Under the guidance of the eager British farmer, Logan and his "British Constable Squad" quickly arrived at the base of the Sandown Patrol, which was actually a small two-story building next to the police station.
Before entering, Logan employed the same tactics, ordering his men to cut off the telephone line to prevent outside communication. Then, he began his deception under the guise of Captain Billy Rold of the 33rd Constable Squad.
"Sergeant Paul Cliff!"
The diminutive patrol leader introduced himself voluntarily. Despite his military experience, his alertness and keenness were obviously not on par with his own lean subordinate. After a cigarette and a few pleasantries, he revealed the strength of the patrol team: comprised of 4 retired soldiers and 16 second-class reservists, excluding the 3 pairs on bicycle patrol, there were 14 men in the barracks. All weapons included outdated Lee-Metford rifles and Lee-Enfield Mk I short rifles, relics fit for a museum. There were no grenades or mines, nor heavy weapons beyond light machine guns.
As for the regular British army stationed at Calverton Corner, the patrol leader informed Logan that their strength was sufficient to handle any dangers within a ten-mile radius. They were equipped not only with anti-aircraft guns but also armored vehicles and powerful trucks. Regarding the building near the cliff with the strange antenna on top, the sergeant admitted ignorance about its purpose. Officers from that unit occasionally came to town to buy liquor but never disclosed their unit number or related matters.
Concerning the armored vehicles and trucks, Logan had already identified them from reconnaissance photos provided by German reconnaissance aircraft before the operation. These vital transport vehicles would be a key factor in the success or failure of the mission. Calverton Corner was flanked by cliffs on one side, making it inaccessible to boats, submarines, or seaplanes. The only airport on the Isle of Wight was located in the northern Newport suburbs, a straight-line distance of 20 kilometers, heavily guarded by an unknown number of troops. Thus, the best rallying point was Bembridge, not far north of Calverton Corner, a little-known small port!
Seeing the patrol leader's lack of suspicion, Logan abandoned his initial hostile intent. He mysteriously informed the sergeant that, according to reliable intelligence, a German spy posing as a British officer was infiltrating Calverton Corner with the intention of sabotaging vital equipment there. Their mission was to apprehend this German spy, but considering the potential for incitement of British soldiers, they decided to capture him by surprise!
In the second year of the war, such a plot was not improbable for any belligerent nation. In Britain, rumors of German spies were more common than gossip at a widow's door. The British military had long issued notices urging vigilance, especially in refraining from divulging military or political secrets to outsiders.
Perhaps life in the small town was too tranquil. After hearing Logan's explanation, Sergeant Cliff enthusiastically offered his full cooperation to the constable's operation. He even expressed a personal desire to give the German spy a sound beating once caught!
While Logan praised the retired British army sergeant highly, inwardly, he sneered: You're surrounded by Germans posing as Brits!
With the assistance of the patrol leader, the operation would be much smoother. Checking the time, Logan instructed the wounded, including Stephenberg, to stay in town and rest. He left behind one Browning machine gun team and five riflemen—just in case the remaining patrolmen showed any signs of resistance, they could be swiftly dealt with.
Thus, Logan could only bring 36 paratroopers with him. Even if their numbers doubled, it wouldn't be enough to launch a direct assault on a fortified position. Their only option was to continue exploiting their acting skills. Perhaps by the end of the war, he could become a football coach and even produce some scripts based on his adventures, becoming a box office hit!
Due to the lack of adequate transportation, Logan and his group had to split into several teams, some riding bicycles, while the British farmer and his carriage continued to be commandeered: transporting machine guns, ammunition, and the heavy backpacks of the "constables." Along the way, Logan instructed the rear-most paratrooper to cut any telephone lines they encountered.
After nearly half an hour of trekking, they arrived at the fabled Calverton Corner.
There was still no light in the sky, and only a few dim lights illuminated the positions in front of the castle. Thus, even from dozens of meters away, Logan couldn't make out the building with the strange antenna. According to Sergeant Cliff, the castle was originally in a semi-abandoned state, with a nominal inheritor and empty pockets. Reluctant to sell the ancestral legacy, the owner resorted to occasional minor renovations every few years. In this situation, being requisitioned by the military might not be a bad thing. If it were destroyed in battle, the government might not pay any war compensation, but it would be a relief for the poor soul.
The positions around the castle were eerily silent, devoid of any movement, with only the howling sea breeze in the air. According to Sergeant Cliff's "intelligence," the castle's perimeter consisted only of single-line trenches and barbed wire, with a sand road in the middle allowing for truck access. Logan thought to himself that deceiving the few guards wouldn't be difficult, but the challenge lay in the nearby anti-aircraft positions: about 500 meters north of the castle was the primary anti-aircraft battery, with roughly a platoon's worth of troops deployed, and three to four hundred meters south was a smaller auxiliary position. While it had only 4 or 5 anti-aircraft guns, estimating the artillery configuration, there were likely around 30 British soldiers. Consequently, if Logan and his men engaged in combat during the capture of the castle, the troops from the two anti-aircraft positions would undoubtedly come to support.
Thinking about those machine guns that could mow down infantry like grass in a horizontal position, Logan's scalp tingled.
Studying the terrain map drawn on the sandy ground with twigs, this newly promoted commander reminisced about his capable lieutenant, Stephenberg, for a full 5 minutes. With a mixture of nostalgia and determination, he made his deployment: Lieutenant Gerhart Scherme leading one machine gun team plus 9 riflemen to ambush near the northern anti-aircraft position. Upon hearing gunfire, they would rush into the battery and swiftly eliminate the gunners. Meanwhile, Corporal Skobb led 5 riflemen to ambush near the southern anti-aircraft position, ready to attack once the battle began. Lastly, 3 machine gun teams and 4 riflemen lay in ambush at the front of the castle, while he himself led the remaining 7 paratroopers and Sergeant Cliff to stride confidently towards the castle.