Mister Dilsby Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 1 minute ago, Geschosskopf said: When he had the bridge, rain or shine he'd be out there "riding" his ship, sometimes trying to spur more speed out of her. His name wasn't Kong, was it? Love that image of "Battle of Laythe Gulf"-- imagining a Doodlebug "crossing the T" of Thompberry's invasion force of cruisers and battleships Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geschosskopf Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 14 minutes ago, Kuzzter said: His name wasn't Kong, was it? No, it was "Captain" As in absolute monarch and supreme warlord of our entire narrow little universe. Human nature cannot resist toying with such power so we were fortunate our skipper vented his excesses in this manner rather than on us. Most of the idiosyncrasies of famous commanders are exactly this, safety valves for channeling potential abuses into harmless directions. The troops instinctively recognize this and are thankful, and even find such quirks endearing. In port when drinking with guys from other ships, we'd proudly brag that our skipper rode on a saddle, and that usually topped whatever crazy things their skippers did, so they were jealous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_creative Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 2 hours ago, Just Jim said: Sorry.... I'm not adding anymore new characters. Having a hard time keeping track of the ones I already have... Awww... Ok 2 hours ago, Just Jim said: Oh? Interesting! I was in the Army, and the officers I served under were a mixed bunch.. But I never got to serve on a ship. But destroyers are small, fast attack ships..... so yeah, I can see how a Kirk-type would be much better than a Picard. The famous battle of Laythe Gulf, I can see Kirk at the helm of one of the battered destroyers screaming "Aim for that really big cruiser!!! OK, back to Emiko... I'm going to be busy most of the day, but I already have most of the ships in place for the next couple chapters. I should have chapter 37 done this weekend. YAY!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jim Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 2 hours ago, Geschosskopf said: No, it was "Captain" As in absolute monarch and supreme warlord of our entire narrow little universe. Human nature cannot resist toying with such power so we were fortunate our skipper vented his excesses in this manner rather than on us. Most of the idiosyncrasies of famous commanders are exactly this, safety valves for channeling potential abuses into harmless directions. The troops instinctively recognize this and are thankful, and even find such quirks endearing. In port when drinking with guys from other ships, we'd proudly brag that our skipper rode on a saddle, and that usually topped whatever crazy things their skippers did, so they were jealous How can I already be out of likes for today? No matter.... A warlord who rode a saddle into battle atop a destroyer??? Outstanding!!!!!! This is a captain I could follow to the ends of the Earth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_creative Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 35 minutes ago, Just Jim said: How can I already be out of likes for today? No matter.... A warlord who rode a saddle into battle atop a destroyer??? Outstanding!!!!!! This is a captain I could follow to the ends of the Earth! ooo someone should make a ksp story of that! Or make a special agent Kirrim comic! Does anyone need a guy who likes explosions for there ksp story? I can work for OMB Demolition and I have and awesome (explody) plane! 35 minutes ago, Just Jim said: How can I already be out of likes for today? No matter.... A warlord who rode a saddle into battle atop a destroyer??? Outstanding!!!!!! This is a captain I could follow to the ends of the Earth! I'm building a space destroyer today too! (I have about 2 hours of ksp today) and shouldn't it be kerbin, not earth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jim Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 2 hours ago, Geschosskopf said: No, it was "Captain" As in absolute monarch and supreme warlord of our entire narrow little universe. Human nature cannot resist toying with such power so we were fortunate our skipper vented his excesses in this manner rather than on us. Most of the idiosyncrasies of famous commanders are exactly this, safety valves for channeling potential abuses into harmless directions. The troops instinctively recognize this and are thankful, and even find such quirks endearing. In port when drinking with guys from other ships, we'd proudly brag that our skipper rode on a saddle, and that usually topped whatever crazy things their skippers did, so they were jealous 31 minutes ago, max_creative said: shouldn't it be kerbin, not earth? No, not in this case. I meant in real life. I would gladly serve under the crazy captain with the saddle. OK, a little off-topic, so we'll file this under the category of author's background... lol... I was in the Army from 1979-1982, and I totally get what Geo is saying. It was also very true for the Infantry battalion I was in. In our case, the craziest was a First Sergeant from Alpha company. He was truly terrifying, and a force of nature personified.... The stuff of movies made real. And his company were the fiercest and most loyal bunch of lunatics you can imagine. And it was the general opinion amongst the entire battalion that if the cold war had turned hot, his company would have probably been the only one with a real chance of surviving those first few days. So I was one of the few that constantly volunteered to be one of their medics, for this very reason. Because I was both in terror and awe of this man.... and I knew somehow... somehow... if it got really, really bad, he would be the one that made it out alive, and still have his company with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeb! Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 (edited) Huh, that's interesting. Thank you for serving our country! I'm in the U.S. Civil Air Patrol, so I get some of the military life, but never seen anyone quite as crazy as this captain. Well, except maybe our Flight Sergeant when he berated us for five hours over a couple cookie crumbs in the barracks. (Wasn't me!) But that's crazy in a negative way. This Captain is crazy in an awesome way! 2 hours ago, Just Jim said: No matter.... A warlord who rode a saddle into battle atop a destroyer??? Outstanding!!!!!! This is a captain I could follow to the ends of the Earth! Put this under Author's Background reply! Edited March 18, 2016 by Jeb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeb! Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 5 hours ago, Just Jim said: The famous battle of Laythe Gulf LOL I get it. That's actually pretty funny. Similar spelling too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jim Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 8 minutes ago, Jeb! said: LOL I get it. That's actually pretty funny. Similar spelling too. Actually I spelled it wrong, the battle took place at Layte Gulf..... not Laythe Gulf..... force of habit I guess. But the battle was real, and unbelievable, and should get more attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andem Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 1 minute ago, Just Jim said: Actually I spelled it wrong, the battle took place at Layte Gulf..... not Laythe Gulf..... force of habit I guess. But the battle was real, and unbelievable, and should get more attention. Looking it up right now! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeb! Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 (edited) 36 minutes ago, Just Jim said: Actually I spelled it wrong, the battle took place at Layte Gulf..... not Laythe Gulf..... force of habit I guess. Wait, yer telling me you didn't MEAN to say it that way?!?!?! lol I actually thought you meant to do that! 36 minutes ago, Just Jim said: But the battle was real, and unbelievable, and should get more attention. I agree. A couple of tiny American DDs and DEs taking on a formation of Japanese CAs and mega BBs and fulfilling their objective is nothing short of amazing! Not to mention this is when the kamikazes were first in action too. Edited March 18, 2016 by Jeb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geschosskopf Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 2 hours ago, Jeb! said: Wait, yer telling me you didn't MEAN to say it that way?!?!?! lol I actually thought you meant to do that! I agree. A couple of tiny American DDs and DEs taking on a formation of Japanese CAs and mega BBs and fulfilling their objective is nothing short of amazing! Not to mention this is when the kamikazes were first in action too. It's LEYTE, not LAYTE or LAYTHE I It's an island in the central Philippines, and the gulf on its east side was where the Americans 1st landed to take them back from the Japanese. This was the cause of all the ruckus so the whole great battle was named after it. However, the overall battle lasted several days with a number of major engagements happening hundreds of miles apart across the general area. Each of these has its own battle name. The one to which we're referring here is called the Battle of Samar, named after a point of land at the north end of Leyte Gulf. It was the only one of these engagement to take place in and around Leyte Gulf itself. In any case, at Samar,there were way more airplanes than DDs/DEs involved because most of the US ships were CVEs. The planes did most of the damage (both physical and psychological) although the torpedo attack by the escorts did get some hits (at very high cost). It was a valiant effort to which the same sort of retrospective romanticism attaches as previously was the case with suicidal cavalry charges in Napoleon's day. The participants will always have a place amongst the honored ancestors of their tribal cults. And maybe the sacrifice was justified, and maybe could not have been better timed and coordinated, although all those points are open to argument. But the main thing is, when the admiral in charge said "go", he had a number of destroyermen and their skippers who didn't mind doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jim Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Geschosskopf said: It's LEYTE, not LAYTE or LAYTHE I It's an island in the central Philippines, and the gulf on its east side was where the Americans 1st landed to take them back from the Japanese. This was the cause of all the ruckus so the whole great battle was named after it. However, the overall battle lasted several days with a number of major engagements happening hundreds of miles apart across the general area. Each of these has its own battle name. The one to which we're referring here is called the Battle of Samar, named after a point of land at the north end of Leyte Gulf. It was the only one of these engagement to take place in and around Leyte Gulf itself. In any case, at Samar,there were way more airplanes than DDs/DEs involved because most of the US ships were CVEs. The planes did most of the damage (both physical and psychological) although the torpedo attack by the escorts did get some hits (at very high cost). It was a valiant effort to which the same sort of retrospective romanticism attaches as previously was the case with suicidal cavalry charges in Napoleon's day. The participants will always have a place amongst the honored ancestors of their tribal cults. And maybe the sacrifice was justified, and maybe could not have been better timed and coordinated, although all those points are open to argument. But the main thing is, when the admiral in charge said "go", he had a number of destroyermen and their skippers who didn't mind doing it. You're right.... Samar is the one I was referring to. And you clearly know the engagement well. I'm not looking at it from a romantic view so much as tactical. The Americans were clearly out gunned, out matched, out.... everything. It really should have never happened, but Halsey got suckered into moving the main fleet away, and couldn't get back in time. It was truly David vs. Goliath. My point was what you said about the skippers. And the crews and pilots, yes. It was clearly suicidal, but what choice did they have? So without hesitation, they sailed headlong into an inferno, no questions asked. And I really feel it was this bravery... and craziness, if you will, that helped them keep pounding away and eventually turn the tide and sucker the Japanese into thinking they were fighting a much larger opponent. And to keep this somewhat on topic... I now also think this is the way a skipper should be written... Edited March 18, 2016 by Just Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeb! Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 @Geschosskopf, yes you're right. The Battle of Samar is easily confused/combined with Leyte (or vise-versa). 19 minutes ago, Just Jim said: I'm not looking at it from a romantic view so much as tactical. Cant it be both? 21 minutes ago, Just Jim said: And to keep this somewhat on topic... I now also think this is the way a skipper should be written... I agree. That would be both tactical and romantic. (Philosophy 101 lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jim Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 17 minutes ago, Jeb! said: Cant it be both? Absolutely!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geschosskopf Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 26 minutes ago, Just Jim said: My point was what you said about the skippers. And the crews and pilots, yes. It was clearly suicidal, but what choice did they have? So without hesitation, they sailed headlong into an inferno, no questions asked. And I really feel it was this bravery... and craziness, if you will, that helped them keep pounding away and eventually turn the tide and sucker the Japanese into thinking they were fighting a much larger opponent. If you're a destroyerman, you know your ultimate purpose in life is to take a bullet meant for somebody higher up the foodchain. You might not have asked for the job but you can't fight city hall (or Whitehall as the case may be), so you might as well have fun with it and start believing in Valhalla, Ah, la belle vie que l'on mène Dan les hussards, dan les hussards! (which is quite a catchy tune---check it out) And if you're a destroyer skipper, you need to be an inspiration to such troops. 26 minutes ago, Just Jim said: And to keep this somewhat on topic... I now also think this is the way a skipper should be written... Such as the skipper of the sloop Surprize (Napoleonic destroyer) in the Master and Commander movie...This is appropriate in its place. Kirk commanded a cruiser, which was traditionally was a rather piratical, free-booting job. He was great for that in an unsettled time. Picard commanded a battleship in a more detente-driven environment, and he was a good battleship skipper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jim Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 1 minute ago, Geschosskopf said: Such as the skipper of the sloop Surprize (Napoleonic destroyer) in the Master and Commander movie...This is appropriate in its place. Yes!!!! I loved that movie, and the character Captain Jack! But yeah, I can't see him as a carrier captain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_creative Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I have no idea what you are talking about, I searched up the battle of Leyte, it was battle in WWII and I still don't get it. back on topic guys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jim Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 (edited) Totally back on topic... Mission report update!!! The fleet has arrived at Duna safely, and I got most everything put together today without too much difficulity..... when I wasn't on here goofing off. Diamondback ETA about 50 more days... we'll get into much more detail about that soon.... Why am I telling you all like this and not in a chapter? Because while this thread is also about my career game in general, I'm going to be totally skipping this so as to not kill the momentum of the story. I figure if you've been reading this, then y'all have already seen enough pics of me docking space station parts together to know the procedure. And I'm convinced doing a chapter of me assembling another one would only be throwing cold water on a fire that I want to keep burning. Burning hard..... The next four chapters.... the next four chapters.... the hardest thing is keeping my big mouth shut.... want to start mono-logging so very bad.... Edited March 19, 2016 by Just Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeb! Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 53 minutes ago, max_creative said: I have no idea what you are talking about, I searched up the battle of Leyte, it was battle in WWII and I still don't get it. Look back at the last 20 posts... but we still might not get it. Lol, we started out talking about Jim's story Emiko Station and ended up talking about old movies and Leyte Gulf! @Just Jim Can't wait for the next chapters! 49 minutes ago, Just Jim said: And I'm convinced doing a chapter of me assembling another one would only be throwing cold water on a fire that I want to keep burning. Burning hard..... Is this fire going to be literal, or figurative? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draconiator Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 You're making me want to do my own story...but mine will be pretty tame by comparison, I'm almost finished building a HUMONGOUS plane and I'm almost finished with it, so I'm thinking my story is going to revolve around the building of the Titania, an attempt at breaking the record for the largest plane...EVER. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_creative Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 44 minutes ago, Jeb! said: Look back at the last 20 posts... but we still might not get it. Lol, we started out talking about Jim's story Emiko Station and ended up talking about old movies and Leyte Gulf! @Just Jim Can't wait for the next chapters! Is this fire going to be literal, or figurative? lol Just looked back and still don't get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccidentsHappen Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 If you have the time @Just Jim, you should download BD Armoury and and make a short story (maybe around 10-20 chapters) about an interplanetary war in the Joolian system (you could have battles in orbit, ambushes on Tylo and shelling and air skirmishes on Laythe!)! Then again, maybe I should do that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_creative Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 (edited) 45 minutes ago, AccidentsHappen said: If you have the time @Just Jim, you should download BD Armoury and and make a short story (maybe around 10-20 chapters) about an interplanetary war in the Joolian system (you could have battles in orbit, ambushes on Tylo and shelling and air skirmishes on Laythe!)! Then again, maybe I should do that... Or you could go watch YouTube. 2 hours ago, Just Jim said: Totally back on topic... Mission report update!!! The fleet has arrived at Duna safely, and I got most everything put together today without too much difficulity..... when I wasn't on here goofing off. Diamondback ETA about 50 more days... we'll get into much more detail about that soon.... Why am I telling you all like this and not in a chapter? Because while this thread is also about my career game in general, I'm going to be totally skipping this so as to not kill the momentum of the story. I figure if you've been reading this, then y'all have already seen enough pics of me docking space station parts together to know the procedure. And I'm convinced doing a chapter of me assembling another one would only be throwing cold water on a fire that I want to keep burning. Burning hard..... The next four chapters.... the next four chapters.... the hardest thing is keeping my big mouth shut.... want to start mono-logging so very bad.... Wow! sounds interesting! Could you tell use about it? Edited March 19, 2016 by max_creative You not going to fall for it are you Jim? Parka didn't D: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal_Mace Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 7 hours ago, Just Jim said: The next four chapters.... the next four chapters.... the hardest thing is keeping my big mouth shut.... want to start mono-logging so very bad.... "Since you're about to die anyway, I see no reason why I should,'t reveal to you the fatal weakness in my plans..." Whenever you're tempted to monologue.....just remember the evil geniuses brought down by this very action.....:) Regarding crazed but brilliant leaders and ferocious sergeants, I always had a soft spot for Sgt. "Deathwish" Drang from Harry Harrison's "Bill, the Galactic Hero", famous for saying to his recroits "after you've been here awhile, you will start to hear rumors that I killed and ate the last recruit that gave me any trouble. Those rumors are true." Somehow I doubt the twins; parents will be so very pleased with how the twins running away was handled. Never mind the aborting of a multi-million mission.....Jandolin's going to want her kids right NOW if I know moms....:) Things are looking very scary for Piper and Emiko..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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