Chronologically, I have to start with the
Shetlands.
This one really is a mess, poke away if you like, but I do see value here, because it is the only one where land-based aircraft from Norway can take part.
It would be asinine to try to hold it, even for a day.
That is why this little operation is starting an hour before Sunset, May
24th.
Firstly there is a raid by about 50 Ju-88 on the Airfield at Sumburgh. A heavier hit than usual, but these things happen in outposts like the Shetlands. They missed the runway but made a right mess of the facilities. Not much of an intercept is possible against the fast-moving little bombers, the Luftwaffe's last visit to London wasn't that long ago and most night-capable fighters are still down that way.
However, half an hour before sunset, another 50 bombers arrive, along with 60 Me-110 Fighters escorting them (used in mass numbers, and some frightening surprises.
Enter the Me-321 Gigant.
The first Me 321 A-1 production aircraft entered service in May 1941 with Grossraumlastensegler 321 at Leipheim, initially towed by Ju 90s. Once again serendipity seems to be lending a hand... but I limit this operation to just half a dozen of them. There weren't that many Ju-90s around, and this will be a one-way trip for the giant gliders.
Now, they also can't land just anywhere, the British were very good at setting up barricades in fields where Gliders might have come in for a landing. But they can't do that with an active airfield.
Hello Sumburgh.
Normal Paratroops can be used as well, and extracted by night-flying Ju-52s or other means, but the real punch will be supplied by the Gigants. They have a payload of 23 tone, but the towing aircraft can't manage that much drag, so lets hold them to about 16 tons. That is still enough for a Mark II and a Sdkfz-250 scout halftrack. Two of the later should have 81mm mortars, and you can switch out one or two of the Mark II for a Mark I SP with the 47mm gun.
And off you go, on a merry little tank-raid all the way to places like Lerwick and Scalloway.
All of that raiding happens during the very short (5-6 hour) night, and the vehicles will be destroyed by their crews once it's over. How to extract them?
1- if they make it back to Sumburgh in time, fly them off with the grunts that secured the airstrip.
2- if not, they can call for extraction by Seaplanes or
3 the navy will be there too.
Yes, the KM is there, I have those three TBs and three Minesweepers there, but their main job will be to clear a path for the Brummer.
No, not the one that was made in Germany and already lost. This one is the Captured Norwegian ship that was briefly named Albatros, not named Brummer. Confusing, isn't it?
This baby will lay it's 280 mines across the path of any RN ships that come boiling out of Scapa to react to this raid. The pay-off could be enormous.
And any troops that get left behind are to head for the hills, snipe away until they run out of ammo, giving the impression that there it still a significant presence here... even if the incredible arrival of Panzers on those islands hadn't caused enough consternation in Whitehall.
The next operation kicks off before this one is completely over....
