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RE: ouch - 11/30/2011 6:43:11 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		19/1/43

In many ways, it is a terrible journey for them all

Zuiho, Shoho, will dash to Tokyo, at high speed
They will take a direct route, at night, through the treacherous waters near the coast, at night.
With only 2 DDs as escort.

Nobody is happy

The Charge, who looks around the disaster of his machinery spaces, and his tattered plans for all the work that has to be done.

Kato, for the perilous journey ahead with so little escort
Hidaka, for planes still to be daily inspected, flight checked, and proven.

Tan meets Hirate on the gangway, a mere thirty minutes before sailing.
In his most joking tone, he asks the petty officer “So, did you get my screw driver Petty officer?”
He is not ready for the scowling answer
“I got a srewdriver, yes sir, I did”

For one man, it is a terrible journey indeed



Rumours fill the ship. The news from Merauke has like toxic dust, filtered into every corner of the ship.
How it has arrived, who knows
Few doubt though, that this abrupt journey means but one thing.
They will soon be rushing south.


They slip just on dusk. A nightmare sailing. Kato does what Hasegawa never did, he leaves a huge scrape down her flank, and a hundred wooden beams smashed from the jetty behind.

Some fool fails to get the head rope of in time……….its snapping flings half of it aboard, and shatters said fools pelvis.
Below, the Stokers too have a terrible day. The main feed guard bypass is opened, Oh yes, during the flash up, but not the guard itself on 1A boiler
The first astern movement finds the water level plummeting out the bottom, and an emergency shut down of the boiler.

Less about the cross connection stuff up, the better………………


Fortunately, or unfortunately, the weather adds its bit.
Blinding, freezing rain, mixed with sleet, and a viscous 30 knot head wind.
Pure misery
Zuiho makes Tokyo bay alright , but it’s a completely irritable and pissed off crew that see’s the dawn.

It has not been a good day. A ship operating well below her best..


21/1/43

Zuiho lies at anchor in Tokyo bay.

It rains all day, visibility little more than 1000 yards.
Grey ship
Grey seas
Grey sky.
And a dark, foul mood.



Shattering the Sword, a cantona production

And so Merauke is taken, with out loss. For the allies, a stunning result.
Now to consolidate
Painfully, the ships there begin to re load, or unload.
And not a man wonders at the silence of Japans response…….


22/1/43
Two men stand at attention on Zuihos flight deck, white uniform shining in a weak, but thankfully present winters sun
They stand at ease, the breeze whipping at them, and from time to time, they will, as the hundreds on parade with them, sway to it, to Zuihos gentle rocking.

About them, the fleet lies at anchor.

As a statement by herbiesan, there can be no better.

Ten carriers, 11 battleships, countless destroyers, cruisers, lie arrayed
Each adorned with rank, upon rank of white

Above, the sky literally growls, as the planes of Japans home island commands crawl across the sky.

You can see this fleet, today, in grainy black and white, on U tube, or, (and how the History channel abuses this film) in the documentary filmed on this day.
How mighty they look.
But to think what we know what lies ahead for them in a not so distant future………

But today, they swing at anchor, power personified.

Our two men, but tiny cogs in this giant play, do not really see them.
Do not care.
There are more important things to consider.

“What did you do, Hirate?, what did you do?’
Okano hisses the question., careful not to be heard by the platoon Chief. But the whipping wind keeps them relatively safe.

“Do you really want to know ?” And pain fills the entire world
‘’I would have killed him”
A long silence.
“You know. The shock was so large, when she asked for a taxi fare………….I gave it to him”


Okano opens his mouth. Closes it. What can he say to that?
Then it strikes him
“I think, my friend, we need to go get very, very, very drunk”
‘Ahmen to that, brother, ahmen to that”






DD Suzuki, one day old, is the reviewing ship.
Its bridge is crowded, of course. And I spare a thought for her new captain, not a day to “learn his ship”
But he will survive, I suppose.

The Admirals stand behind herbiesan, and what, I wonder, do they think?
Not a mind is not turned south, to the new cancer growing even now down there, and what these great ships could do about it.

Herbiesan finishes Atago’s salute, and turns to Yamamoto.
‘How many SS outside now?”
‘We have at least ten , maybe more”
‘Baka’s”
‘Yes, baka’s”

herbiesans voice hardens. ‘A fine fleet Yamamoto. But only a tool. A tool that must remain sharp for the real work ahead. Nobody significant sails until those pests are cleared”
“fleet destroyers approved then?”
‘yes. Kill subs yamamoto. Kill subs. Merauke can wait”

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 811
RE: ouch - 12/1/2011 6:49:56 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Hidaka is not surprised to see Ogawa.

'I will be staying here sir"
"Are you sure?'
'I would rather die with friends, defending them, than strangers"
"Nobody is going to die soon Ogawa"
'Do you really think so sir?"


No, you are right my friend. Foolish words indeed to say to a carrier pilot in war
"I am sorry for my foolishness . Thankyou Ogawa."

What else can be said?

Ogawa remains onboard. He will tell Diogawa that it is for his own good........."To stop you getting fatter you pig"

"fat floats my friend, fat floats"

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 812
RE: ouch - 12/1/2011 6:57:05 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		24/1/43

Kato calls his officers in.
"our destroyers have sunk 3 submarines of Tokyo in two days, and more are reported damaged. They are returning. Once refuelled, we sail again.
"Our objective sir?"

'Still a secret, but you may guess"



"Clear lower deck, clear lower deck. All spare hands, in stores"
It is bitterly cold outside, and again light snow is blowing. Warships are miserable things in the cold, moisture gets into everything.
And rain on steel decks seems particularily depressing.
The barge alongside has a small crane, and it dumps the cartons onto the flight deck, where the rain and snow promptly disintergrates them.

The contenst are revealed. It appears the misery of the weather is going to continue.

Heavy winter clothing. Arctic almost. Enough for the whole crew.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 813
RE: ouch - 12/2/2011 8:03:40 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		25th of January 1943

There is a certain rhythm to going to sea, a comforting set of steps. They gently prise the mind away from shore, from family, from friends, from problems, and the joys of land.
For the Engineers, it is the securing of the last tasks, the mustering of the tools, the lashing of locker and cupboard doors against the soon to come swell.
Then there is the final scrubbing down of the deck plates, the final polishing of things that need polishing. Charge, and this time, Tan, will, (as the rest of the department heads) conduct a final walkaround.
Final adjustments to the watchbill will be posted, with the usual groans and silent thanks. Books will go for signature , and final mail will go ashore. Tan will watch that with great satisfaction, the refit package will go ashore today
Zuiho will sail at dusk, so today will be a good flash up, no early rising required. The water barge, a fuel barge, a ammunition barge will make final calls, and a garbage scow will visit too.
Syatems are aligned, the boilers lit, and once again, the whine of the forced draft blowers will fill in lifes back ground. Covers will come of guns, and 6 shining new fighters, 3 old tattered kates will come up on deck, wings soon covered in a thin layer of snow.
Final signals , and messages are passed between the other grey shadows in the bay.
Soon, all too soon, the call to departing harbour stations is called.
Firehoses spray upon the anchor chain, and Tokyo bay mud is washed back into the deep.
It is gathering dark, and Zuiho, a wraith in the blowing snow, slips out to sea



Captains ship book:
Sailed in company with heavy carriers Shokuka, Zuikaku, light carrier Shoho, 3 heavy cruisers.
Ship is in excellent material state despite heavy activity of last months. Crew moral good
Airgroup status good, general skill levels of pilots considered good.
Intend to inform crew of mission tomorrow.



Damiensan again confronts the dictator.
“We have given ourselves a buffer. But the job is only half done. Keep losing ships to submarines at this rate……………….”
“Is it that bad, Mr Minister of industry?”
‘It is sir. We must re organise, re route the convoys. The enemy submarine menace is killing us.”
“Then do it…………and damn the cost”
‘as you wish sir, as you wish”


Tokyo bay empties of the carriers. The battleships remain. Zuihos fleet will head east, east to the wastes north of pearl harbour, then swing south………and once again, try to hunt.
Kaga, Akagi, a CVL, will cover a small fleet of cruisers, target merauke.
Hiryu, Soryu, will go to Singapore, and wait………….
KB is being split up. A move that fills many with great ill ease. But the enemy (it is believed) has but one fleet, and 2 light carriers to its name. And on Japans carriers, nobody considers that a threat at all.


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 814
RE: ouch - 12/2/2011 11:19:07 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		26/1/43

First full day at sea.

Zuiho has a scattering of new men onboard, nearly a dozen. All young men conscripted from the farms and villages of japan, they are a long, long way from the life they new last year.
They are easily spotted today---------faces green, or pale.
But, as usual, on this first day, they are not alone, sea sickness can strike any one at any time
She punches through a good sized swell today, her flight deck empty of bombers. But zeros will again take to the air today, Hidaka keen to see what they can do.
But mostly, the pilots seem little impressed, Japans fighter arm seems to be marking time in development.
The task force will steam all day due east, see little, and (hopefully) have been seen by nobody.
Speed is a mere 15 knots, they are waiting for tankers to catch up. There is, to quote the Charge, “a long, long truking way to go between drinks men, so don’t truk up!”


From
25 th air flotilla
To
HQ, South east Fleet/11th air HQ
In conjunction with 21st, 26th 24th air flottillas, have conducted strikes against Horn island, Merauke
160 sorties flown
10 fighters, 3 bombers lost, 9 enemy fighters claimed
Confirming sinking of 2 AP, 3 AK
Action continuing


It has begun. Yamamoto reads the signal. After 6 months of fencing, probing, the Allies have grabbed a base. A poorly supported base. Unless he intends to follow this attack up into the Timor area, a blind alley that goes nowhere.
Good.
Very good
Now to make him bleed, with out getting to cut in the process himself……………

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 815
RE: ouch - 12/4/2011 4:11:40 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		27/1/43

There are only four of them this time, and as they haul over the horizon, too many memories are stirred on Zuiho. These four tankers are not even a shadow of the giants lost last year, but now held with special care in the minds of the commanders on the carriers. They are going deep on this mission, very deep.
Lose these four rusty overworked ships, and it is all over.
They will refuel, and the tankers will stay with them.
Ironic, this task force, selected for the speed and strike of its capital ships, tied to the apron strings of these ships.

Fuelling is difficult, the steady heavy swell is not only awkward, it is cold as hell as well.
But it is done
By midday, the routine resumes. Sail ever eastward. Launch float fighters, launch CAP.
It is, for Zuiho, a day few will remember in their old age.


History records other things though.
The Battle of Merauke continues to warm.
Three elderly Japanese cruisers, Kiso, Natori, Naka, , but with 4 modern destroyers, race into its wide bay, and launch a massive salvo of torpedos even before the allied ships are aware of their presence
Two medium sized Aps and a AK erupt into towering columns of smoke and flame, sinking rapidly, literally torn apart from the massive warheads slamming into them.
Un challenged, the cruisers race North again.
In the scheme of things, a minor affair. But if you are Yamamoto, the idea that surface ships can get in, and out again, with out air attack, is very, very encouraging.


The boiler room is its usual cacophony of screaming machinery, minor whisps of steam, the steady beating of the fuel pump, the rumble of the boilers consuming ton after ton of fuel.
Boiler rooms are strange, scary spaces. The heat, the noise, the humidity, the way everything you touch sems to want to burn you.
But to Hirate, today, it gives a little comfort. It is about the only thing in this world that has not shifted under his feet. About the only thing, that he still understands
It is work, and it keeps his mind of other things. Of home. Of her.
The new man, a boy of mere 16 years approaches him, face literally screwed with fear. It is his first watch. In his hands, one of the long burner nozzles, complete with sprayer cap on the end .Almost automatically, Hirate pushes his thumb onto the small nozzle piece, to confirm that all is assembled correctly.
The nozzle washer moves.
(it, of course, should not move…………something is not together right)
The young lad cringes. And why not?. Wouldn’t you? Seasick?, bewildered with everything down here, and this frightening, scarred faced hulk of a petty officer scowling at you?
Cringing is to be expected.
But Hirate merely sighs. What is the point anyway? Soon, he just feels it, some Allied SS is going to put him out of his misery anyway.
The sooner, the better.


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 816
RE: ouch - 12/5/2011 8:21:49 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		28/1/43

It is a quiet day in the war.
So I thought we might re join the stokers, and do a watch below –we will start as burnerman.
It is just past 0330 hrs, and you have been lucky, you have nearly 4 hours of sleep under your belt, and warm tea in your stomach.
Now you are waiting in the mess deck, finishing your tea, counting down the minutes.
It is cold, and Zuiho is still bouncing across the swells. No, not bouncing, small ships do that, she is pitching, falling, pitching, falling. At least the swell is almost head on, the roll (which is the real tricky bit), is not so bad.
You are dressed in your overalls, boots, and that’s about it. Tools in the back pocket, your wheel spanner, an adjustable spanner.
And a rag. Don’t forget the rag!
Time to go.
Starboard boiler room is accessed via the great hatch in the forward Starboard corner of the lower hanger deck, it usually remains firmly screwed down, you will access via the smaller escape scuttle.
The heat today , is welcome. The noise, as usual, is not. You do not know this yet, but should you survive this war, the damage is done. You will be quite deaf by age 65, the age of the ear muff is many years away.
Hand over, the most important part of the watch. Whats running?, what’s standby?. What was topped with oil? Whats broken, and what is being worked on. Today we are lucky, nothing on Zuiho is broken at all.Come to think of it, the Lady has been very well behaved lately ney?. Touch wood and petition the ancestors to keep it that way……
So, lets get to it.
You take a little tin, and begin your first rounds, oil rounds. Every steam driven piece of kit has to be drained of condensate, and every sump drained of a cup full of oil………..its the only way to keep the oil water free.
I always go clockwise…….no reason. Just do.
First call is the evaporator though, prig of a machine………last year we had to replace the baffle plate in it, I almost cooked!. Check the pumps, the gauges, look, the level is OK, but I think I might just screw in a tad on this valve, there, discharge pressure is a bit higher.
Salinity test?. Yes. Glad they taught you something at academy!
Alright, fuel pumps. Crack this drain, that drain, here is the sump. DON’t spill any!. Its our duty to keep this place spotless. Remember that!. Spotless!. All Japanese sailors will do their very , very best!.
What is that drum between the pumps? Wait for later, it’s a secret.
Don’t talk to Hirate, he’s been a foul beast this week, something is biting him.
Next, we go up here to the upper level, and here are the feed pumps. More drains, more oils!
And the blowers. Now double check that! , if that cooler cooks, seizing a blower is not, as one would say, beneficial to our health.
Now, finally, the fuel heaters. Drain, check, check the pressure in. . OK, back down stairs. We have to go between the boiler and the bualkhead, check the level of the tanks.
That’s oil rounds!
Got it?
Right. Now for the real work. Morning watch, we change and clean burners. You haven’t heard of that? Not surprised. It’s a Charge thing, I know other Japanese ships just leave em in, he says from his Brit experience that its useful. Buggard if I know, it’s a pain. No, if he says do it, we do it.
I’d follow the Charge into hell…………
Alright, Number six, clean?. Hirate checked it.? OK, we shove her in here, ON air, On fuel!.........love that THUMP! As it lights off!
Now, when we pull 5 out, keep clear of the flames!. Fuel off!, air off!, get her out!
We will let her cool a little…………and I will show you how to clean them. Its going to take about 30 minutes to do them all.

0500
Rounds –off you go!, and remember, you are the Steamers eyes and ears!
Buggar. We have a set of surface blows to do. You have got the master valve.
Thought the double bottoms man looked cranky, chemistry can’t be right.
Ok, we open this valve, that valve. Use that long spanner!
Alright, to the master valve you go. When you here us bang on the plates, open her up, don’t be scared of the roar and rumble, just make sure you get her shut when we bang again

Hot up there wasn’t it?
0600, rounds done?
Good. OK, lets get to cleaning.
0630?.
Ok, now, get your arse up to the galley -4 knocks. You will see.
Ahh, what did they give us today?. A duck?. Some vegetables. Good. Put them in the drum
Add some water…………….and now we open the drain……………….and viola!, instant soup!
Tasty yes!
0645.
Dawn action stations, not much for us to do really down here, bring on the other fuel pump, another feed pump.
And hope its just routine yes?
Tired?. Just think, another two hours at defence watches, the mess to scrub, and daily exercises.
But its nearly 0800, another watch done. I wonder how many we will have to do this trip?




The war is quite. An RO ss sinks an AK at Merauke, Davidsans new convoy routes seem to have an immediate effect ( no sinkings two days in a row of any merchants!
Betties sink 3 LCTs at Merauke in a night port attack.
It is early days , this battle of Merauke. The fleet is coming…………………..


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 817
RE: ouch - 12/6/2011 6:48:00 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		29/1/43

Zuiho plunges ever eastward, following her bigger brothers into the wastes.
In two days they will be due north of Midway.

Kato takes this time, and conducts informal rounds.
He is pleased with what he sees. A tight ship, run well. T only her flanks are streaked with rust.
The crew pleases him

The state of the ship.............. Oh, she is as clean as can be. But everywhere, he can see the signs of hard usage.
Tans planned refit will not come soon enough.


Hidaka works his pilots hard. There are no rookies now, just pilots. The war is swallowing them all now. Men are becoming mere numbers.
Hidaka too wishes for a refit, a rest. He can see it in his mens eyes now. Fatalism. .
Too many of them know longer think beyond this war.they no longer think they will survive it.

Tan needs a refit. Well, the Charge in his own style "She's getting bloody tired Sir" tells him they do.
Thus, they must.
This run of good luck cannot last surely.

Three, or is four days in. And minds still thinking behind, back to Japan. No way to go to war.
No way at all.






Another quiet day.
A pack of P38's sweep into Burma, bounce circling Oscars at 5000 feet. Dumb move, the Tojo's waiting in ambush at 20000 eat them for lunch.
Maybe, just maybe, an answer to that problem has been found.

9 P38's for 5 oscars piloted by rookie no bodies.
Japan can wear that.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 818
RE: ouch - 12/8/2011 9:20:45 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Moving interstate for work, updates tomorrow


Japan has a very bad day.............................

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 819
RE: ouch - 12/9/2011 6:59:23 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Another day

Kato is doing what he has done for so many years now. Staring at the ocean horizon. To an outsider, he does not appear busy. How hard can it be?
But those gay eyes are calculating with a precision honed by too many years, too many dawns, the movements of the ships about him.
Shokaku is about to launch, soon, she will turn 30 degrees, creating a great chain of reactions.
Chase destroyers will turn, flank ships will turn, and finally, he too, will have to turn.
It will all hapen precisely, and with out fuss.

No big deal

Bit we forget to mention, it is belting down rain (again), and visibility is less than a thousand yards.
Shokuka is but a shadow in the mists.............

But for Kato, his crew, still, it is no big deal


It has been raining now for nearly three days
perfect weather.
May it continue to rain....................






Nagumo too stares out of his bridge window.
But his circumstances are completely different

Kaga lies almost stopped. 'You should move your flag Admiral"
Nagumo eyes Kaga's Captain.
"has the Emperors portrait been moved yet?"
'No sir"
"Then, obviously, you do not think we are going to sink. I will stay, and we will get our old lady into Palua together"

Kaga's captain salutes. "Thank you for the confidence sir. We will not let you down"

"No, no you won't"

Fifteen minutes ago, and this fleet was preparing to wage terror.
Two lousy torpedos................ Goddam submarines!


(kaga hit by SS sunfish 2 torps. 1 hex north Palua. 16 system, 70 flood, 24 engineering )
cantona had to get lucky some time!

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 820
RE: ouch - 12/9/2011 12:52:22 PM   
PaxMondo


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Joined: 6/6/2008
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quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi
(kaga hit by SS sunfish 2 torps. 1 hex north Palua. 16 system, 70 flood, 24 engineering )
cantona had to get lucky some time!

OUCH! better use all your tricks to save this one ... 70 flood is 50:50 odds in my experience. Any other little thing happen and you will lose her. GOOD LUCK!!!

_____________________________

Pax

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 821
RE: ouch - 12/9/2011 3:37:52 PM   
Crackaces


Posts: 3858
Joined: 7/9/2011
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo


quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi
(kaga hit by SS sunfish 2 torps. 1 hex north Palua. 16 system, 70 flood, 24 engineering )
cantona had to get lucky some time!

OUCH! better use all your tricks to save this one ... 70 flood is 50:50 odds in my experience. Any other little thing happen and you will lose her. GOOD LUCK!!!


The good news is .. she is not on fire from a critical hit to stores or fuel ... that causes problems as you know of getting into "fix me" mode. One hex to a dock she should make it ... then depending how much is major damage ...a very long time to fix that floatation damage ... at a dock that can take her ..but first .. on to the nearest dock!

(in reply to PaxMondo)
Post #: 822
RE: ouch - 12/10/2011 5:43:57 AM   
1275psi

 

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Nagumo takes his Captains hand
“Japan owes you a debt Captain. Kaga will fight again”
Kaga’s Captain wearily nods. It has been a long night, a long night indeed. But she nestles safe now alongside one of the fleets few Repair ships, and already the flooding is stabilised. Yes, she will fight again, but not for a very long time indeed.
But at least her tormentor is gone. SS Sunfish had gotten greedy, her attack on the Akagi too bold, launched too deep in the formation.
Then again, at some stage, he is going to have to take his injured lady all the way home again……………


It is still raining.
The seas remain monotonously rough. And this is good.
Well North of Midway, and still unsighted, Zuiho slowly plods on.
It is here, in these almost endless wastes, that the size of the worlds oceans can almost overwhelm you. You stare at them, at the endless horizon, and just quietly, a small shiver runs up your back.
You are so, so far from home………..


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 823
RE: ouch - 12/10/2011 3:48:04 PM   
Crackaces


Posts: 3858
Joined: 7/9/2011
Status: offline 		1275psi ... can you work into the story just how much major damage vs. minor damage and the estimate of time to get back to a safe dockyard?

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 824
RE: ouch - 12/10/2011 9:27:03 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		no problem, appreciate very much every reader

Story has been a bit plain lately.so busy with move and new job, but hope to get back to the real bones of it soon.
War still quiet

Kaga's future tied closely to next weeks postings anyway.............lots happening south of her!

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 825
RE: ouch - 12/11/2011 3:16:39 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		2/2/43
(kaga 17/62/19/0

How do you imagine many of the great decisions of war are made?. Coldly, dispassionately? I am sure many are. But I am equally sure that a great many are not.
And why not?
Becauase, as we have already somewhere said, men are involved. Men with Ego’s, men with vanities. Men with points to prove, and fears to be realised.
And very rarely, of course, do they have all the facts at hand.


A dozen men stand around a crude wooden table, the map hard to see in the dim light of this bunker.
It is hot, and humid, and mens uniforms wilt in the heat. Half the men wear the uniforms of the Navy, but spread amongst them is khaki of the army.

Merauke is 17th Armies responsibility. An army its general is painfully aware that does not have the troops to retake . But Southern Army does, a full two fresh divisions are nestled outside this bunker, and transports for them also ride at anchor.
2 divisions against one weak American…………why are they waiting?
General Horitta frets with impatience………..it is the Navies turn to speak.
“The damage to Kaga is severe. She remains 62% flooded, and can make ten knots at best. The good news is, she will live. A week, and we will attempt to move her”
Horitta breaks in “ but the remaining carriers will be enough?”
Nagumo scratches his head……clearly uncomfortable with the question. ( And run the risk of another loss from these underwater sharks?, ) the vision of all those choke points, all those restricted waters fills his mind. A submariners wet dream………..
Commander 11th Air Army answers for him. “ General. Over the last two days aircraft from 21st, 25th, 26th .flotilla have swept the skies clear of enemy planes at Merauke. We have sunk every ship in the port. There is no hurry to counter invade. Let us bleed him, let general Hunger work for us “
‘But we will counter invade?’
Nagumo nods , face impassive (Over my dead body we will. The days of Army using our fleet as carriers of your ambitions are finished my friend. Finished)
Yamamoto takes voice. It is a tired voice. “General, we will soften them up with several cruiser runs first. Then, then when we are ready, you will get your invasion”
General Horitta knows his weakness of position. Very well then. He will wait.

It is another table. This one clean, polished. The room bright, clean, spotless.
Akagi’s wardroom
Yamamoto. Nagumo Yamada, Captain Hara, others.
Yamaoto’s voice is grave “It is agreed then. The enemy must know we are here. He must believe that Mobile fleet will soon appear in Northern Australian waters.”
He takes them all in the eye. “Army is fighting this war week to week. It has no plan for Victory, no strategic goal. I, however, have not forgotten what we face. In October, November of this year, the Essex class appear. In November, December, our last chance……… We must be ready for then. WITH ALL our carriers. Kaga must be ready for then. And we must not lose anymore.
11the Air division will hold Merauke. Car DIV 3 will finish its raid, go into re fit. “
“And the Armies plans si?”
‘The Army can go hang”


Extract from shattering the sword, a cantona production


On the first, japan places 350 sorties over merauke, and sinks the three minesweepers sweeping the eggs just laid. On the second, they repeat the process, this time pounding the LCTs on the beach, the AP, AK in the harbour. Desperate allied fighter defence is swept aside.
Both sides lose heavily
Allied bombers massively interdict Lae……….and Japanese ant like man power fills in the holes….
11th Air Army has swept the skies clear. But for how long can they maintain the pressure?



Nightly meeting, damage Control central, Zuiho
The room sways, rolls pitches, rattles . ten thousand items fight restraining gear, wishing to fling themselves at the deck, at the watch keepers.
The gathered men sway with it, oblivious to its movement
‘Anything else men?” Tan sweeps the room.
He has changed has our Tan. There is no lack of confidence here now. The opposite. Now Zuiho’s “Engines’ sits with the ease of a man sure off himself, of his ship, of his men.
Zuiho has struck gold .
A circle of grunts from the section heads………….there are no problems Tan needs to know about, let alone Kato.
“Charge?”
The Charge taps the bench. “Touch wood sir, all is well. Still nil defects of note”
‘Good.’ Tan consults daily words “ Fuelling tomorrow men, 0600-0900. 3000 tons. “
The Cpo chippie shudders “Its going to be truking cold up there tomorrow”
Laughter from the Charge. “Not in the engine room it won’t be”



(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 826
RE: ouch - 12/12/2011 9:51:38 AM   
1275psi

 

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The Chippees prediction becomes horribly true. Zuiho plows slowly at less than five knots, her snout burying itself into each rolling green monster in turn. Sometimes she rides over the swell, many times she does not, the for castle becoming a maelstrom of white water, foam, floundering bodies.
Sleet, rain, and even at times, snow whips into them. The Buffer is forced to use relays of men, cold incapacitating some in a matter of minutes.
Astern fuelling is not the way to do things in weather like this……….
Only Kato, and Hidaka are pleased with the evolution, yet another miserable day. Another day where detection will be a fluke. The task force will soon, gods willing, east of pearl.
Even better news, ss 1-121 has sunk a AP east of pearl, the convoy routes are now marked in a great red gash on Kato’s chart.
This time, Hidaka feels, the hunt may truly be on.

Fuelling takes four hours.
Half frozen, soaked to the marrow, the chattering, shivering men seek shelter below.


Charge is not surprised to see them.
They come down the engine room hatch, water still streaming from them. Oil skins and waterproofs (as if anything can be water proof in these conditions) soon dot the usually immaculate engine room.
“You are turning my spaces into a chinese laundry Chief chippee!”
The older man grins “ At least it is a warm one………..do you have some tea?’
The charge is about to pour a warm cup, hand and cup poised under the tap, when the yelling from forward comes.
“Flame out!, Flame out ! 1 Bravo boiler!”
The cup clatters to the deck……..”Cross connect!, cross connect!, open main engine drains!”
Automatically his eyes swing to 2 A’s pressure:, 1 bravos is already sliding horribly back across the dial…………and a blast of ice fills his veins, colder than anything the Chippee just experienced.
Even as the Cross connects are coming open under the frantic movement of his men, he can see that 2 A too…………is going back wards……
He does not need to hear the yell from aft to see the disaster……….2A is gone too……..and Zuiho is heading towards a total steam failure………….

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 827
RE: ouch - 12/13/2011 8:47:41 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		sick
next post tomorrow
sorry

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 828
RE: ouch - 12/13/2011 1:33:49 PM   
PaxMondo


Posts: 9750
Joined: 6/6/2008
Status: offline 		No worries, get well man!

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(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 829
RE: ouch - 12/14/2011 8:49:16 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Kato is In his cabin, fighting the paperwork war. For him, the first indication of trouble is the sudden garbled pipe………….TSF, TSF, ..and then, even as he enters the bridge, the dimming of the lights……
“Raise the not under control flags!, Hard to Port!”
Must get the bow into the wind, damnation, she is going to fall away quickly in this mess of a sea………

Hidaka is playing cards. The urgent call on the tannoy sends them flying to their feet.
No power…………no steerage…………gods in heaven, she is going to roll like a pig
“Everyone!, to the hanger!. For Gods sake, make sure the birds are secured!”
For Tan, it’s a moment of bewilderment…………sitting in damage Control central, the world its usual swaying self, the comforting noise of the boiler rooms, and then a slow realisation that that noise is dying away, and that the lights are going dim.
But then he is on his feet, and racing for the port engine room, and his Charge.

Lurch is in the forward DC locker. It takes but a moment, and the forward diesel is bursting into life.

Zuiho goes dark. Here and there, small emergency lights glow at some hatches, doorways. The diesels hammer away, but this is all they can provide, barely enough power to provide emergency lighting, and the lighting off blower and pump.
Zuiho begins to roll like a pig, and through out her length, the sounds of crashing , breaking items drown out the curses
None curse as loudly as the Charge.
Instinctively, he knows what has happened….somehow the fuel just received has had water in it. But how did it get into the ready use tanks?
His men will get Zuiho going again, this he has total confidence in, but would they flame out again anyway?
“Confirm cause of flame out”
The bridge wants to know.
Now.
Tan bends to his voice pipe. “Suspected water in fuel, investigating”



Kato almost savagely closes the cap to his voice pipe. Zuiho is beam on to the swell now, blowing helplessly across the waves. Destroyers sniff about, wondering whether to assist, or to keep clear.
It will be a thousand years before he asks them for help……………..

Torches flash luridly at the fuelling manifold on the aft bulkhead of the aft boiler room.
It is a simple system, a single down pipe from the fuelling position going into a manifold, then from it, a series of sluice valves to each tank. Golden rule number one. Never ever sluice directly to the ready use tanks, or this is what can happen.
But is has.
Hirate is there already, and almost inevitably Okano is too. Hirate already sampling one of the tanks, even in this light, there is no doubt that it is severely contaminated.
Okano suddenly gives a cry…it is the light bulb cry of a discovery.
The handle to the ready use tanks is swinging free, and all three men know instinctively what has happened. The valve disc has separated from its stem. In short, there is no valve there at all.
That familiar curse violently fills the space.







It takes 2 hours to restore power. For two hours Kato stands helplessly on his bridge, following the battle below, unable to affect it at all. Water in the oil.
There are many implications. How much?. How much of the tankers tanks are contaminated?
They are literally thousands of miles from anywhere, and fuel is tight as it is……………



Elsewhere: The great air battles over Merauke continue. 21 zeros are lost , half on the ground. 17 p40 es are shot down.
But enemy B17s close Lae.



5/2/42

Zuiho turns south east. She is now well east of Pearl.
3 days and she will be due east of America’s bastion.

Hidaka reads the signal, and he cannot help the surge of excitement.
SS I-121 has spotted another convoy .
Can the wolves burst into the pen?


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 830
a bright sword shattered - 12/15/2011 9:06:23 AM   
1275psi

 

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Joined: 4/17/2005
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The sky, today, is clear, a pale blue, clear of clouds
The wind however, continues to whip across the flight deck, and the sea is green, and malevolent, topped with white caps.
Trailing Zuiho a gaggle of Albatrosses wheel endlessly across the waves, steadily trailing them.
It is a cold day.
Hidaka draws them in close, each man in the circle jostling the next as the deck pitches and rolls under them.
He spits into the deck, the spittle whipped away. It says a lot about how he feels. “Hunting time my friends. Zuiho has the duty, we will fly 60% CAP, and launch all eagles in search”
He hands out orders, the paper twirling in the breeze. Awkward movements as men secure the search patterns onto flight boards. “ Search height is 1000 feet, bombs. Any target located is to be attacked. Any target sighted is to firmly see that this is our planes attacking”
He grins “Admiral wants some hunting parties to come out and deal with us”
He eyes them. How they have aged. Have they not all?
“Any questions?”
Okura completes the brief. ‘Take care on return, this deck will be a crap fight in this sea”
Hidaka straightens, salutes “Good hunting!”
Hie!

They get away, despite Zuiho’s bucking attempts to kill them.
One zero does not, barely having begun to roll forward, it lurches sideways, and tumbles into a gun bay
Spectacular, but fortunately not fatal.



Hidaka joins the Captain “They are well away sir……….our zero man has learnt a lesson I think”
Kato merely grunts “Do you think we will see anything today?’
“probably not, but one cannot catch fish from the kitchen can they?”
Silence falls, and zuiho continues her endless creaking and groaning, the ocean its endless march under her bows.
“You know Hidaka, Yamamoto wanted us to come this way day one of the war, open it with a surprise attack on Pearl. I thought it mad. Now that we are here, after a year of war, I am not so sure he was.”
‘Interesting concept. Still, we cannot complain can we, here we are after all”
“Yes, still alive, sill fighting”

Silence again. Each plane has 3 hours out, 3 back. There is little to do except wait.


1600 hrs, and the third kate to recover today enters circuit.
Hidaka watches keenly. The weather is, if anything, worse, now from time to time spray curls over the flight deck, and water runs freely to the scuppers.
One bird down. One damaged, landing gear obscenely punched through a wing.
An expensive day

Ten birds circle, awaiting their turn. A minor miracle in itself.
The sudden bellow of an engine at max boost snaps his attention back to this kate.
Too late, it slams into the deck, bounces, wings flexing horribly, floats, floats past him, and stalls, crashing brutally nose first just short of the forward elevator. In almost slow motion, it folds over, belly going obscenely into the air.
With a curse, Hidaka joins the rush
The rear gunner.OK, hanging upside down in his straps
The navigator…….OK, limp in his, but alive
Okura , 320 missions old, has grown casual. Or fatalistic.
It does not matter. No straps. No protection. A broken neck

Zuihos brightest sword is gone.


< Message edited by 1275psi -- 12/15/2011 9:08:15 AM >

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 831
RE: a bright sword shattered - 12/15/2011 2:07:10 PM   
PaxMondo


Posts: 9750
Joined: 6/6/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Okura , 320 missions old, has grown casual. Or fatalistic.
It does not matter. No straps. No protection. A broken neck

Zuihos brightest sword is gone.


Ach, losing a high exp pilot to ops ... ouch.

_____________________________

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(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 832
RE: a bright sword shattered - 12/15/2011 3:44:05 PM   
kaleun

 

Posts: 5145
Joined: 5/29/2002
From: Colorado
Status: offline

_____________________________

Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu

(in reply to PaxMondo)
Post #: 833
RE: ouch - 12/17/2011 11:56:30 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		7/2/42

A crippled giant leaves for home. Like a sick mother surrounded by her concerned children, Kaga, with great difficulty , sips the anchorage, and escorted by nearly a dozen destroyers, begins her long, long journey home.
Many watch her, and all wish her well. There are many unsaid words this morning, but the message portrayed by her damage speaks loud and clear.
The war continues. The enemy fights on. And none can think themselves safe. If Kaga can be crippled, then who cannot?




The stern of a ship is a noisy place. The whip of the wind, the hiss of the sea, the vibration of a million rivets and welds, the ever present thump, thump, thump of the great propeller blades below your feet.
The Captains words are whipped away. Hidaka cannot hear them anyway, focused on that single Japanese flag, shroud for his friend
‘A lonely place to sleep my friend. But you were always a great Navigator. You will have no trouble finding the shrine’
A lonely place indeed.
The ceremony is, as war dictates, brief. Another of Japans sons joins the ranks of those lost, and the small gathering departs. Today we remember Okura. Tomorrow we may give him a thought. But soon, I suppose, like all, history will take him.


0500 hrs, 300 miles to the south east of Zuiho
AMC Kiyogumi spots two large AKs, and attempts to give chase. But at 20000 yards, the enemy ( who seem to be taking no chances with ships that do not identify themselves) turn away, and leave her behind
The Allies must know now. A wolf is in the back yard. What will they send to deal with it?

Light cruisers bombard Merauke, and leave with out interference.
Allied heavy bombers close Lae, and today strike Wewak……….hard.



Tan joins the Charge in the Port Engine room.
“Morning Chief”
“Good morning sir. What brings you down into the domain this fine day?”
Tan grins “Power Chief. Power. I could not resist……….”
His timing is perfect. ( But he has had prior warning ) Behind him the telegraphs ring, and the voice tube emits its whistle
FULL AHEAD ALL
‘May I Chief?”
‘With pleasure sir, with pleasure”
Like a young man first stride his first motorcycle, the throttle alive under his grip, Tan takes the great wheeled throttle.
Full power. Full ahead. Let the horses free………..
Behind him, the Charge grins. Yes. Yes, how could you resist. This is what engineers dream about.
Even the greatest engine on the Tokyo line would be a toy compared to Zuiho.
Massive horsepower at your finger tips. And complete permission to let it all run free.
The blowers next door begin to scream. Zuiho belches smoke, and begins to tremble. And her great steel shining shafts begin to spin faster and faster

The quarry has been spotted. The task force races to the chase.


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 834
RE: ouch - 12/19/2011 8:58:55 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		8/2/43

Charge is not smiling by dawn
Full power overnight has exposed Zuiho’s aging plant.
Three times already he has been called down for niggling problems, from a fuel pump that has begun to leak excessively from its glands, to the main feed controller on 2 A boiler.
It currently is being fed by hand, no easy task at full power. The water tender now has two terrors. Fail in his task –and die………if the charge does not kill him first
There are other concerns, of course (is there ever not something to worry about?).fro feed consumption far too high, to fuel consumption that does not bare thinking about.
And of course, with all this high volume steaming, water chemistry is going to pot.
Just another day below

But even down here, the excitement that fills the ship has trickled down. An hour ago AMC KYosuma maru, a mere 300 miles away, has engaged, and sank a transport.
Zuiho must see action soon. Must.
Surely the waters must teem with enemy ships here, smack between pearl and America?
Surely?



But at dusk, as the task force finally comes to cruising speed, turns North, her flight deck still remains at the ready. The seas are empty.




They are not empty at Merauke
7 heavy cruisers surprise a PT squadron refuelling, smash all six in one devastating minute, sweep on to the airfield. They pound the Americal division ( the field empty of planes), and retire, undamaged, undisturbed.
But even as they depart, an hour later, other allied ships arrive.



Hidaka views Zuikaku through his glasses. She is, there is no doubt, a mighty fine ship. But what of the Admiral commanding her?. Maybe he knows his job, maybe he does not. But he has given Hidaka an evil medicine to serve his flyers tomorrow.
Zuiho will be on 100% search. In a few minutes the Kates will go below again, and return to the flight deck bomb less.
Angrily he spits over the ships side. Tomorrow it seems, the big boys seek the glory. The Juniors will do the hard work…………

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 835
RE: ouch - 12/19/2011 3:15:21 PM   
kaleun

 

Posts: 5145
Joined: 5/29/2002
From: Colorado
Status: offline 		So long as someone hits something...

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Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
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(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 836
RE: ouch - 12/20/2011 12:31:23 AM   
Gridley380


Posts: 464
Joined: 12/20/2011
Status: offline 		1275psi, just wanted to say thank you! I've been reading your AAR for a while, and I've greatly enjoyed the sense of authenticity you bring to it.

(in reply to kaleun)
Post #: 837
RE: ouch - 12/20/2011 7:21:51 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		9/2/43

We are going, for a short time, speak of a topic that almost in these days is blasphemy.
Zuiho is going to battle this morning, this entire powerful task force is going to battle.
And some men are eager for it.
Some men enjoy battle. Few,, a very few, will ever speak of it in that term. But today, this morning, there is much to look forward to.
No submarines hunting them relentlessly.
No heavy bombers to attack them, bombers almost immune to their efforts to strike them down.
And certainly, little chance of a carrier to interfere with their plans.
No. Today is a day to strike a hard blow against the enemy. To sow terror, to sow discord. Like an A grade team, taking the field against a c grade side, Zuihos men go to work with confidence, and not a little anticipation.

Even as the sun begins to pink the dawn, her last kate clears the deck, and begins the search. Hidaka was right, they were not happy.
But they will do their duty. If the enemy is there, they will find them.

“Fighters commencing launching sir”
Kato nods “ Good. You know Hidaka, it will be damned good when Tans little island is built for us. It would be good to be able to wave them away, instead of peering at their arses ………”
He sips his tea “Are you going to fly today?”
“No. Uto, Ogawa, Diogawa, myself will be the reserve”
Kato laughs. “Better to get Diogawa up I think. The weight saved will give me an extra knot”
Shokaku’s lights flash, bright in the pale early light
“I-19 attacking a DD, position 196/95……….am launching light strike”
Hidaka grips the bridge wing, and the men exchange glances. Good. It has begun. Very, very good.



Three men crouch around the steaming pile of ****e they call a fuel pump.
Okano, Hirate, arms smeared black with the creeping crap they call grease , are struggling with the packing of the main cylinder of the pump. It has to be replaced.
Now. In fifteen minutes time, Zuiho will commence launching fighters. She will need this pump.
Right now, it would be easier to fly to the moon.
The gland follower is out. So is the packing, tattered remnants scattered at their feet. But the special ring at the top is currently stuck, somehow jammed at an angle.
Steam whistles evilly down the pump shaft, blowing condensation down it.
It is no understatement to say everything is viscously hot. Skin searing, blistering hot.
The stream of quiet cursesflows steadily.

Right now, Okano is fishing up the shaft with a pointed scriber, trying to pull the ring down
“have you got it?”
‘”NO I haven’t TRUKING GOT IT!. ****E!@. Truking thing just burnt me again.”
“Boiler room, engine room, status of repairs?”
Both men angrily turn to the hapless sprayer puncher (who incidentally is currently steaming the space) “PROTRUKING PROGRESSING!”
‘Here” Hirate takes Okanos shoulder. “We have not time for this. Stand back”
Okano see’s what he’s is about to do “Brother, you could Stuff it !”
‘Brother, I could be killed tomorrow too…………….” With a savage jerk, he cracks open the throttle valve.
There is a bang, steam rushes in an angry blast, the pump strokes wildly, but the ring is blasted free.
“**** hot. We are in business!. Able seaman!, is that packing cut yet!”



“Revolutions 296. Turn into wind. Launch fighters”


Dusk
“last eagle down sir”
Kato does not answer.
The ocean is a big place, is it not? And these must be the busiest stretches of it. And yet. And yet we sink today just a single destroyer, a single AM craft. And the ocean is empty.
How?. How in the gods name could this be?
Seven days of rain, and we were spotted?.
“Do you think Hidaka, that they knew we were coming?”
Hidaka cannot answer. But his silence confirms the question.
‘I wonder, sir, if some how they are reading our radio traffic?”
At this the older man turns angrily, marches to his chart. “Impossible! Our communications are absolutely secure.
“Then what do you think sir?”

The word cuts across the bridge like ice
“A traitor”

It will hang there, that word, in the silence of the bridge, until well after the sun has gone down, until well after the day has ended.
Traitor.



(Ps thankyou for comments. Turns a bit slow this week, cantona has his son, and I am travelling over christmas)

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 838
RE: ouch - 12/22/2011 8:38:32 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Nil Turns from cantona, so we wait!

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Post #: 839
RE: ouch - 12/23/2011 6:09:00 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		10 / 2 /43


Almost as if to mock them, the weather turns beautiful.
Seas, so rough for so long, turn to the mirror calm that gave this ocean its name.
The skies are brilliantly blue, and visibility is forever.

And for 500 miles about Zuiho and her sisters, it remains empty.

With monotony that disguises the danger completely, Zuiho launches, and recovers her search planes.
Her pilots return, grim faced, sweat stained.
Nothing. nada, nilch

At Dusk they turn North again, seeking the tankers.

It is a long, long, long way home.







240 miles north west, palua.
Kaga, enroute to manilla.
Somewhere below, a battle has been lost.
Flooding reaches 67% of lethal level.
It is a long, long way home.



(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 840
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