Against the Tide Imperial: The Struggle for Ceylon (The Usurper's War: An Alternative World War II B James Young (read out loud books .TXT) 📖

I think I’d rather hit the–

“Fighters, fighters inbound one o’clock!”

There’s our welcome committee. Eric listened as Brown cocked the twin machine guns, then watched the American fighters turn to engage.

As Combat Air Patrols went, the dozen Sea Hurricanes launched by H.M.S. Dasher and H.M.S. Battler could easily have qualified as “paltry.” Along with the six of their fellows that had been hastily scrambled to circle over the surface vessels ten miles away, the twelve obsolescent fighters were the best that the two carriers could do. It was far from enough, as there were 14 F4U Corsairs from Bonhomme Richard accompanying the dive bombers alone.

Eric listened as Commander Montgomery smoothly directed targets. The two carriers had a pair of cruisers and four destroyers in attendance, and Montgomery ensured that the four larger vessels would all receive attention.

Those carriers look like that former merchie Sam and David nearly got killed on, Eric realized. I can understand why Montgomery is holding us back, as I don’t think it’s going to take more than one or two bombs apiece to finish them off.

As Eric looked on, VS-6, VS-11, and VB-6 all stooped down from their perches to dive on the small carriers. Facing anti-aircraft fire from the pair of AA cruisers and four destroyers that comprised the vessels’ screen, the three squadrons lost four SBDs. In exchange, the twenty-eight Dauntlesses that had pitched over scored four hits on Dasher, and then three on Battler. The 1,000-lb. bombs, designed for far larger prey, easily penetrated to both carriers' vitals. The small flattops were wracked with secondary explosions from bow to stern as the Dauntlesses egressed at low altitude.

The H.M.S. Dido and H.M.S. Argonaut, sister ships designed to combat the very menace that had befallen their small task force, were fortunate in that only twelve SBDs were allotted to their destruction. Although failing to protect their charges, the Argonaut and Dido managed to claim another pair of the Dauntlesses attacking them before pullout. The remaining bombs were split almost evenly between them, and Argonaut managed to avoid the quintet aimed for her. With only slight flooding from a VS-6 near miss, the light cruiser remained capable of continuing further action even as the escort carriers burned nearby.

Dido was almost as lucky, then terribly unfortunate. The last VB-6 section, led by Lieutenant Richard Best, was able to put one bomb into the adroitly maneuvering vessel. The half-ton bomb slammed into the cruiser’s amidships, knocking out half of her propulsion and starting a major fire. Briefly surrounded by a cloud of steam, the damaged cruiser came to a stop while her crew began damage control procedures.

“Jesus,” Eric said, looking at the burning pair of escort carriers as VB-11 turned back to the north.

“Pretty sure that’s the work of a fallen angel, not the savior, sir,” Brown replied, his voice raspy.

“I can’t argue with you there,” Eric agreed. He could only imagine what it was like aboard both of the doomed vessels, with fire and smoke probably clogging all of the passageways belowdecks.

Not a whole lot of men getting off of either of them. Hell of a way to go.

“Almost wish the torpeckers had been here to make it quicker,” Brown said. He had just barely finished speaking when the Dasher’s own torpedo magazines went in a massive explosion that briefly obscured the vessel’s stern. Eric turned away, stomach churning. What he saw in front of him was not much better.

Some vessel has had a bad day. A black pillar of smoke was rising to the heavens amongst all the flak bursts. He listened as Commander Montgomery had another discussion with his counterparts from Enterprise, Independence, and Bonhomme Richard.

“Damn torpedo planes,” he muttered angrily. It appeared that the only vessels the Avengers had managed to hit was a British heavy cruiser and an Italian destroyer. The dive bombers had scored several punishing hits on the two Italian battleships in turn. However, unless VB-11 got lucky with a hit to something vital, both vessels were likely going to evade TF 25’s clutches.

This is just going to be more grist for the mill that there’s something wrong with the damn tin fish, Eric thought. At this point we might as well ask the British if we can use some of theirs.

“Listen up Haymakers,” Lieutenant Commander Brigante said. “We’re going to hit one of those big bastards so the surface boys can catch her. The Richard’s boys claim they put four into the smaller one, so we’re going to try and see if we can match that.”

“I got ten bucks says we make five,” someone muttered over the net.

“Hell, I’ll take odds on seven,” came another response.

“Clear the net,” Brigante said, his voice stern. “It’s a three day pass if we get eight.”

There were several incredulous whoops over the radio net. Eric shook his head.

Even if we had VS-11 helping us, there’s no way we’d hit eight. Eric picked up his binoculars to look over the stopped vessel. The British heavy cruiser resembled the high-sided, three-funneled vessels they’d all seen in Australia. Eric was about to suggest that at least one section should make sure of that vessel, then reconsidered.

Unlike the late Lieutenant Commander Hitchcock, Brigante actually knows what he’s doing. He secured his binoculars so they didn't fly up and hit him in the face during the dive. The surface boys are only three hours away and there’s plenty of daylight left. If they can’t catch and finish a cripple, that’s not our problem.

“Wind’s out of the south at about fifteen knots,” Brigante noted as VB-11 finished circling and began boring in. Anti-aircraft bursts reached up towards them as the ships below opened fire and went into evasive maneuvers. Eric watched Red section reach its pushover point and once more went through the steps to prepare his own Dauntless.

Just as he finished extending the dive brakes, a shell