four confirmed sub kills, and two more probables. The cruiser Yumashev was
sunk this morning by Harpoons from the Galveston. Her sister ship, Marshal
Timoshenko, was last reported heading northeast at thirty-four knots, along
with several smaller vessels. The Soyuz battle group appears to have been
completely scattered.
“Two late notes. First, satellite reconnaissance indicates that the
Kirov is under way again. She appears to be limping north, either to rejoin
elements of the Red Banner Northern Fleet beyond North Cape or to return to
Murmansk. We cannot be sure how badly Kirov is hurt, but the damage appears
to be extensive and serious.
“Second, according to our spy satellites, at 1627 hours this afternoon,
just over an hour ago, the aircraft carrier Soyuz rolled over and sank.
Norwegian …” Tarrant had to stop for a Moment as the room erupted in cheers
and renewed applause. As the noise subsided, he went on. “Norwegian forces
are still in the area picking up the survivors.
“I think it’s clear that we have the bastards on the run. We intend to
use the momentum we’ve gained so far to keep them on the run, to keep hitting
them so hard they can’t hit back.
“Ah … you might also be happy to hear that Kearny rejoined the battle
group this afternoon and has taken up ASW patrol to the south. The Esek
Hopkins is now safe at Scapa Flow.” There was more applause. This, Tombstone
reflected, was turning into more of a cheerleading session than an operational
planning meeting.
It didn’t matter. These men deserved a few cheers.
“As for the disposition of the remaining Soviet naval forces,” Tarrant
continued, “we are still tracking two main groups. One is a large, mixed task
force built around the light aircraft carrier Kiev and the helicopter carrier
Moskva in the Barents Sea beyond North Cape, six hundred miles northeast. The
other, of course, is our friends from the Baltic. For the past twelve hours,
they appear to have been holding position off Bergen, four hundred miles
southwest of our current position. At this point we’re not sure what their
intentions are. It’s possible, now that Soyuz has been sunk, that they don’t
know what their intentions are either.” Laughter rippled through the
compartment.
“Thanks, at least in part to Captain Magruder there, and thanks also to
the efforts of every man in this battle group, we can make some solid plans of
our own. And Major General Wagner here is going to fill us in.”
General Wagner took Tarrant’s place beside the podium. “Thank you,
Admiral. Well, it’s not every day that the Marines have a good word for the
Navy, but today is certainly one of them. I tell you all now, from the bottom
of my heart, ‘Well done!’
“it is my pleasure to inform you that at 1200 hours today, local time,
new orders were transmitted to II MEF. Those orders are signed by the
President of the United States. By those orders, the Second Marine Division
has been directed to proceed to the coast of Norway and effect an amphibious
landing in the area of the city of Narvik. We are to break enemy resistance
in the area, seize key airfields, and isolate Soviet forces in central Norway
from reinforcements and resupply by land and sea.
“Gentlemen, the United States is going back into Norway. We are going in
after the Russians, we are going in hard, and we are going in to win.”
Wagner then proceeded to present the plan for Operation Thor.
CHAPTER 24
Wednesday, 25 June, Thursday, 26 June
1830 hours Zulu (1930 hours Zone), 25 June
Marine Landings
Vagsfjord, Norway
Norway is a tiny nation and, from a military point of view, a difficult
one, either to invade or defend. Though the northern reaches are cold, wet,
and dreary in the popular mind, summer temperatures can reach 30 degrees C in
daylight that lasts twenty-four hours, and changes in the weather can be rapid
and completely unpredictable.
With a coast heavily indented by the fjords, the land broken by steep
mountains and rugged terrain, with no railroads at all north of Bodo and only
a single primary road system, the E-6, which is unable to accommodate heavy