The little ship that could.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: ouch
23 april
The bombers drone south
The fighters swarm in escort
the P 38's snarl as they intercept....
It goes on, day after day, after day.
The allies unload to Lunga's south, a new menace, Kirakira. How long before a strip appears there?
55th division boards trains, at last.
Hosho rests his weary feet, 15th army will go to Moulmien, deep reserve.
For a soldier, how good is this!
The bombers drone south
The fighters swarm in escort
the P 38's snarl as they intercept....
It goes on, day after day, after day.
The allies unload to Lunga's south, a new menace, Kirakira. How long before a strip appears there?
55th division boards trains, at last.
Hosho rests his weary feet, 15th army will go to Moulmien, deep reserve.
For a soldier, how good is this!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
24 April
Zuiho slices south.
Nearly 30 pairs of eyes are now scanning her horizons, attempting to find the nearly impossible to find.
The razor thin feather of an approaching periscope.
None today are sighted.
But they are out there, and not a mind does not spend some time thinking about them.
The ship continues to "bed herself" back into shape.
There is a rule navy engineers have been following ever since the dawn of steam, probably longer.
You will never solve all your problems alongside, you must get to sea, get them sorted out, out THERE.
And so today, from the aviation department, to the cooks, Zuiho is "getting her crap together"
At Lunga, Captain Ono Takeji is carving a reputation.
Again he leads CL Kato, Kumakiso and the destroyer Asanagi deep into the dark waters .
This time he strikes at a smaller convoy, 3 small escorts are sunk, a large Transport hit.
Not decisive, another blow in the battle.
Another blow in the battle............................japan loses 37 planes to 12 today
She builds 7.
Zuiho slices south.
Nearly 30 pairs of eyes are now scanning her horizons, attempting to find the nearly impossible to find.
The razor thin feather of an approaching periscope.
None today are sighted.
But they are out there, and not a mind does not spend some time thinking about them.
The ship continues to "bed herself" back into shape.
There is a rule navy engineers have been following ever since the dawn of steam, probably longer.
You will never solve all your problems alongside, you must get to sea, get them sorted out, out THERE.
And so today, from the aviation department, to the cooks, Zuiho is "getting her crap together"
At Lunga, Captain Ono Takeji is carving a reputation.
Again he leads CL Kato, Kumakiso and the destroyer Asanagi deep into the dark waters .
This time he strikes at a smaller convoy, 3 small escorts are sunk, a large Transport hit.
Not decisive, another blow in the battle.
Another blow in the battle............................japan loses 37 planes to 12 today
She builds 7.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
Another blow in the battle............................japan loses 37 planes to 12 today
She builds 7.
And that says it all.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
-
Gridley380
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:24 pm
RE: ouch
ORIGINAL: 1275psi
Another blow in the battle............................japan loses 37 planes to 12 today
She builds 7.
As noted above, your prose is brilliant. That is the hard part of good writing. You can learn grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and tenses. You can't learn to write little bits of genius like the above - you either do or you don't.
You do.
RE: ouch
Hi
feel alittle awkward after last comments, as in my mind, I have a lot to say about this in future posts...........a lot.
In fact, much will be driven by it
The harsh realities of war are pressing onto me!
I hope all are enjoying the journey! (I am, man this is a good game we got going!)
feel alittle awkward after last comments, as in my mind, I have a lot to say about this in future posts...........a lot.
In fact, much will be driven by it
The harsh realities of war are pressing onto me!
I hope all are enjoying the journey! (I am, man this is a good game we got going!)
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
25th April
Zuiho slides across beautiful sparkling seas.
The ocean is calm, the moon is full, bathing her in gentle light.
It is hard to imagine that a war is raging many miles to the south. But it is not very hard to imagine. Walk about our little ship this fine evening, and war is everywhere.
In the hanger, sweating, labouring cursing men are drilling, racing in teams of three to sling a fish into a waiting kate belly. The winning team has been promised an issue of sake from Hidaka himself. Nobody wants to be on the losing team, shame of losing will only be the first punishment…….
On her upper decks, those keen eyes search endlessly the horizon. A man transferred by magic from a peacetime navy would not recognise these men, there are no periods of relaxation, of rest, of banter.
There is too much at stake.
And the men know it
Up forward, a fire drill is taking place, and (if you really know your stuff) you will spy many other minor little changes from this ship since those heady days of peace.
Zuiho, internally, is a bare , uncomfortable beast now. The burning death of Junyo, has been seared into the navies mind. There are few furnishings about now, no wooden panelling.
There are far more fire extinguishers, and the hoses, usually so neatly stored, lie ugly, ready to be raced out now, ready to be instantly charged.
And, finally, if you descend deeper, the hatches, the doors, everyone dogged down hard, that impede process, that make life so difficult.
You notice these.
There is something else though, that only Zuiho men notice.
Tension fills Zuiho. It is on every face, not blatantly, but it is there. Laughter is muted. Men move silently to each job, each task.
War is raging in the south pacific.
War rages on Zuiho, in mens minds, in mens hearts.
But comrade ship holds the fear at bay.
Hidaka finds Kato on the “big span” (how fast these names develop. That little box of Tans on the flight deck is already the “little span”. It has proven useful for leaving harbour, but little else.
Given time, and Hidaka will appropriate it all.
The big span has something the little span dare not show, hidden, shielded lights, under which Kato, holds a message.
His hands, notes Hidaka, shake ever so slightly………….
‘From Car div 2
To
Combined Fleet
‘have been attacked by SS pack, position #$%^%$
CV Soryu hit by dud, 2210 hrs, CV Hiryu narrowly missed 2215 hrs”
‘Nil damage, enemy SS escaped undetected”
Hidaka expresses it ‘Damination”
‘Yes, damination. We must have passed over them only 6 hours ago. But worse. They know we are coming now”
Kato turns to Hidaka. “ I never thought we would arrive undetected. But to lose a carrier now…….”
Zuiho is a good little ship. But she cannot win the war on her own.
26 April
Munda launches 6 Kate torpedo bombers south just before dawn.
They are, as usual, waved away with the usual fanfare, the shouts of banzia.
Their fish gleam sleekly in the early light.
There are targets a plenty south, the hunting should be good.
They are never heard of again
Later, 5 Vals arrive over Lunga, 16 oscars flying top cover.
Almost on cue, the glittering shapes of the enemy peel in towards them. Confidently, the escorts wheel towards them , ready to begin the daily dance.
There is a new player. Ugly, squat, with horrible gull shaped wings.
And it is deadly.
The Vals, ignorant of the sacrifices being wrung behind them, will dive, and hit a DD, and return
Few, a very few of the Oscars will.
Zuiho arrives Ulithi . Anchors.
She needs fuel. They all do. But it will be the usual story. Hurry up and wait.
Zuiho slides across beautiful sparkling seas.
The ocean is calm, the moon is full, bathing her in gentle light.
It is hard to imagine that a war is raging many miles to the south. But it is not very hard to imagine. Walk about our little ship this fine evening, and war is everywhere.
In the hanger, sweating, labouring cursing men are drilling, racing in teams of three to sling a fish into a waiting kate belly. The winning team has been promised an issue of sake from Hidaka himself. Nobody wants to be on the losing team, shame of losing will only be the first punishment…….
On her upper decks, those keen eyes search endlessly the horizon. A man transferred by magic from a peacetime navy would not recognise these men, there are no periods of relaxation, of rest, of banter.
There is too much at stake.
And the men know it
Up forward, a fire drill is taking place, and (if you really know your stuff) you will spy many other minor little changes from this ship since those heady days of peace.
Zuiho, internally, is a bare , uncomfortable beast now. The burning death of Junyo, has been seared into the navies mind. There are few furnishings about now, no wooden panelling.
There are far more fire extinguishers, and the hoses, usually so neatly stored, lie ugly, ready to be raced out now, ready to be instantly charged.
And, finally, if you descend deeper, the hatches, the doors, everyone dogged down hard, that impede process, that make life so difficult.
You notice these.
There is something else though, that only Zuiho men notice.
Tension fills Zuiho. It is on every face, not blatantly, but it is there. Laughter is muted. Men move silently to each job, each task.
War is raging in the south pacific.
War rages on Zuiho, in mens minds, in mens hearts.
But comrade ship holds the fear at bay.
Hidaka finds Kato on the “big span” (how fast these names develop. That little box of Tans on the flight deck is already the “little span”. It has proven useful for leaving harbour, but little else.
Given time, and Hidaka will appropriate it all.
The big span has something the little span dare not show, hidden, shielded lights, under which Kato, holds a message.
His hands, notes Hidaka, shake ever so slightly………….
‘From Car div 2
To
Combined Fleet
‘have been attacked by SS pack, position #$%^%$
CV Soryu hit by dud, 2210 hrs, CV Hiryu narrowly missed 2215 hrs”
‘Nil damage, enemy SS escaped undetected”
Hidaka expresses it ‘Damination”
‘Yes, damination. We must have passed over them only 6 hours ago. But worse. They know we are coming now”
Kato turns to Hidaka. “ I never thought we would arrive undetected. But to lose a carrier now…….”
Zuiho is a good little ship. But she cannot win the war on her own.
26 April
Munda launches 6 Kate torpedo bombers south just before dawn.
They are, as usual, waved away with the usual fanfare, the shouts of banzia.
Their fish gleam sleekly in the early light.
There are targets a plenty south, the hunting should be good.
They are never heard of again
Later, 5 Vals arrive over Lunga, 16 oscars flying top cover.
Almost on cue, the glittering shapes of the enemy peel in towards them. Confidently, the escorts wheel towards them , ready to begin the daily dance.
There is a new player. Ugly, squat, with horrible gull shaped wings.
And it is deadly.
The Vals, ignorant of the sacrifices being wrung behind them, will dive, and hit a DD, and return
Few, a very few of the Oscars will.
Zuiho arrives Ulithi . Anchors.
She needs fuel. They all do. But it will be the usual story. Hurry up and wait.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
27th April
Re fuelling today is a little easier than normal today.
For four hours she nestles beside the rusting hulk of the tanker, drawing deep from her bowels.
Zuiho’s crew does what all sailors do in this situation, line opposite guardrails, and swap yarns, gossip, rumours.
They of course range from the fantastic, to the absurb
One common vein fills the air.
Japan is kicking but down south. In conceivable that it could be any other way………….
For the Stokers, it is not a day of easy lounging about. The refuelling party are the lucky ones.
Immediately upon arrival, Tan has gotten all but one boiler shut down.
Simple words, no?
But this means cross connecting services. It means multiple bottom blows, soot blows, and all that entails.
But there is a reason, an important one.
All four boilers have only just been re bricked in the refit, it is vital that the furnaces are inspected, and any patch work (there is always patchwork) needed to be done, is done.
But Zuiho will only be alongside for 12 hours.
What happens below, is fearsome work. A mere 4 hours after pulling fires, the furnace entrance bricks are being pulled out, and Charge and Tan will slide into the furnaces.
Ovens
Maybe we should call them that.
They are dressed in heavy clothing, yet it will help little. The air sears them, the boiler tubes literally bake them. They will feel eye balls literally begin to dry out………
But neither falter. How can they?
War is Bushido no? Well, Bushido can appear, be practiced anywhere………..
Fortunately, the news is good. Patching will take but 20 minutes on one boiler, all four will have a little rubble on the floor, easily swept.
By dusk, refuelled, all four boilers again ready, Zuiho will ready to sail again.
At 2200 hours she does.
Hirate is on watch as they clear the atolls reef.
‘Revolutions 230!”
Grimly he turns the fuel throttle, yanks on the blowers speed control handle.
Water piles on her bow, kicks from her arse.
Into the night, she once again steams towards the war.
28th April
From 24th flotilla, Munda
To
Combined fleet
‘Minimal air activity today.
Can confirm presence of 2 fleet carriers operating approximately 400 miles south west, Russell Island.
Also at least one light carrier providing cover near Kirakira island.
BB Arizona has been identified operating in area.
Stop.
Re fuelling today is a little easier than normal today.
For four hours she nestles beside the rusting hulk of the tanker, drawing deep from her bowels.
Zuiho’s crew does what all sailors do in this situation, line opposite guardrails, and swap yarns, gossip, rumours.
They of course range from the fantastic, to the absurb
One common vein fills the air.
Japan is kicking but down south. In conceivable that it could be any other way………….
For the Stokers, it is not a day of easy lounging about. The refuelling party are the lucky ones.
Immediately upon arrival, Tan has gotten all but one boiler shut down.
Simple words, no?
But this means cross connecting services. It means multiple bottom blows, soot blows, and all that entails.
But there is a reason, an important one.
All four boilers have only just been re bricked in the refit, it is vital that the furnaces are inspected, and any patch work (there is always patchwork) needed to be done, is done.
But Zuiho will only be alongside for 12 hours.
What happens below, is fearsome work. A mere 4 hours after pulling fires, the furnace entrance bricks are being pulled out, and Charge and Tan will slide into the furnaces.
Ovens
Maybe we should call them that.
They are dressed in heavy clothing, yet it will help little. The air sears them, the boiler tubes literally bake them. They will feel eye balls literally begin to dry out………
But neither falter. How can they?
War is Bushido no? Well, Bushido can appear, be practiced anywhere………..
Fortunately, the news is good. Patching will take but 20 minutes on one boiler, all four will have a little rubble on the floor, easily swept.
By dusk, refuelled, all four boilers again ready, Zuiho will ready to sail again.
At 2200 hours she does.
Hirate is on watch as they clear the atolls reef.
‘Revolutions 230!”
Grimly he turns the fuel throttle, yanks on the blowers speed control handle.
Water piles on her bow, kicks from her arse.
Into the night, she once again steams towards the war.
28th April
From 24th flotilla, Munda
To
Combined fleet
‘Minimal air activity today.
Can confirm presence of 2 fleet carriers operating approximately 400 miles south west, Russell Island.
Also at least one light carrier providing cover near Kirakira island.
BB Arizona has been identified operating in area.
Stop.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
28th of April
2300 hrs
Zuiho plows south, her decks spooky red lit caverns, mostly quiet, as men grab what rest they can.
Not all, of course, no ship can ever sleep at sea.
Our Stokers are back into defence watch routine, 4 hours on watch, 2 hours at a repair base, or on Damage control patrol.
That, or at the ever present maintenance tasks.
Tonight, the repair bases are busy, despite the deep quiet inside Zuiho.
Communications exercises again are underway.
Simple things, pre written scripts of disasters are fed to a repair base, these are relayed to central, and plotted, and orders as required, go back.
Chinese whispers, but no game.
Tonight, Tan is in central, struggling still to grasp this whole fighting fires thing. Okano tonight is in charge of the fwd repair base, Hirate his off sider.
Poor Lurch is the incident board marker in central, recieving the steady stream of messages.
It is important work, repeated night after night.
And, unfortunately, like much in Japans navy, things are flowing well, far too well.
To have a curve ball thrown into an exercise, to go outside of the routine, to have to think creatively.....................its never going to happen.
Not in Japans navy in 1943.
So Tan, Lurch, all of them go through the motions............
yes, there has been a hit, yes, damage to XYZ, yes, there is a fire, yes, its been fought...........casualties, ah yes, two broken legs, a burn injury, some lucky barsted killed , a sucking chest wound.
Desolutorily, the exercise continues
another hit, the exercise continues...... Hirate takes the script card, turns to Okano. He grins
'hey my friend, pass this one on, i am so bored with this........."
Okano raises an eyebrow.'You going to get me into trouble?'
'No, send this.........."
Tan, half asleep, recieves the next report from Lurch
'One casualty sir,.............a one inch sucking wound to the bowel"
one inch sucking wound to the ............hang on, where?
'Where was that ?"
"repeat the casualty please........"
Lurch laughs. "Fwd repair reports a single casualty sir, a one inch sucking wound to the arsehole.............they say s##t has gone everywhere"
2300 hrs
Zuiho plows south, her decks spooky red lit caverns, mostly quiet, as men grab what rest they can.
Not all, of course, no ship can ever sleep at sea.
Our Stokers are back into defence watch routine, 4 hours on watch, 2 hours at a repair base, or on Damage control patrol.
That, or at the ever present maintenance tasks.
Tonight, the repair bases are busy, despite the deep quiet inside Zuiho.
Communications exercises again are underway.
Simple things, pre written scripts of disasters are fed to a repair base, these are relayed to central, and plotted, and orders as required, go back.
Chinese whispers, but no game.
Tonight, Tan is in central, struggling still to grasp this whole fighting fires thing. Okano tonight is in charge of the fwd repair base, Hirate his off sider.
Poor Lurch is the incident board marker in central, recieving the steady stream of messages.
It is important work, repeated night after night.
And, unfortunately, like much in Japans navy, things are flowing well, far too well.
To have a curve ball thrown into an exercise, to go outside of the routine, to have to think creatively.....................its never going to happen.
Not in Japans navy in 1943.
So Tan, Lurch, all of them go through the motions............
yes, there has been a hit, yes, damage to XYZ, yes, there is a fire, yes, its been fought...........casualties, ah yes, two broken legs, a burn injury, some lucky barsted killed , a sucking chest wound.
Desolutorily, the exercise continues
another hit, the exercise continues...... Hirate takes the script card, turns to Okano. He grins
'hey my friend, pass this one on, i am so bored with this........."
Okano raises an eyebrow.'You going to get me into trouble?'
'No, send this.........."
Tan, half asleep, recieves the next report from Lurch
'One casualty sir,.............a one inch sucking wound to the bowel"
one inch sucking wound to the ............hang on, where?
'Where was that ?"
"repeat the casualty please........"
Lurch laughs. "Fwd repair reports a single casualty sir, a one inch sucking wound to the arsehole.............they say s##t has gone everywhere"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
29April
Kato paces the bridge, sniffs the dawn air. On the horizon, a shadow, a mountain of morning mist. Rabual.
Zuiho is steady beneath his feet, the wake curves and carves miles behind them.
Zuikaku carves her own passage ahead of them, her flight deck crowded with fighters.
And not for the first time this trip, the anger rises in him. There, by rights, should be his ship.
Would this war end before they promoted him?
Bukas.
Bloody bukas
Hidaka enters the bridge.
Ah so, our captain is dreaming again. Forget the future sir..we have today to fight.
"Any news sir?"
Kato hands the signal pad to him.
The news is stark.
But exciting. Three enemy carriers, operating south west of Lunga.
Three.
How quickly can those barsteds build them?.
Never mind. Soon they will sink them.
'Our plans sir?"
'refuelling at dusk tonight, then, I believe, we move down the west flank of the solomons. Car div 2, the east. BBs straight down the middle......... 60% CAP as soon as possible Hidaka, we are in heavy bomber range."
Kato paces the bridge, sniffs the dawn air. On the horizon, a shadow, a mountain of morning mist. Rabual.
Zuiho is steady beneath his feet, the wake curves and carves miles behind them.
Zuikaku carves her own passage ahead of them, her flight deck crowded with fighters.
And not for the first time this trip, the anger rises in him. There, by rights, should be his ship.
Would this war end before they promoted him?
Bukas.
Bloody bukas
Hidaka enters the bridge.
Ah so, our captain is dreaming again. Forget the future sir..we have today to fight.
"Any news sir?"
Kato hands the signal pad to him.
The news is stark.
But exciting. Three enemy carriers, operating south west of Lunga.
Three.
How quickly can those barsteds build them?.
Never mind. Soon they will sink them.
'Our plans sir?"
'refuelling at dusk tonight, then, I believe, we move down the west flank of the solomons. Car div 2, the east. BBs straight down the middle......... 60% CAP as soon as possible Hidaka, we are in heavy bomber range."
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
Fuchida circles the gaggle of ships below.
A brewster could have flown up beside him at this moment, waved to him, and then shot him down.
Below him, Zuiho steams on.
Father.
They have never been close. Conversation has always been short, shallow.
But to be able to land on you now little ship, to see you one last time Father, to say thank you for what you have given me.
With a sigh, Fuchida turns back to his work, circling the little ship 10000 feet below.
Too many missions.
Too many battles
The truth too stark, too obvious.
He is not going to survive this war, he knows it now.
But if he can help father see it through...........
A brewster could have flown up beside him at this moment, waved to him, and then shot him down.
Below him, Zuiho steams on.
Father.
They have never been close. Conversation has always been short, shallow.
But to be able to land on you now little ship, to see you one last time Father, to say thank you for what you have given me.
With a sigh, Fuchida turns back to his work, circling the little ship 10000 feet below.
Too many missions.
Too many battles
The truth too stark, too obvious.
He is not going to survive this war, he knows it now.
But if he can help father see it through...........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
Nice of Herb to give me a small window to read up and catch up with his AAR. I have read it straight through for the start.
Masterful and tremendous writing here mate! Great story telling as well.
This is turning out to be a exciting and interesting game to play. more so due to my usual lack of carriers!
Soon enough several theatres will be opening up and my thanks go to Herb for being an honourable and great opponent!
My side of the AAR is at http://bytesanddice.wordpress.com/ if you would like to check it out
Oh and no apologies for actively trying to get this Little Ship
Masterful and tremendous writing here mate! Great story telling as well.
This is turning out to be a exciting and interesting game to play. more so due to my usual lack of carriers!
Soon enough several theatres will be opening up and my thanks go to Herb for being an honourable and great opponent!
My side of the AAR is at http://bytesanddice.wordpress.com/ if you would like to check it out
Oh and no apologies for actively trying to get this Little Ship
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
RE: ouch
30 April
Some 300 miles to the North east of Lunga, japans fleet gathers
Such a simple sentence this, masking so well the horrible realities.
There is not one fleet, but several, multiple task forces milling about in a designated square of ocean, waiting for many things to occur.
They wait forthe carriers to arrive
They wait for news from Lunga to arrive
they wait for word on the enemy carriers.
And they battle nature, fate, mechanical hazards, and the fickle nature of war and men.
They are trying to co ordinate a massive strike , not on Lunga, not on Kiriawa, but on the group of islands to the south, where the allied air force flies daily with its heavy bombers.
It is not going well.
Communications are failing.
Ships need refuelling, and if you re fuel, can you run into the target in time?
And the enemy know they are here..........three bomber raids confirm that!
But the greatest threat lives in the hearts of the men commanding these ships.
Some, Yamaguchi especially, desire to strike
Nagumo does not.
Not, he says, until the carriers are found.
On Yamato's bridge, her captain watches the bombers on the horizon, and Yamamotos last words to him "do not risk her for nothing" ring in his ears.
Charge into a nest of airfields....................... for what?
japans fleet mills , like sheep.
waiting for some one, any one , to make a decision.
And for news on the carriers.........
Some 300 miles to the North east of Lunga, japans fleet gathers
Such a simple sentence this, masking so well the horrible realities.
There is not one fleet, but several, multiple task forces milling about in a designated square of ocean, waiting for many things to occur.
They wait forthe carriers to arrive
They wait for news from Lunga to arrive
they wait for word on the enemy carriers.
And they battle nature, fate, mechanical hazards, and the fickle nature of war and men.
They are trying to co ordinate a massive strike , not on Lunga, not on Kiriawa, but on the group of islands to the south, where the allied air force flies daily with its heavy bombers.
It is not going well.
Communications are failing.
Ships need refuelling, and if you re fuel, can you run into the target in time?
And the enemy know they are here..........three bomber raids confirm that!
But the greatest threat lives in the hearts of the men commanding these ships.
Some, Yamaguchi especially, desire to strike
Nagumo does not.
Not, he says, until the carriers are found.
On Yamato's bridge, her captain watches the bombers on the horizon, and Yamamotos last words to him "do not risk her for nothing" ring in his ears.
Charge into a nest of airfields....................... for what?
japans fleet mills , like sheep.
waiting for some one, any one , to make a decision.
And for news on the carriers.........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
Over lunga, the meat grinder continues.
Again the Vals are escorted down, zeros today.
Again the allied P.38's, corsairs, and oh so frustratingly, a smatter of carrier wild cats, tear into them.
The vals peel, plunge, the sky fills with the crack of AA, bombs scream down, and another Allied destroyer is shattered.
The water s of Lunga still sprout the smoking streamers that mark the soon forgotten graves of men, when the allies move in.
Unlike Japan, decisions are made.
Action will be taken.
BB Arizona takes guard, ready for whatever gathers to the North.
The British will not, however, just wait.
Dusk, and a Cruiser task force races North east, straight for the heart of the enemy fleet.
Again the Vals are escorted down, zeros today.
Again the allied P.38's, corsairs, and oh so frustratingly, a smatter of carrier wild cats, tear into them.
The vals peel, plunge, the sky fills with the crack of AA, bombs scream down, and another Allied destroyer is shattered.
The water s of Lunga still sprout the smoking streamers that mark the soon forgotten graves of men, when the allies move in.
Unlike Japan, decisions are made.
Action will be taken.
BB Arizona takes guard, ready for whatever gathers to the North.
The British will not, however, just wait.
Dusk, and a Cruiser task force races North east, straight for the heart of the enemy fleet.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
Yamamto considers Ulithi lagoon.
He is, with difficulty, trying to clear his mind.
It is all falling into chaos. What was so clear, is now, ...is now, ...........
September, October.
Thats when they should have attacked.
Not now.
Not so soon.
The fleet is not ready. Kaga will never be ready. Shokoku has.........................problems.
Enough to stop her for this month.
And fuel.
There is not enough fuel..........
He tries to clear his mind, yet the map just fills it.
That gathering of airfields to the south of Lunga. How many vipers in that nest?
There is a crunch of footsteps on the sand behind him, interupting his train of thought.
He turns his head, and to his surprise sees his old friend, ADM, Takanada, Commander of 11th Air Army struggling to bring his portly frame across the sands.
With a sigh, he collapses onto the beach beside him.
Wordlessly, yamamoto passes him a rag.
It is accepted, and Takanada wipes his swaety brow.
For a minute, they both silently view the empty lagoon., Yamamoto waiting for his friend to speak. He should be at Davao, not here............
"You are a hard man to catch Yamamto, my friend, a hard man to catch up with indeed"
Yamamoto grunts. " A potato is easily pulled my friend, a chicken not quite so easily"
'So rumours that some want your head are more than mere rumours ney?"
'ha!, some could say that. Fortunately i wield the greater axe"
"good. keep it sharp. "
Takanada turns to his Admiral. What he has to say, as Japanese, is almost impossible to say. But it must be said. Nobody in Japan could possibly recieve this news, nobody, perhaps, except this man.
"All I fear we have done, is awoken a terrible giant" did he not say that? Didn't he?
"Say what you want to say Takanada, you have not risked flying here just to say hello"
he takes a breath. "What do you hear of the fighting over Lunga?"
'It goes well. the enemy are being attritted, the field remains closed"
(ah, but you don't believe that, do you?, I see that in your eyes. Good. At least some one is trying to see the truth. let me pull the veil completely away..........)
'we are a week from breaking the back of our airforce. The reserves are gone. Our pool of pilots..............is gone. Already 2 sentais are brocken, brocken irrepairably. Sir...........I must ask you this. Is this where we decide the issue, where we lose planes at 4 to 1?"
The waves lap gently, and two men stare at it.
The tide is coming in. How apt, thinks Yamamoto. the tide flows in, against us.............unstoppable.
AAaaaaaaaaah japan, what will become of you?
Eyes, that have always seen victory, grey, and wise, narrow.
Takanada has not travelled in vain.
The madness that infects Japans high command, has not yet touched them.
"Very well. thankyou Takanada."
yes. what to gain here?. Nothing. Only a loss of carriers, for what?
"Withdraw your groups north"
He is, with difficulty, trying to clear his mind.
It is all falling into chaos. What was so clear, is now, ...is now, ...........
September, October.
Thats when they should have attacked.
Not now.
Not so soon.
The fleet is not ready. Kaga will never be ready. Shokoku has.........................problems.
Enough to stop her for this month.
And fuel.
There is not enough fuel..........
He tries to clear his mind, yet the map just fills it.
That gathering of airfields to the south of Lunga. How many vipers in that nest?
There is a crunch of footsteps on the sand behind him, interupting his train of thought.
He turns his head, and to his surprise sees his old friend, ADM, Takanada, Commander of 11th Air Army struggling to bring his portly frame across the sands.
With a sigh, he collapses onto the beach beside him.
Wordlessly, yamamoto passes him a rag.
It is accepted, and Takanada wipes his swaety brow.
For a minute, they both silently view the empty lagoon., Yamamoto waiting for his friend to speak. He should be at Davao, not here............
"You are a hard man to catch Yamamto, my friend, a hard man to catch up with indeed"
Yamamoto grunts. " A potato is easily pulled my friend, a chicken not quite so easily"
'So rumours that some want your head are more than mere rumours ney?"
'ha!, some could say that. Fortunately i wield the greater axe"
"good. keep it sharp. "
Takanada turns to his Admiral. What he has to say, as Japanese, is almost impossible to say. But it must be said. Nobody in Japan could possibly recieve this news, nobody, perhaps, except this man.
"All I fear we have done, is awoken a terrible giant" did he not say that? Didn't he?
"Say what you want to say Takanada, you have not risked flying here just to say hello"
he takes a breath. "What do you hear of the fighting over Lunga?"
'It goes well. the enemy are being attritted, the field remains closed"
(ah, but you don't believe that, do you?, I see that in your eyes. Good. At least some one is trying to see the truth. let me pull the veil completely away..........)
'we are a week from breaking the back of our airforce. The reserves are gone. Our pool of pilots..............is gone. Already 2 sentais are brocken, brocken irrepairably. Sir...........I must ask you this. Is this where we decide the issue, where we lose planes at 4 to 1?"
The waves lap gently, and two men stare at it.
The tide is coming in. How apt, thinks Yamamoto. the tide flows in, against us.............unstoppable.
AAaaaaaaaaah japan, what will become of you?
Eyes, that have always seen victory, grey, and wise, narrow.
Takanada has not travelled in vain.
The madness that infects Japans high command, has not yet touched them.
"Very well. thankyou Takanada."
yes. what to gain here?. Nothing. Only a loss of carriers, for what?
"Withdraw your groups north"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
1 May
Captain Ono Takeji, commander of the CL Kiso, has, until now, steadily grown a reputation for aggression, skill, and dash.
One day, he may even had risen to world fame.
The first salvo that shreds his bridge, and him, from the Devonshire, arrives brutally with out warning.
It smashes into the Kiso, throwing guns and material into the air, Dorteshires torpedo merely finishes the job.
The rest of the squadron, Kuma, and DD Asanagi, heave out of the way, shells streaming in glowing arcing balls of death towards them.
They attempt to return fire, fighting gamely in the night
Both allied heavy cruisers are hit, and hit again, but it will take fish to stop this carnage, and the fish, vainly, frantically launched, will miss.
The battle lasts six minutes.
A blast of guns, the crash of metal, and now the sceams of the wounded.
Kuma and Asanagi will drag themselves away, thouroghly wrecked.
Victorious, the allies flee south again.
Two heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, 5 destroyers.
But enough, it seems, to sow chaos beyond their size.
Seeing the flash of fire on the horizon, hearing the rumble of guns, yamaguchi does the only thing a carrier man can do.
Too many times in this war, Japans carriers have been threatened by allied forces in the night.
Too many times
The japanese carriers ring on full speed, and flee north.
An hour later, Yamamotos command arrives, and the rest of the fleet too, retires.
For an expenditure of nearly a third of her floating fuel reserves, japans fleet has achieved exactly............nothing.
Captain Ono Takeji, commander of the CL Kiso, has, until now, steadily grown a reputation for aggression, skill, and dash.
One day, he may even had risen to world fame.
The first salvo that shreds his bridge, and him, from the Devonshire, arrives brutally with out warning.
It smashes into the Kiso, throwing guns and material into the air, Dorteshires torpedo merely finishes the job.
The rest of the squadron, Kuma, and DD Asanagi, heave out of the way, shells streaming in glowing arcing balls of death towards them.
They attempt to return fire, fighting gamely in the night
Both allied heavy cruisers are hit, and hit again, but it will take fish to stop this carnage, and the fish, vainly, frantically launched, will miss.
The battle lasts six minutes.
A blast of guns, the crash of metal, and now the sceams of the wounded.
Kuma and Asanagi will drag themselves away, thouroghly wrecked.
Victorious, the allies flee south again.
Two heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, 5 destroyers.
But enough, it seems, to sow chaos beyond their size.
Seeing the flash of fire on the horizon, hearing the rumble of guns, yamaguchi does the only thing a carrier man can do.
Too many times in this war, Japans carriers have been threatened by allied forces in the night.
Too many times
The japanese carriers ring on full speed, and flee north.
An hour later, Yamamotos command arrives, and the rest of the fleet too, retires.
For an expenditure of nearly a third of her floating fuel reserves, japans fleet has achieved exactly............nothing.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
Kato recieves the order at 0300 hrs.
The task force will retire immediately.
The orders, quite simply, must be wrong. the enemy are THERE, two days dash away.
has everyone lost their nerve?
have they forgotten how to fight?
Incredible.
Kato gives the orders. And stalks from the bridge.. he will not be seen on it for twenty four hours.
The task force will retire immediately.
The orders, quite simply, must be wrong. the enemy are THERE, two days dash away.
has everyone lost their nerve?
have they forgotten how to fight?
Incredible.
Kato gives the orders. And stalks from the bridge.. he will not be seen on it for twenty four hours.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: ouch
Every drop of feed water (any water for that matter) on a steam ship is precious.
Huge efforts in design and operation are made to recover every drop of it, to recycle it on its endless cycle of steam to condensate to feed to steam again.
Literally dozens of heat exchangers are fitted through out Zuiho, steam being used for heating a great many things. Once used, the condensate will be gathered into the myrid drains that snake through her bilges.
Many of these will gather in what is called a drain tank.
From drain tank, via a vacuum, to ultimately the feed system
For a great many of these heat exchangers, before you allow the water to 'Swing it to drain", you must test it for salinity.
Cold heat exchangers can weep, and the drain water can be 'Dirty"
'Trucked up nicely' as the charge will say.
Normally, once warm, the water soon tests clear.
Today, the system, will fail.
Just on midnight, the air ejectors on the aft Turbo generator will "be swung'
The port ejector, and its condensor will be bought online, the starboard one taken off.
Both, of course, have a condensor.
Unseen, the port condensor has developed a pin hole leak.
its drain water, 'is truked"
At midnight, Zuiho goes to fuelling stations, changes watches, swings more machinery.
Tired men doing tiring jobs.
I will not hazard to guess who did not do the test.
Nor who did not watch the salinity probes.
And some body may have gotten other tests wrong.
I don't know.
Crud happens
What the Charge does know, is its 4 am in tthe morning, and a frantic double bottom sailor is shaking him from brief sleep.
2 B boiler salinity is not just high.
Its in the catastroiphic range...........
Huge efforts in design and operation are made to recover every drop of it, to recycle it on its endless cycle of steam to condensate to feed to steam again.
Literally dozens of heat exchangers are fitted through out Zuiho, steam being used for heating a great many things. Once used, the condensate will be gathered into the myrid drains that snake through her bilges.
Many of these will gather in what is called a drain tank.
From drain tank, via a vacuum, to ultimately the feed system
For a great many of these heat exchangers, before you allow the water to 'Swing it to drain", you must test it for salinity.
Cold heat exchangers can weep, and the drain water can be 'Dirty"
'Trucked up nicely' as the charge will say.
Normally, once warm, the water soon tests clear.
Today, the system, will fail.
Just on midnight, the air ejectors on the aft Turbo generator will "be swung'
The port ejector, and its condensor will be bought online, the starboard one taken off.
Both, of course, have a condensor.
Unseen, the port condensor has developed a pin hole leak.
its drain water, 'is truked"
At midnight, Zuiho goes to fuelling stations, changes watches, swings more machinery.
Tired men doing tiring jobs.
I will not hazard to guess who did not do the test.
Nor who did not watch the salinity probes.
And some body may have gotten other tests wrong.
I don't know.
Crud happens
What the Charge does know, is its 4 am in tthe morning, and a frantic double bottom sailor is shaking him from brief sleep.
2 B boiler salinity is not just high.
Its in the catastroiphic range...........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt