alternatehistory.com

Just an idea that has been kicking around for a while. I'm developing a wargame based on 'The Land Ironclads' by H.G. Wells. Here is my first draft of this alternate future. Be gentle with me....

1.[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]Early Days
Increased tensions with Imperial Germany and possible unrest in India caused issue with sending reinforcements to finish the Boer rebellion in South Africa. By the start of 1902 there was a push in Parliament to finish the war so that preparations could be made to directly confront Germany over their ship-building and obvious designs of French conquest along with reports of diplomatic overtures to both Mexico and Turkey. Due to the panic beginning to affect many politicians, previously ignored or forgotten technical advances were once again considered.
The almost forgotten ‘pedrail’ ideas of a certain Mr. Diplock caught the eye of one military consultant and was deemed of sufficient interest for several prototype ‘Land Dreadnoughts’ to be tested in the field against the Boer lines outside Ladysmith. In the early summer of 1903 these 9 prototypes advanced along with bicycle troops from Canada and supported by some Yeomanry cavalry completely defeated the troops holding the line and caused panic and dismay amongst other enemy troops. Within the next two years, British forces finally broke the back of Boer resistance and a peace treaty was signed.
2.[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]Development
Although the success of the Dreadnoughts was complete, there were worries about their deployment outside of South Africa. The pedrail was certainly of benefit in dry and fairly gentle country, but suffered greatly in unstable or rough ground and in wet or poor weather conditions. It was the development of the ‘continuous track’ allied with the drive mechanism of Mr. Diplock’s idea that proved the saviour of the Land Dreadnought program. It was also found that better weapons would be needed, especially as other countries began their own developments and anti-dreadnought guns were developed. When the use of tracks became more prevalent, smaller ‘carrier’ vehicles were developed to give accompanying infantry and artillery the mobility to keep up with the dreadnoughts.
3.[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]The First Storm
The Great 20th Century War began in late 1913 when the Russian Empire decided that NOW was the time to take control of the Dardanelles while Turkey was embroiled in the Balkan Wars that were slowing tearing its European empire apart. Unfortunately, this caused the entry of Austro-Hungary and Germany into a war with Russia and, as this triggered other alliances, the entry of France into the fray. Britain and its Empire stood aloof from this, as they saw it, European ‘fracas’ and issued various warnings to the Central Powers about widening the war. However, once Germany sent its fleet to sea and German submarines were spotted off Scarpa Flow, it became more and more difficult for the British to stay out of the war. When proof was found of German interference in the Middle East threatening the Suez Canal, it was too much and Britain declared war in early 1914 – the Empire following suit within the next few days.
The easy German victories against the over-extended Russian armies made them over-confident and the high command decided to place the Schlieffen plan into effect and invaded Belgium and France in August 1914. The initial attacks were led by their new Dreadnought units that sliced through the poorly defended French lines and appeared to be within an ace of securing Paris when the BEF counter-attacked with its superior dreadnoughts and more mobile infantry. The superior firepower of British units unnerved the Germans and caused them to retreat beyond the Marne and dig in. The next two years saw much attacking on both sides but no lasting advances. The Russian Empire withdrew back towards Moscow and concluded an armistice with their enemies but retained control of Constantinople. Luckily, the allies had wind of the event and were well prepared for the massive German assault of March 1917 which broke against the massive concentrations of artillery and dreadnought units that seemed to be everywhere. After another eighteen months of fruitless attacks, a truce was declared and Europe settled into an uneasy peace.
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