/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Still more planes kept attacking, and the next group hit with more bombs than I was able to count. When the explosions ended I shuddered to find that several gun posts and crews had vanished. How long can one endure the horror of his men being torn to shreds? And still there no hits on the main bridge and command post.

"Alright Admiral, let's abandon ship. Signalmen, raise Isokaze, urgent!"

Isokaze responded to our signal and kicked up high waves as she raced to the shattered hulk of our cruiser Yahagi. The destroyer slowed down 1000 meters away for a cautious approach, and drew slowly closer. I ordered "Abandon ship."

"Enemy planes!" a lookout cried, and one minute later the third wave of fighters and bombers was overhead. Isokaze had approached to within about 200 yards. Scores off planes broke off from attacking Yamato to head for the hapless, slow-moving destroyer. Her engines roared into full power as she frantically took evasive maneuvers. But the planes were everywhere, spewing torrents off bullets and bombs. Explosion followed explosion until Isokaze disappeared into a billow of black smoke.

Lt Yukio Matsuda, a navigation officer, had rounded up a dozen wounded men and was trying to get them into a lifeboat. This activity drew the attention of three more fighters who concentrated their fire, smashing the boat to bits and dropping the unlucky thirteen dead into pools of their own blood.

Looking out to sea I knew that Isokaze was in trouble. Her speed had fallen off and, though not on fire, she staggered like a drunk. Suzutsuki, farther off, was afire and pouring out billows of thick black smoke. Kasumi limped helplessly out of control, her flags signaling, "rudder trouble."

We looked around and saw Yamato, still moving. What a beautiful sight...