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Another Great War: A British AAR.

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W

Wämö

The last leftist
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Oct 21, 2003
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Prologue​

NSDAP, the German nationalist socialist party, got 37% of the votes in the elections in Germany in July 1932. Some months later, January 30 1933, Adolf Hitler, the leader of NSDAP, became chancellor and formed a goverment with the “traditional” right party. Before the year was over, Hitler had managed to outlaw all other parties and named himself führer in the third reich, the name he had given Germany.

After 1933, Hitler began violating the Versaille treaty on several points. He started building an air force, increased the army extensively and began to massproduce arms. By 1936, Germany was one of the major powers again. Would Hitler grow bolder?

Another threat were the expanding Italy. They had invaded Ethiopia, and because of that action, the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini had caused the League of Nations to order a trade boycot against Italy.

Also Japan threatened the British power, but in the far east, where the country had expanded, mainly in the Chinese territories.

Several other places were troubled. In China, a civil war raged, and Spain were on the brink of collapse. The Allied leaders felt that they had to act before it was too late, but would they suceed in defending democracy?
 
The British armed forces in 1936:​

The Army:​

In 1936 the British army was small, it only consisted of 23 infantry and 9 militia divisions. 12 of the infantry divisions were stationed in India, 5 divisions were guarding key points in the Empire, 4 divisions were located in English Isles and the last 2 were serving in Egypt. The 9 militia divisions were defending the colonial areas surrounding Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland.

The Navy:​

The Royal Navy was the pride of Britain in 1936. It consisted of 16 battleships, 4 aircraft carriers, 42 cruisers, 450 destroyers, 105 submarines and 2000 transport ships. 10 battleships, 3 aircraft carriers, 19 cruisers, 225 destroyers, 75 submarines and 1600 transport ships were stationed in the English Isles, mainly in Scapa Flow and Porthsmouth. 6 battleships, 2 aircraft carriers, 14 cruisers, 120 destroyers and 30 submarines were based in Africa, with the main base in Alexandria. 1 aircraft carrier, 5 cruisers, 60 destroyers and 400 transport ships were placed in Asia, and the biggest bases were Hong Kong and Colombo. 2 cruisers and 30 destroyers were deployed in the West Indies, on the base in Bermuda. Belonging to the navy were 3 torpedo bomber squadrons. 1 based on an aircraft carrier in Asia, 1 in Africa and 1 in the English Isles. 1 aircraft carrier, 11 cruisers, 30 destroyers and 15 submarines were either built or refitted in British docks.

The air force:​

The Royal air force consisted of 3 strategic bomber, 5 tactical bomber, 3 fighter and 3 torpedo bomber air wings in 1936. All of the strategic bombers, 2 of the tactical bombers and all the fighter squadrons were based in the English Isles. 1 tactical bomber squadron were based in Africa, and the remaining 2 were stationed in Asia. The 3 torpedo bombers squadrons were stationed in Asia, Africa and the English Isles.
 
Research, development and rearmament:​

The British technological progress under the rearmament period was concentrated on improving the naval and air units, and a lot of new artillery guns were built and put into service. Three new fighter models became availible during the first years, and all the main air units were modernized.

12 divisions were planned to be trained before 1940. 7 battleships, 9 aircraft carriers, 13 cruisers, 90 destroyers, 75 submarines and 400 transport ships were ordered and was expected before 1941. 1 naval bombing squadron was put into service before 1939.

By 1939, the British army were well equipped and trained, the navy the best in the world, and the air force were one of the best in the world. The British goverment was confident that Germany could be stopped easily.
 
Copper Nicus said:
Nice, UK AAR...

I'll follow that one. :)
Click to expand...

Thank you. :) Next update will cover SCW. And if I find a good hosting site, screenies will be included. :)
 
YourNickname said:
Grrr, rivalry for having a good Brit AAR, and from someone who I put in my AAR! I demand being a charcter in this one as compensation or my Britain shall Declare War upon your Britain! :p
Click to expand...

Hmm... No? My Britain kicks your Britains arse all day long! :D Nice to have you reading this, though. :)
 
The Spanish civil war (A)​

The outbreak of the civil war​

The Spanish civil war broke out on the 18th of July, after massive riots all over the country. The tension had been high a long time, and when it was unleashed it quickly turned into a powerstruggle between ideologues.

The both sides got aid from several major powers: Germany and Italy aided the Nationalists and United Kingdom and the Soviet Union aided the Republicans.

The Nationalists, under a general named Francisco Franco, controlled large parts of northern and southern Spain as well as most of the colonies, while the Republicans only controlled the central parts of the country as well as one province in the north.

The starting situation.

The early fighting​

None of the sides had troops enough to cover all their borders, and both sides seized every opportunity to take a province whenever they could spare a division.

The Nationalists got split in three after some months, but they managed to stop the Republican attacks. About 70,000 were estimated dead on the Nationalist side, and 100,000 on the Republican side.

The battle of Lleida​

On the early hours of the 3rd of August 1936, the troops stationed in the Republican-controlled province of Lleida got an unpleasant surprise. About 100,000 Nationalists advanced rapidly against the Republican bases. They were supported by 157 tanks and 104 tactical bombers. The Republican forces in the area, 43,000, were quiclky defeated and retreated towards the actual city of Lleida. But, what they didn’t know was that the Nationalistic tanks had been sent around them and now stood in front of the retreating troops. Many died under the crossfire that were opened. By the end of the day, Lleida was secured.

The Nationalistic losses were about 9,500 men, while the Republican losses were much higher: 37,000 men.

Operation “Shank”​

After the bloody battle of Lleida, the British goverment decided to send an expeditionary force to the Republicans. It would attack from the French city of Montpellier, and take Barcelona from the Nationalists.

The operation were scheluded to the 12th of August. The expeditonary force were led by Lt. General Balfour, and consisted of Aldershot Command, which were an infantry corps with two divisions ( The 1st and 2nd Infantry Division).

The operation was over fairly quickly, and overall, it was considered a success. 3,000 British soldiers died or got wounded during the fighting. They would only be the first in a list that would grow over time.

That was the start of a British intervention that would in time grow to six entire divisions.

The situation when United Kingdom intervened.
 
Last edited:
My friend deleted my HoI, so there wont be any updates to this one, sorry. :(
 
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