WesWorld

Brazil's position if anybody sees anything: "We know no-tink! No-tink!!" As noted, ships do dissipear...and besides, both Chile and Peru are at war with Bolivia and have submarines, do they not?

11 December
a smoke-filled room at Exército HQ, Rio

"So the League has decided to move their sorry behinds on the Bolivian issue."

"Prodded by Peru, of course."

"Of course. You would think they're afraid of us or something."

"Ha ha. So can we speed things up?"

"Perhaps."

"Better make sure there's a pretext, otherwise people will point fingers at us saying we're just trying to beat the League's - ahem - 'action'."

"If the League does anything at all."

"True."

"Don't worry, things will be arranged."

14 December
Orders from Exército HQ to 4th Army HQ, Porto Velho

"New orders. X-Day 21 December. Plan Foxtrot."

Quoted

Originally posted by HoOmAn
Knowing the visual range through a periscope is quite small I really hope there is some ship around somewhere - a South African merchant for example.....

Well 300km east of Montevideo is within range of Fokker C.5 or C.X reconn planes, and well inside the ranges of the C.4W, (C.7W?) and T.VIA floatplanes. I believe SAE operates a couple Fokkers, and it would not take long for one fly into visual range of the sinking Bolivian vessel.

What I dont understand is why is Brazil sinking the Bolivian ships? I would understand capturing them, or invading Bolivia. But sinking ships that Bolivia doesn't really need, without declaring war, is just odd. Unless the Brazilians want live practice, or are sending a message to someone.

Hey, it´s Swamphen - doesn´t have to make much sense as long as some KABOOM is involved...

Given Argentina's intensive anti-smugglling patrols by armed customs vessels and destroyers backed by Fokker T.IVa seaplanes we will spot something. (Also in Dec there are massive Argentine fleet excercises in the area too)

Whether or not we act is a different matter. I don't know what Brazil hopes to achieve (I'm surprised Bolivia even has a merchant fleet) and given the different nationalties in the area a serious mistake could occur.

(ooc) Actually, I just wanted to write a cool submarine scene.

("semi-ic") Brazil would have already declared war before sinking Bolivian ships, however the need to mobilise 4th Army first meant that there would be a delay in actually doing the deed. However, orders were cut for the submarine force that, should they be capable of destroying Bolivian assets without being caught in the act, then they should do so...

Finding a sinking merchie is one thing. Proving whodunit is quite another.

Quoted

(Also in Dec there are massive Argentine fleet excercises in the area too)

Hey, the Argies did it!!

Quoted

I'm surprised Bolivia even has a merchant fleet

Would you believe they even have a navy?!

21 December
somewhere on the Bolivian border

Private Cortez was tired of sentry duty at oh-dark-thirty. He'd been assigned to it for each of the last four nights, and to him it didn't make sense. Why did they need sentries? Everyone knew that the Bolivians had everything they could scrape up fighting the Peruvians, Chileans and Iberians. There was nothing here to worry about...

He was so busy musing that it took him about ten seconds to spot the tracers flying overhead. For another five seconds he watched, dumbfounded, as the glowing stream slowly lower itself torwards him. Finally realising what was happening, he raised the alarm and hit the deck.

Ten minutes later, after sporadic bursts of machine-gun fire from the other side of the border, the company was up and armed, and the Captian gave the order to advance, having first signalled back to headquarters that they "were under Bolivian attack".

As they advanced across the border, the 'Bolivian' gunfire stopped. Unseen by the regular troops, the men from 4th Army's Grupo Especial Serviço unit melted back into the jungle. Their work here was done.

that is of course, subtle as a breeze block lobotomy!!!!

22 December
Rio Reporter

WAR!!

Yesterday forces of the Exército's Fourth Army repelled a surprise Bolivian attack southwest of Cáceres. The Senado Imperial passed a Declaration of War by a margin of 78-3, while the Camara dos Deputados passed by 457-56..


24 December
Sao Paulo Sun-Times

EMBRAER has requested permission from the Imperial Government for the export of eight EMB-32 two-seat fighters to the Republic of Ireland.

Quoted

EMBRAER has requested permission from the Imperial Government for the export of eight EMB-32 two-seat fighters to the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland?! Knowing you, Swamphen, those planes will end up being used by the IRA.

Merely support for Brazil's fellow Catholic nation.

(Funny, first the Philippines and now Brazil, both major nations I've played are Roman Catholic, which I'm not.)

Now I'm getting worried!!

You're the Irish Legend so why worry about that?

Because this country has had more than it's share of "KABOOM" in it's history WITHOUT Swampy's aid!!!

We don't want none of that on our doorstep, no sir.

*starts making plans in case Ireland does go KABOOM!*

Don't worry, the Irish order forms do not contain checked boxes for the '#145 ACME™ Seat Cushions', '#284 Tailpipe Flamethrower', or '#777 Exploding Cigars (one (1) box)' options.

Ah so they did check options '#13 Epaulet Good Luck Charm' and '#606 White Mice Bombs'...

Option 606 had to be removed from the order forms after Siam filed a lawsuit over copyright violations.


***********************


28 December
Rio Reporter

Delivery of the Força Aérea Brasileira's Martin B-12 bombers and Consolidated P2Y patrol aircraft has concluded, with the freighter Toledo Blade unloading at the port this afternoon. Not resting on its laurels, however, the FAB announced a contract with Macchi of Italy for twelve M.167 fast martime fighter-reconnasiance aircraft, and with the German Junkers, Focke-Wulf and BFW companies for Ju 52/3m, Fw 58 and Bf 108 transport aircraft.

(minor flashback)

26 December
Corumbá Air Base

Primeiro-Tenente Nero Moura climbed down from his F-3 [SIZE=1](1)[/SIZE] fighter and gave his ground crew a big grin and a thumbs-up. Slapping him on the back, his crew chief yelled over the noise of the remaining returning fighters: "How many?"

"Two! One Vickers and one Ford!" [SIZE=1](2)[/SIZE]

"So Intelligence was right!" [SIZE=1](3)[/SIZE]

"Didn't see anything else though."

"Never mind that. Let's get you to the officer's club!"

(end flashback)

***

29 December
San José de Chiquitos, Santa Cruz province, Bolivia

Capitão Jose Mendez looked around in satisfaction. The Brazilian "counterattack" had made excellent progress; with virtually all of the Bolivians' regular forces in the western part of the country, the biggest hazards his force had faced had been a few old men with muskets and estupido goats standing in the middle of the road. [SIZE=1](4)[/SIZE]

Much to his surprise, the Brazilians had actually been welcomed into the city. When he'd asked why to the small 'welcoming committee' that had met him, an older woman gad shouted "You come first, save us from Iberians!"

He'd politely refrained from commenting on the rumours he'd heard about recent Foreign Ministry work, smiled, and set about organising the Provisional Military Government.

***

31 December
Rio Reporter

As excellent progres is made in the Bolivian Campaign, business continues here on the coast as Sienar Fleet Systems annouces an arrangement with Grumman of the United States for manufacture of the G-15 and G-23 aircraft. [SIZE=1](5)[/SIZE]

The FAB has also confirmed that its rapid expansion drive is continuing by inquiring about the British Boulton Paul Defiant "turret fighter". FAB officials did however decline to comment on the rumour that inquiries regarding French and Russian aircraft have gone unanswered.

---

(1) - FMA I-100

(2) - Vickers 143 Bolivian Scout and Ford Tri-Motor

(3) - Any remaining Bolivian air force assets would likely have been "hidden" in the far east of the country where they would be safe from the invaders. Whoops...

(4) - Actually it was a little tougher than that. But only just.

(5) - J2F Duck and FF/SF "Fifi". The Navy is restless...