PTEAP - My copy of HOI2DDA that I installed PTEAP also had DAIM, I don't know whether that will affect it or not.
September 25th, 1937
RAF Khartoum
The windsock fluttered gently, the signal of a calm day in the sandy expanse of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Perhaps, though, the day would not be so calm, thought Air Commodore Arthur Tedder, as he watched through squinted eye the RAF Avro Anson drop altitude and finally taxi around the small airstrip of RAF Khartoum. It came to a stop and the band briefly played God Save the King at quite a quick pace as Mj. General A.M. Harvey descended from the aircraft, exchanging salutes with the staff of the base and of Central Africa Command. "Welcome to Khartoum, General" Tedder said, shaking hands with the General.
"The weather is hardly an improvement over Singapore, Commodore," Harvey chuckled, "But as long as the Union flag flies overhead, we've a job to do, wouldn't you say?"
"Absolutely," Tedder replied. "We've a briefing already awaiting you, Sir. I believe there's a land rover somewhere..."
"We will walk," Harvey said. "Better to become accustomed to the terrain, in my opinion."
"Er, yes sir." Tedder nodded. "This way, then..."
RAF Khartoum was the Headquarters of Central Africa Command and roughly represented the majesty of that inglorious station. Constructed on a hill overlooking Khartoum, it commanded a good defensive location and was guarded by the best troops a thousand miles south of Alexandria and three thousand north of Salisbury. In recent months her dusty runway had seen a resurgence, as Hawker Hurricanes began to replace trainer aircraft and Sopwith Camels. In light of this, local troops had begun to think of themselves with a certain degree of importance, which was probably undeserved, considering they slept in tents and did very little. The briefing room at least was a real building, but could do little to shield the early morning heat. On the central table lay maps and dozens of intelligence papers and was surrounded by armchairs and sofas.
"I must say that the situation in Central Africa is not favourable," Tedder began. "We have forty Hurricanes and six mixed brigades of local troops and European volunteers. South African support can be expected within a month of hostilities. To our east lie the unpredictable Italians, whose military skill is frankly pathetic and the peaceful Ethiopians who we need not fear. On the other hand, France stands to our West as a possible aggressor, and surrounds Nigeria, the Golden Coast, Ghana, and the Gambia, which lie undefended from her grasp. We estimate at least 200,000 French troops in Africa."
"And what has London allocated to our defence next year?"
"A cavalry division for Nigeria and an infantry division for the Sudan."
Harvey sighed. "The tyrant Napoleon stands astride West Africa with two hundred thousand men at arms and all the British Empire can meet him with are a few Hurricanes and ten thousand negroes with Lee-Enfields."
"The forces we have are appropriate to our general strategy in Central Africa, sir."
"Which is what?"
"Run Eastwards as fast as possible and wait for the Navy to force the French to capitulate."
"How decidedly absurd." Harvey murmured. "If we are to meet the French on the field of battle, we have but no choice to do as our ancestors did and give them a bloody good bruising, with or without help from London. I expect that if we are to defend this territory alone then every man shall do his duty to resist, in the name of King and Empire. The honour of our ancestors and the liberty of our sons depends upon it. God Save the King." Harvey followed his impromptu speech with a salute, which all the men around the table responded, and to which they confirmed with a reply of "God Save the King."
This however, was scarcely atypical of the British defence position in late 1937. The main areas of concern - the Pacific, India, and Africa, were all under question. With the maintenance of the two-power standard, which the Royal Navy demanded required exponential tonnage per year to continue, it was uncertain whether the paltry forces assigned to all three areas would be able to serve well into the 1940s like the Navy insisted upon. Mj. General Harvey was able to secure the doubling of the troops destined for Africa in 1938 and a group of bombers, with the assurance that he would be able to fight on two fronts if necessary. Yet, Northern India lay still undefended, and East Asia and the Pacific reliant totally upon the Royal Navy and the tiny Indian Army.
The opportunity cost of the Royal Navy: A Britain unprepared for another Great Game
September 25th, 1937
RAF Khartoum
The windsock fluttered gently, the signal of a calm day in the sandy expanse of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Perhaps, though, the day would not be so calm, thought Air Commodore Arthur Tedder, as he watched through squinted eye the RAF Avro Anson drop altitude and finally taxi around the small airstrip of RAF Khartoum. It came to a stop and the band briefly played God Save the King at quite a quick pace as Mj. General A.M. Harvey descended from the aircraft, exchanging salutes with the staff of the base and of Central Africa Command. "Welcome to Khartoum, General" Tedder said, shaking hands with the General.
"The weather is hardly an improvement over Singapore, Commodore," Harvey chuckled, "But as long as the Union flag flies overhead, we've a job to do, wouldn't you say?"
"Absolutely," Tedder replied. "We've a briefing already awaiting you, Sir. I believe there's a land rover somewhere..."
"We will walk," Harvey said. "Better to become accustomed to the terrain, in my opinion."
"Er, yes sir." Tedder nodded. "This way, then..."
RAF Khartoum was the Headquarters of Central Africa Command and roughly represented the majesty of that inglorious station. Constructed on a hill overlooking Khartoum, it commanded a good defensive location and was guarded by the best troops a thousand miles south of Alexandria and three thousand north of Salisbury. In recent months her dusty runway had seen a resurgence, as Hawker Hurricanes began to replace trainer aircraft and Sopwith Camels. In light of this, local troops had begun to think of themselves with a certain degree of importance, which was probably undeserved, considering they slept in tents and did very little. The briefing room at least was a real building, but could do little to shield the early morning heat. On the central table lay maps and dozens of intelligence papers and was surrounded by armchairs and sofas.
"I must say that the situation in Central Africa is not favourable," Tedder began. "We have forty Hurricanes and six mixed brigades of local troops and European volunteers. South African support can be expected within a month of hostilities. To our east lie the unpredictable Italians, whose military skill is frankly pathetic and the peaceful Ethiopians who we need not fear. On the other hand, France stands to our West as a possible aggressor, and surrounds Nigeria, the Golden Coast, Ghana, and the Gambia, which lie undefended from her grasp. We estimate at least 200,000 French troops in Africa."
"And what has London allocated to our defence next year?"
"A cavalry division for Nigeria and an infantry division for the Sudan."
Harvey sighed. "The tyrant Napoleon stands astride West Africa with two hundred thousand men at arms and all the British Empire can meet him with are a few Hurricanes and ten thousand negroes with Lee-Enfields."
"The forces we have are appropriate to our general strategy in Central Africa, sir."
"Which is what?"
"Run Eastwards as fast as possible and wait for the Navy to force the French to capitulate."
"How decidedly absurd." Harvey murmured. "If we are to meet the French on the field of battle, we have but no choice to do as our ancestors did and give them a bloody good bruising, with or without help from London. I expect that if we are to defend this territory alone then every man shall do his duty to resist, in the name of King and Empire. The honour of our ancestors and the liberty of our sons depends upon it. God Save the King." Harvey followed his impromptu speech with a salute, which all the men around the table responded, and to which they confirmed with a reply of "God Save the King."
This however, was scarcely atypical of the British defence position in late 1937. The main areas of concern - the Pacific, India, and Africa, were all under question. With the maintenance of the two-power standard, which the Royal Navy demanded required exponential tonnage per year to continue, it was uncertain whether the paltry forces assigned to all three areas would be able to serve well into the 1940s like the Navy insisted upon. Mj. General Harvey was able to secure the doubling of the troops destined for Africa in 1938 and a group of bombers, with the assurance that he would be able to fight on two fronts if necessary. Yet, Northern India lay still undefended, and East Asia and the Pacific reliant totally upon the Royal Navy and the tiny Indian Army.
The opportunity cost of the Royal Navy: A Britain unprepared for another Great Game
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