Chapter 184, HMS Illustrious, off Malaya, 1800, 26 March, 1942
Aynho found his Admiral pacing the “goofing deck” of Illustrious, watching the returning Swordfish and totally ignoring the beautiful sunset to the west. Somerville was clutching a battered fob-watch, and was timing the intervals between landings.
“Too damned slow,” he muttered to Aynho as he took a bundle of papers, mainly signals, from his Flag Lieutenant. “We need to be slicker. Programme in a series of deck take-off and landing trials tomorrow.”
“Aye aye, Sir. Anything else?”
“Nope, not at the minute. Anything of interest in the signals traffic?”
“No Sir, Admiral Cunningham has promised to send us any intelligence that comes through. The RAF has managed to sink another cruiser heading out of Hainan, Sir.”
Somerville smiled, though Aynho knew that he was disappointed. Operation CATO had been a carefully planned political victory for Somerville. Following the bloody stalemate off China, the Admiralty was exercising a far greater control over its fleets in the Far East. ‘Convoy Across The Ocean’ was justified in that it helped to save Hong Kong, though Aynho knew that Somerville and Cunningham, newly arrived in Singapore to take command of a force of battleships intended for the blockade of Siam, had done all that they could to draw out the capital ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Cunningham and Rear-Admiral Layton, commanding the Singapore facility, had made all sorts of pronouncements on the masses of equipment being loaded onto the convoy. HMS Argus, released from her duties with Vian’s battleships (his squadron had been dismembered in the aftermath of the action off Shantou) had been stripped of her Fleet Air Arm planes and loaded with dozens of Hurricane interceptors. The plan was simple: the Hurricanes would fly from the deck of Argus and straight to Kai Tak. Other aircraft, disassembled in crates in the ships of the convoy, would take days to construct and would be a longer-term assistance to the RAF defenders. The loading of the Hurricanes onto Argus had been done, as Cunningham had signalled to Somerville,
“with the least possible security, and with a band from Raffles playing Sousa marches on the quarterdeck of HMS Nelson.” Nelson was the only (advertised) escort, her small squadron of cruisers and destroyers providing a visible Naval presence. Somerville had kept his Fleet far out, in a position off the Paracel Islands ready to race in to tackle any surface raiders threatening the convoy.
But it had all been so bloody easy. Nelson had sunk a light cruiser, whilst the RAF had claimed another one steaming towards Argus and the merchantmen. Aynho had already drafted a request for the land-based RAF Hudsons to ‘back off a bit’: bigger targets were anticipated, and Somerville didn’t want the Japanese to be scared off. And now, today, with the heavy cruiser Kinugasa sent to the bottom, Aynho saw the frustration in the Admiral’s eyes: he had thrown every available warship in Singapore and Hong Kong into Operation CATO, and three cruisers was scant reward for his efforts.
“Still, Sir, at least we’ll get the convoy through,” Aynho muttered with enforced cheerfulness.
“Hmmn,” Somerville said grumpily, “but where is their bloody fleet?” Aynho didn’t reply. “Alright, time until sunset?”
“An hour, Sir,” one of the off-duty aircrew said with confidence. Somerville had cultivated an atmosphere of contribution and confidence. If a sailor or officer knew something, they were encouraged to ‘pipe up’.
“Signal to Ark Royal and Indomitable. Illustrious will provide standing air cover this evening, enjoy your down time.” Aynho made a note of this. As part of his obsession with getting the three carriers to work together Somerville had insisted that the ships take turns to provide available aircraft in quieter moments; tonight, Aynho knew, Ark Royal and Indomitable would be having an enjoyable night. Aynho realised that the Admiral was looking at Ark Royal intently.
“Sir?”
“Shut up! Ark’s signalling!”
Aynho wordlessly peered through his binoculars. Something had excited Captain Maund, for Ark was signalling with lights. When he had read the signal Aynho put down his binoculars and looked to Somerville. The Admiral was grinning broadly.
“Sir, the signal says...”
“I know, lad, I know, we’ve bloody well got them! Jap aircraft, carrying out a reconaissance, eh? Signal to Ark and Indomitable, prepare to launch aircraft. Captain?”
“Sir?”
“Fulmars first, get ‘em up, get ‘em up engaging the Japanese aircraft. If they break, then your boys follow, follow them, find their carriers. Do you understand?”
“With their aircraft in the air...”
“Our Swordfish can take on their ships. Gentlemen, we cannot make a hash of this one. Hands to flying stations when you’re ready.”
“Sir?”
“Yes Patrick?”
“Those aircraft Sir, they could be from Siam. We’re just about in range.”
“You’re right, but according to Captain Maund’s signal the aircraft his patrol saw were Aichi D3As. I’m surmising that they’re from a carrier.”
Somerville was interrupted by the sounds of Illustrious going to flying stations. The Fairey Fulmars of 809 Squadron were already assembling on the Flight Deck.
“Ark signalling Sir, enemy aircraft turning North. Looks like they’re not going to make a run at us.”
“Good,” Somerville said quietly. He was thinking, Aynho knew, his mind planning the battle ahead. “Let them go!” The first Fulmars were already racing from Illustrious’ deck. The Swordfish patrol from Ark Royal was flying low, close to Illustrious. “They’re looking at that damned piece of damage to the Quarterdeck again.” He smiled. “Signal to Ark, why the interest, is something sticking out of father’s pants”. The signal was sent.
“They’re replying, Sir, message reads: you flatter yourself, it is only hanging out.”
Somerville laughed and turned to look at his aircraft as they assembled above the Fleet.
Aynho looked at the Fulmars as they thundered away from the three carriers. The Fulmars were a terribly fragile aircraft, and of Illustrious’ complement of 15 of the aircraft Somerville would be lucky if a dozen made it away without incident. Sure enough, Aynho could see one of the squadron banking round to make a landing. Somerville had made his pessimistic opinion known to the Admiralty; he had yet to receive a plan as to their replacement.
“Let’s go down to Operations,” Somerville said to his staff quietly. “The deck crew knows what to do without us hawking over their busy moments.” As Somerville, Aynho and the other staff officers filed down the ladder chain and down into the Operations room Aynho could just about make out the Swordfish lumbering after the far faster Fulmars.
It took only a few moments for the Fulmars to engage the Japanese group, a mixture of Aichis and A6Ms. As his staff noted the results Aynho caught the expression on Somerville’s face. He was determined, ruthlessly determined, and Aynho saw his defiance.
“The Fulmars aren’t coping well, Sir,” the Commander Air of Illustrious said softly. “They’re being totally outclassed. But we’re doing well against the bombers.”
“Losses?”
“Three Fulmars downed already Sir.”
“Have HMS York break off from escort duty and look for the crews. I will not lose those pilots.”
“The Convoy, Sir?”
“Those Jap aircraft managed to miss the convoy. We’re safe, for today at least. And now we wait.”
After an agonising half-hour’s waiting, when Aynho’s only contribution to combat efficiency had been to ‘make the wets’ (tea), the telephone rang.
“Sir, Swordfish from Ark have made contact with the Japanese fleet. Two aircraft carriers, they are commencing their attack run now, Sir.”
Aynho looked down for a moment, wishing that he could do something to help. Sunset was looming, and the Swordfish, if they survived the A6Ms and flak of the Japanese Navy, would have a arduous flight in difficult conditions as they raced for home. A few moments later the telephone rang again.
“Sir, they’ve bagged a carrier!”
Somerville was utterly professional. “Which one?”
“They think it’s the Zuikaku, Sir!”
“Losses?”
“Four Swordfish lost to enemy aircraft, two more to anti-aircraft guns, Sir.”
Somerville looked at the clock on the bulkhead, and down at the charts before them. He turned to Commander Air. “Any Fulmars left?”
“The Fleet can get four, perhaps five up, Sir.”
“Please do it, get them to bring our stringbags home.” Somerville looked down at his papers. “The weather’s worsening, the sea state is turning nasty, and the decks will be like frozen lakes. Let’s give them what help we can. What are you smiling at Lieutenant?” This last comment was to Aynho, who had, with a broad grin, handed a signal to his Commander-in-Chief.
“Ah, I see. Good news, Cunningham has arrived on station off Siam and is already mounting an effective blockade. Whilst we have been lumbering along with the convoy he’s sinking the enemy. A good day’s work,” Somerville said with a chuckle.
“And, more importantly, he’s in a good position to knock out any the ships we fought. That’s if they make a run for Siam.”
[Game Effect] – One Jap carrier lost as CATO One plods on to the North. In a slightly better engagement off Siam Cunningham’s Fleet (which for story purposes I’m saying left Singapore after Somerville and the lumbering transports) flexes its muscles.
But again, for the RN this is all very dissappointing. The Fleet is able to win small tactical victories but, frankly, has yet to find a strategic approach that works. This is not for want of effort on both Somerville and Cunningham’s part, but with the struggles with aircraft and tactics the ‘Mini Midway’ that I have described here was not the greater victory that it could have been.
Sir Humphrey: Slowly, slowly, it will happen.
Kurt_Steiner: In this timeline it is too soon, but they will feature eventually.
Carlstadt Boy: They were desperately needed!
Enewald: Saving the Auk’s ass, that’s what they’re for!
Trekaddict: I have to confess that I am wary of the Mossie in the Far East – I vaguely remember something about they’re being unsuitable – something to do with the glue/construction? Any thoughts?
Nathan Madien: Good luck old chap, good luck!
Trekaddict: The first two yes, the latter: nah!
KaiserMuffin: And English Breakfast Tea!
Nathan Madien: I am, I’m afraid.
El Pip:
KaiserMuffin: I must admit I think that the last ten years have seen a complete renaisssance in English cooking.
Nathan Madien:
