WesWorld

Better post all this before it becomes really old news. : (

1929 Q1

In preparation for the Clieto Treaty talks in Copenhagen, Greece, in a show of good will, has suspended warship constructing for 1929. Only the ships nearing completion will continue. This means that the rebuilt Heavy Cruiser, Kriti, will join the fleet in mid year. The quiet construction year will be spent on upgrading various base facilities suitable for Central Mediterranean operations.

The Greek navy will not replace the ageing battle cruisers Makedonia and Kypris. Acquired from Atlantis in 1919 after a refit, they are approaching the point where they need to be replaced but the Government seems to be reluctant to make that commitment.

1929 Q2

The Greek Navy has abandoned plans for acquiring airships. The proposals have been defeated on the grounds that both types of lifting gas are inherently dangerous, Hydrogen being explosive and Helium being poisonous. However, the navy has secured funding for a second carrier to be built to an improved Anatolia design. The Anatoliahas served the Greek navy well and much hands on experience has been aquired from operating a medium sized carrier. A typical day's flying program for the Anatoliain a recent cruise off Crete was;

0800 Land on fighter squadron from Maleme
0815 - 1115 Deck landing training for new pilots, ordered out from Malemeas required
0900 Search and reconnaissance exercise for six Fairey IIDs from Maleme, briefed ashore, but working with the ship, and returning to Maleme
1130 Fly off fighter patrol
1145 Ship acting as target for a 'light' torpedo attack by Ripons, mounted from Maleme, and opposed by fighters
1215 Fighters attack splash target towed by the ship with practise bombs, before returning to Maleme
1330 - 1530 High Angle firings by ship's guns at sleeve target towed by Fairey IIDs from Maleme, marked by other Fairey IIDs observing the sleeve Ship anchors off Souda on completion
2000 Ship weighs anchor, to sea for night deck landing training
2400 Aircraft called up from Maleme as required. Night shadowing exercise by one or more IIDs from Maleme. Ship anchors on completion.

The preparations for a day's flying began on the previous evening with an aircrew briefing. Wardroom and other noticeboards about the ship carried lists of aircraft, flight times and the names of pilots and observers. Very early the next morning, well before dawn, the Flight Deck party, of some twenty seamen, under a petty officer and the Flight Deck Officer, would begin to bring up aircraft on the lifts and range them on deck. Aircraft usually took off in the order of longest endurance, Fairey IIDs first, for reconnaissance, followed by Ripons, if a likely target had been sighted, and then by Flycatchers, for the defence of the carrier herself against counterattack, or possibly bombing or machinegun strafing of the upper deck of a target.

Starting up followed a familiarly frantic ritual. The IIDs were ranged on deck with an engine fitter sitting in each Pilot's cockpit. The Napier Lion XIs engines, with permission given from the bridge, were started by inserting two long starting handles, one each side, which were wound by engine fitters, faster and faster, until the engine fired and settled down to run steadily. The handles were removed and quickly stowed in special racks one either side behind the pilot's seat.

With the engine running, the engine fitter would let it idle until the temperatures started to rise, when he would open the throttle a little. As he did so, the pilot mounted from the port side, while the fitter climbed out and down the starboard side. When the pilot was in the front seat and strapped in, he would watch the oil and water temperature gauges climb to their correct readings and check that the oil pressure was normal. At a signal the wheel chocks were whipped away and the engine fitter flung himself across the tail of the aircraft while the pilot opened the throttle to full, holding the control column fully back. Ailerons, rudder, tail camber flaps were all tested through the full range of movement, the altimeter (which could vary by seventy feet with barometric pressure) was set, and then, while holding the control column still with his right shoulder, in a most awkward stance, the pilot had to bend down to his left and, with both hands, set the compass to the ship's course.

Meanwhile, the observers received their final briefing from the Senior Observer in the chart-house: details of search patterns, patrol heights to fly (not normally above 6,000 feet), wind speed estimates (found by balloon), W/T frequencies to keep, and the ship's probable movements while the aircraft were away. As the observer manned his aircraft he would carry with him a large sack containing a chart-board, range finder, navigating notebook, code book (weighted), watch, dividers, parallel ruler, pencils and binoculars. Communication between pilot, observer and TAG was by 'Gosport' speaking tube, linking the cockpits.

When the steam jet forward showed the wind directly down the flight deck, and with the Affirmative signal from the Wingco above, the Flight Deck Officer would dispatch each aircraft individually. On taking departure from the ship, each aircraft would climb to patrol height independently. As soon as all aircraft were away, and it was clear that nobody needed to make an emergency return and landing, the flight deck parties would fall out, one watch remaining at immediate notice for flying operations. Then, depending upon reports from the IIDs or upon the day's flying programme, Ripons and/or Flycatchers were ranged.

From operation experience with Anatolia, the new ship will have increased aviation fuel capacity, lifts for heavier aircraft. It is deemed that the size of the airgroup is adequate.

In parallel with the new carrier design, the navy will continue to acquire specialised support ships like the seaplane carriers Ouranos and Thaumas (currently suspended) and the repair ship Prometheus (completed late 192.

1929 Q3

Greece is concerned with Atlantis's creation of 'Byzantium'. The implication of the new name is squarely seen as a new 'East Roman Empire' with possible territorial aspirations beyond the mandate's modest borders.

In its quiet construction time the navy has spent time evaluating its current designs and requirements. With the ten-year plan cut to nine, the resumption of warship construction will probably accelerate, especially in the restricted categories as laid down by the Clieto Treaty. In an obvious payback for the support for Clieto Treaty ratification in spite of the new Turkish ships, the navy has secured a significant alteration to the ten-year program. It is tipped that torpedo boat construction will swap to submarines and frigates and gunboats give way to more destroyers. Attention has also turned to the remaining cruiser allotment. Opinion is divided over acquiring 4 large cruisers of 8000 tons or a larger number of smaller ships.

With the announcement of the UK-Greece security deal, it seems that the government may have had other reasons for cutting warship construction. It was believed, or naively hoped that naval limitation talks coupled with the new security arrangements would mean that Greece could reduce expenditure on the fleet. In a further scandal for the government, several high-ranking officers have been accused of corruption and misappropriation of funds on a massive scale. Some commentators are claiming that this has averted a possible coup. It seems that these officers, part of a pro-Italian faction within the armed forces that wanted Greece to join AAMN, were going to divert funds to several Italian and East African projects. Counter-espionage forces detected the negotiations and the officers were arrested but there is no word of charges so far. This could indicate that the counter-espionage operation is continuing.

The government has been embarrassed by its 'dove' stance to defence with the announcement that Turkey will acquire a new built battleship from India. During the ratification debate for the new Clieto Treaty several 'hawks' in parlaiment strongly argued for withdraw from the treaty. Ratification narrowly passed only after assurances given by the defence ministry 'that there is no cause for alarm'.

Nice, liked the description of air ops, and the political issues.

I'll second that. Very well done.

Nicely done. will the Makedonia and Kypris be scrapped or sold to a like minded nation?

I'm not sure why Greece fears the creation of a state at the expence of its advasary Turkey but at least its consistant with Greek sentiment.

I don't think Greece has like minded nations that would want to buy them.

Greek sentiment is to object to everything. Calling it 'Byzantium' opens the door to irredentist claims that could span Greece, Turkey, parts of Italy, the Levant and parts of North Africa.

Nobody questions Helium as poisonous?

Cheers,

Heh, I was puzzled by that, but figured it must be some special Greek science that we hadn't heard of in Germany. Either that or they regarded speaking in funny voices as evidence of poisoning....

The Philippines could be interested, but that depends on how the Greeks define 'like minded'. ;-)
If it involves the mass consumption of baklava and ouzo...then Garcia qualifies us single- er, stomachly.

As for the helium: perhaps it's in fact the long-lost ingredient to Greek Fire? ^_^

It was believed to be poisonous prior to the crash of the Macon(IIRC) where big burly sailors suddenly had their voices changed as the bags collapsed but they survived the ordeal because it had mixed with oxygen. Basically, it was the absence of oxygen that meant that you drowned in helium rather than helium being poisonous.

I wont be getting rid of them until I have replacements (I'll check the rules). Selling them to a Pacific power may not be in GB interests - I'll have to check that too. Greece also has a philosophical problem with selling old warships as you'd be aware from our stance at Copenhagen.

Cheers,

Quoted

I don't think Greece has like minded nations that would want to buy them.

Well Australia is interested, but unfortunately I dont have any spare tonnage available. But if you or GB can spare the tonnage perhaps I could lease them.

I'd be tempted to buy them back and turn them into museum ships.

As for Byzantium I tend to think the Greeks are just a wee bit on the paranoid side, given the fact that its been taken from their natural enemy Turkey. Guess it wasn't taken forcefully enough....

Whats in a name...the operation against the Taliban was first called 'Infinite Justice' until someone pointed out that only Allah can dispence 'Infinite Justice' so it was changed to 'Enduring Freedom'...

Look at the Israelis - just try using the word 'holocaust' in the same sentence as genocide when refereing to any genocide other then the European Jews... I think you'll find that it is 'The' Holocaust (TM).

Greece would object (probably Turkey too (Atlantis takes your land and rubs your nose in it)) on the use of the name 'Byzantine' just as there is the RL problem of 'Macedonia'.

Lets face it - we are dealing with the nucking futter end of the world here ; )

Cheers,

I would think Turkey would have the bigger beef, seeing as Byzantine was created as a christian state.

Names have more meaning in todays "politically correct" world.