Happy and Glorious.

[Devolved]

Originally Posted by Derek Pullem

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles...y_firefly.html

Looks like with a bit more oomph behind it it could be in service Autumn 1943 or if the testing didn't show up the flaw or was rushed into service, spring 1943

Looks like some problems had to be sorted out before service. Looking at the info maybe a higher priority would have brought it into service say December 1943. 8 months before OTL.

[Some Bloke]

Excellent.

[merlin]

Originally Posted by Devolved

Seafang OTL was later. I have just used the name because it is still a Supermarine plane and is coming into service earlier. I didn't think Supermarine Dumbo would work.

You could try 'Stingray' - naval T/bomber aircraft tend to be named after a fish - Swordfish, Barracuda, Spearfish.

[Devolved]

Originally Posted by merlin

You could try 'Stingray' - naval T/bomber aircraft tend to be named after a fish - Swordfish, Barracuda, Spearfish.

Oh Maybe. We will see if the plane makes it into service.

[Devolved]

Happy and Glorious

continued

Sicily

March 25th 1943


American Zone

Gela

The US 82nd Airborne minus one regiment was dropped a few miles from the beaches at Gela to block any Axis reinforcements from threatening the seaborne invasion. The weather was poor but fortunately there was little wind that night. The paratroopers landed fairly closely together and they seized the high ground overlooking the landing grounds. Others were sent east to disrupt the rear of the troops that could be used against the British. The lack of a concentrated bombing campaign meant that the Italians weren't expecting anything that day let alone paratroopers. By morning 38 Americans had been killed with 22 of them in accidents. The Italians had lost 11 killed and 82 captured.

As dawn came to Sicily on March 25th, the US 3rd Infantry and 2nd armored of Major General Geoffrey Keyes US I Corps came ashore on the broad sandy beaches.

Agrigento

To the west the US 1st infantry landed on less favourable beaches near Agrigento. As the troops fanned out to search for the enemy a small team of cameramen waited as a Landing craft lowered its ramp to reveal General George Patton dressed as if on a parade ground.
"Its good to be finally in the war" he said to the journalists.


British Zone

Two Brigades of the British 1st Airborne were towed by gliders towards their main targets. The most tricky was the capture of Ponte Grande bridge south of Syracuse. The gliders were posed some problems as AA fire caused some planes to release their gliders early with the result that 3 crashed into the sea. However two gliders almost crashed onto the Bridge itself and within an hour there were 500 troops on the scene and waiting for the Italian counter attack. Other troops missed the landing zone but were able to cut telephone wires and cause mayhem.

Meanwhile the the British 1st and 78th Division came ashore south of Syracuse on beaches secured by Royal Marine commandos. Unlike the US beaches there was naval gunfire from cruisers and destroyers. By early morning 23 Italians were dead and 52 taken prisoner for the loss of 9 British dead.

To the north of Syracuse one parachute battalion had been dropped to block the road from anything coming down from the north while 1st Canadian and 50th British Division came ashore. This landing was contested as it came up against a designated fortress area. For the Canadians some had images of another Dieppe going through their heads as machine gun fire tore into their ranks. Offshore the Royal Navy Battleships Howe and Nelson were on standby for just this eventuality. Soon they were pouring 14" and 16" shells onto the Italian positions. After an hour the Italian defences had been overcome and the British and Canadians advanced in opposite directions. The British 50th Division moved north to take Augusta while the Canadians moved south to take Syracuse from the north. The fighting had left 29 British and 48 Canadians dead. The Italians had lost 92 killed and 31 prisoner while the others retreated towards Syracuse.

Back in the south Italian coastal troops plus a naval battalion moved towards the Ponte Grande bridge. Here they ran into British paratroopers who opened a murderous fire on them. Soon the Italians were retreating in disorder leaving 34 dead behind them. The British suffered no loss. Within a few hours the slowly moving troops of the 1st infantry division arrived and crossed the bridge to pursue the retreating Italians.

In the American zone the Italians attempted to counter attack the beaches with the 4th Livorno division. Unfortunately their path was blocked by US airborne troops and the two sides were locked in a vicious fire fight in the hills and along the roads. The Livorno got nowhere near the bridgehead.

By nightfall Syracuse had fallen to an Anglo Canadian pincer movement. A half hearted attempt to break out of the trap was prevented by airborne troops who seemed to be everywhere, blocking even the smallest tracks. The fall of Syracuse netted an intact harbour, 1,800 prisoners, 6 merchant vessels and a motor torpedo boat. All achieved for a total first day loss of 59 British (24 lost in gliders at sea) and 71 Canadians killed.

The air battle was quite tame in comparison to expectations. The Americans had lost 9 planes and the British 11 in return for destroying 16 Italian (6 on the ground)and 5 German planes. Allied aircraft also sank an Italian motor torpedo boat and the Royal Navy sank an Italian submarine.

TBC

[metastasis_d]

Very nice update, and congratulations on the award!

[Devolved]

Happy and Glorious

continued


Rome

March 26th 1943

Mussolini had taken the news of the invasion of Sicily calmly. He made sure he had breakfast before first issuing a statement saying that the Italian people were now fighting for their homelands and he knew they would prevail. He then sent a message to Hitler asking him for more troops to be sent to Sicily. After that he re ordered the arrest of the conspirators who habe been secretly negotiating with Allied representatives in Lisbon.

Kesselring meanwhile found that all his worst suspicions were being confirmed. Italian resistance had been weak and Syracuse had fallen on the first day. He immediately requested that the Italian navy do something to attack the landing beaches while he ordered his Luftwaffe to strike at the Allies.


Sicily

March 26th 1943

American Zone

The westernmost part of the invasion had been by Patton's II corps and by the morning of March 26th they took Agrigento. His orders were then to secure defensive positions and then later advance into the interior effectively cutting off all Axis troops in Western Sicily. Patton, however, never liked the plan and did what he could without openly violating orders to keep pushing west until he took Palermo. The lack of any significant resistance only encouraged him further. Apart from one gun battle and the occasional sniper the few Italian troops they met surrendered immediately. By nightfall he had pushed jeep patrols along the coastal road and by late evening they were 12 miles beyond Agrigento. His force had taken 800 prisoners for the loss of 12 dead.

Gela

The US 82nd airborne had spent all night fighting the Italian 4th Livorno division in which they also faced a force of 24 tanks. By daybreak troops from the US 3rd division as well as some Shermans of US 2nd Armored had arrived and soon the Italian troops gave ground and withdrew to higher ground in the interior. Over 54 troops of the airborne had been killed and 12 taken prisoner but the Italian Livorno division had lost 112 killed and 4 tanks plus 34 taken prisoner. Meanwhile elements of the 2nd Armored were sent east along the road towards Ragusa in an attempt to cut off any Italian units to the south.

British Zone

The fall of Syracuse meant that the British 1st Airborne but now could be effectively withdrawn for use in later operations. Meanwhile the British 50th division had reached the isolated 2nd parachute battalion to the north that had been blocking a southward thrust by Italian troops. During the fighting the British had lost 11 killed and 6 captured but had held their positions fairly easily against half hearted attacks inflicting 24 dead on the enemy.

The 50th division then pressed on towards Augusta. The Italian were now recovered from their surprise and the 50th division faced strong resistance until afternoon. The Royal Navy battleships Nelson and Howe plus a cruiser and 5 destroyers hit the Italians with heavy fire while RAF bombers attacked Italian troop columns. At first Montgmery was going to send 'I told you so' telegram to Maitland Wilson but as afternoon wore on it was clear that the Italian coastal division was incapable of prolonged ressitance. Soon they were falling back and by evening British troops had cut across the small peninsula isolating Augusta.

To the south the British 1st division and 78th division were securing the south eastern corner of the island taking Noto and pushing patrols twards Ragusa to meet up with the Americans. So far there had been no reports of German troops.

In the air, however, the Germans were more active. The strongest attacks were launched on the Americans at the open beaches near Gela. Here Ju 87 and Ju 88's along with Italian SM 79 torpedo bombers hit the transports. By the end of March 26th they had sank a transport and 3 landing craft and damaged two other supply ships killing 37 men. Other attacks were launched at the British advancing on Augusta with one attack destroying 7 vehicles.

The Allied air forces attacked all the airfields on Sicily that day as well as bombing Augusta. There was also a raid by 17 B24's on Reggio on the Italian mainland. Air battles that day cost the Allies 18 planes while the Axis lost 20 planes (8 on the ground).

By the end of March 26th a total of 3,200 Italian prisoners had been taken.

March 27th 1943

British Zone

Augusta surrendered after a heavy night raid by Halifax and Wellington bombers that killed 27 civilians and caused a fire in a fuel dump. The 50th Northumberland division entered the town at lunchtime taking 1,600 prisoners. The battle had cost the British 47 killed. To the south the British and Americans met in Ragusa finding nothing but 300 Italians waiting to surrender. The meeting also trapped all Italians to their south. These coastal defence troops surrendered the next day pocketting another 1,500 prisoners.

American Zone

Patton was hurriedly disembarking the 9th division to get his push going before the High Command had time to interfere. This haste led to some confusion on the beaches but luckily only 2 Me 109's actually strafed all day. His troops were being greeted as liberators rather than as conquerors and this encouraged his jeeps and trucks to go to Marsala.

Lloyd Fredendall had stayed on his command ship until yet another enemy air raid arrived that damaged a US destroyer and blew up a landing craft carrying ammunition. As he arrived ashore he immediately requisitioned the best house in Gela and also asked his men to dig a bomb proof bunker for him.

His troops meanwhile were now facing organized resistance from the 4th Livorno now jined by two tank battalions and more ominously of all a German infantry battalion. An attempt to move inland to Niscemi was repulsed with the Americans losing two Shermans and 76 killed.

Worse still Patton had not sent any of his forces east to link up with Fredendall and Fredendall hadn't sent any troops to meet Patton. The gap was soon spotted and by evening an Italian motorcycle unit linked up with the bewildered local garrison troops at Licata who had been waiting to either withdraw or surrender.

The air war had been more intense as two more Luftwaffe squadrons arrived from France. The Italians too launched two waves of torpedo bombers at the British Fleet off Syracuse with one cruiser being torpedoed and crippled as well as sinking a supply ship. Italian submarines had also sank a supply ship. The Allied meanwhile had effectively knocked out all Axis airfields on the island leaving 4 German and 17 Italian planes burning while fighters from HMS Argus and Furious strafed airfields in Sardinia destroying 2 German and 1 Italian plane on the ground for the loss of 2 Sea Hurricanes. The British also completed an improvised airstrip near Syracuse as had the Americans at Gela so a P40 and a Spitfire squadron now relocated to Sicily. That night 14 Wellington Bombers hit Reggio.

Messina

The docks at Messina witnessed the arrival of two battalions of the German 345th division. The rest was to follow in the next few days.

TBC

[Devolved]

Happy and Glorious

continued

Sicily

March 28th - March 29th 1943

American Zone

Patton was told of the enemy at Licata and answered that General Keyes was supposed to deal with that while his II Corps was to prevent the enemy from the 'west'. Of course he did post extra troops to protect his rear but his mind was set on Marsala and then a turn to Palermo. His troops had scooped up another 400 prisoners for the loss of just 3 men.

Meanwhile at Gela the Americans faced a renewed Axis counter attack. The Americans had spread themselves thinly in order to occupy as much ground as possible. As a result the Italians actually broke through and advanced down the road to Gela throwing the rear troops into a panic. Very soon the battleship Royal Sovereign was forced to join the cruisers and destroyers to throw shells at the enemy. Reinforcements hurried ashore helped to block the Italians. The fighting continued until March 29th when the Italians gave up. The fighting cost the Americans over 207 killed and 62 taken prisoner. In return they had killed 322 Italians and 4 Germans.

The British now faced their own counter attack from the Italian Napoli division which attempted to take Ragusa. The attack was met by a defence organized by the cautious Montgomery. Within a few hours the attack was repulsed by 78th division inflicting 246 dead on the Italians for the loss of 27 British dead.

To the north the British found it more difficult when they began their advance to Catania. The Italians had been joined by a regiment of 10th Panzer division with 16 tanks. The British attacked on March 28th and 29th but only succeeded in advancing 4 miles losing 112 killed.

By this stage the Americans and British had landed 5 divisions each with one Canadian division and 700 tanks. The Italians were also being reinforced from troops being ferried from Reggio but their numbers were falling as casualties and prisoners outstripped reinforcements. The Luftwaffe had hit a cruiser and a destroyer and sunk another supply ship as part of their attempt to reduce the flow of Allied troops arriving. The attacks however met few successes as the Allied airforces had won air superiority over the island. The Germans lost 14 planes and the Italians 8 between March 28th and 29th.

On March 29th the RAF bombed Taranto forcing the remaining Italian naval forces to leave and head up the Adriatic for safety and thereby sending them into a submarine screen that resulted in a destroyer being sunk by a British submarine.

Rome

Mussolini had received the interrogation reports from the conspirators. He specifically ordered that none of them were to be physically harmed and after reading the information wanted to meet with them personally. He also sent a message to Pope Pius XII in which he talked about how terrible it was that Italy was being bombed and that Italian civilians were now dying. Perhaps the Pope could use his envoys to ask the Allies to restrict the bombing to military targets only. Mussolini of course wasn't too upset about the bombing but it provided an excuse for him to open dialogue without attracting the ire of Hitler.

Mussloini then sent another message to Hitler in which he urged that now may be a good time for him to make terms with Stalin and then focus on the west.

TBC

[The Oncoming Storm]

Somehow I don't think Hitler is going to respond well to Benny's suggestion

[Devolved]

Happy and Glorious

continued

Sicily

March 30th - April 2nd 1943

The scouting forces of Pattons' II Corps clashed with the Assietta division and got a bloody nose. In response he ordered his infantry into the hills to outflank while reinforcements especially the 70th tank battalion were ordered to blast their way through. The Italians gave way and by March 31st the advance was resumed albeit more cautiously. This time Pattons' forces had taken heavier casualties with 77 killed but they had broken an entire division which collapsed quickly after being outflanked. In two days the II Corps took another 370 prisoners and advanced 15 miles.

The US 2nd Armored now tried to push through the 4th Livorno division. This time the Shermans destroyed 19 Italian tanks for the loss of 4 and broke through the increasingly tired troops. The Livorno division then retreated to Piazza Armarina leaving a German battalion exposed. The Germans continued to fight alone until April 1st when they were overwhelmed by weight of numbers losing 123 killed. The Americans had lost 289 killed and took 300 Italian and 24 German prisoners.

The British now launched a set piece attack on Catania. Royal Navy battleships also provided gunfire support as the 50th division and elements of 10th Armoured division moved forward. The Italians had a coastal division and 2 mountain battalions supported by 2 German regiments. The British attack failed with 231 men killed and 17 tanks destroyed. The Axis forces had also suffered heavy losses with 204 Italian and 34 Germans killed but they held firm.

Meanwhile the Canadian 1st division had attacked the Napoli Division and defeated them taking 500 prisoners and pushing them back until they linked up with the Livorno division in order to establish a continuous front. This they had done by April 2nd.

Rome

By this stage Kesselring had come to the conclusion that the Sicily campaign was all but lost with the Allies already possessing Syracuse and Augusta and pushing on with greater strength towards Catania. Above all he doubted the ability of all but a few Italian formations to put up any strong resistance. He knew more German troops were needed but due to the continuing drama in Russia he was unlikely to get many more troops. He decided to tell Hitler that holding Sicily was like throwing good money after bad. He recommended a stand in Italy where reinforcements didn't have to be brought by sea and where the Axis forces could build up faster than the Allies.

MEanwhile on April 2nd Mussolini had spoken to some of the conspirators and was shocked to find out just how many were implicated in the peace plot. One of them was his own son-in-law Count Ciano. Although sometimes ruthless Mussolini was no Hitler and had no appetite for a bloodbath within his own party. As an attempt to outflank his opponents he decided to summon a Fascist Grand Council for the first time in the war. He hoped that in the Council he would win people around with his oratory and keep his nation united behind him. He then released all but one of the conspirators from prison but ordered the others to remain under house arrest.

That same day Hitler responded to his message about Russia by saying that he would be sending a Panzer Division to Northern Italy to act as a strategic reserve against any invasion.

TBC

[Devolved]

Originally Posted by The Oncoming Storm

Somehow I don't think Hitler is going to respond well to Benny's suggestion

A Panzer Division of goodwill to steady Mussolini's nerves.

[NORGCO]

Originally Posted by Devolved

A Panzer Division of goodwill to steady Mussolini's nerves.

If Mussolini decides to make peace the question becomes how to avoid the Nazi occupation that occurred IOTL. 1 panzer division does not sound like enough to bulk up the German forces already on the spot into an occupation force capable of also holding off the allied armies.

Hitler actually sent a good part of the survivors of the attack on the southern part of the Kursk salient to Italy IOTL, didn't he? That particular blood bath hasn't happened, but Army Group South needs reinforcements rather than being used as a source of someone else's reinforcements. One panzer division might actually be more than Manstien can spare.

[Devolved]

Originally Posted by NORGCO

If Mussolini decides to make peace the question becomes how to avoid the Nazi occupation that occurred IOTL. 1 panzer division does not sound like enough to bulk up the German forces already on the spot into an occupation force capable of also holding off the allied armies.

Hitler actually sent a good part of the survivors of the attack on the southern part of the Kursk salient to Italy IOTL, didn't he? That particular blood bath hasn't happened, but Army Group South needs reinforcements rather than being used as a source of someone else's reinforcements. One panzer division might actually be more than Manstien can spare.

You are right. The Panzer Division was sent from France. It will be under strength of course but the transfer is a declaration of intent.

As far as the Eastern Front is concerned the thaw will be setting in ending most large scale military operations for a while.

[Devolved]

Happy and Glorious

continued


Sicily

April 3rd - April 8th 1943

By April 3rd the German forces in Sicily had grown to 21,500 men which warranted a new German commander to co ordinate their forces. Kesselring appointed Von Senger und Etterlin (I will just refer to as Senger from now on) and he was ordered to form a new defensive line in the area around Mt Etna. The Italian commander Guzzoni was opposed to this saying that he didn't wish to surrender Italian soil without a fight to which Kesselring thought 'You already are surrendering without a fight' but he was too much of a diplomat to say such a thing.

On April 4th the British 8th Army launched another assault towards Catania with 50th Division now supported by a fully deployed 10th Armoured plus elements of the newly arrived 51st Highland. This time they broke through and Catania fell on April 5th with the Axis withdrawing to new defensive positions being prepared around Mt Etna. The 8th Army lost another 159 killed but had inflicted 192 deaths on the Italians and 61 on the Germans and took 153 Italian and 14 German prisoners.

In the interior the Canadian 1st Division pushed across the flatter ground fighting numerous small actions until they also reached the defensive line being established south of Mt Etna. During their travels they had collected another 417 Italian and 9 German prisoners.

Meanwhile Italian troops backed by a German tank battalion launch a belated attack from Licata on the south coast along the road to Gela. Fredendall had done nothing since being told of the enemy build up with only the USAAF trying to stop them. Of course it was also Patton's fault too but ultimate responsibilty as Army commander was Fredendall. The Axis troops attacked on April 3rd pushing through rear echelon troops of 9th infantry division taking 54 prisoners. US Navy cruisers opened fire on the Italians bringing them to a halt before they reached Gela. This bought time for the 9th infantry division supported by tanks to counter attack. The American tanks came up against a group of Panzer IV's and lost 11 Shermans in exchange for knocking out 3 German tanks. The counter attack stalled but fortunately the Axis troops were ordered to retreat.

On April 5th Maitland Wilson arrived in Sicily to visit Fredendall. He was confused by the sight of US engineers still working on the finishing touches of a bunker for the commander of 7th Army. The Army Group Commander talked with Fredendall about the Axis attack from Licata and about the location of Patton's II Corps. His answers to both questions appeared vague but with the situation broadly under control Maitland Wilson didn't see the need for an unpleasant meeting but his report to Eisenhower confirmed the American supreme commanders doubts.

This focus on Fredendall's lack of grip deflected attention from Patton's own disregard for orders and when his troops swept in to Marsala on the west coast of Sicily there was no reprimand. Patton also reported that he had taken a total of 3,200 prisoners since landing and killed 368 of the enemy. On April 7th Patton's troops overrun the Italian airfield at Trappani as well as the town taking another 800 prisoners.

More German troops continued to land at Messina although not nearly enough. By April 7th there were 24,000 Germans on the island but Kesselring now ordered that no more should be sent. Instead he wanted to keep as many troops in Italy as possible.

Rome

Mussolini gave a good speech in the meeting of the Fascist Grand Council and there were cheers from some delegates. There then followed a vote in which the Fascists called for the King to assume full constitutional powers in other words a vote of no confidence in Il Duce. Mussolini lost the vote. The next day Mussolini continued as normal and visited the King to inform him of the situation on Sicily. As he arrived he was greeted by the short stony faced Victor Emmanuel who politley informed him that he was no longer in charge and that he would be escorted by his troops to a safe location (for his own protection) until the present crisis was resolved. Mussolini was gone.

TBC

[Devolved]

Happy and Glorious

continued


Sicily

The news of Mussolini's fall made no impression on Montgomery as he came to grip with the problem of how to break through the 'Etna Line'. Probing attacks had shown tough resistance from a growing number of Germans in frontline positions.

To his left the American I corps had taken Piazza Armerina removing the final threat to the 8th Army's flank. Patton's II Corps then took Palermo after a short battle with coastal fortress troops bagging another 1,900 prisoners. The fall of Palermo shocked both the Italian and Allied High Commands alike. When Fredendall questioned Patton about why he had taken Palermo Patton responded "Would you like me to give it back sir."

Patton would have been fired if it hadn't been for the fact that Eisenhower and Maitland Wilson hadn't decided to fire Fredendall instead. To his surprise Patton received a message in Palermo telling him to take command of 7th Army and hand over command of II Corps to Mark Clark.

The Allies were now bombing airfields in Italy and had also bombed Reggio 5 times and Taranto twice in the first week of April. A plan to bomb Rome was cancelled after the fall of Mussolini but a plan to bomb Naples with 41 USAAF B24's went ahead. The raid caused heavy damage to the port and a bomb had hit an Italian destroyer.

Rome

Marshall Badoglio had been appointed to replace Mussolini and immediately told Hitler that he had every intention of prosecuting the war. Meanwhile he released the peace plot conspirators and was pleased when the Pope told him that he had persuaded the Allies not to bomb Rome. The Pope then asked if there were any more services he could perform. On April 11th Badoglio had the prominent British prisoner of war General Carton De Wiart secretly released and asked him if he would go to Lisbon with some officials to sound out peace terms. De Wiart asked flippantly "And if the talks fail do I have to come back and eat your prison food?"
"No. You are free." replied an Italian official who didn't see the joke.

Eastern Front

One final push in the first week of April had failed to retake Kharkov from the Russians. They had been expecting the attack and had employed an elastic defence that sucked the Germans in to killing zones. The Germans lost 113 tanks including 9 Tigers. Eventually the attack petered out in the mud.

Burma

The 14th Army launched another attack towards Moulmein in the hope of taking it before the Monsoon. The Japanese were well dug in and the Allies advanced slowly.

UK

The aircraft carrier HMS Eagle had completed her repairs after the damage suffered during Operation Pedestal and returned to service. New Radar had been installed and 2 40mm Bofors guns were added while all but two of her Pom Poms were replaced by 20mm Oerlikons. The ships air component was 14 Barracudas and 9 Sea Hurricanes. She was ordered to the Mediterranean to replace the Argus.

The Colossus Class carrier HMS Glory was launched in the second week of April 1943.

That same month the Admiralty decided to reduce the order for Audacious class carriers from 6 to 4 in order to concentrate on the 4 Malta Class carriers under order. They also abandoned a decision to raise the number of Colossus types from 24 to 32.

TBC

[NORGCO]

Originally Posted by Devolved

UK

The aircraft carrier HMS Eagle had completed her repairs after the damage suffered during Operation Pedestal and returned to service. New Radar had been installed and 2 40mm Bofors guns were added while all but two of her Pom Poms were replaced by 20mm Oerlikons.

TBC

Isn't 2 Bofors mounts awfully light armament? I am assuming this is a single gun type armament, if it is the quad mount ie 2 gun mounts is eight guns in two mounts of four guns each then that is more like it.

This may have been considered perfectly reasonable at the time, but the image I always have of shipboard Bofors is crewmen feeding a quad mount as the Kamikaze dive on them in squadrons. I think it was Okinawa...

[StevoJH]

Again, would 20mm Oerlikons give an increase in firepower over the directed 40mm pom-pom's already fitted to the carrier?

[Devolved]

Originally Posted by NORGCO

Isn't 2 Bofors mounts awfully light armament? I am assuming this is a single gun type armament, if it is the quad mount ie 2 gun mounts is eight guns in two mounts of four guns each then that is more like it.

This may have been considered perfectly reasonable at the time, but the image I always have of shipboard Bofors is crewmen feeding a quad mount as the Kamikaze dive on them in squadrons. I think it was Okinawa...

HMS Eagle is too old and too slow to be used in fleet operations much longer. She won't ever be within 6,000 miles of a Kamakaze. Two bofors is a lot better than before for this antique.

[Astrodragon]

Originally Posted by Devolved

HMS Eagle is too old and too slow to be used in fleet operations much longer. She won't ever be within 6,000 miles of a Kamakaze. Two bofors is a lot better than before for this antique.

Awwwww!!!

You mean we wont see her fly off her Sea Furies to sink the Yamato?

[StevoJH]

Originally Posted by Devolved

HMS Eagle is too old and too slow to be used in fleet operations much longer. She won't ever be within 6,000 miles of a Kamakaze. Two bofors is a lot better than before for this antique.

She's just about as fast (according to wiki) as one of the OTL Colossus & Majestic class carriers.

Whether she could do that speed in 1942 could be another matter.