Silent Warriors by Gene Masters

Author:Gene Masters
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Submarines, WW II, War in the Pacific, World War Two, Submarine warfare, Japan, Allies, Axis, War stories, War novels, WW II novels
Publisher: Escarpment Press
Published: 2018-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Commander Hiriake Ito stood on the bridge of Atsukaze, first in a line of ten vessels that had been hugging the western coast of Palau Island, northbound at five knots. The visibility was terrible: the night dark, with a heavy ground mist, the shoreline of Palau a brooding blackness to the east. His navigator, a tall, gaunt, cerebral lieutenant from Sasebo, reported the barometer falling precipitously. A large storm system was on its way; best for the convoy to clear the harbor and be well underway before it arrived.

Ito’s ship and the others in the column were showing bright stern lights to keep the vessels in line. Once the radars aboard the kaibokan showed them clear of Palau and two tiny islands north of the tip of Palau, the line of ships could then turn northwest to clear the last reefs and make for open sea. Once in open sea, and once the visibility was good enough, the six “chicks,” two tankers and four cargo vessels, were to form ranks two abreast and three deep. Ito then planned to set the kaibokan in position in front of the convoy and on both flanks, placing his own ship to the rear of the convoy. Normally, he would have his ship, the largest escort, at the head of the pack, but his kaibokan had radar, and Atsukaze did not. At least, that was the plan.

But for the time being, Atsukaze was headed northwest for the channel between the reefs to open sea, and was being followed by Lt. Saburo Takashi in Kibuki, then Mikura, the four cargo ships, the two tankers, and finally Iki. Every ship in the convoy had been warned of the oncoming storm, to literally batten down the hatches, and to secure any loose gear topside.

“Captain, Kibuki is reporting four radar contacts to the northwest more or less evenly spread along an arc from three-zero-two to zero-one-four degrees, each out about forty-five hundred meters,” the bridge talker reported excitedly.

“Ask him if these contacts are large.” As Ito awaited Takashi’s reply, Mikura reported identical radar contacts.

“Captain, Kibuki reports that the contacts are small. Possible enemy submarines. Iki now also reports the contacts.”

Acting quickly, Ito ordered Mikura and Iki to break ranks and proceed at flank speed to close the two closest contacts, the two immediately outside the passage through the reefs. If they were submarines, the kaibokan were to attack. Once Mikura and Iki were safely clear of the formation and headed for the reef passage, he ordered Takashi in Kibuki to stay behind and shepherd the chicks to safe anchorage inside the reefs. Then Ito took Atsukaze out to engage the enemy, if, in fact, it was the enemy. This could, after all, be much ado over a bunch of sampans.

* * * * *

“Radar shows that two of those bastards have broken ranks and are headed straight for us,” Hal Chapman calmly informed Jake. “Looks like they’re doing about nineteen knots. Other three boats are reporting the same thing.

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