WI: HMS Hampshire does not strike a mine

What if HMS Hampshire carrying Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener does not strike a mine in 1916 and, the British mission to Russia goes ahead.

The mission was to discuss munition shortages, military strategy and financial difficulties with the Imperial Russian Government and Stavka. If the meetings go ahead, how does this impact upon Imperial Russia's war, if at all?
 
I've been reading a few books regarding the Eastern Front and Kitchener specifically, namely these two:

9780750967297.jpg
upload_2018-10-25_8-43-7.jpeg


There are a couple of points that jump out at me regarding Kitchener:

  • Multi lingual (Arabic, Turkish, German and French) - although I'm not sure which form of Arabic he could speak.
  • Understood logistics and industrial policy, his invasion of Sudan was notable to me as it occurred with a very small budget and relied on establishing a reliable logistical network. Both points that would be relevant on the Eastern Front.
  • Following the occupation of Sudan, Kitchener focused on improving the logistical network to address food shortages and created embryonic public service to assist. I mention this as rectifying the food shortages experienced in Imperial Russia would IMHO go a long way to reducing domestic unrest.
Noting the above, I think that the mission would have identified the shortcomings inherent with Imperial Russia's strategies and suggested several ways to rectify them. The question remains would they have been acted upon? I suspect they would have been as the UK government wanted to move Kitchener elsewhere and, I think that an extended stay in Russia may have suited all parties.
 
Top