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kaleun -> RE: Shame and Execration Part Deux! (12/8/2007 11:16:31 PM)
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June 28th 1942
The Royal Navy aircraft carriers have been playing a cat and mouse game with the enemy fleet carriers. The enemy forces, far superior in numbers have, yet, been unable to catch the proud British carriers. The British torpedo bombers have kept a constant attack on the enemy transports and warships, but have been, up to now, unable to launch against the enemy carriers.
On the bridge of Illustrious, Rear Admiral CB Williams sucks on his pipe as he looks at the ships steaming in formation. He walks back into the operations center. Shortly afterwards a message is delivered.
“Enemy carriers, 180 miles NE, 12 knots heading WNW”
“Launch everything” He orders.
The RN pilots, in their ready rooms, had been awaiting this order. With surprising speed, the Swordfish and Albacores are armed, fueled and spotted on the armored flight decks. They take off, followed by the Fulmars and Sea Hurricanes.
Now, to wait and wait. The ships zig zag in their predetermined pattern, steaming in the direction where they will rendezvous with the returning bombers.
All present look up at the radio speaker on the wall.
“They should have reached them by now” someone says.
A crackle of static and the air battle is on. The collected officers have a ringside seat as they hear the young airmen calling out targets, warnings:
“At your 12 O’clock, fighters at 12 O’clock”
“Break, Break, he’s on your tail!”
“Get him off me…..”
“I got him! He’s on fire”
A command voice “Torpedo bombers attack”
After a while, a voice comes on “Scored three torpedoes on Ryujo. Listing. Hiryu, Shoho, Zuiho and a smaller carrier also present. Returning”
The officers look at each other, and wonder what the butcher’s bill will be for this light carrier when an alarm goes off. The fleet is under attack.
The Hurricanes on CAP move to intercept the incoming raid, while all remaining fighters are spotted and launched. The admiral steps silently into the bridge to better see the battle, but he remains behind the bridge officers, who are too busy fighting the ship to even notice him.
The events develop in slow motion. The Hurricanes are all wiped out of the sky by the enemy escorts. Huge numbers Zero fighters make short work of the nimble British fighters.
Dive bombers then fall out of the sky, defying the AA guns that have opened up all over the fleet. Formidable twists and turns, her prow splitting the seas, her flak guns putting up a creditable barrage of steel between its armored deck and the diving bombers, it is hit once, twice, but it’s deck repels the bombs. Then on both sides of the ship, Kate bombers, coming in low. The flak guns change their targets, but it is useless. The Kates reach their release points and the torpedoes fall off their bellies. One, two, three torpedoes hit the ship. Massive explosions follow. The ship shudders to a halt and starts listing to starboard. Two Kates, unmolested approach and methodically release their deadly fish. Two more explosions rock the carrier that now comes to a stop. Six more bombs hit the now motionless carrier. Fires rage out of control and the order is given:
Abandon ship.
Indomitable takes four torpedoes and ten bombs. She also, fires raging, signals to abandon ship.
Hermes, more fortunate perhaps takes two torpedoes and 4 bombs. She can still steam and heads for Colombo.
A message to the returning bombers tells them to divert to Colombo.
The remains of the British fleet head back to port.
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