RE: The little ship that could.

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

RE: The little ship that could.

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: The little ship that could.

Page: << < prev 56 57 [58] 59 60 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/25/2012 3:21:46 AM

PaxMondo

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

_____________________________

Pax

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1711

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/26/2012 8:22:01 AM

1275psi

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

OK, after disapointment after disapointment, you, fellow journeyman, will now be rewarded for your patience.

Get the popcorn

The battle of Arafura sea, the mightiest clash in nearly a year, is beginning...................

(in reply to PaxMondo)

Post #: 1712

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/26/2012 8:45:07 AM

1275psi

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

"Am attacking"

Attacking.
What?
Destroyers?, cruisers, .............I admire your courage Captain, but courage is not what we need............we need information!
Takeji tries to appear calm on his bridge.
But damnation!
"'radio room! anything else?"
'No sir, nothing yet"

The banda sea slides past, deep blue, the sun brilliant upon its surface
His ship vibrates beneath him, and faintly, the sound of the stadby CAP warming up. Men on the focastle work, and if he looks aft from this bridge wing, he can take in the guns, pointing upwards, the men waiting stoically beside them.
A peaceful scene............

But heavens.............

"Another report sir............enemy is a Clevland class CL, 4 DDs, he is trying to draw them towards us"

Which would make Yamatos's captain happy no doubt.............

"Very good"

There is nothing else to say.............

The minutes tick on, and on...and on.
The watch changes, dolphins join them, but cannot keep up, an albatross wheels past.

The CAP fighters growl in the sky

Somewhere south, men are dying.

"Lunch sir?"
Already.............I do not feel hungry, but this may be a long, long day..........an even longer night
Takeji forces himself to eat.

"CL Yahagi reporting again sir............CL Noshiro burning admidships from single hit to torpedo launcher. Enemy have retired to south east, am returning to soerabaya, ammunition exhausted, out"

And that is all?. We plunge on, and that is all?.

Takeji stands here, in command of nearly 800 men. And feels utterly helpless.
Fate is sweeping him south.

Ahead, the horizon is darkening.
Almost, as if on cue, Hidaka joins him, face still sweaty from his latest tour overhead. " The enemy must be about"
'Ney?"
He nods his head in disgust at the bands of clouds growing, sweeping up across the sky.
"Rain". Its going to rain again. . .Do you know how many times its bloody rained when we have gone into battle!"

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1713

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/26/2012 8:49:05 AM

1275psi

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

The piston has been pulled.
The liner, surprisingly, has come easily.
The new one has gone in, and the two men are beginning the chain blocking of the head back on.

It is then, of course, that the alarms ring
"Action stations!"
With a curse, the tie it with a quick lashing. Hirate gives the diesel one last look before he slams the door shut behind him.
There is something wrong, he thinks, going to battle with the job half done.

(in reply to PaxMondo)

Post #: 1714

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/26/2012 9:01:07 AM

1275psi

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

Fuel taken from the far corners of the earth is drawn from its tank, strained, pumped, heated, and blasted into the furnace
Mixed with pressurised, swirling air, it blazes in a flame 5 feet long by 2 feet wide, heating the banks of tubes about it cherry red.

water, pure, pure water, enters the boiler under pressure, falls down great pipes in the structure, roils into header tanks, then convects up thgose cherry red pipes, sucking in the heat,, the energy, converting itself to a hot liquid gas.

The gas bursts, at great pressure, into the pipework, where its heated again, now superhot, superheated, it moves, hidden, leathal, flesh stripping raw energy through the great pipes.

The great valves direct the energy into the blades, the rows, and rows of them, where energy is turned to work, and power, and life itself.

The blades spin, spin at prodigous rates, turning the shaft, that turns the great gearbox, that slows the out put to a speed that is not insane.

The shaft, nearly 2 feet in diameter, turns, twisting over its great length, the tremedous torque converting all that energy into something useful, something needed, something vital

The propeller blade beats, 296 RPM, nearly full power.

Zuiho's men stand to their watch
It is almost dusk.

Twice today the enemy have come at the ships racing south.
15 Avengers, then 15 helldivers.
Unco ordinated. weak.
Zuihos men stand to their watch, below decks, away from the sun, the news, information. They do not know what is happening. They may never know.
But they know this.
Keep the fires burning.
Keep the shafts turning
Keep Zuiho moving. Keep her alive.

< Message edited by 1275psi -- 11/26/2012 9:23:47 AM >

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1715

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/26/2012 9:19:36 AM

1275psi

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

The first day, of the second month, of 1944

Battle of Arafura sea.

0200 hrs
"You should be asleep Hidaka".............the words, almost whisperd, pierce the silence of Zuiho's bridge
"Shouldn't you be sir?"

Teeth gleam in the moonlight..........."Alright then..........I won't ask you are you ready, I know you are"
"And so is Zuiho sir"
"yes.............yes, I think you are right."

Faintly, from below and behind them, the ting, ting, of the forward elevator.
Zuihos last bomber going aloft, waiting for the dawn.

For a few minutes the men contemplate the sea. To the southeast, dark shadows, taberfane island, growing closer with every minute. To each side of them, faint, but visible, the destroyer escorts, wakes glittering in the moonlight
There has been rain, but only scattered, and the moon from time to time still emerges, a weak spotlight on this, mans great folly.

But it is a beautiful folly.
The glimmering sea, the great hullks of the battle wagons, dark shadows relentlessly carving a path south.

'You will fight today Hidaka. When they come, keep close to here, don't go seeking glory. We need a goalkeeper. Zuiho is it."

Goal keeper
Against what?
Does it matter? Here, or over there. They still have to be shot down...........

< Message edited by 1275psi -- 11/26/2012 9:24:25 AM >

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1716

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/26/2012 9:35:00 AM

1275psi

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

1/2/44

0310 hrs
'start engines,, standby to commence flight deck operations."

They swing into gear, cough, explode into life, great blades blurring.
Smoke blossoms, is blasted away. The blade driven winf plucks at mens clothes.
In the shaded light of the deck lamps, Zuihos eagles burst into life.

Her pilots break from the bridge, water from the rain soaked deck splashing.
There has been no exhortation today. No speeches.
"Do you duty!"

It is enough.
Men begin to climb into waiting machines. Engines begin to bellow, to thunder.
The beat through her. Fill her. Strengthen her and her men. This is the little ship.
She can. She has. today, a chance to do it again.
Of her flank, Shokau's deck is crowded with planes, her wake creaming.
Behind, a thousand guns turn towards the sky.

The horizon glimmers faintly.
The sky is dark, low, and wet.

A new day
A great day
A day for battle

For many............

A last day.

The lights flash, the flag falls. The steam streams straight down her deck

"Commence launching"

The enemy have been sighted
Carriers
120 miles away.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1717

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/26/2012 9:47:32 AM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
Status: offline

Can't wait!!!!

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1718

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/26/2012 2:44:13 PM

John 3rd

Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline

BANZAI! (Even if they are CVEs) BANZAI!!

What ships are in Her TF?

BANZAI!!!

_____________________________

Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 1719

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/26/2012 5:32:39 PM

Gridley380

Posts: 464
Joined: 12/20/2011
Status: offline

I'm curious too - what's your fleet composition like on the morning of battle?

(in reply to John 3rd)

Post #: 1720

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/26/2012 10:34:54 PM

pws1225

Posts: 1166
Joined: 8/9/2010
From: Tate's Hell, Florida
Status: offline

BANZAI, and no matter what happens, make sure Lurch comes through comes through safely.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1721

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 8:35:11 AM

1275psi

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

0330 hrs

Darkness still rules , allowing the blue crackling exhausts to shine bright and clear on Zuihos deck.
Takeji has taken a place on the little flight control tower.
No place to command his ship. But the only place to farewell his eagles.

Ahead, 40 miles Hiyo leads the way.
Somewhere to his flank, the main body
Shokaku, Zuikaku, Soryu, Unryu, Katsaguri and Amagi.

Reports are coming in. Yahagi, Noshiro are even now re engaged, and only 200 miles away.
What will Admiral Abe do now?
This mad dash south..........will it catch them out?
Or lead them straight into hell.

But then, overhead...........Takeji gets his answer.
It is one that uplifts his warrior heart.

(in reply to pws1225)

Post #: 1722

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 8:42:31 AM

1275psi

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

Extract from shattering thesword
A cantona production

................the japanese, it seemed, would lurk to the north of the islands, covering whatever should come.
At 0430 hours, a roaming Avenger however reports the enemy carriers, and battleships coming south, south past Taberfane, and coming hard.
It reports, but the report, and plane, dies half sent.

The allies react.
Well, some do.
Two task forces, 285, 287, turn North, and prepare for battle, rising to 24 knots. Spread across the Arafura sea, flight decks are loaded, and strikes are prepared. The japanese are coming, but how many, and exactly where.
CV Yorktown 2 launches a search, ...........find the enemy, pin the enemy, kill the enemy.
The search cleared, todays CAP begins to launch, ready for the days work.

But the days work is already arriving.................

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1723

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 8:48:29 AM

1275psi

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

It is Tokiwana, group captain of shokaku, who decides this battle
To him, it is simple. The Arafura sea crawls with enemy. Finding them will not be hard. Strike, and strike now!
Abe agrees

Japans carriers still know their work
Even as Takeji watches his CAP, his search Jills clear his deck, the sky above thunders to the strike
320 aircraft, climbing high, climbing fast, winging straight south

Abe has not waited "to pin the target"
Tokiwana will find it, find it even as the sun begins to rise.

28 minutes to target.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1724

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 8:55:07 AM

1275psi

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

"Always bloody raining when we give battle"
yes Hidaka, it seems like it always is.

It rains this morning, scattered showers under a cloud base of 5000...........but 5000 breaking up.

A cloud base that gives every advantage to an attacker above it..if you can find the target.

Some of the strike is lost in this muck, katsaguri jills seperate, so do Amagi's.
But they climb, and climb, and the sun peeks into the world, and wings gleam, canopys sparkle

12000 feet.
A break in the clouds

The allies plan to place 180 fighters on CAP today.

28 minutes to target
32 required to launch, to climb, to intercept

Only 20 manage it.

Across the radios of japans fleet, the message crackles

'Limited resistance, enemy strike coming your way, 1 Essex class, 2 Independence class.........commencing dives!"

< Message edited by 1275psi -- 11/27/2012 9:34:37 AM >

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1725

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 9:14:24 AM

1275psi

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

Flatfooted
caught
Disorganised
Surprised

These are the words history will write
Maybe we should whisper what cannot be said?
Out foxed?

This Task force has barely cleared her decks..is still clearing her decks of their frantically dispatched strike, when the japanese arrive

'Resistance is light"
No, resistance is too low, too late
120 judy dive bombers, 80 torpedo bombers

It begins

Soft morning light, cool breeze. A black, black flak filled sky, and the screaming dives.
Yorktown takes the first bomb, and shrugs it off
Independence vanishes in a forest of bomb columns

Yorktown continues to steam hard, following a doctrine of steady platform for steady guns.
And a steady target
The first fish strikes near the bow, the next admidships, the next below the bridge as well.....after that the flames and black columns of smoke and death will hide whatever else strikes.
Some will say 7, others 5.
it does not matter.
The waters will claim her anyway

Independence takes 3 bombs............hit hard, she will live, if they can get her away
CVL Cowpens will not
3 torpedoes, 3 bombs, she turtles as she goes, taking all of her men with her.

There are pitifully few ships to rescue the survivors.
Cl St loius will dodge her bombs, CL Leander wears her half score , as if to take her share as well.
CLAA Juneau takes a fish, 3 bombs

The attack lasts just 30 minutes.

Another 30 is taken up gathering the flock, recalling the fighters (fighters that have chased the enemy strike ) and turning for home

If, of course, home is still there

There are other carriers out here, a great many, it seems

Hiyos destroyers, 90 miles from the fleet, send in the first report

"160 plus, your way"

Calmly, Takeji views his empty flight deck, his guns pointing skyward.
About him, clear to see, the fleet has gathered now.
Smoke streams from his funnel, she vibrates beneath him.
28 knots
A last glance above.............clouds still at 5000. Thin, but there.
Fighters rising from every deck.
The Steel helmet feels strange, heavy.

I am the captain. I have captained for 10 years now, I have never lost a ship, never damaged one..
And I am not about to start now.

< Message edited by 1275psi -- 11/27/2012 9:17:28 AM >

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1726

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 9:30:10 AM

1275psi

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

'This is your Captain speaking"

'We can expect to come under attack in the next 20 minutes
You know your duty.
Long live our empire"

Duty

Charge at his throttles, eyes still for but one thing...........pressure, vacuum, revolutions, temperature
These have been his life
Death threatens
This is his life

Minobe, in damage Central
Waiting for the flames
Waiting for the test, the test he knows he must fail.
Wanting to live
Shamed enough to die.

Lurch
Staring at his damage control board
Imagining the worse
Hoping for the best
No fear of the enemy, or of death
But of the barsted sitting behind him

Okano
In the after repair.
Wondering of his wife, his children.
Wondering, how in the hell he got here.
But there are no regrets

Hirate
Burnt hairate
Abandoned, betrayed by his wife Hirate
Wedded now to this ship, this life, this duty
He's moved from after repair
You might call it an idiotic act, but right now, hes bolting down that damn cylinder head

Takeji
Starbaord bridge wing, glasses to the horizon
waiting

let them come

And now for the ones that really matter

Hidaka leads them, zuihos's 18
6000 feet, only a mile out, circling.
The best, of the best, of Japans best
Goalkeepers.

They are going to be needed.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1727

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 9:45:01 AM

1275psi

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

Commander Rickard leads the allied strike

Frantic to get away from the hammer descending on his task force, he leads the strike initially due west, hugging the waters, the still dark air below the suns rising

Only after ten minutes, does he turn North
He begins the climb, his Avengerr at the head of 51 helldivers, 29 dauntless , 75 avengers.
Only 40 hell cats escort .
They are still climbing, still at only 5000 feet, trapped, or maybe reluctant to pass through the grey curtain above, when the first zeros appear.
The enemy are 50 miles away still, and the sharks are nipping at them.
Maybe subconciously, maybe not, Commander Rickard seeks safety in speed.
The hell divers climb through the muck............the Avengers begin a slow, but steady descent.

A hellcat goes down
4 zeros die
45 miles to go.

< Message edited by 1275psi -- 11/27/2012 9:51:46 AM >

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1728

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 10:07:45 AM

1275psi

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

Hidaka leads them higher, higher, higher, through the thinning mist, mist/cloud, whatever it is melting away in the morning sun.
He banks south at 12000 feet, and joins the other fighters streaming south.
The enemy approach, and like bees to honey, they draw the fighters to them

The helldivers have seperated, the avengers come in, packed tight, a stream of bombers nearly a mile long,, the Hell cats weaving above them, the thatch weave working like a loam .
Shokaku's zeros weave in, now Amagis, now Shohos, ...
Zeros go down, another, and another
But the hellcats are getting thinner too..............too many enemy, too many bombers to protect

Hidaka banks them again, zuihos 18, flying parrallell to the bombers.
Ahead, almost below, the flanking destroyers begin to appear
The sky is filling with flack

They are at 2000 feet now, the bombers, breaking up into groups, picking their targets.

Hidaka attacks

They dive,.....

A hellcat flashes past Diogawa.......too easy..............a burst.........a kill
the avengers float up, up.
They are amongst them!

He picks the first one, turrett turning frantically his way...........oh, its been so long!.....close, get closer.......turret, man, the hammer of guns, shattering glass, blood, slumping men...............and past, banking, up, up into the belly of the next beast, firing, firing, rolling past...flames erupting from that buka, rolling away, falling, away, thats 2!.....bank!, rudder, kick!, stick, body lurching, head swivelling...the sky seemingly full of avengers, avengers firing, avengers burning..........and like barracuda amongst bait fish, his eagles.........hunting, hunting, and killing

he rolls inverted, the ocean rising above him, the, stick hard over, the savage beauty of when it all just comes together.........another burst, and another fat barsted falls, and his guns hiss empty............

Wolves amongst lambs, Combined fleets CAP has fought well.
But they still get through.......

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1729

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 10:17:28 AM

1275psi

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

Action report
battle of Arafura sea
IJNS Zuikaku

At 0700 hours the enemy formation, estimated 160 aircraft strong, was sighted approaching from due south, at a hieght of 4000 feet.
Our Combat patrol of approximately 100 fighters began to intercept some 15 kilometres out.
The enemy fighetr escort, initially strong, began to fall apart with the attack some 10 kilometres away, with CVL Shohos and Zuihos Combat patrol being particularily effective

It is estimated that some 28 avengers, 7 dauntleess dive bombers, 12 helldivers and 6 hellcats were destroyed in this stage of the battle.
At some 5 kilometres the enemy formations began their attacks.
Standard tactic of turning stern to the attack, and then manouvering violently was employed.
AA gunfire, regretfully, remains ineffective.

It was during this attack that some 30 hell divers (reported as many as 50 by other ships) also made attacks.
These were, with only one exception, all shallow dive attacks, only the straight dive attacks being effective

All ships in the fleet report being attacked to varying degrees..........

The first attack was upon this ship.............

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1730

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 3:13:56 PM

John 3rd

Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline

_____________________________

Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.

Reluctant Admiral Mod:
https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1731

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 6:12:32 PM

british exil

Posts: 1686
Joined: 5/4/2006
From: Lower Saxony Germany
Status: offline

quote:

The first attack was upon this ship.............

Oh come on!!

Leaving us hanging in the middle or start of the major battle in the last weeks.

The suspense is killing me already.

Mat

_____________________________

"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 John 3rd)

Post #: 1732

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 7:16:58 PM

Ol_Dog

Posts: 317
Joined: 2/23/2003
From: Southern Illinois
Status: offline

Unlike CVL Cowpens, IJNS Zuikaku can prepare an action report

_____________________________

Common Sense is an uncommon virtue.
If you think you have everything under control, you don't fully understand the situation.

(in reply to british exil)

Post #: 1733

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/27/2012 8:22:25 PM

pws1225

Posts: 1166
Joined: 8/9/2010
From: Tate's Hell, Florida
Status: offline

The last episode was worth waiting for, as will be the next one. But man, I hate waiting!

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1734

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/28/2012 6:55:02 AM

1275psi

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

Right now, the fleet is scattered across 10000 yards of ocean. What was a nice orderly box formation is rapidly falling apart, and soon, Takeji knows, it will dissolve even further as the carriers begin their own individual evasive manouvers

Zuiho is near the head of the fleet, hammering into the wind, and here , on the Port bridge wing, the salt is on his lips.
he stares aft, watching the attack develop, watching for what ever comes his way.

The Avengers are breaking into small packs -still harrassed and attacked by the fighters, and up there, at 12000 feet, the dive bmbers are approaching.......
Its going to be a hot fifteen minutes.........

The first bombs are falling astern of him,............Zuikaku..............missed
Well over on the horizon, Amagi is dancing through her forest of bombs.............missed

And then it gets too busy to notice anyone else

4 Avengers bank 5000 yards astern, coming in hard, coming in low, coming at them...........
"Dive bombers!"
The helldivers have begun their dives

"Flank speed!, PORT 30!, hold the wheel hard coxswain!"
Zuiho heels...........and the guns begin to bark

Like magic, CVL Nisshin comes into view astern of him, 2000 yards, ..........dead between the avengers, Zuiho....
"Gods!, can't he see them?"
Three avengers lift over her deck, one cartwheels into the sea, they thunder past 500 yards away, tracer, and explosions chasing the madly weaving bombers

Takeji barely sees them...............in the corner of his eye he see's Nisshin leap as two fish strike. All concentration is on the two Hell divers coming down, down, the great blob detaching.......falling at them, straight at them..over them..........hammering into the sea 50 yards away and ahead, the ocean going CCCCAAARACCKKK! as 1000 lbs of death explodes twice...........

Zuiho keeps turning, turning, her guns hammering away......avengers seem to be weaving everywhere, seeking targets, seking safety, for the zeros hunt them still.
The turn continues, revealing the battle about them........
Nisshin is slewing to a stop.healing, healing, men already swarming her flanks..........
Musashi , a volcano of fire and smoke............undamaged, her guns blast away
CVL Shoho.......her bow gone, snatched by a fish.............
And as the turn finishes, as the guns fall silent, CVL Mizuho burns admidships.............

This attack is over
Zuiho, and basically, the fleet, lives.

(in reply to pws1225)

Post #: 1735

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/28/2012 7:08:39 AM

1275psi

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

War waits for no one
The last attackers are still being chased away across the ocean, when the flagship signals

"make general direction due east, maintain CAP "

Hidaka is first down, followed by Uto, Diogawa.
Ogawa remains aloft.

The deck crews race to the machines, pushing the three planes astern, fuel hoses snake, belts of ammunition begin to disapear
The pace is frantic.
It is still only 9 am.
the first strike is coming back in, waiting to land, waiting for clear decks.

"Enemy strike approaching!"
There has been time to grab a drink, nothing else
Within minutes, they climb away again

Only 50 odd fighters truly intercept this strike
But nearly a dozen are Zuihos's

10 hellcats, 21 Avengers, 20 Helldivers
Again, all coming in low, coming in with bombs only, coming in shallow.

The wolves of Zuiho rip in.
ALL the wolves rip in

The raid breaks, dumps its bombs uselessly
3 hellcats are destroyed, 13 helldivers, 7 Avengers follow them into the emerald green seas

The score is mounting (but who keeps score ney?)

The sun climbs slowly
Combined fleet steams hard east, begins to recover her strike
The day marches on.
And death continues its harvest.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1736

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/28/2012 7:14:30 AM

1275psi

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

'What time is it?
"10 Am chief"

10 AM..............a long day. A long day down here indeed.
Charge stretches his back, eyes never moving from the guages
Three hours now at boost, three ours of pushing the old lady as hard as they can
What is happening?...........there has been an attack, that is for certain, how could you miss that? ( and a bloody close miss at that, the hammering bang has rained lagging down all over the shop), but after that?

He looks around
Pale faces. Strained faces. Too many faces with too many things to think about...........
he turns to the palest face down here.........."You, Able seaman...........quickly now, how many coils in the After Vap?"

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1737

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/28/2012 7:24:07 AM

1275psi

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

Diogawa sits on his arse in the shade of the little bridge.
Blood soaks his boot, his ankles.
Commander Korri tut tuts over the jagged lump of shrapnel sticking obscenely out of Diogawas calf.
"You will have to go below pilot officer"
Diogawa gives him a look that could kill.........'Buggar that...........pull the bloody thing out, bandage it up, and get the Truk out"
Korri rolls his eyes.........'As you wish.........this might hurt a bit"
A animal growl howls across the flight deck..............drowned however in the beat of the six zeros warming for the next launch
'Did you bloody get it?"
'Yes, now hold still, while I stop it, you are bleeding like a pig Pilot Officer.........."

Ogawa comes over.........'laying down on the bloody job friend........."
'Piss of Ogawa!...........hey, you can't get me a bite to eat can you.?...........this war business is bloody appetite growing"
Ogawa grins.......'Ill see what we can do"

It is 1 pm, and the next raid, is rolling in.

Diogawa hobbles to his plane, climbs in.
Still chewing, he joins 13 other Zuiho fighters, 13 goalkeepers..........

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1738

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/28/2012 7:30:01 AM

1275psi

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

Uto climbs away last............wheels up, pitch ...............flaps in.......throttle, mixture......
1 pm, and the day , so long, so bloody long, is still a rolling battle

he climbs, and has time to take in the fleet now.
Mizhuo seems to have her fires under control..shoho however..............

And Nisshin has sunk
And the enemy are still coming. Every bone aches. Every one.
So this is the life of a fighter pilot yes................and don't say they did not warn you.

More shapes.............racing in from ahead, 2 miles away.
Hidaka waggles his wings, peels away and down.
Back to bloody work then....................

Throttle full...........stick, rudder. Dauntless dive bombers............and no escort

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1739

RE: The little ship that could. - 11/28/2012 7:46:15 AM

1275psi

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

Cl Noshiro, Yahagi will die today, caught north of Darwin, south of the fleet
The allies send 5 seperate attacks this day, each one progressively weaker than the next. Japan does not manage to get another away.
Abe will order the fleet due east, then North towards Babo..
Three attacks by land based planes have simply been shattered this day............the giant, hurt or not........to the south remains lethal.

And then, of course, there is the age old problem.............fuel.
Dark falls shortly after 9pm , dawn begins about 4.30...........precious time enough to make good the repairs that are needed, to rest, to eat, to prepare.
They have been lucky.......perhaps.

Tomorrow, he feels, they must do it again

Battle of Arafura sea.day 1

japan
CVL Nisshin sunk
CVL Shoho-1 torpedo hit.heavy damage
CVL Mizhuo -1 bomb hit, moderate damage

2 Cls lost
1 DD lost

32 jill, 23 judy, 19 betty, approx 40 fighters lost

allies
CV Yorktown2 sunk
CVL Cowpens sunk
CVL Independence ....is dead in the water
1DD sunk
CL leander sunk.......(surely)
and possibly 2 more CL sunk

93 avengers destroyed
60 helldivers
28 hellcats

Zuiho fighters now have...............70 kills!
Virtually every pilot has 2 or 3

Hidaka has 3
Uto still only 1
Ogawa 5
Diogawa 6

3 pilots lost, currently at 13 available planes, 2 damaged planes
18 pilots remain

Jills -11 strong, 1 lost today.
No idea how.

And, yes, the battle continues..........
And congrats to Cantona.......he just told me he's going to be a DAD again.

More tomorrow..............(no turn today, as you can guess why!)

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1740

Page: << < prev 56 57 [58] 59 60 next > >>

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: The little ship that could.