Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Cuttlefish]

October 28, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

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

[Cuttlefish]

October 29, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 4
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

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

---

Riku is ashore at Namur. He is approaching the quartermaster’s office, clipboard in hand, when he sees a man he knows from the light cruiser Kiso coming out of the building.

“Hello, Yanagawa,” he says cheerfully. “How are you doing?” The other man raises a hand in greeting.

“Hey, Ariga, how are you?” he says. He gestures back at the quartermaster’s office. “I’m trying to get hold of some more canned fruit before we have to ship out again, but no luck.”

“Really?” says Riku. “I might be able to help you there. We were down at Luganville not too long ago and I have a storeroom full of canned pineapple. Would twelve cases help?” Yanagawa’s eyes light up, then he stops and eyes Riku.

“It certainly would,” he says. “What are you looking for?” Riku makes a show of examining his clipboard, even though he knows to the last item everything the Hibiki still needs.

“Hmm,” he says. “You just came from Tokyo, right? You wouldn’t happen to have any beer, by chance?”

“You don’t expect me to give up any of that, do you?” says Yanagawa. Riku shrugs.

“Just a thought,” he says. “That pineapple is pretty good, though. It tastes wonderful after a couple of weeks at sea. So juicy, so sweet…” Yanagawa holds up a hand.

“All right, all right,” he says. “Two cases.” Riku considers.

“Only two?” he says. “I suppose that would do if I could fill in a couple of other items I need. Do you have any onions?” Yanangawa nods. The two men settle down to dickering in earnest. In the end Riku gets three cases of beer, nine sacks of onions, thirty dozen eggs, and a spare motor for a Type 19 pump in exchange for twelve cases of pineapple.

The deal done, the two men go their separate ways. Riku starts once again for the quartmaster’s office but is stopped by a hail from behind him. He turns and sees a man he knows from destroyer Shigure hurrying up to him.

“Hey, Ariga,” says the man, “I hear you still have some crates of mangoes to spare. Are you interested in swapping them for anything?” Riku again makes a show of consulting his clipboard.

“Let’s see…” he says.

[Onime No Kyo]

Ah, yes! The young man has finally blossomed into a scrounger extrordinaire. I knew he would someday do his country and mother proud. [:D]

[Cuttlefish]

October 30, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

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

---

“I see,” says Captain Ishii. “And how long will this take?” Chief Engineer Sakati considers the question for only a second.

“Twelve hours, sir” he says. “No more.”

“You are aware, of course,” says Ishii, “that we are under orders to be ready to sortie at twenty-four hours notice. You and I both know that if something happens we may not have even that long. I can give you eight hours.” Sakati considers.

“Very well, sir,” he says. “I can promise that we will be done by then. Shall we begin immediately?” Captain Ishii nods.

“Proceed, Chief Engineer. Let me know if any problems develop.” Sakati salutes and departs. Once he descends from the tower he collects his waiting crew.

“Come on, lads,” he says. “We have six hours to get that gearbox apart, get everything lined up properly, and get it all back together.” He leads the way down to the engine rooms. With luck this will correct the shaft vibration. Sakati hates anything that has an effect on the ship’s top speed, and somehow every little thing that goes wrong on the ship has a way of slowing the destroyer down. Repairs on the ship are going faster than expected though, given the limited facilities available, and he expects that soon all important repairs and maintenance will be complete.

[alaviner]

Great job CF. I am sure you have told us before but have you ever published aything?  You definately have the talent and a great story telling style.

[brisd]

I just got caught up on the story.  Well done!  Great characters and fine writing, I shall look forward to each entry.  I do think the IJN should use its current superiority in naval forces to attack a target worth some victory points, such as in India, Ceylon or Australia that might bring out the US forces to battle.  Sweeping empty seas and 'waving the flag' in front of the bull (Halsey) is not going to win the war IMO.

[Feinder]

I know it's just me being a narrow visioned American, but I still have trouble with the names of the characters.  It would be much easier to keep track of them all if they were named Gilligan, Skipper, Professor, Mr. Howell.
[;)]
 
-F-

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: NCSUforest

Great job CF. I am sure you have told us before but have you ever published aything? You definately have the talent and a great story telling style.

Thank you kindly! Nope, I am unpublished (unless you count winning the LA Times Halloween scary story contest once).

ORIGINAL: brisd

I just got caught up on the story. Well done! Great characters and fine writing, I shall look forward to each entry. I do think the IJN should use its current superiority in naval forces to attack a target worth some victory points, such as in India, Ceylon or Australia that might bring out the US forces to battle. Sweeping empty seas and 'waving the flag' in front of the bull (Halsey) is not going to win the war IMO.

I'm glad you have enjoyed it so far. As far as your suggestion goes, I'm generally reluctant to discuss grand strategy in this AAR, though I will sometimes provide some context for the Hibiki's actions via the excerpts from Morris Elliott Samuelson's books. Certainly the crew enjoys speculating on what they think Imperial Headquarters or the enemy are up to, but their information is often incomplete and their conclusions sometimes dead wrong.

It is apparent from reading the AAR, though, that what we have here is an Imperial Japan that set out to seize resources and establish a defensible perimeter. Having done that, they are digging in and daring the Allies to do their worst. Essentially they have followed the historic Japanese plan without the addition of any symptoms of victory disease.

The Imperial Japanese Navy is intact, and in fact much stronger than when the war started. They have handily won every engagement with the enemy, and from their point of view there is no reason they should not continue to do so. The goals of the war have been achieved, and really all that is left is for the Americans to admit they are beaten.

That’s the point of view from the AAR, anyway. I might go over the course and strategy of the game from a player’s point of view once the game is over.

ORIGINAL: Feinder

I know it's just me being a narrow visioned American, but I still have trouble with the names of the characters. It would be much easier to keep track of them all if they were named Gilligan, Skipper, Professor, Mr. Howell.

I’ll tell you what. If the Hibiki gets sunk I will continue the AAR by having seven survivors end up on an uncharted desert isle. They can give each other nicknames like “Little Buddy” and try to repair their radio using coconuts and bamboo.

[kaleun]

I’ll tell you what. If the Hibiki gets sunk I will continue the AAR by having seven survivors end up on an uncharted desert isle. They can give each other nicknames like “Little Buddy” and try to repair their radio using coconuts and bamboo.

That's so hilarous!

BTW: In my new PBEM game, I'm playing Japanese, for the first time, and Hibiki got sunk by a submarine, on Dec 7th! off the PI. I am soooo bummed![:(]

[Cuttlefish]

October 31, 1942

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

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

[Cuttlefish]

November 1, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

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

---

Shiro comes up from below with another bucket of paint. As he steps out on deck he has to move quickly out of the way as a group of sailors sprint past. They are carrying buckets and mops and being driven along by a harried-looking PO2. Shiro looks after them curiously, then shrugs and starts to carry the paint forward.

He runs into Taiki, who is striding quickly in his direction.

“Get that paint on quickly, Seaman Kurumata,” says Taiki, indicating the bucket. “I need your help elsewhere. Come to the gun tub when you are finished. And whatever you do, make sure everything gets stowed properly. Don’t leave even a small chip of paint on the deck.”

“Certainly, Petty Officer,” says Shiro. “Um, if I may ask, what’s going on? Why the rush?” A pair of sailors brush past him and begin energetically polishing the rail.

“What, you haven’t heard? He’s coming here, to Kwajalein. He’ll be here tomorrow,” says Taiki.

“He? Who, Petty Officer?” asks Shiro.

“Admiral Yamamoto,” says Taiki, and hurries on his way.

[Onime No Kyo]

I think Nagumo's about to get the tongue lashing of his life. I seem to remember that he and Yamamoto were never on good terms.

[brisd]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

I'm glad you have enjoyed it so far. As far as your suggestion goes, I'm generally reluctant to discuss grand strategy in this AAR, though I will sometimes provide some context for the Hibiki's actions via the excerpts from Morris Elliott Samuelson's books. Certainly the crew enjoys speculating on what they think Imperial Headquarters or the enemy are up to, but their information is often incomplete and their conclusions sometimes dead wrong.

It is apparent from reading the AAR, though, that what we have here is an Imperial Japan that set out to seize resources and establish a defensible perimeter. Having done that, they are digging in and daring the Allies to do their worst. Essentially they have followed the historic Japanese plan without the addition of any symptoms of victory disease.

The Imperial Japanese Navy is intact, and in fact much stronger than when the war started. They have handily won every engagement with the enemy, and from their point of view there is no reason they should not continue to do so. The goals of the war have been achieved, and really all that is left is for the Americans to admit they are beaten.

That’s the point of view from the AAR, anyway. I might go over the course and strategy of the game from a player’s point of view once the game is over.

A good explanation. Personally I feel Japan must use its fleet, airforce and army in an offensive manner until so many VP's are accrued as to win Autovictory. I can appreciate a defensive stategy, I just don't think Japan has the tools to do so against overwelming Allied forces in the long run. After I've played this game to conclusion, sometime in 2010, I may revise that opinion. [;)] Enough about grand strategy, let's see what the boss has to say about sailing the fleet around using up precious fuel without any results...

[bradfordkay]

"I’ll tell you what. If the Hibiki gets sunk I will continue the AAR by having seven survivors end up on an uncharted desert isle. They can give each other nicknames like “Little Buddy” and try to repair their radio using coconuts and bamboo."

So, should we start taking bets as to who will be wearing the coconuts and grass skirts? [;)]

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: kaleun

I’ll tell you what. If the Hibiki gets sunk I will continue the AAR by having seven survivors end up on an uncharted desert isle. They can give each other nicknames like “Little Buddy” and try to repair their radio using coconuts and bamboo.

That's so hilarous!

BTW: In my new PBEM game, I'm playing Japanese, for the first time, and Hibiki got sunk by a submarine, on Dec 7th! off the PI. I am soooo bummed![:(]

You missed an occasion of writing the shortest AAR in history..

[Cuttlefish]

November 2, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

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

---

A slight breeze ruffles the waters of Kwajalein lagoon. Riding at anchor in those waters is the destroyer Hibiki. The ship fairly gleams. The decks are scrubbed, fittings are polished, and fresh paint is in evidence everywhere. New flags and pennants flutter in the wind. Every gun is trained at precisely the right angle, and the crew is neatly groomed and turned out in their dress whites.

Admiral Yamamoto arrives at Kwajalein in the morning and spends a couple of hours closeted with Admiral Nagumo, Admiral Shimizu, and several other senior officers. At 1300 he emerges from the meeting and word is swiftly passed that he will inspect the fleet. Soon a boat carrying the Admiral and his staff is heading toward the anchored ships.

The crew of the Hibiki is turned out for review. The men are given last minute scrutiny by sharp-eyed petty officers, and minor transgressions are swiftly corrected. All eyes turn to the approaching boat, which is unmistakably heading first for the double row of fifteen destroyers.

Yamamoto seems to be heading directly for the Hibiki. Officers and enlisted men alike feel ready. They are proud of their ship and its record, and they have worked tremendously hard to ensure that the destroyer has never looked better. The Admiral’s boat draws closer.

It then swings around the bow of the ship and ties up alongside Ariake, the next ship in line. The crew of the Hibiki remain in formation and watch as Yamamoto tours Ariake, pausing to speak with her captain and some of her crew. At length he climbs back down the ladder and his boat moves on, away from the destroyers and towards the capital ships.

As the admiral’s boat dwindles in the distance the Hibiki’s crew is dismissed.

[Onime No Kyo]

Awww...youre not going to introduce us to Yamamoto, CF? [:(]

[Capt. Harlock]

As the admiral’s boat dwindles in the distance the Hibiki’s crew is dismissed.

Hurry up and wait . . . the story of life in military the whole world over!

[kaleun]

Realistic though.

[Feinder]

Must...
 
Have...
 
Hibiki...
 
Fix...
 

 
-F-