The first of the five-inch shells began falling about the cruiser. The first three straddled the larger ship; then, explosions began to erupt as five round landed on the ship.
Five coughs three-thousand pounds of compressed air came from behind the bridge on the starboard side. That signaled the launch of the torpedoes, and five splashes jumped alongside the ship then the dark-colored metal fish sped away.
The stern lookout reported, “Bridge, stern lookout, another Gleaves destroyer is following in our wake.”
The Captain went to the port bridge wing and looked aft. The AGAR was joining the battle, ‘Good for Gilmore.’ He thought to himself. Then the AGAR began firing at the cruiser, which necessitated Captain Genzo Yokokawa was forced to split his main battery between the two attackers. The two Gleaves destroyers poured all their firepower into the cruiser, but now the escorts had time to get past the Samurai attack of the Americans, and were moving into position to destroy both of them.
Captain Appleton ordered the ‘A’ section to swing about to starboard and attack the enemy force from their after starboard quarter. As Appleton’s warships engaged the enemy, the six-inch main battery of the AARON began dropping one-hundred-twelve-pound shells about the enemy cruiser.
With the enemy force concentrating on the two suicidal destroyers, they didn’t spot the section that turned about. Their first knowledge they were under attack was the splashes and hits on the Kuma class cruiser.
Two of AARONS’s armor-piercing shells smashed through the thick deck and into the after engine room. The devastation was complete, and the wrecked machinery added to the destruction in its final attempts to turn over. Those that may have survived the twin shell’s blasts quickly succumbed to the high-temperature steam escaping from shattered steam lines. The cruiser slowed to under ten knots, making her an easy target. Five and six-inch shells rained on the hapless cruiser, ripping open her bottom and port side. The once-proud Japanese ship-of-the-line, rolled over, taking over a hundred men with her into the watery grave.
The remaining enemy destroyers were still intact and began concentrating their efforts to destroy the two American ships. Despite the efforts of HALLIS’s crew to fight the ship, the slow response to changes in direction and speed rendered her an ideal target. Several four-point-seven and five-inch shells pummeled the sleek destroyer, knocking out both boiler rooms. As she ground to a halt, only the attacks by the remaining Allied ships, kept her from being sunk.
With the destroyers facing two six-inch cruisers and escorts, they retired from the area. AGAR passed lines to the broken ship, and the crews prepared to tow her to safety. Captain Lanner, although suffering from shrapnel wounds, remained on the makeshift bridge. Those not engaged with the towing tended to the wounded. The dead, which numbered sixty-seven, were placed in body bags and set into freezers.
The remainder of the task force located the Japanese cargo and troop ships and were able to sink two cargo ships and a destroyer in a running gunfight. Captain Appleton had accomplished his mission and now had to contend with a moderately and two severely damaged ships. It was time for them to withdraw from the hostile area.
Four hours after being taken undertow, the engineers were able to get the boilers lit and build up steam. The ship could now make ten knots. The tow lines were taken down, and HALLIS was able to limp to Brisbane under the ship’s power.
A pilot came aboard at the outer limits of Moreton Bay and guided the ship through the defenses in the harbor. The ship tied up at the repair pier, where four U.S. Naval officers stood, shaking their heads. Right after the crane set the gangways in position, the officers walked aboard. At the quarterdeck, Lieutenant Commander Lanner met them and escorted them to the wardroom.
“Your ship has taken a beating, Commander. Congratulations on getting her back.”
“The credit goes to the crew, sir. Without them, we would be at the bottom of the South China Sea.”
“You're a very gracious man, Commander. It’s unusual to come across a captain who gives total credit to his crew.”
“That's exactly the way it was, sir. A team effort, the way Captain Tyson, then I trained the men.”
“Your crew is lucky to have you. Let’s see what the damage is, and we’ll transmit it to Pearl and see what they recommend.”
“Yes, sir. Where do you want to begin?”
“How about the bow, it’s a good place to begin.”
The tour began, with the repair officers pointing out damage and an enlisted man recording the findings.
Two hours later, the tour ended in the wardroom. They had twisted their way about the ship’s damage, and medical personnel removing the dead. Several ambulances had taken the seriously injured men to a hospital. The Captain’s wounds would need attention, but he refused treatment until the inspection team left.
The team was wrapping up their inspection with Commander Trey Wilson said, “Commander, do you know you’re bleeding?” He pointed to Chris’ shoulder and side.
“I’ll have it tended to when we’re finished, sir.”
“Very well, we have what we need here. Tomorrow at the earliest, or the day after, I’ll let you know what we have decided. Now, you better get down to the sickbay and have those injuries tended to. By the way, how did you get them?”
“During the battle with the cruiser, sir.”
“Get them taken care of; your men need you.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The officers packed up their paperwork, and took their leave, while Chris made his way to the Sickbay, his shoulder and side throbbing. Waves of dizziness rolled over him as he opened the door, then nothing.
The light shining in his eyes was aggravating, but not painful. He fought to focus his vision; then it slowly began to clear up. He was in his bunk, his shoulder and side securely wrapped in gauze bandages. Chris slowly, and not without some pain, rolled out of his bunk. He sat on the edge until the dizziness went away, then made it to the miniature sink, where he doused his head and face in cold water.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror. The face staring back at him looked tired. Small wrinkles were beginning to form at the corners of his clear blue eyes still showed crystal clear alertness. Its stateroom was hot, no doubt to the afternoon sun heating the skin of the ship.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Captain Christopher Lanner’s cabin phone rang, “Captain,” he said.
“Sir, Commander Wilson from the shipyard is here to see you.”
“I’ll be right down.” Chris grabbed his cap and headed for the quarterdeck. “Good morning, Sir,” he said with a salute.
“How are you feeling, Chris?” Commander Wilson asked with genuine concern.
“Much better, the Doc fixed me up after you left, and I’m rapidly healing.”
“Good, you had us a bit worried for a while. What about your injured crew?”
“We still have half a dozen in the hospital; however, they should be returned for duty this week. Three were deemed too seriously injured and will be medically discharged and returned home. Those officers and men we lost were flown out to their home of record.”
“How are you staffed for sea?”
“We are capable of manning all the required stations. But, I’d rather not take her into a battle right now.”
“And we don’t want you to go into battle with her. We’re going to do some temporary repairs, but the ship needs the yard facilities at Pearl. We have already sent a copy of our findings by radio and followed them up with a copy of the full report. By the way, that’s why I’m here, to deliver your copy, following that, you and AGAR will set sail for Pearl.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Good luck, Captain, I hope our paths cross again, under better conditions.”
“Thank you, sir, and the best for you as well.”
The Commander took his leave, and Chris decided to make the rounds of his ship. He dropped into Main Control, and a petty officer called out, “Attention on deck.”
<
br /> “As you were.” The Captain said.
Ensign Banner was checking over some paperwork while nursing a cup of coffee. “Good afternoon, Captain.”
“Good afternoon, Ensign. Getting used to the paperwork?”
“I thought I had a lot of paperwork when I was a Chief.”
“It only gets worse.” Chris laughed.
“You know, I’m still trying to get my head around you being the Captain and me, an Ensign. It all happened so fast.”
“I’m sure when we get to Pearl, the powers to be will kick me back down here, and bring in someone to conn the ship.”
“What about your rank?”
“It’s a temporary thing; it goes with the commanding persona.”
“Too bad, you’re a good Skipper, and you earned the extra stripe.”
“Thanks for your confidence, but after getting this ship all beat up on my first time as Captain, isn’t going to fare well with the bean counters.”
“You did good sir, you fought with a bigger ship without the benefit of radar or radio, and bested her.”
“We did have help, you know.”
“Yes, but you led the attack and did get us out alive.”
“We lost a lot of good men, Doug.”
“That happens in combat, sir. It’s how you handle the loss and fight the ship. No Captain could have done better. It’s not only me, but the entire wardroom backs you a hundred percent. And so does the crew.”
“That’s mighty nice of you, Doug. Maybe the bigwigs will pay attention to your words. We’ll know for sure in about three or four weeks.”
Ten days later, the HALLIS and AGAR slipped their last lines to Brisbane and blew the required blast from the ship’s horn. “Shift colors.” The Bo’sun said over the 1MC. They were en route to the Territory of Hawaii, by way of Bora-Bora. It didn’t take long for the crew to regain their sea legs, and the required drills quickly took hold.
Their first leg of three-thousand-five-hundred-eighty miles took them to Bora-Bora in a week, where the two ships refilled their fuel tanks. Then they headed west of north on a course of three-five-zero for the next two-thousand-thirty-five miles. At the speed of twenty knots, they should make Pearl Harbor in five days. The crew was more than excited.
****
Lieutenant Marjery Todd was a close friend of Maggie Lanner. Within hours of the twin Gleaves departing Brisbane, the Lieutenant, a communications supervisor, met with the red-headed nurse for a luncheon.
“Hi, Marg, haven’t seen you in what, three days?” Maggie said with a laugh and a full smile that endeared her to everyone.
“Maggie,” her friend said while looking around, “He’s on his way home.”
Maggie sat straight up, a frown of worry clouding her face.
“Don’t worry, he’s okay, but the ship is banged up. I really can’t say any more about it.”
“That’s alright, so long as he’s safe,” the now relieved woman said.
The two women talked for the remainder of their lunch, then Maggie headed back for the hospital, almost floating across the sidewalk with a smile on her face. In her mind, she was planning on taking a week’s leave; there was going to be some serious personal time needed.
****
Captain Lanner had the OOD set up an irregular zig-zag course to foil the aim of any marauding enemy submarines. The only other possible encounter would be from a carrier group, which was highly unlikely. Even so, the OOD had the lookouts keep a sharp eye out for aircraft as well as signs of subs. Overall the transit was without incident.
Captain Lanner watched from his temporary chair as the regular arriving-in-port information flowed in normal channels. He noted the normal ten-knot trade wind greeted the two ship the morning they approached Pearl Harbor. The temperature and humidity were more comfortable than around the South Sea Islands.
The ships were required to identify themselves by communications as they approached the harbor when the Port Authority was satisfied; the duty tug pulled back the anti-torpedo and submarine net, allowing them entrance.
A pair of pilot boats met the Gleaves and guided them directly to the shipyard piers. Cranes were standing by with the gangways, and as soon as they were tied up, and the colors shifted, the cranes set the gangways. The first person to board the HALLIS was the Squadron Commander and the shipyard inspection team.
While the officers trooped up the gangway, Chris scanned the pier but did not see Maggie. Since the December attack, the shipyard was closed to all unauthorized personnel. Maggie and a dozen other wives were waiting patiently in the parking lot of the guarded gate. An officer met the wives and others who gathered at the notification of the ship's arrival.
“I’m sorry the shipyard is secured, but I’m sure you understand. The USS AGAR and USS HALLIS will be here for some time. The women looked at the pier, where the officer indicated the ship’s location. Several gasps escaped the women at the damage the two ships had suffered, particularly the HALLIS, with the top part of the bridge structure missing.
Maggie asked, “Is Captain Tyson, alright?”
“I’m not familiar with Captain Tyson; Captain Lanner is the CO of the HALLIS.”
Maggie's hand covered her mouth as she registered surprise, concern, and wonderment of why her husband was the captain. He just made the Engineering Officer billet when the ship left four months earlier.
Other HALLIS wives and kids had gathered, but the absence of Captain Tyson’s wife, Jolene, and their two daughters drew several questions. With the high level of security and secrecy, what had happened to the two ships was shrouded in silence.
“Look,” one of the ladies said, as she pointed toward a sailor walking briskly toward the group. He knew who he was looking for, and walked up to Maggie, who was in uniform and saluted the officer.
“Lieutenant, the Captain wanted you to know he is well but will need to remain aboard until late this afternoon. He said he would get a ride when he can leave.”
“Thank you, can you tell me what has happened?”
“No, Ma’ me, we are under orders not to speak of ship’s operations, I’m sure he will explain after he leaves the ship.”
“Very well; thank you for the information.”
“Aye, Ma’ me, and may I say Captain Lanner is a first-rate Skipper.”
“I’ll agree with you on that.”
The messenger saluted, then marched off, with a dozen questions in his mind.
Maggie's mind was reeling with a hundred questions as well, several which had to do with Chris being the Captain. Unexpectedly, the women from the HALLIS’s crew surrounded her with more questions than she could begin to answer.
She held up her hand to ward off any further question, and when the women settled down, Maggie retrieved a small pad of paper and pencil from her regulation over the shoulder handbag. “One at a time now, name, telephone number, and address. I know I know some of them, but right now, I want to get them correctly, especially if I’m going to become the Captain’s wife, mistress, girlfriend, or all of the above.” Then she gave them her contact information.
After collecting the information, Maggie told the women, “Look, I’m as much in the dark as you are at this point. Nobody here was more shocked at the news of Chris being the Captain, more than me. And the damage to the ship is beyond disturbing. I will find out what I can and let you all know what’s going on. But, I’m pretty sure you’ll know everything there is to know when the men get in.”
“I would say the men are going to be tied up for the rest of the day. There is going to be plenty of time to be with them by the looks of the ships. I need to report back at the hospital, can I give anyone a lift?”
The women said they were going to wait for a time. Maggie turned the car toward the base hospital, her head full of unanswered questions.
****
Just after eighteen-hundred-hours, the phone in the living room rang with its shrill jingle. Maggie stopped to regained her military composure befo
re she grabbed the phone, “Lieutenant Lanner speaking, sir.”
“What’s the chance a lonely sailor can get a ride?”
“I only give rides with sailors I sleep with.”
“I’ve been known to sleep with a red-head before.”
“Anyone, I know?”
“I hope so?”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Love you.”
Maggie almost missed the telephone cradle in her hurry to get out the door. Less than ten minutes later, she was pulling up to the gate at the shipyard. A tall, strapping officer stood by the gate, his hands clasped in front of him, his hat squarely on his head, his hair little longer than it should be, and in officer’s khakis. Over his left pocket were gold Naval Aviator’s wings, on his collars the gold oak leafs of a Lieutenant Commander.
Maggie stepped out of the red convertible and walked up to him. She snapped him a salute, which he returned equally sharp. Then the Red-headed Viking launched herself onto her husband, and they clung to one another in a feverish kiss.
“I’ve missed you so much, and have been worried to death about you. Then when I saw the ship, I had all I could do to keep myself in control. But, what shocked me was the visit by the seaman, and his revelation of who the Captain was. Chris, what happened?”
“Come on; I’ll explain it all on our way home.”
****
Back aboard the ship the next morning, the Captain was packing his gear and preparing to vacate the commander's cabin. The phone rang, and he grabbed it, “Captain here.”
“Sir, several officers are starting up the gangway.”
Attack of the Greyhounds Page 15