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  1. Optimize the RN for WWII

    And built in Pembroke Dock https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/20/millennium-falcon-exhibition-opens-in-welsh-town-where-ship-was-built

  2. Optimize the RN for WWII

    Because the Star Wars films were shot in British studios Millennium Falcon was built in a Royal Navy Dockyard. ;)

  3. Antwerp to a Successful Market Garden

    As I said earlier: The Kruisschans lock gates are critical; without them the docks cannot be used. The lock gates are 6 miles as the crow flies from the centre of the city (nearer 10 by road) and are on the north bank of the Scheldt. If the Germans are capable of destroying bridges across the...

  4. Antwerp to a Successful Market Garden

    Lets roll forward from September to February

  5. Antwerp to a Successful Market Garden

    But the docks... The critical difference between Antwerp and the earlier parts of the advance is the need to secure and hold the dock areas. The Germans counter-attacked towards the main lock gates with 300 men on the 6th, and the strongpoint near there was not cleared until the 7th. As the...

  6. Antwerp to a Successful Market Garden

    Antwerp was not cleared of Germans on the 4th. The infantry brigade of 11th Armoured were still securing the dock area of Antwerp on the 5th; during the night of the 5th most of a KSLI battalion crossed the Albert Canal but were counterattacked on the 6th including by German tanks. There were...

  7. Antwerp to a Successful Market Garden

    IIRC they did try, but could not sustain a canal crossing - I'll need to check details in Moulton's Battle for Antwerp. The key question is lunge with what? Situation map 6th September https://www.loc.gov/resource/g5701s.ict21093/?r=0.088,0.071,0.488,0.31,0 Guards Armoured is in Brussels with...

  8. 1937-42, yet another alt British Army what-if

    Tanks are the one area where the British Army was behind in quality of weapons. Moving deployment of models a year earlier makes a huge difference - eg Valentines at Arras, Comets in Normandy.

  9. 1937-42, yet another alt British Army what-if

    Radios.

  10. Malaya What If

    Up to a point...

  11. Malaya What If

    Tank shipments to the Middle East second half of 1941 https://rommelsriposte.com/2014/02/23/british-and-us-tank-deliveries-to-egypt-july-1941-to-january-1942/ Obvious unit from the UK would be 22nd Armoured Brigade (or more likely one of its tank battalions)...

  12. Is the 'strategic/terror bombing never worked' argument true?

    Never is a strong word - see for example the immediate aftermath of Hamburg.

  13. Does a more lenient Versailles treaty really prevent the rise of Nazism and WW2?

    The difficulty with this argument is that Austria was supporting Polish militia groups active in Russian controlled Poland. eg Serbia was not unique in looking to support those destabilising neighbouring empires.

  14. Does a more lenient Versailles treaty really prevent the rise of Nazism and WW2?

    And Austrian supported activity in Russian controlled Poland?

  15. What if the first US ground operations in the ETO are augmentation of the 8th Army in the Western Desert with American Division(s)?

    A map to help Naval forces in Benghazi (and even Tripoli) are not much of a threat to shipping traffic to Bizerte.

  16. What if the first US ground operations in the ETO are augmentation of the 8th Army in the Western Desert with American Division(s)?

    Not really. They stood for a month at Buerat, giving them a respite while forcing the British to make a prepared attack. When Montgomery attacked they withdrew and broke contact, reaching the Mareth line within a week. The Afrika Korps was retreating on its base, and could choose when to move...

  17. What if the first US ground operations in the ETO are augmentation of the 8th Army in the Western Desert with American Division(s)?

    And an ultimatum from Montgomery: If ANY Germans/Italians leave North Africa, I will no longer consider you neutral. I can't see a way of avoiding conflict in Tunisia, and a subsequent invasion of Sicily/Sardinia (at least) during 1943.

  18. What if the first US ground operations in the ETO are augmentation of the 8th Army in the Western Desert with American Division(s)?

    Examples from WW1 where it worked well. https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article/1647643/ny-guard-soldiers-broke-hindenburg-line-100-years-ago/

  19. What if the first US ground operations in the ETO are augmentation of the 8th Army in the Western Desert with American Division(s)?

    This is the crux. Tripoli was captured from the east in January 1943, with Rommel retreating West. Why does Rommel not move into Tunisia to secure ports and supply routes; there are 2 great defensive positions (Mareth line and Wadi Akarit) that he could use to hold the Allies. The only thing...

  20. What if the first US ground operations in the ETO are augmentation of the 8th Army in the Western Desert with American Division(s)?

    Probably Torch happens anyway unless you think that Rommel will either surrender in Libya or allow himself to be interned in Tunisia. The obvious option for him is a fighting retreat into Tunisia; the Allies will have to invade NW Africa to get at him. The key question for the USA is how long...
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