Dark Earth: A New Jerusalem

Steve,

That aspect is costly, but it is forecast as being nominally affordable. The essence of Barton's Grand Design is growth driving an increase in the bottom line funding for major expenditure.

It is worth considering historical spending to begin with. As ever, all prices in 1990 USD, which I've tended to use as a decent baseline for 13 years:

Health
1965: $18,549.86 million (3.5% of $529,996 million)
1966: $19,445.868 million (3.6% of $540,163 million)
1967: $20,986.526 million (3.8% of $552,277 million)
1968: $21,841.45 million (3.8% of $574,775 million)
1969: $21,067.452 million (3.6% of $585,207 million)

Health Spending Per Capita
1965: $341.3 (+4.69%
1966: $355.87 (+4.09%)
1967: $381.86 (+6.8%)
1968: $395.58 (+3.47%)
1969: $379.86 (-4.14%)

Dark Earth Health Spending Per Capita
1965: $1102.74
1966: $1175.13 (+6.16%)
1967: $1249.33 (+5.94%)
1968: $1307.8 (+4.47%)
1969: $1381.09 (+5.31%)

The average increase is larger, although largely on account of the @ decrease in per capita spending in 1969. However, the considerably larger per capita spending covers the issue of prescription charges, capital expenditure on new medical machinery, increased doctor and nurse pay, vaccinations, advanced treatments not present in @ and maintaining a high numbers of beds.

Broadly speaking, there is similarly larger per capita amounts in Pensions and Welfare; in the former case, this translates as a bit more for OAPs and in the latter, there are quite considerable increases in Family Allowance and Housing Benefit. Given the circumstances of effective full employment, there isn't a great deal spent on the dole.

It also depends if it will look like that in this universe as well.

Britain to Australia is beyond the range of the Swallow, being 16,000 miles as compared to 10,000. However, that latter range gets us to Singapore, which is right on the mark.

What I’d envisage is something like to old Imperial air route to the Far East: Britain-Egypt-Bombay-Singapore-Darwin. For South Africa, it would be Britain-Egypt-Kenya-South Africa/Rhodesia. All of those are 4000 mile hops, fine for Concord, the Bristol Type 250 and other types.

The Swallow would be for quicker, LR runs. Passenger load for the Swallow would be 150-200; cargo would mainly go in skyships and VC10s.

For when it is needed ore is it already being used in combat.

Next snippet:

All in all, it would be an interesting process of carefully weighing competing priorities with the broader picture. He nodded to Pendragon that he was ready to begin.

“Very well, gentlemen. We have reviewed each of your initial submissions on equipment requirements. As the first order of business for today, we would like your positions on the necessary force requirements to carry out your assigned missions. Now, that doesn’t mean the bare minimum, but the level that would provide enough margin to address any foreseeable complications. Field Marshal Sharpe?”

“To successfully carry out the defence of Germany in the northern sector, we need the full 12 divisions, the TA round-out forces, our assigned brigade and battalion level units, the proposed heavy tank regiments and the full logistical train to support such a force. We estimate that casualty replacements will amount to a significant proportion of our full standing force, in the region of 2% per week, which is just within what we can handle. To take on and defeat the Russians, we need to firmly reestablish our qualitative edge in tanks and have more armour full stop, both in the field and as attritional reserves both at home and in in Europe. However, to really blunt their edge, there is one simple measure we can take - guns. If we move to a standardised divisional artillery brigade of three 6” and 8” self-propelled howitzer regiments, as the Germans effectively had in their panzer and panzergrenadier divisions in Warhammer last year, then we significantly outgun and significantly out range the Reds.”

“You’ve only just got the upgunned Abbots and have sung their praises to this point. What has changed to make you want to get rid of them?” Barton asked bluntly.

“Not get rid of them, Prime Minister, nor am I calling for it to implemented either immediately or universally. We can start with our armoured divisions, bringing them in line with the Americans, French and Germans. Only once our production of both guns and ammunition is sufficient should we consider the mechanised infantry. From there, if we decide on the heavy option, we shouldn’t waste the Abbots at all, but move them to the brigades as direct fire support with a secondary anti tank role, nominally to begin with.”

“An interesting proposal, but one where we’d have to examine the cost and see how the Commonwealth forces think. It would add to our ammunition requirements on one level, but on another, we already field both types.” Pendragon’s face was coolly neutral. “In any case, we wouldn’t be in any position to field the amount of new 6” equipments until 1970 or so, based on the projections in Appendix E of the Future Production Report.”

“Do we have anti-tank ammunition in 125mm yet?”

“Only a relatively small stock at Larkhill, Prime Minister. The initial testing is very positive, but the main production focus thus far has been on HE and ACM; both of the special rounds will be ready in mid 1966.”

“Anything else apart from artillery and tanks, Field Marshal?”

“Rockets, missiles and helicopters in the main, as I wrote, along with the new wheeled APCs for my infantry. Mobility for the men and the ability to hit the enemy well beyond their effective range. A brigade or two of Gurkhas would solve most of my remaining issues of light troops, which we need a lot of for urban combat.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think Nepal is quite large enough to provide that for every major command, but we can see what can be done. Middle East Land Forces?”

“To hold the Middle East against Soviet invasion, we would need a minimum of two corps and four heavy divisions, in addition to an airborne division and a Royal Marine division for rapid reaction and a pair of top line Imperial infantry divisions, such as Sikhs or Zulus. With planned Commonwealth reinforcements, the Israeli Army, the Arabs and Persians, it would be enough, provided the full assets of a field army with appropriate reinforcement of staff and headquarters units. If we couldn’t count on Arab cooperation and Turkish neutrality, we would have a problem, to put it mildly. In terms of equipment, our standing regional forces have sufficient armour for now, but could definitely benefit from substantially more long range artillery and helicopters. Our area of operations is the largest of any Command in the Imperial armies, which means we need reach and speed of manoeuvre. In the World Wars, we could count on cavalry, but now we need to go faster and further than any horse.”

“What would that entail in your view?”

“Specifically, I would like to see deployment of the Westland armed combat helicopter gunships when they enter service and either heavy gun or rocket artillery systems with the range to hit enemy rear targets of opportunity. In terms of movement, we have much the same need as the Desert Army in the last war - wheeled and tracked vehicles that can cross the desert at speed. That brings me onto perhaps my most pressing requirement.”

“What would that be, Field Marshal?” Barton held a steady gaze on Anderson, silent calculations spinning through his mind.

“Mobile air defence, Prime Minister. If I’ve got to push a fast column through to Damascus or Baghdad from the Galilee, similar to ‘56, then I need to be able to provide them with protection and not just depend on our fighters. They can’t be everywhere, after all. We know that the Reds have not just mobile guns like the Shilkas and Sparkas, but short and medium ranged guided missiles on tracked and wheeled vehicles; we need a similar capability due to the sheer range we must cover in our area of operations and how thinly our fighters would be spread.”

Tactical nuclear and chemical, yes, but also some developments in improved conventional munitions and anti-armour rounds.