Nightmare …¹

A Japanese destroyer burns and sinks off Leyte, Philippine Islands after being attacked by U.S. aircraft, 11 November 1944.
(U.S. Navy Photograph)

The boilers were rumbling, the turbines whining, you could hear and “feel” the steam coursing through the pipes. Forced draft blower screaming and feed pumps humming, catch a stuffy whiff of depleted live steam. The petrol smell of bunker oil.

“Action Stations!”

Alarm bells sound, claxons blare, men running, watches change out to their battlestations. Experienced watchstanders in place, and extra men on duty at the critical watchstations. “Action stations … air …”

Aircraft sighted inbound, followed shortly by the main battery lighting up a continuous thump that could be felt through the ship, up through the deckplates into his shins.

127mm guns blasting away … The rapid "Bang, Bang" of the 40mm guns start, followed a short time later by the 25mm, then the staccato bark of the 13.2mm guns.

Deckplates shifting with hard rudder turns, seasoned sailor riding the rolls and shifts. Engine order telegraph orders up “Back Full,” He adjusts his boiler fires to account for the plant load change. Then the triple ring indicating Ahead Flank! Scramble to adjust the fires again. Rolling hard to port. Ride the roll again and prepare two fresh burner nozzles.

Swap out the burners. Fresh filters.

Large, medium, and small, AA fire still ripping out. Close underwater explosions reverberate through the plant.

These “old” burners had a fuel “glaze “on them and would need to be cleaned.

Hard roll to starboard.

THUD!! The whole ship shudders, dust in the ventilation system shaken loose, clouding the machinery spaces with a nasty dry cloud of dust and rust. Check his pressures, temps, and flows, looking good …

Another heavy "Thud-Bang" forward, lights flicker, steam pressure dropping fast.

Engineering all stations calls out “Steam rupture number one plant, split steam plants.”

He had berthing-mates dying up there.

Another thud felt, roar of something below … the main guns have stopped.

The normally hot humid machinery spaces suddenly took on a fresh smell and a sudden drop in temperature … FLOODING!!!

Lights are flickering, the electricians are locking breakers shut to critical loads, letting non-essential breakers trip open.

The 40 mm guns stop firing too.

The lower level watches were scrambling up the ladders, “Flooding!”

“We have the bilge pumps and the eductor lined up … water level is rising.”

He can hear see and smell the inrushing seawater. The lower level condensate and feed pumps would shortly be swamped. Hiss of steam as the seawater reaches the turbines for the feed and fuel pumps. Both fuel and feed pressure are dropping. He won’t be able to maintain fire, or steam pressure.

There is a rumbling, boiling sound rippling up from below as cold seawater envelopes steam pipes. Oh, the smell of seawater steam …

His steam plant is dead … and from the sounds of things … the rest of the ship too.

Secure his boiler front, shut the valves, shutoff steam to the forced draft blower … He slaps the gage board affectionately, saying a final goodbye. Water rising, can’t see lower level deckplates, they’re underwater.

25 mm guns stop banging …

Not panicked yet, he maintains the engineering principals he’d learned. Shutting down his watchstation, methodically. Making things safe. Plant sounds fading, except for the odd steam bubble collapse or water hammer.

Ears just popped, pressure in the space.

Blackness!

No more guns …

The deck slowly, then suddenly rolls to a 45 degree angle.

Can’t see, all he hears are the shouts of the other sailors, trapped below with him.

Some battle lanterns are working, He wished he couldn’t see the panicked fear in the eyes of the younger sailors. The hull is creaking and groaning in a way he’s never heard …

Ears pop again and he hears it … bulkheads collapsing forward from the pressure.

Strange rush-whistle then thud as the water fills the space.

Deck tilts again, now he is standing on the boiler front. Some men are screaming and trying desperately to get out. Too late, we’re trapped underwater. He only hoped the water would reach the boilers soon enough he wouldn’t have to drown.

Deck tilting more forward, complete darkness, his shipmates wailing and calling out.

Cool, no … cold water rushing up his thighs, can’t see. Cold rushing his balls ... strange to think about now. Seawater invading the boilers, rumbling and shaking …

“Please blow and end this.”

Saltwater steam hisses off the boiler.

The refractory was getting slowly cooled, water flashing to steam but not enough to cause a steam explosion. Water was coming in through the air intakes. The rumbling, boiling sound increased to where he could feel the pulses of the water flashing to steam and the collapse of the steam bubble.

"Just blow up already!!"

Screams, cries … the sounds of men dying, suffocating … drowning. Pleading for one more breath.

Flood lifting him up, the boilers almost completely engulfed. Hot water, cold water, as it swirled around the flooding equipment. Pitch black. Ears popping again and a few more compartments collapsed forward. He found himself up against the ribs of the ship, water pushing him up. The rest of the plant was below him, underwater, he couldn’t hear voices anymore …

His head hit the side of the ship that was now the overhead. Water surging and rushing, driving out the air.

He called out for any human contact. Water level rising, no answer … Again, a call to his shipmates … Nothing.

Alone.

Water rushing.

We all die alone.

The hull movement changes, now bobbing as if riding waves, a whole gurgling bubbling influx of water as the air is forced out of compartments.

He panics …

Neck tilted up, water filling his ears, gasping for more air. Nose and mouth pressed into the angle of the ship’s ribs, sucking in the last gulps of precious air. Tasting like salt water and stale paint. Suck in as water reaches his mouth.

Hull groaning, creaking, WOOSH, his small bit of air was gone forever, bubbling to the surface not to be breathed. Holding his breath, lungs burning, ears and sinuses popping from the pressure, swimming, fighting in the darkness, he gives up and inhales … 

He didn’t suffer long after that. But those final seconds were Hell.

The hull plunged to the bottom.

¹ This is part of the "Black Cat in the Night" series, Part 4 to be precise. The events above describe a Japanese destroyer under air attack by the PBY "Pink Kitty" and the aftermath of that attack.