A Better Decade - a British TL.

[NOMISYRRUC]

Chapter 3: 1931

Meanwhile in Gloster itself, the competition between the two designs of the Gladiator as well as the F.5/34 was well underway. The new Air Ministry F.5/34 Specification however meant that the Gloster Gladiator would certainly fall to some lengths to catch up to the specifications. Therefore at the end of the year, the Gloster F.5/34 renamed to be Gloster Damocles started research and initial prototype production in the United Kingdom and Gloster itself.

As you've started the Gloster F.5/34 three years ahead of OTL can the Hurricane and Spitfire be started 3 years ahead of OTL too? In the case of the latter build a prototype with the Goshawk engine to Specification F.7/30 instead of the Supermarine Type 224. The prototype Hurricane of TTL would probably have to have a Goshawk or Kestrel engine too.

The Germans flew the Bf109 prototype with a Kestrel, the Bf109A-C had the Jumo 210, the Bf109D had the DB600 and the Bf109E had the DB601.

Can Specification B.9/32 be four a four-engine heavy bomber? That would make the Hampden and Wellington four-engine aircraft. The prototypes would fly at about the same time as the Boeing B-17, Dornier Do19 and Junkers Ju89.

Can Specification P.27/32 allow two-engine aircraft? AIUI the Fairey Battle was to have had the Griffon, which was begun in the early 1930s and then suspended for about 5 years to allow Rolls Royce to concentrate on the Merlin. A "Twin-Battle" would be faster and have a better power-to-weight ratio. In addition to being a better bomber in the early part of the war it aught to make a better interim night fighter than the Blenheim and Defiant.

 

[Sarthak]

Chapter 7: 1934

***

The year started as increased investments from the British National Investment Board pouring into Newfoundland, which was now a part of the United Kingdom itself. The new fisheries and the strategic position of the island and the former dominion itself on the trans atlantic trading lanes between North America and Britain was of utmost importance to the British, and the infrastructure of the former Dominion wasn’t exactly up to standards. However this was often called a blessing in disguise for the British, as new investment opportunities for the British economy meant that even more productivity could be generated with the kingdom itself.

The economy itself was doing pretty good in fact. The new modernization of the merchant fleet and the shipping system of the British shipping companies meant that the British trading and shipping all over the world was increasing at an exponential rate, and the government and the people were largely very happy with this turn of events. The British economy’s debt was also returning and receding. Though the levels remained extremely high for a normal peacetime nation, the level was decreasing. In 1925, the debt numbered around 180% of the GDP of the United Kingdom, however now in 1934, it numbered around 95% of the GDP of the United Kingdom. This was largely due to multiple factors. The first and foremost was obviously the fact that without the gold standard, the British Pound wasn’t overvalued, which made the export quality of the British rise in quantity providing Britain with the hard cash needed to pay off the debt. Second was of course the economic productivity being generated all across the united Kingdom which was largely contributing in the growth rate of the British Empire itself and the imperial preference had also made the British economy a whole lot stronger. The Imperial Economic Memorandum was also largely helpful, and the debts of the United Kingdom were lowering also thanks to the lowered interest brokered by the British delegation in the United States of America.

A trade summit between Britain and America.

However, the government this year was largely focusing on its fisheries and agriculture itself; and mainly the commodity market. Whilst America was ostensibly an ally of Great Britain in international disputes and rows; the economic rivalry growing between America and Britain over Canadian markets was starting to get pretty heated up; and whilst America made up for their lack of technological incentives with their population and sheer numbers in production, the British made up for it by increasing technological usage in production to make quality of British goods higher, and more better than the average American good. This made Canada an unseen battlefield of two great economies as they clashed to gain the market approval and dominance.

The effects of the Great Depression in Canada was largely lifted by the Anglo-American Economic Rivalry in Canada.

The situation for the normal Canadian was along the lines of “Hm…..this American item costs cheaper, however it breaks pretty quickly, within a few weeks…….this British item costs way higher, however it take months for it decay…….choices choices what am I supposed to do really?”

The battleground of economies, Canada itself was largely enjoying the benefits of playing both behemoth economies of the other and was immensely enjoying the economic competition being fermented in their lands, as the Canadian economy itself strengthened due to the internal competition to get customers, consumers and buyers from the industries. However whilst many advocated for the Canadian government to turn to the American economics and the American economic dollar system in the early to mid-1920s due to the abysmal system of the British economy back then, the resurging British economy and the renewal of British economic dominance in the Canadian political echelons had continued within the Canadian nation.

Many Canadians were largely in favor of keeping the status quo for the time being, which translated to be, for a long time, however the option of the American system was kept; much to the ire of the British, and the British economic efforts in Canada continued with increased fervor.

Meanwhile the increased amount of truck and auto production in the United Kingdom was also used particularly well by the British Army itself. There had been plans to mechanize or motorize the British field artillery flying for months, however it was this year that saw those rumors see realism; as the British field artillery was set to become a fully mechanized force by 1936. The new artillery mechanization process was derived from two levels of thought; the main one was that horses were actually more expensive than trucks in reality because of the amount of food, the care etc needed to take care of them and maintain them for service. The second of all was driven by a need to make the artillery reach better professional standards as well. This would see the Royal Artillery become engaged in more and more gunnery practices in all the British training grounds, as rigorous gunnery practice sessions were made by the British Army for tis Royal Artillery as well.

Newly motorized and mechanized Artillery.

Meanwhile the ASDIC above water development that had started in the early to mid year of 1931 was also starting to show progress around this year. The name for this ingenious object and item was now being called RADAR and the development of this object was being chaired by Robert Watson-Watt, and the government was clearly giving more focus into this portion of the British Army development that what the British Army particularly liked. However, the British Army was currently content with the amount of work being done on their part.

Robert Watson-Watt.

In the Royal Armored Force, the successor to the Experimental Mechanized Force, was currently amidst a major development plan as was being spearheaded by Percy Hobart and Carden. Both men were looking into the best specification that could made for the upcoming British Universal Tank, and currently the British Army was currently making prototype runs, engine comparisons and all the such things within the British Army apparatus itself.

Meanwhile the British Army and the Royal Armored Force alongside the Royal Armored Corps was currently experimenting with infantry forces for a combined arms doctrine. The idea of combined arms doctrine wasn’t so much a weird and unknown one, however it was a wild card throughout history and many were not even willing to consider it. However with Hobart and Carden issuing notes and declarations that the current British armored doctrine was for a lack of proper words, pretty dumb, all sorts of doctrines were being pulled to see which one would suit it the best. Currently Infantry support, combined arms, mobile warfare, all were being tested out in the deserts and fields of Australia, alongside the Aussie government and Aussie military and armed forces. The government of Australia, through the Imperial Economic Memorandum had largely been able to upgrade its own aging industrial capabilities, and were currently license producing the British ones for their military.

The doctrinal mock battles being carried out was currently heavily leaning in favor of the mobile warfare doctrine for the British, especially so, when the fact that the mechanization of the Artillery was become known in the land Down Under. Currently the British Army was in the process of combining the tactics of Superior Firepower and Mobile Warfare into a whole new class of battlefield doctrines, for both the tanks, and the armored force as well as the army as a whole.

Some of the topics, tactics, strategies and the terms that would become used in this new hybrid kind of doctrine were to be:-

• Mobile Warfare
• Delay Action
• Elastic Defense
• Mobile Infantry
• Armored Spearhead
• Mass Motorization
• Focal Point Armored Attack
• Mechanized Offensive
• Overwhelming Fire
• Fire Brigades
• Backhanded blow
• Armored Wall
• Mobile Defense
• Dispersed and Integrated Support
• Regimental Combat Teams
• Overwhelming Firepower
• Concentrated Fireplans
• Centralized Fire Controls
• Forward Observers
• Tactical control
• Advanced Firebases
• Shock and Awe

Meanwhile, the Army was also currently issuing the new KLEN submachine guns to all parts of the army itself. The KLEN gun, much to the despair of many of the political echelons of the British army, had proven itself to be useful and very effective in combat; and the British Army currently wished to have that combat effectiveness applied to the British Army and the Armed Forces itself.

Meanwhile in the Royal Navy itself, the new Aircraft Carrier, HMS Dreadnought of the new Dreadnought Class of Aircraft Carriers was officially commissioned into the Royal Navy this year. The fourth ship of it’s class, the HMS Canopus was laid down and began construction this year.

The new Dreadnought Class Aircraft Carrier was a pretty good success, and whilst the only planes being used it in the moment were Swordfish bombers, however there was a renewed interest in the Fleet Air Arm due to the commissioning of the new aircraft carrier, and after years of dispute between the RAF and the Royal Navy, this year was finally the year in which the Fleet Air Arm became an independent body from the Royal AirForce, though with a few compromises such as the RAF still holding the pilot program along with a few other compromises; which the Royal Navy reluctantly accepted.

Logo of the Fleet Air Arm.

The newly reconstituted Fleet Air Arm was currently looking into the aircraft development going on in the British aircraft industries. The Hawker Hurricane as it was quickly becoming known was currently being developed, and would fly for the first time at the ending months of this year and enter production the next year. The Fleet Air Arm was currently looking into the possibility of making this new monoplane designed plane into a carrier version as well.

The Swordfish whilst, a pretty good dive bomber and torpedo bomber on its own, was largely rendered obsolete like all other biplanes with the new advent of the monoplanes, and the FAA was currently looking into making a new monoplane dive bomber and torpedo bomber.

Fairey Swordfish.

Meanwhile the RAF itself was going through a momentous change this year. The RAF and the new Air Defense Plan passed this year called for the introduction of an extra 50 squadrons to the RAF. This would make the RAF substantially better than before, and with the current Hawker Hurricane in prototype stage, the hopes for the British aviation was high.

The Gloster Damocles entered production this year, with 400 of them being ordered for the new squadrons. This would be the first set of Monoplanes for the British Royal Airforce itself, and would be a monumental benchmark as well as the other countries tried to catch.

Meanwhile the need for a multi-based torpedo and dive bimber grew for the modernization of the Fleet Air Arm,the aviations industries of Great Britain were currently looking into such a plane, which they called the Fairey Mark III Plane; with a solid name not chosen for the time being. The new plane was going to become a 2 seated multirole land and carrier based dive bomber and torpedo bomber and prototype experiments for this new plane would take place the next year.

Meanwhile the events of the year were also expanding across the world. Ireland was currently starting to recover from the Great Depression, and currently Frank MacDermont was inside negotiations with the British over a probably free border policy in Northern Ireland and Ireland itself; this was largely rejected by the Parliament, however the talks were going on; and though unlikely, the second series of talks weren’t rejected out of hand by the parliament either.

The January 15th Nepal-Bihar Earthquake was also quite a blow to British India, and the British allied state of Nepal itself; the home of the famous Gurkhas. However the earthquake presented the British economy with extra opportunities as well, mostly rebuilding and modernizing the area would increase the British industry’s in the area with their productivity and having a stronger economic base in the region would probably be good, given the increasing communist presence in the area and the fact that Japan was increasingly becoming pretty aggressive in the area. Some plans were extended to include Nepal itself, and modernized irrigation networks made their way into the Nepalese lowlands in the Terai region. Meanwhile itself, the autocratic Ranas of the Nepali Kingdom were quickly instead of the once staunch allies, becoming quite the roadblock to the economic exploitation that Britain wished to commit into the untapped resources of Nepal itself. Extending the markets of the British economy was needed, and after a falling out between the Ranas and the British, the British covertly funded a coup in Nepal which saw democratic constitutional monarchy system introduced in the state; with Shastri becoming the Prime Minister of Nepal. The man quickly opened the doors of Nepal to the international community ending the century long isolation of the nation; and the British, and to a lower extent French investors and economists rushed to gain and exploit the Nepalese natural resources and markets of the nation.

The 1934 Nepal-Bihar Earthquake.

In February, the French Political Crisis was looked upon pretty badly by the British political echelons. The system of fascism and far right leagues were always looked down upon in Britain, however the entire crisis unfolding in France at the month of February had a profound effect on Britain, and Mosley and his band of Fascists largely found themselves isolated as the government was largely involved in a smear campaign against the Fascists and Far Right leagues operating within Britain itself.

This view certainly was aided in Britain by the short but decisive Austrian Civil War which saw the Austrian Chancellor Dolfuss killed and the founding of the Austrofascist Federal State of Austria form. Whilst the British were pretty non-disposed towards the Habsburgs, they pretty much believed that a Habsburg restoration like the one Dolfuss wanted would have been much better than the new Fascist state that was being made in the lands of Austria.

Engelbert Dolfuss who was assassinated by the Nazis.

In March the Empire of Manchukuo was proclaimed by the Japanese forces and the Japanese government within Manchuria which had been occupied by the Japanese forces following the Invasion of Manchuria in 1931. This was largely ignored by the international community and Britain explicitly stated that they would not recognize an ‘illegitimate and illegal government formed through force and brutality’. The already souring relations between Japan and Britain were becoming more soured as the days passed, and the British were increasingly becoming wary of the Japanese aggression in East Asia, and were currently thinking about reforming their East Asia strategy.

The next few months saw the Night of the Long Knives, a huge purge in the political spectrum in Germany, and Hitler becoming the Fuhrer of Germany; apparently with 92% of the population agreeing to it, in what seemed to be on the part of the British, a totally rigged referendum. The rise of National Socialism in Germany wasn’t seen as an opportune one, especially with the Fascist Italians in the Mediterranean building a fleet to challenge the British dominance in the sea and the Japan continuously becoming even more aggressive than their last aggression, and the British were very worried about an alliance between all three states; so it was quite a relief when Mussolini stated that plans for mutual defense pact between Italy and Germany failed for the time being.

The Proclamation of Hitler as Fuhrer.

However regarding Italy, Britain had new problems to contend with, regarding the Mediterranean power. The Anglo-Ethiopian Commission in Ogaden found an Italian garrison in Walwal, a somewhat isolated village within the Abyssinian nation. Problem was that the village was hundreds of kilometers inside of Ethiopian territory. Coupled with the fact that Ethiopian and Italian troops exchanged gunfire, the situation quickly escalated into the Abyssinian Crisis, and the world held it’s breath.

A Map depicting the Abyssinian Crisis.

***

 

[Sarthak]

Thoughts?

 

[pjmidd]

the Aviation industry of Fulmar ? Better if its Fairey as per OTL or maybe Bristol which would the obvious companies for a land/naval torpedo bomber. None would give it a temperary name of Fulmar , it would be either be known by the specification ID ( Fairey ) or a Type number ( Bristol ) till it was accepted and got a name.

 

[Sarthak]

the Aviation industry of Fulmar ? Better if its Fairey as per OTL or maybe Bristol which would the obvious companies for a land/naval torpedo bomber. None would give it a temperary name of Fulmar , it would be either be known by the specification ID ( Fairey ) or a Type number ( Bristol ) till it was accepted and got a name.

True, will edit, thanks!

 

[Derwit]

I'm really enjoying this time line. However I'm not sure how plausible basing the British EMF in Australia is.

Although I appreciate that the purse strings may have loosened a little for the British Army ITTL the impression I get from reading it is that the Army remains the Cinderella of the forces. Therefore the EMF would still represent the lions share of the modern equipment available to the army.

OTL the British Army stationed in the U.K. would alternate with units stationed in the Empire. This meant that these policing units would return home and then retrain and bring their numbers back up in the UK. while another unit from the U.K. would be sent out to the Empire as replacements. However the British Army doesn't have two EMF's (unless I have missed it and if so I apologise). This means that if sent to Austrailia a sizeable force of British army regulars is being posted abroad permanently. This would not be very popular with the men or officers. Austrailia is also a very long way from the UK so keeping the force supplied would be a bit of a nuisance and home leave for the men isn't really possible.

Further why would the British Army agree to its most modern unit being sent to Austrailia to help train the tiny peace time Australian Army at the expense of the British Army. Especially as the other reaon for the Army in the U.K. is to act as an expeditionary force if things go pear shaped (in the early 30's they'd be thinking more along the lines of imoearial policing). If you take the EMF away from a potential BEF then that force is significantly weaker. Or in this TL the main infantry force could arrive much sooner that its armoured component (Austrailia really is a long way away form most of the places the British would considerdepolying). I suspect that the prospect of higher than nessesary casualties due to the lack of tanks (real or imagined) would be a powerful argument used by the generals not to loose their armour.

Another consideration would be wha the strategic purpose would the deployment to Austrailia serve. Austrailia isn't threatened by anyone apart from the England cricket team in the early 30's. If wide open spaces are required then the deserts of Egypt are just as useful as the Astrailain bush. But basing an armoured forces Egypt would be a potential deterrent to Benny the Moose.

Personally I think that retaining the EMF in the U.K. would be the best option. It keeps the armour with the main force of the british Army. They can train together in a European environment which represents the most likely area where the main force would ever deploy. It might also avoid some of the wrong assumptions that the tank prophets believed in this period. Manly that armies would be made up of forces of different types of tanks largely without supporting arms and that these armies would manoeuvre much like fleets at sea. A wide open space to practice i would reinforce these ideas. However a more compressed area cross crossed weather woods and villages would be more likly to force a combined arms approach to armoured warfare.

However I see where the SBP is going with th etime line and suspect that he deployment of the EMF to Austrailia is part of forging a closer bond between the UK and Austrailia. I compromise might be to send a small mixed mechanised force to Austrailia. Perhaps comprising a battalion each of tanks and infantry with some artillery and supporting elements. This would give them something to train with and would still look good on the newsreels. It also sneakily circumvents one of the flaws with the EMF and other early armoured forces. That of them being to tank heavy. It also forces the tank enthusiasts to play with the other arms.

 

[Deleted member 94680]

The EMF is relatively small and - most importantly - not highly valued by the General Staff. You can’t view it as a modern armoured brigade/division/corps (OTL it was one brigade) with all the trimmings through a post-WWII lens. Remember the BEF was 13 divisions (‘proper’ divisions in the eyes of CIGS) - one brigade with a load of toys, spouting claptrap about mechanisation won’t be overly missed in the planning.

 

[Peg Leg Pom]

I could see there being a detachment of the EMF in Australia for trials and desert training away from prying eyes, perhaps the equivalent of a battalion out of a division sized expanded EMF with the bulk still in the UK. The men rotate through the Australian detachment perhaps serving 6 months at a time there.

 

[ArtosStark]

Another option is to invite the dominion governments to send units to Britain to participate in EMF exercises. Playing either a part of the Combined arms brigade or the opponents would be valuable experience that could be built on by information sharing and those units could be used as the basis for similar exercises in their home countries. British units could then be invited to these exercises to get experience in varied climates. The big kicker with this is that you now have to get multiple governments to pony up for the cash to do this.

 

[Some Bloke]

Coordinated rearmament?

 

[Derwit]

The EMF is relatively small and - most importantly - not highly valued by the General Staff. You can’t view it as a modern armoured brigade/division/corps (OTL it was one brigade) with all the trimmings through a post-WWII lens. Remember the BEF was 13 divisions (‘proper’ divisions in the eyes of CIGS) - one brigade with a load of toys, spouting claptrap about mechanisation won’t be overly missed in the planning.

In the 30's in theory there where 4 Infantry Divisons of Regualrs in the U.K. and 14 Divisions of Territorial vollneteers. After a decade of the 10 year rule the army didn't have he weapons or supporting elements to deploy 2 infantry divisions. This was only achieved by 1939. Even then the other 2 infantry divisions of the regular army elelemmt of the BEF didn't deploy fully for 2 months to France. By 1939 after years of German rearmament and the start of genuine British rearmament the territorials where still understrength and had very little modern equipment.

The EMF if it where to survive as ITL at brigade strenght would represent over 10% of the immediately available forces to the British Army during this preiod. I suspect that the General Staff would fight tooth and nail to retain it either in the UK or in a strategic possition like Egypt.

 

[NOMISYRRUC]

The Gloster Gladiator was designed to specification F7/30 and as far as I can see there weren't any fighter specifications issued in 1931, so by rights the F5/34 would be in this timeline the F1/31.

The OTL Specification 1/31 was for an Aerial Survey Aircraft (Civil Type) according to the British Aircraft Specification File and two Gloster AS.31 Survey prototypes were built.

You're right that no fighter specifications were issued in 1931. However, I think it should be F.27/31 because the last 1931 specification IOTL was C.26/31.

 

[Sarthak]

I could see there being a detachment of the EMF in Australia for trials and desert training away from prying eyes, perhaps the equivalent of a battalion out of a division sized expanded EMF with the bulk still in the UK. The men rotate through the Australian detachment perhaps serving 6 months at a time there.

This is what basically what is happening

 

[ArtosStark]

Coordinated rearmament?

Ideally. Though, like I said, there would be a lot more hoops to jump through.

 

[Sarthak]

The EMF if it where to survive as ITL at brigade strenght would represent over 10% of the immediately available forces to the British Army during this preiod. I suspect that the General Staff would fight tooth and nail to retain it either in the UK or in a strategic possition like Egypt.

Yes, whilst the training ones are mostly in Australia, the others are either in Britain or protecting the Suez like most other British divisions

 

[Sarthak]

Ideally. Though, like I said, there would be a lot more hoops to jump through.

Yeah slightly

 

[Sarthak]

Another option is to invite the dominion governments to send units to Britain to participate in EMF exercises. Playing either a part of the Combined arms brigade or the opponents would be valuable experience that could be built on by information sharing and those units could be used as the basis for similar exercises in their home countries. British units could then be invited to these exercises to get experience in varied climates. The big kicker with this is that you now have to get multiple governments to pony up for the cash to do this.

The Dominions will be pretty important later in late 1935 to 1936 onwards.

 

[CountryUsedToBeBritish]

About the tanks, have there been exercises in different climates? There are deserts in Egypt, tundras in Canada, forests in the Malay Peninsula, etc.

 

[Sarthak]

About the tanks, have there been exercises in different climates? There are deserts in Egypt, tundras in Canada, forests in the Malay Peninsula, etc.

Canada, Aussie and Malaya have been used for now

 

[Sarthak]

As you've started the Gloster F.5/34 three years ahead of OTL can the Hurricane and Spitfire be started 3 years ahead of OTL too? In the case of the latter build a prototype with the Goshawk engine to Specification F.7/30 instead of the Supermarine Type 224. The prototype Hurricane of TTL would probably have to have a Goshawk or Kestrel engine too.

The Germans flew the Bf109 prototype with a Kestrel, the Bf109A-C had the Jumo 210, the Bf109D had the DB600 and the Bf109E had the DB601.

Can Specification B.9/32 be four a four-engine heavy bomber? That would make the Hampden and Wellington four-engine aircraft. The prototypes would fly at about the same time as the Boeing B-17, Dornier Do19 and Junkers Ju89.

Can Specification P.27/32 allow two-engine aircraft? AIUI the Fairey Battle was to have had the Griffon, which was begun in the early 1930s and then suspended for about 5 years to allow Rolls Royce to concentrate on the Merlin. A "Twin-Battle" would be faster and have a better power-to-weight ratio. In addition to being a better bomber in the early part of the war it aught to make a better interim night fighter than the Blenheim and Defiant.

Yeah, some aviation changes are underway.