Mesoptamia - Sep1915Orders

Sep1915Orders
TimBarnes
2010/03/07 21:58

Table of Contents

Summary of September activities
Consolidate position in Baghdad. Set up army headquarters in Baghdad and re-establsh civilian control of the Basra and Baghdada villyets.
Advance up the Tigris to Mosul with a full division using river and rail supply lines.
Consolidate the Tarsus expedition with a full brigade.
Continue equipping and reinforcing troops ready for further advances and operations in the region.
Initaite Arab, Armenian and Assyrian revolts and start recruiting into a new division.
1. Strategy
The core strategy is to occupy Mesopotamia and ensure that this is far more costly to the Ottomans than us. This will require maintaining a active force of at least 1 full Division (or equivelent) in the theatre and removing (through casualty, prisoner or forces engaged) 50% more Ottoman troops than Imperial troops in the region. Currently 20,000 Imperial troops and 30,000 Ottoman troops unavailable for other theatres and we will engage or destroy 10 divisions (10% of the estimated Ottoman fighting force) each year (from May 1915). As part of the occupation we will secure the oil supplies to Abbadan.
We will occupy and hold Baghdad by Christmas 1915.
We will co-ordinate activities with the Russian Causcaus forces and the Egyptian expeditionary forces to occupy all Ottoman territory east of Antioch during .
2. Activitis in September
Consolidate position in Baghdad. Set up army headquarters in Baghdad and re-establsh civilian control of the Basra and Baghdada villyets.
Ensure a rapid return to normality in the city and resumption of normal civic activities. Occupy the Turkish army Headquarters and barracks. Review creation of role of Governor of the Baghdada and Basra villyets.
Advance up the Tigris to Mosul with a full division using river and rail supply lines.
Push a brigade immediately north with cavalry support as vanguard for a full division push on Mosul. Assign 50% of the river transport and gunboats to the advance. Strike rapidly to secure the railway and use rolling stock capture in Baghdad to move troops.
Consolidate the Tarsus expedition with a full brigade.
Continue equipping and reinforcing troops ready for further advances and operations in the region.
Initaite Arab, Armenian and Assyrian revolts and start recruiting into a new division.
2. Replacements and re-inforcements
a) Short of full strength : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
b) Casualties : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
c) Sicknes, etc : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
3. Requisitions
Hawkwood will use all of his influence with the War Office in London to get one or both of the Indian Cavalry Brigades on the Western Fronts re-assigned to Mesopotomia. With a strong foothold in place, there is a huge opportunity for rapid advancement with cavalry (who are otherwise just surrogate infantry and never going to be happy about it).
With some help from the attached journalist, they will make a big splash on the bravery and effectiveness of the Zulus. Press release will infer that a full Zulu Division will be raised. Then request a further 2 brigades.
Plan creation of a new division to be raised from Arab, Assyrian and Armenians. Recycle the captured Turkish rifles and equipment. Arab Cavalry Brigade will be the elite formation. In order qualify, applicants will need to demonstrate superior skill with rifle and riding and bring their own horse.
Requisition | From | Due | August arrival
Unwanted cavalry mounts | Suez | September | 90%
6 RNAS armoured cars being withdrawn from Gallipoli as only used for machine guns | Gallipoli | September | 20% each
More river transport from India (in transit) | India | September | 25%
Railway parts (track and rolling stock) from Armenian supporters | USA | September? | 25%
Waterfly, Stonefly, Snakefly & Greenfly gunboat (kits) | London | September | 50%
3. Politics
India Office - use influence to get appointed as governor of Baghdad/Basra and responsible for a) securing the territory taken b) supplying troops for further offensives c) steady progress up the Berlin-Baghdad railway d) acclimitisation of any replacement or new troops e) raising an arab division
Arabs - engage key arab figures to discuss best ways of ensuring peace and prosperity and keeping the Turks out. Steer clear of any discussions of arab rule whilst allowing developments that might assist this in the future. Establish a new school in the city with funding from Anglo-Persian Oil.
Russians - time for closer liason with Russians to support the Causcaus offensive. Use railway and telegraph links through Persia.
Visit to Kitchener (Egypt late 1915) to get his assistence for the region. Hawkwood has a lot in common with Kitchener over the past 20 years that should help build a great rapport : a) Sudan expedition b) Kitchener was authority on mapping the Palestine c) Indian Army reforms d) Boer War e) Tarsus expedition
2 main things wanted : Governership of Baghdad and Basra villeyets and the 1st Cavalry Brigade assigned to Mesopotamia (this makes a deal of sense as Indian troops have been unsettled on the Western Front since beginning of the year and winter is harsh for troops used to warmer climates).
May need to visit Andrew Bonar Law in the Colonial Office and Viscount Gray the Foreign Secretary (would Hawkwood be aware of impending political change?)
4. Training
Staff Officers : by now most staff officers should be familiar with Turkish army organisation, practices and weaknesses. Continuing education on arab customs and basic phrases to ensure good relations with the locals. Recommed adoption of arab headress when dealing with them. Assign vetted arabs as guides and interpreters.
All troops : continue desert acclimitization and arab customs training (basics).
Snipers : trained to work in pairs and co-ordinated with each other.
Night-fighting : 1 platoon in each brigade trained up to fight at night.
Garrison troops : mix training and patrol duties, training in morning and early evening to avoid summer heat. Training orientated around desert acclimitization and survival.
33rd Brigade : assigned special training to develop ability to operate independantly for longer periods. Replace heavy general kit (eg Lewis guns for Maxims). Assign 1 mountain gun per battalion, parts split and carried by 6 horses. Ensure able to carry 1 weeks rations and water. Equip with suitable hats and sunglasses (+?).
Artillery : Navy to train up more QF crews. Cross train artleery crews on the captured 77mm guns and train up new artillerymen to man new batteries. Use some of new artillery officers from India as trainers.
Aircrew : train up an additional 20 pilots and mechanics using current pilots and ground crew. See if additional trainers available from England or South Africa.
Maps and Stats : run daily briefing sessions for scouts, gunboat captains, survey team and pilots to share recon info. Bring in arab guides to help build up map detail.
Armoured car crew : armoured cars not arrived yet but start preparing crews from volunteers with driving or mechanic experience.
Arab/Assyrian Division New division will be trained as a desert force, designed to operate in the region and similar climates. Long term plan is a long term force in the vein of the French Foreign Legion. Division HQ will be in Basra (for long-term reasons).
5. Troop movements
Corps HQ moved to Baghdad
Bring Zulus back into the offense force
Garrison duty and pipeline guard :
76th Punjabis : A Company - Nasiriyah; B Company - Basra (and pipeline); C Company - Amara (and river transport); D Company - Abadan (and port)
1st Squadron 23rd Cavalry : pipeline
Attack up the Euphrates

Page  - last modified by TimBarnes on 2010/03/07 21:58