Keynes' Cruisers Volume 2
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The entire Bataan Peninsula is in administrative Region III (Central Luzon). The Japanese landings at Lingayen Gulf were the only part of the invasion that happened outside of what is now Central Luzon.
Story 2201
August 31, 1943, Lake Michigan
The carrier turned back into the wind. An odd looking aircraft with fixed landing gear and wings that looked like they had been designed by over-sugared third graders was at the end of the flight deck. The wind was picking up. The engine whined as it whirled the propeller faster and faster. The flight deck crew took away the chocks and in a minute the pilot, sitting safely in the carrier's island, pushed forward the controls. The first unmanned strike aircraft accelerated down the flight deck, dipped slightly once it ran out of runway and then slowly clawed for altitude. The pilot finally was able to relax once the drone was 2 miles away from the carrier and passed through 2,000 feet. Five lazy circles of the carrier and then the pilot and the testing team was satisfied. The mission was successful, and now the drone could head west to land in Wisconsin.
The carrier turned back into the wind. An odd looking aircraft with fixed landing gear and wings that looked like they had been designed by over-sugared third graders was at the end of the flight deck. The wind was picking up. The engine whined as it whirled the propeller faster and faster. The flight deck crew took away the chocks and in a minute the pilot, sitting safely in the carrier's island, pushed forward the controls. The first unmanned strike aircraft accelerated down the flight deck, dipped slightly once it ran out of runway and then slowly clawed for altitude. The pilot finally was able to relax once the drone was 2 miles away from the carrier and passed through 2,000 feet. Five lazy circles of the carrier and then the pilot and the testing team was satisfied. The mission was successful, and now the drone could head west to land in Wisconsin.
Driftless
Donor
Well, huh!
This bad-boy?
Naval Aircraft Factory TDN - aboard the USS Sable no less (Now there was an unexpected combination....)
This bad-boy?
Naval Aircraft Factory TDN - aboard the USS Sable no less (Now there was an unexpected combination....)
Story 2202
Near Strasbourg September 1, 1943
She looked up. There were steady streams of contrails darting from cloud to cloud. Some were paired with another a few meters away as twin engined fighters weaved back and forth. More were single contrails as the primary escorting fighters had left the big bomber formations a hundred miles ago and began a free hunt for opponents. However, the big bomber boxes were streaking the sky back and forth, creating new clouds. Anna Marie looked for another second and then she bent back over and began to weed the rows of tubers. Half a dozen women, foreign laborers mainly, were in the field with her. Two fields over, a trio of Ukrainian prisoners of war were trying to get the large ox to move forward again. They had little success as the ox was done for the morning.
Three hours later the mornings' contrails had blown away in the light and pleasant wind. Anna Marie was still in the field, sweat clinging to her dress when she heard the asynchronous drone of a damaged aircraft approach her family's farm from the east. It was a four engine bomber, American by the looks of it. Smoke trailed from the left hand wing and one engine on the right side was out. It was flying low and slow and she could not keep her eyes off of the aircraft as it stumbled like her father after a good market day. Its nose pitched up as the engines began to cough. One, two and then three parachutes blossomed before the aircraft crashed into a small hill a mile from her house.
She was leaving the field even before the first man landed. A few of the women were beginning to cluster around him. Of the three men, two were more than capable of walking while the last man had a broken leg and a bad back. Anna Marie did not know this. She was already halfway down the small country lane walking the to the Luftwaffe facility. She was half a mile short of the gate when two trucks full of men in gray and armed with old rifles passed her on the way to her farm.
She looked up. There were steady streams of contrails darting from cloud to cloud. Some were paired with another a few meters away as twin engined fighters weaved back and forth. More were single contrails as the primary escorting fighters had left the big bomber formations a hundred miles ago and began a free hunt for opponents. However, the big bomber boxes were streaking the sky back and forth, creating new clouds. Anna Marie looked for another second and then she bent back over and began to weed the rows of tubers. Half a dozen women, foreign laborers mainly, were in the field with her. Two fields over, a trio of Ukrainian prisoners of war were trying to get the large ox to move forward again. They had little success as the ox was done for the morning.
Three hours later the mornings' contrails had blown away in the light and pleasant wind. Anna Marie was still in the field, sweat clinging to her dress when she heard the asynchronous drone of a damaged aircraft approach her family's farm from the east. It was a four engine bomber, American by the looks of it. Smoke trailed from the left hand wing and one engine on the right side was out. It was flying low and slow and she could not keep her eyes off of the aircraft as it stumbled like her father after a good market day. Its nose pitched up as the engines began to cough. One, two and then three parachutes blossomed before the aircraft crashed into a small hill a mile from her house.
She was leaving the field even before the first man landed. A few of the women were beginning to cluster around him. Of the three men, two were more than capable of walking while the last man had a broken leg and a bad back. Anna Marie did not know this. She was already halfway down the small country lane walking the to the Luftwaffe facility. She was half a mile short of the gate when two trucks full of men in gray and armed with old rifles passed her on the way to her farm.
Yep, she is trying to keep her head down and look as not suspicious as possible while on turf that is nominally part of Germany instead of occupied France. A "good" German girl is looking for a uniformed patrol to report downed Allied aircrew.
SsgtC
Banned
Sad reality of war and life in Nazi Germany. She either does what any "good German girl" would do, or her family pays the price
Driftless
Donor
Just take her sweet time getting there, and hope someone else has done the task. "Yes, yes, very good. You may leave now". That nebulous ground of compliance, but not really doing anything that attracts attention to yourself.
Story 2203
Naval Air Station, Quonset Point Rhode Island September 2, 1943
The squadron commander put down the phone. He smiled and lit a cigarette. One of the new instructors over at Newport wanted to come over for a combat patrol on Saturday. He would arrive on Friday afternoon and lecture to both the combat crews and the trainees about the experience his squadron had in North Africa and then after a good meal and at least one or to no-shit sea stories leading to a good night sleep, he would be airborne the next morning to see how the American based squadrons were using the newest tools.
His old friend would stick around until Monday night as it was a long holiday weekend and classes at Newport could be delayed by a day.
The squadron commander put down the phone. He smiled and lit a cigarette. One of the new instructors over at Newport wanted to come over for a combat patrol on Saturday. He would arrive on Friday afternoon and lecture to both the combat crews and the trainees about the experience his squadron had in North Africa and then after a good meal and at least one or to no-shit sea stories leading to a good night sleep, he would be airborne the next morning to see how the American based squadrons were using the newest tools.
His old friend would stick around until Monday night as it was a long holiday weekend and classes at Newport could be delayed by a day.
Well, huh!
This bad-boy?
Naval Aircraft Factory TDN - aboard the USS Sable no less (Now there was an unexpected combination....)
Looks like another TDN in back, deck parked! Sable just paddlen' on!
Story 2204
Boston, September 2, 1943
The train pulled out of South Station. It was full of commuters from the inner ring suburbs as well as businessmen who had meetings in Providence or Groton or New York and families heading to the shore for the long weekend. The city had slowed down starting in the mid-afternoon. The Red Sox were playing at Fenway. The Athletics were up 5-0 by the time Elaine climbed aboard the train with half a dozen co-workers and friends. They had rented a cottage on Narragansett Bay for three days of relaxation. She needed the time off as the last letters from Patrick seemed to have hinted that he was going back into combat again. She could only wait for either news or a telegram and her mind flittered and fluttered like a hummingbird drinking from fermented sugar water. Her fingers were not as nimble and quick when she was assembling radar components and her essays for the college classes had become less than excellent; still sufficienct to pass and advance, but no longer the top of her cohort. A few days off to eat good food, laugh with the girls, and dip her toes in the ocean could do her well.
The train pulled out of South Station. It was full of commuters from the inner ring suburbs as well as businessmen who had meetings in Providence or Groton or New York and families heading to the shore for the long weekend. The city had slowed down starting in the mid-afternoon. The Red Sox were playing at Fenway. The Athletics were up 5-0 by the time Elaine climbed aboard the train with half a dozen co-workers and friends. They had rented a cottage on Narragansett Bay for three days of relaxation. She needed the time off as the last letters from Patrick seemed to have hinted that he was going back into combat again. She could only wait for either news or a telegram and her mind flittered and fluttered like a hummingbird drinking from fermented sugar water. Her fingers were not as nimble and quick when she was assembling radar components and her essays for the college classes had become less than excellent; still sufficienct to pass and advance, but no longer the top of her cohort. A few days off to eat good food, laugh with the girls, and dip her toes in the ocean could do her well.
Story 2205
Grand Harbor, Malta September 2, 1943
The all clear was being sent. The anti-aircraft gunners began to restock their ready ammunition and inspect their guns. The barrage balloons were checked again as they hung low over the harbor. The fire brigade was already hurrying to the south side docks. A warehouse containing thousands of tons of milled wheat was on fire. Three destroyers and half a dozen smaller warships were already spraying down a rapidly burning and sinking tanker while smoke billowed into the sky, giving future Italian raiders a clear navigation marker that would not dissipate until the next afternoon.
The all clear was being sent. The anti-aircraft gunners began to restock their ready ammunition and inspect their guns. The barrage balloons were checked again as they hung low over the harbor. The fire brigade was already hurrying to the south side docks. A warehouse containing thousands of tons of milled wheat was on fire. Three destroyers and half a dozen smaller warships were already spraying down a rapidly burning and sinking tanker while smoke billowed into the sky, giving future Italian raiders a clear navigation marker that would not dissipate until the next afternoon.
Story 2206
Merseyside, England September 3, 1943
The submarine under construction had just received her name. HMS Spearhead, first of her name had been laid down three months ago and construction was proceeding well. The work crews were two days ahead of the revised schedule although delays on diesel engine availability threatened to eat up that cushion and the rest of the slack in the built into the schedule.
Next the submarine were three landing ships that would soon be leaving the construction slips for fitting out alongside the river docks.
The submarine under construction had just received her name. HMS Spearhead, first of her name had been laid down three months ago and construction was proceeding well. The work crews were two days ahead of the revised schedule although delays on diesel engine availability threatened to eat up that cushion and the rest of the slack in the built into the schedule.
Next the submarine were three landing ships that would soon be leaving the construction slips for fitting out alongside the river docks.
formion
Banned
With a quick check I found out that in OTL the submarine was laid down in August 18th, so now it is ahead by a couple of months. I love those small details that are building up throughout the timeline.
Driftless
Donor
Have the construction methods (and ship designs) been tweaked to improve build times?
no significant changes in methods or designs. A few more machine tools may be available and more resources are not being committed to ship repair or escort construction although most of that is getting flexed into landing craft construction.
It would seem Italy is still in the war. An air raid carried out not by the Luftwaffe but by the Regia Aeronautica. From airfields in Southern Italy? They were somehow able to get pass the Allied fighter squadrons based in Sicily. Some Italians are still determined to keep fighting for Mussolini.
With the Axis still able to conduct air raids against ships what does this mean for the security of Allied shipping transiting the Med to and from the Suez canal?
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