Q&A ยท 2:25:37-2:26:29

Royal Navy bases in a British Alaska

Geography would favor familiar Alaskan anchorages, while Canadian political investment would determine the fleet's scale.

Question

If Britain gained Alaska after the Crimean War, where would the Royal Navy build bases and what fleet would they support?

Short answer

Geography would point to familiar Alaskan base locations, but the fleet would likely be modest and largely shaped by Canadian investment.

Notes

Anchorage and other geographically suitable sites would remain attractive regardless of sovereignty. Alaska is expected in this counterfactual to become a Canadian responsibility rather than support a large, independent Royal Navy force. Its naval establishment would therefore depend on Canadian investment and willingness to sustain a remote Pacific fleet. Even a modest force and base network could alter American-Canadian relations and the northern Pacific balance when war with Japan arrived.