I copy pasted the list straight from the book. My guess is that it is cavalry like the Divisional Reconnaissance Regiments with armoured cars.
The book also states that a single reconnaissance regiment arrived from India at November-December 1941.
Sir John Valentine Carden Survives. Part 2.
- Thread starter allanpcameron
- Start date
I copy pasted the list straight from the book. My guess is that it is cavalry like the Divisional Reconnaissance Regiments with armoured cars.
The book also states that a single reconnaissance regiment arrived from India at November-December 1941.
Cool
I am no apologists for the man but he seems to have been fully aware of what was required to hold Malaya so was probably fully aware that he was going to be the man to lose it!
15 June 1941. Benghazi, Libya.
allanpcameron
Donor
15 June 1941. Benghazi, Libya.
Between Operation Tracer and Rocket 84 RAF Hurricanes IIs had been flown off HMS Ark Royal, Victorious and Furious to reinforce Malta and the Middle East. While the majority of these would stay in Malta, the last of twenty-four touched down at RAF Benina, and was quickly rolled into a revetment by the ground crew. The fighter aircraft had been configured for the ferry mission and while the pilots were resting and eating, the groundcrew were getting the planes ready for action. Having a complete extra squadron of fighters added to the RAF’s capability was sore needed after all the efforts to support the first phase of Operation Battleaxe. No 229 Squadron RAF would play an important part in the days to come, especially in covering the movement of the Royal Navy’s Inshore Squadron, alongside the Fulmars of 806 NAS.
With the second phase about to begin, the Marylands, Wellingtons and Blenheims had been busy attacking Luftwaffe bases and known supply dumps. All the fighter squadrons had been rested for a few days at various points. The aircraft had been fully serviced and the pilots given time to recuperate from their efforts. No 3 Squadron RAAF, had joined No 2 Squadron SAAF, Nos 250 and 112 Squadron RAF equipped with Tomahawk fighters and these four would have to provide the lion’s share of air cover. The arrival of 229 Squadron added to the Hurricane equipped squadrons Nos 46, 238, 260, 213 and 249 RAF which would be used primarily as escorts for the bomber squadrons. Most of these Hurricanes were still the Mark I, so a lot of people were interested to see how the Mark II would perform.
Another interesting development back at Ismailia was how the Hellenic Air Force were progressing on the thirty Grumman F4F-3A that had finally been delivered to them. The Fleet Air Arm had been hoping to take these aircraft on, but with the Greek Government still active on Crete, the pilots and ground crew evacuated to Egypt were being trained on them. Once fully operational, it was planned to base them on Crete as part of the defence of the island. The Yugoslav Squadron had inherited Hurricanes from No 112 Squadron RAF, an aircraft they were familiar with, and were working up alongside the Greeks in No 71 Squadron, the RAF’s fighter Operational Training Unit in Egypt. The fact that these aircraft were available meant that some of the RAF squadrons defending the Suez Canal and Delta were available to support Operation Battleaxe.
The 9th Australian Division, having had some time to exercise with 7th Armoured Division had joined the Armoured Division at Wadi Harawah. The 4th Indian Division had moved forward to the village of Sultan, some ten miles west of the Wadi, and had been joined by the much reduced 22nd Armoured Division. There had been no attempts by the Italians or Germans to oust them from that position, other than some Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica raids. The road was the primary target, and anything moving by day was taking a risk. There was no such risk at night for the most part.
The work done by the RASC and RAOC had once more been exceptional, with the Field Supply Depots being set up a mile east of Wadi Harawah. There was Royal Artillery Light Anti-Aircraft emplaced to protect them, though most of the protection came from good camouflage and false depots being set up as decoys. The night before a battle is taken up with many activities, with the hope of some sleep being just one. Hot meals, religious services, final briefings, checks on equipment were all going on as the time drew nearer for ‘going over the top’.
Between Operation Tracer and Rocket 84 RAF Hurricanes IIs had been flown off HMS Ark Royal, Victorious and Furious to reinforce Malta and the Middle East. While the majority of these would stay in Malta, the last of twenty-four touched down at RAF Benina, and was quickly rolled into a revetment by the ground crew. The fighter aircraft had been configured for the ferry mission and while the pilots were resting and eating, the groundcrew were getting the planes ready for action. Having a complete extra squadron of fighters added to the RAF’s capability was sore needed after all the efforts to support the first phase of Operation Battleaxe. No 229 Squadron RAF would play an important part in the days to come, especially in covering the movement of the Royal Navy’s Inshore Squadron, alongside the Fulmars of 806 NAS.
With the second phase about to begin, the Marylands, Wellingtons and Blenheims had been busy attacking Luftwaffe bases and known supply dumps. All the fighter squadrons had been rested for a few days at various points. The aircraft had been fully serviced and the pilots given time to recuperate from their efforts. No 3 Squadron RAAF, had joined No 2 Squadron SAAF, Nos 250 and 112 Squadron RAF equipped with Tomahawk fighters and these four would have to provide the lion’s share of air cover. The arrival of 229 Squadron added to the Hurricane equipped squadrons Nos 46, 238, 260, 213 and 249 RAF which would be used primarily as escorts for the bomber squadrons. Most of these Hurricanes were still the Mark I, so a lot of people were interested to see how the Mark II would perform.
Another interesting development back at Ismailia was how the Hellenic Air Force were progressing on the thirty Grumman F4F-3A that had finally been delivered to them. The Fleet Air Arm had been hoping to take these aircraft on, but with the Greek Government still active on Crete, the pilots and ground crew evacuated to Egypt were being trained on them. Once fully operational, it was planned to base them on Crete as part of the defence of the island. The Yugoslav Squadron had inherited Hurricanes from No 112 Squadron RAF, an aircraft they were familiar with, and were working up alongside the Greeks in No 71 Squadron, the RAF’s fighter Operational Training Unit in Egypt. The fact that these aircraft were available meant that some of the RAF squadrons defending the Suez Canal and Delta were available to support Operation Battleaxe.
The 9th Australian Division, having had some time to exercise with 7th Armoured Division had joined the Armoured Division at Wadi Harawah. The 4th Indian Division had moved forward to the village of Sultan, some ten miles west of the Wadi, and had been joined by the much reduced 22nd Armoured Division. There had been no attempts by the Italians or Germans to oust them from that position, other than some Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica raids. The road was the primary target, and anything moving by day was taking a risk. There was no such risk at night for the most part.
The work done by the RASC and RAOC had once more been exceptional, with the Field Supply Depots being set up a mile east of Wadi Harawah. There was Royal Artillery Light Anti-Aircraft emplaced to protect them, though most of the protection came from good camouflage and false depots being set up as decoys. The night before a battle is taken up with many activities, with the hope of some sleep being just one. Hot meals, religious services, final briefings, checks on equipment were all going on as the time drew nearer for ‘going over the top’.
Huh reading that bit about the lack of activity from the German or Italian Army really punches home how far they have pulled back and also the general state of their moral and equipment is.
Also the RAF are going to be very happy with the extra craft more time to rest and maintain their aircraft as well.
Also the RAF are going to be very happy with the extra craft more time to rest and maintain their aircraft as well.
OTL New Zealand troops used CS Valentines instead of CS Matildas for bunker busting. The principle is the same - well armoured tank drives up to bunker and fires at or through the opening. A CS Valiant will do the job just as well or better if needed ITTL.
Are these the tropical Mark II versions? I know this is a diversion from the tankcentric nature of this TL, but it would be interesting if these were the 12 x .303 variant or the 4 x 20mm cannon variant.
Coulsdon Eagle
Monthly Donor
General Custer's scouts, finding themselves unexpectedly out of gainful employment, seeking an alternative employer?
Coulsdon Eagle
Monthly Donor
Might explain why their previous employer suddenly went out of business ☺️Wrong type of Indians I think
You have to wonder if after the epic failure and loss of so much equipment that the Germans have lost operational command of the theatre. If command has been returned to the Italians I believe their General already verbalized a consideration to strategically withdraw to the most defensible position which I believe they identified as Buerat. That all being said, with the forces arrayed against him, unless there is a miraculous delivery of fresh troops and equipment, the Italian Commander has to know their days are numbered.
See the chapter 'The Apparatus of Counter-Attack. 1940' in volume II of Churchill's WW2 memoirs. Apparently they were already testing Landing-Craft Tanks in October 1940 in the original timeline (although apparently the first ones were 'proved too small'.)
I figure various amphibious vehicles and craft should already be well underway by this point (June 1941) in Allan's timeline.
I can't see Sicily being a target until French North Africa join the allies as Tunisia is by far the closest crossing and assembly point. So what are other potential targets worth taking in the med?
Crete, Malta and Cyprus are already in allied hands. Sicily and Pantelleria are too hard until Tunisia is available. Attacks on neutral (French, Spanish or Turkish) islands won't be considered so that leaves Italian held islands in the central and eastern med.
Rhodes is tempting but probably too hard to assault as such so more likely clear out surrounding islands to build airbases and sub bases so Rhodes can be isolated. This gives amphibious training, weakens Mussolini's standing, creates a possible opening to finish off the Italian navy (if it tries to intervene or run supplies) and gives the Greek troops an opportunity to be seen to be involved in freeing up a useful recruitment base.
It also creates pressure to increase garrisons on more (all?) of the Greek islands which strains Italian resources quite nicely.
Siege of Rhodes gets my vote.
Crete, Malta and Cyprus are already in allied hands. Sicily and Pantelleria are too hard until Tunisia is available. Attacks on neutral (French, Spanish or Turkish) islands won't be considered so that leaves Italian held islands in the central and eastern med.
Rhodes is tempting but probably too hard to assault as such so more likely clear out surrounding islands to build airbases and sub bases so Rhodes can be isolated. This gives amphibious training, weakens Mussolini's standing, creates a possible opening to finish off the Italian navy (if it tries to intervene or run supplies) and gives the Greek troops an opportunity to be seen to be involved in freeing up a useful recruitment base.
It also creates pressure to increase garrisons on more (all?) of the Greek islands which strains Italian resources quite nicely.
Siege of Rhodes gets my vote.
After North Africa, the Allies are probably gonna be securing the Aegean Islands to restrict Italian shipping through there
Clearly, the answer is northern Norway to seize Narvik so that the Allies can buy all of Sweden's Industrial Output.
Churchill really wanted Norway once Russia was in the war (edit: on the Allied side). Many pages of volume IV of his WW2 memoirs are devoted to 'Operation Jupiter' (landings to liberate Norway.)
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