone to sea to war.
It is a history, it is a now, that binds them together.
Three great tankers follow task force Hiyo eastward
AO, Erimo, AO Kyokuto, AO Tsurumi, have been faithfully following Zuiho for a year now.
Through weather fair, or foul, they have been there.
Great rusty flanks, snaking stinking fuel hoses, great thudding beat of diesels in Kyokuto, shoveling smoke from the other two.
And always, THEY have been there. Fellow sailors, waving, sending over hot pork rolls with the stores and fuel, or messages of good luck.
Sailors have no fixed home, but these great beasts of burden, have served well enough as shelter.
Kato stands on the starboard bridge wing, waiting
‘Fuelling complete sir!”
Our Captain comes to life “Very well Mr Tan. XO, disconnect hose please”
The seas are calm, an oily deep blue today, and the fleet carves great highways of white across its pallet.
‘”Hoses clear sir!’
Good, very good. Belly full again. Now, now we really can hunt. And in his mind, the map, and those great empty spaces where allied convoys must roam….
“Full ahead all”
Kato takes Zuiho up the port flank of Tsurumi at 100 yards .
Pipes blow, and men come to rigid attention. Flags flutter.
And salutes of respect, of companionship are exchanged.
(and down aft, the stokers wave the traditional cleaning cloth wave, matched from their friends on the tanker)
‘Good luck Zuiho, and good hunting’
Men wave, and watch each other dwindle into the distance, before returning to work
Until we meet again.
It is impossible to think, that they never will………….
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
30/11/42
Task force Hiyo speeds at 18 knots hard East
Captain Beppu is keen to traverse through the gap between the marshall islands and wake island, intending to once clear, swing south east, and to plunge into the allied shipping lines.
Nature appears on his side. All day the fleet scurries along under heavy rain, grey skies.
The tanker fleet falls well behind, it will just have to catch up.
By dusk, the dash appears to have gone well, by dawn, the swing to the south east can begin.
Zuiho plans are made. She will spot a strike below, armed with bombs. CAP will be heavy. Naval search heavier.
An air of excitement runs through her.
The hunt is on.
Unseen, the Catalina turns for home.
‘Three carriers, 2 cruisers, 8 destroyers, position 220 miles due east Kwaljien. Speed 18 knots, course 090 degrees’
It is one of the most accurate sighting reports of the war to date.
And Bull Hasely cannot resist.
“attack”
Task force Hiyo speeds at 18 knots hard East
Captain Beppu is keen to traverse through the gap between the marshall islands and wake island, intending to once clear, swing south east, and to plunge into the allied shipping lines.
Nature appears on his side. All day the fleet scurries along under heavy rain, grey skies.
The tanker fleet falls well behind, it will just have to catch up.
By dusk, the dash appears to have gone well, by dawn, the swing to the south east can begin.
Zuiho plans are made. She will spot a strike below, armed with bombs. CAP will be heavy. Naval search heavier.
An air of excitement runs through her.
The hunt is on.
Unseen, the Catalina turns for home.
‘Three carriers, 2 cruisers, 8 destroyers, position 220 miles due east Kwaljien. Speed 18 knots, course 090 degrees’
It is one of the most accurate sighting reports of the war to date.
And Bull Hasely cannot resist.
“attack”
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
I actually get chills sometimes when I read this great stuff. Keep up the great writing, great story!
In other news maybe you can equip those Ha-35 engines with an armor piercing nosecone, strap them to a Val, and then drop them on some allied ships[:D]
In other news maybe you can equip those Ha-35 engines with an armor piercing nosecone, strap them to a Val, and then drop them on some allied ships[:D]
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ny59giants
- Posts: 9902
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: ouch
OH, I have the grand poo bar of industry cockups.
Oil levels..........less than i million
HI -nil..........yep, nil
No ships getting built..........well , almost none
But Ive got 800 HA35 engines in the pools!
It will take three days IRL to sort this lot out....LOL
back to the war
Screenshots are your friend. [;)] Please post some. I hope you are using Tracker. It makes running the Japanese economy so much easier.
John 3rd and I were on phone while he was driving to see his father and suggested I come over here as a "hired gun." [:D]
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british exil
- Posts: 1686
- Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 6:26 pm
- Location: Lower Saxony Germany
RE: ouch
ORIGINAL: ny59giants
OH, I have the grand poo bar of industry cockups.
Oil levels..........less than i million
HI -nil..........yep, nil
No ships getting built..........well , almost none
But Ive got 800 HA35 engines in the pools!
It will take three days IRL to sort this lot out....LOL
back to the war
Screenshots are your friend. [;)] Please post some. I hope you are using Tracker. It makes running the Japanese economy so much easier.
John 3rd and I were on phone while he was driving to see his father and suggested I come over here as a "hired gun." [:D]
Looks like Herbisan might be taking on foreign advisors??
Keep the story going, brilliant read, suspense pure. Really enjoying it. One of the first things I do in morning is check my mails for the latest episode.
Mat
"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS