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I watched a show once about a large arms race between the Americans and English in the '20s over warships. Now, lets assume this led to all out war instead of a peace treaty.

The UK can draw from its colonies vast natural resources, yet, so can America.

Both are industrial nations with the resources to produce many weapons. Yet, England MUST control the seas for this to happen.

Both have large populations to draw from. The United Kingdom and enlist troops from it's colonies despite only having a population of about 50 million compared to the United State's 200 million.

Advantages: The UK is superior in the intelligence gathering aspects of the conflict. Their spies are better. The US is superior technologically. They have a slight edge and can come up with new weapons.

Major battles

America does have some colonies, such as the Philippines. The UK might want to achieve a few small victories while she prepares and brings in resources from her colonies before the BIG battle occurs.

The Battle for The Atlantic.
This will be the most important battle. If England loses and the Americans can cut her off from her supplies, she's doomed. If Britain controls the Atlantic, she can invade the Eastern US at her leisure. The Battle for The Atlantic, will be the last battleship vs. battleship engagement. In the early '30s, airplanes were not as effective as they could be ten years in the future in WW2.

The Invasion of Canada
Regardless how the Battle for The Atlantic turns out, America will have to push the British out of the Americas.

The Invasion of America
IF the British when the Battle for The Atlantic, they're going to have to invade the United States. Logistically, this will be bigger than the Normandy Landings and Operation Barbarossa; it will probably turn out much like the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Detroit could turn out to be England's Stalingrad. The British are probably going to realize that before hand and offer up peace before they invade as a last chance.

The Blockade of Great Britain
IF the Americans win the Battle of The Atlantic, then they can surround the British Isles and starve them out, like a medieval siege. If America has the military resources or are greedy and power hungry, they can go after Britain's colonies one by one, but if they kill the head, they can negotiate terms of peace with her former colonies.

The Invasion of Great Britain
British pride will prevail. If America wants victory, a blockade won't simply do it. The British will eat the Irish before they surrender due to starvation. Ireland would be invaded first; to act as a staging area. Then West Britain is at risk for a landing. Depending if the Americans, "Practiced" this invasion by invading Australia or some other colony or retaking a lost American colony, will determine how successful and how much his war will resemble World War Two in the use of vehicles, air power and tactics. My guess, it will be fought like World War One, only with armor and air power being realized their full potential.


Does this make sense? I'm having difficulties finding information on the United Kingdom and United States' military powers during that time. I have to look up each weapon and see if it was around at that time.

The greatest problem I have, is finding a good reason for war. Both countries are dependent on each other, economically and tied together culturally and with language, it's rather odd they'd go to war; even over American Imperialism threatening British Imperialism.
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