Somehow the Japanese will be able to take Simonstown on the bounce if there are bored curious squaddies
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Story 0451 -- Operation Compass grinding forward
January 14, 1941 east of Tobruk
“Bloody hell”
The driver kicked the tire of his Fiat truck. It had been captured during the initial battle of the camps along with a hundred similar trucks. Eighty had been impressed into an improvised transport company. Four had been lost to enemy air attacks. The rest were in this supply column. Forty one trucks were carrying fuel, food, water, shells and everything else that the 4th Indian Division needed for another day of combat. Resistance was thickening as the Italians were withdrawing in good enough order back to Tobruk. The Australian advance had had slowed and then stopped as their vehicles were breaking down faster than the mechanics could fix them. The Indians had leaped over the stalled Australian brigades a day ago and were pushing hard to seize the road junction just south of Tobruk.
The poor bloody infantry in the spearhead needed supplies. And this truck carried enough to keep a company moving and happily fed for another day. But a loud screeching grinding sound had started half a mile back. By the time the sound could not be ignored anymore, there was barely enough power to pull off to the side of the road.
The driver had popped the hood and started to see if there was an easy fix. No, the oil levels were right, the clutch was still tight, the coolant tank was not leaking. No easy fix.
He put up a breakdown flag on his truck and lowered the rear gate to the truck bed. As he sat underneath the temporary shade, he rolled a cigarette and started to wait for his sergeant to arrange a recovery unit.
“Bloody hell”
The driver kicked the tire of his Fiat truck. It had been captured during the initial battle of the camps along with a hundred similar trucks. Eighty had been impressed into an improvised transport company. Four had been lost to enemy air attacks. The rest were in this supply column. Forty one trucks were carrying fuel, food, water, shells and everything else that the 4th Indian Division needed for another day of combat. Resistance was thickening as the Italians were withdrawing in good enough order back to Tobruk. The Australian advance had had slowed and then stopped as their vehicles were breaking down faster than the mechanics could fix them. The Indians had leaped over the stalled Australian brigades a day ago and were pushing hard to seize the road junction just south of Tobruk.
The poor bloody infantry in the spearhead needed supplies. And this truck carried enough to keep a company moving and happily fed for another day. But a loud screeching grinding sound had started half a mile back. By the time the sound could not be ignored anymore, there was barely enough power to pull off to the side of the road.
The driver had popped the hood and started to see if there was an easy fix. No, the oil levels were right, the clutch was still tight, the coolant tank was not leaking. No easy fix.
He put up a breakdown flag on his truck and lowered the rear gate to the truck bed. As he sat underneath the temporary shade, he rolled a cigarette and started to wait for his sergeant to arrange a recovery unit.
To keep driving when you hear a grinding sound is not a good thing. The mechanics will not appreciate the drivers. They might even have the drivers have to do all the labor breaking down the engines.
With the trucks breaking down the Commonwealth offensive may have to stop as supplies drive up.
With the trucks breaking down the Commonwealth offensive may have to stop as supplies drive up.
Story 0452
January 16, 1941 1754 Central Atlantic
HMS Argus lazily turned out of the wind and slowly moved to resume her course back to the Americas. A single Skua was circling the path forward looking for submarines to harrass with her light anti-submarine bombs. A Skua was slowly being pushed to the lift to be taken below after her patrol. Ideally, the old carrier would be steaming at seventeen knots but the voyage would be long and fuel would be tight when she entered the Caribbean so a more efficient speed for cruising at eleven knots would suffice. She had left Freetown after refueling and would make it to Georgetown, Guyana for another sip before heading up the Antilles and back to Miami for another load of fighters. Once the last Skua landed during twilight, the ship would have another boring night to steam closer to her destination.
HMS Argus lazily turned out of the wind and slowly moved to resume her course back to the Americas. A single Skua was circling the path forward looking for submarines to harrass with her light anti-submarine bombs. A Skua was slowly being pushed to the lift to be taken below after her patrol. Ideally, the old carrier would be steaming at seventeen knots but the voyage would be long and fuel would be tight when she entered the Caribbean so a more efficient speed for cruising at eleven knots would suffice. She had left Freetown after refueling and would make it to Georgetown, Guyana for another sip before heading up the Antilles and back to Miami for another load of fighters. Once the last Skua landed during twilight, the ship would have another boring night to steam closer to her destination.
Story 0453
January 17, 1941 Norfolk Virginia
USS Constellation was ready for duty. She had been cruising in the Caribbean for the past three months shaking own her new crew and working with her escorts, cruisers Jacksonville and Los Angeles, Quincy and Astoria as well as Destroyer Squadron 33’s eight new Benham class destroyers. They had steamed for over 20,000 nautical miles patrolling the quiet, southern segments portion of the Neutrality Zone. Now they were ready to join her older sister Yorktown and little cousin Wasp, and eccentric uncle Ranger, to keep the sea lanes of the Western Hemisphere free from the ravages of war in Europe.
Carrier Air Wing 8 was being held ready at the naval air station. The lessons learned by Yorktown, Ranger, and Wasp during the previous summer’s Battle Drills near Guantanamo had been reflected in the new air wing. Radar control of fighter aircraft would allow carriers to protect themselves by their fighters while at the same time, strikes against enemy task forces outfitted with radar would need an even heavier fighter escort for the strike aircraft. VF-8 was the first naval squadron equipped with twenty eight folding wing F4F4 Wildcats. Sixteen would be routinely allocated to self-defense while twelve would be the primary escort fighters. VB-8 and VS-8 were authorized eighteen Dauntless dive bombers each. Only thirty three were ready today. The Sunday punch of the air wing were the twelve torpedo carrying Devastators of VT-8. The Devastator was a good plane but it was getting old. The crews could not wait until the new Avenger was ready for fleet service. Rumors had the Grumman bomber being released for squadron service sometime in the summer of 1942.
USS Constellation was ready for duty. She had been cruising in the Caribbean for the past three months shaking own her new crew and working with her escorts, cruisers Jacksonville and Los Angeles, Quincy and Astoria as well as Destroyer Squadron 33’s eight new Benham class destroyers. They had steamed for over 20,000 nautical miles patrolling the quiet, southern segments portion of the Neutrality Zone. Now they were ready to join her older sister Yorktown and little cousin Wasp, and eccentric uncle Ranger, to keep the sea lanes of the Western Hemisphere free from the ravages of war in Europe.
Carrier Air Wing 8 was being held ready at the naval air station. The lessons learned by Yorktown, Ranger, and Wasp during the previous summer’s Battle Drills near Guantanamo had been reflected in the new air wing. Radar control of fighter aircraft would allow carriers to protect themselves by their fighters while at the same time, strikes against enemy task forces outfitted with radar would need an even heavier fighter escort for the strike aircraft. VF-8 was the first naval squadron equipped with twenty eight folding wing F4F4 Wildcats. Sixteen would be routinely allocated to self-defense while twelve would be the primary escort fighters. VB-8 and VS-8 were authorized eighteen Dauntless dive bombers each. Only thirty three were ready today. The Sunday punch of the air wing were the twelve torpedo carrying Devastators of VT-8. The Devastator was a good plane but it was getting old. The crews could not wait until the new Avenger was ready for fleet service. Rumors had the Grumman bomber being released for squadron service sometime in the summer of 1942.
Here you go --- very little shaking down at the moment. First tranche is about ready and the second tranche will be shaking down as 1941 ends.
First thanxs for the situation on the american cruisers. Second would the USS Constellation and her escorts bump into Amiral Scheer in or near the caribbean or did Admiral Scheer is in another place? I am asking since the last time she was heading for the caribbean hunting british convoys.
I will have an update on Scheer --- Within the story timeline, Scheer will think about the Caribbean for 30 seconds and then decide to go to the Indian Ocean instead... In reality, readers convinced me that was a dumb idea as it is a roach motel for raiders.
Not sure that decision to cange AO is within Herr Kapitanis power .. at least not on a whim
The panzerschiffe were designed for long range cruising but even with full tanks can cover only ~ 19K Km.
To operate South of the Equator, alone round the Cape he needs support ships.
Note: plural .. on the way (though that may be in place for his Atlantic cruise)
in the IO, if he stays more than a week or two
and on the way back, though that could be arranged later
Unfortunately such vessels were a priority RN target ... for both tactical and intelligence purposes
Indeed it was suggested that the presence of the SS Tacoma in Montevideo was the reason Graf Spee was so near
and the British knew it.
Not sure that decision to cange AO is within Herr Kapitanis power .. at least not on a whim
The panzerschiffe were designed for long range cruising but even with full tanks can cover only ~ 19K Km.
To operate South of the Equator, alone round the Cape he needs support ships.
Note: plural .. on the way (though that may be in place for his Atlantic cruise)
in the IO, if he stays more than a week or two
and on the way back, though that could be arranged later
Unfortunately such vessels were a priority RN target ... for both tactical and intelligence purposes
Indeed it was suggested that the presence of the SS Tacoma in Montevideo was the reason Graf Spee was so near
and the British knew it.
In OTL, SCHEER was in the South Atlantic on Christmas Day 1940 and made it to the Indian Ocean by February 1941. There were a number of German supply ships at sea supporting raiders. OTL the Twins were out and about, HIPPER was out and about, and Scheer was out and about. BISMARCK was getting ready to go out and about. There was a concerted effort by the KM high command to get supply ships out there for their major raiders.
Yes, as part of a PLAN ... not a WHIM...
and as for using the Bismarks supplies .. how many will be in place? (he does not sail for months)
and of those the BB will have priority
Question, are these CA and CL's coming into service with 1.1"AA, or 40 MM Borfors? Also when will 20 mm begin replacing .50 cal HMG.
The ships that commissioned in 1940 are 1.1 and .50HMG for AA. They do have 5"38 as their DP guns.
1941 ships will probably launch with 20mm and a loud argument over 40mm fit for but not with as production needs to ramp up or 1.1" AA with the promise that the first refit cycle will have Bofors in place.
Us is not that involved yet in ASW. The USN is an interested neutral not an undeclared co-belligerent
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