The Mers-el-Kebir resolution

[Some Bloke]

By then end of 1942 and atmosphere of cautious optimism has taken hold among the various centres of Allied high command. What Churchill privately called the "Spring of discontent" which saw the loss of Singapore and the Dutch East Indies has passed. The Japanese advance into Burma has been checked, and the Battles of Mayan and Nicobar have provided a much needed morale boost for Commonwealth and particularly British forces. These events, combined with the siezure of Sicily, convince many in civil and military circles that the worst is over and that victory is now a forseeable circumstance to be planned for. However, these feelings are not universal in the allied camp as the German advance has claimed yet more strategically vital Soviet territory and once again threatened Moscow.

Despite the various setbacks, Japanese forces continue to advance and consolidate southward, threatening to isolate Australia. Despite the losses sustained at Coral Sea and Midway, the allies are determined exploit every opporunity to interdict Japanese seaborne supply and wear down their still formidable Navy.

Heavy fighting in the Solomon islands provides this opporunity in the final week of October when the Enterprise her escorts and a US cruiser division, accompanied by the primarily Royal Navy Task Force 26, makes contact with a Japanese fleet nearly three times the size of the 2 allied carrier groups.

The initial strikes from the Enterprise succeeds in crippling the Japanese Carrier Shokaku. Indomitable's now legendary bad luck seems to come in to play once more as the Japanese have been unable to find the Enterprise or her task group, and concentrate the bulk of their forces against Task Force 26. Although the ship itself doesn't take significant damage, losses to the airgroup are heavy, and the Cruiser Exeter has been crippled for the second time in 6 months. By the morning of the 26th, the Enterprise has finally been sighted and attacked.

Rear Admiral Palliser, has insisted, ostensibly wishing to learn from US methods, insisted on rigorous training with other airgroups where the situation has permitted, and so both the Royal and United States Navies' pilots are well practised in fighter control techniques. As a result the Enterprise manages to avoid significant damage, although 2 of her escorting destroyers and one light cruiser are lost.

With the Enterprise now attracting almost undivided attention from the remaining Japanese carriers, The Indomitable launches a strike of its own, sinking the light carrier Zuiho, although the significant losses from this action forces the Indomitable to withdraw. The Enterprise's final strike suceeds in sinking the Shokaku, and Vice Admiral Nagumo along with her and damaging the Carrier Junyo, seriously wounding Vice Admiral Kondo crippling one of the escorting battleship. With only single carrier operational and unaware of the Indomitable's planned withdrawal, Rear Admiral Abe orders a retreat, effectively yielding control of the seas around Australia to the allies, and sealing the fate of the Japanese Armies deployed in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea ...

[sharlin]

One hell of a bloody and bruising punch up, great update

[Some Bloke]

After the sending the telegram offering unconditional surrender, Ciano realises that German occupied Italy, especially Rome, is a very dangerous place for him. From february onwards clashes between German and Italian troops are becomming increasingly commonplace, impeding many efforts to secure the Reich's southern flank. The most notable of these isd the construction of trhe defensive lines checking the allied advance to Rome.

The American and British attacks from Campo Basso and Termoli respectively catch the German defenders largely unprepared, with many of the defensive works unfinished. Instead of rolling up the line and capturing as many defending German units at possible, The US Fifth Army (with Patton in acting command due to Mark Clark's illness) mounts a direct assault on the next line of fortification, breaching the line in a single place and then expanding the break through's flanks.

Count Ciano is finally delivered to the relative safety of the Allied lines when Clark's army stops around Castel di Sangro to reorganise. It is here that the Italian surrender is formally ratified in March 1943 and the raising and training of the Italian Co-Belligerent army units begins in earnest.

The advance resumes in April and is much more effectively checked by the formidible fortifications around Monte Cassino. American attempts to flank the fortification are thwarted when they encounter the defences of the Gustav Line proper.

The the first two assaults along the Gustav line having failed, General O'Connor resolved to roll up these defenses along the Adriatic flank.

The Moro campaign is notable for the fact that, despite being under the auspices of Mongomery's Eighth Army, only a quarter of the troops involved were British. With a Corps level formation in the area including the 5th Armoured Division, the majority of the troops involved in the Campaign were in fact, Canadian, the other Commonwealth nationalities being represented by the 78th British and 8th Indian infantry divisions.

At the end of April, the 1st Canadian infantry division makes a series of attempts to cross the River Moro succeeding only after 3 days of bloody fighting, seriesly weakining one of their infantry brigades. At the same time the British make an unsuccessful attempt while the Indian Division makes an unoposed crossing on the 3rd day.
The Germans meanwhile have fallenback to a prepared position behind a ravine (also known as "The Gully", successfully repulsing 3 Canadian assaults and further weakening the other 2 brigades under Canadian command.

Realising that a new approach is required, General Crerar deploys the hitherto uncommitted 5th Armoured division against the Axis positions at Casa Berardi. This motley collection of Shermans, Rams and Churchill tanks makes short work of the defending Germans. With a strong armoured force threatening their flanks, the German Paratroopers abandon the Gully and fall back to preprepard positions along the road immediately North of the River Moro. The Indians capture Villa Grande after 2 days and 3 nights hard fighting, with the British infantry divisio is involved in a bloody stalemate with the defenders of Orsogna. The Canadian infantry suceed in capturing Ortona after a weeks's house to house fighting.

The Battle of Orsogna proves to be the decisive engagement of this campaign. General Crerar has deployed almost all of his armour and infantry reserves to help the beleagured British attackers, who are making slow and bloody progress whole the rest of the Commonwealth divisions are redeploying for a final push. This however, never materialises as German relief force is deployed at the beginning end of the third week of the Campaign the 5th Canadian Armoured and 8th Indian divisions suceed in repulsing this German counter attack at great cost, and the remeaining defenders in Orsogna itself surrender.

Although these forces are in no position to to exploit this breakthrough, the Gustav line has been breached and the rest of the Eighth Army is tasked with rolling up the line from west to East. While at least half of the defenders evade capture, the Bernhard line collapses spectacularly in the face of a coordinated Franco-American assault and a steady British advance.

By the end of May the Allies are have siezed all of the major load junctions leading northward to Rome in a series of bloody engagments, and Ciano is already planning his own March on Rome ...

(Note having read some of the earlier posts I have had to do some Retcons, specifically changing Fredenhalls successor as commander of the US 5th Army to Clark, and making the Greek Armoured Corps a subordiate formation of the French First Army for the time being).

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Originally Posted by Some Bloke

The American and British attacks from Campo Basso and Termoli respectively catch the German defenders largely unprepared, with many of the defensive works unfinished. Instead of rolling up the line and capturing as many defending German units at possible, Mark Clark's Fifth Army mounts a direct assault on the next line of fortification, breaching the line in a single place and then expanding the break through's

Clark? CLARK!?!?
Oh, wait, you didnt say clark did it, but rather clarks army did. Cleatly clark was in bed running a 104 degree fever, thats 40+ in real units, and a subordinate was in charge.

[Some Bloke]

Fixed. Thanks.

[sharlin]

Great update as always

[Geordie]

Originally Posted by sharlin

Great update as always

I second that.

[Some Bloke]

The New Guinea campaign is notable for being at the edge of the supply lines for both sides in the conflict, forcing all involved to improvise and build the infrastructure required for a modern war from the ground up and often in conditions previously believed to be completely unsuitable. Due to its proximity to the mainland and the League of Nations mandate over the territory, the initial invasion causes great anxiety in Austrialia in that it is seen as an attack on their doorstep.

Despite the return of their 7th Infantry division and the steady supply of equipment from Britain and personell from the United States, the progress of the initial attack does little to dispel popular fears of an invasion. Although cadres of Officers and NCOs have been instrumental in imparting their experience to the militia and new recruits, these men do not have any direct experience against the Japanese, particularly with regard to their tactics.


By the summer of 1942 the Japanese are exerting control of the air over the various territories of New Guinea and threaten to cut the sealanes on which supplying Australia depends. Siezing these airfields is therefore accorded the highest priority by allied planners in the region.

Before any counter attack can be mounted the Japanese attempt to seize the port and airfield at Milne Bay on the south coast of Papua New guinea on fourth week of August, in a bid to isolate Port Moresby. Estimating roughly 3 infantry companies rather than the 2 reinforced brigade’s worth of forces in the area plus air support, the initial landings are handled roughly by the defenders and their initial deployments are scattered some distance from their intended location, buying the Australian defenders valuable time to deploy in response to this threat.

RAAF Kittyhawks and Manchester Bombers also cause serious damage to Japanese supply and transport capabilities, precluding any attempt to outflank the Australians by sea and forcing a frontal assault. Despite the support of tanks this support fails against the Austrlians’ well entrenched positions an extensive use of obsolescent weapons such as stickybombs and Boys Anti Tank Rifles, and after 2 days of hard fighting, the Austalians still command a formidable defensive line abound the coast.

While the Austrlian Army formations are reorganising and withdrawing their most vulnerable units, the Japanese are awating further seaborne reinforcements. These never arrive 3 squadrons of Kittyhawks based at Gili Gili are ordered to join a strike consisting of Manchesters and even Wirraways equipped as divebombers attack the convoy off Waga Waga sinking 3 of the 9 destroyers and forcing the scuttling of the cruiser leading the convoy. The Japanese troops that do make it ashore are bombed and strafed mercilessly.

The Australians meanwhile launch a counterattack which forces the Japanese to retreat to Raubul overland and by the end of August all of South East Papua is once again under virtually uncontested allied control. The Japanese are once again constrained to attacking Port Moresby over the hazardous Kokoda Track and their advance has been at the village of Buna.

At the end of November, the allies begin their first offensive against Japanese forces in the region. The veteran 7th Australian Division is given the more difficult task of advancing through waterlogged terrain onto Sananda point, while the newly arrived US 32nd Infantry division is assigned to retaking Gona. While the Australians are fully equipped and possess more combat experience, much of the latter is gained courtesy of the Germans rather than the Japanese, and the US forces are woefully underprepared, receiving only cursory training in jungle warfare from recently recuperated walking wounded evacuated from Singapore. Although barely lasting a month and a half, the campaign resembles the conflicts of centuries past in that the majority of casualties were inflicted by disease rather than by enemy action.

The small gains and high casualty rate preclude any significant morale boost but these campaigns ensure that Port Moresby is no longer under the threat of a direct attack, and the allies can now make plans to retake the New Guinea island chain now that the Japanese plan to isolate Australia has been thwarted ...

[Some Bloke]

By the beginning of 1943 it the consensus is that the Japanese offensive in Burma is all but spent and the allies are in undisputed control of the of the Indian Frontier and the entire coast. However the issue of conflicting agendas in the region once again dominates allied planning. Britain's main priority is retaking the whole of Burma and then moving on to the Malaya region. However, pressure from China and the United States means that the immediate agenda is keeping Chiang's armies supplied.

Slim and Alexander's steady preparations for an offensive Northward have once again shelved Stillwell's proposal for an expansion of the Burma Road. The primary means of resupply is therefore by air, and to this end, airfields in the Allied controlled Burma are expanded and new ones are built, and the American and Commonwealth air presence is greatly enhanced with both Transport and Fighter aircraft.

Despite being Chiang's chief of stall, Stillwell is finding his orders to Chinese forces in the area constantly countermanded by Chiang himself, and as such, progress from east to west is much slower than north to south. However the Chinese, having been recieved supplies and equipment, have displayed considerable improvements in morale and tactics since the beginning of the campaign. Chinese high commanders on the other hand are less than impressed by the tone of the allied reports, construing every criticism of supply or acknowledgement of difficulty in the field as insults.

Allied conferences held in Rangoon make it clear that the Kuomintang must readopt its reformist agenda and combat corruption and inefficiency if it is to receive any increase in supplies. The first initial sign of cooperation on this front is the request for Burma veterans to help train newly raised or equipped divisions in mainland China, which, after much consternation over the practical difficulties, is granted.

Major General Windgate has been appointed as unofficial comander of all allied irregular units in Burma, and an extensive cross border sabotage campaign is orchestrated in March 1943. Casualties due to disease and combat are high but the effects on Japanese infrastructure and morale leave many outlying border settlements effectively unoccupied while the Japanese are busy keeping ares of strategic importance under control.

The offensive proper begins at the end of April, with Slim's Fourteenth Army advancing toward Mandalay and the Chinese advancing eastward. By October, the two allied forces have linked up and control most of Burma west of the Salween river. The capture of most of the Japanese sponsored government in Mandalay represents a serious blow to the legitimacy of the Axis presence in Burma, and relations between Japan and their Thai allies begin to deteriorate rapidly.

Although Chinese progress westward is of a steadier pace, the airfield of Myitkina is captured more or less intact, greatly shortening the range of the airlifts required to keep China in the fight.

Aung San very quickly emerges as the most prominent voice in the Burmese leadership and plans are made to raise new units among the population in allied territory. The negotiations at latest Rangoon Conference stipulate that the British will not reinstitute direct rule over Burma and that dominion status will be conferred no later than 3 months after the conclusion of the war with Japan.

In a bid to defuse resentment in India, the newly appointed Viceroy, Archibald Wavell, writes to Churchill for approval to reinstate the provisions of the Government of India Act, which is reluctantly granted (Churchill's doctor later expressed surprise that this development didn't cause a heart attack in his patient). The final business of the conference is to reorganise the military forces in Burma for what is expected to be the final push. Responsibilty for fighting in Burma is transferred to the newly created South East Asia theatre, with Sir Claude Auchinlek and Joseph Stilwell as Supreme Commander and Deputy Supreme Commander resprectively, General Chennault as overall commander of air forces, and ground forces reorganised into the 27th Army Group under General Alexander.

While in Europe, the Allies are mainly tied down in the Mediterranean, by October 1943 it is becoming clear to allied commanders that the Japanese defeat is no longer a question of if, but when ...

[Julius Vogel]

So you have sped up the Burmese campaign by a year or so on OTL?

[Some Bloke]

Well here North Africa is wrapped up in November 1941, the 6th Australian Division gets sent to Burma and the initial Japanese invasion gets delayed until about Mid February meaning that Rangoon never falls.

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

If the japanese offesive is stopped, why do you need to 'extend' the burma road? Do the japanese have rangoon? Wouldnt it be easier to push the japanese back and use the existing road? I didnt go back to previous pages, where the answer might lie, sorry.

[Some Bloke]

Well the Japanese never reach Rangoon and since, as Julius Vogel pointed out the Burma Campaign is roughly a year ahead of schedule, the proposals to build the Ledo extension to the Burma road come to nought.

[Some Bloke]

After the capture of the Caucusus, Army Group South turns its undivided attention to capturing the industrial centres along the Volga river, most notably Stalingrad.

After the fall of Grozny in the last week of August 1942, the silent consensus among STAVKA is that the Caucusus is lost for the time being, and efforts are shifted toward strengthening and deepening the defences of the Volga region.

Due to the strain on logistics as much as the tenacious Soviet defence, the Germans do not reach Stalingrad until the end of November, and it takes another month of dismantling the defensive works guarding the appoaches until the siege can begin in earnest.

The initial assault following a bombing campaign effectively shatters the 16th Panzer Division among generally heavy casualties on both sides. The Russian "Hugging Tactics" do much to disrupt the effectiveness of German combined arms making direct assaults painstakingly slow. A highly improvised amphibious assault in a bid to invest the city fails due to physical and logistical overstretch.

After over 3 month of siege warfare, Axis high command comes to the conclusion that the siege will only succeed if fought on their terms. A second, thoroughly planned and coordinated landing shatters the formations on the far side of the Volga and the city if briefly encircled. However, by this time the Soviets have finished building up for a counter offensive in the form of Operation Uranus.

The axis formations deployed on the Southeastern bank of the Volga are annihilated in short order, and soviet forces have effectively infiltrated the axis lines, seperate the constituent forces of the besiegers with a view to destroying these armies in detail.

The following campaign represents a series of sieges around Stalingrad as the attempts to crush or relieve the various pockets of resistance are played out. It is not until June of 1943 that Stalingrad is finally relieved, resulting in the loss of a third of Army Group South's manpower captured or killed in action.

Meanwhile, despite Hitler and Goebles' best efforts, news of the Italian surrender and realignment has also reached the Italian units stationed in the Caucusus leading to a fresh crisis, both military and political, for von Bock's beleaguered command ...

[Julius Vogel]

An update!

[Geordie]

Originally Posted by Some Bloke

Meanwhile, despite Hitler and Goebles' best efforts, news of the Italian surrender and realignment has also reached the Italian units stationed in the Caucusus leading to a fresh crisis, both military and political, for von Bock's beleaguered command ...

So, TTL's Stalingrad is somewhat different, as there is no 6th Army pocketed. But, as I thought, the Italian troops could cause massive problems (even by just refusing to fight), just when the Axis forces are at the end of their logistical and manpower tethers...

[Julius Vogel]

Originally Posted by Geordie

So, TTL's Stalingrad is somewhat different, as there is no 6th Army pocketed. But, as I thought, the Italian troops could cause massive problems (even by just refusing to fight), just when the Axis forces are at the end of their logistical and manpower tethers...

Indeed.

I don't recall reading much about what happened OTL wrt this kind of thing, although I guess Russia is used to foreign troops turning into friends then enemies from WW1/Civil War

[Geordie]

Originally Posted by Julius Vogel

I don't recall reading much about what happened OTL wrt this kind of thing, although I guess Russia is used to foreign troops turning into friends then enemies from WW1/Civil War

Quite. Of course, the Italians may keep fighting the Soviets through choice, or maybe just to try and survive.

[Some Bloke]

By June 1943 Allied forces in Italy have crushed the last pockets of resistance on the Gustav line. Vicious actions on the Moro River, Monte Cassino and the aptly named Castel de Sangro have taken their toll on allied logistics, man power and equipment, and O´Connor stops to consolidate and prepare the armies under his command for the assault on Rome.

The highest prioities are the expansion and etablishment of airfields, repair and expansion of the roads, ports and othe infastructure, and training and equipment
of the first regular Italian Co-belligerent forces, which now consists of 1 airborne and 1 mechanised infantry division.

This period of consolidation leads to a relocation of the action rather than a lull, as the allies seek to take full advantage of the confusion caused by the armestice. Since the beginning of the year, Corsica has been the site of a bloodya nd confused battle between the German garrison, the confused and demoralised Italian former occupiers and the French Resistance, the latte supported by commando raids. Often the latters´ main duty is to have Italian PoWs transported from the Island, and it is not until June that Corsica is fully under allied control.

US forces also sieze Sardinia duing thi time and both the islands are put to use as major allied airbases to bombard Italy in the east, occupied France in the Noth West and even as far as Austria.

In July 1943 British forces under Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser of the Home Fleet and the newly activated Second Army under Lieutenant General Sir Kenneth Anderson´s command launch operation Constellation, the libeation of the Channel Islands, these fall in 2 months of bitter fighting by land, sea and air, eventually liberating the only UK territory under Nazi contol after 3 years of occupation.

Even before Fonstellation, preparations are afoot foR an even greater campaign as various Army Groups are activated. While most of these formations exist only on paper for the time being, allied commanders are already making plans for their use in the forseeable future ...

[Geordie]

Originally Posted by Some Bloke

US forces also seize Sardinia duing thi time and both the islands are put to use as majo allied airbases to bombads fom Italy in the east, occupied Fance in the Noth West and even as far as Austria.

This will help force the Germans to maintain a strong presence in the South of France, as well as the North West coastline of Italy. Added to their extended lines in the East, and we could be looking at "butter scraped over too much bread", to quote a much better writer than myself...

Originally Posted by Some Bloke

In July 1943 British forces under Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser of the Home Fleet and the newly activated Second Army under Lieutenant General Sir Kenneth Anderson´s command launch operation Constellation, the liberation of the Channel Islands, these fall in 2 months of bitter fighting by land, sea and air, eventually liberating the only UK territory under Nazi contol after 3 years of occupation.

I imagine that the islands ITTL haven't been fortified to the same extent as IOTL, then? I wouldn't envy the British if they were. Even having seized them, how secure are they from interference from the French coast? Will civilians need to be evacuated? Was the German garrison reduced, due to increased pressures elsewhere? If it was, two months fighting suggests there was still a strong presence. Was it a need to be seen doing something (i.e., political requirements trumping military planning?)? Sorry about all the questions, but something has obviously changed in order to make Constellation viable, so I'm interested in said changes.

Also, as far as the fighting itself is concerned, were British Airborne forces used in anger? If so, hopefully they'll learn from their mistakes better than IOTL. Is Browning still there? If so, they're probably screwed, no matter what. However Down not being packed off to India could help somewhat...

As always, keep up the good work, Some Bloke!