1275psi
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Joined: 4/17/2005
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22/11/43
Dawn
Captain Umeya has to face the hard reality. This ship would not be launching any strike planes until the afternoon, and even if they could -the carrier was coming hard after them.
The prospect of swimming, loomed large in the day ahead........
CS Mizuho trembled, she strains at 21 knots, little Hibiki hard behind, as if trying to push her faster.
At 3 am, the petes have launched -and the news now, is bad.
"Enemy carrier is preparing to launch"
Once again, Umeya climbs up to the catapult -as if his very presence can hasten the patching process on the first Jakes wing.
The tanoy breaks into life
"Captain Umeya, requested bridge"
Reluctantly he heads forward, past the tense gun crews, the waiting damage control teams.
he climbs to the bridge, expecting gloom.
The Captain is smiling , hands him glasses, points to the horizon "take a look"
Now he notices them -the grey shapes passing rapidly the other way -and there is no mistaking those slanted funnels...
The glasses brings them clearly into view -Junyo, Hiyo, steaming hard -decks even now a hive of activity.
'The trap springs'
The seaplane carrier heals gently, and they begin the long chase that will bring them into station.
The two carriers do not wait for them charging to the south.
There is little to be said, or that can be done -except wait for the battle to develop...........
Mizuho is 5000 metres astern, and still falling further behind, when the first japanese strike goes in.
'enemy in sight!'
'enemy consists, 1 battleship, 1 carrier -formidable'
'second carrier sighted! -identified -CVL bellue wood!'
Umeya tuns a quizzical eyebrow to his host "The trap is sprung????????"
"Attacking!"
The silence is intermittable.
Finally, as the ages crawl past
"1 hit -bellue wood -burning!"
'No damge to the british carrier!"
'Air warning red!"
They come in, little black dots, crawling across the sky -crawling, now moving, now racing into the attack
Now 6000 metres astern they are mere spectators.
The enemy attack sweeps in -and there is a gasp of horror on the bridge -at least a dozen Avengers are attacking without any interference...........
The column of water rises horribly against Junyo side - but she steams on
The firts hit on the Hiyo -appears to be far deadlier -she is swinging hard to Port, and the first hit buries deep under her bridge -and the second, the third, the fourth hits all seem to merge into one horrifying column in her very middle.
A tower of flame spurts forth -400, 500, 1000 feet high -and even from here the great Booooooooooooom reverbrates across to them.
The explosion has barely cleared, and already she lies on her beams -hesitates, and is gone.
It has taken all of three minutes.
"Even quicker than my Hosho..............."
Hiyo signals
"I intend to launch second strike -can you contribute"
Umeya heads aft.
They launch 3 jakes after lunch -and there is no shortages of vounteers -even though a return is almost certaintly impossible
Junyo gets away 10 zekes, 30 attack planes - she fights her fires, she fights on.
Again the wait
2 Avengers approach from aft -straight at the Mizuho - they drop -roaring pass the bridge with contempt -but the fish miss.
Japans strike, despite being savaged, does not
Victorious takes a fish, West virginia another.
No jakes return
They turn, flee north -the lockers empty.
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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 
... but if it weren`t for the lack of fuel the three divisions of yours would be swimming (and I would have my bath 
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