WesWorld

Whereabouts does North Kuril Marine Products Co, Ltd catch its products? Inquiring minds are wondering... :evil:

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

Whereabouts does North Kuril Marine Products Co, Ltd catch its products? Inquiring minds are wondering...

Even if it has the name North Kuril Marine Products it is not placed there ... they catch the fishes in the East China Sea, in the Sea of Japan, in the Okhotsk and the Bering Sea (naturally only in international waters of the named seas)

Quoted from "parador"

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

Whereabouts does North Kuril Marine Products Co, Ltd catch its products? Inquiring minds are wondering... :evil:

Even if it has the name North Kuril Marine Products it is not placed there ;) ... they catch the fishes in the East China Sea, in the Sea of Japan, in the Okhotsk and the Bering Sea (naturally only in international waters of the named seas)

That's fine. Thanks for the clarification. I'll just move along - obviously nothing to see here... ;)

If only I had a submarine there to sink the plans of the evil Chinese.

Quoted from "Rooijen10"

If only I had a submarine there to sink the plans of the evil Chinese. :)

Considering how things are looking at Macclesfield Bank, the French and Russians will soon have submarines there to sink the plans of the evil Chinese.

...okay, well... in all likelihood it'll actually be Lilya-class corvettes sweeping up those areas. My submarines will instead be engaged in the extremely important task of creating new artificial reefs to replace what the Chinese have overfished.

Does anyone know how to say "Aces of the Deep" in Russian and French? :)

Pacific Fleet Headquarters: Saigon, Indochina - Wednesday, February 23, 1949

Vice-amiral Virgile Lapeyre reviewed the aerial photographs taken the prior afternoon of Macclesfield Bank. The small Chinese task force had remained almost stationary throughout the course of several daysm with a number of lighter vessels apparently engaged in some sort of construction activities. The Deuxième Bureau's human intelligence network in southern China had, relatively swiftly, provided a possible reason for their activity: the Chinese wanted to build a platform of some sort on the shallow seabed, almost certainly acting as the prelude to establishing a territorial claim. With that in mind, the previous Saturday's ejection of the Ha Giang from the region had been merely a first step in a creeping Chinese plan for the region. The Indochinese government had gone into a slow burn over the possibility, seeing the effort at Macclesfield Bank as a prelude to reopening China's claims to other places like the Paracels or the Spratleys.

The opinion had quickly coalesced in Hanoi (and seemed, from Lapeyre's message traffic with the Amiraute Francaise at Maintenon, in Paris as well) that any Chinese claims to Macclesfield Bank would be strenuously and rigorously rejected. The official position was that since no part of the Macclesfield Bank reached above water, then no claim could be manufactured: it was international waters. The Indochinese had gone a half-step further, noting that, since the Hoang Sa islands were the closest land to the Bank, then only the Indochinese could reasonably claim the location - if indeed any claim would be recognized.

The trouble came in the discussions of how to actually eject the Chinese from the area. Since even the rather bellicose Indochinese recognized Macclesfield Bank as international waters - at least for the moment - there was no legal justification to eject them. At the same time, allowing them to complete construction of their station was politically unpalatable in the halls of power in Hanoi. While political figureheads discussed their options, Lapeyre's orders were to deliver an 'unmistakable show of force' against the Chinese at Macclesfield Bank, in a prelude to further actions. It would be a chance for the Chinese to realize - perhaps - how they had chosen to tread on thin ice with a French government that was increasingly ill-disposed toward China's mounting provocations.

Fortunately, Lapeyre had built his career on a reputation for calculated action - what doctrine called agressivité, and he composed a set of orders to one of his captains who shared that same trait. "I can trust Villecourt to handle the situation."



Macclesfield Bank, Cruiser Saint Louis - Thursday, February 24, 1949

Capitaine Gustave Villecourt took a long look through the grey pre-dawn at his small squadron. Saint Louis led the line of six ships to the northwest at a determined eighteen knots, followed by the smaller and older Nouvelle-Calédonie, and the four potent ships of the Mogador class. Villecourt had spent the previous evening discussing his orders with the five captains under his leadership, ensuring that they understood not only the letter of his instructions, but also his intentions, and the intentions of Admiral Lapeyre.

"DEM contact, bearing three-three-one, range twenty-eight thousand meters."

"Battle stations," Villecourt ordered.

A theoretical dawn came Saint Louis's crew reached their assigned stations; heavy cloud cover with occasional rain squalls turned the dawn into a minimal lightening of the sky. A large tricolore was streamed from the ship's mack. As a final precaution, crewmen removed the tompions from their guns, although they would - hopefully - remain trained fore-and-aft for the entire confrontation.

"Picking up electronic emissions from contact. Frequency analysis strongly indicates a Chinese naval surface-search radar of the 'Listeau' type. It should be able to detect us soon, if not already."

Villecourt nodded. Although the French Navy had made a subtle study of Chinese electromagnetic detector equipment, the indigenous designations were not widely known; the 'Listeau' was the code-name for one of the more modern types in Chinese service, which by every indication was at least a generation behind what was standard in Europe. On the basis of Saint Louis's own DEM, and the regular soundings from the ship's depth-finder, Villecourt closed the distance to eight thousand meters, slowing to avoid the dangerous shoals.

"Visual contact," a lookout reported. "Chinese cruiser bearing three-two-eight. Escorts not yet in sight."

Villecourt decided the moment was right. "Illuminate."

Saint Louis's main searchlight snapped on. Although it was only a few minutes after dawn, the heavy overcast meant the powerful beam still could be seen as it paused for twenty seconds on the Chinese heavy cruiser, and then moved onward to continue sweeping the horizon. Astern of the Saint Louis, Nouvelle-Calédonie's own searchlights flared to life, repeating the pattern - first sweeping the horizon, and then pausing briefly on the Guiyang.

Oh boy...

<Starts to pop some popcorn>

Lucky I ordered in popcorn!

Monday 21. February - Berlin




Tuesday 22. February - The China Post

Quoted

Tuesday 22. February - The China Post

The Chinese Finance Minister Lu Feng assures the government of Siam / Thailand, any chinese assistance in the realization of the Kra Canal (also known as the Thai Canal), a planned channel through the Isthmus of Kra in southern Thailand. It's planned connecting Bandon Bay near Surat Thani with Phang Nga on the western side. Likewise, China will assist Thailand in the modernization of its railways. These are just a few points from the agreement of the representatives of both countries, which were published before the chinese delegation flew on to Mumbai.

I have great doubts regarding the viability of this project, if attempted. There are numerous technical hurdles, not the least of which is the 75 meter mountain range through which the canal would have to be dug, and where the spoil would be deposited without severe environmental impacts.

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

Quoted

Tuesday 22. February - The China Post

The Chinese Finance Minister Lu Feng assures the government of Siam / Thailand, any chinese assistance in the realization of the Kra Canal (also known as the Thai Canal), a planned channel through the Isthmus of Kra in southern Thailand. It's planned connecting Bandon Bay near Surat Thani with Phang Nga on the western side. Likewise, China will assist Thailand in the modernization of its railways. These are just a few points from the agreement of the representatives of both countries, which were published before the chinese delegation flew on to Mumbai.

I have great doubts regarding the viability of this project, if attempted. There are numerous technical hurdles, not the least of which is the 75 meter mountain range through which the canal would have to be dug, and where the spoil would be deposited without severe environmental impacts.

I've never said it would be realistic to built this channel, China offers only any support should Siam decide to realize the project.

Japan will help Siam by giving them a big canon to protect the Kra Isthmus from the meddlesome Chinese.

Quoted from "Rooijen10"

Japan will help Siam by giving them a big canon to protect the Kra Isthmus from the meddlesome Chinese. :)

Well, if the Chinese don't back down in the South China Sea, the Chinese won't have the money to support something like the Thai Canal. They'll be a bit... distracted with paying for some other things, like the piper they ordered.

:)

Zhongsha Dao, HICMS Guiyang - Wednesday, February 23





Zhongsha Dao, HICMS Guiyang - Thursday, February 24

Admiral Yin looked again over the horizon as the dawn slowly dawned and he take a deep breath of the cool morning air, then he flung up his collar and walked briskly to the bridge. It will soon happen, he thought.

"Leifeng Contact" a voice sounded from the intercom.

"There they are." Admiral Yin said to Captain Lubu. "Just like we thought, they are heading straight towards us. So let us play a lame duck. Artillery - target capture as soon as in sight but not firing."

"In this weather, they will hardly discover our other ships." Captain Lubu said.

"Do not underestimate the French." Admiral Yin answered. "I hope they are now in position north and south of our arriving friends." In terms of calibre, the ships of the Sikiang and Huangfen classes were far inferior, but their strength lay in the maneuverability and the torpedo armament - these boats were ideal for a hit-and-run tactic.

Coded message to wolf cave "The package has arrived." said Admiral Yin to the intercom.



Dongsha Island, Dongsha airfield - at the same time





Zhongsha Dao, HICMS Guiyang .... one hour later

Naval Air Station Puerto Princesa, Thursday, February 24, 1949

The anticipation of the air crew of Air Group Five had grown stronger since the receipt of the first broadcast from the Indochinese vessel Ha Giang announcing the arrival of Chinese warships near Macclesfield Bank. Flying boats from Reconnaissance Squadron Two had kept the ‘visitors’ under surveillance despite the poor weather, and it was rumored that Admiral Suarez had summoned the entire Western Fleet to a rendezvous somewhere near Itu Aba.

The maintenance crews had spent another sleepless night checking the dozen F7F long-range fighters and twenty-four B-25 attack bombers of the alpha strike that was gathered on the taxi aprons, fueled and ready for takeoff upon the receipt of an order; their crews sat in the squadron ready rooms, updating their charts with the latest weather information and freshest intelligence. Reportedly at least two of the fleet’s submarines were on the scene, monitoring what was happening. Of course, they were keeping radio silence but any everyone expected that should something happen, they would flash the news.

Meanwhile in Japanese newspapers





(BTW, the girl is a person and not a thing so it should be "accidentally threw her off the bed")

Macclesfield Bank, Cruiser Saint Louis - Thursday, February 24, 1949
"Radio message from the Chinese flagship, sir." A messenger handed a scrap of paper to Capitaine Villecourt.

"Thank you," Villecourt replied. He glanced at it while taking a gulp of coffee. "Amusing... 'we warmly welcome our French friends'. With turrets pointed, of course - if they treat their friends thusly, it's no wonder that half of the world is lining up to kick their ass."

"Any response, sir?" the seaman asked.

"No. The message we've come to deliver a message that doesn't carry well over radio." Villecourt tossed the paper aside. "Continue on course and speed."

Saint Louis continued to lead the line of six ships on a course toward, and eventually past, the relatively motionless Chinese squadron. Aboard the flagship, as Guiyang came abreast of the French line, a fire-control technician looked through the rangefinders. "Range, one-five-zero-nine meters," he called out. "Range is now opening."

"Should I confirm the range and bearing with radar, sir?" another technician asked his superior.

"Only if you want to explain to the captain why you've disobeyed a direct order," the officer responded. "If they start shooting, then we power it up. Not until."

Back on the bridge, as the Chinese ships dwindled slowly astern, Villecourt wrote a quick message back to Vice-admiral Lapeyre, detailing the encounter in brief, and pointedly noting that the Chinese warships had pointed guns at the French vessels. A response came back within a half hour: "Good work. Repeat show of force tomorrow."



Diplomatic Note from the French Union (President Clemenceau) to the Empire of China (Prime Minister Kai-Shek) - Friday, February 25, 1949

Your Excellency,
In recent days we have become greatly alarmed at the activity of certain units of His Imperial Chinese Majesty's Navy in its conduct toward certain military vessels of the French Union [1] operating in international waters near the Macclesfield Bank, also called 'Zhongsha' in Chinese. One week ago, on the 19th February, the patrol ship Ha Giang of the Indochinese Naval Patrol, was aggressively approached in international waters by a destroyer identified as HICMS Guiyang, which demanded the Ha Giang depart under threat of violence, claiming a live ammunition exercise, although none was announced in advance. Yesterday, a French squadron approached the Macclesfield Bank and was greeted by these same Chinese warships, which aimed their main batteries at our vessels, which were clearly operating in international waters. It has become clear that the Chinese government is engaged in the unannounced and unconsulted construction of a seabed-based naval station at Macclesfield Bank, supported by warships.

These are not the actions of a peaceful and responsible nation, and the French Union condemns, in the strongest terms, the behavior of the Chinese vessels in question.

The Macclesfield Bank area has no territorial baseline above sea level, with the shallowest depth of water being 9 fathoms. Therefore, it is the studied position of the French Union that these waters are wholly international, and do not belong to any one state. However, should international convention change, the French Union takes the position that control of the region should be awarded to the Autonomous Republic of Indochina, which possesses the closest land baseline to the area in question, and has up to this point borne the expense of placing navigational buoys and conducting surveys for updating charts and maps. The rights of the Chinese Empire to construct a station here is suspect, and is not viewed favorably by the French Union.

While the French Union wishes to maintain the general peace with the Chinese Empire, we feel by China's continued actions, both in this incident and in recent history, that the Chinese Empire wishes to alter the status quo by which peace has hereby been maintained.

Therefore, the French Union finds it necessary to issue the following demands.
1. The French Union demands the immediate termination of all Chinese construction activities at Macclesfield Bank, which is to remain International Waters unless addressed by an international agreement governing the expansion or modification of the current terminology.
2. The French Union demands apology for the insult offered to the Indochinese flag, in the form of Ha Giang being chased and threatened in international waters in times of peace; and to the French flag, in the form of Chinese warships aiming at them with main battery guns in international waters in times of peace.
3. The French Union demands compensation for the navigational and warning buoys laid by the Indochinese Naval Patrol. [2]
4. The French Union demands that China refrain from conducting live-action naval exercises south of the 22nd Parallel without publishing a Notice to Mariners at least 48 hours in advance.

The French Union advises that the Chinese Empire respond in the affirmative to this diplomatic note by 2300 Hours on February 27th, 1949. The French Union advises that if no response is received, it will be interpreted as rejection on all points. Should this occur, the Chinese Empire is hereby informed that the French military will take action to terminate the construction efforts at Macclesfield Bank by Any Means Necessary.

Sincerely,
Pres. Clemenceau, Republic of France / French Union


Notes:
[1] In this particular case, the term "French Union" is used (instead of "Republic of France) as the Union speaks for the entirety of territories (including the Autonomous Republic of Indochina) rather than just France itself.
[2] The French suspect the original buoys have been removed, relocated, or replaced; they'll drop this demand if investigation shows the Chinese didn't alter them.

Meetingroom of the High Council, Beijing - Saturday, 26. Februar 1949


to be continued ... please keep patience and do not respond

Zhongsha Dao, HICMS Guiyang - Sunday, 27. Februar 1949




Zhongsha Dao, HICMS Youzhun- same time




Aboard HICMS Guiyang


to be continued ... please keep patience and do not respond

Meetingroom of the High Council, Beijing - Sunday, 27. Februar 1949 - few hours later




to be continued ... please keep patience and do not respond