Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Let's get to it.

Chapter 24- Shore Leave

(November 2, 1943)

"That's the stuff!" Byron says with a laugh as he chugs another beer, "You Limeys really know how to make good beer!" This is met with roaring laughter and cheer from the British sailors around him, several of whom down mugs of beer as well.

Following the landings on Sicily, Nimitz had spent several months in the Medittereanean, supporting further operations on Sicily, providing support for the invasion of the Italian mainland in September, and launching bombing raids across Italy. Finally, after months on station in the Mediterranean, she was finally recalled.

Instead of heading home to America, she sailed to Britain and dropped anchor in Scapa Flow. There, she was to receive minor repairs from strafing damage caused by several German FW190s that managed to penetrate her defenses and strafe the ship. No crew had been wounded, and no aircraft damaged, but a few parts of the ship, including some of her 1940s era anti-aircraft weapons had been damaged. The repairs weren't expected to take more than a week. Once she was done with her shore leave, she was to head back to America, where she was to pick up President Roosevelt and transport him to the Middle East for the upcoming Tehran Conference.

Nimitz' crew was now on shore leave. Most of them were staying in the area near Scapa Flow, having a good time in the surrounding towns. Some had gone to have a good time in London. Apparently, one had been approached by a reporter looking for more information on the Nimitz, but had turned him down.

"I though you Americans couldn't handle your liquor," one of the British sailors says with a laugh, pounding his mug on the table, drawing a laugh from Byron.

Then, in another corner of the bar, one of the other British sailors, who is by now quite drunk, starts drunkenly singing, "I thought I heard the old man say, John Kanaka naka, tulai e. Today, today is a holiday, John Kanaka naka, tulai e!"

Byron smiles. Although he's not too familiar with sea shantys, this is one he does know. As the drunk British sailor finishes and pauses, Byron pipes up and starts to loudly sing, "I heard, I heard the old man say, John Kanaka naka, tulai e. We'll work tomorrow, but not today, John Kanaka naka, tulai e!"

There are several cheers as both Byron and the British sailors sing out, "Tulai e, OH, tulai e, John Kanaka naka, tulai e!"

Now, more British and a few more Americans join in as they sing, "We're outward bound at the break of day, John Kanaka naka, tulai e! We're outward bound from Frisco Bay, John Kanaka naka, tulai e! We're outward bound around Cape Horn, John Kanaka naka tulai e! Where you wish to God you'd never been born, John Kanaka naka tulai e! Tulai e, Oooh, tulai e, John Kanaka, tulai e!"

The bar breaks out in a round of hearty laughter and cheering, accompanied by a lot of downed beers. One officer from the Nimitz is doused in several beers from British sailors, and simply laughs in response.

(Admiralty, London)

"I've received word from the shipyard workers. The repairs to the Nimitz should be finished in four more days," Yelland says.

All around him, other high ranking officers nod in understanding. Although this meeting is taking place in the Admiralty building, many high ranking officers of all military branches are present. This includes Admiral Andrew Cunningham (the First Sea Lord), Admiral John Tovvey, Admiral Bruce Fraser, General Arthur Tedder, Admiral Bertram Ramsay, and General Dwight D Eisenhower. In addition, Churchill himself was present for the meeting.

"Understood. And, as I understand it, you will be sailing back to America to take Roosevelt to Tehran," Churchill asks Yelland.

"Yes, Prime Minister," Yelland responds. Although he is only a Rear Admiral, it is recognized that he has a rather special status given who he is.

"Once you have returned from those duties, we have conferred with Admiral King in Washington that your ship will shift between transporting aircraft from America, as well as launching airstrikes against German positions in Norway, as well as keeping the Tirpitz out of action," Admiral Cunningham says. Everyone feels a momentary feeling of nervousness at the mention of the Tirpitz. After the extensive damage she had taken from the Nimitz' airstrikes last year, as well as further air strikes by a Royal Navy carrier force a few months ago, she has almost finished repairs and will soon return to service.

"Understood. Then we will not be returning to convoy duty?" Yelland asks.

"No," Admiral Tovvey responds, "German aircraft in Norway have been greatly depleted, the German surface fleet is virtually non-existent, and Admiral Donitz is being much more careful with his U-Boats after the heavy losses your anti-submarine aircraft have inflicted on his U-Boat fleet. Convoys will be safe without your escort."

"I think what we really need to talk about is how the Nimitz will be included in the plans for Overlord," Eisenhower says.

Everyone goes quiet for a moment. This has been a major topic of discussion as of late. With 1943 winding down, planning has begun earnest for the eventual invasion of France. Although Churchill is still somewhat hesitant, Roosevelt has been determined to go forward with it, and so the planning has continued. One of the main things they've been discussing the last few weeks is what role the Nimitz will play in the invasion.

"We have gone over reports written by General Montgomery about the performance of your aircraft during operations in North Africa and in Italy. He reported your pilots, combined with the capability of your aircraft, caused extreme levels of damage to enemy ground forces through close air support, and that your pilots showed great skill with precision bombing. In addition, it has clearly been shown that some of the weapons carried by your strike fighters have proven highly effective in supporting amphibious landings," General Eisenhower says.

"Correct, General. Especially since coming to this timeline, our pilots have trained extensively in close air support and now have plenty of experience in conducting close air support, including in support of amphibious landings. Not only that, but giving my pilots the chance to participate in Overlord would motivate them to success beyond anything that has come before," Yelland responds to Eisenhower.

"I think it is the general consensus that the aircraft of the USS Nimitz should be involved in Overlord. However, I think the real question to consider is whether the carrier itself should be involved," Admiral Fraser puts forward.

"I agree with Admiral Fraser," Yelland says.

"How do you mean?" General Tedder asks.

"As all of you know, my aircraft are more than capable of flying from land bases. The F/A-18 in particular is operated by the US Marine Corps of my time from land bases. The exceptional range of all of my aircraft, especially when equipped with external fuel tanks, would allow any of my aircraft to operate over almost all of France, as well as Belgium and Holland, without refuelling. My strike aircraft could provide exceptional cover to the landing troops, and my Tomcats could cover the distance from the landing beaches up to hundreds of miles. Perhaps just as importantly, my Hawkeye radar aircraft could be stationed across France and cover almost the entire country with their radars, allowing us to detect virtually any German air movements. At the same time, my helicopters and Viking aircraft would be able to provide protection from attack by U-Boat. All of this could be done from airfields in southern and central England with no problem for my pilots," Yelland responds.

"I agree with Yelland. If Nimitz' aircraft are capable of operating effectively from land, it makes little sense to put the carrier itself in harm's way. As of now, we have had no aircraft carriers scheduled to take part in the operation, as we have assumed that aircraft flying from England itself would be sufficient to take care of our needs. In addition, placing the Nimitz in the Channel with the rest of the invasion fleet would put them at greater risk of being detected and place the carrier in a level of risk I don't think we should wish to place it in," Fraser says.

"I see your point. The question is, if the Nimitz is not going to be part of the invasion fleet, which duties should we assign Yelland to carry out while his pilots are supporting the landings?" Eisenhower proposes.

Yelland speaks up and asks, "Gentlemen, if I may?"

"Go ahead, Admiral," Churchill speaks up again.

"I know we have been discussing multiple tactics to distract from the true target of Overlord, among those being operations off Norway. One proposition I have is that in the weeks leading up to the landings, I transfer my normal air wing to shore, perhaps keeping just a few essential planes, and then load up the Nimitz with a load of aircraft of this time. Enough aircraft could fit on the Nimitz to give the appearance of the full carrier air wings of two to three fleet carriers of this time period. I would head north and begin operations off Norway, striking targets along a certain stretch of the coast, perhaps in concert with at least two US or British carriers. This could not only help wear down the German forces in Norway, but also help give them a greater perception that our target is Norway, not France," Yelland says.

There is silence for a few moments before Admiral Tovvey says, "I think Yelland has a good plan. If the Nimitz is able to assist in our diversionary efforts off Norway while its normal air wing assisting at Normandy, it seems like the best of both worlds to me."

"I agree. I have also recently spoken with Admiral King. We've reached an agreement that following the landings, the Nimitz will finally be transferred back to the Pacific. Until then, I say we put her to good use while we have her," Admiral Cunningham says.

And, I'll end there.

Hope you liked this chapter. Hope you liked the shore leave portion. I don't drink and have never been to a bar, but I've seen enough bar scenes and read enough bar scenes in books to write a decent bar scene, I hope. Also, if you're wondering about the song they were singing, it's a sea shanty called John Kanaka, and is my favorite sea shanty.

Also hope you liked the meeting. I actually recently got a review asking if the Nimitz will still be around for Normandy. The answer is yes, but the ship itself won't be present, just her aircraft, for the reasons discussed in the meeting scene.

Next chapter will cut back to the Pacific. It should be up soon. Until it's up, leave a review, and stay tuned!