England Expects More....
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- jellicoe wwi wwi at sea
We can only hope so. Were all the mathematical tools used in OR, like Linear Algebra, developed by this time? It's a long time since i studied this at Uni!
I hope that his chap might just turn up! Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett, Baron Blacket , OTL he was ayoung Mid shipman at both Correnel and Jutland. A very intersting character and a brilliant scientist.
I am glad that people are happy to see Moore back. I was not about to kill off a hero at this point, even if it would have been very Nelsonian. So he was half killed - no joke - and is on limited duty until he decides to step down. In fact with his recent public profile, he is a perfect leader for this group - his knock will open any door.
Yes, this says it very well. The Admiralty has been taken quite aback on a lee shore with this unrestricted U-boat warfare. They are either tearing their hair out, or running around with it on fire. They have to figure out a novel problem: as if French privateers of 1808 were teleporting in for a few minutes at a time to attack ship - then vanishing again. Here they are torpedo boats that appear and vanish -- so what to do?
One good feature of their mandate is that they are not bound by any particular silo (funnel?) of the service, and can look at combined solutions, not bound within their own sphere. They are not told to use their escorts, or their submarines, or mines, or whatever other approaches, they can use anything. And that open-minded view may be useful to them. We bloody hope so! Anyone know a wise old Druid?
Do note that these guys are in most cases solid naval officers, but their fitness reports sometimes depend on whether their C/O wanted to get the job done, or wanted to polish up the handles on the big front door. They have a good selection of RNR and RNVR, and that may help (if the new subbies are not too young).
I am not quite sure where this may fall on that front. I used to teach OR, a century ago, but am pretty rusty on techniques and its history. Like with other elements (for example Jutland was on the same dates here as OTL) I am not re-writing history!
BTW Blacket was at the Falklands - not Coronel.
Next piece within a day.
Speaking of Moore I imagine that the RN will name a ship in his honor in the interwar period/WWII or possibly during the cold war. On the downside Beatty will probably get a ship named after him as well but on the positive side so will Jellicoe. After all both almost got what became Anson and Howe named after them in otl.
If this committee can come up with a plan that successfully integrates convoys with other anti-sub tactics such as aircraft, specifically the RNAS, this could enable the RN to keep full control of the RNAS.
very poetic
and perhaps applicable to WARSHIPS mostly in coastal waters, attacked by submersibles from underwater,
but that is not what is happening to MERCHANT ships on transit between distant ports
They are being sunk by weak, slow raiders (but stronger and a bit faster than the average merchant)
who are operating singly and attacking on the surface.
This works because there is NO ESCORTING RN VESSEL within sight of the victim and attacker.
Now the RN is large but it can't give each merchantman its own protector
so gather the targets in large groups, provide them with a small number of escorts
(no need for huge speed or great firepower in the escorts, nor a huge number escorting any group)
That is exactly the same method that beat the French in the 1800s Doh!
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England Expects More.... CH 2-3
CHAPTER 2 Part 3: England Expects More....
THREE
A moderately sized office nearby had both of their names on it, and as they got there Torrance Smythe took over pushing the wheelchair from MacPherson. “Thank you. We'll find you when we are finished – just a few minutes.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
Moore smiled. “So, Smithy...with limited space you figure that I will be away enough that we can share?”
“Yes, sir. Or else I will be away or working on the analysis. I think that the main working office with the cluster of desks, or the conference room, or even the large layout tables, will be the site of most of our work.”
“Ah, yes, the layout tables. What are you thinking to put on them for scenarios, or keep them blank?”
“I don't know yet, sir. Generally blank, I think. I was planning to meet with Barky and Imrie tomorrow. They have recent submarine and anti-submarine experience, and we can figure out something. We have the large table, with four access hatches, and two smaller tables. The lighting and communications are not yet up to what we had at Scapa, but I think will be less critical here, at least in our early stages.”
“Very well. You might want to consider what Davies and the others have to say. They have many hours watching how senior officers worked around them.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for the suggestion.”
“I am serious. They are intelligent and observant.” Moore smiled. “MacPherson confessed to me that they used to bet on which Captains and Admirals would do well, and he said Davies almost never had to buy the pints. And that Cooper had an eye for predicting creative or adventurous efforts – for good or ill.”
Smithy laughed. “I wondered a few times if they had something going on the side. And I will consult them, sir. They saw the FACT 'games table' from within as well as how things played out so I am sure they will have something to say.”
“Very well. Now, I wanted to tell you two things. First, I am going to London tomorrow to be ready to meet with Blinker Hall and Henry Oliver the morning after. I will need the rest, but you can come up that morning: 1000 at the DNI offices.
“The second thing is to inform you of the current fleet reorganizations that are taking place. This information is secret in as much as there is no announcement other than ships moving about from place to place. If it comes up in your work you can acknowledge it, but it oughtn't be spread around unnecessarily.”
“I understand, sir.”
“We have a crushing superiority in battleships, and there doesn't seem to be any prospect of the Germans challenging us. So the following measures will quietly take place:
“No, sir. Perhaps as I have time to consider the implications for what we are doing here. Otherwise it seems logical and inevitable to move those old ships to secondary duties and ease the manpower situation across the Navy.”
“Then I must go. I am exhausted. Let's find MacPherson to take me to my quarters. Lyons is chasing some administrative matters for me.”
As he opened the door to head down the corridor, Smithy paused and spoke: “Sir, I just want to congratulate you again on your return, and thank you for all you have done, both for the Navy and for getting me this rather unorthodox command.”
Moore smiled in return. “I don't mean to sound like some ancient soothsayer, but some day you'll understand that I am equally grateful to have you and the others and all that you do.”
THREE
A moderately sized office nearby had both of their names on it, and as they got there Torrance Smythe took over pushing the wheelchair from MacPherson. “Thank you. We'll find you when we are finished – just a few minutes.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
Moore smiled. “So, Smithy...with limited space you figure that I will be away enough that we can share?”
“Yes, sir. Or else I will be away or working on the analysis. I think that the main working office with the cluster of desks, or the conference room, or even the large layout tables, will be the site of most of our work.”
“Ah, yes, the layout tables. What are you thinking to put on them for scenarios, or keep them blank?”
“I don't know yet, sir. Generally blank, I think. I was planning to meet with Barky and Imrie tomorrow. They have recent submarine and anti-submarine experience, and we can figure out something. We have the large table, with four access hatches, and two smaller tables. The lighting and communications are not yet up to what we had at Scapa, but I think will be less critical here, at least in our early stages.”
“Very well. You might want to consider what Davies and the others have to say. They have many hours watching how senior officers worked around them.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for the suggestion.”
“I am serious. They are intelligent and observant.” Moore smiled. “MacPherson confessed to me that they used to bet on which Captains and Admirals would do well, and he said Davies almost never had to buy the pints. And that Cooper had an eye for predicting creative or adventurous efforts – for good or ill.”
Smithy laughed. “I wondered a few times if they had something going on the side. And I will consult them, sir. They saw the FACT 'games table' from within as well as how things played out so I am sure they will have something to say.”
“Very well. Now, I wanted to tell you two things. First, I am going to London tomorrow to be ready to meet with Blinker Hall and Henry Oliver the morning after. I will need the rest, but you can come up that morning: 1000 at the DNI offices.
“The second thing is to inform you of the current fleet reorganizations that are taking place. This information is secret in as much as there is no announcement other than ships moving about from place to place. If it comes up in your work you can acknowledge it, but it oughtn't be spread around unnecessarily.”
“I understand, sir.”
“We have a crushing superiority in battleships, and there doesn't seem to be any prospect of the Germans challenging us. So the following measures will quietly take place:
- The old armoured cruisers and pre-dreadnought battleships, and various other elderly ships, will for the most part be laid up. The Grand-Dames of the Channel Fleet will gradually be laid to rest.
- The older 12-inch gunned dreadnoughts from the Grand Fleet will be moved to the Channel Fleet in case the Germans do put together an attempt to enter the Channel, but mostly as support for the cruisers from Harwich and Dover.
- Some of the old ships will be used for second and third line tasks such as shore bombardment, here and maybe in the Med, but they will be discarded as they wear out their heavy guns. They will be training or accommodation ships, lightly-crewed guard ships to help east-coast ports feel safe, and so on. All the usual sorts of things.
- Some of their guns will be remounted on monitors of various sizes for inshore bombardment.
- Experienced crews will be available for other vessels, and particularly anti-submarine vessels – which means every trawler, barge, or scow that can do 12 kts or more and carry a 12-pounder. There are to be several new series of escort sloops that are to be built as rapidly as possible.
- Light guns from old vessels, 12-pounders to 4.7-inch, but some up to 6-inch, will be used to arm merchant ships so that they can fend off U-boats that attack on the surface. There is an expectation that forcing the U-boats to remain submerged, therefore slow and blind, will reduce losses.
- And as you might expect, these actions will free up a number of destroyers from fleet flotillas and they will be used for anti-submarine patrols. Indeed a few of the newest and longest-ranged destroyers will be released from the Grand Fleet to form long range hunting groups. This should bring a considerable number of highly capable vessels to the anti-submarine forces. In the melees at Jutland we had fewer than 20 destroyers sunk or even seriously damaged, it was light cruisers – larger and more visible – that took the brunt of the flotillas night fighting with the Germans. This was an unexpected result of improved communications procedures and command vision which helped flotillas stay closer together even in the confused night battles.
- Finally: as for bringing destroyers from the Grand Fleet, I can tell you, personally and confidentially, that Admiral Jellicoe is not best pleased with that. So we can all see how that unfolds.”
“No, sir. Perhaps as I have time to consider the implications for what we are doing here. Otherwise it seems logical and inevitable to move those old ships to secondary duties and ease the manpower situation across the Navy.”
“Then I must go. I am exhausted. Let's find MacPherson to take me to my quarters. Lyons is chasing some administrative matters for me.”
As he opened the door to head down the corridor, Smithy paused and spoke: “Sir, I just want to congratulate you again on your return, and thank you for all you have done, both for the Navy and for getting me this rather unorthodox command.”
Moore smiled in return. “I don't mean to sound like some ancient soothsayer, but some day you'll understand that I am equally grateful to have you and the others and all that you do.”
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An excellent update, sounds like kinda what they did OTL but with more ships being decommissioned to free up crews for small vessels. I'm still unsure of the German's losses in TTL's Jutland but if the RN is feeling confident it can demobilize a large number of pre-dreadnoughts, all its ACRs and move a good 10 or so 12-inch gunned Dreadnoughts down south away from the Grand Fleet then I assume these are serious losses. And a good turn towards supporting ground forces with monitors etc, if Zebrugge/Ostend raids happen they could be larger.
England Expects More.... CH 2-4
Hard to believe it's been almost two weeks. Sorry about that, I just can't work late so many nights and then think through the story and write coherently. I do know the general direction and now have to let the characters live it out. So, a bit of the story might be a bit boring as they get on with this critical work in the back rooms of Portsmouth Naval Base.
I will try to keep up a flow of bits and pieces, though some might be small, just to keep myself up to date on the story. Some of the next few parts will not be very thrilling - really just connectors to put people, places, and things into the story. But I will try to build in enough interest to keep you from falling asleep while reading.
=== ===
CHAPTER 2 Part 4: England Expects More....
FOUR
It was dark outside, and Vice Admiral Moore, in flannel pyjamas and housecoat, was settling into an armchair to read before bed. Here in his quarters, his valet and steward took care of his needs and the steward would be taking on the job of helping him get around during working hours. And as weary as he felt, he had a job and it was time to get back to work.
PO MacPherson appeared holding a message form. “It's late, sir, but a messenger just brought this.”
“Thank you. What can be so important at this hour?”
“It's from the Admiralty. Day after tomorrow you and Commander Torrance Smythe are to meet 1stSL at 0930, before going to NID. There's no reason given.”
“Admiral Jackson wants to see Smithy too?”
“Yes, sir. He's named in the signal.”
“Very well. Make note and forward to Smithy. He'll just have to make sure he gets an early train.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
“MacPherson, before you go, I would like thank you for all you have done these past few weeks. You've been a tower of strength to me personally as I have gotten more mobile and pulled my household together. And you have been a welcome touchstone to the work of the past two years, indeed to a past life at sea. Now as you go back to working with Smithy and the team on this U-boat menace, I have something to ask you. And I must tell you in advance that I do not need an answer right away.”
“Yes, sir. Of course, sir.”
“You have more than earned a promotion, afloat and ashore. The choice is yours between CPO now, and likely Warrant Officer soon if you continue on as you have, or to accept His Majesty's Commission – which might very briefly be as Sub-Lieutenant, but your years of service would qualify you as Lieutenant. And after that, who knows?”
“Sir! Thank you. Er.... Thank you for that. I can give you an answer right now....”
“Are you sure? Please know that the offer is open, you can consider which you prefer.”
“Yes, sir. I have, sir. You see, sir, Davy and I, er...I mean CPO Davies and I, sir, have discussed this over pints. Cooper and Jones too for that matter, sir. And, I can't speak officially for the others but we all kind of figure it this way: even admirals, beggin' your pardon, sir, generally respect a Warrant Officer but there are t'ousands and t'ousands of Lieutenants in the RN, and one more risen from the ranks...er...might have a job of work to be recognized on his ability, if I can say it that way. So, sir, my preference would be to continue in the ranks rather than a Commission. If it's up to me, sir.”
“Well said, and I believe a wise choice. I have come to know you well enough that I was fairly sure you would prefer that. Very well, I will advance the matter with the 2nd Lord's office, and get the formalities sorted as soon as I can. There were some details left undone because I wanted to offer you the choice – so please keep it to yourself for a few days.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” MacPherson paused, and cocked his head slightly. “Sir, beggin' your pardon, you're planning to offer the others something the same, aren't you?”
Moore laughed. “Yes, I am. You might as well know, all of you, that your work on FACT was... 'highly meritorious' I believe they call it...and if we have more of that coming then you all may need all the respect and attention you can get.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Thank you, and now I must bid you good night. Simkins* is here with my tray and he has the responsibility for my care and feeding so I must not disappoint him.”
“Good night, Admiral.” MacPherson came briefly and unobtrusively to attention, then turned and left.
Settling in with his cup of warm cocoa Moore considered the morrow with its trip to London for the meeting the day following with Blinker Hall to discuss Naval Intelligence. Of course he would see Admiral Jackson if he could elbow his way in...an idea which brought some amusement, for he was on the top of the First Sea Lord's priorities these days.
He was dozing as Simkins returned. “Sir, sir, let's get you to bed for a comfortable sleep. I've had a hot water bottle in it for a while so it'll be nice and cozy. MacPherson warned me that if you fall asleep here in your chair you'll be most uncomfortable all day tomorrow.”
“Very well, Simkins, I do feel my head nodding, and you have a point. Give me a hand, will you.”
Simkins refrained from saying that the aches and pains from falling asleep in the chair would have made Moore a growly bear to deal with all day, and was quite content with holding back his sigh of relief.
==
*Fictional steward.
I will try to keep up a flow of bits and pieces, though some might be small, just to keep myself up to date on the story. Some of the next few parts will not be very thrilling - really just connectors to put people, places, and things into the story. But I will try to build in enough interest to keep you from falling asleep while reading.
=== ===
CHAPTER 2 Part 4: England Expects More....
FOUR
It was dark outside, and Vice Admiral Moore, in flannel pyjamas and housecoat, was settling into an armchair to read before bed. Here in his quarters, his valet and steward took care of his needs and the steward would be taking on the job of helping him get around during working hours. And as weary as he felt, he had a job and it was time to get back to work.
PO MacPherson appeared holding a message form. “It's late, sir, but a messenger just brought this.”
“Thank you. What can be so important at this hour?”
“It's from the Admiralty. Day after tomorrow you and Commander Torrance Smythe are to meet 1stSL at 0930, before going to NID. There's no reason given.”
“Admiral Jackson wants to see Smithy too?”
“Yes, sir. He's named in the signal.”
“Very well. Make note and forward to Smithy. He'll just have to make sure he gets an early train.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
“MacPherson, before you go, I would like thank you for all you have done these past few weeks. You've been a tower of strength to me personally as I have gotten more mobile and pulled my household together. And you have been a welcome touchstone to the work of the past two years, indeed to a past life at sea. Now as you go back to working with Smithy and the team on this U-boat menace, I have something to ask you. And I must tell you in advance that I do not need an answer right away.”
“Yes, sir. Of course, sir.”
“You have more than earned a promotion, afloat and ashore. The choice is yours between CPO now, and likely Warrant Officer soon if you continue on as you have, or to accept His Majesty's Commission – which might very briefly be as Sub-Lieutenant, but your years of service would qualify you as Lieutenant. And after that, who knows?”
“Sir! Thank you. Er.... Thank you for that. I can give you an answer right now....”
“Are you sure? Please know that the offer is open, you can consider which you prefer.”
“Yes, sir. I have, sir. You see, sir, Davy and I, er...I mean CPO Davies and I, sir, have discussed this over pints. Cooper and Jones too for that matter, sir. And, I can't speak officially for the others but we all kind of figure it this way: even admirals, beggin' your pardon, sir, generally respect a Warrant Officer but there are t'ousands and t'ousands of Lieutenants in the RN, and one more risen from the ranks...er...might have a job of work to be recognized on his ability, if I can say it that way. So, sir, my preference would be to continue in the ranks rather than a Commission. If it's up to me, sir.”
“Well said, and I believe a wise choice. I have come to know you well enough that I was fairly sure you would prefer that. Very well, I will advance the matter with the 2nd Lord's office, and get the formalities sorted as soon as I can. There were some details left undone because I wanted to offer you the choice – so please keep it to yourself for a few days.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” MacPherson paused, and cocked his head slightly. “Sir, beggin' your pardon, you're planning to offer the others something the same, aren't you?”
Moore laughed. “Yes, I am. You might as well know, all of you, that your work on FACT was... 'highly meritorious' I believe they call it...and if we have more of that coming then you all may need all the respect and attention you can get.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Thank you, and now I must bid you good night. Simkins* is here with my tray and he has the responsibility for my care and feeding so I must not disappoint him.”
“Good night, Admiral.” MacPherson came briefly and unobtrusively to attention, then turned and left.
Settling in with his cup of warm cocoa Moore considered the morrow with its trip to London for the meeting the day following with Blinker Hall to discuss Naval Intelligence. Of course he would see Admiral Jackson if he could elbow his way in...an idea which brought some amusement, for he was on the top of the First Sea Lord's priorities these days.
He was dozing as Simkins returned. “Sir, sir, let's get you to bed for a comfortable sleep. I've had a hot water bottle in it for a while so it'll be nice and cozy. MacPherson warned me that if you fall asleep here in your chair you'll be most uncomfortable all day tomorrow.”
“Very well, Simkins, I do feel my head nodding, and you have a point. Give me a hand, will you.”
Simkins refrained from saying that the aches and pains from falling asleep in the chair would have made Moore a growly bear to deal with all day, and was quite content with holding back his sigh of relief.
==
*Fictional steward.
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Very true. It takes a brave officer to go against the advice of his Warrant Officer - and if he does, he'd better have a very good reason - otherwise for 'brave' read 'stupid'!
This hiatus was unplanned....
Sorry folks. Life swept me away so much that I have kind of lost the handle on the characters, so I have had to delay any new segments.
I am rereading the original England Expects, as well as the earlier bits of this one, to get acquainted with them again.
Once again I have to travel for a few days, twice in fact, but will try to post some short bits to pull the story together and get it started up over the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for your patience. // VP
Sorry folks. Life swept me away so much that I have kind of lost the handle on the characters, so I have had to delay any new segments.
I am rereading the original England Expects, as well as the earlier bits of this one, to get acquainted with them again.
Once again I have to travel for a few days, twice in fact, but will try to post some short bits to pull the story together and get it started up over the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for your patience. // VP
OK. Here we are.
Well, folks, I thought I was on the road to resumption - but there were potholes in the road of life.
There were also potholes in the story - but I have found a way to link the necessary bits together (I hope) and am ready to resume. I have a few bits written up and have figured out some of the complexity in the next week or so (weeks? months?) that our heroes will face.
I think it will be complex, or at least a bit confusing because of simultaneous events, so I am taking two steps.
Onward we go: GENERAL CHASE.
Well, folks, I thought I was on the road to resumption - but there were potholes in the road of life.
There were also potholes in the story - but I have found a way to link the necessary bits together (I hope) and am ready to resume. I have a few bits written up and have figured out some of the complexity in the next week or so (weeks? months?) that our heroes will face.
I think it will be complex, or at least a bit confusing because of simultaneous events, so I am taking two steps.
- First, here is a link to the Threadmarks page: https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/england-expects-more.485801/threadmarks That will help you to read efficiently and catch up on who is who, and be ready for new material to start tomorrow.
- Second, to deal with the complexity and to help me deal with both the story and with the actual work of writing, some of the sections posted will be short, short to the point even of splitting meetings into more than one posting. While that may sometimes seem awkward, I think it will be beneficial overall.
Onward we go: GENERAL CHASE.
