The little ship that could.

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1275psi
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

September 19th

Diogowa sits, somewhat forlorn, on the rough wooden steps of what tries to masqurade as kanko's principle air head quarters.
It is not snowing, at least, but it is bitterly cold.
There are over 100 plus fighters here at kanko. But few are going to fly today, 401st will barely get 6 into the air at all.
The other sentai's will be on par.

There is, as Ogowa expected, nothing else to support any more. No fuel, little ammunition. Oxygen is non existant.........

None of this concerns Diogowa, what does cause his miserable feelings is the fact that Ogowa has not selected him to fly. Its a nice gesture..but............
Ogowa has however selected the rookies, if anyone could call men with nearly 100 missions a rookie. They have eagerly departed, winging north under the grey overcast.

Reports come in.......the radio busy. 100 betties pounding the mountain pass, 100 TBDs and Dive bombers also adding their wieght to the attack.
And no enemy fighters.

Diogowa's mood is barely improved as the radio crackles again..........."401st attacking!"

'401st returning to base........2 kills!'
Damnation


His mood will not be improved even with all of them safely returning. Ogowa has doe a stocktake.
There will be no flying tomorrow. Fuel and supplies are coming, but they will have to arrive before Diogowa can get his chance......
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

September 20
1945


Captain Mackinnon, of the Large landing ship Empire star emerges from his cabin, and carefully sniffs the humid air.
It is only just past 7 am, and already the early morning cool has dissapated, the humidity already is beginning to climb
Its going to be a hot sticky one..........again.

Carefully, so as not to spill his coffee he makes his way to the bridge
The Navigator straightens, the helmsman stiffens, the port lookout discreetly hides his smoke.
All is calm, and routine.
"Morning nav, any news?"
"No sir, a quiet night, the Iron navigator reports a little boiler trouble, another bloody excuse for her smoke I suspect"
Mackinnon grunts acknowledgement, makes his way to the bridge wing, and examines his convoy.
Ten fat cargo ships, in two columns, and at the head of each a single DE, the cauvery and the Kistna
The Empire star sits at the head of the port column.
Convoy Commodore.

He swings his glasses to the north, and peers hard. There, barely discernable, the mist and haze that marks the head of the bay, the river leading into Rangoon.
High tide is not yet due for another 4 hours, they have timed it nicely.
"The outboand convoy Nav, any news?"

The Navigator moves to his chart, consults his notebook. "Ah yes sir, DE Arrow reports clearing the minefields at 0600, I think I spotted her to the west, but this mist......

"Good, no hanging about then.........a beer will be very good I think tonight"

Mackinnon sweeps the horizon one last time....the war has long, long passed this area of the world, even the Jap SS have been eliminated.
Other than running into each other, or a bloody beach, one has little to worry about here in this part of the world.

"Set convoy speed to 6 knots navigator.........

he sips his coffee.
yep, its going to be a hot one




Hotter than he could ever imagine................
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british exil
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by british exil »

Then I'll have to make myself a quick coffee, too. Might not have enough time to enjoy, when it gets really hot.

Another day of action looms on the horizon?


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
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

Watanabe looks at the two men standing opposite to him .
He smiles wanely. 'Quite a career.........two carriers, a battleship, an escort...........and us. No cruisers really left though"
Hirate and Okano shift uneasily. They sense what is coming, and Watanabe can already see the distress rising.
He moves to quell it.
"Don't fear men, I am not going to split you up, not now, not at this late stage'
The two stokers glance swiftly at each other, then stare back at him, wary, hopeful
"But", continues The captain, suddenly surprised in himself how genuinely he actually feels about this " I am losing you both. All those ships, all this time.........and no shore time at all. But the war continues, and men as skilled as you are needed. "
He pauses
Susuzuki is quiet this day, the executive officer has most of her crew ashore, on the firing range. Terrible that it has come to that...
"So, a weeks leave, then you are to report to kagoshima.........a MTB base has been established there, good stokers are needed, and needed badly.............


Watanabe watches the two men go.
"My lucky charms.............now, now what for Susuzuki?"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
1275psi
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

The convoy has moved only another ten miles, Rangoon harbour entrance has firmed a little.
The humidity has rien greatly, and the horizon is darkening.
Mackinnon eyes the gathering dark on the horizon warily. Entering the harbour might become complicated if that arrives at the wrong time.
"Message from the Arrow sir"
"yes"
'have sighted two strange vessels, bearing 090, course due east, unable to identify...........what is your position?"
The Captain frowns
"What do you make of that nav?"
'I think he's spotted us sir........."
For a bare moment the Commodore of this convoy, of these ships, of all these men, considers the possibility of an enemy.
And dismisses it almost immediately
Malaya has been in allied hands for a year now.
The enemy?
Impossible

At 6 knots the convoy sails on
Soon the storm strikes, a typical monsoon squall......wind, heavy rain, a white frothing sea
And at midday precisely, captain Mackinnon pays for his complacency with his life , as Japanese destroyer Hokaze destroys the Empire Stars bridge with her first salvo, delivered from a mere 3000 yards

In the quiet waters, the green pastures of the wars back areas, the wolves once again, are amongst the lambs.
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Smoky Stoker
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by Smoky Stoker »

Hokaze is old, ancient by the standards of steam warships. If she is still afloat then, 22 December will be the twenty - fourth anniversary of her commissioning.
"Leveling large cities has a tendency to alienate the affections of the inhabitants and does not create an atmosphere of international good will after the war." -Rear Admiral Daniel V. Gallery
1275psi
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

This action at the mouth of the rangoon river follows the patteren of so many gone before. It is as if the date has been returned to early 43.

Only two japanese destroyers this time. Old, tired, utterly expendable and useless in all situations, except maybe this.
The Hokaze leads her sister Nokaze out of the blinding rain, guns spitting fire. They race down parrallel to the port row of the convoy, smashing the Empire Star, leaving her burning and adrift.
They strike 5 other ships of the port column, exchange desperate shots with the escorts, striking both, but Hokaze taking a strike of her own.

And then the rain swallows them again, as they vanish intothe grey and murk

They are a long way home, and surely now a thousand eyes are seeking them.





This , this small action , however has a secondary purpose. With (hopefully) all eyes turned north more important things can occur

Undetected (apparently) 3 large tankers slip quietly into palembang......
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1275psi
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

Ogowa reads the signal, and smiles inwardly.
It is hard to decide whether this news is good or bad.
On one hand, high command has decided that he will be supported....good
On the other.........that means here I will have to stand and fight




'Anything that can fly and carry supplies enroute. Expect immediate arrival of supply convoys. Light navy units to patrol of your airfield.
"Commence active , aggressive patrol actions to your absolute capability........"

Diogowa will be happy........
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hosho
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by hosho »

bump
the first ones are remembered
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

A turn at last:
Quite suddenly, Kanko has become the busiest airfield in the empire
They come in one every three minutes.
Many are faded, many missing vast swathes of paint along leading edges. Three times during the day those watching will here missing engines, backfiring cylinders
Once, horribly, the sound of tearing smashing aluminum as oneof these fading bombers collapses into the mud, slides sideways of the strip.
Betty. Francis. Peggy. fading, ancient ladies now, past their prime
But willing work horses still.
Once every three minutes, the bombers come, the doors open, the boxes and supplies come tumbling out to the chain of hands waiting.
Supplies. Logistics they call it now.
A god damn miracle for Ogowa

And in the harbour, the tramp steamers also unload.

Japan has bombers still. None carry bombs today. They carry more important things than almost useless bombs, Fighting power sometimes is measured beyond mere bombs.........


Soon, as each bomber lands, an eagle departs, some for the mountains to the north east, others to the river.
They have a busy, busy day


Ogowa's Eagles immediately impact.
They kill 43 russians for no loss.

They are here. Ogowa intends to stay.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
1275psi
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

Sept 22nd
Long pig watches them depart
60 B-29's, target , Fukuoka Japan.

Their is an air of desperation on the base. It reminds him of a game of football. Your team is two goals down, and time on is about to begin............


6 do not return
damage.................negligble

2 goals down, and the bloody keeper is doing too well.








The Hokaze and Nokaze arrive Sabang. The enemy know they are there.
But at Sabang they will remain.
South, at Palembang, under the enemies very noses, now 5 tankers suck eagerly at the oil reserves.

Burgulars in the loungeroom, while the allies attend to the kitchen
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Lecivius
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by Lecivius »

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Hi John
I will have to think about that............( i am thinking of the future...........a match perhaps)

Totally intruding on 2 lives here, but I would love to read the story of the 2 of you going at it. It would be, IMHO, epic. [8D]
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

23rd sept 45
Hirate and okano view the village with disgust.
Their home town, always so neat, so tidy, has ben turned into a muddy military camp.
AA gun pits, ammunition dumps. They are the best of it.
Add crude barracks, with field kitchens, and troops and trucks everywhere............

The roads are wrecked, as are some of the buldings.

Somehow, the house remains untouched, and Okano quietly will thank the absent, yet still present influence of Ogowa.

But the biggest problem is anchored off shore .

Yamato. Musashi
Floating small cities. With all the waste that they produce flowing straight into the ocean......

The beach stinks.

There is an upside, however. It has taken their wives little time to learn this; Trail your lines near the galley outlets after meal hours, and the fishing is very good.

Hirate and Ogano will wrinkle their noses at the new surroundings, then , in typical sailor manor, turn backs to the ships, and do what is important.
Enjoy a new child, and almost new wives,,,,,,,,,,,,,
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
1275psi
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

Sept 23rd

The russians come for kanko
Three small emergency class destroyers face two russian cruisers, 4 destroyers

The Japanese destroyers fight valiantly, and eventually succumb, the russians however are turned away, the cruiser burning.

Supplies keep flowing to Ogowa.

His eagles, battling the snow storms equally as the russians, kill another twenty .
he does not fly, (nor Diogowa).
Tomorrow, satisfied that the supply situation is now in hand, he orders that all of his eagles will go aloft.
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

Diogowa sits on the privy
Its been a particularily tough battle. Bloody change in diets...........

Its freezing here, the wind whipping under the door, his legs beginning to shiver already
Bloody snow. Bloody country.
Bloody russians.

Its five pm, and almost dark already, another miserable cold day almost done, an even more miserable night ahead
It does not worry him

But faintly, in the quiet of the dusk, he can hear the rumble of the russian guns
Closer.
They are definately closer.
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

24th September

Sailors know this.
After the initial euphoria of returning home............the work list.
Its early morning, cold, but sunny.
Okano and Hirate are on the roof, tackling the loose slates and tiles, clearing the leaves and crap.
Husband duties.
War, or no war, wives will always need the same things done.

Okano stands, stretching cramped muscles.
"hey Hirate, check it out"

"It" is Yamato, that ever present presence..............
But it is not the battleship itself that has caught Okano's eye, no the stoker gaze hones in on the vessel approaching her flank
Low, heavily laden
A treasure ship

Fuel barge.. Filled to the brim

Yamato raises the red flags. No smoking, no naked lights.
Re fuelling in progress.

The two stokers grin...........they know what that means
And as if to confirm their hopes, a burst of evil smoke from the stack.
Boilers lighting off.

The big beautiful ugly mess making barsted is going to depart................




But to where?
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

Diogowa curses

radar tells him, the barsteds are HERE..........right here.
Truked if he can see them..........

Angrily he wheels his fighter through the clouds, the sleet, the snow.
Bloody weather, bloody muck....

16000 feet..and not a foot lower, there are some bloody tall hills about here..................

The russians come today, and Ogowas Eagles, all of them will fly.
And blunder about, and fail to interecept a single one........


Ok then, thinks Ogowa
They come to us, and we miss
Let us go to them.
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

B-29's over Fukuokou again
Fighter intercepts again.

Pilots ramming fighters into bombers, again.


Death feeds, again.
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

September 25th

Ogowa sits in his cockpit, the canopy closed, his fighter firmly stuck in the mud, the engine cold.
Almost as cold as he is
The canopy is closed against a howling breeze, against beating snow and sleet. Weather so foul that the george actually shakes about him.
There is not going to be any flying today.

A million things fill his mind, fill his day. He sits here, seeking solitude, seeking a chance to think.

It is too easy, is it not, to get caught up in the day to day minute' of war, to have the days melt into weeks, the weeks into months.
To lose the big picture

The big picture.
The war is lost, isn't it Ogowa?.
Yes...yes, I think it is.
And what are we fighting for now?.............

The Future.
What future?

There is none if I die...............and maybe little if I live.
But none if I die.

But I am sworn to defend hearth and home.......my home, japan, my land, my people.............


Ogowa sits for many an hour more this day, cocooned in his cockpit, the snow piling up upon wings, cold seeping into his bones......his mind on fire........

big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
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RE: The little ship that could.

Post by 1275psi »

200 miles to the north west of Ogowa, japan suffers a crushing, crushing blow.
At Antung, the russians attack.
They pound , they attack, they press the desperate defenders against the river at their backs.

Few escape across the frozen waters
23000 Japanese soldiers, the key to Japans defence of the Ichon river, die
The defence of Korea has collapsed.




Yamato and Musashi are at sea
In fact, the entire Japanese navy is at sea .

The war is lost
But the Imperial Navy is yet to lose its aggression...........
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