Tsingtao Station (a TL-191 idea)

[MacCaulay]

So...I had this weird idea for a short story that I'll never write, but I suppose someone else can take the idea and run with it so long as they thank me in the forward:

What would've been the state of affairs for the German Asiatic Squadron out of Tsingtao? In the World War I of OTL, they made an epic voyage across the Pacific Ocean, battling the French and British navies, detaching a commerce raider into the Indian Ocean, and defeated a Royal Navy squadron off Chile only to make a final stand off the Falkland Islands.

But the strategic situation would be different in a world where Imperial Germany was allied with America. They'd still be in an untenable situation in Asia, but they might want to make a run across the Central Pacific or even North Pacific to get to the American coast.

Thoughts?

[Father Maryland]

Originally Posted by MacCaulay

So...I had this weird idea for a short story that I'll never write, but I suppose someone else can take the idea and run with it so long as they thank me in the forward:

What would've been the state of affairs for the German Asiatic Squadron out of Tsingtao? In the World War I of OTL, they made an epic voyage across the Pacific Ocean, battling the French and British navies, detaching a commerce raider into the Indian Ocean, and defeated a Royal Navy squadron off Chile only to make a final stand off the Falkland Islands.

But the strategic situation would be different in a world where Imperial Germany was allied with America. They'd still be in an untenable situation in Asia, but they might want to make a run across the Central Pacific or even North Pacific to get to the American coast.

Thoughts?

Maybe have something along the lines of the goeben and the ottomans. Have the German fleet escape to Seattle or maybe San Diego and have the fleet be sold to America.

[MrP]

I fear my knowledge of TL-191 is a bit poor. Does America control the Philippines and what is the position of Japan ITTL's WWI? IOTL it was Japanese strength that laid Tsingtao low, but if America and Germany are allied and America controls the PI, the situation's rather different.

[Faeelin]

Originally Posted by MrP

I fear my knowledge of TL-191 is a bit poor. Does America control the Philippines and what is the position of Japan ITTL's WWI? IOTL it was Japanese strength that laid Tsingtao low, but if America and Germany are allied and America controls the PI, the situation's rather different.

The Japanese control the Philippines. They took them in an orgy of violence that makes any student of modern Japan go "Wha?" But yes, this could be fun. Maybe they accidentally run into the fleet steaming towards Hawaii?

[lothaw]

Pretty much the same as OTL I imagine. They're up against the Royal Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy. Even after they won the war in TL-191 they still lost those colonies(I think Germany made Britain give New Guinea back, could be wrong though).

It's possible they could run to the US West Coast, but in the end that really doesn't offer them safety, just a safe port in between doglegs as they'd then have to round South America and cross the Atlantic in Britain's front yard.

[Cythia]

Except in TL-191 the Germans and Yanks had more control of the atlantic. It was that control that kept most Argentine supplies from Britain.

[lothaw]

In both wars the convoys from Argentina to Britain weren't stopped until the end of each war.

[Matt Wiser]

My guess is that the East Asia Squadron made it to the West Coast of the U.S., and then operated under U.S. command out of Pearl Harbor for the duration of the war. No real way to get back to Germany, especially once Argentina goes into the war on the Entente side, so fight alongside your allies until it's all said and done.

[Thande]

Originally Posted by lothaw

In both wars the convoys from Argentina to Britain weren't stopped until the end of each war.

And it took the entry of Brazil into the war on the CPs' side to do it.

[Bill Cameron]

Why is everyone assuming there'd be a German colony at Tsingtao? In the OTL it was acquired rather late and there's no mention of pre-Great War German colonial possessions in the Pacific that I can remember.

Granted, Turtledove is rather formulaic in the series. Aside from the existence of the CSA and North American nations of alt 1914 being armed like the European ones of the OTL 1914, he really doesn't change that much. The western Pacific however is very different with no US possessions beyond the West Coast.

So, why are we assuming there's be a German colony complete with a warship squadron at Tsingtao?


Bill

[MacCaulay]

Originally Posted by Bill Cameron

So, why are we assuming there's be a German colony complete with a warship squadron at Tsingtao?

Cause it'd be cool...duh.

[lothaw]

I think it was mentioned in American Empire that Japan did annex Germany's Pacific colonies but didn't give any details. Wanna say it was a Carsten POV, and you know how informative those are.