Shoot and scoot in the Archer was a good Idea as the armour was paper thin. Slight problem with making a quick getaway was that the breach of the 17pdr at full recoil would crush the driver if he stayed in his seat!
The Whale has Wings
- Thread starter Astrodragon
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Only throwing it out here because basically I am facing a similar problem.
(In fact I'm having them continue production of the Crusader chassis for conversion into APCs, though with a Meteor Engine, as all other British Armoured Vehicles of any note use it by 1943...)
20th Oct
"Regarding the Japanese Air Force, which many people, he said, were inclined to discount as a second-rate body equipped with obsolete aircraft and lacking skilful and daring pilots, Air Vice-Marshal Pulford said that he certainly does not underrate its capacity. When it was suggested to him that it might be compared with the Italian Air Force, he pointed out how completely the R.A.F. gained the mastery of the skies of the Middle East even when the Italians possessed great numerical superiority. He thinks that what the R.A.F. has done in the Middle East it could certainly do in the Far East against the Japanese. One of the best Japanese fighters is the 'O' naval fighter, but the Sparrowhawks at present with the R.A.F. in Malaya and Burma would have no difficulty in dealing with them.
The Japanese, he said, have two bombers of the Mitsubishi type, one of which is used by the Navy and one by the Army -they are about equal in performance to the Whitley bomber in the R.A.F. He believes that Messerschmitt 109s are being produced in limited numbers in Japanese factories."
-- "The Times", Oct 20, 1941
While reports as to the performance of the latest Japanese fighters is minimal, the RAF currently consider them to be similar to that of Italian designs, that is small, agile and lightly armed, but with longer range. Given that the RAF was able to dominate the Italian Air force, they see no reason why they cannot do the same to the Japanese.
General Alexander is very concerned at the lack of help his preparations are getting from the civil authorities in Malaya. After a number of increasingly vitriolic telegrams between him and the War Cabinet, he has a meeting which is later described as 'turbulent'. As a result, far more civilian labour is released, and local industry is forbidden to poach them. The most urgent need is to complete the protected shelters for the planes, first at Singapore then further north if time permits. Alexander has also discussed the possibilities for construction at least one defence line north of the city with his engineer and Gen. Percival. The conclusion is that it would cause more panic than it was worth to start construction now, but that the defences would be planned and ready to be implemented the moment Japan attacks. Few people in the military think that an attack is more than a short time away, and pressured by Alexander preparations are going ahead as fast as possible.
HMS Bulwark and HMS Anson sail from Britain. The carrier will fly off a squadron of Cormorant divebombers to Gibraltar en route. They are expected to arrive at Trincomalee on the 10th November, where they will spend a month working up. Bulwark is the first carrier to sail with a full complement of the new Sea Eagle and Spearfish; as these are larger than the older aircraft they replace she has to carry 8 planes on deck, but as this is now usual practice except in exceptionally bad weather it is not seen as a problem. They will be joined at Gibraltar by the French battleship Richeleau and her escorts.
21st October
The Foreign Office in Tokyo sends the following message to the Japanese Embassy in Washington.: "The new cabinet differs in no way from the former one in its sincere desire to adjust Japanese-United States relations on a fair basis. Our country has said practically all she can say in the way of expressing of opinions and setting forth our stands. We feel that we have now reached a point where no further positive action can be taken by us except to urge the United States to reconsider her views. We urge, therefore, that, choosing an opportune moment, either you or Wakasugi let it be known to the United States by indirection that our country is not in a position to spend much more time discussing this matter. Please continue the talks, emphasizing our desire for a formal United States counter-proposal to our proposal of 25 September."
A squadron of Hudson bombers arrives to be used by Coastal command in Singapore. These planes have been very effective in use in Europe, and they will be used mainly for reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols. A section of Whirlwind reconnaissance planes also arrives - the 10 aircraft are expected to give the command better intelligence , especially as they do not think the Japanese have any planes capable of catching them.
The first part of 1st Armoured Division arrives in Singapore; the most urgent job they will have on arrival is to show the Malay and Indian divisions how to work with tanks - the Australians already know, but these divisions have never worked with tanks. It is not expected there will be time to make them expert, but at least a basic familiarity will be useful. To save time, the tanks are not tropicalised; this will be done once more of the division has arrived.
23rd October
The first four U-class submarines arrive at Trincomalee. It is intended to deploy them from Singapore shortly once work on the base has been completed to accommodate them. Further U and T class submarines will arrive over the next two weeks, as will a depot ship.
27th Oct
The sailing of two battalions of troops from Canada to Hong Kong has had to be postponed due to engine problems with the liner Awtea. This is not bad news for the Canadians, who consider the troops not yet sufficiently trained and ready for deployment. As no other liner is available, the troops will carry on with their original training program until new transport can be arranged.
Lord Louis Mountbatten has been appointed director of Combined Operations.
HMS Warspite, HMAS Australia and HMAS Sydney arrive at Singapore to join Force Z. Talks have been going on for some time with the Dutch and (unofficially) with Adm Hart for the Americans. Given the naval force the RN is assembling, the Dutch have agreed that their naval forces will be under RN command (subject of course to their need to defend the DEI), and work is proceeding at making it easier for the two navies to operate together. Whiel Adm, Hard is unable to agree to anything similar, USN officers are included in the plans for joint operations, 'just in case'.
1st Nov
Japanese Combined Fleet Operational Order Number 1 - the plan for the attack on Pearl Harbor, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies is issued.
Joseph C Grew, the US ambassador to Japan, sends a second telegram to President Roosevelt warning that the Japanese may be planning an attack on an American target. The report is filed.
The first four long-range T-class submarines arrive in Ceylon for deployment, as does the depot ship and supplies for the two submarines squadrons.
The convoy taking 9th Australian Division arrives at Singapore. Due to the rising tension the division will deploy by the 16th; a number of the 7th Australian Div will be tasked with getting them ready for operations as soon as possible. They are accompanied by the second part of the 1st Armoured Brigade with 60 tanks. Only two of the divisions brigades are on this convoy; the third and final one will not arrive until the 22nd November due to shortage of suitable shipping.
3rd Nov
Gen. Marshall states at a Joint Board meeting that there would only be sufficient B-17's in the Philippines to “have a deterrent effect on Japanese operations.” The Joint Board concurred in opposing the State Department’s hard line towards Japan and advocated the US making minor concessions to buy time.
Major General Brereton arrives on Pan American Clipper to take up his appointment as Commander, FEAF. He brings with him a draft of a revised Rainbow-5 plan for the defense of the Philippines.
"Regarding the Japanese Air Force, which many people, he said, were inclined to discount as a second-rate body equipped with obsolete aircraft and lacking skilful and daring pilots, Air Vice-Marshal Pulford said that he certainly does not underrate its capacity. When it was suggested to him that it might be compared with the Italian Air Force, he pointed out how completely the R.A.F. gained the mastery of the skies of the Middle East even when the Italians possessed great numerical superiority. He thinks that what the R.A.F. has done in the Middle East it could certainly do in the Far East against the Japanese. One of the best Japanese fighters is the 'O' naval fighter, but the Sparrowhawks at present with the R.A.F. in Malaya and Burma would have no difficulty in dealing with them.
The Japanese, he said, have two bombers of the Mitsubishi type, one of which is used by the Navy and one by the Army -they are about equal in performance to the Whitley bomber in the R.A.F. He believes that Messerschmitt 109s are being produced in limited numbers in Japanese factories."
-- "The Times", Oct 20, 1941
While reports as to the performance of the latest Japanese fighters is minimal, the RAF currently consider them to be similar to that of Italian designs, that is small, agile and lightly armed, but with longer range. Given that the RAF was able to dominate the Italian Air force, they see no reason why they cannot do the same to the Japanese.
General Alexander is very concerned at the lack of help his preparations are getting from the civil authorities in Malaya. After a number of increasingly vitriolic telegrams between him and the War Cabinet, he has a meeting which is later described as 'turbulent'. As a result, far more civilian labour is released, and local industry is forbidden to poach them. The most urgent need is to complete the protected shelters for the planes, first at Singapore then further north if time permits. Alexander has also discussed the possibilities for construction at least one defence line north of the city with his engineer and Gen. Percival. The conclusion is that it would cause more panic than it was worth to start construction now, but that the defences would be planned and ready to be implemented the moment Japan attacks. Few people in the military think that an attack is more than a short time away, and pressured by Alexander preparations are going ahead as fast as possible.
HMS Bulwark and HMS Anson sail from Britain. The carrier will fly off a squadron of Cormorant divebombers to Gibraltar en route. They are expected to arrive at Trincomalee on the 10th November, where they will spend a month working up. Bulwark is the first carrier to sail with a full complement of the new Sea Eagle and Spearfish; as these are larger than the older aircraft they replace she has to carry 8 planes on deck, but as this is now usual practice except in exceptionally bad weather it is not seen as a problem. They will be joined at Gibraltar by the French battleship Richeleau and her escorts.
21st October
The Foreign Office in Tokyo sends the following message to the Japanese Embassy in Washington.: "The new cabinet differs in no way from the former one in its sincere desire to adjust Japanese-United States relations on a fair basis. Our country has said practically all she can say in the way of expressing of opinions and setting forth our stands. We feel that we have now reached a point where no further positive action can be taken by us except to urge the United States to reconsider her views. We urge, therefore, that, choosing an opportune moment, either you or Wakasugi let it be known to the United States by indirection that our country is not in a position to spend much more time discussing this matter. Please continue the talks, emphasizing our desire for a formal United States counter-proposal to our proposal of 25 September."
A squadron of Hudson bombers arrives to be used by Coastal command in Singapore. These planes have been very effective in use in Europe, and they will be used mainly for reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols. A section of Whirlwind reconnaissance planes also arrives - the 10 aircraft are expected to give the command better intelligence , especially as they do not think the Japanese have any planes capable of catching them.
The first part of 1st Armoured Division arrives in Singapore; the most urgent job they will have on arrival is to show the Malay and Indian divisions how to work with tanks - the Australians already know, but these divisions have never worked with tanks. It is not expected there will be time to make them expert, but at least a basic familiarity will be useful. To save time, the tanks are not tropicalised; this will be done once more of the division has arrived.
23rd October
The first four U-class submarines arrive at Trincomalee. It is intended to deploy them from Singapore shortly once work on the base has been completed to accommodate them. Further U and T class submarines will arrive over the next two weeks, as will a depot ship.
27th Oct
The sailing of two battalions of troops from Canada to Hong Kong has had to be postponed due to engine problems with the liner Awtea. This is not bad news for the Canadians, who consider the troops not yet sufficiently trained and ready for deployment. As no other liner is available, the troops will carry on with their original training program until new transport can be arranged.
Lord Louis Mountbatten has been appointed director of Combined Operations.
HMS Warspite, HMAS Australia and HMAS Sydney arrive at Singapore to join Force Z. Talks have been going on for some time with the Dutch and (unofficially) with Adm Hart for the Americans. Given the naval force the RN is assembling, the Dutch have agreed that their naval forces will be under RN command (subject of course to their need to defend the DEI), and work is proceeding at making it easier for the two navies to operate together. Whiel Adm, Hard is unable to agree to anything similar, USN officers are included in the plans for joint operations, 'just in case'.
1st Nov
Japanese Combined Fleet Operational Order Number 1 - the plan for the attack on Pearl Harbor, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies is issued.
Joseph C Grew, the US ambassador to Japan, sends a second telegram to President Roosevelt warning that the Japanese may be planning an attack on an American target. The report is filed.
The first four long-range T-class submarines arrive in Ceylon for deployment, as does the depot ship and supplies for the two submarines squadrons.
The convoy taking 9th Australian Division arrives at Singapore. Due to the rising tension the division will deploy by the 16th; a number of the 7th Australian Div will be tasked with getting them ready for operations as soon as possible. They are accompanied by the second part of the 1st Armoured Brigade with 60 tanks. Only two of the divisions brigades are on this convoy; the third and final one will not arrive until the 22nd November due to shortage of suitable shipping.
3rd Nov
Gen. Marshall states at a Joint Board meeting that there would only be sufficient B-17's in the Philippines to “have a deterrent effect on Japanese operations.” The Joint Board concurred in opposing the State Department’s hard line towards Japan and advocated the US making minor concessions to buy time.
Major General Brereton arrives on Pan American Clipper to take up his appointment as Commander, FEAF. He brings with him a draft of a revised Rainbow-5 plan for the defense of the Philippines.
The pieces are slotting into place, at least there won't be a feeble surrender this time.
But.....!!!
I though you _wanted_ the Japanese to surrender feebly???
That's different then
This is at least the third mention of rail lines south of Narvik and I'm a bit surprised that no one has pointed out that there are NO Norwegian lines going south.
www.alleuroperail.com/eurorailway-maps/scandinavia-map.htm
(That will do for a map.)
You could try invading Sweden but somehow...
Can I politely suggest that someone arranges a nasty accident in a brothel for Blamey so that the Australian can be free of him?
On an equally serious note, one major problem that the RAN found after the start of the Pacific war was a lack of tropical work uniforms-
Natty dress uniforms - yes-
Boiler suits - yes
Tropical work gear - No
The RAN ended up 'borrowing' USN khaki shirts and shorts
Perhaps the RN should make a quick discovery of this and do something.
Really the public servants in Melbourne and the pollies in Canberra should be able to quickly source lots of khaki shorts and shirts if there aren'r enough in stock.
As the Jeep was origionaly designed by Bantam who started out as American Austen building under license the Austen 7 it's possible but the British Army already had a ehicle that did most of what the Jeep did for the americans. Its name? The Universal Carrier. That with an off the shelf small estate car (I think it was a Humber) pretty much filled the role, so it's a case of nice to have but we can get along without it.
With a reliable engine and less wieght on the suspention it could work. The trouble is Rolls Royce is already running at full production capacity so getting the engines might be a problem, and the US will want you to use an American tank engine so getting packard to build them might be a problem.
I refer the honourable member to my question of seven minutes to six.
As the Jeep was origionaly designed by Bantam who started out as American Austen building under license the Austen 7 it's possible but the British Army already had a ehicle that did most of what the Jeep did for the americans. Its name? The Universal Carrier. That with an off the shelf small estate car (I think it was a Humber) pretty much filled the role, so it's a case of nice to have but we can get along without it.[/QUOTE]
Just checked and I was part right it was a Humber but not an estate. It was an off the shelf Humber Super Snipe Saloon 2 x 4.
The same chassis was used to produce the 4x4 Humber Light Reconnaissance Car so if it was felt a jeep type vehicle was needed all the parts were there to produce it.
usertron2020
Donor
Neither of the above vehicles look like they could compare to a Jeep. Can they handle a 60 degree incline?
How long does it take to modify them for operation in tropical conditions? Assuming that kick off if still the 7th of December as in our timeline that only gives them six and a bit weeks, and you said that they were waiting for more of the division to arrive as well which will take up part of it. Depending on the timeframe could this decision possibly come back to bite people on the arse?
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