Operation Tinderbox
((Last Update: 4/30/2012))
The information contained in this briefing is classified Top Secret, and is protected by the provisions of the Espionage Act. Any transmission of this briefing to unauthorized parties will result in criminal prosecution per the provisions of that Act, which will result in a minimum of imprisonment for thirty (30) years, and may potentially include the death penalty should the court deem such punishment necessary.
Background: War Plan Tan
War Plan
Tan is the opening step in our effort to liberate nations around the Mediterranean Sea from Axis control; in particular, Operation
Tinderbox focuses on the liberation of North Africa, presently under Italian control. We chose North Africa as the site of our opening offensive in Southern Europe in response to Italy's relentless advance through the Middle East - and due to the weakness of the Italian army relative to the
Wehrmacht. War Plan
Tan is designed to accomplish the following objectives:
1. Neutralize the Italian army.
2. Create a foothold for future potential operations in southern Europe.
3. Close the crucial Axis trade artery of the Suez Canal.
We have divided Operation
Tinderbox into two components:
- Operation Antipasti, the amphibious assault and subsequent occupation of strategic ports in the Western Mediterranean;
- Operation Schiltrom, our counteroffensive in Libya and Egypt west of the Suez Canal;
Order of Battle Changes
The only change to Southern Command's OOB is that the 2nd Bomber Squadron will absorb the 13th and 4th USAAF Tactical Bomber Wings. Local commanders should bear in mind that the U.S. Marine Corps will only be attached to Atlantic Southern Command until Gibraltar has been secured.
Operational Plan: Invasion of North Africa
Operation Antipasti
As soon as Transport Group
Bull Moose reaches Plymouth, it will be split into two squadrons of three transport flotillas each; one of these flotillas will merge with Transport Group
Longhorn, while the other carries our three Marine divisions to the Straits of Gibraltar, where they will launch an amphibious assault on Gibraltar. Once Gibraltar has been secured,
Bull Moose will carry the Marines to San Diego, where they will be returned to the control of the Pacific Theater.
Throughout this operation, SAG
Tennessee will remain in the Gibraltar Strait, to defend the landings from potential
Regia Marina counterattacks. Regrettably, due to a lack of Mediterranean air bases, our air forces will remain in England during this operation.
Operation Schiltrom
In light of the Italian advance across the Suez Canal, and their impending conquest of Iraq, Operation
Phalanx will be replaced by Operation
Schiltrom.
After the conclusion of
Antipasti, all the forces of Atlantic Southern Command will be transported to Gibraltar. Once this transportation is complete, we will land forces in North Africa, with Second Army's forces landing in Libya and Fourth Army's forces landing in Egypt. Landings will occur as follows:
- Second Army, 10th Corps: landing at Homs, east of Tripoli, and attacking Tripoli.
- Second Army, 11th Corps: landing at Ez Zauia, west of Tripoli, and attacking Tripoli.
- Second Army, 5th Corps: landing at Tocra and Agedabia, north and south of Bengazi, and attacking Bengazi.
- Second Army, 3rd Armored Corps: landing at Zliten, west of Misurata, and attacking Misurata.
- Fourth Army, 6th Corps: landing at El Hammam, west of Alexandria. 2 divisions attack Alexandria (El Iskandariya), 2 divisions move to Ezbet Abu Keifu and attack Alexandria.
- Fourth Army, 9th Corps: landing at Rashid, east of Alexandria. 2 divisions attack Alexandria, 2 divisions move to Kafr el Shiekh and attack Alexandria.
- Fourth Army, 12th Corps: landing at Dumyat, west of Bur Sa'id. 1 division attacks Bur Sa'id, 1 divisions moves to El Mansura and attacks Bur Sa'id, 2 divisions move to Ismail'ya and attack Bur Sa'id.
- Fourth Army, 4th Armored Corps: landing at Bardia, east of Tobruk (Tobruch) and attacking Tobruch.
Once all of the above ports have been secured, command of Operation
Schiltrom will be transferred to General Devers. Devers' objectives will be to secure Bur Sa'id, Ismail'ya, El Suweis, and Cairo (El Qahira) as quickly as possible and using all the assets at his disposal ((objectives at the listed provinces, Blitzing Stance, Air/Naval Offensive)). If Italian forces fail to respond, Atlantic Southern Command may, at the discretion of local commanders, also seize Romani and begin an offensive into the Sinai Peninsula, with objectives at Nizzane Sinay and Elat.
SAGs
Tennessee and
New York will patrol the waters off Libya and Egypt respectively ((Patrol missions on East Central Mediterranean Sea and Coast of Egypt respectively)), assisting our coastal offensives with fire support and preventing Italian ships from landing as reinforcements. Once Alexandria has been secured, the 2nd Bomber Squadron will commence infrastructure bombing in the Middle East, to prevent an Italian counterattack, while the 2nd and 4th Fighter Squadrons will run air superiority missions over Libya and Egypt to the edge of their available range.
Proposed: General Devers, C-in-C Atlantic Southern Command
Seconded: General MacArthur, C-in-C Atlantic Theater
Approved: General Craig, Chief of Staff of the United States Army; Admiral Standley, Chief of Naval Operations; Secretary Grumman, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army Air Force; Secretary Cox, Secretary of War