Location: 400 miles northeast of Green Island
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 381
Orders: Proceed with all practical speed to Kwajalein to refuel, then on to Wake Island to contest American landings there.
---
Excerpt from a letter from Lieutenant Miharu to his wife:
This afternoon the Captain evicted the radio operator from the radio room and spent 20 minutes conversing with Admiral Goto. When he emerged he went to his cabin, and a short while later he sent for me. When I arrived he was seated at his desk.
"At ease, Exec," he told me. "I have information for you, though it is information I do not wish as yet to share with the crew."
"Is it news from Wake, sir?" I asked him. He shook his head.
"I have no idea what is happening there today. But I have learned that we are going there essentially alone. There is a division of destroyers at Kwajalein, but nothing else closer than we are. We will not be joined by Kido Butai or any battleships."
This news was a surprise to me, and not an entirely welcome one, I admit. When I asked the Captain why this was so he said "Apparently Admiral Yamamoto has studied the situation and believes this to be a feint. He thinks the American plan is to make a show of attacking Wake. This, they think, will draw our carriers and the Combined Fleet north. Once the coast is clear the American carriers plan to fall like wolves upon our now uncovered invasion convoys in the South Pacific."
I pondered this. If it was true then the American strategy was a subtle and dangerous one.
"And if this is not the case, and they really are bringing their forces to bear on Wake?" I asked. The Captain sighed.
"If that is the case then I believe Yamamoto's thinking is that we should let the Americans have the island, and even encourage them to pour as many troops ashore as they wish. Once our operations in the south are concluded our forces will turn back north, and the island will become a trap for them.
"This of course necessitates that we make a convincing show of fighting for the island. That, then, would be our role."
I sat and thought about this for a moment. There sometimes comes a moment in a game of chess when a player must be willing to sacrifice a larger piece, say a knight or a bishop, in order to lure one's opponent into a disadvantageous situation. It seemed to me that that we were to play the part of such a chess piece, and I said so to the Captain. He nodded.
"That is how I see it, too. But do not be as glum as all that, Exec. If the Americans are really invading then I am sure Admiral Goto will not simply send us in blindly, guns blazing. The Americans will be tied to the island, while we will have the entire ocean in which to maneuver." He leaned back, and I saw upon his desk a piece of paper with some lines of calligraphy. The ink was still drying.
The captain's hand was not refined, but it was strong and bold. I could not help but read what he had written, which was this:
The shield takes the blow
Wood and iron may shatter
But the swordsman stands
As I write this to you, my wife, the sea is calm and our ship is slicing easily through the waves. Wake Island is 1300 miles ahead.
Wow. There's a letter thats getting sensored to smithereens. [:D]
Eagerly waiting for the next installment. [&o]
So am I!
I think that Lieutenant Miharu writes a lot of these letters as a way to work out his thoughts by pretending that he is talking with his wife. I suspect there are a lot of them he never even bothers to mail, knowing that what would actually get through is "Hello" and "Good-bye".
Come to think of it, who sensors the mail of the ship's second in command? If its Capt. Ishii, then the Lt. might be cruising for a really unpleant conversation on the subject of sensitive information. [:D]
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
Come to think of it, who sensors the mail of the ship's second in command? If its Capt. Ishii, then the Lt. might be cruising for a really unpleant conversation on the subject of sensitive information. [:D]
It seems that in the Japanese navy a sailor's immediate superior was responsible for censoring their mail. So yes, it would be Captain Ishii in this case, making this letter one of the ones that Miharu never actually intends to mail. I hope. Or the next entry might feature the Lieutenant being brought up on charges.
I had just assumed he was writing in diary form to his wife. Instead of 'Dear Diary' - 'Dear Wife'. The wife wouldn't ever get it unless the war ends, whether or not Lt Miharu survives to see that day.
Upper portion used with permission of www.subart.net, copyright John Meeks
Location: 500 miles southwest of Kwajalein
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 355
Orders: Proceed with all practical speed to Kwajalein to refuel, then on to Wake Island to contest American landings there.
---
In the forward crew's mess aboard the Hibiki:
Shiro: Hello Riku, hello Taiki. Hey, what do you guys think of the change in course? Have you heard anything?
Taiki: We were just talking about that.
Riku: *shrugs* We haven't heard a thing, except that we're heading for Kwajalein.
Shiro: Kwajalein? What's there?
Riku: A lot of nothing.
Taiki: Maybe things are going so well down south that we're being assigned to patrol duty or something.
Shiro: With three heavy cruisers?
Taiki: I know, that doesn't make much sense. All I know is that we were going to see some action and now we are headed for a quiet zone. It is very disappointing.
Riku: *sighs* All I know is that we were headed for warm tropical ports and wide sandy beaches, and now we are headed for Port Dull.
Shiro: Maybe the Americans are attacking!
Riku: Don't be silly. Hey, pass that bowl, will you?
Location: 210 miles southwest of Kwajalein
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 319
Orders: Proceed with all practical speed to Kwajalein to refuel, then on to Wake Island to contest American landings there.
---
On the bridge of the Hibiki:
Radio Operator, via speaker tube: Captain, we are picking up a broadcast from Kwajalein.
Captain Ishii: Yes?
Radio Operator: Sir, they say that the Wake garrison reports enemy landings are taking place. They also report they are being shelled by three battleships and many cruisers and destroyers.
Captain Ishii: I see. Let me know if you hear anything further.
Radio Operator: Yes sir.
Lieutenant Miharu: So much for the idea that this is a feint.
Captain Ishii: So much for the idea that all the American battleships were sunk the first day of the war.
Lieutenant Miharu: *wryly* I have to admit I've always wanted to face an enemy battleship. I had hoped, however, to do it in something larger than a destroyer.
Captain Ishii: We will see. This ship can launch a spread of nine torpedoes at once. Even a battleship must respect that.
Well, the Americans have certainly become bold to attack Wake Island, despite only losing it a couple of months. I can only hope that the Hibiki survives the engagement......
Orders: Proceed north. Prepare to engage American forces at and around Wake Island.
---
A small room at the Japanese naval headquarters on Kwajalein. Admiral Goto, at the moment the senior naval officer present, is addressing about twenty officers, including Captain Ishii.
Admiral Goto: There is no question that the Americans have come to Wake with the intention of staying. Before radio broadcasts from our small garrison there ceased this morning they identified a full infantry division and supporting elements among their attackers. Reconnaisance flights indicate a large number of ships around the island, including carriers, battleships, and numerous transports.
This gives us a tremendous opportunity. Gentlemen, I have received welcome news - our carriers are at this moment only two days to the south, and approaching with all speed. We already have eleven destroyers, three light cruisers, and three heavy cruisers ready to attack. More ships are on the way.
Captain Ban: Sir, does that mean that we are now going to wait for the carriers to arrive before we sortie?
Admiral Goto: By no means. Your destroyer division and my cruisers will sail at 0600 tomorrow morning. We are going to approach the island from the south and the southwest, respectively. Another task force is en route from Saipan and will approach from the northwest. The Americans will perceive threats from every corner. As their attention is diverted and split in several directions our carriers will swing around and strike from the east.
Admiral Yamamoto has asked me to convey his deepest confidence in each of you. The battle ahead may well be the deciding battle of this war. We must not and we will not fail.
Location: 30 miles northwest of Rongelap
Course: North
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 451
Orders: Proceed north. Prepare to engage American forces at and around Wake Island.
---
From the diary of Seaman First Class Taiki Takahashi
The news of why we were diverted to Kwajalein in now all over the ship. The American fleet is at Wake Island! We are sailing to the attack.
As we sail north to meet the enemy my feelings are oddly mixed. This could well be the battle that decides the fate of all Japan. I am eager to meet the enemy and do my small part to help defeat him. Yet at the same time I cannot rid myself of a small ball of ice in my belly. It is only partly fear for myself; part of it is also fear for my shipmates and friends and because of the responsibility we bear in this fight.
I am the son of a plasterer and no philosopher, but I cannot help but think that these feelings of mine would be familiar to any foot soldier of ancient times following his lord into battle. I may be aboard a sleek steel warship bristling with weapons and he might have carried a simple spear, but I think that if he and I could sit down and talk about it over a cup of sake we would find our feelings on the eve of battle to be the much the same.
I wish the battle was already upon us. It is the waiting that is so hard.
Location: 480 miles south southwest of Wake Island
Course: North
Attached to: TF 6
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 3
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 427
Orders: Proceed north. Prepare to engage American forces at and around Wake Island.
