Sorry, but I was sleeping when you did this update.trekaddict said:No one?
Anyway, love the idea of Gurkhas and SAS.
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Anyway, love the idea of Gurkhas and SAS.
Sorry, but did you just say Gurkha paratroopers *faints with happiness* i love this timeline, the British Empire is going to colonise the world.
humancalculator It's apprechiated. The lack of comments has probably to do with the fact that I post in the dead of the night recently, so that might have something to do with it.
The SAS is right now chiefly recruiting European personell, as Gurkhas, as good candidates as they are, can't really blend in in the ETO. Later...who knows.
Griffin.Gen The Canadians, and the ANZACs for that matter will have their glory, believe me.
Lord Strange Yes, Gurkha Paratroopers. The Empire won't colonize the world, but it will have the mightiest and most awesome military in history.
The SAS is right now chiefly recruiting European personell, as Gurkhas, as good candidates as they are, can't really blend in in the ETO. Later...who knows.
Griffin.Gen The Canadians, and the ANZACs for that matter will have their glory, believe me.
Lord Strange Yes, Gurkha Paratroopers. The Empire won't colonize the world, but it will have the mightiest and most awesome military in history.
Oh yes.GeneralHannibal said:They should be very afraid
Browning: "Jump to it Lads, let's show Jerry what's what!"
Random German Officer: "Ze English are attackink!"
1st Brigade jumps.
Random German officer: "Run, itz ze Gurkhas!"
*proceeds to crap in his pants*
Oh yeah, The Canadians better have their glory after Vimy and Passchendale (sp?)!
Maybe some kind of Epic Ortona-styled battle
Edit: lol, be afraid of the Gurkhas
Maybe some kind of Epic Ortona-styled battle
Edit: lol, be afraid of the Gurkhas
Just caught up, I had slipped an update behind then discovered you'd posted another while I wasn't looking!
So the SAS is go I see, why do I have a suspicion Drake is going to make it through selection?
The RAF-AdA co-operation seems far tighter than the Soviet-German equivalent, how solid is the Unholy Alliance? It appears there is still work to do on their operational/tactical co-ordination if nothing else. Something to exploit later? Perhaps by a certain Fleming and Drake in an MI6/SAS false-flag operation?
So the SAS is go I see, why do I have a suspicion Drake is going to make it through selection?
The RAF-AdA co-operation seems far tighter than the Soviet-German equivalent, how solid is the Unholy Alliance? It appears there is still work to do on their operational/tactical co-ordination if nothing else. Something to exploit later? Perhaps by a certain Fleming and Drake in an MI6/SAS false-flag operation?
Griffin.Gen Well, the ANZACs and the Canadians will most certainly see service in Asia, when/if the Japanese go bonkers.
El Pip RAF/AdA cooperation is somewhat tighter than at that point in OTL, but that the French were there at that moment was a mere coincidence. The Soviets and the Germans are working together relatively well, but in the air their difference in tactical doctrine is even more pronounced than on the ground. Also bear in mind that outside of the UK everyone still believes that the Bomber always gets through and doesn't need escort. I won't spoil on exploitation of eventual fissures, but we will most certainly see more of Lieutenant Drake and his NCO.
El Pip RAF/AdA cooperation is somewhat tighter than at that point in OTL, but that the French were there at that moment was a mere coincidence. The Soviets and the Germans are working together relatively well, but in the air their difference in tactical doctrine is even more pronounced than on the ground. Also bear in mind that outside of the UK everyone still believes that the Bomber always gets through and doesn't need escort. I won't spoil on exploitation of eventual fissures, but we will most certainly see more of Lieutenant Drake and his NCO.
I can't believe it, the war has finally begun...
this is now going to truly become epic. Simply can't wait for more!
this is now going to truly become epic. Simply can't wait for more!
Just playing my first UK game in far too long. Annexed Germany in March 1945 even without Soviet help as they only DoWed Germany in september 1944, and I am currently shipping the Army to India.
It is slightly scary how fast you knock these updates out while keeping the quality high.trekaddict said:
My last few writing sessions have all ended in frustrated deleting of updates I think are rubbish.
My updates are somewhat shorter, and the fact that I have certain goals and long-term ideas I strive to achieve helps me doing it. That at way too much time. Once I start working next year and university in the summer it will probably a bit more time inbetween the updates.
Ah, yet more evidence that there's something wrong in the way you're thinkingEl Pip said:My last few writing sessions have all ended in frustrated deleting of updates I think are rubbish.
So far, I haven't read anything by you which has been poorly written, although it's nice to get an explanation as to why your rate of updates is so agonizingly low.
The regular mass deleting during the writing process is, I believe, very strongly connected to the fact the final product isn't poorly written.Eams said:
Certainly, though I suspect that you're far too liberal (don't worry, I'll never use that word to describe you ever againEl Pip said:The regular mass deleting during the writing process is, I believe, very strongly connected to the fact the final product isn't poorly written.
) in how much you delete.
Note ahead: One Transport flotilla = four to five ships. Also I will treat Radar Brigades on ships as mere bigger, stronger and more sophisticated sets. In RL many ships had Radar installed during the course of the war or earlier, and not only those that get/have Radar brigades in my game.
September 12th, 1939
Helgoland Bight, aboard RN Destroyer HMS Cossack
The Captain of the Cossack was napping in his bridge chair, and was slightly snoring, much to the amusement of his crew. It was not as there was much to do. The Home Fleet was on close blockade Duty of the northern German ports, and so far save for a few Destroyers that had summarily been dealt with by the Rodney and the Nelson no enemy ships had been encountered. Duty was boring but important, and so the grumbling among the men was very silent. This however was to change, and when the RDF plot showed a multitude of targets, coming slowly right for them. The Captain was awoken and immediately started giving orders. “Ascertain course and direction of those blips. If it is Jerry we will have to see what they have. Alter course to three-one-oh, and increase to max.” The Destroyer heaved around and increased speed, going as fast as his engines permitted. The Tribal Class Destroyers weren't exactly racing boats, but still much faster than the old V & A class ships. The new Battle-Class Destroyers were so far exclusively built to escort the Carriers of Force A, so for now the Tribals were the fastest British Destroyers afloat, and therefore mostly tasked with van duty. When they had detected the contacts the Cossack had been on a course that led her south at about 181° , and had she continued on she would have been in range of the German shore batteries around Kiel in another day. Commander Calahan was more than surprised that the Luftwaffe had not yet paid a visit to the Home Fleet, given that the British ships were operating awfully close to their bases in northern Germany. The Admiral had expected a large-scale coordinated effort by the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe ever since the Home Fleet had arrived on station, but a recce flight by a Coastal Command Sunderland at dawn yesterday showed most of the KM tied up. The crew had described the Fighters and AA that had hounded the big flying boat as merely 'a bit of a sticky situation', but the plane had limped home riddled holes and two engines out, a third close to going as well. Still, it had given the Admiralty the singular possibility of accurately assessing the surface strength of the German Navy, and it had been confirmed that the KM was no danger to the Home Fleet. The Carrier the Germans were reportedly working on was nowhere to be seen, and the First Sea Lord, also CinC Home Fleet had dismissed it as a mere rumour and believed that the Germans had probably given up on it. Calahan was not that sure, but then again he was only a lowly Destroyer Captain.
The fog hanging over the north sea made spotting difficult, but thanks to RDF they could still see the ships. Suddenly the fog cleared and they could see row upon row of transport vessels, enough for at least three Divisions, steaming northwards with great speed, just where Calahan estimated the Battleships of Home Fleet to be. The group.. no, fleet, was escorted by several German Destroyers . The Cossack was spotted almost immediately, and within seconds 5'' shells began to fall all around the little Destroyer. “HARD ABOUT!” Calahan yelled, and just as the Cossack was swerving on her new course a shell-splash at where she would have been without the change in heading indicated that something far larger than a Destroyer was around. Calahan ordered zig-zag course, and when his ship was hidden in a fog bank again everyone on the bridge of the Cossack let out the breath they had held. Calahan proceeded to dictate a message to the higher-ups: “Have sighted large enemy convoy, escorted by Destroyers and unidentified larger ship, possibly cruiser. Give their course and position, and add ours in case we run into trouble. Officer of the watch, get us out of visual range.” The message was flashed by the Cossack's radio room and within minutes was in the hand of Admiral Backhouse. He walked back into the bridge with his hands behind his back. “Good, our first catch of the day. OOW, plot an interception point and direct 1. Battlesquadron to move there at best speed.” “Yes, Sir.”
Three hours later, aboard German liner MS Hamburg
The Captain of the Hamburg was uncomfortable. Despite what the Führer and the Kriegsmarine said, the escort for this convoy seemed to be woefully inadequate. He would have preferred to move the ships through the Kiel Channel, but alas one of the locks of the locks was blocked by what had been referred to as a downed English Aircraft, shot down by the Luftwaffe, and so they had to take the long route around Denmark. He had his lookouts doubled ever since that British Destroyer had spotted the convoy, as he was sure that they would get a visit from the rest of their Navy soon. As if on cue one of the lookouts yelled: “Ship, bearing three-one-two.” The Captain left the pilothouse and searched the indicated bearing trough his binoculars. “Are you su.... DOWN! EVERYBODY DOWN!” A split-second later everyone saw what had made the Captain yell like that. At the bearing indicated the fog was suddenly back-lighted by a yellow hue, followed by a thunderous bang. A few seconds after that they could hear the freight-train shriek of very, very heavy shells ripping through the air above their heads. They counted three splashes, but much to their dismay a fourth, fifth and sixth shell were landing on the hull of the MS Kap Arkona, leaving her aflame from bow to stern and dead in the water. The Captain turned around again, and what he saw made his blood freeze in his veins. Two Battleships and a smaller ship, by the size of it a Battlecruiser, parted the fog like a curtain, proudly flying the White Ensign of the British Navy and their turrets turned on the helpless German Convoy. The three Destroyers and the Schleswig-Holstein interposed themselves, but the Captain strongly suspected that they would either be sunk or forced to withdraw. Still, they gave him enough time to pull out his ship-recognition book. For some strange reason it was incredibly important to him which of the British ships it where that attacked the convoy. While the German Battlecruiser and the destroyers valiantly attacked the British, forcing them to shift their fire away from the convoys, the Captain identified the British, recognizing them as HMS Rodney, HMS Resolution and HMS Hood. He watched the uneven battle with a ghastly fascination.
HMS Hood just before the Battle, picture taken from abaord HMS Resolution
HMS Hood, 8000 yards NNW of MS Hamburg.
“SHOOT!” yelled the gunnery officer into the telephone receiver, and a second later the heavy 15'' guns of the Hood thundered as one, hurling their deadly shells at the German Battlecruiser. Murray was rewarded with six splashes, meaning that there were two hits, and that on the second salvo. “Good shooting, Guns.” Murray exclaimed, never leaving the German out of his sight. The return-fire was not as accurate, but Murray still winced when he saw a shell glance of the armour of X turret aboard HMS Resolution. Still, it seemed as if aside from a few rattled heads and major headaches nothing was wrong, as the Resolution promptly avenged this with another hit, starting a small fire amidships. The whole Battle was confused. Aboard all British ships the main armament was shooting the living daylights out of the German Battlecruiser, while their secondaries were engaging the Destroyers. The British Destroyers where nowhere to be seen, as they had been sent ahead, with the intention of cutting the German's line of retreat. Hood's guns thundered again, this time without scoring any hits, but the German ship was visibly slowing, and was still getting yet another hit, this time from Rodney. She was listing to starboard, but still made an effort to retreat. The British tried to follow, but the last two German Destroyers made smoke, obscuring their view. The RDF plot was way too confused by now to sort out any single ship, and so the force simply headed for the biggest gaggle of signals. Soon the earlier scene repeated itself, only that this time no nagging German Destroyers were to be seen, as they were engaged by the British Destroyers as they had attempted to follow the scattering convoy south. Hood fired again and again, with the battered Resolution finishing of the stragglers and remnants. Murray stood on the Bridge when they engaged yet another freighter. The guns fired, and the German ship was blown apart. “Must've carried ammunition or petrol.” Phillips mused. Murray pitied the crews of the German freighters. The British ships were like wolves among sheep, wolves with RDF-aided eyes, but then again there was a war on, and they had brought it upon themselves. He checked the status indicators of the turrets and saw that the Royal Marines-manned Y turret was late again. “Jump to it, lads..” he silently ordered. Then the light finally switched to green. The turrets swivled around, training themselves onto yet another target. By now there were only four German freighters remaining. Hood was shooting well today, and had already four on it's own tally, but strangely enough Resolution, whose damaged turret had finally given out, was the top scorer today with already eight. Rodney seemed rather luckless, and Murray suspected that the fresh score of recruits they had absorbed upon the beginning of the war was still impairing their gunnery. He surveyed the Germans, trying in vain to flee from his guns. Of those ships he could see through the fog three were damaged to some degree, one was already Dead in the water. Backhouse had given standing orders that the cripples and slowed ships were to be left to Resolution, while the undamaged Hood and Rodney would hunt down those that still made certain speed.
September 13th, 1939. “Westgruppe der Kriegmarine” or “Group West of the Kriegsmarine”, Kiel
The news from what the British called the Battle of Helgoland was bad, so bad in fact that Admiral Albrecht, the Chief of Staff of the Westgruppe had was looking for a scapegoat, and as Operation Rösselsprung, the transfer of Germany's amphibious transport capability from the North Sea into the secure Baltic Sea , had been his he was the likely choice. The British had destroyed three-quarters of their transports, forcing the OKW to postpone Operation Weserübung at least for a year, maybe more until these transports could be replaced. Even with Soviet Help they simply couldn't transport enough troops. Rumour from Berlin had it that the Führer was most displeased, and that alone made Lütjens sweat in his uniform. When he entered the Office of his immediate CO he could see that things weren't good. Not only was none other than G.Adm. Raeder present, but they were also wearing very grim expressions on their faces. Raeder came straight to the point, even before Lütjens was seated. “Tell me Admiral, what went wrong? The Führer is most displeased and demands a full report.” Lütjens swallowed nervously and went about saving his own skin. “As you all know two days ago we commenced Operation Rösselsprung, that is the transfer of our apmhibious capability to the safer waters of the Baltic Sea. This operation was planned by myself and Admiral Albrecht, in order to safeguard our capabilities in order to decrease reliance on the new ships our Soviet Allies are constructing.” “We saw how well that worked.” Raeder replied drily. “Three entire flotillas sunk, four more heavily damaged, not to speak of the men and equipment we were transporting on them. We lost enough material and ammunition there to equip three damn Divisions! The Schleswig-Holstein heavily damaged, and we lost four Destroyers too!” Raeder took a few moments to calm himself. “Tell me, Lütjens who was the Genius who said that the British wouldn't risk their fleet again this close in?” Lütjens was not able to answer that question, simply because he did not know who had written that report. “I don't know, Sir. When I requested a report from Naval Intelligence this was what I got. I even have the original report with me today, Admiral.” With that he handed Raeder a paper, the original of the Report. Raeder quickly skimmed over it. “That still does not excuse anything. Why was the escort so inadequate? Even if the threat had been English U-Boats alone there should have been more ships! If I am not mistaken both the Bismarck and the Graf Zeppelin were available!” Lütjens saw an opening and took it. “Group West decided that no more escorts were needed. Admiral Albrecht and myself spoke to Admiral Hausser, but he denied the request.” Raeder nodded. Lütjens had so far given good arguments and his talent at covering himself had saved his skin. Still, he was not about to let him off the hook, the orders from the Führer had been precise on that. “Ah yes.” he said, “the former Admiral has already decided to constant retirement. Well Lütjens, heads will roll in Naval Intelligence, Admiral Canaris and I will see to that. As for you, Lütjens, it seems as if your talents are needed elsewhere. There is an opening as a liaison officer with the Soviet Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok. We will get you there as soon as possible, and I hope you like long train voyages.”
[Game Notes: While the ships in a flotilla are represented as a single unit within the game and can therefore only show up as sunk by a single ship I've decided to split it up more evenly. Also are my readers bored with Hood appearing so often? That pic btw is an artists rendition of how Hood would have looked like had the rebuild been carried out in OTL. I also felt that Lütjens needed to be punished for daring to sink the Hood in RL., and I think that is the most backwater posting you can find in TTLs Kriegsmarine.]
Chapter 62
September 12th, 1939
Helgoland Bight, aboard RN Destroyer HMS Cossack
The Captain of the Cossack was napping in his bridge chair, and was slightly snoring, much to the amusement of his crew. It was not as there was much to do. The Home Fleet was on close blockade Duty of the northern German ports, and so far save for a few Destroyers that had summarily been dealt with by the Rodney and the Nelson no enemy ships had been encountered. Duty was boring but important, and so the grumbling among the men was very silent. This however was to change, and when the RDF plot showed a multitude of targets, coming slowly right for them. The Captain was awoken and immediately started giving orders. “Ascertain course and direction of those blips. If it is Jerry we will have to see what they have. Alter course to three-one-oh, and increase to max.” The Destroyer heaved around and increased speed, going as fast as his engines permitted. The Tribal Class Destroyers weren't exactly racing boats, but still much faster than the old V & A class ships. The new Battle-Class Destroyers were so far exclusively built to escort the Carriers of Force A, so for now the Tribals were the fastest British Destroyers afloat, and therefore mostly tasked with van duty. When they had detected the contacts the Cossack had been on a course that led her south at about 181° , and had she continued on she would have been in range of the German shore batteries around Kiel in another day. Commander Calahan was more than surprised that the Luftwaffe had not yet paid a visit to the Home Fleet, given that the British ships were operating awfully close to their bases in northern Germany. The Admiral had expected a large-scale coordinated effort by the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe ever since the Home Fleet had arrived on station, but a recce flight by a Coastal Command Sunderland at dawn yesterday showed most of the KM tied up. The crew had described the Fighters and AA that had hounded the big flying boat as merely 'a bit of a sticky situation', but the plane had limped home riddled holes and two engines out, a third close to going as well. Still, it had given the Admiralty the singular possibility of accurately assessing the surface strength of the German Navy, and it had been confirmed that the KM was no danger to the Home Fleet. The Carrier the Germans were reportedly working on was nowhere to be seen, and the First Sea Lord, also CinC Home Fleet had dismissed it as a mere rumour and believed that the Germans had probably given up on it. Calahan was not that sure, but then again he was only a lowly Destroyer Captain.
The fog hanging over the north sea made spotting difficult, but thanks to RDF they could still see the ships. Suddenly the fog cleared and they could see row upon row of transport vessels, enough for at least three Divisions, steaming northwards with great speed, just where Calahan estimated the Battleships of Home Fleet to be. The group.. no, fleet, was escorted by several German Destroyers . The Cossack was spotted almost immediately, and within seconds 5'' shells began to fall all around the little Destroyer. “HARD ABOUT!” Calahan yelled, and just as the Cossack was swerving on her new course a shell-splash at where she would have been without the change in heading indicated that something far larger than a Destroyer was around. Calahan ordered zig-zag course, and when his ship was hidden in a fog bank again everyone on the bridge of the Cossack let out the breath they had held. Calahan proceeded to dictate a message to the higher-ups: “Have sighted large enemy convoy, escorted by Destroyers and unidentified larger ship, possibly cruiser. Give their course and position, and add ours in case we run into trouble. Officer of the watch, get us out of visual range.” The message was flashed by the Cossack's radio room and within minutes was in the hand of Admiral Backhouse. He walked back into the bridge with his hands behind his back. “Good, our first catch of the day. OOW, plot an interception point and direct 1. Battlesquadron to move there at best speed.” “Yes, Sir.”
Three hours later, aboard German liner MS Hamburg
The Captain of the Hamburg was uncomfortable. Despite what the Führer and the Kriegsmarine said, the escort for this convoy seemed to be woefully inadequate. He would have preferred to move the ships through the Kiel Channel, but alas one of the locks of the locks was blocked by what had been referred to as a downed English Aircraft, shot down by the Luftwaffe, and so they had to take the long route around Denmark. He had his lookouts doubled ever since that British Destroyer had spotted the convoy, as he was sure that they would get a visit from the rest of their Navy soon. As if on cue one of the lookouts yelled: “Ship, bearing three-one-two.” The Captain left the pilothouse and searched the indicated bearing trough his binoculars. “Are you su.... DOWN! EVERYBODY DOWN!” A split-second later everyone saw what had made the Captain yell like that. At the bearing indicated the fog was suddenly back-lighted by a yellow hue, followed by a thunderous bang. A few seconds after that they could hear the freight-train shriek of very, very heavy shells ripping through the air above their heads. They counted three splashes, but much to their dismay a fourth, fifth and sixth shell were landing on the hull of the MS Kap Arkona, leaving her aflame from bow to stern and dead in the water. The Captain turned around again, and what he saw made his blood freeze in his veins. Two Battleships and a smaller ship, by the size of it a Battlecruiser, parted the fog like a curtain, proudly flying the White Ensign of the British Navy and their turrets turned on the helpless German Convoy. The three Destroyers and the Schleswig-Holstein interposed themselves, but the Captain strongly suspected that they would either be sunk or forced to withdraw. Still, they gave him enough time to pull out his ship-recognition book. For some strange reason it was incredibly important to him which of the British ships it where that attacked the convoy. While the German Battlecruiser and the destroyers valiantly attacked the British, forcing them to shift their fire away from the convoys, the Captain identified the British, recognizing them as HMS Rodney, HMS Resolution and HMS Hood. He watched the uneven battle with a ghastly fascination.
HMS Hood just before the Battle, picture taken from abaord HMS Resolution
HMS Hood, 8000 yards NNW of MS Hamburg.
“SHOOT!” yelled the gunnery officer into the telephone receiver, and a second later the heavy 15'' guns of the Hood thundered as one, hurling their deadly shells at the German Battlecruiser. Murray was rewarded with six splashes, meaning that there were two hits, and that on the second salvo. “Good shooting, Guns.” Murray exclaimed, never leaving the German out of his sight. The return-fire was not as accurate, but Murray still winced when he saw a shell glance of the armour of X turret aboard HMS Resolution. Still, it seemed as if aside from a few rattled heads and major headaches nothing was wrong, as the Resolution promptly avenged this with another hit, starting a small fire amidships. The whole Battle was confused. Aboard all British ships the main armament was shooting the living daylights out of the German Battlecruiser, while their secondaries were engaging the Destroyers. The British Destroyers where nowhere to be seen, as they had been sent ahead, with the intention of cutting the German's line of retreat. Hood's guns thundered again, this time without scoring any hits, but the German ship was visibly slowing, and was still getting yet another hit, this time from Rodney. She was listing to starboard, but still made an effort to retreat. The British tried to follow, but the last two German Destroyers made smoke, obscuring their view. The RDF plot was way too confused by now to sort out any single ship, and so the force simply headed for the biggest gaggle of signals. Soon the earlier scene repeated itself, only that this time no nagging German Destroyers were to be seen, as they were engaged by the British Destroyers as they had attempted to follow the scattering convoy south. Hood fired again and again, with the battered Resolution finishing of the stragglers and remnants. Murray stood on the Bridge when they engaged yet another freighter. The guns fired, and the German ship was blown apart. “Must've carried ammunition or petrol.” Phillips mused. Murray pitied the crews of the German freighters. The British ships were like wolves among sheep, wolves with RDF-aided eyes, but then again there was a war on, and they had brought it upon themselves. He checked the status indicators of the turrets and saw that the Royal Marines-manned Y turret was late again. “Jump to it, lads..” he silently ordered. Then the light finally switched to green. The turrets swivled around, training themselves onto yet another target. By now there were only four German freighters remaining. Hood was shooting well today, and had already four on it's own tally, but strangely enough Resolution, whose damaged turret had finally given out, was the top scorer today with already eight. Rodney seemed rather luckless, and Murray suspected that the fresh score of recruits they had absorbed upon the beginning of the war was still impairing their gunnery. He surveyed the Germans, trying in vain to flee from his guns. Of those ships he could see through the fog three were damaged to some degree, one was already Dead in the water. Backhouse had given standing orders that the cripples and slowed ships were to be left to Resolution, while the undamaged Hood and Rodney would hunt down those that still made certain speed.
September 13th, 1939. “Westgruppe der Kriegmarine” or “Group West of the Kriegsmarine”, Kiel
The news from what the British called the Battle of Helgoland was bad, so bad in fact that Admiral Albrecht, the Chief of Staff of the Westgruppe had was looking for a scapegoat, and as Operation Rösselsprung, the transfer of Germany's amphibious transport capability from the North Sea into the secure Baltic Sea , had been his he was the likely choice. The British had destroyed three-quarters of their transports, forcing the OKW to postpone Operation Weserübung at least for a year, maybe more until these transports could be replaced. Even with Soviet Help they simply couldn't transport enough troops. Rumour from Berlin had it that the Führer was most displeased, and that alone made Lütjens sweat in his uniform. When he entered the Office of his immediate CO he could see that things weren't good. Not only was none other than G.Adm. Raeder present, but they were also wearing very grim expressions on their faces. Raeder came straight to the point, even before Lütjens was seated. “Tell me Admiral, what went wrong? The Führer is most displeased and demands a full report.” Lütjens swallowed nervously and went about saving his own skin. “As you all know two days ago we commenced Operation Rösselsprung, that is the transfer of our apmhibious capability to the safer waters of the Baltic Sea. This operation was planned by myself and Admiral Albrecht, in order to safeguard our capabilities in order to decrease reliance on the new ships our Soviet Allies are constructing.” “We saw how well that worked.” Raeder replied drily. “Three entire flotillas sunk, four more heavily damaged, not to speak of the men and equipment we were transporting on them. We lost enough material and ammunition there to equip three damn Divisions! The Schleswig-Holstein heavily damaged, and we lost four Destroyers too!” Raeder took a few moments to calm himself. “Tell me, Lütjens who was the Genius who said that the British wouldn't risk their fleet again this close in?” Lütjens was not able to answer that question, simply because he did not know who had written that report. “I don't know, Sir. When I requested a report from Naval Intelligence this was what I got. I even have the original report with me today, Admiral.” With that he handed Raeder a paper, the original of the Report. Raeder quickly skimmed over it. “That still does not excuse anything. Why was the escort so inadequate? Even if the threat had been English U-Boats alone there should have been more ships! If I am not mistaken both the Bismarck and the Graf Zeppelin were available!” Lütjens saw an opening and took it. “Group West decided that no more escorts were needed. Admiral Albrecht and myself spoke to Admiral Hausser, but he denied the request.” Raeder nodded. Lütjens had so far given good arguments and his talent at covering himself had saved his skin. Still, he was not about to let him off the hook, the orders from the Führer had been precise on that. “Ah yes.” he said, “the former Admiral has already decided to constant retirement. Well Lütjens, heads will roll in Naval Intelligence, Admiral Canaris and I will see to that. As for you, Lütjens, it seems as if your talents are needed elsewhere. There is an opening as a liaison officer with the Soviet Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok. We will get you there as soon as possible, and I hope you like long train voyages.”
[Game Notes: While the ships in a flotilla are represented as a single unit within the game and can therefore only show up as sunk by a single ship I've decided to split it up more evenly. Also are my readers bored with Hood appearing so often? That pic btw is an artists rendition of how Hood would have looked like had the rebuild been carried out in OTL. I also felt that Lütjens needed to be punished for daring to sink the Hood in RL., and I think that is the most backwater posting you can find in TTLs Kriegsmarine.]
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i never get bored of reading about the Hood, especially when its sinking things great update, liked the little touches with the green lights and so on.
great update, liked the little touches with the green lights and so on.