A Devastating Alternate Second World War

June 25, 2009

Operation Orange Fire : Day 1

Day 1 of Operation Orange Fire...

Operation Orange Fire

This is an interlude focused entirely on the Axis attack in Libya. Very much a work in progress and I'm open to critiques, ideas, etc. I'll be releasing each new day as I finish it. Then I'll post the entire thing as an interlude in the timeline once its completed.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Olefin here

Very good update Bobby. The Germans and Italians seem to be doing well the first day even with the losses they have taken - which Gustov had figured into his plan.

The Italian attack directly into the teeth of the British defences is something I am suprised they went for.

It seems Gustov is throwing away that Italian armored division that way - werent there two Italian armored divisions in Africa? If so I am surprised he isnt using the lesser one to be the sacrificial lamb and leave the better one behind it.

Where are the French Axis divisions and Italian paratroopers by the way? Will they be revealed in the coming days?

Oh did the Germans hit the ships in the harbors at Benghazi and Tobruk or just the harbor facilities themselves? If sunk at the docks those harbors may be blocked for quite some time.

Bobby said...

Yeah, the Italians are sure to take a beating. But its necessary. Gustov has to keep the British forces south of Benghazi pinned in place.

The Italians do have another armored division buts it not as good the main division involved in the initial attack. It'd be held as a reserve to counter any potential British counter-attack or possibly to exploit any breakthroughs. Gustov isn't really counting on the Italians to take Benghazi, he just needs them to present enough threat to keep Alliance forces in that area pinned in place.

The French Axis divisions are following the German armor into the desert.(behind the panzergrenadiers)

The Italin paratroopers are being held as a reserve - could possibly be used in conjunction with the helicopter mobile force later.

Gustov has built some flexibility into his plans. The Italian paratroopers and their reserve armored division give him some of that flexibility.

Benghazi was basically carpet bombed, except for some of the anti-radiation weapons used to take out some radars in the area in the first wave of air attacks.

Anonymous said...

great update bobby, looking forward to the next installments. i sure am pumped :)

lordroel said...

Yes another great update Bobby , keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

That is a very busy first day I must say. If I were gustov I would use the helicopter troops to help the paratroopers to hold on to the major supply depot at Al bayda cause to make this a decisive victory he must exploit the captured supplies or else his bold gamble could be disastrous.

This could become the equivilant to operation market garden in otl cause if the armoured thrusts link up with the paratroopers it could make the north African very in favor of the axis but if they can't reach the paras then it will be a waste of some elite soldiers and valuable resources(helicopters).

So bobby are the skies over the battlefield still up for grabs or has the axis gained the advantage yet?
But anyway great beginning to one of the most pivotal battles of the war yet!

Anonymous said...

What happens when the Germans start to get close to the British Supply dump held by German Paratroopers and the British simply destroy it. They know where it is the Germans cant move it and a few destroyers off shore could level it easily considering how much fuel is supposed to be in that dump. The problem is even with all the fuel the Germans will be out of ammo by the time they arrive.

Anonymous said...

Have a feeling any desroyers trying to get off that dump are going to be met either with a withering naval or air attack and will be too busy trying to stay alive to do much shelling.

Anonymous said...

Yah I agree I know the axis high command has considered the possibility of britsh naval intervention so I bet if the two Italian aircraft carriers if they are operational will probably be used to blunt any royal navy attack.

Is day two goin 2 be posted soon?

Anonymous said...

My My optimistic about the Italian Navys chances against the RN in the dead of night off the coast that is significantly closer to British Airpower in Crete [Totaly Unaffected by VX] and in Egypt itself. The Germans do not have control of the air over the battle field and even if they did I wouldnt be to sure about them being able to attack a few cruiser or such at night that close to Alexandria and Tobruk.

It will be interesting in how the Germans will make use of a pile of British Ammo, Food, Water and Fuel when there own Ammo runs out that far from their own supply bases in Tunis ??????

Anonymous said...

Olefin here

Food, water and fuel will work just fine in Italian and German vehicles so most likely they will make out quite well there. Ammo depends on how much they capture from teh British as to guns, tanks, etc.. - remember both sides used captured equipment during the war in the desert.

As for the chances of the Italian fleet in their own backyard with air support from Sicily, Greece and Malta as well as Libya - most likely a few British DD wouldnt last long even if a couple of CL come along for the ride.

Anonymous said...

Will you included any "historic" photos in the future?

Anonymous said...

Put this questioni and answer in both this board and the main discussion board.

Bobby how bad was the bombing of Benghazi? How badly was the port damaged and were the ships and supplies there lost?

So Sayeth Bobby

Not necessarily all of the ships were hit. It wasn't a precision strike from naval aircraft but rather a high altitude carpet bombing. And even a few at the docks might have gotten lucky and only received minor damage. Luck of the draw.

Regardless, the port of Benghazi is pretty much totally useless by this point even if the British could reliablly get ships there....which they can't. All their supplies into Benghazi are having to move overland by now from Tobruk.

Anonymous said...

Man I can't wait for day 2!, this could be the pivotal point in the battle. Do the British have any available atomic bombs? I'm wondering gustov has to have considered the possibility of a nuclear strike against his forces.

Looking forward to day 2 Bobby! Keep up the good work!!

Anonymous said...

I cant tell who has the advantage yet the germans do have a penetration in the British defenses the coming tank battles will undoubtedly decide the victor of the battle. Im still looking forward to an update on the eastern front the germans are close to winning and probably creating another 20th century russian revolution and maybe dissolving communism altogether.

Good Update! Cant Wait for Day 2!

Bobby said...

Thanks, glad you like it. I'll probably be skipping ahead and doing day 3, day 5, day 9, etc - rather than detailing every day as I had originally planned

Anonymous said...

Any chance of an update soon bobby? Really looking forward to it!!!

SWFCane

Unknown said...

Nice update. I always look forward to them.
Perhaps the direct assault was done to keep the good guys and bad guys in close proximity to each other to mitigate the atomic threat?

Can't wait for follow ups!

Anonymous said...

Can't wait for the next segment! this one was a great update!!

Anonymous said...

Olefin here

Any update on possible updates? Been a long summer and would love to see what is happening in either Libya or the rest of the world soon. Any chance we will get a new one sometime before the fall?

Anonymous said...

Are we ever getting another update bobby? Its been a real long time!!! So much so that I dont even check every day now... Lets get this thing goin again!!!

SWFCane

Anonymous said...

I agree - it gets old after a while talking about B-34 production rates or GDP numbers - need new red meat to chew on.

Bobby said...

Sorry guys, I never intended for the gap to stretch this long :(

Things have been crazy with work and preparing for my wedding, etc. This next month is going to be nuts and then I leave for my honeymoon.

I should be able to get another part out before my honeymoon, and then probably another gap at this point.

I can only hope you guys can bear with me through this.

Vancouver_2010 said...

Is it possible for you to write both ending? One with German victory and one with AFD victory? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Olefin here

heck Bobby I can see why you have been busy - if we have to wait longer than we do - somehow I dont see your bride going "sure honey go ahead and get that update out, after all its only our wedding"

Anonymous said...

Well, at least you have a good excuse!!! :) Good luck with the ball and chain Bobby!!! :) Well be here when the new part comes out, thats for sure... May not stop here every day, but still check for an update 3-4 times a week...

SWFCane

Golladay said...

Ball and Chain Bobby, well only solution is to hook her onto the timeline. The timeline could use a female touch and you'll never have an excuse for spelling errors again.

In any case "Raises a glass of champagne,"

To a happy marriage and many children.

Archangel said...

I wish you a happy marriage, Bobby!:)

Anonymous said...

Caracalla here

Congrats Bobby! I just got married myself recently (April 4), and it is a wonderful thing! May the Lord bless you and your marriage!

Bobby said...

Thanks everyone ;)

The big day is getting close.

n. yurko said...

wish you well on the future. now about this "little war". i found your website and sacrificed gloriously 5 hours reading the shattered world. wow good job is an understatement. all that is lacking is aliens invading and getting high on spice...er wait harry turtledove did that...lol.look forward to you finishing up on this timeline.

Anonymous said...

Olefin here

Hope Bobby is having a good honeymoon but also hope he is up for updates soon.

Bobby said...

Thanks for the comments Yurko, glad you've enjoyed it!

I'm back from the honeymoon and feeling refreshed. Hopefully I can get cracking on the next parts soon.

Anonymous said...

How was the honeymoon bobby? Hope you and yours had a great time and all is going well for you guys... With that said, GET YOUR AZZ TO WORK!!! WERE LOSING IT OUT HERE IN THE CLOUD!!! :) Just kidding... Really looking forward to the next update!!!

SWFCane

Anonymous said...

Olefin here

Bobby any chance of an update before Christmas? Has been a long time since the last update - a week away from 5 months - and even a mini update would be greatly appreciated

Anonymous said...

Olefin,
Calm down there buddy. It's just a story.

Anonymous said...

Olefin here

Calm down yourself. I think I am speaking for most of us when I say we would love to see more new updates for us to discuss after a five month wait.

Anonymous said...

I feel ya Olfin... I cant wait for another update either... Been ages!!! I mean, Bobby has a good excuse, but damn... Bobby, YOUR FANS AWAIT!!!

SWFCane

Anonymous said...

Olefin here

For those who are waiting for updates I recommend looking at the fan fiction area on the discussion board. There are stories there by me, Archangel (very good story there on Portugal), Roel, and many others and they can feed your ShatteredWorld need while we wait for Bobby's new updates. Many of them are continuing stories and offer a perspective on SW from the author's viewpoint that adds a new dimension to the story.

And we would love to see new authors join us.

gszczepa said...

waiting....

Anonymous said...

Olefin here

Anyone having trouble to get the WWII, Eurasian War and inter war areas to open up for them?