Just a few points.


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1) German aircrews : you're probably right, but the Germans will NOT recover something like 900 aircrews captured by the French and they will face a more difficult Battle of Britain (not counting Sardinia/Corsica in the beginning of 1941), so they will lack some experienced aircrews to train the newbies.


The Germans over the course of the historical battle of France lost 1130 planes, 36% of there frontline strength. There training plan was designed to provide enough trained pilots and crews to cover that and the continued expected losses if France had not surrendered (they did not expect to get back the crews they got ). That's a fact. Also orders had been placed that was also to cover expected losses. They were all cancelled originally but I can't see how that will happen in FFO. That means an extra 3000 aircraft above historical and crews just from June 1940 to June 1941.

Now lets look at some other historical numbers.
-August 17, 1940 the RLM had 3157 aircraft at the start of the battle of Britain.
( with there slowed down production rate and the training facilities they had, they fought the battle of Britain, deployed aircraft to Norway, North africa, the med.,Yugoslavia, Greece, Crete and built up for Barbarosa ) Note : Just the losses from the Battle of Britain were 2698 aircraft.
- June 24, 1941 ( 2 days into Barbarosa ) the RLM has 3428 aircraft. ( with all there battles and losses they increased there numbers )
- July 27, 1942 they have 3500 aircraft
- May 17, 1943 they have 4641 aircraft
- May 31, 1944 they have 4928 aircraft
- Jan 10, 1945 they have 4566 aircraft
- April 9, 1945 they have 3331 aircraft

Jacques is aware of this and so is Mark but I started taking operational losses and combat losses for the Japanese hsitorically and began plotting them for FFO. I also after reading some comments on the French site did this as well for the German's. Near as I can figure the RLM in FFO is a lot larger than many thought. Using conservative numbers based on Production requirements and projections at the start of the Battle of France and extrapolating them out. Factoring in losses and rates similar to what they had faced based on what they have faced ( losses figured based on number of aircraft vs number of aircraft for continuing Battle of France). Even using the number of aircraft they historically lost in the Battle of Britain ( which in FFO was not as much ) factoring combat and operational losses. I then assumed better than 50% losses for Corsica and Sardina ( the RLM did not have numbers like that until 1944 btw ). With all of that I have at March 1, 1941 over 3400 aircraft in the RLM and growing at the rate of 1200 aircraft per month less about 200 for operational losses and what ever the combat losses are going into the Balkans campaign. Even with increased aircraft production in the USA there is no way that the Allies in Greece could deploy over 1000 aircraft and cause the RLM the attrition values needed to slow there growth in 1941 or 1942.
Now if you assume historical production figures for 1941 then things are dire for the RLM. I have no idea what Jacques used for his projections but I want to ask him when he gets back from Moscow. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm missing something but from what I can see there are fighters in numbers still in France, a healthy supply in Germany as reserve and those deployed in the field. Also if you factor in the Gas issues that the Russians would be facing there airforces would be relying on older aircraft models, husbanding there newer aircraft to repel major offensives. Means a defensive posture until supplies of high octane gas can begin arriving in bulk from the US.

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2) French manpower : many experienced workers/engineers will go to North Africa ; the presence of the legitimate govt in NA will make cooperation with the Germans a lot more difficult (and internal resistance stronger).


Oh I agree and have said previously, there will be a steady stream of refugees into North Africa but that will not stop the Gestopo from rounding up people for labour camps or being sent off to Germany to work in factories. Ground in France will be very fertile for Partisans but the more they act the harsher conditions in France will get. As much as we want to tell a story we have to look at the grim facts as well. Its a war with a group of men who in FFO will not be tempered by the Vichy government and later by assisting French police. Just moving from one town to another will be hard. Not a friendly place...

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BTW, Jacques already told what happened with the Me-262.


I read it my friend. Unfortunately I think he wrote it before the impact of the PoW was factored in. The USAAF in late 1942-43 out of Britain is going to be slaughtered as is the RAF bombers. There will be no big week to speak off and because B-17's will have been drawn off by FDR to China there will be far fewer flying from England as well. Meanwhile B-24's sent to Europe will be a trickle due to attacks on the East coast and Panama until the US feels safe enough with regular and massive ASW patrols. As for the Jumo-004, as I said it all depends on Speer's, if its historical but 1942 then Yugoslavia will hit the map and the type A engine with 100 hours reliability maybe possible instead of the type B with 15 hours or less.

More Later.

Russ / Roller007