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british exil -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/21/2016 9:16:26 AM)

Will be seeing my doctor today. Will be asking about an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) is a device implantable inside the body, able to perform cardioversion, defibrillation and pacing of the heart.

This thread is causing me serious heart problems.[:D] Keep it coming!![:D][:D][:D]

Mat



Canoerebel -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/21/2016 12:47:16 PM)

Reminded me of Alistair MacLean's account of the last moments of CL ULysses in HMS Ulysses. I don't think there's a finer compliment I could offer. :)



Lecivius -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/22/2016 4:07:16 PM)

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[image]local://upfiles/26061/59DEB0BC92E948C7A91AB7DF16D00F7A.jpg[/image]



Lowpe -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/22/2016 4:12:50 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Not one. TWO Pagoda's.




Oh, What Joy![sm=happy0005.gif]



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/23/2016 11:19:54 AM)

19th Of may

120 miles south west of Portland

NIGHT.
Hornet wallows, moving at 10 knots now.
About her, literally, the terrors of the night. Too many men have died in the last 200
years in these waters, too many ships have come to grief.
Now, in the dark, in the rain, in these endless rollers, in this damn, damn dark,
Her Captain can see how easily he can join them.

Hornet is dark, blackened out, trying to hide. But not all the darkness is self induced,
the fires, the flooding, has cut her generating ability to a critical limit.
Her comms, basically, have failed. Her Navigator is working more by guess work than fact,'
he has not been able to get a fix for , God, how many hours?
Not since those damn battleships appeared.

The Captain strains his eyes against the night, against the rain, seeking to see where the dark
becomes darker, delineating where the sea becomes killing cliffs.
Loch ard gorge, Tasmania, not so far apart really. And so many damn islands in between.

Hornet struggles on, the rain beats down, the sea continues its slow, slow swallow up of his
command.
Melbourne seems a million miles away.

And then, for a minute, it seems like ten million
"Unknown ship!, bearing 230 degrees!"
Men freeze. A thousand minds wonder just how long they can remain alive in these seas.
"It's the Phoenix!""

It is the phoenix,, and she is not in much shape. 4 14 inch shells have hit her.
Just 4. X turret is gone. The aft funnel is gone. She lists too.
But she is here, here alongside, shepherding Hornet again.
DD's Morrison, Blue, also join.

Hornets Captain can return to his main worry, getting safely through the straight.
Melbourne no longer seems so far away, now that they are no longer alone.

No longer alone............
Starshells ripple across the sky, shimmering in the rain.
CL Sendai, 3 DD's, cutting across the bow.......Torpedoe tubes swinging their way.


Phoenix flashes her lights.......""Help is near, I will hold this little barsted off.......run"

At ten knots, Hornet does.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/23/2016 11:29:19 AM)

19th may

Father:

Well, as you know, we are in a fine pickle here at Kalgoorlie, a barsted of a place
if ever there was one. 75 th squadron continues to fly, although we only have a handful of
birds left. I occasionally get a go, although I will admit, I am not doing
that good. I did a ground attack mission today, too many targets for my liking.
The Damn Japs are bombing us basically at will.
Morale is OK, but many are listening to your Broadcasts Father about the Americans, and
the reliefs you promise, and dismiss them.
I pray they are wrong.
regardless, I am in good health, but very tired. I cannot imagine what pressure
as Prime Minister you are under, what ever you do, don't let them push you around, especially
that Barsted Tony, he only wants your job, not whats best for us.

Don't sack Blamey, what ever you do. Honestly, he is the glue that
keeps the men together here. There is no one else anyway.
Your son
Jack



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/23/2016 11:32:18 AM)

The Cape


Father

Well, by the time you have gotten this, this great adventure will be concluded,
I would think. If my division, the 7th, can be got ashore, then we will play
merry hell with the Japs.
Its a fine sight, this convoy, big, fast, well protected.

I hope to see you soon

Your Son
Jason Ford



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/23/2016 11:40:49 AM)

19 May
Napier slices her way south, a steady 15 knots driving her along.
John has the watch.
Its a good watch. The sun shines, the sea is calm, the ships about a fine, fine
sight.
A true sailors watch.

"Weather report sir"
John takes it. The Indian ocean is not an ocean where there are many weather stations,
most of these reports are usually pretty vague. This one, however, should be more accurate.

Somewhere 1000 miles ahead of Napier, a long scrimmage line of destroyers, a dutch cruiser,
and supporting ships.
Actively making a noise, seeking a reaction. Searching for those damn Jap Carriers.

Nothing.

Nothing but this: weather deteriorating. Heavy storms. heavy overcast.

John smiles.
Real sailors weather.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/23/2016 11:43:16 AM)

Here is the news

The Prime Minister has announced an emergency meeting of the war Cabinet.
It is expected he will speak to the nation immediately afterwards.

In war news.......



Ian R -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/23/2016 1:31:30 PM)

Now you're just teasing us.

This waiting is worse than Game of Thrones.



Lowpe -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/23/2016 2:48:25 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

At ten knots, Hornet does.



She will just die tired. I think.[:D]



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/23/2016 10:40:33 PM)

Phoenix turns her flanks against Sendai and engages.
But there are no great crashing salvos to shatter the dark coming from her, only streams
of tracer, of shells of light weight, of desperation, of courage.
Her main magazines are empty, spent against those bloody Battleships of too recent a past.

Sendai hits her, flashes in the dark, swallowed by the billowing bloom of two torpedoe hits.

Darkness swallows everything.
On Hornet, Horror.
Astern, in the rain, the hidden Japanese must surely be re arming, turning towards them.

"Help is near, I will hold this little barsted off.......run"


Star shells curtain across the sky. Sendai stands stark on the waves 5000 yards away,
clearly visible.
More star shells ripple......it takes a moment to realise, these are not Japanese.

Cruisers Indianapolis, Louisville, the Mighty Minni, and the Releigh, line ahead,
all guns to starboard, to Hornets Port flank, to Sendais bow.
Salvo fire.

Sendai, concentrating on Hornet, never knows what hits her, shredded, blasted, disintegrated.....
Her following destroyer too.

Hornet struggles on, deep in the waters now, over half her buoyancy gone. But Hope fills her
crew now.
"From Indianapolis, to Hornet. recommend bring course 5 degrees to port to maintain course
for Melbourne. You are 1 mile off track"

Hornets Captain, wet, cold, tired beyond anything he has ever known, smiles.
The beer, in Melbourne, they say, is particularly good.



Major Shane -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/24/2016 2:46:43 PM)

[&o] Absolutely gripping! You're a master storyteller.



Canoerebel -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/24/2016 7:08:36 PM)

[&o]



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/25/2016 12:40:01 AM)

20th may

Incredibly, the Japanese try again.

3 more destroyers, a long, long way from home. They want Hornet, they want her bad.

The Allies are flinging everything they have into these waters as well.
This time, they win.
CA Northampton, 4 destroyers, a running fight in, through, across the moving mountains
They claim all three enemy sunk.
Sunk or not, Hornet is unharmed.
She will make port tomorrow.


(43 system, 66 flood)



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/25/2016 12:42:20 AM)

20th May
The Efate invasion stalls for the allies.
A Japanese CVE , or possibly something far worse, is sighted near Lunganville.
Japanese carrier dive bombers strike a lone AP at Efate.

Prudence prevails.
The allied shipping flees.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/25/2016 12:52:17 AM)

From
CICPAC
to
USS Enterprise


Enemy dispositions

We have firm indications of at least 2 heavy and 1 light carrier operating
in NORPAC area.
Further indications of a substantial carrier force, possibly 2 medium, 3 light carriers
deploying against SUVA
4 enemy battleships known to be at RABUAL
2 divisions known to be prepping for invasion Port Moresbey

Evidence is increasing that enemy is concentrating forces for attack on Port Moresby.

In light of this, CICPAC believes you would face 4 fleet carriers at most in
Indian ocean. If an engagement is needed to ensure delivery of Convoys to XXXXXXX
you can do no wrong but to accept it.




Fletcher reads the message grimly. Inwardly he curses again Halseys incapacitation.
There are too many priorities. Protect the convoy, cover the landings, engage the enemy carriers,
defend against LBA.
And, some how, juggle fuel for all these ships.

CICPAC may be telling him that the carriers can be risked. But can they?
Preserving them, surely, should be above all??




1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/25/2016 12:59:07 AM)

John steadies himself against Napiers roll.
The weather is, as predicted, deteriorating.

Napiers Captain Smith joins him, together they stare at Lexington 1000 yards away.
"So, what do we know about this Fletcher?" John asks.
"Nothing, never heard of him. They say he is a fighter though"
"He's going to need to be more than that, can you imagine what would happen to the invasion
if he buggars off somewhere when we get there?"

"You mean, put his precious carriers above the invasion?'
"Doesn't bear thinking about, does it?"
"No, it doesn't"



Lowpe -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/25/2016 1:18:59 AM)

What an escape!



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/25/2016 8:13:05 AM)

May 21st
From
Commander, South West pacific
to
War Cabinet

I have moved my HQ to Townsville, and ordered the 25th Division to load, subsequently
to be delivered to Port Moresby.
I am pleased to report our troops have defeated the Japanese at Terapo, and are now in pursuit.

Following its delivery, I intend to push over the Owen Stanleys towards Buna.
Request that 32nd Division be re assigned to me.




1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/25/2016 9:29:21 AM)

The War Cabinet

Frank Ford looks at the men around the table. Many here, he knows
blame him for the disasters that have overtaken the country.
Many hate him.
He is too tired to care. Deep in his heart, he knows that
nearly all of them at this table are to blame. Too blind in the decades past,
too lacking in imagination, to arrogant to believe that this Country could
ever be invaded.
All of them, in those sorry years, have voted to defer defence spending, to scrap good
ships, to disband good units.

All of them.

He glances at Tony, that pompous barsted. Still seeking the Prime Ministership,
of what?
If the American Fletcher Fails, the only leader of Australia will be Japanese.

He sighs.
No point mulling over the past.....concentrate on the future.
"Have I forgotten anything?"
The Cabinet remains silent. The emergency decrees agreed to are the harshest ever considered
by a "democratic government"
One man clears his throat
"These fuel confiscations, restrictions, do they have to be so harsh, they do, as
we discussed, mean no wheat crop this year"

Frank wipes his brow.
"Minister, the rescue fleet includes the Battleship Renown, do you know
how much oil she alone needs, let alone all the ships coming?"




1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/25/2016 9:32:13 AM)

From
Commander 5th Division
to
General Blamey

Regret unable to break through to Albany.
Situation very poor
Regret to say we are entering final battles as enemy now
includes some 3 divisions.




Long pig -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/25/2016 2:14:54 PM)

Nail biting stuff but I have come to expect no less from such a great story teller.
Bravo Sir 👏



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/26/2016 11:53:12 AM)

oops, mistake. please note correct date, we are at the 22nd, not the 25th!
sorry, I blame the cat.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/26/2016 12:06:02 PM)

May 22nd
There were only 3 runners left, yet for Jack, for 75th Squadron, the pain is lessened not a jot.
Petrol spread upon wings of runners and cripples alike.
A single spark, and fire and flame destroys and disbands the squadron.
Kalgoorlie is being abandoned, the army has been ordered to retreat.
Jack watches the birds burn. At least the Japs did not get them all. Did not get HIM

Yet.
he, and the rest of 75th squadron, are assigned to 12th base force and their trucks.
As dark falls they move off, North east, north of the railway, a desperate attempt to go
around the blockade.

How far, they all wonder, will the army get, before the Japs notice?



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/26/2016 12:10:09 PM)

Hi Long Pig!
Another long season for the Saints I fear........






1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/27/2016 10:47:22 AM)

May 22nd

West of Suva, CA Portland is caught, a heavy carrier raid.
Something wicked is coming towards Suva now, we, however, have something a waiting........

The dissolution of the Aussie 5th division begins. Hammered by 3 Japanese divisions,
isolated, lost, its men can do no more.

Blamey sees the writing on the wall. The Australian Army begins to move eastward.
It is a retreat, an orderly one at the moment. How long it remains such will depend
very much on the endurance of its men.
There is nothing east of Kalgoorlie except waste.
In short, imagine marching across France, without any water available from the german border to
the Channel.......

But it has to be done



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/27/2016 11:00:04 AM)

Parliament house
Frank and Tony sit in the Prime Ministers office
"Is this true Frank, Blamey is retreating, is there any hope , or plan at all?"
To Tony's surprise, Frank answers "Yes"
Frank stands, moves to the map.
"Look here Tony, right now we hold Port Moresby, Horn island. The Japs want them both.
We know he is gathering in the area, Rabual, Ambon. Blamey retreats, soon, no doubt, the majority
of the Jap Army in the west will be chasing it east.
Timing will be everything. Some time in June I suspect, he will commit to Port Moresby"

He points to a small dot on the Western coast of Australia
"With luck, at the exact same time, 1st Corp lands here, a week later, the british here (
he points to Albany), and our forces, the Americans, are seen to be coming up towards
Blamey. With luck, with timing, we trap the bulk of his Army in the west, he finds himself
stuck on the horns of Port Moresby........"

"Jesus Frank, that's a lot of with lucks........"
"I know, it terrifies me......."



ny59giants -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/27/2016 12:55:00 PM)

Having suffered defeat in Western Australia myself, the Japanese air was able to bomb my troops into dust. Why? Little to no AA units. Plan accordingly, sir.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (4/28/2016 10:24:19 AM)

23rd May

The great swells of the bight gather more bodies, more debris.
The Allies last tanker operating in the bight reports Battleship Haranua approaching.

Nothing else, of course, is heard from her again.

More Carrier aircraft are sighted near Suva.
Suva is more than ready.
100 allied aircraft are bombed up, and begging for a chance.
They will get it.



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