With Lewis Brereton likely staying as deputy air commander, who will be appointed to command the Tenth and Ninth Air Forces?
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Sir John Valentine Carden Survives. Part 2.
- Thread starter allanpcameron
- Start date
Ramp-Rat
Monthly Donor
IOTL, Dugout Doug thanks to his very effective program machine, is an All American hero. He lead his poorly equipped ( thanks FDR ) troops both American and Philippine, against overwhelming odds and despite the failure of the USN, and the USAAF, in a heroic attempt to defend the Philippines. Forced by FDR, much against his will, he has evacuated the Philippines in the company of its president. He has arrived in Australia, which has been abandoned by the no good British, and he is obviously the man to take on the responsibility of defending Australia against the Japanese. Now given that the last thing that FDR wants is this darling of the Republican Party, back in the USA, giving him political problems, Marshal doesn’t want him in America demanding a suitable command, ie SAC Europe. While King is not going to allow him to be SAC Pacific, if he can’t have it, it’s definitely going to one of his chosen Admirals. He is given the consolation prize of SAC South West Pacific
ITTL, Dugout Doug having made a complete dogs breakfast of his command in the Philippines, is forced to evacuate the Philippines. However instead of a daring and ‘heroic’ dash through enemy lines in PT Boats, to a secret location before being flown to Australia. Where he can preform before the admiring press, and give them his words of wisdom. He is required to evacuate on one of the British, Dutch or American submarines that have been running vital supplies in to Bataan through the Japanese blockade. As the British in the form of the RN, will insist on having the honour of transporting the Philippines President, and not wanting to put all the eggs in one basket. Doug will have to travel separately in most probably an American submarine, along with a couple of his staff. While the Philippine President, provided the submarine makes the journey safely to Singapore, will be met by the Governor General of Malaya, and invited to stay at Government House. While arrangements are made for his party’s onward journey to the USA, via Australia. Doug who with his removal of his post in the Philippines, is effectively a nobody, will be escorted to a secure house in Singapore, and provided with a typewriter paper and the time to draft his report to Congress on his actions in the Philippines. He will not be having a meeting with the SAC-Far East Auchinleck, as the SAC is rather busy at the moment old bean, but there are a number of intelligence types who would like to have a word with you.
RR.
ITTL, Dugout Doug having made a complete dogs breakfast of his command in the Philippines, is forced to evacuate the Philippines. However instead of a daring and ‘heroic’ dash through enemy lines in PT Boats, to a secret location before being flown to Australia. Where he can preform before the admiring press, and give them his words of wisdom. He is required to evacuate on one of the British, Dutch or American submarines that have been running vital supplies in to Bataan through the Japanese blockade. As the British in the form of the RN, will insist on having the honour of transporting the Philippines President, and not wanting to put all the eggs in one basket. Doug will have to travel separately in most probably an American submarine, along with a couple of his staff. While the Philippine President, provided the submarine makes the journey safely to Singapore, will be met by the Governor General of Malaya, and invited to stay at Government House. While arrangements are made for his party’s onward journey to the USA, via Australia. Doug who with his removal of his post in the Philippines, is effectively a nobody, will be escorted to a secure house in Singapore, and provided with a typewriter paper and the time to draft his report to Congress on his actions in the Philippines. He will not be having a meeting with the SAC-Far East Auchinleck, as the SAC is rather busy at the moment old bean, but there are a number of intelligence types who would like to have a word with you.
RR.
In terms of the transport of Doug, can the British insists
that perhaps transporting him in a more umm, humiliating way (for Doug only)Edit: nevermind, I just realized the President is travelling on a British submarine, while Doug is traveling on an American submarine.
Perhaps Doug can be the most famous witness of something peculiar regarding umm, the weapons?
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Ramp-Rat
Monthly Donor
On the question of how the success of troops from India, in comparison to the failure of troops from the Philippines, will play out in America, is complex. And in many ways misses the point and fundamental differences between the American Army/Philippine Army, and the British Army/Indian Army. Unlike in America were the American Army was racially segregated, the British Army wasn’t, during WWI and WWII, ‘Coloured’ troops served in the army alongside ‘White’ troops, a few were even commissioned. However the Indian Army was racially segregated, no white or mixed race man served as a ranker in the Indian Army, nor were those mixed race men who joined commissioned. And it should be remembered that the majority of the ‘White’ officers were in many ways themselves Indian, in that they had been born in India, raised by Indian nannies and spoke both English and one of the local languages fluently.
Unlike the Philippine Army which was very much a new construct, the Indian Army had a long and proud tradition. Were as the Philippine Army wasn’t designed for service outside of the Philippines, the Indian Army was expected to serve alongside the British Army in the majority of the world. British officers in the Indian Army were their by choice, and not because they were seen as failures unfit to command ‘White’ troops, in a lot of cases their families had been linked to the regiment’s they were serving with for a significant number of years. Now I can not say what the American press will make of this, and unless the American newsreels provide total different reels for each region in America, Americans are going to see pictures of British ‘Coloured’ troops being successful against the Japanese. Will this change the attitudes of the majority of Americans in regards to ‘Coloureds’ in the USA, ITTL as in OTL, fat chance.
RR.
Unlike the Philippine Army which was very much a new construct, the Indian Army had a long and proud tradition. Were as the Philippine Army wasn’t designed for service outside of the Philippines, the Indian Army was expected to serve alongside the British Army in the majority of the world. British officers in the Indian Army were their by choice, and not because they were seen as failures unfit to command ‘White’ troops, in a lot of cases their families had been linked to the regiment’s they were serving with for a significant number of years. Now I can not say what the American press will make of this, and unless the American newsreels provide total different reels for each region in America, Americans are going to see pictures of British ‘Coloured’ troops being successful against the Japanese. Will this change the attitudes of the majority of Americans in regards to ‘Coloureds’ in the USA, ITTL as in OTL, fat chance.
RR.
Ramp-Rat
Monthly Donor
Up until now ITTL, Indian troops have served in France, North Africa, East Africa, Iraq, Burma, Malaya and the DEI. The Indian Army was the only ‘ None White Force’ that was fully integrated with the British Army.
RR.
Yup, I think from this point it is probably easier to ask, which front does the Indians does not participate, (but the other Commonwealth soldiers does)?
Laughed very hard at this.
That may also result in POTUS sending a complementary bottle of whiskey to who ever made sure MacArthur was well away from anywhere he could do more damage.
When it comes to butterflies affecting the Battle of Balikpapan, I think the most logical way is to have influeced this the other way around. Currently the main effort of the Japanese is in Malaya. They are ferrying reinforcements and have to sustain a multi-division force. Moreover, they know there is a fleet-in-being in Singapore. If anything the butterflies force Kondo to keep his force in French Indochina. If the RN sorties in force against the japanese supply lines and there are no capital ships to counter them, then it is an utter disaster. Therefore, the British have the advantage of having "internal" lines of communication, with most traffic going through the Sunda Strait. However, the japanese supply line is fairly exposed to surface raids.
Lastly, it should be mentioned that the Balikpapan force is just three battalions strong - much much smaller than the japanese force in Malaya and thus of much less importance to protect it.
At late January, the RN has the opportunity to send a strong squadron east, the IJN do not. Certainly, this situation will change in mere weeks, but the first convoy to Balikpapan is doomed.
You are absolutely right! Supplying Malta was a bloody affair that cost a lot in terms of merchantmen and warships. Now there is no reason for the Allied ships to brave the Sicilian Straits. They can arrive from the east under constant air cover. Moreover, there is no need for a carrier to endanger herself for Club Runs, since they were able to ferry Hurricanes to Malta via Cyrenaica and Crete - even before the success of ATL Crusader.
Lastly, it should be mentioned that the Balikpapan force is just three battalions strong - much much smaller than the japanese force in Malaya and thus of much less importance to protect it.
At late January, the RN has the opportunity to send a strong squadron east, the IJN do not. Certainly, this situation will change in mere weeks, but the first convoy to Balikpapan is doomed.
You are absolutely right! Supplying Malta was a bloody affair that cost a lot in terms of merchantmen and warships. Now there is no reason for the Allied ships to brave the Sicilian Straits. They can arrive from the east under constant air cover. Moreover, there is no need for a carrier to endanger herself for Club Runs, since they were able to ferry Hurricanes to Malta via Cyrenaica and Crete - even before the success of ATL Crusader.
Yes it was pretty much my thinking since a load of pressure has just been taken off both the RN, Merchant Navy, FAA and RAF in the Med which means more ships live to go East to fight the Japanese and provide escorts in the Atlantic which means more dead Uboats.
Also if the Allies are willing they can build up supplies in Cyrenaica and use it as a dump to run stuff through to Malta though not sure if that would be practical for anything other than food and some other goods.
Edit: also a knock on effect in terms of production as well now that I think on it.
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Ramp-Rat
Monthly Donor
To the best of my knowledge, there were no British or Indian troops in New Guinea, or the Solomons and Philippines campaigns, though there were Australians, in all three. And despite what old Dugout proclaimed, the majority of the fighting in New Guinea was conducted by Australians, who always were referred to as allied forces, unlike the Americans who were always referred to as American. As for FDR providing a bottle of Whiskey to various people who impeded his magnificence, just insure that it’s Scotch or Irish, and not Bourbon, dreadful stuff old man, not fit for a pucker chap to drink. 😉
RR.
I think MacArthur probably has enough influence with the President of the Philippines that the the President of the Philippines may well insist on MacArthur being evacuated at the same time and on the same craft as himself.
That said, perhaps MacArthur with his specialist knowledge of the Philippines and contacts with people there can be put in charge of overseeing (from the outside) the resistance movement in the Philippines, in an administrative capacity, until such time as the Philippines can be liberated. (And the USA will liberate them, so that they can make a big show of granting them independence, as promised, even if a year or two late due to the Imperial Japanese.)
That said, perhaps MacArthur with his specialist knowledge of the Philippines and contacts with people there can be put in charge of overseeing (from the outside) the resistance movement in the Philippines, in an administrative capacity, until such time as the Philippines can be liberated. (And the USA will liberate them, so that they can make a big show of granting them independence, as promised, even if a year or two late due to the Imperial Japanese.)
It all depends if he has time to actually use that reputation in all honesty given how he failed to hold the Philippines in this timeline and the British and Dutch are fighting damned hard right now, he may just be told to take a short jump off a high pier politely mind you but I'm not entirely sure he will be able to put that much spin on it especially when he makes a fuss and a British, Australian or Indian Army officer as well some US officer will rightly ask why he couldn't have held out as long as the British, Indian and Commonwealth Forces.
Heck the Australian PM and the Imperial General Staff may also object to him as well since to date in this war he has a major loss under his belt and the Australians and New Zealanders have more support compared to OTL as well, they may insist on an Australian or New Zealander to command their theater.
23/24 January 1942. The Battle of Makassar Strait.
allanpcameron
Donor
23/24 January 1942. The Battle of Makassar Strait.
The shadowing of the Japanese invasion fleet by Dutch aircraft had allowed Admiral Phillips to have an excellent picture of what he was up against. The experience east of Malaya which had resulted in the loss of HMS Barham had been examined in great detail. The best guess was that the Japanese had some kind of long-range torpedo, it was the only thing that could explain the losses taken by the British ships. With that in mind, Phillips had set up his fleet to try to split off most of the escorts and let the Dutch ships (cruisers Java and De Ruyter, destroyers Van Ghent, Van Nes, Piet Hein, Kortenaer) deal with the transports at Balikpapan.
The Japanese escorts seemed to consist of one cruiser and about nine destroyers, with various patrol boats, submarine chasers and minesweepers. Fifteen transports had been identified. HMS Ark Royal, with HMS Gloucester and the destroyers HMS Electra and Express would be held back about eighty miles south of Balikpapan, its fighters covering the withdrawal of the main fleet during the hours of daylight.
HMS Nelson, carrying the Admiral’s flag, with HMS Warspite, Exeter, Encounter, Greyhound, Jupiter, Juno, Kashmir and Kelly had sailed up the Makassar strait closer to the Celebes shore, hoping to avoid detection. Ahead of the fleet were the Dutch submarines, K-XIV and K-XVIII, lying off Balikpapan and ready to engage.
First blood went to the ML-KNIL, at 15.25hrs, an attack by nine Dutch Martin Model 166 (B-10) bombers scored direct hits on Tatsugami Maru and Nana Maru, the latter having to be abandoned and later sank. The rest of the invasion force reached Balikpapan at 19.45hrs, at which point K-XVIII’s commander, Lt. Cdr. van Well Groneveld, operating on the surface due to the stormy weather, fired four torpedoes at the Japanese flagship, the cruiser Naka, but failed to hit it. A subsequent attack sank the transport, Tsuruga Maru. The Japanese commander of the fleet, Admiral Nisimura, was concerned about submarine activity and diverted his covering force towards the east to carry out antisubmarine sweeps.
Twelve Swordfish from HMS Ark Royal arrived and were able to sink another two transports for the loss of two aircraft. Normally some of the Swordfish would drop flares to illuminate the objective, but the fires burning ashore gave the Fleet Air Arm more than enough light to launch their torpedoes.
Admiral Nisimura had fallen into the very trap that Admiral Phillips had gambled on. The British ships, with the darkness of the Celebes behind them had the advantage over the Japanese ships, who were backlit by the burning oil fields of Balikpapan, as well as being spotted on the RN’s working radar sets.
Before leaving Gibraltar, HMS Nelson had Fire Control Radars Type 284, 285 and 283 fitted for main and secondary armament and barrage control. These had been well tested during the crossing of the Mediterranean and through the Indian Ocean to join Force Z. HMS Warspite had also been fitted with the same three types of radar before leaving Alexandria. The first Nisimura knew of the arrival of a British fleet was the report of gun flashes. The 16-inch shells from HMS Nelson and 15-inch shells from HMS Warspite created great geysers of water around the Japanese warships. The Imperial Japanese Navy were well trained for night warfare and Naka and the destroyers immediately began their manoeuvres to fire off their Type 93 torpedoes.
HMS Exeter, with the destroyers HMS Encounter and Greyhound, joined in the fight having come from the north, putting Nisimura’s force at an even greater disadvantage, as he was now facing two forces, the size and make up of which he was unsure. The destroyers Asagumo and Kawakaze were quickly disabled and sinking before Nisimura could order his surviving ships to withdraw. Having fired off the torpedoes, and being vastly outgunned he could see no other point. HMS Kelly was the only victim of the Japanese torpedo attack, HMS Nelson and Warspite were head on to the Japanese ships prepared to have to comb the torpedoes tracks.
Umikaze and Natsugumo were the next two destroyers to be hit, HMS Warspite claiming the first and HMS Exeter claiming the latter. Naka’s 5.5-inch guns had been in almost constant action, trying to even up the score, but two shells from HMS Nelson just missed the cruiser, causing her damage and loss of power. With her speed slowed, and taking on water from broken seams the Japanese cruiser became a sitting duck. A 16-inch shell landed amidships and Admiral Nisimura was spared the embarrassment of having to explain losing the battle. Two more destroyers had been damaged, Minegumo and Suzakazi, the latter was severely damaged and would later be abandoned and sunk.
Admiral Doorman, on the Dutch cruiser De Ruyter aimed to concentrate on the Japanese ships lying at anchor in Balikpapan Bay. Once again, the oil facilities burning onshore this gave the Dutch ships excellent night vision. The first Japanese ships to be encountered were three ex-Momi class destroyers now known as patrol boats P36 (ex-Fuji), P37 (ex-Hishi) and P38 (ex-Yomogi). In modifications made early in 1941 to the stern of these ships had been allowed for the launching of Daihatsu landing craft. These three ships carried 2nd Battalion of 146th Regiment known to the Japanese as the “Surprise Attack Unit”. The three patrol boats had separated from the main force and were transferring the men to the landing craft when the first Dutch ships came into view. This Surprise Attack Unit was meant to sail up the river, guided by locals to outflank the main Dutch defences.
The cruiser Java, with the destroyers Van Ghent, Van Nes engaged the three patrol vessels, each of which were armed with only two 4.7-inch guns. The Japanese ships were quickly overcome, though Van Nes took some damage in the action.
This action took away some of the element of surprise for Admiral Doorman on De Ruyter. Almost as soon as the Japanese transports had anchored, the job of getting the men of the Sakaguchi Brigade (56th Regimental Group) off the ships and onto the shore had begun. Daihatsu and Shohatsus landing craft, as well as the lifeboats of the transports were being used to get as many men off the transports as possible. The Japanese minesweepers W 16, W 17, and W 18, along with the sub-chasers Ch 10, Ch 11, and Ch 12 did what they could to protect their charges, but it made little difference to the Dutch cruiser and destroyers. When joined by Java, Doorman was able to finish off the Japanese transports, leaving all of them sunk or in flames, along with most of the escorts.
The Japanese troops which had set off for the landing grounds to the east of Balikpapan had done so with only what they carried. There were no heavy weapons or resupply. As they looked back and watched the majority of their fellow soldiers sunk in their transports, when they approached the shore, and came under fire, their hearts were not in the attack.
Admiral Phillips had been quite clear to the various elements of his force that they had to clear the area as quickly as possible to avoid, as far as possible, any Japanese air attack. The air group of HMS Ark Royal, along with two ML-KNIL squadrons of Buffaloes were prepared to cover Force Z as it withdrew to Surabaya. Admiral Doorman was elated at the victory, but was conscious of the need to preserve his ships for further action. As soon as the last Japanese transport was clearly sinking, he ordered his force to turn south to rendezvous with the British.
This is what actually happened OTL.
The shadowing of the Japanese invasion fleet by Dutch aircraft had allowed Admiral Phillips to have an excellent picture of what he was up against. The experience east of Malaya which had resulted in the loss of HMS Barham had been examined in great detail. The best guess was that the Japanese had some kind of long-range torpedo, it was the only thing that could explain the losses taken by the British ships. With that in mind, Phillips had set up his fleet to try to split off most of the escorts and let the Dutch ships (cruisers Java and De Ruyter, destroyers Van Ghent, Van Nes, Piet Hein, Kortenaer) deal with the transports at Balikpapan.
The Japanese escorts seemed to consist of one cruiser and about nine destroyers, with various patrol boats, submarine chasers and minesweepers. Fifteen transports had been identified. HMS Ark Royal, with HMS Gloucester and the destroyers HMS Electra and Express would be held back about eighty miles south of Balikpapan, its fighters covering the withdrawal of the main fleet during the hours of daylight.
HMS Nelson, carrying the Admiral’s flag, with HMS Warspite, Exeter, Encounter, Greyhound, Jupiter, Juno, Kashmir and Kelly had sailed up the Makassar strait closer to the Celebes shore, hoping to avoid detection. Ahead of the fleet were the Dutch submarines, K-XIV and K-XVIII, lying off Balikpapan and ready to engage.
First blood went to the ML-KNIL, at 15.25hrs, an attack by nine Dutch Martin Model 166 (B-10) bombers scored direct hits on Tatsugami Maru and Nana Maru, the latter having to be abandoned and later sank. The rest of the invasion force reached Balikpapan at 19.45hrs, at which point K-XVIII’s commander, Lt. Cdr. van Well Groneveld, operating on the surface due to the stormy weather, fired four torpedoes at the Japanese flagship, the cruiser Naka, but failed to hit it. A subsequent attack sank the transport, Tsuruga Maru. The Japanese commander of the fleet, Admiral Nisimura, was concerned about submarine activity and diverted his covering force towards the east to carry out antisubmarine sweeps.
Twelve Swordfish from HMS Ark Royal arrived and were able to sink another two transports for the loss of two aircraft. Normally some of the Swordfish would drop flares to illuminate the objective, but the fires burning ashore gave the Fleet Air Arm more than enough light to launch their torpedoes.
Admiral Nisimura had fallen into the very trap that Admiral Phillips had gambled on. The British ships, with the darkness of the Celebes behind them had the advantage over the Japanese ships, who were backlit by the burning oil fields of Balikpapan, as well as being spotted on the RN’s working radar sets.
Before leaving Gibraltar, HMS Nelson had Fire Control Radars Type 284, 285 and 283 fitted for main and secondary armament and barrage control. These had been well tested during the crossing of the Mediterranean and through the Indian Ocean to join Force Z. HMS Warspite had also been fitted with the same three types of radar before leaving Alexandria. The first Nisimura knew of the arrival of a British fleet was the report of gun flashes. The 16-inch shells from HMS Nelson and 15-inch shells from HMS Warspite created great geysers of water around the Japanese warships. The Imperial Japanese Navy were well trained for night warfare and Naka and the destroyers immediately began their manoeuvres to fire off their Type 93 torpedoes.
HMS Exeter, with the destroyers HMS Encounter and Greyhound, joined in the fight having come from the north, putting Nisimura’s force at an even greater disadvantage, as he was now facing two forces, the size and make up of which he was unsure. The destroyers Asagumo and Kawakaze were quickly disabled and sinking before Nisimura could order his surviving ships to withdraw. Having fired off the torpedoes, and being vastly outgunned he could see no other point. HMS Kelly was the only victim of the Japanese torpedo attack, HMS Nelson and Warspite were head on to the Japanese ships prepared to have to comb the torpedoes tracks.
Umikaze and Natsugumo were the next two destroyers to be hit, HMS Warspite claiming the first and HMS Exeter claiming the latter. Naka’s 5.5-inch guns had been in almost constant action, trying to even up the score, but two shells from HMS Nelson just missed the cruiser, causing her damage and loss of power. With her speed slowed, and taking on water from broken seams the Japanese cruiser became a sitting duck. A 16-inch shell landed amidships and Admiral Nisimura was spared the embarrassment of having to explain losing the battle. Two more destroyers had been damaged, Minegumo and Suzakazi, the latter was severely damaged and would later be abandoned and sunk.
Admiral Doorman, on the Dutch cruiser De Ruyter aimed to concentrate on the Japanese ships lying at anchor in Balikpapan Bay. Once again, the oil facilities burning onshore this gave the Dutch ships excellent night vision. The first Japanese ships to be encountered were three ex-Momi class destroyers now known as patrol boats P36 (ex-Fuji), P37 (ex-Hishi) and P38 (ex-Yomogi). In modifications made early in 1941 to the stern of these ships had been allowed for the launching of Daihatsu landing craft. These three ships carried 2nd Battalion of 146th Regiment known to the Japanese as the “Surprise Attack Unit”. The three patrol boats had separated from the main force and were transferring the men to the landing craft when the first Dutch ships came into view. This Surprise Attack Unit was meant to sail up the river, guided by locals to outflank the main Dutch defences.
The cruiser Java, with the destroyers Van Ghent, Van Nes engaged the three patrol vessels, each of which were armed with only two 4.7-inch guns. The Japanese ships were quickly overcome, though Van Nes took some damage in the action.
This action took away some of the element of surprise for Admiral Doorman on De Ruyter. Almost as soon as the Japanese transports had anchored, the job of getting the men of the Sakaguchi Brigade (56th Regimental Group) off the ships and onto the shore had begun. Daihatsu and Shohatsus landing craft, as well as the lifeboats of the transports were being used to get as many men off the transports as possible. The Japanese minesweepers W 16, W 17, and W 18, along with the sub-chasers Ch 10, Ch 11, and Ch 12 did what they could to protect their charges, but it made little difference to the Dutch cruiser and destroyers. When joined by Java, Doorman was able to finish off the Japanese transports, leaving all of them sunk or in flames, along with most of the escorts.
The Japanese troops which had set off for the landing grounds to the east of Balikpapan had done so with only what they carried. There were no heavy weapons or resupply. As they looked back and watched the majority of their fellow soldiers sunk in their transports, when they approached the shore, and came under fire, their hearts were not in the attack.
Admiral Phillips had been quite clear to the various elements of his force that they had to clear the area as quickly as possible to avoid, as far as possible, any Japanese air attack. The air group of HMS Ark Royal, along with two ML-KNIL squadrons of Buffaloes were prepared to cover Force Z as it withdrew to Surabaya. Admiral Doorman was elated at the victory, but was conscious of the need to preserve his ships for further action. As soon as the last Japanese transport was clearly sinking, he ordered his force to turn south to rendezvous with the British.
This is what actually happened OTL.
Bloody Hell that was a blood bath they have effectively broken the amphibious assault over their knee and kicked in the balls for good measure.
It was a damned massacre almost.
Still old HMS Exeter has a better fate than OTL, HMS Warspite continues to prove her motto and her lust for battle and poor HMS Kelly she may not have the same rep as OTL but she went out in action at least.
Also the Dutch took their pound of Flesh from the Japanese as well which will be a moral boost to boot.
It was a damned massacre almost.
Still old HMS Exeter has a better fate than OTL, HMS Warspite continues to prove her motto and her lust for battle and poor HMS Kelly she may not have the same rep as OTL but she went out in action at least.
Also the Dutch took their pound of Flesh from the Japanese as well which will be a moral boost to boot.
allanpcameron
Donor
yes it is. I had been using italic previously for differences between OTL and TTL, but because the Japanese ships were already in italics I thought the use of colour was easier to see here.
Allan
When news of this is released what chance a certain semi retired General on Corregidor starts screaming that Force Z should be escorting supply convoys to Bataan and blames his failures on the fact they refuse to commit suicide doing so?