|
Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War - the Decisve Battle (3/5/2008 3:25:02 AM)
|
November 19, 1943 - PM phase
Location: 60 miles northwest of Sands Island
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 4
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 275
Orders: Engage enemy forces attacking the New Hebrides
---
“Signal from Shokaku, sir,” says the lookout tasked with keeping an eye on the flagship. “All ships are ordered to assume standard cruising formation and head west, speed 26 knots.”
“What?” says Ishii. “Are you sure?”
“Chokai is asking for confirmation now, sir,” says the lookout. Then: “Admiral Ozawa has confirmed the order, sir.”
Ishii shrugs. “Well, he knows what is going on better than we do,” he tells Lieutenant Miharu, and gives the appropriate orders.
“This may be an attempt to close with our surface forces,” says the lieutenant. “We are close enough that it might work.”
“Could be,” says Ishii. “We will know soon enough.”
---
Historians will long debate the reason that Admiral Ozawa orders this maneuver. He will claim after the battle that he received information that the Allied force was retreating and that he was in fact trying for a surface interception. Unfortunately not only is this information erroneous, but the order does not reach any of the five other Japanese task forces. Ozawa’s force alone moves sixty miles to the west. This not only leaves them isolated and vulnerable, but they are now southwest of the Allied force instead of southeast. The enemy is between them and safety.
The Allied force is quick to detect and take advantage of Ozawa’s move. Admiral Boyd’s carriers are pretty much out of the fight, but there are still eight Essex and Independence class carriers in two groups under Admirals Clark and Spruance. They have lost a lot of planes and many others are too damaged to fly, but they have enough left to throw a heavy punch at Ozawa.
The Japanese carriers can only put up about 20 fighters in defense. The bulk of the Japanese fighters remain to the east, covering the main Japanese force.
---
Taiki tracks another American dive bomber and gives orders to lay the guns and open fire. It feels as though he has been doing this forever, though in fact it has only been a few minutes. But the deadly chains of bombers continue to unwind overhead, plunging downward towards nearby Shokaku.
His concentration is all on the planes. Everything else is blotted out; the deafening noise, the smoke, the frantic maneuvering of the carrier and her escorts. Even the fact that Shokaku has already taken four bombs barely registers. There is only the next target, the calculations, and the order to fire.
Suddenly his 25mm guns fall silent. The ready supply of ammunition has been exhausted. Taiki calls for more magazines. These are already being brought up, and though it seems like forever it is only about 40 seconds before his guns resume fire.
Another bomb strikes the carrier, and there are more planes coming in.
---
Shokaku, 300 meters to starboard, is an inferno. The big carrier, veteran of so many battles, has been struck by ten bombs and three torpedoes. Ensign Izu and Chief Petty Officer Shun are at the rail as a boat comes alongside. Izu helps Admiral Ozawa climb the net and up onto the deck. He then turns back to see to the safety of the Emperor’s portrait, safely rescued from Shokaku’s bridge.
Captain Ishii meets Ozawa as he steps aboard. He gives the Admiral a crisp salute, but he is shocked at Ozawa’s appearance. The ugly little officer, known widely as “the Gargoyle”, is soot-stained and bleeding from a cut on his forehead. Worse than that, he looks old. Ishii thinks he looks a hundred years older than we he last saw him in Kwajalein.
“What are your orders, sir?” he asks. Ozawa turns and looks over at Shokaku, then turns slowly back to Ishii.
“Conduct rescue operations,” he says. “Then get me to Zuikaku, I will raise my flag there.” Zuikaku has stopped a torpedo but has not sustained much damage. In the distance Akagi, victim of three torpedoes and as many bombs, is also on fire and has a distinct list.
“Yes sir,” says Ishii. He escorts the admiral to the bridge. Izu and Shun bundle the portrait below decks. As it passes Hibiki’s crewmen they pause, even in the middle of battle, and bow towards it with profound respect. Many of them have tears running down their cheeks.
---
Another explosion tears through Shokaku. On the bridge Lieutenant Miharu winces as a fragment of metal the size of a tin can lid whistles through the air and buries itself in a bulkhead a few feet away.
“Sir,” he tells Captain Ishii, “we have got to put more distance between us and Shokaku.” Hibiki is now only 100 meters away from the sinking carrier, pulling men out of the water on every side.
“Not all of those men in the water are going to make it if we do that,” snaps Ishii.
“Sir, I know that,” says the lieutenant. “But any minute now those fires are going to reach the ammunition storage and when that happens this ship will be in real danger. Sir, we MUST withdraw.” Ishii glances over at Admiral Ozawa, who is standing silently at the back of the bridge. Ozawa looks back at him and makes a slight gesture. It is Ishii’s call.
Captain Ishii curses, then nods. “You’re right, Exec,” he says, then orders Hibiki to come around and stand by another 400 meters out. His face is set like stone as he hears the cries from some of the men still in the water.
---
The Japanese carriers to the east – Junyo, Hiyo, Ryuho, Shoho, Zuiho, and Ryujo – launch the best attack they can against the Americans. Unfortunately this attack is too feeble to break through even the Allied force’s attenuated CAP, and no damage is inflicted.
Akagi and Shokaku sink before nightfall. To the east the remaining Japanese carriers will attempt to retire to the northeast under the cover of darkness. Task Force 4, with Ozawa now commanding from Zuikaku, will attempt the same thing. Not only are they slowed by the damaged carrier, however, but the enemy is between them and safety.
Aboard Hibiki there will be little rest for the tired crew. The long day is going to be followed by a long and dangerous night, and if they get through that no one knows what the morning might bring.
[image]local://upfiles/23804/F6D96C4A8A344C709351362CA982C158.jpg[/image]
|
|
|
|
