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RE: The little ship that could.

 
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RE: The little ship that could. - 11/10/2012 4:08:10 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		In the sickbay, the fans turn endlessly, moving the hot air from one corner to another, beating futiley against the humidity.
Takeji sits quietly, while his medical officer , Korrii completes the small chart, his pen scratching loudly in the silence.
A bead of sweat trickles from Takeji's brow. The heat here, deep in Zuiho's bowels is thick.

The pen scratches on, and on, testing the Captains patience. There is no one else on the ship he would wait for, but doctors on the other hand............
Eventually Korrii sighs, puts down the pen.
"he will be back in action in three days, maybe four, I would think, but not much good for anything for at least two weeks"
The statement surprises Takeji. "That long?, from simply falling down a ladder?"
"Minobe has three broken ribbs, and quite extensive bruising"
Takeji thinks.
The silence hangs heavy, the fans continue to circle uselessly.
Almost like the chain of thought going through his mind.
I do not need this, not now...........not any time.
"Was he drunk?" There, there it is, out in the open.

Korrii smiles. "Even if he was, I cannot tell you, you know...............but..........."

The but hangs heavy in the air. he does not need to say it.

"I see". Thankyou Korrii "Give the old fool my regards when he wakes, and let me know"
"Yes Captain"

Takeji is headed for the door when Korrii speaks again
"Sir, I think you should know.........Minobe may have fallen, he claims he was pushed"

(in reply to PaxMondo)
Post #: 1651
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/10/2012 4:13:14 AM   
1275psi

 

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Status: offline 		A small task force of CVE's and maybe a CVL sortie from Darwin, dashing towards Timor.
They try to catch a convoy at Dilli, but are thwarted by weather, the convoy flees.

For nearly an hour Shokaku's bridge rings to high argument as one half of the fleet captains demand they sail and intercept.
Admiral Abe, newly promoted, newly in command, overides them.
His argumant is simple, if the enemy flee back to darwin, what then?
Lose half of their dwindling air strength for what?
Give away their position, for what?

"We have literally one shot left in the quiver gentlemen, just one!"

They must not waste it.

Timor will just have to starve...............

< Message edited by 1275psi -- 11/10/2012 4:14:13 AM >

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1652
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/12/2012 6:35:42 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		17/1/44

The enemy CVEs do not retire, but lurk south of Timor

The decision not to lunge for them, however, sems justified.
The weather in the Timor sea is simply awful. Report after report of cancelled missions from the land based bombers flow in all day.
Knowing KBs luck, she too would have only achieved one thing, giving away her position..

Southern Command moves Hiryu's now land based group of Dive bombers and fighters to Dilli, and orders the transports back in.
They may get lucky...........


The Northern flank of PNG is still thick with transports, undoubtably loading up the third and 4th marine divisions.
A week, japan calculates, maybe ten days to get them into reserve. A week, 10 days to load the 1st and 2nd, the americal, and all the rest, another to reach the next target.
20 days?.

Kaga returns in 21
Ryujo in 12
Chitose, Chiyoda join in 7.
Enough to lure the enemy towards them , surely?
Every instinct of japanese doctrine is to attack those CVEs,.................

But Abe will have none of it.
We wait. The next invasion is IT.
Believe it or not..............Japan still thinks Victory is a chance.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1653
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/13/2012 9:02:48 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
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A japanese wolf pack savages a convoy off Hollandia, sinking 6 AP/Aks in less than 3 hours.
It is news that will fill Japans newspapers.

What won't: - an AS sunk off Soerabaya, 3 small xaks near biak, a pg off the phillipines...............
In short, a typical day of the ongoing ravaging of the japanese cargo fleet.

However, all is not dark, her tanker convoys sail on unmolested.
The number of these sunk can be counted on one hand. Proof positive of the benefit of CVE covered mega convoys.
There is, of course, not enough CVE's.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1654
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/13/2012 9:12:40 AM   
1275psi

 

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Status: offline 		Zuiho remains at anchor in kendari harbour.

It is a strange, yet welcome time for Charge and his men.
She is, basically defect free, steaming auxiliary on 1A boiler, feed and fresh at 100%, or near enough to it.
A steady, good routine is in place.
They spend " 24 hrs on" - a 24 hour period of 4 on, 4 off watch keeping, followed by a day off, then a normal day of work.
This is, of course, not a routine ever heard of or contemplated on any other Japanese warship.
It comes from somewhere in the Charges past, from some tramp steamer days surely.
It is also in place simply because Minobe is Hors de combat..........


Besides the relaxed atmosphere of this welcome rest, Minobes "accident' remains THE topic of the lower decks.
How did it happen?. Did anyone see it?. Do you think he saw who did it?

Only one man knows the answer to the mystery.
And he, of course , is saying nothing.

But he is planning to have another go.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1655
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/14/2012 9:17:30 AM   
1275psi

 

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Charge Knocks on Minobes door, and reacting to the muffled grunt from within enters.
Minobe is spread comfortably enough on his rack, dressed , disconcertingly, in not very much at all.

Its not a pretty sight...........
But, sailors are used this sort of thing, Charge gets down to business
"You called me sir?"

Keep it nuetral, who knows what the fat barsted wants this time..................

Minobe picks up a hefty handfull of paper work.
"These, these are what is up!"
"Sir?" caution here charge, this might be dangerous..........
"read that one Cahrage, and tell me what you think..........."

cautiously, as if it was poisoned, Charge takes "that" into his hand, and scans it.

Every Navy ship that has ever sailed (I would think) has a "that"
Daily machinery state. kept continously updated by every engineerofficer of the watch since Noah sailed. Flash a pump......log it. Swing machinery............log it. Take a torpedo in the arse............log it.
At Midnight, start a new page, and list every bit of kit that is running. The list, the description can often cover a whole page.

This one is done by Hirate...........close cropped, bunched up writing, almost illegible.
Charge can see nothing wrong, ....and the page is months old.

'Sir?"
'Read it again", Minobe growls."Closely"

He does.
His eyes pass over it twice before the brain registers...........
.........both feed pumps, both booster pumps, 1a fuel pump, 1b fuel pump, cow is chewing the cud, both fuel heaters, both evaporators........

Cow is chewing the cud.

Charge lifts his eyes from the page. Minobes face is passive. "And now read this one, in fact, read them all........"

Eyes tuned now, the word springs out.
Cow does this, cow does that..........

Silently he hands back the fors. Charge finds it hard to smile.
"I know Charge, that no one will probably ever read those again, especially in a war like this..........but, "
"I will tell him to desist sir"
'You do that"..........


It is a momnet that brightens his day.
The moment does not last long.
At Midday, the flags burst upwards on Zuikaku's mast.

By 1700 hrs, Charge is in the engine room, answering the bells

"Full ahead all!"

The war comes calling again..................


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1656
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/14/2012 9:20:56 AM   
1275psi

 

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Enemy carriers, and APs spotted north of wake!
Enemy carriers departing darwin
CVL Hermes, CVE battle axe attacked near port blair, battle axe poked with two bombs..........
Liberators attacking every bloody thing................

Too much happening to be sitting on our arse waiting for the blow, I would think...............

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1657
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 8:27:35 AM   
1275psi

 

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Dawn
Grey wet skies. Beating rain. An oily smooth and calm sea.
Two great carriers, carving great wakes through this mill pond of an ocean, imperious, mighty, almost majestic.
Astern of them, hanging on grimly, Zuiho and her sister.

28 knots.
As fast as they can go.
Down stairs, to the casual observer, there seems little difference between the plant at cruise, and what he would see at speed.
The fans still scream, the boiers still glow at the observation glasses...........the horrendous noise is still there.
But there is nothing to latch onto visually that Zuiho's plant is being pushed to its limmit. there are, well, there are just so few moving bits you can see.

No pistons flinging up and down, no valve gear thrashing wildly.

But look closer.
Look closer...........at the men.
Oh, they appear casual enough, they still move easily amongst the steam leaks, bend mouths to ear, still hold the cups of tea.
But faces. faces are strained. And the eytes move, move continously.from guage, to guage, to guage...........seeking that first sign of trouble, that first hint of disaster.

revolutions 296............full power
Pressure, 450 psi.............but barely
Vacuum, 28 inches..............holding, just.
Both condensate pumps, two feed pumps per boiler, both fuel pumps .............a ton per minute blazing into hot gases and black carbon......

Zuiho pounds on, straining every rivet, every nerve, trying to keep with her big sisters.
28 knots.
She can do it...........
She does do it.
She must do it.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1658
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 8:34:26 AM   
1275psi

 

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Status: offline 		Her last Jill fades into the murk, wallowing away, turning to starboard, towards darwin, seeking the prey.
Hidaka watches her go, adjusts his gear, climbs up and into his cockpit, alive already to the vibration of the whirling blade.
He wipes the rain from his brow, settles in, eyes already alive to his controls, the guages, doing the dance they have done so many times before.
Unseen hands tighten straps, tap him on his shoulder.
OK?
OK!.
Yes, all is good. I go. Let the enemy come today, let him come.
The throttle settles under his palm, slides forward so easily, the growl becomes the roar.........
Brakes off, and away................
All 12 bombers are on search, all 18 fighters climb to join him in the CAP.

The banda sea, dark,, rain streaked, dangerous, slides steadily under our little ships bow.
Her sheperds are on watch.
They need to be

The wolves are about.


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1659
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 8:39:35 AM   
1275psi

 

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Status: offline 		Zuikaka is good at this. Must be, she has done it four times this war now.

The shouted alarm............Torpedos!
The instant reaction.

From Zuikaku's Capatains Standing orders...........

.......immediately upon warning of a torpedo launch, or sighting of periscope.......regardless of state of Command, the Officer of the watch is to immediately place engines on attacked side to full emergency astern, and opposite engiines to full ahead.
A full turn towards the threat is to be made.

These actions are to be made regardless of the tactical situation, unless counter ordered by me..............


The fish come.
Zuikaku dances.............
The fish miss.


The charge south continues...........but the enemy know they are coming now.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1660
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 8:46:56 AM   
1275psi

 

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Status: offline 		Takeji takes the message. he hardly needs to read it, the activity on Shakaku's flight deck tells the story well enough

'Enemy carriers 120 miles north West of Darwin, speed 12 knots, direction due south.
Am going to attack"

Good, a unessessary message, after all it it was His Jills that have made the sighting.
Earning their keep at last, it seems.

Timor is approaching. They are in enemy range.
And of course, its raining.

But not enough to prevent a launch it seems.

Hidaka joins him, one of three fighters down at the moment. He has a flask in one hand, a soft bread roll in another, and but 5 minutes to eat it before he must go again.
"Shokaku is striking?"
'Yes"
Hidakas voice is full of dark satisfaction."Truking good. The lucky barsteds........."

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1661
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 9:01:21 AM   
1275psi

 

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Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Shokau's first strike, 19 zeros, 13 Judys, arrives south of bathurst island just short of midday, and just short of her main prey.
The enemy CVE's are but 40 miles away, hidden under heavy rain.

9 of their hellcats are up, the battle is short, and sharp.

They plunge out of the murk, and three Judys tumble from the sky, they plunge into the murk again.
Below, three shapes are briefly spotted carving the black seas below. With out hesitation, eager to kill, even more eager to avoid the hellcats, the Judy's dive into the frey murk, through to the blackness 12000 feet beow.

Too late.............these are no carriers, just minor vessels.

This raid, sorry to say, is not one of Japans finest. What minor confidence in her dive bombers Shokaku's captain may have had, is washed away in the multiple misses.
Off PNG, and now here.

It appears that Judy's cannot hit a barn, let alone a dodging destroyer.


Her Jills do better.
The heavy clouds and rain allow them to come in undisturbed from what fighters may have been about.
Their run ins are good, their aim better

A poor return for torpedoes expended considering the real prize just missed, but no less than 7 torpedoes strike home on three Bathurst class ships .
There is very little remaining to watch slide into the depths.


3 judys have been lost, for three ships sunk
And the convoy at Dilli continues to unload, unmolested today.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1662
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 9:05:51 AM   
1275psi

 

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The task force swings west, and begins to run along the southern side of timor. They know we are there.
This might leave us in range.
But the banda sea crawls with hidden Buka's. Better out here. Maybe the enemy will come and challenge us? we are, after all, just 2 big boys, 2 little ones strong.

I hope so.
KB main joins us again, coming from the east, at dawn.
If the enemy stays in Darwin, we mean to go in and get him.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1663
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 9:07:08 AM   
1275psi

 

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Status: offline 		CL Noshiro, Yahagi, and 2 DD race into Kavieng, sink a DD, cripple another, race out again.

Nobody expects the Japanes inquisition!!!

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1664
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 11:10:55 AM   
Borys

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

'Sir?"
'Read it again", Minobe growls."Closely"

He does.
His eyes pass over it twice before the brain registers...........
.........both feed pumps, both booster pumps, 1a fuel pump, 1b fuel pump, cow is chewing the cud, both fuel heaters, both evaporators........

Cow is chewing the cud.

Charge lifts his eyes from the page. Minobes face is passive. "And now read this one, in fact, read them all........"

Eyes tuned now, the word springs out.
Cow does this, cow does that..........

Silently he hands back the fors. Charge finds it hard to smile.
"I know Charge, that no one will probably ever read those again, especially in a war like this..........but, "
"I will tell him to desist sir"
'You do that"..........


Will there be a version for technically clueless dummies of this?

BTW - I believe heavy alcohol consumption has an adverse effect on the speed at which bones heal. If Minobe spends his days in blissful intoxication you can double the normal healing time.
Borys


< Message edited by Borys -- 11/15/2012 11:50:10 AM >

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1665
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 3:01:47 PM   
Smoky Stoker


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Borys

Will there be a version for technically clueless dummies of this?


There's nothing technical here. There are no cows aboard warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. There is a lot of monotony, and the minds and pens of those writing log entries may wander.

quote:

BTW - I believe heavy alcohol consumption has an adverse effect on the speed at which bones heal. If Minobe spends his days in blissful intoxication you can double the normal healing time.
Borys



All to the benefit of HIJMS Zuiho and her crew.


_____________________________

"Leveling large cities has a tendency to alienate the affections of the inhabitants and does not create an atmosphere of international good will after the war." -Rear Admiral Daniel V. Gallery

(in reply to Borys)
Post #: 1666
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 3:59:05 PM   
Borys

 

Posts: 12
Joined: 10/24/2012
Status: offline 		I had the humour explained to me by e-mail by a Kind Soul :)
As to the delayed healing being a boon for everybody concerned - I agree.
Borys

(in reply to Smoky Stoker)
Post #: 1667
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/15/2012 10:06:59 PM   
british exil


Posts: 1686
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From: Lower Saxony Germany
Status: offline 		I think Borys has a point, there are a lot of land dwellers following this thread, I thought snkes were not allowed on board but some Jap dd's did have some so why not a cow?


Mat

Borys maybe you can pass on the mail for explination.

_____________________________

"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill

WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS

(in reply to Borys)
Post #: 1668
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/16/2012 7:54:30 AM   
Borys

 

Posts: 12
Joined: 10/24/2012
Status: offline 		There was no actual cow in engine room. Just the most dangerous being in the universe - a bored man with a piece of paper and pencil.
He just as well could have written
- "strange noises in bearings casing XYZ15/D/14. Upon examination there were seven little red devils making music inside. After burning 3,75 inches of incense stick model 14 rev.5a the devils disappeared. Casing head replaced and nothing out of the ordinary noted in operations of bearings casing XYZ15/D/14 until end of watch".

Borys


< Message edited by Borys -- 11/16/2012 7:55:19 AM >

(in reply to british exil)
Post #: 1669
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/16/2012 8:09:34 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
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Status: offline 		herbiesan very sad,

failed at writing 101................then again sailors do have our own world and language

I will try to be clarer next time............

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1670
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/16/2012 10:00:54 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		1655 hrs, 21/1/44

The first hour of the first watch all but done.

Lurch carefully places his empty brew mug onto its hook in the phone box, gathers up the rounds sheets, his dip tape and liquid state book.
Making no attempt to be heard over the canalopy of sound in the engine room, he merely catches the eye of Hirate, and waves his finger in a circle .
"Going for a set of rounds"
Hirate, concentrating on the guage board, merely nods.
Away you go.

Lurch has that most taxing of duties now, Chief of the watch. Although no Chief, his responsibilities however, are immense. There is much to do, and not much time.
But there is a certain freedom in this job, which more than makes up for that.
Swiftly he climbs up and out of the engine room, squeezing his considerable bulk through the narrow action hatch, up and into the lower hanger.
Forward now, ducking under a Jills wing, aircraft maechanics hanging all over it like ripe fruit (how much bloody attention does a plane need?), through the door, down the hatch here, and into the lower forward passageway.
He will stop at the very end, right up near Zuihos snout.
Now the physical labour begins, down onto knees, swing the hatch, open it, dog it open, squeeze down through it, down the ladder.
Forward pump room.
Check the pump bearings by feel, listen to the noise...........no change, take out the rounds sheet............pressure, noted, suction, noted.
bilges dry, ok, up and out.
Shut the hatch, dog it down.
Dog it good, Lurch has been beaten once for failing to do that............
Head aft 20 feet
Forward feed tank, port. Unscrew the sounding tube cap, take out the dip tape, drop it, raise it, record the reading.
22 tons. Almost full. Good.

Now for the starboard one
21 tons. very good.

Back into the lower hanger deck, and to about half way down aft, another hatch, down to the DCC flat.
Three more tanks, two feed, one fresh.
Fresh a bit low...............

Now Lurch pokes his head into damage Control Central, Charge, as usual is head bent over, working on paper work. What Lurch is after is right there, night orders book, ready to do its rounds

He heads aft.
More tanks, a fresh water pump to start in the starbaord engine room. Night order book to read, sign, and hand to Okano. Gossip to gather at the damage control stations, at this moment fully manned, Zuiho being at state two.
Checks on the diesel, checks on the after pump room, the steering gear.

He will be soaked with sweat by the finish.
1800 hrs, and he has returned to the Engine room.
He does the sums... this Vap made that much, add this, subtract that,.....bloody mathematics, grrr, converting to percentages........feed 90%, Fresh 75%
"Port Boiler room, swing your vap to fresh please".





Hirate hands him his sheets.
The daily running log, these, along with the liquid state, now have to go to Charge, then Minobe.
Lurch grins......"No cow today Petty Officer?
Hirate gives him a sour look........."No, Minobe told me to take it to the slaughter house.I have no idea what will keep me amused now down in this wonderland"
"Oh, I am sure you will find something"
"Oh, get out, and get straight back, we are at state two you know"
"Yes Petty Officer!"

He departs again.
Charge merely glances at the figures, "get em to Minobe"

Quietly, almost gently, he knocks on the barsteds door.
'Enter!"
'"Liquid state sir"
(Oh, how good to see you, you fat barsted, still here, still in pain. Beat me, will you.............)

"Any problems Leader?"
'None sir!" .as if you would know...................

"Ok, good"
For a moment Minobe seems to be about to speak again. His eyes examine lurch........(.No, he does not know. he suspects.........but he cannot know....)
'Will that be all sir?"
'yes, action stations in 10 minutes........"


Lurch detours on his way back, ducking out to one of the 25 MM gun bays hanging limpet like off the hanger deck.
Ten minutes, time to share a smoke with the gunners, take in the sun, the sea, the fleet about them.
Perk of the job.
There is land only 5 miles away
"Where the hell are we?"
It costs a smoke, but he gets a reply for a change..."South of Timor. Shot hole ain't it?"
Sh#t hole. A good term for it, I suppose.
But there is no time to dwell on that, the next set of rounds are due.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1671
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/16/2012 10:12:20 AM   
1275psi

 

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Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Extract from shattering the sword, a cantona production

You can see now how easy the delusion could settle in. In Burma, the allies seemed stalled, and Japans Armies stood rebuilt, reinforced, and ready.. She still contested the skies.

South of Timor, Combined fleet prowls, and the enemy flee south from Darwin.
Only night bombing pin ****s needle at Biak, her fighters rule supreme here

China remained silent, the bombing coming from there having apparently stuttered to a halt.
Fuel reserves rising, HI reserves rising, new planes coming, more carriers soon, and damaged ones to return, including Kaga.
And the empire still vast, still strong.
Who could not think, that this war could, would go on, and on, until the enemy tired, and sued for favourable peace?

Delusion

from a quote from Admiral Cunningham, British fleet.
Its seems incredible, to think of it. This week the allies lose 9 AK, and I lose a CVE (battler is hurt badly I am afraid), loses that in 42 would have been catastrophic. But today, the 9 are replced by 18, and the CVE is replaced immediately. The power of Americas industry is awe inspiring. I cannot help wonder what it going to happen when Halsley releases his hounds.........

1944 is well under way.
The delusion shattering express is about to leave the station.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1672
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/16/2012 1:24:26 PM   
Borys

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

herbiesan very sad,

failed at writing 101................then again sailors do have our own world and language

I will try to be clarer next time............

You lite good! Leadel dim!
Borys

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1673
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/16/2012 3:56:47 PM   
kaleun

 

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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 Borys)
Post #: 1674
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/17/2012 10:57:36 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		Quick note fellow readers

have fallen behind a bit from the game..................because huge things have been developing.
Need to give them justice.............

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1675
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/17/2012 11:13:34 PM   
1275psi

 

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Status: offline 		22/1/44

Its the Cantona way
Battleships Ramilies, Queen Elizabeth, and the battle cruiser Renown open fire on the defences of Moulmien, aiming principally for the airfield, hoping to kill Japanese with what ever misses.
It is a mighty display of gunfire, lighting up the night , a man made thunderstorm, rumbling for miles upon miles through the still tropical air.

It is , however, all sound, and no fury.

Hosho's Company , dug deep in the ridges and hills overlooking the river, watch a great many of the shells fall uselessly into the jungles. What does fall amongst the troops of 15th Army does little harm
The words, dug in, are totally inadequate for the defences prepared here.

Its the Cantona way......... even as the battle ships thunder, Japan is ordering extra air searches on the other end of the world, If the british think the Japanese fleet is going to come scuttling north, they are very much mistaken.

From Babo, nestled on the shoulder of the Arafu sea, a new search squadron, hoarded for just this moment, takes to the sky.
And at Wessel island, finds them.

Carriers. Not CVE's, But fleet units. A sky fall of hornets circling to protect them.
APs, APA's, tankers

Its the whole bloody show.
Headed towards Darwin, Headed North..

Throughout the width and breadth of the empire, the signal goes out.

Raise steam.


(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1676
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/17/2012 11:27:50 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		22/1/44

Zuihos bows bury themselves into the next swell, the waves foaming and creaming over it in a white thundering, flowing charge, smashing against the base of the bridge, pouring overboard as she shrugs it off, rising, rising, then to fall into the next, the process repeating again, and agin, and again.

Its been a while, but Zuiho is in true ocean again, the Indian, re aquainting her self with the eternal enemy, the sea.

A good solid 3 metres, the swell marches from horizon to horizon, angy white capped, wind whipping spray ahead.
The fleet plows through it, each ship maintaining speed and position. This is the eternal war, sea against ships. The sea will not win this day, the men cannot allow it to interfere.
There is a war to be fought.

Abe has taken them due west, shaking off the Bukas, soon they will turn north , looping around Timor back into the banda sea, in 2 days, tankers...........and the battleships.

Takeji breathes the air on his bridge wing, taking in the fleet about them. It is so good to be out here, in the open, free.
Its why he joined, so many years ago.
To be free of cares that bury other men. Free to help shape history.
Free to fight.

And fight they must soon. The signals leave no doubt now.
They are coming.
And we must meet them.
And he Takeji, dealy wishes for that.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1677
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/17/2012 11:35:50 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		They are Japans outer boundry. her shield
Starting to the east, moving west:

Alor, Dilli, Wetar, Lautern.the timor defences, nearly a division strong, southern command
Then the islands of Babar, Saumaliki, taberfane, Dobo.
21st division, 16th Army holds these, supoorted by Southourn Army engineers.

For two months now they have been getting bombed, and supplies are short.
They are in great shape.
Dug in, prepped, ready to die for the empire.
The bombing has not damaged them a wit.
Suppies fly in every day.
Fast transports once a week, bring more hope and encouragement than supplies (but to know you are not abandoned, that hQ has your back............how many tons of supplies is that worth?)

The enemy will bring divisions, and they cannot hold them before they die.
They know this.
But they are not being asked to win, just to hold, hold for 3 days, hold long enough for the counter stroke to fall.

To a man, 21st division swears they will do that.

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1678
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/17/2012 11:41:24 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		23/1/44

"refuel the destroyers"

Three words
So easy to do, so difficult, in this sea, to achieve.

It is done. Men get hurt, machinery is broken, lines are parted, two ships sides are bent, metal is crushed.
But it is done.

The fleet turns north, seeking the tankers.
Yamato and her Sister are coming.
The battle cruisers too.
.

'From Combined fleet"
to
All forces

24th air flottilla identifies 7CV, 4 CVL, 2 battleships 120 miles east Bathurst island.
large transport fleet, 240 miles south Wessel island.

'We will engage with all available forces, crush this enemy, and bring the war to a successful conclusion
Long live the empire"

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1679
RE: The little ship that could. - 11/17/2012 11:55:28 PM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		24/1/44
47 Liberators, then another 20, crush Dilli.
It will not be able to help in this battle.




Zuiho loses a Jill
Part of the search pattern, it departs at dawn, rising into the morning sun

And somewhere, it simply passes its crew into eternity.
We will never know.


Diogawa and Ogawa are resting against the island. Diogawa looks better today, the sea sickness is gone, for here the sea is calm again, all around them the islands of the DEI nestle in the pretty, sparkling tropical sea.
The sun shines, there are scattered fishing boats.

Zuiho cruises , and again it is hard to believe the world is at war .

"so what do you think happened to them?" asks Diogawa
Ogawa merely shrugs "does it matter?."
They stare at the beauty about them in silence. They will fly soon, but not just yet.........

"Its funny you know," notes Diogawa
'What is?"
'How true that is.........do you remember our fir strike on Sydney?"
'barely"
"I do, like it was yesterday. Think of this old friend. We attacked that place with what, 30 bombers?, and shattered a fleet, and threatened a whole country. Now, now, look about us. There are 500 planes here, 500 men. The enemy are coming with a fleet that might have a thousand. Stop and think about it. The numbers are too huge my friend for an individual to make a difference you know. No matter how good we are, no matter how we try, we are but droplets in the waterfall.............."

The silence lingers

Ogawa turns to his friend. "You are right you know, but also wrong. As men, we cannot affect this war. But as men, men my friend, we can hold onto the one thing that matters. To be true to each other
Do that, and not even death can defeat us"

(in reply to 1275psi)
Post #: 1680
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