WesWorld

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April 6
The Hawker Hurricane Mk III has officially entered service with the RAF. 87 Squadron at Kenley has begun to re-equip with the new fighter. The Hurricane Mk III is identical to the Mk II except that it is armed with four 20mm Orkileon cannon in the wings. 200 of these fighters are on order.

April 9
The Army has placed an order for 400 Cruiser Tank Mk V Crusader (A15) tanks with production to begin in early 1939 by Nuffield.

April 11
Neville Chamberlain after a week of intense press speculation today revealed his Cabinet reshuffle. Viscount Halifax is replaced by Anthony Eden at the Foreign Office and Sir John Anderson becomes Home Secretary (unusually he is a former civil servant rather than a career politician. Halifax has taken up position as Ambassador to Atlantis. No reason has been given for the shuffle but it’s rumoured that Halifax is heading towards retirement from politics.

April 17
The Handley Page H.P.53 Hereford Mk II torpedo-bomber has officially entered service with the RAF. 185 Squadron is now receiving deliveries of new aircraft, the Hereford Mk II differs from the Mark I in having two 1,100hp Napier-Paxman Pilates I diesel engines.

Quoted

Neville Chamberlain after a week of intense press speculation today revealed his Cabinet reshuffle. Viscount Halifax is replaced by Anthony Eden at the Foreign Office and Sir John Anderson becomes Home Secretary (unusually he is a former civil servant rather than a career politician. Halifax has taken up position as Ambassador to Atlantis. No reason has been given for the shuffle but it’s rumoured that Halifax is heading towards retirement from politics.

Halifax had clout. Churchill sent him to the United States in 1940, entrusting to him Great Britain's most important diplomatic relationship at the time.

I wonder what the Brits are up to...

Could be that Chamberlain is concerned about the possibility of Halifax leading a party revolt against him. Getting him out of the country is a sure-fire way of reducing his ability to do something like that....

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April 20
Great Western Railways (GWR) have developed a new 4-6-2 version of their King class 4-6-0, with a bigger firebox, boiler and cab, to create an even more powerful passenger engine. The first engine was christened today and mainline express services also began today. It is thought as many as 26 locomotives may be brought.

April 22
The War Office Weapons Development Board has given the go ahead for the Un-rotated projectile (UP) to begin the research phase and has released some monies for further research. The intended use of the projectile and its technical details is still a closely guarded secret.

April 27
The Daimler Armoured Car has entered development. It is essentially a scaled-up Dingo with the turret of the Tetrarch light tank and is being developed by Daimler for the Army as a new light armoured car to support Dingo companies and to replace the current Morris Light Armoured Reconnaissance Cars.

April 28
Today the Cadman Report into irregularities and mismanagement at Imperial Airways has been published and released. Among its pages and proposed solutions to various problems it recommends that British Allied Airways be given the monopoly of European services with the exception of the London-Paris route.

April 29
Patrick M.S. Blackett, physicist and Nobel Prize winner and formerly a member of the Tizard committee has been officially appointed as scientific adviser to Anti-Aircraft Command to improve their operational efficiency and to undertake various studies.

This is the BBC Home Service...

May 3
The Empire Exhibition opens today in Glasgow showcasing the best products and cultural exploits the British Empire has to offer. Every nation within the Commonwealth has a pavilion and the 300ft high Tait tower (the Tower of the Empire) is the latest landmark on Glasgow’s skyline. The Empire Exhibition marks fifty years since the 1888 International Exhibition.

May 4
Vickers-Supermarine Chief Test Pilot ‘Mutt’ Summers today took the sleek new Supermarine 328 Southport flying boat on its first flight at Southampton. It alighted without difficulty and made five circuits without problems. The retractable floats were inoperable (fixed down) and as yet the prototype is without turrets (whose development is seriously behind schedule) and instead simulated weights are fitted and aerodynamic fairings to simulate their weight and drag. The two new 1,400hp Bristol Hercules IV radials performed flawlessly.

May 7
At Barrow-in-Furness Vickers held a dinner party for a group of Brazilian naval officers and diplomats to celebrate the ordering ordering of an aircraft carrier with the firm. Although laid down with little pomp last month this event marks the offical confirmation of the order.
Vickers was the winner of a recent internation competition to supply a light carrier to the Brazilian Navy and this order marks the first large naval export to that nation since the two dreadnoughts ordered in the late 1900s.

May 11
A new torpedo for use in submarines, the HT Mk.1 has begun development at the Anti-Submarine Weapons Research Establishment at Fairlie. Its characteristics are secret but it is believed to be an improved 21in torpedo with a new fuse.

May 17
The War Officer confirms the following new types of radio-location gear have entered service, or shortly will, to defend the nation as part of the Home Chain.
Chain Home Type 2: 42.5-50.5MHz, range 125-195 miles
Gun Laying Type 3: 54-85MHz, range 28 miles

May 23
Rudolf Peierls and Otto Frisch, both currently based at Birmingham University, have published a paper on research undertaken at Birmingham University on chain reactions by separation of uranium element 235 from 238. Frisch and his aunt Lise Meitner have previously published a paper on the creation of barium from the collision of uranium nuclei and neutrons. Frisch and Meitner then discovered that elongation of the nucleus would allow the electrical forces to overcome the surface tension allowing the nucleus to split into two similarly sized parts. Frisch described this as “nuclear fission”, the mass of the two halves is slightly less than the original nucleus and the remainder is an output of energy produced by the split. The Danish scientist Niels Bohr discovered that the uranium fission process was due to the presence of uranium 235 which is a very rare isotope (one in 140 parts of Uranium 238 ). Bohr was unable to calculate how much uranium 235 would be needed to start a chain reaction (the splitting nuclei create neutrons which split other nuclei) and that it was impossible to occur naturally due to the rarity of uranium 235. Peirels and Frisch have now determined how much uranium 235 would be needed to begin a chain reaction, less than half a kilogram. As yet no practical use has been found although it is clear abundant power would be generated from such a chain reaction and most scientists think it will be years before any such theories can be proven and harnessed in any practical way.

May 27
The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford multi-engine and crew trainer has officially entered RAF service with No.12 Flying School. This twin-engined advanced trainer has a secondary function as a navigator/ radio operator and gunnery trainer and is based on the AS.6 Envoy airliner. A pilot and instructor can be carried or a pilot and bombing/ radio/navigator trainee and instructor or two gunner trainees and one instructor aft when the manual turret is fitted with a single Vickers ‘K’ gun. Twelve 20lb smoke bombs can be fitted in two underwing bays in the wing roots. Full radio equipment is carried in all planes. 136 are on order.
Dimensions; 52.4/ 34.6/ 11.1/ 339 sq ft; 2x 375hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah X; max speed 202mph; range 700 miles and service ceiling 21,000ft.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
May 23
Rudolf Peierls and Otto Frisch, both currently based at Birmingham University, have published a paper on research undertaken at Birmingham University on chain reactions by separation of uranium element 235 from 238. Frisch and his aunt Lise Meitner have previously published a paper on the creation of barium from the collision of uranium nuclei and neutrons. Frisch and Meitner then discovered that elongation of the nucleus would allow the electrical forces to overcome the surface tension allowing the nucleus to split into two similarly sized parts. Frisch described this as “nuclear fission”, the mass of the two halves is slightly less than the original nucleus and the remainder is an output of energy produced by the split. The Danish scientist Niels Bohr discovered that the uranium fission process was due to the presence of uranium 235 which is a very rare isotope (one in 140 parts of Uranium 238 ). Bohr was unable to calculate how much uranium 235 would be needed to start a chain reaction (the splitting nuclei create neutrons which split other nuclei) and that it was impossible to occur naturally due to the rarity of uranium 235. Peirels and Frisch have now determined how much uranium 235 would be needed to begin a chain reaction, less than half a kilogram. As yet no practical use has been found although it is clear abundant power would be generated from such a chain reaction and most scientists think it will be years before any such theories can be proven and harnessed in any practical way.

DUN DUN DUUUUNN!!

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
DUN DUN DUUUUNN!!

It did occur to me whether Peierls and Frisch would actually be in the UK in WW...

In "The Birth of the Bomb" there's a good deal of information on the various events in the UK at the time. Peierls and Frisch started calculations on obtaining a value of the critical mass needed using sugar cubes in a cafe.

"Haha its time to activate the Super Destructive Weapon of Total Destruction. You've failed to stop me this time. You fool! How are you going to escape this time hanging over a pond of piranhas by that thick rope. You note the super-strength acid dripping onto the rope? In five minutes the acid will have eaten through and you will become fish food.
Your stupid assistant is now trapped on the roof, surrounded by twenty of my best nija warriors.
I think its time to press the button don't you? World domination will be mine!!! Muahahaha!..."

That was 'The Adventures of "Rusty" Stevens and "Pitbull" Drummond', next week will "Rusty" escape the fiendish trap to stop Dr. Evil's plans?
Dr Evil was played by Sir Hugh Thorndyke, "Rusty" Stevens by Paul Edwins and "Pitbull" Drummond by Ralph McTaggert. The programme was recorded and produced by Ron Hardwicke.

PIP PIP PIP PIP PIP

The is the BBC Home Service and here is the five o'clock news...

June 2
The new Children’s Zoo at London Zoo was opened today by Robert and Ted Kennedy, two of the sons of the American Ambassador to Britain, Joseph P. Kennedy.

June 7
The Weir W.5 helicopter, designed by C.G. Pullin, made its first flight at Dalrymple, Ayrshire, the two two-bladed rotors have cyclic and collective pitch control and they turn at 430 r.p.m.

June 11
Today at Fairey’s works their latest design, the Fairey Firefly fighter took of for its first flight. The flight was curtailed after just six minutes due to problems with the brand-new Griffon inline engine. Developed to Specification N.8/37 as a new carrier-based single-seat fighter, the Firefly is powered by the brand-new Rolls-Royce Griffon V-12. Armament is planned to be four wing-mounted 20mm cannon and two 1,000lb bombs beneath the wings. 200 are on order for the FAA.
Dimensions; 44.6/ 35.10/ 13.5/ 328 sq ft; 1x 2,035hp Rolls-Royce Griffon I; max speed 382mph at 15,000 feet; range 1,100 miles and service ceiling 28,500ft.

June 15
Vickers has released a report to the Air Ministry today detailing the continuing problems with the new Bristol Centaurus radial engine as fitted to the new Vickers Warwick medium bomber. The current Warwick Mk I powered by two 1,500hp Bristol Hercules XI is severely underpowered and full bombload cannot be carried and range is severely reduced. The Air Ministry has suspended further Mk I orders and the fate of the Mk II rests on the engine problem being solved. Suggestions to re-engine the Mk II with the Rolls-Royce Vulture have been rejected owing the technical problems with that engine, the Napier Sabre is also too unreliable and the new RR Griffon not yet fully developed either. Bristol is making Herculean efforts to improve the Centaurus which is the company’s main engine of the future.

June 18
Today the War Office confirmed that a solid anti-tank round is being developed for use with the new 25pdr field artillery gun to give it a dual-purpose role.

June 24
Test match cricket is televised for first time by the BBC.

June 25
Today was the Daily Express sponsored airshow at Gatwick airport. Among the civil aircraft on show and the usual aerobatic routines the RAF also contributed. Two Westland Lysanders made a spectacular short take-off and landing demonstration, four factory fresh Fairey Balmorals made a low-level pass and no less than nine Spitfires of 19 Squadron based at Duxford made a series of fly-bys and aerobatic manoeuvres.

June 29
Vickers and the War Office today released details of the new L1E3 Light Amphibious Tank designed by Vickers which undertook official trials during June. A normal light tank in appearance, attached to the hull are two buoyancy tanks. The modified Hortstmann suspension has drum road wheels for improved buoyancy, two propellers driven from the sprocket drive and moveable shrouds give directional control. A turret is fitted armed with one .303in Vickers, two crew are carried and the tank is powered by an 88hp Meadows ESTB petrol engine. Maximum speed in the water is 4mph, weight is 4.4 tons and dimensions are; 15ft x 7ft 8ins x 7ft. Although the trials were successful no order has been placed by the Army and Vickers is clear to release the tank for export and the Royal Marines are seeking permission to conduct further trials of their own.

I'd just like to add something about the specualtion over who will succed Chamberlain one day.

Viscount Halifax sits in the House of Lords, therefore he cannot sit in the Commons and the law would be require a change to allow this. This alone puts obstacles into Halifax's path while proteges like Leo Amery and 'Rab' Butler will one day become powerful figures in their own right. They might slipstream behind him now but in 2-4 years time they might want to break-out on their own. Men like Chruchill have no hope in WW of breaking into the top seat unless the Germans start bombing London!
The law wasn't changed until Tony Benn gave up his peerage to enter the Commons as an MP and this allowed the Conservatives to get Douglas Hume as PM after Macmillan.

As things are Halifax is aging for the role of PM but there are few strong candiadates for PM yet, Eden etc are still relatively new in thier ministerial careers.

Churchill can one again became the first sea lord.
In WW we are in something of an arms race.
Although WW is peaceful there is about 4 times as much naval units that OTL. Aviation technology is ahead with over 15 notions with credible industry, building high performance aircrafts. On land there are 20 ton+ tanks made by everybody and there mother.

WW is more a Cold War world that a late 1930's coming out of depression.

Tis because of the lack of upkeep rules. Oh, and minor nations with capacity. But it's what makes WW WW. So, let it live.

And because we decided not to have a Great Depression (not that I mind that so much).

What I'm saying that one don't need to bomb London, for a hardliner like Churchill get in too power.

We are peacefully building navies and armies to fight a war total war that is not going to happen.
Player with 20+ factories are acting the part of big bears that quietly sleep.The are calm but know that if they start sailing the battle lines in someone's territorial waters them,"dog pile on the offender" will happen immediately.
Players with smaller nations are happily going for total militarization, rattling sabers. Knowing the unspoken rule not to poke the bears.

WW political climate is like this there are big boys and there are the upstarts,with I am one of.
I think this is a excellent opportunity for a hardliner too emerge.
Sim mechanics prevent it.

The upstarts in WW face a bigger smackdown from the Big Boys.


Churchill is not popular in his own party being tainted with switching sides, failure in the Great War, Tonypandy, strike busting etc etc. Yep its fair to say without the terrors of 1940 lurking around there is no need for such a bulldog bloke. He's good for that "backs-to-the-wall" type stuff but not for the kind of smooth diplomacy Halifax has been using lately.

Really I don't know where British politics will go from here. Labout just can't cut it and there's nothing to suggest a coalition government or hung parliament so the Tories look set to rule for the rest of the early 1940s.