1275psi
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18/6/44
You cannot say 47th spend a night on Iwo.
It is like no other night in their experience
Juni sums it up well – its like putting your head in the guillotine –and then spending all night waiting for the blade to fall……….
Japan holds the northern end
It holds the stinking rock called a mountain at the other
The allies hold the first field, and the east beach.
But that is all
They have made no further attempt on the rock –and flounder at the escarpment that is the first line .
But all around the island, their ships prowl.
How do you service a plane, operate it in such conditions?
Where showing a single light will bring the whistle of Naval guns?
You melt into the dirt, you become one with the ground itself.
Transport planes have been coming in for days now –and many –a great many, have brought huge camouflage nets –and others great brown tarps. The fishermen of Japan scream over the loss, but here, for once –the military do justify there seizure.
Now, through the night, the men work.
It is brutal, hard, gasping work –and bodies sweat, glisten and gleam in the starshell lights.
One at a time –each plane is placed under a tarp, essential to kill the lights so needed, –three at a time overall, rudely serviced –then pushed to the edge of the field, or even further away –and covered by a net.
If the artillery comes, they will be smashed – if the navy bombards –they will be destroyed –and the men too will die.
But all night, those ships prowl, the starshell floats down, the artillery falls on the escarpment – and the blade remains poised.
By 0400, Nakamura knows that today they will be ready.
He gathers his men –and tries not to look shocked at the worn, worn faces in the pale moonlight.
‘How many?”
Between 47th, and 87th -40 Tigers are ready……….
A flare flies up, and the men prepare to scatter – aircraft approaching. A Dinah wings low overhead –and a can , streamers flutters down, banging into the dust.
“Please light strip – Naval strike about to stage in”
Reinforcements………..
They come in –and the men cannot but admire the sheer guts of them -27 of the big George fighters bounce in………
The flares burn bright –and still the ships prowl, and still the blade does not fall.
‘Lunacy” murmers Chuzaburo “Lunacy”
He has seen what is entering circuit………..
‘I take back everything I said about the Navy” . Juni’s voice is flat. Tired? Yes.
Stunned at the risk here. Yes.
But there is more.
Pride at lunacy that speaks of never, ever give up………
27 grace Torpedo bombers circle in – each already armed with a fish………
They attempt “the impossible” –landing on this excuse of a strip –still loaded.
24 make it -3 do not – aircraft literally disintegrating on impact – rolling into tangles of metal, and fire.
But 24 do.
Nakamura runs to the leading plane, its pilot still trying to compose himself after his effort.
Nakamura has steeled himself for a day of CAP, for defending this base, this field.
Now –as he spies this mans tanned creased face – he see’s instantly that this , that these men, are crack –the best, of the best.
Two men stand –Nakamura on the bombers wing, the other still in his office –the engine still beating
Eyes meet.
A million messages instantly passed.
Two men, years of leadership
Two men
They know what to do.
‘Can you fuel me Colonel?”
He needs to shout above the beat of the beast
Nakamura bursts into a grin. “If they give us two hours –I can.”
“By they –you mean their ships? –from what I have been told –they need to conserve ammo –Our navy is coming”
Good –very good. And I bet Miyazuki will be seeing his brother at that…….
I need to decide.
Stuff it –what courage.
Stuff it –Juni will just have to swallow it.
He offers his hand to the bomber man. “If you can get this crate of the deck here before 6 –then I guarantee 47th will get you to your target”
“good. Time for a piss then……..”
Dawn
Akagi .
Captain Hara again is at his post.
Lookout bridge, comms to the con established.
Hard hat firmly on his head.
Sweat streams down, and his Khaki’s stick to him. Barely daylight, and already the humidity is killing.
The seas are oily calm, and the sky -so far, is clear.
The deck below beats to mass of aircraft – a full, full strike from Akagi today
Genda prepares to depart –today he intends to lead this attack.
He feels the air –“Storms this afternoon, I think”
‘Yes, I agree. A beautiful morning”
“Yes”
You are about to go to almost certain death friend, and I probably to follow –and yet, here we stand, and talk the weather?
Such is the banality of life.
Hara extends his hand . Genda’s grip is firm, and dry. “Strike hard for Akagi my friend”
He nods-eyes like ice “ Mutual assured destruction I would call it . Have something left floating for me when I return hey?”
And then the little man is gone.
Hara follows him to his fighter, watches him settle in. Mind firmly fixed on the battle ahead, and even from here, Hara can see the excitement coursing through Genda’s body.
Mobile fleet two’s packed strike begins to pass overhead. Akagi is already steaming hard North –into the teeth of the enemy –and she has the wind in her teeth.
Genda leads the launch –and now the air thunders again, once again, to the mighty fist of combined fleet
177 zeke, 21 B7A’s, 60 judys, 157 D7A’s, 18 Jill, 14 george, the great sword of Japan, unsheathed yet again –thunders towards the north.
Hara watches , and then begins the timing. They have little time, the enemy CV’s are close.
“get the CAP up” he urges to nobody, to everybody.
120 fighter CAP. Probably not enough…………..
Below, Akagi hustles as the men prepare the next strike, death approaches –the work must go on.
Battleship Yamoto.
Main director
Miyazuki sits at his sights, sweat already a problem.
The director is quiet, tense, the hydraulics humming .
The great ships race across the sea, locked down, bolted up. Again, that awful silence -3000 plus minds, all keenly aware of the brightening sky above.
Dawn is 3 hours behind – the CVE’s strike has just gone overhead – a comforting sight- but so far, nothing the other way………
‘Alarm!” Aircraft approaching!
Yamato explodes, men bending again to glasses, guns swinging upwards….
20 odd aircraft –moving up from IWO direction.
Miyazuki turns his head to the Director – such responsibility for such a man.
The commander of the guns shakes his head. ‘Steady men. They are going for the carriers’
‘We could reach with the main rifles sir”
Grandfatherly the commander nods in acknowledgement “ lets save our barrels for something you can hit Miyazuki……..”
Miyazuki bends again –and , yes!
‘Iwo island in sight sir!”
Yamamoto lowers his glasses……
‘Signal Unyo. . regardless of damage – continue to Iwo island.”
One torpedo. One was enough for the Shoho. Maybe she is tougher. Maybe not.
Better her to wear the fish than Yamato.
‘here they come”
Hara retightens his grip on the searchlight he stands beside
How many times has that been heard in warfare before?
Here they come/
Has They ever been so terrifying?
The attack is developing against Mobile fleet one –and the zekes are coming in right with it, defying the flak, flinging themselves at the attackers.
Grimly, Hara see’s, some have taken to ramming attacks,………..
But yet, here they come………
It is not one great, smashing attack, but a rolling series of strikes, marching down the formation from its Starboard quarter, and today, unlike Majuro, Hara can follow the battle………
It begins – out of the melee , 2 torpedo bombers, 4 miles distant –coming at Akagi on her beam.
Hara calculates –and refrains from manoeuvre –letting the guns, the destroyers engage.
The stink of cordite, the crash of the 4.7’s, the staccato bang, bang of his 25mm’s – and the two planes drop far too early…………
9 crosses plunge on Hiryu…………….., miss, miss, miss, aircraft down, crump, crump, miss, miss, miss………….. and she appears unhurt……….
Now the Dive bombers are coming in from everywhere,………
Zuikaka takes a bomb – and mountains of water erupt around her
Shokaku takes two – one glances off her side ? – hopefully!
Taiho takes one – deep, oh damn -------------
And now five dive bombers peel at him –and they come down, line astern, and a storm of steel is rising……….
Poor bombing indeed…………..not even wet.
Soryu takes a bomb, hiryu two more…………….
The attacks peter out.
80 attackers, 10 hits, a torp on zuikaku…………… and Akagi, Kaga live yet.
Hara looks at his watch. 15 minutes, 15 lifetimes have passed.
Whats the damage Ex? –is Mobile fleet still in the fight?”
Extract from Shattering the sword, a Cantona production
……………..57 avengers, 30 helldivers, 63 DB5s, only 33 hellcats made this strike
23 hellcats go down, 30 bombers all told fall.
The attack should have been the killer blow. It was not. Exhaustion? Lack of skill?. The suicidal defence? –or most uncomfortable of all to confront – a lack of determination to risk all for a battle many already felt doomed to lose.
Combined fleet fought not just with tenacity –she carries an enormous reputation…….
………..zuikaku is in terrible trouble. Hiryu burns. Shokaku’s deck is closed, as is soryu’s. A moot point anyway, all the hit carriers planes are either dead, or diverting to Pagan . And even though Kaga, Akagi live, their ammo lockers are now bare………
“am attacking”
Genda sounds cool, his voice crisp.
Again, Mobile fleet sweats it out – waiting for the news……………
“40 odd fighters lost. 6 bombers lost. What flight decks open?”
Silence
A hundred men scream soundlessly into mikes –the attack? what about the attack?’
Coolly –almost as if he’d been shopping, and forgot the tea
“CV Intrepid sunk. CVL Independence burning. 2 DD’ssunk. 1 CA hit. 1 CLAA burning, stopped in water’
Hara takes the signal
Not unexpected. Damn it, why him?
From Yamada
To
Hara
‘take command remains mobile fleet. Do what you think best”
Fine words. Then –what could you advise?
His second strike, pagans strike –too short! There are still at least 2 CV, 2 CVL out there, and now this –words from Japan, of another “big” carrier group coming in from Midway. How many bloody carriers do they have? Don’t they ever give up?
Almost in desperation he looks around his crowded bridge –the circling strike landing.
What to do?
And there-30 miles away –a growing, blackening thunderhead.
‘Operations! Signal the fleet! Seek cover –all ships, for the storm!”
‘From 22nd flotilla Siapan’
To
Combined fleet
Have hit CVL Bataan one torpedo, east Iwo.
Juni retracts his cart
To his right, Nakamura
His left Miyazuki.
Behind him, his friends.
Around him, his machine. The sky, the sea. His life.
It beats, beats exhaultantly., This great beast he controls. He knows her so well now, from the peeling paint to the lying port magneto, to the scratch on the screen right there in the very wrong spot.
He climbs, they climb, away from that stinking rock, here, into the cool, cool air, turning to the west, climbing, climbing, waiting for those navy pukes to follow.
Below, a sight to stir almost any ones heart (but not his) –the battleships steaming in
Pukes –but they will get them through.
Honour demands it
47th lead the way
The enemy fighters peel in again –less in numbers today.
A hellcat dives on him, and Juni coolly watches, watches over his shoulder, eyes narrow, and the stick flick, the rudder kicks, he rolls over the attack, and it takes no effort, none at all…………
Kill number 9
And the sky is clear -47 have taken another bitter harvest -11 in all.
‘thankyou 47th”
The navy commits, determined to reward the work so well done.
And as they lead the way back home, 3 cve’s burning behind, he watches as the navy strike comes in………..
From Shattering the sword A Cantona production
Ch 20
Between two hammers.
By midday, to the allies horror, the situation was clear.
To the north, Japanese CVE’s were finishing off the burning carrier escorts – and their transports lay helpless before whatever monster was rushing their way.
In the centre –disaster builds……
Shorn of fighters by yesterdays fighting, Bataan, San jancinto flee –but slowly.
And to the south –the Anvil – a still overwhelmingly strong mobile fleet, backed by the strength of Siapan
The allies have been split, scattered all over the ocean, now, at the worst possible moment, have been caught between hammer and anvil.
Wasp, Essex, BB Iowa, dodge, and flay at the persistent strikes by LBA – another lucky hit and absolute disaster becons…….
Admiral …………. Orders all carriers to combine, he will, must fight on.
A strike can go by 1300 –mobile fleet can be taken down yet.
Iwo –midday
‘Did you see your Brother Miyazuki?”
He laughs, ‘yes! And won’t he be pissed –I think we have sunk everything already!”
Nakamura helps his man down –he feels nothing, running on pure adredalin.
Could he ever imagined a day like this!
Around him 47th gather excitably, each and every one of them full of tales of valour.
He has some new aces now –how many? –no time to count yet.
The Navy bombers come in –many holed. Far too many
Regretfully, it appears their leader has fallen too……..
A signals man, dirty skinny, runs to him.
Co ordinated strike from CVE fleet, Chichi jima, timed for 1300 .
Can you help?
Combined fleet
He still has half a tank
50 minutes
‘reload men!”.
The prey is down. The Tigers will be in at the kill.
“Message from Yamamoto sir”
The man almost has to shout.
Around them, the roar. The most beautiful thundering roar Hara has ever heard.
Thunderstorm
It thrashes at the screens, waterfalls of water splashing down….
Akagi barely moves, buried deep inside the great storm –a veritable blizzard of rain, spray about her.
She can barely see.
Nobody –not in this war anyway –will ever see her now.
“Read it”
2nd CVE strike, supported by Iwo LBA, and Chichi Jima bombers have struck CVL Bataan, CVl San Jancinto.
Retire first opportunity on to 3rd mobile fleet.
I intend to remain here and fight to cover your withdrawal
Withdraw.
Refill
Return
8cv
5 cvl
3cve-verses what?
Essex, Wasp –and god knows what else.
Every fibre tells him –fight on!
Empty ammo lockers. Empty hangers. Tired, tired men.
Wisdom then. Let the enemy hang on, hang on then.
After all –the marines cannot go anywhere can they?
Miyazuki bends to his glasses.
20000 yards, and the target is crystal clear.
A CVE, low in the water –burning
He feels nothing, just calmness
“target acquired sir”
“You may fire then young man”
He squeezes the triggers, and below, way below, unseen mechanisms spring into violent life.
He has always liked guns
Loved them
And as calmly as he uses his chopsticks, Miyazuki deals death from the greatest guns of all……….
Yamato’s first salvo, at 20000 yards, Strikes the CVE, and her entire aft section erupts soundlessly at this great range.
The young man bends, swings a little to the right, and triggers again squeeze.
A second CVE swallows the 18’’ shell –and simply gives up –joining so many of her sisters in the dark deeps.
Combustible
Vessel
Expendable
Shift target right
AKs – scrambling nets –cranes –still deployed.
6 inch engaging…………
Destroyers –bearing 010 -20000 yards…………..
Something better for Miyazuki……….
Yes. He likes guns. And knows how to aim them……….
DD Anderson -18’, 20000 yards
Kongo engaging
Cruisers engaging
Yamato working like a dream –her rifles firing, firing, the boom rolling across the oceans, across the stinking rock.
And the Marines can but watch their navy melt away…………………
Shattering the Sword. A Cantona production
And now the Imperial fleet comes to stay.
It has lost 1 CVE, a DD
5 CV’s are out -3 however can , if lucky, fight again in this war.
For the allies –a horrific butchers bill
CV Intrepid sunk
CVL Independence sunk
CVL bataan –sunk
CVL San Jancinto sunk
CVE fanshaw bay sunk
CVE Rudyard Kipling sunk
CVE saginan bay –sunk
CLaa Juneau sunk
8 DD sunk
8 AK, with another 3000 men onboard –sunk
And this night, Japan broadcasts to the world.
“We will make Majuro look like a skirmish…………..”
Combat report 47th
Escorted strikes against enemy shipping Iwo
1 pilot lost
3 planes lost
11 kills for today
Total 162
Juni 9 kills total now
Chuzaburo 9 kills
Saito -7 kills
Most pilots multiple kills now.
Mission tomorrow
Bombers flying out.
Cover battleships /CVE’s at IWO in dedicated CAP trap.
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