Good point. All of Czechoslovakia would be a sizable salient flanking southern Poland. Although I don't know if NATO Czechia would be equivalent to OTL Czechia.At least in Czechia.
Anything where you need more than your fingers to count the altitude in feet is an ultra high level raid for Bananas.The old carrier had one good day as her Buccaneers screamed in on a high level raid, seventy feet off the decade
Clydebank, Scotland October 11, 1944
The Royal Navy's newest carrier had a wet hull for the first time. HMS Vanguard had been launched by the Crown Princess just moments ago. She would soon be towed to the fitting out basins before shaking down in the first half of 1945. The Admiralty had plans for an all-British air group with new aircraft still being produced in factories and not even being released to the first squadrons to transition. They had time. The big battleship converted into a carrier would not be ready to land a Seafire or a SeaHornet until early summer anyways.
Interesting, she almost made it a full 40 years in service. Also interesting to see the RN retaining a CTOL carrier capability all through the Cold War. I expect nobody in Argentina even contemplated anything like the OTL Falklands war if there were at least two large carriers in service.Narvik, Norway, April 10, 1981
Eleven months later, the old carrier went to sea for the last time on a long slow journey to a scrap yard in India. Her bombers would reinforce RAF Germany while her fighters would go into an attrition and war emergency reserve for the three Queens that were now the center of the Fleet.
The RN kept 4 big carriers and between 3 to 6 lighter fleet carriers in service through the late 60s. A tranche of 3 ASW carriers were laid down 1966, 1967 and 1969 to replace the light fleets along with a pair of LPHs so a 5:6 replacement for role and 3 55,000 ton Catobars were laid down in the mid-70s for a 3:4 replacement. The prewar design fleet carriers never got a rebuild in the 50s and seldom left the reserve basin past the late 50s before scrapping in the 60s. There was a failed attempt to preserve Ark Royal but her name lived on.Interesting, she almost made it a full 40 years in service. Also interesting to see the RN retaining a CTOL carrier capability all through the Cold War. I expect nobody in Argentina even contemplated anything like the OTL Falklands war if there were at least two large carriers in service.
3 55,000 ton Catobars were laid down in the mid-70s for a 3:4 replacement.
the OTL carriers planned in the 60's had the second carrier as Duke of Edinburgh.So I take it that the names of the three British Aircraft Carriers are:
HMS Queen Elizabeth
HMS Ark Royal
HMS Warspite (figured that for the most decorated ship in British history...)
Or did you have a different idea for the CATOBARs?
Also, are the ASW Carriers the OTL Invincible class or something similar?
Queen Elizabeth,So I take it that the names of the three British Aircraft Carriers are:
HMS Queen Elizabeth
HMS Ark Royal
HMS Warspite (figured that for the most decorated ship in British history...)
Or did you have a different idea for the CATOBARs?
Also, are the ASW Carriers the OTL Invincible class or something similar?
This is an amazing timeline you made and sad to see that it’s almost over but I have enjoyed it!Queen Elizabeth,
Queen Mary (nod to the WWI BC)
Queen Victoria
The 3 ASW carriers are roughly 28,000 tons, STOL ships that are optimized as air warfare ships... the typical air wing is:
8 Harriers (or this TL equivilent as the RAF still wants something that can fly without a runway but the RN will always have a rolling take-off) configured for anti-MPA roles
12 large ASW choppers
4 general purpose ASW choppers
Able to support STOL aircraft like OV-10 Broncos as CODs but not typically deployed with them.
Air defenses is limited to 1st Sea Cat and the a late 70s/early 80s refit to multiple Sea Wolf launchers and multiple 40L70 gun stations initially and then a CIWS as a 1:1 replacement. No Sea Dart (those are carried by the Type 82s and stretched Type 42s) and enough C2 facilities for a convoy but not independent large task force. Speed is limited to 27 knots, CODAG propulsion.
Ships are Formidable, Invincible, Ark Royal
The two LPHs are built on the same general design concept but the magazines are stripped out, the hanger is reduced and speed is taken down to 22 knots. Can carry and simultaneously put ashore 2 companies of Royal Marines. The rest of the Commando will be carried on the LPD and LSTs that are part of the amphibious group.
WARSPITE is an SSN.
Seconded. I have to find the time to reread it.This is an amazing timeline you made and sad to see that it’s almost over but I have enjoyed it!
A slower and less bloody retreat from Empire, fewer colonial wars (Kenya yes. Malaya no) and the analogue of Korea not really happening) does a wonder for the Treasury.
There will be a Suez-esque crisis as Egypt goes independent. The US has the dollar/Bretton Woods stick to use but given the ability of the UK to maintain their interests in the Levant, there is a bit more leeway in Washington.How about Suez Crisis*?
*Searching both of the threads for Nasser, without luck. Perhaps you mentioned him subtlety without naming name?
Too much money long term? How much different is British GDP by 1980 compared to OTL? That said what happened to the British aircraft industry TTL? And for that matter to the French and Italian aircraft industries?Queen Elizabeth,
Queen Mary (nod to the WWI BC)
Queen Victoria
The 3 ASW carriers are roughly 28,000 tons, STOL ships that are optimized as air warfare ships... the typical air wing is:
8 Harriers (or this TL equivilent as the RAF still wants something that can fly without a runway but the RN will always have a rolling take-off) configured for anti-MPA roles
12 large ASW choppers
4 general purpose ASW choppers
Able to support STOL aircraft like OV-10 Broncos as CODs but not typically deployed with them.
Air defenses is limited to 1st Sea Cat and the a late 70s/early 80s refit to multiple Sea Wolf launchers and multiple 40L70 gun stations initially and then a CIWS as a 1:1 replacement. No Sea Dart (those are carried by the Type 82s and stretched Type 42s) and enough C2 facilities for a convoy but not independent large task force. Speed is limited to 27 knots, CODAG propulsion.
Ships are Formidable, Invincible, Ark Royal
The two LPHs are built on the same general design concept but the magazines are stripped out, the hanger is reduced and speed is taken down to 22 knots. Can carry and simultaneously put ashore 2 companies of Royal Marines. The rest of the Commando will be carried on the LPD and LSTs that are part of the amphibious group.
WARSPITE is an SSN.
Hmm. I don't want to presume of course but OTL there were pretty strong arguments within the foreign office in 1945-46 for giving Cyprus to Greece. The main argument against this was the fear Greece might go communist. TTL presumably there was no Greek civil war and Greece should be much closer to Britain post war. So if there is no union as early as 1946 there should be a staged approach towards self-government and then union in the 1950s - early 60s.As of 1963, Cyprus is still a Crown Colony with 3 and 4 way conversations going on as the British are slowly giving up their empire.
Holy fuck, I am done with something that started to haunt me on my walks in the spring of 2016I can't believe it's over. Bravo fester for one of the best timelines I have ever seen on this site. It was a pleasure to read(and reread)!