WesWorld

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Monaco Grand Prix
Saturday, May 29, 1948 - The Monaco Grand Prix is held.

... so I guess no one won the race.

Quoted from "Brockpaine"

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

Oh my. Someone has stirred the pot in Damascus. This can't end well. 8)

The result of long-standing trends, ultimately. During the late 1930s, Syria accepted the treaty as they were concerned about the events occurring with perceived Persian and Bharati aggression. These days, those threats have settled down and been forgotten. Stepping out of the defense treaty with France gives Damascus a bit more flexibility in responding to the circumstances that face them. :evil:

Janko Bobetko forwards latest set of sales catalogs to relevant Syrian functionaries...

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Janko Bobetko forwards latest set of sales catalogs to relevant Syrian functionaries...

High quality, low prices. Low quality, even lower prices.

Quoted from "Brockpaine"

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

Oh my. Someone has stirred the pot in Damascus. This can't end well.

The result of long-standing trends, ultimately. During the late 1930s, Syria accepted the treaty as they were concerned about the events occurring with perceived Persian and Bharati aggression. These days, those threats have settled down and been forgotten. Stepping out of the defense treaty with France gives Damascus a bit more flexibility in responding to the circumstances that face them.

Turkey will be watching these events unfold with some interest...

As will Britain. They don't want any instability to affect the delicate situation in Palestine.

Majority Denied - But a New Coalition Rises
Wednesday, June 2, 1948 - The Alliance Républicaine failed to pick up a majority of Parliamentary seats in Sunday's election, gaining only two votes, both in Bretagne. However, the center-left Front Républicaine suffered significant losses in some of its traditional strongholds, and the Parti socialiste français also lost two seats. Surprisingly, the true beneficiary of the election turned out to be the Union pour la Démocratie Française (Union for French Democracy), an electoral alliance of the Union républicaine lorraine (Lorraine Republican Union), the Mouvement républicain, and four other minor right-wing parties, which espouse social conservatism.

Having picked up a sufficient number of seats in the election, the new UDF has agreed to form a further coalition with the Alliance Républicaine, replacing the center-left Front Républicaine as the junior partner to form the government.

Film Opens Despite Italian Protest
Friday, June 4, 1948 - The historical drama Matari, directed by Charles Monin, which shows the struggle of the Senussid leader Omar Mukhtar against the Italian occupation forces, opens in French cinemas. The film has gone ahead despite the protest of the Italian ambassador, who complained that the film shows the Italians engaging in war crimes against the population of Libya, and asked for the film to be removed from theatres prior to opening showings.

Michelet Confirmed PM, Forms Government
Wednesday, June 9, 1948 - Edmond Michelet, previously Vice President of the Council during the Delattre, Maillard, and Aubert governments, has been elevated to the President of the Council of Ministers. He brings with him a new government formed by the coalition of AR and UDF. A number of ministers and secretaries employed by the previous governments are already said to be included in the new Council, including Madeline Barthelemy, former Minister of Finance, who is currently expected to advance to Vice President of the Council, becoming the first woman to sit in this post.

Among the faces who will not return to the government, however, is longtime Minister of National Defense and War Jean-Marie Lemaréchal, who had already announced his resignation. Lemaréchal has served in his post across multiple governments for the last seven years. Nominated as his replacement is parliamentarian Édouard Delcroix (r. Dieppe), a conservative politician who championed the coastal-defense bill (the last act of the previous parliament) along with Dunkerque assemblyman Martin Deshayes.

Mid-air Refueling Tested
Thursday, June 17, 1948 - The French Air Force used a pair of heavily-modified Dominator heavy bombers to test an aerial in-flight refueling scheme. The first aircraft, equipped as a 'flying fuel station', twice refueled the second recipient Dominator, allowing it to remain airborne for thirty-six hours, flying back and forth on a long route between Brest and Corsica.

24 Hours of Le Mans
Saturday, June 19, 1948 - British drivers Jack Hay and Tommy Wisdom achieved victory in the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race, driving Hay's privately-owned 1939 Bentley 4.25 Litre Embiricos Pourtout Coupé, achieving a score of 230. The English narrowly edged out a challenge from Frenchmen Marius Savoye and Charles Vallée, driving a DB5 (Deutsch-Bonnet 5), who placed second, finishing only a point behind the leaders. Third place fell to Colin Hervieux dit Lespérance and his Swiss co-driver Roget Carron, driving a Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport (GS).

Salon des Tuileries
Friday, June 25, 1948 - The Salon des Tuileries, an art and sculpture show, opens in Paris.

Tour de France Begins
Wednesday, June 30, 1948 - The world's most famous bicycle race kicked off today.

Hôtel de Brienne (French Ministry of National Defense), Paris, France
Friday, June 25, 1948

"Well, I believe that finishes up my list of items," Minister of National Defense Édouard Delcroix said. "Are there any questions?"

Comte de Rochefort raised a finger. "Might I have another fifteen minutes of your time, Minister? In private?"

Delcroix nodded. He knew the head of the Dieuxeme Bureau hated attending anything approaching a staff meeting. Delcroix' predecessor, the battle-scarred Lemaréchal, had allowed de Rochefort to send his deputy in his place to important staff functions, but Delcroix himself, after some false starts, insisted on the intransigent spymaster's presence. de Rochefort had dutifully shown up for his first staff meeting, and his contributions had proven invaluable. Delcroix expected the Comte intended to push back, perhaps even complain about the demand - but Delcroix did not intend to yield. No matter how capable de Rochefort was as a spymaster, it did no good for France or the rest of the Ministry of National Defense to let him carry his own reins.

The rest of the attendees filed out of the room, leaving Delcroix and de Rochefort alone. "There was something you wished to discuss?"

de Rochefort opened his briefcase and withdrew a thin folio, which he presented to Delcroix. "I have an ambitious young fellow in my employ who proposed this operation to me. I rather like the idea, but it requires your review and approval. If it goes backwards, it could present a political problem."

Delcroix tilted his head and started reading. It didn't take long - it was only three pages - and he found the proposal "...interesting, to say the least," he said thoughtfully, upon finishing. "It's certainly bold, I'll give you that. And you're right. If something like this comes up, it'd probably be your job or mine. Do you want an answer today?"

"Not necessary," de Rochefort said. "I gave permission to start planning. It will be six months or so before anyone could actually move on this, however - and I will need to bring the Navy into it. They have control of the crucial assets, and will have ultimate control of the operation itself."

"Have you run this past the admiral?"

"No, but the seeds have been planted." de Rochefort steepled his fingers and sat back in his chair. "You have no thoughts or questions?"

Delcroix shrugged. "Not at the moment. I do see the wisdom in something like this, although we might need to lower the risks somewhat. It does fit with what I'd like to see for my tenure as Minister, however."

de Rochefort appeared somewhat surprised, though he covered it almost immediately. "I see."

"Perhaps the best way to proceed," Delcroix said, leaning into the topic, "is for you and I to meet with the Navy soon. As you say, they control the crucial assets, and we'll ultimately be putting them at risk. I will schedule a meeting to discuss it with the admiral next week; in the meantime, continue with your initial planning. Eventually the project will need to be handed over to one of their own officers, but that's no excuse for not giving them a good foundation stone."

"You don't intend to bring this to Clemenceau or Michelet?"

"I'll bring it to the Council later," Delcroix said judiciously. "Even if they shut it down, I'd like to continue through the planning stage at least."

Interesting... the Comte de Rochefort has a plan... very interesting.

*strokes beard* very interesting .

Newest Carrier Laid Down in Marseilles
Thursday, July 1, 1948 - The new aircraft carrier Tonnant was laid down today in Marseilles. The Tonnant and her sister ship Terrible are currently among the largest warships under construction in Europe or abroad.

French Parlementarian and Wife Arrested by Italy
Friday, July 9, 1948 - According to the French consulate in Naples, French member of Parliament Henri Castel and his Italian-born wife Giulia were arrested on the charge of spying yesterday while returning from vacation to the island of Capri. The arresting officers apparently waited until the couple had boarded their plane in the Naples airport before removing them from the aircraft. After six hours in custody, the Italian police released both Castel and his wife, claiming a case of "mistaken identity" had resulted in their arrest. The couple were permitted to board a flight for Rome, where they were again detained for questioning by two agents of SIM (Servizio Informazioni Militare), Italy's military intelligence organization, who accused them of handling stolen Italian military documents; the couple was again released after several hours. According to the French government, the couple were able to board a plane for Paris and successfully left the country.

Bastille Day
Wednesday, July 14, 1948 - France celebrates its national holiday with the traditional pomp and circumstance appropriate to the occasion.

Carrousel de Saumur
Saturday, July 17, 1948 - At the yearly Carrousel, the French Army showed off the second prototype of the FCM heavy tank, of which a small quantity have been procured. The 64-ton tank has been given the designation FCM-60 Davout. Also on display was the new tracked infantry carrier AMX VCI Voltigeur, which entered service early last year. Other armoured vehicles, both historic and modern, were displayed during the museum's annual show.

Bartali Wins Tour de France
Sunday, July 25, 1948 - Italian cyclist Gino Bartali of Italy wins the Tour de France, demolishing all opposition.

The Eagle with Two Heads
Wednesday, September 22, 1948 - Jean Cocteau's film L'Aigle à deux têtes ("The Eagle with Two Heads") opens in cinemas, starring Edwige Feuillère as the Queen and Jean Marais as the anarchist Stanislas.

Franco-Bharati Team Summits Chogori [1]
Monday, August 30, 1948 - News has just now reached us that a joint team of French and Bharati climbers has achieved the first ascent over a remote mountain in the Baltistan region of Bharat, a peak believed to be the second-tallest summit in the world. This mountain in the mighty Karakorums, on the high border between Bharat and China, is virtually unknown to the western world, and until last year lacked even a local name, when the Franco-Bharati team informally dubbed it 'Chogori' or 'K2'. [2]

The French climbers, Gustave Remy (of Annecy) and his brother Patrice (Bonneville), were joined by three Bharati climbers of the Bharati Adventurer's Guild: Narendra Dhar Jayal, Amir Mehdi, and Sonam Gyatso. The climbers were supported by Patrice Remy's wife, Corinne Pellissier-Remy (Cluses), who served as the expedition's doctor, and a number of locally-recruited porters.

New Addition to La Défense Skyline
Sunday, September 26, 1948 - The 135m-tall Tour Franklin and Tour Richelieu have been completed in the rising Paris district of La Défense. The towers are the tallest skyscrapers in France, and exemplify a new "Mid-Century Modern" architecture style. The two circular towers are topped with a level of exclusive restaurants and businesses.

Guitry Stars in Own Film
Wednesday, September 29, 1948 - Le Diable boiteux ("The Devil with a Limp") reaches theatres, with Sacha Guitry serving in the dual role of director and lead actor, playing Talleyrand.



Notes:
- Note [1]: I agreed on this with Rocky some time ago when he was still active. We hadn't finalized all of the details (such as dates or any difficulties the expedition may have encountered) nor the names of the Bharati climbers, but I picked the names of some historical Indian climbers who were active and noteworthy during this period.
- Note [2]: The name 'K2', at least in Wesworld's history, is somewhat problematic, as it was assigned by British surveyors who called it "Karakorum Peak #2". Being so remote, it does not appear to have possessed a native name, although a few locals apparently called it Choggori - literally, Big Mountain - when surveyors asked. I have elected to refer to it primarily as Choggori and secondarily as K2, rather than giving it some ahistoric name like... I dunno, Mounty McMountainface, or Mount Doom, or Big Rock Candy Mountain, or Mount Everest Was Already Taken...

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The Tonnant and her sister ship Terrible are currently among the largest warships under construction in Europe or abroad.

Japan: "Largest? It's tiny!!!"

Among the largest. ;)

Although I might've missed something, I think they ARE actually the largest ships currently being built in Europe, though obviously Ishinajengo is significantly larger in displacement.

Mount Doom has a certain ring to it, but I agree naming stuff ahistorically is always a bummer, first to find a good name and then not to confuse everybody afterwards.

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Among the largest.

Still needs another 10,000 tons to be considered to be anywhere near "among the largest".


But having taken a quick look through the encyclopedias, Tonnant and Terrible do appear to be the largest under construction in Europe, but since you mentioned "in Europe or abroad" I read that as "in Europe or the rest of the world".

Should be noted that since you mentioned "warships", the battleships Oshima and Aki are also much larger in displacement and the Shinano and Echizen as well as they won't be completed until the end of 1948 (the news is for July 1948 after all). Then there is the unknown factor that is the US. Who knows what big ships they may have laid down (but it is also quite possible that they decided to take the "smaller and more" route).

With simming the big ships, I kinda avoid going for the maximum length of the type V slip/dock for ships cause I might accidentally do the same over at Navalism if I am not careful. Ignoring the US, I don't think that there are any other ships in Wesworld with a length of 320 meters so Tonnant and Terrible would definitely be the longest ships in Wesworld.

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Mount Doom has a certain ring to it

Agreed. Should become the international name for it.

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but I agree naming stuff ahistorically is always a bummer, first to find a good name and then not to confuse everybody afterwards.

With a footnote present, it should help avoid the confusion. As for the name, that is usually a bit harder though it depends where you are looking for names. For Navalism, I just went to the Norwegian wiki page for Australia to get "Sørlandsk" and for the various Native American region names I just dug through the internet to find something simple that is Native American and fits the region.

Navy Continues Revitalization of the Forces Sous-Marins
Friday, October 1, 1948 - Continuing the plan laid out by Minister of National Defense Édouard Delcroix, the DCNS naval shipyards have laid down four new submarines of the Aréthuse class. These boats are a larger variant of the Cybèle class designed for potential export sales, with four vessels being purchased by the French Navy earlier this year to replace obsolescent ships deployed in Dunkerque. The larger Aréthuse class has a number of alterations that make them more suited to deployment in the Mediterranean Sea. Currently, sixteen submarines are on order, and shall replace worn-out vessels based out of Toulon and North Africa.

Voisin et Hennequin Returns With a New Series
Wednesday, October 13, 1948 - The popular French comic Voisin et Hennequin, narrating the adventures of the titular French military aviators, arrived on shelves today from publisher Société Parisienne d'Édition. The new series sees the two pilots arrive in the Kingdom of Rumelia, a bucolic but fragile state under seige by the Republic of Shazaria to the east and the powerful Republic of Lucania to the west. The Rumelians, pressured by Shazaria to withdraw from some contested border territories, have agreed to receive a small League of Nations force to ensure continued stability on their eastern border. Vousin and Hennequin arrive as part of the French Escuadron de Lions, with their Bloch MB.155 fighters serving as fighter cover for the League's operations.

According to the publisher, the Rumelia story arc will cover two full books of nine episodes each.

Salon de l'Automobile
Monday, October 18, 1948 - The 1948 Salon de l'Automobile closed today in Paris.

New Army Equipment Showcased
Thursday, November 4, 1948 - At an expo held at Camp Satory, the Armée de terre showcased a handful of new weapons currently entering service. Chief among the new items is the Fusil semi-automatique 6 mm 5 M. 48, a licensed version of the Belgian FN FAL rifle chambered for the 6.5x51 Alliance round. The rifle was selected in after an extensive testing campaign earlier this year. Also on display was the new canon sans recul antichar portatif de 84mm, a portable recoilless antitank weapon licensed from the Carl Gustav, and the larger French-developed Mle.48 105mm recoilless launcher.

Also displayed at the expo were two SFG SH.30 Perdrix and two SH.40 Tourbillon helicopters, representatives of the type now coming into service with the French Army Light Aviation branch. The Army is currently experimenting with the creation of a helicopter-mobile light infantry regiment using these aircraft.

Formula One Racing Finalized
Wednesday, November 24, 1948 - The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile has finalized a 1949 season for a new format of single-seater auto racing, to be called "Formula One".

Voisin et Hennequin
Wednesday, December 8, 1948 - As they settle into a boring routine of flying apparently aimless patrols over the mountains and countryside of Rumelia, Voisin and his wingmate Hennequin are disturbed to discover that their old adversary, the mercenary Colonel Abraham Dirksen, has arrived in neighboring Shazaria to train their air force, bringing with him a large number of aircraft supplied by the scheming Republic of Lucania. In the skies, the Shazarian pilots begin to show an uncomfortable degree of both skill and aggression, often crossing the Ruthenian border to engage in mock dogfights with both the Royal Ruthenian Air Force and the French Air Force pilots supporting the League.

To the Eyes of Memory
Friday, December 24, 1948 - Jean Delannoy's romantic film Aux yeux du souvenir opens, starring Michèle Morgan, Jean Marais, and Jean Chevrier. The film's ending is inspired by a real-life event which took place aboard an Air France airliner last year.