The little ship that could.

[1275psi]

September 14th

Ogowa, Diogowa sit opposite each other on crude wooden stalls, eating with some relish the noodle dishes before them.
They have been , 300 miles north of Tokyo, for only a week, but this small wooden hut, overlooking the coastal dirt track, that in turn overlooks the ocean, has already become a favourite.

It is quiet here, the handful of wooden and stone buildings seem little disturbed by the sea breezes, or the constant droning of the trainers circling the field on its outskirts.
The war, it seems to our pilots, has not disturbed it all.

The fishing boats sail before dawn, as they have forever, and by midday they return. The peasants still till the fields, the Sake still brews, the chickens still cackle.
Of the military, of the war, of the politics of Japan, they may never have been..........



There are no shortages. Japan still eats well.


Which, I think, is why this place, has become such a favourite.
Daily now, the two men fly, then, duty done, they cycle here, eat, share a drink, cycle home.
A steady routine. A good routine. One to restore the soul.






The Franks sweep Waingapoe daily, the T bolts meet them.
Repairs to Hiyo continue.

Fuchida and the 22nd sentai rest at georgetown.

And Hosho continues to dig his holes.
They will need to be good, the enemy are coming, coming hard.

[1275psi]

17september

In war, dry docks work around the clock. They have to. The smallish dry dock at Soerabaya, once home for the tankers and oilers of the Shell oil company, has become a critaical item for the Japanese navy over these last few years.

Tonight, under the light mist, its latest valuable patient is being gently led out through the cassion doors
. It is, in its own way, a pretty scene. At 3 am, the waters have that oily smooth sheen that reflect the subdued lighting from the ship, the tugs, the wharfs themselves

A million bugs flutter about them, the mist swallows the low thump, thump of diesel motors, the calls of the men.
CVE Unyo, refitted, sporting a new small control tower, is about to re join the war.
The dockyard workers, her sailors are in good spirits, its been too long this spell here, The Convoys for Japan need her .

There are only 6 B-29 in the raid, .
Surprise is total, the first strings of bombs are marching across the bay, monstrous fire crackers, even before the sirens come on, the lights go out
The explosions string across the bay, march across Unyo, plough into the city itself

Arse blown out of her, the little carrier heels, falls to her side, and sink sideways, her freshly painted bottom a rude insult to greet the dawn.

The enemy are creeping north.

[1275psi]

"Coming ashore?"

Hirate looks up from his work. 'Are you finished already Okano?"
"Near enough too........3 days to we sail, last chance to see the Jewel of the east my friend"
Hirate considers the options........."I am pretty broke"
'I'll buy the food, you buy the beer"
Hirate calculates, "done"


Singapore, thinks Hirate, is looking decidedly shabby. The streets are mostly deserted, and street after street, the shops and food bazaars are boarded up and closed
Garbage litters everywhere, and what memebers of the population that can be seen, sit about listlessly, and stare at them with un adulterated hatred.

"I do not think this was such a good idea Okano"
Okano looks about them, sweat streaming from him in the thick humid air.
"I think, I think you are right"

They turn, and begin to return to Hiyo.

Much has changed in Singapore this last month. Way to the North, 15th Army sucks every morsal of sustinance it can, desperately trying to reconstitute itself.

And Singapore starves.

[1275psi]

There is a sharp engagement at Waingapoe.

destroyers Natsugmo, Minegumo, Asagumo, kasumi rumble with 4 of the new fletcher destroyers, a brief, 3 minute engagement.

The allies track the japanese in the night
The japanese, too late, detect the allies

They turn, guns bark on both sides, a fish kills Natsugumo, DD Pringle wears a face full of lead, the two side rebound away from each other.

10 Liberators go for balikapapan, only 4 return
B-29s hit the remains of Unyo again

5 regiments that have fought for so long and hard at waingapoe are written off by Japans high command.

Negatives yes, but there are many quiet , unseen positives
The defences at Naha, Okiwana, are declared"complete"
As they are at Luzon, the southern phillipines. Construction of massive defence works are well underway in Western japan.

Her tankers are still basically untouched by the deprecations of the SS, and in manilla, a huge oil and fuel reserve is growing, as the frantic last attempts to drain the DEI rise to a crescendo

We have said it before, we say it again. Tokyo is a long, long way away yet, and every step will be, gods willing, another waingapoe.

[1275psi]

A game note for all IJN fans
I cannot overstress how successful this tactic has been

Use your tankers thus:, convoys from balikapan, soerabaya, miri, to Singapore, with at least 8 escorts each, using small tankers
A CS convoy or two from Palembang to Singapore
A couple of CS convoys of small cargo ships fro Medan to singapore

From Singapore, MEGA size tanker convoys, each with ten escorts, AND AT LEAST 1, better with TWO CVE escorts. Don't use them in mini KBs, use them as tanker ASW ships. We all know how how lethal Cantonas sharks have been in this game, I have lost nearly 2/3rds of the merchant marine now, but just 2 tankers have been hit in CVE escorted convoys, and only a handful elsewhere

I really think it makes a massive difference

[ny59giants]

ASW CVEs -
Do you place just bombers on them in ASW role??
What planes are best?? DBs or TBs?? What models??
What are your settings?? ASW % are... Altitude... Do you use search arcs??

DETAILS!! [:)]

[1275psi]

Dive bombers or TBDs seem to make no difference
Search arcs, yes-religously on the arc where convoy is going
1000 feet, range 1 or 2.
I use also some fighters on some of the ships, ie Hosho, hoping to keep search aircraft at bay
ASW set at 100 percent, i work em hard

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Dive bombers or TBDs seem to make no difference
Search arcs, yes-religously on the arc where convoy is going
1000 feet, range 1 or 2.
I use also some fighters on some of the ships, ie Hosho, hoping to keep search aircraft at bay
ASW set at 100 percent, i work em hard

Fantastic Advice. It is nearly January 1, 1943 in my game with Dan. ALL JFB know what that date means...

[1275psi]

18th of September

"Are you satisfied engines"?
"yes sir, I am. We will be able to sail in four days. It won't be pretty, but Hiyo will be ready"

Takeji considers the man before him. Reliable, competent, trustworthy. And he knows the man not at all.
'Thankyou Engines, now I will have to rustle up some escorts"

The Engineer leaves, leaving Hiyo alone on his bridge wing. About him, Singapore harbour bustles as busily as ever.
The dock rattles to the sound of work, his men talk on his bridge, laughter even drifts towards him
I am surrounded by Hiyo's crew , by this port.
And I am utterly alone.
The crew respect him, or the uniform, at least. But this is not Zuiho. Not nearly like Zuiho. He does not KNOW anyone here. There is no one to talk to .

I have lost a carrier, had another gutted under me. I may, I suppose, be classed as a Jonah............

There is only going to be one cure, Takeji knows it, feels it. Unspoken knowledge seen in a dozen pairs of eyes every day.
He has to do the impossible.
He has to get Hiyo home.

Very well then.
He bloody well will.

[1275psi]

B-29s crunch Siagon.
Others flatten Singora!, and crush a resting george unit

All along the "bottom" of the empire, the bombers rain down death, destruction.


22nd , fuchida amongst them, move to Thialand, Kompong Chhnang, north of Phon Phen.
They will rest tomorrow, then launch, with luck, a trap.

Fletcher class DDs roam the waters near Morotia, they are attacked, they escape.
61st division is at sea, east of palua.
A nasty near miss.

[1275psi]

22nd of September

The Heavy cruiser Fuchida sports considerable new paint, fresh, the patches clearly deliniating the new steel underneath.
There is a lot of it.
She has had a difficult journey, has this ship.
Yet there is nary a sign of it amongst her crew, they, to Takeji,, seem fresh, alert, clean.
As his boat nestles alongside, and the pipes shrill, it is pleasant indeed to be reminded that the imperial navy still goes on strong, still holds the line in tradition and duty.

he climbs the ladder swiftly, gives his stiffest salute to the officers awaiting, a silent message of appreciation, and follows them to the shaded quarter deck, the awnings white and stiff.


Hirate motors the boat away, cuts the engine, lets his boat drift. He will have a long wait, he thinks, but this, even despite the sun, must be better than the work still awaiting on Hiyo.
Okano was a fool to knock this back.


The quarterdeck is crowded, and these men are anything but naval in bearing and uniform. Merchant skippers, 50 of them. Sullen, downcast.
many, takeji senses, afraid, even, dare he think it, rebellious.

The plan takeji has come up with, is simple. At ten knots, Hiyo is a sitting duck. Alright then. Hide her in a great flock (is it flock?) of ducks
But he has to sell it.

"gentlemen. 50 ships, 20 escorts, Hiyo, a cruiser, 4 destroyers, a repair ship, we hug the coast....."

He see's it immediately. The smiles of pleasure at those words........."20 escorts"

A murmer sweeps the gathering.........."about 19 more then the normal bloody amount......."

They are sold. He feels it.
Alright then. details.
He opens his briefcase, takes out the pages of orders, convoy dispositions, emergency plans, the 101 things that turn a gaggle of geese into something remotely like a convoy...........




The briefing is a long, long one, and Hirate, in the end, does regret it.
Especially when the three bodies , bloated, purple, disintergrating and stinking float past.

[1275psi]

September 23rd

Hiyo will sail, 0200 hours, 44 transports, a cruiser, 2 destroyers,a cruiser.
She can do 10 knots, maybe. her bowels remain flooded, her baulkheads, braced to the Nth degree, still hold the seas back.
1 boiler. I engine, a hundred men, a volunteer skeleton crew.
No galley, little lighting, no ventilation, and no one willing to linger below decks.

A long way to Tokyo. A long, long way.

Across seas crawling now with hidden menace.
Hiyo will sail. Indomitable will to carry her every mile of the way.

[1275psi]

September 23rd
Fletchers cruise the lower resource areas, some actually probe deeply, very deeply.

Japan flings multiple attacks at them, the allies fly heavy long range CAP.
A depressing day, 30 aircraft lost, for one lousy bomb hit.
The Fletchers sink a DD, 3 PG, but they save the convoys at Soerabaya.

Yet more Fletcher packs are sighted, headed towards Morotia, towards Ambon.
The allies are getting bold.
In turn, Japan prepares a big , new stick.




Hirate peers yet again through the observation port of the boiler, critical eye on the flame.
They have but two tanks available, the ready use tank, a small storage tank aft.
There are no other options. 5000 tons of sea water slosh in Hiyos guts, should any of that get into the fuel tank………

0300 hours, they have cleared the port, he would think. The telegraph sits at slow ahead, the only position it will occupy from here to Japan. Another hour of watch, first of a great many.
With luck

Okano has the next watch. Right now he wanders the empty, echoing hanger. Things have changed, changed dramatically since those first days he walked her gleaming interior.
The hanger is a cave, a dirty, cluttered cave. Timber lies stacked everywhere, pumps are lined up, hoses snake into a dozen crude holes.
Temporary lighting sways with the swell., tools slide despondently with the roll.
It is a depressing sight.
From a gleaming edifice………….to this.
The barsteds.


The barsteds waste no time. The first ss attack begins at dawn, a periscope trailing the convoy, the airwaves alive with its transmissions.
Takeji grimaces.
How many will come crawling?





22nd circle the patchwork of fields of central Thailand
They are strung out, a rough stream , 24 strong, the world below at 10000 feet, the sky deep blue above
The P38s circle too, at 15000, a dozen or so strong, working, working steadily into an attack position
Fuchida watches them coldly, closely, head swivelling over his shoulder.
The enemy are working towards the attack.
Let them.
Then, then they can fight.
This is the nub of it. No matter what comes in this world, no matter what makes Fuchida the man he is, aggression flows through his very being.
It is what makes one what he is
Fighter pilot.
Man.
Machine
As one.

The P38’s glitter in the sun, wings swinging over, as they commence their dives
A song rises in Fuchida’s mind, unbidden, from god knows where……..

‘ring, a ring a rosy……………

The 38’s burst upon the Franks, seeking the quick kills.
22nd, is not for the dieing…………….
Fuchida banks, a 38 is following, they enter a great turning fight, the sky full of snarling, hunting beasts.

….a pocket full of posies……….
300 yards, 200yards, head swivelling back, the barsted cuts in, cuts in, its nose sparkles, stick, rudder, world swinging, rolling, tracer passing so easily underneath……

……a tissue, a tissue…………..
The 38 , out manoeuvred, swings away, and is nailed by Fuchidas’ wingman, exploding, sprawling across the sky

……….We all fall down………..”,

“Idiot”, mutters Fuchida, as he reforms, swings in behind Iwata, …never follow the enemy down……..
The fight is done, 3 franks lost, pilots to be recovered, 10 P38’s killed, the bombers turned away.

22nd lands at Nakhon Ratchasima, the ground crews racing to re arm.
Japans airforce has returned to the west.

[1275psi]

The convoy is 80 miles north of Kuching, when the first shark strikes.
A medium sized AK, on the far port flank.
The all too familiar story, the sudden column of water, the funnel sagging drunkenly, the smoke, the steam, the surge of waters over the sinking wreck.
Takeji barely gives it a glance, he does not need to see it.
A fist clenches. Still nearly an hour to dusk. And already the barsteds are upon them.
He turns to the XO. “Normally, one would have a cup of tea about now. Its going to be a long night. Coffee perhaps?’
The XO laughs. “easier said than done, I think. I do believe though the stokers have plenty of boiling water”

[1275psi]

To any one folowing this, have we all noticed he complete and utter absence of the allied Carier/fast battleship fleet?

I would almost bet on this: cantona is about to launch something Hail Mary like!

And I say this with out any prior knowledge
I am still ahead on points, its late 44, its his only chance I think of a win now ( I think)

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

To any one folowing this, have we all noticed he complete and utter absence of the allied Carier/fast battleship fleet?

I would almost bet on this: cantona is about to launch something Hail Mary like!

And I say this with out any prior knowledge
I am still ahead on points, its late 44, its his only chance I think of a win now ( I think)

Well, the Allies make up points very quickly in this period taking certain bases, so you may be right, but it might not be points he's after.

What are the differences now? Could you show a large strategic map to get an idea where you think he could possibly hit?

What are your plans to gradually pul in the strings on the Empire to defend the HI?

[PaxMondo]

Guard your Northern Flank, it is the only direction that he come from and get in close to cause difficulties. A landing in Hokkaido ... Other places that are similar are MUCH easier to defend and react to (Okinawa, Korea, Formosa, ...) At this stage, I'm not worried about him getting in B29 range ... my goal is to keep him out of B17 range. In '45 his B17 pools become almost bottomless and once those are within range of the HI the game is over ... he can destroy any 4 - 6 hexes per turn. Meaning, he can land unopposed on the HI and then expand at least one hex per turn. In 30 days you have lost 50% of the HI ... 90 days he has it all ...

[1275psi]

24th of September
80 miles North of Kuching.
Dawn. A red line on the horizon. . dark shapes, solidifying in the growing light, fat transports, long tankers.
Gritty eyes, tired eyes. Unshaven face, bristles on the chin. Sweat thick between the thighs, stale on the skin.
Weariness weighs upon Takeji. It has been a long night. The wind, at least, stands cool upon his face.
He raises the cup, sips deeply. One, he thinks, could make coffee a habit.
Hiyo wallows on. The shoring still holds, the pumps remain ahead of the leaks. The black gang, he hears, must be gaining confidence. Today, apparently, they plan to cook a hot meal utilising the boiler heat.
A meal would be good, a bath, better………..

Crumps in the distance. The bells are ringing, another one………………
Takeji drains his Coffee. Tired or not………………”report!,”
Another day.


They come for the 22nd.
The B-29’s first, a great stream of them.
Their timing is perfect, damn them. Only 6 Franks get to them before the bombs begin to rain, the rest of the sentai still climbing frantically to intercept.
Fuchida is still at full boost, still at 1000 feet as the field erupts behind him, still climbing, cursing, cursing.
The fat barsteds are turning away, when the second wave, liberators ,take their turn.
And above them, yet more B-29’s………..

Later, seemingly days later, but in reality, late in the afternoon, Fuchida brings his beast to a silent halt. Rain, heavy rain whips across the field, filling the craters, running down the canopy.
He does not know how he has gotten down.
Slowly he slides the canopy back, raises his face to the rain, lets it beat down upon him. Lets it tell him he is still alive.

22nd has shot down two forts today.
Lost two planes itself
Down to 12 runners.
The field is all but broken. There is no place to retreat too. The end of the line.
The rain feels good.
If they come again tomorrow, they are truked.

[1275psi]

25th of september


180 miles north of Ambon, a million miles from home.
Deep in the heart of the empire

Captain Mike Williams , age 31 yrs, re emerges onto the bridge of his Fletcher class destroyer, the USN Bush, sniffs the air. Another beautiful day, bright blue sky, mirror calm seas, nothing, absolutely nothing from horizon to horizon, just his ship, the other seven Fletcher class DDs steaming with them.
Empty seas, and that, of course , was the problem. Somewhere to the north, a Japanese convoy, carrying the 31st division west.
they must have missed it by just that bloody much.................

"Morning skipper"
Executive Officer Charmers. Age 54. And very much not a Charmer. gruff, grumpy.
Doesn't the old barsted ever see the sunny side of things?
'XO.......all well?"
'Acceptable sir,", he glances at the clear blue sky, " could do with yesterdays rain though"

Yes, that they could. But Captain Williams is not too deeply troubled. Yesterday nearly a dozen Vals had attacked them, and been given far better than they had delivered.
Fletchers, it was rumoured, where classed as destroyers. In firepower, with those rapid fire 5 inch guns, her twin bofor mounts, she makes a pre war cruiser look positivly weak.
And he, lucky barsted that he is, has one to command.

The Japanese navy has gone missing. Its air power apparently reduced to impotence.
And here we are..........he thinks, 8 ships strong.
Not since 1941 has the allied Navy sailed these waters with such impunity............

The lead destroyer flashes, the bright light flickering.
Behind him, the replying clatter of the light.
'Enemy search plane spotted"
'Assume air defence formation"

Captain Williams goes to work, the destroyer trembles beneath him, the bow carves her path, soon eight wakes cut the seas, streaming south. Guns swing, barrells raise. men in helmets, kapok jackets stand at the ready, the ammunition glitters in the loading trays.
"Closed for action sir"
The Captain grins.....There is already a single val dive bomber painted on her funnel, " our Val is lonely EX, lets see if we can add to it hey"
LCDR Charmers almost scowls. Cocky young barsted. Its as if some of the latest commanders simply ignore what Japan has done to the USN in these last few years............
Treat the enemy with respect...........


"radar bridge...........bogies, bearing 060, hieght 12000, range 50 miles"
From ternate, probably..........give this to the little yellow barsteds, they are brave enough to come again.

9 val, in arrow formation, coming in straight and true.
Captain Williams takes great care to control his voice this time, yesterday, he has to admit, the excitement got to it a little. He doesn't want THAT LOOK, from his XO again
calmly the order goes out "Open fire"

The Bush shakes as the guns begin to BANG< BANG< BANG< BANG< BANG!.rapid, jarring, deadly............
empty cannisters clatter, ejected from turrets , one after another, after another.......

The sky about the vals explodes in dark bursts, a wing, apruptly, chops off one, the rest spinning down.

'Full ahead all"
The formation streams south, 40 guns turning the sky black above them

The enemy dive.
Now the clamour increases manifoldly, the bofors adding to the chaos, the 20mm orelikions chattering as well.
A single bomber chooses the Bush, almost vertical, it plunges down upon them, pieces fly off it, and still carrying its bomb, it plumments into the sea 100 yards astern.

'cease fire"

'Hows that Xo?.............another for the funnel hey?......."
But Charmers can but scowl. The day is but young

Second attack..............21 Jills, racing in from the North this time, hard up the formations arse.........
They drop fish at ranges far too long for their whiley, twisting targets.........they leave 6 of their planes behind, flaming patches of oil upon the waters.

Williams is still smiling.
But Charmers, busy with trying to reform the formation, thinks it a little forced.

Third attack, this one from the North west.........26 twin engined betties.
'I thought somebody said that Japan has with drawn those mothers from active duty............."

That may be, but somebody in these birds must not have gotten the message, th attack comes in co ordinated, from every direction, low, and very very close.
One fish strikes its target, there is an awsome bang..................

And then there were 7


9 Judy, peeling over even as the metal continues to tumble down, Williams is not smiling now, as the bombs, three of them, crash close to port, jarring teeth, shaking the Bush like a dog

Somebody else fails to dodge, two turrets lie silent, twisted, smoking, blood and flesh smeared disasters.

A small break, the formation circles, searching for survivors of the first sinking. Surely that would be it for now?..........

Another raid.
Another raid. One to take the breath away. One that sends a message. No more freebies. A new tactic, crude, but where no allied CAP exists, one that works.
93 oscars swarm into them , skimming the ocean at 100 feet, straffing, wheeving, too many to engage, too many to track, too many to always out turn and beat.


Nothing Hits the Bush, Captain Williams is lucky (for this day)
2 DDs are straffed heavily, two more lie stopped in the water, bombed, crippled.

And overhead, yet more dive bombers, Lillys this time...........



Respect your enemy, or learn a hard, hard lesson............



(3 DD sunk, 2 heavily hit) I will take that.
I have found a new role for my useless oscars..............

[1275psi]

The B-29s do not come for the 22nd today, a blessing indeed.
Frantically the field is repaired, good work yes, but still too fighters available..........

B-29's strike at Soerabaya, and lose 14 of their numbers, the Jack is doing its job well in point defence.

But Bangkok falls.
The ultimate disaster for Japan.
All her oil fields now fall into B-29 range..............