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Didn't know this but apparently Almirante Latorre, former HMS Canada, and a few Chilean DDs almost made it into the USN during WW2. Sounds like a good "what if" scenario.

Almirante Latorre was never fully modernized, however, and by the Second World War her main battery was comparatively short-ranged and her armor protection, designed before the "all or nothing" principle was put into practice, was wholly inadequate.[48] Nevertheless, soon after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States approached the Chilean naval attaché and the vice admiral heading Chile's naval commission to the United States with the aim of purchasing Almirante Latorre and a few destroyers to bolster the United States' navy. The offer was declined,[32][49] and Almirante Latorre was used for neutrality patrols during the Second World War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilean_ba ... te_Latorre

I would not use the word "almost".

It is hard to believe the Chileans would had sold its only battleship while Argentina had the 2 Rivadavia class BBs

What word would you prefer I use instead of "almost"?

almost means a high probability, it was never the case. I would simply say that the Chileans were reached out and they declined.

Of course that doesn't mean it is a bad scenario/ moding idea. Simply that the geopolitical realities of South America, which its own rivalries, arms races and mistrusts would made it impossible for Chile to accept selling their main naval asset against any potential conflict with the Argentine Republic. You take out the Latorre, and Chile doesn't have a navy capable to defend their national interests and trade.

You blockade Chile and you automatically took away more than 90% of their national income; which was coming from mining and saltpeper exports

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury
...the geopolitical realities...

The game is full of surreal possibilities and this (HMS Canada) is not out of the ordinary. Could you imagine Churchill saying to Parliament on 8 December 1941 "ok we need to abandon Singapore"? Yet players do it all the time (a Sir Robin I believe). But in truth that would never happen.... lots of "what ifs" become "reality" in our game!

He wasn't saying that one can't use them in a "what if" scenario. He was just saying that the OP's choice of "almost" terminology was a bit outre. It was actually impossible.

But hey, why not pull in all the South American ships from everywhere. Hootz gazooties! Maybe an AE scenario, with SA ships, will tip the balance in the SoPac (favo-rabota!) South America and boundaries won't be what they are today. Oh, but that's not in the game map system, is it? Too bad. Bola Rapida.

Torpedo tubes! [:D]

ORIGINAL: Symon

He wasn't saying that one can't use them in a "what if" scenario. He was just saying that the OP's choice of "almost" terminology was a bit outre. It was actually impossible.

But hey, why not pull in all the South American ships from everywhere. Hootz gazooties! Maybe an AE scenario, with SA ships, will tip the balance in the SoPac (favo-rabota!) South America and boundaries won't be what they are today. Oh, but that's not in the game map system, is it? Too bad. Bola Rapida.

Oh dear. I've been outré. Sorry about that.