Operation musketeer, p.1
Operation Musketeer, page 1
Operation Musketeer
Based on a true story
DAVID LEE CORLEY
Copyright © 2019 David Lee Corley
All rights reserved.
CONTENTS
Note From Author
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
Letter To Reader
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Author’s Biography
NOTE FROM AUTHOR
Although Operation Musketeer can be read as a stand-alone novel, it is best understood if read after my novel Sèvres Protocol which is Part One of the Suez Crisis.
PROLOGUE
On July 26, 1956, Gamil Abdel Nasser, the president of Egypt, nationalized the Suez Canal. World leaders were shocked by the new president’s audacious power play and concerned the international waterway might be in danger of shutting down, cutting off Europe’s access to Middle East oil. British and French investors that owned the Suez Canal Company were outraged. Something had to be done.
On October 24, 1956, leaders from Britain, France, and Israel met in secret at a villa in Sèvres, France just outside of Paris. Together they conspired to fabricate a war with Egypt with the objectives of taking control of the Canal and toppling Nasser. The plan required that Israel attack Egypt to put an end to the ongoing Fayeed cross border raids that plagued Israeli settlers and to secure safe passage for Israeli shipping through the Straits of Tiran which was being blockaded by Egyptian naval guns on the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula. As the fighting intensified, the Israelis would advance toward the Canal Zone, threatening international shipping. To protect the Canal, Britain and France would deliver an ultimatum to Israel and Egypt requiring the warring parties to ceasefire and create a sixteen kilometer buffer zone on both sides of the Canal. The Israelis would immediately agree, but the conspirators knew that Nasser could never agree to stop fighting while Israeli troops occupied Egyptian territory. Britain and France would be forced to invade Egypt to protect the Canal and drive a wedge between the two belligerents. The Israeli invasion was called “Operation Kadesh.” The British and French invasion was called “Operation Musketeer.”
As Operation Kadesh draws to an end with Israeli forces occupying most of the Sinai peninsula, our story begins…
“Small wars can turn into big wars…”
Nikolai Bulganin, Premier of the Soviet Union (1955-1958)
ONE
October 31, 1956 - The Red Sea
The HMS Newfoundland was a British Fiji-class cruiser on patrol in the Red Sea, eight miles south of the mouth of the Suez Canal. It was close to midnight and the lookout on the port side was struggling to keep his eyes open. He took a quick sip of tea from his thermos flask. It snapped him awake. He raised his binoculars and gazed into the dark sea. To his surprise, he saw a large object traveling in the opposite direction. He rubbed his eyes and looked again as he turned the focus ring on the binoculars. The dark outline of a ship came into focus. Her running lights were off. He reported it to the watch commander.
The British captain was in his cabin writing a letter to wife when he heard a knock at his door. An ensign informed him that the watch commander was requesting his presence. The captain rose from his desk and followed the ensign to the bridge. “What’s happening, Lieutenant?” said the captain to the watch commander.
“The lookout reported a ship heading out of the bay with its running lights off, Captain,” said the lieutenant.
The captain picked up a set of binoculars and scanned the horizon until he spotted the dark mass. “Humph. Bring her about and let’s have a closer look,” he said.
The British cruiser closed to within fifteen hundred yards and came parallel to the darkened ship – the Egyptian Frigate Domiat. It had just left the port of Adabieh on its way to rendezvous with the Egyptian Frigate Rosetta. The captain of the Domiat was hoping to slip by the British warship unnoticed. “It looks like an Egyptian frigate,” said the captain. “She must have just left port.”
“Shall I sound general quarters, Captain?” said the Lieutenant.
“No,” said the captain. “But have our gun crews direct the main guns toward the ship just in case. I don’t want to give away our intent, but I don’t want to take any chances either. Send a message to the captain of the Diana to cutoff any path of the ship out to sea. I don’t want our mouse escaping.”
The British captain waited until his gun crews sighted their guns at the dark ship.
“Guns are ready, Captain,” said the Lieutenant.
“Good. Signal the ship’s captain. He is to heave-to or be fired upon. Make sure the message is in both English and Arabic. I don’t want any confusion.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Lieutenant sent out a radio signal. The Domiat signaled its acknowledgement of the order in Arabic. The running lights on the Domiat came on and the ship appeared to slow. After a moment, the Domiat went dark once again and turned her four inch main guns toward the British cruiser. “Ah, bollicks!” said the British captain. “All guns fire.”
The eighteen-gun broadside of six-inch shells rocked the Egyptian frigate with multiple explosions. Even in the dark, the British gunners were so close to their target there was little chance of missing.
The Egyptian crew recovered and returned fire, hitting the Newfoundland several times at point-blank-range with their four-inch guns, causing some damage and casualties. The Egyptian frigate was clearly outmatched by the larger British cruiser. Fires broke out on both the Domiat and the Newfoundland. Smoke rose into the sky, shrouding the moon and stars, and reducing visibility. Fire crews on both ships battled the flames. The main gun crews reloaded. The anti-aircraft guns and machineguns fired, raking each ship and creating more chaos.
The second volley from Newfoundland’s main guns badly damaged the hull of the Domiat. “She’s listing badly to port, Captain,” said the Lieutenant, watching through binoculars.
“Any signal from their bridge?”
“No, sir. Not that I can see.”
“What the hell does their captain think he’s going to accomplish, aside from killing his crew?” said the British captain. “Continue firing until he surrenders.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Newfoundland continued to fire on the Domiat, punching large holes into her hull and taking out her main gun turrets. Fire spread through the frigate and its rate of fire slowed to a sporadic trickle.
The battle was joined by the British destroyer HMS Diana. It opened fire as it crossed the bow of the Domiat. Multiple five-inch shells from the Diana’s guns plowed into the frigate’s forward hull just above the waterline. The explosions caused the Egyptian ship to heave upward then down into the water, like a breaching whale.
The damage was too much and the Egyptian crew abandoned ship right before the Domiat turned on her side and sank. The British ships ceased firing and fished sixty-nine surviving Egyptian sailors out of the sea.
It was a very short battle with a violent ending. Nobody ever discovered why the Egyptian captain thought he could do battle with two British warships larger and more modern than his own. He had died in the battle. “What a waste of men,” said the British captain, shaking his head as he watched the drenched and bloodied Egyptian sailors being hauled on board his ship. “Downright insanity.”
Washington D.C., USA
Dwight Eisenhower, the President of the United States, sat in the Oval Office Dining Room. He used his fork to pick the flesh off the bones of a sautéed trout as he listened to his three guests: Secretary of State, J. Foster Dulles, CIA Director, Allen Dulles, and Henry Cabot Lodge, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The news wasn’t good, and Eisenhower had lost his appetite. What he really wanted was another cigarette but that would have been his sixth in less than an hour. He didn’t like the idea of being addicted to anything. It was a weakness. He fingered the lighter his wife had given him and decided to forgo the cigarette until everyone was finished with their meal.
The dining room was understated in its furnishings and decorations. That was the way Eisenhower liked it. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the White House. He loved it, especially its sense of history and the paintings of past presidents. The eyes of the presidents on the walls reminded him that they too were human and had struggled with hard decisions just as much as he did. But there were times when he found the White House too formal and overwhelming. When he first came into office, almost four years ago, he had ordered the Oval Office dining room to be dressed down and made to feel more casual. It was one of his favorite rooms.
A messenger knocked on the door and entered. He handed Allen Dulles a note. The CIA Director read it and nodded a dismissal without reply to the messenger. The messenger left. “The British cruiser HMS Newfoundland and destroyer HMS Diana just sank the Egyptian frigate Domiat in the Red Sea,” he said.
The room fell silent as everyone contemplated the escalations of hostilities in Egypt. “A cruiser and a destroyer against a frigate. I imagine that wasn’t much of a battle,” said Eisenhower with disgust. Damn it, he thought to himself as he set down his fork and lit a cigarette. The first pull of smoke calmed him as he knew it would.
There was only one topic for discussion that day… the Suez Crisis. It see med to engulf everything. Even the presidential election less than a week away took a backseat to the news from the Middle East. The polls said Eisenhower would win by a large margin, but he wasn’t so sure. He didn’t trust polls. The voters could change their minds on a whim and the news of another war involving America’s allies didn’t help his case. But then again, he didn’t care much. War was a terrible thing and far more important than his reelection.
Eisenhower felt this was a critical turning point in history. The two great colonial powers, France and Britain fighting to keep their influence as their empires crumbled; Egypt, a former colony struggling to remain free and shed itself of Western authority. He couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Egypt. After all, America was once a colony and had similar struggles to free itself from its former master.
The big problem was Sir Anthony Eden, Britain’s Prime Minister. He loathed Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egypt’s president, and had secretly attempted to have him assassinated several times. Eisenhower was not a fan of Nasser either, but he understood him and respected his right to govern his country as he saw fit. Nasser had been swept into power after a coup, but had submitted to an election by the Egyptian people which he won overwhelmingly. He was a democratically elected leader. He was also a pain in the ass for the Western powers, stirring up the Middle East with his anti-Western politics and calls for pan-Arab unity. He wanted to be the leader of the Arab nations and used the demonizing of the West to solidify his support. The people of the Middle East applauded Nasser for standing up against the great powers, and the Arab leaders praised Nasser in their speeches, even though they privately thought him foolish.
Eisenhower was honest with himself. He was partly to blame for the situation in Egypt. He was deeply concerned about Soviet influence in the Middle East. When Nasser had circumvented the Western weapons embargo by purchasing a large shipment of Soviet arms from Czechoslovakia, Eden had suggested that Britain and America show their displeasure by slowing down the funding of Nassar’s pet project, the Aswan Dam. Unlike Eisenhower, who was a career military officer, Eden was an experienced statesman and knew how to press Eisenhower’s buttons. Eisenhower was angry with Nasser and agreed to Eden’s plan. In response, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal so he could use the revenue from the ships’ tolls to continue funding the dam’s construction.
British and French investors owned the rights to operate and collect the revenue from the Suez Canal. The canal was also a strategic international waterway. Both Britain and France were dependent on the canal’s continued operation for oil and trade. The idea that the Canal – and with it Britain’s financial fate – was now controlled by Nasser sent Eden through the roof.
Eisenhower thought the nationalization of the Canal by Nasser was a mistake and could cripple Egypt’s economy for years to come. International investment would be closed off to Egypt until the Western investors in the canal were fairly compensated. But Eisenhower recognized Egypt’s right to nationalize assets within its borders even if he thought it a bad idea.
The British and French didn’t see it that way. The Canal was an international waterway and it needed to be protected by the Western powers. “First the allied bombings and now the sinking of an Egyptian frigate. This whole thing is spinning out of control. We need to find a way to stop it before it expands,” said Eisenhower.
“The international community is mostly against British and French interference,” said ambassador Lodge. “They see it for what it is… an attempt by colonial powers to reinsert themselves into the Middle East. International leaders are applying diplomatic pressure. There is a lot of talk in the UN about sanctions against both Britain and France if they don’t stop their attacks against Egypt.”
“And what is the UN’s feeling about the Israelis?” said Foster Dulles.
“They’re condemning the Israelis too, but for different reasons.”
“This whole thing smacks of conspiracy,” said Allen Dulles. “It’s just a little too convenient that the Israelis invade Egypt right after the nationalization of the Canal. They haven’t even used the Canal since Egypt banned their ships.”
“Maybe that’s what they hope to gain,” said the Secretary of State, “a relaxation of restrictions on their shipping.”
“Maybe… but I think their actions are more about giving Egypt a bloody nose. Make ’em think twice about attacking Israel with their new Soviet weapons,” said the president. “But I will admit the Israelis’ timing is somewhat suspicious. Allen, what resources does the CIA have in the area?”
“We have four undercover operatives in the embassy in Tel Aviv. But so far they haven’t discovered anything that looks like a conspiracy with the British or French. I know Naval Intelligence is also working to find information on the Israelis. I can check with them and see if they’ve turned up anything.”
“Probably not a good idea to have you stepping on the Navy’s toes, even for Intelligence. The last thing I need right now is my Intelligence gatherers in a turf fight,” said Eisenhower. “I’ll ask Admiral Burke myself.”
“Of course, Mr. President.”
Algiers, Algeria
At French division headquarters in Algiers, the battalion commanders of the 10th Parachute Division stood around General Jacques Massu as he used several maps to explain Operation Musketeer. “Our mission will be peacekeeping by definition but do not let that fool you. We expect there will be plenty of fighting. We have two objectives. First, separate the Israelis and Egyptians so that the fighting can cease. Second, protect the Suez Canal from damage or occupation by either side. The French and British commanders have agreed to a sixteen-mile neutral zone on either side of the Suez Canal. Neither Israeli nor Egyptian forces will be allowed within that zone.”
“But the Egyptians already have positions inside the Canal Zone,” said Colonel Pierre Chateau-Jobert.
“This is true. They must give them up and move to new positions a minimum of ten miles from the Canal.”
“Have they given any indication that they might do that?” said Lieutenant Colonel Marcel Bigeard.
“Just the opposite. The Egyptians are digging in.”
“Then there will be a fight?”
“Most likely, yes.”
“What are the Intelligence estimates as to the size of the Egyptian forces?” said Bigeard.
“Three hundred thousand all equipped with the latest Soviet weapons.”
“And our forces?”
“Eighty thousand including the British.”
“We will be outnumbered three to one?” said Bigeard.
“It seems so. However… British and French forces will use both naval and aerial bombardment to soften up the Egyptian positions should they elect not to observe the neutral zone.”
“And their air force?” said Bigeard.
“Formidable. They have over two hundred MIG-15s. I have been assured our own air force and the British will annihilate them in the early part of the war.”
“And tanks? The Egyptians have over five hundred tanks and armored cars.” said Bigeard.
“How are we supposed to deal with that many tanks?” said Chateau-Jobert.
“Once their air force has been destroyed, our air force will be free to deal with their tanks and what remains of their navy,” said Massu. “When the proper preparations have been completed, our para forces along with the British commandos will drop deep into the neutral zone and expel whomever is left. At the same time, the British will land a large number of infantry and marine forces at the mouth of the Canal on the Mediterranean side, near Port Said. Our job is to take and hold the key points along the northern sides of the Canal until the British forces can relieve us.”
“How long might that be?” said Chateau-Jobert.
“We are estimating eight to ten days,” said Massu.
