sorry for not updating in a while life has been hectic but I will be updating again soon
AHTL:Vox Non Incerta
- Thread starter HMS Audacious
- Start date
Skirmish in the bight pt2
With the first two C.40 Autogyro taking off and heading southeast at 150 mph to act as anti submarine patrol a second pair of C.40 are launched from Ark Royal and head east on a two hundred mile anti submarine patrol.
Onboard Glorious a strike of eight Swordfish armed with depth charge bombs are armed and fueled in the hangers. It is hoped to sink the Uboat but driving her deep enough so that the Hood escorts can pick up survivors from both the Arathusa and the Altmark. Admiral Holland onboard Hood is informed that there is Luftwaffe aircraft in the area of the survivors.
With the dogfight between the Luftwaffe and the FAA still continuing four more ME-110 escorting eight HE-111 and four Junkers Ju-88 bombers at near their maximum range arrive over the still a float Arathusa. The four Ju-88 begin their attack runs on the slowly sinking and dead in the water cruiser. The Goshawks running low on fuel turn into the new ME-110 to find eight Goshawks from Glorious have arrived to take over as cover. Squadron leader William Bruen gets his squadron mates to return to Glorious while four Goshawks split off and head towards the Ju-88s. The first time the Luftwaffe notice that the FAA has sent reinforcements is when the flight leader of the Ju-88 explodes under a hail of 20mm cannon shells curtesy of a Goshawk piloted by Flying officer Henry Jones.
Onboard Glorious a strike of eight Swordfish armed with depth charge bombs are armed and fueled in the hangers. It is hoped to sink the Uboat but driving her deep enough so that the Hood escorts can pick up survivors from both the Arathusa and the Altmark. Admiral Holland onboard Hood is informed that there is Luftwaffe aircraft in the area of the survivors.
With the dogfight between the Luftwaffe and the FAA still continuing four more ME-110 escorting eight HE-111 and four Junkers Ju-88 bombers at near their maximum range arrive over the still a float Arathusa. The four Ju-88 begin their attack runs on the slowly sinking and dead in the water cruiser. The Goshawks running low on fuel turn into the new ME-110 to find eight Goshawks from Glorious have arrived to take over as cover. Squadron leader William Bruen gets his squadron mates to return to Glorious while four Goshawks split off and head towards the Ju-88s. The first time the Luftwaffe notice that the FAA has sent reinforcements is when the flight leader of the Ju-88 explodes under a hail of 20mm cannon shells curtesy of a Goshawk piloted by Flying officer Henry Jones.
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Skirmish in the bight pt3
With the first JU-88 going down in flames the other three dive for wave top height and away from the Goshawks. The escorting ME-110 find that the Goshawks are nimble and hard to shoot down due to their speed and tight turning circle as a HE-111 spirals down inflames. 8000 feet below the Arathusa is starting to sink despite her crews best efforts to keep her afloat. The Nurnburg having pushed her engines to near breaking point to get to thirty-eight thousands yards from the Arathusa and the Altmark survivors.
On board HMS Hood vice admiral Holland who doesn't know that the Kreigsmarine has sent reinforcements to pick up survivors from the Altmark assumes that the Uboat has either gone deep or has escaped. One of the C.40 Autogyro launched from Ark Royal spots U-18 on the surface and heading north-east towards Norwegian waters. The crew of U-18 who doesn't know what the strange looking flying machine is stays on the surface as the Autogyro radios to Ark Royal who sends the sighting report off to all the Royal Navy ships in the area.
On board HMS Hood vice admiral Holland who doesn't know that the Kreigsmarine has sent reinforcements to pick up survivors from the Altmark assumes that the Uboat has either gone deep or has escaped. One of the C.40 Autogyro launched from Ark Royal spots U-18 on the surface and heading north-east towards Norwegian waters. The crew of U-18 who doesn't know what the strange looking flying machine is stays on the surface as the Autogyro radios to Ark Royal who sends the sighting report off to all the Royal Navy ships in the area.
Skirmish in the bight pt4
With the sighting report received from the Autogyro sent on by Ark Royal to every Royal Navy ship in the area. Unfortunately Hoods battle group doesn't pick up the signal due being under a heavy squall and continues on eastward at 28 knots through rough seas.
With the ME-110's trying to get behind the more nimble Goshawks and the HE-111's trying to line up to start there attack runs on the Arathusa eight more Goshawks from Glorious who pushed there Hercules engines to near melting point to get extra cover over Arathusa.
With Hoods battle group closing on the stricken light cruiser at 28 knots and closing fast on the Nurnburg. The eight new Goshawks lead by a Polish exile flight leader Jerzy Swordski sends a HE-111 down in flames from three hundred yards and barrel roles away as a ME-110 who manages to make it behind Swordski flies past the Goshawk who gets behind the ME-110 and closes to 300 yards sending twenty cannon shells through the left engine sending it tumbling in flames.
With the ME-110's trying to get behind the more nimble Goshawks and the HE-111's trying to line up to start there attack runs on the Arathusa eight more Goshawks from Glorious who pushed there Hercules engines to near melting point to get extra cover over Arathusa.
With Hoods battle group closing on the stricken light cruiser at 28 knots and closing fast on the Nurnburg. The eight new Goshawks lead by a Polish exile flight leader Jerzy Swordski sends a HE-111 down in flames from three hundred yards and barrel roles away as a ME-110 who manages to make it behind Swordski flies past the Goshawk who gets behind the ME-110 and closes to 300 yards sending twenty cannon shells through the left engine sending it tumbling in flames.
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Skirmish in the bight pt5
Onboard Nurnburg who is slowing to 5 knots to pick up survivors from the Altmark and the Arathusa comes under a strafing attack from a Goshawk as Cossack and her escorting destroyers who have been planning to sink the Altmark start firing at the German light cruiser from 12 000 yards. Nurnburg starts firing her 6in guns at Cossack who expertly dodges the first salvo and turns to send her four torpedoes at the German light cruiser.
As the surface action is happening the U-boat who crashed dived and has been slowly rising back to the surface raises her periscope quickly to see what's going on as the Swordfish and Skuas from Glorious finally find the Nurnburg. A Goshawk who was about to strafe the German light cruiser spot's the surfaced U-boat decides that the Uboat would be a easier target. The crew of the U-boat start manning their AA gun as the Goshawk starts it's strafing run. 20mm cannon shells impacting the conning tower are the first indicator that the Goshawk is there. Fourteen cannon shells hit the captain and three of the crew manning the AA gun killing two and wounding the captain and the gunner. The XO grabs the captain and the wounded gunner as the U-boat crash dives for the second time. Two Skuas armed with two depth charges and four 100lb bombs start there attack out of the sun.
As the surface action is happening the U-boat who crashed dived and has been slowly rising back to the surface raises her periscope quickly to see what's going on as the Swordfish and Skuas from Glorious finally find the Nurnburg. A Goshawk who was about to strafe the German light cruiser spot's the surfaced U-boat decides that the Uboat would be a easier target. The crew of the U-boat start manning their AA gun as the Goshawk starts it's strafing run. 20mm cannon shells impacting the conning tower are the first indicator that the Goshawk is there. Fourteen cannon shells hit the captain and three of the crew manning the AA gun killing two and wounding the captain and the gunner. The XO grabs the captain and the wounded gunner as the U-boat crash dives for the second time. Two Skuas armed with two depth charges and four 100lb bombs start there attack out of the sun.
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After the next updates I will be doing what the each major navy ship building programme for the major navies.
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Skirmish in the bight pt6
With the U-boat crash diving the Skuas drop their depth charges at the fast diving sub. The first two depth charges fail to explode but the next set of charges from the second Skua explode splitting the U-boat in half sending the sub straight down to the bottom of the North Sea. With the U-boat suppressed and the Nurnburg being attacked by the FAA Cossack starts rapid firing her guns at the German light cruiser.
Of the four torpedoes from Cossack launched from 10 000 yards three miss while the fourth hits the bow ripping a three foot hole and slowing down the German light cruiser to 10 knots. The four Destroyers now at 8 000 yards and closing fast on the Nurnburg who is firing her 6in guns at the RN destroyers. The group consisting of HMS Hood and four destroyers who pushed there engines to get to cossacks position.
With the dogfight between the Luftwaffe and the FAA still continuing three HE-111 who managed to get past the Goshawks spot the biggest target they could possibly hopefore the battlecruiser HMS Hood. The first HE-111 enters a shallow dive from 12 000 feet releasing their six 551lb bombs. Of the six bombs dropped by the first bomber four miss while two others miss close to Hood.
Of the four torpedoes from Cossack launched from 10 000 yards three miss while the fourth hits the bow ripping a three foot hole and slowing down the German light cruiser to 10 knots. The four Destroyers now at 8 000 yards and closing fast on the Nurnburg who is firing her 6in guns at the RN destroyers. The group consisting of HMS Hood and four destroyers who pushed there engines to get to cossacks position.
With the dogfight between the Luftwaffe and the FAA still continuing three HE-111 who managed to get past the Goshawks spot the biggest target they could possibly hopefore the battlecruiser HMS Hood. The first HE-111 enters a shallow dive from 12 000 feet releasing their six 551lb bombs. Of the six bombs dropped by the first bomber four miss while two others miss close to Hood.
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Skirmish in the bight pt7
With the next HE-111 starting it's dive towards Hood two Goshawks from Glorious who managed to get past the ME-110's and behind the first HE-111 sending it crashing towards the North Sea on fire. Unfortunately for Hood while she is manoeuvring at 28 knots and trying to dodge the bombs from the first German bomber she manoeuvres into the path of the second set of bombs. Three miss close to the Battlecruiser sending plumes of water into the air while the last three bombs hit the Battlecruiser penetrating the thin deck armour one bomb enters the magazine sending shards into one 15in shell. Luckily for the Battlecruiser the bomb fails to explode while another hits the stern sending shock damage into the propellers. Temporarily shutting the engines off as the Battlecruiser slows to 15 knots and eventually to a stop as the crew struggle to get the engines back on. The third and final bomb hits the ready use locker sending shards of red hot metal into the AA magazine starting a fire which rapidly goes out of control.
With the fire completely out of control and the damage control party struggling to get the engines back on, four teams try to get the fire which rapidly spread under control.
With the fire completely out of control and the damage control party struggling to get the engines back on, four teams try to get the fire which rapidly spread under control.
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Skirmish in the bight pt8
With HMS Hood dead in the water and the luftwaffe being kept busy by the FAA , the damage control teams manage to get the fire under control and two engineers get two engine rooms back on to half power. Hood now at 12 knots and slowly picking up survivors from all three ships heads back away from the combat zone as the air battle starts to wind down. The Germans dive for the deck and increase speed back to Kiel.
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Skirmish in the bight pt 9
With Hood increasing speed to 20 knots and under a heavy squall all FAA aircraft return to their respective carriers. By the next morning all ships are back in home waters. Hood who was damaged rather badly goes into dry dock at Newcastle for a long refit. Part of the refit is hoped to take her down to the boilers and replace them along with the steam turbines. Her 15in guns would be replaced with the guns of the battlecruisers Courageous and glorious after they have been refurbished.
The first three Illustrious class carriers are due to be launched and sent to work up in the Mediterranean. It is hoped that HMS Illustrious under the command of captain Dennis Boyd will be the first to get the first batch of fairey Albacore mk 1 and the first batch of the mk 2 Gloster Goshawk.
The first three Illustrious class carriers are due to be launched and sent to work up in the Mediterranean. It is hoped that HMS Illustrious under the command of captain Dennis Boyd will be the first to get the first batch of fairey Albacore mk 1 and the first batch of the mk 2 Gloster Goshawk.
Norwegian Invasion pt 1
8th April 1940 operation wreserabung
When Hitler hears of the Royal Navy sinking the Altmark and the light cruiser Nurnberg the invasion of Norway is given the go ahead. Vidcun Quiesling is secretly brought to Berlin to meet Hitler. Unfortunately for the Germans a spy in the upper hierarchy passes on details of the meeting to a German abwher agent working for MI6. Only part of the meeting is sent to the British. When Quiesling is secretly returned to Norway three British and two Norwegian soldiers greet him. Within seventy-two hours both Norway and the Allies learn about the German plan for the invasion of Scandinavia.
The bulk of the German invasion force puts to sea, KMS Sharnhorst and Gneisenau leave Kiel along with the heavy cruisers Hipper and lutzow the light cruiser karlsruhe and six destroyers escorting five fast troop transports. The Germans hope to capture Narvik in a lightning strike.
When Hitler hears of the Royal Navy sinking the Altmark and the light cruiser Nurnberg the invasion of Norway is given the go ahead. Vidcun Quiesling is secretly brought to Berlin to meet Hitler. Unfortunately for the Germans a spy in the upper hierarchy passes on details of the meeting to a German abwher agent working for MI6. Only part of the meeting is sent to the British. When Quiesling is secretly returned to Norway three British and two Norwegian soldiers greet him. Within seventy-two hours both Norway and the Allies learn about the German plan for the invasion of Scandinavia.
The bulk of the German invasion force puts to sea, KMS Sharnhorst and Gneisenau leave Kiel along with the heavy cruisers Hipper and lutzow the light cruiser karlsruhe and six destroyers escorting five fast troop transports. The Germans hope to capture Narvik in a lightning strike.
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British interlude pt1
London 8th April 1940
This is the BBC World Service. It is with a heavy heart we must announce that the prime minister Neville Chamberlain has died peacefully last night with his family around him. The house of commons will be meeting for an emergency session to select his replacement.
The three preferred candidates to replace the honourable Neville Chamberlain are the secretary of state for domain affairs Anthony Eden, The foreign secretary Lord Halifax and the leader of the opposition Clement Attlee.
Another possible candidate is the right honorable gentleman Sir Winston Churchill who is current leader of the Admiralty.
This is the BBC World Service. It is with a heavy heart we must announce that the prime minister Neville Chamberlain has died peacefully last night with his family around him. The house of commons will be meeting for an emergency session to select his replacement.
The three preferred candidates to replace the honourable Neville Chamberlain are the secretary of state for domain affairs Anthony Eden, The foreign secretary Lord Halifax and the leader of the opposition Clement Attlee.
Another possible candidate is the right honorable gentleman Sir Winston Churchill who is current leader of the Admiralty.
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Norwegian invasion pt2
Bletchley Park 8th April 1940
Gordon Welchman and his team through traffic analysis learns that the majority of the Kreigsmarine are at sea including the Germans only carrier KMS Graf Zeppelin one heavy cruiser and six destroyers. It's believed that the Germans are planning to break out into the North Atlantic or to cover the invasion of Norway.
Scapa Flow Orkney Islands.
C-in-C home fleet puts to sea with Three of the home fleets venerable carriers under the command of Rear Admiral Sir Lumley Lyster. The home fleet hopes to stop the Germans from breaking out into the North Atlantic. Part of the Home Fleet heading towards northern Norway HMS Courageous,Furious and Glorious with the battlecruisers Repulse and Renown along with the newly completed light cruiser HMS Bonaventura, and eight destroyers consisting of two Tribal class HMS Cossack and Nubian.
HMS Bonaventura had been due to be commissioned later in the year but all efforts to get at least one completed and tested in the calm waters of the Mediterranean with the Illustrious class carriers caused problems to the building schedule. The Admiralty rushed Bonaventura who was further along than the Dido. With the Kreigsmarine sending the Graf Zeppelin the decision to send the Bonaventura with the carriers was made.
Gordon Welchman and his team through traffic analysis learns that the majority of the Kreigsmarine are at sea including the Germans only carrier KMS Graf Zeppelin one heavy cruiser and six destroyers. It's believed that the Germans are planning to break out into the North Atlantic or to cover the invasion of Norway.
Scapa Flow Orkney Islands.
C-in-C home fleet puts to sea with Three of the home fleets venerable carriers under the command of Rear Admiral Sir Lumley Lyster. The home fleet hopes to stop the Germans from breaking out into the North Atlantic. Part of the Home Fleet heading towards northern Norway HMS Courageous,Furious and Glorious with the battlecruisers Repulse and Renown along with the newly completed light cruiser HMS Bonaventura, and eight destroyers consisting of two Tribal class HMS Cossack and Nubian.
HMS Bonaventura had been due to be commissioned later in the year but all efforts to get at least one completed and tested in the calm waters of the Mediterranean with the Illustrious class carriers caused problems to the building schedule. The Admiralty rushed Bonaventura who was further along than the Dido. With the Kreigsmarine sending the Graf Zeppelin the decision to send the Bonaventura with the carriers was made.
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No Dido-class cruisers were in service in OTL April 1940. Bonaventure was the first to be commissioned on 24 May. There has been nothing in this thread to indicate that their construction has been advanced.
I will be doing interludes to explain why we have one Dido class built earlier by a couple of months
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