Talking Turkey: Alternate History from 1936

[Midnite Duke]

I wonder why HoI does not have a weapons designer like CK's ruler designer for tanks, planes and ships. Sid Meier's Alpha Centurai did the vehicle designer at least a decade before HoI3. Paradox also has a tendency not to fix bad information that does not break the game.

 

[RustyHunter]

I wonder why HoI does not have a weapons designer like CK's ruler designer for tanks, planes and ships. Sid Meier's Alpha Centurai did the vehicle designer at least a decade before HoI3.

Paradox decided that was a good idea for HOI4, with a ship and tank designer (I'm sure planes are close behind). I can see the appeal of it from the simulationist/roleplay perspective, but it also seems like needless detail for a game like HOI3 that's operating at the big-picture level. Also, HOI3's modules of research give some flexibility in designing vehicles (i.e. build fast but lightly armored Italian battleships by neglecting armor research).

I'm curious what the other HOI3 forumites think since I can go either way on the issue.

 

[Bullfilter]

It doesn’t worry me too much in HOI3, as for me it’s more about the big scale stuff and strategic game, plus the tactics of the div level battles. For me the detailed design aspects can be more of a distraction than a benefit: an aspect of the system I’d rather not have to delve into too deeply.

I’m happy to have a tech system that allows you to level up and do so selectively - that’s enough for me. But I can easily see why others would like that kind of stuff. A lot more detailed thinking through required for it I suppose on the research and programming side.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

It doesn’t worry me too much in HOI3, as for me it’s more about the big scale stuff and strategic game, plus the tactics of the div level battles. For me the detailed design aspects can be more of a distraction than a benefit: an aspect of the system I’d rather not have to delve into too deeply.

I’m happy to have a tech system that allows you to level up and do so selectively - that’s enough for me. But I can easily see why others would like that kind of stuff. A lot more detailed thinking through required for it I suppose on the research and programming side.

It's not that good outside of roleplay (or deliberately copying historical mistakes). The problem as ever with game systems is that if you give the option, players will find a way to game it and stick with the optimal path.

As it stands, actually getting the perfect tank does impact battles quite a lot, but keeping it unmodified and cranking out thousands pet month is more important, ultimately. Quality will eventually be drowned out by quantity.

And as discussed elsewhere, naval warfare is so brokenly in favour of air power that it doesn't matter what you do with your ships, unless I suppose you really dedicate yourself to anti air.

 

[roverS3]

Paradox decided that was a good idea for HOI4, with a ship and tank designer (I'm sure planes are close behind). I can see the appeal of it from the simulationist/roleplay perspective, but it also seems like needless detail for a game like HOI3 that's operating at the big-picture level. Also, HOI3's modules of research give some flexibility in designing vehicles (i.e. build fast but lightly armored Italian battleships by neglecting armor research).

I'm curious what the other HOI3 forumites think since I can go either way on the issue.

The only thing I would change about the Hoi3 system is to have more trade-off's in the modules research. Right now the best policy in most areas is to just research everything until it's up to date. The only slight exception is tanks, where there is a trade-off as leveling up armour slows your tanks down. However, for planes and especially for ships this trade-off is less apparent or non-existent, if you level up Battleship armour, your battleships aren't going to be slowed down by that, they're just going to get more hull points for a slightly higher build cost. There is a bit of a trade-off with new engines sapping your planes' range in favour of speed and defensiveness vs improved fuel tanks reducing defence but increasing range. However, with air defence having only a very small impact on the game, this isn't a big deal. Skipping engine upgrades just isn't worth it unless you absolutely need your planes to have the longest range possible at the cost of speed and skipping fuel tanks has a near zero benefit of making your planes infinitesimally less vulnerable. It's not surprising then that players who aren't role-playing will just research all 4 modules until they are up to date as that gives you the best design for any purpose.
It would be more fun if you actually gained a little bit of speed by neglecting armour research for your Italian Battleships, so that you at least had the illusion that doing so gives you an advantage to go along with the lower hull points.

It's not that good outside of roleplay (or deliberately copying historical mistakes). The problem as ever with game systems is that if you give the option, players will find a way to game it and stick with the optimal path.

Of course , it seems like this problem still persists somewhat in hoi4.

 

[nuclearslurpee]

I'm curious what the other HOI3 forumites think since I can go either way on the issue.

I generally would echo what's already been said, particularly TBC's comments that in practice it doesn't accomplish much more than adding an extra optimization mechanic.

IMO, with both HoI3 and 4, and probably the older versions as well, basically there is a mechanic but it rarely creates a meaningful decision, which in my mind is the essence of gameplay. In HoI3, you have the option for example to prioritize armor or speed on a tank, which is something I suppose, but at the end of the day the details of what your tanks look like is much less important than having properly-organized armor/mechanized divisions and doing armor/mechanized division things on the map. It sounds like HoI4 is pretty similar in practice, if as TBC says the perfect tank can win battles but the 1,000s of mass-produced tanks will win the war - I do think the HoI4 system has potential but the devs made the questionable decision to place arbitrary limits (tied to XP, I think?) on the capability to use that potential which largely neuters the mechanic.

I'd hold up something like Aurora 4x as a game which actually implements a component design mechanic fairly well, in large part because it is designed around that mechanic rather than having it tacked on for marketing fodder. Even for ground forces, where a planetary invasion may require thousands or even millions of individual units depending on your force composition, the design of those individual units has a pretty evident connection to the battlefield performance, at least once you understand the mechanics. I admit, this comes with a greater degree of micromanagement compared to HoI, where reducing micro has been one of the design goals in the new wave Paradox games generally, but mechanically it works a lot better because it is one of the central pillars of the game design. Importantly, even though clear optimums exist in many cases the dev has done very little to try and limit player agency, since if the player wants to cheat at solitaire that is their decision; With HoI I suppose there is the inherent limitation of multiplayer balancing although I'd bet that anyone will tell you what a hopeless crock that is...

 

[Wraith11B]

I think the biggest disconnect that no one's mentioned really is that there's no tie-in to a nation's doctrinal status with regards to any of their armored vehicles. It's great to get to design your tanks, but it never affects how the AI gets to "employ" them on the battlefield. It would be great to have the toughest tanks in the world, but they don't have radios and your doctrine is not one of maneuver, so the effectiveness is limited (c.f. The Battle of France). Or vice versa: it's great to have these absolute behemoths which can take on anything else on the field, but you can't make enough of them and your doctrine has become "stand and die" and so their effectiveness is minimal in the operational and strategic picture (ie, the German experience in Russia after 1942).

There's also a limit that almost no nation had a comprehensive mechanized warfare doctrine until after the war. The Germans and Russians came closest with starting to have APCs and the like integrated into their armored divisions.

Everything else that's been mentioned is true as well: not enough tradeoffs, especially in HoI3 where the system requires building tanks and aircraft at the maximum level of technology, with almost no penalty to effectiveness for experience with the airframe or tank. Same goes for the ships, because despite a choice in what weapons and such you put on it, there's no trade-off to any of it in terms of time under construction or speed penalties, etc. There's no penalty early war which causes torpedoes to malfunction, or AA to be less effective. And (following my point above), significant amounts of why particular weapons and craft worked were based in doctrinal improvement rather than any change in the armaments or anything.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

I think the biggest disconnect that no one's mentioned really is that there's no tie-in to a nation's doctrinal status with regards to any of their armored vehicles. It's great to get to design your tanks, but it never affects how the AI gets to "employ" them on the battlefield. It would be great to have the toughest tanks in the world, but they don't have radios and your doctrine is not one of maneuver, so the effectiveness is limited (c.f. The Battle of France). Or vice versa: it's great to have these absolute behemoths which can take on anything else on the field, but you can't make enough of them and your doctrine has become "stand and die" and so their effectiveness is minimal in the operational and strategic picture (ie, the German experience in Russia after 1942).

There's also a limit that almost no nation had a comprehensive mechanized warfare doctrine until after the war. The Germans and Russians came closest with starting to have APCs and the like integrated into their armored divisions.

Everything else that's been mentioned is true as well: not enough tradeoffs, especially in HoI3 where the system requires building tanks and aircraft at the maximum level of technology, with almost no penalty to effectiveness for experience with the airframe or tank. Same goes for the ships, because despite a choice in what weapons and such you put on it, there's no trade-off to any of it in terms of time under construction or speed penalties, etc. There's no penalty early war which causes torpedoes to malfunction, or AA to be less effective. And (following my point above), significant amounts of why particular weapons and craft worked were based in doctrinal improvement rather than any change in the armaments or anything.

This is especially true for aircraft. It should not matter if one nation starts bringing out early jet fighters hot out of r&d, if the other side has very good standard engine planes they've been using for years with very experience pilots and found crews. Tech devolpments and bringing out single, quality units were great during the war, but they weren't the deciding factor in everything (arguably, anything). Otherwise the russians would have gotten nowhere.

 

[Bullfilter]

Some more AAR-related comment feedback follows, as the next chapter approaches completion. I’ll let the interesting side-discussion on game mechanics stand as it is.

A truly complicated man. I think he survived because there was a distinct change from war hero to traitor, which could probably be linked to his growing senility.

Such a pity what happened. It would have been far better for his reputation if he’d been killed with the last bullet of WW1. But if not Petain, there would no doubt have been some other puppet leader of the Vichy state.

HOI3 definitely struggles with the breakdown of borders near the end of the game. Paradox only tested if things worked when the player chose Germany, and it did! The whole world was painted grey!

It seems so.

I had forgotten there were some CV-33s running around still! I feel bad for anyone stuck in them! Maybe Turkish tanks will be useful in another 5 years?

Yes, the original brigade purchased from Spain (!) and the Cav brigades converted more recently.

It's nice to see some of the map is working itself out, even if southern France is a disaster.

Must take what small things we can.

I''m really enjoying the LA subplot, although I really need to watch the movie sometime.

Glad you are! The film is excellent, though not for faint hearted.

Spain could be an interesting challenge assuming they're mobilized and determined to hold the Pyrenees. The country is also quite big, and the terrain is poor, so maybe they'll be a bit tougher than Vichy.

I think you’re right. Turkey won’t be rushing in too precipitately this time, but the job does need to be done and the Boy Scout badge collected!

 

[Bullfilter]

Chapter 231: The ‘Summer Holiday’ (1-31 July 1944)

Introduction

With Vichy France defeated, Turkey was going through a period of rebuilding its manpower, repositioning air and naval forces and getting supplies to the Spanish border for the next phase of Europe’s liberation from Fascism. The Soviets, with Romanian help, have basically left this to Turkey while they send a massive host east to confront the Japanese invaders.

In Los Angeles, Ed Exley and Bud White have finally teamed up together to confront the dangerous Dudley Smith – and whoever else may be pulling his strings, or are having their strings pulled by him. It is not clear what other criminal, law enforcement, intelligence, domestic or foreign interests may be involved. All they can do is take on what lies in front of them. And that is plenty to be going on with.

---xxx---​

1 Jul 44

At midnight, Turkish air groups began relocating from their interim base at Palermo in Sicily to various North African air bases recently taken from the Vichy regime.

By 8am, the initial moves are complete and a report on suspected Spanish air deployments is on Inönü’s desk at HQ 1st Army in Toulouse.

​

And from the Navy, a cruise past the main Spanish fleet base in the south reveals they have at least ten ships of various types there, including at least one battleship.

​

While the Army noted that the supply situation on the Spanish border continued to improve, with supply dumps on the eastern end of the line now slowly building.

News Report: Sevastopol. The International Monetary and Financial Conference began in Sevastopol in the Crimea to regulate the international monetary systems of the post-war world. [Comment: a counterpart of the Bretton Woods meeting in OTL held at this time. Given the UK and US are still around and powerful, we’ll assume in-universe that there will still be such a system to regulate in the post-war era.]​

OTL Event: Normandy. A counter-attack by the German I SS Panzer Corps failed to dislodge the British Second Army around Caen. When Gerd von Rundstedt phoned Berlin to report the failure, Chief of Staff Wilhelm Keitel purportedly asked, "What shall we do?", to which Rundstedt replied, "Make peace, you fools! What else can you do?"​

---xxx---​

2 Jul 44

An important research advance was made on 2 July as Turkish first aid was again improved. It was then time for the important but increasingly obsolete artillery arm to be upgraded.

​

Early that morning, the last troop convoy to North Africa was completed in Casablanca, the ships sailing to re-join the rest of the fleet in Oran. The three Turkish-controlled divisions in Casablanca would hold in the city for now, so as not to be exposed to the additional attrition of the mountains of Rabat on the border with Spanish Morocco. A certain Soviet personage took passage with the fleet.

​

OTL Event: Normandy. The day after his telephone outburst, Gerd von Rundstedt was sacked as Oberbefehlshaber West and replaced by Günther von Kluge.​

---xxx---​

3 Jul 44

Another major advance was made with the development of night fighting equipment – a capability the Turks really wanted to see fully introduced to their front line forces before the next campaign, to increase effectiveness and save lives during night operations. The artillery would continue to be improved.

​

The fleet was joined together again in Oran under Admiral Üngen’s command that morning. The base was now packed with air, sea and land assets, preparing for the next campaign against Nationalist Spain.

​

And now both GRU LO Agent SkitalecS3 (recently arrived from Casablanca) and USMC LO Kenny ‘Wraith’ Loggins have both turned up in Oran too. It seems to be the new destination of choice, as a woman closely matching the description of legendary Turkish S.I.T.H. operator Cennet Kavgaci has also been spotted around the HQ 1st Corps HQ. Strategic consultant Professor Nukeluru Slorepee had also been seen meeting with LTGEN Cakmak there.

Having seen the strength of the Spanish Navy and with an eye to the future, with lend-lease remaining plentiful and some additional industrial capacity released from supply production, a license for a second wing of Ju-287s was bought from the DDR.

​

The world map at that time showed the extent of Turkey’s new holdings following the absorption of Vichy France’s overseas territories, including in South America, West Africa, Djibouti and Madagascar. The Japanese still held China and vast areas of the Soviet Far East. In India, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, little if anything had changed in recent months.

---xxx---​

Los Angeles

Exley and Bud make their way up to the front of Pierce Patchett’s mansion. Bud pulls his .38 from its shoulder holster and shoves it in his waistband.

Bud White approaches Pierce Patchett’s Hollywood mansion.​

“You expecting problems?” Exley asks.

“Patchett uses a lot of ex-cop muscle.”

Exley rings the buzzer. Looking back, Bud sees a pitching wedge and pile of golf balls abandoned in the grass. A single ball floats in the koi pond. Bud's eyes narrow at the sight. Not like Patchett at all.

“Come on!” says Bud as he shoulders the heavy door right off its hinges. Bud draws his .38 as he strides in. Exley tries to keep up.

Some double doors on the left open into a library. Bud stops short and slowly lowers his gun. Exley steps up beside him. Hanging from a ceiling light, Patchett's body slowly twists around, a toppled chair beneath him.

“I don't think his ex-cop did him much good,” observes Exley, off-handedly.

Bud goes to the body while Exley heads for a side table on which rests a typed sheet of paper. Bud checks Patchett's right hand, the knuckles are split, two of the fingers badly distended.

“It's a suicide note,” says Exley.

“He had help getting up there,” reports Bud. “Two of his fingers are broken.”

“We had one thing figured wrong,” notes Exley, thoughtfully. “I don't think Dudley worked for Patchett.”

“At least not any more.”

“Patchett's dead,” continues Exley. “Dudley sent you after me. I'd say Dudley's tying up his loose ends.”

The implications hit Bud. He simply says “Lynn.”

He dashes to the phone and dials. No one answers.

“I got a guy who owes me in the Sheriff's department,” offers Exley quickly. “West Hollywood station. He can be at her house in two minutes.”

Bud shoves the phone into his hand. “Call him.”

---xxx---​

A little later, Exley and Bud pull up outsides Lynn’s place. An unmarked Sherriff’s car is parked out front. A deputy gets out as Exley rolls down his window and asks “Is she inside?”

“We took her to Hollywood Station for safekeeping. Someone worked her over pretty good. She wouldn't say who.”

Exley looks at Bud, who looks down in shame.

“Hold her as Joan Smith,” orders Exley. “No one sees her unless I okay it.”

“You got it, Exley. And now we're even."

---xxx---​

4 Jul 44 – Los Angeles

Acting on a tip-off from an informant, Exley believed the DA, Ellis Loew, was “up to his neck in all this.” He and Bud decide to pay him a visit. They ignore his secretary’s protests and barge into his office.

“What do you want?” exclaims Loew, with disdain.

Exley starts ticking off a series of points. “I want D.A. bureau men to tail Dudley Smith twenty-four hours a day; I want you to get a judge to authorise a wire tap on his home phone; I want authorisation to check his bank records and I want it all in an hour.”

“On what evidence?”

“None. Call it a hunch.”

Loew is incredulous. “Absolutely not. Dudley Smith is a highly decorated member of this city's police department and I won't smear his name without …”

“Without what, him smearing yours first?” interrupts Ed. “What's he got on you, Loew? Pictures of you and an out of work actor with your pants down?”

“Do you have any proof?”

“The proof had his throat slit. And so far you're not denying it.”

“I'm not going to dignify you with answers. If you'll excuse me, I've got a press conference to prepare for.”

Loew enters his bathroom. Bud looks to Exley who nods at him to go in after the pompous DA.

---xxx---
​

Loew is at the mirror clipping a few stray nose hairs. Bud enters, full of menace, followed by Exley.

Bud assists DA Loew with some personal grooming.​

“Unless you're here to wipe my ass, I think we're through” says Loew.

Bud just glares at him. Loew shakes his head.

“Don't try this good cop/bad cop with me. I practically invented it.”

The mirror spiderwebs as Bud slams Loew's face into it, then swings him around and forces his head in the toilet. He holds it there, finally lets Loew up for breath. Then backhands him: once, twice, three times.

“Dudley Smith. Spill,” orders Bud.

“Call him off, Exley!”

“I don't know how.”

More backhands. Holding Loew by the scruff of the neck, Bud marches him past Exley and back into the inner office.

---xxx---​

Bud heaves up the window and practically throws Loew through it. Loew catches hold of the window framing, but Bud hammers his hands loose with a fist and pushes him through.

White is holding Loew’s leg. The DA screams as coins, a comb and wallet spill from his pockets and plummet toward the street six floors below.

“Bud...” says Exley, gently but insistently. Bud ignores him and talks to Loew again.

“If I let you go, there'll be ten more lawyers to take your place tomorrow.” Loew’s trouser leg starts to tear loose …

“If I let you go, there'll be ten more lawyers to take your place tomorrow.”​

“Okay! You're right! Dudley's got photos of me and a young actor.”

“What's Dudley's scheme?” presses Exley, as more tearing is heard. Loew's life may depend on his answer.

“Dudley's rotten to the core. He's taking over Mickey Cohen's rackets, his own hand-picked cops'll be the new franchise holders. Because of those pictures I won't be able to prosecute. Oh Jesus pull me up!”

Exley helps pull Loew back inside. Bud dumps him on the floor. Bruised and bloodied, Loew looks up at Exley.

“Dudley's got everyone under his thumb. Not just me, but the Chief of Police, the Lieutenant Governor, everybody!”

Exley pulls his .38 and shoves it into the side of Loew's neck. “Not everybody. You tip-off Dudley and Officer White visits you alone next time.”

Loew, his face a bloody mess, looks at Bud and nods.

---xxx---​

5 Jul 44

13 AF, equipped with the latest model F4F Wildcats, finished production and was quickly deployed from Palermo to Marseille, after a plan to send it across to North Africa was amended after delivery.

​

Their place in the production queue was taken by two new US-trained parachute brigades.

​

Observation of US and German task groups in the Western Mediterranean, plus regular passages by heavy Soviet battle groups as well, led Turkey to plan on letting their Comintern allies deal with the Spanish fleet when war broke out: perhaps they would severely damage or destroy it, to facilitate the smaller Turkish Navy to attempt a naval landing in southern Spain once the invasion from the north was well under way.

​

OTL Event: Operation Bagration. The Soviets began the Belostock Offensive, Šiauliai Offensive and Vilnius Offensive as part of Operation Bagration.​

---xxx---​

6 Jul 44 - Los Angeles

Ed had gone over to the West Hollywood Sheriff's department holding room to check on Lynn: Bud had been unable to face her. Lynn looks up as Exley enters, her face puffy and swollen.

“If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake,” she says drily.

“If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake.”​

“Forget everything else for a second, Lynn. Is there anything you can give me on Dudley Smith?”

Lynn replies with a blank look.

“A police captain. I think he's behind all of this.”

Lynn shakes her head. “I work for Patchett. I had a feeling that there was someone else, but I never knew who.”

“Okay. And you don't work for Patchett any more. Look, if it helps, Bud hates himself for what he did.”

Lynn pauses. “I know how he feels.

It is Exley’s turn to hesitate as he wonders how he should interpret this. “I don't know if it's pathetic or romantic, but when this is all over I'd like to see you again.”

Lynn looks away, but can't help an ironic smile even as she starts to cry. Exley gives her his handkerchief... [not very COVID-safe! ]

---xxx---​

7-10 Jul 44

Things remained quiet in Europe as Turkey continued to prepare for its final campaign of the main Great Liberation War. Another advance was made in Turkey’s generally antiquated military doctrine on 9 July, as the doctrinal focus continued to be on the attack.

​

And over two days, three more conversions of old cavalry brigades were completed, two of them finishing the conversion of 4 Cav Div into a fully motorised formation. It was packed up onto troop trains and sent from Split to the Spanish border.

---xxx---​

11-19 Jul 44

OTL Event: Normandy, 11 July. The new German Tiger II heavy tank saw frontline combat for the first time during the Normandy campaign.​

A Tiger II (Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B) in OTL Budapest, October 1944.​

OTL Event: Germany, 16 July. Adolf Hitler departed Berchtesgaden for what would be the final time as he flew to the Wolf's Lair.​

On 17 July, accusations of leaking from the highest levels of the government were made. In a security committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Celal Bayar, Intelligence Chief Ögel accused Interior Minister Kaya. The latter, after quickly consuming two of his ubiquitous apoplexy tablets, immediately made accusations of his own against his long time nemesis. It soon degenerated into their usual bitter exchange of unpleasantries.

​

Bayar just shook his head, assuming – no doubt correctly – that both were right. He dismissed the whole sordid episode, thinking there was probably nothing serious to it. There seemed to be little effect on the overall stability of the ruling party.

OTL Event: Operation Bagration, 18 July. Soviet forces began the Lublin–Brest Offensive as part of Operation Bagration.​

---xxx---​

20-22 Jul 44

OTL Event: July Plot, 20 July. An attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, perpetrated by Claus von Stauffenberg and other conspirators within the German military. At 12:42 p.m. during a conference at the Wolf's Lair, a bomb that Stauffenberg had concealed inside a briefcase went off, killing a stenographer and leaving three officers near death. The others in the room, including Hitler himself, were wounded but survived.​

​

Stauffenberg flew to Berlin to carry out the next step of the military coup, but the plan stalled when he was unable to get confirmation that Hitler was dead. A radio broadcast at 6:30 p.m. reported that Hitler had survived and the situation became increasingly confused. By the end of the day the coup had failed and Hitler loyalists began arresting the conspirators.​

​

OTL Event: July Plot, Germany, 21 July. At 1 a.m., Hitler gave a speech over the radio to prove to the German people that he was still alive. He declared that the conspirators would be "exterminated quite mercilessly." German troops poured into Berlin the day after the attempt on Hitler's life. Those executed included Ludwig Beck, 64, German general and member of the 20 July bomb plot (shot by a German sergeant after his suicide attempt only severely wounded himself); and Claus von Stauffenberg, 36, German army officer and leading member of the 20 July plot. [Comment: in the ATL, Beck has become the new President of Germany.]​

OTL Event: Normandy, 21 July. With excellent timing, the United States Army began Operation Cobra in Normandy, designed to break out of the beach-head..​

M4 Sherman tanks and infantrymen of the U.S. 4th Armored Division in Coutances as part of Operation Cobra.

---xxx---​

23-27 Jul 44

Construction of the previous order for a new radar installation in Dubrovnik was completed on 23 July, though the rapid fall of Italy had now rendered it largely superfluous. New installations in Tirane (24 July) and Trieste (27 July) would follow, to complete the Adriatic radar network.

Some more free industrial capacity allowed for construction to start on a third massively expensive Soviet licensed transport wing on 23 July. Some lower priority projects (including many infrastructure upgrades) were temporarily pushed ‘below the line’ to allow 100% effort for this new capability. The new parachute division and its airlift would not be ready before early 1945.

​

A small nationalist rebellion broke out in the Turkish sector of Afghanistan on 27 July, with the upgraded Tehran Garrison being sent on the long rail trip to confront them.

​

OTL Event: United Kingdom, 27 July. The Gloster Meteor, the first British jet fighter and the Allies' only operational jet aircraft of the war, entered active service with No. 616 Squadron RAF.​

An RAF Gloster Meteor, 1944.

---xxx---​

28 Jul 44

4 Cav Div finished its redeployment to Limoux, in reserve behind the Spanish border, on the evening of 28 July. Still, Turkey continued to prepare and was not yet willing to launch the attack on Spain.

OTL Event: Operation Bagration. The Red Army began the Kaunas Offensive as part of Operation Bagration.​

​

OTL Event: Germany. The rocket-powered German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet fighter plane saw its first active combat.​

Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, 1944.

---xxx---​

29 Jul 44

The French Government of Henri-Honoré Giraud still remained technically in exile, despite having liberated the main part of metropolitan France earlier in the year.

Erratum: in at least one earlier reference I may have confused the French Government in this ATL with the one in Quick and Dirty 2, and/or when using an OTL picture of de Gaulle during the Calixte Charon narrative arc.​

That afternoon, two militia brigades were detached from one of the corps HQs in southern France and sent back to Turin, where they would become the next to be converted. At the same time, the two remaining partly-filled convert divisions in Split, 5 Mtn Div (2 x MTN) and a three-brigade motorised division (1 x LARM, 2 x MOT) were put on trains from Split to Turin.

---xxx---​

30 Jul 44 – Los Angeles

Ed and Bud have spent the last few weeks building their case against Dudley Smith. Bud is in the records section of the precinct’s evidence room, looking up details on the weapons he and Exley believe were planted to cover up Smith’s involvement in the Midnite Owl murders,

“I got your guns, Bud. Signed in April 3rd, 1944. Remember the First Western bank robbery? They were used in that.”

This was three weeks before the Midnite Owl murders. “I want to see them.”

“No can do. I can't find them.”

We are closing in, thinks Bud to himself.

---xxx---​

31 Jul 44

The final research advance of the month saw the gradual upgrade of infantry equipment continue, with deliveries of new small arms beginning and support weapons the next project to kick off.

​

That morning, the limited-range 1 TAG (CAS) group was transferred from Tolouse to Oran, where they might come in handy launching naval strikes.

​

Their place was taken in Tolouse by 1 AG, with the new Wildcat wing attached after finishing its initial work up training.

​

Following this, the interceptor wings were broken down into groups of two, with some new air commanders introduced. The main TAC wing (2 x MR, 3 x TAC) remained unchanged. New group names would be conferred for the two new fighter groups later.

OTL Event: Normandy. Operation Cobra ended in an Allied victory.​

​

OTL Event: Operation Bagration. Soviet forces reached Praga, a district of Warsaw on the east bank of the Vistula. In the north they reached the Gulf of Riga, cutting off German Army Group North, which could now only be resupplied by sea. [Comment: as mirrored earlier in the ATL.]​

​

---xxx---

Summaries​

On the Spanish border, the Turkish ground and logistics build-up was largely complete. Some of the air wings still needed to re-organise after their recent command changes.

​

In the Far East, the Soviets had recovered more of their own and Mongolian territory. There had also been a rash of uprisings against the Japanese behind the lines, with one on the Soviet Pacific coast gaining much territory.

​

In the Irkutsk Sector, Comintern forces had made steady if not spectacular gains.

​

And the vast redeployment from Europe to the Far East was well under way, with the bulk of the forces now passing through the general vicinity of Omsk. It would be interesting to see if the Soviets were able to adequately supply this huge step-up in forces.

​

There had been a little change in India, where the British had retaken a few of the provinces they had lost in June, including Dhaka. There was no movement in South East Asia, where Malaya was once more stalemated.

​

There had once more been no change of the fronts in Australia or New Zealand.

​

While in frustrating news, the US had been unable to hold onto Midway Island.

---xxx---​

Coming Up: How long would Inönü wait before striking Spain to finish the Great Liberation War in Europe? While the Turks contemplated their next moves, Stalin was preparing a massive hammer blow in the East – if his logisticians could support it.

In Los Angeles, Ed and Bud are building their case against Smith. But what might the corrupt police captain have in store for them? Who will get to the other first? Will any other agencies, domestic or foreign, get involved? Or are they already? What will happen to Lynn Bracken – is she now a ‘loose end’ waiting to be tidied up? Or just a relatively innocent bystander? And where are Perse and the S.I.T.H. hitman the Duke of Midnite in all this?

Not to mention the cast of sundry consultants, spooks and liaison officers gathering around Oran.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

The world map at that time showed the extent of Turkey’s new holding following the absorption of Vichy France’s overseas holdings, including in South America, West Africa, Djibouti and Madagascar. The Japanese still held China and vast areas of the Soviet Far East. But in India, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, little if anything had changed much in recent months.

It did not quite sink in that we gained most of the old French colonial empire. Most of it will be sold off and decolonised to some degree, but north Africa may well stay under the united republics or as very closely aligned puppet states.

Once spain falls, we'll truly be masters of the med.

On 17 July, accusations of leaking from the highest levels of the government were made. In a security committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Celal Bayar, Intelligence Chief Ögel accused Interior Minister Kaya. The latter, after quickly consuming two of his ubiquitous apoplexy tablets, immediately made accusations of his own against his long time nemesis. It soon degenerated into their usual bitter exchange of unpleasantries.

Mm. Smells like more SITH meddling to discredit the little remaining importance of the other intelligence branches. Soon there won't be a war to get emergency powers from, but if we make all other services impotent enough by then, that won't matter.

And I certainly think we're there or nearly there by this point.

 

[RustyHunter]

And from the Navy, a cruise past the main Spanish fleet base in the south reveals they have at least ten ships of various types there, including at least one battleship.

Looks like most of the fleet survived the civil war. That could make things exciting for any planned naval invasions, although maybe the US fleets will bump into the Spanish.

The day after his telephone outburst, Gerd von Rundstedt was sacked as Oberbefehlshaber West and replaced by Günther von Kluge.

I knew he got sacked because of the Normandy landings, but I didn't realize his phone call was the real problem!

Overall, Turkey is looking really strong! You're also getting all the cool toys of modern warfare, and I'm really starting to feel bad for Spain. Hopefully they mobilize or are on 3 year draft so their divisions actually hold for a bit.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to the detailed plan we all know is coming.

 

[Eurasia]

From what I understand there was a German plan to invade Spain - they had plans for invading everybody - but they decided it would be too much of a problem. Because they realized how hard it would be to, first, deal with the mountains in the north and, second, deal with the Spanish rails. They were a different size than the rest of Europe and would make logistics a horror.

I look forward to seeing how you deal with Spain. Poor, poor Spain.

 

[nuclearslurpee]

Chapter 231: The ‘Summer Holiday’ (1-31 July 1944)

Ah, good, another episode of "Quick & DIrty"...

...wait, no...

Strategic consultant Professor Nukeluru Slorepee had also been seen meeting with LTGEN Cakmak there.

At least someone is interested in my ideas about indigenous heavy tanks.

“Dudley's got everyone under his thumb. Not just me, but the Chief of Police, the Lieutenant Governor, everybody!”

Spoiler: it turns out Dudley is a front man for Perse who is secretly building her new underworld empire in a bid to make herself untouchable by Turkish interlopers.

A small nationalist rebellion broke out in the Turkish sector of Afghanistan on 27 July, with the upgraded Tehran Garrison being sent on the long rail trip to confront them.

This is not ominous at all.

And the vast redeployment from Europe to the Far East was well under way, with the bulk of the forces now passing through the general vicinity of Omsk. It would be interesting to see if the Soviets were able to adequately supply this huge step-up in forces.

God, the supply mapmode for this region must be an absolute nightmare by now. Thankfully it is a problem for the AI and not for us - at least in this AAR!

Not to mention the cast of sundry consultants, spooks and liaison officers gathering around Oran.

Nice weather this time of year.

Mm. Smells like more SITH meddling to discredit the little remaining importance of the other intelligence branches. Soon there won't be a war to get emergency powers from, but if we make all other services impotent enough by then, that won't matter.

And I certainly think we're there or nearly there by this point.

This is not exactly the kind of project which requires much effort to be invested, if indeed any.

From what I understand there was a German plan to invade Spain - they had plans for invading everybody - but they dediced it would be too much of a problem. Because they realized how hard it would be to, first, deal with the mountains in the north and, second, deal with the Spanish rails. They were a different size than the rest of Europe and would make logistics a horror.

If only they had put the guy in charge of the Spanish invasion in charge of the Russian invasion, things might have turned out very differently. Still, probably, hilariously, but differently nevertheless.

As far as Turkish fortunes go, looks like we should be set for an early-August launch date for the invasion of Spain. I'd guess maybe a week or so pushing through the mountains and then landing LTGEN Cakmak's corps in the south to rapidly seize Sevilla, etc. and cripple the Spanish resistance before they can really form up. After that not much left to do but smoke a cigar and declare victory, I think.

 

[SSmith]

The world map at that time showed the extent of Turkey’s new holdings following the absorption of Vichy France’s overseas territories, including in South America, West Africa, Djibouti and Madagascar.

I hadn’t fully appreciated how just much territory had fallen into Turkey’s hands when Vichy surrendered. We now control a chain of naval bases around the world that extends far beyond our Eurasian regional interests. These assets, I’m thinking, could be extremely useful to our allies in the future - especially to the Soviets. The Americans, of course, always have the option of working with the British.

The French Government of Henri-Honoré Giraud still remained technically in exile, despite having liberated the main part of metropolitan France earlier in the year.

Erratum: in at least one earlier reference I may have confused the French Government in this ATL with the one in Quick and Dirty 2, and/or when using an OTL picture of de Gaulle during the Calixte Charon narrative arc.​

I guess de Gaulle’s bid for political power must have met with failure, then? Perhaps if he hadn't been hiding in the Congo...

Anyway, this rather strange-looking 'Free French' government does perhaps explain why they've been so reluctant to return to Paris - all those 'grey' ministers must be terrified of being mistaken for Axis collaborators.

By 8am, the initial moves are complete and a report on suspected Spanish air deployments is on Inönü’s desk at HQ 1st Army in Toulouse.

I count 21 Spanish air units on that intelligence map. A lot more than I expected. With our mixture of models, ranging from the modern to the obsolescent, they could turn out to be a good match for us. The one thing that concerns me in particular is the limited fighter cover we have from the air bases in north Africa. I think securing the Balearic Islands would be a very useful first step before attempting to land on the Spanish mainland.

And from the Navy, a cruise past the main Spanish fleet base in the south reveals they have at least ten ships of various types there, including at least one battleship.

Much as anticipated, really. The Spanish navy does present a very real threat.

Observation of US and German task groups in the Western Mediterranean, plus regular passages by heavy Soviet battle groups as well, led Turkey to plan on letting their Comintern allies deal with the Spanish fleet when war broke out: perhaps they would severely damage or destroy it, to facilitate the smaller Turkish Navy to attempt a naval landing in southern Spain once the invasion from the north was well under way.

Yes, that could work, I suppose. We should certainly keep a close eye on the Spanish fleet's movements. Maybe we could hit them at anchor with our bombers? We might also get opportunities to engage them if they decide to split their fleet? If we're really lucky, they might just sail away altogether and let us invade!

And now both GRU LO Agent SkitalecS3 (recently arrived from Casablanca) and USMC LO Kenny ‘Wraith’ Loggins have both turned up in Oran too. It seems to be the new destination of choice, as a woman closely matching the description of legendary Turkish S.I.T.H. operator Cennet Kavgaci has also been spotted around the HQ 1st Corps HQ. Strategic consultant Professor Nukeluru Slorepee had also been seen meeting with LTGEN Cakmak there.

Hopefully our special forces are planning some mischief in Spain!

On the Spanish border, the Turkish ground and logistics build-up was largely complete. Some of the air wings still needed to re-organise after their recent command changes.

I am mindful of our extremely long supply lines now – let’s hope the logisticians really have caught up before we pull the trigger!

On 17 July, accusations of leaking from the highest levels of the government were made. In a security committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Celal Bayar, Intelligence Chief Ögel accused Interior Minister Kaya. The latter, after quickly consuming two of his ubiquitous apoplexy tablets, immediately made accusations of his own against his long time nemesis. It soon degenerated into their usual bitter exchange of unpleasantries.

Some things never change!

And the vast redeployment from Europe to the Far East was well under way, with the bulk of the forces now passing through the general vicinity of Omsk. It would be interesting to see if the Soviets were able to adequately supply this huge step-up in forces.

Yes, I have a bad feeling about this. Stupid AI!

While in frustrating news, the US had been unable to hold onto Midway Island.

The lack of Japanese activity on most fronts suggests they are hopelessly over-stretched… and yet they can always find a division to take back Midway Island!

Hanging from a ceiling light, Patchett's body slowly twists around, a toppled chair beneath him.

So it looks like Dudley is Mr. Big, then? Not counting all the state actors who may be circling, of course!

Dudley's rotten to the core. He's taking over Mickey Cohen's rackets, his own hand-picked cops'll be the new franchise holders. Because of those pictures I won't be able to prosecute.

A few bullets should fix that… unless Exley gets in the way with all that ‘by the book’ nonsense!

What will happen to Lynn Bracken – is she now a ‘loose end’ waiting to be tidied up? Or just a relatively innocent bystander?

I suppose she could be more deeply involved than she’s letting on, but even a ‘relatively innocent bystander’ might know too much for her own good.

And where are Perse and the S.I.T.H. hitman the Duke of Midnite in all this?

With luck, pooling their resources to sort out Ögel and Kaya!

 

[SSmith]

Overall, Turkey is looking really strong! You're also getting all the cool toys of modern warfare, and I'm really starting to feel bad for Spain. Hopefully they mobilize or are on 3 year draft so their divisions actually hold for a bit.

I had forgotten how absurdly OP some of those early wars were because of the AI's divisions being totally unprepared. Yes, let's hope that's not the case with Spain.

 

[nuclearslurpee]

I am mindful of our extremely long supply lines now – let’s hope the logisticians really have caught up before we pull the trigger!

I think - and this is a tenuous thought, because the HoI3 supply system is arcane at best - but I think we can help this out if we run a supply convoy from homeland Turkey to Marseille or some other port in southern France, which should be integrated into the supply network instead of getting toted back to Ankara since it's all on the same network.

 

[RustyHunter]

I had forgotten how absurdly OP some of those early wars were because of the AI's divisions being totally unprepared. Yes, let's hope that's not the case with Spain.

Not sure what you think Bullfilter, but you could do a quick tag to Spain and mobilize them. I'm not sure if the AI would stay mobilized, but it would be fairly logical as they notice the Turkish buildup on their borders.

Don't feel obligated to though, I know you don't want to use any console commands in this AAR. As long as the Spanish aren't on volunteer army or one year draft they should be interesting to fight.

 

[SSmith]

I think - and this is a tenuous thought, because the HoI3 supply system is arcane at best - but I think we can help this out if we run a supply convoy from homeland Turkey to Marseille or some other port in southern France, which should be integrated into the supply network instead of getting toted back to Ankara since it's all on the same network.

It might work, but I'm not certain how this feature works. A supply convoy to Marseille should certainly send supplies into the port, but the question is what happens next. We would like them to take the shortest path to our units, but it's just possible they will be sent back to the supply hub (which in this case would be our capital).

Not sure what you think Bullfilter, but you could do a quick tag to Spain and mobilize them. I'm not sure if the AI would stay mobilized, but it would be fairly logical as they notice the Turkish buildup on their borders.

Again, it could work, but there's a fair chance the AI would just choose to demobilize again. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try.

EDIT: On second thoughts, there is that vanilla "feature" where you lose half the manpower if you demobilize...

 

[Midnite Duke]

I am pretending that Spain and Vichy France are just @Bullfilter movies and that the war in Europe ended with victory over Hitler and Mussolini. Turkey's main concern, while SU-USA-GB are dealing with the Empire of the Setting Sun, should be moving German-Italian brain and money power to Turkey.