The Last War: 368.

[Bernard Woolley]

With thanks to Matt W.


*

D+28

*

0031 hours GMT, 20th May. Near Schladming, Austria.
The three Centurion tank turret bunkers had belonged to a Flusssperrkompanien which had been given the job of preventing, or at least delaying the Soviets from crossing the River Enns near Schladming. The company had managed to hold on until a combination of numbers and the Soviets managing to find a way to outflank it had forced its surviving members to withdraw to join the main Field Army. Soviet engineers had started to clear the mines laid by the company and demolish the various obstacles but had not yet gotten around to dealing with the tank turrets and supporting infantry positions.

With the rapid pull-out, the Flusssperrkompanien had not had the opportunity to properly put the turrets out of action. They had removed the breach-blocks and co-axial machine-guns, before burying both and recording the locations. They had also removed supporting machine-guns from the infantry positions. Now Jagdkampfkompanie 814 planned to take advantage of the fact that the tank turrets could be put back into action relatively easily. By luck a few members of the Flusssperrkompanien had linked up with Jagdkampfkompanie 81 when they had withdrawn, which would make the operation that bit easier.

*

While a NATO counterattack in Austria had pushed Warsaw Pact forces back to the vicinity of Altenmarkt im Pongau it had then sputtered to a halt. A combination of logistical issues, challenging terrain, and Soviet resistance. Shortly after the commander of the Austrian Army Group officially closing down the offensive, pressure from Soviet forces had begun to grow as they sought to regain territory. Reconnaissance combined with SIGINT and ELINT had suggested that the Soviet Danube Front was preparing for a renewed attack. [1]

Schladming had become an important part of the supply network for the Soviets as vehicles and supplies passed through the town, heading for the front-line. Stopping some of those supplies, or blocking the main road, even if just temporarily, would have a significant impact.

*

The team from the Jagdkampfkompanie had infiltrated Soviet positions, making their way to the location of the tank turrets. To their surprise and satisfaction, there were no guards, so were able to dig up the breach-blocks and reinstall them unmolested. They found that most of the ‘fin’ rounds had been fired, but that there was still around a third of the 105mm HESH shells left, along with a plentiful supply of .30cal bullets for the co-axial machine-gun.

Below the gun position there was an almost constant stream of Soviet vehicles using the E651, heading in both directions. The only possible threat the Austrians could see were a trio of ZU-23M positioned to protect that part of the road from air attack. Even though they were not capable of causing serious damage to the Centurion turrets, they would be the first targets to be engaged.

The turrets traversed and lined up on their first targets. They fired almost in unison, the shells obliterating the three ZU-23M. The Austrian gunners next turned their attention to the road traffic, destroying three lorries transporting ammunition, blocking the road. As a chain reaction of explosions made their way up and down the road, the Austrians continued to engage targets with 105mm and .30 fire, adding to the destruction. In just over five minutes the Jagdkampfkompanie team had turned a well-ordered road into a chaotic mess of burning, exploding wreckage.

Satisfied that they had done all they could, the Jagdkampfkompanie removed the gun breach-blocks and co-axial machine-guns, before burying them in a new location. They found it relatively easy to exfiltrate out of the area back to their Operational Base; the Soviets were far too busy dealing with the destruction they had caused to do anything about the Centurion turrets.

0142 hours GMT. Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Acting Superintendent Greg Salisbury looked out of his office in Woden police station, reflecting on how quickly life could change, and not for the better. While the Winchester Police Centre H.Q of ACT Policing had been destroyed in the Soviet attack, three of the five police stations had survived and were being used as locations to reconstitute the force. [2]

Most of the senior officers of ACT Policing had been killed, or become casualties, including the Deputy Commissioner who was the Chief Police Officer of ACT. That had meant a lot of promotions for surviving officers and officers from elsewhere in the Australian Federal Police being drafted in. Salisbury himself had, until recently, been a station sergeant at Woden. He had found himself promoted to substantive inspector and rapidly after that being made an acting superintendent. Even with these measures, there was still a shortage of experienced middle rank officers. Salisbury was hoping that a meeting he was about to have with one of the New South Wales Police officers would go a little way to change that.

A knock at the door brought Salisbury back to the present and he turned back to face his desk.

“Come in.”
“You wanted to see me, Sir?” The NSW Police officer asked as they entered the office.
“Take a seat, Maggie.” Salisbury said. “You don’t mind me calling you, Maggie, do you?”

Senior Sergeant Maggie Doyle shook her head as she took the offered seat.

“No, Sir.”
“Good, and it’s Boss as far as I’m concerned.”

Salisbury opened a folder on his desk before continuing the conversation.

“You’ve had quite a distinguished career, Maggie. Joined Victoria Police in 1991, served for two years in Melbourne before being posted to somewhere called Mount Thomas in 1994. Never heard of it, I’m afraid.”
“It’s near Echuca, Swan Hill and Benalla, Boss.”
“Right, I see.” Salisbury replied, none the wiser. “Anyway.” He continued. “You were there until 2000, including a stint as acting station sergeant for a period between 1998 and 1999. You then transferred to New South Wales because of issues with a case that isn’t listed on your record or is available to anyone outside of Vic Police. Care to enlighten me?”

Doyle shook her head.

“Sorry, Boss, I can’t talk about it.”

Salisbury looked down again at Doyle’s record.

“New South Wales made you a sergeant in ’02, becoming a part-time member of the Operations Support Group in ’03. You became a senior sergeant later that year. I see you were present at the Redfern and Macquarie Fields Riots, along with the anti-war disorder earlier this year.”
“Is this a job interview, Boss?” Doyle asked pointedly when Salisbury paused.

He nodded.

“In a way.” Salisbury replied. “ACT Policing needs experienced officers of your rank to help it rebuild. We’d want you to be seconded to us for eighteen months at least. After that, you could return to New South Wales, or transfer permanently. Thing is, there’s no rank of Senior Sergeant in our force…”

Doyle began to try and turn down the offer. She had worked very hard to reach her current rank and was not about to accept a reduction, no matter how attractive the job, or even if it was just of a temporary nature.

“Just a minute, Maggie.” Salisbury said, forestalling her objections. “We can’t ask you to take a reduction in rank, even temporarily, so we’d make you an inspector. It would be a substantive rank as far as we would be concerned, and for pay and pension purposes. Can’t guarantee that New South Wales would take you back as an Inspector though.
“You don’t have to answer immediately but let me know as soon as you can.”

Doyle thought for a moment.

“I don’t need any time to think, Boss. I don’t have any ties I need to worry about back in New South Wales, so I’m in.”
“Then, welcome aboard, Inspector Doyle.” Salisbury replied. “You’ve done me a bloody good turn, so I’m sorry I’m going to have to do you a bloody bad one. Your job is going to be to re-establish territorial policing in the area that was covered by Winchester and City stations. You’ll have a few ACT officers to get you started, but you’ll have to do what I’ve just done and see if you can convince officers from other forces to agree to secondment, or transfer. You’ll also be working out of a mobile police office until we can find you more permanent facilities.”
“Well, that sounds like fun, Boss. But I’ll do my best.”
“I have every faith in you, Maggie.” The Superintendent said. “We’re going to be really busy because they’re in the process of disbanding most of the provisional military units and sending them home. We’ll also be taking control of policing from the army within the next 48 hours.”

That news was a surprise to Doyle. After the declaration of martial law within the ACT, the army had taken charge of policing, as it had to be on a much more robust basis than civilian police were used to. With reductions to the military garrison, might it also mean that martial law might be eased? [3]

0201 hours GMT. CENTCOM HQ (Forward), Al Udaid AB, Qatar.
CENTCOM's J-2 Office was busy this morning, as it usually was. X Corps had pushed into Iraq, and though progress had been good, it was not what the planners had expected, based on the 1991 experience. Unlike DESERT STORM/DESERT SABER, the Iraqis had not been pounded from the air for weeks before the ground war had begun, and the Iraqi Army and the RGFC still had plenty of fight in them. EPW interrogations had shown just that, with many Iraqi prisoners, especially officers and some veterans of the 1991 campaign, saying “This time will be different.”

The fights for several Kuwaiti towns south of the border, along with both Safwan and Umm Qasr, had shown just that, with not just the Regular Iraqi Army and RGFC, but also for the first time, Saddam Fedayeen and Al-Quds Militia from the Baath Party had appeared on the battlefield. First to “stiffen” some of the less reliable Regular Army infantry, a la the Soviet NKVD “Blocking Detachments” seen on the Eastern Front, but also as actual fighters. In both Safwan and Umm Qasr, the Fedayeen had been determined to fight, and fight to the death. They had been seen prewar as the Baathist Regime's bullyboys and enforcers, but now, they were that regime's most zealous combatants. When the Army and RGFC had decided to pull back to regroup and resupply, the Fedayeen stayed in both towns and fought to the last man. In some cases, literally. And the Iranians had passed their experience in Faw via their “Omani” liaison officer, and they had found out the same thing. While the Al-Quds Militia had been more willing to surrender if there was no way out, the Fedayeen kept fighting. And few had been taken prisoner.

In another office, part of the J-2 shop, there was another issue that was a pressing concern: the weather. The Air Force handled weather support for the Army, and in Joint Commands, there were both AF and Navy weather personnel assigned. Here, it wasn't just for the KTO and the Gulf, but the whole IO and the Red Sea as well, and that fell under the Navy's umbrella. In addition to those, the RAF and Royal Navy had some people assigned, and there were also Saudi, Kuwaiti, and Qatari officers assigned to pass along local experience.

AF Brig. Gen. Mike Edwards ran the weather office, and he was not pleased at what his people had just handed him. About half were reservists, with some either working for the National Weather Service back home or were TV weathermen-something that someone at his first duty station, Keflavik in Iceland, had told him he'd be pretty good at one day. Instead, he'd made a career of the Air Force, though he did have an Iceland-born wife. But that wasn't his concern now. What one of his subordinates was showing him was.

“You're sure about this?” He asked the female AF Captain, who was one of those reservists.

Capt. Jenny Kimball, who was one of the TV weather people, nodded.

“Yes, sir. There's this low over Syria and Eastern Jordan. It's being pushed east by this high that came off the Med. And that low brings with it not much in the way of rain, but a lot of high winds.”
“We get anything from the Jordanians?” Edwards asked, and a RSAF Major nodded, handing Edwards a Jordanian forecast. He mentally translated the report from Metric to English.

“High winds, blowing dust and sand, moving east. Border areas and H-4 Air Base can expect dangerous conditions for forty-eight hours.”
“Not unusual here.” The RSAF man replied. “We had a similar storm back in March of 2003, and that shut everything down in Southern Iraq and Kuwait for just over two days.” That included SOUTHERN WATCH missions, much to the disgust of everyone there at the time. “The term we use here is a Shamal.”

Edwards nodded, then asked.

“How long until the KTO feels the effects?”
“Won't be long, sir. This Jordanian report's from last night.” Replied the RSAF Major.
“Bottom line?”
“Sir.” Kimball replied. “This is going to shut down the KTO for at least forty-eight hours. All air activity will have to be grounded out of necessity and try moving the ground forces in stuff like this-sir.”

Edwards would have questioned her about the forecast if it had disagreed with his own-which he was keeping to himself. Until now. And his forecast agreed with hers and the RSAF Major's.

“All right. I'll pass this up the line. Looks like the war's on hold here for two days.”

*

After the J-2 was informed, both General Abazid and his Deputy, Marine Lt. Gen. Mike Sanford, were briefed, along with CENTAF and NAVCENT. Nobody liked it at all, but there it was: the Iraqis were going to get a break due to weather, and they would no doubt make best use of it. X Corps was ordered to hold fast on current positions, while as much air activity as could be gotten in would go before that wall of sand closed in. Then the aircrews-both land and carrier-based-could take a well-deserved rest, while maintenance crews could get caught up. Even the bombers on Diego Garcia would be grateful for a stand-down, some felt.

While the sandstorm would be cursed at the various allied headquarters in the KTO, the same could not be said for the Iraqis....

0235 hours GMT. Vienna International Airport, Austria.
The two Swiss International Air Lines MD-11 were unexpected visitors to the airport, which had been essentially closed for over a month. The airport was within the area around Vienna which the Soviets had chosen not to occupy. However, they had made it clear to the city authorities that they might choose to use the airport if they felt they needed to.

*

The Soviets had hoped to keep a lid on how conditions were in the Austrian capital, hoping they could let them deteriorate to a point where they would be ‘forced’ to occupy the city for humanitarian reasons. Which they would be able to do peacefully. However, they had reckoned without the presence of the United Nations Office at Vienna, which was based in the extra-territorial Vienna International Centre. While non-Warsaw Pact embassies in the city had been evacuated, the UN had maintained a skeleton presence at the VIC. Its personnel had continued to send reports to New York on how conditions in Vienna were deteriorating, including a growing shortage of food and vital medicines.

Under international pressure, the Soviets had agreed to allow humanitarian aid to be brought into Vienna, so long as there were guarantees that no war-materials would be included. The UN had decided that the first part of this process would be to reinforce the Department of Safety and Security detachment at the VIC. As the last major European neutral, Switzerland had agreed to provide the personnel necessary. It had also been agreed that UNDSS personnel would be responsible for ensuring that aid convoys entering Vienna contained no ‘contraband’. Quite how the aid would reach Vienna had not been fully decided, though some was due to come in by air over the next few days.

*

Colonel Vladislav Kozak watched as the first ‘UNDSS’ personnel disembarked from the MD-11s. As punishment for his unauthorised mission to seize Lipizzaner horses from the Spanish Riding School, Kozak had been assigned as senior Soviet liaison officer to the UNDSS. He, rightly, suspected that had his side mission succeed, he would have instead been rewarded.

“Just what I thought.” He muttered.

The men and women deplaning might wear blue berets and UN brassards, but their uniforms marked them out as members of the Swiss army. Kozak did not know their identities yet, but they were drawn from Infanteriebataillon 61, with detachments from Geniebataillon 23 and Militärpolizeibataillon 3. A small team from Army Reconnaissance Detachment 10, one of the units from the Swiss Special Force’s Command, had also been included in the deployment. Around eight hundred Swiss Army personnel had arrived aboard the pair of MD-11s, and the aircraft were due to return tomorrow with another load; there were only a limited number of times in the day when both the Soviets and NATO would allow the Swiss to fly through a safety corridor.

“Well, time to go and introduce myself.” Kozak said to nobody in particular.

0315 hours GMT. NAS Keflavik, Iceland.
‘From: Com Iceland Defense Force
To: SACLANT
Subject: Security of Iceland

‘The Icelandic Coast Guard Security Company is now operational and has taken up its first duties. Formed of 150 personnel, the core of the company was formed from the Iceland Crisis Response Unit and is made up of members of the coast guard with some Icelandic police officers seconded to it. The unit will initially take over some static protection duties currently carried out by the Icelandic Police, notably the Viking Squad, freeing them for other duties. While not under my command, the security company will work closely with NATO forces in Iceland and will in time relieve or supplement some of my troops on guard duties.
‘The General Director of the ICG has informed me that there are at least 100 additional personnel available, however, the current size of the company is dictated by the available weapons. While some personnel are armed with modern weapons, e.g., the AG3 battle rifle, C8 carbine and MP5 SMG, many are armed with elderly M1 and M2 carbines, or even old First World War era Lee-Enfield rifles. The General Director has asked that I request supply of modern small arms as an urgent matter. My marine and army contingents do have some spare weapons and, if permission is given, I intend to supply the security company with them.

‘RADM Harris, Commander Iceland Defense Force.’.

*

The admiral looked at the signal before he appended his signature to it. Harris applauded Iceland’s decision to form the Security Company; it had been a big step for them to form something almost akin to an army. The closest they had come to this before had been in 1940, when attempts to create a defence force had been forestalled by the British (and subsequent American) occupation. The company was indeed small, but it would still take some pressure off his ground forces.

0438 hours GMT. Outside Monbetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.
Brigadier Mark Bailey walked over what had recently been a battlefield in company with Major General David ‘Dave’ Watson, the Commander, Australian Forces Japan. Two soldiers from the RACMP walked ahead of the two officers, while another pair trailed at a respectful distance. Despite the formal surrender of the remaining Soviet troops in Hokkaido, there was still a fear that there could be ‘holdouts’, hence the Close Protection escort.

“How long until I get my replacements, Dave?” Bailey asked.
“Week to ten days, Mark.” Watson replied. “I hear that Canberra is going to be abolishing the ‘Vietnam Clause’, so your replacements should come from across the army, rather than just the reserves.”

Bailey grunted; he was not particularly concerned about where his replacements came from, just that he got them. [4]

“So, they should reach you in time for your brigade becoming operational in South Korea.” Watson continued. “The Kiwis and Fijians will also make up their own losses.
“Anyway, the main thing I wanted to speak to you about was not about replacements. The Yanks and Koreans are planning a major counterattack soon and are starting the process of organizing their forces. They want your brigade to be the core of a provisional task force of around divisional size. Most of the troops will be Aussie, but the Kiwis are planning to send a second battalion and there is a possibility that an American brigade will be attached. You’re our most experienced army officer in theatre, so you’ll be getting the job of commanding the task force, Major General Bailey. Any idea what you want to call your task force, Mark?”
“That’s an easy one – Task Force Chauvel, after Harry Chauvel, one of my heroes.”

Watson nodded in agreement.

“First Australian to command a corps. Works for me, Mark.”
“Can I ask what you’ll be doing, Dave?”
“I get to have ‘and Korea’ added to my title and a promotion to acting lieutenant general. Course, all I get to do is admin; you’ll be under the American IX Corps for example, rather than my direct command, though you can appeal to me if you feel the Yanks are putting your task force at excessive risk.”

As both men walked back to their vehicles the passed a few freshly dug graves, marked by simple wooden crosses. JGSDF engineers were in the process of clearing the battlefield of wrecked vehicles, abandoned equipment and unexploded ordnance. Some of the vehicles and equipment would be repaired and returned to service, while the rest would be scrapped, or possibly dumped at sea.

“I’ll tell you one thing, Dave, I’m glad we didn’t have any part of the fighting in Monbetsu itself. That was something we left to the Japanese 2nd Division and the US Marines.” Bailey observed.
“I heard it was pretty brutal.” Watson replied.

While Bailey’s 3rd Brigade had reached the coast near Monbetsu, cutting the Soviets off from their resupply, it had not cleared the city itself. A mix of Soviet troops from the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Regiment and the 33rd Motor Rifle Division had dug themselves into Monbetsu, hoping against hope that some form of rescue would reach them. The Japanese 5th and 11th Divisions, reinforced by the American 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit had fought their way through the city, prying the Soviet troops out of countless buildings and reducing much of Monbetsu to rubble in the process. Casualties had been heavy on both sides.

On approaching their vehicles Bailey noticed that two officers, one Japanese, one American were waiting for them.

“Mark, let me introduce my Japanese and American liaison officers.” Watson said. “This is Major Motoko Kusanagi of the Ground Self-Defence Force.” The Japanese officer bowed respectfully to Bailey. “And Major Mira Killian, of the US Army.” The American gave Bailey a polite nod. “They’re going to be working with you closely as part of getting your brigade ready to redeploy.”
“I’ll be going with you to Korea, Sir.” Killian told Bailey. “To make sure any command arrangements get smoothed over.”
“Wish I was going with you, Bailey san. However, our Korean neighbours are…sensitive to SDF personnel being on their soil.” Motoko commented.

The Australian brigadier knew exactly what she meant. Sixty years were nowhere near long enough for Koreans to consider the brutal Japanese occupation of the peninsula as simply ‘history’. Bailey was reminded, however, that Australian and other Allied Prisoners of War during the Last War remembered Koreans as amongst the most brutal of guards. A case of the abused becoming abusers, perhaps?

“I look forward to looking forward to working with you both, Majors.” He said, before turning back to Watson. “You sorted for getting back to your H.Q, Dave?”

Watson nodded.

“Yup; 28 Squadron are going to give me a lift back on one of their Daks.”
“Rather you than me, mate. I like to fly in aircraft that weren’t old when God was a boy!”

0536 hours. HMS Fearless, off Broadstairs, Kent.
It had taken something of a miracle, but the old LPD was plodding into the North Sea under the power of her two steam turbines. Acting Commander John Holden, once her Senior Naval Officer, but captain now that Fearless had been recommissioned, was very pleased with her progress. She was not pretty and some of her internal spaces were not inhabitable and probably would not be any time soon, but Fearless would be more than capable of accommodating the staff of the North Sea Escort Force.

Two vessels from the NSEF, HMS Tay and HMS Avenger were escorting Fearless on her voyage north. With the defeat of the Soviet/East German raid into the North Sea the threat was low, but it was not zero, and nobody would countenance a major ship like Fearless putting to sea without some form of escort.

*

It might have been early in the morning, but Commander Holden had decided that his place was on the bridge. Especially as he had ordered that Defence Watch was to be maintained as soon as Fearless entered the southern North Sea. With a crew of only two hundred and fifty out of a normal crew of five hundred and eighty, that was a tough job and required a lot of sailors to stand double watches. Holden felt that he could not ask anyone under his command to do something he was not willing to do himself.

“Sir, FLASH message from JACWA South, Air Raid Warning Yellow. Suspected ‘Fencer’, or ‘Fullback’ type aircraft are expected to be over this part of the North Sea within the hour.”
“Very good.” Holden replied. “Officer Of the Watch, I intend to bring the ship to Action Stations in forty minutes time if there is no further update. I want all hands fed before then.”
“Aye, aye, Sir.”

Fearless was only armed with short-ranged weapons; two twin 30mm mounts forward, where the Sea Cat mounts had once been, a pair of single 20mm cannon on the bridge wings, and two Phalanx CIWS where the aft Sea Cat mounts had once been, plus a number of GPMG machine-gun mounts; she would be largely dependant on the armament of her two escorts if the enemy did attack.

When the food did eventually reach the bridge, it consisted of pre-packed sandwiches that had been taken onboard at Portsmouth. Reminding Holden that the ship’s company only included a couple of chefs. Eating a roast beef sandwich at this time of the day felt strange, but it was certainly welcome.

““Officer Of the Watch, bring the ship to Action Stations.” Holden ordered once he had finished his breakfast.
“Aye aye, Sir.”
“FLASH message from JACWA South, Air Raid Warning Red!”

Not a moment too soon, Holden reflected.

*

The formation of eight Su-34 ‘Fullbacks’ of the 42nd Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment had taken off from their base at Żagań in Poland, refuelling at Rostock before making the high speed, low-altitude passage over southern Jutland. Two of the aircraft had been shot down when the formation had run into a patrol of RDAF F-16s, but the rest had been able to escape.

The aircraft had been armed with a load of FAB-500 bombs and had been assigned the Port of Dover as a target. The aircrew would have preferred a guided weapon like the KAB-500L laser-guided version of the bomb, but these were ‘temporarily’ in short supply.

A pair of F-16C from the 527th AGRS had been assigned to cover the southernmost CAP over the North Sea and as luck would have it, the F110 turbofan of one of the ‘Vipers’ decided that now was a good time to start surging and act like it was about to fall to bits. Its pilot declared an emergency and shepherded by the other Fighting Falcon, diverted to RAF Manston. A pair of Tornado F.3 of No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron were scrambled from the same air station to take the place of the American fighters, but they would not arrive on station before the Soviet formation sighted Fearless and her escorts.

***

[1] Danube Front
81st Artillery Division
25th Air Assault Brigade
Hungarian 37th Air Assault Battalion

16th Army: (Southern Group of Forces in Hungary)
81st Independent Motor-Rifle Battalion
902nd Independent Air Assault Battalion
103rd Independent Tank Regiment (Training)
13th Guards Tank Division
253rd Motor-Rifle Division
Hungarian 4th Motor-Rifle Division
Hungarian 27th Motor-Rifle Division

21st Army:
2nd Guards Tank Division
93rd Guards Motor-Rifle Division
4th Guards Motor-Rifle Division (from Kiev MD)
Hungarian 9th Motor-Rifle Division
Hungarian 17th Motor-Rifle Division


[2]The surviving stations were Woden, Tuggeranong and Gungahlin Joint Emergency Service Centre. City (Civic) was put out of action along with the Winchester Police Centre (Belconnen).

[3] Canberra Garrison after planned reductions.
24th Battalion, The Australian Rifles Regiment: (-) (+): Bushmaster
- B Company, 4th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
- Cavalry Squadron: ASLAV
-- Troop, B Squadron, 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers: ASLAV
5th Combat Engineer Regiment (-) (+)
- 4th Combat Engineer Squadron, 8th Combat Engineer Regiment
4th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (-)
19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
1 x Troop 142nd Signals Squadron
2x Company, 5th Combat Service Support Battalion
Provisional Health Company (formed from detachments of 1st Close Health Battalion & 3rd Health Support Battalion)
2nd Military Police Battalion (+)
- Provisional Company, RACMP
G Squadron: S-70A

Note: B Company, 4 NSW Regiment was attached to 24 AUSR to replace casualties suffered in the missile attack. The latter battalion had been forced to disband one of its rifle companies. The troop of 1 RNSWL was attached to the Cavalry Squadron for the same reason.


[4] Current orbat of Bailey’s brigade:

3rd Brigade (+)
- 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (+): M777
-- 161 Battery (Close Support), 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery: L119
- 17th Air Land Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (-) (+)
-- 112th Air Land Battery, 16th Air Land Regiment: Rapier
-- 113th Air Land Battery, 16th Air Land Regiment: Rapier
-- 114th Air Land Battery, 17th Air Land Regiment: Starstreak HVM
-- 115th Air Land Battery, 17th Air Land Regiment: Starstreak HVM
-- Golf Troop, 16 Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery: Mistral
-- Battery, 19th Air Land Regiment, RAA: Leopard Marksman
- 3rd Cavalry Regiment: ASLAV
- 3rd Armoured Regiment: M1A1 (AIM)
- 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment: M113AS4
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment: M113AS4
- 1st Battalion, The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment: NZLAV
- 1st Battalion, Royal Fijian Infantry Regiment: Light Infantry
- 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment:
-- Troop, 2nd Field Squadron, 2nd Engineer Regiment (NZ)
- 3rd Combat Signals Regiment
-- Troop, 2nd Signals Squadron (NZ)
- 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion
-- Composite Company, 2nd Royal New Zealand Army Logistics Regiment (Duke of York's Own)

[Bernard Woolley]

Accompanying Pictures

[Jotun]

Yay. Something new to read!

Good idea with the River Blocking Company‘s old Cent turrets being used to a somewhat disproportionate effect! An airstrike or massive artillery TOT would not have had a better outcome, I think. Efficient use of force. Like it a lot.

How nice to see an alternate version of Mike Edwards, even with an offhand mention of Vigdis Agustdottir. I am currently listening to the audiobook version of RSR (it was at a discount) and Mike and his Marines just rescued her I think it is safe to say he‘ll not have to traipse about behind enemy lines with a portable satcom array this time?

Poor HMS Fearless…they might as well have painted a day-glo bullseye on her.

Thank you, Jan and Matt, for the new chapter. As soon as the last aftereffects of my small surgery are dealt with, I‘ll write the conclusion to the "Exploding Backfire" mini-arc.

[jemhouston]

Thanks for the early Christmas gift.

I wonder what Iraq is planning for the storm.

At least Mike Edwards doesn't have any long hikes in his future I hope.

[Eaglenine2]

Hey a RSR shout out.

Only two escorts for Fearless?

[Johnnie Lyle]

Echoing others, it’s good to see Mike Edwards again.

How many retired Australian police officers can be recalled/rehired/double dipped? They might be able to do a lot to fill billets requiring experience, especially if they are recently retired.

Speaking of PD, can we get Frank Pendleton and a Raymond Holt?

Is Dave Wilson the first Australian to command a corps? What is the dividing line between a Pom and an Aussie? Birth? Tenure in Australia? We Americans are pretty fluid with these things.

No Harrington for FEARLESS?

[Matt Wiser]

It lives! BZ as usual, my friend, and always glad to be of service. And so to business:

Wouldn't be a surprise if the Soviets found those tank turrets one way or another. Their users had better make sure they're booby-trapped, or have the ammo storage rigged to blow if necessary. Preferably both.

Mike Edwards-well, we've already got Buns Nakamura at NAS Keflavik, so...

Things might get interesting in Vienna.

Well, Hokkaido's done, but Korea is another matter entirely. That'll take some doing.

Fearless is in for it, looks like....

Good work once again, and get started with 369!

[Bernard Woolley]

Yay. Something new to read!

An early Christmas present!

Good idea with the River Blocking Company‘s old Cent turrets being used to a somewhat disproportionate effect!

I do have a bit of a fascination with tank turret bunkers. So, I do like to include them when I can.

I think it is safe to say he‘ll not have to traipse about behind enemy lines with a portable satcom array this time?

At least Mike Edwards doesn't have any long hikes in his future I hope.

I make no promises!

Poor HMS Fearless…they might as well have painted a day-glo bullseye on her.

Fearless is in for it, looks like....

The Lion still has teeth! She's not defenseless!

As soon as the last aftereffects of my small surgery are dealt with, I‘ll write the conclusion to the "Exploding Backfire" mini-arc.

You are very welcome and I hope you recover quickly.

Thanks for the early Christmas gift.

You are very welcome!

I wonder what Iraq is planning for the storm.

Nothing good, I imagie.

Only two escorts for Fearless?

She's in the southern North Sea, under (nearly!) continuous air cover with lots of other NATO warships about. She doesn't really need more than two (or does she?).

How many retired Australian police officers can be recalled/rehired/double dipped?

I can only confirm that UK war plans included recalling retired officers. A question I think best directed at our Aussie members.

Speaking of PD, can we get Frank Pendleton and a Raymond Holt?

Holt got a minor shout-out way back in Chapter 247:

“Excuse me, Lieutenant, Special Agent Malone.” The overweight detective from Kojak’s squad interrupted. “Just had a bit of information come over from the Nine, Nine. Two of their detectives have brought in a Latino gang member who claims that someone tried to recruit him and his gang for this terrorist type deal.”
“Okay, Stavros, thanks.” Kojak replied. “Ask Captain Holt to have the joker shipped to Central Booking ASAP; I don’t want any members of his detective squad speaking to him.” He turned to Malone. “Fancy interrogating this perp with me, Jack?”
“You know I do, Theo.”

Nobody seemed to notice at the time. If I can I'll give Pendleton a shout-out.

Is Dave Wilson the first Australian to command a corps?

Nope, that was Harry Chauvel. John Monash was, AFAIK, the first Australian to command an Australian corps. Wilson isn't a corps commander, he's only the Senior Australian Officer in Japan and Korea. Which is an administrative post at the theatre H.Q.

What is the dividing line between a Pom and an Aussie? Birth? Tenure in Australia? We Americans are pretty fluid with these things.

I'm sure our Aussie mates will tell us that Poms always remain 'Whinging Poms'! Although, on a serious note, as an aside, a significant proportion of the 1st AIF were 1st generation British immigrants to Australia.

No Harrington for FEARLESS?

I'm afraid I'm probably missing the obvious here. Honor Harrington?

It lives! BZ as usual, my friend, and always glad to be of service.

Always appreciate your help.

Wouldn't be a surprise if the Soviets found those tank turrets one way or another.

The Soviets knew they were there via pre-war espionage. What they will regret is not getting around to dealing with them!

Things might get interesting in Vienna.

Think even the Soviet leadership would hesitate to p*ss of the Swiss! Pretty sure the KGB and GRU had Swiss bank accounts they used to finance operations in Western Europe. Would be a shame if they were to be frozen...

. That'll take some doing.

The NorKs are likely to put up quite the fight!

Good work once again, and get started with 369!

Will need to wait until after Christmas now. Much too busy!

[jemhouston]

Bernard you're quoting me on stuff I didn't write. I can get into enough trouble on my own, no need to help.

[Bernard Woolley]

[Johnnie Lyle]

Bernard you're quoting me on stuff I didn't write. I can get into enough trouble on my own, no need to help.

Oh, I found it quite refreshing . . .

[Johnnie Lyle]

How many retired Australian police officers can be recalled/rehired/double dipped?

I can only confirm that UK war plans included recalling retired officers. A question I think best directed at our Aussie members.

It sounds reasonable, but there might be some devils in the details. Here in CA, we can hire retirees for up to half-time, but anything beyond 20hrs/week causes pension problems. In Ohio, it was up to 59 days/year, IIRC. Both were not law enforcement, though - so their pension issues may be very different.

I suspect a lot of retirees are being pulled back to cover younger/fitter colleagues going into the military. I also suspect you’re going to have to draw on retirees even more as the war progresses, to cover those who were drafted.

Speaking of PD, can we get Frank Pendleton and a Raymond Holt?

Holt got a minor shout-out way back in Chapter 247:

“Excuse me, Lieutenant, Special Agent Malone.” The overweight detective from Kojak’s squad interrupted. “Just had a bit of information come over from the Nine, Nine. Two of their detectives have brought in a Latino gang member who claims that someone tried to recruit him and his gang for this terrorist type deal.”
“Okay, Stavros, thanks.” Kojak replied. “Ask Captain Holt to have the joker shipped to Central Booking ASAP; I don’t want any members of his detective squad speaking to him.” He turned to Malone. “Fancy interrogating this perp with me, Jack?”
“You know I do, Theo.”

Nobody seemed to notice at the time. If I can I'll give Pendleton a shout-out.

Yes please.

Is Dave Wilson the first Australian to command a corps?

Nope, that was Harry Chauvel. John Monash was, AFAIK, the first Australian to command an Australian corps. Wilson isn't a corps commander, he's only the Senior Australian Officer in Japan and Korea. Which is an administrative post at the theatre H.Q.

I was thinking Monash (The WFA just had a webinar on him), which made me go “huh” at the statement.

What is the dividing line between a Pom and an Aussie? Birth? Tenure in Australia? We Americans are pretty fluid with these things.

I'm sure our Aussie mates will tell us that Poms always remain 'Whinging Poms'! Although, on a serious note, as an aside, a significant proportion of the 1st AIF were 1st generation British immigrants to Australia.

It’d be interesting to see that rate in WWII and Vietnam too . . .

No Harrington for FEARLESS?

I'm afraid I'm probably missing the obvious here. Honor Harrington?

Honor Harrington’s second and third commands were HMS FEARLESS.

[trekchu]

Nice...

Fighting is fierce, losses are heavy... hardly surprising given the circumstances.

That said, Vienna has the potential to suck in the Swiss for good, given humanity's unending ability to accidentally or on purpose do stupid things.

That said, the presence of the Japanese Major suggest secret squirrel shenanigans might be in the offing, or she moves over to the security services after the war...

[Jotun]

That said, the presence of the Japanese Major suggest secret squirrel shenanigans might be in the offing, or she moves over to the security services after the war...

Argh. How did I miss that? It has been some time since I watched the movie, and I simply wondered why she had the same name as the Imperial sword of Japan…

[trekchu]

I can only recommend the first anime series (i.e. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 1 and 2) as well. The second more recent one is hit and miss but worth checking out if the first one is to your liking.

[Jotun]

I can only recommend the first anime series (i.e. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 1 and 2) as well. The second more recent one is hit and miss but worth checking out if the first one is to your liking.

The latest movie has Scarlett Johansson in it. That‘s enough for me

[trekchu]

The original Japanese animated movie(s) and GITS:SAC 1&2 are a million times better. Hell, they all have really good German dubs, as I found out when the show as a late-night item on MTV back in ye olden days.

[Bernard Woolley]

The 2017 live action film is good, but the 1995 anime is a masterpiece. Needs to be watched in its origional Japanese with subtitles, however.

[James1978]

Good chapter!

How well are the Soviets disseminating intel/lessons learned between fronts/theaters?
I've got to think that the word will go out to inspect and demolish the armament of any fixed defenses in "rear areas". A couple of 150mm turrets in Zealand spring to mind.

Regarding the sandstorm over the KTO. While a maintenance stand down is no doubt needed, I wonder if this isn't an opportunity for a mini-surge over Yemen.

Keep up the good work!

[trekchu]

The 2017 live action film is good, but the 1995 anime is a masterpiece. Needs to be watched in its origional Japanese with subtitles, however.

That and the show. I can't speak to the English dub, but the German one really is that good.