Matrix Games Forums

 Forums  Register  Login  Photo Gallery  Member List  Search  Calendars  FAQ 

My Profile  Inbox  Address Book  My Subscription  My Forums  Log Out

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

 
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! Page: <<   < prev  27 28 [29] 30 31   next >   >>
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 9/25/2009 2:34:00 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Mud
Mud that gathers in great clumps on your flying boots, that smears the wings of your plane, that has to be laboriously scraped of the soles before you climb into cockpit –and still gets into it, sliming the floor, your seat, your clothes.
Mud, that chokes the spats of your wheels, that flings up into control surfaces, that sprays of propellers, blanketing screens with impenetrable murk .

Mud that runs in rivers from your tents to the eating areas, that gets on your crude benches, gets into your very food itself.
Mud
Rain.
Rain that creates the mud, that sheets down, that drizzles down, that drips down from the jungle even when it isn’t raining.
Rain that gathers in little puddles, that rivulet to bigger ones, that turn into great sheets of water, that then flows in great streams that claw away the surface of carefully packed strips –and turn into…….

Mud.

The rain comes all morning – great sheets of it today, news filters through of enemy action to the west, to the east, to the south – but nothing can fly here.

And then it stops.
Sodden, miserable, Mandalay bursts into action –Japan lacks enough machinery – manpower –as ever will do.
The support troops here have been doing this a long time now –they know how to un bog a fighter, how to move it with out bogging it again – an amazing amount of wooden wedges, planks, jacks, ropes are employed to move the great beasts, that and sheer grunt.

The sun now pounds down in a gap in the clouds –and the base suddenly sizzles –the steam literally coming out of the sodden soil, the sodden men.
Not even Hyakutake can smile, his suit simple clings to him, and the sweat flows.

47th struggle into the air –a horribly slow process, over 30 mins to get the massed formation into the sky.
Nakamura leads them North –Imphal, a nightmarish flight of dodging clouds, and rain, and the mountains too close below.
The enemy are elsewhere.
No one is lost today, but precious fuel is wasted, and even more precious moral is borrowed against the ledger.

Today on the Burma front nearly 300 fighters have been employed.
The grand achievement?
More mud.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 841
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 9/27/2009 6:49:46 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		25/4/43

There is a great range of mountains north of Magwe, many days cloud covered – a great barrier between Burma and India.
Sometimes these clouds can serve as a great shield against the attacker, sometimes a great barrier for the defender.
Today, when the bombers come, it’s the later.

Nakamura leads them North, to the great ridges –and is forced west by a great thundercloud, west, and further west.
When spotted the great bomber formation is already sliding past them, many miles to the east –hugging the very edge of the great cloud…………

Inoue sees the wings of his leader rock. The radio squaks, some incomprehensible gibberish –it does not matter –the mass of fighters is banking hard right, and engine exhausts deepen, and he follows automatically, teeth gritted against the G’s.

There they are –not so good –ahead-and above.
50-60-70 plus?
Many
Far too many


There are no routine battles

70 plus KI 44’s climb swiftly after the enemy formation –the accompanying navy fighters beginning to lag behind, and battle today is not so much as joined, as almost slowly begun, the tactical situation for the fighters frankly terrible –caught behind, and below.

Nevertheless –the attack is made.

Inoue has the throttle to the wall – the enemy he has picked floating slowly, slowly, OH God . too slowly towards him
Tracer
KA BANG!
#$%^!!!
Hit, truk, hit.
Stunned , frozen –his fighter falls to the left, engine beginning to scream –OH Crap, Im hit. , get out, get out, get out.

Right foot automatically correcting the turn, hands automatically wrenching the stick right against the fall……….. and shockingly, the fighter responds.
Inoue levels out, a thousand feet below the fight, a scan of the panel
Nothing wrong
Nothing wrong.
For heavens sake………………..
A gentle testing of the controls
Nothing wrong
What the?
There is nothing wrong
Inoue looks up through his canopy –the fight is now a couple of miles ahead –the fight up there is deep and intense –bombers and fighters alike are falling now together

He is alone
Breathe deep.

Inoue looks again at the fight above, and turns for home…………..



The fight today is hard –33 tigers return with some sort of damage, several will need to be written off.
But the “Big wing” has worked. Poor tactical position or not, 13 bombers have gone down –nearly 15%
Those that attacked (has any attack ever been stopped?) have bombed poorly.
47th sentai score one –a newcomer takes credit, the other sentais do better.

Inoues fighter has lost its tail wheel.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 842
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 9/27/2009 7:06:54 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		26/4/43
Dawn
Combat air patrol
Frantic repairs
Recon
Stores
Digging holes
More Patrols
A packed sky over Maladay awaiting to spring a trap that won’t be sprung
Refueling
Debriefing
Intelligence reports
Maintenance
Dusk
Dark

Tomorrow –another day.




27/4/43

Rule of combat
Never give a sucker an even chance

From behind the great cloud barrier nakamura’s big wing wing bursts into the sunshine –and like wolves sweep into the airspace above Chittagong
Nakamura still spoils for a fight –and today he brings all the tools in the box, 100 plus Tonies, 80 plus Tigers.

Chittagong has not seen an enemy fighter for months now –and its CAP is caught as wolves hope to catch –helpless as lambs.

There is no dogfight –just the sudden scattering of the enemy before the guns –the ruthless hammering of cannon and machine guns –the sudden flaring of fighters –the great shoveling of smoke.
And then they are gone.

Inoue has a kill
47th claims five today
25 enemy for three tonies lost

Nakamura has finally gotten what he so desperately needed.
Tonight nobody in 47th is tired.

War is not chess. But Nakamura can only ask himself tonight. What move does he pull next?

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 843
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 9/27/2009 11:20:00 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		extract from Shattering the sword -a cantona production

.............and the battles over Mereauke continued. On the 27th the japanese intercepted , in the clear, the following message from the base to South West pacific command, and persumably to the japanese as well. "Damn your fighters and damn the Corsair!

The gull winged wonder, was making a terrible debut................


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 844
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 9/27/2009 12:00:44 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

extract from Shattering the sword -a cantona production

.............and the battles over Mereauke continued. On the 27th the japanese intercepted , in the clear, the following message from the base to South West pacific command, and persumably to the japanese as well. "Damn your fighters and damn the Corsair!

The gull winged wonder, was making a terrible debut................






_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 845
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 9/29/2009 11:28:04 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		28/4/43

Evening.
Dusk is settling with the suddenness typical of this area, and the men are gathered around the rice cookers
Inoue is trying to sit alone, but Hyakutake seeks him out
‘Congrats on the kill my friend”
“bah, he had no chance –that was no kill –poor sod never knew we were even there”
“All the better”

Silence

“Inoue, my friend –is all well?”
‘Of course”
“So yesterday –mechanical difficulties?’ the question hangs in the thick air –loaded.
Inoue hesitates, then shrugs “No, no my friend. No mechanical difficulties –mental ones, but nothing mechanical”
‘I see”
the rice has gone –and tonight, there can be no more
“How do you do it Hyakutake? –how do you get up and smile each day – face each day?
The young man smiles, teeth flashing in the gloom
‘If you think yourself already dead –we only have to do the actual dying –and that will come, must come –then how can you not feel each day is special – is a gift?. I live to fly, I can fly, we have nothing to worry about except the flying –what more do we want?”

Inoue contemplates the younger mans words.

“get some sleep old man –if I guess right, they are pissed off with us – sleep could be at a premium tonight!”

Hyakutake is right – the enemy absent today –come in low that night –and tonight they score –destroying one plane –and killing one poor sod –buried in a collapsing latrine.

As Inoue saddles up for the next day, he still thinks on Hyakutakes words, the dead man of the latrines, the trail of dead they have left around the pacific.
OK – he is dead. There is nothing to worry about –except the flying.


29/4/43

SMN Miyazaki rolls aching shoulders.
Gunnery drills, new guns
Yamato looks more like a porcupine every day
He wonders about his brother – at least he is seeing something of the war, not this endless riding at anchor.




29/9/43
Imphal today
116 Tigers, 24 zeros –clearing the way for the bombers.

The enemy tactics are puzzling –the p38’s are gone –gone where? From the front that is for sure.
It’s a poor section of ancient Mohawks that is encountered –probably on a training flight –and 47th lead the attack.

Our men are uninvolved today – Juni gets to maneuver a little –but they get no chance to fire – it’s the WO’s – Izumida, Ginowa, others who cut into the enemy –they are proving the theory –get a kill early in a war –and you will probably keep racking them up –fail –and you will continue to.
Its brutally quick –again –and all 9 are shot down.

47th has 41 kills now.

Nakamura is half happy –he still seeks the real enemy , the P38’s, the enemy bombers. But the kills are coming, and moral is rising.
It will do.



30/4/43
Nakamura leads his pack north again
Again the sky is crowded with clouds, the ground in many places covered in mist.
Flying is not easy –it never is up here –but he is confident.
He looks around –a satisfactory sight indeed –the terraced ranks of fighters –bouncing, growling in the rough air.
Hyakutake to his left –Juni to the right –flights nice and tight

He rocks himself to the left –looking down –Iwaya is there –good –crap pilot yes –but he will fight –and always lead the others to it.
Above –Inoue.
Well –we will see.
The next landmark slides below –5 minutes to go.
Safety off –final check. Settle into the seat –look into the sun –again.
Ok you truckers –where are you today?

Empty sky
Just the cloud, the mist –and a 100 frustrated men.
Crud.

The radio crackles – ‘hello Tiger –big enemy raid over point two - -can you party?’
Nakamura contemplates his map –scans the sky to the south –picturing in his minds eye the mountains, the clouds –the base undoubtedly being pounded , and finally the fuel gauges.
Not enough.
Crud
‘All flights, Tiger one –it’s a bust. Returning to base.”

The intelligence officer meets him at his plane –distress written all over his face.
The news is not good – Magwe has been smashed –the fighters were away –but operating will be very, if not impossibly difficult tomorrow.

He calls the flight leaders over
‘This should make you happy Hyakutake -if they don’t follow up on this –they are wasting their time”
Juni examines the intelligence report. ‘bottle of scotch we see the fork tailed devils tomorrow”
Nakamura smiles ‘ You are on”


(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 846
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 9/30/2009 12:17:49 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		1/5/43

Hyakutake grins . It is not the happy clown grin you see so often on the ground, nor are the eyes twinkling with that bubbling mischief always trying to break out.
No, this is the grin one hopes never to see –the grin of the heavyweight champion as he towers over his staggering foe –final championship blow cocked, and enroute.
It’s the grin of the hunter who has stalked his prey all day – and now finds it meters away – relaxed, drinking, and firmly in his sights.

It’s the grin of the killer as his hands tighten that last bit, and his victim begins to go limp.
It is cold, humourless.

Juni has lost his bottle of scotch –the bombers come alright –Magwe the target alright –but not a fighter in sight.

24 liberators packed tight , a dozen forts above and behind them – and 140 plus fighters are coming for them

47th leads the way –the climb has been brutal –position now is good, ahead, and above, well ahead, well above, flying almost in the identical direction.
Already the Tonies are going in –attacking from astern and above –diving through the bombers – hitting, disturbing them –and already –bringing them down.

Hyakutake licks his lips, judges again. He leads today – Nakamura is grounded –he won’t waste this chance.

‘Follow me –ATTACK!”

Engine screaming he screws hard around –begins the attack –a head on charge –the stream of fighters following –spreading out to each side of him
Hyakutake means to more than hit them –he intends to annihilate the formation in one savage attack

3 000 meters
2000
1000
picking his target
Steady
Steady
Growing
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Guns hammering, cordite stink
The formations crash - black shapes flashing -wings glinting, tracer soaring, curving
And planes begin to turn, to weave, to fall away....................

ON TARGET!
Hard left rudder –literally skidding through the sky –the flash of aluminium, and stick down and diving, and now hard into the belly, harder rudder looking, looking, did he get? - AHHHHH - he burns –the buggar burns –and some barsted Tony is going to finish him off………….

The bomber formation has literally shattered in the face of the attack –at least 5 great machines are plunging down –the others are dumping bombs, turning and fleeing for the deck.
Good.
But he wants more
There –below –still heading north – 3 bombers
Throttle hard –diving – an interesting situation –a sky only moments ago full of fighters –and some how its just him verses three.

The bombers are at 10000 maybe 11000 feet –a ragged vee –and the port one is both a B17d –and trailing smoke
That of course will be the one
He dives from behind –the tracer floats his way –over, adjusting his sight –aiming for the wing roots - -and the great bomber suddenly pulls up –his opponent ignoring all convention –ignoring the fact that he’s flying a bomber – the huge machine climbing through Hyakutake’s screen, forcing urgent action, he flashes desperately close under its belly -glimpse of wheels -a star -and guns turning his way..........., jinking hard right, hard left, wondering how in the hell all that lead coming his way could possibly miss.

‘Nice move American”

He climbs parallel now to the beast – and for a moment considers it.
One on one –who knows, who cares where they are –where the rest of the world is – where the the other planes have gone
He will have this one

The bombers guns point his way –too clever by half to waste ammo at this range –and he notes that the waist gunners scarf is bright yellow.
The gunner in question points at his machine gun –and gives him the finger.

“fair enough”
“It wont help”
Wing over, cutting across behind the enemies tail, getting down and below the big right wing, and hard opposite bank –and climb into his guts –and the big barsted has counter s’d him –also swinging hard towards him, and this time as the guns hammer, it’s the bomber who hits, and Hyakutake has to radically shove the stick forward, spinning hard –the shock forcing a bitter, startled curse from him.

The bomber resumes course for home –and it takes the fighter a few minutes to recover –and to once again climb to the parallel position.

And now the co pilot is giving him the finger too.

The grin is gone now –and eyes are cold, and hard.
Fuel is critical, and it matters nothing.
This guy, this crew is good.
But he will have them.

He throttles full –emergency boost –pulls ahead, watching him falling behind, behind and to Starboard, and now he flings hard around –and attacks head on – the bomber looms, looms -he fires, and fires – the bomber flashes past so close he can see the co pilots face –his cold calm face –and in the split second –that single hard finger so defiantly pointing at him still –and the bloody guns are empty and the #@!$ is still flying, and firing and how in the hell will they ever win this crappy war when the bombers never ever go down?

But this one will!
And there is no conscious decision, just a madness –and plane and stick and him are one and the world is vertical and now the bomber is right in front of him – the tail looms in the screen –and TRUK you! –he rams it -a great explosion of noise and metal and straps cracking ribs –and the earth is spinning –and OH truk it!

For just moment he thinks –the thought actually flashes –you idiot –now stay here –but something else takes over –and now he is out –and falling –its so quiet –and the chute opens even though he cannot recall pulling it –and bloody hell – is that a friendly tank right below?








Operations report
47th sentai
1/5/43
Involved in heavy fighting over Magwe – intercepted 35 plus bombers in conjunction with many other fighters
8 confirmed shot down –enemy raid totally broken up.
One fighter lost – Hyakutake injured .

(he claims a kill –but it cannot be verified)

Nakamura’s comments
Attacks aggressively followed through –but – I am down to just 19 servicable fighters tonight =Magwe remains closed, here is damaged, supplies are unsat.
Rumours of heavy fighting in PNG –and that the Navy wishes to take some type 0’s out of the theatre here.
If that happens –how will I escort the bombers?
If somebody comes up with a fighter that is fast, heavily armed –and very long legged with good maneuverability –they will win this war.
The KI-44’s getting tired –when do we gat a replacement?






< Message edited by 1275psi -- 9/30/2009 12:27:08 PM >

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 847
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/3/2009 4:02:14 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		2nd to the 4/5/43


The second is spent on CAP operations -and despite the rare, very rare day of totally clear skies - the enemy do not come.
They bomb every night - a bloody nuiscance, but for the moment it seems that once again 47th have helped swing the tide.
Nevertheless the strength of 47th has waned to a dangerous point -less than 50% available.
Nakamura pulls the sentai out -south to rangoon -the cripples come by train, 47th is replaced by other Tigers.

The mechanics go to work, and the pilots do too - a serious attack of unwinding in the bars and Ahem, brothels of rangoon takes place.

its probably best to let our gaze leave the area for a while, for decorums sake.....................

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 848
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/3/2009 4:07:08 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Still dominating the skies over burma;

despite how nakamura feels about his fighters performance -its the Tonies that are really doing the heavy lifting - crack pilots, good support. One unit has now 100 kills............




Attachment (1)

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 849
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/3/2009 10:36:15 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		5/5/43
hangovers............

Where our pilots are at

Hyakutake --- 88 missions, EXP now 82, 6 kills
Juni B ---------95 missions, EXP now 82, 2 kills
Iwaya----------86 missions, EXP now 74, no kills
Inoue ----------84 missions, EXP now 74, 2 kills
Miyazaki--------79 missions, EXP 63, no kills

I think the fact that most missions have been against bombers reflect a lot on the lack of kills to missions...........

despite all efforts - merauke is growing , spelling big trouble in the days ahead............


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 850
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/5/2009 6:55:42 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		6/5/43

47th continue to recover strength at Rangoon

The work is interupted during the early hours by by a sight 47th have seen once before -the great cloud of dust that a great army makes marching.
So the rumours are true - Akyab is under attack..................

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 851
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/7/2009 7:04:46 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		7/5/43
Supreme council, Imperial HQ

Mr Iwaya, Minister of productionstared the Admiral across the great chart table. It was hard to contain his temper
"Again I will tell you this - you can't expect to hold everything. Some things we can lose -some we must not!"

The Admirals face darkens ' Majuro shows we CAN hold -let me do the fighting -you build the stuff to fight with!"
Iwaya's retort bursts forth- cannot this stupid man see?- "And if we keep losing ships at this rate trying to maintain useless outposts - building you stuff -as you so eloquently put it sir -will be but a snowflake in hell!...

The Admiral stares across the gap - and then his face softens, and that terrible charm he is known so well for comes forth.
Concillitory, understanding........... ' Alright then, maybe so, and so Mr Iwaya -what would you call essential then........"

"Burma, the DEI's -God, we went to war for them -anything to keep those cursed fortresses away from them........"





Mr Iwaya, Minister for production states his case.
Burma must be held, and he knows exactly where his son is -moving north -again into the storm bursting over Akyab.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 852
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/9/2009 11:17:10 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		8/5/43

47th are again forward deployed -the bung once again in the breach.
Its another day of sapping heat, terrible flying weather, mud and stink.
And no contacts

Another day
Another day
Just another bloody day

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 853
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/9/2009 11:29:26 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Juni has the runs
Inoue still battles the fevers -and his demons
Miyazaki rages at his inability to shoot down anyone
Iwaya thanks the Gods he finds the field in the muck thsy call a sky
Hyakutake battles a tooth ache
Nakamura watches in despair as his sentais strength already leaks away with cripples, n goes and busted planes

The enemy do not fight here -seemingly everywhere else, but not here.

In Japan, a house wife boasts loudly to her nieghbour -of the sacrifices she has made this week

Juni that night expresses it for all of them
"I've had a %$#@#$% gutful -do you think anyone actually cares what we are doing here? -knows we are here at all?
"God -what is the bloody point"
Hyakutake smiles. "treat it as a game my friend -life is just a game"
Juni growls
From some secret corner of the tent Hyakutake shuffles around -and produces a bottle
"here you sad buggar -if my advice wont help -this will......"

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 854
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/9/2009 11:32:57 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		10/5/43

For three days straight 47th have run LRCAP over Magwe -giving the engineers the time they so desperately need.
It is another day of frustration -there are battles over Akyab, bombings a mere 60 miles to the north, and many other planes over japanese territory -and all our men do is dodge thunderclouds, and rain -and grow srteadily more tired.

The Navy has left - and now Nakamura finds himself just trying to hang on................

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 855
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/12/2009 9:09:49 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		11/5/43

Some times the sky is big. Now that’s a silly statement –at first glance.
But get up there –on a clear day – those sort of days when you can see forever –and its really big.
On days like that –there is nowhere to hide –keen hunters eyes can spot you miles away.

Its not like that today. Today the sky is full of great floating mountains –horribly black at the bottom –bottoms scraping the hills and jungles –while the lofty tops are brilliantly white –reflecting the sun with blinding light.
They march south west today, row upon row of them –huge giants of moisture.

Unknown to Hyakutake, on the other side of this particular white cliff he carefully skims around, a mass of bombers is beating towards Mandalaby –surrounded by the usual hornets nest of fighters.
The enemy are coming again.
They may as well as be on the other side of the moon today –for Hyakutake there is just this particular valley in the sky –and the Blenhiem.

He’s been stalking her for 30 minutes now –carefully trying to avoid his shadow giving himself away, trying to anticipate the buggars next move..
Its been interesting to the extreme –the blenhiem is good –very good. He ducks into a cloud heading west –and re appears miles away heading east.
Flying recon can be lethal – but only if you get caught.

Hyakutake fingers his triggers –itchy, itchy.

The buggar spots him, DAMN! –and peels down and into the next cloud.

He will never catch him now. Not that any one seemed to ever catch any of the little sneaks……….

He checks his gauges, another sweep of the sky –just him, the clouds –those glorious clouds.
Alone.
He grins –throttles up –and pulls into a glorious climb.
Aerobatics.
Freedom
Joy
Pure joy.
Pure living








12/5/43
47th move to Japans most forward base on the Burma front.
They refuel, and Nakamura leads them north on an offensive sweep over Akyab
Timing is terrible – combat occurs before arrival, and after they leave.
Almost typically, they see nobody.

13/5/43

The day begins well.
As good as it can get.
A battered truck arrives at the field –bringing that most precious commodity –mail

The men gather eagerly –and Iwaya gets a nice parcel.
Most even get letters. But the parcel is big –and now his friends are quite sure that what it contains will certainly be of benefit to everyone.
Inoue laughs-“Money my friend? Or soap and a toothbrush for your foul personage?”
Iwaya grins “I hope both –keeping 47th in the fine style it is accustomed to is bloody expensive you know!”
He begins to open the package ‘A tooth brush would be……”

SCRAMBLE!!!!!!!!!!
The alarm bells ring their urgent call to arms, and 47th begin the frantic sprint to planes.
Its been a while since a scramble –and Hyakutake finds himself almost gasping as they clamber aboard..
A glance to the right –exchange of smiles with Juni – lets get em hey?
A glance to the left –poor lumbering Iwaya. He points aggressively at his friend –then at his tail Stick close friend – I will get you a kill today –I promise.

Them into the comfort of the office –the familiar life giving, charging actions –the whirr of the prop –the great growl. The roar, the noise, the vibration.
Chocks away!
Throttle up –and he moves, they move –47th leap once again into the sky.

The Irrawady river
8000 feet.
The familiar enemy –liberators.
Only eight of them.

Juni leads them, himself, Hyakutake, Iwaya, tight, in close, determined, deadly
The guns crash, wings flash, the bomber staggers.
Coming around for another pass
Hyakautake smiles . Even you my friend Iwaya, can’t miss this duck today………..

Stern attack, Iwaya up close behind, Juni climbing above, good, good, stick together forever my friends, steady, left rudder, left rudder, tracer coming again –as always, aim, aim, and……..

The .5 caliber shell strikes the main spar square –and it shatters.
Under the strain of the climbing turn it all happens instantly
The wing separates

…………. Forever, forever, forever………..

and flutters over and behind, swinging Hyuakutake violently left and sideways – and Iwaya see nothing but cockpit and metal……..

The two fighters collide –mash, separate –disintegrate, and fall locked together

…..forever and ever and ever…………

and smash into the jungles below, swallowed, into the great green nothingness.












Later
‘Whats that?”
“Its Iwayas parcel –should I open it?”
“”I think he would not have minded.”

A rustle of paper.
‘It’s a toothbrush”


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 856
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/12/2009 9:11:46 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Brothers in arms
The good





Attachment (1)

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 857
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/12/2009 9:13:52 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		The made good.

Both killed in action
13/5/43
Hyakutake 6 confirmed kills - very close to 100 combats
Iwaya - no confirmed kills.

May their spirits travel swiftly home together




Attachment (1)

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 858
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/12/2009 11:20:09 AM   
bbbf

 

Posts: 493
Joined: 7/16/2000
From: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Status: offline 		A bad day indeed - the old guns falling one by one is bad enough, losing two is devastating.



_____________________________

Robert Lee

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 859
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/12/2009 5:07:36 PM   
FeurerKrieg


Posts: 3397
Joined: 6/15/2005
From: Denver, CO
Status: offline

_____________________________


Upper portion used with permission of www.subart.net, copyright John Meeks

(in reply to bbbf)
Post #: 860
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/14/2009 6:22:42 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Extract from “Fighting the Tide, by Col Nakamura –a Amazon production.


………..their deaths left an understandably heavy pall over the unit. For myself, their was the personal pain of friends lost, but there were also deeper issues. Replacements would come –but they could never replace 18 months of war experience –and this was a war guaranteed to only get harder.
For the moment, shattered moral had to be restored. There was, in my mind, only one solution – attack…………..


The jungles reverberate to the rumble of over 100 great engines, all beating together.
Nakamura stands erect in the cockpit, his face eastward –awaiting the suns imminent arrival.
Behind him the massed force of 4 sentai’ s of tigers are lined up – row upon row of fighters, they are packed into each corner of the field –propellers a blur in the predawn light.

Every eye on the field is turned towards their leader, waiting. Other than the engines, nothing stirs, no one speaks –a thousand men, frozen in time.

The sun –as it does in the tropics –bursts over the horizon –bathing the field in its glow.
Nakamura salutes the sun –ramrod straight
Behind him, together, thousands of horsepower burst into life –a great shattering roar of power, of defiance.

Of tribute, of thanks

Of goodbye

Abruptly Nakamura sits, slams his canopy shut.
47th, two men down , climbs swiftly into the sky, into the sunburst.

Looking for trouble.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 861
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/15/2009 10:44:01 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		17/5/43

Juni sits in his cockpit, every bone in his body aching, waiting his turn on the strip
For five days straight now the Tigers have been flying combat patrol -or offensive sweeps over Cox's bazaar -seeking the enemy.
Wisely, it seems, they do not come up and fight.
Juni looks to his left, his right. he does not recongnise the faces -so young, so white -too clean.
Even without combat, the toll is rising - prangs, engine failures, others who simply disapear into the clouds, and do not return.
They are being replaced - but Juni never bothers to get to know them.
Its not worth the effort -too many die now so quick.

Inoue taxi's into position ahead of him. He's drinking again -heavily.
Juni notes -almost dispassionately, the lack of control checks from his friend. He knows he no longer wears his chute.
But what can he say?

He slams his canopy shut, plants the throttle full. The war seems endless. Maybe today they will come up.
Maybe.
But with odds of 10 to one against -he doubts it.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 862
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/16/2009 11:59:54 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		17/5/42

extract from "Shattering the sword" a cantona production

Mid may -and even the most optimistic allied commander had come to the conclusion -fighting the japanese in the air over Burma at this time would be a losing position -there simply were too many enemy fields, too many enemy fighters.
Itelligence placed every single KI 44 unit japan possessed on this front -and all but one of the Tony units.

But the allies were beginning to bring to bear 2 vital new weapons - the bulldozer -and that simple device -the instant all weather runway in the form of steel matting.
Simple things -but soon they would begin to bring a great harvest............


(house rule change -from beginning of next month cantona gets expanded airfield capacities to reflect better allied logistics)

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 863
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/18/2009 1:06:29 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		18/5/43

Life has become a blur -the days melding into the same punishing routine.
It should break men, but it does not. There is no alternative. Rise early, briefing, take off. Fly endless circles over the hills and jungles -patrol, patrol, patrol.
land
Refuel, eat, take off again. In peace time accidents, death -front page news. Now -now they are small lines in operational reports - operational losses. The row of graves under the banana tree grove grows - but little else changes.
The replacements come -fresh, green men - there is no time to train them, to pass on the ever decreasing pool of experience -they learn quickly -or they die.

Today p-38's sweep to the east -and surprise the 85th sentai -spinning 5 of them to destruction, and some British fighters too dare the frontier -but (almost as per usual) 47th see no action
Japan is too strong in defence -but too weak in bombers to truly attack, and so the front is strangely quiet.
For our men, for Nakamura, the great picture has shrunk once again to this field, and this patch of sky.

To a man all think of home -and wonder now -will they ever see it again?

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 864
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/20/2009 11:05:41 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		19/5/43

examination of 47th's operational log reveals just a solitary line

"Continued routine combat patrol operations"
A terribly thin record for a historian.

20/5/43

Operations are curtailed by incessant rain in the morning. maybe in frustration, maybe to boost flagging moral, nakamura leads all his fighters to Akyab in the afternoon.
Its a depressing flight -despite the numbers of fighters, nothing is achieved. Akyab looks quiet -little sign of activity being revealed by the british below. The newly lost airfield remains empty of british planes -a puzzle.

Nakamura's comments in 47th's operational log are revealing - "its too @#$%^ quiet!"

21/5/43
wash
repeat
Wash, repeat.
Another sweep
Still nobody wants to fight.

There is a minor celebration this night .
Nakamura calls his pilots into the crude mess - the humidity shines on all the assembled faces.
Moths, bugs , beat at the small oil lamps, and shadows fight the flickering light.
he calls Juni forward -he looks surprised -almost embarressed.
"100 combat missions for the Empire. I, for one -give my gratitude" Nakamura salutes the rough figure, the unshaven face.
Bottles mysteriously appear. "A toast - too a 100 more"

The light is bad -so I'm sure the glimmer in Junis eye, is just the sweat from his brow.


22/5/43

The enemy still will not fight
Another frustrating day has passed.
Inoue and juni are sharing a bottle, a daily occurance now , an occurance that illicits no comment from anyone -here at the front it is becoming all too common as the days, the deaths pile up.
" Do you remember the last time this crap happened?" Inoue waves a vague hand towards the north -towards the british over the darkening hills
'What crap?"
"The crap when the british would not come up and fight?'
Juni grins 'Aahhhh yes -Hyakutakes little adventure -we did find out what cricket was did'nt we?"
" I think so -stupid bloody game by the sounds of it"
Juni raises an eyebrow -"not thinking of a repeat are you?"
Inoue tosses the empty into the dark "No fear -those days are gone I think"

A solid silence descends -the men watch the sun slip away -the gloom descends into the dark
" this war has gotten too big, too serious for just an individual hasn't it?" Inoue's voice sounds lost in the dark -lost and uncertain.

A hand reaches, rests on his shoulder
"Not while we are together old friend -not while we are together"


'Another drink?"
Why not
"Too memories?"
"yes -too memories"

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 865
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/20/2009 11:25:34 AM   
hosho


Posts: 128
Joined: 10/21/2005
From: zagreb, croatia
Status: offline 		powerful stuff! tnx!

_____________________________

the first ones are remembered

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 866
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/21/2009 10:02:54 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		(Ps thanks for the thought!)

23/5/43
Once again the skies over the front are marked by rows and rows of the great moisture mountains.
Huge. Deadly. Awsome. beautiful. terrible.

And perfect cover as well.
The P.38's hit the flight of Tigers with out warning -a great snarling slashing diving attack launched from the shadows of one of the great beasts.
It is perfect combat - never give a sucker a even chance combat -and 70th sentai lose 5 men before they know what has hit them.

On their return Nakamura is simply livid - poor lookout. poor formation. poor reaction.
A warning to all. The enemy might refuse a stand up fight -but they are there - deadly and clever.
Power to truth -the men of 47th barely listen -they ahve already decided in their minds that these things only happen to rookies like the 70th -not to hardened veterans like themselves.............











(in reply to hosho)
Post #: 867
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/24/2009 12:15:31 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		24/5/43

The enemy keep probing the front
Small flights of P38's are hunting in the clouds -today they tangle with some of the crack KI 61's -planes fall on both sides
47th continue to fly empty flights over their allottted front - endless circles over the armies encamped below.


"What in the hell are we doing?" demands Miyazaki over the poor evening meal -" how in the hell are we going to win the war like this -on the bloody defensive?'
Juni snorts -its not pleasant that snort -the derision in it is thick " Win? you really think we are still trying to win?"
Miyazaki frowns ' And you...."
"Stop it gentlemen please" Nakamura's voice is weary, "we don't need to argue over this again " he gives Miyazaki a warning look 'Again"

An Uneasy silence desends
Nakamura speaks again -the silence needs to be filled, the men need to hear " 'Japan is never going to 'win' anything . What we , I hope the high command is trying to do is one of two things"
He spoons rice. Other men drift into the circle of light around the small fire. its not often the boss speaks his mind now a days " One -we make the enemy bleed so badly for every foot that they quit in disgust -considering we never actually attacked the Americans, that might actually happen -dying for the British empire is not high on yankee's list i think"
A pause -a look towards Miyazaki again ' Or -we get another Majuro -we sink the enemy fleet again in some great battle. Plenty of glory in that heh Miyazaki?"

The men remain silent. A small chance to win. Or another even smaller one.

Nakamura stands "In the meantime our job is simple -let the Army know we are there. Stop the bombers. You may not know it men, but i do -every time a simple soldier looks up -and sees us -and not them - we triple his strength.
And that is good enough for me"
he has one final word before he departs the gathering. "remember Port moresby -the 38's there? I promise you. Some time soon men, sometime soon............"

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 868
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/24/2009 12:20:47 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		25/5/43

'No good?"
the pilot is worried, like a hen over her chicks
the maintenance Officer shakes his head again
"Structural crack -main frame -seen it fail before."
"And?'
the officer shakes his head, purses his lips -these men have no idea really do they on things mechanical 'It means your bird is brocken -for good. So buggar off until I can find you another"

Not that that was going to happen anytime soon...............


Many of 47th's fighters have been in action for a long time. The strain is beginging to tell not just on the men.





Attachment (1)

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 869
RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 10/27/2009 7:10:55 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Bandits!, Bandits at 3o clock level!
Your sphincter instantly tightens, and the air wont come –where? Where are they?
There –a dozen or so sharks coming in hard on your right shoulder
You tense yourself –girding for the battle
The Oxygen Is dry, bitter almost in your mouth

“ :steady gentlemen!”
The leaders voice- so bloody calm - how the hell does he do it?
You concentrate hard on the swooping enemy, timing, timing, grip on stick tightening, tightening –“relax!” for Gods sake, relax!’

NOW!

Hard stick over, rolling into the enemy, hard rudder –rolling up and over the attackers, the world spins –
Glimpses of planes scattering everywhere.
Chatter of guns –‘Against you?”
No – some other poor sucker….
Continue the turn, breathe, breathe!, Engine snarling, fighting the controls, fighting the controls –A 38 slashes past, too quick, too quick!
Its all happening too fast –again

And the sky is clear –the twin tailed devils have flashed into 47th sentai –scored, scored, scored again –and are gone.


“probing of the enemy defences continue”


Operations report 47th sentai

Brief engagement against unknown formation of P38’s
3 rookies, one experienced pilot lost.
3 kills claimed : nil confirmed

Enemy shipping spotted Akyab late evening –ordered to provide cover tomorrow.
(Nakamura’s notes) – Once again scattered all over the $%^&*( front –unable to mass ourselves –once again I have to say this –victory won’t be achieved in defence –we must simply shoot more of him down than he of us! –and only mass will give this.


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 870
Page:   <<   < prev  27 28 [29] 30 31   next >   >>
All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! Page: <<   < prev  27 28 [29] 30 31   next >   >>
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts


Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI

3.188