RE: The little ship that could.

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: The little ship that could.

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RE: The little ship that could. - 12/9/2014 6:31:43 AM

1275psi

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Hirate stands at the wake of Susuzuki streaming aft, face a picture of gloom
Okano joins him, the proffered smoke, rejected this time

"Your thoughts, you ugly buggar?" he gently asks

'it was just about here".and the voice cracks
Alarmed, Okano turns to him
'What was?"

Hirate does not immediately answer.
Then, anguish in him, he turns to Okano. "It was here, where this whole sorry tale began, where I murdered herbiesan"
'You what?"
'I threw him overboard............he , he, ...the barsted sank like a stone...."

"Gods"

'Do you know what is going to happen Okano.....we are going to that bay, Asada will take us ashore, we will find those cursed crates, ..........and then Asada will kill us"

Carefully, Okano takes his Brother in law by the shoulders, stares him in the face
"Not on my watch, never. Stokesr are too tough for that.................
Now, about herbiesan.............."

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3451

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/12/2014 7:23:18 AM

1275psi

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26th June 1945

"there is little chance we will receive any more supply runs"
Okano listens to the Commander of Clarke airfield. It is not that hard to believe him either. The news from Hiroshima was uniformley bad, the enemy carriers roam the oceans unchallenged it seemed.
Damnation
Damnation to hell

"How long can you support us?"
The Commander considers.........undoubtably balancing the demands of Ogowa's eagles against the needs of himself once they depart, as they must.
'A week.........perhaps. We are running low on oil.........fuel..........gods, everything"

In manilla harbour the tankers suck, but oh so slowly. The Enemy CVs remain in Hongkong, others are south of Davao.
Ogowa feels the fatigue in his bones
There are 100 army fighters at san fernando. They must take the weight

He will stand the men down tomorrow, conserve fuel, conserve men.
A risk.
One he must take.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3452

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/12/2014 7:33:18 AM

1275psi

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I-184 emerges from the depths, a darker shadow in the dark waters.

Susuzuki lies at rest.
behind them, 500 yards away, the dark, still quiet forests of the Russian bay

A lamp flashes from the Submarine
'many thanks, but help no longer required"
With a quiet steady beat, her diesels throb faintly, and she slides away, mission complete, for home waters.

An hour later Susuzuki's boat slides onto the shingle beach.
Hirate shivers.
This spot looks far too familiar for him. Far too familiar indeed.
Captain Asada steps ashore. The boat contains himself, Hirate, 2 others.

Quietly Asada draws a pistol. "it looks familiar, ney?..........does it?"

Hirate cannot answer. The barsted knows....................
The pistol raises
'I thought so'

A shot rings out across the silent bay

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3453

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/12/2014 9:04:18 AM

pws1225

Posts: 1166
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From: Tate's Hell, Florida
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Argh!

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3454

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/12/2014 7:29:27 PM

british exil

Posts: 1686
Joined: 5/4/2006
From: Lower Saxony Germany
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Nail biting stuff.

Keep it coming.

Mat

_____________________________

"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill

WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS

(in reply to pws1225)

Post #: 3455

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/13/2014 12:13:07 AM

Long pig

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Where is Okano? Please let him be nearby!

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3456

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/13/2014 6:43:03 PM

british exil

Posts: 1686
Joined: 5/4/2006
From: Lower Saxony Germany
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Long pig

Where is Okano? Please let him be nearby!

And alive!!

Mat

_____________________________

"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill

WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS

(in reply to Long pig)

Post #: 3457

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/13/2014 11:13:28 PM

1275psi

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Joined: 4/17/2005
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But it is not Asada's gun that fires, even as Hirate involunttry flinches against the expected hammer blow, a neat round black dot appears on Asada's forehead, and his brains exit in a horrible spray behind him.
The body collapses, the gun still firmly in his grip.
Other shots, a volley of them , burst from the forest, but these Russian gunners don't have the aim of that first shot.
All three remaining men do exactly the same thing, dive for the cover of the boat on the beach.

50 yards away, 10 men emerge from the forest, running swiftly down the beach towards them, sub machine guns spitting.

Bravely one of Asada's compatriots tries to shoot back, he raise , aims, cries in distress, spins away, face already the pale shadow of death

Bullets churn the beach, smack into the boat, Hirate cringes.......Asada's gun is close, has he the courage to go for it?
No,.gods, yes......NO!

250 yards away, Susuzuki opens fire.
The 25mm triple mount AA gun is a lousy weapon at what its meant to do.

But at this range, against infantry, its more than adequate for the job.............

Barely a handful of the russians survive the hurricane of fire, they melt back into the forest.
And now Susuzuki's main armament is flinging rapid fire into the forest, a hideous noise of shattering explosions, smashing timber, screams, and howling shells

Hirate and the surving sailor grab their chance, they fling themselves into the boat, Hirate starts the motor, ducking as low as he can as yet more bullets churn the sea about him
The other man slumsp, bright red blood spraying

Susuzuki pounds the beach, the forests,
from ashore, a tank perhaps? sends shells her way, they miss.
Five minutes later, Hirate is onboard, her stern boils, and she is away, her executive officer cursing.
He has no idea why Asada needed to go ashore so desperately..now he has to explain to the fleet commander how single handledly Susuzuki has declared war on the russians..............

(in reply to british exil)

Post #: 3458

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/13/2014 11:20:47 PM

1275psi

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From
Commander
16th red Army
to
STAVKA

Large Japanese naval forces have bombarded our positions in northern areas
Request advice!

From
Commander Combined Fleet

OkHa Invasion fleet at sea, and in position
Request advice

from
DD Susuzuki
to
Imperial Command
Commanders X eyes only

Mission has failed
The pigeon remains in the nest

from
general Sugiyama, High Military Council

Execute operation winter storm

damnation
damnation
damnation

On the borders of Russia and china
100000 japanese soldiers move eastward
They will shortly, horribly shortly, cross the border

Russians will very shortly be ACTIVATED!

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3459

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/15/2014 7:55:21 AM

1275psi

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27th June

The B-29s come for san fernardo

Only a handful of Ogowa's eagles take to the air.
Not a single army fighter does

When the dust and flames and smoke settles, nearly 60 of them lie smashed on the field, mute testimony to stupidity, arrogance and laxity.

The enemy carriers come south from Honkers, and arrogantly sail south of takao. Another fleet approaches Leyte.
A mix of 70 fighters and bombers try for the enemy carriers.........and not a single one returns.

It is a day of horror

Ogowa , stunned, takes the news in.
The carriers cut the phillipines off............

"there is nothing we can do here anymore..........lets get the hell out while we can"

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3460

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/15/2014 8:00:33 AM

1275psi

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from Ominato the invasion fleet has sailed.
It steams north, grimly

Yamato, Musashi, the remaining carriers, in fact nearly all the remaining ships Japan has wait for them
Okha is the target

On the southern Russian front japanese forces approach the border

The strength of the Russians is utterly unknown..................

(I have deliberately not peeked at the allied OOB for Russia, I truly have NO idea)
(Especially at Okha)

A final point.
Those who wanted to see a game deep into 1945, and with the russians activated, well here it is................

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3461

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/17/2014 8:05:17 AM

1275psi

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On the 28th, the allied carriers catch the convoy that Okano so desperately awaits.
It is devastated

B-29's attack Formosa.
Another CV strike hits Leyte gulf.

The phillipines are cut off.
Ogowa's eagles move to Aparri.
Its a shambles. Little fuel, dispirited men , hungry dispirited men.

The bubble is bursting. Calls by Ogowa for servicing of the eagles simply are not answered.
In the blazing heat in the centre of the field he holds a quick conference with his squadron commanders.
'This" growls one, hand white on his pistol grip , "is un acceptable"

yes. yes it is.........how quickly it is unravelling.........but is this time for japanese to shed japanese blood?
"can you blame them?...........4 years of fighting machinery, and dust, and now starvation, under this sun. There is no glory in that!"

"they are cowards"
"no, they are just tired men.............i will get us re fuelled............then home. That we will fight for.........that we will die for.........not this stinking paddock."

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3462

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/17/2014 8:24:59 AM

1275psi

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29th June 45

Susuzuki re joins the main battle fleet, some 100 miles north of Okha
She refuels from the Taiho.

Okano joins Hirate in the messdeck.
Susuzuki is pitching heavily, and both men use each other as braces against the movement, crammed onto the benches about the tables. It is dinner, and the mess is crowded. It smells of sweat, seafood, salt water, and subtly....fear.

Rumours have flooded the destroyer.
A million theories flow through her, almost in competition with the condensation that runs down her baulkheads.

Why the landing party?
Why, why in the world does a Commanding Officer go ashore onto hostle shores?
What madness was that?

And what happened?
Did they really attack the Russians?..........was that the idea all along?
And this Hirate........what was his story?

"How are you brother?" Okano gently breaks the silence
Hirate does not answer, he remains staring at his bowl, silent
he has not spaken since coming back onboard.

deeply troubled, okano stays besides him until the meal is done.
Then, in silence still, they go below again, back on watch.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3463

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/18/2014 11:41:28 PM

1275psi

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1 July 1945

Ogowa's eagles return to hiroshima
Deep maintenace, repairs, engine change outs
they will rest for this week

It may be the last they ever get.

Extract from Shattering the Sword, a Cantona production

The Russian declaration of war came at precisely one minute past midnight.
Citing ' unprovoked Japanese aggression", it called on "the herioc armies of the motherland" to immediately crush 'this second facist state'
These were the orders

But for the first 24hrs, at least, the reality was different. The divisions, the ranks upon ranks of artillery and armour, the masses of men are still in lager, the squadrons still at peactime readiness.
The great bear will need some time to emerge from his cave

Japan strikes first

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3464

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/22/2014 1:47:03 AM

Heeward

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From: Lacey Washington
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Great drama and as always an excellent read.
It makes me want to do just one more turn before the swath of night becomes pale and dawn awaits.

< Message edited by Heeward -- 12/24/2014 3:11:14 AM >

_____________________________

The Wake

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Post #: 3465

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/22/2014 6:21:33 AM

1275psi

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Thanks heeward
Its been a long journey, but as you say, there is always just one more turn...........................

(in reply to Heeward)

Post #: 3466

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/22/2014 6:42:26 AM

1275psi

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2 July 1945

Susuzuki steams once again off dark Russian shores.

They do not remain dark for long.
Okha bay, russian oil centre, Sakhalin islands.
Five japanese destroyers lie even closer in shore than Susuzuki, and the bark and boom of their guns beat a regular tattoo.
The beaches and forest flash and sparkle , and the tracer streaks in the growing dawn light.

It is reminescent , for the veterans, of the glory days of 42.
There is no return fire, for now.
16 transports and converted AKs lie off the beaches. Around them the landing boats gather, the scrabbling nets dark with the forms of the soldiers. The boats bob and bounce, then in strings make for the beaches.

remininescent of 42 yes..........and improved upon it not an iota
It does not matter though today, surprise, it seems is complete.

Dawn breaks
They are at action stations (of course) on Susuzuki, have been for hours.
Hirate and Okano are both below. Below again locked down hatches, oblivious to the action above decks, aware that the enemy is near, that death lurks outside thin, thin steel.

They can do the only thing that they have always done, Inwardly brace themselves, and attend to their duty, attend to the never ending glow of the boilers, the whine of the turbines.
They will be down stairs all day.

It will be a long one.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3467

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/22/2014 6:47:03 AM

1275psi

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Combined fleet guards the invasion.
She operates a continous combat patrol over the bay. Like riding a bicycle, the deck crews have slipped easily back into the routines, the fighters cycling easily.
No russian fighters or bombers appear today.

But the bear is awake now.
And beyond angry.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3468

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/22/2014 6:57:00 AM

1275psi

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Japanese Grace TBD's have a shot and Vladivostock, hoping to catch the Russian fleet asleep.
It is.

Their fighters are not. None return
All over the front, clouds of Russian fighters and bombers attack Japanese positons, and airfields.
They have wonderful formations, wonderful numbers, horrible aim.

Over Shikuka, defending oscars feast heavily on Russian biplanes!, and elderly SB2's
This new war is less than a day old, and already one thing is clear.

General Sugiyama was right. To tackle this gigantic beast, this bear, was madness............

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3469

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/22/2014 12:11:28 PM

Lowpe

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Epic!

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Post #: 3470

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/22/2014 6:35:49 PM

Lecivius

Posts: 4845
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From: Denver
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Good grief, we're still on!

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 3471

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/23/2014 7:26:26 PM

1275psi

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July 3rd

Dawn

40 miles east of Okha

Yet again the alarm bells ring through out Susuzuki. yet again tired men move to their stations. yet again ammunition is rammed home, the guns raised, eyes placed to the directors.
Yet again, they wait.

It is a cold grey dawn, this one, with grey skies, grey seas, a biting wind. Grey faces, fatigued.
Last night 3 Russian DDs have attacked the invasion fleet, an action observed on the horizon in the dark of the night.

Starshells. Tracer, the crack of the guns.........the incredibly bright flare of Destroyer Amagiri exploding.
Combined fleet has not been drawn in, patiently awaiting the night to fade away.

Now, overhead the eagles circle, the russian destroyers have failed, soon they will die .

Susuzuki however is not at action stations because of them now, nor for the snoopers that are about. It is beneath these grey waters that the most dangerous enemy stalks.
Three periscope sighting this hour alone...............

Combined fleet marks time, providing air caover.
And once again, as it has so many times before, drawing those cursed bukas to her like flies .

(in reply to Lecivius)

Post #: 3472

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/23/2014 7:29:53 PM

1275psi

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manilla harbour

17 AKs

Almost the last of the hunted. They depart manilla harbour, E boats swarming around their flanks. In their rusting holds, the last of manilla's oil, the last of its stored fuel.

The enemy blockade Miri, balikapapan, tarakan.
Their guns fire now on Soerabaya.
Their bombers cruise over palembang

The blockade is complete

17 AKs

The last convoy for Japan, begins for home.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3473

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/23/2014 7:37:55 PM

1275psi

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The russians have at least 2 heavy cruisers.
They raid Rashin, manchuria.
2 tankers sunk, 3 escorts sunk

Manchurian army command reports "500 plus bombers operating over this front"
"send help"

Ogowas's eagles are put on notice.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3474

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/23/2014 10:28:59 PM

zuluhour

Posts: 5244
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From: Maryland
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Happy holidays! Still enjoying a great yarn every Monday morning over coffee.

(in reply to 1275psi)

Post #: 3475

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/24/2014 8:22:36 AM

1275psi

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merry Christmas fellow travellers

Your support, from every single one of you, is greatly appreciated

I hope I can make this, the last year of the war, as interesting as I can

herbie

(in reply to zuluhour)

Post #: 3476

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/24/2014 10:44:29 AM

pws1225

Posts: 1166
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From: Tate's Hell, Florida
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You are not letting us down in the slightest. Great stuff!

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Post #: 3477

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/24/2014 11:38:33 AM

ny59giants

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Could you go off tangent for a post or two and explain how you are going to defend Manchuria?? So few players get to the point in the game in which Russia is active. I know some of the Russian LCUs have combat power that makes a US Marine division look inadequate.

< Message edited by ny59giants -- 12/24/2014 12:39:27 PM >

_____________________________

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Post #: 3478

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/24/2014 6:40:43 PM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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quote:

ORIGINAL: pws1225

You are not letting us down in the slightest. Great stuff!

+1! Always tense and realistic!
Characters we can really care about.

Merry Christmas to you. Wish I had a gift equal to what you have given us.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to pws1225)

Post #: 3479

RE: The little ship that could. - 12/25/2014 9:01:59 AM

hosho

Posts: 128
Joined: 10/21/2005
From: zagreb, croatia
Status: offline

Merry Christmas to all!

Thanks for a great ride you old dictator...

_____________________________

the first ones are remembered

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 3480

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