What if Belguim and Holland joined the allies?

[OldBill]

The US had some numbers of 155mm howitzers and 75mm guns from WWI, that were actually pretty good and many ended up going out for LL in OTL. It's possible these could have been released for sale.

[Carl Schwamberger]

The US had some numbers of 155mm howitzers and 75mm guns from WWI, .. . It's possible these could have been released for sale.

The Brits purchased 1000 of the 75mm cannon in later 1940. Roosevelt was able to ram that one through arguing the emergency the Brits were faced with. He was also able to point to the massive military spending authorized by Congress after France collapsed. That emergency budget included funds for replacement of the 75mm cannon with modern 105mm howitzers. In the 1938 (funding 1939-1940) military budget there were no funds for replacing the 75mm cannon, so it would have been difficult to persuade Congress & the Army to authorize such a sale.

[nuyt]

Yeah, thanks! There would be very few heavy weapons to get for the Dutch from the Allies and the US in 39/40, LL not being available yet I think. Plenty of orders would be placed in the US though, maybe for Thompson smgs, Armored and Scout Cars (Marmon Herrington, Cunningham), 4x4 vehicles, armored steel plates, possibly some field guns with Bethlehem Steel (they had a few prototypes for the export markets earlier). The Dutch could also order complete or rough gun barrels to speed up their own manufacturing program, but cooperation with the Brits would be advisable as they would both compete for similar weapons and orders. The Netherlands Purchasing Commission's adventures in OTL between 1940 and 42 show they had a hard time squeezing in and they got fewer weapons than needed.

[Carl Schwamberger]

I was thinking AT guns. Best bet would be the French provide 50 to 100 25mm AT guns to supplement what the Dutch have. If the Brits scare up 50 2lbr guns its even better. British pioneer battalions to help the Dutch entrench and set up obstacles.

[nuyt]

Yes that would certainly help, though I think 2pdrs would not be available yet in large numbers? So the Brits would arm their BEF first?

[Carl Schwamberger]

Yes that would certainly help, though I think 2pdrs would not be available yet in large numbers? So the Brits would arm their BEF first?

Certainly the BEF. But, there is a logic in reinforcing the first line Dutch formations & leaving second echelon non BEF divisions to acquire a full allowance from later production.

[nuyt]

Agreed