The Southern Spanish Coast, April 14, 1943
Missing threadmark on this one.
Story is excellent as always Fester.
The Southern Spanish Coast, April 14, 1943
Remember that the PoD for this TL is significantly increased naval spending over OTL, as Keynesian stimulus to pull the US out of the Great Depression. So, it's entirely in line with the story arc.
In OTL, the CVLs (as they later became named) were a crash program.
The design was developed based on converting one hull already in progress on the slips... as a kind of prototype. And then building the next two from scratch starting later but with the advantage of the lessons learned.
Even so the first hull was not commissioned so till late January '43 and still needed several weeks to work up. (Belleau Wood as the prototype was actually slower and did not reach the fleet till July 1943)
However, as I originally wrote ... Authors call
I think I'm operating off of a different understanding of the ordering timeline in OTL for the Independence class carriers than you.
Damn, fester. You are still teasing us with the start of Husky. I wonder how fast Italy is going to kick the bucket.Messina, Sicily April 10, 1943
Dawn rose from the sea. Alert eyes scanned the horizon for ships and planes. None were seen. Today was just another day.
Early morning battle drill was a constant. Stay alert an hour before dawn to an hour after sunrise. If there was nothing, as there had always been nothing, the Luftwaffe tank soldiers would stand down for breakfast and then resume their normal training as the primary counter-attack force for the Sicilian armies.
Take a look at all the moving parts that have not yet entered the Med...Damn, fester. You are still teasing us with the start of Husky. I wonder how fast Italy is going to kick the bucket.
AS I said, repeatedly, your call
Apologies for the multiple edits: hands and eyes and brain not currently on good speaking terms
and unfortunately not due to single malt poisoning
I know. Moving carriers for aerial support and cruisers/battleships for shore bombardement is a really big deal. With no Stalingrad and the German Army in a better shape, the Germans will be able to send reinforcements. So, the US Marines are going to have a great task ahead. How is the state of the Italian Army? They're better than OTL even with their disaster on Russia?Take a look at all the moving parts that have not yet entered the Med...
PATIENCE
I am stealing this line
The River Platte, April 14, 1943
A successful boat IOTL. She never suffered a casualty, and seems to have behaved as well as possible towards the crews of her victims. Of course, this depends on the character of the CO.U-178 descended back to the depths
The Southern Spanish Coast, April 14, 1943
A battered body washed ashore. The fishermen had seen a flash of light overnight and then a fire on the water offshore. The body had a briefcase handcuffed to his left wrist. Within hours, the local police had called the regional police who had called the national police. This was not just a shipwrecked sailor or a downed aviator washing ashore.
The man who never was has arrived !
I can see the headlines ... "Krauts reach Nebraska"
Auto incorrect strikes again I assume
I can see the headlines ... "Krauts reach Nebraska"
Auto incorrect strikes again I assume
Furthermore, I sincerely recommend the "Global Logistics and Strategy" volume I & II, by Richard Leighton. If somebody wants it, pm to send it. It is more than interesting to read such a complete work on US army logistics in WW2.