1275psi
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31/10/43
Extract from Shattering the sword, a Cantona production
Attack!. And so Japan does. Heedless of losses, committed fully to the attack – the entire weight of the empire goes into the battle.
And if they were praying to the gods of war, surely today, they were with them………..
0300
The great Yamato is no longer vibrating, Tanaka has bought his ships to 16 knots, they have reached their launching point.
The seas are calm –visibility is terrible, a mist is beginning to form. On the bridges of the carriers, he knows frantic discussions will be taking place.
As if he can read his thoughts, Yamamoto speaks “ Don’t worry my friend. This murk wont stop us launching. It may help hide us though”
Tanaka has , of course, been in battle before. Its why he is here –to wipe the taste of the Haranua away for ever. As much as the great man standing silently beside him remains an enigma, there is, strangely enough, a great comfort having him there.
As if his very presence will see them through.
“Have you eaten Tanaka?”
“A little Admiral – the men are being fed now”
“Good. It will be a long, long day I feel”
0312
SMN Miyazuki finishes his meal. How sweet it tasted too –despite the oil smells, the heat, the stink of so many sweaty bodies.
His gun captain looks at him. “Are you ready youngster?”
“Hie”
“Good – time to go to work men. Load the guns – and let no man falter”
The men begin to work
For Japan
For the Yamato
For each other……
0316
‘Signal for Nagumo”
“read it.”
“Message from Gasmata defence sir.” The bridge remains silent. Not totally silent –the whistle of the wind, the creak, groan of Taihos progress through the waters as she rushes south remains.” Enemy transports are weighing anchor”
Nagumo glances to Genda
“Launch time?’
“0430 as planned sir”
Nagumo clenches a fist. It is so hard to contain himself. Ahh to be a Sblt again
“They are too late gentlemen –too late.”
0412
CL Kitikuma, Atukuma and Agano, leading 9 destroyers in line ahead formation, plow straight into a task force built around the warspite, Australia, and other escorts..
Both are taken totally surprised, the destruction of Warspites radar the day before obviously effecting her.
It is a knife fight, range –2000 to 20 yards. The most vicious battle imaginable.
And as the sun begins to rise, the first ships begin to sink, or lie helpless burning.
0420
“Combat patrol away sir”
“very good Genda – spot the strike”
0540
The sun shines. The sky, here, is clear, crystal clear. Again, just to the south, the hills of New Britain stand stark and clear. The fleet has turned, and moves North at a liesurly 20 knots. Even the weather Gods smile – a strong wind is developing, straight into his teeth.
Nagumo and Genda stare down at the packed decks. The roar of the engines drowns all other noise. The target is nailed to the hard –gasmata. Nagumo cannot really believe it. Un hindered, he will get to strike again.
‘Genda – if this does not stop the Americans –I swear –I will eat my hat”
“With or with out soy?”
‘Hmmmph. Alright. Enough. Commence launching!”
0610
164 zeke, 244 judy,260 Jill, 28 kate, 13 george depart on the attack.
0544
Bridge – CV Juni
“Commence launching”
0600
14 judy, 13 Jill attack
0730
2nd wave launched –
38judy, 23 jill, 9 zeke attack
0815
Attack waves in the air.
We wait
0916
Yamato
‘Aircraft alarm!”
‘Full ahead all”
‘Enemy bombers –liberators –dead ahead!”
Tanaka see’s them –its impossible not too – coming in low, hard, fast –fighters swarming in –but they will be too late….
‘Hard to Starboard! – open fire!”
The great crash of guns startle Miyazuki –CRASH! CRASH! – but only for a moment. Too many months of drilling, of beatings, of drilling too allow any mistakes today –the great shells feel feather light today as he heaves the next into the breach
“ENGAGING 4 ENGINED BOMBERS!”
The turret is turning hard, hard, following the indicators, and Yamato herself, incredibly, might even be leaning as she almost dances around –the seas piling up on her flanks.
CRASH!, CRASH!
“Hurry!”
The third salvo from their turret hits the third bomber fair at the wing root –the wing sheers of, the plane lurches –is gone!
BANZAI!!!!!
The second bomber tries to bomb – a fat string of small eggs – they plough into the sea –one strikes Yamato’s sheer flank –and smacks as if just an egg.
And the attack is over.
The celebrations in Miyazuki’s turret may take a while to end.
‘Helmsman –resume course – speed 16 knots please”
‘The beginning?”
“yes”, the Admiral agrees –“the beginning”
0925
‘Atago reports hit by two bombs –is continuing south “
‘very good”
0930
‘First strike reporting. Enemy carriers in sight. All formations -attack!”
Yamato plows on. Around her the great bulk of the battlefleet steams, great grey mountains of steel –barrells poiting towards an enemy yet unseen.
No man speaks –if they do –strangely, it is in whispers, as if no man wishes to disturb the tide of history being played out to the west
Above the bridge, on the observation deck, great glasses search the seas –above them, the director waits – it has reported columns of smoke ahead –possibly the transporst attacked this morning by Junyo’s second wave attack.
But the skies remain clear of enemy planes.
It seems surreal
1127
Captain Hara raises his glasses. Begins the count. Of all the jobs a captain has to do ––this is the hardest – counting those that return from the battle – counting those that do not return.
There is no fuss, no drama, the planes enter circuit – and the trapping begins.
He counts, and with each plane, hope rises. Some, a few, a very few, are damaged, but all have returned.
All of them!
It has to be a bust. So few losses.
Damn
Hara leaves the bridge, makes his way aft, down of the island, meets the first pilots.
‘And?”
The pilot grins
“We squashed them like a bug. A carrier, a cruiser, 2 destroyers.”
‘Are you sure”
‘They were hard to miss sir –s%$t –I had to cue up to take my turn. We are not finished –there are too many targets to count”
Too many to count.
Hara turns to his flight deck crews. “Come on men! –another strike –we must get in another strike.. The dogs of hell are on our tails –let us get in first!”
1310
‘Takao, Suzuya report hits from heavy bombers sir. They are continuing the advance”
‘very good”
1413
‘CVE Chuyno sir –am engaging transports 120 miles south of me. ‘No resistance”
‘A bonus”
‘yes –a bonus. “I make that 10 AK, 4 LST so far today”
1425
‘
“2nd strike attacking”
1500
“from LT Inoue, Unryu”
Attack complete,. One Maryland class BB confirmed sunk. I CVL sunk, 2 cruisers sunk.
Many ships remain
Losses 30 plus attack planes. Am returning to base”
1510
‘from Kumano sir’
Yamamoto turns. And now, for the first time –Tanaka feels the tension emanating from the man.
“yes?”
“Have reached invasion beachhead intact. Many transports in sight. Am maneuvering to attack!”
1600
‘have attacked beachhead shipping. 12 ships sunk. Ammunition expended. Am retiring”
Tanaka turns to Yamamoto. The feeling of unreality is if anything, even greater.
2CVL, a Battleship. Countless transports. And these ships-the battleline, delivered safely into range.
There is, of course, only one order Yamamoto can give.
The sword is at the enemies throat. Time to drive it home.
For a moment, just a moment, his thoughts turn to Mutsu –she has a very special part to play now .
Yamamoto addresses everyone on the crowded bridge
“gentlemen, I actually expected to lose half the fleet today. So far, 2 light cruisers, some destroyers have given their lives for the empire.
We cannot turn back now. Let this symbol of Japan lead us to final victory.”
He turns to Tanaka. Those eyes bore into him. What thoughts are there behind that impassive face?.
‘Detach the battle line Tanaka” the there is irony in the calm voice ‘For herbiesan hey?”
‘No Admiral, for Japan. Helmsman. Port 10 Full ahead all!
Signal the fleet . As per SHO GO 1. Follow me!”
The sun is beginning to set
9 battleships –nearly a million tons of warships work up to full speed –and the great guns begin to probe into the dark……
One way or another –tomorrow, the war must be decided.
Extract from
“ Shattering the sword” A cantona production
All over the battlefield, shattered ships struggled for survival. In 3 days the allies have lost a CV, 3 CVL, a battleship, with 2 more battleships crippled.
Japanese loses, in cruisers, and destroyers, have been grave.
Japanese airpower, is all but gone –only the carriers hold any strike power now..
But the battle is not yet done.
Japan counts many, many ships still of the beachhead, or crawling south. It knows of the powerful taskforce south east of Woodlark racing north.
But too much has been committed to stop now.
Again, Japan trusts in fate –and continues the attack………….
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