alternatehistory.com

Not by fighting it, alas.

Instead I posit that Thailand's Navy avoids a disastrous encounter with an inferior French squadron in 1940 while the Thai Army continues to advance into French Indochina. Eager to avoid distraction the British negotiate a settlement whereby portions of French Indochina are returned to Thailand.

Assume the western third of Laos and Cambodia as a basis for settlement. No. France in this TL is NOT a friend of Thailand's.

Grateful to London and with the regime enjoying a victory instead of a humiliation in 1940 Thailand manages to resist Japanese pressure and stay out of WWII. By early 1943 Thai value as a genuine neutral has convinced Japan to leave Thailand out of the war.

During the war Thailand manages to expand the military through sales of rice and other commodities, in particular building an air force up to nearly 300 modern planes, predominantly Zero fighters, while also purchasing four submarines and two light cruisers from Japan(replacing historical purchases attempted but disrupted by WWII). Modest industrial development also takes place.

By the end of the war Thailand has two light cruisers, 4 'battleships' which are actually the size of large destroyers with unusually heavy guns, 9 torpedo boats and 8 submarines. Thailand also has an army of six infantry divisions with three cavalry/motor regiments and one armored regiment.

In late 1944 Thailand, recognizing that the US and UK are getting agitated over neutrality seen as favoring Japan, chooses to declare war on Japan, as did other neutrals in Europe and elsewhere, to join the UN if nothing else. However, with nearly a year of war left in the Pacific Thailand's military is recognized as an important aid to the British liberation of Burma, Malaysia and Singapore(taking place @ 3 months earlier thanks to Thai involvment).

As the war ends Thailand is able to acquire huge quantities of surplus WWII material, particularly aircraft, tanks and artillery.

1) Is there any scenario whereby Thai involvment would be so valuable that the British might yield some bits of Burma or Malaysia in gratitude? If so, what would those areas be?

2) What form would the Thai army and air force have taken, assuming they were seen as an ally entitled to obtain surplus war material almost gratis?

3) What surplus warships might Thailand have been interested in being able to obtain or purchase? Not able to but actually interested in.
Top