RE: The little ship that could.

RE: The little ship that could. (Full Version)

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports

Message

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/26/2015 6:45:28 AM)
30/11/45 0500 hours On the horizon, the first hint of the rising sun It spreads its rays across the sea, across the skies, the clouds Sunburst. With an explosive bang the last Pete flings itself into the man made breeze of Musashi's charge south, wobbles, banks, and begins to climb. It will never be seen again Hirate orders the catapult stowed, and pauses, and takes in the sight about him. 1000 yards astern, 2000 yards to starboard Yamato cleaves the smooth seas. To Musashi's Port, Takao and Kumano are steaming parallel, to starboard, Mikuama also spreads herself. Ahead, a line of destroyers, the Akisuki class mostly, to the flanks, more greyhounds. All at speed, full speed. Such a sight. Such a goddamn glorious sight Musashi trembles, the wake boils, stream behind, arrow straight But from the quarter deck, the seas appear tobe empty of the enemy. Then it happens The forward director wheels to port The after director turns all the way to Port, facing all but forward. And Ponderously, alarm bells ringing, the great gun turns to follow, the barrels now alive, seeking, seeking..... Hirate does the only thing sensible, he scrambles for the hatch, down the ladder towards the port boat space Just in time With a stunning concussion, Musashi opens fire.........

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/26/2015 6:51:22 AM)
Captain Ariga smiles The Gods have answered.......... "Flash Yamato.........1 Essex class carrier, 1 CVL, several cruisers, 6 destroyers bearing 300 degrees true....range 21000 yards........engage at will" 21000 yards, and the allies are facing them, coming at them Range closing fast. The Bulls have gotten into the china shop

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/26/2015 8:02:54 AM)
21000 yards A long, long way.......usually Musashi's first salvo punches Essex's deck, a puff of smoke, then the sudden bloom... Ammunition explosion......Essex is burning, slowing even as the allies turn away. The great guns boom, the smoke boils, the range closes. Hirate waits in the aft hanger, counting the salvos. They are impossible to miss, the great bang, the jolt,, again, and again, and again Smoke light, but acrid, stinking of sulphur, begins to fill the space The speaker on the damage control headset stiffens, taps the logger, the red chinagraph makes a mark.....6 inch hit, fwd, base of the bridge. There are many, many AA gunners sheltering there. Time stands still Time flies 0710, a second hit, flag deck. the great guns are being joined now by the secondaries, a crashing chorus......a hundred mad giant drummers. It is hard, so hard, not to show fear. 0720. A giant slams the hull beneath them Armour defeating a cruisers main armament. Moments later, another Hirate points to three men......go and check for that. They vanish into the labyrinth. 0810 The great guns hammer again, slower now, more deliberately, as if taking great, great care 0845 Silence Smoke, cautiously Hirate moves to the ladder, climbs it. Opens the hatch, sunlight streams in. Musashi steams on, still at full power, scratched yes, unbowed. Hirate bounces onto the quarterdeck, looks hard He counts Japanese ships. They are still all with them, one destroyer burning though, but all of them still there. But the AA crews are bursting from shelter too, flinging themselves at the guns Hirate ducks back down the ladder, hatch slamming down upon them. Last view, a sky full of fighters, high, high above Some with weird shaped wings.

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/26/2015 8:16:57 AM)
Extract from "Shattering the sword" a cantona production. This, of course, was not meant to happen Yet it did. Almost head on, the Japanese appear at 21000 yards, battleship Musashi leading. Her first salvo tears into Essex at 21000 yards, sets of a 5 inch ready use magazine, closes her decks. The carrier is protected by 2 cruisers, 6 destroyers They will hit Musashi 4 times, 2 Japanese destroyers twice. Essex will be hit 34 times in return, Musashi contributing 5 18" salvos, 12 5 inch salvos as well. Kumano, Takao the rest She is left behind, ablaze end to end as the Japanese fleet pursues CVL Langley, hits her, hits all the escorts. The chase will continue for nearly 3 hours before the japanese Battleships turn away, ammunition expended For Essex, for her men, it is three hours of hell, a hell few survive The allies receive an un expected bloody nose At Midday however, they kick the Japanese in the groin.

PaxMondo -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/26/2015 1:22:19 PM)
[sm=00000613.gif]

kaleun -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/26/2015 5:02:58 PM)
Gambatte Musashi!

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/27/2015 6:52:05 AM)
Captain Ariga wipes his brow. 'damage report!' "At least 6 sir.......4 off the armour, one below us near the tower base, flag deck wrecked.....26 dead, 32 wounded" "That many?" Forecastle 25 mm shelter station sir........ damnation........"Guns, ammunition state!?" The Gunnery officer smiles....."totally exhausted sir, we have just 7 rounds left down aft, we were throwing bricks at the end......and Yamato signals they are the same" The Captain considers. "We have done our duty then, home, home at full speed, set course North!" Musashi heals, about her the task force forms up into the classic Japanese AA formation. Overhead, however, the sky is filling now not with allied aircraft, but Japanese. Operation Winter blanket is working "Signal from Kaga sir!.I am 60 miles due north east of you, am under attack from KGV class, 2 Queen Elizabeth class battleships, cruisers and escorts!" The navigator looks imploringly at Ariga "Shall we alter course to intercept sir?' 'No....Kaga is doing exactly as she is meant to do.......create a diversion" A dying diversion........ "besides, she can do 30 knots, the last I heard a queen can do 21, they will do their duty, we have done ours" (he will be right, kaga takes 3 hits, taiho 2, Unryu , Ibuki just one apiece) before escaping. 1217 hours, course North Speed still 27 knots And finally, the expected "Enemy aircraft approaching" Her Big guns are exhausted. Now for the secondaries. A porcupine of barrels point to the sky.

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/28/2015 6:48:00 AM)
Ogowa circles the fleet beneath him at 16000 feet, one eye on the planes about him (collision a very very real threat ), the other on his fuel guage. It is getting dangerously low. "Damn" Reluctantly he takes in the ships below him, and wings over for home. The next three Shindens from 401st climb up past him to take their turn. When they return, they have a good tale to tell....two of them have kills Double damn The enemy, 60 odd strong, have arrived moments after his dive away 31 corsairs, a dozen hellcats, a good 2 dozen dive and torpedo bombers Nearly 200 Japanese fighters awaiting............. 3 more small attacks on the fleet, 3 suicidal avengers miss Musashi, few survive. Winter blanket has no holes over the battlewagons.

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/28/2015 6:53:27 AM)
But the enemy do find holes above the carriers 70 zeros defend them, the attack on them is about 140 strong Kaga takes 17 , yes, 17 bombs Taiho 4 Unryu 1, Ibuki no less than 5 Taiho may escape Unryu maybe not, she is doing just 5 knots Kaga, of course, is gone..........thank you for your glorious service old Lady, may you rest in peace Ibuki goes quickly. The two battle wagons, the cruisers, 30 odd destroyers out here do the only sensible thing left to do They run for home.

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/28/2015 6:56:33 AM)
There is one more little foot note, lost amongst the chaos of this day Oyama O, banzia! gives his life for the emperor. He rams a B-29 over southern Japan. There will be no happy ending for Long pig and Bigglesworth in this tale

PaxMondo -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/28/2015 12:47:40 PM)
Absent Friends ... [sm=00000436.gif]

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/30/2015 7:05:06 AM)
The next day is, stunningly, a total anti climax Yamato reaches home All ships, except the Unryu, reach home Unryu meets a SS torpedo.......... Japan has no more carriers. But lets face it, we don't need them anymore And we don't have fuel for them anyway. "As long as Yamato lives, Japan will live" So far, the old man is right.

Lecivius -> RE: The little ship that could. (10/30/2015 3:25:27 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: 1275psi There will be no happy ending for Long pig and Bigglesworth in this tale Damn [:(]

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/6/2015 11:13:35 PM)
December 2nd 1945 A cold, cold breeze blows across Hiroshima bay, whipping the dark waters into a white capped blanket. The two great battle wagons rest again at anchor. A steady stream of small boats leave them, or approach them, sailors going ashore, glory seekers coming aboard, seeking to touch, to rub shoulders with such men as these. "As long as Yamato lives, Japan is safe" No longer just a saying. In the hearts of millions of Japanese, now utterly, completely fact. Faith in these mountains of steel has been placed. And( for now) justified. They look tattered now, rust, paint peeling, fading. (There is no oil left for such niceties as paint in the empire now) Barrels blackened and blistered. And then there are those holes.......the blackened burnt paint, torn metal, and faint red stains one does not want to look at too closely. In battle terms, they have been barely scratched. In reality, they are both again, a mess. Endless salvos of main gunfire, the endless jarring , crashing shocks of those guns. A thousand self smashed items, a hundred cracks. And below, machinery that has been driven to the limit for too long. They rest, these giants, seemingly immutable. On the bridge, exhausted men take stock. "Well guns, do they have any?" Shells?, surprisingly yes.......but my guns.." "Are worn beyond repair, yes?" "Nearly, I will never hit anyone at that range again" The Captain nods, no, you will not. But next time, I think, the range will be a lot, lot, less. If we ever do THAT again. "Engines?" Tan shrugs his shoulders, he is pale, worn. The last three days have stripped everything away. Three days in that tomb, never expecting to see the sun again. "I can refuel.......so they say. I will believe that when I see it. I have so much system damage I cannot guarantee anything for at least 3 weeks..." Three weeks..........we live, maybe, for another three...... The reports continue, the debrief drags on. But the consensus will become clear. For a little while, they are done.

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/6/2015 11:17:34 PM)
Ogowa, Diogowa rest again at Hiroshima again The Shindens are all home, many are broken, their faith in this new strange bird not. Snow sweeps the field today Drawn inward, men think of the days past, and ponder the future Diogowa, ever the man, buys a duck. Christmas is coming, time enough to fatten it.

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/10/2015 6:28:03 AM)
December 3rd The fleet rests in home waters. There are, surprisingly, quite a few ships remaining 2 battleships, 3 heavy cruisers, 3 AA cruisers, and nearly 40 destroyers. They are not going anywhere soon In the home islands, excluding the northern islands, not a single port holds more than a thousand tons of fuel. The largest fuel reserves , ironically, rest in the bellies of the battlewagons. But even to keep these giants alive, fuel is needed, lots of fuel, every day. None, of course, is being made. There is every chance we are going to go out, not with a bang, but a whimper.

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/10/2015 6:31:32 AM)
The enemy carrier fleet retires westward!! They will, I am sure, be back. I would like to remind everyone that there is another half to this story, my opponent, cantona. I have opened up the AAR to him, as there is no OPSEC left really, with the empire as it is. I hope he enjoys, and understands. If you see him on the board, say hi, he really deserves a medal for sticking this one out Finally, current score: Japan 62847 Allies: 98499

BBfanboy -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/10/2015 4:21:34 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: 1275psi The enemy carrier fleet retires westward!! They will, I am sure, be back. I would like to remind everyone that there is another half to this story, my opponent, cantona. I have opened up the AAR to him, as there is no OPSEC left really, with the empire as it is. I hope he enjoys, and understands. If you see him on the board, say hi, he really deserves a medal for sticking this one out Finally, current score: Japan 62847 Allies: 98499 I certainly agree that both of you deserve medals for perseverance and doggedness to keep playing when your forces have been shredded. A rare glimpse of the end game that shows the Japanese can still hit back here and there. [&o][&o][&o][sm=sign0031.gif]

zuluhour -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/10/2015 11:00:11 PM)
[&o] +1 and a really fun read to boot. I was happy to see you start another. I check on and read six AARs every day, now it's seven.

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/12/2015 7:02:37 AM)
December 4th Winter has come Snow falls across Japan, a carpet to cover a million sorrows There are too many sons never coming home. This war has gone on, too long But the unendurable, has to still be endured. Musashi rests at anchor, surrounded by barges. Ammunition has been found, and is being stowed. Fuel, well fuel has come from who knows where. The enemy fleet has retired. The weather is foul No action can possibly occur this week. Tan grants leave to 30% of his men Okano and Hirate amongst them. On a whim, the two invite him to come home with them, to taste a little sanity, a little home life. He gladly, gratefully agrees. The trip is long, tedious, smelly. The bus, driven by methane, stinks, and barely makes 20 miles per hour. It is nearly dusk when the three disembark near the post office. gathering coats about them against the bitter breeze, they make for those familiar steps. The house, the garage, are dark, silent. The door, bolted shut. Confused, Okano tries the door An old woman leaves the house next door, approaches "Okano?" "yes Neighbour......do you know where our family is, where they have gone?" The old lady mournfully shakes her head "The secret police came, took them away yesterday....they say the charge was black racketeering. All they did, was give us a little food"............

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/18/2015 8:08:15 AM)
turns flowing again AAR update soon Thanks for patience

Major Shane -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/18/2015 11:43:20 AM)
Can't wait. I look forward to this AAR every day. I am disappointed when there isn't a new post

John 3rd -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/19/2015 12:15:12 AM)
Ditto!

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/19/2015 7:50:19 AM)
Dec 5th The B-29's probe the defences southern japan About 2 dozen, they strike at tanegashima, an island just south of the main islands 11 are shot down Meanwhile, all over the empire, at 2 dozen isolated locations, lost units are bombed day, after day, after day. When, we wonder, will the real bombing begin?

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/19/2015 8:05:14 AM)
The three men spend a long cold night in the quite house It is a painful night. Surrounded by a thousand reminders of their wives, of their children, simple dolls, clothes, even their sent. All immediate, all painful. "I had heard rumours, Tan tells them. Herbiesan used to have his camps, I thought the new Emperor, the new Government had changed policy......I thought, obviously, wrongly" "But where?..where will they have been taken?" North, I would think, some where by rail......Tomorrow, if I can, we must see our Captain" The dawn is bleak. The bus is colder than ever, it barely struggles along, jerking, shuddering. the men doze 3 miles from the docks, it comes to a halt, one the driver seems to indicate, might be terminal today. Grumbling the men leave the bus, and strike out by foot towards the docks A mile along, a rail line To their right, a rail yard, a half dozen train. One, a great engine raising steam, a long line of dark cars strung behind it. Not worth normally, a second glance Except, this morning, for the small clutch of secret police walking down its length, away from them. All three men stop "Are you thinking what I am?" murmurs Okano "Yes" reply simultaneously Tan and Hirate Silently the men get themselves out of the line of sight of those barsteds, and move towards the train It begins to snow again, hard.

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/23/2015 7:28:33 AM)
They slide quietly past the hissing engine, reach the first shuttered wagon Hirate desperately tries to peer through the cracks in the carriage, there are people in there, he can smell them, for a start. There is crying, and sniffling. Unmistakeable, packed human misery "Truck" hisses Okano, "this is hopeless........" Mioko's voice pierces the cold "here!, we are in here!" Second carriage A firmly locked second carriage that defeats immediate efforts to open it 'truck!, and truck again" The guards are there, gathered around a fire at the end of the train.. It will take just one to glance this way.. Tan takes charge 'Quick, follow me" he moves quickly towards the engine, the other two following. A practiced leap, climb, and he is on the steaming platform. The driver is there, startled, he reaches for his shovel, as if to defend his train. And places it down. "Engineer Tan?" Tan too stops. "Ah, Engineer Arigati!.......so good to see you again!" Arigati nods respectfully, 'Hiei!...... "Not the Tokyo line I remember Arigati.......things have changed, for the worse" The Old engineer nods again.....glances down towards the back of the train, spits in their general direction,,,,,, "That they have.........how may I help you Engineer Tan?" "I want to steal your train" "What!, hisses Okano "If I remember Okano, once some men of Zuiho stole an elephant, and a tank, a train is nothing" The old mans eyes widen, then crinkle with glee......"Shall I drive?, or can you remember how to handle her?' Tan grimely grips the throttle, places his hand on the brake lever. "Oh, I think I can..... grab the shovel boys, we are going for a ride". They only go three exhilarating miles In the dark, on the siding, a thousand desperate people are freed, vanishing into the snow There is little time for reunion, Tan gives the girls an address, deep in the maze of Hiroshima....... By midnight, all three of them are climbing the gangway again onto Musashi's deck The whole night, to Hirate, seems like a dream But one part, he will never forget Tan leaves them with this " Nothing, you know, will ever beat driving a steam train, not even a battleship"

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/23/2015 7:31:25 AM)
dec 6th, dec 7th Endless bombing across the lost isolated empire Enemy fleet using its carrier power killing soldiers lost west of canton Endless SS sightings near southern japan Endless misery across the country as starvation begins to grip

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/23/2015 7:35:55 AM)
The Emperors conference hall "they will not negotiate, they will not ask for peace" 'Even if we ask for it?" 'No" "Then how," asks the emperor 'do we end this war?" The silence is long Finally, Commander of home fleet answers "By dying, apparently"

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/28/2015 11:00:04 PM)
December 8th, Dec 9th two days trapped aboard Musashi, working, preparing, repairing the damage the shock of her own guns has created. Two days of worrying, wondering if loved ones have truly escaped Of wondering whether the engineer would talk Of wondering if the secret police would soon come out into the bay, and board two days of nothing There are rumours, impossible to confirm, that the B-29's have bombed areas in southern japan Rumours, even more impossible to confirm, that they have suffered heavily It rains. It sleets Misery, cold Wet decks waiting, waiting

1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/28/2015 11:00:53 PM)
Waiting, waiting, in the rain [image]local://upfiles/16290/136F5D281ED246B09805AA77410F8445.jpg[/image]

Page: << < prev 129 130 [131] 132 133 next > >>

Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI

1.671875