Altered States – Volume II. Darkest Hour

Chapter 22

July 15, 1940

Admiral Tovey sat at his desk, a dejected look on his face. Britain was also in a quandary over what to do about the powerful French fleet. While the French Army had been shattered by the German blitzkrieg, the Navy survived largely intact, with strong capital ships scattered throughout ports from Alexandria to Dakar. Soon the Italians and Germans will realize what is there, he thought. Then they’ll descend on those ports like vultures.

Even as he thought that, he realized what lay ahead, and what they would have to do about it. Sadly, we’ll have to be the vulture too, and get whatever we can off the carcass. We’ve already grabbed the few ships that were in English ports, and at Alexandria we were lucky to get our hands on the old battleship Lorraine, and three heavy cruisers. But that is only the first bite. There are ships at Toulon, four heavy cruisers, fifteen destroyers. There are submarines in Beirut, Bizerte, Casablanca, Oran and Dakar, but the real prizes of war here are the newer battleships. If we cannot secure them, then no one must.

The older French battleships, Lorraine, Provence, Bretagne, Paris and Courbet, were of little concern. The last two were old enough to be called “Dreadnaughts” and all the others were laid down before the outbreak of WWI. They might be useful as floating batteries when permanently moored in a friendly port but, as for naval operations, their sluggish speed and the necessity of keeping them supplied outweighed their usefulness.

But France had also participated in the big pre-war naval buildup, experimenting with several new designs to meet the 35,000 ton treaty limitations, until Admiral Darlan got word that the German Z-Plan ships were now openly being built in violation of all agreements. France had built some fast and capable ships, designed to hunt down and kill Germany’s early pocket battleships like the Graf Spee. These were fast battlecruisers, yet with very good armor and eight 13-inch guns, Strausbourg and Dunkerque.

Two knots faster than the German raiders, and much better armed and protected, they were also capable of standing with Scharnhorst class ships, and with a good chance of coming out the victor. Only the German Bismarck class bettered them, and both these new French ships now sat in Oran. They were accompanied there by two of the older battleships, Provence and Bretagne, along with four light cruisers, sixteen destroyers and a handful of submarines and other minor ships.

Two other newer battleships had been completed just before the war, well ahead of schedule in the history Fedorov knew. They had been built in answer to the Italian naval buildup more than anything the Germans were doing, up-gunned to eight 15-inch guns in two quadruple turrets mounted forward, and state-of-the-art armor protection that still allowed them to work up to 32 knots. Richelieu fled to Dakar, and Jean Bart was at Casablanca with a light cruiser, seven destroyers and eighteen submarines.

There were also a few hidden gems in the French Navy, ships that had been planned and built in answer to the German Z Plan naval buildup. One was now at Casablanca, moved there hastily in the twilight of the war from her moorings at Saint Nazaire, where the ship was being provisioned after fitting out. The shipyard crews sailed with her, still feverishly working on equipment installation. Yet ready or not, she was the grand duke of the fleet, built under the codename “Project C” with the early name Alsace that had since been changed to Normandie.

The ship was bigger and heavier than anything else in the fleet, a truly formidable design on the scale of Britain’s own HMS Invincible. The same quadruple 380mm gun turrets used for Richelieu and Jean Bart were used, but instead of only two forward, a third turret was also added aft, up-gunning the design to twelve 15-inch guns, 33 % more raw big gun firepower than on the German Bismarck class battleships. Only one ship in this project was ever laid down, and was still somewhat raw and incomplete when France lost her war in 1940. Sadly her maiden voyage would see the Normandie flee the shores of her homeland, never to return. The ship was a prize that Germany, Italy, and Britain would have dearly liked to take if they could, and one that Fedorov was delighted to read about as he poured over the altered history of this world as written and known in the books the Russians had given him as a parting gift.

Yet perhaps even more enticing to the naval high commands of all the nations that now looked hungrily upon the French fleet, were the two incomplete designs that still sat in the shipyards in various stages of completion. One was the fast anti-aircraft cruiser De Grasse, a sleek design capable of over 33 knots and bristling with eight twin 127mm AA guns and another ten twin 57mm Bofors.

The other was the real jewel, the large fleet aircraft carrier Joffre that was presently in the yards at Staint Nazaire-Penhoet, about 80 % complete. Also designed to achieve 33 knots, the 20,000 ton full load carrier could carry 40 aircraft and run with the fastest battle fleets any nation might assemble. Adding such a ship to the fleet suddenly became a top priority after the proven utility of carriers, and Admiral Raeder was pleased to know that it was already within his grasp. It was this plum that he pulled out of his hat in the meeting with Hitler, and it lightened the Fuhrer’s mood even as it darkened that of Admiral Tovey where he sat at his desk back at Scapa Flow, meeting with his Chief of Staff, Daddy Brind.

“My God, Brind. We were very narrowly handed our hat in the Denmark Strait. Were it not for that Russian cruiser I wonder how much of the Home Fleet we would still have out there.”

Brind nodded, grey haired, dour faced, and fully aware of the gravity of the situation they were now facing. “The Russians certainly lent a hand when we needed one,” he said. “Yet I find it nigh on to impossible that we didn’t even know this ship existed.”

“Yes, and the First Sea Lord is quite beside himself. Churchill with him. One look at Hood was enough when it pulled in to Rosyth. Admiral Pound went out to see for himself, Whitworth too.”

“That was his old ship, sir.”

“Right, and I can only imagine what they’re saying about me now. Hood beaten, Birmingham sunk, sorry for that one, Brind. I know that was your last command.”

“I’m sure she went down fighting, sir.”

“She did, and Renown and Repulse both fought their way into the shipyards too. They simply haven’t the armor to stand with these new German ships. HMS Invincible lived up to her name-at least I’ve got that much to crow about, but very little else.”

“We hurt them as well, sir.”

“Did we? The Russians hurt them, Brind. There wasn’t a Royal Navy ship that had anything at all to do with the sinking of any ship they lost in that engagement. This Russian Admiral said there was more to his ship than meets the eye, and now there will be no one inclined to pass that off as mere braggery, least of all Admiral Holland.”

“How is the Admiral?”

“Recovering well. We’ve that to be thankful for. He’ll mend quicker than we can patch up Hood. If not for these two new battleships coming off trials the cupboard would be all but empty here.”

“We’ve still got Nelson and Rodney, sir.”

“They did us very little good. I can use them to close the leeward passage, between the Shetlands and Faeroes, but get them out on the open sea and they are just too damn slow. I’d happily trade them both for another ship in the G3 series. We need speed, Brind. These new Germans ships can outrun most anything we have. Invincible is the only ship in the fleet on active duty now that could catch a ship in the Bismarck or Scharnhorst class. The rest of the Battlecruiser Squadron is on crutches for the next weeks and months, and now we have the French to worry about.”

“That would seem to be the primary concern of the Admiralty at the moment, sir. They have grudgingly come round to the notion that you fought to a bloody draw in that engagement. I’m not quite sure they know just how much a part was played by this Russian battlecruiser. I’m told Churchill was simply happy that Bismarck and Tirpitz were sent packing.”

“For the moment, Brind. We’ll have to face them again one day. This issue is far from decided. Beyond that the Germans have a couple of real cherries in the shipyards at Lorient and Saint Nazaire.”

“Those ships aren’t seaworthy yet, Admiral.”

“That could be a different story come next year. As soon as we get Goering off our backs here we’ll have to get Bomber Command busy with that.”

“Yes sir, and we must also consider what to do about all the rest. The French have ships scattered from Dakar to Alexandria. Most of the ships we were planning on sending to Gibraltar for Admiral Somerville’s Force H got caught up in the maelstrom here. How did Illustrious fare?”

“Well enough. Those Messerschmitts from Graf Zeppelin mostly fell on the boys off Ark Royal. If nothing else, they have convinced me that we need a new carrier based fighter, and quickly. These new Fulmars might not even be able to stand with the Messerschmitts. Thank god that when Illustrious put in her attack most of the German planes were already heading home. Good for us, because we put a torpedo into Tirpitz, and that may have persuaded Lindemann to turn. It was Lindemann, yes?”

“Correct, sir. Intelligence says he was on Bismarck.”

“Strange that they gave the operation to a Captain. Not an Admiral in sight.”

“Lutjens is thought to be on the Hindenburg. There’s another nightmare waiting in the wings.”

“Yes, a real phantom in the opera, Daddy. Let’s hope that damn ship stays put in the Baltic for a good while longer.”

“I doubt if they will attempt another major operation this year, sir. Which may give us just a little time to get up off the canvass and catch our breath.”

“What can we send south to Somerville?”

“Well, sir. May I suggest Rodney and Nelson. As you say, they’re not much good up here. The Germans would never attempt to force the inside passage. Every breakout attempt they have made has run out west to the Denmark Strait.”

“Agreed, Brind. Nelson and Rodney will be a good fit for the Med. We’ll send them, and we shall have to come up with another aircraft carrier as well.”

“Both Ark Royal and Illustrious were nominated, sir.”

“Yet I can’t really spare them yet,” said Tovey. “I need fast carriers here as well. What about Glorious?”

“She’s patched up and ready now. The last three weeks have done her a world of good, and the shipyard gave her top priority.”

“Good then. HMS Glorious goes to Somerville.”

“And who do we give her to, Admiral? There’s been no appointment for her next Captain.”

“I have a man in mind for the job, Mister Brind. Yes… I have just the man in mind, the very same man that delivered her safely home.”

“Wells? He’s a Lieutenant Commander. No experience at all.”

“You forget that he was a serving officer on Glorious.”

“No, I haven’t forgotten that, sir, but is he ready for such an assignment?”

“Was I ready when they gave me Home Fleet? Not by a long shot. Were you ready when they gave you your first ship, Brind?”

“HMS Orion? Well I can’t say that I was, sir.”

“No man ever is. Yet we all start somewhere. I had this young man at my arm as Flag Lieutenant’s assistant on Invincible. He has a good head on his shoulders, a bit excitable at times, but he knows the ship and her crew, and he’s got one battle star on his chest with Glorious as it stands. Make the recommendation to the Admiralty.”

“Very good, sir.”

“Right… Then we hand off the torch to Somerville for the moment. Let’s send him a pair of nice fat battleships and another carrier and see what he can do about the French. As for my watch, I plan on taking our newest ships out for a stroll to shake off the goblins. We’ve received a request to meet with this Russian Admiral Volsky on the Faeroes. I shall take the opportunity to thank him personally, and perhaps this time we may add a few other ships to our side of the ledger-the Russians!”

“They do have a few ships worth the name,” said Brind.

“Particularly the ship we encountered-that rocket cruiser. Have you ever heard of anything like it?”

“Not on my watch, sir.”

“Well call me an old fool, but I have the strangest feeling that I have seen this ship before. When we invited the Admiral over for lunch I simply could not take my eyes off that ship. I could swear I’d run across it once, in the far east when I was a young Lieutenant. But that is clearly impossible.”

“It’s also quite a black eye for Bletchley Park,” Brind put in. “They should have had eyes on that ship, and long ago.”

“Quite so. It’s all very bothersome, Daddy. All I can say about it is that I’m glad that ship is on our side.” He was going to add ‘this time around,’ almost reflexively, but stopped himself. He could simply not place his finger on any firm recollection concerning this ship, yet it continued to nag him. In a fitful dream the previous night he saw the ship looming on the horizon of his mind, saw those fiery rockets, felt the jarring sound and concussion of an explosion. It was so compelling that he sat up in a cold sweat, breathing hard with his nightmare. Yes, this strange ship was giving him bad dreams, though now he hoped he could forget them.

“The Russian Admiral seems quite accommodating,” he said.

“Whitehall has also received high level official contacts regarding this meeting,” said Brind.

“So I’ve been told. That incident involving the Admiral Scheer and Nurnberg is a hot potato now. It’s come to blows up north, and this could be something to move the Russians our way. I have every hope that it is.”

“Agreed,” said Brind. “It could also give the Germans just the excuse they need to attack Soviet Russia.”

“Well that will happen one day, Brind, you can bet on it. If not this autumn, then next year.”

“It really comes down to what the Germans plan for us, sir. We’ve got most of our cruisers tied up in home waters on invasion watch now.”

“And that will have to continue.”

“Do you think they’ll have a go at us?”

Tovey thought, then shook his head. “I doubt it, Brind. Try that and we blast them in the Channel, and they damn well know it. Bletchley Park believes the Germans are focusing their effort on trying to break the R.A.F. at the moment. I think they’ll see if they can pound us into submission with the Luftwaffe. They know they can’t cross the channel unless they do that first, and then they’ll still have the Royal Navy to deal with. Frankly, I don’t believe the Germans will attempt an invasion here. It’s the Mediterranean we have to worry about for the foreseeable future. But we must remain vigilant in any case. That’s why I’ll want King George V and Prince of Wales working out with me as soon as possible. In the meantime, I have other beasts to slay.”

“Sir?”

“They want me in the lion’s den with a full report. I’ve been summoned to Whitehall, Daddy. And in case I don’t come back in one piece it has been a brief but pleasant duty here.”

“Chin up, sir,” said Brind. “But bring your whip and chair.”