Earl822     
Posted: Nov 10 2006, 03:05 AM


Hegemon
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Group: Head of State
Posts: 618
Member No.: 52
Joined: 30-September 05



   
I've decided that as the story of the invasion has already reached its fourth page of MS Word, I better post the first part, prior to me writing about some more explosions.

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The Invasion of Newfoundland

4th October
New Bedford

The 8th and 9th Infantry Division have boarded several passenger liners and have sailed for France for winter training in the Alps. Also in response to several reports of pirates operating out of Newfoundland the 1st Battle squadron, the 1st Cruiser squadron, and the 1st and 2nd Destroyer flotilla have sailed as escorts, and to investigate several reports of a pirate vessel operating in the Mid Atlantic.


5am 7th October
Signal Hill, St Johns, Newfoundland.

Having skirted the bottom of the hill, Sergeant Bob Hyde lay low in bushes just 15yards from the look out post on top. Directly in front of himself he could see a lone lookout, his arms clamped around himself to keep warm, and to his left, Private Ryan slowly creeping up behind the lookout. It had felt like hours but in reality it had just been 30minutes since they had left the Kingdom hotel on the harbour front and had set off for the hill, disguised as bird watchers. Suddenly Private Ryan jumped upon the lookout, and covering his mouth, stabbed him through the heart. Breaking cover, Sergeant Hyde ran over to his subordinate, and having heaved the body over the cliff, took up position ready to signal to the fleet, simply nodding to the private in acknowledgement.

5:15am
Bridge of the Battleship HAMS Harold VI, flagship, 1st Battle-squadron UKN.

Sitting in his chair Captain Howard was uneasy, while he believed that the Guns of his ship, and those of the fleet could destroy the Torpedo Boats in the harbour, he was unsure how they would do that firing all but blind over a hill. "Number 1, how long till we are ready to open fire?" He asked, turning to his first officer. The number one, Lieutenant Dow looked up from the navigating officers chart table, and turning to face his Captain, spoke, "We will be in position in 45minutes, we are on schedule. 2nd Destroyer flotilla has embarked the forward units of 8th Infantry, and is now taking position astern of HAMS Clinton."
"Good." Came the simple reply, "Inform Vice Admiral Jellicoe that we are within 45minutes of the target."
"Yes sir!" Lieutenant Dow replied, and dismissed a seaman with the message. Suddenly a clatter of footsteps rang out as a seaman from the ships signals room entered. "9th Infantry reports being in position, and requests permission to proceed to disembark." The seaman reported. Captain Howard looking up once more, and seeing he was still the highest ranking officer on the bridge, turned to him and said "Permission granted, tell the 'May God preserve your souls!'" The Seaman ran off again, and the Captain sank back into his chair

5:20am
Quarterdeck of HAMS D1, flagship, 2nd Destroyer flotilla.

Major Wellard stood next to the aft 3inch gun with his subordinate officers. He knew only too well what stood ahead, several hours of bloody fighting and almost certain death for most of his men. He knew that forward of the bridge, Major Hammond was thinking the same things about the landings about to take place. Major Wellard took a deep sigh, and recovering some composure, summoned a speech. "Men, we are going today to fight for our nation's security! The Baltic league has been harbouring pirates on the Island of Newfoundland. These pirates have been threatening our Merchant Navy, and thus the security of our Great Nation. We have thus been charged with the task of taking hold of the Island of Newfoundland on behalf of the King, and by that eliminating another threat to our nation." His men cheered like they always did, it was enough to bring a tear to the Major's eye as he realised how many of them would soon die in battle.


5:50am
Seaboat number 2, SS New Bedford, 800yards off St Shotts

Lance Corpral Fred Baker sat at the front off the boat as the 1st Platoon, C Company, 9th Infantry Division, rowed to shore. Behind them the dimmed lights of SS New Bedford showed more troops transferring into every available seaboat. Ahead of them the lights of St Shotts were dimmer by Corpral Baker knew that the presence of several large liners off the coast, would have caused concern, he could here distant shouts of concerned towns people.


5:55am
Signal Hill, St Johns, Newfoundland.


Sergeant Hyde, taking one last look at his watch, and seeing the sun just starting to show over the horizon, pulled out his hand held signalling mirror, turned to face the fleet, and began to send the pre-arranged confirmation signal. He immediately expected to see the fleet reacting his signal, but instead nothing seemed to happen. Private Ryan then sprung to his feet, "Sir something's wrong, the fleet aren't signalling back!"
"You're right, break out the semaphore flags!" Sergeant Hyde replied, rapidly finding his notes as to what the signal equalled in semaphore. "Here you go sir!" Private Ryan said as he threw the flags to his superior, who without even pausing began to frantically send the signal. Returning to his observation position, Private Ryan was glad to see the fleet's acknowledgement, and the instant commencement of the main guns of the flagship coming round ready to fire.

5:55am
Bridge of the Battleship HAMS Harold VI, flagship, 1st Battle-squadron UKN.

"Any word from the observers?" Vice Admiral Jellicoe asked as he stalked the bridge of his Flagship. "No Sir, wait a moment, there's the signal!" The Bridge Signal's officer started, "The TB's are at their moorings, we have clearance to fire."
"Any Objections Captain?" Jellicoe asked out of consideration to his Subordinate.
"No sir, do you want the honour?" Captain Howard said bluntly.
"Thank you Captain." Jellicoe said, then turning to the intercom spoke again "Gunnery Officer, this is Vice Admiral Jellicoe, Open Fire at TB's in Harbour, at the co-ordinates supplied to you."
"Yes Sir! Opening fire now!" Came the Gunnery officers reply. Looking out from his bridge, Captain Howard could see the guns of his flagship turning onto target. "Signal's officer, pass the Admirals order to fire to the rest of the fleet." He said facing the young luitenant, then returning to face Jellicoe he asked another question. "Admiral, does 2nd Destroyer have permission to commence its run into the harbour?"
Jellicoe considered for a moment, and then spoke, "Yes, make it so." Without even waiting for Captain Howards confirmation of the order, the signal officer turned to an ensign who passed the message to the aft signalling station.
Suddenly the Guns belched fire as they started to target the TBs.

6am
Signal Hill, St Johns, Newfoundland

Sergeant Hyde, turned his head as the shells tore towards the TB's, only to crash into the water 50yards short, nodding to Private Ryan, he proceeded to signal the fleet the adjustment in targeting direction.
About 2 minutes latter, the Guns of the Battleships fired again, this time the range was perfect as the 16 High Explosives shells of all four ships exploded all around the TB's whose crews were rapidly stirring, only to see their ships disappear, many being obliterated by shrapnel.

6:10am
Quarterdeck of HAMS D1, flagship, 2nd Destroyer flotilla.

Major Wellard caught himself as the Destroyer turned into its approach run, ahead of them the cruiser HAMS Clinton lead the charge, and behind the Destroyers the Liners carrying the other units of the Division started a slower run into the harbour once the units on the Destroyers had secured some berths. A Rocket fired from the Signal Hill streaked into the sky as the Destroyers passed in the harbour entrance, "This is it boys" He Hollered as the ship came into view of the docks, "prepare to fire on any one in uniforms not belonging to the Kingdom." Lowering his face, he muttered a silent prayer then took the safety catch off on his revolver.

6:15am
Seaboat number 2, SS New Bedford, St Shotts Beach

As the Boat came ashore, Lance Corpral Baker threw himself out of it, and ran up the beach roaring "For the King!" Moments latter his roars were joined by 800 others as the other boats came ashore. They quickly overwhelmed the handful of regular soldiers who were running down the main street, and began the task of clearing out the houses to ensure that none of the towns people were thinking about fighting back.

6:15am
Dockside St Johns harbour, Major Wellard jumped off the Destroyer D1 and ran forward, suddenly hearing a fearsome sound, an artillery shell struck the ship by the forward ammo locker, obliterating the soldiers and sailors alike, turning his head away, he ordered the remaining men to run forward and build a barricade line at the end of the piers. The Men were now streaming off the other Destroyers, as their escorting Cruiser HAMS Clinton was struck by a 4inch shell which tore through the light armour of her casemated 6inch guns, the resulting ammunition explosion tearing 2 of the guns away from the ship, leaving her smoking heavily.

6:15am
Signal Hill

From Signal Hill Private Ryan could see both the muzzle flashes of the Baltics Artillery and the fall of the shot amongst the infantry and in the harbour, frantically he seized the semaphore flags from Sergeant Hyde, and passed the approximate co-ordinates of where the guns were firing from onto the fleet.
2 Minutes latter this was answered by a salvo from the flagship which fell in the middle of St Johns, directly onto the Baltic's Artillery, the explosion was emmense, probably killing many civilians but it did the job, and the guns were silenced.

   
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Earl822    
Posted: Dec 8 2006, 05:41 AM


Hegemon
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Group: Head of State
Posts: 618
Member No.: 52
Joined: 30-September 05



   
Right basically The UKA suffered the loss of 12.5% of all troops landed, and the Warships King Harold VI (BB), Clinton (CL) and D1 (DD) recieved 2500t, 300t and 200t of damage respectively, the first recieving a mercifully minor hit from a torpedo fired by a BL TB that escaped the initial bombardment.

By the 10th of October the occupation was completed, the 8th infantry being relieved by the fresh 12th infantry brought from the mainland and a battalion of Cavalry

1 DD flottila and the remaining Artic class Ice Breaker will be stationed permanently in St Johns, also possibly a few cruisers when avaliable.
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Dec 8 2006, 11:11 AM


Großeadmiral Sumpfhühn
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Group: Head of State
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Joined: 29-January 05



   
Huh, guess I missed this at first...

Good writing and a good tale. smile.gif
   
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Earl822    
Posted: Dec 8 2006, 11:27 AM


Hegemon
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Group: Head of State
Posts: 618
Member No.: 52
Joined: 30-September 05



   
The writing took it's toll, and is actually why the second section never finished