As a point of interest the bar in Ice Cold in Alex is still there (or was in the early 1990's) a friend of my brothers visited it during a port visit by a RN Destroyer, unfortunately they only had Heineken not Carlsburg.
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As a point of interest the bar in Ice Cold in Alex is still there (or was in the early 1990's) a friend of my brothers visited it during a port visit by a RN Destroyer, unfortunately they only had Heineken not Carlsburg.
Story 1571
Near Casablanca, September 26, 1942
The first blimp squadron was conducting its first operational mission. Thirty ships were assembling just outside of the harbor. For the first time, some of the ships which were supplying the allied armies in French North Africa were not heading back to Great Britain in ballast. Thousands of tons of high quality iron ore were destined for the mills of the Midlands.
Seventeen hours later, the convoy was heading north at nine knots. The destroyers and gunboats were flitting about, corvettes and sloops held the inner perimeter and the dark skies were being penetrated with radar beams while Huff-Duff receivers listened for the telltale whispers of talking U-boats. It did not matter, an experienced skipper on his eleventh patrol snuck under the screen and launched a full spread of torpedoes. Three explosions claimed an old veteran of the first world war and lamed a small tanker. The counter-attack was successful in that it forced the U-boat deep and slow as the convoy continued to the north. Seven hours later, the U-boat was able to surface to recharge and call in any compatriots against the convoy.
The first blimp squadron was conducting its first operational mission. Thirty ships were assembling just outside of the harbor. For the first time, some of the ships which were supplying the allied armies in French North Africa were not heading back to Great Britain in ballast. Thousands of tons of high quality iron ore were destined for the mills of the Midlands.
Seventeen hours later, the convoy was heading north at nine knots. The destroyers and gunboats were flitting about, corvettes and sloops held the inner perimeter and the dark skies were being penetrated with radar beams while Huff-Duff receivers listened for the telltale whispers of talking U-boats. It did not matter, an experienced skipper on his eleventh patrol snuck under the screen and launched a full spread of torpedoes. Three explosions claimed an old veteran of the first world war and lamed a small tanker. The counter-attack was successful in that it forced the U-boat deep and slow as the convoy continued to the north. Seven hours later, the U-boat was able to surface to recharge and call in any compatriots against the convoy.
Story 1572
Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island September 27, 1942
Forty warships filled the waters off of the phosphate mining colony. The Far East Fleet’s carriers and battleships were not thirsty but they still drank mightily from the three Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers. More importantly, the cruisers and destroyers of the screen filled their bunkers. Fresh water was being brought aboard as well as some fruit. A few hundred men from the sharpest performing destroyer division were allowed ashore to stretch their legs. An impromptu game of cricket devolved, the batsmen threatened to delay the departure of the fleet due to a long run.
Admiral Spruance had left the island almost as soon as HMS Furious had anchored. A waiting PBY would bring him to Darwin where he could begin his planning of Blazer.
Twenty three hours later, the Far East Fleet was back to sea.
Forty warships filled the waters off of the phosphate mining colony. The Far East Fleet’s carriers and battleships were not thirsty but they still drank mightily from the three Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers. More importantly, the cruisers and destroyers of the screen filled their bunkers. Fresh water was being brought aboard as well as some fruit. A few hundred men from the sharpest performing destroyer division were allowed ashore to stretch their legs. An impromptu game of cricket devolved, the batsmen threatened to delay the departure of the fleet due to a long run.
Admiral Spruance had left the island almost as soon as HMS Furious had anchored. A waiting PBY would bring him to Darwin where he could begin his planning of Blazer.
Twenty three hours later, the Far East Fleet was back to sea.
With more Italian focus on the eastern front instead of North Africa, will we be seeing the Semovete 90/53 in its intended use taking on Russian tanks over a mile away?
Story 1573
Rhodes, September 28, 1942
The former Italian airfield was busy. Three squadrons of freshly arrived Spitfires were still shaking down. A pair of medium bomber squadrons were based at the far end of the runway. Over 3,000 laborers were busy expanding the runway, the taxi-ways and most importantly, the port along with the road connecting the ships to the planes.
Late in the afternoon, four squadrons took off to attack the rail junctions outside of Athens. This was as much a training missions as a combat mission. German and Italian fighter squadrons were scarce in central Greece and the flak near Athens was enough to discourage but not destroy raiders.
The former Italian airfield was busy. Three squadrons of freshly arrived Spitfires were still shaking down. A pair of medium bomber squadrons were based at the far end of the runway. Over 3,000 laborers were busy expanding the runway, the taxi-ways and most importantly, the port along with the road connecting the ships to the planes.
Late in the afternoon, four squadrons took off to attack the rail junctions outside of Athens. This was as much a training missions as a combat mission. German and Italian fighter squadrons were scarce in central Greece and the flak near Athens was enough to discourage but not destroy raiders.
Why did the Allies take Rhodes again? Airbases to strike at Ploesti cant be that much better than whats on Crete, can they? And now they have to commit at least a battalion to garrisoning the island.
How fortunate that any armed force will have its share of screwups with which to man the garrison. And its more economical then sending them off to the Falklands to defend against Penguin saboteurs.
Multiple reasons --
1) Eliminate an annoyance to Crete's flank
2) Dodescance campaign tickles Winston's fancy
3) The Commonwealth needs to practice amphibious doctrine and ops. Rhodes and outlying Italian islands have been a good fairly low risk location for that evolution.
4) Additional air bases for strikes into Romania
b) Crete's infrastructure can only support so many large bomber fields
c) B is not going to change too quickly even with several heavy US Army engineering regiments on the island
5) A nudge to keep Turkey closer to a friendly neutral instead of a neutral neutral
6) Future option space for other campaigns depending on how TORCH goes and the amount of amphibious lift that is available.
Rhodes is about 250-300 miles closer to the Romanian oil fields than Crete. For medium bombers and fighters this is a significant distance. Now heavy bombers attacking targets in Romania/Balkans have much better fighter escorts, and medium bombers can be used for raids where they might sneak in before there is time for the defenses to respond. Petroleum production will be less, and the requirements for defense of the airfields will be greater to keep oil flowing - a diversion of effort the Germans can't afford. As far as garrisoning Rhodes, the actual defense garrison will be the anti-aircraft defenses and limited ground troops. Neither the Italians nor the Germans will be able to try and take it back. As far as the air units and their supporting elements, they don't represent a resource that would be used elsewhere more gainfully.
Rhodes is only a few air miles closer to Poleisti than Maleme, Crete. It is not enough to make Rhodes a uniquely valuable objective.
If the goal is to get the Romanian oil fields within tactical air range, then the Allies need to get to at least Athens if not Thessalonika.
I suspect the driving force was political - WSC trying to encourage Turkey to join in, or at least restrict trade with Germany.
Unfortunately Rhodes is only approximately 80 miles closer to Ploesti than Crete. And that is straight line distance which would involve flying over Turkey. By having to avoid Turkish airspace that small advantage is negated. But that Rhodian airfield could serve other purposes.
Operation Blazer. Wow. I would guess it would be scheduled to commence at the same time as Montgomery renews the offensive in Malaya. But what exactly will Blazer do? What will the forces consist of?
Are we going to see an amphibious assault in Lingayen Gulf to relieve the defenders of Bataan? Or will Blazer instead reopen the supply lines to Bataan by helping to deplete (along with Montgomery's attack) the Imperial Japanese airforces based in the Philippines, Indochina and Formosa. Resupply and replenish the Allied forces on Bataan for a counter attack. Supported by Naval gunfire and Naval air.
How long can Operation Blazer's ships remain at station off the West coast of Luzon?
Lots of questions.
Are we going to see an amphibious assault in Lingayen Gulf to relieve the defenders of Bataan? Or will Blazer instead reopen the supply lines to Bataan by helping to deplete (along with Montgomery's attack) the Imperial Japanese airforces based in the Philippines, Indochina and Formosa. Resupply and replenish the Allied forces on Bataan for a counter attack. Supported by Naval gunfire and Naval air.
How long can Operation Blazer's ships remain at station off the West coast of Luzon?
Lots of questions.
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While Spruance may be bringing cruisers and destroyers to fight, the bulk of this Operation Blazer seems to be a British lead operation, as we haven't seen any corresponding action by Nimitz, Fletcher, Halsey, or any Hawaii based units.
The British would also have a lot of targets or pieces of real estate of their own or that of the Dutch that they would look at before the Philippines.
Most of the forces seen here are warships. To seriously retake the Philippines, there's going to need a massive fleet of transports bringing at least a division plus support units at minimum. More likely a large army corps sized formation at least. There's been no indication that such a force is available or has been assembled, Montgomery isn't going to let go of his troops that he will likely need to clear Malaya and push into Thailand.
A lot of Allied units on Timor or Java or wherever, even after the Japanese are cleared out, will need at least 2-3 months to rest, train, and reequip before going elsewhere.
The British would also have a lot of targets or pieces of real estate of their own or that of the Dutch that they would look at before the Philippines.
Most of the forces seen here are warships. To seriously retake the Philippines, there's going to need a massive fleet of transports bringing at least a division plus support units at minimum. More likely a large army corps sized formation at least. There's been no indication that such a force is available or has been assembled, Montgomery isn't going to let go of his troops that he will likely need to clear Malaya and push into Thailand.
A lot of Allied units on Timor or Java or wherever, even after the Japanese are cleared out, will need at least 2-3 months to rest, train, and reequip before going elsewhere.
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