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But the bill was only for stuff that GB wanted to keep after the cut off date.... and even then was at 90% discount!
If you are as OTL tanker limited then going for Texan (or other Caribbean) oil means you get a 1/4 or more extra. (and even paying 10% for it at the end will still be cheaper.....)
It matters as the UK should want to be less reliant on Lend Lease. The non-financial terms attached basically screwed the UKs export sector and also broke up the Empire as a trading and monetary bloc .
That fate probably can't be avoided altogether iTTL but anything that improves the UKs post war trading position is helpful.
UK can borrow very cheaply in Sterling from its Empire and any other countries in the Sterling zone. The less it relies on Lend Lease the better its post war prospects.
As you say it cant be avoided altogether and by this point the terms will be set so why try and save rather than get the most oil you can?
If you want GB to do better I would suggest that saving on LL is far less important than simply not wasting so much by A) winning earlier parts and not losing so much B) starting to cut forces near the end so not trying to keep up with US by sending British Pacific Fleet (BPF) and just winding down expensive commitments etc...
Its still going to be more than free, and even with OTL discounting and balance blocking GB would end up paying back more than 10% of Sterling Loans?
Ramp-Rat
Monthly Donor
Oil.
Oil was the lifeblood of the Second World War, while coal remained the fuel that kept industry going. Remember it was coal not oil that fead the furnaces of industry and provided the fuel for the power stations. Of the belligerent nations, only two were self sufficient in both oil and coal, America and the Soviet Union, all the rest had to import one or both these fuel stuffs. However the Soviet Union did have problems with distribution and refining, which meant that the fuel available was by western standards very crude.
Britain pre war was unique among the European nations, she had enough coal for her own needs, and some to spare for export. Note, it was cheaper to import British steam coal by ship, to coastal power stations, than transport by rail coal from inland fields in a number of cases. Britain also had a small number of oil fields, that could be exploited though very small. She had also built a number of coal to oil plants, as part of her pre war preparations. Then there was BP and Shell, the first wholly owned by the British, and the other in which Britain had a major stake.
Note, pre war nations didn’t import crude oil, refineries were established alongside the oil fields or at a convenient port. What was imported was a finished product, such as petrol, fuel oil etc. The Germans did very much the same only bringing tank cars of produce in from Romania. This along with the Soviet oil up until the invasion of the Soviet Union, meant that oil was more expensive for the Germans than it was for the British and Americans. Pipelines and sea transport are always much cheaper, than rail cars.
Britain had pre war imported little petroleum products from the US, it’s principal source of oil was the Caribbean, South America and the Gulf. Britain owned extensive assets these areas, including the worlds largest refinery at Abadan. Up until the institute of Lend Lease, Britain had been very selective in its petroleum imports front the US. Principal using America as a source of high octane aviation fuel, until it was able to convert its own refineries to produce such fuel. The entry of America into the war saw major changes, with more fuel being transported from the US to Britain. However this did throw up a number of problems.
The American Gulf ports were poorly equipped to service the trans Atlantic trade. Most were too small, shallow and lacking in pumps etc. Nor did they have the storage facilities to hold the various oils in significant quantities to fill a convoy of tankers. They were more suited to supplying the American costal trade, which in itself expanded with the outbreak of war. It wasn’t until the building of the big inch pipeline that America was able to supply the majority of British needs. And even with American inputs the demands for oil was so large that Britain still needed her other sources of supplies. The British and the Americans, used a hell of a lot of oil, and even then had to at times ration it.
RR.
Oil was the lifeblood of the Second World War, while coal remained the fuel that kept industry going. Remember it was coal not oil that fead the furnaces of industry and provided the fuel for the power stations. Of the belligerent nations, only two were self sufficient in both oil and coal, America and the Soviet Union, all the rest had to import one or both these fuel stuffs. However the Soviet Union did have problems with distribution and refining, which meant that the fuel available was by western standards very crude.
Britain pre war was unique among the European nations, she had enough coal for her own needs, and some to spare for export. Note, it was cheaper to import British steam coal by ship, to coastal power stations, than transport by rail coal from inland fields in a number of cases. Britain also had a small number of oil fields, that could be exploited though very small. She had also built a number of coal to oil plants, as part of her pre war preparations. Then there was BP and Shell, the first wholly owned by the British, and the other in which Britain had a major stake.
Note, pre war nations didn’t import crude oil, refineries were established alongside the oil fields or at a convenient port. What was imported was a finished product, such as petrol, fuel oil etc. The Germans did very much the same only bringing tank cars of produce in from Romania. This along with the Soviet oil up until the invasion of the Soviet Union, meant that oil was more expensive for the Germans than it was for the British and Americans. Pipelines and sea transport are always much cheaper, than rail cars.
Britain had pre war imported little petroleum products from the US, it’s principal source of oil was the Caribbean, South America and the Gulf. Britain owned extensive assets these areas, including the worlds largest refinery at Abadan. Up until the institute of Lend Lease, Britain had been very selective in its petroleum imports front the US. Principal using America as a source of high octane aviation fuel, until it was able to convert its own refineries to produce such fuel. The entry of America into the war saw major changes, with more fuel being transported from the US to Britain. However this did throw up a number of problems.
The American Gulf ports were poorly equipped to service the trans Atlantic trade. Most were too small, shallow and lacking in pumps etc. Nor did they have the storage facilities to hold the various oils in significant quantities to fill a convoy of tankers. They were more suited to supplying the American costal trade, which in itself expanded with the outbreak of war. It wasn’t until the building of the big inch pipeline that America was able to supply the majority of British needs. And even with American inputs the demands for oil was so large that Britain still needed her other sources of supplies. The British and the Americans, used a hell of a lot of oil, and even then had to at times ration it.
RR.
Story 1511
New York Shipbuilding, Camden New Jersey August 12, 1942
Work crews were busy on dozens of ships and projects. The two largest ships were only slowly expanding. USS Alaska and USS Hawaii were odd-ducks, too much of a ship to be efficient cruisers, and too little to stand in the line of battle. The German raiders that they would be ideal in disposing had already been removed from the enemy order of battle and so far there were no sightings of any super cruisers from the Japanese. Every ship sighted was either in the Washington Naval Treaty definition of a cruiser or a capital ship. So work continued on those ships but slowly as metal gangs were moved to more important vessels.
USS Independence, the lead ship of carriers converted from light cruisers, had just been launched at the start of the week. Her bow had not broken the champagne bottle’s initial whack but so far the fitting out and completion process was still on or slightly ahead of schedule. A large tranche of workers were due to descend on her next week to accelerate completion. Two of her sisters were nearing their launch dates. A trio of French naval officers including the former commander of the carrier Bearn were in the shipyard this week crawling over the innards of the fast light carriers trying to not display too much envy at the advanced architecture of these ships compared to the single French aircraft carrier that was slowly steaming towards New Orleans for a refit. Now that the Martinique Squadron had passed the Florida Straits, discussions about the French Navy purchasing or at least manning several American built ships were advancing past the wish list stage.
The light cruisers Montpelier and Denver were tied up after their initial trials. Engineers and skilled workmen were talking to the ships’ officers and chiefs about the punch list. There were problems. There always were problems. Some of them were issues with the workmanship but most were requirements that the Navy needed but had not been able to articulate until sea salt crusted underneath their eyes. The rest were requests from the Navy that were easiest to solve after construction was completed. The two light cruisers would need a few more weeks in the yard before they were ready to work up in the Caribbean and go to war as well honed weapons instead of blunt clubs.
Work crews were busy on dozens of ships and projects. The two largest ships were only slowly expanding. USS Alaska and USS Hawaii were odd-ducks, too much of a ship to be efficient cruisers, and too little to stand in the line of battle. The German raiders that they would be ideal in disposing had already been removed from the enemy order of battle and so far there were no sightings of any super cruisers from the Japanese. Every ship sighted was either in the Washington Naval Treaty definition of a cruiser or a capital ship. So work continued on those ships but slowly as metal gangs were moved to more important vessels.
USS Independence, the lead ship of carriers converted from light cruisers, had just been launched at the start of the week. Her bow had not broken the champagne bottle’s initial whack but so far the fitting out and completion process was still on or slightly ahead of schedule. A large tranche of workers were due to descend on her next week to accelerate completion. Two of her sisters were nearing their launch dates. A trio of French naval officers including the former commander of the carrier Bearn were in the shipyard this week crawling over the innards of the fast light carriers trying to not display too much envy at the advanced architecture of these ships compared to the single French aircraft carrier that was slowly steaming towards New Orleans for a refit. Now that the Martinique Squadron had passed the Florida Straits, discussions about the French Navy purchasing or at least manning several American built ships were advancing past the wish list stage.
The light cruisers Montpelier and Denver were tied up after their initial trials. Engineers and skilled workmen were talking to the ships’ officers and chiefs about the punch list. There were problems. There always were problems. Some of them were issues with the workmanship but most were requirements that the Navy needed but had not been able to articulate until sea salt crusted underneath their eyes. The rest were requests from the Navy that were easiest to solve after construction was completed. The two light cruisers would need a few more weeks in the yard before they were ready to work up in the Caribbean and go to war as well honed weapons instead of blunt clubs.
Driftless
Donor
In a way, the "flip-side" of your OP.... There's a component of providing for genuine national defence and a component of public works expenditure to provide gainful employment and fuel the economy.
As you note, at this point in the war, the Alaska's have effectively lost their military purpose, and the public works money and the work force is really needed elsewhere. I wonder if the Alaska's either die-on-the-vine and get scrapped out, or if they get converted? Though, historically that latter point was extensively debated and eventually came to nothing. But here, the timing and war conditions are different....
Derek Pullem
Donor
I think they had the design for it as earlier as January 1942, just that it would take so long to finish it was more sensible building Essex's
The MN Bearn in New Orleans about two years earlier. She'll have rotted less so the refit ought to be a little easier. I think the best thing to do with her is strip out as much extraneous equipment and weight as possible. She won't need those casemate guns or torpedos.
If not impractical or too difficult then add some more fuel tankage to increase her range. With her full length flight deck and 1 and a half hangar decks she could be put to good use as an aircraft transport in the Pacific. Maybe just in time for the big air campaigns approaching in 1943. Not so different from OTL but ready a couple of years earlier and available to free up an escort carrier or two from aircraft transport duties. The Bearn wasn't really suitable for combat service but the CVEs she frees up certainly are.
Might be a good idea to include an improved anti-aircraft suite and radar with the refit.
If not impractical or too difficult then add some more fuel tankage to increase her range. With her full length flight deck and 1 and a half hangar decks she could be put to good use as an aircraft transport in the Pacific. Maybe just in time for the big air campaigns approaching in 1943. Not so different from OTL but ready a couple of years earlier and available to free up an escort carrier or two from aircraft transport duties. The Bearn wasn't really suitable for combat service but the CVEs she frees up certainly are.
Might be a good idea to include an improved anti-aircraft suite and radar with the refit.
Driftless
Donor
With the need for large carriers for the war in the Atlantic and Med winding down, refitting the Bearn (and other French warships) to support the Pacific War makes sense. Those valuable escort carriers may still be needed for convoy work though.
Also, I'd think more of the other French warships will be put to work as they come out of the refit yards. Showing the flag in French Polynesia and eventually some French run effort off Indochina may be pressed. The timing for any action around Indochina may not make the French leadership happy though.
Story 1512
Tunisia, August 13, 1942
Lt. Colonel Williamson crawled forward on his elbows. He was just a few yards from one of his company commanders when a shot rang out from across the valley. The dust popped up near his right hip. A ping was heard as the ricochet hit his canteen and spent its energy bouncing in the dirt. His breathing increased as he flattened his hips.
As he kept to a very low crawl, shouts were heard as an outpost had a good position on the German sniper. The company commander looked to his right as the mortar section of the heavy weapons platoon was springing into action. Wheels were rotated slightly and shells were being made ready to drop into the tubes. By the time the battalion commander was behind solid cover, the three tubes were ready to fire. One private dropped the shell into the tube as he twisted away to get another round, the sixty millimeter egg went skyward. Forty seconds later, a correction was called back, one hundred long, fifty right. The mortar was adjusted and another shell dropped in.
“Fire for effect”
The three mortars went into a rapid fire sequence blanketing the German sniper’s hide with hand grenade sized shrapnel blizzards. As soon as they were done with their fire mission, the men began to break down the mortars. A secondary position eighty yards to the right and still behind the hill would provide them protection from any German counter-battery fire.
“Captain -- that was some good shooting for your boys”’
“They’ve trained well, Lagrange is a good sergeant and has kept on them and Lt. Olizerio has been working out nicely.”
“You need anything before the attack?”
“A willing blonde and a cold beer would be nice, but beyond that we’re good, artillery kicks in at 11:00, we advance to Objective Kidney, the hill on the right side of the pass, and then the tanks pass through.“
“Sounds about right, Baker has the middle and Able is on the right. Dog will provide support, my mortars are on call with no fixed commitments. 10 Grants will be rolling through at noon time. Air support is on call for the regiment but nothing scheduled for the attack. You set?”
“Yes Colonel, now get back to HQ as you only have seventy five minutes of quiet to work on your low crawl”
He chuckled and mentally accepted and returned the unoffered salute. Charlie Company had already fought through one German outpost line and they were ready. The rest of the battalion had barely been in contact, this was the first big push. The rest of the regiment was due to start their advance at the same time.
Seventeen minutes later, as he was just jumping up to full height as he was behind complete cover and near his jeep, two American artillery battalions started their preparatory barrage. Even as he was leaping into the waiting Bantam Jeep, his driver knew to head straight to HQ. Ten minutes later, the FUBAR was recognized and the order for the infantry companies to begin their attack earlier than anticipated was being sent out by runners and by radio. The artillery component was working off the original op-order and not the final one which is why they started their shoot an hour early. Soon he could hear machine guns and mortars walking the American infantry in even as the Germans started to fire back.
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Story 1513
Newhaven, Sussex, August 13, 1942
The Commandos and the Canadians were done with the last training exercise. Five transports were anchored in the small harbor along with half a dozen Hunt class destroyers. Most of the enlisted men had been released for the night to wreak havoc on the pubs in the town. Better beer and more food was made available near the barracks but the view was not as good. As most of the men found their bitters, the field grade officers were pulled into a secured briefing room with a comprehensive three dimensional model of their actual target. Before they were shown the sight, the infantrymen and tankers waited for the naval officers and the fly boys to arrive. Over the next three hours, the entire plan was shown to the men who would actually have to execute the mission.
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