The Whale Has Wings Vol 2 - Taranto to Singapore

by David Row

  Admiral Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, sends a message to Admiral Kimmel, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet based in the Territory of Hawaii, regarding anti-torpedo baffles for protection against torpedo plane attacks on Pearl Harbor. The message states “consideration has been given to the installation of anti-torpedo baffles within Pearl Harbor for protection against torpedo plane attacks. It is considered that the relatively shallow depth of water limits the need for anti-torpedo nets in Pearl Harbor. In addition the congestion and the necessity for manoeuvring room limit the practicability of the present type of baffles.” The Fleet Air Arm attack on Taranto, a similarly shallow harbour, seems to have been overlooked.

  The Vichy government informs the colonies in North Africa of the decision to open its ports and provide support and help for German forces expected soon. The orders do not go down well, even in Algeria, the most pro-Vichy of the colonial areas. It is expected that the first convoys will arrive in about a week, and food fuel and water will need to be provided, as well as turning a number of airbases over to the Luftwaffe. The authorities keep the order secret until they can work out how to present this to their men - more than one governor is worried about actual mutiny once they hear of it.

  The officers who presented themselves in Tunisia have reached Cairo, where they speak with General Bethouart, who is currently commanding the Free French forces in Africa, and General Wavell. Following this, Wavell signals to Ethiopia asking how difficult it would be to transfer some or all of the 1st Free French Division to North Africa, and how long it would take.

  16th February

  The Greek army is again on the offensive, and claim to be pushing the Italians on the Yugoslav-Albania back with large losses in men and equipment. The Italian government denies this.

  At first light the British make their final attack on Tripoli. During the night they have positioned troops at two weak spots they have found in the Italian lines. Shortly before the attack, the RAF staged an air raid and the Royal Navy demonstrates their ability to deluge the city with 15" shells from the battleships Warspite and Valiant. Having been practising this sort of fire support for some 200 years, the Royal Navy is by now rather good at it.

  Shortly after these attacks begin, the assault begins, led by every available Matilda tank - all 18 of them. The Italians still have nothing that can stop them, and while one of the two assaults gets bogged down by a desperate and fierce Italian defence, the other breaks the perimeter, allowing troops to both attack the rear area and start to roll up the defensive line.

  For a time it looks like the Italians may throw the attack back - they have, through determined counterattacks, thrown another one back almost to its starting line - but the second breakthrough is manned by far less aggressive formations. As the breach widens, O'Connor throws in the French troops and his tank reserve. His gamble pays off; under the increased pressure (the Free French troops in particular terrify the Italians), the whole eastern side of the defence collapses in confusion. Shortly after, the Italian commander offers his surrender.

  It takes a while to get the ceasefire organised - some of the fascist troops fighting the western attack are reluctant to surrender - but by evening Tripoli is in the hands of the British. Wavell is able to signal Churchill that night that 'all of Italian North Africa is now under our control'. Not technically correct, there are units and some small towns holding out, but essentially correct.

  Chapter 8 - Greek Adventures

  17th February

  The heavy emphasis on mutual goodwill and friendly relations in the treaty signed in Ankara today shows the deep mistrust Turkey and Bulgaria have long felt for each other. Bulgaria has never ceased to fear that one day Turkey will seek to regain the territory lost after the Great War and in the Balkan Wars before it, while the build-up of German troops in Bulgaria in recent weeks has alarmed the Turks, who are worried that the Germans' next blow will be delivered in the Balkans and threaten Turkey.

  In Japan Foreign Minister Matsuoka Yosuke states that the white race must cede Oceania to the Asiatics. "This region has sufficient natural resources to support from 600 million to 800 million people. I believe we have a natural right to migrate there” says Matsuoka. This speech is not well received in US government circles or in Britain. The Chinese government has serious doubts that 'we' means anyone other than the Japanese.

  The British 6th Infantry Division is reconstituted in Egypt. It is intended to use this force in Palestine, allowing the Australian division there to be allocated to the proposed Greek campaign. Another Australian division, the 7th, is due to arrive in a few weeks.

  18th February

  General Thomas Blamey, General Officer Commanding I Australian Corps, meets with General Archibald Wavell, Commander in Chief, Middle East Command. Wavell explains the composition of a force designated “Lustreforce” intended for operations in Greece. The force is to consist of the New Zealand Division, the Australian 7th and 9th Divisions, the HQ of the I Australian Corps, the 1st Armoured Brigade and an Independent Polish Brigade Group.

  Australian troops, 12,000 strong, arrived in Singapore today to reinforce the British garrison. Already the 11th Indian Division has arrived in the theatre, and the III Indian Corps headquarters under Lieutenant-General Sir Lewis Heath is due to be set up in May. The build-up of British strength is in response to the growing menace of Japanese military expansion to the south. Nazi Germany has been urging the Japanese to attack Singapore at once, but the Japanese have their own timescale for offensive operations in the area.

  The southward advance of Japan continues to cause anxiety in Australia at a time when the greater part of the Australian forces is engaged in the Middle East. The Singapore base is regarded by Australians as the keystone of defence against Japan, and Britain has assured Australia that if a Japanese attack appeared imminent, a British battlefleet would be sent at once to Singapore. However, there is obviously a need for an army and air force strong enough to hold out in Singapore and Malaya until the fleet arrived. Australia has therefore contributed a brigade of infantry to the garrison.

  The Australians are worried about the report they have received from their Prime Minister regarding the poor quality of the troops and defences in the area. As the price for reinforcing, they have asked for a review by a senior officer with operational experience, suggesting that as 6th Australian is currently being refitted in North Africa a suitable officer can be spared to report. The CIGS is rather unwilling to meet this requirement, but the Australians have made it clear that in view of the troops they are providing they consider it only reasonable, and after some controversy in London the idea is approved.

  News reaches the British that the Greek Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas, has died in Athens. The planners in London prepare to ask again if the Greek government wants British Army units to help - this has been resisted by Metaxus, who was only prepared to accept RAF help.

  In Britain, the light carriers HMS Ocean (recalled from convoy duty) and HMS Colossus are preparing to transport as many Hurricane fighters as they can carry to Malta. From there the planes will be flown to the newly-acquired airstrips in Libya.

  Admiral Darlan flies to Algeria to 'look into the situation and encourage the acceptance of the new orders regarding cooperation with Germany'. The visit is the Admirals idea, and he has merely informed the government as he is about to leave for Africa.

  19th February

  The British Secretary of State Anthony Eden and Field Marshall Sir John Dill (Chief of the Imperial General Staff) have arrived in Cairo to discuss with the local commanders, General Archibald Wavell (Commander in Chief Middle East Command), and General Alan Cunningham (Commander in Chief East Africa Command), whether they can send help to Greece and if so how much. The British political leaders are strongly in favour of sending all that can be spared and Wavell, the military commander who is responsible, believes that this can be done effectively and is, therefore, prepared to recommend it.

  Now that
Tripoli has been taken, he hopes to be able to rest and reconstitute the formations which have been attacking for the last couple of months. He has been promised more convoys both to replenish their stocks and to build up a force for Greece, once the Greek government actually agrees to one. The visit is useful as it also allows Wavell to discuss some possibilities in French-held North Africa that he has recently been appraised of. One of the results of the discussions is that General Leclerc is summoned to Cairo.

  As the troops used will be mainly inexperienced, Wavell brings in General Blamey and General O'Connor (who is taking an ordered two week rest after exhausting himself during Operation Compass) to ask about the state of 6th Australian Division, which he is considering using in place of one of the fresh Australian divisions. During the course of their discussions, Blamey asks, as the force will basically be a Australian/New Zealand operation, if it has been agreed with the Australian Prime Minister who is currently in London. Wavell assures him he is sure that it has, but will verify that for him. O'Connor is reluctant to recommend the use of 6th Australian, as he feels they desperately need a rest, and taking them out of North Africa for Greece will make it look like they are being used too heavily.

  In Ethiopia, Free French troops capture Jumbo after heavy fighting with Italian forces. In three hours the Italian Artillery fires over 3,000 rounds.

  Emperor HaileSelassie, who was brought back to Abyssinia in January to help organize resistance to the Italians, arrives at Dangilla along with Brigadier Orde Wingate's Gideon Force. During the next two weeks, they harass the Italian troops around Bahrdar Giorgis and Burye with considerable success, despite the fact that the Italians have four brigades in the area and the Gideon Force is only 1700 strong. Meanwhile in Italian Somaliland Cunningham's troops cross the river Juba and head towards Mogadishu

  One of the Brigades of the 1st South African Division is prepared to move south to replace a brigade of the 1st Free French Army, which is being brought north. While swapping the two divisions has been considered, the transport infrastructure is poor, and would involve considerable disruption of a currently successful campaign. Once one Brigade has been replaced, command will look into replacing a second. In the meantime, the Free French Brigade that has been fighting in North Africa is consolidating near Tripoli, and is being given priority for replacement supplies. There have been political issues involved with the use of South African divisions - initially they were only to be used in the southern part of the continent, but agreement has been reached that they can now be deployed 'in Africa'. The arguments in favour of wider use have been influenced by the success of the Australian and New Zealand troops in defeating the Italians - after all, if they can come all this way to defeat the enemy troops on the African continent, surely so can South African troops. This has not stopped some parties in South Africa complaining, but they have at present lost the argument.

  21st February.

  An Italian convoy is assembling in Naples, loaded with men of the Arête division and the German 5th light division. Its destination is Tunis.

  Eden, still in diplomatic discussions in Cairo, receives a telegram from Churchill with the advice, "Do not consider yourselves obligated to a Greek enterprise if in your hearts you feel it will only be another Norwegian fiasco."

  In a second telegram, O'Connor is promoted to Lieutenant-General and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He will take over the command of the Imperial troops in North Africa, which are expected to be expanded soon both with new units and once Somaliland and Ethiopia have fallen. The victorious British forces are currently recovering from nearly two months of campaigning, except for the engineering and maintenance men who are busy repairing as much as possible of the armour and transport that has been savaged by the desert conditions. Having possession of all the battlefields, and the well-equipped Italian maintenance facilities, more than expected can be repaired or cannibalised, but it will take time. Since the 7th Armoured is in by far the worst shape, it is being pulled back to Egypt for a full reconstruction while its working equipment is used to strengthen the 2nd Armoured.

  The Royal Navy has also pulled its heavy units back; they too need maintenance work done on them, and the carriers airgroups are in poor shape. For the next few weeks the waters off Libya will be covered by the light cruisers and destroyers, unless it is necessary to intercept a convoy. The RAF is also busy in its workshops; it has a huge number of unserviceable aircraft that need maintenance and repair.

  22nd February

  German military staff arrives in Sofia, Bulgaria as 17 divisions, eight of which are heading for Greece, cross the border in a gesture of fascist good-neighbourliness.

  Heavy night raids by the Luftwaffe are still causing serious damage in Britain. However the new night fighters, aided by steadily improving AI radar and training are taking a steadily increasing toll of the Luftwaffe bombers; nearly 60 were shot down in January (as well as the losses to the AA defences), and the success rate is increasing steadily. Fortunately night bombing isn't accurate enough to target precise targets, although the damage and deaths caused by the area bombing is unpleasant, it is not doing serious damage to the British war industry.

  The Reaper night fighter is now being produced in sufficient numbers to allow the Beaufighter production to be reassigned to its original role (the limits on the night fighters are currently radar sets rather than fighters). It is hoped to have the first Beaufighter squadron operational in their new role in about three months.

  A new order is placed for more light bombers from the USA, partly for the RAF partly for the French Air Force (although again most of these will be 'lent' to the RAF)

  23rd February

  The British Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, arrived in Athens today with a senior military mission including Sir John Dill, CIGS, General Wavell, Admiral Cunningham and Air-Marshall Longmore. The main item for discussion with King George and his government is the question of British military aid to Greece. There is some reluctance on the part of the Greeks to accept the help offered by Eden, on the grounds that insufficient British help might serve only to precipitate an attack by the Germans.

  Eden's task is to reassure the Greeks that, although the forces being offered, which would have to be withdrawn from the army in North Africa, are all that Britain can spare at the moment, they are well-equipped and trained and will acquit themselves well. Talks are well under way this evening and look like lasting well into the night, with the Greeks insisting that they will fight with or without British help.

  Representatives of the French Colonial governments of Syria and Lebanon are received, very quietly and unofficially, in Cairo where they have requested to talk with General Wavell and the Free French leaders.

  In Italian Somaliland the main Italian forces defending the line of the Juba River have been defeated. The troops of General Alan Cunningham are now advancing very rapidly toward Mogadishu.

  The first Corvette built in the USA as their part of the 'Ships for Bases' deal starts sea trials. Due to the still-delicate nature of the US state of neutrality, the British crew are dressed as civilians. Once the ship has passed trials, she will sail to Britain for Asdic to be fitted, and then work up. It is hoped to have the rest of the Corvette order completed during the next four months.

  25th February

  In Cairo Wavell decides against the projected bombing of the Ploesti oilfields. First it would necessitate violating Turkish airspace, and secondly it might attract the attention of the Germans to a British presence in Greece. The RAF is in any case against it for at least a month due to the need to rest the aircrew and repair the aircraft after the all-out effort to support O'Connor.

  British Nigerian troops of the 11th African Division have begun to occupy Mogadishu after a day's lightning advance up the coast from Brava, 120 miles away. Meanwhile, the 12th African Division pushes up the river Juba towards the Abyssinian border town of Dolo.

  A meeting is held in Washington D.C., con
cerning defences in Hawaii. The minutes state that “in view of the Japanese situation the Navy is concerned with the security of the fleet in Hawaii, and apparently the new commander of the fleet there has made a check and reported it to Washington and the Secretary of the Navy has outlined the situation to the Secretary of War. Their particular point is the type of air force in Hawaii, particularly Pursuit (fighters). They are in the situation where they must guard against a surprise or trick attack. It is necessary for the fleet to be in anchorage part of the time and they are particularly vulnerable at that time. I do not feel that it is a possibility or even a probability, but they must guard against everything. We also have information regarding the possible use of torpedo planes.”

  The Italian convoy which has been assembling in Naples is ready to sail, but the Italian Navy refuse to let it proceed until they have mustered a stronger escort. In particular, they intend to wait a few more days to allow a number of submarines to get into position against possible Royal Navy attacks.

  The results of the trials of the new Mosquito aircraft are encouraging enough for the Ministry of Aircraft Production to place a production order before the trials are complete. The plane has the advantage of not needing much in the way of some limited resources, like aluminium, but will require a unique method of construction to be planned and implemented. DeHavilland promise that despite this they can get at least 60 produced by the end of the year.

  26th February

  After talks in Athens lasting all night and much of the day, the Greek Premier Alexander Korizis, agrees in principle to Eden's proposal for British aid.

  The Greek government agrees to accept a British force which at this stage is intended to be 100,000 men with suitable artillery and tank support. The Greeks are very reluctant to accept anything less since it would not be enough to fight the Germans off and would only encourage them to attack. The disposition of the British and Greek forces is also discussed. The British prefer a position along the line of the Aliakmon River but the Greeks are unwilling to give up the territory which this line does not cover. A final decision is postponed until it can be discussed with General Blamey, the proposed Army commander.