A Gentleman's War : The Middle-East Command (HoI3 TFH - UK AAR)

[Eurasia]

A Gentleman’s War : A Middle-East Command
(HoI3 TFH - UK AAR)
Chapter Ninety-Four : The B.E.F. In France - 7.12.1939 To 13.12.1939

On the 7th the weather in Finland was not helping the Soviets. The waters were wild from coast storms while the ground was staring to freeze. Luckily for them the roads were still semi-passable.

Two German U-boat flotillas were NOT lucky as on the afternoon of the 9th they were found by a French Fleet made up of English and French ships. Vice Admiral Darlan, a French naval commander who was known as a superior tactician, was eager to wipe them out.

But while the U-boats were heavily damaged they were able to escape his wrath.

Around this time the Home Command Theater which had direct control of the B.E.F. decided to change the chain-of-command. It first inserted the 1st Army Group between it and the HQ in France. Then it created the Aldershot Command HQ which was inserted between the 1st Army Group and the B.E.F. HQ.

Then it did something that greatly pleased the Prime Minister. It put the Aldershot Command on a transport ship and sent it to southern France.

It seemed the Home Command Theater had developed a interest in France. Or at least the Italian Front.

By the 12th of December the 5th Transport Ship Squadron, made up of three destroyer flotillas and three transport flotillas, carrying the newly formed HQ were already heading through the Straits of Gibraltar.

By late evening on the 13th General Brooke-Popham, and his HQ, landed in the Port of Nice. The man was known for his skill and knowledge of logistics. BUT he was also a member of the ‘Old Guard’ and there was worry he might not react quickly enough to the changing face of battle.

Just before midnight on the 13th the B.E.F., or at least most of it, seemed to be settling down to fight alongside the French against the Italians.

To the north the French Front was as silent as ever. But had had become very clear that the German forces were prepared for invasion.

And French officers noticed a high ratio of tanks to infantry among the Germans. This was NOT welcome.

Farther north the Russians had made some headway into Finland. But not much. Still, there was a chance that the Russians might win against Finland if given enough time due, purely, to their numbers.

 

[RustyHunter]

Fighting the Italians is not the worst choice by the AI. Evacuation should be relatively easy because you'll end up in neutral Vichy rather than recreating Dunkirk.

Of course, that's assuming the AI doesn't immediately move the BEF when Germany attacks, something I've noticed the French like to do.

 

[Eurasia]

A Gentleman’s War : A Middle-East Command
(HoI3 TFH - UK AAR)
Chapter Ninety-Five : Afternoon Tea - 14.12.1939

It was the afternoon of the 14th of November. Blackadder’s staff had just brought in tea for two. Major General St. Barleigh had been invited to have tea with Major General Blackadder.

In fact George was on time. He arrived at Blackadder’s headquarters at 4 PM, on the dot, and was let in to the inner office by Private Davies.

“Hello Blackadder!” said the cheerful George as he took a seat and placed his swagger stick on the desk. “I have some news. Some of it good and some of it confusing. Where would you like me to start?”

“First things first George,” replied Blackadder. “Cream? Lemon? Sugar?”

After both of them had their tea prepared and had enjoyed a few sips, and now feeling more civilized, Blackadder glanced at George’s head.

Where there would have normally been a hat was a helmet. It was a good helmet. A solid, British, helmet. But it seemed out of place.

“Before you give me any news, George, why not explain THAT.” remarked Blackadder as he nodded towards the piece of metal on his friend’s noggin.

“Oh, this old thing? I figured as we are at war I better look the part. Also my other hat gives away the fact that I am a officer and we don’t wish to give enemy snipers a target, now do we?”

Blackadder looked at the helmet. Then he looked at George and the officer’s uniform he was still wearing.

“Right, good idea,” he said as he picked up a small sandwich. “Now, you had news?”

“Yes, well, let me start with the good news,” replied George as he wolfed down a sandwich. “Mthfurthmthrhr. Sorry, let me wash that down with some tea. *gulp* Ahem. The Mediterranean Fleet reports that the carriers and battleships were almost finished installing their radar systems. The light cruisers are only halfway finished upgrading their anti-aircraft weapons.”

“I see,” remarked Blackadder as he refill their tea cups. “Anything else?”

“The Middle East Air Command reports their tactical bombers are almost all converted to the new engines.”

“Wonderful,” replied Blackadder. “Now the confusing news?”

“Well,” whispered George as he leaned forward over the desk. “I noticed that the East Africa Command has a infantry division in Dover. I also noticed a massive Feet of four transport flotillas, also under the command East Africa, carrying five garrison divisions on their way to Africa. They are just off the coast of Portugal as we speak.”

“And….?” asked Blackadder who was slightly worried that George’s helmet might slip off and smash the tea pot.

“If the Home Command is still on top of the production queue HOW did the East Africa Command get all those units?” said George tapping the side of his nose. “I say they bribed somebody to get their units out first!”

“No, George,” said Blackadder after taking a sip of his tea to give him strength, “it just means the first wave of units for the Home Command has been produced. And as the Ministry of Armaments moved on to the second wave of units for the Home Command they also started producing the first wave for the other Theaters.”

“Oh…that also explains the two transport flotillas passing Malta heading for India,” said George as he leaned back and went switch to his normal voice level. “I thought something had gone wrong. Well, at least those Front will be ready for the ‘Big One’ eh Blackadder? When the Italians and Japanese jump into the war, attack our forces, and scream Wham! BAM! Thank You Ma’am!”

Blackadder signed, put down his tea cup, and said, “George, three things. And listen carefully.”

“Right-o,” replied George, “all ears.”

“One, that saying does not mean what you think it means,” stated Blackadder.

“Understood.”

“Two, never say that again.”

“Right. And the third thing?”

“Never say that again.”

‘You already said that,” pointed out George.

“I felt it was important enough to say twice.”

 

[Bullfilter]

This seemed to trigger something in the Home Command Theater. The B.E.F. HQ was ordered to march south. Would it be stationed on the Italian Front?!?!?

Not bad, the HQ trying to get within radio range of their unit(s).

Or they were planning to assemble units there so they could be easily picked up by transports at the French ports. Which seemed strange. Wouldn’t the northern ports be closer to English ports?

Not a bad position - plenty of Allied shipping in the Med, though the Italian Navy would have to be reckoned with. But if a powerful enough escort fleet is sent, they should be fine. And then it’s an event shorter transfer to North Africa (nudge-nudge, wink-wink).

Then it did something that greatly pleased the Prime Minister. It put the Aldershot Command on a transport ship and sent it to southern France.

Did it please him because it was good for the chain of command? Or because he wanted to be rid of the Aldershot Command? Mind you, given the choice between Aldershot and the French Riviera…

Just before midnight on the 13th the B.E.F., or at least most of it, seemed to be settling down to fight alongside the French against the Italians.

This is probably far safer than being risked against the main German invasion and could be useful keeping the Italians in their box, at least. Are you at least assigning any defensive objectives to the Home Theatre HQ? Or is it fully operationally autonomous?

But had had become very clear that the German forces were prepared for invasion.

And French officers noticed a high ratio of tanks to infantry among the Germans. This was NOT welcome.

Indeed not. Nerfed French AI vs OP Germany AI? I don’t like the odds.

Also my other hat gives away the fact that I am a officer and we don’t wish to give enemy snipers a target, now do we?

Very good point. And make sure people don’t salute when you’re out on the front lines. An old joke we had when out in the field: soldier salutes an officer and says “Good morning, sir, watch out for snipers!”

Blackadder looked at the helmet. Then he looked at George and the officer’s uniform he was still wearing.

Also a good point. Still, there needs to be something to tell him from the riff-raff.

Haven‘t seen much of Melchett recently: a bad batch of moustache wax?

 

[Eurasia]

This is probably far safer than being risked against the main German invasion and could be useful keeping the Italians in their box, at least. Are you at least assigning any defensive objectives to the Home Theatre HQ? Or is it fully operationally autonomous?


Haven‘t seen much of Melchett recently: a bad batch of moustache wax?

The Home Command has two tagged objectives just behind the Italian border and three in Belgium. In my French AAR I think the Italians broke through my lines because I left all those troops in North Africa. I hope the B.E.F. might give the Italian Front some more mass to fill up the defenses. If they STAY there.

Melchett is likely too busy looting museums, seducing sheep, and trying to find a way to make umbrellas a weapon against the Italians.

 

[Wraith11B]

Melchett is likely too busy looting museums, seducing sheep, and trying to find a way to make umbrellas a weapon against the Italians.

Isn't that last bit the proverbial British weapon of choice?

 

[Eurasia]

A Gentleman’s War : A Middle-East Command
(HoI3 TFH - UK AAR)
Chapter Ninety-Six : Defeat In The Air - 15.12.1939 To 20.12.1939

The six garrison units being delivered to East Africa Command were being sent to the port of Berbera.

The logic seemed to be that either the Italians would try to take the Theater’s HQ or not.

If they attacked Berbera there would be a mass of defenders to meet them.

If they didn’t attack the slow moving garrison units could go forth and occupy the, mostly undefended, Italian and Ethiopian provinces.

On the 16th the RAF Strategic Bomber Command was sent off to bomb the Province of Leipzig again.

That day they were attacked by German fighters five times. And while they beat back the enemy aircraft and won all five clashes the the No. 4 RAF Wing was only at half strength by the end of the day.

On the 17th the bombers were attacked six times and by the end of the day the No. 4 RAF Wing was down to around 25% of their strength.

On the 18th the bombers were attacked six time and the No. 4 RAF Wing was barely at 20% of their strength. And the other two Wings are also starting to show wear as they were down by at least 5% of their total strength.

On the 19th the bombers were attack six times and No. 4 RAF Wing only existed on paper. And the other two remaining Wings were totally disorganized. At this rate it was unlikely they would reach their target and it was likely many of the planes and crew would not be returning home.

On the 20th the bombers were attacked early in the morning and, this time, were forced back. As the bombers fled Germany space they pounced on while flying over the Low Countries.

They reached the airbases in Dover by 8 AM on the 20th. The remaining Two Wings were totally disorganized, approaching the airfields in a disorderly mass, aircraft trailing smoke.

All told the RAF Strategic Bomber Could lost almost 50% of their total bombers and crews. And they failed in their mission.

While this was going on in the skies the rest of the military was moving along without of the problems the RAF was having.

For example on the 16th of December the Middle-East Command was notified that its fighter group and new tactical group would be ready some time in March of 1940. And the light armoured brigade would be ready around January!

On the 18th the Mediterranean Fleet announced that the carriers and battleships had finished installing their radar systems.

That same day the Lars Bay Fleet was passing the Port of Alexandria on its way to Berbera. The four transports flotilla were carrying five garrison units for the East Africa Command.

On the evening of the 20th the Italian Front looked calm. And the B.E.F. looked like it was settling in.

The Germans on the French Front had become active again. They seemed to be shifting some of the units north. Maybe they wanted to make their right flank stronger?

And as for the ‘Fool’s War’ the Soviet had gained some territories. But it was clear they had NOT been prepared for an invasion of Finland.

So the Allies waited and the Germans reorganized and the Soviets tried to look effective.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Where's Lord flasheart in all this?

 

[37th Armoured div]

I personally think that baldric would be better placed fighting in the winter war. Not like you could make it worse.

Right?

 

[Bullfilter]

The Italian front is certainly a long way from Tipperary for the BEF, anyway.

 

[Eurasia]

A Gentleman’s War : A Middle-East Command
(HoI3 TFH - UK AAR)
Chapter Ninety-Seven : A Confused Field Marshall - 21.12.1939

The 21st of December had been a slow but interesting day. In the morning the Ministry of Armaments had announced that Advancements had been made in submarine engines. It would increase their speed and range but at the cost of using up more fuel.

Around noon the British Army decided to remove the objectives of the provinces in Belgium. In other words Gent, Bruxelles, and Liege were no longer the responsibility of the Home Command Theater.

The only objectives it would have in Europe was on the French border with Italy.

Later in the afternoon East Africa picked up another garrison unit from Dover.

The East Africa Command was already starting to position its unit. The Axis would have a hard time taking the HQ with all those divisions protecting it.

That evening, after a nice three course meal, Sir Anthony C.H. Melchett started to prepare for bed. He had put on his moustache net and was grabbing his teddy bear.

As Captain Timothy Malek tucked him into bed the sleepy Field Marshall asked, “Do you think the French will be able to keep the Germans out of France, Captain?”

“Well, it depends heavily on the force multipliers involved,” answered the Captain,

“Force multipliers?”

“Yes, force multipliers are factors that help personnel accomplish greater feats than without them. For example a man with a rifle has a greater force multiplier than a man with a stick. And he is more likely to win.”

“I see,” lied the Field Marshall.

“For example the French have land Forts to help defend themselves,” added the Captain. “But the German forces have more Armoured divisions and more experience. On the other hand there is the German Home Front to take into account.”

“Of course,” replied the Field Marshall. “Eh…what about the Home Front?”

“Well, we’ve bombed their cities and sunk about 254,646 tons of cargo at this point,” said the Captain as he made sure the Field Marshall’s glass of water was on the table next to the bed. “Their industry is suffering from bombed out factories and lack of resources. This is likely causing dissent among their people. And angry people write angry letters to their sons and fathers in the military. So the dissent spreads to the soldiers.”

“So…?” said a totally confused Field Marshall.

“The Germans, I think, have a slight advantage over the French defenders,” said the Captain as he stood and walked over to the light switch. “But just barely. I fear France will fall. Nightie-Night!”

And so the Field Marshall hugged his bear and tried to sleep. But it was dark and all he could think about was all that French wine and food being captured by evil Huns. There was also his fear that somebody was drinking the Port Wine he had hidden in his office.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

I mean, at this point the German Reich should be close to collapse, given that it's been blown to high heaven by the British and French, taken half of Poland, and is sat burning resources on the French border (and seem to be planning to go straight through the Magiot Line).

Meanwhile, the French reserves by this point should be in the middle of call up, so a few million men are on the way to the front as a reserve force. The British have finally gotten the BEF somewhere useful, and are no doubt training another army. Neither country has been hit much by the war so far and has in fact done irreversible damage to the german war economy already.

Simply put, at this point the phoney war should really end with a German insurrection any week now. And if they do manage to attack, a great collapse and push to Berlin is on the cards.

Even in game, the Germans (whilst still capable of taking France...somehow) are probably not going to be all that successful afterwards. And Italy seems asleep at the wheel.

 

[RustyHunter]

If they didn’t attack the slow moving garrison units could go forth and occupy the, mostly undefended, Italian and Ethiopian provinces.

That seems a bit ambitious considering they have a max speed of 1km/h if I remember right, not accounting for the various penalties due to mountains, hills, and deserts that make up East Africa. Admittedly, they'll do a good job holding the ports against Ethiopian and Italian militias, hopefully buying time for other troops to redeploy?

 

[Surt]

I mean, at this point the German Reich should be close to collapse, given that it's been blown to high heaven by the British and French, taken half of Poland, and is sat burning resources on the French border (and seem to be planning to go straight through the Magiot Line).

Meanwhile, the French reserves by this point should be in the middle of call up, so a few million men are on the way to the front as a reserve force. The British have finally gotten the BEF somewhere useful, and are no doubt training another army. Neither country has been hit much by the war so far and has in fact done irreversible damage to the german war economy already.

Simply put, at this point the phoney war should really end with a German insurrection any week now. And if they do manage to attack, a great collapse and push to Berlin is on the cards.

Even in game, the Germans (whilst still capable of taking France...somehow) are probably not going to be all that successful afterwards. And Italy seems asleep at the wheel.

You forgot that they are also feasting on Danish Bacon (and have avoided Norwegian dried fish).

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

You forgot that they are also feasting on Danish Bacon (and have avoided Norwegian dried fish).

Ah yes. A curious decision which no doubt has not made the other neutral European nations start mobalising and preparing for war.

...

Belgium and Netherlands are also fully armed and ready at this point (presumably. They've had ample time to do so anyway...).

 

[Eurasia]

A Gentleman’s War : A Middle-East Command
(HoI3 TFH - UK AAR)
Chapter Ninety-Eight : The Field Marshall Behaves - 22.12.1939 To 27.12.1939

The next few days were VERY calm.

In the Middle-East the Mediterranean Fleet was still working on the radar system for the light cruisers.

The Fleet had also started replacing the bomb racks on the carrier aircraft to carry heavier bombs.

The Middle East Air Command had replaced about 80% of the tactical bombers engines.

News from outside the Middle East was just as boring.

On the 22nd the animated feature film Gulliver’s Travels, based on the Jonathan Swift’s story, was released. The 76 minute movie was the first feature-length animated film and the second animated film produced by an American studio. The first was Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.

Pope Pius XII gave a Christmas address, on the 24th of December, to 25 cardinals in which he offered a five-point program for bringing about a ‘just and honorable peace’.

On the 25th the Field Marshall didn’t do anything to get himself arrested and this worried the Captain.

Then there was a massive earthquake in Turkey on the 27th that killed 32,000 people and injured another 100,000.

When the Field Marshall heard that he just laughed. “Good! Those flip-flopping gits! It’s nature’s way of dealing with people who can’t pick a side.”

“Nature?” remarked the Captain. “I thought you believed in God?”

“I do,” replied the Field Marshall. “But not in public. It seems to upset the smelly masses. No, I will keep my worship of Jesus to myself and in public I will support science. Which reminds me, can I have my matches back?”

“No,” answered the Captain. “Why do you want the matches back?”

“No reason,” said the smiling Field Marshall. "It's just my atomic energy set finally arrived and I want to try it out."

"Once again, No," replied the Captain.

By then It looked like the Soviets had taken a few more miles of Finnish territory. But not much.

By the end of the 27th it was also clear that Germany was still adjusting its front lines.

 

[Surt]

The Italians might not join the war before Paris falls, so the BIF, British Italian Force, might have a long wait.

 

[RustyHunter]

My worry with the BEF is that the AI will redeploy north when the Germans break through, get halfway there and shuffle south when the Italians attack, leaving them out of position and useless.

 

[serutan]

“No reason,” said the smiling Field Marshall. "It's just my atomic energy set finally arrived and I want to try it out."

I see now how you're going to dispose of the Field Mashal and put Blackadder in command. I just want to know whether the Field Marshal will spend the rest of the war in prison or in a coffin.

 

[Eurasia]

A Gentleman’s War : A Middle-East Command
(HoI3 TFH - UK AAR)
Chapter Ninety-Nine : Rationing - 28.12.1939 To 2.1.1940

Things started to go downhill for the people of the UK. On the 28th of December The Ministry of Food announced that, starting next year, rationing would begun on butter, bacon, ham, and sugar.

Rationing for civilians would quickly expand to cheese, all types of meat, preserves, lard, sweets, and TEA! The military and merchants would be allowed some cooking fats (which was also rationed).

Even milk was rationed in the end and this was strange as it was the only food which Britain was entirely self-sufficient. The fact was that the UK relayed heavily on imports to feed its populace.

Luckily the Ministry of Agriculture’s campaign to make farmers grow more wheat and potatoes meant that the government didn’t need to ration bread. Of course this meant many pastures were turned into fields and soon there were more tractors in the UK than ever before.

In other words people started to replace bacon at breakfast with porridge. In fact the populace were encourage to replace meat with oats and butter with margarine. Which was also rationed.

Soap, coal, petrol, and paper would all become rationed in the end.

Some civilians were allowed special rations. Such as miners and members of the Auxiliary were allowed larger rations of cheese.

Not only was the food rationed but civilians were registered to certain shops. And the shop owners were only given enough food to supply those customers registered to that store.

So not only was your food limited. But your ration booklet would only work at a certain shop.

While not all items were rationed there would be shortages on such products as razor blades, baby bottles, alarm clocks, frying pans and pots, and even balloons.

Of course the working class was suspicious of the whole system and assumed it was just a way to keep the Rich well fed during tough times.

“What a silly idea,” said the Field Marshall when the Captain explained about how the populace was responding to the news of rationing, “why, I love the working class. Who else will shine my shoes, cook my meals, turn the pages of my book as I read, trim my eyebrows, and keep the Empire running? Why, without the working class slobs going off to work in the mines and fishing fleets and factories I would never be able to have affairs with their wives.”

While that was happening on the Home Front the Middle-East Command continued to upgrade their tactical bombers, light cruisers, and carrier aircraft.

Around this time the Samfreedom Flotilla, which belonged to the East Africa Command, was passing Alexandria on its way to deliver the 117th Infantry Division to Sudan. This division was, in fact, a garrison unit. No doubt its job was to protect the port when the other units went on the attack.

On the 31st of December, shortly after lunch, two German U-boat flotillas had the ill luck of running into a British Fleet made up of three capital ships, three screening elements, three submarines flotillas, and three transport flotillas.

About three hours later one German flotilla escaped. But the other did not.

At this rate the Germans might not have a Navy soon.

The New Year Eve Celebrations in Europe was mostly subdued due to blackout and noise restrictions in many of warring nations.

On the 1st of January, as the US had a bunch of football games to celebrate the first cold day of 1940, the UK increased the age of conscription to the 27.

By the 2nd of January it is very clear to most of the world’s governments that the European war would likely soon expand beyond Europe.