“We believe the enemy is unaware of our specific intentions, but by now he must have a pretty good idea of our Pacific strategy. The commander on Iwo has been told he can expect no reinforcements, that if attacked he must defend the island with what he’s got. Once we take Iwo, however, Okinawa will clearly be one of our most likely objectives. Undoubtedly Japan will do her utmost to bolster its defenses. But she’ll not expect a one-two punch, and that’s why we plan to move so fast.” He paused again. Richardson could hear Everett breathing beside him. No one spoke. The wall map held death for thousands of men, Japanese and Americans. Admiral Small was pronouncing their death sentences, though of course he had little to do with it. The decision must have been made in Washington, perhaps by the President himself, certainly upon recommendation by the Combined Chiefs of Staff: that extraordinary combination of the military leaders of all the allied nations in the war. Most of the men who would die would not know even that much. Eel, Chicolar, and Whitefish had a part to play. Other submarines, doubtless, had their parts too.
Perhaps the admiral had expected questions. There were none. He went on. “Our mission is to prevent reinforcements to either of these islands.” Now he was coming to cases. “Special submarine patrol areas are about to be established around both Iwo and Okinawa. They will be kept occupied until each campaign is over, or, in the case of Iwo Jima, until it is clear the enemy is not going to send any more troops or supplies. Most of the Japanese forces are already pretty well tied down where they are anyway, with a single exception, the Kwantung Army. That’s the one that has us worried, and that’s where your three boats come in.” Again Admiral Small paused. He looked steadily at the four sitting before him.
Rich nodded shortly, not bothering to note whether the others did also. The Kwantung Army was in Manchuria. Originally formed to safeguard territory seized from Russia, it had been the basis of Japan’s political power in China’s northern province. This was the army which had attacked China in the early thirties, and until Pearl Harbor the Kwantung Army had done nearly all of Japan’s fighting. It was here that most of her top soldiers had received their early combat training. Since 1941, however, the Kwantung Army had been employed only to hold the ground against the possibility of combat against either China or Russia. It had seen little if any action. Yet Japan kept huge forces there, forces she badly needed elsewhere. If the admiral was hinting that a combat role for the Kwantung Army was in the offing, was expected, there must be important business for any submarines in the Yellow Sea. Small was speaking again.
“Shipping in either direction between the home islands and Manchuria is critically important to Japan. Most significant, and of most importance to our forces, is any movement of troops out of Manchuria. We have received indications that the enemy may be contemplating shifting several complete divisions, but as yet we have no idea where to. As soon as they begin to suspect our plans for Okinawa, that’s where they’ll go for sure. They might even ship some of them to Iwo Jima. No matter where they go, they will be bad news for our men. They’re well trained and well equipped. Their officers are fanatically eager to get into the war. It’s up to us — to you fellows and your boats — to stop them from getting there.
“We’ll keep you advised as well as we can, of course, via ‘Ultra’ messages. As you know, we’re able to get certain extremely valuable information from a special group at Fort Shafter”—Small’s eyes for a second flicked directly at Richardson—“and anything pertaining to the Kwantung Army or Manchuria in general will be sent to you immediately. Washington has directed that a coordinated submarine group be kept in the Yellow Sea. You are to try to cut off any traffic between Manchuria and the home islands of Japan. Generally speaking, there’s quite a lot. We suspect most of it is moving close inshore. You can hurt them severely by sinking the ships carrying supplies and replacement cadres to or from Japan. Most important of all, however, are the organized divisions of that army in Manchuria. If we get wind of any movement involving them, you’ll be expected to make a maximum effort to stop it. Carry out normal area coverage until you hear from us. But be ready to take decisive action if and when you do.”
The large eyes in Admiral Small’s heavy face fastened on each of his listeners in turn. His voice took on an even more somber tone. “Until and unless you hear from me differently, you will carry out a regular patrol. From that moment, however, this wolfpack becomes a special mission force. I do not have to tell you how important it is that these reinforcements, if the Japs attempt to send them, do not arrive. We don’t yet know when they’ll be sent, or if they will be, but to stop them, gentlemen, will immediately become the primary mission of this wolfpack. If they go, they must go by sea. They will hurt us badly if they reach Iwo Jima or Okinawa. It is up to you to see that they do not.”
ComSubPac had finished his speech. “There are a couple of more items,” said Caldwell. “First, we have been expecting to see more air activity in the Yellow Sea than has been the case. Perhaps the Japs are running low on aircraft, or perhaps they are conserving them for some other purpose. The low level of air activity may continue for you, or it may increase dramatically. In any case, be prepared for anything.
“Second point, watch the sampans. Some of them are not fishing boats at all, but specially built, big new patrol boats. They have sonar gear aboard, and they carry depth charges. Their main purpose is to detect and report submarines to the main ASW forces. They’re built of wood and look like fishermen, but they’re a lot bigger. So don’t let that fool you. They have a pretty good size gun, about thirty-seven millimeter, and it’s as good as our forties. Your operation order says to grab any good opportunity to knock them out with your guns. But be sure you catch them by surprise, because they can hurt you pretty badly with that gun. Their radio will alert the whole area that you’re around, too, unless you’re lucky enough to knock it out right at the beginning. So don’t take one on until the area is already pretty well aware of your presence.
“Third thing, they don’t have anybody as good as old Bungo in the Yellow Sea” (the bald mention of the name startled Richardson; he hoped his face did not betray him), “but they’ve got a pretty efficient antisub outfit. Several of our boats have had a bad time from them. They very nearly got the Seahorse, you know. That was after Cutter was detached. She was so badly damaged we’ve had to take her off the firing line, probably permanently. We think the wooden patrol boats and ASW tincans are all part of the same organization. The tincans are fairly small, about a thousand tons, but they’re good sea boats with good sonar sets, plenty of depth charges and well trained crews. They’re diesel powered, so they have good cruising range. They usually operate in groups of three; so if you run into one of them there’s likely two more around somewhere, and they’re not good news at all. Some time ago the Jap Navy began building a new and better antisub destroyer, or frigate as they call it. The first one was named the Mikura, and we think these boats in the Yellow Sea are probably Mikura-class tincans. They have a four-inch gun. Watch yourselves if you tangle with one.”
There was not much more to the briefing. A few questions, a final exhortation by Admiral Small. When it was over, Richardson felt Whitey Everett’s eyes upon him. Everett’s face was unnaturally set, even for him. His cultivated austere appearance of competence was belied by the worried manner in which he shifted his eyes from one participant in the briefing to another. To Rich, the unexpected reference to Bungo Pete had been sudden and unsettling. He wanted only to go away, began to excuse himself, and then realized he could not. This would be Whitey’s first patrol in command. He wanted reassurance about the Mikuras, wanted to suggest means of mutual support against them.