- Status
Coulsdon Eagle
Monthly Donor
So a volunteer crew - even the Asians?
And you've just increased the number of mouths - including presumably non-combatants - you need to supply.
Donald Reaver
Donor
Seriously? The crew of the ship arriving if successful is a few dozen at most, trying to bring in several thousands of tons of supplies. If they succeed, far more tons of food they they can eat, if they don't they are dead or at best prisoners. As as far as the crew goes, money buys people ready to take a chance. Hardly unusual for smugglers to take a chance for big money. Give them priority in being taken out in subs if needed. If successful their skills are needed.
Story 1619
North of Stalingrad, October 30, 1942
Another machine gun fired. Across the wide Volga, the patrol hit the ground. The bullets were going wide, but they were now certain that they had been spotted. A few men moved their rifles and attempted to find the scythes cutting the air around them. One man spotted the smoke and sent a few bullets out of his rifle in that general direction. The patrol leader hissed at the idiot, they needed to skedaddle before any of the goddamn Russian mortars ranged on the platoon.
Two dozen men belly crawled behind a small roll in the ground. They then hunched over and half trotted and half ran four hundred meters before the first mortar round exploded where they had been seen. As they found new cover, they observed the movement and the fires on the far side of the bank. Sooner or later, they would be making another attempt to get a firm bridgehead north of Stalingrad so that the attack out of the southern beachhead would not be the only threat the Reds had to respond to.
Another machine gun fired. Across the wide Volga, the patrol hit the ground. The bullets were going wide, but they were now certain that they had been spotted. A few men moved their rifles and attempted to find the scythes cutting the air around them. One man spotted the smoke and sent a few bullets out of his rifle in that general direction. The patrol leader hissed at the idiot, they needed to skedaddle before any of the goddamn Russian mortars ranged on the platoon.
Two dozen men belly crawled behind a small roll in the ground. They then hunched over and half trotted and half ran four hundred meters before the first mortar round exploded where they had been seen. As they found new cover, they observed the movement and the fires on the far side of the bank. Sooner or later, they would be making another attempt to get a firm bridgehead north of Stalingrad so that the attack out of the southern beachhead would not be the only threat the Reds had to respond to.
Story 1620
Paris October 30, 1942
Anna Marie adjusted her hair. She paused for a moment and then walked down the stone stairs to the cellar where her contacts waited for her. She had discussed the chicken feed with her lover and her German handlers. This Resistance cell was very curious as to what trains were carrying food and clothing. They seemed to be planning a train robbery as much as fighting the Germans. And her handlers were more than happy to provide them with all of the needed information for a train robbery.
Two hours later, she left the smoky room, her mind empty of all details. Her French contacts seemed to be happy with the information. She left the staircase and then deliberately ran her left hand across her forehead, moving a lock of hair out of the way. Five more steps and chaos began. Three Germans landed on her, driving her body to the ground. One knelt on her shoulders while her hands were pulled behind her back until the metal links clinked.
Even as she was being secured, a dozen Gestapo agents broke through the wooden door at the bottom of the stairs. Three men with submachine guns ran through the still opening door yelling at the four French men to keep their hands out and heads down. Someone managed to fire an old pistol wildly at the assault group. The single shot that dug into the door frame was answered with a dozen shots stitching a bloody cross-stitch in the chest of the French cell leader. Within seconds, the other Frenchmen were being pistol whipped or stomped on with heavy jackboots.
Even before a crowd could assemble, the three surviving French plotters were thrown into the back of a Peugut truck where their source was also lying on the ground in a hog tied with a gag in her mouth. Anna Marie, the horizontal collaborator had no resistance in her even as four guards hopped into the bed of the truck as it started to rumble forward.
Half an hour later, the three men were being manhandled into the prison even as the German guards joked about how the French woman lying on the bed of the truck looked like she would enjoy some fine bratwurst. They would never see her as they knew their lives would be measured in hours or days and they would be lucky to see a rope at the end instead of passing due to the torture that they knew was coming. At least the Germans were not rumored to enjoy raping their male prisoners.
An hour later, Anna Marie was smuggled out of the woman’s prisoner in the warden’s car. Her lover was in the backseat with her and held her tightly as she talked through the events of the night. She knew it was going to happen but even with that awareness, this was a rough evening. A few days to talk with her handler, and then she would be done. She had the train ticket for Strasbourg. Soon she could head home.
Step 1621
400 miles from Casablanca, October 31, 1942
The pilot pulled up. His aircraft was several thousand pounds lighter as the bomber hurried away.
The depth charges penetrated the water and quickly sank. As the steel cans passed through forty feet, the pressure fuses triggered massive explosions. Three shook the German submarine. An eight gallon an hour leak was sprung in the stern torpedo room.
However, one of the depth charges detonated less than the distance a reliable fullback could gain on an off-tackle goalline dive during the Harvard-Yale game. It crumpled part of the U-boat’s hull and soon oil leaked to the surface. The bomber was already circling and calling in the damage report as a pair of Altoona class gunboats that had been escorting the troop convoy twenty miles away hurried to finish the cripple off before she could hide.
Two hours later, the Navy ships flashed a thanks to the bomber for the assist as they turned back to the troop convoy. The bomber pilot smiled as he headed back to the airfield outside of Casablanca. He would not know it for months, but that convoy was carrying his younger brother. He would end up at the front in a wooden boat where at least he had a chance to defend himself instead of waiting to be hit.
Ramp-Rat
Monthly Donor
The problem of Bataan from the British perspective.
The battling basterds of Bataan, are from the British point of view a lost cause, as there is nothing that can be done to relive them in the next six months. Unfortunately the Americans will not be able to agree with this view, even those who know it to be right. Pre War Plan Orange had recognised that an extended defense of the Philippines was to say the least problematic, without massive expenditure and expansion of the garrison. And given that America was due to grant the Philippines independence, that wasn’t going to happen. Plan Orange was predicated on a drive through the Central Pacific, with the Philippines being liberated towards the end.
At the present time the only practical way to resupply the besieged garrison, is by submarines. Anything else carries to much risk, and a high chance that the surface ships will be on a one way trip. The facilities in the Philippines are just too primitive, and any ship that can not be unloaded in one night, is going to be sunk. And once sunk, and thus in a set position, a death trap, to continue to unload. The Japanese only need to register artillery on to it, then every now and then shell it throughout the night.
Britain is in a much stronger position, both in regards to its relationship with America, and its relative position in general. Events in the Mediterranean, Middle East, North African theatre, no fall of Crete, less problems in resupplying Malta, and much better results on the ground in Egypt. Has meant that Britain hasn’t been subjected to the humiliation and embarrassment that she was At home the worst of the German bombing offensive is over, and there are only a few hit and run attacks, by fighter bombers. Industry is beginning to get into its stride and the shortages seen early on in the war are over.
In the Far East, the retention of Singapore, removal of the threat to Burma, has made Britain’s position in India much stronger. There will have been very little support for the Quite India movement in comparison to OTL, thus less need to retain troops in country. Australia and New Zealand don’t feel like they have been abandoned and will not require the retention of large forces for home defence.
All this means that Britain, will for now be able to speak with a much stronger voice, in its dealings with the Americans. Especially given that they haven’t done to well themselves in the opening round, yes they have done better than they did, IOTL, but they don’t know that. Given American attitudes towards the Japanese, they are in a state of shock, no way were the Japanese meant to be able to do what they have done. Even more embarrassing for the Americans, the British have done far better than them.
Outside of the Far East, the British will be able to insist that North African campaign is completed before anything else. And that in the Far East, while they have every sympathy with the Americans plight in the Philippines, and will do all in their power to help. This can not come at the expense of their campaign in the region. So, providing facilities in Singapore for American submarines, and such submarines as they can spare to assist with the effort, to supply Bataan, of course old chap. The same with base facilities for the casualties and evacuated, before their onward travels. Carrying out deception operations with the main British fleet, to enable the Americans to do a supply run with surface ships, you only have to ask. Providing shipping, or troops for a relief mission, sorry no can do.
We believe that our present plans to attack the Japanese forces in Thailand, and develop forward airfields. Will provide a much better result, as it will enable us to both provide air cover over any relief convoys, and an air transport link to the area. You might not be able to carry a lot of cargo in a large flying boat, but for delicate items, mail and personal, it’s a good option. Given that the Japanese don’t have a radar system, and aiming to arrive in the dark and leaving before daylight, this shouldn’t be too hard to do.
Another thing that the British can do is recapture Northern Borneo, Kudat to Manila is about 650 miles. This will greatly reduce the transit time for submarines, and make an air bridge easier. Northern Borneo, has the advantage that it is protected to the south by virtually impenetrable jungle and mountains, so only an attack from the sea is a threat.
Sadly for Americans, even with the best assistance that the British can afford to give, other than a complete miracle, Bataan will eventually have to surrender. Any other result would see the diversion of so much resources as to deprive other areas in such a way, as to make this a pyritic victory.
RR.
The battling basterds of Bataan, are from the British point of view a lost cause, as there is nothing that can be done to relive them in the next six months. Unfortunately the Americans will not be able to agree with this view, even those who know it to be right. Pre War Plan Orange had recognised that an extended defense of the Philippines was to say the least problematic, without massive expenditure and expansion of the garrison. And given that America was due to grant the Philippines independence, that wasn’t going to happen. Plan Orange was predicated on a drive through the Central Pacific, with the Philippines being liberated towards the end.
At the present time the only practical way to resupply the besieged garrison, is by submarines. Anything else carries to much risk, and a high chance that the surface ships will be on a one way trip. The facilities in the Philippines are just too primitive, and any ship that can not be unloaded in one night, is going to be sunk. And once sunk, and thus in a set position, a death trap, to continue to unload. The Japanese only need to register artillery on to it, then every now and then shell it throughout the night.
Britain is in a much stronger position, both in regards to its relationship with America, and its relative position in general. Events in the Mediterranean, Middle East, North African theatre, no fall of Crete, less problems in resupplying Malta, and much better results on the ground in Egypt. Has meant that Britain hasn’t been subjected to the humiliation and embarrassment that she was At home the worst of the German bombing offensive is over, and there are only a few hit and run attacks, by fighter bombers. Industry is beginning to get into its stride and the shortages seen early on in the war are over.
In the Far East, the retention of Singapore, removal of the threat to Burma, has made Britain’s position in India much stronger. There will have been very little support for the Quite India movement in comparison to OTL, thus less need to retain troops in country. Australia and New Zealand don’t feel like they have been abandoned and will not require the retention of large forces for home defence.
All this means that Britain, will for now be able to speak with a much stronger voice, in its dealings with the Americans. Especially given that they haven’t done to well themselves in the opening round, yes they have done better than they did, IOTL, but they don’t know that. Given American attitudes towards the Japanese, they are in a state of shock, no way were the Japanese meant to be able to do what they have done. Even more embarrassing for the Americans, the British have done far better than them.
Outside of the Far East, the British will be able to insist that North African campaign is completed before anything else. And that in the Far East, while they have every sympathy with the Americans plight in the Philippines, and will do all in their power to help. This can not come at the expense of their campaign in the region. So, providing facilities in Singapore for American submarines, and such submarines as they can spare to assist with the effort, to supply Bataan, of course old chap. The same with base facilities for the casualties and evacuated, before their onward travels. Carrying out deception operations with the main British fleet, to enable the Americans to do a supply run with surface ships, you only have to ask. Providing shipping, or troops for a relief mission, sorry no can do.
We believe that our present plans to attack the Japanese forces in Thailand, and develop forward airfields. Will provide a much better result, as it will enable us to both provide air cover over any relief convoys, and an air transport link to the area. You might not be able to carry a lot of cargo in a large flying boat, but for delicate items, mail and personal, it’s a good option. Given that the Japanese don’t have a radar system, and aiming to arrive in the dark and leaving before daylight, this shouldn’t be too hard to do.
Another thing that the British can do is recapture Northern Borneo, Kudat to Manila is about 650 miles. This will greatly reduce the transit time for submarines, and make an air bridge easier. Northern Borneo, has the advantage that it is protected to the south by virtually impenetrable jungle and mountains, so only an attack from the sea is a threat.
Sadly for Americans, even with the best assistance that the British can afford to give, other than a complete miracle, Bataan will eventually have to surrender. Any other result would see the diversion of so much resources as to deprive other areas in such a way, as to make this a pyritic victory.
RR.
Hopefully this event will cause Anne Marie to realize how dangerous the game she’s been playing really is and that she’l start planning a way out.
Run and keep running.
Atlanta is never nice, and Birmingham still hasn't dealt with the fact that they have Barad-dur (without the Eye, fortunately) looming over the city. Florida is a much better option.
Fla better? Not if you have a desire to hit the beach...red tide, green slime, seaweed everywhere...
There's no red tide or green slime on the east coast, but stay out of Dead Tuna--err...Daytona. New Hampshire is paradise at this time of year.
- Status