RE: Small Ship, Big War

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Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/11/2008 8:55:07 PM)
March 15, 1944 Location: Osaka Course: None Attached to: Disbanded in port Mission: None System Damage: 0 Float Damage: 0 Fires: 0 Fuel: 475 Orders: Escort duties as assigned --- Lieutenant JG Kataoka, ship’s paymaster, hands Riku a clipboard. “This is the list of provisions I was talking about. If there is any leftover space in the store rooms try to get your hands on another pallet of rice.” “Yes sir,” says Riku. “I will see to it.” Eighty-pound bags of rice are the mainstay of the ship’s food stores. They can be kept almost anywhere and unless spoiled by vermin never go bad. “Have a good leave, sir.” “Thank you, Ariga,” Kataoka says. He stands up from behind his desk. “Are you sure you won’t be taking a leave? I think there is a young woman who would be happy to see you.” “Not this time, sir,” he says. “She and her mother will be remaining in Okinawa. But we will be able to exchange several letters.” “Letters!” says Kataoka. “After all you’ve been through I would think it would be hard to stick with just writing letters!” “Yes sir,” says Riku. “But you see, sir, that really the hard part is over. Now all I have to do is survive the war, get married, and raise six children.” “You think that is the easy part?” Kataoka asks. “Young man, have you ever been married before?” “No sir,” says Riku. “But have you ever had Chief Shun truly angry with you before?” “Good point,” says Kataoka.

Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/11/2008 8:57:10 PM)
March 16, 1944 Location: Osaka Course: None Attached to: Disbanded in port Mission: None System Damage: 0 Float Damage: 0 Fires: 0 Fuel: 475 Orders: Escort duties as assigned --- Ensign Izu comes down the gangway and steps ashore. Apart from some crates piled a short distance away the pier is empty. Izu is puzzled. Konada, the officer of the deck, had told him that he had a visitor waiting for him down here. He decides to wait a moment, in case whoever it is comes back, and then he hears a wet thud nearby. He looks and sees an eel lying a little ways away. It had not been there a moment ago, Izu is sure. He takes a step curious towards it. It lies there with one dead eye looking at him and its jaws open in what seems a mocking grin. Suddenly another eel hits the heavy wooden planks almost at his feet. Izu jumps back, cursing in surprise, and looks up. How can eels be falling from the sky? Out of the corner of his eye he catches movement and ducks just in time. This eel passes over his head and lands on the pier with another thud. He estimates the serpentine projectile’s trajectory and turns to look over at the crates, his eyes narrowing. Someone behind them is bombarding him with eels. This is an outrage! A brazen assault with eels on an officer in Imperial Japanese Navy is an intolerable insult. It can only mean one thing. Why, it can only mean… “Handa!” Izu bellows happily. --- “It was a little rough there for awhile,” Handa says. The two friends are at a nearby bar, exchanging stories. “I only lost my eyebrows. Others were not as lucky.” “It sounds horrible,” Izu says, taking a drink. Handa shrugs. “It’s war,” he says. “If it was a picnic on the beach they would give us bento boxes instead of guns.” “How long are you going to be in port?” Izu asks. “We could put to sea now if we had to, but they say we won’t really be ready for battle again until summer. But it’s no vacation, we are working hard on the repairs. How about Hibiki?” “We could be sent back out any time,” Izu says. “Our luck is still good, the ship is in fine shape.” “What about my replacement?” Handa asks. “I think I met him briefly when I asked about you.” “You did, that was Konada,” says Izu. “A real spit and polish type, but he’s an okay kid. Too easy of a target, though. You were a lot more of a challenge.” Handa laughs. “That crab was your masterpiece,” he says. “To this day I cannot pick up my cap without checking it for traps.” Izu smiles and lifts his glass. “To old friends and good times,” he says. Handa matches his gesture and the two men drink.

Capt. Harlock -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/12/2008 4:50:34 AM)
quote: For the crew of Hibiki there are no such reservations. They are returning to Japan once again after yet another foray into enemy waters. As far as they are concerned any mission with such an ending is a successful one For the crew, yes. But I'll bet heavily that Ishii and Miharu are both aware that, while they made the latest Allied victory more costly, it is still a victory. The Japanese are ceding both islands in the ocean and territory on Asia. That's called losing.

Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/13/2008 12:11:06 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock quote: For the crew of Hibiki there are no such reservations. They are returning to Japan once again after yet another foray into enemy waters. As far as they are concerned any mission with such an ending is a successful one For the crew, yes. But I'll bet heavily that Ishii and Miharu are both aware that, while they made the latest Allied victory more costly, it is still a victory. The Japanese are ceding both islands in the ocean and territory on Asia. That's called losing. You are not wrong. I think the difference in perspectives between readers and crew is more than a little interesting and is one of the most interesting things to explore in this AAR.

Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/13/2008 12:13:39 AM)
March 17, 1944 Location: Osaka Course: None Attached to: Disbanded in port Mission: None System Damage: 0 Float Damage: 0 Fires: 0 Fuel: 475 Orders: Escort duties as assigned --- The taxi does not simply pull up in front of the Ishii residence and honk its horn. That would be unforgivably rude. Instead the driver comes to the door and politely informs Captain Ishii that his ride is ready and awaits his convenience. Ishii thanks the man and says that he will be out directly. His sea bag is already packed and ready by the door. Hibiki’s captain says his good-byes to his wife and daughter and then looks around for Sachiko. The little girl, now two years old, comes into the room and rushes over to him. She wraps her arms around one leg and looks up at him beseechingly. “Granpa go ‘way?” she asks sadly. Ishii looks down at her. He wonders how she got to be so big. She was not even born when the war started and now here she is, already no longer a baby but a little girl. So much has happened while he has been at sea. He kneels in front of her. “I must return to my ship, little one,” he says. “But I will be back. Be a good girl for your mother and grandmother.” He kisses her on the forehead. Sachiko looks down at her little kimono, of which she is very proud, and then back up at him. Her lip quivers and there are tears in her dark eyes. “Miss you,” she says. He hugs her. “I will miss you too,“ he says gruffly. His eyes sting a little, but this is understandable. It is pollen season, after all. He goes to the door and puts on his shoes, then hefts his sea bag. Wife, daughter, and granddaughter stand in a little knot in the middle of the room. He nods to all of them and then steps outside, sliding the door closed behind him. It is a fine sunny morning. Out on the street the taxi waits, idling in the shade of the ichou tree Ishii’s great-grandfather planted so many years ago. The captain walks briskly to the taxi. The driver opens the door for him and Ishii climbs in. “Take me to the train station, please,” he says when the driver slides into the front seat. As the car pulls away Ishii spots a small hand waving from one of the front windows. He waves back, but his house recedes behind him and is quickly out of sight.

kaleun -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/13/2008 12:22:25 AM)
I guess it's pollen season around here too. Great writing!

princep01 -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/13/2008 3:39:53 AM)
War is cruelty and it cannot be refined. Sherman

whippleofd -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/13/2008 6:57:11 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish He kneels in front of her. “I must return to my ship, little one,” he says. “But I will be back. Be a good girl for your mother and grandmother.” He kisses her on the forehead. Sachiko looks down at her little kimono, of which she is very proud, and then back up at him. Her lip quivers and there are tears in her dark eyes. “Miss you,” she says. He hugs her. “I will miss you too,“ he says gruffly. His eyes sting a little, but this is understandable. It is pollen season, after all. He goes to the door and puts on his shoes, then hefts his sea bag. Wife, daughter, and granddaughter stand in a little knot in the middle of the room. He nods to all of them and then steps outside, sliding the door closed behind him. Having experienced many separations from my family due to scheduled deployments as well as “needs of the Navy” all I can say is … you nailed it. Whipple

Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/14/2008 4:19:23 AM)
March 18-28, 1944 Location: Osaka Course: None Attached to: Disbanded in port Mission: None System Damage: 0 Float Damage: 0 Fires: 0 Fuel: 475 Orders: Escort duties as assigned --- Excerpt from "Japanese Destroyer Attack!" by Shiro Kurumata, 1958 Ballentine Mori Press, New York, New York. Original Japanese title: "Small Ship, Big War": Our stay in Osaka ended up being longer than we thought it would. We were there for over two weeks as winter slowly gave way to spring. We sailors read the newspapers, listened to the radio, and picked up gossip at the docks from ships arriving from all over the Pacific, but none of it gave us much idea what was really going on. All we could tell was that the war had suddenly gone quiet. Strictly speaking, of course, we did not need to know what was happening in the wider war in order to do our jobs. Understanding the large strategic picture takes a back seat to chipping and painting the bulkhead fast enough to avoid a petty officer’s wrath! But our lack of knowledge or qualifications did not keep us from speculating endlessly about it, just as if we knew what was really going on. Of course, everyone now knows that the long pause in operations in the Pacific in the spring of 1944 was because the Allies were resting their carriers and planning and preparing for Operation Barbican. But at the time not even our leaders knew that. They only knew that we had a respite after months of hard fighting and that they needed to use the time granted to further prepare our defenses. These preparations led directly to Hibiki’s next mission and our first chance to serve as the flagship of a task force. But all that was still a little ways in the future as we enjoyed the hospitality of the very good people of Osaka. Nothing very exciting happened, although it is possible that Lieutenant Miharu would have disagreed with assessment if one had asked him… --- “I’m going to have a baby,” the executive officer says in a dazed voice. Captain Ishii refills the lieutenant’s cup from the bottle of sake on his desk. Miharu, not a heavy drinker by any means, picks it up and takes a swallow without tasting it. “Technically your wife is going to have a baby,” says the captain. “You, my friend, are going to be a father.” “Yes sir, a father,” says the lieutenant automatically. Captain Ishii smiles. “Congratulations, Lieutenant,” he says. “I take it this is somewhat unexpected?” Lieutenant Miharu manages to focus a little and looks at him. “We have tried for years without success. The doctors said we probably never would, and I had all but given up hope.” “Then it is a blessing indeed,” says the captain. “Yes…but with the war…the timing could be better.” “The timing is what it is,” says Ishii firmly. “You will be gone, maybe even when the baby is born. But if you are gone it is because you are fighting to secure the future of Japan. What greater gift could you give your child?” “The future of Japan...” murmurs Lieutenant Miharu. He takes another drink of sake. “What will that be, I wonder? What kind of country will my baby grow up in?” Captain Ishii sighs patiently. He can already see that it is going to be necessary to keep his executive officer very busy in the months ahead.

tocaff -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/14/2008 4:13:37 PM)
Has Mrs. Miharu been faithfull? Sorry to broach that subject, but war does strange things to people who are apart for long periods of time. [&:] I root for the baby to be a replica of the good Lt.

Capt. Harlock -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/15/2008 2:38:41 AM)
quote: Has Mrs. Miharu been faithfull? Sorry to broach that subject, but war does strange things to people who are apart for long periods of time. For shame![:D] True, it's a logical question given the previous lack of success -- but Cuttlefish's characters tend to be more honorable than that.

ltfightr -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/15/2008 4:51:03 AM)
I come back from almost a year and 1/2 of being absent due money (both of our computers died and it took a little time to buy new ones) I have also several bad health episodes to find this truly wonderful AAR and have spent the last 24 hours reading all 100 pages of this most excellent story and I would add my own admiration of your work. [&o][&o][&o][:)]

Feinder -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/15/2008 6:21:06 AM)
Hey Parker! Welcome back (again!). I'll send you a note tomorrow (getting ready for bed). And of course, if you want to send on that Team turn, we're all ready to return to our regularly scheduled bombing whenever you are! -F-

Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/15/2008 11:42:48 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ltfightr I come back from almost a year and 1/2 of being absent due money (both of our computers died and it took a little time to buy new ones) I have also several bad health episodes to find this truly wonderful AAR and have spent the last 24 hours reading all 100 pages of this most excellent story and I would add my own admiration of your work. Welcome back and I hope your health is much improved! I'm glad you enjoyed the AAR to this point; catching up from the beginning is getting to be a job not for the faint of heart.

Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/15/2008 11:44:28 AM)
March 29, 1944 Location: Osaka Course: None Attached to: Disbanded in port Mission: None System Damage: 0 Float Damage: 0 Fires: 0 Fuel: 475 Orders: Escort duties as assigned --- Major General Kiyoshi Shigematsu, commander of the newly designated 48th Independent Mixed Brigade, sits in the back of a sedan approaching Osaka. He is studying a map spread across his knees when his driver and aide cheerfully informs him that they will reach headquarters in about ten minutes. He grunts in acknowledgment and continues to study the map. Until very recently he and his men were part of the 11th Infantry Division, the Brocade Division, stationed in Manchukuo. But recent events in the Pacific have mandated that more veteran troops be made available to guard the chain of islands upon which Japan is depending for defense, and so here he is. His troops are not far behind him, but they will not be in Osaka long; ships are already waiting to take them to their new home. He looks up from the map. Iwo Jima looks as though it has good terrain for defense. Though he wonders that any troops are needed there at all; the enemy carriers are reported to have sustained crippling losses and the Combined Fleet rules the waves. What are the chances that the enemy could ever get so close to Japan? Still, one never knows what those idiots in the Imperial Navy might do. It’s a good thing the Army is there to cover their backsides in case they mess things up too badly. “What is the name of the naval officer in charge of our convoy?” he asks his aide. “Lieutenant Commander Ishii, sir,” comes the reply. “Contact him and arrange a meeting as soon as we arrive,” Shigematsu says. “Yes sir,” says his aide. “This Ishii had better not be an idiot,” grumbles Shigematsu. “I want my men to reach Iwo Jima alive and dry.” He thinks for a moment. “Oh, and have Colonel Izu see me as soon as he arrives, will you?” “Yes sir,” says his aide. Shigematsu leans back. He would like to see some action, but he doesn’t think it is likely to happen on Iwo Jima. Ah well, he thinks, there is always the chance that they will be transferred some place more exciting later.

tocaff -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/15/2008 4:00:51 PM)
Hehehehe, little does he know.............

Capt. Harlock -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/15/2008 8:54:20 PM)
quote: He looks up from the map. Iwo Jima looks as though it has good terrain for defense. Though he wonders that any troops are needed there at all; the enemy carriers are reported to have sustained crippling losses and the Combined Fleet rules the waves. What are the chances that the enemy could ever get so close to Japan? . . . . . “What is the name of the naval officer in charge of our convoy?” he asks his aide. “Lieutenant Commander Ishii, sir,” comes the reply. “Contact him and arrange a meeting as soon as we arrive,” Shigematsu says. “Yes sir,” says his aide. “This Ishii had better not be an idiot,” grumbles Shigematsu. Uh, General . . . I have some good news, and some bad news.[:D] I've wondered for a long time whether it would have been better to go for one of the other islands in the area. (Mind you, how were we to know that Kuribayashi would prove to have such a brilliant defensive mind?) After all, other Japanese bases were isolated and bypassed, like Rabaul and Truk. But it sounds like history is going to repeat itself -- and ahead of schedule.

Durbik -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/15/2008 10:27:20 PM)
... or it's just a simple precaution

tocaff -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/15/2008 11:45:38 PM)
Officially the US needed an airbase, a large one, that could handle damaged B-29s as Saipan & Tinian were a long ways off. At some point in time bypassing ceases to be an option. Maybe it was just a way of demonstrating to the Japanese a continuing will to slug it out with them?

histgamer -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/16/2008 9:50:18 AM)
I believe the US needs to take a few more islands before Iwo will be assaulted. CF is just setting the stage for a few months into the future. So who knows if it will be ahead of or behind historical schedule? [&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/16/2008 11:32:45 PM)
March 30, 1944 Location: Osaka Course: None Attached to: TF 12 Mission: Transport System Damage: 0 Float Damage: 0 Fires: 0 Fuel: 475 Orders: Escort troop ships to Iwo Jima --- “I still think that four escorts are not enough for nine troop transports,” says Major General Shigematsu. He leans back in his chair. “But I appreciate that that is not your decision, Captain.” Captain Ishii, seated across the desk from him, inclines his head slightly in acknowledgement. “We will get your men there safely, General.” “I hope so,” says Shigematsu. “I have done a little research, Captain. Do you know what happened to the last unit sent to Iwo Jima?” Ishii shakes his head. “It was an artillery regiment. Three freighters with two escorts. Of the three freighters two were sunk and one was damaged. Half the men and all but a little of their equipment was lost.” “I had not heard that,” says Ishii slowly. “But I am not surprised. I have grown to respect the enemy submarines and their crews. They are skilled and fearless.” General Shigematsu gets up and walks over to a map of Iwo Jima that he has pinned to the wall of the small barracks office that is serving as his temporary headquarters. He studies the map for a moment, then turns back to Ishii. “Speaking bluntly, it seems a big risk for a fool’s errand,” he says. “Has the Imperial Navy lost confidence in its ability to control the seas? Why put a heavy garrison on Iwo Jima?” “The Imperial Navy is doing its utmost,” says Ishii a little stiffly. “But a wise man prepares against more than one possibility. The enemy is growing strong, General. Very strong.” General Shigematsu walks back to his chair and sits down. “We in the Army have more spine than that,” he says. “Does the Navy always anticipate defeat? I thought your mighty carriers were supposed to be keeping the enemy at bay.” Captain Ishii stares at him. “What are you talking about?” he says. “Don’t you know?” “Know what?’ says Shigematsu, looking sharply at him. “Most of our carriers are at the bottom of the South Pacific,” Ishii says. “They were lost at Santa Cruz.” Shigematsu stands. “You are lying,” he says. “Santa Cruz was a great victory!” Now Ishii stands. “Do not accuse me of lying, you fool,” he says with heat. “I was there! My ship was riddled by shrapnel from Shokaku as she exploded and burned! While you have been playing soldier and visiting the geishas in Manchukuo my men and I have been fighting the enemy since the start of the war, fighting them from one end of the Pacific to the other. If I tell you our carriers are lost, you would do well to believe it!” Some of the color drains from Shigematsu’s face. He looks piercingly at Ishii for a long moment, while the captain struggles to bring his temper back under control. “It is true,” Shigematsu says quietly. “I read it in your voice. Forgive me, Captain Ishii. My accusation was hasty and unjust.” Ishii takes a deep breath. “It is I who begs your forgiveness, General Shigematsu,” he says. “My words were inappropriate.” The general sits down and after a moment Ishii does the same. The general reaches into a desk drawer and pulls out a bottle and two cups, setting them on the desk. He pours sake into the cups and pushes one across the desk towards Captain Ishii. “Well,” Shigematsu says with a slight chuckle, “if I bring you up on charges of insubordination who will see my troops safely to their destination?” He picks up his own cup and drinks. Ishii matches the gesture. “If the general would prefer another commander for the task force…” he begins, but Shigematsu waves him off. “No, no,” he says. “I think I am beginning to like you, Captain,” he says. “I feel you will get my men through if anyone can.” “Thank you, sir,” says Ishii. “I will.” “Good,” says the general. “Oh, and Captain Ishii…I think you might find that facing the Soviets in Manchukuo is not quite the picnic you seem to believe.” Ishii bows his head. “I am sure that is true, sir,” he says. “Again, I apologize…” “Never mind that,” says Shigematsu, waving off his apology. “But please, Captain, obviously my mission is not the fool’s errand I believed. I need to know what you know.” Ishii looks up. He is not supposed to talk about these things, but it is too late to close that door. He is not sure he would, anyway. No commander should go into a situation without full knowledge of what he is facing. “Let us start with the Battle of Santa Cruz,” he says. “General, it did not go the way you have heard…”

tocaff -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/17/2008 12:01:33 AM)
I often wondered at how Japan's & Germany's governments reported lost battles as victories to their people. If you keep winning why is the enemy banging on your door? How is that explained away?

rtrapasso -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/17/2008 2:11:26 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tocaff I often wondered at how Japan's & Germany's governments reported lost battles as victories to their people. If you keep winning why is the enemy banging on your door? How is that explained away? iirc, anyone who said their respective nation was being beaten was rather harshly dealt with as being a "defeatist"... so no explaining was necessary since people didn't dare talk about it... but the public eventually gets the true idea, especially when their cities start getting bombed and destroyed.

Historiker -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/17/2008 2:23:47 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tocaff I often wondered at how Japan's & Germany's governments reported lost battles as victories to their people. If you keep winning why is the enemy banging on your door? How is that explained away? I have every single german newsreel from 33-45 and I can tell you: we were never defeated [:D] We evacuated as planned, our ships were sunk fighting bravely while facing superior enemy but still doing decicive damage, our fighters were shooting down the enemy bombers in huge numbers, our encircled troops like in stalingrad were holding out there just to let the rest of our troops regroup and fight on even harder... It's quite interesting to see what they still say in 45. You see trains full of tanks while the speaker says: "Our busy and brave workers do there best and produce the weapons needed to defeat the enemy" "on every road and railroad, reinforcements, supplys and weapons roll to the front" "local breaktrhoughs..." etc. And of course - you see A LOT enemy wrecked material and dead enemy troops.

Historiker -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/17/2008 2:29:07 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: rtrapasso quote: ORIGINAL: tocaff I often wondered at how Japan's & Germany's governments reported lost battles as victories to their people. If you keep winning why is the enemy banging on your door? How is that explained away? iirc, anyone who said their respective nation was being beaten was rather harshly dealt with as being a "defeatist"... so no explaining was necessary since people didn't dare talk about it... but the public eventually gets the true idea, especially when their cities start getting bombed and destroyed. "Wehrkraftszersetzung" (= something like "destroying power for defence") that what it was called. It could lead to a sentence to death. While this was inhumane, it had it's sense for the regime. A nation without hope does not fight on very well...

rtrapasso -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/17/2008 7:52:26 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Historiker quote: ORIGINAL: rtrapasso quote: ORIGINAL: tocaff I often wondered at how Japan's & Germany's governments reported lost battles as victories to their people. If you keep winning why is the enemy banging on your door? How is that explained away? iirc, anyone who said their respective nation was being beaten was rather harshly dealt with as being a "defeatist"... so no explaining was necessary since people didn't dare talk about it... but the public eventually gets the true idea, especially when their cities start getting bombed and destroyed. "Wehrkraftszersetzung" (= something like "destroying power for defence") that what it was called. It could lead to a sentence to death. While this was inhumane, it had it's sense for the regime. A nation without hope does not fight on very well... Yeah, i knew Germans were executed for this... i suspect it was similar for Japan... not sure about the other Axis nations (Italy, Romania, etc.)

Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/17/2008 11:33:20 PM)
Thanks for the interesting posts, Historiker. Like tocaff I have sometimes wondered in what ways the Axis governments tried to spin obvious defeat into assertions of victory. "Defeatist" talk was grounds for imprisonment in Japan, though not for execution. This policy was laxly and inconsistently enforced near the start of the war but much more stringently so as things started to go badly. Beatings were used freely to elicit confessions and that there was little or no due process for accused citizens. As the jails got to be too crowded, thanks to the zeal of informers, the Tokko, and the Kempeitai, citizens were often able to win their freedom by renouncing their statements and promising to toe the line in the future. The recidivism rate for those released in this manner was reportedly very low. It was quite a bit different for military personnel, I think. Those who dared to speak the truth were sometimes shunted off to desk jobs in distant corners of the Empire, sometimes ignored, and sometimes even admired in a sneaky sort of way. Those who have read Hara's "Japanese Destroyer Captain" might recall the incident where he angrily harangues a bunch of superiors about the conduct of the war and gets completely away with it, somewhat to his surprise.

Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/17/2008 11:36:57 PM)
March 31, 1944 Location: Osaka Course: None Attached to: TF 12 Mission: Transport System Damage: 0 Float Damage: 0 Fires: 0 Fuel: 475 Orders: Escort troop ships to Iwo Jima --- While the men of the 48th Independent Mixed Brigade file aboard their troop ships Captain Ishii meets with the captains under his command and familiarizes himself with the capabilities of their ships. While none of the other warships are first-class destroyers all are capable escorts and submarine hunters and their captains seem to know their business. Kisaragi is a Mutsuki-class destroyer, a decade older, a little slower, and forty feet shorter than Hibiki. Properly speaking Chidori and Kiji are torpedo boats and not destroyers at all – if they served in the American navy they would probably be called destroyer escorts. They are reasonably fast and well-equipped for submarine hunting, though hopelessly unsuited for front-line duty. But that is not what is being asked of them now, and both are veterans of many convoy runs. The nine troop ships are an assortment of converted liners and passenger vessels, all of them reasonably large and fast for ships of their type. Even the fastest, of course, is far slower than Hibiki and a plump target for any submarine that can line up a shot. It is up to Ishii to see that that does not happen. It will not be easy. Enemy submarines are now to be found right off the coast as well as further out. Attempts to penetrate the Kii or Bungo channels are rare but not unheard of. And Iwo Jima itself seems to be a popular gathering point for them. One officer Ishii speaks with likens it to a popular feeding ground for a school of sharks. The sharks may move away for a time, but they always return – and with healthy appetites. This is no doubt due to the fact that many of the convoys bound to and from the Marianas Islands pass near Iwo on their journey. Captain Ishii makes what preparations he can. The rest, he knows, will be up to the skill of his crews, the machinations of the enemy, and to some extent to plain old luck. Hibiki has enjoyed had her share of that and more for a long time. Ishii hopes it does not desert him now. --- Task Force 12: [image]local://upfiles/23804/BF67CD2954B34DB98DDF5B2029CBB896.jpg[/image]

thegreatwent -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/17/2008 11:50:31 PM)
quote: Those who have read Hara's "Japanese Destroyer Captain" might recall the incident where he angrily harangues a bunch of superiors about the conduct of the war and gets completely away with it, somewhat to his surprise. These opinions were not isolated Saburo Sakai also expressed his frustration with with officers in his book. Still, Ishii by expressing his views may explain why his his history is blank after the war ends.

Historiker -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (6/18/2008 12:22:53 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish Thanks for the interesting posts, Historiker. Like tocaff I have sometimes wondered in what ways the Axis governments tried to spin obvious defeat into assertions of victory. "Defeatist" talk was grounds for imprisonment in Japan, though not for execution. This policy was laxly and inconsistently enforced near the start of the war but much more stringently so as things started to go badly. Beatings were used freely to elicit confessions and that there was little or no due process for accused citizens. As the jails got to be too crowded, thanks to the zeal of informers, the Tokko, and the Kempeitai, citizens were often able to win their freedom by renouncing their statements and promising to toe the line in the future. The recidivism rate for those released in this manner was reportedly very low It was quite a bit different for military personnel, I think. Those who dared to speak the truth were sometimes shunted off to desk jobs in distant corners of the Empire, sometimes ignored, and sometimes even admired in a sneaky sort of way. Those who have read Hara's "Japanese Destroyer Captain" might recall the incident where he angrily harangues a bunch of superiors about the conduct of the war and gets completely away with it, somewhat to his surprise. My comment is still incomplete... While all I've written is true, I#ve not mentioned some points. Until autum 1944, the German army was still that strong, that there wasn't an urgent need for worry - if you aren't informed. Of course, the bombardement of citys was obvious, but it was unimportant. The government never lied about the fact that the enemy is much stronger. In 41-42, this strength was the argument for the war because the people could see, how important the attack was, as the "bolshewik" had attacked two to three weeks later (official language). After that, they slowly changed their language. From then on, the retreat wasn't hidden - but it was always planned. You see videos about german engineers blowing up bridges and towers, that "nothing falls in enemy hands". While the loss of the Crimea was a disaster, the newsreel tells that the evacuation was successfull. Slowly but steady, it wasn't able to hide the change in war - but Germany still had an advantege: 1. the "wonder-weapons" (Wunderwaffen): Showing the people the V1 and V2 as well as rocket and turbine planes made good impression. Of course, if the Führer's Wehrmacht will have these arms in great numbers, soon - why should we worry? 2. The strength of arms: Even for military greenhors it was obvious, that the german tanks where stronger than everything in the west. As these tanks were new, it's ok that they didn't show their impact, yet. 3. The Bolshewik threat: The russian demon was created over the years. From the beginning on, the newsreels show nearly only mongolian soldiers. I can't remeber a single newsreel, where one can see the "russian arians" - which of course exist - just look at Alexandre Vinokourov... So the closer they came, the more this picture was shown. More and more fear was spread under the population (not without reason as history shows). So even if it was obvious the war is lost, the soldiers fought on not only of fear for the Feldgendarmerie (MPs) but to protect their familys, too. So the newsreels then showed about the Abwehrschlacht (defensive battles) and said things like "This is where the bolshewik hordes have to be stopped or europe is lost... Moreover, it was important what you see. It wasn't seen that the enemy has breaken through - it was only shown where a breakthrough was defeated and local counterattacks. It wasn't said "Half of the German army in the east is cut off in Kurland" - it was said "since month, the troops under Generalobert von Vietinghoff hold out for xy month now while the enemy suffers heavy losses" So it always depends on what you tell. If you loose Noumea, a german newsreel will be: 1. Enemy forces of enourmus strength landed under the cover of a dozend carriers in noumea. 2. the glorious navy engaged the enemy fleet near new caledonia. after several days of bitter fighting, the enemy was driven back under heavy losses. After achieving their goals and fighting bravely against the enemy superiority, the crews of the ... stayed saluting on their ships while it was going down. (I'm uncertain about that, because germany could afford to loose ships as nobody had illusions about the strength of the enemy. Japan instead wanted to rule the waves. Germany would rather tell "30 ships with 267.000 BRT sunk" - without telling how many subs were lost) 3. After 25 days of harsh fighting and spending their last ammunition, the garrison of noumea did their final banzaii attack tonight. In this 25 days, the enemy suffered heavy losses. 62 tanks and 125 artillery pieces are confirmed destroyed. The enemy lost men in the strength of 3 brigades while desperatly trying to break through. something like that [;)] The enemy always suffers most and the focus lies on the good news - as every incidient may have its good point, you just have to search it. There was i.e. a leaflet about italy. On it was shown, how far the allies have come and this route was compared with a slug/snail. In all this months, the allies didn't come as far as this slowls animal would have come. Half of Italy was lost, but who cares? The Allies were slow in their advance - aren't they weak? You might tell that even a tree would have drifted farer and faster than they are now... Morevoer, the focus is on the enemy losses. Interesting, too: The german media had headlines like this in summer to autum 1941: - 500.000 enemy soldiers captured - kiev conquered, 250.000 captured - 500.000 captured and dead, enemy is about to crumble - enemy defeat is imminent - enemy will break in 8 weaks - enemy can't hold out longer than 4 weeks - 35 ships sunk with 250.000 BRT [:D] So when the enemy wasn't breaking nor capitulationg, why write that? Simply take another good news as headline [;)]

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