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1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (11/16/2013 8:08:08 PM)
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16 Nov 44
Extract from "shattering the sword" a cantona production
.............and these completed the Allied preperations. But what of japans?.
Shorn of any real intelligence of Allied intentions, Admiral Abe and his staff, independently of Imperial HQ mind you, had been reduced to the position of deploying his resources based on the ancient, yet still valuable "gut feel"
A solid line of SS had now been deplyed south of Adak island for many weeks, and extensive air search had revealed nothing, nary a sighting, in the North pacific.
But south, incredibly, to Abe, it seemed, the Allies were preparing to come North against Japans Web of defences, right into the heart of of them.
The clues, it seemed, were many
Jolo island, gate to the oceans south of Davao, to tarakan, to timor, swarms with SS.
Lolobato, Morotai, ternate, constantly reconned
massive bombing this day of Biak, Noemfoor, clearing the flanks, apparently
heavy bombing of ternate itself
The signs, to Abe, seemed conclusive.
But on this day, 120 miles North of Dili, something concrete.
task forces, multiple task forces.
With carrier support.
It is useful now to turn to Abe's thoughts themselves.
"The news to me, seemed a heaven sent opportunity. The enemy, it appeared, gathered itself for yet another lunge North.
I chose ternate as the likely target. How fortunate for us!. Surrounded by 5 Air flottilla HQ's, multiple, multiple airbases, and with a string of air reinforcements lined up all the way to japan itself.
My staff urged caution, this could be a decoy.
I dismissed this.
Too many allied divisions, too many Marine divisions had been bled in Timor for the allies to have time to rebuild them, AND redeploy them. No, the allies were committed to this axis, come hell or high water
I intended to give them hell.
November 16th, a momentous day.
In direct defiance of herbiesans orders, battleship Ise, that barsted child of a ship, sailed south from Hiroshima bay.
Every E class vessel in the Navy under my command sailed for Jolo island.
CVL Ryuho completed repairs, come the 17th she would join me at Tushima, and we would sail south, Okiwana, manilla, Jolo island the approach route.
In carriers, I am greatly out numbered. . But they only have to get the battle wagons to the invasion beach.
There has been a great number of "decisive battles" in this war. Maybe, just maybe, I might manage one final one.
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