lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Oct 17, 2023 15:17:01 GMT
Good analysis and interesting how quickly the French realised the dangers of the 88mm guns. Pity it took the British forces so long in the desert.  Agree that its likely to become a slog fest and by the time the weather/climate improves enough for air power to be easily applicable that you will probably have well dug in positions on both sides of the front. Hopefully also the allied air forces have gained enough limited experience that they will be able to do a much better job in fighting the LW. Think its going to be a bitter and positional conflict and the greater resources of the allies will win in the end. Going to be a lot different world depending on how things develop.
Suprised me a lot too - them Frenchies not that stupid. It is going to be a positional warfare like WWI at least for the Winter. Guess the British and French will be able to outpace the Germans in production. Will look up some production numbers. If we go by what the French bought in the US and Britain was able to produce its gonna be tight run. The French had some interesting Tank designs coming up - bigger vehicles - bigger guns - and radios! I am nowhere near whats gonna happen on the fringes - ideas?
Question is, if Germany i bogged down in Belgium, how long before they open up a new front in the Netherlands. |
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575
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Post by 575 on Oct 17, 2023 15:24:51 GMT
Suprised me a lot too - them Frenchies not that stupid. It is going to be a positional warfare like WWI at least for the Winter. Guess the British and French will be able to outpace the Germans in production. Will look up some production numbers. If we go by what the French bought in the US and Britain was able to produce its gonna be tight run. The French had some interesting Tank designs coming up - bigger vehicles - bigger guns - and radios! I am nowhere near whats gonna happen on the fringes - ideas?
Question is, if Germany i bogged down in Belgium, how long before they open up a new front in the Netherlands. Good question - though they may reckon the con's will outweigh the pro's of having a Neutral on the doorstep through which imports may be had like the Scandinavians and Italy as long as Benny doesn't get himself into something stupid. Its a possible - definitely. Though they face the problems as in Belgium - France. Also the Netherlands was sooo dependant upon Airpower - capture Her Majesty and the Gold Reserve. That may postpone any such till May 1940.
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Oct 17, 2023 17:09:16 GMT
Would that happen to be a small boxed set, labelled as part of a series 120 games that can be played very quickly. Picked that up and its 1941 sequel for operation Barbarossa back in the 1980's although haven't played any board games for years if not a decade or more now. Lack of other players plus too easy to play games on the computer. No - its the ooold SPI magazine game of 1970? that got reboxed by Avalon Hill some time following - mine's marked 1972 - about 200 counters. On Board Game Geek I usually solo-game as opponents are few and far between. Last game against an opponent was with my son some 15 years ago!
Damn you 575! I have bookmarked that site. How long before I start browsing it? 
That does look rather like the game I've got but mine's labelled from GDW and says "by Frank Chadwick" so possibly its a later rebox? Got it in the 1980's as didn't really play war games until then. Dug it out from the storage room upstairs.
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Oct 17, 2023 17:21:58 GMT
Good analysis and interesting how quickly the French realised the dangers of the 88mm guns. Pity it took the British forces so long in the desert.
Agree that its likely to become a slog fest and by the time the weather/climate improves enough for air power to be easily applicable that you will probably have well dug in positions on both sides of the front. Hopefully also the allied air forces have gained enough limited experience that they will be able to do a much better job in fighting the LW. Think its going to be a bitter and positional conflict and the greater resources of the allies will win in the end. Going to be a lot different world depending on how things develop.
Suprised me a lot too - them Frenchies not that stupid. It is going to be a positional warfare like WWI at least for the Winter. Guess the British and French will be able to outpace the Germans in production. Will look up some production numbers. If we go by what the French bought in the US and Britain was able to produce its gonna be tight run. The French had some interesting Tank designs coming up - bigger vehicles - bigger guns - and radios! I am nowhere near whats gonna happen on the fringes - ideas?
Not sure what you mean by the fringes? Butterflies elsewhere in the world? Being stalled in Belgium is going to dent German prestige somewhat which could mean some other nations, such as Romania and Bulgaria are possibly less willing to move towards the Axis camp. I can't see Norway being invaded here as Germany is likely to lack the spare resources but Denmark might do so at some point. Stalin will probably occupy the Baltics and make a grab at Finland. Hopefully doesn't prompt the allies to do something stupid like bombing Baku!
Mussolini might make a grab for Greece, or possibly Yugoslavia - with a flanking attack from Italian annexed Albania and relying on unrest inside the state, especially from the Croats probably. However I suspect this would be unlikely given that a Germany checked like this could be a deterrent to this.
The US will support the western allies industrially on a commercial basis but without the collapse of France which woke a lot of people up their going to be significantly more mercenary and isolationist so that could be a limit on how long the allies can out-produce Germany.
In terms of the far east it could get complex. France still active as a major power is going to prevent occupation of FIC without Japan being face by a major war as soon as any such operation starts. Although it could be that balanced somewhat if the European powers are seen as the main enemies and the US is more isolationist but I doubt Japan would risk not attacking them.
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Oct 17, 2023 17:23:16 GMT
Suprised me a lot too - them Frenchies not that stupid. It is going to be a positional warfare like WWI at least for the Winter. Guess the British and French will be able to outpace the Germans in production. Will look up some production numbers. If we go by what the French bought in the US and Britain was able to produce its gonna be tight run. The French had some interesting Tank designs coming up - bigger vehicles - bigger guns - and radios! I am nowhere near whats gonna happen on the fringes - ideas?
Question is, if Germany i bogged down in Belgium, how long before they open up a new front in the Netherlands.
I would agree with 575 that Germany would be sensible to keep the Netherlands neutral for the various reasons stated. However we are talking about Nazi Germany here so we can never take anything for granted.
PS Anyone listening to the cricket.  |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Oct 17, 2023 17:25:59 GMT
Question is, if Germany i bogged down in Belgium, how long before they open up a new front in the Netherlands. I would agree with 575 that Germany would be sensible to keep the Netherlands neutral for the various reasons stated. However we are talking about Nazi Germany here so we can never take anything for granted. PS Anyone listening to the cricket. True, i assume the Germans will want to use their Fallschirmjägers in a different way unlike OTL among others. |
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575
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Post by 575 on Oct 17, 2023 21:55:09 GMT
No - its the ooold SPI magazine game of 1970? that got reboxed by Avalon Hill some time following - mine's marked 1972 - about 200 counters. On Board Game Geek I usually solo-game as opponents are few and far between. Last game against an opponent was with my son some 15 years ago!
Damn you 575! I have bookmarked that site. How long before I start browsing it?
That does look rather like the game I've got but mine's labelled from GDW and says "by Frank Chadwick" so possibly its a later rebox? Got it in the 1980's as didn't really play war games until then. Dug it out from the storage room upstairs.
Stevep - think Your's this one - had my eye on it once but prior to Internet and easily looked up stuff so didn't buy it. Well if I go to Britain I take mine with me and we'd game both through!  |
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575
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Post by 575 on Oct 17, 2023 22:06:33 GMT
Suprised me a lot too - them Frenchies not that stupid. It is going to be a positional warfare like WWI at least for the Winter. Guess the British and French will be able to outpace the Germans in production. Will look up some production numbers. If we go by what the French bought in the US and Britain was able to produce its gonna be tight run. The French had some interesting Tank designs coming up - bigger vehicles - bigger guns - and radios! I am nowhere near whats gonna happen on the fringes - ideas?
Not sure what you mean by the fringes? Butterflies elsewhere in the world? Being stalled in Belgium is going to dent German prestige somewhat which could mean some other nations, such as Romania and Bulgaria are possibly less willing to move towards the Axis camp. I can't see Norway being invaded here as Germany is likely to lack the spare resources but Denmark might do so at some point. Stalin will probably occupy the Baltics and make a grab at Finland. Hopefully doesn't prompt the allies to do something stupid like bombing Baku!
Mussolini might make a grab for Greece, or possibly Yugoslavia - with a flanking attack from Italian annexed Albania and relying on unrest inside the state, especially from the Croats probably. However I suspect this would be unlikely given that a Germany checked like this could be a deterrent to this.
The US will support the western allies industrially on a commercial basis but without the collapse of France which woke a lot of people up their going to be significantly more mercenary and isolationist so that could be a limit on how long the allies can out-produce Germany.
In terms of the far east it could get complex. France still active as a major power is going to prevent occupation of FIC without Japan being face by a major war as soon as any such operation starts. Although it could be that balanced somewhat if the European powers are seen as the main enemies and the US is more isolationist but I doubt Japan would risk not attacking them.
Fringes - yes should have been more specific - but You got it. Anything outside the German-WAllies playground. Agree that the minor possibly pro-Axis Nations including Hungary may be more cautious ITTL. Neighter can I see an invasion of Norway nor Denmark as that was only for having a treadstone enabling the Ju52's to fly up there.
Yes Stalin may do something in Eastern Europe I'd guess. Think Finland would be the prime target which get more Swedish aid if the WAllies are too occupied - which they will be.
Musso stirring up the Croats could be a scenario with them trying so during the early 30's. If he feels up to it though his henchmen will try talk him out of such.
I referred to the 4 November 1939 US Neutrality law - so a cash-and-carry would well to the trick for the French. And they need those Trucks and Aircraft badly as their own industry is still in shambles. The British I guess will still do fine - they have the French Navy in the game fully so no need for Bases for Destroyers.
I don't as yet see the Japanese attacking - they are still preparing and haven't decided on which way to go - North or Pacific.
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Oct 17, 2023 22:26:26 GMT
Damn you 575! I have bookmarked that site. How long before I start browsing it?
That does look rather like the game I've got but mine's labelled from GDW and says "by Frank Chadwick" so possibly its a later rebox? Got it in the 1980's as didn't really play war games until then. Dug it out from the storage room upstairs.
Stevep - think Your's this one - had my eye on it once but prior to Internet and easily looked up stuff so didn't buy it. Well if I go to Britain I take mine with me and we'd game both through!
Yes that's it. Fairly simplistic but as such could be played quickly.
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Oct 17, 2023 22:28:57 GMT
I would agree with 575 that Germany would be sensible to keep the Netherlands neutral for the various reasons stated. However we are talking about Nazi Germany here so we can never take anything for granted. PS Anyone listening to the cricket. True, i assume the Germans will want to use their Fallschirmjägers in a different way unlike OTL among others.
They would probably have to wait until the weather clear, by which time a lot could change. Also wasn't it a pretty small unit, a regiment or so at this time. Might not get the OTL expansion without the OTL dramatic success as there will be a lot of other demands on German resources.
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575
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Post by 575 on Oct 18, 2023 11:20:31 GMT
The French Airforce – a compilation of information of several works of the May-June 1940 Campaign in France collected mainly from internet sources (papers) though the most recent is by a French Airforce Lt.Colonel.
The single most important issue facing the French Command was the reliance upon Telephone for transmitting of Orders and Signals. Luftwaffe during the initial phase of the Airwar targeted the system of Telephone Lines that would sewer most French possibility at the crucial moment of effecting Operational Control.
Here of course this will be of less magnitude but anyway some means to have French Command abandon the Telephone or at least make a dual communications system should be found – I'm not into this yet.
During the Polish Campaign the French Airforce had tried gathering information on where the German offensive would jump off and thus been quite active over Germany and as such losing a large number of old Reconnaisance Aircraft and a few Fighters. The Curtiss H-75 had proven its superiority to the MS 406. The RAF hadn't taken part in this as it was occupied with battling the Kriegsmarine in the North Sea.
The Reconnaisance Aircraft were hopelessly outdated but the Army insisted of operations carried out be given Fighter cover thus tying it to aircraft actually incapable of running away!
October had seen this continued with RAF building more Fighter Squadrons and having the upper hand over Luftwaffe in the North Sea and the French just struggling to build more units.
When the German offensive jumped off the opposing sides did see occasional combat – where the French encountered the Bf-109D the superior trained French would use fighters H-75 generally thought inferior to defeat the Germans.
With the WAllies giving as good as they took the Luftwaffe was even thought losses were not high forced to get Bf-109D's from the depots as deliveries didn't match up to losses.
The French Army wanted its and RAF to attack German lines of supply which was out of doctrine for RAF which it thus declined to do and of little help from the French Airforce as its controlling Armies didn't want its Airsupport squandered in airbattles over Germany.
Even the low Airactivity during the Phoney War was wearing down French Aircrew – the French Airgroups had each two Squadrons. As the military SOP would have one unit at alert/in the Air, one at ready and the third at rest well that third just didn't exist in the French Airforce so Aircrew's were worn down and sortie rate was going low – 1-2 a day for the French, 5-7 for RAF, up to 8 for Luftwaffe.
Also the French simply didn't train the number of required Fighter Pilots to a degree that had the French not been defeated by July 1940 the Pilot pool had been exhausted by September 1940.
Still the problems of the French Airforce hadn't been ironed out. The Air Force had been subjected to Army Command deploying the Airsquadrons in small pakets to various Armies leaving nothing to contest the Skies once the bad winter weather would clear.
RAF had used the time well. A forward Chain Home had been built in Northern France and Belgium to extend British defences further from the Home isles. The French didn't catch on what was going on as the British informed them that it was to increase joint airdefences once the skies cleared.
Actually RAF didn't expect the French to understand the needs and situation that would develop.
As part of the Air Defence France had also been able to develop its infant Radar system with British aid. This formed a line from Calais in the North behind the frontlines in Belgium to the Swiss border and again from the Swiss border in the Alpes to the Cote d'Azur with a few stations on Corsica to cover from Italian interference. A coupe of stations had also been set up in Tunesia again to cover from the Italians.
Besides this and procuring aircraft in the USA to supplement the home production France didn't do much to improve air defences. As there was literally no Airwar the French Army saw little need to increase the Airforce which would only serve to limit acquisations for the Army which also had lots of needs.
The early Radar however did make a difference as it supplemented the flimsy scattered French spotter service with data though still such had to be relayed to French Aircommand by telephone! And the reciever not being in the same room nor building as the Airofficer Commanding.
RAF had also tested a few Spitfire equipped Fighter Squadrons over the frontlines and these had found that the Germans used two marks of Messerschmitt Bf-109 one decided faster than what French Airforce had informed them.
It was also over the battlefield that RAF tested the Spitfire Mk.Ib armed with 20mm cannon and were able to iron out problems before using the cannon as standard armament.
Thus the Airwar did continue above the Ground operations though in much less intensity. The weather was just too bad for real flying.
As the German Army was left to itself and the frontline more or less stiffened the Germans began waiting for frost to get across the many waterobstacles and at their enemy.
March and April would see a slight increase in Airactivity though still not at the level the German Army wanted – nor the French for that matter.
The worst problem of the French Airforce was the low numbers of new Pilots and Crew turned out from training to supplement operational units.
Still with the limited flying weather which was a greater problem to the Germans than the WAllies the latter found that attacking German Ground Forces was just about suicide – the effect of light Flak employed. This should find its way to Allied HQ's at least the British should react to it and as I understand from Gorts despatches the British seemed to have a fair amount of AA and used it. The French
A specific French manufacturing issue was the greasing of moveable parts within especially the armaments of the French aircraft – MG's and Cannon just froze at altitude! 6 months of more flying than during the Phony War should have them rectify this problem.
Another solveable problem as in the Tanks was that of Radio in Aircraft for plane to plane comms but also from Ground Control to Planes which often made it impossible to direct to new targets once a mission had taken off. Better sigthing systems which to some extend was rectified by Ground Crew.
These specific French issues could be have been solved had the Aircraft not been rushed from Factory to User with final testing to avoid delay in delivery! Which left it the Ground Crews to do what Factory ought to have done. Perhaps a lower intensity in the starting Airwar will make it accepted to have Factories do the final testing as pressure won't be as bad as May 1940.
And establish as in US and UK a ferry pilot service that would fly the Aircraft from Factory to Airunit. Combat pilots had to be diverted for that.
One consoling point in the French Airforce mess is that the OTL February 1940 change of Command Structure might not take place or that the low intensity of Aircombat will make the Army Commander not insist on Operational Control of ALL Air Assets!
This might be the single one most important change.
Another the possible non-formation of the Assault Bomber Brigade which incurred huge losses in the few operations it participated in. Also that lowlevel attacks the French bombers were unsuited for due to lack of weak engines may not be initiated and those bombers used in high-level attack reducing losses significantly.
The prepared airfields with fuel and munitions depots would here survive the German onslaught that OTL drove the French Bombers away from them thus increasing sustained airoperations.
However in the end the French Airforce remained a coherent force. Against all odds it seems.
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575
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Post by 575 on Oct 22, 2023 8:08:53 GMT
The French had been granted 6 months time to turn their Peacetime defence oriented Armed Forces into an offensive sword to be able to defeat Germany.
Without British assistance – including mindset - this wouldn't happen. A grant of Radar would provide the French with the much needed Early Warning System they hadn't but more importantly they had to incorporate radio to their command system and try streamline it all not least have the Commanders being in the same building as the Signals to ensure fast communications.
The French Command had to overcome its fears of Germany eavesdropping upon its radio communications.
Gort Commander BEF may be key to this process as he recognized this huge deficiency from about his first day in France arriving at Brest and having to traverse the country to get into alotted positions on the Belgian Border negotiating French ”system” along the road which demanded meetings in person due to difficulties with French radio and telephone communications.
As the French saw him as forthcoming and cooperative he may drill the smallest of holes in the French armour and see the French react to it.
Perhaps a well executed British response to a German probing depending upon swift communications – with a French Commander like Georges or maybe even the man himself Gamelin present at Gorts GHQ.
Another influence was the RAF technicians working on the Radar and comms system informing their French counterparts on how RAF were operating and the needed swiftness of communicating up the Command ladder.
The French file had little adversity to the idea of radio though the ranks seemed interested but showing the official face to radio. The RAF technicians relayed their experience to their commanding officer who went up the ladder informing of developments.
It was soon clear that a bigger battering ram was needed. The RAF wouldn't be singularly responsible for forcing the system down the French throat and RAF Command asked the Secretary of State for Air of notifying the Allied War Council.
At a meeting of the Allied War Council W. Churchill First Sea Lord lost his temper telling General Gamelin that if he was too thickheaded to understand modern ways of efficient communications that would ease the War burden on his shoulders the RAF might as well hand over the Radar to the Germans as they would surely listen. If France didn't go along British Government would have to reconsider the safety of its troops and Aircraft in France and the sensibility in offering ANY advances to its Ally.
Everybody was silent for quite some time and then General Gamelin said that General Georges could install such equipment as was necessary for the running of the Airwar in the Northeast – unknowingly General Gamelin at that moment handed responsibility for running the war effectively into the hands of his subordinate General Georges; the upper French hierachy well knew Gamelin for his aversion to made decisions that might affect his own standing.
It was a very sullen General Gamelin that left the Allied War Council that evening.
The British however sensed the moment of opportunity and asked the French at next meeting inviting General Georges as he as commander of Northeast and Operational Commander of French Airforce was critical to proceedings of Campaign.
French Premier Edouard Daladier made a note looked at his Allies saying: that was brutal but necessary.. (in French of course)
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575
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Post by 575 on Oct 23, 2023 19:12:02 GMT
The RAF Component in France would also learn new tricks of the trade – that with so many enemy Fighters present escorting Bombers a shorter range for gun harmonisazion was necessary as the Dog-fight had been reintroduced and a less rigid formation than the Vic of three Aircraft needed. The obvious thing here being to copy the German Schwarm formation which in RAF parlance became the Finger-Four Formation.
Seeing the value of this the RAF informed the French of the new formation and advocated its use with Fighter units.
The long lowintensity Airwar had made the French able to do a number of things for their Airforce – more pilots were given more up to date training, radio operation was stressed and some Women, civil pilots that is, were hired as ferry crews to let operational combat pilots fight.
This latter was only possible with the British part of the Alliance pointing to as the French rejected the proposal that they during WWI had had to recruit large numbers of Women to keep industry running – this was essentially what they would also have to do here.
The Airforce had begun being supplied with new French Fighter Aircraft Bloch 152 and Dewoitine D520 to supplement the Curtiss H-75 and Morane Saulnier 406 just before the skies cleared in May 1940.
The Bloch 152 was better armed than any other Fighter with 2 20mm Cannon and 2 7,5mm Machineguns. The Dewoitine D520 was close to the Supermarine Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf-109E and superior to the D. As with the British Fighters the Bloch was to take the role of Bomber killer while the Dewoitine would take on the Messerschmitt.
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575
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Post by 575 on Oct 29, 2023 19:08:44 GMT
Speeding up production of Aircraft and Tanks had been attempted by the French Government but the attitude had been – les Boche (the Germans) have been stopped why - we are doing good!
The attitude also permeated the French Army making for a too relaxted outlook towards the War Effort.
Britain with having planned Shadow Factories even prior to the War was in a much more industrially mobilized position than France. Aircraft – Spitfires, Hurricanes and Bombers were turned out at a steady growing rate.
So too was the situation with Tanks. It had been realized that tanks needed more power to increase mobility besides speed so engines was sourced in the Aircraft Industry. Suitably reworked to propel a heavy tank.
There had been quite some ground combat as the Germans were trying without Luftwaffe support to bash their way through Allied defences though so far the line had held even if in some areas there had been severe losses though the 'checkerboard' defences of WWI origin had held.
Though it was discovered that a serious counter attack force had to be established. The pure Infantry Tank Brigades (ITB) was too inefficient for the job. No radios, no supporting Infantry except that being run over by the Germans and no support weapons – a better more capable formation was needed. Those ITB composed of FT 17's had already been destroyed and better tanks were needed if the situation should be remedied.
It had been realized that the Cavalry Divisions which had by now been mainly disbanded though their Mechanized parts had done well as counterattack formations could be a way forward.
As such and as the DLMs of the Cavalry Corps had to be rebuild and was going to get expanded as had been planned pre-War to four Divisions.
The ITB's would be used as assets for building the new Counterattack formations as well as the rebuilding of the Cavalry Corps. The main issue being low Tank production.
The resultant outcry of the Infantry was loud and persistent. The Infantry NEEDED Tanks to defeat attempted breakthroughs and more important the INFANTRY was holding the line. Period.
At the outset of Battle the French Army had had 5100 tanks at its disposal though 2800 being FT 17. Of the 2300 real Tanks the DLMs had 210 each leaving 2000 to the ITB's besides the FT 17's.
The problem of building new DLMs was that the production of the types needed was only sufficient to replace the inventory of the 2 DLMs at the outbreak of war. Which meant that other types not developed for the role would have to be pressed into service of the new DLMs.
These formations was to have more Infantry though for starters the French used part of the imported US Trucks to motorize the Motorized Infantry Divisions properly and thus build a mini-Corps around each DLM Tank formation and support units.
There was of course the not too diminishing number of advocates of ”Tanks are of no use – look what the Germans got from that calculation” to which mainly de Gaulle replied that had the Germans been able to traverse the Belgian countryside riddled with rivers and Canals faster the scene would have looked quite the contrary as was the experience gotten from Poland.
The British had also been building up their Armoured Force adding a second Armoured Division to the BEF with more Mathilda II's than initially envisioned though with a more powerfull engine. The BEF 1. Army Tank Brigade had been turned into a subunit of the 1 Armoured Division to give it more punch and both Armoured Divisions had been given more Mechanized Infantry.
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575
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Post by 575 on Nov 1, 2023 13:48:17 GMT
A concern of the WAllied War Council besides getting the French Army Command get modernizing was the Economic Warfare; it had HUGE holes into it.
The Soviet Union, Fascist Italy, Francoist Spain, the various authoritarian regimes in the Balkans though at least Yugoslavia and Greece and to some extend Romania leaned West but also the Turks, Scandinavians – and the Netherlands.
The Netherlands; well it of course traded what it could generally within Contraband definitions as laid down by the WAllies but of course its Industry and Agricultural sector would still trade with Germany as was the situation also with the Scandinavians where the real stone in the shoe was Swedish iron ore export to Germany.
However the Netherlands also was an oilproducing Nation in the Caribbean and Far East. The former wasn't a problem or like the US wouldn't accept it as such so – hands off. Monroe Doctrine.
NEI – Netherlands East Indies was another kind of fish. Neighter WAllies nor US liked the Japanese war in China and the recent peace of Japans with Soviet Union might have it look into the Pacific mainly so to NEI and its oil.
The Netherlands Government had stressed that it was unable to defend its colony as the new Fighter Aircraft destined for that had been produced by Fokker in Netherlands (F-XXI) but due to the situation could not be shipped off.
As such the Dutch had informed both the US and WAllies that it would continue selling oil to Japan as it was in need of the funds to buy Aircraft and other Warmateriel in the US for the defence of the oil – see?
The Gordian knot all over.
The Dutch wanted not the ire of the Japanese by joining the trade restrictions as that might make the Japanese supply themselves to NEI oil nor the ire of US and WAllies so it was stuck in a pincer.
At this time the Japanese wasn't a menace to WAllied colonies but of course the interest in China was another matter.
Regarding the other neutrals helping Germany import was another matter – France didn't see any problem in putting the Italians or Spains into a vice. The British could close the Suez Canal to them and the French would be happy to help in closing the Strait of Gibraltar and patrol the Mediterranean to deter the Spanish from importing to Cadiz or La Corunja and then re-export from Barcelona and Valencia.
Then there was the issue of the Soviets.
The French had its large Cavalry/Motorized Force in Syria built up to be use against the Soviets and it had the Worlds most advanced Air Base at Rayak.
The Royal Navy could blockade the Iron Ore shipping from Narvik, Norway down the Norwegian coast and intercept it if crossing the Skagerrak. Also the Swedish port of Luleå on the Swedish Baltic Coast was an objective though it was only used during Summer due to being closed by Ice during Winter.
For the time being however the Navies were busy hunting down German Raiders and Armed Merchant Cruiser intercepting WAllied shipping as well as doing something about the German Submarine menace already taking its toll on Shipping and Navy units.
The Airwar over Belgium, Northeastern France and Western Germany was at a level where little could be spared for offensive operations against the Soviets.
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