HawkEye1102002
07-01-2004, 01:07 PM
I have reacently posted two war stories to Lion, I am awaiting them to be posted up so I decided to give a preview of chapter one of them two.
This one is called "It’s a long way to Tipperary" and it is about the relationship between three allied (British) soldiers, two French Marquis (Resistance) girls and a French Army base commander during the Battle of Verdun.
Ok here it goes...
It’s a long way to Tipperary
Experience is a difficult teacher; she first gives the test, then the lesson
05:00
“How entrenched do they look sir?” said the corporal, “Doesn’t look too entrenched, a few BMPs, twenty, maybe thirty Grenadiers, Riflemen and RPG soldiers, the attack starts in over an hour, we need to start the planned attack, MOVE OUT!!” Squad leader said.
Soon the Squad leader and Corporal put their binoculars away and ran into their Ranger jeep and drove back to the base near Fort Regret on a misty, sunny morning.
Corporal Nick “Dickey” Richards is from the 19th Kings light infantry division of the British army, it is 1963, all is not going well, and the Maginot line in France couldn’t stop the Soviets breaking into France from an almost defeated Germany. German forces still hold ground in south west Germany but are suffering heavy losses since the Soviets started flying MiG-29 Air Superiority fighters, but this battle will commence in eastern France, in the countryside near Verdun where battles from the first great war was fought between the Allied powers and the Central powers. Around Verdun, the French army headed by General Charles DeGaul re-activated the old fortress around Verdun modernised and enlarge them to accommodate armoured vehicles and aircrafts, despite the southern fortresses were either captured or destroyed, the fortresses north and North West of Verdun was still active.
05:30
The Ranger stopped outside an Army tent to discuss the plan of attack, a man standing outside the tent armed with an L-4A9 Bren Light Support weapon welcomed the two soldiers. He accidentally dropped a magazine, and there was .308 cal bullets scattered everywhere. “What in god’s name are you doing!?!?” shouted the Squad leader.
“Uh, sorry sir, it was an accident” said the Bren gunner.
“Well clear it up Taffy!!!” shouted the Squad leader.
After the squad leader went in the tent, Corporal Nick said “Don’t worry, I was like that when I was younger, here, drink some coffee” he said.
“Thanks” said the Bren gunner.
Inside the tent there was a lot of talk about the upcoming battle. “Firstly, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers division Foxtrot Dragon will attack or re-capture Fort De Belrupt and Haudainville here, using Grenade Launcher fire and Dragon-Redeye missile launchers to sort out any bunkers or light armour they encounter, they shall be supported by Warrior IFV’s and the new Challenger tank that they have acquired, they shall be supported by Hunter attack jets from No 62 squadron.
The Royal Scot’s dragoon division Foxtrot Nevis shall re-take Fort Landrecourt, Dugnu and the villages to the south, they shouldn’t meet heavy resistance as we have destroyed all Soviet armour there and that they have not managed to gain access to the fire control computers.
The Royal Scot’s dragoon will be supported by air strikes by the RAF’s Phantom attack jets and Canberra gunships from 111 squadron and 112 squadron respectably, and the Kings light infantry division Foxtrot Broadsword shall take the town of Verdun, they should require Machine gun support from Bren guns and Minimi’s, there is hardly any point of them taking the APCs since the APCs shall be more useful here, they shall also be armed with Carl Gustav recoilless rifles and M-72 LAW’s to sort out the BMPs there, Air strikes and Air support from both the RAF and USAF will be available to them as they will be fighting off the Soviet Air Force. So basically it is like this, here Foxtrot Broadsword, then, here Foxtrot Dragon and here, Foxtrot Nevis,” the commander said.
“What about an emergency exit rout if things get too hairy?” asked the Squad leader. “There are three HH-60 Black Hawks en-rout here to support us from the US Army, we also do have two Pumas and one CH-47 Chinook of our own” said the commander.
06:00
As corporal Nick Richards went into the Ranger, the Squad leader tolled him to drive to the entrance of the base. When they got to the entrance of the base the squad leader got out of the Ranger out and talked to a few LAW equipped soldiers armed with M-16A2, possibly about the upcoming mission. Soon the Squad leader got back into the Ranger with the LAW equipped soldiers, “Turn right from here into the forest, and try to avoid the trees, at the end of the forest you will find a lorry belonging to Foxtrot Broadsword near the road, that’s our ride, we are a part of Foxtrot Broadsword” he said.
Soon they arrived at the lorry, they got out, and there were soldiers around the lorry on close to the road in the forest. The crackle of the radio caught their attention, “*KchK* Foxtrot Broadsword personnel, get onboard the lorry*KchK*” said the radio.
They all got onboard the 5-ton lorry and someone took the Ranger back to base. The lorries engine turned on with a huge drone sound, and then the lorry accelerated fast over the hill.
“I haven’t heard any shots, the main wave probably haven’t started yet” said one soldier. “They said that our job will be the easiest, it is obvious that they are lying, they are always saying that, we have to take a whole town” said another soldier.
“Well, to be honest with you, I’m not scared, if we just shoot and scoot, aha, we’ll make it out in one piece” said the third soldier.
“Be quiet, don’t forget, this is not a drill, this is the real thing, live ammunition, your lives at stake here, keep your distances away from each other and no John wane heroics right, I don’t want to see a hand grenade take out half my Squad!” said the Squad leader, “If we all stick together, we might just make it, don’t forget, your names will start with Foxtrot and end with B, your call names will be in the middle”.
“*KchK* Foxtrot Broadsword, advance over the hill, three o clock, keep in line formation *KchK*”
One soldier started to whistle the tune of the popular World War one tune, “It’s a long way to Tipperary”, and the song got stuck in Nicks mind as it reminded him of his birthplace, he was from Tipperary.
Everyone was cocking all their weapons, making sure they were ready to fire. The medics were making sure their medic kits were in order and that their Sterling L-3A5 Self defence machine pistols were functioning properly. The lorry stopped on the side of the hill, “*KchK* All disembark, go to tree, three o clock *KchK*” said the radio.
Corporal Nick was holding his M-16A2 tightly with the selector switch on “SEMI”. As he ran up the hill, he saw a few Russian conscripts at the top of the hill pointing their AK-47s at him, they fired but missed him.
Nick hid behind the trees, accidentally dropping his M-16A2. He grabbed his 9mm L-3A5 Sterling Machine pistol and fired back, he got them all, then, more bad news, behind the trees there were conscripts armed with PKM general purpose machine guns and started pinning the whole squad down, only after a few well thrown hand grenades they managed to clear the foxholes with the Soviet machine gunners have dug them selves in.
“*KchK*Calling all Foxtrots, this is 2nd Royal Welsh Armoured division, Dragon fist attacking Soviet occupied forts, we have encountered the T-72 battle tanks and T-39 Archer heavy tanks as expected, we are proceeding to the fortresses tank hangers, the recon aircrafts has reported that there is no Soviet aircraft of any type so there is no need for air cover, also it doesn’t seem like the Soviets have managed to access the fire control computers for the fortresses they have captured *KchK*”
“*KchK* Roger that Dragon fist *KchK*”
06:45
As everyone arrived at the top of the hill the radio crackled and sounds of a Flak cannon was shooting up in the air, they are shooting at an Avro Anson GR9 recon plane. The radio operator of the Anson radioed the platoon “*KchK* Sighted, 3 BMP-1 IFV, I see*BZZTCHCHCHCHC* of those bastards, I am taking allot of” *BOOM* the Avro Anson was blown up by a SAM site that the Soviets installed in the town.
Soon they saw three BMP-1 IFVs with conscripts running out, the British machine gunner deployed his M-249 Minimi LSW and started to pin down the conscripts, a Rocket soldier took out his M-72 LAW rocket launcher and destroyed one of the BMP-1 IFV, then Corporal Richards saw some bullets hit the ground in front of him “****, I AM BEING PINNED DOWN BY A LARGE CALIBURE WEAPON!”. The Soviets had installed a KPV 14.5mm machine gun in a tower where they fortified Verdun. “CALLING GHQ FOXTROT PRIMARY, WE REQUIER SOME AIR SUPPORT, NOW, LARGE CALIBRE WEAPON HAS PINNED THE PLATOON DOWN, I REPEAT” shouted Nick down the radio as he heard a scream of one of his men.
The bullets shattered the concrete tank traps that the soldiers were trying to hide behind.
07:10
Soon some Harriers flew over the town and launched AGM-65 Maverick missiles at the town defences, blowing them up.
The medics managed to come to the aid of the unfortunate soldiers who were in the sights of Soviet heavy machine guns, one of them was so badly injured that the medic would require a hospital to heal the wounded soldier.
“We must destroy the towns power station as soon as possible, there are a few frigging Tesla coils being constructed here, we cannot take them out with our Rocket Launchers” shouted Corporal Richards.
Nick saw an abandoned UAZ (Russian jeep) and took it, he smashed the window of the UAZ and placed his M-16 assault rifle on his right hand side pointing out of the window, he put the rifle on “BURST”. He drove into Verdun and started running conscripts over and shooting them at the same time. He narrowly avoided the fire of a RPG conscripts armed with a RPG-9 Launcher. He soon nailed the RPG conscript with his rifle. He raced through the town and while British Army placed mortars outside the town walls and lobbed mortar bombs into the town, Nick knew that he has to get out of the mortar fire and that he had to abandon the UAZ.
07:40
Corporal Nick Richards picked his M-16 up and his Sterling L-3A5 Machine pistol and ran into an inn called the Ark inn to take cover in the cellar.
He searched for the cellar and found some townsfolk and French resistance members taking shelter from the artillery fire. Their pointed their firearms towards him, he tried to speak French to them, and then someone said “Why not try to learn English”
She walked towards Nick, “It is easier for us two understand if we speak English” she said.
She was a blue-eyed 23 year old girl who was 6.8 ft tall wearing green ragged combat skirt and a white sleeveless top, she has long blond, slightly curly haired and had a silver Benelli M-3 shotgun on her back, a MAC-11 Machine Pistol in her hand and a Glock 26 pistol in her pocket. The others were similarly armed apart from a few men with AK-47s and PPsH-41 Machine pistols and a injured French soldier who was armed with a FA-MAS 5.56mm rifle and a MAT-49 Machine pistol.
He was slightly shocked and frightened, he wouldn’t let go of the FA-MAS, “Could you ask the soldier if his rifle is functional?” said Nick.
“Sure” said the blond girl. As she was translating the question to the soldier the radio came to life “*KchK* All go to House at three o clock, Foxtrot Dickey B, where are you? *KchK*”
“Location, uh, southwest of Midway Point, near town square in an inn, can’t miss it, Foxtrot Dickey B, out!” said Nick down the radio.
The girl came back to Nick and said “He recons it will work” said the girl.
“Ok, I doubt your Shotguns and Sub-machine guns could compare to the soviet conscripts firepower, they have rifles and machine guns, so here’s what we are going to do, we are going to use him to support you if you decide to fight, since the FA-MAS is a bullpup design, it can fire longer range than the conscripts weapons” said Nick.
The girl looked confused on what he said. The radio came to life again but there was sounds of a heavy gunfight, jet aeroplanes and loud explosions over the radio, “*KchK* We are *Crackle* fire from Soviet M--*Crackle*, heavy *Crackle* spotted, We need air support up right now, we are not *Crackle* to fight the--*Kchchchchc*” the radio went dead.
“*KchK* Foxtrot Dragon, Foxtrot Dragon, do you hear me Foxtrot Dragon? Damn, Foxtrot Dragon Squad is down *KchK*” said the Squad leader through the radio.
It seems as if Welsh Fusiliers Foxtrot Dragon division assault went horribly wrong.
“I must go now” said Nick. “I’ll hope to see you later, oh by the way, my name is Katherine Leon” said the girl.
“Ok, I shall see you later, Katherine” said Nick. He rushed back to the Squad leader who seemed furious at Nick. “My god man, you know you could have got your self killed, this is no bloody movie!” he said furiously.
“Did you hear the radio? It seems like Foxtrot Dragon Squad of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers are in deep ****” said Nick.
“They were armed with Grenade Launchers and Missile Launchers, and they took the Warrior IFVs and the new Challenger tanks, they can take on T-72s and T-39s, I hate to think it but I think Ivan has sent more air power” said the Squad leader.
“Can you send in the APCs?” said Nick.
“No, we need those APCs to defend the base, it’s all we got” said the Squad leader, “We have no other tank divisions attached to the Squadrons here”
08:10
Half the town was taken up to the river. “Sir, we must find the Soviets power station, we must find it before the Tesla coils activate, they are still constructing them” said Nick.
Soon the wounded French Soldier came out of the bunker with Katherine, “Corporal Richards, sir, my friend her tells me that there are two power stations, not one as you once thought, I know where one of them is but my friend here knows where the other is, it was originally for French Anti Aircrafts and Missile defence stations” said Katherine, “I shall lead you to the first power station”
“Ok” said the Squad leader “get that soldier some medical attention and shelter him from the battle” said the Squad leader.
Soon Katherine loaded her M-3 Shotgun and led the two Army officers to the power station.
As they were walking to the power station, a pot smashed. “SNIPER!” shouted the Squad leader.
In one of the buildings, there was three sniper conscript, they looked down the scope of their SVD Druganov Sniper rifle searching for the two British Army officers and the French Marquis girl. Corporal Nick Richards saw a discarded RPG-9 launcher with a few Rocket propelled grenades laying next to it, “If I can get the Rocket Launcher, I could take out the snipers” said Nick.
“Are you crazy” said the Squad leader.
Nick ignored his Squad leader and ran for the RPG-9 Launchers. As he picked it up, a bullet narrowly missed his skin and tore his jacket. He jumped behind another building and re-loaded the RPG-9 Launcher. He saw a broken mirror lying in parallel to him, usefully positioned to see the building where the snipers are. He used his M-16 rifle to mauve the mirror to see if he can spot the snipers, then as he moved the mirror, he saw the unmistakable shape of a SVD Druganov Sniper rifles muzzle. He picked up the RPG-9 and quickly aimed it near the window where the sniper is hiding. He launched the Rocket propelled grenade. Then the roof of the building collapsed, the snipers weren’t there no more, there were still two other snipers left to eliminate. The Squad leader and Katherine was hiding behind a wall, Katherine leaped up with her shotgun and started firing at the windows, then the Squad leader jumped up and leaped onto Katherine narrowly missing a hail of bullets fired frantically and desperately by the two snipers.
While the snipers were attacking the Squad leader and Katherine, Nick used the opportunity to launch another Rocket Propelled Grenade at the window where the snipers were firing, the rocket blew up the window and the conscript fell out onto the rubble below, the last conscript Sniper walked out of the building with his SVD Druganov pointing towards the ground with his head looking down.
Katherine walked towards the sniper with her Glock pistol pointing at him, “Do you wish to surrender” asked Katherine in Russian, “I, I… don’t… want… to… surrender” he said in a soft, shaky voice.
“Well you seem to have no choice” said Katherine.
The sniper picked up his Makarov 9mm pistol and pointed his SVD Druganov forward at Katherine, Katherine pointed her Glock to the snipers head, he cocked his SVD Druganov and pointed his Makarov at his head, “Wh, what are you doing” said Katherine.
“FOR THE UNION!!!” shouted the conscript and pulled the trigger.
*BANG!*. Blood splattered on Katherine, the SVD Druganov sniper rifles muzzle descended to the ground, the hand that held the Makarov started to descend, and finally the sniper fell on his knees and finally on his face. Katherine started to sob a bit and she said in French “Why, why must you do that?” and then she ran away, dropping her Glock pistol on the floor and running into a house that looked like it came from a painting, surrounded by flowers on the windows and flower pots at the front door and untouched from artillery and gunfire.
Nick ran into the house with the Squad leader. There Katherine was sitting on a Rocking chair with her blood stained sleeveless shirt and Combat Skirt.
Nick started to talk to her, “He feared you” he said, “He was worried that you were going to kill him or humiliate him in some prison, he preferred to take his own life”.
“Do you know what they mean by “conscript”?” asked Katherine.
“Yes, they have no choice but to join the army, navy or air force” said Nick.
“Well, if he wasn’t conscripted, he could have been living with his mother, wife and children, instead the Soviet regime forbids him to do that, otherwise imprisonment in Siberia, and he seemed brainwashed by Stalin’s propaganda” Katherine said fiercely.
The Squad leader said “You know, my mother sacrificed herself for my future here, I am originally a Jamaican, but I have lived here in Great Britain since I was very young, my mother owed a drug gang lord hundreds of pounds, she couldn’t afford the payment, so she smuggled me on a British destroyer bound for Great Britain during the first great war, I recently tried to find my Mother”
“Did you find your mother” asked Katherine.
“Yes, she was found murdered in the Docks where she smuggled me onboard the British Destroyer, I discovered that after I joined the British Army, and after that, I vowed revenge, which soon made me to ask for me to be posted in Jamaica in my mothers home town. I tracked down the murderer, and when I burst into his house, he was laying in bed, a sick and dying old man” said the Squad leader.
“What did you do” asked Katherine.
“I asked him, why he had to kill my mother. He replied in a very weak and husky voice saying that my mother didn’t pay her bills, and then he died. Soon his son came out demanding me to pay my mothers bills, I was so enraged, so angry that I took my Revolver and shot him three times. One for my mother, one for my suffering, and the other for all the people his family has terrorised” said the Squad leader.
“I never heard about this sir, do you mind if I ask what happened to you next?” asked Nick.
“Well, I was court marshalled for “Murder of the first degree”. For some reason my commander pulled some strings and then the case was dismissed because of ‘Witnesses’ saw the son of the Gang lord pull out a pistol on me, then soon presented it in court, a colt 1911, it was hard to get pistols like that back then, then it was reported that the commanders friend was murdered by Drug Gang members” said the Squad leader.
“Oh, I’m really sorry, what I did must seem really selfish” Katherine sobbed. “Here, here, now, dry your tears” said the Squad leader as he gave Katherine some tissue paper, “Wash that blood out of your hair, you look terrible”.
____________________________________________________________________________
Ok, heres the second one, not a true sequal to the first one but it does include two of the characters from my last story (Not on Chapter one though...
Old Soldiers never die
Libya, North Africa, May 7th 1950, 04:00 hours
Out of the night, an RAF McDonnell Douglas MC-47 Dakota flew over the Desert of Libya, escorted by two RAF Gloster Meteors jet fighters. The mission of these aircraft was shrouded in secrecy, to secure the oil fields on the coast of Libya by dropping a group of SAS commandos to prevent the routing of oil to the communist guerrillas and ba’th socialist party supporters.
The main fear of the British Government and the Allied forces as a whole is that the Ba’th party and the socialists would send the oil to the Soviets, increasing their war machine’s strength as well as overthrowing the pro-western Libyan government and the Italian administration.
The SAS was to meet up with a U.S. Army Ranger squad to form the ‘Gentlemen’s club 9-2’ squad. One of the SAS commandos was 28 year old staff sergeant Chris Jones, who passed SAS training five years ago. He did a few minor missions that included sabotage and protection of important allied politicians from KGB agents (He once managed to kill off a KGB agent with his M-2 carbine at 500 yards, spotting the KGB agent using a pair of binoculars)
He now was placed into actual major combat. It was an honour for him to be in David Sterling’s regiment who is highly acclaimed for giving the Soviets a bloody nose.
The McDonnell Douglas MC-47 Dakota’s red light switched on to indicate that it is almost ready to jump. Chris picked up his M-2 automatic carbine, his M-1A1 Thompson and his Colt 1911 pistol. The light was green and everyone jumped out of the Dakota and into the night sky. He fell around 1200 feet down. He could see the trails of the Dakota and Meteors flying away and the floodlights and flashing lights of the oil field, it was almost like a Christmas decoration.
Chris pulled the rip cord and his parachute opened up with the rest of the SAS team and glided down towards the desert, they soon landed in the dark cold desert, only the lights from the oil fields that broke the darkness and the for some commandos, night vision attached to some of the commando’s sniper rifles. The noise of the oil wells broke the silence of the night.
Chris ran towards a sand dune and took aim with his M-2 carbine, making sure no guerrillas were around or approaching the team from inside the oil field. Another SAS commando lay beside Chris with his Browning M-1918A2 assault rifle.
The all-clear was given and the team approached the oil field that was surrounded by rocky hills behind it, it seemed that there was almost no one there, the lights were on and the oil wells were pumping oil, but there was absolutely no-one there.
Chris put his M-2 carbine away and took out his rapid firing .45cal Thompson and walked slowly around the place full of shiny metal pipes pumping oil around the place, he carefully walked into a porter cabin and saw a dead man there, the man seemed to be shot five times in the chest, a clear sign that there was somebody was, or is here.
Chris looked around and found some bloody footprints in the sand and concrete, he carefully followed them slowly, they lead right into the oil refinery through a closed old, wooden door. Thinking that there would be somebody behind the door, he shot the door and kicked it in, he then sprayed the room with his Thompson and quickly ran into the refinery room to see a man with an AK-47, Chris wasn’t hesitant to kill him. A few SAS commandos ran toward the sound of gunfire to find Chris standing at the door. “What happened?” asked one commandos.
“There was a guerrilla here” said Chris “be on the lookout, there might be more of those bastards lurking around here”
Soon the SAS commandos who guarded the entrance to the oil fields heard a clicking sound, *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*, the guard clicked back on a little clicker three times, the clicking returned. Then all of a sudden loads of men with rifles, machine guns and machine pistols stood up, it was the American Ranger team that the SAS supposed to meet up.
“Hay it’s the yanks” said one of the commando who was guarding the oil field perimeter.
“Hay, how are things around here” said one Ranger.
“Well we have found one of the guerrillas snooping around the place, I bet there are more so be on the lookout, I doubt that it was only one man who would have killed the whole lot of workers” said one SAS commando.
“And I think that the Soviets are now supporting their cause, the man that one of our soldiers killed was equipped with the new Soviet rifle, the AK-47 Kalashnikov”
“Could it be that possibly the Soviets could have supplied the guerrillas with tanks and armour as well as guns?” asked one Ranger.
“Possibly” replied one SAS Commando “I shall alert HMS Eagle to prepare some aircraft to support us”
As the Ranger rest of the team moved into the oil field, suddenly there was automatic gun fire coming from a sand dune, it was the guerrillas, armed with AK-47 automatic rifles, SKS rifles and PPsH-41 machine pistols, the Rangers and SAS commandos fired back at them, but then had to resort to mortar and bazooka missile fire to kill off the guerrillas.
After the fire fight Chris asked the Ranger leader what anti tank firepower did they have, “We have M-20 Bazookas and M-28 recoilless rifles, what do you have?” asked the Rangers.
“We have the Boys .50cal rifle and the super PIAT” said Chris “But we also have carrier support from HMS Eagle”
Three hours passed, and the sun was starting to rise over in the horizon, warming up the desert slightly. One tired commando was staring out into the desert, and he thought he could see some dust trails, he looked down his binoculars and could see a truck and at least five T-28 light tanks with some people pointing guns into the air. He ran into the refinery and pulled the fire alarm, the whole SAS and Ranger team woke up, “THE GUERRILLAS ARE COMING” he shouted.
Everyone ran towards the dune where the commando was guarding, “What did you see?” asked the lead Ranger.
“I saw trucks and armed gunmen, I also saw some tanks, they looked like T-28 light tanks” said the commando.
“Ok let’s do this by the book men, find some cover and when I give the signal, fire at them”
The radioman contacted HMS Eagle, “Calling HMS Eagle, stand by, over.”
“*KchK*Roger that Gentlemen’s club 9-2, air support standing by, over *KchK*” replied the radioman from HMS Eagle
The tanks came closer with the guerrillas, the SAS and Ranger teems placed their mortars and their rocket launchers to kill off the tanks and infantry. As the guerrillas got near the small sandy corridor that lead into the oil field, the lead Ranger fired his flair pistol, then all the Rangers and SAS commandos fired their weapons, the combined heavy firepower from the Rangers and the SAS stunned the guerrillas as one of their trucks blew up, but during the fire fight, there was Soviet built JSU-152 self propelled howitzers furiously bombarding the oil fields from afar, “CALLING HMS EAGLE, THIS IS GENTLEMEN’S CLUB 9-2, REQUESTING AIR SUPPORT” shouted the radio operator “WE ARE UNDER ARTILLERY FIRE”.
Three minutes later, a mixture of DeHaviland Venom jets, Hawker Sea Furies and Supermarine Sea Spitfires flew over the oil field, into the open desert and blew up the JSU-152 self propelled guns with their unguided missiles.
The guerrilla forces started to approach the oil field with T-28 light tanks.
Chris saw a Ranger injured and in front of the path of a rampaging T-28 tank, he ran towards the Ranger, picking up his Bazooka, he aimed underneath the T-28 and then fired it. The explosion of the missiles threw the T-28 into the air and landed on its side, throwing the turret onto Chris.
Chris bravely reached for the Rangers Browning M-1918 assault rifle and killed the guerrillas that were coming after him and the injured Ranger.
Chris Jones survived the fire fight. “Calling HMS Eagle, position under control” said the radio operator “We have twelve injured, requesting helicopter extraction for the injured, over.”
“*KchK* Roger that, over and out *KchK*” said the operator on HMS Eagle.
The T-28’s turret broke Chris’s leg in many places, the Westland Dragonfly helicopter from HMS Eagle managed to lift the turret off him, then a commando and a medic lifted him onto a stretcher, they placed Chris inside the Dragonfly helicopter and flew him out of the oil field.
Chris, now crippled, was inside the Westland Dragonfly, he is hoping that the injury that has been inflicted on him won’t force him out of the SAS.
The Dragonfly landed on HMS Eagle, he was taken off the Dragonfly and into the sick bay inside HMS Eagle.
“Hmm, I don’t know how to tell you but” said the doctor inside the sick bay.
“But what?” said Chris.
“Well, I am not optimistic about you’re ability to walk” said the doctor.
Chris looked horrified.
“I am not 100% sure, but I would like you to have an X-ray” said the doctor.
After Chris had his X-ray, another Dragonfly helicopter landed on HMS Eagle, a man wearing pilots uniform was hurriedly taken off on a stretcher into the sick bay, he was bleeding heavily.
“Quick, this man needs to be operated on now!” said a Dragonfly helicopter crewman.
“What happened to him?” asked the doctor.
“Got shot down while on patrol” said the helicopter crewman “He has a Flak shrapnel lodged into his chest”
“Sorry sir, this man has a more urgent need” said the doctor.
“I understand” muttered Chris.
Chris sailed on HMS Eagle back to Pembroke naval base back in Great Britain where a cheery crowd waving small Union Jack and the Welsh flags upon HMS Eagle’s arrival. The local brass band was playing ‘Men of Halech’ to greet the huge aircraft carrier.
An ambulance was waiting for Chris to be taken to Hereford Hospital, after a path was made through the crowd, two sailors took Chris on a stretcher to the ambulance where it began to race off through Wales and into Hereford Hospital to be examined by army doctors.
He had his X-ray taken, and the doctors waited for a month to check up on his progress of his leg healing.
The army doctors looked at the latest X-rays a month later and looked at the previous X-ray.
“Do you think there is any hope for this soldier?” said one doctor.
“I don’t think so, this X-ray is not that different to his previous one” said another doctor.
“I agree, send a report to the commander of the base, I don’t think he should be going back into combat, it is too risky” said the fist doctor “ doubt he will regain the ability to fully walk again”
A week later, the doctor came to him “Staff Sergeant Chris Jones?”
“Yeh, what is wrong” asked Chris
“I’m afraid it is bad news, you’re leg is still broken in many places, and you have also tore some muscle ligaments in your leg. You will have to retire on medical grounds from the army” said the doctor “I have sent the base commander the report of your condition and the recommended action to be taken”
Chris was devastated that he was snatched away from the SAS regiment, and from the army as well.
The oil field in Libya was secured but the pro-western Libyan government and Italian administration was overthrown and National Socialist rule rained over Libya. The Rangers and the SAS pulled out, destroying the oil field to prevent funding their cause.
They left it in a wreck, the oil pumps were sabotaged, the drills were destroyed and concrete poured in the tubes of the oil wells.
They went back to the United Kingdom on HMS Ark Royal after being airlifted out by HMS Ark Royal’s Dragonfly helicopters.
This one is called "It’s a long way to Tipperary" and it is about the relationship between three allied (British) soldiers, two French Marquis (Resistance) girls and a French Army base commander during the Battle of Verdun.
Ok here it goes...
It’s a long way to Tipperary
Experience is a difficult teacher; she first gives the test, then the lesson
05:00
“How entrenched do they look sir?” said the corporal, “Doesn’t look too entrenched, a few BMPs, twenty, maybe thirty Grenadiers, Riflemen and RPG soldiers, the attack starts in over an hour, we need to start the planned attack, MOVE OUT!!” Squad leader said.
Soon the Squad leader and Corporal put their binoculars away and ran into their Ranger jeep and drove back to the base near Fort Regret on a misty, sunny morning.
Corporal Nick “Dickey” Richards is from the 19th Kings light infantry division of the British army, it is 1963, all is not going well, and the Maginot line in France couldn’t stop the Soviets breaking into France from an almost defeated Germany. German forces still hold ground in south west Germany but are suffering heavy losses since the Soviets started flying MiG-29 Air Superiority fighters, but this battle will commence in eastern France, in the countryside near Verdun where battles from the first great war was fought between the Allied powers and the Central powers. Around Verdun, the French army headed by General Charles DeGaul re-activated the old fortress around Verdun modernised and enlarge them to accommodate armoured vehicles and aircrafts, despite the southern fortresses were either captured or destroyed, the fortresses north and North West of Verdun was still active.
05:30
The Ranger stopped outside an Army tent to discuss the plan of attack, a man standing outside the tent armed with an L-4A9 Bren Light Support weapon welcomed the two soldiers. He accidentally dropped a magazine, and there was .308 cal bullets scattered everywhere. “What in god’s name are you doing!?!?” shouted the Squad leader.
“Uh, sorry sir, it was an accident” said the Bren gunner.
“Well clear it up Taffy!!!” shouted the Squad leader.
After the squad leader went in the tent, Corporal Nick said “Don’t worry, I was like that when I was younger, here, drink some coffee” he said.
“Thanks” said the Bren gunner.
Inside the tent there was a lot of talk about the upcoming battle. “Firstly, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers division Foxtrot Dragon will attack or re-capture Fort De Belrupt and Haudainville here, using Grenade Launcher fire and Dragon-Redeye missile launchers to sort out any bunkers or light armour they encounter, they shall be supported by Warrior IFV’s and the new Challenger tank that they have acquired, they shall be supported by Hunter attack jets from No 62 squadron.
The Royal Scot’s dragoon division Foxtrot Nevis shall re-take Fort Landrecourt, Dugnu and the villages to the south, they shouldn’t meet heavy resistance as we have destroyed all Soviet armour there and that they have not managed to gain access to the fire control computers.
The Royal Scot’s dragoon will be supported by air strikes by the RAF’s Phantom attack jets and Canberra gunships from 111 squadron and 112 squadron respectably, and the Kings light infantry division Foxtrot Broadsword shall take the town of Verdun, they should require Machine gun support from Bren guns and Minimi’s, there is hardly any point of them taking the APCs since the APCs shall be more useful here, they shall also be armed with Carl Gustav recoilless rifles and M-72 LAW’s to sort out the BMPs there, Air strikes and Air support from both the RAF and USAF will be available to them as they will be fighting off the Soviet Air Force. So basically it is like this, here Foxtrot Broadsword, then, here Foxtrot Dragon and here, Foxtrot Nevis,” the commander said.
“What about an emergency exit rout if things get too hairy?” asked the Squad leader. “There are three HH-60 Black Hawks en-rout here to support us from the US Army, we also do have two Pumas and one CH-47 Chinook of our own” said the commander.
06:00
As corporal Nick Richards went into the Ranger, the Squad leader tolled him to drive to the entrance of the base. When they got to the entrance of the base the squad leader got out of the Ranger out and talked to a few LAW equipped soldiers armed with M-16A2, possibly about the upcoming mission. Soon the Squad leader got back into the Ranger with the LAW equipped soldiers, “Turn right from here into the forest, and try to avoid the trees, at the end of the forest you will find a lorry belonging to Foxtrot Broadsword near the road, that’s our ride, we are a part of Foxtrot Broadsword” he said.
Soon they arrived at the lorry, they got out, and there were soldiers around the lorry on close to the road in the forest. The crackle of the radio caught their attention, “*KchK* Foxtrot Broadsword personnel, get onboard the lorry*KchK*” said the radio.
They all got onboard the 5-ton lorry and someone took the Ranger back to base. The lorries engine turned on with a huge drone sound, and then the lorry accelerated fast over the hill.
“I haven’t heard any shots, the main wave probably haven’t started yet” said one soldier. “They said that our job will be the easiest, it is obvious that they are lying, they are always saying that, we have to take a whole town” said another soldier.
“Well, to be honest with you, I’m not scared, if we just shoot and scoot, aha, we’ll make it out in one piece” said the third soldier.
“Be quiet, don’t forget, this is not a drill, this is the real thing, live ammunition, your lives at stake here, keep your distances away from each other and no John wane heroics right, I don’t want to see a hand grenade take out half my Squad!” said the Squad leader, “If we all stick together, we might just make it, don’t forget, your names will start with Foxtrot and end with B, your call names will be in the middle”.
“*KchK* Foxtrot Broadsword, advance over the hill, three o clock, keep in line formation *KchK*”
One soldier started to whistle the tune of the popular World War one tune, “It’s a long way to Tipperary”, and the song got stuck in Nicks mind as it reminded him of his birthplace, he was from Tipperary.
Everyone was cocking all their weapons, making sure they were ready to fire. The medics were making sure their medic kits were in order and that their Sterling L-3A5 Self defence machine pistols were functioning properly. The lorry stopped on the side of the hill, “*KchK* All disembark, go to tree, three o clock *KchK*” said the radio.
Corporal Nick was holding his M-16A2 tightly with the selector switch on “SEMI”. As he ran up the hill, he saw a few Russian conscripts at the top of the hill pointing their AK-47s at him, they fired but missed him.
Nick hid behind the trees, accidentally dropping his M-16A2. He grabbed his 9mm L-3A5 Sterling Machine pistol and fired back, he got them all, then, more bad news, behind the trees there were conscripts armed with PKM general purpose machine guns and started pinning the whole squad down, only after a few well thrown hand grenades they managed to clear the foxholes with the Soviet machine gunners have dug them selves in.
“*KchK*Calling all Foxtrots, this is 2nd Royal Welsh Armoured division, Dragon fist attacking Soviet occupied forts, we have encountered the T-72 battle tanks and T-39 Archer heavy tanks as expected, we are proceeding to the fortresses tank hangers, the recon aircrafts has reported that there is no Soviet aircraft of any type so there is no need for air cover, also it doesn’t seem like the Soviets have managed to access the fire control computers for the fortresses they have captured *KchK*”
“*KchK* Roger that Dragon fist *KchK*”
06:45
As everyone arrived at the top of the hill the radio crackled and sounds of a Flak cannon was shooting up in the air, they are shooting at an Avro Anson GR9 recon plane. The radio operator of the Anson radioed the platoon “*KchK* Sighted, 3 BMP-1 IFV, I see*BZZTCHCHCHCHC* of those bastards, I am taking allot of” *BOOM* the Avro Anson was blown up by a SAM site that the Soviets installed in the town.
Soon they saw three BMP-1 IFVs with conscripts running out, the British machine gunner deployed his M-249 Minimi LSW and started to pin down the conscripts, a Rocket soldier took out his M-72 LAW rocket launcher and destroyed one of the BMP-1 IFV, then Corporal Richards saw some bullets hit the ground in front of him “****, I AM BEING PINNED DOWN BY A LARGE CALIBURE WEAPON!”. The Soviets had installed a KPV 14.5mm machine gun in a tower where they fortified Verdun. “CALLING GHQ FOXTROT PRIMARY, WE REQUIER SOME AIR SUPPORT, NOW, LARGE CALIBRE WEAPON HAS PINNED THE PLATOON DOWN, I REPEAT” shouted Nick down the radio as he heard a scream of one of his men.
The bullets shattered the concrete tank traps that the soldiers were trying to hide behind.
07:10
Soon some Harriers flew over the town and launched AGM-65 Maverick missiles at the town defences, blowing them up.
The medics managed to come to the aid of the unfortunate soldiers who were in the sights of Soviet heavy machine guns, one of them was so badly injured that the medic would require a hospital to heal the wounded soldier.
“We must destroy the towns power station as soon as possible, there are a few frigging Tesla coils being constructed here, we cannot take them out with our Rocket Launchers” shouted Corporal Richards.
Nick saw an abandoned UAZ (Russian jeep) and took it, he smashed the window of the UAZ and placed his M-16 assault rifle on his right hand side pointing out of the window, he put the rifle on “BURST”. He drove into Verdun and started running conscripts over and shooting them at the same time. He narrowly avoided the fire of a RPG conscripts armed with a RPG-9 Launcher. He soon nailed the RPG conscript with his rifle. He raced through the town and while British Army placed mortars outside the town walls and lobbed mortar bombs into the town, Nick knew that he has to get out of the mortar fire and that he had to abandon the UAZ.
07:40
Corporal Nick Richards picked his M-16 up and his Sterling L-3A5 Machine pistol and ran into an inn called the Ark inn to take cover in the cellar.
He searched for the cellar and found some townsfolk and French resistance members taking shelter from the artillery fire. Their pointed their firearms towards him, he tried to speak French to them, and then someone said “Why not try to learn English”
She walked towards Nick, “It is easier for us two understand if we speak English” she said.
She was a blue-eyed 23 year old girl who was 6.8 ft tall wearing green ragged combat skirt and a white sleeveless top, she has long blond, slightly curly haired and had a silver Benelli M-3 shotgun on her back, a MAC-11 Machine Pistol in her hand and a Glock 26 pistol in her pocket. The others were similarly armed apart from a few men with AK-47s and PPsH-41 Machine pistols and a injured French soldier who was armed with a FA-MAS 5.56mm rifle and a MAT-49 Machine pistol.
He was slightly shocked and frightened, he wouldn’t let go of the FA-MAS, “Could you ask the soldier if his rifle is functional?” said Nick.
“Sure” said the blond girl. As she was translating the question to the soldier the radio came to life “*KchK* All go to House at three o clock, Foxtrot Dickey B, where are you? *KchK*”
“Location, uh, southwest of Midway Point, near town square in an inn, can’t miss it, Foxtrot Dickey B, out!” said Nick down the radio.
The girl came back to Nick and said “He recons it will work” said the girl.
“Ok, I doubt your Shotguns and Sub-machine guns could compare to the soviet conscripts firepower, they have rifles and machine guns, so here’s what we are going to do, we are going to use him to support you if you decide to fight, since the FA-MAS is a bullpup design, it can fire longer range than the conscripts weapons” said Nick.
The girl looked confused on what he said. The radio came to life again but there was sounds of a heavy gunfight, jet aeroplanes and loud explosions over the radio, “*KchK* We are *Crackle* fire from Soviet M--*Crackle*, heavy *Crackle* spotted, We need air support up right now, we are not *Crackle* to fight the--*Kchchchchc*” the radio went dead.
“*KchK* Foxtrot Dragon, Foxtrot Dragon, do you hear me Foxtrot Dragon? Damn, Foxtrot Dragon Squad is down *KchK*” said the Squad leader through the radio.
It seems as if Welsh Fusiliers Foxtrot Dragon division assault went horribly wrong.
“I must go now” said Nick. “I’ll hope to see you later, oh by the way, my name is Katherine Leon” said the girl.
“Ok, I shall see you later, Katherine” said Nick. He rushed back to the Squad leader who seemed furious at Nick. “My god man, you know you could have got your self killed, this is no bloody movie!” he said furiously.
“Did you hear the radio? It seems like Foxtrot Dragon Squad of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers are in deep ****” said Nick.
“They were armed with Grenade Launchers and Missile Launchers, and they took the Warrior IFVs and the new Challenger tanks, they can take on T-72s and T-39s, I hate to think it but I think Ivan has sent more air power” said the Squad leader.
“Can you send in the APCs?” said Nick.
“No, we need those APCs to defend the base, it’s all we got” said the Squad leader, “We have no other tank divisions attached to the Squadrons here”
08:10
Half the town was taken up to the river. “Sir, we must find the Soviets power station, we must find it before the Tesla coils activate, they are still constructing them” said Nick.
Soon the wounded French Soldier came out of the bunker with Katherine, “Corporal Richards, sir, my friend her tells me that there are two power stations, not one as you once thought, I know where one of them is but my friend here knows where the other is, it was originally for French Anti Aircrafts and Missile defence stations” said Katherine, “I shall lead you to the first power station”
“Ok” said the Squad leader “get that soldier some medical attention and shelter him from the battle” said the Squad leader.
Soon Katherine loaded her M-3 Shotgun and led the two Army officers to the power station.
As they were walking to the power station, a pot smashed. “SNIPER!” shouted the Squad leader.
In one of the buildings, there was three sniper conscript, they looked down the scope of their SVD Druganov Sniper rifle searching for the two British Army officers and the French Marquis girl. Corporal Nick Richards saw a discarded RPG-9 launcher with a few Rocket propelled grenades laying next to it, “If I can get the Rocket Launcher, I could take out the snipers” said Nick.
“Are you crazy” said the Squad leader.
Nick ignored his Squad leader and ran for the RPG-9 Launchers. As he picked it up, a bullet narrowly missed his skin and tore his jacket. He jumped behind another building and re-loaded the RPG-9 Launcher. He saw a broken mirror lying in parallel to him, usefully positioned to see the building where the snipers are. He used his M-16 rifle to mauve the mirror to see if he can spot the snipers, then as he moved the mirror, he saw the unmistakable shape of a SVD Druganov Sniper rifles muzzle. He picked up the RPG-9 and quickly aimed it near the window where the sniper is hiding. He launched the Rocket propelled grenade. Then the roof of the building collapsed, the snipers weren’t there no more, there were still two other snipers left to eliminate. The Squad leader and Katherine was hiding behind a wall, Katherine leaped up with her shotgun and started firing at the windows, then the Squad leader jumped up and leaped onto Katherine narrowly missing a hail of bullets fired frantically and desperately by the two snipers.
While the snipers were attacking the Squad leader and Katherine, Nick used the opportunity to launch another Rocket Propelled Grenade at the window where the snipers were firing, the rocket blew up the window and the conscript fell out onto the rubble below, the last conscript Sniper walked out of the building with his SVD Druganov pointing towards the ground with his head looking down.
Katherine walked towards the sniper with her Glock pistol pointing at him, “Do you wish to surrender” asked Katherine in Russian, “I, I… don’t… want… to… surrender” he said in a soft, shaky voice.
“Well you seem to have no choice” said Katherine.
The sniper picked up his Makarov 9mm pistol and pointed his SVD Druganov forward at Katherine, Katherine pointed her Glock to the snipers head, he cocked his SVD Druganov and pointed his Makarov at his head, “Wh, what are you doing” said Katherine.
“FOR THE UNION!!!” shouted the conscript and pulled the trigger.
*BANG!*. Blood splattered on Katherine, the SVD Druganov sniper rifles muzzle descended to the ground, the hand that held the Makarov started to descend, and finally the sniper fell on his knees and finally on his face. Katherine started to sob a bit and she said in French “Why, why must you do that?” and then she ran away, dropping her Glock pistol on the floor and running into a house that looked like it came from a painting, surrounded by flowers on the windows and flower pots at the front door and untouched from artillery and gunfire.
Nick ran into the house with the Squad leader. There Katherine was sitting on a Rocking chair with her blood stained sleeveless shirt and Combat Skirt.
Nick started to talk to her, “He feared you” he said, “He was worried that you were going to kill him or humiliate him in some prison, he preferred to take his own life”.
“Do you know what they mean by “conscript”?” asked Katherine.
“Yes, they have no choice but to join the army, navy or air force” said Nick.
“Well, if he wasn’t conscripted, he could have been living with his mother, wife and children, instead the Soviet regime forbids him to do that, otherwise imprisonment in Siberia, and he seemed brainwashed by Stalin’s propaganda” Katherine said fiercely.
The Squad leader said “You know, my mother sacrificed herself for my future here, I am originally a Jamaican, but I have lived here in Great Britain since I was very young, my mother owed a drug gang lord hundreds of pounds, she couldn’t afford the payment, so she smuggled me on a British destroyer bound for Great Britain during the first great war, I recently tried to find my Mother”
“Did you find your mother” asked Katherine.
“Yes, she was found murdered in the Docks where she smuggled me onboard the British Destroyer, I discovered that after I joined the British Army, and after that, I vowed revenge, which soon made me to ask for me to be posted in Jamaica in my mothers home town. I tracked down the murderer, and when I burst into his house, he was laying in bed, a sick and dying old man” said the Squad leader.
“What did you do” asked Katherine.
“I asked him, why he had to kill my mother. He replied in a very weak and husky voice saying that my mother didn’t pay her bills, and then he died. Soon his son came out demanding me to pay my mothers bills, I was so enraged, so angry that I took my Revolver and shot him three times. One for my mother, one for my suffering, and the other for all the people his family has terrorised” said the Squad leader.
“I never heard about this sir, do you mind if I ask what happened to you next?” asked Nick.
“Well, I was court marshalled for “Murder of the first degree”. For some reason my commander pulled some strings and then the case was dismissed because of ‘Witnesses’ saw the son of the Gang lord pull out a pistol on me, then soon presented it in court, a colt 1911, it was hard to get pistols like that back then, then it was reported that the commanders friend was murdered by Drug Gang members” said the Squad leader.
“Oh, I’m really sorry, what I did must seem really selfish” Katherine sobbed. “Here, here, now, dry your tears” said the Squad leader as he gave Katherine some tissue paper, “Wash that blood out of your hair, you look terrible”.
____________________________________________________________________________
Ok, heres the second one, not a true sequal to the first one but it does include two of the characters from my last story (Not on Chapter one though...
Old Soldiers never die
Libya, North Africa, May 7th 1950, 04:00 hours
Out of the night, an RAF McDonnell Douglas MC-47 Dakota flew over the Desert of Libya, escorted by two RAF Gloster Meteors jet fighters. The mission of these aircraft was shrouded in secrecy, to secure the oil fields on the coast of Libya by dropping a group of SAS commandos to prevent the routing of oil to the communist guerrillas and ba’th socialist party supporters.
The main fear of the British Government and the Allied forces as a whole is that the Ba’th party and the socialists would send the oil to the Soviets, increasing their war machine’s strength as well as overthrowing the pro-western Libyan government and the Italian administration.
The SAS was to meet up with a U.S. Army Ranger squad to form the ‘Gentlemen’s club 9-2’ squad. One of the SAS commandos was 28 year old staff sergeant Chris Jones, who passed SAS training five years ago. He did a few minor missions that included sabotage and protection of important allied politicians from KGB agents (He once managed to kill off a KGB agent with his M-2 carbine at 500 yards, spotting the KGB agent using a pair of binoculars)
He now was placed into actual major combat. It was an honour for him to be in David Sterling’s regiment who is highly acclaimed for giving the Soviets a bloody nose.
The McDonnell Douglas MC-47 Dakota’s red light switched on to indicate that it is almost ready to jump. Chris picked up his M-2 automatic carbine, his M-1A1 Thompson and his Colt 1911 pistol. The light was green and everyone jumped out of the Dakota and into the night sky. He fell around 1200 feet down. He could see the trails of the Dakota and Meteors flying away and the floodlights and flashing lights of the oil field, it was almost like a Christmas decoration.
Chris pulled the rip cord and his parachute opened up with the rest of the SAS team and glided down towards the desert, they soon landed in the dark cold desert, only the lights from the oil fields that broke the darkness and the for some commandos, night vision attached to some of the commando’s sniper rifles. The noise of the oil wells broke the silence of the night.
Chris ran towards a sand dune and took aim with his M-2 carbine, making sure no guerrillas were around or approaching the team from inside the oil field. Another SAS commando lay beside Chris with his Browning M-1918A2 assault rifle.
The all-clear was given and the team approached the oil field that was surrounded by rocky hills behind it, it seemed that there was almost no one there, the lights were on and the oil wells were pumping oil, but there was absolutely no-one there.
Chris put his M-2 carbine away and took out his rapid firing .45cal Thompson and walked slowly around the place full of shiny metal pipes pumping oil around the place, he carefully walked into a porter cabin and saw a dead man there, the man seemed to be shot five times in the chest, a clear sign that there was somebody was, or is here.
Chris looked around and found some bloody footprints in the sand and concrete, he carefully followed them slowly, they lead right into the oil refinery through a closed old, wooden door. Thinking that there would be somebody behind the door, he shot the door and kicked it in, he then sprayed the room with his Thompson and quickly ran into the refinery room to see a man with an AK-47, Chris wasn’t hesitant to kill him. A few SAS commandos ran toward the sound of gunfire to find Chris standing at the door. “What happened?” asked one commandos.
“There was a guerrilla here” said Chris “be on the lookout, there might be more of those bastards lurking around here”
Soon the SAS commandos who guarded the entrance to the oil fields heard a clicking sound, *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*, the guard clicked back on a little clicker three times, the clicking returned. Then all of a sudden loads of men with rifles, machine guns and machine pistols stood up, it was the American Ranger team that the SAS supposed to meet up.
“Hay it’s the yanks” said one of the commando who was guarding the oil field perimeter.
“Hay, how are things around here” said one Ranger.
“Well we have found one of the guerrillas snooping around the place, I bet there are more so be on the lookout, I doubt that it was only one man who would have killed the whole lot of workers” said one SAS commando.
“And I think that the Soviets are now supporting their cause, the man that one of our soldiers killed was equipped with the new Soviet rifle, the AK-47 Kalashnikov”
“Could it be that possibly the Soviets could have supplied the guerrillas with tanks and armour as well as guns?” asked one Ranger.
“Possibly” replied one SAS Commando “I shall alert HMS Eagle to prepare some aircraft to support us”
As the Ranger rest of the team moved into the oil field, suddenly there was automatic gun fire coming from a sand dune, it was the guerrillas, armed with AK-47 automatic rifles, SKS rifles and PPsH-41 machine pistols, the Rangers and SAS commandos fired back at them, but then had to resort to mortar and bazooka missile fire to kill off the guerrillas.
After the fire fight Chris asked the Ranger leader what anti tank firepower did they have, “We have M-20 Bazookas and M-28 recoilless rifles, what do you have?” asked the Rangers.
“We have the Boys .50cal rifle and the super PIAT” said Chris “But we also have carrier support from HMS Eagle”
Three hours passed, and the sun was starting to rise over in the horizon, warming up the desert slightly. One tired commando was staring out into the desert, and he thought he could see some dust trails, he looked down his binoculars and could see a truck and at least five T-28 light tanks with some people pointing guns into the air. He ran into the refinery and pulled the fire alarm, the whole SAS and Ranger team woke up, “THE GUERRILLAS ARE COMING” he shouted.
Everyone ran towards the dune where the commando was guarding, “What did you see?” asked the lead Ranger.
“I saw trucks and armed gunmen, I also saw some tanks, they looked like T-28 light tanks” said the commando.
“Ok let’s do this by the book men, find some cover and when I give the signal, fire at them”
The radioman contacted HMS Eagle, “Calling HMS Eagle, stand by, over.”
“*KchK*Roger that Gentlemen’s club 9-2, air support standing by, over *KchK*” replied the radioman from HMS Eagle
The tanks came closer with the guerrillas, the SAS and Ranger teems placed their mortars and their rocket launchers to kill off the tanks and infantry. As the guerrillas got near the small sandy corridor that lead into the oil field, the lead Ranger fired his flair pistol, then all the Rangers and SAS commandos fired their weapons, the combined heavy firepower from the Rangers and the SAS stunned the guerrillas as one of their trucks blew up, but during the fire fight, there was Soviet built JSU-152 self propelled howitzers furiously bombarding the oil fields from afar, “CALLING HMS EAGLE, THIS IS GENTLEMEN’S CLUB 9-2, REQUESTING AIR SUPPORT” shouted the radio operator “WE ARE UNDER ARTILLERY FIRE”.
Three minutes later, a mixture of DeHaviland Venom jets, Hawker Sea Furies and Supermarine Sea Spitfires flew over the oil field, into the open desert and blew up the JSU-152 self propelled guns with their unguided missiles.
The guerrilla forces started to approach the oil field with T-28 light tanks.
Chris saw a Ranger injured and in front of the path of a rampaging T-28 tank, he ran towards the Ranger, picking up his Bazooka, he aimed underneath the T-28 and then fired it. The explosion of the missiles threw the T-28 into the air and landed on its side, throwing the turret onto Chris.
Chris bravely reached for the Rangers Browning M-1918 assault rifle and killed the guerrillas that were coming after him and the injured Ranger.
Chris Jones survived the fire fight. “Calling HMS Eagle, position under control” said the radio operator “We have twelve injured, requesting helicopter extraction for the injured, over.”
“*KchK* Roger that, over and out *KchK*” said the operator on HMS Eagle.
The T-28’s turret broke Chris’s leg in many places, the Westland Dragonfly helicopter from HMS Eagle managed to lift the turret off him, then a commando and a medic lifted him onto a stretcher, they placed Chris inside the Dragonfly helicopter and flew him out of the oil field.
Chris, now crippled, was inside the Westland Dragonfly, he is hoping that the injury that has been inflicted on him won’t force him out of the SAS.
The Dragonfly landed on HMS Eagle, he was taken off the Dragonfly and into the sick bay inside HMS Eagle.
“Hmm, I don’t know how to tell you but” said the doctor inside the sick bay.
“But what?” said Chris.
“Well, I am not optimistic about you’re ability to walk” said the doctor.
Chris looked horrified.
“I am not 100% sure, but I would like you to have an X-ray” said the doctor.
After Chris had his X-ray, another Dragonfly helicopter landed on HMS Eagle, a man wearing pilots uniform was hurriedly taken off on a stretcher into the sick bay, he was bleeding heavily.
“Quick, this man needs to be operated on now!” said a Dragonfly helicopter crewman.
“What happened to him?” asked the doctor.
“Got shot down while on patrol” said the helicopter crewman “He has a Flak shrapnel lodged into his chest”
“Sorry sir, this man has a more urgent need” said the doctor.
“I understand” muttered Chris.
Chris sailed on HMS Eagle back to Pembroke naval base back in Great Britain where a cheery crowd waving small Union Jack and the Welsh flags upon HMS Eagle’s arrival. The local brass band was playing ‘Men of Halech’ to greet the huge aircraft carrier.
An ambulance was waiting for Chris to be taken to Hereford Hospital, after a path was made through the crowd, two sailors took Chris on a stretcher to the ambulance where it began to race off through Wales and into Hereford Hospital to be examined by army doctors.
He had his X-ray taken, and the doctors waited for a month to check up on his progress of his leg healing.
The army doctors looked at the latest X-rays a month later and looked at the previous X-ray.
“Do you think there is any hope for this soldier?” said one doctor.
“I don’t think so, this X-ray is not that different to his previous one” said another doctor.
“I agree, send a report to the commander of the base, I don’t think he should be going back into combat, it is too risky” said the fist doctor “ doubt he will regain the ability to fully walk again”
A week later, the doctor came to him “Staff Sergeant Chris Jones?”
“Yeh, what is wrong” asked Chris
“I’m afraid it is bad news, you’re leg is still broken in many places, and you have also tore some muscle ligaments in your leg. You will have to retire on medical grounds from the army” said the doctor “I have sent the base commander the report of your condition and the recommended action to be taken”
Chris was devastated that he was snatched away from the SAS regiment, and from the army as well.
The oil field in Libya was secured but the pro-western Libyan government and Italian administration was overthrown and National Socialist rule rained over Libya. The Rangers and the SAS pulled out, destroying the oil field to prevent funding their cause.
They left it in a wreck, the oil pumps were sabotaged, the drills were destroyed and concrete poured in the tubes of the oil wells.
They went back to the United Kingdom on HMS Ark Royal after being airlifted out by HMS Ark Royal’s Dragonfly helicopters.