Against all Odds: The British Empire in World War Two

[trekaddict]

I think I'd better reassure the author our complaints about the ambush are not directed at him, rather they are aimed at the NKVD major who has failed to live up to the high standards of Stalin. Doubtlessly he will be taking a trip east when he reports his miserable lack of effort and inability to master historical inevitability.

never had any troubles there. I did make the ambush so shoddy for a good reason that shall be explained in due time.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

I think I'd better reassure the author our complaints about the ambush are not directed at him, rather they are aimed at the NKVD major who has failed to live up to the high standards of Stalin.

I agree. Even Winnie the Poo would have done it better. Cannot understand why the NKVD comissar didn't shoot him here and then.

 

[trekaddict]

I agree. Even Winnie the Poo would have done it better. Cannot understand why the NKVD comissar didn't shoot him here and then.

Once again, and not because of insecurity, I can only ask you to wait. There will be an update soon that explains it all. Well, at least some of it.

 

[Raaritsgozilla]

Look can it just wait a second? I'm trying to catch up here, and its not easy with you updating every bloody half hour

In all seriousness, brilliant naval battle back in Chapter 100. Very pleased. Lucky the Bismarck didn't crop up huh? Give me a nhour to catch up then update away boyo

 

[trekaddict]

Look can it just wait a second? I'm trying to catch up here, and its not easy with you updating every bloody half hour

In all seriousness, brilliant naval battle back in Chapter 100. Very pleased. Lucky the Bismarck didn't crop up huh? Give me a nhour to catch up then update away boyo

No worries, mate, I am still in the middle of writing the next update.

 

[Raaritsgozilla]

No worries, mate, I am still in the middle of writing the next update.

Did it! Caught up, you may update away.

Nearly a nasty wee incident with the ambush there! I can't remeber, but has Drake appeared before?

 

[trekaddict]

Did it! Caught up, you may update away.

Nearly a nasty wee incident with the ambush there! I can't remeber, but has Drake appeared before?

He is a Character based on one of the same name in "For King and Country".

 

[trekaddict]

Chapter 108​

15th May 1940

Near the western end of the Afsluitdijk, Netherlands

The three cars were racing across the dike as fast as the damage they had taken in the ambush, intending to meet the plane at a small secondary Airstrip the Dutch Army Aviation Brigade had abandoned in the late 1930s. The hurried communication between London, Amsterdam and the Dutch Army at the base near the Villa had made this possible, along with a daring, tree-top level flight by the pilot earlier that morning. “Arrangements are made.” This was the only thing Drake and the rest of the British group had heard, along with new directions to be marked on their map. There was little talk. After the rather long night and the ambush they were not in the mood to talk, they just wanted to get this mission over with. “What is the matter, Boss?” 312 asked. “Huh...nothing. Something about all this is bugging me though.” 312 knew that if Drake was like this, it was best to leave him alone, and not to prod any more. “When we are back though, I will have to have a talk with Turner.” Turner was the Regiment's firearms expert. He had been slated to take part in the mission, only to break his leg an hour before they left. For this reason Little, the Canadian had been temporarily seconded from 9 Patrol, to replace Sergeant Turner for this outing. 312 knew that Drake and Turner were close friends from before they had joined the Regiment, and Turner just happened to be the stereotypical seasoned, experienced NCO that many relatively junior Officers like Drake depended on. For the next hour they drove along the road, eventually leaving the dike behind them and going down an alley flanked by large oak trees, camouflaging the cars from above and casting short shadows in the late morning sunlight. The three battered cars soon turned off the main road, taking a dirt track that led past a derelict farm towards a small open area.

They could see the de Havilland waiting, acting as the only sign this was an airfield of sorts, as there were no buildings, strips of Tarmac or any indication of military activity besides a pole with a wind sack. It was a sign of relief for all of them. For the Brits it meant that they would be home in a matter of hours, and for the Queen and her daughter it meant that they would be in relative safety. The plane was standing in the open, engines running and ready for take-off. Obviously the pilot did not want to stick around in daylight on an open, unprotected airstrip. Given the fact that they had been supposed to carry out this flight by night, this was more than understandable, but the deteriorating situation, along with the destruction of the Dutch Army Aviation Brigade as a fighting force had forced them to move up the plans. The cars stopped well short of the plane, and the group soon ran towards the plane. The Royals boarded first, and Queen Wilhelmina turned around in the door, taking a last look at her nation, not knowing that it would be many years before she would return. Felix was the last to board. He too took a good look at the country, because once again something was bothering him, and he did not have to look at Ian to know that he was not alone with this feeling. He put it down to professional paranoia, a trait he and Ian shared and something his Sister complained about if not seriously than at least frequently, so he simply squashed the strange feeling that they were being watched. Little did he know that they were indeed watched. The hooded figure took note when the plane roared down the grassy strip and took to the air. The figure hurried back to the derelict farm, where his compatriot and a small wireless transmitter were waiting for him. The higher-ups needed to know that their pray was in the air.

Meanwhile on the plane a they were all having a feeling of relief and dread at the same time. Relief that they were finally in the air, dread about what was coming. They had all seen the masses of refugees and the total chaos that reigned in the Netherlands. “Where will we go from here?” Queen Wilhelmina asked Drake. “To London first, your Majesty. As you know your Embassy there houses the family of her Royal Highness, and we figured that she might want to see them again before the final arrangements are made.” The Princess had not said a word ever since they had left the villa, but the prospect of seeing her children again mate her face light up. The plane soon crossed the Dutch coast and made it's way towards England. It had stopped raining, but the weather was still very cloudy, with think banks of clouds and fog obscuring long-range vision in all directions. The plane entered a fog bank at about 4000 feet. Ian leaned back in his seat and decided that it was best to sleep some more, because he felt utterly exhausted. However when the plane exited the cloud bank he noticed that they suddenly had an escort. “What the....” The small British Aircraft was surrounded by Soviet LaGG-3 Interceptors. One of them wiggled is wings, signalling the British to follow them. “What are we going to do now?” the Pilot asked. “Ideas, Gentlemen?” Ian asked and looked around. “I can shake them of for a while...” the Pilot said before he was interrupted by the Princess. “It is us they want. You do not have to die for..” This time Drake interrupted. “We were ordered to bring you to British territory, and by god we will do so.” The pilot needed no further encouragement and pushed the stick forward as steep as he dared, diving down towards the cold waters of the English channel. The Soviet pilots, three of them, where stunned that the British were so foolish and tried to flee in an unarmed short range passenger aircraft.

The pilot of the Dominie was heading for a fog bank at about sea level, hoping he would be able to shake the Soviets by changing course as soon as he was out of sight. “Hope we gain some time...” he said. To no avail. When the fog dissipated, they were instantly surrounded by tracer bullets, smashing into the starboard wing and only narrowly missing the fuselage and the engine, but penetrated one of the fuel tanks. Cutting the fuel line to the tank and releasing what remained in it at the same time into the air. Now they had only half of their fuel reserves left, but by the looks of it it did not matter anyhow. The three LaGGs were on their tail again, and the plane, although small and relatively fast, did have no chance to outmanoeuvre the Soviet fighters. The pilot did his best however, dodging from cloud to fog and back, taking them ever closer to the British coast. In the end however the 'fight' was a forgone conclusion. “Set out a wireless message.. At least they'll know where to look.” Ian ordered, and the co-pilot was the one to send out frantic calls for help. “This is Spider Flight, to all Allied Aircraft we are under attack by Soviet Aircraft at position...” while the pilot continued to fly the little plane as hard as he dared. “Spider Flight, this is Spartan Six, set a course due west and stay alive for thirty seconds more. Help on the way.” came suddenly out of the earphones of the pilots. Out of options, he did what was asked, banking to the left and right in order not to be blown to pieces. Suddenly the co-pilot yelled: “SPITS!” Sure enough, a flight of four Spitfire Mk. IIIs was pouncing the Soviets from in front and above, their heavy cannons hammering away, while the small transport and it's precious cargo.

Spartan Six, also known as Wing Commander Harold Dashwood, and the rest of Red Section/No. 633 Squadron raced past the bi-plane and and engaged the Soviets head on. The LaGG-3, although slightly faster than the Mk. III, was not as manoeuvrable as the British Fighter that was able to make more radical turns thanks to the all-metal structure. The Spitfire was also much more heavily armed, out-gunning the LaGG 2:1. This however was far from Dashwood's mind. He concentrated on the fight that was already as good as one. The Soviets who probably still had not fitted wireless sets to their planes had been befallen with hunting fever and had been so concentrated on their prey that the British fighters had been able to position themselves perfectly, so when Dashwood pressed the trigger, the four .303 Machine Guns and two 20mm cannons spewed fire and death at the enemy. The lightly armoured Soviets were ripped apart, the explosive 20mm shells throwing wooden splinters in all directions. All three Soviets were shot down in the first pass. The Spits then took flanking positions, guiding the damaged plane to their Airfield.



[Note: I never said that the next update would explain it all, or anything at all for that matter. The TTL Spitfire Mk. III is not the OTL one. It's rather an improved II with the Merlin XX and two 20mms. The Mk.III in TTL is a stopgap to pass the time until the Mk. V becomes available in a few weeks (read: when I can spare IC for upgrading). Power-wise it's between the Mk. II and V.]

 

[Raaritsgozilla]

Cool, I like Spitfires Luckily the Queen made it, and the pilot has some guts eh wot?

 

[Le Jones]

I always found Wilhelmina's flight to London in WWII slightly ironic given her historical Anglo-sceptic stance (she famously pleaded with Kaiser Bill for German intervention in the Boer War). Historically of course, I vaguely remember something about them having to ditch in the Channel, washing up on an English beach! Thank God for the Spits!

 

[El Pip]

An intriguing update, I look forward to the future when all the threads get pulled together. The ambushes (road and aerial), the watcher, Drake's 'small arms' question, there's some tantalising clues there about quite what the Soviet plan was (or if it indeed was a purely Soviet plan...)

 

[trekaddict]

Raaritsgozilla Indeed he has. IMO often the equally heroic and important duty of the cargo haulers or, in case of this particular model of plane, SAR pilot is overlooked.

Le Jones Indeed. But remember, in OTL it was only the Germans, but in TTL there are also the godless Communists, and does one not say "The Enemy of my Enemy is my friend"? Besides, she is realist enough to realize that the Netherlands cannot be held, even if the Allies manage to stop the Axis in Belgium and/or France. As for the spits, they were in the area for a reason.

El Pip I must admit, I am kinda flying by the seat of my pants with all this at the moment. While I know that it is some time before the Axis launches the main attack on France and Belgium ( for the moment they concentrate on knocking out the Dutch who are fighting damn hard ) and therefore could spend that time with more cloack and dagger stuff, I have decided to not plan a head for more than an update or two, as it is much fun to slowly find out where all this is taking me.

As for the plan, I can only tell you that there is some exchange of intelligence between the NKVD and the Abwehr, but as stated above I don't know yet myself if it is a joint op or not.

Edit: As of 20:33 I do know. I am plotting the next update at this very moment. What one does when the telly is broken and one is to poor/lazy to have it fixed...

 

[unmerged(85800)]

bloody lucky escape, there. somehow i didnt think it'd all end right then but you never know...

 

[trekaddict]

bloody lucky escape, there. somehow i didnt think it'd all end right then but you never know...

I admit, I was toying with killing them off and having either Ian or Felix be captured, but I dropped that idea early on. As said, Felix' sister is scary when she is angry.

 

[unmerged(85800)]

I admit, I was toying with killing them off and having either Ian or Felix be captured, but I dropped that idea early on. As said, Felix' sister is scary when she is angry.

having them captured and possibly in a 'great escape' sort of scenario could have been very cool, actually.

 

[trekaddict]

having them captured and possibly in a 'great escape' sort of scenario could have been very cool, actually.

Indeed.

*silently scribbles this into a thick folder labelled 'Ideas 1941 onwards'*

 

[Lord Strange]

Huzaaaah! Spitfires saving Royalty! Also, I'm being very very pedantic, but for the previous update, seatbelts were not in cars until the 50s, so they couldn't fasten them for the ambush. Sorry,

 

[trekaddict]

Huzaaaah! Spitfires saving Royalty! Also, I'm being very very pedantic, but for the previous update, seatbelts were not in cars until the 50s, so they couldn't fasten them for the ambush. Sorry,

This is a German car. While I know taht it wasn't mandatory to have them in Germany until the 1960s, and that 3 point seatbelts were first used in Mercs in 1957, they were invented before World War One, so it is possible that this particular car could have them. Seriously though, I think it adds to the drama.

 

[unmerged(110977)]

Arrgghhh!! Where's the Stukas I'm expecting!

Seriously though, I was expecting something like a couple of Stukas chasing the convoy until they were suddenly blasted out of the sky by Spitfires. Well, at least o'Spit did appear.

 

[Lord Strange]

Yes, but the Historical accuracy! Still, its satisfying to watch spitfires in your mind's eye saving royals AND ian fleming.