WesWorld

F.I.N.E.R. - July-September 1929

1 July
The post-revolution "Return to Normalcy" continues as new vessels were laid down in the MdF yard at Butuan today.

The destroyer Paiño - the final unit of the "Cerceta" type - and four Rémora class submarines have begun construction. Four additional "Rémoras" are on option, however it is considered doubtful that this pre-revolution order will be taken up, the MdF preferring to wait until completing its "future direction" reviews before ordering additional submarines...

2 July
It was announced today that the escort cruiser Bugsuk, which had conveyed the delegation team - a certain member of which is said to have turned Denmark into a dry country single-handedly - to the recent Cleito Treaty revision discussions, will not be returning directly to the Philippines, but will instead spend the next few months visiting Atlantis, Argentina, Brazil and Columbia and Mexico prior to attending the United States Navy's annual Fleet Problem exercise in December...

3 July
At the Port of Singapore, the battlecruiser Presidente Malvar lowered the Filipino ensign for the last time. With her lease expired, she reverts to her original name of Princess Royal, and now the British must decide what to do with her.

The skeleton crew who "delivered" the ship will be returning via liner.

14 August
Announced yesterday afernoon was a Request for Proposals for a U.S. aircraft company to construct a factory in the Philippines.

The contract for the previously-announced Boeing factory, which burned down last spring, lapsed during the Revolution, and it has been decided to "start over" the process...

29 August
After being briefly derailed due to comments made by the Australian delegation at the Cleito Treaty revision conference, Filipino-Australian diplomatic talks have resumed. It is said that, while trade concessions are no longer on the table, negiotiations on some sort of "land swap" regarding Antarctica are being heavily discussed...

4 September
The battlecruiser Samal was returned to service yesterday, following the completion of repairs to damage suffered during the Revolution.

Her half-sister ship, Bohol, remains in Manila, where temporary repairs on the incomplete vessel have begun, as debate rages on exactly what to do with her.

In other maritime news, the Filipino Government has announced that they will subdisise the construction of four "Whale Factory Ships" for the Antarctic Natural Oils & Meat Packing Company, a division of the Philippine & Pacific Steam Ship Co. The Mdf builders will provide engines and unspecified "other equipment" for the "Orca" class vessels...

9 September
The Marina de Filipinas announced today that the torpedo-boats Prosperina and Rayo have been sold to the Persian Navy. The vessels, which proved unpopular with Filipino sailors, will be transferred sometime before the end of the month.

19 September
The Marina de Filipinas today announced that it has awarded a contract to the Ernst Heinkel aircraft company of Germany for the construction of a new aircraft factory in Cebu City for the production and sales of the company's designs in East Asia, and for the design and manufacture of four prototypes of a new type of seaplane.

The aircraft reportedly will be a twin-engined, twin-float biplane intended for patrol and air-sea rescue missions.

(ooc: The aircraft is the He 59)

27 September
The MdF today unvieled two new acquisitions, both from our allies in India.

The Indian collier Cauvery will be purchased for a nominal sum, and the vessel will be converted into a repair ship, similar to her once-sister-ship Otta. The work will take place over the first two-thirds of the coming year. The vessel will be re-named Maguindanao upon her entry to Filipino service.

In addition, the Philippines will be acquiring an entirely new-built seaplane tender, to be named Lagonoy, with construction to begin in the third quarter of next year. The vessel is built to a slightly modified version of the recent Indian seaplane tenders...