RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

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RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/27/2010 8:20:38 AM

1275psi

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7/9/43

it rains ,and rains.
Ironically, at rabual, its a great day - one of those impromtu parties develop in the mess - some one sets up a wrestling mat -and the pilots of 47th sentai generally beat the hell out of the 85th pilots.

Its a good day.

South, and south west of Rabual, literally 100's of allied pilots in all probability curse the flying weather.
But 47th don't know that, and don't care

Ignorance can be bliss at times.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1051

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/28/2010 7:46:07 AM

1275psi

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8/9/43

MR Iwaya, Minister of production, stands carefully at attention on the reviewing dias.
He is two rows back -to the right, another indistinguishable face amongst the goverment faces here -all circumspect, all carefully lined up to convey a sense of solidarity to the public around them.
Grand Dictator Herbiesan is taking the salute -if he is aware of the many eyes hatefully staring daggers in his back -he shows no sign of it.

Why should he ? - the war goes well -as far as anyone really knows -and the military around him, are all still in his pocket.
And of course, all the Ministers know what happened to Mr Kyoto - he who had tried to contact the allies behind the dictators back.
His headless body had been a suitable warning -the fact that his entire family had vanished as well rammed it home.......

No, Dictator herbiesan has little to fear from the toadies and cowed men about him.

The Dias overlooks a main street in Tokyo -, and today -as it has been custom for years now -the next division to deploy for the front marches past -its the 58th today -a good one.

The rows and rows of youth march past -the crowd-as large as the police , the secret service, the local political branches can muster, is mostly silent. They wave the flags issued, they stand obediently in the light rain.
Few smile .

No amount of censorship can hide from them one irrefutable fact - many, many sons have sailed away. None have yet returned.

The stamp of feet continue, and Iwaya wishes himself anywhere but here.
He scans the crowd again, and his blood runs cold.

The number of divisions in japan today is, of course, a secret - but there are quite a few. Across the road, a group of generals stand -and Iwaya knows that they represent all of them - every single last one.
And in the middle of them , head bent to hear a whispered comment from one of them, Tanaka holds court.
For a moment, Iwaya and the Navy mans eyes meet across the parade.

Tanaka smiles
See - they are with me, the smile says -see -they are with me -and you?
Iwaya looks at the dictator -looks at Tanaka.

Between the devil and the deep blue sea, the thought dashes through his head........................

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Post #: 1052

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/28/2010 7:50:33 AM

1275psi

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8/9/43

Rabual.
Nakamura cannot help himself, the waiting for the blow is simply not in his nature.
Dawn sees a dozen helens escorted by a pack of 50th sentai KI43's dispatched south to munda.

They return 4 hours later -missing just 2 fighters, the missing helen is at shortlands (they believe)
The enemy are there -p38's -but not many.
A few warships, nothing else sighted.

It all seems too quiet, too -too what?
What, everyone thinks -are they up to now?

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Post #: 1053

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/28/2010 7:52:48 AM

1275psi

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Flt Hosho curses the world, the war, everyone.
They are at Truk -cushiest place in the pacific.
The mission -deliver mail to here, here , and here.

For a warrior like him -this is now so totally below his station..................

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Post #: 1054

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/28/2010 8:35:19 AM

hosho

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From: zagreb, croatia
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as I am currently out of work... postmen doesn`t sound to bad at the moment...
lets see if the 47 can stop cantona`s hammer...
nice work herbs

_____________________________

the first ones are remembered

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Post #: 1055

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/30/2010 4:18:28 AM

1275psi

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9/9/43

Extract from "Shattering the sword" a cantona production

............and with that appointment, Churchills final adjustments of his war cabinet were complete.
His new appointment in India faced a situation that beconned with oportunities -if they could be grasped.
The crises of port blair seemed to have eased, japan lacked the strength -it appeared, to throw them of the island.
In Northern Burma - the blunder of Gen Matsuraya's "recongnisance in force" seemed to invite an advance on Mandalaby.

Balanced against this -the where abouts of the japanese fleet. Intelligence indicated home waters. But elements certaintly remained in Singapore .
And now, increasingly, intelligence traffic reported a new operation -SHO GO 1.
Another effort to re take Port blair?
A raid into the Pacific?
Surely not some sort of offensive?
Or was this the plan for the much vaunted "decisive battle?"
Mountbatten would have to carefully consider all............

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Post #: 1056

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/30/2010 4:27:28 AM

1275psi

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10/9/43

For this historian, these days are easy pickings - we hold all of the records of rabual for this period.
Nakamura's days seem routine enough -combat patrols for his sentais -the allies we know declining to attack rabual until ready.

The Log is fairly sparse -so we turn to other things to glean information about life in late 43 for a Japanese airman.
The war against the mosquito apparently continues -1000 extra mosquito nets are distributed today -and a new drain is completed, another swamp aparently emptied.

A convoy must have arrived - 1000 support personal are "temporarily attached to 8th base force, from 6th AV regiment"
Correspondence about four fuel trucks.
More on a new communication net being set up.

An interesting report on the Japanese view of the new B-24J -and yet again -the call for a cannon armed fighter.

In retrospect -looking at the mountains of paperwork Nakamura and his staff confronted every day -little wonder he flew so much.

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Post #: 1057

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/30/2010 4:39:23 AM

1275psi

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10/9/43

For weeks now Captain Jones, in Big Betty 3, has been flying "milk runs" against Kwaljien.
Its his second tour of the war, and although the resistance is only a scratch of his first tour - when those damn Tojo's tore into them, it really is kind of depressing to return after so many months in the States - to find that the airforce still wants him to bomb the same targets.
Were they getting anywhere in this damn war?

Its mission 22 against Kwaljien on this tour -another strike at that damn Bunker
Big Betty is new -a new model, a new plane.
Same old tired men flying her.

Today however is different.
30 minutes out, the island still hidden over the horizon
"SH%t -bandits skipper"
That same familiar freeze up the spine, the sweat on the brow, the clench of the muscles
"Crap, where?, how many?"
"Dozen plus - zeros - 3 o'clock!"
he cranes his neck -OK -yep -barsteds -angling in already.

he sounds calmer than he feels
"OK guys -looks like we earn our pay today - keep calm, shoot cleanly. We will get through this"

Unlike the Tojos from tour one, these attacks are clumsy, rushed, and not pushed in hard.
Nobody gets hurt, nobody goes down.

But the message is clear.
No more freebies again in the marshalls................

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Post #: 1058

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/30/2010 4:50:36 AM

1275psi

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Its a huge moment

Once again the engineer checks his guages.
Vacuum 29 inches steady
Oil pressure good
Condensate temp right on
Steam pressure 300psi
Ahead , astern temps good.

Its the moment
"Disengage turning gear!"
"Hie!"
The Seaman kills the electric motor, bends, unlocks the great padlock, grabs the great lever, frees the great shafts.
"Turning gear disengaged!"

The Engineer speaks into his comms.
"All spaces - opening main steam valves!"
"Open main steam bypass!
then, as the pressure equalises
"Open main steam Valve guard!"
The men leap to work -the great valve initially sticks, a curse -another heave, then swiftly, swiftly it opens.

The Engineer steps forward, takes the great astern throttle into his hands. A years work leading to this moment.
All eyes are upon him. Today will be the peak of his career. A moment he will cherish forever

He swings the great wheel, and smoothly, easily, the great shaft turns.

The great ship -on which so many hopes and dreams lie, is no longer a hulk of dead machinery.
Today, first basin trial day, marks the true birth of Japans first new carrier.................

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Post #: 1059

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/30/2010 8:34:31 PM

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11/9/43

And so it begins, the first probe of Rabuals defences.

At 30000 feet, there is little chance of doing great harm to the base, but then again, the Allies know that only the KI-44's will reach them up here.

Its been a long, long time since 47th have had to fight up here - where exposed skin will stick to metal, and 30 seconds with out the oxygen mask spells doom.

2 dozen liberators, some 30 44's trying to climb and engage.
We know that Juni was on the ground today, as are Nakamura and Miyazuki, its the newbies who fly.
nevertheless, they attack with courage, most getting in a psss, and WO Shirahama gets a kill - another sentai another.

47th sentai have 54 kills now.

No bombs strike anything -surely not the objective of this raid.
Its just the beginning, the testing of the waters.

The last Tojo has barely stopped rolling, the pilots now sweating heavily as they remove the heavy flight gear in the steaming heat, and the Helens, a mere half dozen, roar away.
With a pack of KI-43's in escort, they go south looking for shipping.

2 fighters do not return, but again resistance at Munda is very light.

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Post #: 1060

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 1/30/2010 8:46:24 PM

1275psi

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Yamamoto is doing something that has become almost an obsession with himself, and his staff.

Counting carriers

Its a long conference, intelligence is a difficult thing. If not for the spies in the USA proper, this would be an impossible job.
Hard sightings in the Pacific had dried up.

The following CV's were known

3 british CVL type - 2 in the Indian ocean

CV Essex - damaged -repaired by now?
CV lexington -commissioned?
CV Yorktown -commissioned?
CV Bunker hill-commissioned?

CVL independence
CVL bellou wood
CVL cowpens

But -and here was the horror - 3 more CVL and 2 more CV reported to be ready by 1/44

At a minimum, 12 decks by january -plus the plague of CVE's one can expect.

Even at the moment in decks, soon to fall hopelessly behind -not even mr Iwaya can produce carriers and battleships at the same rushed pace.
Operation Sho Go 1 would have to be decisive -before it was too late.

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Post #: 1061

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/1/2010 6:27:34 AM

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Its another day like many others for the men of the 47th.

They rise, they attend to their duties. Some tend to the needs of the planes, some to the needs of the pilots, some to the needs of all.
The men fly, other men work. Few waste a minute of the day- the enemy are pressing.

Although 47th see no action today �there is still much we can comment on.
The wonder that so many of these men have been only recently dragged from peasant fields, or humdrum occupations �clerks, shop keepers, fishermen, farmers, a vast cross section of Japan �thrown here to the far flung corner of the Empire, and now, all of them, determined to fight, and if needed, to die here for it.

The high command may have issued the order �not one man abandoned! �but the reality has been different.

Lunga
Tassafronga
Tulgia
Russel island
Munda

To the last man � the very last one, the list is growing.

Yes �the High command has done its best �submarines, flying boats, even the occasional destroyer run, desperate evacuations of desperately sick men.
But many, a great many, have refused to board those same boats and planes.

Let the Allies come. Here they will fight.

There is another undercurrent to all this �one every soldier, every sailor, every airman feels. It is unspoken. But from the top, to the bottom, ALLIED AND JAPANESE � it is there �the great unspoken.

Time.

It moves forward �as it does �the days merge into the weeks, the weeks into months, and the American public grow restless, the British weary. The Japanese dig deeper, and deeper.
Few �mostly in secret �in Japan think they can win now � probably even the dictator thinks that �but many, a great many, still think �they cannot lose.

So Yamamotos orders �all the orders issued, are simple
Delay, delay, delay.

Its an order all of the empire can understand �and bend double to obey.

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Post #: 1062

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/2/2010 5:39:37 AM

1275psi

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two new fighters enter production

however............................
Niether are due to enteroperational service for quite some time - I cannot find any air group that upgrades to the George in particular!

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Post #: 1063

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/2/2010 5:40:29 AM

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the george

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Post #: 1064

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/2/2010 5:59:50 AM

1275psi

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50 th fighter sentai has a particular proud history.
Over time, any units destined to be disbanded have been rolled up into this unit, until by early September when it has moved back to rabual, it has been over 60 pilots strong.

At rabual, it is currently the only group able to travel the distance to Munda.
The unit loses 6 pilots from September 1 to today - heavy losses yes -but for japan in late 43, nothing of real note.

13/9/43

Lt Arai stands ramrod to attention.
This morning he has dispatched nearly 30 men south, escorting navy bombers -navy bombers that yet again have failed to hit anything.
Nearly a third of his men have failed to return.
He stands ramrod straight -a slight tremble in his body, the slight clenching, unclenching of his fists the only indication of the great rage, the great wave of distress that sweeps through him.
He stands ram rod straight in front of Nakamura -face a sheet of white.

Nakamura's voice is low, but the ice in it cuts through the air.
'You will go again Lt -you will go again"
"But sir -, ......"
'You will go again. I have bombers to go - you will go again."

Nakamura marches away

For a moment, the lt stands.
The P38's have cut his first mission today to shreds.
But they will go again.

In a sudden swift movement he bends down -picks up a small rock -flings it at his plane "Stupid baka of a $%^&* plane"

Then -shamed -he composes himself
Very well -they will go again.

50th sentai dispatch another 20 odd fighters in the afternoon.
They never find the bombers -and go on nevertheless.
Lt Arai is one of the 6 who do not return this afternoon.

The 43's have the range -but little else in the face of the heavy fighters awaiting them to the south.

Extract from the diary of Col Nakamura

........30% losses in one week. No hits. Pilots returning with gun port covers still unbroken. A leader unable to control himself.
I ordered 50th to the rear...................

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Post #: 1065

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/2/2010 6:03:35 AM

1275psi

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19/9/43

50th sentai is removed -disgraced in many eyes. Too many men, too keen to live?
Nakamura has no room for sentiment, for pity now.
They must fight.

New navy squadrons fly in -zekes, older zero's.
The bombing against shortlands is reaching a cresendo - soon, very soon, they will be flung into the furnace.

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Post #: 1066

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/3/2010 5:20:26 AM

1275psi

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15/9/43
Nakamura makes his way down to the flight line.
Its busy, CAP is being rotated, the latest strike against Munda is being prepared.
He accosts a Warrant officer
�Has anyone seen section leader Juni?�
The warrant officer �as all good warrant officers do �has the answer
�he�s aloft�
�A loft ? �he is not rostered today for CAP �I ordered him to rest�
The warrant shrugs �it�s the , well , everyone knows what is going on, why don�t you shrug.
Nakamura purses his lips. So the rumour is true
�have him report to me when he lands�
He turns to go �thinks twice about it. �Whats the story warrant officer?�
The warrants eyes shift, he scratches behind his ear.Makes his decision. �he flies all day sir. Morning , day, evening.�
Nakamura considers this, the man before him
�Is he still drinking?�
Fail this question, and the man before him could never have become a warrant officer, in any Army.
There is only one possible answer
�Yes, I�m afraid he is�

The first zeros blast past down the strip �blowing clouds of dust. They watch them go, life , death, and the truth march on at rabual airfield
�Thankyou warrant �let me know I want to see him�

Nakamura turns away, and continues the walk down the line.

FLT Hosho.
A few words about this fellow. For one, physically, he�s a big buggar -6 foot, wide across the shoulders �a big man, a very big man for a Japanese.

We also know he�s either very brave, or very stupid �Munda showed that � you decide which.
He�s also one of those characters in life who never looks past to tomorrow �he�s happy with today, whatever is chucked at him.

But today is a real curve ball. A week ago this would have been un imaginable. But here he was.
Before him was a large low, grey stone building, dark and forbidding. A steady stream of men pass in and out of its doors, uniforms immaculate �in sharp contrast to his worn, and stained flight suit.
Hosho looks at Imperial Navy HQ Kure �and feels a little daunted.
Again he looks at the signal in his hand, checks it again. No mistake �this is the place.
Nothing for it. He tackles this order like any other he has ever had. Head on. Boldly he too strides into the great buildings maze of corridors and offices.

Room 107. �Department of Munitions inspections
A smallish room, a secretary �nice too � a comfy chair, a small wait.
�The Rear Admiral will see you now�

Tanaka is bigger than he thought. His grip is smooth, hard.
He gets straight to the point
�I�ve heard about you Hosho �I�m glad you match the description�
Hosho knows the drill. He keeps his mouth shut
�Brave, a good pilot. Now �can you keep your mouth shut?�

Hosho smiles. This is all sounding a little familiar. A lot like his father. A lot.
�That�s easy sir �one just does not open one�s lips, ones eyes, ones ears as well. One just does as he is told �and one does well�
How many times had he heard that in his childhood?

Tanaka grins. �Sounds like experience. Just like your father�
Tanaka pours a drink for them both �the scotch is golden, and far smoother than anything Hosho has tasted for a long, long time.
�I need a pilot. I need to see a lot of people. Discreetly. Would you like a new Job Hosho?�

Hosho savours his drink.
�When do we depart Sir?�

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Post #: 1067

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/4/2010 6:44:13 AM

1275psi

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16/9/43

Juni stalks the skies.
He has no wingman, none will fly with him now, unable to maintain the pace he is pushing, un willing to follow him in suicide.
All in 47th sentai will die for the empire - that is assured, but to die to quench his unquenchable hate.....................

Juni stalks the sky, and today the prey come, arrows of condensation, high, high again in the sky.
He is already at 20000 feet, the clouds a carpet below him, the world just something indistinct below. The bombers are coming at 30000, at the edge of heaven, where angels wings freeze, and death stalks with his cold,cold blade.

Juni smiles, jams his throttle forward, and pulls his stick back, and begins the swift climb, a string of fighters follow.
The gap closes, closes, the bombers pass overhead, 5000 feet or so -great shining beasts, unperturbed by the beetles rising from below.
But guns swivel, and the air fills with radio chatter.

Swinging behind the bombers now, controls heavy, control sluggish -everything feels on razor edge, his fighter, so nimble down there, feels so clumsy up here. The bombers pull ahead -they have been too quick, too high for the intercept -and now the fighters must pay for it.

Juni banks, a mere thousand feet above them, but agonisingly behind them -he gives it not a thought -and dives into the attack.

The tracer reaches out, lazily, lazily, flashes overhead, curves in at him, he twists, turns, the bomber looms, he fires -and curses, he misses -misses by a wide , wide mark -his opponent has cleverly "bounced himself' a mere 100 feet up -but right at the right moment.
Juni flashes below -wincing -something strikes his plane once -hard, and the rudder pedals slam out from under his feet -and she spins on him, the world a swirling canopy of clouds, of blue, of dust, screaming engine, and curses

He fights her, fights her -and as the air thickens his great experience wins out. She flies like a pig, but that does not matter -he missed. Truk it -he missed!

Operational report
47th sentai
Rabual attacked by some 20 heavies at 30000 feet. few fighters able to intercept.
1 tojo damaged. No losses inflicted

new Dive bomber reported in operation at Shortlands -code name helldiver.

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Post #: 1068

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/4/2010 6:48:44 AM

1275psi

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17/9/43

The bombers come again today -just 11 in number, again high, very high.
At Rabual -it all goes wrong.
The warning system fails to spot them.
the radar too
In fact, nobody knows they are there until the first scream of the bombs announce the attack.
For the allies , the bombing is good - destroying several planes on the ground.
The CAP attempts to revenge -and may as well stayed on the ground.

The Volcano today belches away -an accurate reflection of nakamura's reaction to the days events.

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Post #: 1069

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/4/2010 7:03:33 AM

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Port Blair

HMAS Untouchable, HMAS Unsinkable, in 2 long months the Formidable and Indomitable have formed the backbone of the allies attack on Port blair
The lucky ships -attacked again, and again - charmed ships.

Yesterday, they had done it again, their CAP tearing into the Japanese bombers, driving the fighters away.
Yet again the torpedoes had been droped at extreme range -again easily avoided.

Today the Japanese come again
The Hellcats and seafires work again as a team - the hellcats out wide, the seafires in closer -and again it works well - japanese fighter after fighter goes down, or is forced away.
But again the bombers come on -and the Flak bursts into its deadly barrage.
Yet again the older Nells (what are they using them still for?) cartwheel and smash into the ocean -the guns doing deadly work.

But the Betties come on. These are the best -the very, very best Japan has, carefully gathered from shattered units across the empire -detirmined to avenge so many missing friends.

They race across the glittering sea, mere feet above the foaming splashes, wreathed in the smoke of ccountless shells exploding about them.

Few survive the attack -but finally Japans luck -if pure courage, skill, and suicidal detirmination can be called luck - turns
Hits on a carrier are observed -maybe 2, or is that a hit on each?
It matters not -hits at last.
For the battleship resolution - there is no doubt -her elderly frame surely cannot sustain the 3 clear hits on her.

Allied troops are again landing at port blair.
No aircover now.
Its going to become a messy business..............

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Post #: 1070

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/5/2010 3:37:43 AM

1275psi

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18/9/43

Nakamura gets it right

Today, just 8 liberators attack Rabual -and nakamura's sentais's -all of them, are waiting.
The bombers barely have time to realise the trouble they are in, and the carnage begins.
70 vs 8
Quickly 70 vs 4 - and only 3 will get home

47th score kill number 55.

Nobody knows what is behind the allied pause in the offensives - at Rabual today, nobody cares.

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Post #: 1071

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/6/2010 8:00:30 AM

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19/9/43

Miyazuki carefully scrapes the last grains of his rice, the meal has been enough - but barely.
The mess is full, crowded with pilots, some drinking, many playing cards, some like himself, finishing their meals.
Outside it continues to rain, and the air is a hazy smog of cigerrette smoke, sweaty bodies, cooking smells. Frankly the mess stinks -but nobody notices.

he cocks an ear to the radio -Tokyo rose is really at it today -more naval victories at port blair -the allies apparently losing ships there in the hundreds............
He smiles. Even he knows now that one must treat that sort of stuff with care.. But then - and this is something only from the depths of his heart - things were going well, were they not?
The others -especially that scowling horror Juni - all laugh at him whenever he talks of victory - but , but -heavens -surely there still was a chance?

It did'nt matter. the empire talked a lot now days about dieing for it. Buggar that.
When did they stop talking about victory?
He, for one - still believed in it.

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Post #: 1072

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/6/2010 11:04:18 AM

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19/9/43

Its been a wierd day for FLT Hosho.
The early morning flight from Japan to Shanghia had been routine enough -the rest of the day however.................
First the departure
Early morning -very early morning.
No records for a start -no flight plan. No communication with the tower -with anyone.
The unknown faces - Army, navy, airforce - some familiar looking.
Tanaka riding up front with him. Silent, scribbling away in a diary.

On arrival -Tanaka handing him a bunch of notes "Go and talk to the natives -preferrably those of a Kahki colour"
The big cars, more brass , more secret movements.

Hosho knows the right thing to do. He stays busy in the cockpit until they have departed -then he follows orders exactly - he heads into town.

Shanghia is busy -the harbour packed, the roads choked with civilians -and the army.
Hosho takes the first bar he can find - and strikes lucky - 3 pilots are there, kit bags at their feet.
he buys them a drink -and catches up on the news from China............

Dusk
Phantoms have refuelled the plane, and tanaka has again joined him up front.
'Ready to go Hosho?"
"Anywhere you say so sir"
'Takao -we have some beds waiting if you are wondering -then my interepid bus driver -all points west"
Hosho asks no questions - a night flight - it will tax him -but he can do it.
"Will they be expecting us at takao?"
" No" tanaka suddenly smiles "Well, not those who usually would. Don't worry -nobody will mistake us for a enemy bomber -I'm too careful for that!"

Hosho gets busy, and almost quite routinely the fat transport is coaxed into the growing dark.

They fly south west for a while , Tanaka again furiously writing in his book
"Did you enjoy Shanghia Hosho?"
he thinks for a moment - the bar, the soldiers, the brothel, the other bar -the meal...
"definately sir -definately!"
"Good"
tanaka stares out the window for a moment " tell me, how would you rate the morale of our men in China?"
Hosho thinks
'A long time ago, a man owed my father some money. Lots of money actually"
Tanaka smiles again -some memory perhaps - 'Ah, yes, your father........" He shifts about in his seat
"And this man failed to pay?"
"No , actually, he paid every week -as agreed -but always not quite the full amount -a few yen short here, a few there -always a few short"
"And your father?
"My Father , expressed, as you would say -a certain frustration -always threatening to get full payment -but never actually , you know -'
"because if he took -ah -action, he'd never get the full amount back?"
'Exactly"

Tanaka opens a small bag -pulls out a small flask - drink? -Hosho declines - he doesn't need it
"What happened in the end?"

Hosho's smile is bitter.
"The man murdered my father instead"

< Message edited by 1275psi -- 2/6/2010 11:07:11 AM >

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 1073

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/6/2010 6:46:37 PM

hosho

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From: zagreb, croatia
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quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

FLT Hosho.
A few words about this fellow. For one, physically, he�s a big buggar -6 foot, wide across the shoulders �a big man, a very big man for a Japanese.

very brave, or very stupid

the latter one

but thanks for the nice looks

I ve been a bit away... but you still write a damn good aar!
cheers mate

_____________________________

the first ones are remembered

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Post #: 1074

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/7/2010 8:30:54 AM

1275psi

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
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21/9/43

Extract from diary of Col Nakamura

.................the quiet period since the fall of Munda was surely about to end.
I faced it with re newed confidence -based on what? -I now ask myself. The hard facts had changed. Our planes were still the same -theirs were new, and so much better.
I think heart ruled the day.
I read the entry for today -spoke to Juni. Pulled him of the flight line
he flew anyhow................

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Post #: 1075

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/7/2010 8:46:19 AM

1275psi

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Imperial HQ

Yamamoto addresses the cabinet.
"Intelligence -intercepted messages mainly from our esteemed opponent ADM Cantona to his various commands -indicate at least 2 new offensives are about to begin.
Where -I a have no clue." he looks all at the great table -one by one, fairly into eachs eye "I cannot be strong everywhere.
We cannot be successful everywhere. All the gods willing, SHO GO 1 is still in force -if the allies do what I pray they do.'

the cabinet ponders this for a while. One of the ministers speaks " All these offensives Admiral -pray when do we conduct one?"
The Admiral smiles, one must patronise these idiots " This is a carrier centric war Minister -until I have some to use..."
"But isn't the Mobile fleet still intact?"
'Yes - thanks to the miricle of getting them home from majuro -the mobile fleet is intact -in its original form. But - and this is a big but - the enemy fleet is growing -ours has not -yet."
"Then what has our esteemed Minister Mr Iwaya being doing?
'I will let him answer that"

Mr Iwaya also smiles -Thanks Admiral, he thinks -thanks a lot.
he shuffles his notes.
How much should he tell these idiots
'The answer is simple -I took the line that this would be a quick war -who didn't - and I concentrated on the Battleships, and tankers. Once you start a policy like that, you can't change it"
'So esentially -when it comes to carriers -we are stuffed?"
'Oh -I would not say that - I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve............."

The meeting does what too many meetings do -it goes on well into the night -and can find no answers to the un answerable question -how to match the industrial capacity of the united states.............

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Post #: 1076

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/7/2010 8:53:10 AM

1275psi

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Takao

This meeting is quick, and Hosho gets to hear every word
The 3 men who enter the hanger to meet Tanaka's party seem -to Hosho -a very sorry lot
VADM Takahashi -of third air fleet HQ. VADM Tsukahara - 11th Air fleet. And Lgen Odawa, 5th air division. between them these three control the empires ASW,training and transport air units.
All three are drunk -or well on the way

We don't need to follow all that is spoken - these words are enough - Tanaka simply asks
"Are we agreed? -herbiesan must go?"
"We are agreed"

That is enough for Hosho. He is not stupid. The term, hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil -has suddenly become his own special personal motto.............

Editors note - morale for all three generals - 26, 23, 18 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Post #: 1077

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/8/2010 9:33:00 AM

1275psi

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22/9/43

Rabual spends another day on CAP .
The japanese forces do not have the strength, or the range to interfere with the endless bombing of 65th brigade struggling in retreat over the Stanley ranges.
For the moment, the allies seem to be content to leave rabual alone in turn.
The Navy attempts to send supplies to the beleguered soldiers on shortlands - they lose a destroyer -it wounds a CL in its passing.
The troops remain hungry.

Nakamura is called into a high level meeting with the navy.
He returns grim faced. "We are shortly going to attempt another evacuation. The navy is demanding air cover. How we provide it I'm damned if I know. All I can say is this - get your life jackets in order"

These are not comforting words for the men of 47th.
Nevertheless, there is a bright side to all of this -it looks like 47th will soon be back in a real fight.

Which Juni welcomes with grim anticipation.

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Post #: 1078

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/9/2010 6:54:07 AM

1275psi

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2359 hrs
Rabual, the great complex of bases, bathes under bright moonlight.
Around her perimeter, a constant patrol of sentries guard their posts -few expect to see anything -all will shoot if they do.
Most on the base sleep
Scattered around the base, under carefully guarded lights, near naked men , bodies slick and shiny with sweat, struggle against todays damage, or todays maintenance issues.
Routine work for today consists of 8 engine changes, a dozen engine rebuilds, 5 gun calibrations, and 2 complete wing changes
A usual day

The watch changes, AA guns briefly rptate, ammunition is checked, salutes, jokes in the dark.
men stare into the night, at the moon. In the quiet many thoughts flee towards home.

0100
A dozen fuel trucks rumble in -guided by shaded torches. The bang of drums echoes across the open fields

0300
The ground crews emerge, dozens of men, each team to a plane, or a number of planes.
The hollow bang, bang of wings begins -all over the field todays first flights are being unchocked, pushed clear of reverments
The Cooks begin to boil water

0330
Todays flight orders are silently posted by Nakamuras staff -men note planes, pilots, wander away to their teams
The moon blazes brightly on -rabual field is no longer quiet. from the maintenence sheds -the sudden roar of an engine -another success. It runs, revs, stops. Maybe not so successful........

0400
More trucks, fuel, ammunition. The clatter of the strings of ammo being fed into empty chambers.
It is becoming light
0400
The met man finalises his brief -weather claer today -heavy cloud to the North.
The overnight shift is relieved
0415
First CAP patrol is shaken
0430 - Nakamura gives his briefing -routine CAP - staggered heights. call signs, rally points, weather, sun, a reminder -check your life jacket today!
0500
A flight of 8 GM2 bombers arrive with the dawn
0500 -First CAP away
0600
reports of enemy shipping south of Shortlands are recieved -and a hurried conference is called
0613
"many ships, many ships shortland bay!"
0617
heavy bomber strike Shortlands
0717
Enemy bombers overhead Lae -course North east - rabual may be the target
0718
Air raid warning yellow -all pilots take to cockpits -no engines are started
0800
Torpedo strike ordered by 8th fleet command
0807
nakamura orders the 8 GM2 prepared. he keeps the now ready CAP on the ground -but consults with the Navy squadron of AM3a's to prepare to escort the bombers.
0830 -
CAP reports enemy bombers -target Admiralty islands
0835
CAP engages -a running, difficult fight -the weather is terrible
0914
Shortlands reports"Enemy cruisers engaging us -we are fighting back"
0918
Distress call recieved - a barge convoy has been intercepted. It does not bear listening too.
1000
8 GM2 bombers begin engine warmup. 18 zeros begin engine warmup.
1000-1035
various elements of the standing CAP are returning -they are progressively replaced.
rabual is now a chaotic picture of taxiing aircraft -clouds of dust, running men, trucks delivering fuel. Chaotic to the untrained eye. In reality it is operating smoothly - as well as any base japan has operating.
1035-40
Torpedoe strike dispatched.

rabual quietens down -if the constant rotation of CAP is quietr. men are allowed to leave cockpits -but will remain sheltering in the shade of wings, rough shelters. 100 plus fighters spread over a huge area -for most it is beyond stupid to think about leaving the plane - its simply to far to walk.
1130
The strike re[ports -no enemy fighters!
1132
Attacking!
1151
returning to base -nil hits achieved

1200
Shortlands report -enemy troops landing

1332 -
strike returns -nil losses
1400
8th fleet issues orders
"Strike with full strength at invasion force!"
1432
4 GM2 reported as airworthy to fly -4 have been heavily damaged in todays raid
1433
Nakamura orders second strike

1600
2nd strike -it will fail to locate target
8th fleet dispatches 27 "helen" bombers to reinforce Rabual from Truck -they will arrive at Dusk
1616
8th fleet informs Nakamura of imminent naval forces "You will provide suitable aircover"
1622
A unexpected sentai -the "famous 50th" arrives. Nakamura has no where to fit it -the base is full. He orders a sentai to take to the air -re deploy to Gassmatta -overflow base

1700
Intelligence estimates 100 plus ships of Shortlands
1710
second order from 8th fleet -attack, attack with all strength.
1712
Juni wanely notes -yet again, that the Army seems to be doing a lot of the Navy's attacking for them lately
Just where the hell is the fleet?
1715
Evening meal served -it will be stone cold by the time most pilots recieve it
1730
Standdown from air raid warning yellow
1740
Nakamura dispatches the betties back to Truck

1807
Dusk
1900
Combat reports completed. de briefings completed
1910
Situation briefing from intelligence.
Enemy is landing -but it may be a decoy -only a few troops reported ashore
1930
Nakamura issues order of the day for tomorrow
He is faced with multiple demands -protect rabual. LRCAP navy ships as required. Attack enemy shipping Shortlands.
Cover 65th brigade -if possible on the kokoda track

The great beast is coming closer. Rabual reacts how it should. No panic -steady routine
Its been a normal day.

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Post #: 1079

RE: herbiesan vs Cantona!!! - 2/9/2010 7:01:44 AM

1275psi

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Iwaya and Yamamoto are sharing a late evening port
"Shortlands? -you expected that I suppose?"
Yamamoto shrugs - "yes -, well, no one wants to see the enemy advance -but...."
"SHO GO One?"
"Yes my friend -its on a razors edge isn't it?"

Iwaya sips his drink - 'Ah -but thats how great gambles always are - you always rest on the edge"
"true, too true"

Yamamoto stirs to rise from his chair - 'I must go - there is intelligence of a second attack -shortlands I can handle -the unknown scares the hell out of me"
Iwaya never knows why he does it -it happens by impulse. he reaches out his hand, grabs the Admiral by the arm
"Yamamoto - -have you spoken to Tanaka lately?'"

the Admiral pauses -eyes deep, deep pools of grey stare at him, unfathomable
"Now that you mentioned it.................."

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Post #: 1080

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