WesWorld

Better get yourself comfortable; this is a long one.

13 April

The Sharmilla Expedition reports that it has suspended operations on the mainland of Antarctica. The weather is giving way to winter conditions and ice is starting to build up around the ship, making it hazardous to operate small craft.

Once conditions are colder, the expedition’s staff will be able to move about on the ice. This may be a few weeks to a month or more away, during which time the crew will be forced to remain aboard the ship.

29 April

India is sending additional military forces to its As Salif mandate.

Two infantry regiments - the 43rd Deccan and the Assam Highlanders - are already en route to the volatile Arabian region. A regiment of cavalry from the Imperial Camel Corps is now preparing to be transferred, while two battalions of pioneers will follow in June.

Aerial units include a squadron of Dhairya-B scout bombers, which were transported to the town of As Salif earlier this month by the aircraft carrier Otta .

The Navy says it will transfer an additional two torpedo boats, one destroyer, and the monitor Chandragupta to the area, bolstering the force of two torpedo boats, one minesweeper, and a destroyer tender already present. Another destroyer that had been on station for much of 1924, G-104 , returned to India earlier this year and is now being scrapped.

Government officials dismissed Yemeni criticism as “unnecessary hysterics” and re-iterated that India’s work in As Salif is strictly for the good of the region’s inhabitants.

10 May

The annual South African - Indian naval exercises commence tomorrow off the Malabar Coast [between the southwestern mainland and the Laccadive Islands]. The manoeuvres have a slightly different focus this year, says Admiral Sanjay Das.

“In previous exercises we’ve run some convoy defence and blue water battle scenarios. This year, however, the RSAN contingent is tasked with a simulated attack on our facilities at Columbo. They’ll be making a temporary base at our depot on Minicoy Island and sortieing, oh, probably three times to attack Columbo.”

While the South Africans will have some measure of the initiative, India will have a few additional resources at hand - several land-based maritime patrol aircraft and the submarines I-2 and I-3 will join the main elements of the surface fleet.

The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium will kick off in Columbo on the 25th of this month.

(OOC: A more detailed news report on the exercises themselves will appear soon)

18 May

Talks between the Government of India and the Chittagong-based Concerned Citizens’ Coalition have wrapped up for now. Former ambassador Mahatma Gandhi, representing the government, told AWNR that the discussions have been fruitful.

“We have had a very honest dialogue that has generated several possible courses of action. I will be returning to Hyderabad to consult with His Highness.”

CCC representative “K” said that he was not disappointed with Mr. Gandhi. “I believe he was negotiating in good faith. The question now will be how the Raj views our proposed agreement.”

25 May

The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium began in earnest today as almost two dozen South African warships arrived in the port of Columbo this morning. Captain Jacob Hien of the RSAN Cape Good Hope told AWNR, “This will be a particular interesting conference as we have a great deal to consider from last August’s conflict off Siam.”

Today’s events include a fleet review and a formal ball, the latter to be held on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Otta .

26 May

The first day of talks at the Naval Symposium focussed on the last year of developments around the world. Speakers from SPEARFISH updated delegates on warship construction in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia, while a representative from the Department of Foreign Affairs talked about the latest news on the diplomatic front, primarily addressing SATSUMA and AANM.

27 May

Day two of talks at the Naval Symposium related to the theme, “Command and Control”. Speakers discussed the ability of force commanders to make decisions and have them implemented using the latest technologies, such as wireless.

Considerable focus on the Andaman Sea conflict included the observation that India’s blockade commander, then Rear-Admiral Salman Sikdar, was essentially setting India’s foreign policy as he engaged Danish forces over the course of August. “It emphasizes the importance of selecting senior officers capable of seeing the big picture”, said Rear Admiral Shaukat Ambani, the head of the Indian Navy’s Administrative Command. “A commander must not win the battle at the expense of the war.”

28 May

Damage Control was on the minds of delegates at the Naval Symposium today, as speakers discussed the latest technologies, processes and methods for keeping ships in service despite damage.

Commander Mukesh Khan spoke at length about the changes to damage control in the Kolkata class light cruisers, “An area in which I am uniquely qualified to comment as I have had two of them sink on me.” Commander Khan noted that whereas the Kolkata itself was lost to fires caused by Dutch gunfire, the Delhi was sunk after being torpedoed by Danish motor torpedo-boats, with different forms of damage control being undertaken in each case.

“Fundamentally, however, two torpedoes is enough to sink any ship Delhi ’s size. Our damage control efforts were thus concentrated on keeping the ship stable long enough to evacuate the survivors and perhaps occupy the Danes a little longer.”

29 May

Aircraft and their carriers were the topic du jour at the Symposium. Early talks focussed on the status of naval aviation around the world, and there was discussion of the air strike delivered by the Indian carrier Otta against Danish cruisers in August of last year. “It demonstrated that our aircraft must be handled more aggressively, and carry heavier loads so that the weapons that do hit leave a mark”, one delegate observed during a coffee break.

Captain Theo Sakkers, commanding officer of the RSAN Wim Kraash , delivered the key note address, discussing the evolution of the South African naval aviation arm, from the first experiments with floatplanes to the laying down of the new RSAN Hammer . “Hammer will provide the battleline with the scouting and aerial defence it needs in its mission to control South African waters and secure our trade routes”, Captain Sakkers noted. "Should the enemy attempt to use speed to elude the battleline, one or two torpedoes from the scout-torpedo bombers will suffice to slow him down."

30 May

The final session of talks at the Naval Symposium addressed the proliferation of torpedo boats in the world’s navies. RSAN Commander Frank Klees spoke of the variety of designs existent today, ranging from the small but powerful MAS boats used in coastal defence roles to the second-class destroyers such as South Africa’s Maia class and India’s T-19 .

“Warship designers must be cognizant of the need to defend against such vessels, particularly in littorial operations. These are hard targets to hit at full speed, but one or two good-sized shells will take the stuffing out of them; alternately, one may send greater quantities of smaller shells and hope for additional hits. Either way, though, one needs to be able to fight a number of these vessels at once, for that is how they will sink their victims: by swarming in from all directions.”

2 June

No rest for the weary, as the battleship Dara Shikoh , fresh off the SAINT exercises, is now steaming to the Philippines as the centre of a four ship squadron. The battleship, two destroyers, and the seaplane tender Palk Bay will be tasked with lending naval bombardment support to Filipino forces striking against the insurgent organization known as SALSA.

Prior to weighing anchor, Captain Sankara Saraswathi told reporters, “I’m very confident that our squadron will be of great assistance to our allies. Dara Shikoh will significantly increase the firepower available to back up Filipino marines and army forces striking at the rebels.”

It’s not known how long the squadron will be away, but Captain Saraswathi noted, “We’ll stay for as long as we’re needed, but I hope we’ll have a break before our scheduled exercises in the fall.”

28 June

Details have not been released, but AWNR has reliable information to suggest that the Government of India and the Concerned Citizens’ Coalition have concluded a deal that would see the insurgency in Chittagong end.

“We’re not saying anything just yet”, a source close to the Raj commented yesterday. “We’re just waiting for him to get over his latest relapse before we go public.”

Although talks appeared to end in mid May, our source said, “Really there have been back-and-forth discussions on specific issues right up until the other day. There’s some significant decisions being made, decisions which will affect the entire country.”

Quoted

“Warship designers must be cognizant of the need to defend against such vessels, particularly in littorial operations. These are hard targets to hit at full speed, but one or two good-sized shells will take the stuffing out of them; alternately, one may send greater quantities of smaller shells and hope for additional hits. Either way, though, one needs to be able to fight a number of these vessels at once, for that is how they will sink their victims: by swarming in from all directions.”

MAS in WWI had a top speed of little over 25knts in calm seas. Destroyers had no problems catching them. Problem is; there were over 400 MAS which could appear anywhere on the coastline. Their small size was the problem, actually seeing them in the first place, then their ability to turn on a sixpence.

There is a link below to an online magazine. Have a look at the article "Mueller von Thomamuehl's Versuchsgleitboot" which has great pictures and text.

http://www.chandelle-jah.com/