The Azores are British territory in WW2
- Thread starter PMN1
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I suppose it would be used as a base for air and naval patrols and a convoy depot. Though to be honest, it would just give the German wolf packs another sealine that British ships are bound to be on.
Long run? I can't see much of a difference in the Battle of the Altantic. Thogh depending on how Portugal loses them(and their African colonies?) you could see a Portugal more sympathetic to Germany ITTL. Though I think Salzaar could look at a map and figure out why it wouldn't be smart to declare war, you might see a Portugese equivilent of the Blue Division.
Long run? I can't see much of a difference in the Battle of the Altantic. Thogh depending on how Portugal loses them(and their African colonies?) you could see a Portugal more sympathetic to Germany ITTL. Though I think Salzaar could look at a map and figure out why it wouldn't be smart to declare war, you might see a Portugese equivilent of the Blue Division.
Salazar did lease bases in the Azores to the Allies IOTL- the ports of Horta and Ponta Delgada and the Lagens and Santana airfields. The agreement was signed in August 1943, and Coastal Command ASW operations out of Lagens began in October. The Azores were also used as a refuelling point for transatlantic USAAF Air Transport Command flights, and I think as a base for destroyers.
If they were British I think this would just start earlier (with the attendant effects on the Battle of the Atlantic) and more ports would be used.
If they were British I think this would just start earlier (with the attendant effects on the Battle of the Atlantic) and more ports would be used.
Interesting bit of trivia.
USN ASW aircraft also operated from the Azores but because the treaty was between Portugal and Britain the aircraft had to carry both USN and RAF national insignia
In short... basing aircraft out fromt he azores would close the air gap for the transatlantic convoys in the early part of the war.. as well as providing a refueling base for teh relatively short legged DE's available (why corvettes were so important originally).
A considerable amount of pressure was placed on the Portugese to allow the use as a base but they refused intil 1943 - it being a breach of their neutrality - so, reduced shipping losses and increased u-boat losses (once the air launched asw weapons were available).
A considerable amount of pressure was placed on the Portugese to allow the use as a base but they refused intil 1943 - it being a breach of their neutrality - so, reduced shipping losses and increased u-boat losses (once the air launched asw weapons were available).
Until the introduction of Very Long Range patrol aircraft the Azores bases wouldnt close the gap. It would make it smaller in the south but where most of the convoys were routed it wouldnt make much difference. Also it wouldnt have been much use for escorts it simply wasnt close enough to the main North America Britain convoy routes. I think it would have been useful but not a game changer until 1943.
Convoy routes - the main routes using the north atlantic were closer to the u-boat bases, by routing south within aircover of the azores then the airgap does shrink substantially alongside the shrinkage of operational time for the u-boats, hence reduced losses.
Totally appreciate that not until a significant number of VLRA's become available that the gap gets closed.
Totally appreciate that not until a significant number of VLRA's become available that the gap gets closed.