Malaya What If

[Parma]

Great to read of men who have the nerves to take responisibility and not hiding behind each other

 

[DDM]

So the Chiefs of Staff in London have been able to overcome the intense objections of the Foreign Office, and persuade Winston to give Gort permission to carry out his plans. Phillips is right, if it all goes wrong and Gort has managed to get Britain into a war with Japan, without the Americans coming on board, Winston will put all the blame on Gort and hang him out to dry. However given what we know of Japanese plans, and the speed of information distribution at the time, the Japanese will have conducted their attack against Pearl Harbour, before the official announcement by the British of their actions is released. And given just how monstrous the attack on Pearl is for the American press, and the welter of other news, Japanese assault on Hong Kong and other areas, the British preemptive action in Malaya/Thailand, is going to appear below the fold in the majority of Western papers. Phillips is right to insist that he has a singed copy of the letter promising continues air coverage of his fleet, not because he doesn’t trust Gort or Park, he does. He needs to be able to prove to the Admiralty if everything goes pear shaped, that he wasn’t reckless and sailed off without any thought of the possible consequences. Phillips is confused by the lack of Japanese aircraft carriers in the region, he knows that the intelligence agencies are good enough to spot them if they were there. And he also knows that it would be foolish at best, to send a major invasion fleet into the South China Sea without carrier support. And that is why there is a niggling though at the back of his mind, that the invasion fleet is headed for Thailand and not Malaya, and is designed to provoke a premature reaction by the British. It’s only when he receives news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, that everything will make sense to him, and he will be able to proceed without the fear of running into a Japanese carrier force. He will only have to worry about land based aircraft, and provide that he is only attacked by unescorted bombers, his four Hurricane CAP, will prove adequate to significantly disrupt such an attack. Strangely the people who will be most upset by the British preemptive strike into Thailand is not the Thais but the Japanese who will be incandescent with rage that the British have stolen a match on them. To their mind the oh so proper British are not meant to do such things, they were meant to wait until they were attacked, blissfully drinking gin slings and playing bridge. The forgot that we British didn’t gain the worlds greatest empire, by being nice fools who only play the game according to the rules. We British are a to a great extent still are the worlds most sneaky dirty underhand backstabbing basteds, who will do whatever it takes to come out on top. It’s just that we do it with style, manners, and a degree of polish that means that as we stick the knife in we always apologise. Remember the worlds biggest money laundering centre is not some third world country or Caribbean Island, it’s the City of London, were nice chaps in impeccable suits will with the cooperation of the British government, take your ill gotten money and wash it for you, for a suitable fee.

RR.

If all goes well the fighter cover can down recon planes before they can make a sighting and forestall an attack all together.

 

[Errolwi]

The forgot that we British didn’t gain the worlds greatest empire, by being nice fools who only play the game according to the rules.

<Cough>enhagen.

 

[Draconis]

@Ramp-Rat , I appreciate your well thought out postings. However, if possible please consider breaking up your monolithic paragraph into smaller chunks for the benefit of the more geriatric* readerships' eyesight. *Nice way of saying "Old Farts" like myself.

 

[Ramp-Rat]

@Ramp-Rat , I appreciate your well thought out postings. However, if possible please consider breaking up your monolithic paragraph into smaller chunks for the benefit of the more geriatric* readerships' eyesight. *Nice way of saying "Old Farts" like myself.

As an old fart myself I will take your request into consideration.

RR.

 

[Fatboy Coxy]

Sounds more like Cockney rhyming slang to me. Scoobie Doo = clue.

Hi Gunnarnz, yes on reflection i think your right, its just like my use of Ruby (Ruby Murray, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Murray) I often forget the origins of my phrases.

 

[Fatboy Coxy]

I don't know if this paraphrase is used outside of the US: "You need to know when to fish, or to cut bait".

Lord Gort made the correct "cut bait" call in France, even though it was held against him at the time. Now, he may get to make the call to "fish".

Hi Driftless, yes that's a new one on me, I'd probably use the phase Stick or twist, and Gort's called twist!

 

[Fatboy Coxy]

<pours one out for Rear Admiral Sir Christopher George Francis Maurice Cradock KCVO CB SGM>

Hi Errolwi, perhaps one for Rear Admiral Ernest Troubridge too?

 

[Undeadmuffin]

OTL Japan forces often bypassed British defensive position via amphibious landing on their rear, I wonder if they could do the same to bypass the Kra isthmus if it found it blocked ?

 

[Fatboy Coxy]

@Ramp-Rat , I appreciate your well thought out postings. However, if possible please consider breaking up your monolithic paragraph into smaller chunks for the benefit of the more geriatric* readerships' eyesight. *Nice way of saying "Old Farts" like myself.

Hi Draconis, the thing is, I think Ramp-Rat can say all that in one breath!

 

[pjmidd]

OTL Japan forces often bypassed British defensive position via amphibious landing on their rear, I wonder if they could do the same to bypass the Kra isthmus if it found it blocked ?

And how do they supply? The isthmus is too big for the two forces to have a hope of joining up before the suicide blocking force gets steam rolled.

 

[Undeadmuffin]

And how do they supply? The isthmus is too big for the two forces to have a hope of joining up before the suicide blocking force gets steam rolled.

I guess it would be to cut supply and reinforcements until the main force is able to defeat the defenders, like what they did OTL

 

[Ramontxo]

Hi Errolwi, perhaps one for Rear Admiral Ernest Troubridge too?

IMHO he should have engaged. And yes that is an easy position to take from my home more than a hundred years after the fact. But he was Royal Navy and he knew his traditions

 

[Nevarinemex]

But he was Royal Navy and he knew his traditions

Didn't PM Churchill have an insight about the three traditions of the Royal Navy?!?

 

[Gunnarnz]

Didn't PM Churchill have an insight about the three traditions of the Royal Navy?!?

Yes, but rum has been phased out.

 

[Nevarinemex]

Yes, but rum has been phased out.

Bummer. Dry like usn...although.

 

[pdf27]

Bummer. Dry like usn...although.

Nope, just not issued a ration any more - have to buy their own.

 

[Schlock]

<Cough>enhagen.

<Cough>Which one?</Cough>

More seriously, Lord Gort is definitely going to be treated better by the history books if he pulls off Matador and stalls the Japanese in Thailand.

Also, Keith Park is likely going too get a better run as well.

 

[Errolwi]

<Cough>Which one?</Cough>

More seriously, Lord Gort is definitely going to be treated better by the history books if he pulls off Matador and stalls the Japanese in Thailand.

Also, Keith Park is likely going too get a better run as well.

The fact that there are two/three rather makes the point!

I don't think Park is diplomatic enough to wrangle NZ G-G, but Auckland International might get named for him (he pushed for its development).

 

[Draconis]

Hi Draconis, the thing is, I think Ramp-Rat can say all that in one breath!

If that's the case then RR must have an extra lung or two. Very handy that.