Ward Desert Patrol

1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4835-5310-8
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 306 Seiten

The siege of the RAF base at Habbaniya is lifted after the defenders launch a surprise counter attach followed up by an intense air campaign and assault on Bagdad by Habforce that force marched to their aid. Back in Cairo, Raiding Forces is ordered to interdict the Via Balbia, Rommel's 1500 mile supply route along the Mediterranean coast. Maj. Randal forms Raiding Forces Desert Squadron (RFDS) and Raiding Forces Sea Squadron (RFSS) to conduct gunjeep and amphibious pinprick raids against the Afrika Korps exposed line of communication.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ward, Phil

Leseproben

Wolf’s Teeth

“Are you prepared to receive a warning order?” Major John Randal, DSO, MC asked. It was not really a question. No answer was expected.

Captain Valentine Fabian, Captain John Smith, Squadron Leader John Page, Squadron Leader Paddy Wilcox, DSO, OBE, MC, DFC, Squadron Leader Tony Dudgeon, Lieutenant Pamala Plum-Martin, OBE, Lieutenant Roy Kidd, Lieutenant Kit Wilson and Mr. Zargo were sitting in folding chairs in the small private briefing area of Maj. Randal’s red-and-white-striped Command Post tent. The formal statement alerted them that a mission was imminent and that they would be playing key roles in it.

Tension ratcheted up.

“SITUATION…”

Colonel Ouvry Roberts came in the back of the tent accompanied by a tall, broad-shouldered civilian in a cream-colored suit, wearing round, steel-rimmed glasses.

“Colonel,” Maj. Randal said, “this is a classified briefing.”

“Quite right, Major. I think in this case we can make an exception.”

“Sir…”

“Jimmy has been touring the Middle East on official business and arrived here at RAF Habbaniya this morning in the capacity of a neutral observer,” Col. Roberts said. “Among other things, he is a captain in the United States Marine Corps.

“I am confident you can count on his complete discretion.”

Sqn. Ldr. Wilcox made eye contact with Maj. Randal and gave him a small nod.

Maj. Randal said, “SITUATION: The rebel Iraqi Army in division strength occupies the escarpment between RAF Habbaniya and the lake two miles distant. The rebels have been subjected to intensive bombing, an aggressive night-raiding program and a psychological warfare campaign that caused the Golden Square to have to replace the 4th Infantry Brigade because their troops quit fighting. They had to bring in a fresh artillery brigade after only two days of action.

“MISSION: Tonight at 0200 hours, Strike Force will conduct a raid on the village of Sin-el-Dhibban – the Wolf’s Teeth – to show the enemy that we are capable of ground offensive operations in force at a time and place of our choosing.”

Maj. Randal flipped the cloth covering over the back of the tripod holding a diagram map of the objective.

“EXECUTION: Capt. Smith, No. 4 Levies Company, will move down the road to attack the right flank of Wolf’s Teeth with his Levies Company. Capt. Fabian, A Company, King’s Own Royal Rifles, guided by Mr. Zargo’s Z Patrol, will scale the escarpment, infiltrate around the left flank and attack simultaneously with No. 4.”

“Sqn. Ldr. Page will follow Capt. Smith’s company with No. 1 Armored Car Company (ACC). Once contact is made, the armored cars will pass through No. 4 Levies Company and spearhead the final assault.

“Five minutes prior to the main attack, Lt. Roy Kidd will land his patrol from the lake, move overland and conduct a demonstration to the rear of Wolf’s Teeth.

“All three Strike Force companies will attack on signal and consolidate on the objective. Once Wolf’s Teeth has been secured, we will return to RAF Habbaniya. Order of return march will be Levies, King’s Own and No. 1 ACC.

“CONCEPT OF THE OPERATION: Murder, Inc. will supply guides to lead the companies to their Final Objective Lines.

“Sqn. Ldr. Wilcox, flying a Gordon bomber, and Lt. Plum-Martin in her Seagull, will each drop 250-pound bombs on Wolf’s Teeth at 0200 hours, which will be the signal for A Company, King’s Own and No. 4 Company, Levies, to launch the ground assault. No. 1 ACC will pass through No. 4 and drive home the final attack.

“Sqn. Ldr. Dudgeon will lead an element of Oxford bombers flying from the airfield to carry out suppression missions in the event the Iraqi artillery attempts to engage. Sqn. Ldr. Dudgeon’s flight will also interdict any mechanized or infantry reinforcements, should they attempt to respond to counter the Strike Force raid.

“Lt. Wilson will support the withdrawal phase with the two 4.5 guns that have been ornaments outside Air Headquarters. The cannons have been serviced and certified for action by his fitters.

“This is a raid of short duration. Execute it with speed and violence of action. Consolidate on the objective. Be prepared to pull out and return to base on command.

“Tomorrow at 1000 hours, Major Ted Everett will launch a follow-up three-company attack on Wolf’s Teeth, with B Company of the King’s Own under command of Captain Clayton, and C Company commanded by Major Gibbons. No. 1 ACC will be attached.

“Maj. Everett’s mission is to mop up the remaining Iraqis — drive ’em out of Wolf’s Teeth.

“COMMAND AND SIGNAL: I command the Strike Force raid. The chain of command is Capt. Fabian, Capt. Smith, and then Sqn. Ldr. Page. The Operations Order is scheduled for 1400 hours. Line of Departure time is 0115 hours for the King’s Own, 0130 for the Levies. No. 1 ACC will follow the Levies Company across the LD.

“The signal to attack will be the airstrike on the objective at 0200 hours.

“The signal to withdraw will be three green flares.

“ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS: Make sure every man has a double basic load of ammunition with one magazine loaded, all tracers for the initial assault, and four frag grenades.

“Questions?”

***

Veronica Paige and her daughter Mandy came into the Command Post (CP) tent when the Warning Order was concluded. After everyone cleared out, Major John Randal sat perched on the edge of his desk.

“Take your blouse off, Major,” Veronica commanded.

Maj. Randal started unbuttoning his faded green jungle jacket. He noted that Jimmy had not left the tent.

Getting the jacket off was not easy. Maj. Randal was wrapped in bandages from his armpits to the bottom of his ribs – some of which were probably cracked. He grimaced in pain.

Mandy started cutting through the bandages with a pair of scissors. Maj. Randal was black and blue, with brilliant patches of violet, dark purple and green mixed in. Jimmy’s eyes squinted when he saw the scars. An experienced African big game hunter, he knew they were too large to be a leopard…lion?

Maj. Randal said, “United States Marines.”

“James J. Roosevelt,” Captain Roosevelt said.

“Really,” Maj. Randal said.

“My father, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, sent me on an around-the-world tour to let certain interested parties know that it will only be a matter of time before the U.S. enters the war. I am out here on the final leg of my tour doing exactly that.”

“Welcome to scenic Habbaniya,” said Maj. Randal.

“You are on my short list of people to talk to,” Capt. Roosevelt said. “James Taylor told me this was where I would find you.”

“James Taylor?”

Capt. Roosevelt looked at Maj. Randal, “I flew in with him this morning. Baldie said you would probably play it this way – Frogspawn.”

Maj. Randal lit a cigarette with his battered Zippo lighter with the crossed sabers of the U.S. 26th Cavalry Regiment on the front.

Veronica had wrapped a clean bandage around his chest and was tying it off.

“Finish up, Mrs. Paige,” Maj. Randal ordered. “You’re not a doctor.”

“Nor a veterinarian,” Veronica said. “Mandy, make the Major soak one hour in the pool starting right now, then re-wrap him with fresh bandages.”

“Yes, mother,” Mandy said. “I am going to go change into my swimsuit. Be ready for the pool when I get back, John. Do not give me a hard time.”

“On your way out,” Maj. Randal said, “tell Flanigan no one comes in here.”

When they were alone, Capt. Roosevelt said, “After I conclude my business in the Middle East, my next assignment will be in the office of the Coordinator of Information. Colonel “Wild Bill” Donovan’s my new boss. He tried to see you when he was out here a few months ago but you were behind the lines in Abyssinia.”

“Fighting 69th,” Maj. Randal said, “Medal of Honor?”

“That’s him,” Capt. Roosevelt said. “He asked me to evaluate British Commando training and operations, with an eye to setting up Marine Battalions dedicated to raiding in the future. Your name came up as being an authority on small-scale raiding. In addition, Baldie says you’re the most experienced guerrilla commander in Africa.

“Both raiding and guerrilla operations are of great interest to Col. Donovan.”

“I see,” said Maj. Randal, which meant he did not have a clue what Capt. Roosevelt was talking about.

“The Colonel asked me to advise you that when the U.S. enters the war, he intends to offer you a job.”

“And what might that be?”

“I have no idea,” Capt. Roosevelt said. “It is my understanding that Col. Donovan is working out a joint operating agreement with one of the British intelligence agencies, where the U.K. and the U.S. will cooperate on certain activities both overt and covert. Would you be interested in something of that nature – direct action?”

“Captain,” Maj. Randal said, “the Iraqi Army can stroll down that ridge they’re sitting on and overrun this base in five minutes any time they decide to get up and do it. I’m not...