The landing went without a hitch, and the commandoes disappeared into the nearby bush. An hour later, the boats were hoisted aboard, and HALLIS and the two destroyers headed southeast, then turned south between the Russell’s and Guadalcanal. They wanted to stay clear of all shipping and aircraft until their scheduled pickup time.
****
The Australians had removed the web straps from their weapons and taped the swivels to keep them quiet. They also wrapped their baggy trousers for quieter movement. Anything that could give off sound was secured in any manner possible, usually tape. The effect was as ghosts moving through the bush.
Captain Ackerman had the team hunker down until daylight when they could start fresh for the point-two-eight-kilometer push to unit 731. Lookouts and reliefs were set. The team was just a few bumps in the dark.
At zero-four-thirty, the officers were awake, and they prepared themselves for the busy day. Each officer had a picture of their target and a drawing a Coast Watcher provided of the unit's compound. A precarious three days were used to watch and record the movements of the target. Then his weaknesses were analyzed to determine a possible snatch point.
Signalman Brant had a syringe with a fast-acting knockout potion in it. His job was to inject the target as soon as possible to help avoid any noise on egressing the compound area. He confirmed his role and gear were ready.
The two teams ate some hardtack and washed it down with water. Team two then headed out to set up a cover for Team one’s retreat.
The plan called for the snatch as the doctor made his last dunny call (outdoor toilet). He would then be sedated and carried into the bush. The Australian commandoes, knowing the officer spoke and understood English, switched to their second language everyone used, Aborigine Pitjantjatjara, the language of the indigent Aborigine of areas in the Northern Territory.
Lieutenant Cockburn and SSGT Warren made a quick time getting to their selected positions. In one last gathering in the deep jungle, the Lieutenant told his men, “Find your best position and disappear. We’ll use our non-verbal communications from here on out. We should see the other team heading our way at dusk. Check your weapons one last time and make sure the silencers are tight. Good luck to us all.”
The men split up and headed for selected positions, then disappeared. However, the men missed nothing that moved.
The expected daily rain developed and drove the already high humidity to a hundred percent. Half an hour later, the shower ended as fast as it came up. In another half an hour, it began again, this time in earnest. The commandoes used the tree leaves runoff to wash in, when dry, they too would smell like the jungle.
Following the downpour and a brief drying period, the commandoes heard before they saw them, a Japanese patrol moving along an almost invisible footpath. It was apparent they were feeling secure in their remote jungle location from their lack of sound security. They were allowed to pass unmolested. The mission required to get in, snatch and disappear, not be seen or engage unless there were no alternatives. Half an hour later, a few clicks, hisses, and other almost unnoticeable sounds had ensured everyone was aware of the patrol, number, and direction of movement. The only noise was the talk of the parakeets and the clatter of other indigenous birds.
Lieutenant Cockburn’s team had selected positions well within the heavy brush and tree line while providing them with wide widths of vision. They could see without being seen. Their black and green uniforms and body paint made them all but invisible.
Gunner Addison Bates watched some of the local worms and insects making their living amid the dead leaves and fresh droppings of other creatures. With the still, dead air around him, he noted that a dog would probably hike his leg on him, with his smelling like the undergrowth.
From his peripheral vision, he caught the movement of something. He was unable to make out what it was, but it didn’t belong there. He sent out a low hiss ending in a high pitch chirp, mimicking an Australian bird. The dispersed team pulled their heads in like turtles to reduce exposure.
Then the tan short-sleeved arm of a Japanese soldier could be seen pushing undergrowth aside with a long bamboo cane. It was obvious he was looking for something. No other people could be seen or heard. The Aussies held tight; they weren’t even there.
In a few minutes, the man had moved on, still looking for whatever was missing. But the close call stood to remind every man the need and reason for their invisible posture. Soon the clear signal was given, and the men relaxed a little.
****
On the bridge of the AGAR, “Bridge, radar, airborne contact bearing three-zero-zero, at thirty miles, about eight-to-ten thousand-feet, course one-four-five degrees.”
“Bridge aye.” The OOD turns toward the Captain sitting in his chair. He nodded his acceptance of the information and gave the OOD his head.
“Bo’ sun, sound General Quarters, repel aircraft from three-zero-zero. Set Condition Able and Circle William. Signal pass it to HALLIS.”
The signalman’s response was a muffled, “Aye,” as he turned and began sending the light message to the other ship. Then he turned toward Captain Gilford, “Sir, command orders a mile for independent maneuvering and good luck.”
“Very well, OOD, I have the conn, Helm ten degrees starboard rudder, all ahead full, twenty-five knots.”
The helm responded, and the ship heeled to port. Reports came in from all stations, “Manned and ready.”
Captain Gilford looked about the sky seeing heavy clouds in the northeast, but beyond their reach, and there was no cover anywhere. “Maybe they might think we’re a couple of their destroyers this far northwest. All guns hold your fire.” He went to the TBS and called HALLIS, “KJOB, XCCE; no cover, I suggest we play possum.”
“Roger that, maybe they’ll think we’re their cans.” Captain Tyson also ordered to hold fire. The wait began. Meanwhile, Tyson ordered the two ships to turn toward the northwest and Vella Lavella. Overhead the Japanese air armada continued toward Guadalcanal.
Captain Tyson had signal send an urgent message to Cactus, ‘Twenty-thirty mixed aircraft en route your position.’ Everyone breathed a breath of relief.
“Bridge, radar, looks a couple of bogies have broken off from the main force, possibly to check us out.” The OOD acknowledged the report.
“Signal,” the Captain asked, do we carry an IJN ensign aboard?”
“Yes sir, its standard issue.”
“Get it ready to fly, OOD get everyone topside undercover, now.” Signal, check if AGAR has one.”
Seconds later, “Yes, sir.”
Tell then to get everyone under inside and put it up; we’re going to be IJN destroyers.”
“They responded with a yes, sir.”
Captain Tyson put his binoculars to his eyes and saw the Stars and Stripes come down, and the Rising Sun take its place. He turned to the mast, and there flew the flag he never thought he would see flying from an American ship.
Seven seconds later, four aircraft buzzed the two ships; they climbed away, wagging their wings. Lieutenant Eizo Ichiro reported, “Two new class destroyers of the Emperor, and they look very formidable.”
At Cactus Head Quarters, Navy radio operators skilled in the Japanese language made a routine note of the fliers report.
Captain Tyson ordered, “Helm, right standard rudder, make your heading two-one-zero, all ahead full, twenty-five knots. Navigator make a plot to take us around the southeastern end of Vella Lavella through the Blackett Strait, then up the northwestern end of the island. We’ll set our speed to be in position for the pickup time.”
“Aye, sir,” said the Navigator.
“We’ll lower our flags while in these waters, and only raise the Rising Sun if needed.”
The OOD acknowledged the order and entered it in his log.
“OOD, double the lookouts until we make our pickup.”
“Aye, sir.”
****
After a long day, the Australian commandoes mentally
prepared for their mission. The Captain called for Bates and Brant to move into position for the evening snatch of the target. He was the only officer wearing a red ribbon around his cap.
Moving as quietly as a flowing mist, the two men took up positions on both sides of the dunny. It was just after dusk, and from out of the low light emitted from the huts and torches set in front of each hut, came the target.
He was allowed to enter the dunny to complete his business. As he emerged, he stopped to adjust and buckle his utility belt upon which a swivel supported his officer’s sword, the kyu gunto.
The Aussies struck, hitting him simultaneously from both sides. The officer spun into a flurry of prepared moves for self-defense. The three men struggled, with the officer showing superior hand-to-hand combat techniques. Suddenly it was over when Bates was able to stun the Japanese officer with a three-foot length of wood he found near where he landed.
Brant quickly administered the sedative through his thin summer shorts. The fast-acting liquid pushed the man into a light coma to ensure his silence while still on the island. Brant had several more doses if needed.
Bates remove the officer’s belt, gunto, a Nambu pistol, and a shorter knife, all of which went into the deep pit of the dunny. Then Bates had Brant slip and a bamboo pole under his arms, and he put on the handcuffs, double locking them, thus preventing any attempts to get them off.
They left the front of the dunny three minutes after the tussle began. Then just in time, as a soldier sauntered out to use the little structure. The three men were secluded in the heavy jungle underbrush, while the soldier did his business, then leaving the dunny to air out.
The Aussies met up with the first team, and they headed toward the pickup point on a general course of zero-zero-eight degrees. It was slow going, but they had four hours to make the almost three-tenths of a kilometer.
****
Captain Hideo Kaima headed up the security at Unit 731. At the moment, he was looking for the head doctor, Major Kansuke Fukao. “Private, have you seen the Honorable Major?”
“Not since before the evening meal, sir.”
“Find the Major and tell him I have an urgent message for him.”
“Hai.” The soldier bowed and trotted off, looking for the Major.
The compound was small, and there were few places a man could go to have any solitude. The failure to locate the Major began to worry about the Captain.
Captain Kaima called his security members to attention, “We have been unable to locate the Major. Sergeant, set up a detailed search of the camp, and then span out on the trails.”
In three minutes, Kaima sent out two-man search teams to begin checking every structure in the compound, failing to find the missing officer.
“Form into four-man teams and check the patrol paths, we must find the Major,” said Kaima. He sent out three groups of four men along each of the three patrol paths with orders to fire a flare if they located the Major. Then the captain went to inform the commanding officer.
One path ran north, the path the Aussies stumbled upon. They were about half the distance to the pickup point when they heard the rustling feet not far behind them. With the two teams now rejoined, their force was more than able to deal with the four enemy soldiers.
“Into the bush,” hissed Captain Ackerman, “avoid contact if possible.”
The men dragged the unconscious officer ten meters east into the bush, with the rest scattering. In their haste, Trooper Felbs’ dagger came loose and fell. Nobody noticed the Commando Dagger laying along the trail.
“Major, Major Fukao, can you hear us?” The searchers called out. “Major, can you…what’s this?”
“What do you see, Atsuto?” called out Koji Nomura.
“I kicked something hard over here.” He bent overrunning his hand just above the ground; then, he brushed against the handle of the dagger. “Aiee!” Exclaimed the soldier as he held up the dagger. Nomura lit the object with a small flashlight. “Australians,” said Nomura.
“Damn,” hissed Ackerman, “Kill ’em.” He quietly hissed in Pitjantjatjara.
The alerted patrol began scanning the darkness with their weak flashlights. Team two came out of the bush without a sound. Nomura turned at a sound, his mouth opened to yell when Gunner highland clamped his big hand over it, stifling his scream, while Gunner brought his dagger in from a low position to plunge into the bottom of the man’s diaphragm. Not being able to breathe, he was unable to scream but clawed at his stomach until Gunner ran the sharp blade across his carotid artery. Nomura went to the ground where he died in less than a minute.
SSGT Warren was behind Atsuto, and he grabbed his head with his powerful hand that snapped the man’s neck an instant later.
Another Japanese soldier was able to bayonet an Aussie in the lower back, and he was instantly killed with a commando dagger being plunged through his neck, severing both carotids.
Lieutenant Cockburn struck the last patrolman in the temple, heavily stunning him. Before the soldier could recover, the Lieutenant cut his throat — the time of the encounter, twenty-one seconds.
The second team carried the bodies, and the enemy’s gear deep into the bush and buried everything. Trooper Doran Felbs recovered his lost dagger. The jungle and insects would clean them and all the organic material by daylight.
Two men grabbed the wounded Aussie, and the first team took control of the doctor. The pickup point was five minutes away, but they still had two hours of waiting time.
Immediately upon arrival at the pickup point, all but Felbs took up defensive positions, while he tended to the wounded Aussie, Signalman Earl Rogers.
Half an hour later, two of the three patrols were answering questions from the now enraged Captain Kaima. “Where is Nomura, he should have reported in by now. Goto, take your men and check the northern trail, and keep your eye open for the Major.”
“Hai.”
The patrol searched diligently as the darkness allowed. They called out for both the Major and Nomura without success.
SSGT Warren entered the Australian pickup point to report to Captain Ackerman. “Sir, a second patrol is searching along the path and calling out for a man called Nomura and ‘the Major.’ Would have to say our man is the major.”
“That stands about right. Now we have to get picked up as soon as the Yank ships get here. If the Japanese find us, it’ll be buckets for everyone with our backs to the sea.”
“Aye sir, those wankers won’t take likely to us snatching one of their research doctors, or what I’ve heard, butchers, and an officer to boot.”
“We don’t have any orders to terminate this man, but from what heard, I’m inclined to take the wanker out if we’re gonna fall.”
“I feel the same way, Sergeant. We better check and double-check our defenses and plan for an escape, if it’s not too late. How’s Rogers doing?”
“The last I checked on him Brant was trying to make him comfortable, He said, we better get him to a doctor, or we could lose him, he needs surgery to mend his insides.”
Another trooper came up to Ackerman, “Sir, there’s a fifteen- man force headed toward us, about five or ten minutes out.”
“Get everyone ready. If Rogers is awake, make sure he has his guns, they won’t hesitate to kill him.”
“Yes sir,” and he took off to first check on Rogers, then get every ready to defend themselves.
Sergeant Brooks could see a flashlight through the trees. He readied his weapons.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Bridge, radar,” barked in the talker's earphones, causing him to blink and gave him a small start.
“Bridge, go ahead,” the startled youngster said.
“Bridge, sound, we’re holding contact on what is two or possibly three destroyer sized ships fifteen to twenty miles, bearing three-one-two, course one-three-two, speed estimate twenty-five knots.”
“Bridge aye.” The talker got the OOD’s attention and gave him the report from radar.
“Captain looks like we may have company coming in from three-one-two degrees.”
“Very well.” Looking at the bridge clock, it was just approaching midnight. He picked up the TBS, “XCCE, KJOB, company with intents to crash party from November-Echo. You ready for the recovery and a guest?”
“Roger that.” The AGAR surged ahead with a burst of speed and headed toward the pickup point, a rooster tail growing as the destroyer pushed toward thirty-five knots.
Captain Tyson picked up the 1MC, “Men, the AGAR is going to pick up the shore party, we’re running interference for them, and we’re gonna be outnumbered if the enemy shows up, but that’s just about right for us. Listen to your chain of command, and let’s show ‘em we’re every bit a match for what they have straight-shooting and good luck.
“Mr. Bennett, Action port to launch torpedoes, full spread. Set depth for eight feet.”
“Aye, sir, Action port to launch torpedoes, full spread, depth eight feet.” The word was sent out, and at the command Action to port, the guns and torpedo tubes turned to the left as directed from Fire Control.
Then the Captain said, “Fire Control; Action port, surface target destroyers at three-one-two degrees. Fire control fire torpedoes when at maximum range, then immediately upon impact or miss, we will fire main batteries unless they fire first.”
“Fire Control Aye,’ then he repeated the order.
“Helm,” the Captain called out, all ahead half-speed, fifteen knots.”
“Bo’ sun, double the lookout, special attention from enemy action from the port quarter.”
The order went out. Every eye on deck began scanning the port quarter area off the bow. After a few minutes of checks with radar and calculations, it was known to be a long shot.
The Torpedo Officer double checked everything, then yelled, “Standby…Fire.”
Several men jumped at the loud chugging cough as their five torpedoes shot into the sea with a couple of seconds between each launch. The five fish, each twenty-four feet long, weighing in at over three thousand pounds, of which eight-hundred twenty-three-pounds is HBX explosives are traveling at about twenty-six-and at half knots. Run time to contact was fifteen minutes, thirty-nine seconds.
Attack of the Greyhounds Page 5
