Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Cuttlefish]

October 22, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 7
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Perform routine maintenance and repairs and await further orders.

---

A large group of Japanese ships arrives at Kwajalein around midday to join the rest of the fleet. Most notable among them are the aircraft carriers Zuikaku, Soryu, and Kaga.

The men from the carriers bring with them a comical and woeful tale of their attempted raid on the Aleutian Islands a couple of months ago, a diversion intended to lure the Americans into committing their carriers in the Central Pacific where the rest of the Japanese carriers were waiting. The men of the Hibiki, recalling the long weeks of waiting off Ndeni, can only listen to the story and shake their heads.

It seems that a submarine had reported enemy ships at Adak and the three carriers had moved in to attack. As they moved closer to the American base, however, a scout plane, groping through the fog and mist, sent back a radio report that the enemy fleet there consisted of several aircraft carriers with a strong escort.

The Japanese carriers immediately reveresed course. A battle with American carriers at even or less than even odds was not part of their plan, especially not someplace under the cover of enemy land based air power. They escaped undetected and headed back to Japan.

A couple of days later a break in the weather gave an H8K flying boat out of Paramushiro Jima a good look at the American “carrier fleet” at Adak. It was revealed to be a handful of tankers and freighters and perhaps half a dozen PT boats. Word was relayed to the Japanese carriers, but they did not have enough fuel left to go back to Adak. They returned at length to Tokyo without the Americans ever even knowing they had been there.

No one seems to know quite what became of the D3A pilot who reported there were enemy carriers at Adak, but rumor has it that he is now carrying a rifle in China.

[tocaff]

China, Japan's Russian front?

[kaleun]

China, Japan's Russian front?

Burma would be worse, I think

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

It seems that a submarine had reported enemy ships at Adak and the three carriers had moved in to attack. As they moved closer to the American base, however, a scout plane, groping through the fog and mist, sent back a radio report that the enemy fleet there consisted of several aircraft carriers with a strong escort.

The phrase "fog of war" is no accident. [;)] Outstanding writing, as always!

[Cuttlefish]

October 23, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 6
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Perform routine maintenance and repairs and await further orders.

---

Late in the morning Captain Ishii turns command of the ship over to Lieutenant Miharu. He tosses a knapsack into a small launch and pilots the boat south down the string of islands stretching south from Roi-Namur.

The day is fine and the water inside the lagoon calm. Ishii concentrates on the currents and the tide and on avoiding the heads of coral lying just under the water near the islands. As he looks down into the clear water he can see fish, eels, small sharks, and other marine life.

He soon realizes that he is very much enjoying the simple task of piloting the small boat. It has been far too long since he has done something like this. He has never completely lost the thrill he felt the first time he conned the 371’ Hibiki away from dock and out into the open ocean, but right now he is captain of a crew of one and it is a welcome change.

He motors south until he is out of sight of any Japanese ships or facilities. At length he sees what he is looking for, a small island that is no more than a spit of sand with a cluster of palm trees on it. He turns the launch and threads it through coral outcroppings until it grounds on the sand, then jumps out and pulls it further up on the beach.

This done, he reaches in and lifts out the knapsack. He trudges over to the palm trees as crabs scurry out of his way. Sitting in the shade, his back against the trunk of the largest tree, he opens the knapsack. From it he pulls out a bottle of sake and takes a long drink, then sets the bottle down in the sand next to him. There is some food in there too, but he leaves it for the moment.

For the next few hours Captain Ishii just sits there, watching the water. Except for the noise of the surf from the other side of the island and the occasional cry of a seabird there are no other sounds. There is no sign of another human being. Until the sun gets low on the horizon the captain of the Hibiki remains on the small island, basking in the rare and blessed silence.

[Cuttlefish]

October 24, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 6
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Perform routine maintenance and repairs and await further orders.

[Cuttlefish]

October 25, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 6
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Perform routine maintenance and repairs and await further orders.

[Cuttlefish]

October 26, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 6
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Perform routine maintenance and repairs and await further orders.

---

From the medical log of the Hibiki for October 26, 1942, as entered by medical officer Lieutenant JG Nakagawa:

0530: Treated Seaman Second Class Huzioka for cuts on scalp, broken nose, and contusions. Patient claims to have fallen off dock while returning from leave, but his injuries are consistent with having a bottle broken over his head and being beaten with fists. Recommend one day rest off duty, matter referred to Lieutenant Miharu.

0650: Petty Officer Second Class Shoji, fractured left forearm. Arm caught between netted cargo and bulkhead while ship loading supplies. Set arm and placed in cast. Recommend light duty until injury heals.

0950: Seaman First Class Nagaaki came to dispensary with swollen thumb. Thumb found to be broken, set and placed in cast. No duty recommendation, but advised patient to hit people with thumb outside of fist, not inside.

1330: Saw Seaman Second Class Sato. Patient complained of abdominal cramping, frequent and watery bowel movements. Diagnosed possible dysentary. Ordered patient isolated, recommended complete rest and that he drink large amounts of water. After questioning patient referred matter to medical officers ashore for investigation of possible unsanitary conditions.

1515: Treated Ensign Handa for sore tooth. Tooth (upper right rear molar) found to be heavily decayed. Removed with pliers. No duty recommendation.

[kaleun]

The level of detail is fantastic!

[tocaff]

Pliers for the tooth!  How about something for the pain?  I notice that you keep the story rated PG, no comfort women?  I just figured that I'd ask since shore leave, booze and fights seem to be the order of the day.  [:-]

[kaleun]

Reminds me of the war movies from the 40s and fifties. All the girls were decently covered, no hanky panky going on, and nobody used any worse curse word than "darn"
 
[8|]It seems like the enemy were always repairing their socks!

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: tocaff

Pliers for the tooth!  How about something for the pain?  I notice that you keep the story rated PG, no comfort women?  I just figured that I'd ask since shore leave, booze and fights seem to be the order of the day.  [:-]

I figure that any story that has sailors coming in off a three month cruise and NOT indulging in booze and fighting is going to lose all credibility. Comfort women...that's another issue entirely. I have touched very lightly on forced labor, vanished POWs, and other topics, but I don't intend to dwell on them. These things happened, and there is a time and place to talk about them. This AAR is not that time or place.

[cantona2]

Loveeeeeeeeee this AAR

[bradfordkay]

Captain Ishii has certainly found his paradise, hasn't he?

For most of us here it would have to be a little larger island, with a south pacific plantation home on the hill with a wind generator powering your computer and satellite internet connection for PBEM in the evenings...

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

October 26, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 6
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Perform routine maintenance and repairs and await further orders.


0950: Seaman First Class Nagaaki came to dispensary with swollen thumb. Thumb found to be broken, set and placed in cast. No duty recommendation, but advised patient to hit people with thumb outside of fist, not inside.

Somewhere in Japan there is a father who left out that part of his son's education. [:-]

BTW, I forgot to compliment you on turning an increase in system damage into a paragraph dealing with the Chief Engineer. How's that unbalanced shaft doing?

[tocaff]

Aye aye CF.  I was just fooling around.  I'm immensly enjoying the tales that you weave.

[kaleun]

That's the difficulty with running a PG AAR.
We have to watch the language and the s3xual content.
 
 
[8|]And let's not forget the pervasive use of tobacco.

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock


BTW, I forgot to compliment you on turning an increase in system damage into a paragraph dealing with the Chief Engineer. How's that unbalanced shaft doing?

Thank you, Capt. Harlock, and once again you have anticipated a future entry. We will get back to that before long.

ORIGIANL: tocaff

Aye aye CF. I was just fooling around. I'm immensly enjoying the tales that you weave.

No problem, it just seemed like a good time to mention some of the boundaries I've set for myself. Glad you are enjoying the tales!

[Cuttlefish]

October 27, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 6
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Perform routine maintenance and repairs and await further orders.

---

Shiro Kuramata is standing beside the forward 5” turret. He has a chipping hammer in one hand and a wire brush in the other and is wielding them with dexterity. Chips of gray paint are flying through the air and forming a nice pile around his feet. To his left Seaman Second Class Hikaru Shoji is doing the same work, though without quite as much speed and skill.

The air is warm and humid. Both men are stripped to the waist and sweating heavily as they work.

“When I am no longer in the Navy,” grunts Hikaru, “I am never going to paint anything ever again.” A big chip of paint flies back and strikes him in the forehead, then falls to the deck. Shiro grins.

“I enjoy painting,” he says, “but I agree it may be a long time before I want to paint something gray.” He stops and gestures at a spot up and to Hikaru’s left. “You missed a spot,” he says. Hikaru glares at the offending spot and grunts.

“Seriously, I think I have stripped and painted this turret three times since the war started,” he says. “Not to mention the rest of the ship. Chip and paint, chip and paint, chip and paint! What would it hurt if we stopped painting the ship for even a month or two?”

“Rust,” says Shiro, not pausing in his work. “The enemy of every warship, from gunboat to aircraft carrier.”

“The enemy of every sailor, you mean,” grumbles Hikaru. The conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Riku, who is carrying two five-gallon buckets of gray paint. He sets them down on the deck next to the two men and flexes his hands.

“There you go, gentlemen,” he says, “courtesy of the ship’s stores.” He pauses and looks over the side of the turret. “You missed a spot,” he says to Hikaru, pointing to the area up and to the left. Hikaru rolls his eyes in exasperation. Riku laughs and lifts up a small bucket he had somehow balanced on top of one of the paint cans. “I brought you some water,” he said. Both men thank him. Hikaru takes the bucket, drinks deeply, and then offers it to Shiro.

When the men are done Riku takes back the empty bucket and departs. The two sailors return to their work. A few moments later a low voice speaks from behind Hikaru.

“You missed a spot,” it says.

“Will everyone just shut up about the damned spot…” says Hikaru, turning impatiently. His voice shuts off in something close to a moan as he sees who he is talking to.

“Please, continue your statement,” says Chief Petty Officer Shun. He pauses and examines the callused knuckles of his right hand. “Start again with the part where you told me to shut up. That was very interesting…”

[kaleun]

You know; i keep checking back on this over and over again, to see if there's more.
 
[8|]I seem to have a problem!