marathag
Banned
That's a rallying cry in itself 'what good is it to be a Dominion in the Empire,we were left defenseless by the Royal Navy'
The Rainbow. A World War One on Canada's West Coast Timeline
- Thread starter YYJ
- Start date
And you can bet that much of that anger directed at the Germans will be stoked by politicians and bureaucrats at various levels desperately trying to keep the inward-looking question from being asked of them.
Hmmm I think I found a suitable candidate for the RCN of this timeline to acquire for their flagship in the interwar period. HMS Euphrates as she was cancelled just after the war ended in 1918 and by all accounts her two completed sisters did good service. Maybe add another E-class cruiser or two as well to the trio that were ordered otl as well with them being explicitly ordered for the RCN and the Euphrates being acquired when the RN didn't want her.
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Bavarian Raven
Banned
And ironically, if the raider had shelled those artillery pieces, they would have been in the right. The fact they didn't speaks volumes about their ethics.
Another great chapter. Hope they make it to the US to be interned - and become legends.
Heck if they make it to a neutral port to be interned I wonder how they could affect interwar German politics.
Honestly, this is part of why I think Canada would view the Nuremburgers as some variant of a "noble enemy".
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Using shrapnel shells against naval targets is an interesting move. I dont know if it would be worse for the cruiser or not, but an increased area of effect could be the deciding factor for green gun crews.
And I hope they sink ignominiously.
As to their "ethics", they appear to be firing warning shots so close to firing on a shipyard that not even Usain Bolt would be able to get out of the bowels of a ship in the yard or from the top of a crane in time. I would be more understanding if they simply fired on the shipyard (a legitimate target) right off instead of firing a "warning" shot that appears to be more about salving their own conscience rather than giving adequate warning.
They are on a death ride into the middle of an enemy harbour to destroy what they can. Embrace the role rather than indulge in cheap theatrics that have no practical effect.
I would expect a variety of sympathies from the readers. I do not think the ITTL recipients of the German's bombardment would feel affection towards their tormentors.
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It seems like Von Schönberg was concerned that his previous round of warning shots and warnings by signal flag, semaphore, and morse light to the shipyard had happened too long ago so he was concerned the Canadians might have forgotten about them, so he ordered another couple of warning shots to be fired before starting the bombardment in earnest.
I've often wondered what would be the outcome of a no retreat Jutland battle where Germany has the mentality of 'use em or lose em' with the High Seas Fleet. I don't want to hijack this thread but wonder how that might have changed the look of the war.
Yeah, the inhabitants of Vancouver are not going to think "Oh, those nice German boys were so noble to only machine gun the Canadian lads defending our homes and livelihoods instead of dropping shells on them."
They are going to think "Those bastards destroyed the place where I work and wrecked our harbor and killed good Canadian boys!"
They are going to think "Those bastards destroyed the place where I work and wrecked our harbor and killed good Canadian boys!"
Coulsdon Eagle
Monthly Donor
Perhaps not the war - if both sides end up with mere shadows of their fleets on the morning of 31 July 1916, there's not much they can do to the other.
Post-war though is a different kettle of fish. The driver behind the Washington Naval Treaty disappears as there is no potential naval arms race between the USN & RN. Attention will focus upon Japan's 8-8 plan.
Agreed. If GB has a shell of it's fleet the government goes to the public and says 'We need more' so they can rebuild the fleet I don't think that will go over too well. The London Treaty was GB's political way out of spending the money to upgrade their current fleet which they knew had many flaws.
Their inability to protect their dominions is what this TL is proving....
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You do remember that the British and Japanese had a (naval/alliance) treaty prior to WNT (that was dissolved by the WNT on US insistentence)?
Driftless
Donor
Good question.
As a secondary issue, I'd guess in a full-on brawl, the lighter armored ships (the BC's and AC's) are disproportionately damaged and it brings the validity of the Battlecruiser idea into question - from both a technical and financial review standpoint. Basically, are they up to the task, or were they misused, and are they worth the great cost if they're that fragile?
The Armored Cruisers were on their way out anyway, so if they take a worse pounding, it just reinforces the point.
