Choices: Simon Goes A-Timelining/ISOTing

Something I put together on AH.com a while back is of relevance

web.archive.org/web/20061020231717/http://orbat.com/site/history/index.html

From there, go to 1900-1938 using the categories up the top and the British content is down the bottom of the page

1902 British Army

Britain: 11 Cavalry Regiments (+ 5 Provisional), 43 Infantry Battalions (+ 8 Provisional)

South Africa: 9 Cavalry Regiments, 43 Infantry Battalions

India: 9 Cavalry Regiments, 46 Infantry Battalions
Ireland: 2 Cavalry Regiments (+ 3 Provisional), 19 Infantry Battalions
Other Empire: 1 Cavalry Regiment, 19 Infantry Battalions (+ 5 Bn Royal Garrison Regiment)

Total: 32 Cavalry Regiments, 170 Infantry Battalions (Not counting the provisional units)

After Redeployment

British Isles: 18 Cavalry + 81 Infantry (Britain: 14 Cavalry + 56 Infantry and Ireland: 4 Cavalry + 25 Infantry)
India: 11 Cavalry + 51 Infantry
Empire: 1 Cavalry + 23 Infantry
South Africa: 3 Cavalry + 13 Infantry


BRITAIN

ALDERSHOT
13th Hussars
14th Hussars
18th Hussars
4th Provisional Dragoons
3rd Provisional Hussars

1st Brigade RHA- N & S Batteries
3rd Brigade RHA-Y Battery
18 Brigade RFA-59, 93, 94 Field Batteries
20 Brigade RFA-98, 99, 100 Field Batteries
30 Brigade RFA-128, 129, 130 Field Batteries

60 Field Company RE
3rd Division, Telegraph Battalion RE
B & D Troops, Bridging Battalion RE
Field Depot RE Troop
1, 2 Field Parks RE
Balloon Depot & Section RE

3rd Bn Grenadier Guards
1st Bn Coldstream Guards
2nd Bn Coldstream Guards
2nd Bn Scots Guards
1st Bn Royal Fusiliers
2nd Bn East Yorkshire Regiment
2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers
2nd Bn Cheshire Regiment
2nd Bn Northamptonshire Regiment
1st Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment
1st Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
2nd Bn Manchester Regiment
2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry
2nd Provisional Battalion
3rd Provisional Battalion

EASTERN DISTRICT
5th Lancers, Colchester
16th Lancers, Colchester

6th Brigade RHA-B & C Batteries, Ipswich
26 Brigade RFA-116, 117, 118 Field Batteries, Ipswich
(but batteries at Coventry, Bristol & Trowbridge)

16 Survey Company RE, Bedford
21 Submarine Mining Company RE, Felixstowe
55 Field Company RE, Colchester

1st Bn Suffolk Regiment, Colchester
2nd Bn Essex Regiment, Warley
9th Provisional Battalion, Colchester

HOME DISTRICT
1st Life Guards, Hyde Park
2nd Life Guards, Windsor
Royal Horse Guards, Regents Park
1st King’s Dragoon Guards, Hounslow
2 Provisional Hussars, Hounslow

X Battery RHA

2nd Division, Telegraph Battalion RE

1st Bn Grenadier Guards, Wellington Barracks
2nd Bn Grenadier Guards, Chelsea
3rd Bn Coldstream Guards, Windsor
1st Bn Scots Guards, Windsor
1st Bn Irish Guards, Tower of London
2nd Bn Middlesex Regiment, Hounslow

NORTH-EASTERN DISTRICT
1 Provisional Dragoons, York

86 Field Battery, 12 Brigade RFA, Newcastle
15th Brigade RFA-5, 9, 17 Field Batteries, Sheffield
19th Brigade RFA-95, 96, 97 Field Batteries, Leeds
21st Brigade RFA-101, 102 Field Batteries, Leeds

24 Company RGA, Tynemouth

1 Company, Coast Battalion RE- North Shields
4 Company, Coast Battalion RE-Paull
5 Company, Coast Battalion RE-Middlesbrough

1st Bn Yorkshire Regiment, Sheffield
1st Bn West Riding Regiment, York
2nd Bn York & Lancaster Regiment, Pontefract

NORTH-WESTERN DISTRICT
U Battery RHA, Manchester
87 Field Battery RFA, Seaforth
92 Field Battery RFA, Birmingham
103 Field Battery RFA, Birmingham
116 Field Battery RFA, Coventry

2nd Bn North Staffordshire Regiment, Lichfield
4 Provisional Battalion, Lichfield

SCOTTISH DISTRICT
17th Lancers, Edinburgh

21 Company RGA, Leith
22 Company RGA, Leith

3 Company, Coast Battalion RE-Greenock
6 Company, Coast Battalion RE-Broughty Ferry
7 Company, Coast Battalion RE-Leith

1st Bn Gordon Highlanders, Glasgow
1st Bn Cameron Highlanders, Fort George

SOUTH-EASTERN DISTRICT
1st Dragoons, Shorncliffe
3rd Provisional Dragoons, Canterbury

22nd Brigade RFA-104, 105, 106 Field Batteries, Shorncliffe
23rd Brigade RFA-107, 108, 109 Field Batteries, Brighton
2 Field Battery, 13th Brigade RFA, Shorncliffe
26 Field Battery, 17th Brigade RFA, Shorncliffe
43 Field Battery, 12 Brigade RFA, Shorncliffe
23 Siege Battery RGA, Dover
41 Company RGA, Dover

2nd Bn The Buffs, Dover
2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment, Shorncliffe
1st Bn Royal West Kent Regiment, Shorncliffe
1 Provisional Battalion, Shorncliffe
10 Provisional Battalion, Dover

SOUTHERN DISTRICT
5th Brigade RHA-A Battery/Dorchester, BB Battery/Christchurch
16th Brigade RFA & 89 Field Battery, Hilsea
4 Company RGA, Portsmouth
10 Company RGA, Golden Hill
11 Company RGA, Golden Hill
12 Company RGA, Landguard Fort
16 Company RGA, Weymouth
25 Company RGA, Fareham
26 Heavy Battery RGA, Fareham
28 Company RGA, Weymouth
30 Company RGA, Weymouth
32 Siege Battery RGA, Portsmouth
33 Company RGA, Golden Hill
34 Company RGA, Portsmouth
35 Siege Battery RGA, Fareham
67 Company RGA, Golden Hill
94 Company RGA, Golden Hill

4 Submarine Mining Company RE, Gosport
19 Survey Company RE, Southampton
22 Submarine Mining Company RE, Isle of Wight
52 Fortress Company RE, Portsmouth
10 Company, Coast Battalion RE, Weymouth

2nd Bn Hampshire Regiment, Portsmouth
2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters, Parkhurst
2nd Bn Dorsetshire Regiment, Portland
1st Bn Rifle Brigade, Portsmouth
11 Provisional Battalion, Portsmouth

THAMES DISTRICT
2 Company RGA, Sheerness
14 Company RGA, Sheerness
17 Company RGA, Sheerness
18 Company RGA, Sheerness
19 Company RGA, Shoeburyness
27 Company RGA, Sheerness

34 Submarine Mining Company RE, Gravesend
39 Fortress Company RE, Sheerness
53 Railway Company RE, Chatham
59 Field Company RE, Chatham

2nd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers, Gravesend
1st Bn Welsh Regiment, Gravesend
1st Bn Oxfordshire Light Infantry, Chatham
12th Provisional Battalion, Chatham

WESTERN DISTRICT
24th Brigade RFA-110, 111, 112 Field Batteries, Bulford
25th Brigade RFA-113, 114, 115 Field Batteries, Bulford
27th Brigade RFA-119, 120, 121 Field Batteries, Exeter

117 Field Battery, Bristol
118 Field Battery, Trowbridge
7 Company RGA, Plymouth
29 Company RGA, Plymouth
36 Company RGA, Plymouth
37 Company RGA, Plymouth
38 Company RGA, Plymouth
39 Siege Battery RGA, Plymouth
105 Company RGA, Falmouth

13 Survey Company RE, Bristol
30 Submarine Mining Company RE, Plymouth
35 Submarine Mining Company RE, Pembroke Dock
57 Field Company RE, Plymouth
58 Field Company RE, Salisbury Plain
2 Company, Coast Battalion RE, Cardiff
9 Company, Coast Battalion RE, Falmouth

2nd Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Devonport
2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, Devonport
1st Bn North Lancashire Regiment, Devonport
1st Bn Border Regiment, Plymouth
5 Provisional Battalion, Devonport

WOOLWICH DISTRICT
2nd Brigade RHA- V & W Batteries
14th Brigade RHA-M & Q Batteries
8 Brigade RFA-31, 61, 65 Howitzer Batteries
10 Field Battery, 17 Brigade RFA

4th Bn Royal Fusiliers



GUERNSEY & ALDERNEY
13 Company RGA

JERSEY
20 Company RGA
2nd Bn Highland Light Infantry

IRELAND


Northern Ireland
15 Company RGA, Londonderry


1st Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers, Belfast
1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers, Belfast
1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Londonderry
8 Provisional Battalion, Belfast
13 Provisional Battalion, Belfast

Southern Ireland

Provisional Lancers, Cork
6th Dragoons
2 Provisional Dragoons
1 Provisional Hussars
21st Lancers, Dublin


14th Brigade RFA-39 Battery/Kilkenny, 68 & 88 Batteries/Limerick
90 Field Battery, Longford
91 Field Battery, Waterford
28th Brigade RFA-122, 123, 124 Field Batteries, Cahir
29th Brigade RFA-126, 127, 128 Field Batteries, Fermoy
31st Brigade RFA-131, 132 Batteries/Kildare, 133 Battery/Buttevant
33rd Brigade RFA-137, 138, 139 Field Batteries, Kildare
4th Brigade RHA-Z and AA Batteries, Newbridge
32nd Brigade RFA-134, 135, 136 Field Batteries, Dundalk


5 Company RGA, Cork
8 Company RGA, Cork


1 Fortress Company RE, Cork
33 Submarine Mining Company RE, Cork
54 Field Company RE
56 Field Company RE
14 Survey Company RE, Dublin

2nd Bn Kings Liverpool Regiment, Limerick
2nd Bn Royal Irish Regiment, Fermoy
1st Bn Worcestershire Regiment, Templemore
3rd Bn Worcestershire Regiment, Tiperrary
3rd Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Cork
4th Bn Manchester Regiment, Cork
1st Bn Leinster Regiment, Fermoy
2nd Bn Munster Fusiliers, Kinsale
2nd Bn Dublin Fusiliers, Buttevant
4th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers
4th Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1st Bn East Lancashire Regiment
4th Bn Middlesex Regiment
2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders
1st Bn Connaught Rangers, Mullingar
3rd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers


7 Provisional Battalion
15 Provisional Battalion
6 Provisional Battalion, Fermoy
14 Provisional Battalion, Cork

EMPIRE


Mediterranean and Egypt

20th Hussars

44 Company RGA
48 Company RGA
63 Company RGA
77 Siege Battery RGA
81 Company RGA
92 Company RGA
93 Company RGA
96 Company RGA
99 Company RGA
100 Company RGA

4 Mountain Battery RGA

2 Fortress Company RE
24 Fortress Company RE
28 Submarine Mining Company RE
51 Fortress Company RE


1st Bn King’s Own Royal Regiment
2nd Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
1st Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps
1st Bn Royal Garrison Regiment
3rd Bn Royal Garrison Regiment
4th Bn Royal Garrison Regiment
2nd Bn Cameron Highlanders
3rd Bn Royal Fusiliers
2nd Bn Leicestershire Regiment
2nd Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
2nd Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment
1st Bn Seaforth Highlanders
2nd Bn Rifle Brigade


Middle East and Africa

45 Company RGA
54 Company RGA
55 Company RGA
40 Company RGA
56 Company RGA
57 Company RGA
101 Company RGA


43 Fortress Company RE


6th Bn King’s African Rifles
1st Bn King’s African Rifles
2nd Bn King’s African Rifles
3rd Bn King’s African Rifles
4th Bn King’s African Rifles
5th Bn King’s African Rifles
2nd Bn West India Regiment
West Africa Regiment


Ceylon and Burma
61 Company RGA, Rangoon
70 Company RGA, Rangoon
87 Company RGA, Trincomalee
88 Company RGA, Colombo


½ 41 Fortress Company RE


2nd Bn Royal West Kent Regiment
1st Bn Royal Fusiliers, Mandalay
1st Bn Border Regiment, Maymyo


Far East

62 Company RGA
64 Company RGA
78 Company RGA
80 Company RGA
89 Company RGA


1/2 41 Fortress Company RE
25 Fortress Company RE
½ 44 Fortress Company RE

1st Bn Sherwood Foresters
The Chinese Regiment


North America and the West Indies

98 Company RGA
103 Company RGA
58 Company RGA

83 Company RGA
47 Company RGA
66 Company RGA


3rd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers
5th Bn Royal Garrison Regiment
1st Bn West India Regiment


½ 44 Fortress Company RE
48 Submarine Mining Company RE
18 Fortress Company RE
40 Submarine Mining Company RE

BERMUDA
3 Company RGA
95 Company RGA

3 Fortress Company RE
27 Submarine Mining Company RE
36 Fortress Company RE

3rd Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment
4th Bn Worcestershire Regiment
3rd Bn West India Regiment

GIBRALTAR
1 Company RGA
6 Company RGA
9 Company RGA
46 Company RGA
49 Company RGA
50 Company RGA

15 Fortress Company RE
32 Fortress Company RE
49 Fortress Company RE
50 Fortress Company RE

1st Bn Lancashire Fusiliers
2nd Bn North Lancashire Regiment
2nd Bn Royal Garrison Regiment


INDIA

PUNJAB
3rd Hussars, Sialkot
9th Lancers, Rawalpindi
12th Lancers, Umballa

D Battery RHA, Umballa
F Battery RHA, Rawalpindi
I Battery RHA, Umballa
K Battery RHA, Sialkot
74 Company RGA, Thobba
2 Mountain Battery RGA, Bara Gala
3 Mountain Battery RGA, Kalabagh
5 Mountain Battery RGA, Jutogh
7 Mountain Battery RGA, Jutogh

1st Bn Queen’s Regiment, Peshawar
1st Bn Devonshire Regiment, Rhaniket
1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, Peshawar
2nd Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Chakratta
1st Bn South Wales Borderers, Chakratta
1st Bn Cameronians, Nowshera
1st Bn Hampshire Regiment, Cherat
2nd Bn Black Watch, Umballa
1st Bn Northamptonshire Regiment, Dagshai
2nd Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps, Rawalpindi
1st Bn Wiltshire Regiment, Cherat
2nd Bn Gordon Highlanders, Sialkot

BENGAL
4th Dragoon Guards, Muttra
5th Dragoon Guards, Lucknow
4th Hussars, Meerut
15th Hussars, Meerut

H Battery RHA, Meerut
J Battery RHA, Rawalpindi
1st Brigade RFA-13/Meerut, 67/Jullunder, 69/Muttra
4th Brigade RFA-7/Jhansi, 14/Cawnpore, 66/Jhansi
5th Brigade RFA-63/Allahabad, 64/Cawnpore, 73/Ahmednagar
34th Brigade RFA-50/Agra, 70/Bareilly
35th Brigade RFA-27/Dinapoe, 36/Barrackpore, 60/Allahabad
36th Brigade RFA-15/Fyzabad, 48/Lucknow, 71/Bareilly
38th Brigade RFA-24/Meerut, 34/Campbellpore, 72/Meerut
39th Brigade RFA-46/Meeanmeer, 51/Ferozepore, 54/Meeanmeer
44th Brigade RFA-3/Campbellpore, 30/Fyzabad, 57/Meeanmeer
45th Brigade RFA-11/Meeanmeer, 52/Jubbulpore, 80/Nowgong
42 Siege Battery RGA, Rurkee
43 Heavy Battery RGA, Multan
51 Siege Battery RGA, Rurkee
59 Company RGA, Ferozepore
65 Company RGA, Delhi
68 Company RGA, Rurkee
69 Company RGA, Agra
71 Siege Battery RGA, Nowgong
72 Heavy Battery RGA, Nowgong
75 Company RGA, Allahabad
77 Company RGA, Calcutta
85 Company RGA, Bararckpore
86 Company RGA, Multan
90 Heavy Battery, Campbellpore
91 Siege Battery RGA, Rurkee
6 Mountain Battery RGA, Murree

1st Bn East Yorkshire Regiment, Belgaum
1st Bn Bedfordshire Regiment, Jhansi
2nd Bn Yorkshire Regiment, Cawnpore
1st Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers, Allahabad
2nd Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers, Dinapore
2nd Bn East Lancashire Regiment, Jullunder
1st Bn East Surrey Regiment, Jhansi
2nd Bn West Riding Regiment, Dinapore
1st Bn Royal Sussex Regiment, Sitapur
2nd Bn South Staffordshire Regiment, Agra
1st Bn Dorsetshire Regiment, Ferozepore
2nd Bn South Lancashire Regiment, Jubbulpore
2nd Bn Welsh Regiment, Subathu
1st Bn Royal Irish Rifles, Dehra Dun
2nd Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers, Gharial
2nd Bn Connaught Rangers, Meerut
2nd Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Calcutta
3rd Bn Rifle Brigade, Meerut

BOMBAY
10th Hussars, Mhow

12th Brigade RHA-P & R Batteries, Mhow
41st Brigade RFA-32/Deesa, 33/Karachi, 47/Hyderabad
52 Company RGA, Bombay
53 Company RGA, Bombay
60 Company RGA, Bombay
73 Company RGA, Quetta
76 Company RGA, Bombay
82 Company RGA, Quetta
1 Mountain Battery RGA, Quetta
8 Mountain Battery RGA, Quetta
9 Mountain Battery RGA, Quetta

1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regiment, Bombay
2nd Bn Suffolk Regiment, Karachi
1st Bn West Yorkshire Regiment, Quetta
1st Bn Cheshire Regiment, Quetta
2nd Bn Oxfordshire Light Infantry, Poona
1st Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, Poona
1st Bn North Staffordshire Regiment, Bombay
1st Bn York & Lancaster Regiment, Mhow

MADRAS
6th Dragoon Guards, Bangalore

E Battery RHA, Kirkee
L Battery RHA, Secunderabad
3rd Brigade RFA-18/Kirkee, 62/Kemptee, 75/Ahmednagar
25 Field Battery RFA, Bangalore
37th Brigade RFA-31/Belgaum, 35 & 55/St Thomas Mount
40th Brigade RFA-4, 23, 49 Batteries-Trimulgherry
42nd Brigade RFA-29/Kirkee, 40/Bangalore, 45/St Thomas Mount
43rd Brigade RFA-1/Ahmednagar, 6/Secunderabad, 41/Nasirabad

2nd Bn Royal Scots, Poona
1st Bn The Buffs, Poona
1st Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Belgaum
1st Bn Lincolnshire Regiment, Secunderabad
1st Bn Leicestershire Regiment, Madras
1st Bn Essex Regiment, Bangalore
1st Bn Middlesex Regiment, Secunderabad
1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, Madras

SOUTH AFRICA
2nd Dragoon Guards
3rd Dragoon Guards – to Ballincollig
6th Dragoon Guards – to Bangalore
7th Dragoon Guards
2nd Dragoons - to Norwich
7th Hussars
8th Hussars - to Aldershot
10th Hussars - to Mhow
19th Hussars - to Curragh

11th Brigade RHA-G & O Batteries –to Bangalore/Lucknow
12th Brigade RHA-P & R Batteries - to Mhow
T Battery, 12th Brigade RHA
2nd Brigade RFA-21, 42, 53 Batteries –to Bradford
6th Brigade RFA-74, 77, 79 Batteries –to Dagshai/Fyzabad/Bareilly
7th Brigade RFA-4, 38, 78 Batteries-toAhmednagar/Neemuch and Nasirabad
9th Brigade RFA-19, 20, 28 Batteries
10th Brigade RFA, 76, 81, 82 Batteries
11th Brigade RFA-83, 84, 85 Batteries
13th Brigade RFA-2, 8, 44 Batteries
84 Company RGA, Capetown
97 Company RGA, Capetown
102 Company RGA
10 Mountain Battery RGA

5 Field Company RE
7 Field Company RE
8 Railway Company RE -to Chatham
9 Field Company RE
10 Railway Company RE
11 Field Company RE -to Shorncliffe
12 Field Company RE
17 Field Company RE –to Aldershot
20 Fortress Company RE
23 Field Company RE- to Bordon
26 Field Company RE
29 Fortress Company RE
31 Fortress Company RE
37 Field Company RE
38 Field Company RE
42 Fortress Company RE
45 Steam Transport Company RE
46 Field Company RE
47 Field Company RE
1st Division, Telegraph Battalion RE
A & C Troops, Bridging Battalion RE
1, 2, 3, 4 Field Troops RE
Searchlight Section RE

1st Bn Royal Scots -to Aldershot
2nd Bn Queen’s Regiment
2nd Bn King’s Own Royal Regiment –to Farnborough
1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers- to Mauritius
2nd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers- to Gravesend
1st Bn King’s Liverpool Regiment
2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regiment- to Colchester
2nd Bn Lincolnshire Regiment – to Aldershot
2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment- to Bordon
2nd Bn Somerset Light Infantry –to Aldershot
2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regiment
2nd Bn Bedfordshire Regiment – to Colchester
1st Bn Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers –to Aldershot
1st Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers –toLichfield
2nd Bn South Wales Borderers
1st Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers -to Belfast
2nd Bn Scottish Rifles
1st Bn Gloucestershire Regiment -to Lucknow
2nd Bn Gloucestershire Regiment
1st Bn Worcestershire Regiment – to Templemore
2nd Bn Worcestershire Regiment
2nd Bn East Surrey Regiment –to Lucknow
1st Bn Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
1st Bn South Staffordshire Regiment
1st Bn South Lancashire Regiment - to Jubbulpore
2nd Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry –to Rhaniket
2nd Bn Middlesex Regiment- to Hounslow
3rd Bn Middlesex Regiment
3rd Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps –to Cork
4th Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps
2nd Bn Wiltshire Regiment -to Longmoor
1st Bn Manchester Regiment -to Singapore
3rd Bn Manchester Regiment
1st Bn Highland Light Infantry -to Egypt
2nd Bn Royal Irish Rifles -to Dublin
1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers –to Belfast
1st Bn Connaught Rangers – to Mullingar
1st Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders – to Longmoor
2nd Bn Leinster Regiment
1st Bn Munster Fusiliers –to Multan
1st Bn Dublin Fusiliers – to Crete
4th Bn Rifle Brigade - to Chatham

RN Orbat 1902 (rough version from Orbat.com back 20 years ago)

Home: 15 battleships, 25 cruisers, 9 torpedo gunboats, 39 torpedo boat destroyers
Med Fleet: 14 battleships, 14 cruisers, 27 TBD and 5 torpedo gunboats
China: 4 Battleships, 10 cruisers, 7 TBD, 10 gunboats/sloops and 9 river gunboats
North America and Windies: 7 cruisers, 2 TBD, 3 gunboats
East Indies: 5 cruisers and 5 gunboats
Australia: 8 cruisers and 5 sloops/gunboats
Pacific ( Esquimalt): 3 cruisers, 2 TBD, 2 sloops/gunboats
South America: 1 cruiser, 2 sloops
Cape of Good Hope + West Africa: 6 cruisers, 6 gunboats, 1 river gunboat


Refitting in Commercial Yards: 2 battleships, 1 cruiser, 5 TBD,
Laid Up: 9 battleships, 36 cruisers, 33 TBD, 7 TG

Total: 44 battleships, 116 cruisers, 110 TBD, 14 TG, 33 sloops/gunboats, 10 river gunboats
Building: 13 battleships, 27 cruisers, 19 TBD

There are a lot of savings to be made with old cruisers, torpedo gunboats, obsolete TBDs and every battleship prior to the Majestics

Steve,

It was not as protracted as it could be, as I probably picked a time when there was a slight lull.

The 8 ships/generation is Old Mate's aim (I should figure out a name for him, but it is a low priority). Therefore, there is a ration of 3:2 for Gen 1, 2:1 for Gen 2 and 8:3 for Gen 3, if we take your separation of the G3s.

Costwise, the Gen 1s would come out to ~2 million as compared to 1.7 million for the 3 Invincibles and 1.6 million for the 3 Indefatigables. 16 million compared to 9.9 million gives 6 million spread out over 4 years, so from my perspective, 1.5 million a year extra isn't a hell of a lot of money, even if we take the lesser standards of the age.

In terms of a German response, you've identified a feature rather than a bug. The programme is designed to frustrate and confusticate the Germans by firstly getting the jump on them and stuffing up all their careful plans laid out under their Naval Laws by making all of their PDNs obsolete; then accelerating ahead whilst they are stalled designing their response to the 1st Generation of Dreadnoughts and Battlecruisers; and then accelerating further ahead at key junctures.

Jerry could catch up, if nothing else is changed, to a Britain that acts as it did historically. They effectively laid down 4 Nassaus in 1907, 4 Helgolands in 1908, 4 Kaisers in 1910 and 4 Konigs in 1911. Good ships with excellent armour that would outmatch a British 12" dreadnought...if only the unsporting Tommies didn't break the rules by going to superdreadnoughts in 1909. Even then, their armour generally held up well against 13.5" at Jutland, albeit without Green Boy shells. There is a bit of a jump up between the Helgolands and the Kaisers, which corresponds to the Orions entering the equation in 1909. Similarly, it took them a good year and a bit to prepare a design to counter Dreadnought. An argument can be made that every time the British pushed the envelope to the next generation of ships, it delayed the matching German response for a year to catch up on design work.

By opening accounts with 4-0 in 1903 and 4-0 in 1904, it really messes with the German catch up strategy. Their 16 12" dreadnoughts and 7 battlecruisers faced 20 RN BB and 10 BC before the 15" ships and purchases come into play, which actually works towards Tirpitz's target numbers and constrains Britain's strategy. It is ruthless, a bit more expensive and hardball, but it will work in spoiling the German plans. Given that Kaiser Wilhelm II and Tirpitz aren't going to drop over with apoplexy (at least not in peacetime...), it isn't likely that there will be a throwing in of the towel at Generation 2.

A possible German response could be:

1905: 4 Nassaus
1906: 4 Helgolands
1907: Pause at the news of Super Dreadnoughts
1908: 4 improved Kaisers, possibly with larger 350mm guns
1909: 4 improved Konigs
1910: Quite possibly 4 repeat Konigs. Based on historical German practice, they don't have the time/draftsmen to design a whole new and much larger ship in less than 12 months.
1911: Curse you Perfidious Albion!

The British ships will be deliberately described as different to what they are, creating a situation similar to the US thinking Yamato was much smaller. Indeed, initial reports on their general characteristics and guns will be unclear. That further messes with them. That type of cycle is why I lean towards the 12-15-18 gun progression, as it renders the previous generations of foreign/enemy ships obsolete; no use for old Japanese 14", French 13.4" and Italian 12" in a world that leaves them that far behind, for example.

The big issues are the ones you highlight - expense and perceived need. The first can be offset by getting value for money from old ships in manners not available under the @ WNT. Selling capital ships that are not too old to the Dutch, Spanish, Chinese, Greeks, Ottomans and South American gets a decent return. Also, when it comes to older ships, we are used to looking at things through the prism of the Washington World and post WW1 financial constraint - ships are not allowed to be kept for miscellaneous uses outside of strictly delineated exceptions and Britain always has to be pinching her pennies on account of the ginormous debt interest bill and the lovely heading of 'other priorities'.

Consider the potential instead of a world where Debt Interest is 1% of GDP or less, and annual ship building can be sustained at a desired level.

This is where I'd love to have input from others, Yanks and otherwise, to get some different perspectives. Steve and I firmly have British/Commonwealth hats on, as it were.

Simon

Foreign Policy

- The main principle is to prevent the emergence of a hostile rival, let alone a rival bloc
- Splendid isolation is neither splendid nor truly isolated. Being the big boy and separate from the others can result in potential trouble
- Britain’s future does not lie in any permanent bloc, alliance or grouping in Europe, as it is more of a global power than the land-centric states
- Germany is the most immediate rival of the British Empire, but not the only one. Removing Berlin’s capacity to impede British interests, taking key colonies and removing any fleet challenge are the initial issues, but beyond that, an Imperial Germany isn’t necessarily a blood enemy of Britain
- Keeping Austria-Hungary intact keeps a balance of power possible and prevents the creation of a vacuum that can only be filled by Russia or Germany
- There are few colonial issues remaining with France and no territory that is particularly enticing/necessary. Paris will seek some form of alliance against Germany eventually, but there is not a basis for a long term marriage. Allow France to grow too powerful and problems will emerge
- Italy is well down from Britain in every indice of power, so does not present a threat at this time. Harnessing their issues and desires is part of creating a new, stable Concert of Europe. Keeping it out of the Dodecanese is a good start, but denying it Libya is also advantageous
- Spain is the sick man of Western Europe, yet with some encouragement and support, can play a role in the European dance. They are in need of a friend and sponsor

- Portugal is an old ally and easy to support and cultivate. Preventing her fall into internal strife and regicide preserves them as part of the Invisible Empire
- Sweden is a regional power but tended more towards Germany in @. Forging ties can break this shift and complement the friendly status of Norway, which will become an independent state
- Greece is a potentially friendly state in the Eastern Med that can grow and work towards a friendlier and more stable Balkans
- After a Boer War blip, the Netherlands is generally friendly to Britain, as is Belgium. Formal control of Katanga is difficult to engineer, but it is an area of interest

- Russia is a major rival as of 1899 and this would be maintained historically apart from the brief Entente tie. By virtue of size, position and ideology, the Russian Empire is a rival, but one that mostly exists within the current international system. If it falls to Bolshevism, this changes, the threat increases and the ‘public relations’ picture shifts.
- Russia is on a collision course with Japan and with some help, can lose as badly or worse than historical. This will make it more malleable regarding Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet

- The Ottoman Empire is a weak state that holds lands of strategic and economic interest to Britain. It’s European territories cannot be held. In the Middle East, Arabia, Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia are areas Britain needs. Taking Libya to boot secures the Med to a large extent
- Taking these territories brings with it costs and trials of their own

- Japan is a rising power that could grow into a threat if if pulls a Steve Bradbury. Without that, it remains back in the pack. An AJ Alliance has short term utility, but long term costs vis a vis US relations.
- Furthermore, allowing Japan to expand into the Pacific is a trigger to later issues. Japan occupied Tsingtao (also creating issues), provided some cruiser escorts and ASW work in the Med in a different war. None of that is really a decent return on investment
- Rather than a formal alliance, some interim form of cooperation will be sought in order to temper Japanese expectations and encourage a more circumspect approach to China. Heading off a Japanese imperialist expansion well before it begins is in British interests

- The USA is an increasingly friendly state, but at the same time a current and potential rival. Whilst certain advantages can be engineered, it is difficult to alter America’s trajectory towards economic and industrial superpower status
- This does not automatically transfer to hard power, specifically naval power, without events intervening. The USN is well back from the RN in numbers and composition at this point and now is at a disadvantage technologically. This needs a specific post in its own right
- Competition will come in the form of commercial interests rather than the more direct rivalries of the European empires

US Defence Spending 1900-1916

1900: 332 (66.4)
1901: 344 (68.8)
1902: 306 (61.2)
1903: 315 (63)
1904: 325 (65)
1905: 335 (67)
1906: 345 (69)
1907: 356 (71.2)
1908: 367 (73.4)
1909: 378 (75.6)
1910: 389 (77.8)
1911: 402 (80.4)
1912: 414 (82.8)
1913: 427 (85.4)
1914: 426 (85.2)
1915: 426 (85.2)
1916: 428 (85.6)

This is all discretional and not indicative of any limits. The 1918 and 1919 figures are…quite large…

Steve,

a.) It has no effect on me, as my concerns are more prosaic, such as getting a job and not becoming homeless, rather than supposed worries over coal; that characterisation doesn’t reflect the facts on the ground here. I wrote more on it in the Australia thread.

b.) I’ve got details and plans accounting for all of those factors; running cost is roughly 10% of the price, with wartime level ops more costly.

c.) If Jerry calls uncle, so much the better. Britain won’t have an elderly fleet, as its frontline capital ships will be new. When the Gen 2s come, the Gen 1s go out East and into reserve and so forth. However, I think that you might be overstating the override power of the Army prewar a tad. 

At this stage of planning, there will be an attempt to keep up from some countries, but it will be as if Britain has some sort of intangible advantage…

d.) The South Americans will buy brand new. The minor Euros will buy a mixture. The Others (such as China and the Turks) will be glad for what they can get. They will pay 2nd hand prices on 2nd hand ships.

e.) The Boer War debt was serviced and paid down somewhat, not paid off. When there was a bad year, 3-4 years careful penny pinching was wiped out in one go. It is a policy that never really worked over the 19th century and will have issues in the 20th when modern costs kick in.

There will be initial borrowing during the Boer War years, then new income from other measures at the same time as income taxes are cut and finally there will be some of the miscellaneous means down the line. However, the chief means of getting more bang for buck, to use the Americanism, is economic growth. That is the best means of getting more for defence and across the board.

Simon