Not to mention the Germans presumably killed/captured at least a solid half of that number
Keynes' Cruisers Volume 2
- Thread starter fester
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Hungary was a less genocidally fascist cobeligerant.
Italy was a less genocidally fascist cobeligerant.
Pal Maleter was recruited by the Soviet Union historically.
The Soviet Union will probably ensure that only some Italian officers have accidents. They will be thinking post war already.
If/when that gets out that the Soviets pulled a Katyn on some of the Italians it’s bye-bye to the Italian communist party. The Italians know how many people surrendered and how many people made it home.
Not to mention just how many Italian-Americans are currently making LL for the Soviet in an even worse position than OTL. I question If they would think it worth the risk of anything on a large scale, they are in very different place from when they invaded Poland and where trying to permanently pacify the part they wanted to keep?
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Depends entirely on who makes it home. Remember what the PCd’I was doing 44-5 and what the maxis, PSI maxis and the proto Operaismo wanted.
Story 2255
Pearl Harbor, October 2, 1943
The harbor was overcrowded. The heavy cruiser Indianapolis had nowhere to go. She had been on the firing ranges south of the great base and after the fifteenth salvo, a mishap in B turret had occurred. Flash fires burned out the turret and were barely stopped before the magazine went up. The heavy cruiser Los Angeles had pulled alongside the damaged ship and the two crews had spent most of the afternoon fighting fires. By nightfall, eleven other ships were rendering assistance and treating the wounded in their own sickbays. The fleet tug Vireo had arrived just before midnight to bring the battered cruiser back to port.
The dry docks, both permanent an floating were already full of ships making final repairs and refurbishments before the great offensive across the Pacific could begin. The heavy cruiser would not be able to contribute to that mission. She might be available for the follow-on so instead of heading down the narrow channel guarded by coastal batteries, the tug lugged the cruiser to Honolulu where she could be kept out of the way until the fleet had left the base just to the west.
The harbor was overcrowded. The heavy cruiser Indianapolis had nowhere to go. She had been on the firing ranges south of the great base and after the fifteenth salvo, a mishap in B turret had occurred. Flash fires burned out the turret and were barely stopped before the magazine went up. The heavy cruiser Los Angeles had pulled alongside the damaged ship and the two crews had spent most of the afternoon fighting fires. By nightfall, eleven other ships were rendering assistance and treating the wounded in their own sickbays. The fleet tug Vireo had arrived just before midnight to bring the battered cruiser back to port.
The dry docks, both permanent an floating were already full of ships making final repairs and refurbishments before the great offensive across the Pacific could begin. The heavy cruiser would not be able to contribute to that mission. She might be available for the follow-on so instead of heading down the narrow channel guarded by coastal batteries, the tug lugged the cruiser to Honolulu where she could be kept out of the way until the fleet had left the base just to the west.
Story 2256
Eastern Greece, 0430 October 2, 1943
The paratrooper sighed. His legs were on fire. His shoulders ached. His back was tight. His boots were wearing out. The moment was over. Now the company was digging in after a thirty one kilometer force march that had started just before sun down. The night time marches had started three days ago as the southern Attica positions were no longer viable now that the Italian Army had stopped fighting against the Allies. Tonight had been a straightforward march for the German paratroopers. There were no nighttime air raids, there were no ambushes by Greek partisans. No bridges had been dropped, no landslides had been triggered by pyromaniacal commandos. Yesterday half a dozen command detonated mines had decimated the company in front of his.
By dawn, the company had dug in well enough. The Greeks, British, Indians, Kiwis and South Africans had not been pursuing too aggressively. There was at least a fifteen kilometer gap from their laager last night and the South African armoured brigade which was slowly coming north. A company had been left behind as a rear guard and a delaying force. Another company would be left behind near this position to buy another few hours for the rest of the regiment to escape to their final positions north of the death of the Spartan army.
The paratrooper sighed. His legs were on fire. His shoulders ached. His back was tight. His boots were wearing out. The moment was over. Now the company was digging in after a thirty one kilometer force march that had started just before sun down. The night time marches had started three days ago as the southern Attica positions were no longer viable now that the Italian Army had stopped fighting against the Allies. Tonight had been a straightforward march for the German paratroopers. There were no nighttime air raids, there were no ambushes by Greek partisans. No bridges had been dropped, no landslides had been triggered by pyromaniacal commandos. Yesterday half a dozen command detonated mines had decimated the company in front of his.
By dawn, the company had dug in well enough. The Greeks, British, Indians, Kiwis and South Africans had not been pursuing too aggressively. There was at least a fifteen kilometer gap from their laager last night and the South African armoured brigade which was slowly coming north. A company had been left behind as a rear guard and a delaying force. Another company would be left behind near this position to buy another few hours for the rest of the regiment to escape to their final positions north of the death of the Spartan army.
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It's better than having 3/4ths of her men be killed due to... that string of events that got her captain screwed over because hierarchy and command incompetence.
Meant Spartan not Persian.... trying to give a location obliquely. And I should not try to be clever before coffee.
If she is seaworthy they could send her to one of the West Coast naval bases for repair and fitting out.
The engineers need to take a good look to see how much damage there is, how long it would take and if it is worth the sea voyage to Mare Island or Bremerton for repairs, or if the job is short enough that she'll be ready faster in Pearl Harbor even if she needs to wait 3 weeks for a dock repair slot to open up. If she does head back to the West Coast, she'll get more than a repair job, she'll get a full 90-120 day refit and upgrade. If she stays at Pearl, she'll get repaired plus any upgrades that can be done while the primary repairs are happening and not a moment longer in the yard than needed.
Story 2257
Eastern Ukrainian Steppes, October 3, 1943
The column of tanks stopped. The road was split. One path continued east, while the other went south. As the officers looked at the map, tank crews got out. Most of the men began to tighten sprockets, check the road wheels and tracks. A few verified the oil levels were still sufficienct. Most also took the time to stretch their legs. The tank brigade had been in the enemy's rear for almost two, uncontested days now. The flying columns would advance, machine gun Romanian and German logistics and communication units, and set fire to anything that could not be quickly loaded onto the backs of the tanks and into the Ford trucks that carried the infantrymen that were still a few kilometers behind the spearhead. The men needed rest and they desired a chance to work the kinks and cramps out of their legs. A few of the wisest draftee tank drivers performed the most critical task --- they brewed hot tea to dunk their hard bread into.
Twenty minutes later, the infantry had caught up to the spearhead. The major and the captain conferred. South was the objective. Eleven diesel engines started again, and the column was on its way to the south.
The column of tanks stopped. The road was split. One path continued east, while the other went south. As the officers looked at the map, tank crews got out. Most of the men began to tighten sprockets, check the road wheels and tracks. A few verified the oil levels were still sufficienct. Most also took the time to stretch their legs. The tank brigade had been in the enemy's rear for almost two, uncontested days now. The flying columns would advance, machine gun Romanian and German logistics and communication units, and set fire to anything that could not be quickly loaded onto the backs of the tanks and into the Ford trucks that carried the infantrymen that were still a few kilometers behind the spearhead. The men needed rest and they desired a chance to work the kinks and cramps out of their legs. A few of the wisest draftee tank drivers performed the most critical task --- they brewed hot tea to dunk their hard bread into.
Twenty minutes later, the infantry had caught up to the spearhead. The major and the captain conferred. South was the objective. Eleven diesel engines started again, and the column was on its way to the south.
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Make a stand at Lamia presumably behind the Spercheios river? With the mountains in the west varying from infested by partisans to outright controlled by partisans as you get into Eurytania? I could almost feel sorry for them. Well not.
Long run German plan is to hold the Olympus line.Make a stand at Lamia presumably behind the Spercheios river? With the mountains in the west varying from infested by partisans to outright controlled by partisans as you get into Eurytania? I could almost feel sorry for them. Well not.
and given that the Allied objective is to get good airfields to bomb Romanian oil fields with tactical air forces, they are not in a hurry to stick their dicks into a meat grinder on a false pursuit.
Make the Germans think that the Allies are just waiting to attack the line at any time to keep those forces in place. Any good beaches close to the front on the German side, they would be good to practice shore bombardment on.
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