The Battle Of The Vega Gulf | HFY | A short Sci-Fi Story

[@scifistories1977]

WRickWrites now has his own KZbin channel packed with even more stories. If you like his work, and he can write a great story! Please subscribe to his channel here: www.youtube.com/@WRickWrites-qy8pq

[@tonyjanney1654]

With all due respect to the "Johnson, the "Fireworm" could also be elated to HMS Glowworm, which fought an action so valiantly that the captain of the German task force was so impressed, he wrote to the British and recommended the skipper of the Glowworm for a posthumous Victoria Cross. The Germain Captain contacted the British Admiralty through the Red Cross, wrote a letter detailing the Glow Worm's action, the courage of her crew and bravery of her captain. The Victoria Cross was duly awarded.

[@cameltube-vk7el]

Your referencing the battle of Layte Gulf ??? The tin cans i.e. the Johnson or is it Johnston.....yeah the latter! Not aware of the HMS deal.

[@-triumphgt667]

The Glowworm was a RN destroyer - during the Norwegian theatre of war, she had gone back to look for a man overboard when she came across two German destroyers emerging from the fog. Despite being outnumbered, the captain Lt Cd Roope, ordered the ship to engage and the Germans retreated calling for help from the heavy cruiser Hipper, a 16,000 ton ship. Glowworm was spotted and made smoke but the Hipper had radar and opened fire with her 8" guns. The Glowworm was hit multiple times but turned, fired her torpedoes at the Hipper and went to ramming speed, hitting the Hipper just behind her forward anchor and scraped along her side causing the Hipper to take on 500 tons of water before the British destroyer sank. Roope survived the collision but was unable to hold the grappling rope thrown to him and drowned. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, partly due to the recommendation of Captain Hemuth Heye who contacted the British Admiralty to commend the bravery of the crew of the Glowworm. I suspect the author knew the tale in using the name Fireworm. The USS Johnston was clearly captained by a brave and resourceful captain as well

[@ayacachotinemi4974]

It says in the description what the inspiration was.

[@HawkGTboy]

But the Germans were the bad guys…

[@cameltube-vk7el]

ha ha yup @@ayacachotinemi4974 you are correct & Thx for the heads up, had not even dawned on me to look there /;^)

[@mattbrown5511]

In 18.5 years of service in the US Army as a grunt, I never fought a single battle to kill our "enemies". I fought to protect the man to my left and the man to my right. They did the same. Battle brothers are a very special kind of family.

[@cameltube-vk7el]

I can relate to that & would submit that this same idea is one we should muster in our neighborhoods, our street.........the 360 of humans we engage on the daily. THis that you understand is the same ideal /idea necessary & required [imo] to stand and move forward. THats my short answer ha ha ahhhh ya.. . . . . . it is that time [not talking kinetic] brother 2024 go WeSaveUs Do No Harm [unless] SemperProrsum~Godspeed

[@solidsteel3634]

Well, that explains why you were just a grunt after 18 1/2 years. But as long as the goals are still achieved because some people know what it's about, that's ok too...

[@mattbrown5511]

Grunt means infantryman, not dumbass.@@solidsteel3634

[@cjandauntieyaya1446]

@@solidsteel3634 Child, you know NOTHING about war. Go back to your first person shooter games.

[@solidsteel3634]

@@cjandauntieyaya1446 I was there... 3 times. Fought YOUR war in Afghanistan after YOU cried for Art 5. So you should close your mouth...

[@navyhmc8302]

It would appear that this story used Taffy-3, USS Laffey and USS Johnson as a mold for this story. Battle off Samar

[@cameltube-vk7el]

Layte Gulf the Johnston tin cans , Samar was the big part

[@cameltube-vk7el]

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors - Wikipedia Survivors of the four U.S. ships lost in the battle- USS Hoel (DD-533), USS Johnston (DD-557), USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413), and USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) -then struggled to survive a two-day-ordeal adrift at sea awaiting rescue.

[@kawaiku]

Yup! I barely got 4 minutes into when I figured it was going to be based of Samar.

[@cameltube-vk7el]

Someone else @@kawaiku pointed out to see the descript's . . . . . US, Brittish & German & Japans ships were where he drew content. Much of it was around Samar & Lety Gulf, see the descriptions lol SemperProrsum~Godsped

[@Yotarian]

I met a sailor who served on the Laffey. Hell of ship with some remarkable stories. I knew he served on the Laffey because if what he was wearing, so I looked it up out of curiosity. This guy was so excited to talk to me after I told him I looked up the ship and read about its history.

[@Nepafarius]

Everybody mentioning the battles this is based off of, but no one is saying that the trade deal at the end is likely based off of Lord Timothy Dexter selling bed warmers in the Caribbean.

[@albodakine1]

I was not in the Navy but my understanding is that every ship carries a plaque with three simple words. "Ship. Shipmate. Self."

[@SageofStars]

The sheer fact that they had to CONVERT ships to be warships is one of those markers that they had no idea what they were getting into. Mind, if you have artificial gravity, you have shields(If not Energy Based, than just simple gravity sheering), and at that point, a warfleet should have two types of ships. One with shields as strong as they could make it, but not enough firepower to light a match, and the other basically a set of guns strapped to an engine. That is a warfleet. That being said, a good look into the universe by this author. It's growing out, and becoming very comparable in terms of ideas to the early Known Space novels by Larry Niven. It's also interesting that, to date, we haven't gotten a single human perspective on this universe, every story has been Amia speaking of events, with Worst Species even failing to include humans at all outside of a mention until very near the end of the tale. Excellent stuff, and the voice used was also a fine choice. I look forward to seeing what more comes from this.

[@lesallison9047]

Good story thank you 😊 ✌💚 🇬🇧

[@geraldfrost4710]

The Warthog: we have a cannon, let's build a jet delivery system around it.

[@SageofStars]

@@geraldfrost4710 How's about the USS Ben Sisko's Motherlovin Pimp Hand? Otherwise known as the USS Defiant. The Emissary's only true child.

[@larryo.6289]

My take away, " The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one." Brother! 😊

[@henrihamalainen300]

Sounds like the writer took innovation from "Battle of Samar" where Japanese mistook escort carriers to be fleet carriers and as such wiith size comparison the DD to be CA. As such Japanese navy at first shot AP rounds at DD and only managed over penetrations instead of crippling damaga HE would have done. During the battle 3 USN DD led by USS Johnston managed to hold back Japanese fleet long enough to let carriers escape.

[@Unhinged29]

3 DD and one DE, give Samy B some credit

[@konekillerking]

And maybe a bit of HMS “GLOWWORM”

[@yomogami4561]

i enjoyed the story humans are more then willing to sacrifice ourselves to save others [well most of us i'd like to believe]

[@scottantman3851]

This story is extremely well-written and believable because the action actually makes sense. Even the enemy's blunders are entirely understandable. Well done!

[@johncunningham4820]

Listened to the Story before reading the Description . But I had figured from the Story alone that this HAD to be based on a Real event . Great Story .

[@petercampbell4220]

Below comment- yea. The samuel b roberts was just found. And it amazes me how such a small ship ( de ) had the displacement to carry captain copland`s balls. Last stand of tin can sailors, excellent read.

[@wow-roblox8370]

“But there isn’t a category above battleship” oh, so those are being kept secret, then?

[@311Bob]

I'm so glad to have found this subscription I just love these stories!

[@ErwinDecoene]

Yes Glowworm versus Hipper, but also echos of the Slot, Iron bottom sound and the Solomons campaign, the battles provisionig Malta/North Africa.

[@Shadow.Dragon]

Great story! "WITNESS ME!!!!!"

[@jaguarracingus]

following the storyline and find it quite enjoyable. thank you.

[@alegekelso]

Drachnafil did a great video on the battle of the samar straight. Worth listening two. Even better if you've play azur lane and picture the ship girls during the narration 😉

[@martyschrader]

Terrific story. "It's a trap! There's two of them!"

[@harrygrimley4352]

Very interesting way to do this. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@paradoxstate5018]

I've listened to this story quite a few times and this time I've just realised, you didn't mention that a 'Dreadnought' was bigger than a 'Battleship' it really ticks me off when people use that term as some sort of 'Super Battleship' so all I can say is well done Rick for not using it :)

[@IceFiction404]

Nice stories. Thank for upload

[@DanaSecrest]

Taffy 3 all over again! O love this one!

[@ananamu2248]

These stories suprised me ! Yay ! I didnt realise i held some subtle sense of shame for being human .. We would be lesser that what we aspire to and thats a limitation ...we do have good qualities ...even our bad ones ! In the light of trumpie and putler ,we see the worst ....but there is a majority of people that would act with cleverness and honour ....we are open adaptable and caring ....you have exposed me to the good side of what we ,as a whole race , we are ....intriguing writer ...thankyou

[@Marcus-b2n]

Enlightening tactital lecture, always welcome. Maybe on a weekly basis.

[@2476bunny]

i like this series at time i imagine sitting in a class room on a lecture lol.

[@ricardocarmona5210]

Awesome Battle.

[@rconley95]

Look up the real life version, the battle off Samar

[@nDjinn1]

I love these stories.

[@jdtravels5140]

Most excellent!

[@orlandobritt1460]

Humans we just built different

[@cerberus144]

"I would also like to remind you that humans are not carnivores. They're omnivores. In fact, many of them choose to be vegetarian as a personal choice. What humans are, however, are hunters. They know how to hunt and how to survive being hunted."

[@ai-aniverse]

From Hells heart, I stab at thee...

[@marks1638]

Definitely a futurist version of the Battle of Taffy 3 (Battle of Samar) in WWII and the USS Johnson commanded by Captain Evans (MOH Recipient).

[@Bomaderry]

That is a simple one to do. WE ARE TOTAL NUTS WITH A BIT OF CRAZY ON THE SIDE.

[@Teampegleg]

There are categories above a standard battleship. You have the Dreadnought and the Super Dreadnought, they are battleships but they are categories within it.

[@OptimusWombat]

I was looking for this comment. Good catch 👍

[@USS-Texas3214]

Dreadnoughts are not above battleships, on the contrary in most cases. A Dreadnought was just an early form of a battleship

[@christophervennix9861]

'Dreadnought' was the name given to a singular Royal Navy ship in the 20th century which at the time was the largest and heaviest battleship. However, others quickly copied the concept also nicknaming their ships 'dreadnoughts' and the original HMS Dreadnought was quickly outclassed. Within just 5 years the Royal Navy launched the Orion class ship which they nicknamed 'super-dreadnoughts' due to them being heavier and better armed than the original HMS Dreadnought. However, at almost the same time the US launched its 'standard-type battleships' starting with the Nevada class which easily outclassed the Orion in weight, armour and firepower. This was more or less the end of the 'dreadnought' nickname as most future ships were simply named 'battleships'

[@Teampegleg]

@@christophervennix9861 Only by people that don't know even basic naval history. Battleships are separated by era, pre-Dreadnought, Dreadnought, and Super Dreadnought. It would be nice when authors are looking for a name bigger than what they consider to be a traditional Battleship to look to the Dreadnought name, as in Navy's history is often a big deal.

[@fredbaumann3360]

Greetings and felicitations! In The Battle of Vega Gulf, u/WRickWrites! has penned the best of about 20 to 30 of these stories I have devoured in the last two weeks from a range of about 10 or so different publishers. Rick's entertaining story begins with a serviceable and appropriate beginner's introduction to [early 21st century surface] naval vessel classifications, including the logical return to service in space of beloved battleships. This prefaces a riveting heroic tale in the finest tradition of the historic beginning of the Battle of Leyte Gulf but rendered in the more manageable form of a single destroyer, garnished with delightful bits and pieces of relevant history, seasoned with a nicely-judged quantity of entertaining humor, sarcasm and the typical dyspeptic grievances of a long-serving (and suffering) senior instructor at a military college. The result is most entertaining and informative, a combination as powerful as it is tragically uncommon. Expect me to follow shortly!

[@bc64100]

its not the size of the dog in a fight it's the size of the fight in the dog

[@ScorpiusZA.]

6:32 - Wouldn't dreadnought be a classification above battleship?

[@jakubw.2779]

Possibly, but from what i understood humans didn't have anything bigger than a battleship. It's also in our history. We indeed had dreadnaughts in the past, but they were shortlived and soon we had battleships and/or battlecruisers again. Also i kind of feel that the scale is quite bit off, especially with nukes. I get that alien ships could be enormous, but holy shit tsar bomb was capable of glassing a city the size of new york. Fire ball itself was 3 or 4km in diameter, let alone heat wave and shockwave which would inevitably spread throughout the hull of the ship, and em pulse on top of that. I found that lots of scifi stories vastly diminish pure power of nuclear fusion, especially when it can be developed without constrainst of fear of human extinction.

[@jakubw.2779]

@poiujnbvcxdswq yes, against external waves of em, not internal, like right inside the hull, maybe it wouldn't fry every system onboard, but it would disrupt their working. If it would go out in open space, then yes, reaction would be limited, but not as much as you said, we already detonated few warheads in space, though it was low earth orbit, this wouldn't differ much. Much of the fireball is formed from the fuel provided in the device. Atmosphere definitely strenghten the effects of heat and pressure, but the yeild of the nuclear device is deduced only from the amount of fuel provided and method of detonation (fission or fission-fusion) not if it will be detonated in space or atmosphere. Tsar bomb had a theoretical yeild of 75-100 MT if fully equipped, that yeild wouldn't change if the detonation took place in space. That's alot of energy being released at once and it would literally disintegrate anything in the blast radius (which for tsar bomb supposed to be 3-4km in atmosphere, in space it could be lower, but we still look at kilometers)

[@mrblue4602]

Those final words those poor students! Human haven’t got it figure out !

[@The_Natalist]

This is literally the Battle of Leyte Gulf 😂

[@rachaelcourtnell7275]

LOL. How dare he fight above his class.

[@schlirf]

Space "Taffy 3"?

[@davidturner4824]

Great story.

[@crowsbridge]

I like the homage to the battle of leyte gulf

[@fabianwood9457]

Good story

[@thalaseamyst3934]

Firewyrm: Burn with me!

[@sam2x13]

If their ships were like human battleships only larger wouldn't that make them dreadnoughts?

[@konekillerking]

I see that I’m not the only one familiar with WW2 Navel history. Battle of Samar and HMS Glowworm. Look up how these actual ships died well.

[@KiithNaabal]

Will there be more stories in the same universe?

[@kolka111]

Ah, this is just a slightly altered and space reskinned Battle of Samar 😂

[@swiftmatic]

Read some David Drake. He 'repackaged' many of his experiences in Vietnam into stunning combat sci-fi stories.

[@smokinggnu6584]

Getting a lot of Battle of Samar vibes form this. Taffy 3 and all.

[@joshuajohansen6911]

We humans do have a ship class larger than a Battleship - Dreadnaught/super Dreadnaught

[@rconley95]

Were the Kalu Kamsu the IJN?

[@KuDastardly]

lol! "Motivation"

[@darkhorse13golfgaming]

Ah....the Second Battle of Samar IYKYK 😂

[@ivorjawa]

“I am a Pole”

[@brantgentry1463]

Aircraft carriers are the most powerful ships in a carrier strike force

[@benjamingray2071]

technically there IS a class of ship above battleship but its outdated after america made the first ultra fast variant that really functioned as more of a battleship leading to them being phased out for battleships (and also carriers being the new anti battleship weapons so you know no point in dreadnoughts) cause dreadnoughts were BBs on steroids bigger more armored bigger guns but also as slow as a morbidly obese snail their only realistic use was against smaller battleships since BBs and dreadnoughts were like BBs and heavy cruisers one bigger fatter heavier and more armed and the other smaller still decently armored and atleast able to harass a larger ship with its sizeable guns but much more nimble but since carriers became the new anti BB weapon dreadnoughts became pointless and were phased out in the end

[@murasame5071]

This is basicly Battle off Samar in space.

[@iamironkanute8750]

So I am a confrontational person. I hate bully's and always respond. Sucks to be them!

[@BatmanSeRiedeTi]

It worked on the Leyte Gulf, why not in the Vega Gulf?

[@wlg2677]

So the Amia are human friends?

[@victorfinberg8595]

oh, this is taffy three off samar (*) (i guess dozens of people have already said the same thing) (*) well, only marginally ... and THAT, i think, is not what the others said

[@bradchesser2211]

There is classification above battleship I do believe it's dreadnought

[@LA-fb6pw]

Good but there is a class above battle ship. The dreadnought.

[@cindaschuster6725]

💙👍🏼

[@TheMelbournelad]

Man took me until 13min mark to finally realise what this was based off 🤦🏻

[@karlhamoy3919]

🙂

[@brentwyrick3300]

Pyrrhus not Pierce

[@csi1392]

dreadnought

[@johnhenrix3894]

leyte gulf in 30k years

[@micharudzinski7856]

Yep pręty much taffy 3

[@hunnybunnysheavymetalmusic6542]

So... You are saying that the 'dreadnought' class doesn't exist...

[@scifistories1977]

I didn't write the story (and may be ignorant of navy classes), but isn't a dreadnought just a variation of a battleship with a big gun?

[@acefire4050]

Must not be talking about the United States aircraft carriers. Because they are heavily armed you just don't know what you don't see it.

[@daaaaanzzz]

Ah, battle of Samar but in sapce.

[@cameltube-vk7el]

Surprised & not surprised how many know of the navel battle Layte Gulf, age tell? me 60

[@choctaw2sticks193]

typical human behavior . . . am I wrong. just look at our military history.

[@Upstart051]

I love Amia scholars