Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[princep01]

The Scharnhorst's mugger floats across the screen.
 
As 1943 draws near, an American fist begins to ball.  The days of fast and easy Japanese victories flow into a time of intense defensive preparations for Hibiki and the nation she fights for.

[kaleun]

[:D]I have this image of the Graf Spee cutting the waves, in black and white, while a deep voice narrates the introductory scenes of "The battle of the River Plate"

[Cuttlefish]

November 3, 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.

---

Excerpt from a letter from Lieutenant Miharu to his wife:

…but as it turned out he only inspected one destroyer, and that one wasn’t Hibiki. Ah well, at least the ship is as clean as I’ve ever seen it. For the moment. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly and relentlessly the forces of the sea act on any creation of man; corrosion, the endless battering of the water, barnacles fouling every surface they can reach. In a very real sense we spend more time fighting against the ocean than we do the enemy.

The rest here has been good for us, though. The crew has more spring in their step, and most of the wear and tear of the last few months has been undone. We have had some crew reassigned to other ships, and have taken on new crew to replace them. The disruption is minor, though, and so far the command staff is unaffected.

The ship and the men are ready for battle again. The enemy has been unusually quiet, though. I have heard many opinions that the war is over for all practical purposes, but as you know I do not share that opinion. The only question in my mind is where will they strike, not if they will strike.

Of course not all the talk here is of war. A funny thing happened the other day. It seems one of the ensigns got hold of a bucket full of coconut crabs and decided the best place to put them was in Ensign Handa’s bunk…

[Cuttlefish]

November 4, 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.

[Cuttlefish]

November 5, 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.

[Cuttlefish]

November 6, 1942

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

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

---

Captain Ishii leaves the radio room. He returns to the bridge and speaks to one of the new midshipman, who is recording the readings of some of the weather instruments.

“Midshipman Konada, please locate Lieutenant Miharu and ask him to report to the bridge as soon as possible.” The midshipman salutes and departs. Captain Ishii picks up the bridge phone and places a call down to the engine rooms. He speaks briefly, and as he is hanging up Lieutenant Miharu climbs onto the bridge.

“You sent for me, sir?” he asks. Captain Ishii nods.

“Yes, Exec. We are being placed on alert and need to be ready to sail on one hour’s notice. Please alert the crew and recall everybody ashore.”

“Yes sir. Do we know what has prompted this?”

“We do,” says Ishii. “At 0900 this morning a column of British warships was spotted off Gili Gili. They are under attack by our land-based air in the region, but their strength and intentions are unclear. Reports are still spotty and confused. The fleet is getting ready to sortie if required.”

“I see, sir. I will carry out your orders immediately,” says Lieutenant Miharu. He salutes and departs. Captain Ishii makes an entry in the ship’s log, then returns to the radio room to see if there is any further information.

[kaleun]

Good. War's on again!

[Knavey]

ORIGINAL: 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..

I think he just did! That is...write the AAR! [:D]

[kaleun]

It ended up being the Hirakaze that was torpedoed. The Hibiki is safe in the gulf of SIam.
Phew!

[princep01]

Funny how things go in different WitP games.  In my PBEM game, the date is now April 9, 1942.  22 Japanese destroyers have been dispatched to Davey Jones' Locker.  However, as the Allies, I have seen Hibiki exactly one time in the game.  She was escorting an invasion force landing in NW Sumatra.  The ship was attacked, but not hit. 

[Capt. Harlock]

At 0900 this morning a column of British warships was spotted off Gili Gili. They are under attack by our land-based air in the region, but their strength and intentions are unclear

British rather than American warships? Too bad -- we're a week away from the historical date of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. It would have been interesting to have a surface dust-up with the USN on that day . . . On the other hand, my compliments to the Hibiki for reducing system damage to zero![:)]

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: princep01

As 1943 draws near, an American fist begins to ball.  The days of fast and easy Japanese victories flow into a time of intense defensive preparations for Hibiki and the nation she fights for.

Nicely put!

ORIGINAL: kaleun

It ended up being the Hirakaze that was torpedoed. The Hibiki is safe in the gulf of SIam.
Phew!

That was my worst nightmare on starting this AAR, that Hibiki would have a fatal encounter with an enemy sub on the first day of the war.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

On the other hand, my compliments to the Hibiki for reducing system damage to zero!

Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised by that. In a size 5 port with one AR, a fleet HQ, and about two dozen other vessels with light damage it took only 17 days to remove all 9 points of Hibiki's system damage.

[Cuttlefish]

November 7, 1942

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

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

---

The Japanese fleet does not sortie from Kwajalein the day that the British ships are sighted near Gili Gili, nor do they sortie the next day. Reports come in that the British ships endure a heavy torpedo attack from Japanese twin-engine bombers based at Lae and Rabaul and abruptly reverse course. They vanish again from view, but Japanese pilots report four British heavy cruisers sunk or heavily damaged. This news is greeted aboard the Hibiki with a grain of salt.

“Four heavy cruisers, eh? What do you think, Exec?” asks Captain Ishii. Lieutenant Miharu gives a small smile.

“I would never doubt the veracity of our pilots, of course” says Lieutenant Miharu. “I have heard that one County-class cruiser was observed to sink, so my guess is one heavy cruiser and one destroyer sunk.”

“Not a bad guess,” says the captain. “Since there were two groups of pilots, my guess is that they each reported the same two cruisers sunk. So make it two heavy cruisers.”

“We won’t of course learn the truth until after the war, when we can examine their records,” says Lieutenant Miharu. “The more interesting question, of course, is what were they doing there. No enemy ship has approached Gili Gili since the enemy seized it months ago, at least that I have heard.” Captain Ishii shrugs.

“I imagine Imperial Headquarters has some idea, but they aren’t sharing their knowledge with destroyer captains if so,” he says. “Perhaps they were trying to get supplies past our blockade, or perhaps they were hoping to intercept our surface forces which routinely shell the place. Again, we probably won’t learn anything for a long time.”

“Still, it’s the first sign of enemy activity in the Pacific in some time,” says the lieutenant. “I don’t think things will stay quiet much longer, Captain.”

“Good,” says Captain Ishii. “If they are going to keep fighting let’s be at it and settle this war.” Lieutenant Miharu looks doubtful.

“Sir, with all respect…” he begins. Captain Ishii cuts him off.

“Yes, yes, Exec, I know what you think. When the Americans attack they will bring overwhelming force. Well, maybe so. But I will still wager the fighting spirit of Japan against the might of America’s factories any day.”

“I hope you are right, sir,” says Lieutenant Miharu. “I really do.”

[Cuttlefish]

November 8, 1942

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

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

[Cuttlefish]

November 9, 1942

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

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

---

Ensign Izu comes off duty. After eating a meal in the junior officer’s wardroom he heads wearily for his bunk. Unlike the enlisted men the officers have actual sleeping quarters, though they are small and cramped. Izu swings nimbly up into his bunk, careful not to hit his head. The deck above is less than two feet above him as he lies prone.

In this climate no one bothers with blankets. There is a pillow, however, and seconds before his head reaches it Izu catches a strong, fishy smell. His head thumps into the pillow, but instead of the usual comforting feel of buckwheat chaff under his head there is a loud and unpleasant squishing noise. The smell becomes much worse. Izu recoils with a yell and with a painful thump strikes his head on the deck close overhead.

Izu curses and rubs his head, then gingerly reaches into the pillow, which he now sees is slit open on one end. His hand encounters something slimy and with an expression of disgust he pulls out a freshly dead squid. The bulging eyes of the cephalopod regard him with an accusing expression. Izu flings the squid to the deck below with a splat.

“Handa…” he mutters to himself.

[String]

[:D]

[princep01]

Yummmmmm....calamari for a midnight snack.

[Cuttlefish]

November 10, 1942

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

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

---

The Hibiki’s boat ties up alongside the destroyer and a group of crewmen swarm aboard, moving smartly despite being obviously disgruntled at having their leaves cancelled. As Lieutenant Miharu watches them he is approached by Chief Torpedo Officer Sugiyura. He returns Sugiyura’s salute and waits for the inevitable question.

“On alert again!” comments Sugiyura. “Tell me, Lieutenant, have you heard what the cause is this time? Have the British returned to Gili Gili?” Lieutenant Miharu shakes his head.

“No,” he replies, “It’s Paramushiro Jima, of all places. American warships have been spotted less than 200 miles east of the island, and they are moving west.”

“Paramushiro Jima! What could the enemy be doing up there?” asks Sugiyura. Lieutenant Miharu spreads his hands in a gesture of bafflement.

“I have no idea,” he says. “But we are back on alert.”

“Paramushiro Jima,” repeats Sugiyura. “I’ve been looking forward to a fight, but there? It’s getting on into winter up there.”

“I know,” says Miharu. “Fog, ice, storms – it’s a terrible place for ships to fight. But if that is where the enemy is going to make his move…”

“Then that is where we will meet him,” finishes Sugiyura. “That is true, Executive Officer, but couldn’t the Americans pick someplace warmer?”

[Onime No Kyo]

From the frying pan.....into the freezer. [:D]

[Cuttlefish]

November 11, 1942

Location: Kwajalein
Course: Northwest
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: Proceed to the Kuril Islands.

---

Reports come in that Paramushiro Jima was shelled during the night by enemy battleships. And now the area around the base has been completely socked in by heavy fog. Japanese planes can find no sight of the enemy, despite the fact that they must be close. This lack of information does nothing to ease Japanese bafflement as to the enemy’s intentions. Is this just a raid, a prelude to invasion, or something else?

At any rate, it is not a situation that can be ignored. The six fast Japanese carriers are formed into two task forces and ordered north. Hibiki is ordered to accompany carriers Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Soryu in task force 72 under the command of Admiral Ozawa. Akagi, Kaga, and Hiryu form the nucleus of the second task force. The light carriers, along with Junyo and Hiyo, are deemed too slow to make such a long journey and are left behind.

The ships are made ready to depart quickly but without any sense of panic. It will take at least eight days to reach the area, and by then the situation may be completely different. By midday the powerful task forces depart Kwajalein and head for Paramushiro Jima, some 2000 miles north.

---

Task Force 72: