- Location
- United States
I find the 8" guns more aesthetically pleasing than the later 5" guns that replaced them even if the 5" guns were more practical and useful for defending Sara.
How do Sara and her Admiral feel on this topic?
Changing Destiny (Kancolle)
- Thread starter Skywalker_T-65
- Start date
How do Sara and her Admiral feel on this topic?
- Location
- Barcelona, Catalunya, EU (for now)
But it is, our societies are called "greco-roman culture" for a reason. Egyptians and Babylonians are important for the effect they had on Greeks and Romans.
Only two years?
Fuck it. I took one course of Physical World Geography before getting another of Political World Geography. And we had a course earlier (I think in third degree) about Spanish Geography, both physical and political. Which, in case you don't realize, is considerably smaller than the US.
Back when I was a pre-teen, I could list all the capitals of all the countries in the world, together with the most important geographical accidents on each country. Of course, now I've forgotten a lot of it due to lack of use, and also due to the massive geopolitical changes the world has undergone in the last 40 years.
That picture must have been when she was younger. The planes on her deck look like Biplanes. Could they possibly be Grumman F3Fs? This picture could also have been taken in 1941 when the Grumman F3Fs were retired, so perhaps she is bringing back obsolete planes back to the states?more on topic:
Edit: Taking a closer look, it seems she has some monoplanes in the front as well.
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I can't say what specific airplanes those are, as I'm both terrible at identifying planes, and extra bad at identifying anything pre cold-war, but they're all Biplanes.
It does seem to be at least two different types, I'm guessing Fighters/DiveBombers up front, and the slightly bigger ones at angles in the back would be the Torpedo Bombers
Skywalker_T-65
Writer with too many ideas.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- Plural/They/He/Her
I made the 'mistake' of watching the third Nanoha movie today. On the one hand, this is the first time I've had any inspiration for Twist of Fate in months. On the other, it means a slight delay to starting this (though make no mistake, I fully intend to get the first part of Wake in this week).
So in apology, have a cute E
Sub in currently-blonde hair, and you have Little E.
So in apology, have a cute E
Sub in currently-blonde hair, and you have Little E.
The17thImmortal
Seeker of Sanity
Speaking as someone for whom Math was his single best subject, I am reluctantly forced to agree with you.
Alegbra, Trig, and Geometry, the average person will absolutely need, even if said need is a hell of a lot more subtle than people want to realize.
Calculus? Damn near worthless, outside of academia or any pure-maths career.
Movie is out?! HUZZAH!! *hares off to watch*
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PAGDTenno
Verified Warmind. Probably on fire.
- Location
- South Carolina
Engineering relies heavily on calculus and differential equations, since there are plenty of problems that involve variables that affect their own rate of change. And engineering is very much an applied mathematics career, not a pure mathematics career.
The17thImmortal
Seeker of Sanity
I stand corrected, then.
Still, not exactly useful for everyday living, which was my main point.
- Location
- Pacific NW
As promised Part 2 (finally whew)
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Late September1941
Cairo
Wavell looked up from the official letterhead from the Ministry of Defence he had read from at the assembled staff officers and sighed.
"I wish you gentlemen the best of luck. It has been my pleasure to serve with each of you and I hope that you will assist my successor as well as you have done so for me."
"Just like that Sir?" asked General O'Connor. "Keeping Tobruk out of German hands, and preventing any advance into Egypt is not good enough, so too bad back to India with you. After Greece? And Crete? Good God Sir, restoring the Army's morale alone after those was a miracle..."
"That's enough Dick," Wavell interrupted ruefully, "it is difficult to see how holding steady is a victory if one is not in the desert to see it with one's own eyes. The War Cabinet believes differently, and so must go I." He shuffled his papers. "Claude Auchinleck knows how to get things done without access to the best equipment. I wish him success."
Most of the officers had left the room when Wavell spoke to the single officer remaining. "Eric, I was keeping a post open for you in India. What changed your mind?"
Eric Dorman-Smith spoke simply, "Claude asked me to be his Chief of Staff, Sir. With the Prime Minister wanting results, he's going to need all the help he can get."
Archibald Wavell nodded at his adjutant. "Just try to not antagonize the Dominion commanders so much, they have Brooke's ear after all. Do make sure that Auchinleck is aware of the Levantine spy network. That near miss this spring with Guderian's raiders especially."
"Shame about Maice. At least O'Connor was able to slip away from that patrol. I thought the Jerries were incompetent in making sure the spies stayed bought?"
Eyebrow arched, Wavell's voice became glacial. "The loyalty our bribes purchase is only for as long as the spy remains in sight, and the information is accurate until the Germans pay them. The locals will laugh in their sleeves as we pay for the privilege of dying in the sands."
-0-
Early November 1941
Benghazi, German HQ
"Well Hans," Generaloberst Heinz Guderian gestured to the tank in front of him, "what shall we do about this early Christmas present? I thought I had been good enough for der Wehlnachtsmann to give me a division of Panzer IVs and all the petrol I could want."
"A nightmare of logistics. It's hard enough keeping our own panzers running, let alone those of our ally. Where are the spare parts? Ammunition?" Spiedel grimaced. "I am to understand that the Americans designate this a medium panzer, when it is taller than the elephants in the Berlin zoo?"
"The real advantage is knowing what the British will be using against us soon enough. Don't worry Hans, I'm not going to hinder any German crews with trying to train on this. But the Italian crews need a real panzer, so reassign these to Pascucci's group. Let him keep ten of them in reserve as spares."
"And the ammunition issue?"
"Someone at Rheinmetall got clever and rebored the main cannons to accept our shells. For right now I envision them as the supporting elements in a defensive ambush." Guderian paused and a slow sly smile crept upwards on his face. "These Amerikan panzers, Hans, they all have radios and I want to make certain that Pascucci has fluent English speakers as the operators. If that means loaning him some of ours then do so. Any confusion I can create in the British ranks by using their own panzers against them is the more cinnamon for the streudel."
"Jawohl, Generaloberst, I will make it so. How will this aid us if I may ask?"
"Intelligence is reporting that Wavell has been transferred. And now the British are moving a great many troops and armor into Tobruk. I will not gain victory by trying to besiege anything in this wasteland. The English are spoiling for a fight Hans, I will give them one on my terms. So we must bait the English. I want them to chase what they think is our entire armored force."
Hans Speidel shot a questioning look at his superior. "Chase us? How can we be sure that the British will take the bait?"
Guderian riffled through a fistful of intelligence reports until he seemed to focus on one particular page. "Wavell was doing the prudent thing considering the logistics the desert imposes, yet he is replaced. The British are hungry for a grand victory, they need it now Hans, that's the only logical reason to pour troops and supplies into Tobruk. They want to catch us and crush us."
Pausing, Guderian looked at his deputy. "That sort of hunger leads to mistakes. Mistakes I intend to profit from. We shall threaten and demonstrate towards Tobruk, and we shall allow the British to pursue our retreat."
Drawing up the plan on the map spread across the hull of a nearby panzer Guderian continues, "The 90th Light and Trieste motorized divisions with as many light scout panzers as possible will leave Benghazi and use the coast road to approach Tobruk. Two Italian infantry divisions will be in reserve at Derna. The 90th and Trieste are to feint a major attack on Tobruk, then retreat across the desert towards El Agheila upon the first sign of British counterattack. We will establish small petrol and water depots in advance to resupply to keep them on the move. By taking as short of resupply stops as possible, it will force the British to keep pace and get tired. I want the British exhausted and unable to detect my trap until it is too late."
Hans Speidel examines the map and sees the escarpment shielding the south flank. "So the trap is baited and the cat chases its prey..."
"To where the hounds of the 15th and 21st Panzer divisions are waiting, the Trento and Pavia infantry divisions dug in along the escarpment and the Ariete and Littorio divisions will sweep down from Benghazi. And at the van of the Italian spear will be those Amerikan panzers, broadcasting on an open frequency of being there to reinforce, spreading confusion in the British ranks."
"So that is why they are being painted the same as British panzers Generaloberst? What if the British commander recognizes that you are stealing shamelessly Hannibal's battle plan at Cannae?"
"Wavell and those Desert Rats excepted, British leadership has been the same as the last war Hans. Lions led by donkeys."
"One more thing Generaloberst, we've been offered the services of a SD battalion for enforcement of the racial laws..."
"Schiesse," Guderian softly swore, "tell them thank you but no, we need more transport vehicles not rear echelon troops sitting around on their thumbs. Tell them again, 'the desert has millions of flies, too much quicksand, a handful of camel-riding nomads, but not a Jew to be found' as your friend Herr Balbo so eloquently put it."
-0-
November 19th 1941
Tobruk Libya
In the cooling of the evening Claude Auchinleck finished the last paperwork of the day. He leaned against the back of the office chair, closed his eyes and ran over the day in his mind. Tobruk had been steadily fortified and reinforced as a forward base to launch Operation Crusader and with it the defeat of the Afrika Korps in Libya. But at 0400, the damn Jerries opened up an artillery barrage, and as Guderian's damnable luck had it, centered on the new forward air strip for the RAF. Two Hurricanes and a single brand new P-40 Warhawk on loan from the Americans were even repairable to flying fit, he had been informed. Then as dawn broke, the enemies armored units opened up. As the morning light gathered and the German positions were revealed, he met with his commanders.
That afternoon had seen the attack repelled. The enemy had begun a fighting withdrawal once the 7th Armored Division advanced on Acroma, forcing the panzers to abandon their positions at El Adem to engage the 7th. While this move had prevented O'Connor and the 7th from sweeping the forces along the coast road, the remainder of the 8th Army had emerged from the defenses of Tobruk. Rather than be enveloped, it appeared Guderian had ordered a complete withdrawal.
Auchinleck had decided that he could not permit the two forces to regroup, so he had ordered the 7th Armored division, 9th Australian and 2nd New Zealand divisions under O'Connor to pursue and destroy the forces retreating along the coast road. The remainder of the 8th Army was placed under General Neil Ritchie's command, with orders to prevent the southern force from reaching the coast road, with their destruction of utmost importance.
He sighed. The splitting of his force was not considered in the initial planning of Crusader. Explaining the necessity of the changes was sure to sit ill with the PM and Brooke as well. He supposed that he should consider himself blessed that God had at least arranged to have a Pathe film crew and correspondents in Tobruk today. He had felt a bit awkward during the briefing he gave for the newsreel, but the censors would keep it anodyne and he did feel that the closing line would make for decent propaganda.
"General Guderian has made a great sport of striking from the sands, one that he will come to rue. For the Eighth Army will hunt down the desert cobra, and strike him in his lair."
-----------------------
Okay, part 3 will be tonks and dust and stuff. And will hopefully go faster than this took me.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Late September1941
Cairo
Wavell looked up from the official letterhead from the Ministry of Defence he had read from at the assembled staff officers and sighed.
"I wish you gentlemen the best of luck. It has been my pleasure to serve with each of you and I hope that you will assist my successor as well as you have done so for me."
"Just like that Sir?" asked General O'Connor. "Keeping Tobruk out of German hands, and preventing any advance into Egypt is not good enough, so too bad back to India with you. After Greece? And Crete? Good God Sir, restoring the Army's morale alone after those was a miracle..."
"That's enough Dick," Wavell interrupted ruefully, "it is difficult to see how holding steady is a victory if one is not in the desert to see it with one's own eyes. The War Cabinet believes differently, and so must go I." He shuffled his papers. "Claude Auchinleck knows how to get things done without access to the best equipment. I wish him success."
Most of the officers had left the room when Wavell spoke to the single officer remaining. "Eric, I was keeping a post open for you in India. What changed your mind?"
Eric Dorman-Smith spoke simply, "Claude asked me to be his Chief of Staff, Sir. With the Prime Minister wanting results, he's going to need all the help he can get."
Archibald Wavell nodded at his adjutant. "Just try to not antagonize the Dominion commanders so much, they have Brooke's ear after all. Do make sure that Auchinleck is aware of the Levantine spy network. That near miss this spring with Guderian's raiders especially."
"Shame about Maice. At least O'Connor was able to slip away from that patrol. I thought the Jerries were incompetent in making sure the spies stayed bought?"
Eyebrow arched, Wavell's voice became glacial. "The loyalty our bribes purchase is only for as long as the spy remains in sight, and the information is accurate until the Germans pay them. The locals will laugh in their sleeves as we pay for the privilege of dying in the sands."
-0-
Early November 1941
Benghazi, German HQ
"Well Hans," Generaloberst Heinz Guderian gestured to the tank in front of him, "what shall we do about this early Christmas present? I thought I had been good enough for der Wehlnachtsmann to give me a division of Panzer IVs and all the petrol I could want."
"A nightmare of logistics. It's hard enough keeping our own panzers running, let alone those of our ally. Where are the spare parts? Ammunition?" Spiedel grimaced. "I am to understand that the Americans designate this a medium panzer, when it is taller than the elephants in the Berlin zoo?"
"The real advantage is knowing what the British will be using against us soon enough. Don't worry Hans, I'm not going to hinder any German crews with trying to train on this. But the Italian crews need a real panzer, so reassign these to Pascucci's group. Let him keep ten of them in reserve as spares."
"And the ammunition issue?"
"Someone at Rheinmetall got clever and rebored the main cannons to accept our shells. For right now I envision them as the supporting elements in a defensive ambush." Guderian paused and a slow sly smile crept upwards on his face. "These Amerikan panzers, Hans, they all have radios and I want to make certain that Pascucci has fluent English speakers as the operators. If that means loaning him some of ours then do so. Any confusion I can create in the British ranks by using their own panzers against them is the more cinnamon for the streudel."
"Jawohl, Generaloberst, I will make it so. How will this aid us if I may ask?"
"Intelligence is reporting that Wavell has been transferred. And now the British are moving a great many troops and armor into Tobruk. I will not gain victory by trying to besiege anything in this wasteland. The English are spoiling for a fight Hans, I will give them one on my terms. So we must bait the English. I want them to chase what they think is our entire armored force."
Hans Speidel shot a questioning look at his superior. "Chase us? How can we be sure that the British will take the bait?"
Guderian riffled through a fistful of intelligence reports until he seemed to focus on one particular page. "Wavell was doing the prudent thing considering the logistics the desert imposes, yet he is replaced. The British are hungry for a grand victory, they need it now Hans, that's the only logical reason to pour troops and supplies into Tobruk. They want to catch us and crush us."
Pausing, Guderian looked at his deputy. "That sort of hunger leads to mistakes. Mistakes I intend to profit from. We shall threaten and demonstrate towards Tobruk, and we shall allow the British to pursue our retreat."
Drawing up the plan on the map spread across the hull of a nearby panzer Guderian continues, "The 90th Light and Trieste motorized divisions with as many light scout panzers as possible will leave Benghazi and use the coast road to approach Tobruk. Two Italian infantry divisions will be in reserve at Derna. The 90th and Trieste are to feint a major attack on Tobruk, then retreat across the desert towards El Agheila upon the first sign of British counterattack. We will establish small petrol and water depots in advance to resupply to keep them on the move. By taking as short of resupply stops as possible, it will force the British to keep pace and get tired. I want the British exhausted and unable to detect my trap until it is too late."
Hans Speidel examines the map and sees the escarpment shielding the south flank. "So the trap is baited and the cat chases its prey..."
"To where the hounds of the 15th and 21st Panzer divisions are waiting, the Trento and Pavia infantry divisions dug in along the escarpment and the Ariete and Littorio divisions will sweep down from Benghazi. And at the van of the Italian spear will be those Amerikan panzers, broadcasting on an open frequency of being there to reinforce, spreading confusion in the British ranks."
"So that is why they are being painted the same as British panzers Generaloberst? What if the British commander recognizes that you are stealing shamelessly Hannibal's battle plan at Cannae?"
"Wavell and those Desert Rats excepted, British leadership has been the same as the last war Hans. Lions led by donkeys."
"One more thing Generaloberst, we've been offered the services of a SD battalion for enforcement of the racial laws..."
"Schiesse," Guderian softly swore, "tell them thank you but no, we need more transport vehicles not rear echelon troops sitting around on their thumbs. Tell them again, 'the desert has millions of flies, too much quicksand, a handful of camel-riding nomads, but not a Jew to be found' as your friend Herr Balbo so eloquently put it."
-0-
November 19th 1941
Tobruk Libya
In the cooling of the evening Claude Auchinleck finished the last paperwork of the day. He leaned against the back of the office chair, closed his eyes and ran over the day in his mind. Tobruk had been steadily fortified and reinforced as a forward base to launch Operation Crusader and with it the defeat of the Afrika Korps in Libya. But at 0400, the damn Jerries opened up an artillery barrage, and as Guderian's damnable luck had it, centered on the new forward air strip for the RAF. Two Hurricanes and a single brand new P-40 Warhawk on loan from the Americans were even repairable to flying fit, he had been informed. Then as dawn broke, the enemies armored units opened up. As the morning light gathered and the German positions were revealed, he met with his commanders.
That afternoon had seen the attack repelled. The enemy had begun a fighting withdrawal once the 7th Armored Division advanced on Acroma, forcing the panzers to abandon their positions at El Adem to engage the 7th. While this move had prevented O'Connor and the 7th from sweeping the forces along the coast road, the remainder of the 8th Army had emerged from the defenses of Tobruk. Rather than be enveloped, it appeared Guderian had ordered a complete withdrawal.
Auchinleck had decided that he could not permit the two forces to regroup, so he had ordered the 7th Armored division, 9th Australian and 2nd New Zealand divisions under O'Connor to pursue and destroy the forces retreating along the coast road. The remainder of the 8th Army was placed under General Neil Ritchie's command, with orders to prevent the southern force from reaching the coast road, with their destruction of utmost importance.
He sighed. The splitting of his force was not considered in the initial planning of Crusader. Explaining the necessity of the changes was sure to sit ill with the PM and Brooke as well. He supposed that he should consider himself blessed that God had at least arranged to have a Pathe film crew and correspondents in Tobruk today. He had felt a bit awkward during the briefing he gave for the newsreel, but the censors would keep it anodyne and he did feel that the closing line would make for decent propaganda.
"General Guderian has made a great sport of striking from the sands, one that he will come to rue. For the Eighth Army will hunt down the desert cobra, and strike him in his lair."
-----------------------
Okay, part 3 will be tonks and dust and stuff. And will hopefully go faster than this took me.
Burning Baron
This position needs more entrenching.
- Location
- In here, not out there.
So Guderian's in charge nach Afrika. Well, he may actually give the Allies a harder fight.
He knows that Italy is a valuable asset. He's playing it smart by giving them equipment on par(nominally) with his own.
But, the same problem for Rommel may get him as well. No fuel. Because Germany can't get it past HMS Gibraltar, and can't move enough through southern France and Italy.
He knows that Italy is a valuable asset. He's playing it smart by giving them equipment on par(nominally) with his own.
But, the same problem for Rommel may get him as well. No fuel. Because Germany can't get it past HMS Gibraltar, and can't move enough through southern France and Italy.
- Location
- In the depts of despair.
But maybe he won't put pressure to cancel the Malta operation, and without Malta it would be easier for the italians to reinforce the african troops.
Spectre
eternal servant to the Fire/EMS gods
- Location
- NY
If Crete already happened it's to late for anything to happen to Malta
- Location
- Pacific NW
Guderian's big advantage over Rommel is that Guderian listens to his logistics guy Speidel. Hence why he has yet to besiege Tobruk and has contented himself with the WWII equivalent of drive by shootings. Also, Tobruk is annoyingly able to be covered by the RAF in Egypt, so air superiority isn't available to him. To Guderian, attacking a dug in British army is a suckers game, so he wants the British to come out and play.
The real advantage of Malta is what it provides the British. In British hands, Malta keeps supplies and manpower from India able to transit through Suez and the Med to Britain via Gibraltar and then for India and Singapore to be reinforced with naval units, without having to go the long way around Africa. As a harbor it also can handle at least as many supply ships as Tripoli, and definitely more than Benghazi and far more than Tobruk. Aside from harbor capacity, there is the little fact that the Russian front is the main event and requires almost all the supplies Germany can produce. The main reason for the Axis to take Malta is not to improve their logistics, but to clamp down hard on the central Med and deny the British easily reinforcement of Suez.
The British have 400 brand new Crusader and M3 Stuart tanks to throw into Operation Crusader. Those tanks made it there from Britain via Gibraltar and Malta. Remove Malta, and now the British supply convoys have to thread the Italian air and sea gauntlets or go the long way around.
Anyway, part 3 should go into Guderian's strategy more.
The real advantage of Malta is what it provides the British. In British hands, Malta keeps supplies and manpower from India able to transit through Suez and the Med to Britain via Gibraltar and then for India and Singapore to be reinforced with naval units, without having to go the long way around Africa. As a harbor it also can handle at least as many supply ships as Tripoli, and definitely more than Benghazi and far more than Tobruk. Aside from harbor capacity, there is the little fact that the Russian front is the main event and requires almost all the supplies Germany can produce. The main reason for the Axis to take Malta is not to improve their logistics, but to clamp down hard on the central Med and deny the British easily reinforcement of Suez.
The British have 400 brand new Crusader and M3 Stuart tanks to throw into Operation Crusader. Those tanks made it there from Britain via Gibraltar and Malta. Remove Malta, and now the British supply convoys have to thread the Italian air and sea gauntlets or go the long way around.
Anyway, part 3 should go into Guderian's strategy more.
- Location
- In the depts of despair.
I think that Malta was also a harbour for submarines interdicting Africa, if I'm not mistaken the Upholder fought from Malta and did some serious damage to the italian merchant navy and their aviation, when it could be properly supplied, was also a serious thorn in the effort to resupply North Africa.
MaHaL
Conductor of the Choir of Death
- Location
- Canada
Ooh, I do like that nickname for Guderian. The contrast of opinions that you can see between "Desert Fox" and "Desert Cobra" is interesting, certainly says a bit about the way the Brits view him compared to how they viewed Rommel OTL.
- Location
- North Carolina
It certainly is much more different, but it makes you wonder where Rommel is right now.
Sandy River DL
(Verified Destroyer Leader)
- Location
- Lake Michigan
- Pronouns
- Her/She
I'm going to to guess freezing his ass off in Russia.
Spectre
eternal servant to the Fire/EMS gods
- Location
- NY
but While the Axis have plenty of reasons WHY to attack Malta, they lack the HOW to do so. The Fallschirmjäger have effectively ceased to exist as a unit after Crete along with the transport planes and bombers that fought with them, and Germany isn't sending any more planes any time soon. Now Italy has it's own airborne units, but after watching the Jerry's lose 90% of their men on a piece of rock that was easy mode compared to Malta's defenses, no one was interested in trying. And with the RM now both scrounging for fuel and having trouble not being spawn camped the minute they leave harbor...
- Location
- Pacific NW
I still have a big tonk battle to write, but let's just say that after a bit of research I might have a solution. Remember that Balbo is still alive and is technically still the big cheese in charge of the Regio Aeronautica. And there are still Regia Marina units that don't have difficulties in being stealthy.
Spectre
eternal servant to the Fire/EMS gods
- Location
- NY
the problem lies in that Hitler and Mussolini were the ones that axed the plan OTL and everything that caused said axing still happened (mainly the shit show that was Crete). Of course if the Axis want to send the Regina Marine to its death they by all means can.
CV12Hornet
Riter.
- Location
- Tacoma, Washington
What Crete shitshow? This is happening before the Brits even got to Greece in the first place.
Spectre
eternal servant to the Fire/EMS gods
- Location
- NY
except in the story post...
now the issue with butterflying that crete worked flawlessly for the Germans is that the problems that led to the German para's be slaughtered aren't simple decisions like in Africa but issues stemming from the idiocracy of Luftwaffe high command.
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- Location
- San Diego
i like it when the bad guys are tactful and pose a serious threat. makes for more interesting and believable situations. but even sometimes, bad intel makes for bad choices. (and i fear that someone will convince Adolf to give free reign to his Admirals and Generals)