The Deadliest watch:
Chapter 2: Report on the rescue and scuttling of the HMS Repulse
Crew on watch:
Bridge and navigation:
Captain Louisa Chandler (In command)
Commander Amanda Hopper
Master Chief Petty Officer Juniper Hayes
Senior bridge and navigation crew.
CIC and weapons release:
Commander Yuki Kikuchi (TAO)*
Lieutenant Lynette Palmer
Sophomore CIC and weapons release crew
Engineering and propulsion:
Lieutenant Commander Samantha Cutter (Chief damage control)
Lieutenant Rebecca Edwards
Junior engineering and propulsion crew.
Quartermaster detail and communications:
Freshmen quartermaster detail and communications crew.
Marine-cadets detachment:
Non-applicable.
*Covering for Lt. Ellen Mathers
"Status of the Repulse?" Chandler asked as the moon casted silhouette of the stricken British Battlecruiser came into view.
Three hours ago, immediately following their surface engagement with the Musashi, the Alaska had intercepted a distress signal from the British Singapore Marine High School battlecruiser: HMS Repulse. The warship had been ambushed then subsequently shredded to pieces by naval gunfire while it was on transit to Japan to participate in school fleet activities. They were now dead in the water and fighting to keep their ship afloat. Not to leave their British allies to fend for themselves, Chandler had ordered the Alaska to make best speed towards the stricken British warship to assist in evacuation and salvage efforts.
As Alaska drew closer to the British battlecruiser, the grave wounds she sustained in the ambush became clear. She was missing entire pieces of its main superstructure including her main mast, the pair of smoke stacks had imploded evident of a critical hit to her propulsion centre, while the forward main battery turret had been blown off its mount and the bow ahead of the affected turret had already sunk into the abyss, likely carrying with its members of the Repulse's crew who were berthed there. The fact that the ship remained afloat was a miracle and a testament to the unrelenting capabilities of her damage control department. It was a testament to the open joke that members of British flagged Blue mermaid ships, especially cruisers, were capable of reprinting portions of their ship when pinched in the face.
A massive and hidden HP pool…
Jokes aside, the ship was likely to be scuttled instead of a tow to the nearest port given her extensive damage culminated with the current situation on the high seas.
"We must think long and broadly on how best to treat the scuttling of the Repulse and minimize any negative consequences in the near and far off future associated with her sinking given our limited time frame." Chandler spoke to the engineering departments of her ship as well as those who had escaped the catastrophic destruction of the Repulse's main engine room. "Secure any hazardous, biological, and possible radiological contaminants over to Alaska. Miller, I want lines across the ships, transfer as much of Repulse's bunkered oil over to our ship. Coordinate with your British counterpart in the task."
Within the hour, the Alaska gently eased herself alongside the smoldering British cruiser which had developed a severe list to starboard. Lines were exchanged and pontoons tossed between ships as Alaska moored beside the Repulse. One of the first tasks that immediately began was the connection of fuel lines between the ships.
Hopper would be the first officer to go aboard the gravely wounded battlecruiser where she was received by the remaining officers of the Repulse.
"Where's the CO and XO of your ship?" Hopper inquired, though, there was an obvious answer to her question.
"In there."
The acting commander of the Repulse pointed towards the blown out conning tower.
"And down there, respectively."
A gesture was made to a gaping hole in the portside hull where a 21-inch torpedo had exploded.
"XO status." Chandler's voice came through the radio at Hopper's duty belt.
"CO and XO of the Repulse were done in during the ambush."
Despite the relative peace on the high seas and the adoration by the public worldwide, the path towards becoming as well as the actual occupation itself of being a Blue Mermaid was not without its inherent risks and dangers. The matter of the fact was, these teenaged girls were operating full size ships of battle equipped with live ammunition. Though it had been 15 years since the last major exchange of large caliber naval fire in battle, what had happened onboard the Repulse served as a reminder of the hazards and potential fate awaiting each and every Blue Mermaid regardless of their age, rank, and experience.
"My condolences to their crew. Who is in charge now?" Chandler continued.
"That will be lieutenant Sharpe, ma'am." The acting officer in charge announced herself to Hopper.
"One lieutenant Sharpe ma'am." Hopper replied to her CO.
"Sharpe?!" Chandler coughed, surprised. "Of the second battalion of the 95th rifles?"
That was a comment made in reference to a particular late 20th century television series about a swashbuckling Napoleonic era British soldier.
"A distant and fictitious relation I am afraid." Sharpe shrugged, the joke having long run its course through her and the crew of the Repulse. "Lieutenant Sharpe of the royal marine cadets detachment aboard the HMS Repulse, over."
"I am glad to have you with us, Sharpe." Chandler replied. "What say you come aboard the Alaska with the remaining crew of the Repulse? I am a bit short handed and can use the additional hands."
"We would love to once we have made our final arrangements with the Repulse." Sharpe then cleared her throat. "Captain, I would like to transfer over the junior members of my crew to the Alaska where they can assist in whatever tasks you can find them. Meanwhile, myself and the senior students will… look after the more delicate task of."
"Understood Lieutenant." Chandler interrupted the marine mid-sentence knowing what she meant by delicate task. "If convenient, I will send over some volunteers from the members of my senior crew to assist your team in the matter."
"We would very much appreciate that. Thank you, Captain Chandler."
The marine officer then gave the order for the first, second, and third year students to pack their belongings and make the trip across to the Alaska. The seniors, largely comprising of Sharpe's marine platoon, remained behind and were joined by a handful of fourth year students sent over from the Alaska to carry out the 'delicate task'.
The delicate and morbid task of removing the dead and their personal effects from quarters. A task that Lt. Sharpe's honor as a royal marine would not permit her to ask her underclassmen to conduct. This short and simple reason being she sent them away long before the task commenced. The seniors from the Repulse and Alaska were then referred to as the 'senior party'.
"We are going to need some PPE and bags for organic matter." Hopper noted aloud as she rejoined her captain on the bridge.
"Inquire with the quartermaster about those items and any potential work arounds we can achieve in our current state." Chandler replied
As the two ships were mere training ships, both lacked the essential resources for the task ahead. Ideally, the task would have been done in full CBRN gear and with a supply of body bags however such 'luxuries' were not available. Instead, armed rudimentarily with faces masks, polyurethane sanitation gloves, and quickly sown together black bags made of thick plastic brought over from the Alaska, the seniors methodically scoured the conning tower for whatever remains of the crew were left. The braver members of the pack ventured into the partially flooded sections of the hull to carry out a similar operation.
"Where should we store the remains of the deceased for the time being?" Hopper inquired with her Captain through radio as she assisted another member of the senior party carry a sown closed black bag out from the belly of the Repulse. "The tropical heat will inevitably accelerate the rate of decomposition."
"Lieutenant Mirabelle of the Quartermaster department has already emptied the aft refrigeration unit for that detail. See to the dead be housed there temporarily."
A row of black bags began to form amidships on the listing Repulse as members of the senior party went in and out of the hull. As the task of removing the dead drew to a close, members of the job detail began transferring the bags over the gangway and into the Alaska where a refrigeration unit had been repurposed into a makeshift temporary morgue. The unit, having previously stored the desserts and sweets enjoyed by the crew of the Alaska still had the sweet smell of vanilla and sharp notes of strawberry cheesecake as the bodies were respectfully arranged around the unit. The unit was not large by any means and, regrettably, the stacking of bags was soon employed to save space. It was not long before the original pleasant smell was replaced with something much less desirable.
Hopper would find herself covered head to toe in soot as she came off autopilot when she joined Lt. Sharpe in cleaning out the quarters of the Repulse's commanding officer.
"Hey Sharpe, what was…"
Hopper was tempted to open a conversation to add some light to the task however stopped short when the lieutenant handed her a portrait of the late captain with her family to put into the cardboard box on the nearby bed. The tone in the room was set, thereafter as the two officers removed every personal effect from the room in silence, respectfully placed them inside the provided corrugated cardboard boxes, before leaving the bulkhead locked behind them.
"I will be frank with you, Commander Hopper." Sharpe broke the silence as they ventured through the corridors of the Repulse. "Every ounce of my body is fighting to hold back tears. Most of these kids were so young, they did not even know what a will was nor have they heard of the term: next of kin. Instead, their lives were snuffed out short by naval gunnery fire and torpedoes. Their parents would never have anticipated such an event from happening, so much so there would not be a written statement of what to do with the remains of their dead children should their deaths come to past."
"I commend you for your efforts, marine." Hopper replied. "Stay strong for the time being for us and your crew. Once everything is finished, I will invite you to my cabin to destress."
It was in the absence of such information highlighted by Lt. Sharpe that Captain Chandler made the decision to drop anchor alongside the Repulse and provide the window for the British Blue Mermaids to make a thorough effort to evacuate their fallen sisters.
It goes without saying that the recovery efforts and transfer of materials put the Alaska in a vulnerable posture as she could not quickly breakaway from the mortally wounded cruiser to take up action stations against an aggressor. She will have to remain in such a state for some hours as final operations to scuttle the Repulse were made.
"Master chief, set EMCOM condition alpha throughout the ship." Chandler ordered.
"Aye ma'am. Recommend in addition to that order that we order the ship be darkened." Hayes replied making her way to the 1MC.
"Very well, make it so."
Under these circumstances, Chandler ordered the ship be secured to EMCOM alpha, the most restrictive electronic emissions control level to minimize any chance their position being electronically triangulated and revealed to ships sailing nearby. The condition also necessitated the ship to turn off her radar and active sonar equipment. In response, lookouts equipped with third generation night vision monocular equipment taken from the armory of the Repulse were deployed across the Alaska to monitor the horizon.
As it was still the dead of night, every porthole and window on the Alaska were already closed shut or had a blackout curtain covering it. Securing the ship to a darkened status was but a cordiality at that point. Anyone working on deck conducting repairs to the Alaska's smoke stack or members of the senior party had to work with torches covered with a red filter in order to minimize the possibility either ship being visually acquired. When welding work had to be carried out, a thick black tarp was used to cover the job.
With dawn approaching, Repulse's bell was secured and transferred to be stored onboard the Alaska as the senior work party readied the scuttling charges on the cruiser. The remaining food stores on the Repulse were also transferred over across the gangway in a picket line. Whatever sensitive materials, weapons, and irretrievable ammunition had a block of C4 placed ontop of it. The barrels of every naval gun had their breaches sabotaged as well for good measure. Everything done to the Repulse in its final hours were meticulously photographed and written down so future auditors will have a clear picture of the situation and explanation as to why the decision was made to sink the ship rather than risk its capture by marauding sea pirates.
The sun crested over the horizon as every member of the Alaska and remaining crew of the Repulse lined the railings of the American cruiser. They were on deck to witness the striking of the colors from the stern of the Repulse that officiated by Captain Chandler. Lt. Sharpe would furl the stricken colors and carried them over to the Alaska, being the last person to disembark the Repulse.
The fires in Alaska's boilers were then relit as the crew undid the lines and secured the pontoons which docked the ship to the Repulse. The American cruiser's General Electric steam turbines hummed to life as the screws began to turn.
"Helm, make course 3-5-5. Make speed 1-0 knots." Chandler ordered as the Alaska pushed off the Repulse.
"Helm, making course 3-5-5, helm aye. Helm, making speed 1-0 knots, helm aye." The new helmswoman repeated, having relieved her upperclassman from the previous watch.
As Alaska developed some distance from the Repulse, her bugle player would take position on the roof of the bridge. Rays of sunlight shined on the bridge as she applied the wind instrument to her mouth and played taps. All was silent save for the humming of the engines as the crew listened to the tune and watched the Repulse grow ever smaller in the distance. Moments after her bugle player finished her performance, Alaska would fire off a full broadside in salute to the soon to be scuttled cruiser.
With a remote detonator in her hand, Lt. Sharpe then scuttled her cruiser. Repulse would put on one final firework show as her bow dipped beneath the waves and, rising by the stern, blew one final breath of air before her fantail slipped into the abyss.
"Petty officers Dunois, secure the ship to EMCOM delta and set readiness level to condition three."
"Aye ma'am. Securing ship to EMCOM delta. Setting readiness level to condition three, ma'am aye."
Petty officer 1st class Dunois, an underclassman who had relieved Master Chief Hayes after the formers end of watch nodded and walked to the 1MC to make the announcement.
"Ms. Austin you have the con." Chandler continued, putting in charge of her ship to another underclassman. "I will… be in my at-sea cabin if anything requires my attention."
Deep within the citadel of the ship, Kikuchi removed the orange EMCOM-alpha placard from the monitor at her station and data began flowing through its displays once more. Having filled in for a friend in the CIC for the previous night, she still had another eight hours to grind before she can return to her bunk. As a mug of coffee was brought to her work station, a new surface contact materialized on the radar.
Morning watch
Crew on watch:
Bridge and navigation:
Lieutenant Katia Austin (Officer of Watch, commanding)
Ensign Artoria Vanto
Petty Officer 1st class Ursula Dunois
Freshmen bridge and navigation crew.
CIC and weapons release:
Commander Yuki Kikuchi (TAO)
Lieutenant commander Hikari Yamaguchi
Junior CIC and weapons release crew
Engineering and propulsion:
Lieutenant Commander Samantha Cutter (Chief damage control)*
Lieutenant Rebecca Edwards*
Senior engineering and propulsion crew.
Junior engineering and propulsion crew**
Quartermaster detail and communications:
Lieutenant Elizabeth Mirabelle
Sophomore quartermaster detail and communications crew.
Freshman quartermaster detail and communications crew***
Royal Marine-cadets detachment:
Lieutenant Richelle Sharpe
Sergeant Major Patricia Harper
18 re-garrisoned royal marine cadets of the HMS Repulse.
*Voluntarily committed to morning watch.
**Select members voluntarily committed to morning watch. Rendering assistance in efforts to diagnose and make at-sea repairs to the Alaska's propulsion. Rendering assistance in efforts to recover 5 inch ammunition from magazine of the destroyed 127mm dual purpose mount.
***Select members voluntarily committed to morning watch. Providing food and comfort to the survivors of the Repulse.
As captain Chandler's tired shadow departed the bridge, Lieutenant Austin took a look around her post. Looking ahead, she briefly observed her peers sweep away the 20mm casings and belt links while her upperclassman reloaded the Phalanx CIWS.
An early riser, Austin had awoken at 5am to watch as final efforts were made to scuttle the Repulse. Not that she caught much sleep in the previous night as shellfire had kept her and her peers awake in the berthing compartment.
"We have a total of one hundred and eight souls onboard. Combat effectiveness is at ninety percent. Ammunition is at fifteen percent. We are traveling on a heading of 350 compass degree making 26 knots." Ensign Vanto reported, reading from her tablet.
"We should make it a habit to say things like our upperclassman, ensign Vanto." Katia said. "Vanto, repeat after me. New ship's complement counted at 1-0-8 souls. Combat effectiveness at 9-0 percent. Ammunition in the red at 1-5 percent. Current travel is on heading 3-5-0 at 2-6 knots."
"Bridge, engineering." A senior's voice came through the intercom. "We're refiring boilers 7 through 8 now. Out."
To Austin, this meant the ship would soon have sufficient power to increase its speed to 30 knots.
"Let's stretch her legs. Helm, make speed 3-0 knots on current bearing." She ordered.
Catching onto the tone of her classmate, the helmsman would reply.
"Helm, making speed to 3-0 knots. Helm aye."
"Do not forget to report when speed is at 3-0 knots." Austin lectured her peer.
"Helm, will report, helm aye."
"That's awfully cute trying to imitate your seniors." Kikuchi's voice came through the intercom. "Truth be told, Katia, there is no need to rush things. It will come naturally, therefore, there is no need to excessively push your peers to adopt the naval speech."
"TAO, thank you." Katia interrupted her upperclassman. "I will note your advice."
As the brief and light-hearted conversation with her senior ended, helm would report.
"Helm, steady on bearing making 3-0 knots."
"Very well."
"Bridge, communications. We have established a satellite connection to USS Missouri, flagship, taskforce Council. They are on line three requesting communication with the officer of watch on battlecruiser Alaska."
"BIG SISTER?!"
"Ahem"
Katia audibly cleared her throat before rising to her tippy-toes to retrieve the line-3 phone receiver position on the roof of the bridge.
"This is Lieutenant Katia Austin, officer of the watch, USS Alaska."
"This is Captain Emilia Austin, commanding, USS Missouri. Lieutenant Austin, give me a status report."
"Aye ma'am. Please wait a second." Katia replied, removing her tablet from her waist bag to acquire Captain Chandler's report.
Exactly a second later,
"A second has passed Lieutenant, my report please."
"Aye ma'am."
Katia cleared her throat again before issuing the summary of the report highlighting the key points.
"Battlecruiser USS Alaska is currently on course to complete her maiden voyage and transit to naval station Yokosuka. Nothing to report out of the ordinary until at 2000 hours yesterday when a large surface contact appeared on radar. Efforts were made to raise contact until 2200 hours when battlecruiser Alaska was fired upon on by the unknown surface contact. The surface contact was then redesignated to Master-1 and subsequently identified as the Yamato Class Battleship: JS Musashi. Active defensive measures were deployed to defend both ship and crew from hostile fire. At 2220 hours, Alaska sustained damage as a result of enemy fire to her smoke stack. Citing the ROE ordered the main battery to be fired upon the JS Musashi disabling her primary range finding equipment. Within this time, Alaska sustained a hit to one of her 5-inch secondary guns destroying and setting afire the associated 5inch ammunition magazine. Damage control efforts highly effective, the threat to the ship was removed within ten minutes."
"Was anyone hurt during the hostile surface action?"
"No ma'am. Battlecruiser Alaska then disengaged with the Musashi but then immediately received distress call from HMS Repulse."
"And what of the Repulse, Lieutenant?"
"Alaska arrived on station to the location of distress three hours following action against the Musashi. Immediately began assisting in efforts to salvage and recovery the crew of the Repulse. The Repulse was critically damaged by a combination of naval gun and torpedo fire."
"Was anyone hurt aboard the Repulse?"
Katia swallowed at the request of that information as she scrolled down the page on her tablet to see the figures.
"Lieutenant?"
"Ma'am! The Repulse was critically damaged in its encounter against a yet to be determined aggressor. Repulse crew…"
"YES?!"
"We rescued 5-5 souls from the Repulse of which 0-7 succumbed to injuries earlier today. I have an additional 0-2 in critical condition requiring immediate medevac to on shore medical facilities. Request an aviation asset be vectored to evacuate the wounded."
"All rotor wing assets Pacific command has at its disposal are unavailable at this moment." Captain Austin informed. "Lieutenant, make do with what you have. Now, please continue."
Katia fought back a whimper at the news brought by her older sister.
"Aye ma'am. Of the remaining survivors, another 0-6 are unfit for service due to mental and physical injuries. Alaska has also taken aboard the Repulse's marine-cadets detachment and their equipment numbering 2-0 strong. Lastly, we have the remains and personal effects of 2-0 members of Repulse's crew. All remaining unaccounted crew were lost with the Repulse's bow."
Katia heard an audible sigh on the other end of the line and bits of a conversation.
"Signal bridge, relay to PACOM Repulse has gone down and offer our condolences to the British admiralty."
[….]
"Admiral,[…] yes sir. I will have the list of the names of survivors and deceased sent to you in best time. […] Sir, thank you sir."
. Having heard tidbits of her sister's conversation with the admiralty, Katia had taken the liberty to send over all the relevant information she anticipated her sister needed from her. She could hear the notifications on her older sister's cellphone as she did so. The conversation between the two sisters would resume a few minutes later
"What about remaining stores?"
"Alaska herself is in the red in all departments, ammunition, fuel, perishable supplies, and Captain Chandler has requested a surge of personnel be brought aboard the Alaska. She suspects the current situation is not limited to the local area and reasons an increase in personnel is necessary to maintain the ship at wartime posture. This concludes the summary of my report."
"Lieutenant, is Captain Chandler available at this time?"
"Yes, I will send a messenger to her cabin."
"That won't be necessary. She deserves the rest after her watch."
Katia would then hear her older sister clear her throat on the other end of the line.
"Katie, something terrible has unfolded in the western pacific in the past 24 hours. Ships have gone missing, ships belonging to the Blue Mermaids as well as associated training ships have begun opening fire on each and civilian vessels alike. An emergency meeting of the United Nations security council was convened and are currently still discussing the matter however, PACOM has authorized all American naval assets to be mobilized in anticipation of an escalation of the ongoing disaster."
"Terrific, that's good to know." Katia replied, realizing the tone in their conversation had changed to a less formal one. "How can I help?"
"This is not a time for relaxation Katie." Her older sister returned with a stern tone. "Coordinating with my counterpart at Busan American Marine High, I have mobilized the student council divisions of our two schools and will be rendezvousing together with a the PLAN hospital ship, Nanyi as well as whatever auxillary vessels we can scrape together. This will complete taskforce Council and we be on indefinite patrol along the north western pacific coast to assist in efforts to bring order to the chaos at sea."
"Understood, big sis, you want Alaska to join your taskforce?" Katia inquired. "Admittedly, I do not believe the everyone on my ship signed up for what is amounting to… the largest American naval mobilization of the century."
"I understand your crew is tired and hurting, the Alaska low on ammunition and stores however I am in negotiations with PACOM to assign us a pair of both tanker and supply ships. I am confident in that I will get what I want therefore Alaska will rendezvous with Taskforce Council and conduct refueling and resupply operations while underway. I also have the remainder of Alaska's crew embarked on the Missouri for transfer to your ship when convenient. Moreover, I have turned around the supply ship carrying Alaska's munitions to Yokosuka. She and her crew joined my division sailing out of Sarushima last night."
"What will Alaska's new mission be once the rendezvous is complete?"
"Targets of opportunity are bound to rise as the situation in the pacific unfolds. I will assign Alaska to operations befitting of her class when they become available."
"Excellent, Alaska is currently pushing thirty knots therefore we should be able to RV with you in…."
"Unfortunately, it won't be that easy." Lamented her older sister. "The latest satellite scan of the western pacific revealed a flotilla of what is suspected as training ships belonging to the Yokosuka Marine High School. The analysts on Missouri suspect at least one ship of equivalent gun caliber as Alaska in addition to several smaller vessels, break. High possibility this flotilla being led by the German pocket battleship Scharnhorst. Advise caution."
"Could be the ones who sank the Repulse."
"And sink you as well."
"I can go around them, yet, this will add a few hours to the voyage."
"Hours the two urgent causalities onboard your ship may not have. I will talk to the captain of the Nanyi about vectoring in their rotor asset to Alaska once they join taskforce Council but other than that, Katie, I'm going to need you to explain the situation to everyone onboard the Alaska. A decision needs to made whether your ship bypasses or cuts through the flotilla between you and me in the coming hours. Judging from the atmosphere in the conversation I had with PACOM, they are in an asset preservation mindset. Straight to the point, it will be highly detrimental to pacific command for them to lose the Alaska to surface action this early in the conflict. However, your ship has no specific orders to avoid hostile surface action in the mean time therefore the option to put Alaska in harms way to save the lives of 2 individuals is still on the table."
"I will gather the bridge crew and have to discussion immediately."
"One more thing." Her sister paused. "Take care of yourself. PACOM has [static] the ROE for operations in the pacific theatre. All ships are [static]…"
Static.
"Ma'am, we lost connection to the satellite link. Unlikely to reconnect due to unexplained atmospheric interference."
"Thank you."
Kurt returned the receiver to the roof of the bridge, struggling for a moment as her petite physique made it difficult.
"Messenger."
A classmate quickly races into the bridge.
"Gather the leading classmen of each bridge and navigation crew. Captain Chandler as well. There is something urgent that needs to be discussed."
[Annotations]
Someone asked me why the Alaska has a CIWS when in the cannon of Haifuri, training ships only possessed WW2 armaments. Moreover, multiple individuals have asked me through DMs why the crew of the Alaska is 2-3 time the size of the student crew found in haifuri. These are excellent questions you guys have pointed out and I am going to try my best to answer them in as much of a detailed and meaningful way as I can.
Additionally, a handful of individuals have asked me to provide... character profiles?
Note, in the following explanations I would often uses American Blue mermaids, USN, and etc. interchangeably. there is no need to put in extra thought when I do this as what I am referring to the same thing.
Q1. CIWS on the Alaska.
The Alaska class battlecruiser straddles the line between a battleship and a heavy cruiser making them a significant investment for the USN to maintain and put to sea. It is because of this investment that I suspect the American Department of Defense will have an incentive to provide some pieces of modern defensive equipment to the ship such as the 25mm Phalanx CIWS to the Alaska even though its mission is to serve as a training ship for American Blue Mermaids. The reason being, which is best encapsulated in a direct example, would be that the American navy would look pretty silly if they had to write up the loss of the Alaska as a result of it being hit by an anti-ship cruise missile. Chaff, flares, and other countermeasures may work on smaller vessels however because the Alaska straddles the line between heavy cruiser and battleship, such purely passive-defensive measures may not be sufficient in protecting the ship against modern weaponry attack such as anti-ship cruise missiles.
Perhaps the Alaska should also replace one of its main battery turrets with a missile silo that launches SM-2 Medium Range Block IIIC air-to-air missiles! However, that would open up another question about whether the Alaska is still a training ship at that point. It is with these conditions in mind, I elected to give the Alaska a pair of Phalanx CIWS platforms and a few other pieces of modern equipment/weaponry which will make appearances in later chapters. In my mind, this decision would satisfy the haifuri's American DoD's requirement to provide the Alaska with means of Active-defensive measures while, at the same time, not overly upgrading the ship to a point where directly flaunts itself straddling the line between a training ship and an active Blue mermaids warship.
I would also note that the USN may find value in exposing high schoolers, whom are mostly bound to later serve in the navy, to some pieces of equipment that can be found on its Blue Mermaid modern warships. Aside from the added responsibilities of maintaining and operating these platforms, blue mermaid students will have an early start in understanding and fulfilling the work and expectations around maintaining highly complex and modern weapons systems found across the navy.
Q2. On the enlarged crew of the Alaska.
There is a significant portion of society that depicts/acknowledges the American armed forces as the 'global police force'. I assume the US armed forces lives us to this reputation in Haifuri. To be a 'global force', an individual country needs to have an enormous manpower pool but this alone is insufficient in fulfilling the responsibilities associated with being 'global police'. This manpower pool needs to be properly trained and adept in carrying out its directive.
Cutting to the point, this would mean the USN having a need for an efficient system to training masses of volunteers provided its limited resources. While every training ship is heavily automated, compared to their Japanese counterparts, the American blue mermaids allocated larger crews onboard their vessels for a few key reasons.
a) Increases ratio of future crew being trained to vessels available: What this boils down to is that the Japanese navy may only be able to train 30 future blue mermaids per ship. With an enlarge crew complement onboard its training ships, the American navy to stretch this number to 75-150 personnel per ship. In terms of statistics, these number will add up and translate to increased efficiency for the USN in training future blue mermaids. Efficiency and numbers congress will be very interested in in allocating the Navy's budget.
b) Crew rest and operational effectiveness: This is more of a personal insight and opinion but in Haifuri, I do not believe it was wise for the Japanese navy/Blue Mermaids to deploy only a crew of 31 to operate the Harekaze. Let alone deploying a similar sized crew to operate the Musashi... One question encapsulates the source of my worries with this decision: "How does the crew maintain 24 hour watches?". Likely, plot armor provided the filling in required to explain how Harekaze did not run into a secluded underwater sandbar in the original story.
In my fanfiction, one more, I believe this is another reason behind the USN's decision to significantly enlarge the complement of its training ships. It would look pretty bad on the navy to file an insurance claim or to state during a senate inquiry that the ship was damaged/lost due to crew fatigue. To maintain ship readiness and crew fatigue, all training ships adopt a form of the 'One in two' Watch system, of which, I am still in the process of adapting to this fanfiction and will provide it to you for your leisure at a later chapter. I believe a system of watches would satisfy the USN's desire to keep all its training ships at a high state of readiness while taking into mind the biological and psychological needs of high school students.
c) Enables efficient transfer of practical knowledge: Only so much about operating a warship can be learned in the classroom, the rest requires hands on experience. Experience which can be more efficiently delivered if there are senior sailors onboard a ship. It is with this in mind that, I believe, the USN would see to that deployed Blue Mermaid training ships have a healthy mixture of freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior students onboard. Upperclassman will pass on knowledge about the ship and its functioning to their juniors thus providing an efficient means of transferring knowledge. I am no naval servicemember but I believe this is one of the obvious reasons why every commissioned warship across our world has a mixture of both junior and senior enlisted members as part of the crew.
Character Profile.
General:
Name: Katia Austin.
Character Image: cdn. discordapp attachments/37 6368621112262656/376376187326431235/TwinPrinz. png
*The spaces between the link are there... intentionally.
Kanji: オースチンカティア
Romaji: Austin Katia
Character inspiration/reference: Kurt Austin from the NUMA files.
Physical information:
Gender: Female
Height: 158cm
Blood type: O-pos
Eye color: Green
Hair color: Blonde
Birthdate: June 7th
Biographical information:
Hobbies: Badminton, Swimming
Favorite food: Duck Confit
Disliked Food: Anything with eggplant
Aspirations: Judge Advocate General (JAG), US Pacific fleet
Favorite subject: Military Law
Weak subject: Political Sciences
Origin: Virginia Beach, VA
Service information:
Rank: Lieutenant (cadet)
Qualifications:
-Watch Officer
-RHIB operator
-M5 rifle Expert riflemen qualification
Occupation: Representative of the freshman student complement, leader of the freshman navigation crew.
Assignment: CB-1 USS Alaska
Preferred watch hours: 0700-1200; 1700-0000
Notable achievements:
-Beat her older sister, a leading prefect at school, in a wargame during her entrance exams.