Taylor Anderson
Iron Gray Sea — 07
CHAPTER 27
USS Walker
South China Sea
1240
There was no question about it; that was Hidoiame and her tanker up ahead-unless there was more than one Kagero-class destroyer and accompanying oiler loose in these seas. I don’t even want to think about that, Matt told himself. Both ships were clearly visible to the crow’s-nest lookout when Walker climbed atop the taller swells. All the lookouts had been studying the silhouette drawings they’d been given, and the keen-eyed watcher in the uncomfortable steel bucket high on the foremast was positive.
“I guess she hasn’t got radar after all,” Matt mumbled. “That, or maybe Okada knocked it out.” He’d been worried about radar. No Japanese ships had it when they’d met before, but it existed. The cruiser USS Boise had it-and took it with her when she was damaged and ordered out of the area, leaving no other radar in the entire Asiatic Fleet either. Aircraft had been the only way to spot distant targets-and only the Japanese had aircraft by then. Here, these Japanese had no aircraft, but those at Matt’s disposal couldn’t fly in this weather. Time had passed “back home,” however, and who knew what kind of ugly surprises Hidoiame concealed?
“What makes you so sure, Skipper?”
“No reaction yet. With radar, they might’ve just avoided us.”
“I don’t think so, Skipper,” Gray said. “Radar can’t be much good in this sea, and now we’ve spotted ’em, that tanker damn sure can’t avoid us.”
Matt nodded. “I guess you’re right. Then the question now is, Do they see us yet, radar or not, and if they do, are they just trying to sucker us in?”
It was raining again, and the pilothouse windows were practically opaque. Matt walked out on the bridgewing and looked through his binoculars until the spray clouded them as well. He caught only glimpses of the enemy and quickly stepped back under cover. A damp towel was draped over the back of his chair, and he used it again to wipe the binoculars and dry his face. His hat and clothes were soaked. At least I can get out of it, he thought. The guys on deck at their battle stations or on the fire-control platform are probably miserable.
“Their lookouts’ll have to see us soon.”
“Range, fifteen-t’ousands!” Minnie cried. “They do see us! Lookout says the Jaap tin caan is turning this way!”
Matt gestured for her to hand him the microphone headset. “Mr. Campeti, this is the captain speaking.”
“This is Campeti.”
Normally, Matt might have just stood on the bridgewing and shouted his question up at the man, but with the rain and wind…
“Those Jap five-incher’s have about the same range our new ammo’s supposed to have, right?”
“Yes, sir, but they got advantages and disadvantages.”
“Advantages?”
“They throw a heavier shell, high explosive-and their gun’s crews’ll stay dry in those enclosed mounts.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, chances are, they’ve got better fire control. Otherwise, we’ve got the edge in rate of fire and maybe fire correction.”
“Why?”
“Those five-incher’s are bag guns. They gotta ram the projectile, then the powder bag, and they have to change elevation to do it. They’re fast, don’t get me wrong-we’ve seen ’em-but we should get off four or five more rounds per minute than they can-until the ready lockers run dry. It’ll even up when we have to start passing ammo from below by hand.”
Matt considered. “Okay, Sonny. How close do you want ’em?”
“We should be in range now, but with this sea… I’d feel more confident at ten thousand, and that would still keep us out of range of their twenty-fives. Course, we’re already technically in range of their five-inchers.”
Matt nodded, though Campeti couldn’t see it. He had a hunch that the Japanese captain would be frugal with his ammunition. According to Okada’s cook, Hidoiame had seen action before she crossed over, and then she’d used ammunition on Mizuki Maru and the other ships she’d murdered. Her bunkers might be full for now, with that tanker she had along, but her magazines could be seriously depleted. Walker could always get more ammunition.
“Range is fourteen thousand and closing, Skipper. Target has increased speed.” Campeti shouted.
“What’s the range to the tanker?” Matt asked.
“Ah, about fourteen. I think she’s turning away.”
“Can you hit her?”
There was a brief pause. “I… think so. She’s bigger than the tin can-not a lot bigger. She ain’t no fleet oiler, but she’s slow.”
“Very well. Target the tanker with every gun that will bear!”
“Aye, aye, Skipper-but what about the can? She’s really pourin’ on the coal now!”
“The tanker, Sonny!”
“Aye, Captain.”
Matt handed the headset back to Minnie.
“Why the tanker, Skipper?” Spanky asked. “We get the can, we’ll have the tanker on a plate.”
“Something I guess I have to try,” Matt said. “There’ll be a smaller crew on the tanker, and maybe not all those men are murderers.” He shrugged. “Let’s just say I owe General Shinya one.”
“One what?”
“A chance we never really gave the ordinary seamen on Amagi, Spanky: a chance to do the right thing.” An ironic smile appeared on his face. “Those’re Japs over there, Mr. McFarlane, but you do realize that’s not why we’ve been chasing them, don’t you? That’s all over-or it should be for us. We’re here because they’re murderers with a very deadly weapon and they have to be stopped. I’m going to give them an option, a single chance; then I mean to start taking all the options they think they have away!” He smiled fondly at his friend. “Now take your station aft, at the auxiliary conn. I have the deck and the conn.”
“Aye, aye, sir. I stand relieved. The captain has the deck and the conn!” Spanky announced, and with a quick, curious nod at Matt, he bolted aft, down the ladder.
Matt went to the heavy Bakelite telephone mounted on the aft bulkhead that connected the bridge to the comm shack. “Mr. Palmer, this is the captain speaking. I want you to send a voice-radio message. Start with the frequency Okada used to contact the Japanese ships. Message contents: This is the cruiser USS Walker.” (Matt knew the Japanese had often mistaken the very similar silhouettes of four-stack destroyers with the bigger four-stack light cruisers like the old Marblehead. Maybe that would help.) “Our old war does not exist here, and this ship is no longer at war with the Empire of Japan. Yours is a criminal ship, however, with criminal officers who murdered helpless prisoners of war and civilian… natives. That’s not war on any world. You have become pirates, and your leaders must be held accountable for their crimes. Surrender your ships now and you’ll get a fair trial. Those of you innocent of the crimes I described will be honorably treated and allowed to emigrate to a land governed by honorable Japanese! Refuse, and you’ll be destroyed. This offer will not be repeated, nor are the terms negotiable. You have one minute to reply.”
The seconds ticked by, the only sounds from the straining ship and the sea.
“Lookout reports Jaap destroyer open fire!” Minnie cried.
“That’s the option I kind of figured they’d take,” Matt said resignedly. “Time to show them they don’t have any.”
“Twin waterspouts, four hundred tai- yards off port bow!” Minnie reported. They were invisible from the pilothouse.