Sir John Valentine Carden Survives. Part 2.
- Thread starter allanpcameron
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allanpcameron
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Just a note to say that while the men of 1st Canadian Tank Brigade did arrive as depicted, they didn't have tanks yet, and started getting some Matilda II and Churchills to work with. The change here is that the Canadian production of Valiants (OTL Valentines) is ahead by about 6 months. There will be an unexpected impact on 5th Armoured Division, whose Valentines were shipped to USSR slowing their war readiness drastically.
I agree that three big factories is a better way to go than one huge factory, but Carden's point about Detroit is still important to note.
I thought Blackpool was used by the RAF as a massive training camp, and wasn't there a factory building Wellingtons there. Of course that might be in my head from writing Ship Shape rather than reality. BTW, Ship Shape is up for a Turtledove in the Finished Timelines section if anyone thinks it is worth a vote!
Allan
I agree that three big factories is a better way to go than one huge factory, but Carden's point about Detroit is still important to note.
I thought Blackpool was used by the RAF as a massive training camp, and wasn't there a factory building Wellingtons there. Of course that might be in my head from writing Ship Shape rather than reality. BTW, Ship Shape is up for a Turtledove in the Finished Timelines section if anyone thinks it is worth a vote!
Allan
There was (perhaps ironically) a Vickers dispersal factory there, building bombers, so that's probably Wellingtons. A great place to site a factory, ironically taken up by the company that now wants to build a new factory.
The Canadians have arrived! I'm sure nothing from the convoy went 'missing' but that doesn't explain how they somehow smuggled in a complete taxidermized moose (for the officer's lounge) and enough hockey equipment to kit out an amateur league.
The family of live beavers were not smuggled, they stowed away after hearing Scotland had employment opportunities.
The family of live beavers were not smuggled, they stowed away after hearing Scotland had employment opportunities.
It is very difficult to knock out a factory by aeriel bombardment and the heavier the industry the harder it is to knock out. The British and Americans found it very difficult to do so even with the level of bombardment they were capable of inflicting in 1944-5, Germany in 1941 using medium bombers; not a chance. some interruption, maybe. A prolonged stoppage; no.
What about some other places like the High Peak? Manchester or maybe Lancaster?
That would take it well out of the range of the German bombers
Still no mechanised Arm&Mot&SPArty Brigades and no mechanised 2Mech&2Mot Divisions. Looking forward to Sir John's thoughts on Kangaroo APCs.
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Blackpool is already in use in WW2 for aviation work and training pilots. During recent Coronavirus restrictions one of the celebrities touring UK seaside resorts for a UK TV series went there and that aspect of Blackpool's history was talked about.
But for those who didn't see whichever program that was, I found an online newspaper piece about Blackpool and WW2: https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/...y-role-war-and-kept-theatres-business-1041638
marathag
Banned
Then
Key
Red: Major Route
Yellow: Good Road
Black: Railroad
--x--: Transmission lines
Today
with Detroit Tank Arsenal dropped in, similar scale on bottom two maps
Detroit Tank Arsenal was on 178 Acres and 105 buildings, with the main Tank Building of 1M Sq.ft., later expanded to 1.2M
700 subcontractors , and roughly 6000 workers on site working three shifts, for a capacity of 1000 tanks a month.
A few problems with this:
- Does it have the transport links to get components there?
- Is there a workforce available or do they also have to build housing?
- If they want to expand in the future it will require more excavation of the hillside rather than just building more walls & a roof.
Maybe? This is pre-Beeching after all.
Probably need to build housing too.
Anywhere else you build it, you're likely to be taking up farmland, which you already don't have enough of.
That's what Nissen Huts are for. It's only a temporary measure of course but will do for the duration.
Several options.
Somewhere near Glasgow on the West Highland line would have good rail links and access to skilled workers. Maybe around Faslane, though that would need a spur to be constructed.
There are some similar locations near Edinburgh, especially in the valleys of the Ochill hills.
Both though are in reach of unescorted night bombing raids.
Possibly near Perth and the Highland line?
If this map is 1940s, then I'd prefer a shorter cycle to work and AAA supporting Squire's Gate and Thinney Aerodrome. The contour lines seem more sympathetic on this farm land than Ream Hill. The drainage is probably better and there are more service/perimeter roads too.
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The engineers and repair crews of the brigade will be well practised and very experienced by the time the Brigade is worked up. With the best will in the world the first items off any production line always have a few quirks!