Keynes' Cruisers Volume 2
- Thread starter fester
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I was under the impression that the original Yorktown, CV-5, was still afloat, and that the only Yorktown class carrier lost so far was Hornet after running into a submarine?
Yep, but in this TL, 4 Yorktowns were built:
Yorktown per OTL
Enterprise per OTL
Hornet per OTL
Constellation in the 1937 funding bill
I know that. You mentioned two new carriers. Essex was obviously one of them. I would have assumed Hornet would be the other.
formion
Banned
Well, we have captain Ibling and his men on the ground there. However, I think the target depends if the troops the attack transports are carrying are American or British. If they are American and they operate out of Singapore, then Palawan makes the most sense, since the US objective in the area is the relief of Bataan.
However, if they are British, the most logical target is Sarawak or Brunei: the last British outposts under Japanese occupation and oil producers. On the other hand, they may want to transform Borneo in the world's greatest POW camp. In that case a string of bases around and perhaps on Borneo may do the trick. Another British target may be Pontianak, to secure the approaches to the Malacca Straits. In any case, we know that an airstrip is being buit (or perhaps finished already) in the Riau Islands - I guess Ranai which is the biggest and can support an airbase. So, the RAF can project significant power to the South China Sea.
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Off the top of my head:
Ibling
The Filipino truck driver whose name escapes me is still alive with a broken leg to the best of my knowledge
Marie the spy
Josh Jarosek (sp?) is alive in Corpus Christi training new pilots
The Boston infantryman is alive convalescing with a broken arm. Not 100% sure where he is right now, maybe Australia.
I feel like I'm forgetting someone but I can't figure out who.
Story 1909
North coast of Sicily, February 17, 1943
HMS Splendid went back under the waves. Her batteries were charged and her berthing compartments were now overcrowded. A dozen Royal Marines with an unhealthy obsession with explosions were back aboard. The rubber boat had been stabbed repeatedly with combat knives and it sank to the bottom of the sea along with some of the surplus equipment used on the raid.
She headed north at two knots. A mile later, half a dozen explosions went off. The north coast road's culverts were cut in multiple places.
Three other submarines were also leaving their rendezvous points. Radars and coastal defense batteries were in ruins as commandos began to eat a celebratory breakfast while drafted infantrymen found bodies with slashed throats and short range shotgun blasts. Officers started to alert men again for yet another invasion alert.
HMS Splendid went back under the waves. Her batteries were charged and her berthing compartments were now overcrowded. A dozen Royal Marines with an unhealthy obsession with explosions were back aboard. The rubber boat had been stabbed repeatedly with combat knives and it sank to the bottom of the sea along with some of the surplus equipment used on the raid.
She headed north at two knots. A mile later, half a dozen explosions went off. The north coast road's culverts were cut in multiple places.
Three other submarines were also leaving their rendezvous points. Radars and coastal defense batteries were in ruins as commandos began to eat a celebratory breakfast while drafted infantrymen found bodies with slashed throats and short range shotgun blasts. Officers started to alert men again for yet another invasion alert.
Not necessarily --- mind fucks are a broad precursor of any successful operation.
Story 1910
Savannah, Georgia February 16, 1943
He marched up the gangway. A full combat pack was aboard. The rest of his platoon followed him. As soon as they were shown their berthing compartment, the strong, small lieutenant would be taking his entire command on a physical fitness tour. Up and down the ladders and then push-ups and jumping jacks on the rear deck near the smoke stacks.
By nightfall, another troop convoy was leaving the United States for North Africa and beyond.
He marched up the gangway. A full combat pack was aboard. The rest of his platoon followed him. As soon as they were shown their berthing compartment, the strong, small lieutenant would be taking his entire command on a physical fitness tour. Up and down the ladders and then push-ups and jumping jacks on the rear deck near the smoke stacks.
By nightfall, another troop convoy was leaving the United States for North Africa and beyond.
Well the attack is coming on an island owned by Italy that starts with S...only its Sardinia! Sure it still might be Sicily but this sort of thing could also be designed to cause the Italians and Germans to look the wrong way. I wonder if MINCEMEAT happened OTL, also helping to cause the Axis to look the wrong way.
formion
Banned
I saw this interesting chart in McPherson's timeline the other day.
I wonder how the Battle of the Makasssar Strait may have influenced the building scedules and slip availability. That would be something interesting to discuss. For sure the 2 Yamatos will need the Kure NSY1 and Mitsu-Naga 1 slips. Shokaku and Zuikaku will need 2 of the rest - Yoko NSY1 excluding that is building the Shinano: I think they would prefer t cancel/postpone another ship.
I wonder how the Battle of the Makasssar Strait may have influenced the building scedules and slip availability. That would be something interesting to discuss. For sure the 2 Yamatos will need the Kure NSY1 and Mitsu-Naga 1 slips. Shokaku and Zuikaku will need 2 of the rest - Yoko NSY1 excluding that is building the Shinano: I think they would prefer t cancel/postpone another ship.
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