John Schettler - Three Kings

“They were very understanding. Admiral Volsky fully appreciates the political issues involved. The staff work done on opening the Arctic convoy routes to Murmansk is well underway. In that event, Admiral Volsky has offered to meet our outbound convoys with a flotilla of Soviet ships and serve as escorts in the Norwegian Sea.”

“And if the Germans interfere?”

“After the hand off, sir, the convoy will be officially flagged as Russian. If the Germans want to take issue with that, then they shall have to take it up with Moscow. Frankly, I don’t see how the Soviets can sit on the fence for long as things stand. They’ve thrown in with us, but haven’t declared war on Germany, yet something tells me that will change soon enough.”

“Agreed,” said Pound. “Very well, gentlemen. These dispositions are sound. “God help the boys who went down on the Rock.”

“We knew Gibraltar was lost the moment the Germans began their attack,” said Fraser, “in spite of Churchill’s sabre rattling to the contrary.”

“Believe me, the Prime Minister knew we could mount no serious relief operation for Gibraltar. He wasn’t happy about it, but at least he’s made a good speech now that it’s done. The question now is Malta. The Germans will soon have a strangle hold on the Straits of Gibraltar, with guns on both sides, Stukas overhead, and U-boats freely entering the Mediterranean. This is a disaster of the first order, and we haven’t taken the full measure of it yet. Without Gibraltar, relief convoys to arm and supply Malta cannot have any chance of success trying to run the Straits. They will have to be mounted from Alexandria, and Admiral Cunningham still has the Italian Navy to keep an eye on. We have therefore decided to see if we can catch Mussolini napping and visit him at Taranto. We have HMS Eagle there at Alexandria, and we’re sending Hermes up through Suez to join the party now that it has come off refit at Port Elizabeth. That should allow a fifty plane raid against the Italian fleet anchored at Taranto. Our intention is to even the odds in the Eastern Mediterranean, if we can, and give Admiral Cunningham a little breathing room.”

“I’m afraid the whole center of gravity of the war will be shifting his way, sir,” said Tovey.

“Indeed. The War Cabinet and Bletchley Park both agree. With Gibraltar lost, the Germans can now move troops to Oran or Algiers, and from there they can move overland to the east.”

“They can save themselves a long haul and just land at Tripoli,” said Tovey. “Malta is a thorn in the central Med, but can do little to prevent or hinder such a movement by the enemy as things stand. What do we have there to stop them?”

“A garrison no bigger than the one we had on the rock, and no more than thirty six planes, six Gladiators and twenty-eight Hurricanes and two Sunderlands.”

“We’ll need to stiffen that garrison up,” said Fraser, “particularly in the case of aircraft. That will be the only bite Malta has if the Germans take an interest there.”

As soon as these Atlantic Island operations are concluded, we’ll have a look at using those same troops to springboard to Dakar. That taken, our convoy route south around the Cape of Good Hope will be secure. Then it will be our job to get as much in the way of troops and material to Alexandria as possible. The Army wants to beef up the Middle East Command, and they are worried the Germans may soon attack the Balkans.”

“We’re seeing a buildup for that now,” said Fraser, and the Italians have eyes on Greece.”

“Yes, well we both know where that leads this war,” said Tovey.

“The Germans can waltz right through the Balkans to the doorstep of Turkey at Istanbul, and the Turks will be the last neutral state between the Third Reich and the Orenburg Federation. So that is where the War Cabinet believes the fighting will lead us. Right into the thick of the Middle East and Turkey. That’s where the oil is, gentlemen, and Herr Hitler will be eager to get at it. He knows that even if he takes the fields at Ploesti in Romania, it will not be enough to fuel his war machine, or navy. The Bosporus is a chokepoint for all that oil traffic coming out of Baku.”

“The Army has plans to reinforce Greece,” said Pound. “If the Germans do move on the Balkans, then I doubt they’ll politely stop at the Turkish frontier. Should Turkey to cooperate, or worse, if they invade there, then we will have to be prepared to occupy both Iraq and Persia. The Royal Navy won’t be doing the fighting, but it will be our job to get the troops where they need to be. We’ll also have Greece, Crete, Cyprus and Rhodes to worry about in due course, and even Palestine if the Germans make such a move. But all that remains to be seen. For now, gentlemen, let us catch our Canary and snatch the Cape Verde Islands in the bargain. One day at a time.”

Yes, thought Tovey. That is the only way we can work it now. We can make all these speculations and grand plans for battles we might fight, but one day a man with a rifle or a good ship will have to face down an enemy and make them come true. One day at a time will have to do.

It was then that he thought he might make his announcement concerning the Russians. Admiral Volsky had recently sailed to Murmansk, ostensibly to survey the convoy route through the Norwegian Sea. They were also going to establish another lonesome Ice Watch with the fledgling weather station on Jan Mayan. With one of their radar sets posted there, and the other already watching the Denmark Strait, his job was much easier.

Yet Admiral Volsky had sent him an urgent message concerning a new development. He seemed very eager to meet with the British and bring the Soviet Government abreast of these plans. How to broach this subject without getting Admiral Pound worked up about it? He took off his shoes and waded in.

“Gentlemen,” he said quietly. “The Russians have communicated with me recently, and they propose a meeting of the minds at Suez to coordinate strategy and resources.”

“What? Without a formal declaration of war by the Soviets?” It was just what Tovey thought Pound might point out.

“I see little harm in opening talks,” Tovey suggested. “The Russians have proven quite useful. Their radar sets alone have enabled me to close the Denmark strait. Jerry has made two runs out that way in recent months, and he’s been caught flat footed and turned about in every case. I would like to take all the credit, but I’m afraid I would be remiss to do so. The Russian radar sets have given me the warning I need, and in each case I’ve been able to move my fast battleships into position to dissuade the Germans from any ideas they may have had about breaking out.”

“And what about the Bismarck,” said Pound. “What about Hindenburg. Yes, I know I do nothing but tighten the noose about my own neck to bring them into this conversation again. I’ve already admitted my culpability in that affair.”

“Well,” said Tovey. “They can either sit in those French ports, or come out to see if they have what it takes to challenge HMS Invincible, and may she live up to her name should that ever be the case. As to our operations against the Atlantic islands, I assume that meets with the Former Naval Person’s approval?”

Churchill agreed that action now was imperative, and with a favorable eye on the Royal Marines and commandos, he pushed for more decisive and timely action soon.

“The Joint Planning Group has argued the “Marines” are that in name only,” said Pound. “Being newly raised units, with no real experience in amphibious landings, they insisted that regular army units should spearhead any major amphibious operation, but Churchill told Keyes to continue building up his amphibious striking force.”