WesWorld

January 11
A brand new deHavilland Flamingo has arrived in Sofia to serve as a new royal aircraft for Tsar Boris. The new royal plane was open to select members of the press, who were appropriately impressed by the new aircraft. The Flamingo replaces a worn-out converted bomber, the Kaproni-Balgarski KB309 Papagal, which has served as the royal aircraft since 1935.

January 17
The city of Sofia has largely shut down due to an unusually heavy thirty centimeters of snowfall. More is predicted over the next several days.

January 19
Another twenty centimeters of snow has accumulated.

January 22
Cold temperatures and heavy snow has caused a delay of the famed Orient Express. Bulgarian State Railways spokesmen stated that the cause of the delay is due to snow-heavy trees falling onto the railway lines. Fortunately the Bulgarian Army Weather Service has predicted warmer temperatures in the future.

January 31
Warmer temperatures over the past week have melted much of January's record snowfall, leading to high runoff. Although rivers have risen close to flood stage, the government has noted that it has received no reports of flooding yet.

February 6
The subsidiary arsenal "Sopot", a division of Kazanlak Arsenal, has been spun off as the independent company VMZ Sopot. VMZ Sopot will work on manufacturing ammunition, artillery shells and small arms like Kazanlak Arsenal, though in smaller quantities. VMZ has also hired József Misznay and several other Hungarian engineers to help develop defensive antitank weapons.

February 15
The Bulgarian Navy announced that they have completed the successful sale of both the Slivnitsa and Hristo Botev class torpedo boats, with the former going to China, the latter to Turkey. The Navy spokesman acknowledged the Mexican Navy had bid on the Slivnitsa-class as well, but refused to comment regarding rumors that the Mexican government threatened Bulgaria with "consequences" if Bulgaria accepted the Chinese bid. The spokesman then scratched his nose with his middle finger.

February 19
The Navy has let contracts to continue the naval building program. The program has been delayed as payments are made to the British and Russians for the Komitadji class minelayers and the purchase of the battleship Royal Oak, and the naval shipyards in Bourgas and Varna have been subsisting mainly on scrapping vessels and civilian contracts. The Navy has acknowledged that the third contradestroyer, tentatively named KR-C, will be laid down at the beginning of April, while two new coastal submarines of French design have been ordered.

March 4
Minister of War Stefan Tsanev retired today, having served four years as Minister of War. In a public ceremony, Tsar Boris thanked Minister Tsanev for his long and faithful service in the Bulgarian Army and the Ministry.

Tsar Boris additionally stated following the retirement ceremony that no further "Minister of War" would be appointed; the Tsar instead has created the position of "Minister of Defense", appointing General of Artillery Rusi Hristov Rusev to fill the position.

March 6
Minister of Defense Rusev issued orders today for the Chancellery and the Army to form an evaluation committee on how to carry the Bulgarian Army forward into the new decade. In his official dispatch, Rusev wrote "Retired Minister Tsanev worked hard during his term to modernize the Bulgarian Army following the lean years of the 1920s and early 1930s. We must determine how best to continue his work."

In the aftermath of the signing of the Warsaw Pact, the Sobranje has debated the state of funding for the armed forces. Rusev has acknowledged that he may decrease the size of the standing army and move several units to the Army Reserves, but has so far vocally mocked the idea of lowering the Army's budget.

March 18
The company Plovdiv Pozharnikar Tovaren Avtomobil Stroitel ("Plovdiv Firefighter Lorry Builder") has announced that it is facing bankruptcy within the next three to six months. The company's owners are losing money, and have reportedly sought to sell PPTAS to Rennault or Bulgarian bus-manufacturing company "Chavdar".

Quoted

The company Plovdiv Pozharnikar Tovaren Avtomobil Stroitel ("Plovdiv Firefighter Lorry Builder") has announced that it is facing bankruptcy within the next three to six months. The company's owners are losing money, and have reportedly sought to sell PPTAS to Rennault or Bulgarian bus-manufacturing company "Chavdar".

The well-known German firm of Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG expresses an interest in opening discussions with Plovdiv Pozharnikar Tovaren Avtomobil Stroitel regarding its present circumstances. The Margirus division of KHD is Germany's largest manufacturer of fire-fighting vehicles.

Such discussions would be entertained.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
Such discussions would be entertained.

A delegation of executives will be departing from Koln via Berlin on the next available flight to Sofia.

Quoted

The Bulgarian Navy announced that they have completed the successful sale of both the Slivnitsa and Hristo Botev class torpedo boats, with the former going to China, the latter to Turkey. The Navy spokesman acknowledged the Mexican Navy had bid on the Slivnitsa-class as well, but refused to comment regarding rumors that the Mexican government threatened Bulgaria with "consequences" if Bulgaria accepted the Chinese bid. The spokesman then scratched his nose with his middle finger.

Subtle....the Latvian naval attache makes a mental note to do this next time the Mexicans come around asking about destroyers....

Hu? I just laughed at the really high Chinese bid. Any threats were just in jest, and I don't remember any.

Funny, I usually hear that the Mexicans bid lower than scrap value for used ships so any reasonable bid would be rediculously higher than that.....

Sounds to me like someone has to be really desparate if one accepts a Mexican offer.

Quoted

Originally posted by Desertfox
Hu? I just laughed at the really high Chinese bid. Any threats were just in jest, and I don't remember any.

Quoted

Are they crazy? You should consider the political implications of selling to the Chinese.

Bulgaria does not bow to threats, sir! At least, not from a second-rank power across the western ocean.

He, that's not a threat at least not from Mexico. Mexico doesn't care if Bulgaria sells to China. But other nations might. Like say Iberia...

And I've bid only once below scrap value, and I actually got that ship at that price...

I think Iberia might be more worried about Bulgaria selling to Mexico than to China.

Quoted

Originally posted by Desertfox
He, that's not a threat at least not from Mexico. Mexico doesn't care if Bulgaria sells to China. But other nations might. Like say Iberia...

Threats are as much in the eye of the recipient of a message as in the voice of the power that sends it. Whatever your intention, your words were perceived as a threat, and acted upon.

Perhaps greater care in the wording of your diplomatic correspondence would bear better fruit.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
Bulgaria does not bow to threats, sir! At least, not from a second-rank power across the western ocean.

Second Rank? How generous. :B

Quoted

Originally posted by Desertfox
He, that's not a threat at least not from Mexico. Mexico doesn't care if Bulgaria sells to China. But other nations might. Like say Iberia...

...Mexico cares about Iberia's feelings now? How quaint.

Didn't you hear its WW International Love Thy Neighbour Week!

He didn't mention Great Britain though, they might be peeved (and the King has those photos of his cousin Boris in compromising cirumstances during Bikini Week last year...)
Could add France to the list too.

Really its not worth the bother for some old TBs.

It was a glorious Spring morning in Sofia, the early morning sun lighting up the streets as Krassimir Dimitrov made his way to work. He had left the car at home, and was not regretting it one little bit, even though it was a Monday, traditionally a busy day in the office.
He stopped at a corner news-stand and bought his prefered paper. Folding it in 2, he tucked it into his briefcase and turned the corner into Dondukov Boulevard.

"Morning Karl, Jens."
"Morning Sir", replied the uniformed guard, "No car today?"
"No Jens. It's such a beautiful morning, I decided to stretch my legs for a change"

He made his way to his office, and smiled as Maria, his secretary, greeted him with his morning coffee.
"Your mail is on your desk Sir. A light morning, for a change" she quipped.
"A Pleasent change, is it not?" he chuckled

He relaxed into his chair, and pulled the paper from his case. A quick scan of the business section first, then the mail, he justified to himself.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
March 18
The company Plovdiv Pozharnikar Tovaren Avtomobil Stroitel ("Plovdiv Firefighter Lorry Builder") has announced that it is facing bankruptcy within the next three to six months. The company's owners are losing money, and have reportedly sought to sell PPTAS to Rennault or Bulgarian bus-manufacturing company "Chavdar".

"Maria, get me........"

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

Olaf Wolfssen, was sifting through some papers on his desk when the intercom buzzed.
"Sir, I have a Mr. Krassimir Dimitrov, the Commercial Attache of the Danish embassy in Sofia on the line.
He says has a information that He thinks may be of interest."
"Put him through please Freja"

"Good morning Mr.Dimitrov. How my Hydrema help you today?"

April 1
Workers came back to the naval shipyards in Varna and Bourgas today to begin work on three new warships for the Bulgarian Navy. The destroyer Kazanlak and the submarines Akula and Zmiorka will be constructed immediately. The Kazanlak's keel was laid in the long drydock at Varna, while the Akula and Zmiorka were laid down in Bourgas. The two submarines are being built to the design of the French coastal submarine Daphne, while the Kazanlak is a lightly-modified revision of the Kyustendil-class contradestroyers.

April 6
The Sabranie has voted overwhelmingly to support the proposed 1940 Army Reform bill, which will restructure the Bulgarian Army more directly in the model of the Swiss militia system. The Sabranie discussed the addition of an additional clause formulating a formal policy of national neutrality, but this was deferred for .

April 19
Plovdiv Pozharnikar Tovaren Avtomobil Stroitel ("PPTAS", or "Plovdiv Firefighter Lorry Builder") has received a temporary six-month reprieve from bankruptcy while the owners negotiate with interested buyers, including Denmark's Hydrema and Germany's Margirus. Although previously presumed to be front-runners in the possible acquisition of PPTAS, coach-maker Chavdar and Rennault have shown less interest in the past month.

April 22
King Edward VIII of Great Britain arrived in Bulgaria today as a guest of Tsar Boris. King Edward will be staying at the Tsar's hunting lodge of Tsarska Bistritsa.

April 27
PPTAS has received a joint purchase offer by Denmark's Hydrema and Germany's Margirus. The two partners have proposed to acquire 40% ownership each, with the remaining 20% of the company's ownership to fall to employee ownership.

May 6
Bulgaria celebrated St. George's Day with the traditional military parade in Sofia and other major cities. The traditional overflight by the Bulgarian Air Force included both the new twin-engine KB-9 liaison aircraft and the KB-11 observation aircraft.

May 12
Construction companies have been hiring madly this summer to fill construction teams for the new Warsaw Pact Autostrada. Although some legal issues with land acquisition remain, construction is well underway on several key sections of dual-carriageway road. The promise of the Autostrada has had an interesting affect on local economics, as many towns and villages vie for the road to pass close by, while other towns shun the project. Budgets remain closely watched to ensure the country, and indeed Europe as a whole, sees a well-built and modern highway system.

May 14
The Bulgarian Economic Development Council (Bulgarski ikonomicheski suvet za razvitie) has offered space in the "Sucreries Raffineries Bulgares" economic incubator project to a project group called Ion-DVP (Deionizirana Vmzdukh Prechistvatel), which intends to produce medical sterilization equipment.

June 22
Progress continues on the Rousse-Giurgiu Friendship Bridge over the Danube. Though visually the span appears to be nearing completion, another eighteen months of work remains. The bridge will carry both the new Autostrada as well as a double-track railway line over the Danube River.

July 8
The Navigation Maritime Bulgare [1] has commissioned the motorships MV Dimitar Obshti and MV L.S. Kerevelov, brand-new "River-Sea Freighters" built by the Varna BulYards firm. These ships are designed both for navigable rivers like the Danube as well as open-ocean operation. The Navigation Maritime Bulgare ordered the Dimitar Obshti and L.S. Kerevelov as part of their participation in the Danube Intercontinental Navigation and Transport Company [2]. Identical sister-ships are in the process of being commissioned in Yugoslavia, Brazil, and Romania, again as part of the DINTOCo cooperative project.

Industry insiders have speculated that the Navigation Maritime Bulgare is likely observing the DINTCo experiment quite closely, as a recent change in upper-level leadership in the NMB may lead to a more aggressive Bulgarian merchant shipbuilding program in the coming years.

Note 1: Bulgaria's main merchant ship line.
Note 2: Per previous news from 1939.



DINTCo River-Sea Freighters:

July 21
The Bulgarian Air Force announced today it's intention to retire the last of the KB.309 "Papagal" bombers and the last of the Bf109B "Strella" fighter planes. The Papagal, originally designed and used as a bomber, was turned into a transport aircraft once its speed and carrying capacity were shown to be decisively outmoded. The Papagal has been replaced in the transport role by the new KB-9 Bekas.

The Strela, by comparison, remains a modest air-superiority fighter despite being in service five years. However, the Strela has become somewhat difficult for the VNVV to maintain due to depleted parts supplies, and a number of ground-handling accidents have raised the maintenance costs involved in maintaining the aircraft in active service. Bulgarian pilots, particularly the junior flying officers, prefer the more forgiving Spitfires, though the Bulgarian veterans have demonstrated that a well-handled Strela is fully their equal. Increased quantities of Spitfires have, however, resulted in the Strela being confined to the margins of the Air Force's fighter force, and the VNVV's leadership believes the Spitfire is more suited to the air defense role of the nation.

October 10
Four Fw190 fighters and three He177 bombers of the German Luftwaffe landed at Vrazhdebna Air Force Base outside Sofia today, accompanied by a number of Junkers Ju52 transport aircraft. The small Luftwaffe force was welcomed by Air Force commander Lieutenant-General Vasil Boydev, who inspected the aircraft and noted that they were "impressive specimens of engineering." The German planes are bound to Turkey to undertake tropical trials.

When reporters inquired about the stopover, Bulgarian Air Force officials noted that while the VNVV is receptive to a potential technical evaluation, there is no current requirement for a long-ranged bomber such as the He177, and that the current plethora of Bulgarian Spitfires leaves no room for further fighter purchases at the present time.

Special Event - September 10 through September 16
Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Yugoslavia hosted the Four Capitals Invitational Air Race. The four host countries' native air forces invited eight other nations to send entries for the race.

Entries were:
- Bulgaria: Fairey Firefly (Stoyan Stoyanov)
- Hungary: Avia B.135 (Istvan Horthy)
- Romania: IAR81 (Lieutenant Anton Dunceau)
- Yugoslavia: Soko Jastreb (Major Anton Fregl)
- Atlantis: Spartan I-02 (Osson Talsconis)
- Britain: Hawker Typhoon F.Mk.I (Flt Lt Archie McKellar)
- France: VG.39bis (Pierre Le Gloan)
- Germany: Focke Wulf Fw190A (Leutnant Günther Rall)
- Greece: Bolton-Paul P.94 (2nd Lieutenant Marinos Mitralexis)
- Poland: PZL P.81 (Stanislaw Skalski)
- Russia: I-39 (Alexander Pokryshkin)
- Turkey: Heinkel He-100 B-6 (Sabiha Gökçen)

The race, true to its name, was held between the four capital cities of the host countries, starting and ending this year in Sofia. (Note: the host countries will rotate the honor of starting the race in future repetitions.) The events were:

Quoted

Stage One: Danube Navigation
- Sofia to Bucharest: 185 miles / 296 km
- Pilots are instructed to fly from Sofia to Bucharest with two waypoints, but are not informed where the waypoints are until five minutes before engine start. This stage of the race tests the navigational abilities of the pilots mixed with speed.

Stage Two: Carpathian Handicap
- Bucharest to Budapest: 400 miles / 643 km
- Pilots fly from Bucharest to Budapest on a timed leg. Each plane receives a handicap according to its maximum speed over a measured distance.

Stage Three: Hungarian Navigation
- Budapest to Belgrade: 199 miles / 320 km
- Pilots are instructed to fly from Budapest to Belgrade with two waypoints, but are not informed where the waypoints are until five minutes before engine start. This stage of the race tests the navigational abilities of the pilots mixed with speed.

Stage Four: Balkan Patrol
- Belgrade to Sofia: 203 miles / 327 km
- Pilots are instructed to fly from Belgrade to Sofia in wing-pairs (drawn by lot). Pilots are routed to rendezvous with a pair of bombers and "shoot" the bombers using their cameras, while the bombers do the same. For every two seconds of gun-camera footage of the bomber, one minute is subtracted from the pilot's overall time; for every two seconds of gun-camera footage of the bomber "shooting" the fighter, one minute is added to the pilot's overall time.

Scoring rules agreed on beforehand provided each aircraft with an official handicap, which permitted the technically-disparate aircraft of the contestants to compete against each other. Winners received a maximum of 12 points per stage, with placing determined by the sum of the twelve stages. Provision was made for a tiebreaker round in the even of ties.

[SIZE=3]Results:[/SIZE]
Stage One: Danube Navigation
Stoyanov: 12
Mitralexis: 11
Pokryshkin: 10
Horthy: 9
Rall: 8
Talsconis: 7
Le Gloan: 6
McKellar: 5
Fregl: 4
Dunceau: 3
Gökçen: 2
Skalski: 1

Stage Two: Carpathian Handicap
Rall: 12
Le Gloan: 11
Pokryshkin: 10
Skalski: 9
Mitralexis: 8
Dunceau: 7
Talsconis: 6
Horthy: 5
Fregl: 4
McKellar: 3
Stoyanov: 2
Gökçen: 1

Stage Three: Hungarian Navigation
Dunceau: 12
Horthy: 11
Gökçen: 10
Pokryshkin: 9
Rall: 8
Fregl: 7
Mitralexis: 6
Stoyanov: 5
Le Gloan: 4
Skalski: 3
Talsconis: 2
McKellar: 1

Stage Four: Balkan Patrol
Stoyanov: 12
Rall: 11
Pokryshkin: 10
Dunceau: 9
Mitralexis: 8
Skalski: 7
Le Gloan: 6
Gökçen: 5
Fregl: 4
McKellar: 3
Horthy: 2
Talsconis: 1

Overall Points:
[SIZE=1]Sum of points + Tiebreaker point[/SIZE]
Rall: 39+1
Pokryshkin: 39+0
Mitralexis: 33+0
Dunceau: 31+1
Stoyanov: 31+0
Horthy: 27+1
Le Gloan: 27+0
Skalski: 20+0
Fregl: 19+0
Gökçen: 18+0
Talsconis: 16+0
McKellar: 12+0

[SIZE=1]Sorry - this is a bit behind the times, so I haven't "sauced it up" like Talons...[/SIZE]