The little ship that could.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Small things, HUGE consequences
Oh $h!t!
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: Small things, HUGE consequences
The Silent Service strikes again!
RE: Small things, HUGE consequences
Yikes - ILR CV Taiho was done in by a single torpedo from SS Albacore. I wonder if she'll prove more resilient in this alternate reality.
(And can you imagine the howls of protest from players if a modern CV was sunk by a single torpedo in the game...)
(And can you imagine the howls of protest from players if a modern CV was sunk by a single torpedo in the game...)
RE: Small things, HUGE consequences
hang onto your hat sour dust.(and welcome)...........
[8|][8|][8|][:(]
AAR open to Cantona again, please acknowledge a very worthy opponent if you see him about!
[8|][8|][8|][:(]
AAR open to Cantona again, please acknowledge a very worthy opponent if you see him about!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: Small things, HUGE consequences
Extract from Shattering the SWord, a cantona production
6/12/43
Think about this.
Kaga remains in port, 9, yes 9 months after a single submarine torpedo hit, with yet another 2 months of repairs to go.
CVL Nissin, repairs slowly still, a week to go.
CVE taiyo lies in Singapore roads, her SS hit will keep her there for 60 days yet.
CVL Ryujo crawls home from her hit with 50 % flooding.........
And now Taiho crawls North, (22 system/44 flood/15 engine). How long, if they can get her home, for her to return to the war?
But the black week barely has begun.
1900 hours. CVE Chuyo, north of Ulithi wears three fish..............she will not be repaired , the sea swallows her quickly
1920 hrs.
CV Akagi, Japans mountain.
Two fish take her this black night. Just two.
Dawn will find her with 20 degrees of list, speed at a mere ten knots, her would be assasin escaping.
2 days. 3 flag shifts.
And now something entirely new for japans fleet.
Fear.
(akagi, 33/66/33)[:(] and yes, I have nearly every DD escorting this fleet, and every plane flying ASW!
6/12/43
Think about this.
Kaga remains in port, 9, yes 9 months after a single submarine torpedo hit, with yet another 2 months of repairs to go.
CVL Nissin, repairs slowly still, a week to go.
CVE taiyo lies in Singapore roads, her SS hit will keep her there for 60 days yet.
CVL Ryujo crawls home from her hit with 50 % flooding.........
And now Taiho crawls North, (22 system/44 flood/15 engine). How long, if they can get her home, for her to return to the war?
But the black week barely has begun.
1900 hours. CVE Chuyo, north of Ulithi wears three fish..............she will not be repaired , the sea swallows her quickly
1920 hrs.
CV Akagi, Japans mountain.
Two fish take her this black night. Just two.
Dawn will find her with 20 degrees of list, speed at a mere ten knots, her would be assasin escaping.
2 days. 3 flag shifts.
And now something entirely new for japans fleet.
Fear.
(akagi, 33/66/33)[:(] and yes, I have nearly every DD escorting this fleet, and every plane flying ASW!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: Small things, HUGE consequences
8/12/43
Fear stalks them.
This is the worse fear of the war. The one you cannot see, the one that will strike with out warning.
Zuihos men are silent. They will not look you in the eye this night.
Look in anothers eye..............and you might reveal your very soul, or see it reflected.
Her doors below deck are all shut , dogged down. Look outs are doubled and tripled.
Destroyers prowl, starshells shoot at the merest hint of a sighting.
And still the barsteds hunt them.
CV Zuikaka is attacked. She dodges.............for once the SS misses. This is the longest night for many of them. Zuiho has been in battle before, even a surface battle.
But this, this is different. They feel it. All of them.
They are being hunted.
Them
Hunted
By hordes of unseen killers.
Fear stalks them.
This is the worse fear of the war. The one you cannot see, the one that will strike with out warning.
Zuihos men are silent. They will not look you in the eye this night.
Look in anothers eye..............and you might reveal your very soul, or see it reflected.
Her doors below deck are all shut , dogged down. Look outs are doubled and tripled.
Destroyers prowl, starshells shoot at the merest hint of a sighting.
And still the barsteds hunt them.
CV Zuikaka is attacked. She dodges.............for once the SS misses. This is the longest night for many of them. Zuiho has been in battle before, even a surface battle.
But this, this is different. They feel it. All of them.
They are being hunted.
Them
Hunted
By hordes of unseen killers.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: Small things, HUGE consequences
8/12/43
Captain Hara pauses.
It has been a long hard climb from the bowels of his crippled carrier, one his burns has turned into a nightmare of pain and anguish.
But he had to see, had to see for himself. Would his ship live?, was she strong enough for home, or just strong enough to reach Truk
Somethings you just must see for yourself............
He reaches, finally, his shattered bridge, the deck , tilting wildly beneath his feet. Steering, he notes, is repaired. But the rest...........
It is, bloody typically, still raining. Grey sky, greyer mood.
But the sea remains calm...........well calm enough.
His crew look to him.
Calmly, trying to show no pain, or the despair he secretly feels, he takes his beloved steel hat, places it firmly upon his feet.
A indication of his fighting spirit.
"The flooding has stopped. We are winning. Now we take her home yes?. Home men. Home or hell"
Captain Hara pauses.
It has been a long hard climb from the bowels of his crippled carrier, one his burns has turned into a nightmare of pain and anguish.
But he had to see, had to see for himself. Would his ship live?, was she strong enough for home, or just strong enough to reach Truk
Somethings you just must see for yourself............
He reaches, finally, his shattered bridge, the deck , tilting wildly beneath his feet. Steering, he notes, is repaired. But the rest...........
It is, bloody typically, still raining. Grey sky, greyer mood.
But the sea remains calm...........well calm enough.
His crew look to him.
Calmly, trying to show no pain, or the despair he secretly feels, he takes his beloved steel hat, places it firmly upon his feet.
A indication of his fighting spirit.
"The flooding has stopped. We are winning. Now we take her home yes?. Home men. Home or hell"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: Small things, HUGE consequences
120 miles North west ponape island.
Hidaka watches his last Jill rise, turn left, commnce her patrol
Takeji is with him, here on the little flight bridge. he needs to see...........wants to see all the waters about him.
he has not slept now for 48 hours, plans to conserve gone hopelessly out the window.
Fear stalks him too.
'You will be pleased to hear who has flag now Hidaka, apparently he is senior out here now, well the most senior one of us not half smashed up"
'Sir?"
"Captain Kato, your last captain. I wonder if he is pleased with his chance, or cursing such a poisoned chalice"
Hidaka tilts his head. "he will be decisive, what ever he does. Lets hope his luck can spread a bit"
"Yes, let us hope"
'from CV Hiyo, to all units. new course, , come hard right, 090 degrees"
Kato will try to trust to more than luck. He will now try to dodge.
Hidaka watches his last Jill rise, turn left, commnce her patrol
Takeji is with him, here on the little flight bridge. he needs to see...........wants to see all the waters about him.
he has not slept now for 48 hours, plans to conserve gone hopelessly out the window.
Fear stalks him too.
'You will be pleased to hear who has flag now Hidaka, apparently he is senior out here now, well the most senior one of us not half smashed up"
'Sir?"
"Captain Kato, your last captain. I wonder if he is pleased with his chance, or cursing such a poisoned chalice"
Hidaka tilts his head. "he will be decisive, what ever he does. Lets hope his luck can spread a bit"
"Yes, let us hope"
'from CV Hiyo, to all units. new course, , come hard right, 090 degrees"
Kato will try to trust to more than luck. He will now try to dodge.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The great bulk of The Burma Army has successfully withdrawn to the Moulmien line now, The japanese contingent that is.
Hosho and his division are regathering their strength quickly, resting on shortened supply lines.
Given another month, and this Army will be at full strength again
The Thia and burmese troops however have been abandoned to themselves.
Some have struggled into Rangoon, but many are scattered the length of the rail line heading north.
Desperate, hungry men, sustained now only by hate. Hate for the british, hate for the Japanese who have abandoned them.
In isloated units, they sit on the rail line, too stubborn to surrender, too ill led to do anything else.
They are hungry, Pilot officer Graham is feels well beyond that.
It is seven days since he last ate. Seven days of trying to scuttle North..
5 days ago, he has searched a dead soldiers pack, and found half a handful of mouldy rice, rice rancid enough that only a real effort kept it down.
Now, now he is going to risk his life for possibly less..
There are ten soldiers, at least, in the camp.
Ten.
And a small cooking pot.
In the dark of this night, he can see it, swinging above the flames., the soldiers encircled about it, staring into the fire.
Only mad men burn a fire at night, or men desperate, or beyond care............
Graham crawls another five feet closer in the shadows.
With luck, the flames will blind them.
Ten men
Food.
You never know how good something is until it is gone................
Pilot Officer Graham considers his plan for one last time.
Its a good one.
Has to be.
His life depends on it.
Hosho and his division are regathering their strength quickly, resting on shortened supply lines.
Given another month, and this Army will be at full strength again
The Thia and burmese troops however have been abandoned to themselves.
Some have struggled into Rangoon, but many are scattered the length of the rail line heading north.
Desperate, hungry men, sustained now only by hate. Hate for the british, hate for the Japanese who have abandoned them.
In isloated units, they sit on the rail line, too stubborn to surrender, too ill led to do anything else.
They are hungry, Pilot officer Graham is feels well beyond that.
It is seven days since he last ate. Seven days of trying to scuttle North..
5 days ago, he has searched a dead soldiers pack, and found half a handful of mouldy rice, rice rancid enough that only a real effort kept it down.
Now, now he is going to risk his life for possibly less..
There are ten soldiers, at least, in the camp.
Ten.
And a small cooking pot.
In the dark of this night, he can see it, swinging above the flames., the soldiers encircled about it, staring into the fire.
Only mad men burn a fire at night, or men desperate, or beyond care............
Graham crawls another five feet closer in the shadows.
With luck, the flames will blind them.
Ten men
Food.
You never know how good something is until it is gone................
Pilot Officer Graham considers his plan for one last time.
Its a good one.
Has to be.
His life depends on it.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
9/12/43
Akagi 34/65/32
Taiho 25/42/15
Ryujo 15/56/0
And so far to go................
The dodge works this night, dawn see's a fleet of sleepless men, but men un attacked.
Tankers join the second task group, and the morning is spent fuelling. Kato splits the fleet, fuelled ships are to be sent racing north, a desperate attempt to shake the hunt.
But Zuikaku, Shokaku, Shoho and Zuiho must wait until tomorrow..
Another day of tension, if you can call it that.
All day the bombers prowl , and it seems like an endless stream of sightings, attacks, shadows in the water.
There is little else they can do but press on.
The sun sets on them tired, strained, angry .
The moon is full.
Dawn is so far away.
Akagi 34/65/32
Taiho 25/42/15
Ryujo 15/56/0
And so far to go................
The dodge works this night, dawn see's a fleet of sleepless men, but men un attacked.
Tankers join the second task group, and the morning is spent fuelling. Kato splits the fleet, fuelled ships are to be sent racing north, a desperate attempt to shake the hunt.
But Zuikaku, Shokaku, Shoho and Zuiho must wait until tomorrow..
Another day of tension, if you can call it that.
All day the bombers prowl , and it seems like an endless stream of sightings, attacks, shadows in the water.
There is little else they can do but press on.
The sun sets on them tired, strained, angry .
The moon is full.
Dawn is so far away.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Herbiesan abruptly announces a holiday, and vanishes into the country.
12 hours later, Yamato, her sister, many escorts depart Tokyo bay.
Things , apparently "will hold"
12 hours later, Yamato, her sister, many escorts depart Tokyo bay.
Things , apparently "will hold"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The Charge is asleep, leaning against the tool box, feet splayed ahead of him, head resting on its lid.
His lower half is covered in oil stains, and his arms are black from elbow to finger tip.
The cylider head replacement of the emergency generator has just completed..
Some how, he has sat down here, meaning to listen to the diesels rumble for the next 15 minutes..........and the 15 minutes has stretched to an hour.
The diesel rumbles on, load trialing for its allotted hour, the charge oblivious.
Machinery feels no fear.
It has no emotions.
Those who truly think it does, that it has "character" -("go you bitch!") delude themselves.
Machinery has but one soul.
Physics.
Do this to it, and this happens.
Do that, and that, is what happens.
Or that is what reason will tell you.
But then, maybe, machinery, boilers, steam plants, ships do have a character of their own.
A sense of humour, or maybe,............spite.
We will let you decide.
They shake charge just after midnight.
The words are pitiless, I think.
Pure Physics
"Port Shaft bearing number 2 is reported as running hot!"
'How hot?"
"Okano wants to stop it hot"
His lower half is covered in oil stains, and his arms are black from elbow to finger tip.
The cylider head replacement of the emergency generator has just completed..
Some how, he has sat down here, meaning to listen to the diesels rumble for the next 15 minutes..........and the 15 minutes has stretched to an hour.
The diesel rumbles on, load trialing for its allotted hour, the charge oblivious.
Machinery feels no fear.
It has no emotions.
Those who truly think it does, that it has "character" -("go you bitch!") delude themselves.
Machinery has but one soul.
Physics.
Do this to it, and this happens.
Do that, and that, is what happens.
Or that is what reason will tell you.
But then, maybe, machinery, boilers, steam plants, ships do have a character of their own.
A sense of humour, or maybe,............spite.
We will let you decide.
They shake charge just after midnight.
The words are pitiless, I think.
Pure Physics
"Port Shaft bearing number 2 is reported as running hot!"
'How hot?"
"Okano wants to stop it hot"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
(sudden spike system/engine damage!)
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
10/12/43
This dawn, typically, dawns clear, calm, and bright.
As if to mock the Fleet, now that all chance of naval battle is done, the rain passes.
Zuiho and her companions steam a mirror calm blue sea.
This time, when Zuikaku is attacked (yes, again!), the scope is spotted very early, the tracks of the fish are plain to see, and the mighty carrier is a sight to see as she heels away, straightens, and combs the fish with aplomb.
Her captain maintains, it seems his humour " I am getting practiced now" he signals the flagship.
It is the only bright spot in the day.
Tankers loom, at last, and the business of refuelling begins. As soon as it is done, it is intended to raise speed, and clear the area.
With luck, by tomorrow, they should be clear of this cursed nest of hornets.
This dawn, typically, dawns clear, calm, and bright.
As if to mock the Fleet, now that all chance of naval battle is done, the rain passes.
Zuiho and her companions steam a mirror calm blue sea.
This time, when Zuikaku is attacked (yes, again!), the scope is spotted very early, the tracks of the fish are plain to see, and the mighty carrier is a sight to see as she heels away, straightens, and combs the fish with aplomb.
Her captain maintains, it seems his humour " I am getting practiced now" he signals the flagship.
It is the only bright spot in the day.
Tankers loom, at last, and the business of refuelling begins. As soon as it is done, it is intended to raise speed, and clear the area.
With luck, by tomorrow, they should be clear of this cursed nest of hornets.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The moment charge enters the shaft tunnel, he knows things are wrong.
Truked, yes, but totally truked?
He must find out fast.
He feels the heat immediately..........baby, you're cooking....and the oil is slick under his feet.
Bad.
Very bad
But no screaming metal.yet, no smoke. He touches the bearing casing, skin sizzles.
Not much time..........
He turns to the men following him, issues his orders
Moments later, in the mess deck above them, a momentary war breaks out as the black gang swarm into the hammocks, turfing sleeping sailors aside.
The hammocks are ripped down, thrown into the tunnel.
With great care (one man squeezing himself under the spinning shaft, between rotating death and the hull) they spread the canvas over the bearing housing.
A fire hose follows, and water is soon spraying in a fine mist over the disaster.
Steam rises.
"Start the bloody eductor!" Some one yells
"Where is the bloody oil!, another calls!
(Hurry goddam it, hurry!)
"Its coming!"
Charge hunts for the problem. please gods, lets this be easy...................
It is not.
Those last shocks............
The lip seal has failed.
No doubt about it.
Gods. They are going to have to lock the shaft.
Truked, yes, but totally truked?
He must find out fast.
He feels the heat immediately..........baby, you're cooking....and the oil is slick under his feet.
Bad.
Very bad
But no screaming metal.yet, no smoke. He touches the bearing casing, skin sizzles.
Not much time..........
He turns to the men following him, issues his orders
Moments later, in the mess deck above them, a momentary war breaks out as the black gang swarm into the hammocks, turfing sleeping sailors aside.
The hammocks are ripped down, thrown into the tunnel.
With great care (one man squeezing himself under the spinning shaft, between rotating death and the hull) they spread the canvas over the bearing housing.
A fire hose follows, and water is soon spraying in a fine mist over the disaster.
Steam rises.
"Start the bloody eductor!" Some one yells
"Where is the bloody oil!, another calls!
(Hurry goddam it, hurry!)
"Its coming!"
Charge hunts for the problem. please gods, lets this be easy...................
It is not.
Those last shocks............
The lip seal has failed.
No doubt about it.
Gods. They are going to have to lock the shaft.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
We may have covered this before
Turbines let in very hot steam, condense it in (relatively) cold condensors
Only the rotation of the turbine itself prevents it heating un evenly (a bit like a pig on a spit)
If you stop a turbine, hold the shaft stopped against the rush of the ship , you have to use an awful lot of astern steam.
At 3 minutes, you have reached your limit, you simply must rotate the shaft, or reduce vacuum.
The turbine simply, right now, is bending.
The problem is, at sea, is this.
To stop the shaft, to hold it stopped, you have two choices.
Choice one. Stop the shaft. Engage turning gear. Reduce revs other shaft to 15 knots. Reduce vaccum. Turning gear will slowly turn the shaft, and it will be available again very quickly
Choice two. Stop the shaft. Lock it with turning gear. Break vacuum. No limitation other shaft.
But you must wait 8 hours, 8 minimum, before turning gear can be engaged again.
On one shaft, zuiho cannot exceed 20 knots. Far too slow this windless day for those pigs of TBDs to launch..............
Turbines let in very hot steam, condense it in (relatively) cold condensors
Only the rotation of the turbine itself prevents it heating un evenly (a bit like a pig on a spit)
If you stop a turbine, hold the shaft stopped against the rush of the ship , you have to use an awful lot of astern steam.
At 3 minutes, you have reached your limit, you simply must rotate the shaft, or reduce vacuum.
The turbine simply, right now, is bending.
The problem is, at sea, is this.
To stop the shaft, to hold it stopped, you have two choices.
Choice one. Stop the shaft. Engage turning gear. Reduce revs other shaft to 15 knots. Reduce vaccum. Turning gear will slowly turn the shaft, and it will be available again very quickly
Choice two. Stop the shaft. Lock it with turning gear. Break vacuum. No limitation other shaft.
But you must wait 8 hours, 8 minimum, before turning gear can be engaged again.
On one shaft, zuiho cannot exceed 20 knots. Far too slow this windless day for those pigs of TBDs to launch..............
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
WhenTakeji see's Minobe abandon his post at the fuelling point, sees that black mess of a charge follow him towards the bridge, he knows he is for trouble.
The problem he grasps immediately. Hot bearings.
Main shaft.
If it should sieze............ships have been opened to the ocean, or worse, by shafts running amoke.
'How hot is it now?" Charge?
"Sir, at this speed, managable. But I do not know if we can keep the oil up to it. The seal is truked!"
"Truked, or totally truked?" (ahh,, the language of stokers. Remind me never to invite them home to mother)
"How long to replace the seal chief?"
"I can do it in two hours sir.but you will lose the shaft for at least ten"
Takeji nods calmly. It is the measure of the man, that all the while this goes on, Zuiho is a mere 50 metres from a tanker, sucking greedily from its tit.
"We are going to go to full power in an hour charge. Nobody is going to wait for us. Our submarine friends will complain we are making it too easy for them"
Charge cannot answer. (Yes, and guess where I will be if we get hit?. nobody will be getting out of that shaft tunnel in a hurry ......)
Minobe sudenly speaks.
Almost forgotten it seems. Eyes still bloodshot. Undoubtably still under last nights bottle.
But maybe that makes for boldness ?
"Flood the tunnel chief"
'Sir?"
The bearing is hot, but not wiped. Open its inspection hatch, flood the bloody shaft.Let the sea cool and lubricate it."
"Will that work?"
Minobe points to Akagi, gamely struggling on."Apparently 2 of her shafts are flooded........."
Takeji looks at the crippled Carrier. Stay here, and join her?. Or risk what could be catastrophic damage?
"Do it charge. Flood the shaft tunnel."
Akagi 35/63/32
Taiho 25/41/15
Ryujo 15/62/0 (she loses another compartment)
The problem he grasps immediately. Hot bearings.
Main shaft.
If it should sieze............ships have been opened to the ocean, or worse, by shafts running amoke.
'How hot is it now?" Charge?
"Sir, at this speed, managable. But I do not know if we can keep the oil up to it. The seal is truked!"
"Truked, or totally truked?" (ahh,, the language of stokers. Remind me never to invite them home to mother)
"How long to replace the seal chief?"
"I can do it in two hours sir.but you will lose the shaft for at least ten"
Takeji nods calmly. It is the measure of the man, that all the while this goes on, Zuiho is a mere 50 metres from a tanker, sucking greedily from its tit.
"We are going to go to full power in an hour charge. Nobody is going to wait for us. Our submarine friends will complain we are making it too easy for them"
Charge cannot answer. (Yes, and guess where I will be if we get hit?. nobody will be getting out of that shaft tunnel in a hurry ......)
Minobe sudenly speaks.
Almost forgotten it seems. Eyes still bloodshot. Undoubtably still under last nights bottle.
But maybe that makes for boldness ?
"Flood the tunnel chief"
'Sir?"
The bearing is hot, but not wiped. Open its inspection hatch, flood the bloody shaft.Let the sea cool and lubricate it."
"Will that work?"
Minobe points to Akagi, gamely struggling on."Apparently 2 of her shafts are flooded........."
Takeji looks at the crippled Carrier. Stay here, and join her?. Or risk what could be catastrophic damage?
"Do it charge. Flood the shaft tunnel."
Akagi 35/63/32
Taiho 25/41/15
Ryujo 15/62/0 (she loses another compartment)
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The enemy bomb manowaki, soraong, biak, all those bases at the top of PNG
Timor is pounded
Cantona likes to telegraph his punches , i think.
He thinks my carriers are well out of position, he thinks that I have failed to notice his fade past Milne bay, south.
He thinks, I will never be able to get across the top of png in time with my flat tops
He may be right.
Yamaguchi, two legs brocken Yamaguichi, has regained consousnes.
His pain is great. But his will remains strong.
Alright then. You will not fight carrier on carrier my friend. So i will put mine away...........for better times.
But their weapons.....
"All carriers of combined fleet, upon reaching latitude #$$%$#@, will dispatch airgroups to Soerabaya, and 2nd air army command until further notice"
Timor is pounded
Cantona likes to telegraph his punches , i think.
He thinks my carriers are well out of position, he thinks that I have failed to notice his fade past Milne bay, south.
He thinks, I will never be able to get across the top of png in time with my flat tops
He may be right.
Yamaguchi, two legs brocken Yamaguichi, has regained consousnes.
His pain is great. But his will remains strong.
Alright then. You will not fight carrier on carrier my friend. So i will put mine away...........for better times.
But their weapons.....
"All carriers of combined fleet, upon reaching latitude #$$%$#@, will dispatch airgroups to Soerabaya, and 2nd air army command until further notice"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
It is just after 10 pm when Hidaka tells them.
'pack your crap. We are going, it seems, on a picnic. We depart for Siapan, 1600 hrs tomorrow"
'pack your crap. We are going, it seems, on a picnic. We depart for Siapan, 1600 hrs tomorrow"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
11/12/43
This time its Shokaku which does the dance, heeling, heeling, wake creaming behind her as she takes her turn at dodging the latest submarine attack.
Again, by some miracle, another attack misses.
Three attacks in three days, luck like this cannot hold surely.
Barely has she straightened back to her course than the flags break out on the flagship "All ships make best speed"
On Zuihos bridge, grim looks are passed. 'Cross your fingers men............revolutions 296!"
And now we shall see..........
Down below, the bells ring.
296.
Full power.
It is barely necessary, but Charge will say it into Okanos ear nevertheless........."Nice and gently now"
he turns to the voice pipe "Starboard engine will follow ports revolutions!"
'OK Okano, open her up"
The great throttle slowly turns, the hum of the turbine begins to rise, the shaft begins to spin imperceptably faster.........
This time its Shokaku which does the dance, heeling, heeling, wake creaming behind her as she takes her turn at dodging the latest submarine attack.
Again, by some miracle, another attack misses.
Three attacks in three days, luck like this cannot hold surely.
Barely has she straightened back to her course than the flags break out on the flagship "All ships make best speed"
On Zuihos bridge, grim looks are passed. 'Cross your fingers men............revolutions 296!"
And now we shall see..........
Down below, the bells ring.
296.
Full power.
It is barely necessary, but Charge will say it into Okanos ear nevertheless........."Nice and gently now"
he turns to the voice pipe "Starboard engine will follow ports revolutions!"
'OK Okano, open her up"
The great throttle slowly turns, the hum of the turbine begins to rise, the shaft begins to spin imperceptably faster.........
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt