Keynes' Cruisers Volume 2
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As previously stated on Story 2391, "Battle of Kansas" should be about two months or so ahead of OTL. Then IOTL XX Bomber Command of Twentieth Air Force's Operation Matterhorn debut raid of took place on June 5, 1944, against Japanese railroad facilities at Bangkok, about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away from India; then on June 15, 1944, against Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata on Kyūshū, more than 1,500 miles (2,400 km) away from Chengtu. Adding the points of your reply at #5702, wasn't Strategic Bombing against Japan should be started no later than early May IATL. Initial deployment should be to Mariana Islands (reduced all the logistical nightmare involving OTL Matterhorn), perhaps secondary base at Clark Field a bit later on for targets at Korea and occupied China, then special arming and refueling stop at Ch'ang Sha for targets at Manchukuo.
Story 2533
Norwegian Sea, July 18, 1944
The little escort carriers HMCS Nabob and HMS Trumpeter turned out of the wind. The last Avenger had landed just moments ago. The geared turbine engine began to whine as the ships accelerated to sixteen knots. Their escorts, a trio of Hunt class destroyers and a pair of Captain class frigates continued to search for U-boats in the summer waters warmed by the Gulf Stream. An hour later, the small force ducked behind a squall line and three hours after that, the fast minelaying force of a trio of V-class destroyers met up with the air component of the mining raid.
The little escort carriers HMCS Nabob and HMS Trumpeter turned out of the wind. The last Avenger had landed just moments ago. The geared turbine engine began to whine as the ships accelerated to sixteen knots. Their escorts, a trio of Hunt class destroyers and a pair of Captain class frigates continued to search for U-boats in the summer waters warmed by the Gulf Stream. An hour later, the small force ducked behind a squall line and three hours after that, the fast minelaying force of a trio of V-class destroyers met up with the air component of the mining raid.
Story 2534
Amesbury, England July 19, 1944
The division's trucks had arrived at the small town. The drivers refueled their vehicles and then gathered around for a few smokes and jokes. A veteran of the fighting on Java attempted to chat up one of the local girls. She laughed, turned, swayed her hips in a slightly theatrical manner and walked away. At least this wound was passing instead of scarring him for life.
An hour later, the first of the line companies had arrived. The cooks had enough time to get hot food and hot tea ready and the mobile sanitation units had set up space to wash. The infantrymen had been in the field for four days. It showed. It smelled. Sections secured their weapons and gear, and then stood in line for food. Their officers knew enough to not interrupt this downtime with pointless orders to look sharp or to rearrange their uniforms. Most of the company commanders and all of the field grade officers had fought on Java, Timor and in the Celebes. They knew how to take care of their men.
The men themselves were a mixed bag. Some had fled Holland in 1940 and had been in garrison ever since. More had been recruited from various diasporas and small colonies of the third rate empire. A few in every platoon had fought the Germans in 1940 and the Japanese in 1942 and 1943. These men were priceless as section leaders, platoon sergeants and specialists.
By nightfall, the brigade was on their way to a temporary camp just outside of Portsmouth. Liquor rations were released and every enlisted man was allowed to stand down for twenty four hours as the officers made a final review of their exercise and then the movement to the continent where they would join the 2nd British Army before moving forward to liberate their homeland.
The division's trucks had arrived at the small town. The drivers refueled their vehicles and then gathered around for a few smokes and jokes. A veteran of the fighting on Java attempted to chat up one of the local girls. She laughed, turned, swayed her hips in a slightly theatrical manner and walked away. At least this wound was passing instead of scarring him for life.
An hour later, the first of the line companies had arrived. The cooks had enough time to get hot food and hot tea ready and the mobile sanitation units had set up space to wash. The infantrymen had been in the field for four days. It showed. It smelled. Sections secured their weapons and gear, and then stood in line for food. Their officers knew enough to not interrupt this downtime with pointless orders to look sharp or to rearrange their uniforms. Most of the company commanders and all of the field grade officers had fought on Java, Timor and in the Celebes. They knew how to take care of their men.
The men themselves were a mixed bag. Some had fled Holland in 1940 and had been in garrison ever since. More had been recruited from various diasporas and small colonies of the third rate empire. A few in every platoon had fought the Germans in 1940 and the Japanese in 1942 and 1943. These men were priceless as section leaders, platoon sergeants and specialists.
By nightfall, the brigade was on their way to a temporary camp just outside of Portsmouth. Liquor rations were released and every enlisted man was allowed to stand down for twenty four hours as the officers made a final review of their exercise and then the movement to the continent where they would join the 2nd British Army before moving forward to liberate their homeland.
Why are the carriers accelerating? Shouldn't they have been running flat out during flight ops?
P.s., it's great to have the story active again.
Depending on the sea state at the time, you don't want to be going so fast you might interact with waves to make the pitch and roll on the CVE worse. Landing speed is not so critical as take off speed and in this case we don't know what the wind speed is to begin with. Example of this would be having a wind speed of 25 knots plus 10 knots speed is 35 knots. Until you get the larger CVL or CV's you don't want to have much speed because of the shortness of the ship that can make, even in a smaller sea states, pitching and rolling worse.
I took it as meaning that now that the aircraft had finished whatever it was they were doing the CVE’s were putting some distance between themselves and the land based Luftwaffe OR they were trying to get to their next task as quickly as possible.
The two CVE are heading to Scapa to join the other half of Home Fleet's carrier complement.
Story 2535
Northeast of Lyon, France July 19, 1944
"Coffee?"
"Cafe, oui!"
"Cigarette?"
"Un cigarette s'il vous plais, oui!"
The American sergeant dug into his pocket for a pack of Marlboros. He fished out two cigarettes and then pulled a zippo out of another pocket. The French officer who acted as if he was a sergeant took the cigarette, placed it between his lips and waited for the fire to light the tobacco.
The American sergeant inhaled deeply, held the smoke in his lungs for a moment, allowing the rush of nicotine to hit his brain and then exhaled. The first cigarette of the day was always glorious. He stretched his hand out to the Frenchman who was leading reinforced company of the French Forces of the Interior that had been attached to the regiment as scouts and local liaisons. They had proven their worth the night before. A German roadblock and ambush had been found by the scouts. They then led a battalion around the German blocking position and the Pennsylvanians surprised the ambushers with an attack from the rear. Jaroshek's squad was one of the first waves of the assault. He knew that if they had to attack the position frontally, a lot of his boys would be at the aid station this morning. All of his boys were cooking breakfast and preparing to load onto the trucks for another advance to the Rhine. They would be part of the advanced guard backing up the French scouts and American jeep mounted cavalry.
"John..."
The Frenchman grasped his counterpart's hand and shook it hard.
"Jacque"
The two veterans of multiple campaigns sat in silence for the next few minutes enjoying their cigarette before the LT and the other squad leaders joined them for a rapid pre-movement brief.
"Coffee?"
"Cafe, oui!"
"Cigarette?"
"Un cigarette s'il vous plais, oui!"
The American sergeant dug into his pocket for a pack of Marlboros. He fished out two cigarettes and then pulled a zippo out of another pocket. The French officer who acted as if he was a sergeant took the cigarette, placed it between his lips and waited for the fire to light the tobacco.
The American sergeant inhaled deeply, held the smoke in his lungs for a moment, allowing the rush of nicotine to hit his brain and then exhaled. The first cigarette of the day was always glorious. He stretched his hand out to the Frenchman who was leading reinforced company of the French Forces of the Interior that had been attached to the regiment as scouts and local liaisons. They had proven their worth the night before. A German roadblock and ambush had been found by the scouts. They then led a battalion around the German blocking position and the Pennsylvanians surprised the ambushers with an attack from the rear. Jaroshek's squad was one of the first waves of the assault. He knew that if they had to attack the position frontally, a lot of his boys would be at the aid station this morning. All of his boys were cooking breakfast and preparing to load onto the trucks for another advance to the Rhine. They would be part of the advanced guard backing up the French scouts and American jeep mounted cavalry.
"John..."
The Frenchman grasped his counterpart's hand and shook it hard.
"Jacque"
The two veterans of multiple campaigns sat in silence for the next few minutes enjoying their cigarette before the LT and the other squad leaders joined them for a rapid pre-movement brief.
Sooty
Banned
The brand first stepped out as a women's cigarette in 1924. At that time, smoking was considered a violation of social mores among respectable women. But many tobacco companies, including Marlboro, saw female smokers as an untapped market.
Vintage ads show the hidden legacy of the Marlboro Man. The brand first became popular as a women's cigarette.
In 1920, some women were still being denied the right to smoke in public. Marlboro ads tapped into their desire to smoke outside the home.
www.businessinsider.com
That would explain my experience. In my youth, "cigs" meant Lucky Strike, Camel, or Chesterfields. Marlboro appeared out of nowhere from my vantage point. Showing my age, I know...The brand first stepped out as a women's cigarette in 1924. At that time, smoking was considered a violation of social mores among respectable women. But many tobacco companies, including Marlboro, saw female smokers as an untapped market.
Vintage ads show the hidden legacy of the Marlboro Man. The brand first became popular as a women's cigarette.
In 1920, some women were still being denied the right to smoke in public. Marlboro ads tapped into their desire to smoke outside the home.
Story 2536
Beckley, West Virginia July 20, 1944
The coal trains continued their slow journeys to Richmond, Norfolk and Raleigh where the wartime factories would continue to burn the state's wealth to equip and sustain over one hundred divisions from a dozen nations in combat. The passenger train was waiting for a slot in the lined. A few dozen young men were aboard today. A few had the sophistication of travellers having seen Charleston, Morgantown or even Pittsburgh at some point in their young lives. They rested even as the other boys watched out the windows. A few hours later another tranche of draftees were toe to heel and beginning their training to become replacement riflemen.
The coal trains continued their slow journeys to Richmond, Norfolk and Raleigh where the wartime factories would continue to burn the state's wealth to equip and sustain over one hundred divisions from a dozen nations in combat. The passenger train was waiting for a slot in the lined. A few dozen young men were aboard today. A few had the sophistication of travellers having seen Charleston, Morgantown or even Pittsburgh at some point in their young lives. They rested even as the other boys watched out the windows. A few hours later another tranche of draftees were toe to heel and beginning their training to become replacement riflemen.
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ATL Cairo Conference - French Indochina and Hong Kong Questions
I presume the Cairo Conference would still be held in the fourth quarter of 1943, but ITTL situations at PTO, South East Asia and China Fronts change radically, two hotly contested agenda would surface.
With Thailand switch side and Allied push to her eastern border, and part (if not most) of the IJA's Burma invasion force trapped at Kra Isthmus, IJA's garrison at French Indochina should be smaller than OTL (if not, extra troops were needed at western border), which made Meigō Sakusen style coup d'état not possible ITTL. Commonwealth much better showing at South East Asia would give them much stronger political position, the whole French Indochina would be under South East Asia Command jurisdiction (IOTL it was nominally under Chiang Kai Shek's China Theater till after VJ Day), hence support of Viet Minh would be under the aegis of SOE (Chindits might even established operation bases at Central Highland during 1943-4 dry season, arming the Montagnards; while Merrill's Marauders mostly operating in Occupied China IATL), with OSS reduced into supporting or mere liaison presence.
In previous discussions, China and Korean coast options as Allied Amphibious Operations from Fall 1944 onward were dismissed. I disagree, IOTL General Albert Wedemeyer drafted a war plan for liberating the Canton-Hong Kong area (Operation Carbonado, see also) in November 1945, Japanese surrender rendered it unnecessary. But ITTL similar operation (if using other namesake) would be launched in October 1944 onward (end of Typhoon season). Reopening of Kowloon–Canton Railway would open a much more convenient and effective (AFVs could be transported by trains) Lend-Lease route than Burma Road, the Canton-Hankou Railway pave the road of Wuhan liberation, finally Beiping–Hankow railway lead to Beiping-Tientsin Liberation by summer of 1945 (also from Wuhan, there would be an eastern prong counter offensive along Yangtze River, with Nanking and Shanghai as goals).
Churchill certainly didn't want French Indochina to become the first domino of Decolonization, he would also dread the Chinese liberated Hong Kong before the Commonwealth did. In order to counter the FDR-Chiang Anti-Colonial partnership, he would probably insist on bringing in Charles de Gaulle as representative of Fighting France, so TTL Cairo Conference would be a "Big Four'' summit. I guess British assistance in recapture of Palawan, supply and reliefs of Bataan were the leverage for the US to green-light (and provided landing crafts) of the Commonwealth Amphibious liberation operation of Hong Kong, as part of the aforementioned ATL Carbonado. Vichy French Indochina might switch allegiance by the end of 1944 monsoon season (at the same time, liberation of Metropolitan France was almost at hand). Questions of French Indochina's political future were most likely ended as impasses at the Cairo Conference.
Other hunches on China:
Without circumstances of OTL1944, "Vinegar Joe" and "Peanut" would tolerate each other till VJ-Day (unless the former got promoted to Operation Downfall related position). KMT winning Chinese Civil War would had a much higher possibility, except for the worst case scenario - it became protracted insurgency, KMT mishandled the COIN campaign badly, CCP still won the Civil War albeit sometime between mid-1950's to 60's.
ATL Cairo Conference - French Indochina and Hong Kong Questions
I presume the Cairo Conference would still be held in the fourth quarter of 1943, but ITTL situations at PTO, South East Asia and China Fronts change radically, two hotly contested agenda would surface.
With Thailand switch side and Allied push to her eastern border, and part (if not most) of the IJA's Burma invasion force trapped at Kra Isthmus, IJA's garrison at French Indochina should be smaller than OTL (if not, extra troops were needed at western border), which made Meigō Sakusen style coup d'état not possible ITTL. Commonwealth much better showing at South East Asia would give them much stronger political position, the whole French Indochina would be under South East Asia Command jurisdiction (IOTL it was nominally under Chiang Kai Shek's China Theater till after VJ Day), hence support of Viet Minh would be under the aegis of SOE (Chindits might even established operation bases at Central Highland during 1943-4 dry season, arming the Montagnards; while Merrill's Marauders mostly operating in Occupied China IATL), with OSS reduced into supporting or mere liaison presence.
In previous discussions, China and Korean coast options as Allied Amphibious Operations from Fall 1944 onward were dismissed. I disagree, IOTL General Albert Wedemeyer drafted a war plan for liberating the Canton-Hong Kong area (Operation Carbonado, see also) in November 1945, Japanese surrender rendered it unnecessary. But ITTL similar operation (if using other namesake) would be launched in October 1944 onward (end of Typhoon season). Reopening of Kowloon–Canton Railway would open a much more convenient and effective (AFVs could be transported by trains) Lend-Lease route than Burma Road, the Canton-Hankou Railway pave the road of Wuhan liberation, finally Beiping–Hankow railway lead to Beiping-Tientsin Liberation by summer of 1945 (also from Wuhan, there would be an eastern prong counter offensive along Yangtze River, with Nanking and Shanghai as goals).
Churchill certainly didn't want French Indochina to become the first domino of Decolonization, he would also dread the Chinese liberated Hong Kong before the Commonwealth did. In order to counter the FDR-Chiang Anti-Colonial partnership, he would probably insist on bringing in Charles de Gaulle as representative of Fighting France, so TTL Cairo Conference would be a "Big Four'' summit. I guess British assistance in recapture of Palawan, supply and reliefs of Bataan were the leverage for the US to green-light (and provided landing crafts) of the Commonwealth Amphibious liberation operation of Hong Kong, as part of the aforementioned ATL Carbonado. Vichy French Indochina might switch allegiance by the end of 1944 monsoon season (at the same time, liberation of Metropolitan France was almost at hand). Questions of French Indochina's political future were most likely ended as impasses at the Cairo Conference.
Other hunches on China:
Without circumstances of OTL1944, "Vinegar Joe" and "Peanut" would tolerate each other till VJ-Day (unless the former got promoted to Operation Downfall related position). KMT winning Chinese Civil War would had a much higher possibility, except for the worst case scenario - it became protracted insurgency, KMT mishandled the COIN campaign badly, CCP still won the Civil War albeit sometime between mid-1950's to 60's.
Story 2537
Chicago, Illinois July 21, 1944
The senator from Missouri shook his head. There were no more arms to twist, no more threats to be made, no more side deals to be cut. His was a long shot bid by the Southern contingents to get a likely President out of a party that was only able to win national elections by deprioritizing their interests. At best he would be seventy five votes short. He could accept being a close second. At worst, he was over three hundred votes short. That would make him a laughingstock faction candidate when he made an honest run in '48 or '52.
His wife looked at her husband with understanding. They had skyrocketed over the past decade, through a combination of pluck, luck, hard work and counting votes very carefully. Today was not the day to throw away what had worked for them. She nodded in agreement.
Six hours later, the junior Senator from Missouri gave one of the best speeches of his life as he nominated his rival for the Vice Presidency of the United States.
The senator from Missouri shook his head. There were no more arms to twist, no more threats to be made, no more side deals to be cut. His was a long shot bid by the Southern contingents to get a likely President out of a party that was only able to win national elections by deprioritizing their interests. At best he would be seventy five votes short. He could accept being a close second. At worst, he was over three hundred votes short. That would make him a laughingstock faction candidate when he made an honest run in '48 or '52.
His wife looked at her husband with understanding. They had skyrocketed over the past decade, through a combination of pluck, luck, hard work and counting votes very carefully. Today was not the day to throw away what had worked for them. She nodded in agreement.
Six hours later, the junior Senator from Missouri gave one of the best speeches of his life as he nominated his rival for the Vice Presidency of the United States.
Story 2538
Norfolk, Virginia July 22, 1944
USS Alaska cleared the fortresses guarding the James River. Onboard was the President and over a hundred members of his entourage. The final destination was the Black Sea with stops in Gibraltar, Sicily, and Crete on the way there. The President had also requested stops in Alexandria and Oran on the return home to see his generals and his troops.
An hour later, the large cruiser accelerated past twenty eight knots. She would not slow until the olive trees of Southern Spain could be seen.
USS Alaska cleared the fortresses guarding the James River. Onboard was the President and over a hundred members of his entourage. The final destination was the Black Sea with stops in Gibraltar, Sicily, and Crete on the way there. The President had also requested stops in Alexandria and Oran on the return home to see his generals and his troops.
An hour later, the large cruiser accelerated past twenty eight knots. She would not slow until the olive trees of Southern Spain could be seen.
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