The Whale Has Wings Vol 2 - Taranto to Singapore (10 page)

The Western Desert force is reorganised as the British 13th Corps.

24th December

The assault on Bardia begins, started by a heavy bombardment by Royal Navy battleships lying off the coast, and heavy attacks by RAF bombers.

O'Connor's tactical plan for the capture of Bardia, which has a 17 mile of perimeter defended by a continuous antitank ditch, wire obstacles and concrete blockhouses, is to send a battalion of infantry in first, establish a bridgehead on the far side of the antitank ditch and the wire, then bridge the ditch and clear the wire and minefields for the passage of tanks. The tanks would then be shepherded within the perimeter and fan out in attack, with two more infantry battalions close behind them. The main point of assault was to be the centre of the western face of the perimeter, where O'Connor believed the Italians least expected it.

It was the Australians first major action in World War II. The tank ditch was breached by infantry in less than an hour, crossing places quickly made and nearly a hundred land mines removed. The tanks were into the bridgehead by 7 am. Australian casualties to date are over 100 killed and at least 300 wounded. One Australian battalion suffered heavy casualties when it launched a diversionary attack. After the Australians penetrated the wire, the Italians met one of the companies with machineguns, rifles and grenades. The troops from 4th Indian Division were equally successful, though the more experienced men suffered fewer casualties. The combined force takes 30,000 prisoners on the first day.

26th December

Bardia is captured by O'Connor after an assault lasting less than four days. The Australian 6th Division and the Indian 4th Division take 45,000 prisoners including four generals, 462 guns, 130 tanks and over 700 trucks; Total casualties of the Imperial forces are 130 KIA and 326 WIA. This is Australia's first major land battle of the war, and O'Connor is impressed with how well the green formation has fought. He urges Wavell to get the other two Brigades fully operational as soon as possible.

Emulating Winston Churchill, British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden said 'never has so much been surrendered by so many, to so few.' Italian General Bergonzoli and his staff withdraw from Bardia toward Tobruk. Wavell orders British forces to advance into Cyrenaica, to exploit their victory against the Italians. 7th Armoured Division under Major General Michael Creagh detours around Bardia and marches toward Tobruk. Wavell sets out his ultimate objective as Benghazi, to be taken within the next week.

In Albania, Greek troops push Italian troops back 15 miles, capturing Sarandë. To the far south, Italian torpedo bombers attacked the British naval base at Suda Bay, Crete at 1540 hours, damaging British cruiser HMS Glasgow with two torpedoes. This was a surprise to the Royal Navy, whose intelligence had given no sign these bombers were operational in the area. Priority is being given to getting a fighter force operational on Crete, and in the meantime the Navy will limit the ships in the area to lighter craft; the ongoing Operation Compass makes then reluctant to reassign the carriers as the operation is going so well.

In addition to his earlier request for help in North Africa, Mussolini also asks for help against the Greeks in Albania. When this request is passed on to the German planners, they are unhappy at the disruption such help would cause to the ongoing Barbarossa preparations.

27th December

Advance units of Allied force reach the outer defences of Tobruk after taking El Adem airfield eight miles to the south. Patrols to examine the Italian defences begin immediately. The Tobruk garrison is 25,000 men with 220 guns and 70 tanks, commanded by Lieutenant General Enrico Manella.

An amphibious operation is considered to cut off Italian forces as their line of retreat is now mainly along the coastal road. 50 and 52 Commando (a total of some 800 men) is allocated to this, and the Navy agrees to provide support; while shipping is available to carry the men, there is a shortage of the specialised landing draft they need. After the success of improvised operations of this sort at Narvik, it is hoped that the landing craft will not be necessary.

In London, the need for more carriers of some sort leads to the planned modification of some grain carriers and tankers into MAC-ships. These plans, to fit a basic flight deck over the hull, while retaining their cargo capability, were suggested before the war but the carrier build at the time looked adequate. An alternative plan, to catapult surplus carriers off ships, has been rejected - instead the dockyard effort will go to producing a number of MAC ships.

Britain's latest heavy bomber made its first flight at Ringway Airport, Manchester, here today. The Avro Lancaster is a four-engined development of the Avro Manchester, which is just entering RAF service. It has a longer range and heavier bomb-load than any other British bomber. The aircraft that flew today, however, is only a prototype, and it will be some months yet before the Lancaster production lines begin to turn out aircraft. Even so, as the Avro chief test pilot, Bill Thorne, took her into the air, the managing director Sir Roy Dobson turned to the designer Roy Chadwick and said: "Oh boy, oh boy ... what an aeroplane! What a piece of aeroplane!"

28th December

The Greek army capture Premeti, Pogradec and the Albanian port of Sarande.

The AOC-in-C, Middle East, Arthur Longmore, receives a signal from Churchill. "Greatly admire your brilliant support of Army operations. We shall soon be as usual torn between conflicting needs. Probably four or five squadrons will be required for Greece and yet you will have to carry the Army forward in Libya. We will endeavour to send you the maximum number of aircraft we can spare". Having talked with the Dowding committee, Churchill has decided that it will be possible to send additional aircraft, as the number requested to be held at home by the RAF seems to exceed the operational needs over the next few months

29th December

In America, President Roosevelt has drafted a $17 billion budget for the fiscal year 1942, including $10 billion for the armament program. In a "fireside chat" on radio, the President called for the US to become "the arsenal of democracy." The President made "the direct statement to the American people that there is far less chance of the US getting into war if we do all we can now to support the nations defending themselves against attack by the Axis than if we acquiesce in their defeat."

Later polls suggest that Polls suggest that the Presidents "Arsenal of Democracy" speech was the most successful he has ever given. 75% of the population were aware of it and more than 60% agreed with what he said. Henry Stimson urges that US Navy be used to escort convoys to the UK.

In North Africa, the battleship Warspite and three destroyers bombard the port of Tobruk. This bombardment finally saw the end of the Italian heavy cruiser San Giorgio, which has been in the harbor being used as artillery. The ship had established a reputation as lucky, having been missed by earlier bombardments and escaping bombing raids, as well as not being in Taranto harbor during the raid there. Today, however her luck runs out; hit by two 15" shells she is run aground to prevent her sinking.

30th December

The Greeks occupy Santi Quaranta, Albania. Italian Supreme Commander Badoglio resigns ‘at his own request’, to be replaced by General Cavallero.

The port of Tobruk is now under siege as 13 Corps builds up its supplies ready for an attack. While this necessary pause is underway, the RAF bombs Benghazi harbour, which they have been bombing frequently. Light attacks are made on Tobruk itself to keep the defenders awake and on alert.

The forces for a proposed amphibious attack are allocated, but any attack cannot be made until Tobruk falls. It is then hoped to use the force to trap fleeing Italian forces.

Now that the air usage committee has reported, Churchill has to decide on how to organise Army Cooperation squadrons. The organisational demands of the Army are completely different to those suggested by the Air Ministry. Since things in North Africa seem to be going well, with adequate cooperation between the RAF, Army and Navy, the committee will be flown out to discuss with the field commanders what their thoughts are, then give the War Cabinet its recommendations.

1st January 1941

In Australia, the government approved the construction of tanks in the country in July 1940. They now authorize an armoured division to be part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Australia is also going to be building Beaufighters as a complement to the Sparrowhawks that will be entering service this month. Already producing the Hercules engine, production will be increased to equip both aircraft.

Talks are going on between Australia and Britain over a second light carrier. Britain is prepared to provide one of its existing carriers (which would allow HMS Eagle to come home for a much needed refit, but the present shortage of carriers for convoy escort makes this difficult. The Australian government is considering a suggestion of transferring the ship and crew, but allocating her temporarily to convoy duties until the new escort carriers arrive. This would also allow the crew to gain valuable combat experience.

2nd January

In Britain, the "Twenty Committee", formed to coordinate the activities of double agents based in Britain, meets for the first time. Thus the XX or 'double-cross' tactic of using German agents in its service.

Doenitz meets with Jodl in Berlin to ask for better air-submarine cooperation and more air reconnaissance over the North Atlantic. He wants a daily reconnaissance sweep by the twelve Kondors of 40 Group based in Bordeaux. It is pointed out to him that the losses of Condors to the fighters escorting some of the convoys make this impossible (half the Condors assigned to the reconnaissance and attack role have already been destroyed), however the Luftwaffe will see how many planes can be allocated. It is agreed that the production of the aircraft be increased, but this decision will first have to wend its way through the Luftwaffe beaurocracy.

In the USA, President Roosevelt announces the beginning of the Liberty Ship program, 200 merchant ships of a standardized design. Similar ships are already being built by Britain and Canada.

3rd January

A proposed order by the Ministry of Aircraft Production for 250 Warwick bombers is cancelled in favour of additional Wellington construction. It is considered that the Warwick does not offer sufficient improvement over the Wellington to make a new production line viable, instead mass production of the Wellington will be increased and improvements incorporated into the design.

6th January

In London, Churchill promised that Britain would go to the help of Greece in the event of a German advance in the Balkans. In a letter to the Chiefs of Staff Committee the Prime Minister says: "It is quite clear to me that supporting Greece must have priority after the western flank of Egypt has been secured."

He says that more Hurricane squadrons should be sent from the Middle East along with some artillery regiments and "some or all of the tanks of the 2nd Armoured Division, now arrived and working up in leisurely fashion in Egypt."

While the Chiefs of Staff agree in principle that Greece must be supported, they point out that at present that even if all the forces in North Africa were sent they would be well under those needed. The suggest that strength is built up in North Africa, both to drive the Italians as far west as possible before a Greek intervention becomes necessary, and also to have troops prepared in theatre for such an event. It is agreed that now the Hurricane has been replaced by the Spitfire in Fighter Command, as many as practical will be sent to North Africa.

The Excess convoy leaves Gibraltar heading for Malta, covered by Force H. Only the carrier Victorious is available as cover - the Ark Royal is in dock due to a mechanical problem. The carrier is carrying the first of the reorganised fighter squadrons. After reviewing the tactical changes being employed by the RAF after the Battle of Britain, the flights now consist of 4 planes, and the embarked squadron is 20 planes rather than 16. As she will be the only carrier escort, an additional eight planes from the Ark Royal are on board, with 8 SeaLance left behind (as there is currently no risk of Italian heavy ships, there is less need for a full load of torpedo planes).

At the same time the Mediterranean fleet from Alexandria is covering another convoy (MW5.5) to Malta, and will escort an empty convoy leaving. The cruisers Southampton and Gloucester are carrying troop reinforcements to Malta and will then join Force H. The air cover is provided by HMS Implacable (HMS Indefatigable is currently supporting operations in North Africa).

7th January

As a result of the damage done to the Italian Navy and the losses to the anti-shipping wing of the Regia Aeronautica, Italy informs the Kriegsmarine that they will be withdrawing the submarines they have had helping the convoy attacks in the North Atlantic back into the Mediterranean.

In the USA, the results of the trials of the Corsair fighter are mixed. Due to the situation in Europe, and particular the dramatic use of naval air power by the Royal Navy, the acceptance trials for the USA have been accelerated from the original plan. While there are still considerable problems with the aircraft, particularly for carrier use (especially as the USN is still operating with peacetime ideas of risk), a letter of intent is given to Vought. It is hoped to have the production contract by March.