“True enough. Well, I’ll have to coordinate my effort with the men here, that much is certain. It would seem we’d best start with this O’Connor.”
“Yet how do we… bring him along the garden path?” Fedorov said carefully, glancing at Popski. “How do we brief O’Connor?”
“I can think of only one option,” said Kinlan. “I’ll have to take him over to the Scotts Dragoons and show him. It’s the only way.”
Yes, thought Fedorov. Talk is one thing, but seeing was believing. Would seeing those monstrous Challenger II tanks be enough for O’Connor to believe what they would have to eventually tell him? Would Wavell have to fly out here as well and learn the truth? He suggested this to Kinlan, and the two men agreed that if they could get these senior officers into their camp, that would be the essential first step.
“I can speak to Wavell directly,” said Fedorov. “He speaks fluent Russian. Shall I do this?”
“Convincing Wavell might be one more log on the fire for me as well. I must tell you, Captain, that I’m still having some trouble with this in spite of the evidence.”
“I understand. It took us a good long while to believe what had happened to us as well. After that the real questions get asked, and you have to decide what to do. We had the option to find a remote island and hide while we tried to get home. Unfortunately, this war spans the entire world, and it was impossible to stay clear of it. The desert is a fine and private place here at the moment, nicely isolated from the reality of what is happening out there. But this is a temporary grace. Any move north and we reap the whirlwind.”
“Someone does,” said Kinlan. “And I think his name is Erwin Rommel.”
“You realize the Germans will fight.”
“Of course they will, until they have nothing left to fight with. Do you have any idea what a Challenger II can do in battle?”
Fedorov knew the power Kinlan could wield here all too well. “Yes, but that said, you will be facing two full divisions. The Challengers aside, how thick is your armor on the other vehicles?”
“The Warrior IFV has a welded aluminum armor hull and laminated steel armor turret. We’ve got the upgraded version, with the new stabilized 40mm main gun, but I take your point. Their armor can protect against armor-piercing rounds up to 14.5mm, and the frontal arc is likely to withstand 25mm rounds. Many have the modular appliqué armor system for the turret and hull, and the anti-mine barrier below, so we can toughen those vehicles up considerably. We usually lay on the modular protection depending on the mission. You say this Rommel has four tank battalions?”
“5th Light Division started with 44 light Panzer IIs and another 40 medium Panzer IIIs between the two battalions. The 15th Panzer Division will have at least that. They likely sustained some attrition coming all the way from Agheila, but they’ll probably have eighty percent of those tanks still operational. Then there will be the Panzerjager battalions, and the flak units to think about. Rommel was the man who adapted the 88mm gun to good use as an AT weapon, and I’m sorry to say that an 88 will put a round clean through one of your Warrior IFVs, and then some.”
“You know a good deal for a navy Captain,” said Kinlan. “Yet what you say is true. So how many of these 88s will they have out there?”
“I’d say he might have three batteries with four guns each—possibly four batteries. Many more come later. Then there will be the self-propelled Panzerjagers. They’ll have a 47mm AT gun that might penetrate your Warriors, as will all the guns on their medium tanks if they have the 50mm version. Even their light Panzer IIs will have a 20mm main gun that could pose a threat to one of your IFVs. Beyond this there will be artillery, and a lot of it. Each German division would have several battalions, from 75mm guns up to 150s. Attack a prepared German defense and you can expect it will be well supported, and they’ll have air support as well, Stukas, Heinkel-111s, Bf-109s. Yes, these are old planes, but very capable, and those Stukas will be dropping 500 to 1000 pound bombs. This won’t be like a deployment in Afghanistan. You’ll be up against tough, disciplined troops. Another thing, sir, your force is mostly mechanized infantry. Well, once they exit their vehicles…”
“I’m beginning to get the picture,” said Kinlan. “They’ve got good infantry body armor, but beneath that its good old flesh and blood. We were sent here to face down the renegade Egyptian Army, and that we did, and without a single casualty. They wanted no part of us.”
“That won’t be the case here. You’ll shock the Germans in the first encounter, undoubtedly, but they will adapt, and they will fight. Something tells me they’ll put a good deal more effort into this campaign, now that Gibraltar has fallen. Malta may be lost soon as well. That has dramatically increased their logistics potential, but it will be my job to work on that end for you. My Admiral is already at sea with the British to see about it. But I’ve given this a good deal of thought, General. Yes, I think you can win this battle up north, but the Germans have plenty more they could commit here if they choose to do so. Understand? The British have not yet seen the full might of the Wehrmacht, and with Russia and the United States still neutral, their prospects are very bleak. They’ll need all the help they can possibly get. This may be a very long war.”
“Understood, but at least we can make a real difference here if it comes to a fight.”
“You certainly can, as long as the ammunition holds out.” Fedorov thought he should voice this concern early on. “We found our capabilities more than equal to the adversaries we faced, but that said, we’ve taken hits, and there have been some alarming near misses. We’ve had to be very stingy with our ammunition once we realized we were…” He looked at Popski now. “…going to be in theater for a good long while.” He also wanted that to register on Kinlan—a good long while.
“That’s another issue I’ll have to visit with the men in time. For now, I’ve got my whole brigade strung out in road column. If we go north, how soon before we can expect trouble?”
“I can give you a detailed scouting report with my helicopter, if you’ll permit me.”
“You’re a long way from the coast out here. What is your fuel situation?”
“We were expecting to spend some time in our search and rescue operation, so we laid on extra fuel. Eventually I will have to rendezvous with my ship to replenish, but we should be able to operate here for a while yet. We can set up a secure comm-link to you on HF bands not used here. I can keep you informed as to the situation you will be facing, and also see what I can do to help brief Wavell and O’Connor.”
“That sounds acceptable,” said Kinlan. “Do you think you can get Wavell out here?”
“Possibly, though he may be in the thick of things up north.”
“Then perhaps we should start with the bird in hand and give this General O’Connor a little tour of the brigade. Let’s take this thing slowly. If we can brief O’Connor and get him over the fence, that may help us with Wavell when it comes to that. You know I studied that man’s tactics in the academy—O’Connor as well—we all did. To think of them being right here at my side … Well, all this is a bit overwhelming.”
“You’ll need time, though I’m afraid we have all too little to spare. Rommel may decide things before we can intervene, but I’ll keep you informed of anything I hear on that.” Fedorov extended his hand now, smiling.
“General, thank you for giving me that small benefit of the doubt and having that look at Sultan Apache, and welcome to this nice private little fight here. I’ll do anything I can to help you. You have my word on this. Understand I’ve been through all this with my own crew.”
“I appreciate that,” said Kinlan, and they shook hands warmly.
Then to Popski, Fedorov said: “Can you go inform General O’Connor that we would like him to tour the brigade?”
“Well enough,” said Popski, hoping he could come along too.
“And tell him not to worry about Siwa,” said Kinlan. “I’ll handle the matter, then together we’ll see about
this General Rommel.”
“He’ll be happy to hear that, sir.” Popski was glad to hear it as well, but he was no fool. He had been listening very carefully to everything that was being said, involved in all the discourse between Kinlan and this Russian Captain. He had seen things on that ship, and on the ground here that he knew were quite extraordinary, fantastic, as Fedorov had put it to him earlier. Slowly, like a hunch that was gathering strength by degrees, he was starting to feel something was not quite what it seemed to be here, and that all these men, the Russians, Kinlan, and his soldiers in those odd new uniforms and equipment, were a bit of a mystery that he set his mind to solve.
How was it that these two men could share a common understanding on all that gibberish they were talking over? They just mentioned that Indian Sultan again, and what was all that talk about ICBMs and nuclear bombs? And these damn tanks… That was sixty tons I saw there last night if it was an ounce. Where in bloody hell did the British Army get that monster I saw? Was it true that this was all new equipment? If so, Rommel is going to get the surprise of his life.
The General is right cozy with the Russian Captain now, but things didn’t start that way. These men assumed we were hostile right from the get go. The one thing I don’t understand yet is why this Russian seemed to have to convince General Kinlan that they were on the same side. It was as if the General had been sleeping under a tree somewhere and knew nothing of what was going on, yet he had to have been briefed if he was sent here with this new unit. And why did he presume to think I was an enemy combatant at first encounter, or the Russians, for that matter? In fact, that cheeky Lieutenant who first found us went so far as to state we were to be his prisoners! Kinlan said the same. Was the man blind or merely stupid? He did not seem that way.
It just didn’t make any sense, and it fed that growing feeling of uncertainty in his gut. Something wasn’t quite on the up and up here. These men are not what they seem, he said to himself. They seem like fish out of water here. Maybe it was the harsh environment of the desert, but he had the feeling it was something more. I’ll play along, even play dumb if I have to, but I’m going to find out what’s up, one way or another.
Chapter 6
Kinlan thought long and hard about everything Fedorov had told him. Yes, the Germans had another 200 divisions out there if they needed them. Yes, he had every confidence he could make a difference here, but for how long? His tanks had ready ammo of 50 rounds, and he had another 100 rounds per tank stored with the supply train. The Warriors had 180 rounds with twice that in reserve, and the Scimitars 160 with two reload ammo sets in train. The missile inventories were lighter. They would have to make every round count, so the first thing he did was brief his senior officers and tell them to pass the word. There was trouble up north, and the brigade may soon be going into action. There was no telling if they would ever see friendly ammo stocks again, so he put out a standing order to make every round count and be stubborn about it.
O’Connor was the next problem, arriving in twenty minutes for his tour. Kinlan had one last moment with the Russian Captain, about how the command structure would be worked out here.
“I know you will think to be independent,” said Fedorov in English when Popski left them, “but in the end we must realize we are here to advise and support British war efforts.” He left out some articles, but he got his message across. “Their senior officers are well known… much respected. We cannot replace them.”
“Yet we know every twist and turn this war will take,” said Kinlan slowly, realizing tanks and ammunition were not the only assets he had in hand.
“We know what happens once,” said Fedorov, knowing he got the verb tense wrong. “Yet things are different. Things have changed this time, and we will cause even more to change. Yet we will not plan everything—control this whole war. They must do that. We can only help them.”
“I understand,” said Kinlan. “I will do my best to support these men here, and their officers. I swore to serve the British Army, the men under me, and the crown and government that put them here. I guess that still holds true, no matter where I find myself. Now, I’ll want to make a brief announcement on the brigade comm-system.”
He put out an all units message to expect a tour from a Lieutenant General. “And in case any of you limeys haven’t heard,” he finished, “a Lieutenant General ranks a Brigadier, so stand smart and step lively! Kinlan out.”
* * *
“Good of you to show me the brigade,” said O’Connor. “I like to get acquainted with the men I send into this desert. The job’s not easy but they do their best. You say you’re 7th Armored? I drove that division fairly hard a while back, but with good results. We kicked the Italians right out of Egypt when they had the cheek to cross the border, and then chased them half way across Libya for good measure. The only problem is it seems we’ve hit another rough patch with the Germans showing up uninvited like this. I’m afraid I’ve taken a bit of an early bath.”
“We’ll see what we can do about that, sir,” said Kinlan, a head taller than O’Connor, and dark haired in contrast to the other man’s grey-white hair.”
“All the men are dressed out in this new kit. It looks to be very efficient. When was it issued?”
“Just before we deployed, sir. Yes… It’s new, as are many other things in the brigade. We’ve new equipment and vehicles to show you today.”
“Then Tiger Convoy made it through?”
Kinlan did not know what O’Connor was referring to, but Fedorov did. He was walking just behind the two generals, with Popski, who was quietly translating what was said at Fedorov’s request. It was the Winston Special convoy Churchill had insisted on to reinforce Wavell with new tanks, but it was not supposed to happen until May of that year. It would transport Matildas and the A15 Crusader tanks to Egypt, taking the short but dangerous route through the Mediterranean, but that would not be possible now that the Germans controlled Gibraltar. For O’Connor to mention it meant the British must be planning to sent the convoy early, as it would have to travel all the way around the Cape of Good Hope.
“I’m sorry, but I haven’t heard anything about that,” said Kinlan.
“Not in the loop yet,” said O’Connor. “Don’t worry, Mister Kinlan, you’ll wish you were out of it once they do drag you in. Tiger Convoy was supposed to be delivering fresh tanks so we can get 7th Armored back on its feet. Yet here you are, as far from the main front as one is likely to get out here. Why were you sent here, General? We hardly need a brigade of armor here for Siwa. And you certainly weren’t sent here to look for me.”
“No sir, I only learned of your disappearance when Captain Fedorov informed me of his mission. It seems I’ve a good deal to learn here, but I just follow orders. In fact, I had orders to move to Mersa Matruh.”
“Better there than here. You say you have armor with you? Well I’d give my right arm for a good tank battalion or two these days.”
“Well sir… I think I can fill the bill for you. The unit is just ahead; just over that rise.”
He gestured as they began to climb the low hill that screened the terrain ahead and, as they crested the rise, he stood in silence, one eye on O’Connor, the other on the Royal Scotts Dragoons. There sat four Sabres of heavy Challenger II tanks, sixty in all, in a square of steel dressed out in khaki on the desert below. O’Connor stared at them, his face registering complete surprise.
“My god,” he said quietly, the sheer quantity and mass of the formation striking him. Then he leaned forward, taking a closer look. “What in the world? Those aren’t Matildas, nor any cruiser tank I’ve ever seen. Why… they’re enormous!”
“A new design, sir,” said Kinlan. “Our very latest model. 7th Brigade received them for this mission to Libya. Shall we have a closer look.”
O’Connor had already started down the hill, as if drawn by some powerful magnetism, and Kinlan looked over his shoulder at Fedorov, giving him a wink as they followed. The General walked r
ight up to the nearest tank, his eyes wide with amazement as the scale of the beast became more evident as he approached. The crew there were standing to attention, saluting crisply as he came up, which he returned, his eyes transfixed by the awesome machine in front of him.
“God in his heaven,” he whispered. “That’s twice the size of a Matilda, and that gun would make a 25 pounder blush. What is it?”
“Lieutenant?” Kinlan looked at the commander of his First Sabre, Lieutenant Matt Gibson.
“Sir! This is the new smoothbore BAE-120 conversion, based on the Rheinmetall 120mm L55. First Sabre was the leading unit selected for this upgrade.”
The gun weighed over 7000 pounds and exceeded 17 feet in length, enough to drop the jaw of any old tank warrior of the 1940s. Popski was now seeing the tank up close for the first time as well, and he was just shaking his head in complete awe.
“Did you say 120 millimeters?” O’Connor gave the man a look. The Matilda only mounted a 40mm gun.
“Yes sir.”
“Artillery? Mounted on a tank hull? My god, the damn thing is enormous! Then this is a mobile artillery gun?”
“Not quite,” said Kinlan. “It’s primary ordinance is anti-tank and AP rounds. Tell the General what we have in the cupboard, Lieutenant. What are our performance metrics?” Kinlan prompted his Sabre commander again.
“Yes sir. This gun will fire armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot rounds, HESH-2 high explosive rounds, and the new CHARM-4 depleted uranium rounds developed specifically for the smoothbore. CHARM-3 was the rifled barrel variant for the old L30 gun system. Effective firing range is 4000 meters, but one of our boys hit a T-60 a good while back, and knocked it out at 5200 meters.”
O’Connor heard the range, unbelieving. “Did you mean 520 meters?”
“No sir, 5200. And the new smoothbore also allows us to deploy the new LAHAT system. That would be the Laser Homing Anti-Tank missile, effective out to 8000 meters.”
Grand Alliance (Kirov Series) Page 5
