WW2, what if Hitler had started in 1938
That may be so, but Hitler didn't play by the rules. The Manhattan Project only came about due to WW2, so if the Americans had not entered, then the development would have been a non starter.
If Hitler had waited till the U-Boaft Fleet was complete....perhaps all this other talk would be moot.
He almost won as it was but lost the Naval War due to having far too few Subs at the start.
Llkewise.....had FDR not violated the Neutrality Act....by providing resources, ships, tanks, and other armaments, and naval units for escorts.....the outcome of the early part of the War would have been altered as well.
Consider Hitler could have not declared War on the United States and probably we would have been delayed further from getting involved.
He almost won as it was but lost the Naval War due to having far too few Subs at the start.
Llkewise.....had FDR not violated the Neutrality Act....by providing resources, ships, tanks, and other armaments, and naval units for escorts.....the outcome of the early part of the War would have been altered as well.
Consider Hitler could have not declared War on the United States and probably we would have been delayed further from getting involved.
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Agree with SASless - one of my relatives was in the Kriegsmarine in the late '30s and he told me that the plan was to begin hostilities in '42 when the U-boot fleet was at the required strength. Earlier start would have meant even less capability to interrupt supply chains.
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As the tread has drifted to a delayed start, what if they had organised the Reichsmarine into a fleet rather than a commerce raiders? Bismarck and Tirpitz, together with the heavy cruisers could have posed a considerable threat to the RN. To add an air element, they might have had an aircraft carrier too, but what aircraft?
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As the tread has drifted to a delayed start, what if they had organised the Reichsmarine into a fleet rather than a commerce raiders? Bismarck and Tirpitz, together with the heavy cruisers could have posed a considerable threat to the RN. To add an air element, they might have had an aircraft carrier too, but what aircraft?
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SASless (#22),
Has put the finger spot on it. We were fortunate that Hitler (and Kaiser Bill before him) were both land animals, and could not see that Britain could be brought to its knees without the need for invasion or mass bombing. Simply cut our ocean supply lines - the "Western Approaches" - and we starve in a few months.
Kipling warned about this a century ago (in "Big Steamers"):
"The sweets that you suck, and the joints that you carve
Are brought to you daily by all us Big Steamers
And if anyone hinders our coming, you'll starve".
Churchill said it was his worst worry of the War (and in '41 we were in danger of losing it - tonnage was being sunk far faster than it could be replaced). The convoy system - together with Bletchley Park was our eventual salvation IMHO.
Could we defend our lifeline again today, with what's left of our Navy and maritime
anti -submarine Squadrons ?
Has put the finger spot on it. We were fortunate that Hitler (and Kaiser Bill before him) were both land animals, and could not see that Britain could be brought to its knees without the need for invasion or mass bombing. Simply cut our ocean supply lines - the "Western Approaches" - and we starve in a few months.
Kipling warned about this a century ago (in "Big Steamers"):
"The sweets that you suck, and the joints that you carve
Are brought to you daily by all us Big Steamers
And if anyone hinders our coming, you'll starve".
Churchill said it was his worst worry of the War (and in '41 we were in danger of losing it - tonnage was being sunk far faster than it could be replaced). The convoy system - together with Bletchley Park was our eventual salvation IMHO.
Could we defend our lifeline again today, with what's left of our Navy and maritime
anti -submarine Squadrons ?
As the tread has drifted to a delayed start, what if they had organised the Reichsmarine into a fleet rather than a commerce raiders? Bismarck and Tirpitz, together with the heavy cruisers could have posed a considerable threat to the RN. To add an air element, they might have had an aircraft carrier too, but what aircraft?
I am sensitive to the U-Boat thing as I live on the North Carolina coast very close to Cape Lookout which is part of what was known as the most dangerous waters in the entire World during 1942.
Ships were torpedoed within sight of land here very frequently in those days.....particularly tankers.
Millions of gallons of oil washed up along the shoreline along with bodies, empty lift boats, and other wreckage.
The wrecks make for good fishing and diving these days.
Ships were torpedoed within sight of land here very frequently in those days.....particularly tankers.
Millions of gallons of oil washed up along the shoreline along with bodies, empty lift boats, and other wreckage.
The wrecks make for good fishing and diving these days.
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The air group would have been a sqn of Bf-109T fighters, with extended wings that folded, and a sqn of JU-87C Stukas for both Dive and Torpedo Bombing, also with folding wings. The aircraft were built, but were just absorbed into the Luftwaffe. Ultimately we can thank Herr Goering for preventing the Kriegsmarine from acquiring any carriers; as commerce raiders they would have been a lot more effective than Battleships.
