July 4, 1927
The Department of the Navy has released information that the old protected cruiser Blanco will be retired in two weeks and that she will be broken up for scrap. While a few groups have expressed interest in saving the vessel or converting her for training purposes, the Admirality has pointed out: that with the current cost of construction and maintenance of the fleet, the cruiser will best serve Chile by having its metal reused to pay for the completion of the Capitan Tylor and the foreign built warships.
Meanwhile:
A small celebration was held for the 151st birthday of the United States of America. A small group of Chilean recognize that their forefather's desire for indepenence likely sprang from the Americans success in gaining indepenence from England. That and the construction of the new battleship Almirante Gideon which, from the preliminary artist rendering, seems to be a fine vessel.
July 7, 1927
With the sudden reserve of money and building capacity from the conclusion of the first Atlantian deal, the Navy has decided to take this time to lay down what was proposed as a longer ranged light destroyer. Some critics of this vessel have asked why a second Capitan Simpson-class was not laid down instead. The Minister of Finance stated that "While we may have the funds to start a new project now, the funds will not last long enough to build a proper destroyer with the proposed building schedule of the foreign built cruisers in Atlantis, so a new light destroyer to fill in is better at this time". Critics do not agree, but then they don't know what the Navy has planned from in advance.
July 14, 1927
Protected Cruiser Blanco returned to Talcahuano for the last time today. Her crew dissemarked. The vessel will be officially retired on Friday and moved to the waiting drydock for scrapping on Monday.
July 20, 1927
At Valparaiso's Naval Shipyard the light destroyer Guardia Marina Contrerra was laided down today. The crowd was not as large as when the last cruiser was laid down. It is assumed the novelty of new costruction has wained.
August 1, 1927
There has been an unconfirmed report of some sort a disaster on the Armored Cruiser Esmeralda. Rumors range from that she ran aground to running into an iceberg, or even being torpedoed by the Peruvians. The ship has not been reported sunk, but she is returning home with assistance from the destroyer Almirante Lynch.
August 9, 1927
The final shipment of Atlantian subchasers arrived today at Conception under military escort. The Chilean Navy will put the vessels into service by September.
August 12, 1927
The Armored Cruiser Esmeralda has been laid up in drydock for three days now, and it seems the dock workers are starting to take the vessel apart. No word from the Department of the Navy or anyone as to what happened or what is going on.
August 14, 1927
The Pacific Patrol's cruiser O'Higgins has encountered and captured a small pirate vessel near Port Moresby. The pirate crew has reportedly been less then helpful in locating Captain Harlock, but have said they fear "the beast with a thousand hornet". The translators are having difficulty figuring out what they are talking about. Something about the White Cross of Vengence. Maybe its some other pirate band trying to work them over?
August 17, 1927
The Department of the Navy has finally released that they are scrapping the Armored Cruiser Esmeralda. They say she suffered too extensive of damage and will not be repaired, but instead her scrap will join that of the Blanco and help revive the fleet. However, the navy has not said what caused the damage to the Esmeralda.
August 26, 1927
The Queen Emeraldas has returned to Talcahuano to deliver more materials for the cruiser Picunches. Mr. Oyama was on hand and looked quite cheerful when the vessel came into port. His work on the new vessel is proceeding as quickly as the materials delivered will allow. He was later seem with a tall red haired woman walking the yard.
September 10, 1927
The Pacific Patrol has begun rotating vessels again. The battleship Constitution and Libertad have traded places and the cruiser Negro has replaced the O'Higgins. The Capitan Avatar has rotated in for the Capitan Herlock. The Capitan Simpson however will remain on station until one of the Nordmark-built light cruisers can relieve in at Adamstown.
Septemper 12, 1927
The Chilean government has again expressed interest in gaining full use of the port at Adamstown, Pitcairn Island for farther naval use from the United Kingdom. There has been no reply as of yet aside from the usual "your doing a good job there chaps, keep it up". Its almost like the crown really doesn't care about these islands anymore. Chile may want to consider purchasing the islands.
September 13, 1927
The training destroyer Capitan Thompson lead the entire group of aquired Atlantian vessesl out today for another round of air and sea training. With the additional 6 subchasers, the unit has been split into two forces, each with one floatplane carrier and 6 subchasers. Each group will compete in order to locate the "lost" Capitain Thompson first.
September 15, 1927
After the double search effort to locate the Capitan Thompson yesturday, it has been decided that the two search groups should split up and search for each other. In order to do this, each group will head back to a different port to refuel and then head out to sea for a few days. On the command from the Capitan Thompson, each group will begin hunting for the other. There will be no direct contact between the two groups for at least five days. All communications will be to shore or the training destroyer.
September 27, 1927
After several different runs and approaches, the training groups have returned home, quite exhausted from the relentless searching and avoiding they run on each other. While both groups did locate one another, they found it difficult to maintain contact with only 8 planes per group. The report indicates that they need more planes if they want to sustain contact, and definately more if they want to do some damage on the side. With the floatplane cruiser Hyatt due to be complete early next year, question have comeup about a possible aircraft carrier for the fleet.
September 29, 1927
An other excersice for the subchasers and floatplanes has been scheduled for October. The Fleet is going to release Submarines H1 and H5 to test subhunting. They also expect one of the light destroyer pairs to take part as well as the Capitan Thompson.