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1275psi -> RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! (7/14/2009 11:21:32 AM)
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We need to backtrack a couple of days…………
18/2/43
Dawn, 120 miles north east of Kwalajien, the bridge of the Akagi.
Captain Hara once again is standing legs akimbo, the rock in the middle of the crowded bridge.
He has glasses to his eyes, and is watching events 500 metres to his port, watching with considerable interest.
The seas, the weather, is terrible. Great rolling, foaming capped swell, brocken by streaks of foam. 40 knots of wind –maybe more.
The great bulk of Akagi creaks and groans as she rides up, and crashes down –the spray –no more than that –the solid sheets of water crash over her bow, fly down her flight deck.
The skies are grey –clouds at less than 1000 feet –and showers scatter the horizon.
‘And I thought the tropics were meant to be pacific’ he mutters to himself. This is crud.
If Akagi is struggling into this sea, then CV Juni is a veritable roller coaster – and for the destroyer attempting to pass the line to her, trying to avoid getting smashed under great bulk, is rapidly becoming a nightmare.
Hara’s XO smiles ‘What ever happens, Yamaguchi is going to get a wet arse trying to get back here”
Akagi shudders ‘If he gets back at all – thank the Gods we refueled last night”
For 15 minutes they watch the brave efforts to get the jackstay line across –it is a futile exercise.
Yamaguchi is trapped -for the moment, on 2nd mobile fleets flagship.
Silence on the bridge – brocken only by the creaking, groaning, the pounding crash of the seas, the beat, beat of the wipers vainly trying to clear the screens.
“Signal from Kwaljien sir!”
HAVE SIGHTED LARGE NUMBERS OF BATTLESHIPS, A CARRIER, MANY TRANSPORTS 120 MILES SOUTH MAJURO ATOLL.
I AM ATTACKING
The second signal follows hard, only minutes later
TO VICE ADMIRAL YAMADA
TAKE COMMAND OF MOBILE FLEET
I WILL CONFORM
RECOMMEND WE MOVE TO POSITION @#$, @#$$!
Captain Hara looks out at the grey, grey sea.
An attack in this weather?
They were going to have to fight in this?
Crap –this could be worse than rolling dice
VADM Yamada looks grim as he enters the bridge –crowding it even further.
‘Your plans Sir?”
That’s easy Captain. We sneak up on the baka’s, let em commit, then, weather bloody permitting –smash them”
19/2/43
0500 hours
And still the weather plays havoc –still great storms and low rain are scattered through out the Gilberts
The wind has not lessoned, and still whistles down the decks, forcing the men to bend into it.
Nevertheless, Akagi’s hanger deck is loaded –a full strike , fuelled, armed, her decks are loaded with CAP ready to go. Nearly 40 float planes are aloft –and 20 odd bombers from Kwaljien are adding to the search, they have seen some of these, kawaljien is only 30 miles or so away.
2 battleships, and a cruiser have been reported struck by Kwaljien yesterday –but this has definitely not detired the enemy –now, as the sky breaks into a dull grey, the reports are flowing in.
‘Enemy troops landing, many transports Majuro’
‘Enemy troops, transports Jaluit’
‘Enemy carrier, Majuro’ (but what type!)
“enemy battleship –type unknown –“
‘Yorktown class CV – position #$#@/^%$# - 400 miles away –damn –too far
The reports keep coming
And all Captain Hara can do is read them – the seas are simply too rough –he cannot launch –fighters yes – bombers –bombers would be suicide.
0700
CAP is established, somehow they have got away.
Still the reports come in –it is a nerve wracking experience –floating bombs – needing to strike, wanting to strike, un able to strike.
And then a destroyer, way out on the flank, begins to fire.
Enemy strike!
The Cap pounces –and the strike – if you could call it that –never even sights the carriers –destroyed.
0917
“Kwaljien reports attacking the Yorktown sir”
Good –atolls are not subjected to this crud
“Read it please”
HAVE ATTACKED YORKTOWN CLASS CV 120 MILES SOUTH MAJURO ISLAND. ONE TORP HIT CONFIRMED. 1 BB ATTACKED, NIL RESULTS.
Captain Hara and Yamada gather around the ridiculously small chart table
“can we reach her?” every bone in his body says attack.
Yamada looks up –looks at yet another great wave slamming into the bow.
“We have lost 4 fighters already to this –can you imagine trying to spot a strike , recovering it in this?”
As hard as it was, Hara must agree. “What then?”
“The plan stays the same –how do you reckon any invasion is going to cope with this?”
The old man smiles –and a hidden youth shows “ Ten to one Yamaguchi disagrees with me”
He is right.
Noon sees Yamaguchi – CV Juni, Hiyo, Zuiho, Shoho and Rihuio - maneuvering in the lee of Kwaljien itself –and although it increases the range, it’s a clever tactic –the seas are calm enough here.
26 kate, 30 judy strike at majuro –and the CVE Sangomon is a helpless target –laterally pounded into the deep.
Dusk brings even greater news
The marines message intercepted is short
“Am unable to establish sufficient bridgehead. Casualties heavy. Send help.”
And Mobile fleet slips into the night –still undiscovered.
Weather- clearing.
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