The War Marches On
Following the initial rapid success of President-General MacArthur’s landing, the Commune and her British allies began to stabilize and reinforce the frontlines. While the US still had the advantage in terms of manpower due to the raging war in Belgium and Alsace, more men would be required. As a result, admiral Nimitz’s task group was ordered back to the US to bring 6 more divisions to the frontlines. Similarly, MacArthur requested more planes in order to establish complete air superiority over the French. Joining the 4 squadrons of P-36G fighters in Brest was US Bomber Command, consisting of 3 squadrons of bombers; an eclectic collection of interwar and foreign built bombers. Mj. General Eaker requested that before the bombers begin any operations that they are allowed to finish upgrading all of their wings to a new American superweapon- the B-17. At the same time, the Americans are joined by the first group of international reinforcements, a division of Gurkha Rifles from Delhi.
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Further inland, the battle for France continues to go well for American troops. In Evreux, US Army Motorized divisions overrun 9600 Communal infantrymen, forcing their surrender. In Chartres and Bourges, US forces continue to push back the Communal army, inflicting heavy casualties. In the north, US Motorized forces move on Dieppe, successfully encircling 2 British divisions in the French Port of Le Havre.
With the fall of some of their most important northern cities, the Communal Government under Chairman-Admiral Marcel Deat established its provisional capital in Bordeaux, the new home to what remained of the French Channel fleet, as well as Deat’s flagship, the modern heavy cruiser Jean-Louis Pindy. Fortunately, it was just at this time that the US Strategic bomb wing finished upgrading fully to B-17 Bombers. These planes were armed at the very least with 10 .50 caliber machine guns, earning them the nickname “Flying Fortress” from their flight crews. French D.520 fighters, armed with only one 20mm cannon and limited ammo, would struggle to truly inflict casualties on USAAF airgroups- a situation helped by allied fighter over over France.
Across france, American forces continue their offensive through mid-november. Bourges and Orleans are both falling, while American troops push into Angouleme in an attempt to capture the French government- and more importantly, the fleet- in Bordeaux. By November 16, American victories are rolling in nearly every day. The two British divisions guarding Le Havre surrender after heavy fighting, killing 5200 Britons and another 10,000 becoming POWs. The attack in Angouleme is also successful, at high cost to the defenders. MacArthur’s Elite Infantry Corps in Orleans also forces the surrender of the French 40th army corps, constituted by one Infantry division, leading to another 8000 POWs being taken. On November 18th, Hodges’ Cavalry breaks through in Limoges, again inflicting a huge number of casualties on the French. It becomes more and more apparent to US High Command that the French Army is rapidly crumbling away, and that it would be best for US forces to not wait for any reinforcements and to push hard to liberate as much of France as possible before the Germans could swoop in and claim it as part of their Kaiserreich.
The first part of this plan was to secure the French territory around the former Belgian Republic. US command also hoped that capturing several key air bases in the area would cripple both the Republican and Communal Air forces. Before these operations can proceed, the US forces encounter resistance from the French. The divisions opposing the US troops appear to be mostly very battered and bruised, as they were supposed to receive rest and relaxation away from the frontlines. This is great news for US troops, as their progress is swift and easy against these badly depleted units.
By the Third week of November, US Army troops were advancing across the frontlines as the Communal army crumbled in front of them. The only small roadblocks were put up by French Popular militias and British Regular Army units. French troops continued to surrender in the thousands, as US commanders continually outmaneuvered (and often sheer overpowered) French Units. The Americans got something of a reputation while fighting in France for relying too heavily on superior firepower. From the B-25 and B-17 Bombers flying overhead and dropping thousands of tons of ordnance, to the use of coordinated artillery strikes, all the way down to weapons like the M1, BAR, and Colt 1911. The French, meanwhile, had none of the advantages any of these things conferred- with their army having been restructured around human wave tactics after the fall of the Republic in 1925.
But, as battles across France continued to be fought, there was an unmistakable air of confidence across the American Army camp. An air of confidence that unfortunately did not proceed into the USAAF camp- as a new war was develping; not one which would be fought solely by men, but by men and their machines. the battle for the channel had begun.
Following the initial rapid success of President-General MacArthur’s landing, the Commune and her British allies began to stabilize and reinforce the frontlines. While the US still had the advantage in terms of manpower due to the raging war in Belgium and Alsace, more men would be required. As a result, admiral Nimitz’s task group was ordered back to the US to bring 6 more divisions to the frontlines. Similarly, MacArthur requested more planes in order to establish complete air superiority over the French. Joining the 4 squadrons of P-36G fighters in Brest was US Bomber Command, consisting of 3 squadrons of bombers; an eclectic collection of interwar and foreign built bombers. Mj. General Eaker requested that before the bombers begin any operations that they are allowed to finish upgrading all of their wings to a new American superweapon- the B-17. At the same time, the Americans are joined by the first group of international reinforcements, a division of Gurkha Rifles from Delhi.
Further inland, the battle for France continues to go well for American troops. In Evreux, US Army Motorized divisions overrun 9600 Communal infantrymen, forcing their surrender. In Chartres and Bourges, US forces continue to push back the Communal army, inflicting heavy casualties. In the north, US Motorized forces move on Dieppe, successfully encircling 2 British divisions in the French Port of Le Havre.
With the fall of some of their most important northern cities, the Communal Government under Chairman-Admiral Marcel Deat established its provisional capital in Bordeaux, the new home to what remained of the French Channel fleet, as well as Deat’s flagship, the modern heavy cruiser Jean-Louis Pindy. Fortunately, it was just at this time that the US Strategic bomb wing finished upgrading fully to B-17 Bombers. These planes were armed at the very least with 10 .50 caliber machine guns, earning them the nickname “Flying Fortress” from their flight crews. French D.520 fighters, armed with only one 20mm cannon and limited ammo, would struggle to truly inflict casualties on USAAF airgroups- a situation helped by allied fighter over over France.
Across france, American forces continue their offensive through mid-november. Bourges and Orleans are both falling, while American troops push into Angouleme in an attempt to capture the French government- and more importantly, the fleet- in Bordeaux. By November 16, American victories are rolling in nearly every day. The two British divisions guarding Le Havre surrender after heavy fighting, killing 5200 Britons and another 10,000 becoming POWs. The attack in Angouleme is also successful, at high cost to the defenders. MacArthur’s Elite Infantry Corps in Orleans also forces the surrender of the French 40th army corps, constituted by one Infantry division, leading to another 8000 POWs being taken. On November 18th, Hodges’ Cavalry breaks through in Limoges, again inflicting a huge number of casualties on the French. It becomes more and more apparent to US High Command that the French Army is rapidly crumbling away, and that it would be best for US forces to not wait for any reinforcements and to push hard to liberate as much of France as possible before the Germans could swoop in and claim it as part of their Kaiserreich.
The first part of this plan was to secure the French territory around the former Belgian Republic. US command also hoped that capturing several key air bases in the area would cripple both the Republican and Communal Air forces. Before these operations can proceed, the US forces encounter resistance from the French. The divisions opposing the US troops appear to be mostly very battered and bruised, as they were supposed to receive rest and relaxation away from the frontlines. This is great news for US troops, as their progress is swift and easy against these badly depleted units.
By the Third week of November, US Army troops were advancing across the frontlines as the Communal army crumbled in front of them. The only small roadblocks were put up by French Popular militias and British Regular Army units. French troops continued to surrender in the thousands, as US commanders continually outmaneuvered (and often sheer overpowered) French Units. The Americans got something of a reputation while fighting in France for relying too heavily on superior firepower. From the B-25 and B-17 Bombers flying overhead and dropping thousands of tons of ordnance, to the use of coordinated artillery strikes, all the way down to weapons like the M1, BAR, and Colt 1911. The French, meanwhile, had none of the advantages any of these things conferred- with their army having been restructured around human wave tactics after the fall of the Republic in 1925.
But, as battles across France continued to be fought, there was an unmistakable air of confidence across the American Army camp. An air of confidence that unfortunately did not proceed into the USAAF camp- as a new war was develping; not one which would be fought solely by men, but by men and their machines. the battle for the channel had begun.
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