|
Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (9/20/2007 2:52:14 AM)
|
March 29, 1943
Location: Palau
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: Proceed to Palau
---
Hibiki and the other Japanese ships arrive at the Palau Islands in the morning. For most of the men on board this is their first look at the island group, and the many steep-sided limestone islands capped with shaggy greenery make a distinctive enough sight that some of the crew come up on deck to look around as the ships thread their way into the anchorage.
There are over 200 islands at Palau. They are an odd collection of limestone islands, volcanic islands, and fragmented coral reefs, scattered in a rough crescent oriented north-south. They range in size from Babelthaup, 376 square kilometers in area, to numerous tiny islets.
Japanese interest in these islands goes back to the 1890’s, when the first Japanese companies arrived. They operated under German rule until World War I, when Japan evicted the Germans and took over the islands. The Japanese occupation was confirmed by a League of Nations mandate in 1920, and the islands have been an important Japanese military base ever since.
The Japanese administrative center is located on Koror, while the largest airfield is at the southern end of the chain on Peleliu. Most of the naval facilities, however, are on the island of Malakal, and it is here that the Japanese ships refuel and take on supplies. Dock space is very limited, however, so the ships must take turns. Most of them wait in the very large anchorage afforded by the islands while other ships proceed by ones and twos to the docks to refuel.
The islands are fairly quiet at this stage of the war. There are about two dozen Ki-21 bombers flying anti-submarine patrols out of Peleliu. A small collection of patrol craft operate out of the area on the same mission, and at the moment there are ten frieghters in the anchorage. Ashore there are a fair number of base personnel and a handful of naval guard troops. There are also several hundred Korean laborers, working to improve the facilities and build auxiliary airfields.
---
“I’ve got some paperwork for you, Exec,” says Captain Ishii. “I’ll oversee the refueling.”
“Certainly, Captain,” says Lieutenant Miharu. “What do you need?”
“Admiral Ozawa wants complete fitness evaluations for both ship and crew,” says the captain. “He needs them by tomorrow morning.” Lieutenant Miharu gives the captain a wary look.
“I’ll see to it, sir,” he says. “Do you know why he wants them?”
“I don’t,” says Captain Ishii, shaking his head. “I do know, though, that he wants them for every destroyer in the task force.”
“Interesting,” comments the lieutenant. He thinks for a moment. “Sir, have any major problems developed that I should be aware of before I begin?” Captain Ishii smiles.
“None,” he says. “It’s an interesting thought, but…no. Be straightforward.”
“Yes sir,” says the executive officer. “I’ll get started right away.”
|
|
|
|
