WesWorld

June 1
The Fourth Cruiser Squadron under the command of Capitan de Navio Bahia [Note] and consisting of the three old Comodoro Py Class scout cruisers now refitted and renamed the Commandante General Irigoyen, Francisco de Gurruchaga and Captain Fernando Derbes has been formed at Rawson for escort duties.

[Note] Capitan de Navio Bahia; age 29; born 1906, joined the Navy during the 1921 War he was chosen to enter the Naval Academy. One of Almirante Peablo s protégés he has been promoted very quickly and since 1931 has commanded the 1st Torpedo Boat Squadron. He is slated to command the 3rd Destroyer Squadron once his promotion comes through. A skilled seaman he has won the hearts of his crews and seems to combine all the best elements of an able officer with all the vigour of youth. A man who will go far.

3rd Division of the 5th ASW Flotilla deploys from Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata to compensate losses.

June 2
[A] Last night two Chaco class minelayers off Bahia Blanca supported by the cruiser Orca clashed with two RSAN torpedo boats and a minelayer. Our forces were trying to clear a path to allow a small three-ship convoy safely into harbour to unload overnight when the African force trying to attack the convoy blundered into our forces. The RSAN Drosanthemum opened fire on the Chico at 22:28 scoring two hits which jammed the sweeping gear and caused a fire aft. Chubut traded fire with the RSAN Boxer with little success and then broke off the engagement at 22:43. The Boxer and Spaniel then tried a more south westerly course closer to the shoreline but instead found themselves facing the cruiser Orca which was in the area to support the minesweeping operation. Both sides exchanged fire and the two torpedo boats made a torpedo attack but none hit. Boxer was seen to be hit once by a 130mm shell astern and Spaniel was hit also on the forecastle. Orca concentrated on the damaged Boxer and two hits in her engine room stopped her and she was swiftly sunk by 130mm gunfire. The Drosanthemum took advantage of the confusion to sink the defenceless Chico (her foreward gun crew was wiped out by an early hit and her aft gun was abandoned due to the fire aft) and then she laid several mines in the area before retreating north. The Spaniel also escaped further damage but the Orca picked up forty sailors from the Boxer.
[Note] Chubut rated 92%, Orca rated 98%, Drosanthemum rated 98% and Spaniel rated 87%. Chico and Boxer sunk.

June 4
[A] The Navy today admitted a convoy of ships has been severely damaged by RSAN units. Convoy PR-213 consisting of seven cargo ships and one tanker was some 230 miles west of the Islas Malvinas under escort by the heavy cruiser General Pueyrredon, the light cruiser Delante and the recently refitted old cruiser Francisco de Gurruchaga and three 1916 Class destroyers. Around noon about ten Snider Type 24 "Shark" dive-bombers attacked out of the sun and sank two merchant ships [Note 1]. More serious was the direct hit on the General Pueyrredon just foreward of the after funnel. A serious fire broke out and the funnel collapsed. Another near-miss damaged the starboard propeller and the shaft had to be stopped [Note 2]. While the destroyers were sheparding the merchants back into order a wave of six Foller Fo 122 Mk III "Kingklip" torpedo-bombers made a low-level attack from the east. The newly refitted Francisco de Gurruchaga with her powerful AA armament downed two enemy planes and only three torpedoes were seen to be dropped. None hit but the confusion put the convoy out of order and the Delante nearly rammed the SS Conchita Derbes. At 15:22 another wave of ten Snider Type 24 "Shark" dive-bombers concentrated on the naval vessels. The Delante and Francisco de Gurruchaga clawed one plane each from the sky but the General Pueyrredon, limping at 8kts, was hit twice astern wrecking Y turret and the steering gear. Two near misses let water into the hull and by progressive flooding, and her old watertight doors, she began to founder. As the quarterdeck flooded the cruiser was abandoned. These aircraft were assumed to have come from the carrier RSAN Hammer.

Later that night the Pony Express attacked and taking advantage of the confused pattern of ships and the slow speed of the escorting cruisers to make a quick attack which sank three further merchant ships before the escorts could stop them. It is believed they fired a number of torpedoes during their attack. Delante briefly exchanged long-range gunfire with the Areion or Arion but scored no hits [Note 3]. The destroyers Cervantes and San Luis fired two torpedoes each at one of the enemy cruisers but no hits were observed and San Luis was hit by two 88mm shells [Note 4]. The remainder of the convoy entered Puerto Deseado safely without further lose although the port was raided by seven "Shark" dive-bombers damaging warehouses and one ship, the SS Conchita Derbes.

[Note 1] The ships lost were the 5,650GRT Gran Columbia carrying explosives from Europe although this was denied at the time. The explosion wrecked the nearby Rio Gregores which later sank. The aircraft were from the RSAN Hammer.
[Note 2] This hit caused the propeller shaft mounting to fail and the propeller cut a hole through the hull before the shaft could be stopped. Around 700 tons of water was admitted to hull which later damage made worse.
[Note 3] She actually hit the Arion twice but these hits did not impair fighting capabilities of the South African unit [rated 92%]. The ships lost were; Argentine Star 4,541GRT motor ship, San Cristobel Cabo 6,444GRT steamer and the Monte Esquel 4,603GRT steamer.
[Note 4] One hit the hull below the foreward superstructure and exploded in the officer´s mess causing splinter damage but no casualties and the second hit just below the wheelhouse and passed through without exploding. Rated 94%.

June 5
[A] Heavy movements of RSAA troops have been noticed inland from Mar del Plata and aerial photographs have revealed at least sixty new tanks being shipped in by rail from Buenos Aries. It is becoming clear that the navy and air force are failing to stop reinforcements coming across the Atlantic.

[S] Fighter Squadron 7 under Squadron Leader Adolph Gysbert Malan, known to readers from Talons over Cordoba 1934, achieved a great victory against the Força Aérea Brasileira. Without a single loss his squadron achieved 11 confirmed victories in air combat at a single day. Malan along shot down three and has now a total tally of 7 kills. This stunning success is even more amazing as he had been in hospital for 10 month after a heavy crash in early 1934 and just returned to his unit five days before.

June 6
[A] Reports coming in suggest the RSAA 7th "Uruguay" Division is now only some thirty miles away from Mar del Plata advancing from the north. VI Division is now being pushed back under continuous aerial attack and harassment by forward elements of the 7th "Uruguay" Division. The 2nd Infantería de Marina Brigada has arrived at Mar del Plata.

[S] The 3rd Minesweeper Flotilla deploys from Durban to Mar del Plata. Accompanied by their tender RSAN Corisco Bay the vessels are expected to arrive on the 24th. Naval experts rate this move as a tribute to massive losses among the anti-mine assets at the Argentinean front. The 3rd ASW Flotilla will follow swiftly and find a new home in Rio Grande.

June 7
[S] Argentinean light forces attacked a coastal convoy en route from Montevideo to Mar del Plata with guns and torpedoes last night. The convoy of four freighters and one oiler was heavily protected by RSAN Arwakr, torpedo boats Dachshund and Terrier and elements of the 2nd ASW Flotilla. The four Argentinean MAS type boats had been waiting in silence at a wreck buoy with their engines off. Their sudden attack caught the convoy by surprise and freighters Marianna Gerion and Pluto V were soon marked by torpedo hits. Tracers from the MTBs 47mm guns reached out to the escorts cutting down gun crews and delaying a proper response by the convoys defenders. RSAN Arwakr was first to answer and her counter fire forced the Argentineans to retreat, followed by huge splashes from the vessels heavy guns. It was then that two more torpedoes suddenly hit the South African ships, this time from starboard. One slammed into UJ23, completely blowing the small vessel out of the water. The second hit the Arwakr amidship below her boat deck. Progressive flooding to her engine spaces left her dead in the water and she soon showed a heavy list. Two more MTBs had been waiting on the convoys other side and attacked unnoticed when their comrades had all escorts attention. RSAN Terrier opened fire but the Argentineans turned away into the night before the torpedo boat could turn around and build up speed. Just as abrupt as the battle began all was over and the enemy vessels had escaped into the dark with unknown damage [Note], leaving behind two sinking freighters and a LCDS which was about to roll over. The UJ21 rescued 12 sailors from the freighters but could not find a trace of her sister ships crew. Meanwhile Captain Ruio Gonzales of the Arwakr ordered her crew to abandon ship and 10 minutes later she rolled over and sank, taking 57 down with her [Note2].

[img]http://wesworld.jk-clan.de/schiffbilder/LCDS Alswinn.jpg[/img]

[Note1] The attacking MTBs were MAS (G) types (M121 & M123) plus Type 2B boats M104 and M107. Only M121 (93%) and M107 (91%) suffered damage during the attack.
[Note2] The RSAN units are rated: Arwakr and UJ23 sunk, Terrier 95%, Dachshund 98% and UJ21 93%.

[A] Intense operations by the Fuerza Aerea Argentina over Mar del Plata consisted of around 130 sorties by ground attack aircraft, medium bombers and fighters. Our fighter pilots claimed two Martin-Zand RB-5B "Flying Window" recce aircrafts, four F-6B and nine F-3 series Warhawk fighters confirmed shot down and ten "possibles" including four Hartig A-18A bombers. Around thirty of our aircraft were lost to AA fire and enemy fighters.

[S] Troop transport S/S Nansemond (known from May news) sailed from Douala for Montevideo. She carries the men and gear of the 1st Fulani Regiment. Her arrival in Montevideo is planned for the 17th. She is escorted by destroyers Leiagora, Lysianassa, Melite. Half-way through the Atlantic they will be replaced by cruiser RSAN Freischütz and the 1st Division of Desron 10 with fleet destroyers Scimitar, Broadsword, and Claymore.

June 8
[A] Battle of Hill 104. A and B Companies of 603 Regiment (VI Division) guarding an important road junction some ten miles north of Mar del Plata were attacked this morning by a Company of the 9th "Boer" Regiment supported by at least four medium field guns and four tracked carriers. A and B Companies were well entrenched around a hill overlooking the road and defensive positions were also concealed in the woods east of the hill (Hill 104). A smoke barrage preceded the attack but defensive MG fire pinned at least two RSAA squads, one of which soon retreated seemingly panicking. Heavy mortar fire was then placed on the advancing African tracked carriers and two of them were destroyed within a couple of minutes by mortar and machinegun fire. The Africans called for artillery support and the first barrage was too short and at least three shells landed among their own men now only a hundred metres or less away from the junction covered by some small copses. Sensing an opportunity the A Company Commander Major Diego called for another mortar strike which forced one enemy squad to retreat. Unfortunately field guns placed behind the woods on the far side of town now began to place accurate fire on our defensive positions and one mortar was destroyed and Major Diego was mortally wounded and his HQ panicked and fled into the woods under harassing artillery fire. Shortly after this a four minute barrage landed on most of our defensive positions but causing few casualties. By now the enemy infantry supported by a single machine-gun armed carrier had begun an attack from the woods ahead of the junction and A Company was put under immense pressure and only the movement of troops from B Companies reserve platoon temporarily restored the situation. At least one platoon and the platoon HQ were routed in the face of heavy enemy fire and they tried to flee the battlefield. Many were cut down or huddled like cowards in craters. By now A Company HQ had also fled and the whole company was in danger of collapse but an excellent flank attack by B Company from the woods just east of the junction halted the enemy´s advance and they were pinned down unable to advance. Eventually under a smoke screen they withdrew some of their forces and made one last-ditch attack which nearly broke through the remaining troops of A Company pinned near the road in their trenches with nearly no ammunition left. By this evening however we were able to push back the remaining African troops and re-secure the position albeit under constant harassing fire. Our casualties were 16 men and 5 killed, six enemy bodies were recovered. [They also suffered 22 casualties].

June 9
[A] Today it has become clear that the enemy has begun another counter offensive to encircle VI and V Divisions around Mar del Plata in order to destroy them. Yesterday s actions around Hill 104 seem to have been the preliminary actions to cut off our supply lines. Some two miles further north-west C Company of 602 Regiment (VI Division) was holding a strongpoint set up a few days ago while VI Division halted to regroup for the offensive. The trenches were protected on the left flank by a stone wall and complete bared wire defences ahead which reached to a small copse which had another trench system the other side with barbed wire. The second platoon was based in a farmhouse to the right which also had trench defences. A company (believed to be part of the 5th Pretoria Ranger Regiment) attacked this position at first light with support from heavy mortars. One of our medium machine gun crews was soon put under mortar fire and their morale collapsed but another barrage by 4in mortars plastered the trenches with accurate fire which put a squad of men into a panic. Smoke covered the enemy s attack in platoon strength, while the second gave covering fire, which hit the weakest spot in the copse which was guarded by only one squad. Flanking machine gun fire (our troops had by now recovered from the initial barrages) wiped out at least one enemy squad and two others were pinned down screaming for help. The platoon in the farmhouse put up strong crossfire and prevented any reinforcements reaching our lines. Some two minutes into the attack it looked to Major Saeida as though the battle was won as the enemy platoon was pinned down and his trenches still intact. Then one African sergeant yelled Come on you cowards get up and fight! and one squad picked themselves off the ground and ran to attack the nearest Argentine squad in their foxhole. Another squad tried to follow but soon thought better of it and went to ground. The brave squad suffered two men cut down but they fought to the death. The final moves saw the rest of the African platoon destroyed but two of the remaining Argentine platoon so weakened were also wiped out by grenades and machine gun fire. Major Saeida as Company Commander knew the position was lost as the second enemy platoon was readying to attack and they would overrun them. He ordered the second platoon to retreat (they wanted to join their comrades despite the deadly African machine-gun fire now brought upon them) and once they were safely out of the way he surrendered the few remaining men under his command. [Casualties were; Argentine 25, RSAA 34, KIAs; Argentine 7, RSAA 11]

[S] In an action similar to the deployment of the former Dutch river gun boats the 12 units of the 1st S-Boat Flotilla will be brought from Douala to Mar del Plata. The flotilla is expected to be ready for action early in July.

June 10
[A] VI Division reports today the enemy having suffered heavy losses for few gains has failed to reach its objectives and that the danger to Mar del Plata, where V Division and the 2nd Infantería de Marina Brigada are still fighting to breakthrough the enemy defences, is now less.

Elements of the Second Army have reached the outskirts of Porto Alegre despite heavy opposition from the RSAA Third Army. Our offensive is not diminished and reserve forces are being brought in from Curitibia via rail.

June 11
[A] The enemy has resumed large-scale attacks along the frontline of VI Division and exceptionally clear skies meant the RSAF were up in force and for a time the FAA lost air superiority. B Company of 602 Regiment (VI Division) had held onto their defensive position despite the destruction of C Company. They were in the process of strengthening the position (it lacked any support weapons except for three MMGs) and another platoon of infantry was being trucked in as they were attacked.
It seems likely that to take advantage of the local flat terrain the Africans have formed a Motorized Company with ten tracked carriers and supported by six SCT-1D Scout light tanks. The exact identity of the unit is unknown.
The surprise attack had no barrage or smokescreen and the two trucks bringing additional troops and supplies were quickly shot up and their human cargo flung into craters for protection. Panic regained for a few minutes but eventually the Platoon Commander Lt. Conqero regained control of his men. The attack was split, the main force headed for the trenches and a smaller group moving at high speed seemed to be trying to outflank the position. Defensive fire forced the enemy to abandon two of their lightly armoured carriers and soldiers in them suffered casualties and they were routed. Within four minutes three more carriers were knocked out by machine gun fire. Two of these had been in the flanking attack and without infantry support that attack faltered but the two tanks went on without support. By now the main attack had reached the main trench system and the enemy began to attack the left flank hitting the disorganised troops just shot up in their trucks. Amid carnage, smoke and a hail of bullets the carriers ran amok but at least one was destroyed. Our soldiers fought on and the enemy troops refused to leave their armoured taxis. A lone Hartig A-18A "Havik" flew over the battlefield and made a good reconnaissance before making an attack. Two 250kg bombs were dropped onto the left flank position just ahead of the attacking Africans. Three squads of infantry, Lt. Conqero s HQ were killed outright and two more squads fled the battle. One African carrier got too close and was destroyed as well! Elsewhere nearer another gap in the wire an African attack dismounted from the carriers and four squads were either wiped out or routed as was the enemy Platoon HQ. As it was we lost a squad to machine gun fire. The enemy then began to retreat and made off at speed back to support the few MMGs they had for covering fire. Another African squad was cut down trying to escape. [In fact all the tanks had run out of ammunition and therefore had to withdraw but most of the infantry was lost.] The "Havik" made three further strafing passes but these caused few casualties. B Company suffered 69 casualties and 21 men killed in action. [The Africans suffered 37 casualties and 8 killed in action, 2 men were captured by Argentine forces]

[S] The Força Aérea Brasileira raided Rio Grande today. Thirty B-5 bombers attacked during dawn and caught the RSAF unprepared. AA fire from the ground and ships could not effectively protect the harbour area and massive damage was done to docks and facilities alike. Several bombers focused on the navy vessels and could land several hits. RSAN Epee, a brand new 2000 ton destroyer of the 10th Destroyer Squadron (H), was hit twice and broke in two. 47 of her crew were lost. Also hit was RSAN Limpopo, a frigate of the 2nd Escort Flotilla. She foundered in shallow water and her superstructure and mast are still visible. Splinter damage was caused to the UJ30 and UJ31 [Note]. On their way home the bombers were finally hit by F-3Cs of Fighter Squadron 4 and four bombers shot down in flames.

[Note] UJ30 is rated 98% and UJ31 97%.

June 12
[A] Lieutenant de Aero Roja walked into the readiness hut, his pilots were reading or sleeping in their flight gear. He walked over to the notice board covered in pin up girls. He pinned the notice on the board and took a step back. Lieutenant Seqendo in an easy chair behind opened one eye, "You´ve covered my favourite girl and I can´t see her legs now." Roja turned round, "Ernesto if you spent time reading this rather than looking at girls it might save your life." He called the others round him and stepped aside so they could all see the notice. It was a press cutting. "This has come from the magazine Heavenly Pursuits. The man sitting in his cockpit is Squadron Leader Michel Endress, NB. He leads the all-time ranking of fighter pilots serving for the South African Empire with twenty confirmed kills. It seems his squadron, Squadron 11, is to re-equip with the new F-6D with a better engine. Notice his markings on his cowling, memorise them, these personal markings is how you´ll spot him. When you do, kill him. Go for an engine or cockpit kill to be sure. We shall continue to dominate the airspace over the capital, they will not stop us. There is more good news, by the end of the month we shall have a full squadron of the new Buchon fighters. Then we will easily match the F-6D and by the winter the whole Regimenta will be re-equipped. Now lads, who wants to see the pressmen to have your photo taken?"

[B] A great victory for all Brazilians! The Piranha, submarine of the Tubarão-class, sank the S/S Nansemond, a 12,500 ton troop transport en route to South America. Despite the targets high speed and many escorts Captain Nuno Souza manoeuvred his boat into position to fire a spread of four torpedoes against his target. Three hit in rapid succession and the Nansemond disappeared within 15 minutes, taking most of the 1st Fulani Regiment with her [Note].

[Note] The ship capsized and sank before many soldiers could escape her hull. Only 234 men out of 2867 could be rescued.

June 14
[S] The Força Aérea Brasileira send another raid against the RSAN units gathered in Rio Grande but this time the advancing bombers were reported early enough for fighter squadrons in the area to ready their flights. They med the Brazilian bombers several kilometres away from the city and the bomber formation scattered. A total of 14 kills were claimed by RSAF pilots but official Brazilian sources only mention seven. No bomber reached Rio Grande.

[A] The submarines Salta and Santiago del Estero under the command of Capitan de Navio Mendez (Flag Officer Submarines) have returned to harbour after successful anti-commerce raiding in the western Atlantic.

[Note] Ships sunk were the steamer Van Poul 6,420GRT, the steamers Wasserfall and Pretorian Star around 3,600 GRT each, the tanker Oilferrier II 5,320GRT and the tanker Pluto 2,450GRT. Both subs rated at 95% and Salta has minor depth-charge damage.

June 15
[A] An estimated twenty RSAF B-14 Devastator bombers of 2nd Strategic Bomber Wing today have raided the city of Santiago del Estero for the first time. The main target seemed to be the railway marshalling yards on the main north-south rail route. These yards suffered severe damage and some ten steam engines and around eighty wagons have been destroyed. Around 80 casualties have been reported. The bombers flew a northerly route which avoided the roving patrols around the Cordoba area and only two I-99 fighters from Military Air Base Santiago del Estero could be scrambled and they failed to gain height before the enemy were safely away. An escorting FD-2 shot down one of these fighters. The Military Air Base Santiago del Estero, which is the main base for the bomber unit Aerea Regimenta No 4, was undamaged. AA defences in the city claim a bomber shot down but no wreck has been found [Note].



[Note] In fact the bomber hit in the port outer engine suffered a wing fire but was able to get over friendly territory on two engines before the crew bailed out

June 17
[S] Carrier RSAN Forge and the 7th Scout Squadron leaves their base in the Indian Ocean. She will join the 6th Scout Squadron in Cape Town and increase cover of the vital shipping lanes bringing re-enforcements to South America.

[A] A suspected African submarine attacked a convoy some forty miles off Puerto Deseado and the convoy escorts E104 and P607 and P609 detached from the scattered convoy to hunt the submarine. Only the E104 had ASDIC and a three-hour hunt expended some 70 depth-charges and both the P607 and 609's supply of DC's had run out. They resorted to making dummy attacks over the submarine to keep it submerged while the convoy put into harbour safely. At 14:22 hours a spread of four torpedoes was sighted by P609. Without enough time to avoid P607 was hit amidships and cut in half and P609 was narrowly missed astern. Only twenty survivors were picked up and the chase was abandoned. No merchant ship was lost by our sailor's brave actions. The Capitan of the P607, Capitan de Corbeta D'Ascostia, was awarded the Medalla La Nacion Argentina al Valor en Combate (Argentine Nation to the Valour in Combat Medal) posthumously.
[Note] The attacking submarine was J3, deployed to lay mines and blockade the local shipping. The sub was shaken but not badly damaged (95%).

June 18
[A] Another explosion has been experienced at Maquichao, this time it was felt in the nearby town.

[B] The Second Army has come under attack by the RSAA Third Army around Porto Alegre. A week long bomber offensive by B-8 "Pig" and B-12A "Marauder" bombers has hit all the main railway lines to the north and our forward airfields have been attack by "Bulldog" and "Mosquito" dive-bombers and some forty aircraft destroyed on the ground [Note]. A six hour long barrage on our foreward lines began the assault by African forces. On the flatter plains spearheads of dozens of enemy CRU-3R Cruiser and BT5-A Bullet fast tanks have broken through some of our lines and attacked vital dumps and HQs in the rear and have encircled elements of the 14th Infantry Division. Further African troops supported by GOH-1N Goliath tanks have advanced as our forces lack sufficiently powerful anti-tank guns but quite a few of these tanks have broken down or been stranded. Our air force has struck back at some vital junctions and the offensive will be held back.

[Note] This massive bomber offensive also stretched resources of the South African Air Fleet 5 operating at the Brazilian front. A total of 57 bombers were shot down and another two dozen have been write-offs due to damage suffered during extensive flight operations. The Fighter Command lost a total 45 planes during this week but 17 pilots could be rescued.

June 19
[A] In aerial combat Lieutenant de Aero Roja in his personal white FMA I-100A fighter today scored two more confirmed kills, two Martin-Zand RB-5B "Flying Windows" some six miles south of Cordoba. Argentine fighter pilots claimed two other confirmed kills but the RSAF admits to only two lost bombers. This increases Roja´s tally to eight.

[S] 1st Support Flotilla deploys from Cape Town to Montevideo.

June 20
****STOP PRESS****STOP PRESS****
The Argentine Navy has just announced that in a battle in the early hours of this morning that two or possibly three Arion Class cruisers of the "Pony Express" have been sunk by several Argentine cruisers and battlecruisers. Damage to our forces has not yet been released.
[See seperate story for full details]

June 22
[A] An estimated seventeen RSAF B-14 Devastator bombers of 2nd Strategic Bomber Wing today have raided Bahia Blanca causing severe damage to residential areas but missing the important naval dockyards. Around 120 casualties have been reported. Thirty assorted Argentine fighters were called into action against the bombers but a heavy escort of F-6B "Swollow" and FD-2 "Hornet" fighters prevented any kills but one FD-2 was shot down and an F-6B was severely damaged. In return we lost six fighters and three of the pilots have not been recovered. AA defences claim three bombers shot down.

June 23
Argentinean light bombers attacked shipping near Mar del Plata. They achieved little and all freighters arrived their destinations. The only victim was one escort, UJ58 just deployed from Buenos Aires, which was strafed, caught fire and had to be abandoned by her crew.

June 24
[A] General Jose Serra Aznar (newly appointed General Commander Area Paraguay) gave a press talk today on the situation in Paraguay. I Corps is now assumed to have complete control of most of Paraguay with UPAF forces. I Division is now holding the western end of the pocket of some 8,000 African troops clinging to the shores of the Rio Parana who have sporadic supplies across the river from Grand Uruguay. II Division holds the eastern end and has taken full occupation of Encarnation and currently armed patrols from both sides cross the river to make raids on supply dumps and HQs. Argentine Marines are now carrying out around six such raids a week on the Grand Uruguayan riverbank with some success in destroying vital supplies and causing a degree of chaos among the chain of command. All the major towns are now under UPAF control and the only areas where the loyalist forces with RSAA support are still active are along the Rio Parana, around San Ygnacio (just north of the pocket) and a large area north of Encarnation stretching to Caazapa which is now being attacked by Brazilian forces and elements of II Division.

June 26
[A] Today the RSAF launched several heavy raids aimed at the major ports of Bahia Blanca and Puerto Belgrano. Around twenty-six of the new fast Villant B-12A "Marauder" bombers escorted by ten FD-2 "Hornet" twin-engined fighters and around forty F-6B fighters as top cover headed for Bahia Blanca while a smaller force followed the coastline to Puerto Belgrano. With warning from ground observers and radio gear [Note 1], Aerea Regimenta No 2 commanded by Capitan de Aero P. M. Stallone at Military Air Base Bahia Blanca scrambled forty-two FMA I-100A Barron fighters while Squadron No 9 at Naval Air Base Bahia Blanca sent up all of its six remaining I-100 fighters. This enabled our fighters to get to interception altitude and get into a position to attack the fighter escort out of the sun. The I-100As bounced the F-6Bs and three were seen to go down in flames. The African pilots regained their calmness and the battle broke up into little fights from high altitudes to tree-top height in one versus one or two versus one. Sometimes it became personal and sometimes the hunter became the hunted. Capitan de Aero P. M. Stallone and Grupo 4, which he commanded, and its component two squadrons 4/1 and 4/2 headed for the bombers. The fighters split into two groups, one would attack from the flank and the other would attack from astern. With a 50-60kmh faster speed the I-100A fighters caught the bombers after a short chase and made their attack. The bombers flying in close mutual defensive boxes were scattered by the flank attack. 4/2 Squadron dived and claimed at least three bombers in the first pass and the order of the boxes broke up and 4/1 Squadron was able to get a straggler and claimed two more. Capitan de Aero P. M. Stallone himself lined up and poured 13mm bullets into a B-12´s port engine and wing, fire leapt back from the ruptured fuel tanks and the plane spiralled into the ground. No one got out. The FD-2 fighters chased after 4/2 Squadron and with their 560km/h top speed they got behind the FMA I-100A fighters and opened fire with their two 20mm cannon and four machine guns in the nose. At least five I-100A fighters were lost before they realised what had happened. As usual the rear turret gave our pilots a hard time trying to get on the tail of an FD-2 and the I-100s lacked the speed to keep up and soon the FD-2 Hornets had gained height and were setting up another pass out of the sun. As they swooped down onto the climbing I-100A fighters one pilot, Lieutenant Marcos D´ Senna, bunted behind one and opened fire at point-blank range spraying the starboard wingroot and fuselage with bullets. The enemy fighter dived into the ground a minute later. During this time Capitan de Aero P. M. Stallone had claimed another bomber and 4/1 Squadron shot down another two in head-on intercepts. By now the bombers had entered the Bahia Blanca anti-aircraft gun zone and the fighters pulled back to let the guns do their work unimpeded by friendly aircraft [Note 2].
The AA fire was heavy but inaccurate and no further bombers were lost but with only a few fighters to escort them the Navy operated I-100 fighters attacked them over the docks. Even slower than the I-100A fighters these old fighters could not catch the bombers and the F-6Bs soon had downed two of them and the fighters returned to their base. The shaken bomber crews dropped their sticks all over the docks and although damage was caused the main naval base was largely unaffected although some areas of the AFNE shipyard were hit. Of course as the enemy bombers headed for home our fighters were waiting but low on fuel and ammo they soon pulled back to their airbase.
The Puerto Belgrano bound force of ten A-18A "Havik" bombers and six FD-2 "Hornet" fighters got lost in low cloud and instead bombed the nearby town of Viedma hitting a steelworks and damaging some oil storage tanks [Note 3]. They returned home unscathed up the coastline.



[Note 1] The Italian supply submarines had delivered a radar set, the first in South America, and a few technical operators and engineers. Based near Venado Tuerto south of Cordoba it was intended to give warning of enemy raids against central Argentina, Bahia Blanca to the south and Cordoba to the north. The South Africans were unaware of its existence until the relevant Argentine archives opened in 1986.
[Note 2] Total losses on both sides were exaggerated but from official sources on both sides the figures were;
FAA: two I-100 and eleven I-100A, eight pilots killed.
RSAF: six F-6B, one FD-2 and seven B-12, five fighter pilots killed and sixteen bomber aircrew killed and seven captured as POWs.
[Note 3] The main blast furnaces were destroyed and the forges heavily damaged and the plant did not reopen until 1938. Two oil storage tanks were set alight.

June 27
The vital African town of Posadas on the Paraguayan/Brazilian border junction (just over the river from Encarnation in Paraguay) has come under attack by Army Group North. Distracted by the violent struggles further south around Porto Alegre [where the RSAA had broken through on the coast and were now nearly encircling the town and the entire 14th and 9th Divisions] Third Army with the 4th and 5th Divisions have attacked the town from the east over the hills and into the Rio Alto Parana valley sweeping aside the few reserve border troops in the area and hitting hard the 3rd "Settlers" Regiment which was pushed back into the town. From the north across the river Argentine artillery has been pounding the town for three days and Aerea Regimenta Paraguay has been attacking the main defensive works with A-1 Mapache ground attack fighters. Also from the North the 3rd Amazon Brigade had forced marched from fighting the Loyalist Paraguayan forces north of Encarnation southward along the Rio Alto Parana valley.

June 29
[B] With Argentine artillery and aerial support and under our own bombers two Regiments of Rangers have been shipped across the Rio Parana to attack Posadas from the south. The 4th and 5th Divisions have now moved to the southwest of the town and cut the sole railroad to the south. The Africans have moved some fresh units to the area but they have been stopped some eight miles south.

[A] The light cruiser General San Martin has been sunk in the South Atlantic. The General San Martin left Rawson on the 25th to make an independent mine laying raid along the main convoy route up the River Plate Estuary. After stumbling into a small four-ship convoy the Capitan, Capitan de Navio Esperanto-Sanchez, on sighting two destroyers immediately turned to starboard and sped away at 31kts in the opposite direction without a shot being fired on either side. Shortly after at 19:12 starshell illuminated the cruiser and a salvo of 210mm shells whistled overhead and overshot. It was only then the look-outs spotted the cruiser around two miles off the port bow firing another salvo which also overshot [Note 1]. Capitan de Navio Esperanto-Sanchez ordered a turn to port and fired a defensive screen of torpedoes which caused the African cruiser to break off but she came back to an intercept course astern of the San Martin. With both ships having more or less identical speeds the General San Martin was able to maintain a slight lead as she headed towards the west and her rear guns fired on the silhouetted Cape Corrientes (from Argentine starshell). The 210mm guns of Cape Corrientes B turret scored two lucky hits on the General San Martin around ten minutes into the chase as Capitan de Navio Esperanto-Sanchez turned southwest to return to Argentine waters. The first round (from the seventh salvo) hit the deck abreast Y gun, throwing splinters into the gun house, it then passed through the upper deck and ricocheted off the main mine hangar floor and exited through the side plating before exploding. This caused a large hole in the hull well above the waterline. The second shell which hit some fifteen seconds later hit just below the upper deck and exploded inside the after turbine room. The port turbine casing ruptured and the blades flew off tearing several gashes through the hull (and into the port mine stowage spaces above) and blowing out the after bulkhead admitting some 500 tons of water into the ship. Capitan de Navio Esperanto-Sanchez realised the ship was severely damaged as it lurched to port and lost speed as water tore into the ship´s innards. He ordered the ship to stop and gave the order to first fire the torpedoes in revenge and then to abandon ship. The torpedoes were fired and no hits were observed. Y gun was still firing and they scored a hit on Cape Corrientes forecastle [Note 2]. By this time Cape Corrientes was almost broadside on and they wasted no time in shelling the crippled San Martin into a hulk. No less than seven 210mm and two dozen 150mm shells found there way through or inside the cruiser. Just after the hit on the turbine room a small fire began in the mine hangar and a bright young Sub- Lieutenant, Alfrez de Navio Seugendo, began to dump the mines overboard to save the ship. However one of the 210mm shells exploded right inside the half-full starboard mine hangar (around 20 mines were present in each hangar). The rear of the ship exploded and the wrecked after section quickly sank and the bows shot up into the air. As she sank the bow section turned over and the remains of the bow section briefly hung on the surface before going under. Only 68 sailors were rescued by the Cape Corrientes.
[Note 1] The enemy cruiser remained unidentified throughout the battle but it was assumed to be either the Cape Corrientes or Cape Delgado. The look-outs were tired from several raids and they were not as alert as they should have been. It is certain some of crew were suffering from battle fatigue.
[Note 2] In fact at least two other shells hit their African targets unobserved by the Argentine gunners during those minutes. One passed through the forward hull of Cape Corrientes and another hit just above the main belt below A turret but it failed to explode. RSAN Cape Corrientes is rated 90% after the battle for a total of four hits and several near-misses during the course of the battle.

June 30
[B] The African commander in Posadas Major General Kriepenhoff has surrendered to the commander of the 5th Division Colonel Marquitas to avoid further bloodshed. Around 300 African troops have been captured but many more slipped away last night to the south to rejoin their forces.

The armies are grinding forwards, while the air forces squabble and the navies trade blows. Looks good!

I can see the sharing of info by the Peruvian Brigadier General Sanz with the SAE is being put to good use in the Porto Alegre front. Could it be a cauldron battle in the making? I think not due to the pressures in other parts of that front, especially in Posadas. But maybe the arrival of more reinforcements could help.

Great story so far. Could the AB powers continue to suffer this losses and still maintain an effective naval presence or they will have to try other methods to stop the SAE reinforcements? Could the AB powers reach their objectives on the ground before the arrival of sizable reinforcements? Could SAE troops in South America survive long enough until the cavalry arrives? Will they encircle the Brazilains on the north?

So much kaboom. I'll have to read it a few times to make sure I've got all the details.

Could anyone produce a situation map so we can know where the frontlines are in picture form?

Kirk currently works on a detailled map of the Grand Uruguay area. Once that is done we can provide a piece showing front lines. Until then - use your imagination. :o)

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral
So much kaboom. I'll have to read it a few times to make sure I've got all the details.

Too much kaboom for you then? ;o)

If there are questions, feel free to ask.

Any of you guys have a list of ships sunk to date?

Also actual (not claimed) aircraft losses?

I just posted such list of RSAN units damaged or sunk in the "End of Pony Express" thread...

All aircraft losses in [ ] marks are true figures and those in the actual news item are either wrong or hyped up (or down!).

Just found these. I meant to post them before!

A bit late, but I finally got time to write this.



Mexican Observers in Action, June


Finally! Capitan Valenzuela had to smile. All that Embassy money spent in the officer's mess had finally payed off. He had finally gotten a ride on a FMA aircraft. The Spartan wasn't a fighter but at least it wasn't a d@mn trainer. Besides he had a good seat in the glass nose of the bomber and this mission was top secret. The Argentinians were supposedly testing some modifications to their Spartan bombers. So far the flight had been uneventful, no South African plane had been seen, for that Valenzuela was thankful, bombers were targets to shoot at, not the place to be in combat.

"Santa Maria Madre de Dios! We're under attack!", the tail of the other bomber had just exploded in flames! "De donde Diablos salieron!", d@mn those South Africans, where the hell where they?

"Relax Capitan, you are one of the first pilots to ever see the first in-flight igntion of an Argentine made rocket engine."

Rocket engine? So that was what they were working on. Finaly here was something to write home about. Rocket planes...here was the edge the FAM had been seeking...

The rest of the day was uneventful. The guide was anything but happy, but he was too late. Now it was time to plan the next move. There! A row of those new Argentinian fighters, now the guide swore that they were Italian CR-35s, didn't he know anything? Valenzuela new better, it wasn't for nothing that he had won the Aircraft Identification contest at the Academy. Of course he wouldn't mind flying the CR-35s either, but now on to the Embassy to get some more funds...



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From: Convergence: Harry Turtledove and History. (200

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, sometimes it just boggles the mind...

...another great example comes from Turtledove's WWII series, more specificlly V for Victory (2003). There he relates how the war winning Manhattan Project was started after a letter by the ex-German scientist Albert Einstein was mailed to the then US President Franklin Roosevelt. Unknown to Turtledove, there was a real life example of just such a project. Recently declassified Mexican files, reveal that the Mexican rocket program, which brought about the deadly, dangerous, and vaunted "Murcielago" rocket planes, also came about as a result of a letter...



***



Declassified, January 1st, 2008


To: Secretary of Defense Manuel Camacho, General of the Air Force Manuel Estrada

21/06/38


*** TOP SECRET ***

Re: Special Report from Argentina

I have just been able to observe a special test flight by the FAA. A Spartan bomber was modified to carry a rocket engine in the tail. Based on my observations and those of the crew I flew with, the test was a resounding success. It is my recomendation that we immidietly begin our own rocket engine program. This new form of propulsion could give us the edge required in any future conflict. No time must be lost...

(rest of report omitted at this time)

Sincerly

Capitan Valenzuela, FAM

Rockets and aircraft in this period don't really mix, they aren't suited to the low altitude, low speed flight regime. In addition to the tendency to explode. Rocket science isn't simple, because one small failure can easily cause the entire unit to catastrophically fail. They're probably more suitable for take-off assist at the moment.

True, hence the "deadly and dangerous " comment. Mexico is mainly looking at them to develop fast climbing point-defense interceptors.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood

Just found these. I meant to post them before!

Heh Fox bumped this with his post, I don't recall seeing the Maps before- may be one I looked at while on break, work comp has a filter, makes em all red Xs.

As for JATO interceptors- from the loss rates heavy bombers are experiencing in the war to date, compared to the damage inflicted, I'd say the heavy bomber concept is taking a beating, and so may the need for interceptors. We'll see

There is a long way to go yet. Firing a rocket for five seconds is no great shakes but it makes good headlines in the papers and makes some bigger powers look staid. Still I;m sure that bomber will have a short life.

I'm not sure where such engines will lead, really its an offshoot of another secret programme but its handy to make sure the basics are right.

Maybe Mexicans love big bangs?

Why do you think I'm experimenting with 20" guns and pulsejets?

Now I just have to get myself some concentrated hydrogen peroxide and methly alcohol...

I think that Mexico is wasting time money and manpower experimenting with 20" guns. It is much more logical to go for 21" so the Mexicans can fire their torpedoes from that gun.

If you want to buy good qaulity concentrated hydrogen peroxide you'll need to buy from Germany (chemical producing giant) or Argentina (just starting on very very small amounts for testing).

Producing this stuff is very hard and dangerous, the smallest impurities can have big effects... better to stick to fuming red nitric acid for the time being (like early Soviet propulsion rockets)

Argentina has big facilites (the best of thier type in the world) but if you want to use them be prepared to splash some cash, or war-winning materials/ weapons, whichever suits best!

ok, I'm confused, Fox wants to use Hydrogen Peroxide to make...Blonds? Or Bombs? Or blond bombshells... oh Rockets..