WesWorld

Posted in one thread due to some shared issues, and because two threads are not necessarily warranted by the amount of content.

January - March 1941

Protests

Small but gradually growing crowds have been in the streets of Tehran and several other Persian cities, protesting against the current head of state, the Samraja of Bharat. There are several linked issues and allegations being cited by those protesters willing to speak with the media:

-That the Samraja isn't Persian
-That the Samraja isn't Muslim
-That the Bharatis staged the assassination of the former Shah Kouroush IV
-That the Majlis has been the puppets of the Samraja and Bharatis

Thus far, Persian police and intelligence are not actively persecuting the protestors, but large quantities have been watching the protestors. Pundits speculate that the Persian police are not yet fully recovered from the War of Succession, and therefore are choosing not to risk a crackdown they might not succeed with.

Mishap

The sloop Cuddalore, operating off Mumbai on a training sortie, suffers a serious accident. While cruising at ten knots, a pipe ruptures and begins to fill the engine room with superheated steam. Initial efforts to divert the steam or close off the pipe fail. The senior engineering officer finally closes off the pipe, but he and two hands have been fatally burned. Eight other personnel are injured but expected to survive.

The Cuddalore is taken under tow and returned to Mumbai for an investigation. An examination reveals that a number of parts and fittings in the engine room are corroded, dials and guages are not necessarily accurate, and the ship's stock of hand tools is depleted and not always where they should be.

An examination of past records indicates that the ship has not undergone any sort of refit since entering service in late 1923. Nonetheless, the ship's captain and executive officer are adivsed to resign their commissions, and do so rather than face courts-martial.

Naval Affairs

The Bharati armored cruiser Hyderabad is completed and begins trials in January.

In March, the Persian coastal defence ship begins running trials in the Persian Gulf.

Interesting developments on several fronts, and most illuminating.

April 1941

Legal News

The Supreme Court of Persia agrees to hear a case brought forward by a group based out of Isfahan.

The group includes two imams, several academics, a journalist, and a former officer (now pardoned) of the Nationalist army. It is their argument that the ascension of Brashkar Canangasundrum to the throne of Persia is illegal and unconstitutional, based on Section 4, Article 37 of the 1906 Persian Constitution. This reads:

"ART. 37. The succession to the Throne, in case of there being more than one son, passes to the eldest son of the King whose mother is a Princess and of Persian race. In case the King should have no male issue, the eldest male of the Royal Family who is next of kin shall rank next in succession to the Throne. If, however, in the case supposed above, male heirs should subsequently be born to the King, the succession will de jure revert to such heir."

The plaintiffs argue that Brashkar Canangasundrum is not a member of the Reza family, nor is his mother a Princess of the Persian race, and was therefore not a valid candidate for the throne.

The plaintiffs also argue that Brashkar is ineligible for the throne because he is not Muslim. They note that Section 4, Article 1 proclaims Islam as official state religion, and that the Shah must profess and promote it.

The plaintiffs also ask for a formal ruling as to whether the Majlis provided consent and approval under Article 43, which reads:

"ART. 43. The King cannot, without the consent and approval of the National Consultative Assembly and the Senate, undertake the government of any other kingdom. "

The case is expected to be heard in May or June.

Naval News

The Bharati armored cruiser Bangalore begins trials.

Curious.

If the group suggests that Brashkar Canangasundrum is not the proper ruler of Persia, do they know who ought to be in that position?

Well, that's a barrel of monkeys they haven't necessarily looked into yet.

The deceased Shah, Kouroush IV, was our historical Shah Reza Pavlavi. WW history establishes that he had no male heirs, but it doesn't say he didn't have one or more of his four historical daughters, two of whom were formal princesses (two from other marriages were not).

Edit: The news post in which the Shah gets whacked does mention that his "family" is with him...

Theoretically, either of those two princesses might have had a son by now, if they are alive; indeed, historically, one had a son in 1940. Does that history hold true here, as well? Not necessarily, but we'll see.

Interesting. Will be interested to see how you develop this.

return of the Qajars?

Quoted

The Supreme Court of Persia agrees to hear a case brought forward by a group based out of Isfahan.

etc.

An interesting and possibly novel approach to the question of Persia intertwined with India. Speaking OOC, I look forward to seeing where this goes.

IC: The German Foreign Office is quite interested in these developments, and directs further inquiries for information.

(Otherwise, "Admiral Canaris, what exactly is happening in Persia?")

The State Department will also be observing matters in India and Persia in the US's new desire to observe (interefere ) in the affairs of others.

April 1941

The Royal Hedjazi Navy is pleased to announce that it has negotiated the purchase of four vessels from the Bharatiya Nau Sena.

Hedjaz has purchased the monitor Bindusara for (300 t) and will take delivery of the vessel in July. The Bindusara will provide the Navy with a useful vessel that can double as a multi-purpose training vessel and also a shore bombardment unit as need arises. The Bindusara is a familiar sight to Hedjazis, having been stationed here for several years in the 1930s.

Hedjaz has purchased the remaining three S-101 class sloops for (800 t). This cost includes a 15% life-extension reift, which will be undertaken starting in July 1941. These three sloops, once modernized, will provide Hedjaz with suitable deepwater patrol capabilities - an important capability in an area with as much maritime traffic as the Red Sea, and one to which its fast destroyers are not best suited.

The Navy plans to build approximately four submarine chasers over the next year, and is contemplating commencement of a 70 m slipway at Jinnah in 1942.


OOC: Unless the rules allow for a 35 m slipway. But I don't see it.

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor
OOC: Unless the rules allow for a 35 m slipway. But I don't see it.

I pushed for something similar to this some time ago - basically, "Small boat yard" with a marine railway.

Yeah. That's the logic behind it. Alternately, Hedjaz could just keep sending bits of cash over to Bharat to build wee stuff like LCVP and harbour inspection craft.

Eh, well, not like Hedjaz actually has that many harbors to write home about...

You can build boats made of wood of up to 200ts without having a slip for them.

If there are enough factories, yes. Hedjaz is lacking in that respect.

Gotta check, but I thouht 1 is minimum?

Quoted

Originally posted by HoOmAn
Gotta check, but I thouht 1 is minimum?

Quoted

Wooden and steel vessels of 200 tons and smaller, 150ft and smaller, can be constructed at a number of (rounded up)

2 craft equal to or smaller than 25t per factory per quarter or

1 craft equal to or smaller than 100t per factory per quarter or

1 craft equal to or smaller than 200t per 3 whole factories (or part there of) per quarter.

Thanks, that answers it. It's been a while since we put this together...

Yes; we changed the wording on that so that the countries with two factories or less could use those small boat rules.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
Yes; we changed the wording on that so that the countries with two factories or less could use those small boat rules.

Huh? My reading on:

Quoted

1 craft equal to or smaller than 200t per 3 whole factories (or part there of) per quarter.

had always been that it meant if you had 2.5 factories (i.e. Part (0.5) of the 3rd factory).