WesWorld

January 23, 1928

The Chilean Navy announced today that they intend to start construction of a new battleship simmilar in capacity to the Argentinian's most recent battleship. They also intend to reconstruct the nation's two dreadnoughts with oil fire engines. There does seem to be some debate among the admiralty and the engineers about replacing the original Nordmark 340mm cannon with American 14 inch guns to standardize the fleet's heavy calibers after the new battleship and the Almirante Gideon enter service.

February 13, 1928

"The former light cruiser Guardia Marina Hyatt has been reborn this day" said Engineer Tochiro Oyama at the commissioning ceremony for the newly rebuilt floatplane cruiser. With 8 floatplanes onboard for her trials, the Hyatt set out with Chile's two floatplane carriers Michimalonco and Lautaro as well as the training destroyer Capitan Thompson. Along with testing the vessel, the navy will also test the ability of the nation's naval aviation arm.

February 20, 1928

For what someone called ironic, the Naval Weapons purchased by the Chilean governement from the United States arrive on the same day the Washington Post accusses their own government of being 6 percent over the Cleito Treaty limit for capital ships. The irony is the fact that the 8 inch guns the Americans delivered are to be mounted on the Armoured Cruiser Capitan Tylor, which is by no means a "Treaty Cruiser". With 16 heavy guns and at nearly 17,500 tons, the Tylor would be rated as a capital ship in any treaty emcumbered navy. Chile feels fortunate not to have to operate under such strict rules and limits as its industrial capacity is working as best it can to rebuild the aging pre-dreadnought fleet to counter the Argentinia, Peruvean, and potental Filipino threats of modern warships.

March 8, 1928

Reports that the new Peruvean Battleship Lima has left Manila has caused the Chilean Navy some concern. Not expecting the vessel to be finished so soon, the Chilean's response to the Peruvean vessel, the Almirante Gideon, is not expected to join the fleet until January of next year. An eye will be kept on the Peruvean warship as it come closer to South America.
(expected arrival in Peru, 44-45 days - April 21st. local time/International Dateline crossed)

March 27, 1928

Oil spectulators seem to think there may be oil in the Gran Chaco. American Standard Oil seems to be leading the search in this largely uninhabited region between Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina.

March 29, 1928

Bolivia again demanded the return of the coastal region of Antofagasta from Chile. Chileans ministers have flat out denied the Bolivian request, siting the existance of the rail line to La Paz as enough of a passage to the coastal cities. Bolivian comment on this responce has not been forthcoming.

March 31, 1928

The Chilean battleship Libertad has bee relived by battleship Constitution and the Dreadnought Almirante Cochrane in a generally uncharteristic move by the Chileans. The presence of a Dreadnought in the Pitcairn Islands is unexpected, but unofficial sources say that this is Chile's idea of an adequate "escort" for the new Peruvean battleship Lima that should be passing near the islands in 4 to 5 days. It is expected that the Dreadnought will "escort" the Peruvean ship for much of the way to South America, and then return to her regular duties, leaving Constitution on duty in an effort to hunt down the elusive Captain Harlock.

Oil plus border disputes equals trouble.

Good stuff, as usual. India's read of the Lima/Cochrane thing would be that the Chileans are making a point to the new Peruvian vessel.

Yep, a historical oil problem, mixed with a historical border dispute, just didn't quite happen this way historcally, but with South Africa on the continent, the historical route via the Paraguay River is kind of blocked. Bolivia might be able to get the oil...but not a secure way to get the oil out.

(The oil problem was resolved eventually...after the Chaco War, but the border dispute is being revisited again by Bolivia in the present day)

I suppose the Chilean message to Peru is, "there is always a bigger fish". But the results of that message won't be felt until after the two ships meet.

Quoted

I suppose the Chilean message to Peru is, "there is always a bigger fish".

Or, "you're gonna need a bigger boat". ;-)

Quoted

"you're gonna need a bigger boat".

Yes, especially if they think they are going to take on a Dreadnought....or if they open fire....I have plenty of overkill ready for that particular moment.