Fenians, Brits, Mexicans, Canucks and Frenchies....OH, MY! An alternate American Civil War

[Alt History Buff]

March, 1906



Rotterdam

For the first time since the Napoleonic Wars, British army forces would disembark to fight upon Continental soil. 40,000 British troops, mostly recent conscripts fleshing out established regiments in hopes that the experienced men help with the sharp learning curve of combat, would be the first Britons to aid their allies. It was determined by agreement with Germany that the British Expeditionary Force would serve in the Low Countries. This was more palatable to the British voter as Belgium and the Netherlands were neutrals before invasion and.....for the Army brass.....this would also make a retreat somewhat easier if that became necessary.



Finland

The Finnish patriots had not been idle over the winter. Armed by Britain, the Finns had prepared defensive fortifications at key points along the border with Russia (Czarina Anna had formally announced the end of all Finnish liberties and concessions granted over the generations due to their treason).

In April, several thousand British artillerymen would land in Finland (the Finns had few such experts) to offer "advice" and "training" but would, in all reality, be forced to fight over the spring and summer themselves.



Stockholm

The King of Sweden, with full support of Parliament, would renew his country's pledge of neutrality. It had been a long time since Sweden had been relevant on the Continent in a military role and the Scandinavians had no intention of playing a game meant for much, much larger nations.



Norfolk

The USS South Carolina's "shakedown" cruise had gone moderately well. However, the engines continued to vex the most powerful class of American ships. The USS Michigan had several boilers burst over the past year and it was feared the South Carolina may follow.

American naval strategy was based around two things: big guns and thick armor.

After that, corners could be cut.



Portsmouth

While the Cuniberti-Class and Michigan-Class ships had been the initial vessels of the new "super-battleship" mode of naval warfare, they would swiftly be outclassed by the newest arrival, the HMS Dreadnought, which was launched in March of 1906. Bearing about 15% higher displacement and similar armament to the other modern vessels, the Dreadnought would also have the luxury of considerable speed due to her revolutionary steam turbines.



Yokosuka

By coincidence, the Japanese would also launch the first of the Satsuma-class heavy warships in March as well. These were now the most powerful vessels in the Pacific.




Toulon

Over the past two years, the French Navy had launched three of the "Liberte" class battlecruiser. A fourth would be commissioned the summer. The French were proud to have resolved some of the issues long vexing previous models over the past 30 years, namely poor armor and dismal flood prevention measures.

However, by the time the fourth Liberte-class was launched, it was already obsolete.

The Michigan-class, Cuniberto-class and, most of all, the Dreadnought, were already a step beyond in most measures. Indeed, the long decision-making process of the French design committee would prove France's greatest hindrance as decisions often took four to six years to implement.

The Dreadnought, on the other hand, took merely a year and a half from design inspiration to launch, an astonishing accomplishment by the Royal Navy which shocked the French (and the rest of the world) to the core.

Worse, two vessels of the Edward VII class were expected to launch in the next year and were reportedly IMPROVEMENTS on the Dreadnought design (though a bit smaller).

Simply outnumbering the British Royal Navy in Europe would no longer guarantee victory.

 

[Alt History Buff]

March, 1906

Upper Manchuria, Lake Baikal, Outer Mongolia, Various regions of Siberia

For the past several months, Chinese agents would travel along the Trans-Siberian railroad (now most of the way to Upper Manchuria) and quietly disembark at various key areas.

As ordered, they would unload various packages (which the Russian rail workers hadn't bothered to open) and pull out dynamite.

For the past several years (or century), the Russians had pushed and pushed into Siberia and Central Asia, often at the expense of the Chinese Empire. As China was something of a basket case for over a century as they had fallen behind in technology, the Middle Kingdom could do little about this. However, recent independence upon foreigners had allowed the Chinese economy to recover sufficiently to modernize its army. Now, the Mandarin (or at least his Ministers) would be anxious to end Russian expansion east....and reverse it.

Now, the Chinese forces would mass along the border as Chinese agents blew up key Trans-Siberian bridges and other weakpoints, effectively bringing the Railroad to a halt over nearly a thousand mile range.

Believing that Russia was too obsessed with the European war to effectively reply, the Chinese Bannermen would ride northward to Lake Baikal, completely cutting off eastern Siberia.

Then, a modern Chinese Army would march out of northeast China's easternmost province of Xinxiang into what the Russians called Central Asia. These predominantly Muslim Turkic peoples had vexed the east and west over the past thousand years. However, the modern weapons of the past century would end the steppe warriors' advantage of maneuverability and give the advantage back to powerful states.

Learning of a rebellion among one or two of the local tribes against Russian rule, the Chinese didn't care about the details, the Middle Kingdom would invade Russian Central Asia with the intent of pushing the border back yet another thousand miles.



"Western Front"

The French spring offensive was initiated early with over 600,000 men attacking en masse against 350,000 Germans, 40,000 British, 60,000 Dutch and 90,000 Belgians.

As had become common in the past half century, it soon became obvious that the defenders would inflict a disproportionate toll in body count.


"Eastern Front"

The Russian spring offensive into Poland would get bogged down less by Polish and German defenses than by the spring mud. Over 500,000 Russian soldiers were forced to the front in the face of great logistical problems. These soldiers were well armed with modern rifles but were short of what was becoming common for machine guns and artillery.

Over 250,000 Germans and 150,000 Poles were in arms preparing to defend Poland. Already, the Russians had been ejected from East Prussia.


"Northern Front" - Finland

The 2nd British Expeditionary Force of 20,000 would arrive in Finland in March. These would augment the Finns already well armed by the British to resist the Czarina. The initial response of Arthur Balfour's Government was not to send any direct aid to the Finns. However, the cries of the Germans to help reduce the pressure in any way possible would press the British to aid the Finns. This would have a disproportionate effect on how many Russian resources were removed from the Eastern Front and moved towards the northern front.


"Southern Front" - Austria

While the Italians would only half-heartedly launch offensives against southern Germany, the Tirol would finally fall to King Umberto's forces.

However, the Italians would not, as they had a decade previously, attempted to gain control over the eastern Adriatic. The Kingdom of Croatia and Slovenia would rapidly arm and prepare for an assault which would never come.



Malta

The combined Italian-Russian fleet would managed to brush aside the British squadron guarding Malta via use of the Italian Super-Battleships Cuniberti and newly launched Umberto. However, the British would exact a toll before retreating. The Cuniberti was damaged enough to be forced back to Spezia and an Italian Cruiser and two Russian Chruisers were lost.

Having prepared for this moment for decades, the Italians would then bombard the fortifications of the island as 20,000 Italian soldiers were landed upon the most desirable central naval base in the Mediterranean.

As the Royal Navy had already lost access to the harbor of Gibraltar, the British were forced to North Africa for succor. Fortunately for them, the Moroccans and Egyptians were keen to avoid a Latin Alliance victory and wholeheartedly supported their British ally.

 

[Alt History Buff]

Chapter 319

April 1906

Belem, Brazil

The arrival of the Brazilian Cruiser Rio de Janeiro would finally encourage the Brazilians to board their transports and prepare to assault the American port of Macapa. The French-built Cruiser was of an older class than the new “Liberte” cruisers but was still a good ship. And with the Americans apparently without major naval support in Macapa, the Brazilian commander of 6000 troops would feel confident enough to put his forces in the hands of the Navy.

Augmented by 2 destroyers (the actual classification of ships was always a bit murky and subject to local interpretation), the Rio de Janeiro would sail the short distance to Macapa, at the mouth of the Amazon. Given that no roads, much less railroads, existed between the two cities, a seaborn invasion was the only real option.

Retaking Macapa was the equivalent of retaking the northern Amazon as no other avenues for transport inland existed except for the Amazon River. Thus, the Brazilians risked one of their two precious modern ships in hopes to striking a fatal blow to the Americans before they could reinforce.

Unfortunately, the Americans could read a map just as well as the Brazilians and, after escorting 4000 American troops to Macapa, the Mississippi-class USS Pennsylvania and USS Indiana would remain in port to guard the vital access point. The Mississippi-class ships were older (built in the late 1880’s) but were functional and well maintained. The Americans would also have the USS Louisiana (an even older ship) and three modern destroyers.

Having missed the arrival of these reinforcements, the Brazilian fleet would sail towards Macapa and receive a rude shock. However, the Rio de Janeiro was the strongest ship available and her 10-inch guns superior to the Americans which sailed out in formation.

Knowing that they were outgunned at a distance, the Americans under Commodore Sigbee (an aging officer) would attempt to close the gap before the Brazilians would bring their guns to bear. At five miles, the Brazilians opened fire as their transports retreated eastwards to await the outcome to the battle.

By the time the Brazilians found the range, the Americans had entered their own range at 3 miles and commenced firing back with their own 9-inch guns. After several volleys, the Brazilians were the first to land a blow. The USS Pennsylvania was hit, fortunately by a glancing blow. Passing at 2 miles, the Pennsylvania missed entirely after several volleys. The Rio de Janeiro then inflicted a more serious injury with a blow directly to the superstructure. Admiral Sigbee would die instantly along with dozens of sailors.

However, the Rio de Janeiro would take her first blow as the 9-inchers of the USS Indiana struck back, twice pummeling the Rio de Janeiro’s armored hull plating near the deck. The ship practically shook with the impact. While the shells didn’t fully penetrate, the wound was serious as several leaks were sprung as hull plating cracked apart. As an older French model, flood prevention had not been a priority and even moderate damage was dangerous.

But the Rio de Janeiro was not done yet. The USS Louisiana, namesake of her class, would also put two shells into the Rio De Janeiro at a mile and a half before the Brazilians could even retrain their guns on this new threat. The Louisiana fired again, missing, and was almost beyond the Brazilian ship when the first shell landed from her aft turrets.

While the USS Louisiana had been well modified over the years for additional armor and firepower, the ship remained vulnerable to a shell landing directly on her deck….as had occurred in this case. By ill-luck, the shell hit a powder store a deck below. The ship would blow up in spectacular fashion. So startling was this that even the Rio de Janeiro's was so fixated they didn't bother to fire upon the three destroyers following the American ships-of-the-line.

However, both sides would soon recover and the American destroyers would soon exchange fire with their Brazilian counterparts trailing the Rio de Janeiro.

The Pennsylvania and Indiana would turn once more to cross proverbial swords, at once both enraged and disheartened by the loss of the Louisiana. Attempting to keep the enemy at short range, the Americans and Brazilians would pursue parallel courses north as each attempted to “cross the T”. Both would fail and for over 30 miles, the two sides would exchange blows, the larger ships engaging one another while the lighter ships battled five miles to the rear.

Among the latter, at least, the Americans were getting the best of it. Outnumbering the Brazilians three to two, the American destroyers were more modern, faster and with better guns. Both Brazilian ships would gamely attempt to return fire but were plainly outclassed. Turning to retreat after both took blows, the American destroyers went in for the kill. One launched a torpedo which forced the Brazilians away from their southerly heading. Now, coming up upon the Brazilian destroyers from both sides, the Americans bracketed the rearmost with accurate fire, finally forcing her to strike after the ship caught flame. Not bothering to stop, the Americans would chase the 2nd, now only a mile ahead as she desperately attempting to turn southwards. Finally, a well-aimed volley would strike the Brazilian aft and obliterate her engine department. The ship slowed to a crawl and stopped, already taking on water.

The Pennsylvania and Indiana would also use numbers to bracket in the Rio de Janeiro. Here, however, the heavier Brazilian ship held the advantage in speed and the Rio de Janeiro could easily outmaneuver the two Americans. Both American ships had taken blows by now and the Rio de Janeiro would suffer the loss of her aft guns with a well-placed American volley.

No longer capable of firing back from a retreating position, the Rio de Janeiro’s captain would turn about and engage the Americans at close range. The results were devastating for both sides. The Pennsylvania would hit along her bow waterline, the modern guns penetrating even her powerful armor. The Pennsylvania fired back gamely but missed.

The Indiana would not, though, as twice the Indiana’s 9 inch guns would strike, once amidships near the waterline of the Rio de Janeiro and another blowing off her watchtower.

The Brazilian vessel would fire one more volley, this time striking the Indiana as the ships passed, a blow near the aft deck (battering her rear turrets).

The Rio de Janeiro would opt to withdraw while she still could and follow the civilian ships back to Belem (the transports and cargo ships, hearing if not seeing an extended battle, assuming that their services were not to be required and chose discretion).

The American ships would limp back to Macapa at 10 knots, reunite with the destroyers and make for the harbor. The Pennsylvania barely made it as several compartments had flooded. The Indiana and one of the Destroyers were in bad shape as well. Worse, Macapa held few useful repair facilities and the battleships were in dire shape should they need to sail for friendlier waters or, more alarmingly, fight again.

It would take two weeks for the basics of the battle to be understood in Washington. Technically, as they prevented a potentially devastating invasion by the Brazilians which could have secured the Amazon completely, the battle was considered a strategic victory. More men and material would be landed throughout April and May to give the Americans the chance to advance up the Amazon to reclaim Manaus (the Americans still dominated river shipping).

However, even Commodore Sigbee’s replacement (the chief engineer was the highest rank to survive the battle) from his makeshift and shattered command deck on the USS Pennsylvania knew that the “victory” had come with a cost. The Americans had lost one of their precious battle-cruisers, the Louisiana, while the Pennsylvania and Indiana would require extensive repair.

He would think back upon the ancient expression “one more such victory would finish us”.

The US Navy was down another three (albeit older) battlecruisers to match the three lost and two heavily damaged in New York. The USS Michigan was also down for engine repair and, as a result, no one trusted the USS South Carolina to travel far beyond the American coastline.

“Giving as good as they got” didn’t matter much if the Americans ran out of ships. Nine out of the eighteen capital ships commissioned in the Atlantic and West Indian squadrons were out of action, four never to return.

“One more such victory would finish us”.


Alexandria

The Egyptian city of Alexandria and Moroccan city of Tunis had become the defacto bases in the Mediterranean for the British Royal Navy. The British Mediterranean squadron had been scattered after being forced away from Gibraltar by land-based guns and by the Italian invasion of Malta. The allied African ports did not come close to matching the latter two for facilities.

However, all was not lost, the British still controlled the Suez and the approaches to Gibraltar, thus they controlled what came in and out of the Sea.

But with the greater number of ships available IN the Mediterranean, the Russian-Italian-French-Spanish alliance would have the initiative.

Seizing Malta had cost the allies several ships lost and damaged. More, the allies had never quite recovered from the shock of losing 13 of the 16 ships which had sallied against the Americans with the intent of crippling her navy before she could enter the war.

Both of the Italian Cuniberto-class ships were in Spezia, all three of the operational French “Liberte” class ships were in Toulan and the bulk of the Russian Navy had also entered the Mediterranean from the Black Sea. The Spanish fleet, having lost several vessels to the Americans in New York and then the whole of their decrepit West Indian fleet in Santiago de Cuba, remained in a state of shock. Only two of the remaining Spanish vessels, the Madrid and the Barcelona, would be considered on par with the French vessels (and behind the Italians) and that was only because the Madrid and Barcelona had been produced in France (they were of the predecessor designs to the Liberte-class).


Madrid

King Alphonso was getting increasingly irritated by his “allies” who treated him like a junior partner at best, one to be placated like a child at worst.

Having suffered terrible losses at sea to the British and Americans, the Spanish King would spend more time explaining why Spanish land forces could not be dispatched to Germany.

Why the hell should he do that?

Spain had no ambitions in Germany. Already, the King was getting increasingly certain that the whole venture had been a mistake. Yes, it was obvious that the Americans were aiding the Cuban rebels…..at least covertly. But that problem was nothing to the reality of the destruction of the Spanish West Indian Fleet and the ensuing invasions. Far better to deal with American gun runners.

The Spanish had also longed to regain Gibraltar, more a matter of pride than necessity. More importantly, the King knew that if the Anglo-American Co-Protectorate continued to expand its influence, this would be the end of Spanish (or anyone else’s) pretentions at global Empire.

That the charter of the Co-Protectorate allowed for investment of ANY nation without (much) advantage to the British and Americans didn’t help Spain much. In truth, King Alphonso’s Kingdom remained stubbornly behind the rest of Europe (and America) economically. Lacking a good capital supply to invest and no really producing many goods which credibly competed with foreign manufacturers, this meant that even an Africa serving as a “free port” didn’t help Spain much. Spain required total control of a territory to exclude foreign competition to actually utilize a colony for export.

The French and Italians were somewhat more developed but still feeling hamstrung by the Co-Protectorate’s existence. While Africa was not necessarily a terribly profitable prospect (by 1906, most of Europe accepted this), the fact that Britain and America controlled it meant that influence in Asia became even more difficult to the point of impossible.

With America embedded in the Western Hemisphere and Britain blocking off the rest of the world, the rapidly developing economies, societies and militaries of Europe had little to no outlet for their ambitions….except for one another.

If the French thought that Spain would get involved in that bloodbath in Europe, the Emperor had another thing coming.

 

[Alt History Buff]

May 1906

Kyoto

For months, the Japanese Government, Japanese Army and Japanese Navy would debate, discuss and argue over a strategy in which the Empire could benefit from the chaos ensuing throughout the world.

Obviously, Great Britain was otherwise occupied and would not be able to protect their Australian colony.

America was similarly invested elsewhere but still maintained a moderately strong Pacific Squadron.

Russia was busy fighting on multiple fronts as well as quelling multiple rebellions.

China was invading Russia....for some reason. Maybe they wanted the resources of Siberia too.

How would Japan react?

Some would council allying with one faction or another. However, allying with China, America and Britain against Russia would gain Japan nothing.

But allying with Russia (if Russia would even desire to do such a thing) would still leave Japan fighting alone against the Chinese, British and American forces in the region as well as local allies like the Joseon Kingdom, Nam Viet and the like.

It seemed too much to ask especially given the level of antipathy that most local governments (and the Japanese colonies) had for the Japanese Empire.


Moscow

"What do you mean "they said no"?!!" The Czarina demanded, outraged at the impudence.

Licking his lips, the Foreign Minister would chose to simply be direct and get it over with.

"The Kings of Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia....."

"Have REFUSED to come to our aid?" the Czarina demanded incredulously. "After my grandfather freed them from the Turk...."

The Czarina would rant for quite some time on the subject. In the end, the result was the same. The Balkan nations would not partake in the insanity ongoing throughout Europe. Indeed, local border disputes were being quietly settled or at least postponed. Greece and the Ottoman were even talking of.....cooperation.....to ensure local autonomy.

The Balkans would remain a pillar of stability in a Europe gone mad.


Santiago (Chile)

The Junta which had turned the once-Democratic nation into a military dictatorship would convene in fall of 1906 (spring in the northern hemisphere) and debate what to do about the state of the world.

Some desired an immediate declaration of war. When asked on precisely WHO they should declare war, there were various opinions.

Make another play towards Bolivia and Peru's coastal regions?

Finish the conquest of Patagonia?

Maybe even try to seize some of the Argentine/Bolivian/Paraguyan Gran Chaco?

The German hireling Emil Korner who had been so instrumental in training, arming and leading the Chilean Army for over a decade would grow so disgusted with the open politicking and plotting that he resigned and prepared to return to Germany. As it was, the American Ambassador would point out that Mexico was looking for high-ranking officers to upgrade a military which had fallen behind the times.

Thus, Korner would be given a letter of introduction to the President of Mexico. The purpose of this was twofold:

1. Mexico was an ally and it was in America's best interest that their neighbor remained viable militarily.
2. Emil Korner was a brilliant soldier and it was in America's best interest that he be kept away from Chile. There was always a good chance that America and Chile crossed swords once again.

 

[Panzerlied]

The Balkans would remain a pillar of stability in a Europe gone mad.

Heh.

 

[Koushikb8768]

Chapter 319

You didn't threadmark this.

 

[Alt History Buff]

May, 1906

Central Asia

The Russian Army was ill-prepared for the Chinese invasion of Central Asia and was largely driven before them for the summer of 1906. The Turkic peoples (Kazaks, etc) would be caught in a vice.

The Chinese offensive was only slowed by the realities of the logistical hurdles of the vast Asian Steppe.

Southern Belgium

The north-eastern front had seen the spring offensive by massive (and unprecedented) French forces thrown back with desperate casualties. Already, the French people were getting frustrated with the war. Hundreds of thousands of casualties had amounted to nothing.

The French attempt to turn the enemy flank had failed. Beyond a salient taken between the Rhine and the Mosel, the French had been pushed back from the southern Netherlands and most of Southern Belgium. It seemed that Europe had become a new castle and the deep trenches scarring the land would be their walls.

Detroit

President McKinley would take the afternoon riding about in Mr. Ford's new jalopy while on his week-long public relations tour. In truth, McKinley felt guilty about abandoning his post during a war but his advisors insisted that America needed to see its President in person on occasion.

McKinley didn't think much of these newfangled inventions and doubted they'd ever be popular beyond toys for the rich. Ford himself seemed a bit of a cold fish and McKinley looked forward to returning to Washington.

Havana

Almost as soon as they landed, the American forces would march westward to Havana. It had been hoped (and assumed) that large numbers of Cubans would flock to the 12,000 man American force and augment their numbers. This would prove disappointing as the Cuban rebels were less trusting of the Americans after years of Spanish propaganda (often true) that America coveted the island for annexation.

Within weeks, the American commander had been forced to provide copies of the declaration that America WOULD NOT annex Cuba to the Cuban countryside where the rebels lingered. It didn't make much of a difference as only a few thousand Cubans came forward to fill out the ranks.

Meanwhile, the well-fortified city of Cuba.....by 18th century standards.....possessed over 10,000 Spanish regulars and an equal number of Cuban loyalists.

The Americans would inch forward only to be ambushed at every turn. Several times, the enemy would hold a hill and force the Americans to attack....with heavy losses.....before retreating to the next hill.

Much.....MUCH.....worse was the fact that the arrival of spring would soon wither the American forces via malaria and yellow fever. Indeed, the environs of Havana were less prone to such outbreaks than other regions of Cuba.

Still, the American commander, General Nelson Miles, would expire of malaria before the city was even in the American sights.

Santiago

General Jack Pershing would finally force the defenders of Santiago into a pitched battle five miles east of the city. The American light artillery proved the true difference maker and the Spanish forced to withdraw into hastily dug trenches around the city.

American artillery placed upon the heights of El Canay and San Juan Hill would pummel the city.

Like his late counterpart near Havana, Pershing would see his forces sicken by the day. In less than 2 months, the Americans would lose over 1000 men to the dread disease while another 4000 were virtual invalids.

Unlike with General Miles in Havana, Cuban rebels WOULD flock to the American colors and assist by cutting off the Spanish forces to the harbor. Several American ships remained in Santiago and partook in the bombardment of the city.

Dispirited by the destruction of their fleet outside Santiago Harbor, the Spanish would absorb the pummeling land-based artillery and the US Navy for several days before putting out feelings for a "peaceful settlement".

 

[Alt History Buff]

You didn't threadmark this.

Thanks, Corrected.

 

[Alt History Buff]

June, 1906

Eastern Front - Poland

Less than a year after "independence", the Poles fought for their lives. Patriots volunteered in the hundreds of thousands to fight for their freedom from Russian tyranny. The elections of 1906 would be the first spark of Democracy since the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. For once, Poles, Jews and other minorities were largely unified against the Czarina. Backed by German, British and Hungarian troops, the flat plains of eastern Poland and Byelorussia.

A shocking reversal of 1906 along the battlefield would see the Russians pushed back hundreds of miles in the single greatest route of the war after the Czarina pushed 300,000 troops to Central Asia/Siberia and 60,000 to Finland. The Germans and Poles were also greatly aided by rebellions among the Latvians, Estonians, Lithuanians, White Russians and Ukrainians who similarly had long sought escape from Russian domination.

Reaching Minsk, the White Russians would declare their own independence.

Western Front

Attempting to break across the Salient, the French army would embark upon their rafts and attempt to force the eastern shore of the Rhine. An unprecedented artillery bombardment would precede the attack in hopes of pummeling the German lines to the extent that a toehold could be established.

The assault would prove a failure. Once again, the French were thrown back with heavy casualties.

French anti-monarchists would promptly riot throughout Paris.


Havana

Lieutenant Colonel Mason Patrick had served as the Chief Engineer of the 2 American Expeditionary force in Havana. For months, the Americans had painstakingly pushed west towards Havana, encircling the city. Fortunately, 10,000 American reinforcements had arrived to replace the huge numbers of disease-ridden American soldiers. Patrick wondered how the Cubans had lived under such conditions for centuries. The only saving grace was that the Spanish regulars dispatched to Cuba were little better acclimated and sickened at a similar rate. The Cuban "Loyalists" would melt away in droves, either deserting or defecting to the rebels.

Ordered to place the American guns on the hills surrounding the city, it became quite clear that nothing could prevent Havana's destruction by the invaders. The arrival of 4000 of Pershing's 1st expeditionary force also helped but the final deciding factor was that Pershing had forged an alliance with the rebel leadership and over 15,000 armed Cubans joined the siege.

Chile

Having learned of the American losses in Macapa, the Chileans finally managed to gather themselves and launch a 3rd Expedition north into the Bolivian and Peruvian coastal regions. Apparently, the US Navy was a bit occupied elsewhere.

Like Brazil, the Chileans had purchased two capital ships from France in the past five years, both slightly older models than the Liberte class but nevertheless quite effective. Certainly whatever passed for government in Peru these days wouldn't resist effectively (Bolivia hadn't had a real government in ages).

While the Junta in Santiago had considered marching inland to gain the remainder of Patagonia, there were few indications of actual wealth in the area. The Litoral, on the other hand, was still rich in nitrates. Besides, Buenos Aires and the Argentine had armed themselves as a potential war with Brazil loomed. Bolivia and Peru were a vastly easier target....assuming America did not intervene this time.

As it so happened, the Chileans' luck was with them this time.

Jesselton, Borneo (Australian Protectorate)

Having finally hemmed and hawed for months over strategy in the unfolding global chaos, the aggressive and militant Japanese government would opt for the Imperial Navy's strategy.....expansion along the island chains of the south, not on land against China or Russia.

The spearhead of the Japanese Navy would sail into the Port of Jesselton along northeastern Borneo and obliterate two old Royal Australian Navy vessels at anchor.

The Japanese had entered the war.

 

[Alt History Buff]

July, 1906

Malta

Having endured months of accusations by the frustrated British public for its "pacifism" in prosecuting the war, particularly at sea, the Admiralty would be urged to actually USE the Royal Navy in some military capacity beyond blockading the northern and western coasts of France and Spain.

The Mediterranean remained hostile to all parties. Both exits (Gibraltar and Suez) were at least nominally controlled by the Royal Navy and few attempts to break out had been made by the Latin Alliance or Russia. While Gibraltar Harbor had been destroyed and the presence of heavy artillery in the Spanish hillside opposite the Peninsula ensured that the fortress was largely irrelevant to the modern military situation.

Great Britain could enter and exit the Mediterranean at will but had few safe bases within. Instead, the Royal Navy would find safe harbor in North Africa while the Alliance gritted their teeth from Southern Europe.

Perhaps the most strategic point for Britain in the Mediterranean was the lost island of Malta. The Royal Navy squadron protecting it had been brushed aside by the new Cuniberti-class battleships. However, the British now possessed the most powerful vessel on earth.

The HMS Dreadnought had been kept with the Channel fleet since being commissioned and crewed in the past few months. This was both to protect Britain (which did not appear to be under major threat) and to give the crew an actual period of time to get to know the vessel. The Dreadnought's guns and armor were as good or better than any ship on earth. It was her speed which truly set her apart from the Michigan-class or Cuniberti-class vessels. This speed would allow for the advantage of maneuver.

In July, the Dreadnought would lead a squadron of 14 British warships through Gibraltar with the intent of laying waste to the Italian fleet at Malta.

As expected, the Italians had been warned by a fast French destroyer which witnessed the flotilla passing through Gibraltar. The Italian fleet was no where to be seen. To the surprise....and intense dismay.....of the Britons, the Italians had not abandoned Valletta harbor completely.

The United States Navy had been at the forefront of the development of submersibles and torpedoes as part of their strategy to protect the vast coastline against surface fleets. Their "ally" in 1906 was Great Britain, the very power which prompted America to withdraw from their isolation by bombarding various coastal cities in 1862.

However, the Americans were not the ONLY nation to follow such a path. Surprisingly, it had not been the British or French who had funded several generations of submersibles. Like the Americans, the newly unified Italians were both ambitious and fearful of the power of the Royal Navy. Knowing Italy was unlikely to ever single-handedly challenge the British at sea (and not being foolish enough to count on allies), the Italians sought to overcome the British advantage in surface ships in any way they could. The development of submersibles was among this directive.

When the HMS Dreadnought would lead the British ships into firing position on Valletta's fortifications, the captain and crew would receive a nasty surprise. All four functional Italian submersibles would be towed to Malta to lay in wait. Though the Italian submersibles possessed only one torpedo tube, the newly designed torpedoes were quite powerful. The British ships were not even aware they were under attack until the first torpedo hit the HMS Dreadnought. A second would strike from the opposite direction and a third would break the back of a light frigate.

The fourth torpedo was the only to miss its target and the trail would finally alert the British to what was happening. While the Italian submersibles reloaded, the British Destroyers would plunge forward with the only weapon available to them.....rams affixed to the prows. Several of the escort vessels were able to correctly guess by means of following the torpedo trails or by educated guesses. The HMS Newcastle would guess correctly and shear in half the first Italian submersible before the crew could even reload.

Two others sought managed to fire additional shots, one striking a cruiser. At that point, all three would dive as deeply as they could.

On the horizon, smoke was spotted providing evidence that the Italian and their associated fleet would soon arrive. With the Dreadnought taking on ever more water, Admiral Jellicoe, the fleet commander, would order a retreat. He'd lost two ships already and the Dreadnought's captain was certain that the ship was already listing too much to effective fight.

Humiliated, the fleet retired for the Atlantic without firing a shot.

The Dreadnought would barely make Gibraltar before she capsized and sank within view of the fortification.

 

[Alt History Buff]

August, 1906

Washington

The "Victory" in Macapa would, once again, cost America precious military assets. In 1905, the United States possessed at least a nominally functional 24 heavy capital ships (according to the general standards of what comprised a capital ship as technology evolved). This was an effective number...until 8 were sunk or heavily damaged over the course of a few months.

Like most nations, the United States' peacetime budget for capital ship production was usually in the range of 1 or 2 capital ships per year which barely kept up with the decommissioning of older ships. Hardly expecting a war, the American governments of the past decade were generally satisfied with this.

When New York was attacked, the American industrial complex would immediately escalate production. New vessels were ordered and keels laid but, even with the most ardent of efforts, one could not construct 20,000 ton modern vessels in a few months. The USS Michigan and South Carolina were already in various stages of production. But new vessels were required to start from scratch.

The US Navy could not expect new Capital ships in a matter of months thus the losses of Macapa and New York would be keenly felt.

In the meantime, new keels were laid for four new upgraded Michigan-class ships (mainly engine improvements), several lighter cruisers already in production were expedited, a new heavy cruiser class was approved and ordered while the new-model destroyers, torpedo boats and submersibles production lines were similarly put on three shifts.

But all of this took time. Having lost a third of her effective fleet was a severe shock to the system.

Now, President McKinley was facing new fronts against Chile and Japan with only the smaller (and somewhat less capable) Pacific Fleet at his disposal.

McKinley, deeming the western hemisphere more important, would order the Pacific Fleet and several regiments of the Army to prepare to alight down to Peru and Bolivia. Having intervened now for the third time over the same boundary dispute with Chile, McKinley wasn't doing this as much for Peru and Bolivia's benefit as to prove America's will over the Atacama Desert. Once again, neither Peru and Bolivia appeared intent on actually ACTING and was leaving America to handle the problem again.

As for Japan's aggression against Australia......for the moment, they were on their own.

 

[Alt History Buff]

September, 1906

Minsk

A 500,000 man Russian offensive would be repelled in the summer of 1906 by the German, Polish, Lithuanian, White Russian and Ukrainian alliance.

Indeed, over 50,000 soldiers of several of these minorities would mutiny and defect DURING the battle itself. The Russians would retreat in confusion as the allies would attempt to press southward into towards Kiev even as the Russians retreated to Smolensk.

Central Asia

The Chinese Army, which had crushed the Russians at Astana (Kazakistan), would encourage the Kazaks, Uzbeks and other tribes of Central Asia to rise up in revolt against the Russians. Among these were 25,000 cavalrymen ordered to the Eastern Front only to see them rebel and loot Russia, the Ukraine and all parts between them and home in Central Asia.

Sea of Okhotsk

A ridiculous series of errors would bring war to the North Pacific. A Russian cruiser sailing from the newly founded town of Annagrad (OTL Magadan), which had been ordered constructed after the loss Vladivostok in hopes of serving as a new port to the Pacific, would encounter a Japanese frigate patrolling north of Hokkaido and fire without hesitation.

The two vessels would exchange fire despite the obscure conditions of heavy fog in the morning twilight. The Russians were at war with China and presumably America (though America and Russia were not technically yet at war). The Japanese vessel would incorrectly identify the Russia as a Dakota-class vessel in the poor conditions.

Reporting this a week later on Honshu, the Japanese Imperial Army would order any American ship to be fired upon. Like the Russians, the Japanese would assume that the ally of nation with which they were warring, Great Britain, would eventually come into the Pacific war.

By happenstance, an American Dakota-Class USS Missouri was patrolling about the Kurils a few weeks later and would take fire from another Japanese ship. Four American sailors were killed.

 

[Alt History Buff]

October, 1906

London

Even as the public recoil from the loss of the Dreadnought rippled through British society, the government would at least ride a wave popularity over the victories on the Continent. France was apparently embroiled in political strife while Russia appeared to be self-destructing into Civil War.

Had the Dreadnought and her fleet been successful in regaining Malta, the summer would have been considered a great success.

Of course, the summer of success turned to a fall of discontent.

1. Malta had failed to be regained.
2. A massive Irish rebellion sprung up....yet again....throughout the Emerald Isle. Loyalist Orders would fans the flames by violently repressing the uprising only to encourage more resistance. Eventually, the violence became so bad that the Protestants were ordered to stand down or risk being disarmed.
3. As had been long feared, the Empire of Japan would launch an unprovoked and largely undeclared war upon the Dominion of Australia.

Though several warships were dispatched to the South Pacific, none were of the latest models (the Bellerophon-class was to launch 2 battleships over the winter but neither was ready to sail yet).

The best the British could send was the London-class Prince of Wales and Duncan-Class Albemarle and Commonwealth over the summer of 1906. The trio were commissioned within the past 5 years and represented among the most powerful in the Royal Navy.

France

The French Socialist Workers Party would launch a series of strikes throughout the country which. somewhat unbelievably, would even extend to several army units. Dozens of French soldiers would be put on trial for mutiny and treason. Over a dozen French naval vessels would join the mutiny as well. Several sailors would be hanged from the modern equivalent of the yardarm.

Over 250,000 dead (200,000 soldiers and 50,000 civilians) would prompt the nation's Communists to commence a deep plot to overthrow the government.

Unlike 1905, 1906 would NOT see a major winter military campaign.

Russia

The Czarina would gaze upon her Ministers in disgust. Would they really so easily give up so much of Her Imperial Majesty's lands just because the war was not going according to plan?

Anna's ancestors had crushed Napoleon's army and let their bones wither upon the Russian plains to fertilize the soil.

With the vast reforms of the past decades, the Czarina was perhaps not the Autocrat her grandfather had been. The Czarina's powers had been delegated at a continuous rate to the Duma, which now controlled most of the internal politics of the nation. Most days, Anna was accepting of this as this meant popular discontent was at least shared with the elected leaders. Despite her formidable work ethic, the Czarina could not hope to even keep track of the proliferation of government functions, much less direct them. By nature, the Duma and the Bureaucracy kept the nation moving. However, most external relations remained under the guidance of the throne.

And external relations had rather dramatically fallen apart in the past two years. Anna was not naive enough to believe that the Russian people still saw the Royal Family as divine. The French Monarchy thought such a hundred and twenty years ago and look how THAT ended.

Though she had long sought to keep herself above party, the Czarina would rapidly face the fact that the war was going poorly and SHE was to be blamed. She needed to bolster her support.....in a way which DID NOT result in losing so many of her god-given lands.

Among the factions in the Duma, there were several candidates with which she may ally:

1. The Radical Socialists were probably never going to be an option. Following German and Jewish political philosophers (most of which never worked a day in their lives), the Radicals were, in Anna's opinion, a bunch of pretentious, drunken children feigning righteousness. These accounted for nearly 20% of the Duma.
2. The Anarchists were obviously no better though, by definition, they were at least less organized in their opposition. These tended to amount to about 10% of the Duma.
3. The Monarchists made up about 30% and included the Aristocracy, the Old Establishment, the Clergy, much of the army and navy, etc.
4. The new "National" Workers Party was the next largest block in the Duma, comprising perhaps 30% but was growing in strength. This was comprised of an odd coalition of Unions and Industrialists, modernizers and Russian Nationalists. For years, this group had been largely in the opposition but Anna was willing to accept them into the Government coalition despite their open loathing of foreigners, non-Slavs, non-Orthodox, etc.
5. Finally, there was the Peasant's Party at about 10%. Oddly, this was among the most loyal to the Czarina as the Royal Family had repeatedly over the decades stressed relief for rural peasants in acquiring land for reasonable rates from their former masters or free land in the east.

Reading the ugly mood in the Duma, the Czarina herself would throw together an awkward and probably short-lived coalition of the Monarchists, National Workers and Peasants Party.

She was willing to accept virtually any compromise provided that the war to regain Poland, Finland, White Russia, the Ukraine, Siberia and Central Asia was not halted.

To her surprise, the coalition actually settled down the insurrections in the Duma enough to concentrate upon the looming military disaster.

 

[A Random Man]

Nice chapter, maybe Czarina Anna can somehow keep power and find a way out of the mess she is in.

 

[Alt History Buff]

October, 1906

Geneva

Vladimir Lenin had escaped Russia years before after attempting to overthrow the government. A radical follower of Marxism who encouraged violent worldwide revolution, Lenin had deep ties with several of the Socialist movements of France including Jules Guesde and Lenin's son-in-law (by his daughter Laura), Paul Lafargue.

Less radical Socialists like Jean Jaures were less inclined towards violence but the horrors of the war was moving Jaures' more moderate reformist Socialist towards a union with Guesde's Marxists.

The loss of hundreds of thousands of soldiers for no apparent gain had pushed the leftist parties to the breaking point. For the first time, the Left was unified in nationwide strikes. Napoleon IV's government would order the arrests of the leaders of the Political Parties only to find most had been tipped off by informers.

Rather than ending the disorders, the winter of 1906/07 would only escalate them.

Central Asia

The Chinese invasion of the Russian Steppe would only gradually be slowed by the Russian army. Spread across a vast area, the Chinese themselves did great damage but this paled in comparison to the ravaging of the Russian settlements by the Turkic peoples of Central Asia who used the occasion to seek their own independence and retribution.

Over 200,000 Russian civilians would be butchered before the Russian Army regained control over most of the region. The Chinese invaders, on a long supply line now stretched to the brink, were happy to let the Russians and Muslim tribesmen tear one another to pieces.

Hundreds of thousands of Russian troops augmented by Cossacks would pour into central Asia to exact retribution upon the tribes.

As it so happened, an event in Beijing would rapidly alter the Chinese plans for invading Central Asia.

Beijing

While the Tongzhi Emperor had never quite finished growing up, his mother, the Dowager Empress Cixi had quietly dominated government for 45 years. Cixi had abolished slavery and arcane punishments, modernized the legal system, introduced vast expansion of technology and education, centralized the once very discordant Provincial governments and, perhaps most importantly, peacefully and comprehensively reformed the once-burdensome Mandarin Bureaucracy.

Of course, the Dowager could not do this herself. She had a number of diligent Ministers who she selected for these purposes. Among these were two high level functionaries in the Foreign Ministry who had pressed for the invasion of Russia while that nation's focus was elsewhere. One of these would die in October of 1906 while the other lost favor with the Dowager as he failed to predict the renewal of Japanese aggression.

Over the past half decade, the gap between the Japanese and Chinese Navies had grown a great deal as Japanese shipyards began producing warships superior to those many western nations could match. The Chinese shipyards were a full generation behind in design....a huge chasm given the rapid technological change.

As Japan had decisively defeated the Russians and British on several occasions in the past war, there was more than a small chance that the Japanese would brush aside the tributary state of Australia's forces with little effort. Even with the Americans on the side of the Australians, the Land of the Rising Sun may prove unstoppable.

And then what would happen to China when the entire Pacific coastline of the Middle Kingdom was ruled by Japan?

The new Ministers would spend far more time discussing matters with the American and British Ambassadors than any administration ever had before.

 

[Protess]

Welp there goes Japan. Probably gonna lose all their colonies and have China occupy the home islands the way this seems to be going.

 

[Alt History Buff]

November, 1906

Borneo

By November, the Japanese Imperial Navy had wiped out the weakened naval defenses surrounding Borneo. In truth, the island defended itself more capably than the defenders. 40,000 Japanese soldiers alighted onto Bornean soil with little resistance from the Malay, Indian and other residents (who had been allowed to migrate with Australian approval in order to provide a labor force and potential for defending the island).

However, the Japanese soldiers would soon succumb in large numbers to the pestilential climate of Borneo. Unlike their comrades occupying Java, Sumatra and the Philippines, the newly raised Regiments of Japanese infantry from Japan had no chance to acclimate and nearly half would sicken within weeks.

The Army's harsh methods would lead to virtual enslavement of the locals and create a level of resistance which hadn't existed before.

Still, the Japanese General Staff remained optimistic about the war.

In the meantime, the Imperial Navy was about to get its first taste of the Royal Navy.

Straights of Malacca

The eight ship squadron of the Royal Navy had momentarily stopped in Ceylon to re-coal, rearm and do minor repairs for two weeks. Then, the Fleet would sail on under Admiral Henry Jackson (more of a staff Admiral over the past decade than a sailing man) not for Australia to coordinate with the Royal Australian Navy.

The delay in Ceylon would give the Japanese Imperial Navy adequate warning of the impending arrival of the British. Still uncertain of which route the British would take (most assumed that the British would sail south of Java), the Japanese command would ordered the bulk of their vessels near Malacca, where they could continue to support Borneo.

The gamble paid off as the eight ship squadron would sail into the teeth of the bulk of the Japanese fleet led by the two most powerful vessels on that side of the planet: the Satsuma-Class Satsuma and Aki.

While the British were led by three modern vessels, the Prince of Wales, Albemarle and Commonwealth, these did not quite match up with the new Japanese vessels. Already fatigued by a long journey, the British nevertheless opted to engage rather than retreat.

For several hours, the two fleets would repeatedly exchange blows. Three British vessels would go down while the rest would retreat wounded south to Australia.

The Japanese would suffer two cruisers sunk and, like the British, few of the Japanese vessels escaped damage.

Petropavlovsk

As almost an afterthought, America's Congress and the Czarina declared war upon one another. America's justification was the clash of warships in the Sea of Okhotsk. Russia did so mainly because America declared war upon her.

The American Admiralty had long expected that, by necessity, that America and Russia would eventually come to blows as their respective allies Britain and France were fighting in the same war. In truth, no one was surprised and many citizens of both nations had assumed that they were ALREADY officially at war.

The Admiralty had planned for such an occasion. While American and Russian vessels were unlikely to engage in Europe's waters, the American sailors in Sakhalin and Guam had long prepared for the potential for conflict in the northern Pacific.

Within days of the formal declaration of war, three American warships would sail for Annagrad and sink the two aging Russian frigates which represented the entirety of the Russian Pacific Fleet. A week later, American marines would land on the Kamchatka Peninsula town of Petropvlovsk. By 1906, there were estimated to be less than 8000 people on the entire massive Peninsula and the Anadyr River Region north of Kamchatka. American traders had long influenced the region as gold prospectors had been arriving since the discovery of gold to the east in Alaska in hopes that Anadyr would bear a similar bounty (thus far, no).

In truth, no one in America believed that seizing Kamchatka would made a difference in the war or prove profitable. The entire intent was to gain a negotiating chip when the war finally ended.

In the Crimean War, the town of Petropavlovsk had actually repelled a combined French and British fleet and invasion force three times its number (800 defenders versus 2400 attackers). However, after the sale of Alaska to America, the entire purpose of the town disappeared (as the town was the gateway to Alaska) and the easternmost tip of Siberia ceased to matter in any way. There remained some promise of mining but few could be enticed to the region once the Czarina had ceased shipping citizens east in gulags.

In 1906, there would be no real resistance. With only 2000 Russians and perhaps 4000 indigenous in the entire region the size of California, the American Marines found their "invasion" to be something of a non-event. Indeed, all but 200 would be withdrawn from the town prior to the inevitable icing up of the harbor. Many of the Russians present actually asked for the Americans to take them with them. As several of the ships were sailing for Vancouver anyway, the 400 Russian civilians and soldiers (about 50 on punishment detail) would be elated to spend the winter in the much more balmy American Pacific Coast.

 

[Alt History Buff]

December, 1906

Finland

The Finns had taught both the British and the Russians much about fighting in the northern latitudes in winter. The Finns had entire regiments skiing through the countryside to ambush the huddled Russian soldiers in their makeshift huts.

Throughout the winters of 1905/06 and 1906/07, the Russians would have a miserable time fighting and supplying the region and had largely failed to make any grounds into Finland despite outnumbering the allies over 2 to 1.

France

Strikes, riots and protests had effectively prevented any winter offensive by French troops in 1906/07 (much to the relief of the soldiers). The Marxists and Socialists were gaining popularity among the working man largely because they solicited support from Unions whereas the Emperor and his supporters tended to view labor as the enemy.

Russia

The Russian Government was facing similar unrest with one key exception: the Russian Nationalist Party, unlike the Conservatives in France, would actively support not only the existence of Unions but actively encouraged them to negotiate higher salaries which significantly reduced the practical support of the Leftists (who tended to be labeled middle-class dilatants who sat about beerhouses spouting philosophy rather than actual revolutionaries). The Nationalists would do the "dirty" work of gaining working class support by improving working conditions, education and, most importantly, expanding suffrage.

Requiring more support in the Duma, the Czarina was forced to seek an alliance with these Nationalists and appoint several to high positions in government. The price would be rapid political change. However, she DID receive a great deal of advice from the odd assortment of Monarchists and Nationalists regarding cultivating her image among the people. This bizarre collection included skilled university psychologists and crackpots (like a priest named Rasputin) who advised that the Czarina do more to cultivate her image as the symbol of Russian virtue and unity (the Orthodox faith, the Russian language and history, the strength of the people represented by both urban laborers favored by the Nationalists and rural landowners sponsored by the Czarina).

"Russia for the Russians!" and the like.

Central Asia

As the Chinese Armies withdrew towards the previous borders, the encouraged Turkic peoples would continue to rebel, only halted by encroaching Russian soldiers eager to exact vengeance. The slaughter would commence.

Siberia

The Chinese forces would soon spread along the length of the eastern Trans-Siberian railroad, fully cutting off the Russians from the Pacific. With no roads or railroads or usable river transport (most Siberian rivers flowed almost uselessly towards the Arctic), communication was utterly cut off.

Indeed, the Czarina would not learn of losing Kamchatka until March the news spread from Siberia to North America to Europe and she read about it in a dispatch from the Swedish Ambassador.

 

[Mav12]

I'm enjoying the fact that it's becoming a running gag for the US to end up seizing vast tracks of what perceives to be useless land ITL.

 

[Alt History Buff]

January, 1907

Sakhalin

Over the past months, over 12,000 American soldiers and Marines would be stationed on Sakhalin in what they feared would be a vain attempt to protect the island. In the end, Japan was close and America was far. The long supply line must, by definition, prove insurmountable on any level technological playing field.

The arrival of winter was actually something of a godsend for the Americans for Sakhalin may be indefensible. With no rail, rudimentary roads and largely undefended harbors, the islands was too far away from American resources to protect against....well....any of the local powers. Should Japan, Russia or China ever get it into their minds......

As America was now at war with BOTH Russia and Japan (though those two were not allies), the situation may get grim very, very fast. Indeed, had the Admiralty known of the impending war with Japan, they likely would never have wasted the resources on the barely populated Russian outposts.

Still, the Americans would dig in as deeply as possible for a battle they knew they were unlikely to win.

Esquimalt, Vancouver

After months of public negotiations with the British, in December, the Americans finally consented to dispatch four capital ships - the USS Santee, California, Louisiana and Alabama, plus three new fast light cruisers and four destroyers - to the Pacific. First, they would sail to Hawaii and then on to Australia.

As the USS Missouri and USS Idaho were already posted to Guam, this meant that the Pacific Fleet was stretched terribly thin.

And that didn't even account for the fact that the USS Yakima and North Carolina were already set to be dispatched to Callao in Peru. Once again, the dysfunctional Peruvian and Bolivian governments had failed to act (the former due to a civil war and the latter for lack of apparent interest in Chile seizing their coastal territories).

Already, the Chileans had managed to seize Antofagasta, Tarapaca and Arica in Boliva and Tacna in Peru. Another 10,000 American soldiers and their transports would quickly be prepared to....for the THIRD Time.....sail south to South America's Pacific Coast.

The US Pacific Squadron would soon sail away from San Diego and Esquimalt towards danger.

Gibraltar

Over the past months, the Royal Navy had attempted repeatedly to land small, quick supply vessels in Gibraltar's ravaged harbor with the hopes of keeping the besieged garrison fed. Each attempt would be halted by the massive land-based guns entrenched in the mainland.

Finally, out of desperation, the Royal Navy would sail forth to engage the land-based guns at close range. While several of the 12 inch guns WERE knocked out, the resultant damage to four heavy British ships would force the Navy to withdraw.

Finally, in February, the garrison would offer its surrender.

Darwin

The Royal Australian Navy would gather most of its effective power in Darwin in hopes using stealth and speed of the Melbourne-class cruisers to offset the sheer power of the Japanese heavy battleships.

Fortunately, the Americans would arrive shortly and the Royal Navy vessels which survived the Battle of the Malacca Straights would similarly be returned to action in the shipyards of Melbourne and Sydney.

To their surprise, the three American cruisers and a destroyer arrived in late January as did two of the lightly damaged British cruisers. Once the heavier American ships arrived from Esquimalt, there would be an armada capable of challenging even those monster Japanese ships.

It was just matter of time.

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dominion of Australia

The American heavy ships, which lacked the range of the lighter cruisers, would stop in Hawaii for re-coaling and light repairs.

Within two days of their arrival, the western horizon would be scarred with the smoke of a dozen Japanese warships, the Satsuma in the lead.

As it turned out, the Japanese would be less interested in the non-threat posed by frigid, unpopulated Sakhalin than by the vital ports scattered across the Pacific. It was deemed practical to wipe out the enemy navies first, then casually enter whatever regional island or even mainland targets bearing value.

It was a remarkable gamble to dispatch such a large part of the Japanese Imperial Navy to Oahu but one considered worth taking. As it was, the gamble paid off. Not only were the Japanese ships able to utterly ravage the port facilities of Oahu but they discovered, to their delight, that several heavy (but aging) American warships were in port and proceeded to blast them to pieces in short order.

The Japanese commander only had two regrets as they sailed home:

1. That obliterating the four American heavy warships (the Destroyers got away) and two RN/RAN ships cost them two of their vessels in return. While Japan would had won most of her naval battles in the past war, the attrition of each of those "victories" had sapped the Imperial Navy so much that, by the end, the nation suffered a successful attack by the Chinese, of all peoples!

Japan's military industrial complex was simply not strong enough to replace heavy vessels on short notice. Rumor had it the Americans were going to launch two more of those massive Michigan-Class vessels within the year and two to four of the successor class the following year. Japanese shipyards would be lucky to produce one. Having lost four capital ships in the past two months, even in "victory", may yet again spell defeat for Japan if the Emperor's servants weren't careful.

Naturally, the Army didn't see it that way but they tended to be crude thugs, anyway.

2. The second regret was that organizing an invasion of Hawaii was impossible at this time. The Harbor was PERFECT for a fleet base and only the softness of the British/Australians had allowed it to be so terribly vulnerable to attack. Once Japan seized Hawaii, the islands would never be given back.