Hammer of God

Chapter 6

“I understand your impulse to caution me, Captain,” said Churchill. “You might think me no more than an old windbag, out to meddle in the planning of all my Generals. Certainly General Wavell here must put up with more than his fair share of my temperament. But someone must drive home a winning strategy, and that task seems to have fallen to me. I listen well to the advice I receive from many quarters, but in the end, a decision has to be made, and that falls to me, and I know full well what I am asking of the men who so bravely put on those uniforms. So you will forgive me if I look for any signpost on the road now, to guide my thinking in this most decisive hour.”

“Of course, sir,” said Fedorov.

“Well, as I look at things now I see Syria and Iraq as the most important front, Libya aside. We must keep Rommel in check, and I hope we never see him rampage across Cyrenaica like that again soon. Crete and Cyprus remain important frontier outposts for us. Certainly the Germans will be able to extend their air power much further into the Eastern Mediterranean if they were to seize those islands. But in Iraq we have significant airfields, not to mention the oil from Kirkuk and Basra. It must not fall under Axis control. As for Syria, if the Germans get their foot in, we shall have a wolf at the back door. The Vichy French may not be strong enough to invade Palestine or threaten Egypt, but they provide a den of iniquity for the Germans to feed in planes and men, and that could grow to something much more dangerous. If they are heavily reinforced, it may make the campaign we have been discussing even more arduous. So I am inclined to say we must now make Operation Exporter our principle offensive action in the months ahead.”

“And the plans for Battleaxe?” Wavell had been urged to prepare an offensive against Rommel at the same time.

“You have made it abundantly clear that you haven’t the resources to conduct an offensive on two fronts, General, and given the Captain’s sobering warnings, I am beginning to agree. Let us set a guarded watch on Rommel, invest Benghazi and take that place if possible, and then throw everything else we have against the Vichy French. Iraq must also be given the highest priority. Rashid Ali has the allegiance of four prominent Sunni Arab nationalists, all military officers in Iraq, and we all know the real power lies with the military there. He calls them the Golden Square, and he has a mind to overthrow the current pro-British government.

“The Germans have been meddling as well, stirring up trouble by sending old Fritz Grobba as their ambassador. They would like nothing more than for Iraq to go up in arms against us, which would threaten our major oil concerns there, and cut the air bridge to India we have in those airfields. Beyond that, to allow this uprising to succeed would also encourage Arab nationalism throughout the Middle East, and I daresay our position in this regard is none too sound, even in Egypt. So perhaps we must rethink Operation Exporter, and see it as a broader operation aimed at securing both Syria and Iraq.”

“Thus far the Iraqis haven’t done much more than sit on the plateau overlooking our RAF base near Fallujah,” said Wavell.

“Habbaniyah? Yes, it’s held out, but we’ll have to do something. We have the old Cavalry Division in Palestine, do we not?”

“More or less,” said Wavell. “Some units still have horses, the others have been converting to trucks and carriers, but there are all too few of those to go around, and we’ve been cherry picking most of their artillery and heavy weapons for other units.”

“Fancy having a mobile division without trucks,” said Churchill, exasperated. “I can see we need to do a great deal more for you, General Wavell, and I fully appreciate that you have utilized the resources in hand to the fullest. Yet Captain Fedorov makes a good point about this windfall we have with General Kinlan’s 7th Brigade. We must use that power while it remains strong. Is it wise to leave it sit down here in the southern desert in a defensive role, when we might draw that bright flashing sword and put it to use in the attack?”

“Realize I have no armor to speak of beyond that unit, “Wavell reminded him. “Our own 7th Armored Division is merely a shell. The only tanks we can give it come from the repair dens, and that takes time. We’ve been cannibalizing badly shot up vehicles for spare parts.”

“And yet we have all these splendid tanks just sitting here and contemplating a joust with the Italians at Giarabub. Surely we might reconsider using some of this force for other operations.”

“And the question of security?” Wavell cautioned. “It will be hard to keep a lid on what has happened here if we try rolling those monsters up through Alexandria to Palestine.”

“True,” said Churchill. “But perhaps we could get them there by some other means. What about the Glen ships?”

“We have one or two available. Glengyle is operating with our Layforce Commandos at the moment. But they are largely for infantry transport, sir, and have only a single LCM in the forward deck that can transport a tank to shore, and then no more than 16 tons.”

“That won’t do to move a Challenger II,” said Fedorov. “Those tanks are over 60 tons each.”

“Amazing,” said Churchill. “But I’ve seen scores of smaller armored vehicles here. What about those?”

“Many are the Warrior Armored Fighting Vehicle. They may appear as tanks to you, and in fact they have armament similar to the tanks you now deploy, but they are really designed to be infantry transport vehicles.”

“All the better,” said Churchill. “Why didn’t we think of that earlier, Wavell-an infantry carrier with a good gun on it like that.”

“Might these move by sea?” Wavell asked Fedorov in Russian, but soon learned that the Warriors were still too heavy at 25 tons.

“Only the light scout tanks could move by sea with the ships you presently have,” said Fedorov. “The Scimitars weigh just under 8 tons, so depending on the size of your LCM, you might take two at most on the Glengyle.”

“Hardly an armored force capable of doing much, even if these are good vehicles.” Wavell pursed his lips, thinking. “But I’ve had a good look at those tanks. They have the look of a vehicle the men might easily accept as something we could have built ourselves. I’ll admit, one look at those heavy tanks out there boggles the mind, but the Scimitars are on a scale and of a design we can grasp. We might move a unit of those tanks quite openly by land without ruffling anyone’s skirts.”

“Would General Kinlan be persuaded to make us a loan?” asked Churchill.

“I don’t see why not. He’s a British serving officer, and though it has been our intention to keep his force segregated from the main army, we just might pull this off.”

“Then let’s propose this, if it will not unduly weaken his force. It would strengthen our situation in Palestine immeasurably until I can get a convoy of armor round the cape for you. It’s underway now, but will be some weeks in transit.”

“At least you’ve given up on trying to send Tiger Convoy through the Mediterranean,” said Wavell. “That would have been a disaster.”

“Yes, I’m a stubborn old bulldog at times, General, but I can be made to see reason on occasion.” Churchill smiled, taking another sip of his brandy. “Well then, let us see what General Kinlan can do for us in these operations. We’ll need a relief column for RAF Habbaniyah immediately, and then anything we can possibly put together for Operation Exporter. Do you agree with this, Captain Fedorov?”

“Yes sir. I believe strengthening your eastern and northern flanks now is paramount. Rommel is in check for the moment. Now is the time to secure Iraq and Syria. You did so before, odd as that may sound to you, and without our help. Yet I think we can assist you here, and General Kinlan will cooperate at your request. In fact, remember that we have helicopters that can get some relief to Habbaniyah very quickly. I have a small Marine contingent on my ship, and what about the three helicopters on the Argos Fire? I’m told they have troops aboard as well.”

“A capital idea,” said Churchill after Wavell translated. “I think we have the makings of a good breakfast here. We’ll provide the milk with everything General Wavell can spare-you stir in a little honey with any detachment that seems practical and suitable for this operation. But I’m not really happy about the name. Operation Exporter seems too pedestrian. What about the name of that tank we’ve been discussing-Scimitar! That has a bit of fire in it, yes? Let’s call this combined plan for Iraq and Syria Operation Scimitar.”

And they did.

Kinlan was brought in and it was soon decided that he could easily spare the Scimitar scout troops that were attached to his two mechanized infantry battalions.

“It’s only two troops of eight tanks each, but I suppose I can take another troop from 12 Royal Lancers and beef this up a bit. That would make for a company sized force of light armor.”

“Light to you,” said Churchill, “but I’m told those vehicles are every bit as good as our own medium tanks, and at the moment we have nothing to send into Syria. The French will have 90 tanks against us there, so this would be of great assistance.”

“Consider it a plan,” said Kinlan. “And I can do you one more service if you need additional troops. Isn’t there an Indian brigade coming?”

“The 5th,” said Wavell. “A good outfit, veterans from the fighting in East Africa.”

“Well I have a full battalion of Gurkha Light Infantry here. They might be able to fit right in with that division, if we brief them appropriately.”

“Excellent,” said Churchill. “On that note, I’m seeing what we can get from India. Auchinleck says he can get the 10th Indian Division to sea in short order. The first of its brigades was going to Malaya, but it can be diverted to Basra. There are good Gurkha battalions in those units as well.”

Fedorov was listening to all this, as Wavell was kind enough to keep translating for him. One worrisome note entered his mind that he thought he should voice. “On the Gurkhas,” he said. “I wonder if any men in General Kinlan’s battalion might be related to those being sent in these Indian forces. It might be odd if they were to meet their great grandfathers, and heaven forbid if…” He hesitated for a moment, not sure of what he was saying here. “Well, I was just thinking that if one of these grandfathers were to be killed in these operations, what effect would it have on the men in Kinlan’s troops?” It was the grandfather paradox in full boom in Fedorov’s mind, but he knew they might not solve that here.

“Interesting point,” said Churchill. “I might run that by our resident expert on time travel, Mister Wells, and see what he thinks. In the meantime, we could take a roll call of all troops assigned and see if any names match up. If we do find a match, it might be wise to see that those troops are assigned elsewhere, and leave their line of fate untouched by this business.”

Yet Fedorov realized all this was entirely beyond their grasp. He knew this division, and others from India, had been sent to secure Iraq. If men were reassigned to other duty, that decision could change their fate, and this alone could introduce a variation that might have unforeseen consequences. What if one of these great grandfathers serves here and came through undaunted, but if he was transferred elsewhere and killed in action? What then? This thought passed darkly through his mind like a storm front, but he knew it was beyond his means to control.

That was the dilemma they now faced. Once his ship and crew took up sides here, and now with Kinlan’s forces in this time, they were irrevocably committed to the here and now-this present war-and they were going to have to realize that the history they would write here might not look anything like the chapters in his books. They were again reaching a profound point of divergence here. Who knows what this operation could lead them to down the convoluted road ahead? He thought all this, but said nothing, his mind and heart still heavy.

Then the quiet of the night was broken by the sound of a motor car or jeep rushing in to the village. It was an officer from the communications section with a message from Alexandria for Wavell. The man rushed in, saluting crisply, obviously in awe to see the Prime Minister sitting by the fire with his brandy and cigar. Wavell took the message, and leaned in to whisper something in the man’s ear.

“The gentleman you have just seen is not here. In fact you’ve seen nothing at all, Sergeant. Understood?”

“Yes sir. Of course.”

Wavell sent him on his way, reading the message slowly in the dim light. “Gentlemen,” he said quietly. “These deliberations turn out to be very timely. The forces Rashid Ali has sent to overwatch our airfield at Habbaniyah have just begun shelling the base. There were over 40 casualties and twenty two planes were hit, mostly the Oxford trainers and a few old Hawker Hart light bombers. Many were not even in any shape to fly.”

“I was expecting this,” said Churchill quietly. “In fact, I gave Air Vice Marshall Smart there an authorization to use all necessary force to move the Iraqi army off the plateau overlooking our base. Yet this should put the fire to our feet. Captain Fedorov, I should be grateful to take your offer and see troops ferried there as soon as possible.”

“I’m sure I can get an order off within the hour, and Admiral Volsky will certainly agree. Our Sergeant Troyak is a most capable man, but perhaps we should send Popski along with that contingent given the language barrier.”

“Popski?” Churchill did not know the man, but Wavell smiled, and soon explained who he was. The General had a love for these ad hoc detachments out on special operations like this, and now Wavell was getting fired up himself, his reluctance to take on all these other operations burning away like the log in the fireplace. So it was decided that Popski would go with the Scimitar company, and join up with Troyak and his Marines in Palestine. As for the X-3 Helicopters, they would have to contact the Argos Fire to make the arrangements.

“Just how many Marines can you send us,” Churchill asked.

“One platoon,” said Fedorov. “But it has firepower worth many times its number in men. The same could be said for any troops off the Argos Fire, and the helicopters also can have a dramatic impact.”

“Helicopters, “said Churchill with a smile. “I should like to have a ride on one of those one day, but military necessities have the hour.”

“There’s one more thing,” said Wavell, handing the message off to Churchill now. “It seems Bletchley Park is picking up a lot of chatter concerning new German troop movements. Several more divisions have moved to the Turkish frontier, and there appears to be a buildup of air units and troops on Rhodes.”

“I can’t say as I like the sound of that,” said Churchill. “The Germans know full well what a prize they may be able to take in Iraq and Syria. Rashid Ali has already thrown in with them and is asking for German assistance. We must do all in our power to prevent that. The Germans must not be allowed to steal a march on us here. It’s time for bold action, gentlemen. We must strike now, or fail to live up to the victory Captain Fedorov indicated we should rightfully have.”

“Agreed,” said Wavell. I thought we might reach a political solution that would precede the need to tap our already overstrained forces with a mission to Iraq, but I see now that we must liquidate this tiresome business there quickly. Yet what about Crete, Mister Prime Minister? And with this movement to Rhodes, what about Cyprus?”

“Why would they reinforce the Italians on Rhodes, General?”

“They may have gotten wind of our earlier plans to take that island. Then again, this could be a prelude to their planned operation against Crete, or even Cyprus.”

“Cyprus was never attacked in the history I know,” said Fedorov.

“Glad to hear it,” said Churchill. “Given this new plan of ours for Operation Scimitar, Cyprus may even be more important to our immediate success than Crete. In fact, it has better deep water ports than Crete, and from Rhodes wouldn’t the Germans be able to put fighters over that island?”

“They would,” said Wavell.

“And here I’ve let it sit with no more than a token garrison all these months.” Churchill shook his head. “I can see more in this message than I want to for the moment,” he said with a somber tone. “The Germans are moving troops to the Turkish frontier, and to Rhodes. Cyprus is a pearl for Turkey. It could be that they are trying to put pressure on the Turks to submit. Heaven knows we’ve been courting them for months now. I’ve even considered ceding them territory in northern Syria in exchange for active cooperation with us.”

“Don’t let De Gaulle hear of that,” said Wavell. “He’s been talking about making Syria independent as a carrot to try and persuade them to our side and avoid having to fight the Vichy forces there.”

“De Gaulle will have to stay in line and leave off ceding territories he has yet to conquer,” said Churchill.

“We need the Free French, sir,” Wavell cautioned.

“Indeed, but at the moment, we need the Turks even more. Gentlemen, I think we had better launch this operation like a bolt of lightning. Time to draw our curved steel and settle the issue of Syria once and for all. Because if we do not act swiftly, I fear we may lose an even greater prize-Turkey.”