Command Magazine Issue 31

98 Pages·1994·7.6 MB·English

by  XTR

ISSUE 31 /NOV-DEC1994 US $4.95/CAN $5.95
MHAKD
Also Inside
Haiti 1915 • Roman Anarchy
The Teutonic Knights • Convoy PQ-1 7
THE BAn E OF MURFREESBORO, DEC. 30,1862 TO JAN. 2,1863
The Battle of Stones River or Murfreesboro occurred at the covers all the action in five
bitter end of 1862 between the armies of Braxton Bragg txtended campaign game. The
and William Rosecrans. The Union Army was making its th a limited number of counters
first stab at an advance from Nashville toward Chatanooga for tl r fighting fast and furious.
after beating back Bragg’s invasion of Kentucky.
No Better Place to Die is the Eighth game in The Gamers,
Bragg struck along the Stones River near the town of Inc.’s original game series the Civil War Brigade. You can
Murfreesboro. After nearly causing the Union Army of the learn the series rules quickly and use them to play all the
Cumberland to leave the field. Federal tenacity came other games in the series—and that adds up to an enormous
through and Bragg had to withdraw his bloodied ranks savings in rules learning time, leaving more time to play
further south. and that is what the hobby is all about.
Although hardly a southeri Are you ready to destroy the Army of Tennessee and make
sDeeraiens Nd.e sEisgsniegr : Murfreesboro ended the Unit tdhied ?d rIti’vse uipn ttoo Gyoeour agniad ay yoeuar rs kbielflos.r.e. the Union army really
Playing Time: 2-30 Hours
Unit Scale: Brigades
Turn Length: 30 Minutes
Hex Scale: 200 yards
Available NOW!!
at many Fine Game Stores World Wide
or Order Direct
Visa and MSaestnedrc afrod rW ae lFcormeee. CILa Rtaelsoidgen ttos dplaeyas. e add 6.5% Tax. j!t$ ourm heoauns.e O mpaegraatziionnes, fI
Sfo (fjamrra It features in-depth looks at oi
games, variants, game design theory, I
Historical articles & the Games Rating Chart. ■
The Gamers, Inc.
500 W. 4th Street • Homer, IL • 61849
[phone] FAX [phone]
Quality Wargames since 1988
©3MMANDI
MILITARY HISTORY, STRATEGY & ANALYSIS
NOV-DEC 1994
ISSUE 31
Features
Thomas Kane Hungary in World War II 10
The Hungarian contribution to the Axis war effort
Patrick McTaggart Budapest'45 17
The Bitter End
Antonio J. Munoz Teutonic Magyars 38
Hungarian Units of the Waffen SS, 1944-45
Geoffrey Skelton Haiti 46
Been There — Seen It — Done That
Richard M. Berthold Imperial Crisis 62
The Roman Anarchy, 235-285
Timothy J. Kutta Warrior Monks of the Iron Cross 80
The Teutonic Knights take Prussia (and anything else they can)
Robert P. Kissel PQ-17 84
Convoy or Bait?
Departments
Short Rounds 4
Unit Symbols 16
I Remember 54
Cover painting by Steve Ferguson,
courtesy Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
COMMAND MAGAZINE
Moments in History proudly presents:
Richard Berg's
FAMOUS VICTORY
of Blenheim (August 13, 1704) and Ramillies (May 23, 1706)
JwBFsoleotfaarvuh ismtentn hilnst eohCohi nuf ehS Ig sduspg elraverVctensiahc aiiiistlitclo nehlnt,rs o eitfSme vriusrsyeos ocrt fdcl oDfdseeeuiesruaegnesktrinh u oe hptr nbo eir desfosstf u Mdoiohrmurriiayencsur..ge l lbadf Mitto rhebrsideHoty u 'Wtastgw thh aAoea,r iVbocR..na.yfa it vl smaeltaoevhnli rrlotetolyihei io,dv s amni.ie tnnT noogttheovhf r ebe efap osa Dbl bltahlltuaoeclikets ewtea lsui ientnpnan da ghkta ni aeertlkhssol i lieuttannhe ntugo eedMs nbul itaneaaahsw iiletstt pi ho anavrennrgoi m ld csldea,eey efgead,f evesuRl oceerootndne.fi FB"TouALArht aemfftttyyheea irrsrnn oaatgyhty st fe i tain hltfimg okiwe euoil andsutsa h s wtn ahavdta e,iss cbhsy twuoooodnrcuoyik; ne .ki";snn gwo wseir,ge mh tu st be
The Battles: Wthoilul gVhi lilte’rso sit’isl l eSlpitrei ncga,v malorvye esn toab tlhee h aitmtac tko. (1R7o9b8e, rtf iSrostu vtheersye, ) "The Battle of Blenheim",
— Blenheim, August 13, 1704: In the first hold his village-oriented position. Or will
oDtsahwrfum eihk fiietjeslu yso n.b f sc ArMotilufultarietraehrln ,bs otou tfomrr op twautrhingsoeehi n u oDhgvfa eaasLrnn omucduba oiesmsvm, epXtadaoIs ih Vghpinissrns eag,lv ar ttmerhhgnyeeet taTKhnihend eg Dt' shGu fekoaner mcucesesee?n:, t eorn actet aacgka itno, shmisa sflha nthke f aSkuens och• ointswl tooaor r sficcuionalulgl nclceotoe Glmsorshram e2•me 2eta"n)e tx4 a• 0F 2r y47ep" 2•aa 0 mg4t ue abP rpraleusac ylsk(eeb psrabr Aiconkiotdpek rCd iw naftriuedtlhdsl
Bavarians at Donauworth he turns west, For the first time ever, a close look is taken • 1 ten- and 1 six- sided die.
along the river, where, at Blindheim, the at these musket and bayonet battles.
atshirtme i niEe ans g molfias rMhv ewalroosunhs’at ld bTeefa elsnloas risdvt uea ppniodds Eiatslie otcont .oa Srt tuMarceaklxy; AAfla lFtvhaoomru ngoehuc tseh sVes aiccroytmo trpoyl e rdxeeicltiryve eiasrt seo tnhbleylo fmoudlolyd p eeerraairtoledy, UnSiotC lSiotcamailrepe:l eSBxuaiittttyaa:bl iMiolinety/dR:i ueHgmiigm he nt
that’s’s simply not what one does! But that’s 18th century combat successfully. Time Scale: Single Turn: 30 minutes
exactly what the Duke and his compatriot, A Famous Victory uses an innovative Map Scale: 175 yards per hex (Blenheim);
Prince Eugene, do. Can the Anglo-Allies interactive sequence of play, portraying the 150 yards per hex (Ramillies)
survive the superior French artillery? Can importance of command control and the Scenarios: Two
tthheey m figarhsth tehse?ir Oawr awy ialcl roFsrse tnhceh stcroeammms aanndd bofr uFtaamlietyr Roifc mhaarsds Bmeregl,e Ae. FDaemsiognuesd V biyc tHoaryll PlaPyilanyge Trsi:m Oe:n e4 ttoo F7 ohuor urs
lethargy, tactical blindness, and an is Vol. 1 in MiH’s Great Leaders, Great
unfortunate horse disease give the Allies Battles series. Special Offers
—the Rvaicmtoilrlyie?s , May 23, 1706: Louis XIV, Price: A Famous Victory is $39 or $41 if for direct mail customers:
smarting from the disaster at Blenheim, you would like to receive the Talking 1. Get A Famous Victory and either
sends Marshal Villeroi into the Low Version audio cassette. Please add $3 per Ring of Fire or Triumphant Fox for
Countries to campaign against the pesky game for shipping; International 10% $62 (a savings of $7!).
Duke. But Marlborough is just as eager to Surface, 25% Air. California residents add 2. Get all three games for $77 (a savings of
crush the French as ever, and he has no 7.25% sales tax. $22!).
Also available: Ordering Instructions
Triumphant Fox: Rommel’s Finest Hour, the Gazala Battles, May/June 1942, an To order Moments in History's products,
exciting operational level simulation which allows the players to explore one of the check with your local game store, or order
most daring offensives undertaken by the Desert Fox, one map, 240 counters, boxed, direct from Admiralty House Publications
high complexity and lots of detail! $30/$32 includes tape. at:
"Triumphant Fox stands as an impressive initial release from Moments in Admiralty House Publications
History", Gamers Alliance Report, Summer 1994. Attn: Moments in History
P O Box 6253
"Triumphant Fox is a well-crafted game with an original system full of Los Osos, CA 93412
creative flourishes, all backed by solid research and developmental work". —
"Excellent Solitaire" — "A remarkable first effort for MiH, certainly one of Please be sure to make your check out to
this year's best...", David Fox in Berg's Review of Games#14. Moments in History.
Phone order (VISA or Mastercard at (805)
Ring of Fire: The Fourth Battle for Kharkov, August 1943. Ring of Fire is an operational 534-9723 or Fax [phone].
study of the southern part of the Red Army's counteroffensive following Operation
Zitadelle. It is of low-to-moderate complexity, boxed, and features one full color map Please add $3 per game for
and 360 full color counters. The fourth and final Battle for Kharkov has never before shipping; International 10%
been simulated in such detail. Now you can do it with Ring of Fire! Price $30/$32.00 Surface, 25% Air. California
includes tape. residents add 7.25% sales
tax.
© 1994, Ulrich Blennemann and Moments in History. All Rights Reserved. Moments in history
— "Where the Golden Age of Gaming Has fust Begun." ™
Editor: Ty Bomba A Note From the Editor
Art & Graphics Director: Larry Hoffman The big news here is that starting with this issue we're welcoming
Associate Editor: Chris Perello thousands of new readers in Japan. That is, in cooperation with Kokusai
Contributing Editors: Dirk & Ulrich Tsushin, we've launched a Japanese-language edition of Command for sale
Blennemann, John Desch, Timothy J. in that country. And, no, this doesn't mean our English-language edition
Kutta, Vern Liebl, David Meyler, Andrew will be flooded with articles on Japanese military history. Our content
tPerre, zDioasvi,i dD Wav.i dT sScchhaunezle, rL,. CDaeral nO W. Secbhbus ¬ won't be affected in any way, though our Japanese partners will supple¬
ment that edition with such materials written over there.
BPeurseilnloe,s s8 &05 A/5d4ve6r-t9is5in9g6 Manager: Chris Your feedback votes from issue no. 29 came in like this:
Staff: Cheryl Buenrostro, Greg Perello, 1914: Glory's End.7.31 •
Jennifer Perello First Battle of Britain.7.22
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Command is Issue no. 29 overall.7.13
published in two versions: the Newsstand Sparta: A Few Good Men.7.08
vpHleuorsbs ibaoy n r vuienlercssl iuobdnoe osik ntlcheletu, dmmesaa gptha aez nimnde a pgolanazlyyiin;n etgh, e Flander's FloodeTdh Fe BieEldsF.6..’8 75.04
pieces to a board wargame. Subscrip¬ Short Rounds.6.60
tions are available for both versions. Twilight War.6.44
Domestic U.S. rates for the Newsstand Battle of Flodden.6.43
voenres iyoena r(m, $a4g3az.9in5e foonr ltyw) oa ryee a$r2s.5 .F9o5r efiogrn Cover Art.5.49
subscriptions are $43.95 for one year, In comparing issue no. 29 with no. 28, a hefty 33 percent thought no.
$79.95 for two years. 29 was better than no. 28; a slim 13 percent claimed the opposite; 48 per¬
Domestic U.S. rates for the Hobby version cent felt the two were of about equal worth, and 6 percent couldn't com¬
m(moangthasz,i n$e6 0w.i0th0 gTaomr oen) ea ryee a$r3, 6a.n0d0 for 6 pare because they hadn't seen the earlier issue.
$105.00 for two years. Foreign subscrip¬ Before issue no. 29 was released. I'd already learned the following
tions are $45.00/78.00/141.00 for sur¬ can always be counted on to bring in great numbers of letters from the
f1a7c7e .m00a iflo or ra Cira mnaaidl.a , $54.00/96.00/ readership: 1) any discussion of the American Civil War's causes or chief
Payment may be made by check (drawn personalities; 2) anything on the naval aspects of the War of 1812 (there
on a U.S. bank), money order, interna¬ are more "experts" on this than you can possibly imagine); and 3) any
tional money order. Mastercard or Visa. Fascist or Nazi symbol or personality appearing on the cover (Com¬
Payment must be made in U.S. Dollars, munist stuff — no problem).
payable to Command Magazine or XTR .
OMbaiils poord, eCrAs t9o 3P4O0 3B. oCx r4e0d1it7 c,a Srda no rLdueisr s pieceT oi nth naot .l i2s9t csa nS hnoorwt Rbeo uandddse dd: e"pCaurtsmteer'nst Lbarsot uSgtahnt di.n" mPhoerwe !c Tohmamt leitntltes
may be made by phone [phone]- than the rest of the articles in the issue combined. Well, brace up. I've got
2249, foreign residents use 805/546- Robert Burke (who wrote the well-received articles on the Alamo and
9596) or fax [phone]). Texas Revolution for us), working on a piece describing — as fully as
Cis opmubmliasnhde dM baimgaoznitnhely ( IfSoSr N$ 2150.95595 p6e5r1 ) presently can be done — the final minutes of the actual fighting in that
year by XTR Corporation, 3547-D South battle. I'll have it for you in another two or three issues.
Higuera, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. For those who may have skipped over it last time. I'd like to recom¬
SLueics oOndb icslpaos,s CpAos t9a3g4e0 i1s parnedp aaitd a dadt iStiaonn ¬ mend you look at the ad appearing on the inside back cover. That
al mailing offices. Mastering Tactics book is an excellent buy for anyone interested in contem¬
porary tactical combat. Not "wargames" in the strict sense, the book pre¬
Printed in USA I sents a series of small-unit "problems," and also offers "solutions" for
them. The first one alone was enough to set off an hour long debate in our
STATEMENT AONFD O CWINRCERUSLHAITPI, OMNA NAGEMENT offices about "what went wrong in Vietnman," and "how are Marines dif¬
m■Da nSdo uMtha gHaizgiuneaesr ai rs,e pSquaubnirl eiLsduh iebsdy O 3bbi9mi sUop.noSt,. hCCly.A 3b 96y38 X45 0T1R. SCtoocrpkohroald*e) bfeyr ecnaltl iinng c:o 1m-8b0a0t- 3th3a6n-0 t2h9e1 )a. rmy?" For $16.95 you just can't go wrong (order
le S. Bomba, Larry Hoffman, and Christopher Perello, all o
A o era, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. There are n
Editor, Command Magazine
COMMAND MAGAZINE
Movers & Shakers... so Duncan MacCrinnan became
King Duncan I, High King of Scot¬
land.
The Real Macbeth But Duncan soon proved a poor
choice for the office. The Scots
already controlled two areas of land
In the year 1005, Malcolm Viking Earl of the Orkney Islands. south of the Firth of Forth, Strath¬
MacCoinneach became High King They had a son who was to be rem¬ clyde and Cumbria, when Duncan
of Scotland. He took the title Mal¬ embered as Thorfinn Raven Feeder. decided to invade the English
colm II, but has been remembered At the time, most of Scotland province of Northumbria. The
in history as Malcolm the Destroy¬ was divided into six regions, each result was a sound Scottish defeat
er. As that title suggests, he was a ruled by a Mormaer. When a High at the Battle of Durham.
ruthless king. He had all his poten¬ King believed his death was close, Frustrated in the south, Duncan
tial rivals murdered and kept an he would nominate his successor turned his attentions to his cousin
iron grip on the country. But he from among the Mormaers. After Thorfinn's holdings in the north.
was also was a skilled soldier, turn¬ the High King's death, all the Mor¬ Thorfinn controlled some land on
ing back an invasion of Scotland by maers and leading churchmen mainland Scotland, Caithness and
the Viking King of England, Can¬ would meet at Scone to decide who Sutherland. Duncan began by
ute. would succeed him. In most cases demanding Thorfinn pay taxes to
Malcolm had three children, all they accepted the choice of the old him for those holdings. Thorfinn
girls. The eldest was named Bethoc. High King; however, if they felt that refused, so the High King marched
She married Crinan, Mormaer choice was not acceptable, they his army north to force the issue.
(sub-king) of Atholl. They had could elect someone else. Thus But in the battle that followed,
three children, the eldest being a there was no system of primogeni¬ Duncan was beaten again, where¬
son called Duncan. The second ture in Scotland; the throne did not upon he retreated and called for
daughter was named Doada. She necessarily pass to the eldest son of support from Echmarach, King of
married Findlaech, Mormaer of the previous High King. Dublin.
Moray. They had one child, a son When Malcolm II died in 1034, Observing all this, Macbeth, by
called Macbeth (meaning "Son of the question arose as to who should this time grown to become Mor¬
Life"). The final daughter, whose be the next High King of Alba (Scot¬ maer of Moray, feared Duncan
name has not been recorded, mar¬ land). Malcolm had favored Dun¬ might soon come after him. So
ried Sigurd the Stout, the fierce can, the son of his eldest daughter. Macbeth joined Thorfinn and
together they fought the armies of
Malcolm 11 (r. 1005-34) Duncan and Echmarach. Little is
known of that fight beyond the fact
r nr n Macbeth and Thorfinn were victori¬
ous. In the pursuit that followed the
Crinan — Bethoc findlaech — Doada Sigurd — Daughter battle, Duncan was mortally
I I ' t • wounded — how and by whom no
one is really sure. Macbeth then
Duncan 1 (r, 1034-40) Macbeth (r. 1040-57) ‘Chornfinn marched to Scone, where the other
. ' 1 ' . Mhimor ams aneerws Hanigdh c Khiunrgc. hmen chose
Macbeth ruled for 17 years, and
his reign is generally regarded as
Mplcotm 1)1] (r. 1058-93) Donald Ban (r. 1093-97) having been good for Scotland
ISSUE 31 NOV-DEC 1994
nth Century Head." Together with Siward, he
organized an invasion of Scotland
Scotland in 1054. Macbeth met their army
where the Rivers Earn and Tay
...J' I(sVliaknindg)s came together. There Macbeth saw
3,000 of his men cut down, while
.•** * *o r' fefj- ° 'Vf°/o ov,. iSnicwluadrdin glo hsti s hoawlfn tshoant. nMuamcbbeetrh,
SCUf‘.A CiH'CesiH \L,n xAestXlsD wloasts thsoe fbigahdtl,y b umt aSuiwleadr dh'se awrmays
■"'^a'iking) unable to exploit the victory and
had to retreat to Northumbria to
regroup.
Three years later, after Siward
had died. Big Head invaded again
with the aid of Tostig, the new Earl
Moi\Ay of Northumbria. Macbeth was un¬
able to stop this new aggression,
MAI\Kn and he retreated with his forces
& from Scone toward his homeland of
'•'^BUCHATl A— Moray. But Malcolm came on in hot
A'Jc h~%olAl aadgus pursuit and at Lumphannon caught
up with Macbeth and his personal
bodyguard. In the fight that fol¬
lowed, Macbeth was slain, but no
one is certain by whom.
Malcolm, of course, expected to
be chosen High King, but the Mor-
maers and churchmen instead
picked Lulach, Macbeth's stepson.
It took Malcolm another seven
months to defeat and kill that new
king. Only then, after killing two
legally chosen High Kings of Scot¬
land, was Malcolm finally chosen
for the throne. He took the title
King Malcolm III, and ruled for 35
years.
After Malcolm Ill's death, the
body of Macbeth was exhumed and
taken to the holy isle of Iona. There
it was given an honorable burial
alongside many of the previous
because he recognized he had with England. The English pro¬ kings of Scotland.
responsibilities other than war. He vince of Northumbria was ruled by Thus we can see that when
standardized the laws of the coun¬ Earl Siward The Dane. After the Shakespeare wrote, "Brave Macbeth
try and worked to make the courts death of their father, Duncan's chil¬ — well he deserves that name," he
just and available to all classes. He dren had fled to Northumbria, was right, but he got the rest of the
viewed the law and church as civi¬ where they were raised in Siward's story fairly garbled.
lthizei ntgim inef ltuoe mncaekse, aan pdi legvreimn afgoeu ntdo ctaokuer tb, aacllk g trhoew thinrgo nuep f droemte rMmaincebdet hto. — R.A. Flood
Rome to pledge loyalty to the Pope. Earl Siward also knew those chil¬ Sources
He was also ably supported by his dren would be in his debt if he Ellis, P.B. Macbeth. Muller, 1980.
wife. Queen Gruoch. aided them, and he coveted Strath¬ Palsson, H. and P. Edwards.
For much of his reign there was clyde. Orkneyinga Saga. Penguin, 1978.
peace in Scotland; however, after The eldest of Duncan's children Trantor, N. The Story of Scotland.
1054 there was increasing trouble was Malcolm Canmore, called "Big Routledge & Kegan, 1987.
COMMAND MAGAZINE
What If... Goodall chaired a special meet¬
ing to determine the number of
extra anti-aircraft (AA) gun mount¬
Operation Catherine ings required for the task force.
Some 300 short range and 500 close
range AA guns were determined to
Though Winston Churchill The task force was to consist of be needed. The cruisers were to
proved the able war leader Great three battleships, three heavy cruis¬ exchange their catapults and air¬
Britain needed during the Second ers, six light cruisers, two anti-air¬ craft to allow for the additional AA
World War, as the country's First craft cruisers and 16 destroyers. At guns and armor. A net layer was
Lord of the Admiralty, his amateur¬ Goodall's suggestion, all the vessels also added to the task force at that
ish approach to naval strategy cost were to be fitted with supplemental point, and it had to have two addi¬
the Royal Navy dearly during the anti-aircraft guns and barrage bal¬ tional inches of armoring.
war's first year. Despite having loons. Splinter protection and spe¬ The plan was prepared by Chur¬
been an air power advocate during cial deck armor was also to be fitted. chill's nominee to command the
the First World War, he entered the But refitting the battleships alone operation, the Earl of Cork and
Second with little or no appreciation would have required over 1,000 tons Orrery, whose staff had completed
of the airplane's potential impact on of new armor each, which was more their initial planning by mid-Oct¬
naval operations. Nothing demon¬ than was available in all of Great ober 1939. The task force had been
strates that better than "Operation Britain at the time. expanded by then to include eight
Catherine," Churchill's potentially There were other problems as French contra-torpeilleurs to give it
disastrous plan for Royal Navy well. The first class of battleships an inter-allied composition and
operations in the Baltic Sea. considered, the Royal Sovereign additional firepower. Those large
Named after the famous Russian class, would have required other destroyers were basically unar¬
empress, and ordered only three extensive modifications. Special mored light cruisers, carrying more
days after Churchill assumed office caissons would have to be installed communications equipment, wea¬
as First Lord of the Admiralty, the to reduce the draft to 26 feet so they pons and ammunition than the
plan called for a navy task force to could maneuver in the Baltic ap¬ standard destroyers of the day.
move into the Baltic and there dis¬ proaches. That would have in¬ The task force was to employ
rupt Germany's iron ore trade with creased their beams to 140 feet and deceptive tactics to arrive at the
Sweden. Churchill believed the reduced their maximum speed to 14 Kattegat at dawn of the operation's
operation would destroy German knots. The caissons, called galoshes, first day, tentatively set for early
morale and bring the Scandinavian needed six months to build, provid¬ February. It was hoped the winter
countries, and possibly also the ed their construction received the weather, low clouds and poor visi¬
Soviet Union, into the war on the highest priority for labor and mate¬ bility would provide protection
Allied side. It was a bold idea, but rials. That would have been a hard against air attack until at least mid¬
one that ignored the realities of choice in an economy facing com¬ day. The entire task force was to be
Britain's economic, logistical and peting demands for steel in the avia¬ at the Great Belt, the final gateway
strategic situation. Fortunately, the tion, army and naval industries. In to the Baltic, by 2:00 p.m. local time
Royal Navy's First Sea Lord, Adm. the end, the caissons were consid¬ on the second day, and then clear it
Dudley Pound, and his able Direc¬ ered too much and the planners by 6 p.m., nearly an hour after sun¬
tor of Operations, Capt. Daeck- shifted their interest to the Queen set. By 8:00 p.m., the fleet would be
waerts, prevented Operation Cath¬ Elizabeth class. But those, too, within range of the German coastal
erine's execution, though at the cost required modification. battery on Fehmarn.
of the latter's career. The battleships were not the only Most of the operations planners
Planning began on 4 September vessels needing alterations for the believed the coastal battery would
1939, despite the naval staff's mission. By 6 October, the eight sup¬ have little time to engage the ships
assessment the threat of German air porting minesweepers originally in the poor evening visibility.
attack made the risks "prohibitive." called for were to be replaced by Fortunately, the battery was not
Churchill decided the navy's con¬ anti-magnetic ships (AMS), which equipped with radar at the time
cerns about German air power were to be equipped with powerful (though the planners were not even
could be assuaged by modifying the magnets for detonating magnetic aware the Germans had radar).
ships involved to make them invul¬ mines far ahead of the advancing From Fehmarn, the task force was
nerable to air and mine attack. He task force. Four of them were also to steam north of Bornholm Island
therefore brought Sir Stanley Good- expected to function as balloon and make anchor among Sweden's
all, Director of Naval Construction, depot ships, maintaining the task Aaland Islands, out of range of Ger¬
into the planning. force's barrage balloons. man aircraft.
ISSUE 31 NOV-DEC 1994
No consideration was given to More importantly, modifying any of ommended the operation be post¬
Sweden's or Denmark's attitudes the Royal Navy's battleships for the poned, but that the ship modifica¬
toward this intrusion into their ter¬ operation (adding armor, AA guns, tion program be continued as ves¬
ritorial waters. More, no considera¬ barrage balloons, etc.) would sels and materials became available.
tion was given to German air recon¬ require at least nine to 18 months. Those units not needed elsewhere
naissance off the Kattegat or in the More, all these alterations would should be delivered to shipyards for
Belt. Minefields were considered a come at the cost of the ships' other conversion. Another meeting and 11
"minor" problem that might slow capabilities in speed, armament and days later, Churchill agreed to post¬
the task force to 14 knots or "cost a maneuverability. pone the operation until 30 April.
few ships," but otherwise Churchill It was on that basis Pound ar¬ Given more time for considera¬
saw no difficulties that couldn't be gued, in his 6 November report, tion, planners began ta detect other
overcome by resolute action. against Operation Catherine being flaws in the scheme. The issues of
Capt. Daekwaerts had a different conducted in the spring of 1940. He air cover and shortfalls in AA am¬
perception. He recognized the task claimed the plan would require munition were raised. The first was
force would be exposed to German forces that could only be drawn to be solved by stationing the Royal
air power for a critical four to six from trade protection missions, Navy's three aircraft carriers in
hours during its transit through the something England couldn't risk at Helgoland Bight, less than 100 nau¬
Sound and as it steamed east of the time. He also saw little prospect tical miles from the German coast,
Bornholm. Any damaged ships of the maritime situation changing to mount air patrols over the task
would have to be left behind or over the near term. He therefore rec¬ force as it entered the Baltic. (If any
scuttled. He opposed the operation
forcefully, arguing it would require
too many ships and too much
materiel, neither of which Great Naval Forces Assigned to Operation Catherine
Britain could afford to lose while
Japan's and Italy's intentions Main Task Force
remained unclear. He was removed 9/39 10/39 12/39
from his post. Battleships 3 3 3
Adm. Pound shared Daekwaert's Hvy Cruisers 3 3 3
misgivings, but chose a less direct Lt Cruisers 6 6 6
method of opposition. He appeared AA Cruisers 2 2 2
to support the plan while emphasiz¬ RN Destroyers 16 16 24
ing the material costs and the time Fr. Destroyers 0 8* 8*
required for preparation. He noted
the vessels to be converted to Support Force
anti-magnetic ships had not been Seaplane Carrier 1 1 1
selected until 16 October and it Minesweepers 8 0 0
would take several months to carry Repair Ship 1 1 1
out that work alone. Churchill Net Layer 1 1 1
countered at a 26 October meeting Auxiliaries** 4 4 4
by ordering fleet destroyers to con¬ Anti-Mag Ships 0 8 Of
duct the minesweeping using heavy Carrierstt 0 3 3
wire strung between them. The wire Notes
would carry 17 untested 800 lb. All ships were to have additional armor installed and have their AA gun
magnets. Testing on that scheme batteries doubled.
was to begin in November. The ‘These ships were never actually requested from the French command.
added destroyers were also to have “These specially modified merchant ships were to have a maximum speed
reinforced bows for additional pro¬ of 18 knots, with 4-inch deck armor and AA guns installed. Each
tection against mines and ice, and would carry 5,000 tons of oil and 2,000 tons of ammunition.
steam heating installed to protect tThe idea of using anti-magnetic ships was dropped in mid-November.
the crews from the Baltic winter. Instead, eight of the destroyers were to be equipped with minesweeping
At the time, work had begun on gear, both conventional and anti-magnetic.
only three of the assigned 24 des¬ ttThis task force was to operate in the North Sea off Heligoland Bight,
troyers. None of the cruisers would providing fighter cover over the main task force as it penetrated the
be available for modification until Baltic. The carriers were to have been escorted by every other Royal
November, and that work would Navy light cruiser, AA cruiser and destroyer available at the time.
require nine to 16 weeks per ship.
COMMAND MAGAZINE
consideration was given to the like¬ However, the Earl of Cork and Churchill's legendary enthusiasm
ly magnitude of the Luftwaffe's reac¬ Orrery saw it differently. In his eyes, waned. The AA guns were still not
tion to those carriers' presence, it is the Soviet assault on Finland available and ammunition stocks
not evident in the planning docu¬ strengthened the need for Catherine. remained far from sufficient. More,
ments.) A strong escort force of He felt a naval demonstration in the Churchill finally saw that neither
destroyers and AA cruisers was Baltic would draw political support Norway nor Sweden would wel¬
considered sufficient to handle any¬ from the United States and Scan¬ come or support a British incursion
thing the patrols couldn't deal with. dinavia, if not actually bring them into their territory or the Baltic. He
Spitfires were envisioned as the into the war as allies. With that in finally postponed Catherine indefi¬
fighters of choice, despite Church¬ mind, he didn't see the need for pro¬ nitely on 17 January.
ill's rejection of that aircraft type for tected anchorages since Sweden Operation Catherine would,
naval service. The 60 Spitfires to be would likely allow the task force to potentially, have been one of the
involved were to land in neutral use its ports. Churchill agreed, Royal Navy's most disastrous mis¬
Sweden once their patrols were claiming the Swedish ports of sions in World War II. Even had the
completed, since they lacked the Gravle and Lulea would become task force successfully entered the
range to return to Britain from a Allied naval bases. Baltic, German air power and sub¬
mission over the western Baltic. The Pound then turned to the logisti¬ marines would have either destroy¬
carriers would withdraw to Eng¬ cal problem. He pointed out there ed it or driven it to hide in northern
land once the last Spitfires had been was not enough oil in Scandinavia anchorages until a lack of fuel
launched. The Royal Air Force's to support the task force. The plan forced its internment or a desperate
reaction to the loss of so many of therefore had to be expanded to in¬ dash home. Given Great Britain's
those critically needed and (at that clude provision for transporting oil almost desperate need for convoy
time) scarce planes is unknown across Norway and Sweden to the protectors, the loss of so many
since that command was never con¬ expected operating bases. Inter¬ ships, particularly destroyers, might
sulted. estingly, at this point Operation have been decisive. As it was, the
Having resolved the air cover Catherine began to coincide with planning and preparation diverted
problem, at least in Churchill's Churchill's other ongoing planning critical labor and materials from the
mind, the planners tackled the AA project, the seizure of Narvik, osten¬ Atlantic campaign at a time when
ammunition question. Estimates sibly to gain a railhead to forward both were sorely needed there.
suggested the task force would troops and other support to belea¬ Fortunately, Germany's naval lead¬
expend 400,000 AA rounds per guered Finland. ership faced even more severe
month. Unfortunately, total produc¬ Though Narvik itself was never resource constraints and made far
tion of such ammunition at the time actually considered as an oil trans¬ more significant errors in its early
was only 100,000 per month, with shipment port for Catherine, Stav¬ prosecution of the war.
some 40 percent of that earmarked anger, Bergen and Trondheim were. — Carl O. Schuster
for the army's use. An adequate But the rail links connecting those
supply of AA ammunition could places to Sweden lacked the capaci¬ Sources
only be provided by stockpiling ty to support such an operation. So ADM 199/1928. First Lord’s Papers,
until production was increased. It Churchill directed the Royal Navy Operation Catherine. London:
was that reality that ultimately led to prepare to transport 50 rail Public Records Office.
Churchill to postpone the operation engines and 500 wagons to Norway Churchill, Winston. The Second
indefinitely, but in late November should either Operation Catherine, World War, vol I. London: Pan
he was only willing to set it back or his plan for seizing Narvik, be Books, 1988.
until "all preparations" were com¬ implemented. Regan, Geoffry. The Guinness Book of
pleted. By mid-January 1940, reality Naval Blunders. London: Guin¬
Adm. Pound exploited that open¬ finally began to sink in and even ness Publishing, 1993.
ing on 3 December, suggesting the
operation would be truly feasible
only if Soviet bases were available. Elite Beat...
He argued the proposed Swedish
anchorages were too exposed to
German submarine attack. Since the Armored Battlegroup Friebe
USSR had begun a war with
Finland just three days earlier, and
Churchill was also pushing a plan During World War II, the Ger¬ nization and equipment for their
to help the latter, it seemed a good man armed forces, like most others, units. Companies, troops and bat¬
ploy to defeat the whole idea. maintained standard tables of orga- teries were combined in standard-
ISSUE 31 NOV-DEC 1994