Post by Diarist on May 22, 2015 12:09:25 GMT 1
The morning meeting was quite thorough concentrating on the period prior to 15 August for the ground forces - the preparation phase. The units need to be ready for movement when the orders arrive. General Smith will be organizing an extensive training program with the divisional commanders. In the meantime sufficient rolling stock will be made available and extra trucks will be assigned to the divisions. Other divisions in France will, for the duration of the mission, be contributing units to the AEF. The AEF will augment the units already destined for East Africa hoping deter the Italian plans.
Aircraft will be sent in crates then reassembled overseas. A lot of these will leave Europe early as part of our deterrence plan so most of our air forces will already be operational if Mussolini decides to attack Abyssinia. There will be small convoys accompanied by light-cruisers and destroyers. There should not be any problems because, after all, we are allowing their transports through the Suez Canal.
The operation itself was discussed in less detail. Our goal is primarily to prevent the Italians from conquering Abyssinia not to defend Abyssinia itself. One objective is the port of Assab in southern Eritrea. A second is the airfield at Teseney in NW Eritrea. It is ca. 50 km east of Kassala in Sudan and is the only airfield available to the Italians in the region. Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, is only a further 150 km to the east. Our forces in Kenya aim to capture the port of Kismayu in southern Italian Somaliland. Another key objective is to destroy the Italian Air Force in East Africa depriving them of this valuable advantage over the Abyssinians. Our air forces will then be able to support the Abyssinian operations against the Italian invaders.
This is indeed part of the "Italian" plan but that it is the afternoon meeting with a lot less people attending.
Aircraft will be sent in crates then reassembled overseas. A lot of these will leave Europe early as part of our deterrence plan so most of our air forces will already be operational if Mussolini decides to attack Abyssinia. There will be small convoys accompanied by light-cruisers and destroyers. There should not be any problems because, after all, we are allowing their transports through the Suez Canal.
The operation itself was discussed in less detail. Our goal is primarily to prevent the Italians from conquering Abyssinia not to defend Abyssinia itself. One objective is the port of Assab in southern Eritrea. A second is the airfield at Teseney in NW Eritrea. It is ca. 50 km east of Kassala in Sudan and is the only airfield available to the Italians in the region. Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, is only a further 150 km to the east. Our forces in Kenya aim to capture the port of Kismayu in southern Italian Somaliland. Another key objective is to destroy the Italian Air Force in East Africa depriving them of this valuable advantage over the Abyssinians. Our air forces will then be able to support the Abyssinian operations against the Italian invaders.
This is indeed part of the "Italian" plan but that it is the afternoon meeting with a lot less people attending.