Images/Photos of YOUR Favorite Alternate History

[HailCaesar]

USAF F-4 Phantoms tangle with North Korean MiG-19s over South Korea. The massive missile load gave the F-4 the advantage in the Fighter Escort missions until the introduction of the F-5G Tiger and eventually the F-20 Tigershark.
-HC

 

[HailCaesar]

A Fireteam of US Marines cautiously approaches the Bluefields Airport in Nicaragua. Securing the Airport will allow heavy weapons and equipment to be delivered to the assaulting forces by airlift.
-HC

 

[HailCaesar]

US Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters destroy Soviet supplied vehicles during the Battle of Bluefields.
-HC

 

[HailCaesar]

US M60s from the 3rd Infantry Division wait to Ambush oncoming East German T-55s during the desperate battle of Frankfurt.

An East German T-55 withdrawing after the rest of his platoon was wiped out.

 

[Sport25ing]

Portugal special pt2 (again, just aircrafts)

"Goring's Reich" An Alternate World War II and Gorings Reich (Part 2) Heartland versus Rimland by @galveston bay​

One of the few survivors of the Aeronáutica Militar in Azores, April 1942

With the full Spanish invasion of Portugal, in March 1942, the almost entirety of the Portuguese government and armed forces were destroyed in continental europe, with very few in its colonial territories been either disbanded and interned or either returning home during the ceasefires or joining the small Portuguese armed forces-in-exile (or even some of the foreign ones, as some did in the colonies, joining either the South Africans (Whites) or the Brazilians (Black, with very few whites). Said armed forces were so small, that their true purpose during the entire war was just occupation of both Azores and Madeira Archipelagos, freeing the initial British Royal Marines send to occupy the Azores, plus their air patrols defending said islands for Axis attacks (Only about 15 Glosters Gladiators of the Esquadrilha Expedicionária de Caça Nº 2 survived as the whole Aeronáutica Militar survived, but after a few months, upgraded with Kittyhawks and even later Spitfires).

Their small size also prevented them to be used even during the liberation of their own country in May 1945 during Operation Sledgehammer, with the government only landing in the end of the same month, after the liberation of the second largest city, Porto, by the Canadian forces. Nonenless, for that point on, their hold for an infantry brigade to join the British 2nd Army and a Wing (in RAF terms) of aircrafts for tactical support during the campaign on northern Spain and southern France.

Decisive Darkness: What if Japan hadn't surrendered in 1945? by @The_Red​

CAC Boomerang prepared to be transfered to the Portuguese, early 1946

It was only after the drop of the third nuclear bomb on Kokura that both Portugal and Spain* declared war against the Empire of Japan, and the Ippons, in retaliation, occupied the territory of Macau and disbanded the civilian government in Dili and integrated it into the former Dutch territory of West Timor. While their most famous action as a Destroyer Squadron of updated Douro-class bombarding the shores of Honshu island on Operation Coronet, the near entirety of the Portuguese forces were stationed in Australia/New Guinea (an small detachment was sent at "lightning speed" to Macau as the Japanese collapsed there). The Portuguese Expeditionary Fleet was the first unit to enter combat missions, joining the Commonwealth in Oboe 4 (the Allied invasion of Java), with the Portuguese Expeditionary Air Contigent (PEAC) been close second, after the capture of the airfields. Once Java was liberated, for Salazar pressure, another invasion force was made to liberate Timor island, been the Oboe 7, been launch a week after X-Day in Honshu.

As Portugal was never occupied and didn't need their resources for reconstruction, they would buy much of the military equipment in the theather, giving a small bust to the economy of Australia. One was the buying of the best and latest CAC Boomerangs fighters from the RAAF (in fact, the PEAC was the second and only operator of Boomerangs outside of the RAAF). But there was also controversy about the payments, as there are some reports that some of the gold used in some purchase might have been nazi gold stolen from the jewish population, but this was yet to be confirmed.

*While during Operation Barbarossa, a few Portuguese joined the Spanish Blue Division with no independent unit, it was the reverse, with Spaniards volunteer in the Portuguese units sent (the closest single Spanish unit been a civilian medic team), with some veterans of the Blue Division once again taking arms and fighting against the Japanese. Spain would also send as many economic support as possible to the Western Allies.

 

[HailCaesar]

It would be interesting to see the Boomerang in European service. I wonder if it would perform similarly to the Polikarpov I-16 from earlier in the war. I mean that in terms of comparative performance against later designs, not head-to-head competition between the two airframes.

-HC

 

[HailCaesar]

One of the key aspects to a successful Operation Eagle Claw, was seising the Airfield at Manzariyeh in Iran.


"Rodriguez could hear his heartbeat as though it were in his helmet. Every bump of the ride had his blood pumping harder. Just when he thought he would explode, he felt the helo flare and set down on the ground as the ramp came down, unleashing the raging hounds inside. Lieutenant Beck hit the ground first and immediately headed to his left, north of the helo, to establish the assembly area for the assault force. Rodriguez was right behind him. However, he stopped just past the ramp to ensure that the rest of his squad dismounted without trouble. If anyone were to get hung up or fall down, Sergeant Carlos Rodriguez would be there to ensure they got out of the chopper and were ready for the assault."

 

[Sport25ing]

CH timeline

HMS Erin been prepared for new owner, mid-1920

After the Great War, many of its participants began to reduce their armed forces for a new peacefull world. But South Africa had other plans. With the annexation of the German South West Africa colony gave way to more resources and manpower, but also more area to protect and expand their influence. Therefore, the Armed Forces Expansion 1920 was formed, with the firsts aircrafts, tanks and ships been introduced into the SA Armed Forces.

As the German raider SMS Königsberg had also shown, the African naval supply routes were vulnerable most of the time by enemy raiders unless the RN send some of their own ships for protection, but as also shown in Coronel, this could backfire in some way. Therefore, Cape Town decision to increase the Navy size wasn't a bad one, althought with the end of the Great War, plus rumours of a upcoming naval treaty might force the SAN to not expand to rapidly. To that end, a single battleship, one cruiser squadron and some older destroyers were seen as enough with every other navies began to concern.

The battleship HMS Erin (renamed HMSAS Natal), two Active-class scout cruisers (HMS Fearless and HMS Active - renamed HMSAS Waterberg and HMSAS Bloemfontein) and twelve Admiralty M-class destroyers, plus one of the King Edward VII class pre-dreadnoughts (HMS Zeelandia - renamed HMSAS Crocodile) bought as a training ship. All ships were refited and modernized to early 1930's, were most were converted both cruisers and all destroyers were converted to other rules while their replacements entered service. All but three M-class (one lost to a collision, two used for spare parts) would serve in World War 2, seen relegated to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean while more modern ships served in the others theathers.

Piper P-73* Beaufighter been built in the US, 1943

When the British Purchasing Commission toured to the US to buy more American-made military equipment, some companies (like Grumman in the case of the Spitfire) proposed building British-design equipment to supplement both the British and it's allies demands, which it was accepted. In terms of aircrafts, besides Spitfires (initially by Grumman, but later by Kaiser-Fleetwings as P-50 Spitfires (Spitcats for the Grummans ones), with other further modified as P-74 Bobcats), both the Beaufighter (by Piper) and Wellington (by Kaiser-Fleetwings - the only that saw the production stop during the war as equal/better US-designs began production) were also produced by the US Shadow Factories, which also help them training for the mass-production of their own designs later own.

*This designation was initially intended for the Spitfires kept in US service, but cancelled to prevent confusion and then re-used for the Beaufighter.

Ex-ARVN American-made M113s in use during Vietnam’s war against the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, in December 1978/January 1979

The one of the biggest ironies of the world. The Vietnamese forces (with most of the equipment been UN-captured) invading the socialist Cambodia led by the most extremist/violent elements of the Khmer Rouge, and said forces (plus others anti-Vietnamese grous forming the Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF)) been protected by the UN forces in the area, estabishing the Cambodian Peace Zone (CPZ) along a swathe of Cambodian territory roughly parallel to the Thai border.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

From Exocet - the Effects of a different Falklands by Nevran

The HMS Invincible after being hit by an Exocet missile fired by an Argentine Super Etendard fighter bomber (May 25, 1982). Its pilot, Lieutenant Commander Roberto Curovic, made a mistake and identified the carrier as the HMS Hermes.

"The killing of 28 of the sailors onboard, including HRH Prince Andrew, was a profound blow to both the morale and the strategic position of the British armed forces".

 

[Sport25ing]

Operation FS: Japan's Final Strike by @BiteNibbleChomp​

The Indian Platoon from Fiji (1934-1940), the first of two Indian units formed from Fiji.

Shortly after the Japanese invasion of Fiji island, and consequenced occupation, the Japanese began to recruit the Indians that already living in the island alongeside Fijians and the few white Britishs and New Zealanders that refused to leave the island. Therefore, Hideki Tojo, alongeside Subhas Chandra Bose, send orders for the formation of the Fiji Battalion of the Indian National Army (INA) and use them more of a propaganda tool that of a military unit, althought they were given most of the weapons captured by the New Zealanders forces that defended the island. While given better treatement that by the previous "owners", many men of this voluntary force saw that the Japanese were only intended to replace the British colonizers with themselves (as shown with the start of the teaching of the Japanese language in schools), which end up with a much smaller force that the newer occupiers asked for. This also became evident when the US landed in April 1943, with most but the diehard surrendering or disappear into the jungle as soon they got the chance.

Fallen on the March - the world after a German victory at Stalingrad by @Onkel Willie​

USS Franklin and USS Marblehead in NY, 1945, prior to the cruiser been send to dock for a short modernization

With King Zog I returning to Tirana in the fall of 1946, a short program of rearmament of the new Royal Albanian Armed Forces was made while units were made from soldier either from the Italians or Greek armed forces or around the world in the Albanian diaspora (a few odd Turk did also volunteer). While the armament was intended to fight against the Germans in the Balkan region, most was in fact used against the communists partisans (in which the Allies turned an eye and mostly ignored). Most the said equipment given were near second-rate, still great in certain circustances in the front line, but nothing to use constantly due to might become obsolencese very fast, as many time it happens in war time. Such as the M4 Sherman (75mm) for the single armoured brigade, as by now, both the Allied units in the frontline have (for the Shermans) either the 76mm Easy 8 or the Firefly. It was also the case for the Air Force (all six squadrons with P-51D Mustangs, still a great fighter in good hands, but by now mostly replaced by either the H/L/M variants or by jets) and by the Navy (with eight Gleaves-class destroyers in two destroyers squadrons, plus the old (even with modernization program) Omaha-class scout cruiser USS Marblehead, now the RAlN Tiranë as the navy flagship).

A True and Better Alamo Redux by @Fearless Leader​

USS Saratoga (CV-3) burning after the First Naval Battle of Wake Atoll

With the sinking of USS Saratoga, the works of the shipyard next to the one were CV-2 was build submitted a request on the 1st of January, 1942 that the USS Cabot (CV-16), one of the newest Essex-class currently been built, had it name changed to USS Saratoga, in honor of the sunken ship. Navy Secretary Frank Knox agreed to the demand, and in mid-January, the Cabot was now rename Saratoga, the sixth ship to bare its name in the USN.

 

[Sport25ing]

Can it Carry Bombs? by @whatisinaname​

Henschel Hs 297 Föhn been fired

While the Fliegerfaust (or Luftfaust) was one of the most common cheapest AA rockets, two others were also, been the Taifun and the Hs 297 Surface-to-Air unguided rockets (the bigger missiles, such as the Wasserfall, Hs 117, Rheintocher and Enzian, while promissing, were put on hold). They both would fire salvos of rockets against enemy aircrafts (or any friendly aircraft caught in said salvo) - the Hs 297 against low flying ground-attack aircrafts (and if close enough, to ground targets) while the Taifun was design against heavy bombers. Both weapons would be the pain of the Allied pilots alongeside the jet fighters and a new type of arrow shell from the 105mm Flak guns in which they wouldn't be a need for large calculations against the aerial target, helping with a greater rate of fire (another type of arrow shell was made for a two smoothbore variants of the Krupp K5 railway gun, named K5 Glatt.)

Italian Major Adriano Visconti of the ANR

In early/mid-1945, several Italians pilots (including Major Adriano Visconti, the most famous ace of the ANR) went to Germany to initially be trained on the Me-163 Komet. But as soon they have arrived, the Komet program was already cancelled and said aircrafts forbidden to be flown, with the resources sent for the Me-262C series. For a while, they sat in Germany doing nothing until a decision was made in the Luftwaffe to train them for the Me-262A-1a while the Germans would receive the brand new Ta-183 and Me-362 fighters. Two Italians would die from training as they were unfamiliar with the jet, but the rest would pass, and their aircrafts (with the ANR roundel, plus their own version of a shark mouth). Their combat debut off the ANR 262's would be against US heavy bombers intended for an synthetic oil factory in southern Germany in early October 1945, with a total of 20 bombers shoot down, plus seven fighters, against three losses (one pilot killed). Visconti himself would claim two bombers and a single Mustang, with a third damaged bomber.

Sidenote: To help with resources, all production lines of Italians-made aircrafts were cancelled, and while older and outdated aircrafts (excluding transports) were almost imediatly replaced, others (like the M.C.205 fighters) were slowely replaced with later Bf-109G's and older Bf-110G's with He-219 Uhu's.

 

[Sport25ing]

Decisive Darkness: What if Japan hadn't surrendered in 1945? by @The_Red​

Pilots of the No.31 SAAF Squadron last minute discussion before entering their aircraft, Italy 1945

Off all Commonwealth members, South Africa was the one that contributed less to the fight against Japan. While their naval bases and docks (including some brand news) were useful for the Eastern Fleet, plus many SA-built equipment was also sent (from boots to 250tons barges), it was only in late 1944 that South Africa truly contributed with their own forces (excluding any individual men in any Allied unit or sailors already present in any RN ship - in fact, the very first SA killed by the Japanese died onboard HMS Repulse, on December 1941).

HMSAS Barbrake (an boom defence vessel) was the very first true South African "unit" that arrive to the Indian Ocean, on November 1944, and little by little, more and more arrive to fight in SEAC, such as the 7th SAAF Squadron, flying Spitfires. But their most famous contribution were the two heavy bombers squadrons (and their flight of Dakota transports). As the need for more crewmen to operate the B-24 Liberators grew, the Commonwealth requested to the South African government to allow the crew of both No.31 and 34 SAAF Squadrons to be send to the Pacific campaign. With this, the No.34 was send to Burma to join the RAF squadrons present, while the No.31 would join the Tiger Force in southern Kyushu (they were relocated once enough airfields became available). The main difference that can distinguishe between an SA aircraft from any other in the Pacific, regardless of the frontline, was the light orange color of the SE/Pacific roundel of the RAF/Australians/Canadians instead of Blue.

Corpsman Hitler at your service!

One of the most bizarre stories of World War Two, that the nephew of the Austrian angry paintor, Adolf Hitler, would join their enemy navy! But it was what it happen, when William Patrick Hitler, joined the USN on March 6, 1944, as pharmacist's mate, and even received it's first Purple Heart prior to Operation Coronet.

Fearing of another mass attack (and the near half a million of Purple Hearts given on just X-Day alone) similar of what happen in Operation Majestic, every non-essencial ships in other oceans and seas were sent to join the preparations for Y-Day (Hitler was onboard one such vessel). There, he helped in medical care onboard USS Newark (CL-108), and it was were its actions of saving many men of the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850), plus from other warships present, as the kamikaze hit their medic bay, made him earn (alongeside the rest of the medic staff) both the Navy Medal and the Legion of Merit.

HMS Nelson preparing to join the BPF, late February 1946

Due to its low speed (been uncapable of perform escort duties with others capital ships without hindurance), HMS Nelson was send to the Eastern Fleet to act as the Flagship of the same in mid 1945 to early 1946, taking action from Operation Livery to the short Operation Mailfist. As the Japanese presence became rarer in the South East Asia, and with the need of big guns of Honshu, Nelson transfer its flagships duties to HMS Queen Elizabeth, as it's 15inch guns were enough for Operations Oboe, and after a short and quick refit and resupply in Sydney, it joined the rest of the British Pacific Fleet at Seeadler Harbor, Manus atoll, in the Admiralty Islands. It would join with the slow US battleships line in bombarding the Honshu Islands in the days prior up to Y-Day. It was on Y-Day+1 that its catalog of damage would increase with two D5Y1 Myojo Kai "Ruby"* hitting the starboard side of the ship (the first barely damaged the ship outside of destroying the anchors; the second hit the top of nrº3 turret, killing everyone inside said turret, plus a few of the AA battery). The rest of the japanese squadron was shoot down by FAA Hellcat F.Mk.III**. Still wounded, HMS Nelson still kept bombarding Japanese positions until Y-Day+3, when with was sent back to Seeadler Harbor for temporary repair before going to Darwin for more permanent ones. It would return in May 1946 for more shore bombardment until VJ day, were it would go back to Scapa Flow to be decomissioned after a very long naval carreer.

*single-seat kamikaze derivate of the D3Y (with jettinson undercarriage), itself an wooden-made derivative from Aichi D3A, with straight tapered wings and lenghtened fuselage for improve stability; some with two 20mm cannons, but may depended of aircraft (others with single and more without any).
**F6F-6

 

[jack_donaghy_is_the_shado]

Decisive Darkness: What if Japan hadn't surrendered in 1945? by @The_Red​

View attachment 857169
Pilots of the No.31 SAAF Squadron last minute discussion before entering their aircraft, Italy 1945

Off all Commonwealth members, South Africa was the one that contributed less to the fight against Japan. While their naval bases and docks (including some brand news) were useful for the Eastern Fleet, plus many SA-built equipment was also sent (from boots to 250tons barges), it was only in late 1944 that South Africa truly contributed with their own forces (excluding any individual men in any Allied unit or sailors already present in any RN ship - in fact, the very first SA killed by the Japanese died onboard HMS Repulse, on December 1941).

HMSAS Barbrake (an boom defence vessel) was the very first true South African "unit" that arrive to the Indian Ocean, on November 1944, and little by little, more and more arrive to fight in SEAC, such as the 7th SAAF Squadron, flying Spitfires. But their most famous contribution were the two heavy bombers squadrons (and their flight of Dakota transports). As the need for more crewmen to operate the B-24 Liberators grew, the Commonwealth requested to the South African government to allow the crew of both No.31 and 34 SAAF Squadrons to be send to the Pacific campaign. With this, the No.34 was send to Burma to join the RAF squadrons present, while the No.31 would join the Tiger Force in southern Kyushu (they were relocated once enough airfields became available). The main difference that can distinguishe between an SA aircraft from any other in the Pacific, regardless of the frontline, was the light orange color of the SE/Pacific roundel of the RAF/Australians/Canadians instead of Blue.


View attachment 857170
Corpsman Hitler at your service!

One of the most bizarre stories of World War Two, that the nephew of the Austrian angry paintor, Adolf Hitler, would join their enemy navy! But it was what it happen, when William Patrick Hitler, joined the USN on March 6, 1944, as pharmacist's mate, and even received it's first Purple Heart prior to Operation Coronet.

Fearing of another mass attack (and the near half a million of Purple Hearts given on just X-Day alone) similar of what happen in Operation Majestic, every non-essencial ships in other oceans and seas were sent to join the preparations for Y-Day (Hitler was onboard one such vessel). There, he helped in medical care onboard USS Newark (CL-108), and it was were its actions of saving many men of the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850), plus from other warships present, as the kamikaze hit their medic bay, made him earn (alongeside the rest of the medic staff) both the Navy Medal and the Legion of Merit.

View attachment 857171
HMS Nelson preparing to join the BPF, late February 1946

Due to its low speed (been uncapable of perform escort duties with others capital ships without hindurance), HMS Nelson was send to the Eastern Fleet to act as the Flagship of the same in mid 1945 to early 1946, taking action from Operation Livery to the short Operation Mailfist. As the Japanese presence became rarer in the South East Asia, and with the need of big guns of Honshu, Nelson transfer its flagships duties to HMS Queen Elizabeth, as it's 15inch guns were enough for Operations Oboe, and after a short and quick refit and resupply in Sydney, it joined the rest of the British Pacific Fleet at Seeadler Harbor, Manus atoll, in the Admiralty Islands. It would join with the slow US battleships line in bombarding the Honshu Islands in the days prior up to Y-Day. It was on Y-Day+1 that its catalog of damage would increase with two D5Y1 Myojo Kai "Ruby"* hitting the starboard side of the ship (the first barely damaged the ship outside of destroying the anchors; the second hit the top of nrº3 turret, killing everyone inside said turret, plus a few of the AA battery). The rest of the japanese squadron was shoot down by FAA Hellcat F.Mk.III**. Still wounded, HMS Nelson still kept bombarding Japanese positions until Y-Day+3, when with was sent back to Seeadler Harbor for temporary repair before going to Darwin for more permanent ones. It would return in May 1946 for more shore bombardment until VJ day, were it would go back to Scapa Flow to be decomissioned after a very long naval carreer.

*single-seat kamikaze derivate of the D3Y (with jettinson undercarriage), itself an wooden-made derivative from Aichi D3A, with straight tapered wings and lenghtened fuselage for improve stability; some with two 20mm cannons, but may depended of aircraft (others with single and more without any).
**F6F-6

Was RFK onboard the Kennedy when she was hit?

 

[Sport25ing]

Was RFK onboard the Kennedy when she was hit?

IDK in the real story, but it might have

 

[Sport25ing]

Comrade Harps
(this all 'Legends' - it might be part of his story, might not)

One of the very first Grumman XP-74A Bobcat sent to the RAF for evaluation, mid-1943

As Grumman build their Spitfires (designated P-50) in the American Shadow Factories with the help of Supermarine in the UK, they would in parallel, start development of a more advanced version with laminar wings and a packard-built Griffon engine as XP-74. Been ahead of the British planned Supermarine Spiteful, it would lead to its cancellation and more of its resources would be spread on others projects*. Meanwhile, the USAAF would accept the new fighter as the P-74A Bobcat, and they would fly over European skies in January 1944.

7,591 Bobcats (of which about 4,773 were kept in US service) were produced until the end of their production in August 1945. There where two reasons for early cancellation of the Bobcat while the US was still at war against the Japanese:

1. Pressure from the US Navy to subcontract the manufacture of the Spitcat to Kaiser company (which lead to the cancellation of the B-27 Wellington), and the preference of the P-50 over the P-74.
2. Dislike of USAAF pilots of the "Americanized" Spitfires compared to the more truly US-built fighters, like the Thunderbolt, Mustang, Corsairs, etc (In fact, many saw the Bobcat as a waste of resources).

Therefore, it only saw limited service in the frontlines in Europe (in a ironic twist, it was the most common USAAF fighter present in the Allied occupation of Western Austria from 1944 to 1946). Of the remaining 2,818 aircrafts, 100 each were sent to Lend Lease to both the Free France and Mexico (France been the biggest operator in Europe and Mexico in the Pacific), 45 sent to Venezuela (only for home defense - supplementing the P-40K's and replacing the still existing Boeing P-34Cs and Gloster Gladiators) and the remaining sent to the Socialist Union, were they were mostly used as interceptors.

Kaiser, while it did not built another Bobcat for the USAAF (and Lend Lease), modified its airframe for naval use as the XKF-1 Rapier (as it was unable to use the Bobcat name). The reason for the development of this fighter was that after Operation Titan (the UN invasion of Japanese Southern Korea), the USN became aware of the Japanese development of both rocket and jet-powered interceptors and "special attack" (kamikaze) aircrafts. To counter such threats, initially, they bought P-80 Shootings Stars for rthe USMC (with the TO-1 designation). But these were land-based fighters and the Navy still didn't possessed carrier-based jet fighters in time for Operation Coronet (but they refused to buy British-made De Havilland Sea Vampires). After an evaluation with all fighters available (both newest USN and USAAF), the navalised Bobcat (Rapier) was choosen, even though Kaiser never built carrier-capable aircraft before, but still, they have enoughs pros: design came from Grumman (with an airframe stressed to typical Grumman "Iron Works" standards), highest speed and rate of climb from a supplier with a proven track record (in ship building) at completing projects ahead of schedule and on budget. Therefore, 500 were ordered to Kaiser to be built, and by the time of VJ, it failed the objective by 13 aircrafts (with 487 built). Of these 18 were photo-recon KF-1P and 36 were nightfighting KF-1N.

Eight variants were built (Five from Grumman, three from Kaiser):

• P-74A - Fighter-Bomber
• P-74B - Nightfighter version of A with APS-4 ASH radar (attached to the wing in a similar way to the USN Corsairs and Hellcats), plus more powerful engines, a small fin fillet, more internal and external fuel (from a Hellcat-style central drop tank) and four 20mm cannons replacing the six .50 Machine Guns.
• P-74C - Fighter-Bomber
• P-74D - Nightfighter version of C with same modifications as B, excluding the radar, in which it was replaced by an APS-6.
• XP-74E - Fighter-Bomber with P-51-style ventral cooling system, taller fin, larger fin fillet and contra-rotaing propellers (two built)
• FK-1 Rapier - Navalised version
• FK-1P - Photo-reconnaissance version of FK-1
• FK-1N - Nightfighter version of FK-1

258 nightfighters of the P-74 were built as a interim, while the P-61 program was running into dificultines, while not enough P-73 Beaufighters were been built. All but the S.U. also received this version.

*This would include excellent projects, such as the Hawker Typhoons and Tempests and Gloster Meteors, but also to some questinable, such as fighter-bombers versions of Boulton-Paul Defiant (lucky, as send to the Socialist Union in Lend Lease)

The 'American Scouts' of the South African 1st Infantry Division, with a trophy from East Africa.

While the Eagle Squadrons were gaining fame in the skies over Europe, other military personnel from other branches also wanted to fight against fascism. While many wanted to join either the British or Canadian units in Europe (it was even proposed to form the 60th Infantry Regiment, taking inspiration from the 18th century 60th (Roayl American) Regiment), their lack of actions lead many Americans to instead request transfer to the South African Army.

South Africa was taken somehow by suprise with the swelling of foreign volunteers from neutral nations, but instead of shooting down their spirit of fighting, they instead ressurected former Boer volunteers units, plus formed new units, to cope with the new arrivals, such as:

• Scandinavian Corps* - Mostly Swedish, with Finnish that refused to co-operate with the Axis after June 1941 (Company size) - attached to 2nd Infantry Division
• American Scouts - Disbanded on 1st January 1942 (Company size) - attached to 1st Infantry Division
• White Russian Corps** - Grew in size with Baltic escapees after said nations joined the war on the Axis side (Company, later battalion size) - attached to 1st African Division
• Portuguese Battalion - Mostly from either Portuguese Angola or Portuguese Mozambique (Battalion size) - attached to 1st African Division, later transfered to 7th Motorised Brigade
• Garibaldi Legion - Anti-Fascist Italians, only force that didn't saw combat in Africa, disbanded after Italian Capitulation (Company size) - attached to 1st Infantry Division, later transfered to 4th Infantry Division***
• Greek Battalion - with a echelon of Armenian, formed in August 1941 (Battalion size) - attaced to 2nd Infantry Division, transfered to 1st after Garibaldi Legion got disbanded.

(all also got transfered to the 3rd Infantry Division at some point for rest)

All units fought with extreme bravery wherenever they were sent to the frontline, participating in nearly all battles excluding the Northwest European Campaign, and were are one with the most interessing notes.
- The 'Scadinavian Corps' was one of the units that got stuck in the 2nd Siege of Tobruk, fighting against the Bulgarian Desert Expedition, and were one the units kept in West Austria after the August Ceasefire.
- The 'American Scouts' fought from East African Campaign up to Operation Crusader, got disbanded on the first day of 1942, but still was attached to the 4th ID.
- The 'WRC' was heavilly mauled with Rommel second push until its final stop at Mersa Matruh.
- The 'Portuguese Battalion' was the only foreign unit involved in the invasion of Madagascar
- The 'Garibaldi Legion' was the only SA unit that never enganged in Africa, been kept for guard duties, or send to secondary fronts, like in Operation Exporter (Syria-Lebanon Campiagn), but later agreed to be transfer to the 4th Infantry Division and nearly got mauled. After the Italian Capitulation, they agree to disband and to be transfered to the Italian Co-Belligerent Army.
- The 'Greek Battalion' also got stuck in the 2nd Siege of Tobruk, and were the first unit to have ground contact wit friendly forces during Rommel rout.

*Sidenote: Refused to join the RAF, Carl Gustaf von Rosen (an Swedish-born pilot, nephew of Carin Göring, second wife of Hermann Göring!) would instead join the SAAF and once again fight against the Italians in both African campaigns, flying twin-engined bombers. Unlike many of the white personnel, he actually cared about both the natives and the others races that he faced, threat them with respect and with a friendly tome. In fact, he was the only SA envoy to help the Ethiopians to establish their own Ethiopian Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
** The White Russian comunity had one of the most confused backgrounds from 1939-1946, with military forces in the Axis/Berlin Pact (Europe), Axis/Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Alliance (or GEACPA - Pacific - formed after the August Ceasefire) and in the Western Allies (many in SA, but also individuals in other forces)
***With the Japanese Campaign, South Africa had to send forces to help stop their advance in South East Asia. Both the Garibaldi Legion and the American Scouts (form into the 'independent' 78 Infantry Company on the first day of 1942) were sent to stop hold the Burma Road. While they didnt stop their advance, they did hold all most of the units returned to India, losing a quarter of their men.

An M2A3 Light Tank during evaluation by the Yugoslavian delegation, early 1939.

The Kingdom of Yugoslavia, like many other European nations, were seen the storms of war aproaching, and like many others European nations, they went on a shopping spree, trying to buy as many equipment as possible. They sucessefully bought (as examples, but not the entire list) two dozens of PZL P.24 fighters from Poland, an battalion worth of Renault R35's light tanks and even got the license to locally built Hawker Hurricanes and Bristol Blenheims, while their own indigenous IK-3 was also became rolling out of the factory. But still, it wasn't enough. Excluding the Dornier Do-17Ka's and a flight of Arados Ar 196L's, Germany wouldn't sell anything and the ones that did, its was heavily stalled, and the same thing happens with the rare Italians orders as well, with not a single SM.79S (S from Slavic - an bomber only variant) been delivered. Therefore, it was decided to cross the sea to expand their horizons.

In the US, they wouldn't be as disapointed as in Europe, as while in the Old Continent, it was new, but slow to arrive, it was the opposite in the Americas. Even so, as no other option (most of the equipment was to be used as interim), the Yugoslavian delegations began to search. Prior to the April War, the following had arrived to the Kingdom:

• 60 Brewster B-339F Buffalos (replaced most of the Fairey Fury fighters)
• 40 M2A3 Light Tanks (replaced most of mg-armed Renault FT tanks)
• 10 M2 Medium Tanks (not the M2A1, mind you! - used as command tanks for the M2A3 LT)
• 40 Northrop A-17 (USAAF surplus, not export version)
• 10 Beechcrafts 17 (as liason aircraft, replacing other aircraft in same rule)
• 10,000 small arms (including, but limited to: Enfields M1917, M1917 Lewis and Colt-Vickers M1915)

Even so, it wasn't enough to stop the Axis members from simple counquer the entire nation in a week, and many off the surviving American equipment was distributed between themselves (the only surviving B-339F Buffalos, for example was send to Finland). Other US equipment intended for Yugoslavia (such as Seversky P-35 and M2A4 Light Tanks) were instead acquired by the British, and as they view many of the equipment as outdated, kept most for training or colonial use. But with was with both French and Yugoslavian money that would help the US to become an juggernaut in arms, as many factories around the nation had to be built, plus contracts, plus jobs, to furfill both nations needs, so many in the United Nations would need to thanks those pockets for saving their skin.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

From It's A Long Way To Nagasaki

Japanese medium bombers Mitsubishi G4M Betty during a raid against Hong Kong,

 

[Sport25ing]

More Comrade Harps - i've did not thing of much else this week

Spanish Republicans tankers of the 280th Guard Tank Division (Spain) prior to the Second Battle of Kiev

After the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, many of its foreign fighters wanted to return to their home nation, but many weren’t well received due to their home nation been hostile to the Socialist forces, while others outright expelled them. Many would either settle back in Spain or went to the S.U. (or any other nation under the Moscow Pact). With the Axis launching Operation Barbarossa, many former members of the International Brigades in the SCW formed once again the same units, but upgraded to from a battalion to Corps size force (depending of said force). Other volunteers that couldn’t form enough manpower to form their own units were instead integrated into the closest and friendliest racial unit (for example, not enough Iranians (that escaped the British during the British Invasion of Iran) were able to form their own frontline force, therefore, their where integrated into the Turkmenistan units (part of the Jabib Brotherhood of Nations).

One of the problems during the Spanish Civil War was there near fifhty international units spread across the frontlines and sometimes, language issues would occur (for example, there were SIX Balkan Battalions (some hate each other even if they fighting for the same cause), and they even had people from other nations mixed together, like French, Polish, Mongolian, etc). Therefore, the best course of action in late 1941 and early 1942 were to make single units for said volunteers to prevent said language issues (some of this plan was already been formulated in 1939, but the SCW ended before been implemented, and the War against Fascism forced to be pick up and restarted once more). This was not totally solved by the end of the war in May 1946, and more units had to be made to address some issues, but enough was made to made the action a success.

Some (not all) of said forces (more were formed, but not all represented or were all mixed in some rare cases):

• USA: 777th Squadron + 2nd Lincoln-Washington Battalion
• France: Groupe de Chasse GC 3 Normandie + Commune de Paris Brigade
• Spain: 1939 (Spanish) Eskradrille + 280th Guard Tank Division (Spain)
• German: Thälmann Brigade + 532 (German) Escradrille
• Latin America: Brigade Hipólito Yrigoyen (Argentinian), Bolívar Battalion (mostly Colombian, Venezuelan, Bolivians), Miguel Mármol Battalion (El Salvador) - all integrated into the 1500th Guards Infantry Division (number taken from the year of discovery of Brazil by Portugal)
• Yugoslavia: Đuro Đaković Regiment

Other units from the Moscow Pact, like Ukrainian, Belarus, Karelians, Chechen and Jewish Crimea, were mostly destroyed by the rapid assault of the Heer and other Axis units supporting them, with many had to be absorbed into the S.U. until their home is once more liberated. Other forces were made from men already in exile prior to Operation Barbarossa, like Hungarians (led by Béla Kun and Tibor Szamuely), Trancaucasian (separated into Armenian, Georgian and Azerbaijanys), Baltic, Germans, etc.

HMS Vanguard arriving the year after VJ at Capetown, SA

The Royal Navy, after the failure of the 2nd LNT, with the Japanese walking out, would build more warships, in part, thanks to the selling of several ships to the South Africans while savings the costs of keeping two battlecruisers at reserve were they are now currently at the Chilean Navy (both Invincible-class (Inflexible (as Atacama) and Indomitable (as Valparaiso) battlecruisers - plus the money gained from modernizing the ships). Still, some small projects were cut to save a few extra pounds from other sources, like the "Praying Mantis".

While the start of the war would slow down some projects, thanks to the 1940 Emergency War Program, many ships projects (like both the Lion-class (Lion and Temeraire) and Vanguard-class battleships, alongeside an class of two umnamed 15,500-ton 8-inch armed heavy cruiser) were to be built, but due to the war situation, they didn't have the priority over carriers, escorts and transports ships. It reached the point due to the losses of carriers (plus the previous transfer of HMS Furious to Australia), one of the 15,500-ton cruisers would be cancelled and the single ship converted into a light carrier (taking inspiration from the Independence-class, named HMS Valhalla* after the conversion decision). The Vanguard-class would almost suffer the same fate, but a quick analysis from the RN shown that it was less pratical and costly, so it was kept as the battleship.

How could the Admiralty built all ships with such limited local manpower, resources and finances was simple: they began recruiting as much skilled foreign labor as possible (also taking similar inspiration from the US** - hiring Latin Americans for naval construction) as well as woman; they scrapped almost every ship that was seen to costly (or damaged) to be rebuilt (three examples been HMS Derwent (L83), Imperator liner and HMS Royal Oak); and finally, cancelling some projects from other military branches that were seen unecessary (Bristol Buckingham (US-built mediums and De Havilland Mosquito made then reductant), Blackburn Botha (Bristol Beaufort led to its development cancellation) and successor of Supermarine Spitfire for the RAF, and Cruiser, Mk.VII Cavalier (A24 - Centaur/Cronwell performance made the cancellation possible), A38 Valiant and Tank, Light, Mk VIII, Harry Hopkins (A25) (enough M3/5 Stuarts made them reductant - Alecto SPG was still built).

All referenced ships, except from Vanguard (the most delayed of them all), would be finished by June 1944, too late to participate in Operation Neptune (the naval phase of Overlord), but ironically, they would escort the now Deutsche Marine from Norway back to the Baltic Sea (including, by irony, Tirpitz). With the Western Ceasefire, most of the older warships (or too much damaged) of the RN were either transfered (like HMS Malaya to New Zealand) or sold to scrap to free more manpower the BPF. All ships (Lion, Temeraire and aircrafts from Valhalla) would be used in anger for the first time against Hachijō-jima, north of Iwo Jima. HMS Vanguard would join BPF in early 1946. All ships mentioned would be used on Wakasa Bay phase of Operation Coronet. Apart from near misses and few casualties, said ships escaped fully intact the conflict.

*Specifications:

• Weight: 17,000 long tons fully loaded
• Propulsion: 4x Parsons geared steam turbines, 8x Admiralty 3-drum Boilers
• Range: 12,500 nautical miles
• Speed: 32 knots
• Sensors: Type 281B Early Warning Radar, 2x Type 285 Fire Control Radars
• Armor:
  • Belt: 54mm
  • Flight Deck: 45mm
  • Main Deck: 38mm
  • Bulkheads: 25mm
• Armament:
  • 2 x 102mm/45-caliber QF Mk. XVI DP guns (2x1)
  • 32 x 40mm QF Mk. VIII "Pom-pom" AA guns (4x8)
  • 13 x 20mm Oerlikon AA guns (5x1) and (4x2)
• Aviation Capacity: 28 total - 16 fighters and 12 torpedo bombers

**This would also help the US building the Montana-class battleships (Montana and Ohio) and two older ships were scrapped (SS Leviathan and Tsar* (former SMS Cormoran, captured in April 1917); it would also led to the cancellation of the two last of the six Iowa-class (the sinking of two of the Kongo-class helped with this decision), USS Hawaii (USS Guam converted into a aircraft carrier) and dozens of Tacoma-class frigates - they also help modernizing the Chilean battleship Almirante Latorre, both its battlecruisers and a destroyer squadron and a submarine tender, plus a limited one for the Brazilian BB Minas Gerais.
- Sidenote 1: Other projects were also cancelled: Brewster XA-32 (by force), XP-58 Chain Lighting (due to need of British Lend-Lease) and all Data R-40C (Northrop XP-56, Curtiss XP-55 and Vultee XP-54); M7 Medium Tank

Port of La Luz, Canary Islands, in 1912

With the end of the SCW, the Republicans now needed for foreign investement to rebuilt their nation. The Socialist Union (and most of the Moscow Pact) would help in the first two years, but Operation Barbarossa put an end of the supply line, and now Spain had to find other sources. Luckily, the Canary Islands were situation in a strategic place near the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea, and six months after the American entry into the war, Spain send a proposal to the Western Allies:

• They would:
  • cease political executions (at that time an empty escuse as most has either left or were already dead),
  • mass imprisonments and
  • offering useful resources for the Allies war economies plus bases in the Canary Islands (with some restrictions),
• In exchange:
  • they wanted to join the Lend-Lease in terms of economic aid, food assistance (plus a few military equipment - such as Airacobras, Havocs and Catalinas),
  • and a public statement of the WA respecting Spanish neutrality.

This would actually the American cause of opening a North African front in Morrocco and Algeria, and after a short discussion, it was accepted. The islands (alongeside with Azores the following year) would be based for a few dozens allied units intended for convoy escorts, including the Brazilian VF-1 squadron, at that time, flying F4F Wildcats (one of its pilots even managed to shoot down a damaged Fw-200 Condor by using its landing gear on the German right wing). Still, sometimes, it could lead to weird situations with the Spanish counterparts. Incidentally, the Western Allies would use their window of times based in the Canary Islands to later invade them (alongeside Spanish Morocco and Guinea) in 1950 during the Hot War/World War III.

 

[WotanArgead]

Alexander IV and II Andreevich Shuisky.
Since 1624, Grand Duke of Lithuania and Rus'. From 1627 - Tsar of All Rus'.
The son of Moscow Tsar Andrew the Fourth, following the results of the Thirty Years' War, became the only elected sovereign of Lithuania, which put an end to the union with Poland. Later he received the Moscow throne, thus beginning the union of Lithuania and Russia (as well as the gradual absorption of Lithuania). Later he conquered Galicia (which became part of Lithuania) and Courland (which became part of the Moscow Lands), as well as Azov. After this, he took up church reform (which led to the uniformity of liturgical services following the model of the Greek church). He also contributed to the Westernization of Russia by creating regiments of a foreign system, introducing fashion for Polish clothes and theater.

Русское царство (Победа при Босуорте)

Русское царство (так же встречается вариант Российское царство) - крупнейшее по площади государство Европы, а к середине XVII века - второе по площади государство мира. Крупнейшие города - Москва, Новгород, Казань (с 1552 года), Рига (с 1629 года), Ярославль, Колывань (с 1577 года). Русское...

althistory.fandom.com

 

[Sport25ing]

Stresa Revived - an Allied Mussolini TL by @Onkel Willie​

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I taking off in a un-mentioned airfield near Rome

With the Luftwaffe focusing in the Kingdom of Italy, both the RAF and what remained off the Armée de l'air fighters would send as many fighters squadrons as they could spare, as nearly the entirety of the Italians fighters weren't modern compared to the other belligerent counterparts (and the one that was, the Macchi C.202, was produced in small numbers before their factories were destroyed and overrun by the Wehrmacht). And at least two squadrons of RAF Hurricanes and one of AdA of MS.406 (off Czechoslovakian pilots) were diverted to Tirana due to the Yugoslavian invasion of Italian Albania.

Two bombs missing HMS Ark Royal, early October 1944

After the Indian Ocean Battle (in which the Japanese strike force lost two of their five carriers), HMS Ark Royal (one of this Fairey Swordfish's torpedo would help cripple IJN Akagi rudder and one of the ships propeller, making it a siting duck for HMS Formidable Vought Chesapeake Mk.II dive-bombers (Lend-Lease SB2U-3 Vindicator, flown by French Navy pilots)) would be send back to base due to having most of its air wing been either lost or to badly damaged, but after this, it would be kept in the Eastern Fleet, for any possible new Japanese raid (that never materialized) and once in a while raid until early 1944, when it got transfered to the BPF and joined the massive armada against Japan in September 1944.

Croatian metal armshields

Alongeside the Austrians, the Croats would also form an armed force-in-exile, with a brigade, an fighter wing (flying Lend-Lease P-400 Airacobras), an bomber squadron (with LL Martin Baltimores) and a few patrol boats in the Adriatic Sea. They would fight valiently against the Axis forces in both Italy and Yugoslavia (sometimes, to effective, leaving nearly no survivors).

 

[Sport25ing]

Just a single today for this thread not to die
The North Star is Red: a Wallace Presidency, KMT Victory, Alternate Cold War TL, by @TastySpam

An "Castle" tank destroyer in a prepared position in Yugoslavia

With the Soviet counter-attack on the Vojvodina Offensive, taking the Western Allies and Yugoslavian troops by suprise (alongeside the Italians pulling out of the war), both France and Britain tried would send more forces to stop the Red Army from taking over Yugoslavia (to the point both Morocco and Tunisia achieved earliers independence and British reinforcments intended to Burma diverted to North Greece).

Another of such responses (a few weeks after the Offensive started) against the increased number of T-54's and IS-3/8's by the were the FV214 Conqueror heavy tank and the FV4005 Castle (the name was due to the fact that the vehicle was very tall). The latter, with a 183mm gun, became the biggest fear from the Soviet tank crews, due to the fact that thanks to foward observors and better optics compared to the Red Army tanks, a Castle can (and in fact, did) snipe its targets at nearly three kilometers range, well outside of the soviet own gun range, and seen your comrade in a T-54 (or Stalins forbidden, an older T-34-85) simply evaporate in a ball of fire would collapse any hopes for the witnesses, because there Castle never operate alone (in case of the IS's, their turrets would most of the time fly several feets above the trees to the suprise of some IL-10's pilots that are called to help defeat these new threats).