The alternate premise moves development back to 1934, with production beginning in 1939 so trained units, maintainers, and supply lines are ready by May 1940. Precision-guided weapons compete with conventional dive bombers for the same money, materials, factories, and aircraft. Germany might therefore replace part of the Ju 87-style dive-bomber program as it builds a Fritz X force. Smaller guided bombs could extend the same approach to tanks and ground-support targets. Germany remains a continental power whose wartime access to chromium and other imported materials is vulnerable to British sea power, so the new weapons still face hard production limits.
Chapter · 9:59-15:15
An earlier Fritz X would displace dive-bomber investment
Bringing Fritz X into service by May 1940 requires a 1930s investment choice, likely reducing German reliance on conventional dive bombers.