The US Rangers used British LCA's to land on Omaha Beach, because they were armoured.
(Something seldom mentioned in any history)
(Something seldom mentioned in any history)
so a bit of 'not invented here'syndromeI have also read that part of the reasons for refusing most of the "Funnies" was a dislike of Montgomery by the US generals and not wishing to appear beholden to him. Cannot remember where I read it though.
So at present it appears that the 11th and 9th Indian Division are carrying the battle
There is both the 8th AIF and 18th British divisions - both with 3 Brigades effectively in reserve?
And there are additional Tank units as well - M3 Stuart equipped ones?
The arrival of 7th Bn RTR and their infantry tanks would go a long way to giving 18th Division a real punch, just as the two Divisional Cavalry Regiment’s tanks and armoured vehicles would help the Australian Divisions.
The plan, it seemed, in the War Office was that 11th and 7th Bn RTR would be the basis for a full Army Tank Brigade, 4th Bn RTR with 58 Matilda Mark II infantry tanks were sailing Wilson Special 14 convoy, along with battle replacements for 7th and 11th Bn RTR. Having sailed on 9 December 1941, the ships bound for Singapore were expected at the end of January.
So Mackay Corp is 2 Australian divisions each with a cav reg of M3 and others. 18th with the 7th Bn RTR. Extra Bn with spare tanks with eta of end Jan. So a strong force for the counter attack, with the additional in Burma with at least a tank Bn.Mackay noted that the two Australian Divisions were approaching full capability, there was a Corps level exercise later in the week to put that to the test. The senior British officers of 18th Division would take part in that, but Mackay was keen on the 18th Division moving off the Island and into the Johore area to work more closely with the two Australian Divisions.
If I was the British, I would continue to slowly fall back, make the Japanese burn their supplies, while building up shell stockpiles that would make Montgomery blush, and then counter-attack in late February.The Japanese by this point in time would be running short on munitions, heavy weapons and Infantry units. Most units that have had contact have been roughly handled and this is clear from the delayed advance. I could see an Offensive against the Japanese once they mass for an assault causing a major problem.,
RAF Malaya's reinforcements will also soon be ready for action, with even more on the way.The Japanese are slowly advancing against two Indian divisions
They will shortly hit 3 Combat Veteran divisions....
Ouch
Hurricanes and their carrier variant should be comparable maybe a bit better depending on which IJA and IJN aircraft they are engaging, it also doesn’t help that the Imperial Japanese air crew losses can’t be replaced effectivelyRAF Malaya's reinforcements will also soon be ready for action, with even more on the way.
17 January in comparison.As a yardstick, for comparison, can anyone remember (or check in a copy that they purchased) how far forward the Imperial Japanese got in Malaya in Astrodragon's The Whale has Wings timeline?