Against the Tide Imperial: The Struggle for Ceylon (The Usurper's War: An Alternative World War II B by James Young (story reading txt) 📕

Kind of strange how a few months of combat changes a man. Russell recalled Bellingsley being shocked at his hoping the Queen would give the Usurper the traditional traitor’s fate upon regaining her throne. Burying many of his friends and standing up a whole new squadron appeared to have profoundly changed his pilot.

Or maybe it’s talking to some of the Australians who just managed to get out ahead of the war restarting. Although ‘escaping’ might be too strong a word for the individuals’ repatriation, the dozen or so Army men he’d met on Ceylon had opened his eyes to others’ viewpoint. While the men following the Usurper were certainly misguided, if not foolish, the blokes on the other side were still former comrades-in-arms.

Lots of bitterness in this war. Way too much time spent far away from home for most of us.

I.J.N.S. Akagi

1200 Local (0030 Eastern)

Singapore

28 July (28 July)

Thank the heavens, it feels good to be back, Lieutenant Isoro Honda thought as he stepped onto the the Akagi’s hangar deck. It was brutally hot and humid in the structure, the stiff ocean breeze keeping things just on the positive side of hellish. Slinging his sea bag over his shoulder, Isoro headed towards the Akagi fighter squadron’s ready room. He was almost to it when he came upon two of the fighter squadron’s pilots standing near their Shiden fighters. Seeing him, both men came over.

It’s almost like they were waiting for me. Honda tried to hide his concern as he studied the two men. To his relief, he saw that one was a warrant officer, the other a petty officer.

“Welcome back aboard, sir,” Warrant Officer Taisei Oda said, saluting Honda. Isoro returned the gesture, giving Oda a clearly measuring glance. Nodding once at the man, Isoro then turned to the NCO on Oda’s right. Petty Officer Airi Takahashi came to attention and also saluted Isoro.

New wingmen, Isoro thought with slight disdain as he once more returned the gesture. Breaking in new wingmen is exactly what I want to be doing when we go to Ceylon. His previous wingmen, Warrant Officers Sawato and Watanabe, had been detached from Akagi to serve as leavening for the Taiho’s new air group.

We are having trouble keeping bodies in airplanes. The current batch of pilots who had come down from Japan aboard Taiho consisted of the third wartime class of fighter pilots. While each was highly trained, Isoro could not shake the feeling that another three months of losses like they’d suffered in the Indies would completely disrupt the training pipeline.

We lost the equivalent of four graduating classes in fighter pilots alone. Who knows how many bomber pilots died.

“Where is…” Isoro began to ask, only to be interrupted.

“Honda!” Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, Akagi’s commander air group, shouted happily from across the hangar. Isoro came to attention as the man strode over, two of his squadron commanders in tow. Isoro did not recognize either man as he saluted.

So much change.

“Lieutenant Commander Maki, Lieutenant Commander Ogawa, this is Lieutenant Honda,” Fuchida said. “Honda was our leading ace during the Dutch East Indies campaign and is rejoining us after some time with the Raiden project.”

Both men gave Honda a respectful nod.

“Lieutenant Commander Maki will be taking over the Suisei squadron, while Lieutenant Commander Ogawa will be leading the new Tenzans.”

So, those were the new bombers I saw on the airfield when we landed!

“How is the new fighter?” Maki asked, referring to Mitsubishi’s A7M. “I have heard a great deal about it, but have not actually seen it. When will it be fielded?”

“I do not know, sir,” Isoro said. “It is supposed to be replacing the Zero with the land-based units soon, but there were still problems with the prototype.”

Namely the engine had a tendency of deciding to quit working if you put it through too tough of paces, Isoro thought. But, like the Shiden, they’ll figure it out.

“Everything has teething problems,” Ogawa said. “The Tenzans have had their issues, but those are minor given the improvement over the B5N.”

They are far braver men than I. No matter what the improvement, I would not fly straight and level into the teeth of anti-aircraft fire for anyone.

“We will have a chance to test everything soon enough,” Fuchida said. “Vice Admiral Yamaguchi has asked permission for us to leave earlier so that he may attempt to find the Allied carriers as they return from Madagascar.”

Isoro looked at Commander Fuchida in confusion, causing the latter man to realize that Honda had not been briefed before leaving Japan.

“We are departing for the Indian Ocean,” Fuchida said. “Operation C, the seizure of Ceylon, will begin in four days. Submarines have already been dispatched to establish a scouting line.”

“Understood, sir,” Isoro stated. “However, I do not understand the reference to Madagascar.”

“At least four Allied carriers are attacking our Vichy and Italian allies along Africa’s east coast,” Fuchida stated. “The intention is to raid Ceylon, then go to find them once they respond.”

Raiding land bases when they are expecting us is always dangerous. He was certain that their opponents would have reinforced Ceylon with whatever assets they possessed. After his experiences in the Indies, he did not relish dealing with well-prepared defenses. Especially when those defenses were probably manned by enemy who would realize retreat was impossible.

“You look as if you are thinking about something, Lieutenant Honda,” Fuchida said, startling Isoro.

“The enemy, sir,” Isoro replied. “Do we know what forces are on Ceylon?”

“We are not certain,” Fuchida said. “In any case, it will be only a brief attack in passing.”

Isoro nodded.

“The Fifth and Sixth Carrier Divisions will be accompanying the transports,” Fuchida said. “They will get to deal with anything we leave.”

“Hopefully that will not be much,” Maki stated. “I would hate to fight four enemy carriers while still having to worry about what is behind us.”

I think we can all agree on that. There are limits to how many aircraft we can handle. Once again, his mind turned to the Dutch East Indies. By the