Your mission : Turn around a war !

[Narwhal]

You are an Associate Time Traveller in the Better History Bureau.

Your boss wants to A/B test a new version of history, but she doesn't have much budget - so she asks you to go back in time to the first day of ANY war, to join the General Staff of the losing side. She'll give you the credential to be the power-behind-the-general-in-chief, the one who take the military decisions (political and diplomatic decisions are off-limits though - no budget - of course you can still tell your Commander that it would be a great idea to go through a neutral country without the diplomats being noticed).

Please note that the MindControl machine has been borrowed by the Time Paradox division, so it is not available ; due to this so you cannot give a seemingly very stupid order that will save the day and expect the Commander-in-Chief you advise to actually do it, just because you KNEW there was going to be say an earthquake that day and you needed to stop the Turks from taking Gallipoli. Similarly, you cannot make say Grigory Semyonov not a corrupted criminal stealing the supplies needed for the general war effort. You cannot make the French chevaliers fight in dishonorable fashion with ranged weapons (or even complex tactics). You are just a guy giving VERY good advice.

You will stay around as long as needed to win the war, but please note that you cannot travel back and forth in time to check the impact of your decision, reassess the outcome, and correct it again. So obviously, the more you change history, the less information you have. But you have all informations currently available.

Of course, you need to impress your boss - so you need to pick a war that was hard to win for the losing side, or with major historical impact in the years that followed (the A/B test will be followed only for 50 years, so changing some forgotten Babylonian war and counting on the butterfly effect to have a lot of impact down the chain of time is not especially interesting).
Which war do you try to change, and how do you do this ?

 

[diegosimeone]

Battle of Alesia. Ensure a convincing Gallic victory with the opposite outcome from our reality, by advising Vercingetorix about Julius Ceasar's tactics. Probably no Roman Empire would emerge, but I'm guessing lots of warfare would continue and eventually it'd be a make or break for either the Gauls (if united) or the Romans.

Thus, completely different history and present in this timeline.

 

[Avernite]

WW1, by telling Conrad von Hotzendorf all about the Russian moves in Galicia (and hopefully also a bit about the German moves that mean he's gonna be on his own in Galicia).

Sure, I could go the German general staff instead, but my advice after the initial state is very likely to be much worse than their own ideas. In A-H, I have far more chance of making a positive difference.

 

[NapoleonComple]

First Punic War. Instruct the Carthaginian Navy to place a full contingent of heavy infantry on each trireme. I'd also put small groups of pitch throwers on deck to set fire to the decks of the Roman ships. I'd also place archer platforms with snipers specially trained to snipe at the officers. The Roman 'beak' wasn't even invented yet, so that wouldn't be a thing I could anticipate for. If the Romans aren't on the sea yet, I'd then also consider using these marines to engage in Viking-style raids along the Roman coastline, but that might be a bit fantastical.

May have resulted in the Romans losing the First Punic War, or at least having to reach a settlement. Carthaginian naval power would have remained supreme. Rome may still have expanded into Greece and Gaul, and rivalry may have continued in Spain. Without Hannibal's determination to extract vengeance, it is not clear how the 2nd Punic War would have gone, or when/if it would have even happened.

(Nice thread by the way.)

EDIT: Of course, preventing any Carthaginian ships from falling into Roman hands would be a good idea as well, as it would stop the Romans from that method of copying the design. But, I can't necessarily prevent shipwrecks.

Further edit: Seeing as I can stick around, I'd also train men to smash the Roman boarding ramps if the marines didn't fancy their chances against a boarding party. The pitch would be particularly effective there; set them alight and turn them loose.

 

[D Inqu]

Easy mode: Battle of Tannenberg ensure that the Russian generals actually encrypt their orders and protect their flanks, Knock on effects could potentially keep Russia in the war and have the war end in 1917.

Medium mode: Battle of Pelekanon as Byzantines. A battle which could have been won by the Byantines, and could have prevented the loss of Ananotlia and kept the country in existance.

Hard mode: Try to stop any Mongol wars of invasion.

 

[Premu]

The siege of Troy:

Tell the Trojans to burn any wooden horses as sacrifice to the gods.

 

[bz249]

First Punic War. Instruct the Carthaginian Navy to place a full contingent of heavy infantry on each trireme. I'd also put small groups of pitch throwers on deck to set fire to the decks of the Roman ships. I'd also place archer platforms with snipers specially trained to snipe at the officers. The Roman 'beak' wasn't even invented yet, so that wouldn't be a thing I could anticipate for. If the Romans aren't on the sea yet, I'd then also consider using these marines to engage in Viking-style raids along the Roman coastline, but that might be a bit fantastical.

May have resulted in the Romans losing the First Punic War, or at least having to reach a settlement. Carthaginian naval power would have remained supreme. Rome may still have expanded into Greece and Gaul, and rivalry may have continued in Spain. Without Hannibal's determination to extract vengeance, it is not clear how the 2nd Punic War would have gone, or when/if it would have even happened.

(Nice thread by the way.)

EDIT: Of course, preventing any Carthaginian ships from falling into Roman hands would be a good idea as well, as it would stop the Romans from that method of copying the design. But, I can't necessarily prevent shipwrecks.

Further edit: Seeing as I can stick around, I'd also train men to smash the Roman boarding ramps if the marines didn't fancy their chances against a boarding party. The pitch would be particularly effective there; set them alight and turn them loose.

There is a way better options for the Carthagians one war earlier. Simply do not ally with Rome against Pyrrhos. You have a nic buffer state between you and those pesky Romans. Though it means Sicily will fall into the hand of the Greeks, though allying with Pyrrhos might solve this issue too.

 

[pithorr]

Oh, I'd actually would go quite opposite: sabotage the Holy League not to relieve Vienna in 1683

 

[Narwhal]

Battle of Alesia. Ensure a convincing Gallic victory with the opposite outcome from our reality, by advising Vercingetorix about Julius Ceasar's tactics. Probably no Roman Empire would emerge, but I'm guessing lots of warfare would continue and eventually it'd be a make or break for either the Gauls (if united) or the Romans.

Thus, completely different history and present in this timeline.

I believe by the time of Vercingetorix, the Gallic were quite aware of Julius Caesar's tactic, probably more than us nowadays

WW1, by telling Conrad von Hotzendorf all about the Russian moves in Galicia (and hopefully also a bit about the German moves that mean he's gonna be on his own in Galicia).

Of course, Colonel Avernite, the accuracy of your information has proved extraordinary - uncanny even. And thanks to them we know where the Russian are, and they are exactly where we want them, so I say we march toward them and defeat them decisively in a frontal assault as soon as possible. As for the Germans, if what you tell us is indeed true, then I have no doubt that they will doubletime to fly to the rescue of the victory earned by the Austrian sword ! For I, Conrad von Hotzendorf, will bring glory back to the Austrian arms"

First Punic War. Instruct the Carthaginian Navy to place a full contingent of heavy infantry on each trireme. I'd also put small groups of pitch throwers on deck to set fire to the decks of the Roman ships. I'd also place archer platforms with snipers specially trained to snipe at the officers. The Roman 'beak' wasn't even invented yet, so that wouldn't be a thing I could anticipate for. If the Romans aren't on the sea yet, I'd then also consider using these marines to engage in Viking-style raids along the Roman coastline, but that might be a bit fantastical.

The young general Barca could not hide a smirk "So you tell us, Strategos Napalon Campa, that we should fight our naval battles like we would fight land battle. I am afraid, Strategos, it is not the way it works.
In any case, why would we do that. We know the Romans are master on land, but their rare ships are sluggish, slow, and their crews have been even more productive than us at sinking their vessels. At sea, we are invincible."

Easy mode: Battle of Tannenberg ensure that the Russian generals actually encrypt their orders and protect their flanks, Knock on effects could potentially keep Russia in the war and have the war end in 1917.

Well, general Dinquus - of course I would love to encrypt our communication better, but I am afraid we did not receive the new code books yet, so either we are using the old code to communicate, or not at all. Which one do you prefer ?
And yes, we will be protecting our flanks I assure you. I told Von Rennenkampf to come protect it indeed, though it seems his army has not moved so far. I want to give him this instruction for a third time, but maybe you would prefer me not to send any message ?"

Medium mode: Battle of Pelekanon as Byzantines. A battle which could have been won by the Byantines, and could have prevented the loss of Ananotlia and kept the country in existance.

Thank you Strategos for your encouragement. We know we can win this battle indeed, those Turks are numerous, but cowardly and poorly disciplined. Look, their light cavalry is already retreating !

The siege of Troy:

Tell the Trojans to burn any wooden horses as sacrifice to the gods.

Optimistic : "Strategos Premu, you were right. At the beginning, many common soldiers said it would be a profanity to burn the gift of the Hellenes, but then we heard those cries, and we saw the Greeks jumping out of the blazing horse. God painfully punished them for their treachery !"

Pessimistic "Excellent idea, we will burn the horse tomorrow ! Today we party !"

 

[Avernite]

Of course, Colonel Avernite, the accuracy of your information has proved extraordinary - uncanny even. And thanks to them we know where the Russian are, and they are exactly where we want them, so I say we march toward them and defeat them decisively in a frontal assault as soon as possible. As for the Germans, if what you tell us is indeed true, then I have no doubt that they will fly to our "help" to bask in the victory earned by the Austrian sword ! For I, Conrad von Hotzendorf, will bring glory back to the Austrian arms"

Or maybe it could ensure he sends Second Army to Galicia, rather than first assigning it to Serbia and then to Galicia (or is that too late to still do?).

Granted, probably the more productive help to give the A-H army if I am allowed into their HQ is to stab Conrad.

 

[D Inqu]

Well, general Dinquus - of course I would love to encrypt our communication better, but I am afraid we did not receive the new code books yet, so either we are using the old code to communicate, or not at all. Which one do you prefer ?
And yes, we will be protecting our flanks I assure you. I told Von Rennenkampf to come protect it indeed, though it seems he has not moved so far. I want to give him this instruction for a third time, but maybe you would prefer me not to send any message ?"

Unencryted radio communications are forbidden for any army units. In the absence of code books, which should be the number 1 priority, messages are to be sent via messengers on horseback.
(IRL this happened even in WW2 when communication broke down, messengers were a safer alternative than unencrypted messages. Considering the distances, and speed of advance in WW1 it was even less of a problem).

Thank you Strategos for your encouragement. We know we can win this battle indeed,

The lower commanders in the army are given accounts of the Battle of Arsuf to study how a heavily armored force can defeat one dominated by light cavalry skirmishers.

 

[Graf Zeppelin]

Smack Pemu on the head from behind while he tries to save Troy.

 

[Kgw]

Spanish - American War.
Ughh... that's a tough one. I think the main issue would be trying to cheer up Admiral Cervera, when he hole his fleet in Santiago. Then he might hear Bustamante's suggestion of making a night sortie, or, if he insists in a daylight sortie, letting fast Villlamil destroyers' fleet go first against the US fleet, hoping they make some time for the big ships to reach the clash.

 

[Tufto]

Battle of Chaldiran.

Mkay, Isma'il, I know you literally think the battle's outcome is divine destiny, but maybe listen to these experienced frontier warriors rather than arrogant daredevil Qizilbash types. Don't wait for the Ottomans to set everything up and chain their cannon, charge them now, when you have time, your entire strength is based on speed and shock and manoeuverability, so charge before they are ready and this thing should be in the bag.

 

[DoomBunny]

Or maybe it could ensure he sends Second Army to Galicia, rather than first assigning it to Serbia and then to Galicia (or is that too late to still do?).

Granted, probably the more productive help to give the A-H army if I am allowed into their HQ is to stab Conrad.

Or indeed, to stab every single officer, pour petrol everywhere, and throw a lit cigarette over your shoulder as you walk off.

 

[olm]

Few that come in mind:
Advise Pompey to press his advantage at Dyrrhachium, beforehand you could earn credibility by predicting arrival of traitors from Caesar's camp that made Pompey's attack possible there.
Warning Basiliscus about upcoming Vandal surprise attack at Cap Bon.
Warning Atahualpa about Pizarro's plan to capture him and about capabilities of Spanish weapons. I guess being sufficiently convincing could be a really hard part here.

 

[bz249]

This seems to be possible:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kosovo_(1448)

one of the key part was:
"The Albanian army under Skanderbeg did not participate in this battle as he was prevented from linking with Hunyadi's army by the Ottomans and their allies. It is believed that he was delayed by Serbian despot Đurađ Branković, then allied with Sultan Murad II, although Branković's exact role is disputed. As a result, Skanderbeg ravaged Branković's domains as punishment for deserting the Christian cause."

Based on that all is required to tell Hunyadi or Skanderbeg that Brankovic is going to stab them in the back preventing the two armies to meet. Since they hated him anyway I do not think that they have to be totally out of character to kill/capture the King of Serbia.
Whether the combined Christian army would be enough to defeat the Turks is another question, but at least they would have a better chance.

 

[AegonVLLI]

"Well, Carolus Rex, if you have to go to fight on the frontlines, at least wear your glasses. Being cut off and riding towards enemy soldiers isn't very healthy."

 

[Andre Bolkonsky]

During the 'Battle of the Bells' I would stand outside a brothel in Stoney Sept and shout 'he's in there' at the top of my lungs.

 

[Mder1]

When I use the time travel machine, do I have to be naked or can I take things with me?