Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 3- Landings
As the sun rises over Numenor, it's people are waking up, ready to begin their day. All of them are thinking about the distant war, thinking of how their king is doing in his conquest of the Undying Lands, and looking forward to the day they will have life unending.
However, off the northern coast of Numenor, a massive American fleet has assembled off the coast. Hundreds of warships and transports are massed off the coast of Valinor. On the bridge of the USS New Jersey, Admiral Halsey looks through his binoculars at his target. The landing zone.
The plan for the invasion for Numenor called for two landings on the island. The first landing would take place along the north-eastern coast. The landing zone lay at the junction between the Forostar and Orrostar, at a spot where there are no cliffs and relatively clear path between the landing beaches and the interior of the island. The second landing, which would take place 36 hours after the initial landings, would take place at the city of Eldalonde, after the northern landings drew the Numenorean attention to the north-east instead of the west.
The Third Fleet, which comprised all of the ships that had fought the Great Armament (except the Boston, which was still in port at Alqualonde), and transports accompanying it, would support the north-eastern landings. The landings at Eldalonde would be supported by the Seventh Fleet under Admiral Kincaid, which was comprised of 5 older battleships (the New Mexico, the Idaho, the Tennessee, the Maryland, and the West Virginia), 6 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, and 25 destroyers, along with the transports.
The invasion had technically already begun. During the night, landing ships had landed the 5,000 men of the independent 158th Infantry Regiment on a small offshore island that served as a small outpost for the Numenorean military. The post's garrison was small and quickly overwhelmed. The rest of the north-eastern landing force, comprising 2 marine divisions, 7 infantry divisions, the 2nd Armored Division and the 1st Cavalry Division, numbering about 300,000 troops, were ready to land on Numenor's shores. Although the Numenoreans vastly outnumbered the Americans, the Americans' advanced technology, including the hundreds of tanks attached to the American units, would help greatly tip the balance of power in their direction.
A crucial step had also been accomplished the previous day. American submarines had deposited some US Army Rangers onto Numenor with the goal of contacting the Faithful. Almost all of the Faithful of Numenor had gathered in the same place, so the Rangers had been able to contact most of the Faithful. Elendil, their leader, was now fully aware of the impending invasion and had promised that the Faithful would aid the US as best as they could. One of Halsey's carriers stationed near the Faithful's hideaway was ready to provide cover for the Faithful if the King's Men tried to attack them.
Halsey's fleet is already moving to launch the invasion. The carriers have just launched their air arms to launch air strikes across Numenor. The aircraft will be targeting major fortifications, armories, and barracks across the island. At the same time, several of his battleships and cruisers have moved in towards the shore to bombard targets along the coast, including forts and other defensive positions, as well as to bombard a small town on the coast that mostly serves as a military outpost.
Halsey lowers his binoculars and looks into the east, where the sky is getting lighter. Finally, the sun appears over the horizon, lighting up the sea and Numenor.
"Alright. Begin the bombardment. Landings on track to begin in 45 minutes," Halsey orders.
The orders are relayed to the ships dispatched for bombardment duties as the landing ships begin preparing the initial landing craft. After several minutes, the bombardment begins as the Wisconsin fires her first salvo of the day, targeted on a large fort on the coast.
In seconds, other ships have joined in bombarding the various targets ashore. The battleship Washington and two heavy cruisers are dedicated to bombarding the small town amidst the landing zone.
Numenoreans ashore just beginning their morning routines are instantly thrown into chaos as shells begin impacting targets ashore. The Numenoreans had never expected to face such a bombardment, and their structures and fortifications are destroyed very quickly with one or two hits. The Numenoreans manning these outposts scramble to find cover or flee for their lives.
At the same time, in the capitol of Armenelos, the people of the city are just beginning to start their day. They can hear strange sounds, but consider it just high winds or the sound of distant storm.
Then, as people are beginning to enter the streets, they hear something they've never heard before. A very shrill, screaming roar. Looking up, they are stunned to see over a hundred SB2C Helldivers diving on the city.
Armenelos was the major target of the American aircraft, with over a hundred dive bombers and about 50 Avengers assigned to attack the city. Now, the Helldivers are beginning their dives on the city.
On the ground below, the Numenoreans are riveted to the sight, completely unaware of what these things are or the danger they pose. The lead pilot, a Helldiver pilot from the Antietam, was the first to dive, his sights fixated on a major armory not far from the palace.
The Helldiver pilot keeps his eyes focused on the armory as he dives towards it, completely unopposed, completely different to his combat experience in the Pacific. Finally, at 1,600 feet, with his bombsight centered on the armory, the pilot releases his 1000 pound bomb before pulling out of his dive.
As the helldiver levels off and then begins climbing again, the pilot's tail gunner turns back to see their target. A second later, the bomb hits the armory and explodes, destroying about half of the armory instantly, with the rest of the armory beginning to collapse from shock damage within seconds.
The Numenoreans stare in shock at what just happened. Then, two more bombs demolish a small fort on the edge of the city. At this point, it becomes obvious that these strange flying objects are attacking them.
Panic begins to spread through Armenelos as more and more Helldivers begin releasing their bombs. Bombs hit a series of barracks, several more armories, and fortifications along the edge of the city. Several Helldivers attack the palace, demolishing a wing of the palace.
From the pinnacle of the palace, the queen, Miriel, watches as the Helldivers rain bombs down on her city. She had known from the beginning that Pharazon's attempt at war was doomed. Now, she feels that Numenor's penance has come, and the Valar are using previously unknown methods to bring judgment on Numenor.
As the Helldivers are raining fire down on the capitol, other Helldivers and Avengers are bombing other targets across Numenors, as Hellcats and Corsairs search the island for any soldiers to strafe.
Meanwhile, at the eastern coast, the invasion is about to begin. At the junction of Forostar and Orrostar, two bombardment forces are continuing to shell the coast. The battleship Washington, now joined by the Massachusets and Alabama, along with the Guam and several other cruisers, are shelling a major town near the landing beaches while the New Jersey, Wisconsin, and North Carolina are shelling military installations near the coast. At the same time, the Iowa and the South Dakota are further up the coast, shelling the Tower of Sorontil and its surroundings to hinder Numenor's ability to keep track of the fleet's movements.
As the warships are continuing to shell the coast, the first landing boats are beginning to pull away from the transports, heading for the coast. These first landing boats are carrying men of the 1st Marine Division and 5th Infantry Division.
The US had identified 4 separate landing beaches, each one being assigned to a different corps, with each beach named for cars. The I Amphibious Corps was assigned to the northernmost beach, codenamed Buick Beach. The III Corps was assigned to the first beach to the south of Buick, codenamed Cadillac Beach. The VII Corps had the next beach to the south, codenamed Chrysler Beach. The final beach, assigned to the VIII Corps, was codenamed Ford Beach.
The 1st Marine Division's landing craft head for Buick Beach, while the 5th Infantry Division heads for Cadillac Beach. At the same time, landing craft of the VII Corps' 71st Infantry Division and VIII Corps' 28th Infantry Division are loading up their first wave of troops for the landings.
In the Marines' landing craft, the young Marines are anxiously holding their weapons as they watch the shores of Numenor approaching. After Japan had surrendered, they thought they wouldn't have to see combat again. Even though they know the Numenoreans are armed with medieval weaponry, the Marines feel a sense of anxiety as they watch the shores approach.
In the lead landing crafts, platoon leaders begin calling out to their men as they watch the shore get within a hundred yards. The Marines are anxious as they wait for the craft to hit the beach.
Finally, the first landing craft hits the beach, and the front opens. The platoon leader in the craft bellows, "Go, go, go!"
The Marines start running out of the landing craft, yelling at the top of their lungs. In rapid succession, more and more landing craft are hitting the shore and disgorging their Marines. The Hundreds of Marines are storming ashore, all yelling war cries as they run inland.
Inland from the beaches, several Numenoreans are watching in horror as the Marines come ashore. They had been caught up in the naval bombardment, nearly being killed by some shells from the North Carolina. These men are just merchants travelling from town to town. Now, they watch in horror as for the first time ever, against what Numenoreans ever thought possible, a foreign army is landing on Numenor's shores.
The merchants finally manage to shake themselves out of their shock as they realize that the Marines are moving further and further inland. The merchants turn and flee, desperate to spread the alarm that Numenor is being invaded.
On the beaches, several thousand American troops are now ashore as four divisions are being landed. Out at sea, more landing craft are taking aboard troops, and even tanks to transport to the beach. Generals are now beginning to board landing craft to be sent ashore, ready to join their men and start commanding the advance inland.
Across the American fleet, the men are feeling a sense of excitement. Already, thousands of men are ashore, and not a single life has been lost.
The invasion has begun, and so far there is no resistance. If the invasion continues like this, the war will be over quickly.
And, I'll end there.
Next chapter will show the start of combat between American and Numenorean forces. It should be up within a week or so. Until then, leave a review, and stay tuned!
