I was recently considering THE DISUNITED STATES OF AMERICA by Mr Harry Turtledove (don't worry, this is a general question rather than specific to that particular Timeline) and stumbled over the name "Atlantic War" therein.
Now this is simply an example of world-building by name-dropping, but so far as I could determine from the context it seems to indicate a War waged at some point between the local equivalent of the First and Second World Wars (which appear to have been fought out at roughly the same schedule as their counterparts in Our Timeline - a little later, in the case of the latter, which involved a battle fought as late as 1947).
Now I am constitutionally incapable of letting a good name (or even an only mildly interesting name) go undeveloped, so I began to ponder just what form this conflict might have taken: given the name it would have to be a predominately Naval conflict, given the timing it was almost certainly an outgrowth of the Great War and most probably a precursor to the sequel of that conflict, so logically one can infer that it might have been fought due to tensions arising from a wartime blockade or serious disagreements over boundaries between respective spheres of influence or even some attempt to dictate relative fleet strengths in adherence to the protocols of some Peace Treaty.
One can also deduce that it was fought between a nation (or nations) on the Eastern Seaboard of North America against some Power situated either to the East of the Atlantic (in the Old World) or some rival based out of Latin America.
My speculations having carried thus far, my mind balked from carrying me any further into the Realms of Imagination by virtue of my sheer blissful ignorance of the state of Naval Affairs as it stood between the first and second quarter of the 20th Century - I would therefore like to ask any reader with Naval experience or a more exhaustive education in matters maritime if they would please be kind enough to weigh in upon this issue.
Which is the more plausible scenario - a naval struggle between North and South America? a maritime clash between the Old World and the New?
Where are the most likely "flash-points" and points of strategic contention?
What tactics, strategies and techniques would be employed?
Who are the most likely Dramatis Personae acting out the roles of Aggressor and Defender in the course of this conflict?
Is there ANY sound reasoning in my deductions?
I thank you for your attention, dear reader, and hope that you shall be willing to reply to my questions above; I shall take the liberty of thanking you in advance, so that I may live in Hopeful Anticipation.
Keep Well, one and all!