The Whale Has Wings Vol 1 - Rebirth
Read The Whale Has Wings Vol 1 - Rebirth Online
Authors: David Row
The Whale Has Wings
by David Row
Published by David Row at Amazon
Copyright 2012 by David Row
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used ficticiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - 1932, The Beginning
Chapter 10 - 1939 - Operation Chastise
Chapter 11 - 1939 - The Run Home
Chapter 13 - The Empire carriers
Chapter 15 - The Norway Campaign
Chapter 18 - Norway and France
Appendix 2 - Aircraft carriers
.
Lit only by glimpses of the moon through the scattered clouds, the warships ploughed through the waves at 20 knots. They comprised the most powerful force the Royal Navy had deployed in the North Sea since the First World War - three aircraft carriers, three battlecruisers, and over twenty escorts.
Most of the ships were quiet, the men at cruising stations watching the dark water, but the carrier decks were alive with men and planes as they prepared for the strike. In the briefing rooms, the pilots were getting their final briefing from the air commanders and the met officers.
"Very well, gentlemen, that's it. No changes from yesterday's briefing, the main targets haven't moved since the last set of photos. The crews have done a great job in getting the planes operational for us, so now it's down to us to show the Germans there isn't anywhere they can hide from the Royal Navy."
He pointed one last time at the details chalked up on the board behind him.
"The first wave will be 42 torpedo-armed Swordfish from the Formidable, Victorious and Courageous, plus 30 Dive bombers. Flight leaders will carry flares to illuminate the harbour. You will launch at 0045, and you should be over the target by 0230. We will launch the follow-up strike at 0130. Another 30 Swordfish, but this time 18 of them will be carrying 500lb bombs, and 18 Cormorants. You should be over the target by 0315"
He paused for a moment "By that time we hope the first wave has the target well lit up." His dry delivery was greeted by a ripple of slightly nervous laughter from the assembled crews.
"Don't delay getting back. We expect to have the last planes onboard by 0445, and we'll be heading back at 0500, so don't be late. Recovery will be by beacon and IFF - remember, don't turn your IFF on until you are on your way home after the attack, we don't know if the Germans can detect it, but let's not take any chances, shall we. Only flight commanders are authorised to use their radios until the attack starts -after which, we expect them to realise we have arrived!"
There
were more grins and muffled laughter at that, and the Commander was glad to see his crews in good spirits. Not that he had doubted that, but it was always good to end a briefing on a good note.
"Now, get to your planes and get ready. We've been planning this for a long time, and this is our first chance to hit the German fleet with a heavy blow. Go and make the F
leet Air Arm proud of you!"
The crews filed out - the first waves to man their planes, the rest to wait until the deck was cleared to bring theirs up from the hanger. He wished he was going with them, but flying at sea was a young man's job. Nearly ten years to get here, he thought to himself. A long and difficult path, but one which he hoped would all prove worth it tonight. He knew his crews wouldn't let them down, but the next part would be the worst for him - waiting and hoping nothing had gone wrong, while being unable to do much if it had. He would much rather be facing German flak.
It was the 31st December 1939. What was officially known as Operation Chastise (and very unofficially to the Fleet Air Arm as the Happy Hogmany Raid) was about to begin.
Chapter 1
1932. The Admiralty, London
.
The results of the sometimes heated discussions that had taken the Sea Lords and a number of other senior commanders all day were summed up by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Field, the First Sea Lord.
"Very well, gentlemen, we are agreed. The development of the new Martin divebomber by the Americans renders the conclusions of the RAF completely wrong. It now seems that in the near future, a dive bomber will be able to deliver a 1,000lb bomb at a reasonable range, and presumably a 500lb bomb at longer ranges. We also have reports from observers that the US Navy has allowed to view their exercises, and further information gleaned by our chaps talking to their fliers that with practice dive bombing can be damnably accurate, even against more agile ships, when used in numbers.
While our battleships are still safe of course, everything smaller is now in danger of either serious damage or even sinking, and I feel sure that once this plane is in operation, it will only be a matter of time before similar aircraft are developed by the Japanese or other unfriendly powers. We have nothing to match them, as the RAF assures us that the dive bomber is no threat!
I have had talks, both official and unofficial, with my opposite numbers in the RAF, and I am afraid that they refuse to budge from that conclusion. It seems that no amount of evidence will make them face the facts when it affects their convictions about the strategic bomber concept. Which is a wonderful concept, I am sure, but has little relevance to the Royal Navy.
We also have the likelihood that the torpedo bomber will only get more effective, with heavier torpedoes, as aircraft development continues. As you know I view the problem of attack by aerial torpedo on the fleet with considerable disquiet.
And the problem just gets worse."
He looked down at the paper on the table in front of him.
"The primary defence of the fleet against air attack [by gunfire] is not justified by data or experience. No realistic firing against aircraft has taken place since the last war and, in my opinion, the value of our own High Angle Control System Mk I is rated too high. In common with others, we are apt to over-rate the capabilities of our own weapons in peacetime.
The words of Rear-Admiral Henderson are quite clear, and I am sure we all agree that as Rear-Admiral (Carriers) he knows what he is talking about. We not only need dive bombers of our own, we need better protection against them - and torpedo bombers as well. That means better fighters, and more of them. AA gunfire is all very well, but we need defence in depth.
So our course is clear. Either we lose ground and take second place to other nations aircraft and carriers, or we take action to restore the Navy's place."
He looked around the table at the other uniformed figures, and the expression on all the faces left it clear which of the two options was acceptable to them all.
"The problem here is the RAF. We have no control over their opinions or actions, even when we deem them not just mistaken but actively dangerous. We also know that they have little interest in naval air, but just see it as something they have to give lip service to supporting, while spending the bare minimum on it.
Now I am sure there are many individual officers in the RAF who don't share this thinking - indeed, some of them are ex-naval officers, and have been quite helpful in giving us the true, if unofficial, story."
Vice Admiral Forbes nodded as the Admiral looked around for comments.
"While I think we all agree with the conclusions, all that does is to state the situation we are in. We need a way out of it. A balanced fleet needs its own airpower, or we have to control our ships at the mercy of enemy airpower, which will be inconvenient and limit our choice of options when we are within range of it. And we all know the advantage of using our own planes to locate, and then slow, the enemy battle
-line so we can close with it - we cannot do that if our planes are being attacked by the enemy. Aircraft are a most important aid in making the full, effective use of our battleships"
There was another general nodding of heads.
"Well, there is a solution to the problem. I won't say it will be easy, but we need to get back control of our own aircraft."
"You do realise that means declaring war on the RAF, don't you? You know how possessive they feel about anything that flies!"
"So? We have as many friends in high places as they do."
Admiral Field raised a hand to pause the varied comments from around the table. "Gentlemen. I think we are agreed in the direction and actions we need to take. I propose that we set out a plan of campaign to recover naval air under our control - in secret. I also wish Admiral Henderson to study what we will need to do as soon as we achieve our objectives. Having a plan ready will show we are not just looking for control for the sake of it, and will help us get backing from some of our political allies."
"Please sit down, Admiral"
Chatfield looked at the permanent undersecretary, who was not looking pleased.
"Chatfield, this public argument has gone on far too long. It has to stop"
Admiral Chatfield looked back, his face impassive.
"It needs to be resolved - not stopped. Our arguments are valid, and as you know we have growing appreciation of them and support in parliament."
"You mean you are getting all the agitators on your side... It's already being referred to as the RN-RAF war of 1933."
"I mean the Navy is weak, dangerously weak in air power, and getting weaker every year. If we don
't do something soon, we are going to be a second-rate power."
"I could order you to stop this campaign"
"You could, of course. However I cannot stop members asking questions in the house, and I do have to answer them honestly, you realise. And certainly I cannot stop the newspapers, even if the government can pressure the MP's - which is unlikely, not all of them are on the government benches, and people like Churchill won't be quietened anyway."
He paused for a moment.
"However I agree, this needs to stop. So I have prepared some detailed proposals which I think will solve the matter, defuse the issues in public, and let everything settle down."
Chatfield reached into his briefcase, and put some papers on the table.
"The basic issue is that the Royal Navy simply cannot accept the current level of aviation support provided by the RAF. You've heard all the arguments, probably far more often than you would care to. There is, however, a quite simple solution, which is for the Navy to get back control of the FAA, and fund it ourselves. We realise that there are issues regarding the efficiency of such a plan, and problems with implementing it, but we have had discussions both among ourselves and informally with the RAF and feel we have an adequate solution.