The Great Pacific War
ok, how about this.
Firstly, no rise of Nazis in Germany. It continues being a bit of a mess but is still a democracy and not a threat to anyone. We still a Facist Italy which has its little adventures and the Spanish Civil War which continues to carry on with Italy supporting Franco and Russia the Republicans. France and GB adopt their OTL policy as it keeps both Italy tied up and means Russia isn't a threat (they both see the commies as the great threat to peace in Europe).
However Japan carries on much as OTL in the Pacific, invades China, etc. The British, Dutch, French and Americans all start to worry. Churchill starts making speeches about the Yellow Peril threatening the Jewel of the Empire-India-and our other eastern colonies.
The British government starts to rearm and focuses efforts in the East. To avoid being associated with Churchill, seen as a dangerous loose cannon (even if they agree with his belief), the government revives the vision of the great Russian bear pouring out of the Kyber Pass, as well as (from a communist Spain) down onto the Rock and out of the Baltic. This threat is seen as a 'real' one by the British public who are use to barbaric Russians as a threat and wouldn't really see the Japanese as a threat.
Defenses are built up in India and the Far East, as well as at home. The development of the Spitfire and Hurricane goes ahead much as before but in a realisation that this will be as much a naval war as anything else, from the outstart naval versions are designed and new carriers are built, older ones modernised and all ships get upgraded AA defenses. To the public this is presented to prevent the winged hosts of the Russian bear reaching out to sink our troop ships. The armny undergoes a similar modernisation as in OTL.
Australia and New Zealand start to rearm, again using the Russian threat as a cover. Both start to build the Spitfire and Hurrican under licence, as well as modern bombers (lets give them the Wellington as soon as its ready). Canada does the same, saying the Russian bear can come across the ice and builds up its Pacific defenses. None of these nations armed forces are any larger than in OTL but they have the latest weapons instead. The biggest difference is India where it undergoes a massive modernisation. The 1st Indian Armoured Brigade is formed, the Royal Indian Air Force is created and from the outset includes modern aircraft (Indian AF hurricanes by 1939). The Indian Navy is also updated and even gets a small carrier. Due to an enlightened governmental approach, India is granted Home Rule. There is some tension as Ghandi promotes peace but in general Indian rearmament goes ahead without any problems.
France also boosts its far eastern defences but is hindered by the lack of a threat to present to the public. The idea of the Russian bear attacking its colonies is laughed away, esp as France is giving covert support to the Republicans in the ongoing Spanish Civil War who alos enjoy widspread publci support in France, and when one politican does a Churchill and warns of Japan he is treated as a laughingstock. The Dutch also start to booster their eastern defences but again are not as successful as the British in getting public support.
In the USA the situation is similar to in GB, the politicans are worried by the actions of Japan but know that the public will not support any sort of rearming to counter it. They start to use the Russian threat, with stories planted in the press of 'secret' commie plots to seize Alaska. The USN is built up and as with the RN the focus is on carriers and modern aircraft.
In Japan at first they view the European buildup as unimportant but by 1939 realise they are in danger of being hemmed in. Things are not helped as more foreign volunteers start to join the Chinese and more modern western equipment reaches them. As early Spitfires and P40s join the Chinese airforce, the Japanese being to realise that its now or never...
Anti-western fever is whipped up in Japan, the improvements in defenses are seen as securing bases to be used to overwhelm Japan and turn into a series of European colonies. Action must be taken now! the Imperial Japanese Navy puts to sea, its targets are Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, Pearl Harbour and Guam. Intelligence reports start to reach the intelligence agencies in Paris, London and Washington. A RN taskforce, led by the Ark Royal, Prince of Wales and Hood, sets sail from Bombay, on a 'good will tour' of Australia and New Zealand. The Royal Canadian Air Force rushes its newlt delivered radar stations into operation on the Pacific coast and the USN orders it carriers to sea. French Indo-China forces are put on alert and in Holland a number of new built heavy cruisers, intended for service in the far east, cut short their sea trails and set sail...as day dawns on 7th December 1940 air raid alarms start up across the Far East...
ok, how about this.
Firstly, no rise of Nazis in Germany. It continues being a bit of a mess but is still a democracy and not a threat to anyone. We still a Facist Italy which has its little adventures and the Spanish Civil War which continues to carry on with Italy supporting Franco and Russia the Republicans. France and GB adopt their OTL policy as it keeps both Italy tied up and means Russia isn't a threat (they both see the commies as the great threat to peace in Europe).
However Japan carries on much as OTL in the Pacific, invades China, etc. The British, Dutch, French and Americans all start to worry. Churchill starts making speeches about the Yellow Peril threatening the Jewel of the Empire-India-and our other eastern colonies.
The British government starts to rearm and focuses efforts in the East. To avoid being associated with Churchill, seen as a dangerous loose cannon (even if they agree with his belief), the government revives the vision of the great Russian bear pouring out of the Kyber Pass, as well as (from a communist Spain) down onto the Rock and out of the Baltic. This threat is seen as a 'real' one by the British public who are use to barbaric Russians as a threat and wouldn't really see the Japanese as a threat.
Defenses are built up in India and the Far East, as well as at home. The development of the Spitfire and Hurricane goes ahead much as before but in a realisation that this will be as much a naval war as anything else, from the outstart naval versions are designed and new carriers are built, older ones modernised and all ships get upgraded AA defenses. To the public this is presented to prevent the winged hosts of the Russian bear reaching out to sink our troop ships. The armny undergoes a similar modernisation as in OTL.
Australia and New Zealand start to rearm, again using the Russian threat as a cover. Both start to build the Spitfire and Hurrican under licence, as well as modern bombers (lets give them the Wellington as soon as its ready). Canada does the same, saying the Russian bear can come across the ice and builds up its Pacific defenses. None of these nations armed forces are any larger than in OTL but they have the latest weapons instead. The biggest difference is India where it undergoes a massive modernisation. The 1st Indian Armoured Brigade is formed, the Royal Indian Air Force is created and from the outset includes modern aircraft (Indian AF hurricanes by 1939). The Indian Navy is also updated and even gets a small carrier. Due to an enlightened governmental approach, India is granted Home Rule. There is some tension as Ghandi promotes peace but in general Indian rearmament goes ahead without any problems.
France also boosts its far eastern defences but is hindered by the lack of a threat to present to the public. The idea of the Russian bear attacking its colonies is laughed away, esp as France is giving covert support to the Republicans in the ongoing Spanish Civil War who alos enjoy widspread publci support in France, and when one politican does a Churchill and warns of Japan he is treated as a laughingstock. The Dutch also start to booster their eastern defences but again are not as successful as the British in getting public support.
In the USA the situation is similar to in GB, the politicans are worried by the actions of Japan but know that the public will not support any sort of rearming to counter it. They start to use the Russian threat, with stories planted in the press of 'secret' commie plots to seize Alaska. The USN is built up and as with the RN the focus is on carriers and modern aircraft.
In Japan at first they view the European buildup as unimportant but by 1939 realise they are in danger of being hemmed in. Things are not helped as more foreign volunteers start to join the Chinese and more modern western equipment reaches them. As early Spitfires and P40s join the Chinese airforce, the Japanese being to realise that its now or never...
Anti-western fever is whipped up in Japan, the improvements in defenses are seen as securing bases to be used to overwhelm Japan and turn into a series of European colonies. Action must be taken now! the Imperial Japanese Navy puts to sea, its targets are Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, Pearl Harbour and Guam. Intelligence reports start to reach the intelligence agencies in Paris, London and Washington. A RN taskforce, led by the Ark Royal, Prince of Wales and Hood, sets sail from Bombay, on a 'good will tour' of Australia and New Zealand. The Royal Canadian Air Force rushes its newlt delivered radar stations into operation on the Pacific coast and the USN orders it carriers to sea. French Indo-China forces are put on alert and in Holland a number of new built heavy cruisers, intended for service in the far east, cut short their sea trails and set sail...as day dawns on 7th December 1940 air raid alarms start up across the Far East...
