Cribtop
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From: Lone Star Nation
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October 10, 1942
Sailor First Class Ichihara Eizo kept his hands on the wheel of DD Maikaze and his eyes on the dark waters ahead. The thrum of the Kagero class destroyer’s engines was a constant companion as the ship moved through the waters of the South Pacific at high speed. Although he was an experienced seaman and considered the best helmsman aboard, Ichihara was a quiet and retiring person by nature, and being in close proximity with the bridge officers was always unsettling to him. This was especially true tonight, as both the ship’s Captain, Commander Nakasugi Seiji and Lieutenant Bando Iesada were on the Bridge, anticipating action. Maikaze and her sister ship Shiranui had been ordered by Combined Fleet to perform a Reconnaissance in Force at Luganville, the main enemy base in the New Hebrides adjacent to Japanese possessions in the Solomons. When Ichihara had asked a Petty Officer what exactly they were expected to do on such a mission, the reply that “a Reconnaissance in Force means they want us to attack but won’t give us enough ships to win” had not been encouraging.
Eizo’s internal reverie was interrupted as a deeper darkness to port came into view, reported by lookouts as Aore Island, which formed Segond Channel with the larger island of Espiritu Santo just to the north. Tonight had been chosen because it was a new moon, maximizing the chance the small Japanese force could successfully penetrate the channel unobserved.
“Increase speed to 28 knots, and signal Shiranui to conform,” said the Captain. He did not need to add that all personnel should keep their eyes peeled for enemy shipping, expected to be present in quantity. Intelligence from submarines and float planes had reported an enemy cruiser present, but the raid’s primary target was transport shipping, believed to be at Luganville in preparation for an invasion of the Solomons.
The speaking tube to one of the lookout stations suddenly erupted. “Enemy warships ahead, bearing 35 degrees to starboard, range 8,000 yards. Estimate 2 heavy cruisers and 3 destroyers!”
“So much for undefended troopships,” muttered Lt. Bando under his breath.
“Alter course to 330, increase speed to flank, and prepare for torpedo attack,” ordered the Captain.
The Japanese destroyers’ best chance now was to minimize their silhouettes and try to close the range for a Type 93 torpedo salvo. Unfortunately, this tactic meant they would effectively allow the enemy ships to cross the “T,” a very dangerous position when you are lightly armored, outnumbered and outgunned. So much depended on how soon the enemy lookouts spotted the approaching threat.
Almost immediately, Eizo’s grip on the helm was shaken by a blinding light that momentarily stunned his night accustomed senses. As his vision cleared, it was apparent that the enemy vessels had activated searchlights, a sure sign they were aware of the presence of hostile warships.
“Helm, prepare for evasive action,” said Bando.
For about 30 seconds, nothing happened. Then one of the enemy heavy cruisers opened fire, its eight inch guns making a menacing bark, the shells creating a fountain just off the port bow.
“Helm, steer into the shell bursts where possible, but keep our course generally toward the enemy,” said the Captain. Eizo was amazed at the calm tone of his voice.
He didn’t realize it, but an outside observer would have been equally amazed at Eizo’s own apparent calm as he steered toward the splashes. Any of the eight inch shells could be fatal, and even the smaller projectiles from the enemy destroyers could do significant damage if they hit a vital spot. The next several minutes were a personal battle between Sailor Ichihara Eizo and the fire controllers of five enemy combat vessels. The odds were daunting, as at least 33 separate high velocity guns tried to hit the vulnerable Maikaze. Eizo didn’t think about the odds, he didn’t think about his family, he didn’t think about the Emperor. He felt the ship and the ocean, solving an endless series of complicated ballistic equations with the only two weapons at his disposal – the Maikaze’s 35 knot speed and the instincts born of years of service at her helm.
Eizo had no idea how long his personal battle went on, but he knew a moment’s victory when a part of his mind registered voices, whose it did not matter: “Lookouts believe the enemy cruisers to be Pensacola and Australia…, target the Australia… range 3,000 yards… Fire Torpedoes!”
The next two events happened very quickly. First, telltale spouts of water along the side of Australia indicated that two of the deadly Type 93 torpedoes had struck home. Second, the Captain gave a difficult but necessary order: “Signal Shiranui, turn in succession, new course 75 degrees, disengage, repeat, disengage.”
Eizo put the helm down to port, swinging Maikaze around through almost 180 degrees. As the destroyer turned, her guns hit the damaged Australia twice, although the small shells bounced harmlessly off the heavy armor of the cruiser. As the turn was executed, the Bridge faced away from the enemy line. Eizo thought to himself how odd it was to momentarily have a view of a peaceful night on an idyllic South Pacific island in the midst of a battle.
As Maikaze completed her turn, Hell swung back into view, complete with the splashes of enemy shells landing all around the embattled ship.
“Gods,” said the Captain in a hushed tone.
The usually talkative Lt. Bando opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
Eizo looked away from the waters ahead for a split second, his eyes going wide as dinner plates.
Why it happened, no one would really know. Even an inquest after the war was inconclusive, in part because survivors were few, in part due to the chaos of a moonless night battle. Perhaps a secondary explosion; or maybe the two torpedoes hit in such close proximity that her pumps never had a chance.
In the end, the why didn’t matter. The simple fact was that the heavy cruiser Australia had fallen out of line and was listing so badly to port that the tips of her mighty guns were awash. It was clear that she would turn turtle and sink in a matter of minutes.
By the time the catastrophe played out, however, the small Japanese task force had faded into the dark night at 35 knots, its mission more than accomplished.
< Message edited by Cribtop -- 4/29/2012 4:08:09 AM >
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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 
) vs 9862(59). As is expected after such a huge battle, what industry was undamaged at game start is thoroughly trashed. More importantly, the land route to Fusan is fully open. That port jumps by 70K resource points in one day. Nice. 
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