WesWorld

Q3 1932 Newsflash

Naval News

Durban. The brand new hull of the battlecruiser Victory was launched in Durban today. A large crowd had gathered to watch the spectacular event. During the process of brining the ship into its element problems were encountered as the ship got stuck on the slip after a mere 20 meters. It took engineers and workers from the Naval Yard about half an hour before the launch of the ship could be continued. Once in the water tugs brought the hull deeper into the yard where the superstructure will now be completed and all the weapons and equipment necessary to finish the ship will be installed.

Light cruiser RSAN Port Gentil entered the naval yard on the 3rd of August for a refit. The ship, third of a class of four named after the leading ship RSAN Yaounde, is the last of her class to be made fit for another decade of service. As part of her modernisation she will get completely new secondary and light AA batteries to counter the growing threat from light fast crafts and airplanes. Her original 88mm guns will be landed during the process.

On the 23rd of August a new behemoth was born to life when the battleship Imperator was launched from the second 270 meter slip in Durban was launched. To avoid trouble as with the launching of RSAN Victory in July pre-cautious measures were taken and tons of additional low viscosity grease used to make the slipway as slippery as possible. Several hours later her sister ship Conqueror was launched from its slip in Montevideo under the sheering and shouting of about 5,000 people which gathered at the quays. The two units of this class will ensure the safety of South African ocean-going shipping and coastal traffic for years as they have no equals in any navy all over the world.

Spithead. The worlds navies have gathered in Spithead for an international Fleet Review starting August 15th under the eyes of the British King George V which surveyed the ships parade from the deck of a destroyer. Of all RSAN units present the heavy cruiser RSAN Ladon, named after an ancient dragon, was the most recognised by British press.

International Politics

Cowes. The treaty talks in Cowes seem to be stuck as some participants are not willing to accept any reduction of their allotments. In return some nations request to increase their allowed limits are also shot down. Our SAINT partner India will thus have to find other answers to immediate and future tasks. RSAN officials hearing the news stated that this could result in the RSAN getting involved in Indian operations to support our ally.

Asia. El Derretir finally seems drawing to a close in most affected areas. Newly infected are less than in previous month. According to medical scientists the overall death toll of the plague will probably never be known and this probably was only the first of several waves of similar tragedies as growing international trade allows a much easier spread of diseases than ever before.

Asir. The ongoing war costs another hundred lifes while little was actually achieved by any party involved. The political scene in Pretoria worries about an increasing number of skirmishes against international shipping in the region. However, proposals to escort South African ships through those seas have not yet found many supporters as such action would require either a large number of vessels or some kind of convoy system which would then cost the shipping companies a lot of money while their ship lay idle waiting for a convoy to gather.

Local News

Douala. To push local industry a new infrastructure program was launched in July which includes new roads, new governmental buildings and an extension of the local ship yard where a 220 meter slip will be extended by 50 meters once some old building are broken off. A similar project started in Buenos Aires the last year which also included an extension of the ship yard including the extension of a large slip was rated successful by local politicians. Hundreds of workers found labour and regular income.