WesWorld

January 12th

This is Radio Warsaw:

After reconvening after the winter recess, the Sejm has gathered to decide who will be the next head of the Polish State. Though the Presidental title has been offered to current Prime Minister Sikorski, the General declined, in view of the fact that combined with his responsibilities as Head of the Armed Forces, such a move would place to much responsibility on one man, which he feels is what led to Marshal Kurtzeba`s early death. Many names have been named in the Sejm today, such as Ignace Paderewiski, former Prime Minister of Poland. Surprisingly, a very large number of relatives of former monarchs were nominated, Otto, former crown prince of Austria-Hungary, and William, former crown prince of Germany. However, the most popular candidate so far for President of the Polish Republic is Prince Andre Poniatowski, descendant of the last Polish King.

Yes, I would think an Austrian or Prussian monarch a wee bit unlikely. Although with Crown Prince William's political aspirations likely taking a shot on Hitler's death, Hrolf might let you have him cheap. For that matter, if you'd like a Kaiser Wilhelm II, slightly used, and a little dusty, I'm sure the Dutch could convince him it's safe to leave Huis Doorn for Poland

January 14th

This is Radio Warsaw

The new President of Poland has been voted on by both the Sejm and the Senat. The Head of the Polish State, is Prince Andre Poniatowski, who will take the oath of office on March 1st. Curiously enough, there is a great deal of support for a return to a constitutional monarchy in Poland, based on the form of government before the Partions and General Sikorski has been rumoured to have mentioned a nation-wide vote on that very issue this coming spring.

OOC: Prominent family. Is this the fellow born in 1899 in SF?

IC: The Dutch, Belgians send congratulations.

Bulgaria sends its regards and Tsar Boris is considering attending the coronat... er, swearing-in if his schedule permits.

Welll, actually its just a swearing in. The crowning might be coming later. We shall have to see.

wish Prince Poniatowski well in his new office, and express hopes that Russo-Polish relations will improve.

January 16th

The Polish Department of Naval Intelligence has once again released a part of their report, this time on the Dutch Navy. Details given below.

Netherlands

Current Ships

2 De Ruyter Class
9 13.6in, 16 6.1in, 12 3.9in, 8 40mm, 27.5 knots, 15in belt, 4.9in deck, 35,959 normal tons.
The oldest Dutch battleships, are comparable to other designs built under the Cleito Treaty, being well armoured for their size, and age though not having such a large gun as other ships.

2 Utrecht Class
9 15in, 16 6.1in, 16 3.9in, 16 40mm, 6 13mm, 29 knots, 12.6in belt, 5.9in deck, 42,985 normal tons.
The largest, and most powerful ships in the Dutch Fleet, until the Kortenaer Class is finished.

Heemskerck
8 15in, 20 4.9in, 32 40mm, 20 20mm, 29 knots, 12.6in belt, 5in deck, 38,833 normal tons.
The newest ship in the Dutch fleet is a compromise ship built under Cleito. Still a decent ship, about average for armament, armour, and speed.

2 Zeven Provincien Class
8 12.2in, 14 6in, 10 3.9in, 32 40mm, 20 20mm, 28.25 knots, 14.2in belt, 3.15in deck, 29,394 normal tons.
The two, Dutch Battlecruisers, which are perhaps more of a lesser armed fast battleship, than a real contemporary Battlecruiser, though they are quite old. Still have some value as commerce protectors, and as protection for a carrier group.

Hund
4 4.9in, 32 40mm, 14 20mm, 29 knots, 0.2in deck, 17,536 normal tons, 51 planes.
The oldest Dutch aircraft carrier, like the old carriers of other nations is small, and the Hund has very little armour, even for a carrier.

2 Eendracht Class
12 4.9in, 24 40mm, 20 20mm, 30.5 knots, 3in belt, 2in deck, 17,199 normal tons, 48 planes.
The first purpose built carrier built for the Dutch, is like the carriers of other European nations during the Cleito period, being relatively small, and having a relatively small aircraft complement.

Groningen
4 11in, 8 5.9in, 32 40mm, 16 20mm, 22 knots, 8.66in belt, 0.98in deck, 9,453 normal tons.
One of the two Dutch Coast Defence Battleships, a decent ship though it is lacking in deck protection.

4 Friesland Class
12 8.2in, 12 5.1in, 8 2.95in, 8 40mm, 32 knots, 4.72in belt, 1.18in deck, 14,192 normal tons.
The four Dutch heavy cruisers, are some of the largest in the world, and utilize their extra tonnage well, having more guns, and better armour than many contemporary ships, as well having average speed.

Ships Building.
2 Kortenaer Class
9 15in, 16 4.9in, 32 40mm, 20 23mm, 32 knots, 13.8in belt, 4.9in deck, 44,000 standard tons.
Once complete, these ships will be the largest, and most powerful in the Dutch navy. Though not outstanding in any category, being average in most, these ships are still well designed, and though not completely comparable to many post Cleito designs, have value nonetheless.

2 Ijselijk Class
6 13.8in, 16 4.9in, 32 40mm, 20 23mm, 30knots, 12.6in belt, 4.72in deck, 26,000 standard tons.
This class of four small Battleships, which have just been laid down, are mostly placeholder in the Dutch Fleet, until the newer Kortenaers are complete. Being slower, less well armed and armoured compared to other designs. However, against anything below Large Battleship level, these ships will prove deadly, if they can catch them.

Walcheren
16 4.9in, 32 40mm, 10 20mm, 30 knots, 2in belt, 1.6in deck, 15000 standard tons, 48 planes.
The newest Dutch aircraft carrier, is like other carriers, an improvement on its predecessor. Like other Dutch designs, is an average design, being neither substantially better or worse than the designs of other nations.

2 Boerentange
6 11in, 12 4.9in, 24 40mm, 8 20mm, 18 knots, 7.09in belt, 3.35in deck, 9,028 normal tons.
The newer of the two Coast Defence Battleships, the Boerentange is slower, and has less belt armor, but much more deck protection, as well as 2 more 11in guns.


Comments on the Dutch Fleet.
The Dutch Fleet, like that of other medium powers is one of average size, and average design. Not having the resources other powers have to devote to building massive ships, forces the Dutch to build ships of average size and design. However, the Dutch do belong to two alliance groups, that of the AANM, which is a European based alliance, and the SAER alliance, which is a defensive alliance for its Asian areas. Thus, though the Dutch are not the strongest power, they do have allies to aid them in any future war. Note, that the specifications for the new ships are the official specifications and should not be trusted. According to our spies, this is merely a ploy by the Dutch government to bypass the Cleito Treaty until the ships are complete and the treaty is finished.

OOC: Well, here we go again. One more nation, and the SAER alliance is done, next up after that is SATSUMA. KK, I wasnt totally sure on some of the numbers of certain ships, so if there are errors let me know.

January 21st

Rumors out of Warsaw, indicate that Polish Armoured designers are hard at work on an improved version of the 7TP Tank, which comes into production this year. Our sources indicate that this as yet unnamed tank (1) will have increased armour, at a very minimal cost to performance and weight.

(1) The 7TPA

Quoted

Originally posted by TheCanadian
January 16th

OOC: Well, here we go again. One more nation, and the SAER alliance is done, next up after that is SATSUMA. KK, I wasnt totally sure on some of the numbers of certain ships, so if there are errors let me know.

Nice job.

Though I really wish you had stuck to the "Official Data" for the vessels. Many of the details you posted are effectively OOC.

RAM's Dutch ships emphasized speed and armor, which is why so many older vessels are around the average.

You are correct in that the constraints of a mid-sized 'budget' means that simply providing sufficient 'solid' ships to meet fleet demands doesn't leave room to indulge in more expensive worldbeaters.

Hund was originally a collier, and not only is sorely lacking in armor, but is pretty short. One can project future limits on use.

I believe I laid down only 2 Ijselijk class, wanted to do 4, but didn't have the spare industry to manage that.

Quoted

Originally posted by Kaiser Kirk

Though I really wish you had stuck to the "Official Data" for the vessels. Many of the details you posted are effectively OOC.

The reason btw, is two fold. #1, it covers up the 'liberties' taken with Cleito adherence in several later vessels, and #2, in the case of several vessels, information announced in the news was deliberately misleading. So I took a page from Roo and got around to 'official stats'.

For each, an alternate SS was made to generate the 'official' data from, so that it would be plausible to a 3rd party.

Where the Ijselijks are concerned, the Dutch are calling them replacement battlecruisers, while the Kortenaers were announced as repeat Utrechts, with additional length to allow the speed to catch a battlecruiser. Neither class is far enough along to spot the discrepancies.

Kortenaer, Nederlands Battleship laid down 1935

Official stats :
242m x 33m x 9.8m
44,000 tons standard

9x 381mm, 16 x 125mm, 32x 40mm, 20x 23mm
350mm belt, 125mm deck, 32knots


Erzatz Ijselijk, Netherlands Battleship laid down 1935
Official Data
170m x 31m x 9.5m
26,000 tons standard

6x 345mm, 16x 125mm, 32x40mm, 20x20mm
320mm belt, 120mm deck. 30kts.

van Heemskerck, Netherlands Battleship laid down 1931

Official stats:
219m x 31m x 9.5m
32,000 tons standard

8x 381mm, 20x 125mm, 32x40mm, 20x20mm
320mm belt, 115mm deck. 28kts.

Eendracht, Netherlands Carrier laid down 1928

Official stats:
220m x 24.5m,x 6m
14,000 tons standard

16x125mm, 24x40mm, 20x 20mm, 48 AC
50mm belt, 40mm deck, 29.5kts

Walcheren, Netherlands Carrier laid down 1935

Official stats:
220m x 24.5m,x 6.25m
15,000 tons standard

16x125mm, 32x40mm,10x 20mm, 48 AC
50mm belt, 40mm deck, 30kts

True enough. However, the reason that I didnt go with the Official Data, was for the simple fact that other nations dont have an Official Data, and the purpose of the report is to compare ship to ship, and navy to navy. Your specs are given in standard displacement, while I chose normal displacement as for the purposes of this comparison, my reasoning being it is probably the most accurate measurement of a ship ready for sea. However, if you give me the official normal tonnage, then Poland is willing to change it.

Also, where the Ijseliseks are concerned, while the Dutch may consider them as Battlecruisers, due to the fact that their speed is only 23 knots, the Poles consider them small Battlecruisers.

Actually, Roo's Japanese fleet has separate official data sections vs. reality. The two are sometimes even close.

The Dutch don't release full load tonnage since cleito. Standard is the only info available. That serves to reduce chances of allegations that they might displace more than the Dutch let on.

As for the Ijselijk, let me ask this:
Why would the Poles think they have a max speed of 23knots?

The Dutch say the ship goes 30knots, that's possible on what's been given out, though the short length makes the seakeeping less than desirable at that speed, it is quite doable. Unless you have access to the plans, there is no reason at this time, less than 6 months after they have been laid down, for anyone to think they will have a final max speed of 23 knots. That information simply is not out there. Likewise for the Kortenaers, which are about 10% complete, there simply is not enough to say different.

edited specs for Dutch Fleet to match the "official ones" but added a little comment in the write up as well. Specs are for only the ones building. Those finished, the Polish spies will have found out their actual specs by now.

February 14th

The Polish Department of Naval Intelligence has released it report on the Russian Navy. Also given, is the ships available and building for the SAER alliance.

Russia

Current Ships

Sevastopol
6 15in, 16 5.1in, 18 3.9in, 32 37mm, 8 14mm, 27 knots 11in belt, 4.7in deck, 26,806 normal tons.
Russias oldest battleships, are being modernized by adding 15in guns, as well as increasing their speed and armour.

Imperatritsa Mariya
8 15in, 18 5.1in, 18 3.9in, 32 37mm, 8 14mm, 23 knots, 12in belt, 5.1in deck, 26,942 normal tons.
Russias second oldest ships, these, with Sevastopol and Poltava are the core of the Black Sea Fleet. Mariya is currently being rebuilt, with the others to follow.

2 Imperatritsa Mariya Class
12 12in, 18 5.1in, 4 3in, 4 47mm, 21 knots, 12in belt, 4.5in deck, 23,754 normal tons.
The other two Imperatritsa Mariya Class, these will most likely get modernized once Mariya is complete.

Imperator Nikolai I
12 12in, 10 5.1in, 5 3in, 4 47mm, 21 knots, 12in belt, 4.5in, deck, 23,000 standard tons.
Imperator Nikolai is similar to the Imperatritsa Mariyas, the main difference being that the Nikolai is longer. Currently serving with the Black Sea Fleet, Imperator Nikolai will most likely be modernized the same way as the Mariyas will be.

4 Imperator Petr Veliki Class
9 16.5in, 24 5.1in, 64 37mm, 16 14mm, 26 knots, 14.2in belt, 5.5in deck, 43,621 normal tons.
Russias most powerful ships, until the Soyuz Nerushimy Class are finished, will be among the first to be armed with a gun larger than the Cleito ships (16.5in) this should make them some of the most powerful ships in the world for their size.

4 Izmail Class
12 14in, 24 5.1in, 4 3in, 4 13mm, 27 knots, 9.4in belt, 3.9in deck, 33,877 normal tons.
The only battlecruisers possessed by the Russian Navy, these ships were quite powerful when they were first built, but now are in need of either replacement, or modernization to compete with other more modern ships.

Canopus
4 5.1in, 8 3.9in, 24 37mm, 28.5 knots, 3.9in belt, 3.9in deck, 10,976 normal tons, 32 planes.
Russias first aircraft carrier. Has a limited air complement compared to other newer carriers, but is currently stationed in the Black Sea where such details dont really matter, and Canopus can provide constant air cover to the Black Sea Fleet.

Strashniy
8 5.1in, 12 37mm, 30 knots, 2in belt, 2in deck, 13,354 normal tons, 56 planes.
Russias first aircraft carrier designed as such, Strashniy is like many other European carriers, a smaller carrier, though it does have a large complement for its size.

Gangut
8 5.1in, 32 37mm, 30 knots, 2in belt, 2in deck, 14,692 normal tons, 56 planes.
Similar to Strashniy, Gangut follows the European doctrine under Cleito of having many small carriers, rather than a few large ones. Has a large complement for her size, however.

2 Sinop Class
8 5.1in, 24 37 mm, 31 knots, 2in belt, 2in deck, 15,749 normal tons, 56 planes.
Another 2 small carriers, similar to the previous ones.

Kulikovo
12 5.1in, 32 37mm, 30 knots, 2in belt, 2in deck, 19,372 normal tons, 70 planes.
Russias newest carrier currently in service. A little larger than previous carriers, with a large air complement.

2 Revansh
4 12in, 8 5.1in, 4 3.9in, 16 37mm, 18 knots, 13in belt, 4.7in deck, 9,425 normal tons.
Russias Coast defence ships, slow, well armed and armoured for their size, the very definition of a Coastal Battleship.

4 Sviatoslav Class
9 9.2in, 12 3.9 in, 32 37mm, 6 12.7mm, 32 knots, 4.7in belt, 2.4in deck, 17,002 normal tons.
Large, armoured cruisers, which are fast, well armed, and protected. These are a match for any heavy cruiser currently afloat.

4 Admiral Makarov Class
12 9.2in, 18 5.1in, 32 37mm, 33.7 knots, 7.1in belt, 3in deck, 24,183 normal tons.
Large, armoured cruisers, these like their predecessors are fast, well armed and protected, but come at a cost of relatively high displacement for their class.

Ships Building
4 Soyuz Nevushimy Class
12 16.5in, 18 5.1in, 56 37mm, 12 12.7mm, 28 knots, 15.7in belt, 6.3in deck, 61,426 normal tons.
Russias newest battleships, once complete will have the largest guns in the world. At least until someone builds something bigger. The classic Large Battleship, relatively fast, well armed, and protected, and extremely costly to build.

2 Chesma Class
12 5.1in, 32 37mm, 30 knots, 3in belt, 2in deck, 19,372 normal tons, 70 planes.
Russias newest carriers, similar to the previous ones, being small, with a large complement of aircraft for their size.

Comments on the Russian Navy.
The Russian Navy has come far from the days prior to WWI, where it was a fleet made up of obsolete ships. Russias fleet, with the exception of some larger capital ships, is quite modern, and will be the first to have the 16.5in gun on a modern ship. While on paper, the Russian fleet, looks, and is quite formidable, rivals should note that due to Russias strategic situation most of her fleet is dispersed amongst its 4 main bases, and would therefore be unable to concentrate in one area for some time, although the Northern Route that Russia has alleviates this somewhat. Russia also has allies both the Far East, and in Europe, to help her in the event of war in either the Far East or Europe.

Observations not in report released to the public: (Top secret)
1. Poland must consider Russia its number one enemy, post-Lithuanian crisis.
2. Any attempt to reconcile would be tainted by the suspicion of a Russian takeover of Poland, due to over 100 years of Polish subjugation by Russia.
3. While other nations may consider Russia to have reformed from its own autocratic ways, they also did not suffer being under their harsh rule.
4. The best chance for defeating the Russian Navy is in conjunction with another Great Power in the Baltic, as well as Russia being preoccupied by an attack from the Far Eastern Nations. A surprise attack worked in 1904. Such an attack would the best to nullify Russian superiority in the Baltic.


SAER Alliance
Available
34 BBs, 13 BCs. 5 CVs 15 CVLs, 6 CDBBs 8 ACs, 28 CAs

Building
20 BBs, 4 BCs, 4 CVs, 5 CVLs, 2 CDBB's, 2 CAs

So who's next to be profiled?

Quoted

Originally posted by TheCanadian

SAER Alliance
Available
34 BBs, 13 BCs. 5 CVs 15 CVLs, 7 CDBBs 8 ACs, 28 CAs

Building
20 BBs, 4 BCs, 4 CVs, 5 CVLs, 2 CAs

I had not realized the totals would be so high. Quite interesting. I echo Hrolf- more!

I vote for India, but I may be biased.

I was thinking of doing NATO next, seeing as I would only need Atlantis, Mexico, and the U.S. to add to the countries already reviewed, though I could do SATSUMA next if people wish.

64 can be jammed in, but maintenance is more efficient with 56.

They do carry a fair number of spares though, so sustained operations can continue despite losses.

And there are a total of 3 of the Imperitritsa Maria class, Imperitritsa Maria, Imperitritsa Ekaterina Velikaya , and Imperator Aleksandr III .

Imperator Nikolai I is longer and skinnier, and is a seperate class by herself.

Poltava lacks her main and secondary batteries, which were left in the Far East to arm new coast defense installations.

Revanche has a sister ship, Represselya , also with the Baltic Fleet.

Quoted

Originally posted by TheCanadian
I was thinking of doing NATO next, seeing as I would only need Atlantis, Mexico, and the U.S. to add to the countries already reviewed, though I could do SATSUMA next if people wish.

Whichever, I'm just curious what pattern is being used, whether it was focused on Poland and expanding outwards or what.