WesWorld

Quoted from "Brockpaine"

No problem - and well written, I like it. :)

And there is still more to come! 8o

I've expressed my thanks privately to Bruce, but I'll add it here too, thanks for writing such a detailed follow-up to the RN exercises.

Just in case I don't get round to writing my own follow-up, some additional points:
1) The Germans forgot to analyse the role of the sixth and biggest aircraft carrier in the exercise, the British Isles themselves. Land-based aircraft were invaluable in augmenting the screens and tracking. This enabled the British carriers to concentrate on strike and so carrier patrols were limited to CAP and shorter-range sweeps. Red Fleet should have used its CAP more aggressively to clear a path through the RAF patrols, but it was noted that Dornier's were shadowing for some time and so the Admiralty expect that any Red Fleet trying to reach the Atlantic would be supported by long-range land-based assets.
2) Admiral Burroughs' mistake in Phase I of splitting his force was a decisive blunder. It may have been avoided by a more aggressive aerial patrol and attack but the face remains that (as shown in the SA War) carriers are vulnerable to surface attack. In the North Sea there is no much room to hide, especially if enemy forces are already pre-positioned. Burroughs wanted to buy time for his carriers to escape and put distance between them, this might of worked have the Blue air strike not coincided with that action.
3) Admiral Burroughs throughout Phase I felt very hemmed in, he could not go too far east without infringing Nordish waters and going too far west brought him within land-based aircraft range and inner patrol zones.
4) The Admiralty are confident that no fleet can transit the North Sea undetected and that even in a worst case scenario enough damage could be caused to either cripple that force or weaken its strength to allow follow-up attacks.
5) The Admiralty feel more destroyers and light cruisers are required for scouting, but are happy that any blocking fleet need not be too large as to denude other forces of ships for other operations.
6) Some argue the Red Fleet's performance in Phase III may have been improved by the inclusion of a carrier.
7) Red Fleet made no use of submarines but in reality any breakout would probably rely on such groups operating off British coasts and perhaps even in patrol areas to sink scouts and generally degrade forming up and deployment.

Hartmann, Commander, Supply and Service Force, spoke first.

“Logistics support for this series of operations began in late October, when the fleet oiler Memelland departed in company with the aircraft carrier Wallenstein and her consorts. As the Wallenstein was, at this stage, carrying out a civil-related mission and had not embarked her full air group additional stores could be loaded board her, reducing the burden on the Memelland. During voyage to South America full advantage was taken of port calls to resupply bunkers, rations, and other necessary stores obtained through the Etappendienst.”

Hartmann continued. “Anticipating the need for additional tanker support the fleet oiler Lipperland with an escorting destroyer was despatched to the South Atlantic in early December, ready either to assist the Memelland or to support the larger fleet exercise as circumstances dictated. The port of Recife proved a useful staging post in this regard.”

“With the replenishment ship Donau detached to East Asia Squadron and the need to continue training in home waters only the replenishment ships Neckar and Ruhr were available to accompany Admiral Ruge’s task force; these, with the aforementioned fleet oilers, were expected to be able to provide the necessary logistics support for the exercise as foreseen. However, those expectations were misplaced as the carrier task force was obliged to remain at sea for an extended period.”

The chief of the supply force reviewed the subsequent despatch of additional support vessels to the South Atlantic; the replenishment ship Werra and two oilers in late January; three fleet oilers and two other supply ships in March. “Despite the best efforts of the Etappendienst to provide support through chartered merchant vessels, the distances to friendly ports, where such transfers were carried out, exposed the dangers of complete reliance on such methods. Further, the commitment of so many of our existing supply vessels to support of a single task force so far from friendly bases rendered effective support of any other major deployment problematic.”

At this point Capitaine de vaisseau Morin inquired. “Would it not have been reasonable for the task force to call at a friendly port to resupply?” It seemed a logical question. Hartmann looked in the direction of von Fischel who took responsibility for the answer.

“One of our objectives for this exercise was to test the surge capacity of our existing fleet train,” he explained. “The discovery that despite considerable investment our current resources are insufficient to support the level of deployment anticipated in wartime is of considerable importance. There are also political and diplomatic constraints under which we must operate.”

Konteradmiral Wagner, Chief of the Etappendienst, now took up the theme.

“Few difficulties were found in supporting the aircraft carrier Wallenstein during her South American cruise; adequate notice allowed the stockpiling of bunkers and other necessities at her ports of call. The arrival of the carrier task force in the area strained the existing supply system to a significant degree.”

He signalled for the curtains to be parted to reveal the map again, which had been updated to focus on the South Atlantic. “Recife and Fortelaza, are our primary support points in Brazil; Port of Spain in Trinidad became a vital source for bunkers obtained from our Atlantean allies, carried forward by chartered tankers. Dakar in Senegal was useful as a transfer point between such civilian vessels and the oilers of the fleet train. Distances and the relatively undeveloped infrastructure of ports in this particular region limited the logistical support the Etappendienst was able to supply.”

“Astern fuelling from commercial tankers proved to be a laborious and time consuming task, reducing the ability to transfer fuel from chartered vessels while underway. Where oilers could be detached from the task force to rendezvous in harbour faster transfer rates could be obtained; of course, this was offset by the additional transit time from the ports in question to the operational area. In retrospect greater reliance ought to have been placed on large support tankers, which can refuel alongside.”

To some present it sounded as if Wagner was reciting a litany of excuses; the more senior officers present were more conscious of the limitations under which the Etappendienst operated. Shorn of her colonies and overseas bases at the end of the Great War the Kriegsmarine had long laboured under the restrictions of the Versailles treaty. For the few overseas cruises carried out in the 1920s and 1930s, the arrangements of the Etappendienst had proven more than adequate. As German warships ventured around the world in far larger numbers it was clear that greater efforts would have to be made to obtain base rights abroad; but that was a political rather than military consideration.

Wagner concluded with his recommendations before relinquishing the podium to Hartmann.

“Efforts should be made to stockpile necessary supplies in greater quantities at existing outposts of the Etappendienst. Where circumstances permit, additional out-stations should be established to extend the range in which Etappendienst support is available. Lastly, short of establishing formal fleet operating bases abroad, the Etappendienst can only serve to supplement the fleet train, not substitute for it.”

For his part, Hartmann reported on the need for additional units of the fleet train, particularly those supply ships that were to have been acquired under the 1947 estimates, which had been deferred. He also alluded to a planned reorganisation of the service forces, one which would make better use of existing resources.

Die Welt am Sonntag, Sunday, 25 May 1947



Kieler Nachrichten, Monday, 26 May 1947

The lead quartet of the Manching-class air defence frigates, Manching, Birkenfeld, Hollabrun, and Ettenheim, completed their operational training and have taken up their regular duties with the fleet.


Elbinger Volksstimme, Tuesday, 27 May 1947

The Schichau works at Memel saw celebrations to mark the completion of the frigates Lustenau and Ansfelden, the latest warships for the Kriegsmarine to emerge from that shipyard. Similar festivities were held in Kiel for the sister frigates Dornbirn and Bregenz. These vessels now embark on a period of trials and training, and are expected to formally join the fleet before winter.

Kapitän zur See Alexander Freiherr von Friedeburg sat on the side of the auditorium with the other staff officers, listening with one ear to the presentations, his mind focused on the notebook open before him. His duties as Director of Naval Construction were heavy, and were growing heavier as the operational commanders and staff officers outlined what the Kriegsmarine needed to maintain the fleet in the future.

Though large Germany’s resources were finite; and despite some investment over the last several years the naval infrastructure available in the nation’s shipyards did place limits on what was possible. His in-box was filled with memoranda outlining the concepts for ships that were ‘necessary’, or ‘desirable’, or ‘would fill an enemy with dread’. The latter, often coming spontaneously from retired officers of the old Imperial Navy, he often found humorous. Reconciling the needs of the Kriegsmarine’s combat and service forces was growing more difficult.

The sketches in his notebook illustrated the problem. The carrier admirals wanted the means to maintain their first-line air strength in the event of a high combat loss rate; this was necessary and laudable. The vulnerability of the service force to air attack highlighted the need to provide immediate air support and antisubmarine escort; this was necessary and vital. Though not presenting at this conference the amphibious force commanders likewise argued their need for air support and protection; this was important and desirable. The Kriegsmarine, however, could not afford the cost of constructing three separate sorts of ships. His challenge was to design a single vessel capable of meeting at least two of these requirements, if not three.

The Royal Navy had made the investment some years ago in a specialist maintenance aircraft carrier – HMS Unicorn. Von Friedeburg admired the concept, and Intelligence reported that the vessel was well equipped to carry out all levels of maintenance on the aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm. Simply copying this vessel, however, would not meet all the Kriegsmarine’s needs. In a similar manner it had authorised construction of a trio of aviation store ships, fast vessels capable of carrying a variety of crated aircraft, fuel, and stores for aircraft. He drew inspiration from these and was busy with calculations when his train of thought was interrupted.

“Herr Kapitän,” said a voice. “Mittagessen is being served. Are you not hungry?”


Von Friedeburg held himself aloof from the afternoon’s breakout sessions. The discussions there would centre on the morning’s presentations, or on the previous day’s analysis of the British naval exercise. He anticipated that Thursday’s discussions on the Kriegsmarine’s future would give him the most headaches, and he wished to be prepared with options.

He knew that his department needed time to develop the designs that would been required to fulfil the fleet’s requirements. He scribbled notes and then sought out an idle office and commandeered a typewriter, finalising a memorandum for Generaladmiral von Fischel. He hoped that it might stave off hasty recommendations that would prove costly in the long run.

The Buoy Tender Dänholm, 67 dgs, 32 min North, 7 dgs, 42 min East, Wednesday, 28 May 1947

Thus far the Dänholm’s mission had been uneventful; equipped and properly outfitted she had no difficulty in deploying the compact automated weather station buoys. She had laid six thus far, and her holds were not yet empty. For the Norwegian Sea the weather had been remarkably calm, a compensation perhaps for the terrible winter that Europe had endured.

Her boom lifted the seventh buoy over the side and the long cable and anchor followed. The ship maintained station until the buoy was stable and its transmitter registered on the ship’s wireless receiver. The Dänholm then moved west, towards where her next set of buoys would be located.


Lübecker Nachrichten, Thursday, 29 May 1947

The destroyers Waldenburg, Glogau, Landeshut, and Neurode completed their operation training today and formally joined the fleet.

Marine Kriegsakademie Stralsund, Thursday, 15 May 1947

The third and final day of the conference was scheduled to address the strategic role of the Kriegsmarine in the future, the tactical and structural challenges facing it, and what steps would be necessary to respond to the changing environment in which it found itself. The morning session opened with brief remarks from Generaladmiral von Fischel, after which he turned the podium over to Konteradmiral Werner Graf von Bassewitz-Levetzow, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations.

“Gentlemen, in the last two days we have heard and digested much food for thought as we consider the course we must chart for the future. Let me begin by saying that the national policy objective set by the Government eight years ago remain in force: Protect the national territory from attack; Assure access to markets and raw materials abroad; Support allies and friendly states in the face of threats and outright aggression. Our future policies must conform to this over-arching goals.”

“If in point of fact the recent British exercise suggests a shift in their policy it has great implications for Germany. Historically Britain has refused to tolerate any competing naval power in Western Europe, as evidenced by its grandiose naval construction programme that contributed to the outbreak of the Great War; its single-minded pursuit of the destruction of the navy of Napoleon Bonaparte; its unprovoked attacks upon the Danish Navy in Copenhagen in 1801 and again in 1807; its determined campaigns against the fleets of Louis XIV; even unto the singeing the King of Spain's beard by Francis Drake in 1587. Given the ability of a hostile Britain to block egress from the North Sea the latent threat of such a policy change cannot be ignored.”

“Heretofore the Kriegsmarine has functioned as a ‘reserve in being’ for our coalition allies in the Grand Alliance. Towards this end we have worked to be able to deploy sufficient forces anywhere in the world that they should be required; and that has not changed. Indeed, as has been suggested here, most notably by Admiral Levchenko, even greater efforts must be made in cooperation and inter-operability. While it is the primary responsibility of the Government and the Foreign Office to seek to avoid a conflict with any nation, the Kriegsmarine must be prepared to react when called upon to do so.”

With these words von Bassewitz-Levetzow outlined the broad questions for the day’s discussions. After a few moments more he concluded.

“With that I will turn matters over to the Director of Plans, who will outline the structural reorganisation of the fleet in home waters – a matter that has already been decided upon.”

Kapitän zur See Heinrich Bramesfeld took the podium and arranged his notes; he then began.

“Over the last several years the service has adopted a more flexible, ‘task-oriented’ organisation for those forces deployed to sea. Administratively however the fleet has been organised by type and function. This has led, in some cases, to senior commanders being unfamiliar with the vessels assigned to them and ship captains unfamiliar with their roles in any given tactical formation. To remedy this defect in our operational structure the current commands will be replaced by standing task groups, each oriented to the strategic and tactical role they would perform in wartime.”

These words sent a ripple of murmurs across the room. The curtain behind Bramesfeld was opened to reveal a large briefing chart, to which he referred.

“The core of our structure will be the aircraft carrier task group – each to comprise four aircraft carriers, six to eight supporting surface combatants, and up to twenty-four escorting destroyers and frigates. A task group could be deployed singly or if required combined to form a single task force capable of independent action.”

He paused to allow his words to take effect. “Escort, submarine, amphibious, and logistics forces would follow a similar integrated pattern.”

As Bramesfeld continued his presentation Kommodore Günther von der Forst, erstwhile commander of the Second Aircraft Carrier Squadron, worked up sums in the margin of his notes. Four aircraft carriers could field more than two hundred aircraft – nearly three hundred depending on the actual composition. Thinking ahead, when Tegetthoff and Zieten finished building next year, the Kriegsmarine carrier force would be capable of fielding close to eight hundred aircraft. His head swam at the thought.

“… and so that describes the future force structure of the Kriegsmarine. Our task now is to work out the details of transition and protocols for employment.” So Bramesfeld concluded his presentation.

“Questions at this point?” he asked.

Marine Kriegsakademie Stralsund, Thursday, 15 May 1947

Bramesfeld was busy for the next two hours answering questions regarding the implications of the fleet reorganisation plan. Initially there were objections from officers aligned with the current ‘type-organisation’ structure who feared the loss of their commands. A gentle reminder from Generaladmiral von Fischel that the decision had been made shifted the discussion to actual implementation of the plan. Opponents soon found that there were actually more sea-going commands under the new structure than under the old; most were soon won over.

Then there arose the question of what vessels would be required to achieve the new structure’s objectives. Many of the ships involved were still under construction or working up; Bramesfeld explained that gaps might have be accepted until construction made them good.

“The objective force should be achieved within two, or at most, three years. However, given the possibility of responses elsewhere, our needs will require continual monitoring.”

The division of resources between combatant warships and necessary auxiliaries became the next bone of contention. Here von Fischel found in necessary to intervene; he rose and addressed the gathering. “Gentlemen, your points are well taken; however, this is not the proper forum in which to reach the decisions called for. I will therefore authorise the formation of the Study Group for Auxiliary Vessels, which will examine the needs of the future force structure for auxiliary vessels. The Director of Naval Construction will chair the group, with four other officers to be selected within the next thirty days.”

Kapitän von Friedeburg smiled. His memorandum had won time; he and his staff would be able to control the rush.

Von Fischel continued with his closing remarks and brought the conference to a swift conclusion. Things would be changing.

Rostocker Zeitung, Friday, 30 May 1947

Four destroyers were completed today for the Kriegsmarine, the Bunzlau and the Langenbielau at Bremerhavem, the Zwischenwasser and the Feldkirch at Cuxhaven. They will now undergo builders’ trials and training before joining the fleet in the autumn.


Emder Zeitung, Saturday, 31 May 1947

The inspection ship Goldener Löwe returned to port today for routine repairs and resupply before embarking upon her next patrol in Arctic waters.

The Inspection Ship Roter Löwe, 82 dgs, 7 min North, 2 dgs, 21 min East, Sunday, 1 June 1947

Roter Löwe had reached as far north as she could safely go and now a working party was busy setting up the automated weather station on the ice floe. The civilian scientists would remain here for several weeks, carrying out weather observations and ice research, while the Roter Löwe moved eastward to deploy a further two automated stations. The plan was to then retrace their steps and pick up the scientists for their return to Germany.


London, The German Embassy, Monday, 2 June 1947

Walter Schellenburg reviewed the notes of his meeting with the two ‘Baker Street Irregulars’ he had dispatched to Warrington in Cheshire. They had followed their instructions to be discrete to the letter, which left their report somewhat incomplete, but through careful observation and occasional questions they had reached the conclusion that some secret activity was going on at a nearby former ordnance works. Pub-going locals complained about the prowling of unmarked police vans and the diversion of traffic from traditional byways. There was a dedicated rail line that brought workers directly to the site. What was going on in the heavily guarded area was still a mystery.


Berlin, The Cabinet Meeting Room, Tuesday, 3 June 1947

“Herr Blank,” said Chancellor Adenauer, “this information is quite disturbing. How certain are we of this interpretation?”

The Cabinet had been reviewing the results of the Kriegsmarine’s conference some weeks ago and the resultant recommendations. There were many questions left unanswered.

“We are not certain Herr Chancellor,” Blank replied, and nodded in the direction of Foreign Minister Dehler. “Neither is the Wilhelmstraße. The situation is ambiguous.”

Dehler added, “Prince Bismarck has been informed and his views sought. Certainly there are factions within Britain that see Germany as a threat – economically most certainly; militarily less so. What is unclear is who has the upper hand within the British Cabinet, and the question of how long the Labour Government remains in power is an open question.”

The previous week the Cabinet had discussed the Conservative Party’s ‘Industrial Charter’, which was clearly a manifesto aimed at swaying votes in any forthcoming election. “While many Conservatives see Germany favourably,” Dehler continued “there are back-benchers who see us as a potential threat.”

“The proposals for adjusting our naval programme must be acted upon quickly if we are to maintain our forces,” Blank argued.

Adenauer thought a moment before speaking. “Haste never helped matters in the past, and I doubt it will do so now. We will consider this at our next meeting; perhaps between now and then we can obtain clarification on Britain’s intentions.”

Berlin, The Admiralität, Office of the Director of Naval Construction, Wednesday, 4 June 1947

Kapitän zur See von Friedeburg, had put his staff quickly to work in the wake of the May’s naval conference in Stralsund, and already they had come up with suggestions for potential ship designs to meet the most immediate requirements that could be anticipated. The problem of aviation logistics exercised their minds the most – causing many hours of work late into the night.

The challenge was to design a vessel capable – in some degree – of fulfilling three related roles – that of Geleitflugzeugträger, Hilfsflugzeugträger, and Flugzeugversorgungsschiff. Reconciling the first two, in which aircraft operations defined the role, with the third, which required ability to supply other vessels gave von Friedeburg and his staff headaches. They had begun with an adaptation of the Typ 3 oil tanker – which certainly could fulfil the supply aspect of the equation but the reconstruction of the vessel would be costly, only a limited number of aircraft could be supported, and, worst of all, the single-screw of the tanker would make her hard to manoeuver.

They then looked at adapting twin-screw freighter hulls; these ideas were quickly abandoned due to the lack of aircraft operating capacity and poor return for the costs anticipated. In time of war perhaps such moves would be justified, but von Friedeburg could not support such an expedient at this time. Two sketches had survived initial review; a twin-screw design of some 9,000 tons capable of operating perhaps thirty aircraft, but with only limited means to provide the desired logistics support – a true escort aircraft carrier; and a twin-screw design of more than 12,000 tons capable of operating fifty aircraft but likely capable of carrying out the other duties expected of the new ship type. The larger design would be much faster than the small geleitflugzeugträger, and perhaps a useful combatant in a very low-threat environment.

Von Friedeburg called to make an appointment with the Assistant Chief of Naval Operations; he wanted approval before casting plans for a detailed design, but he had decided upon the vessel he would fight for.


Hamburger Abendblatt, Thursday, 5 June 1947

The air defence destroyers Osnabruck and Dortmund were completed today in the Deschimag yards here. They will now begin their builders’ trials and, after their completion, will exercise in the Baltic for the next several months.

Rheinische Post, Friday, 6 June 1947

The literary and philosophical magazine Merkur – Deutsche Zeitschrift für europäisches Denken, appeared in print today. Published in Stuttgart the magazine is available by subscription from Klett Cotta Verlag.

Kronen Zeitung, Saturday, 7 June 1947

The inaugural award of the Preis der Stadt Wien für Geisteswissenschaften was made today to legal historian Leopold Wenger. Instituted earlier this year to recognize contributions to the humanities the Preis recognises Doctor Wenger’s work in the recovery and study of ancient texts dating to late Antiquity and the period of the Byzantine Empire.


Emder Zeitung, Sunday, 8 June 1947

The minesweepers Boggensee and Lautersee were launched today in the Deschimag shipyards in Hamburg.


Brunsbüttel, Monday, 9 June 1947

Today was an uncommonly busy day for those elements of the Kriegsmarine stationed there. The ships of the Fifth Escort Group were busy taking on stores for a deployment – and the amount of tropical equipment coming aboard the eight corvettes suggested that this would be no ordinary exercise in the North Sea. Two small tankers had shifted station from Bremerhaven and sat low in the water, filled to the Plimsoll line with fuel. No one was saying much of anything but something was in the air.

Manama, Bahrain, Tuesday, 10 June 1947

Alexander Klaws sat in his office, the fan above his head trying valiantly to stir a breeze; the heat and humidity of the Gulf had arrived early and in full force. He was composing a reply to the cable he had received from archaeologists Bessig and Hachmann regarding their forthcoming expedition – it had taken some doing but he had good news to report to them. At their request he had arranged for housing for six Europeans from October through April; he had lined up a local contractor who would provide workers for their prospective dig; and the Hansa Line would make warehouse space available for equipment and supplies sent out from Germany, gratis. He penned an addendum requesting further instructions and passing on his good wishes; he would venture to the Cables and Wireless Office in the evening, when the worst of the heat of the day had passed. “Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon-day sun” he chuckled to himself.


Der Tagesspiegel, Wednesday, 11 June 1947

Minister of Transport Gottfried Treviranus gave his biennial report on the state of the Handelsmarine to the Reichstag today. The minister reported that the ocean-going merchant marine comprised 912 vessels aggregating 7,855,608 tons deadweight. This in fact represents a decline from 1945, when the fleet comprised 927 vessels, but a tonnage gain over the figure of 7,664,716 previously reported. Herr Treviranus attributed the contraction in numbers to the withdrawal from service of several older passenger liners from the HAPAG and NDL fleets in the face of competition from air travel; the tonnage growth he attributed to the increase in the number of modern oil tankers and bulk carriers in the fleet.

Herr Treviranus stated that the overall figures included twenty-six vessels presently under construction for German shipping companies – representing 211,570 gross registered tons and 339,205 tons deadweight, and a further eighteen vessels – amounting to 150,595 gross registered tons and 221,340 tons deadweight are on the order books for German-flag operators; this latter of course excludes orders for export customers.


Oberösterreichische Rundschau, Thursday, 12 June 1947

Chancellor Adenauer and other dignitaries are due to formally open the National Motorway’s border crossing with Hungary at Nickelsdorf- Hegyeshalom (Straß-Sommerein), marking the extension of the motorway system to south-eastern Europe. The construction of the motorways and the nearby wind farm on the Parndorfer Heide has contributed immeasurably to the economy of Burgenland and to the Austrian provinces in general.

Kieler Nachrichten, Friday, 13 June 1947

The small support tanker Mur has completed its working-up and is now assigned to the port of Stettin, where it is employed in hauling petroleum products for use by the Kriegsmarine.


London, The German Embassy, Saturday, 14 June 1947

Walter Schellenburg quietly celebrated what could be considered a coup, if handled carefully. One of his ‘Baker Street Irregulars’ had obtained access to the listing of D-Notices – the instrument the British security services used to restrain the press from publishing items related to sensitive subjects. Of course, these notices did not contain anything blatantly useful, but their existence suggested items worthy of investigation by other means.


Brunsbüttel, Sunday, 15 June 1947

The corvette Jagd led the ships of the Fifth Escort Group to sea – Wacht, Blitz, Pfeil, Gefion, Hela, Schwalbe, and Sperber, with the support tankers Lahn and Lech following. The ships were bound for the Far East, where they would exchange their trivial role of coastal escorts in the Baltic for the far more prestigious service with the Ostasiengeschwader. Sailors not on watch thumbed through travel guides outlining what they might expect in the ports of the Orient, anticipating their future.

Dornier-werke, Friedrichshafen, Monday, 16 June 1947

Work on the prototype of the Do.335 design was proceeding apace; design of the airframe itself was not difficult; keeping the weight down was the issue. That, and the design of an undercarriage that would not collapse upon contact with the deck of an aircraft carrier. Still, there was time to address these and a host of other issues. Better to expend time in testing now than to discover a flaw once the design was finalised.


Berlin, The Cabinet Meeting Room, Tuesday, 17 June 1947

Blank, the Defence Minister, looked concerned, as did Dehler, the Foreign Minister. The Chancellor had inquired about any indications of the direction of British policy.

“Prince Bismarck has had nothing to report,” Dehler admitted. “Of course, he cannot come out and ask the question directly, but discrete inquiries have elicited nothing.”

Adenauer looked in Blank’s direction. “Is there any new information that would confirm our interpretation?”

“Only indirectly Herr Chancellor,” Blank admitted, “but most worrying. There are reports that the British Admiralty is seeking approval of the construction of four large aircraft carriers under the terms of the 1948 Estimates. Moreover, rumours abound that new heavy cruisers will be constructed as well.”

“Four?” The number was echoed by a number of those around the table.

“Yes,” Blank confirmed. “They would of course take several years to construct, but the implication is that Britain may be redressing the balance of forces.”

The words hung in the air for a moment before Adenauer spoke. “Then you recommend that we proceed with your proposals touching the Kriegsmarine?”

“Yes Herr Chancellor.” Blank’s voice betrayed his concern. “We have few other options at this point in time.”


The Inspection Ship Roter Löwe, 83 dgs, 15 min North, 43 dgs, 32 min East, Wednesday, 18 June 1947

Roter Löwe had deployed the last of her automated weather stations and was now returning westward to pick up the scientific survey party she had left at her first call along the polar ice pack. The stations were functioning as expected and it was hoped that their batteries would last the winter; time would tell. In any event, the information they sent back was already proving useful.

Hamburger Abendblatt, Thursday, 19 June 1947



Militär-Wochenblatt, Friday, 20 June 1947

Among the latest graduates of the flight instructors course at Fluglehrerschule der Luftwaffe Brandenburg-Briest were twelve officers of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force, who will now return to their country to assist in the modernisation of that service.


Heavy Cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, Cam Rahn Bay, Saturday, 21 June 1947

Vizeadmiral Hans Langsdorff stood on the bridge wing of his flagship as the Jaguar led the four corvettes of his command to sea. Salutes were exchanged in succession – with each of the cruisers of the East Asia Squadron, with the ships of the Russian squadron that called Cam Rahn Bay home, with the French and Indochinese vessels assembled in the great anchorage. Orders had come, and as the small ships shaped a course to the south Langsdorff reflected on his tenure in the Orient; peace had been maintained, the national interests protected, and good relations established across the region. Soon he too would be headed home; but not today.

Well that is all probably OOC stuff, but if those thoughts were known IC to other nations...

Quoted

peace had been maintained

Japan: "No thanks to Langsdorff..."

Quoted

good relations established across the region

Japan: "Hahaha! Best joke we have heard in decades!"



Going to be interesting to see the details of Blank's options, to see how much of a threat to German prestige they think those British vessels are going to be.

I suspect when news breaks of the Colonial Seaward Defence Programme the mixed messages may well have some confusing effect in Berlin.
Is Britain fortifying her colonies or building a Grand Fleet II or both?

The inverse is, the GUKN non-aggression group can breath easy that no attacking power can penetrate the North Sea. In that sense if these four carriers were intended for the Home Fleet they would actually be increasing the defence of Germany.

Quoted from "Hood"

The inverse is, the GUKN non-aggression group can breath easy that no attacking power can penetrate the North Sea. In that sense if these four carriers were intended for the Home Fleet they would actually be increasing the defence of Germany.

What is this GUKN non-aggression group of which you speak? I am confused... :huh:

That is without a doubt the Coldmere Protocol.

"Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the German Reich, the Kingdom of Nordmark and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"

Rearrange those 4 letters slightly gives you GUKN.


While those carriers would help increasing the defence of Germany, it is still a threat to German prestige. To me they need to come up with something to outdo those planned British carriers and cruisers.