WesWorld

Prologue : Quite some time ago I found myself both busy and somewhat burned out. So I stopped my writing in 1938. It wasn't until this spring that the 'writing bug' came back. The result is a fair bit of catch up to do and I happen to have a smidge of free time.

The critical aspects in relation to other nations are Dutch Foreign and Military policy.
Since I don't want to flood people with long past events, I'll focus there.

Past History:
The 1931 Dutch Election brought in De Progressieve Eland-Stier Partij (PEP) and Eduard Land, who wished a more conciliatory and diplomatic policy. Land, backed by the Queen, led to the TIDE program reforming politics in Malay Achepelago to allow progressively greater voting. This was also meant to change the tone of Dutch-Bahrat relations, and thus that with SATSUMA. World outrage over Italian interpetations of the Clieto treaty, and loss of informal agreements with the United Kingdom diminished the appeal of AANM (now AEGIS).

It was in this time that Belgium, struck by a recession, it's public officials discredited by corruption scandels, lost what was proving to be the shining light- it's monarch, leaving a widowed Dutch Princess or a series of unpalatable choices with dregs of royal blood. Internal debate eventually led to the choice of the popular, well respected Dutch Queen and joining the United Kingdoms of the Netherlands (as distinct from the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Queen Wilhelmina had been popular with the peoples of Belgium since WWI, when the Queen arranged for Dutch troops to keep the peace between the Belgians and their German occupiers, avoiding many outrages. As Dutch troops would only take up duties if the Belgians requested, even the Walloons had found their presence a far superior alternative.

This Personal union also sparked continuing debate in Luxembourg as to their future political and fiscal status and possible closer ties or even union with the United Kingdoms of the Netherlands.

At this time opening discussions with other powers were held regarding alternatives to AANM. As part of this, England and Australia were approached with the idea of a Malay-DEI-Australian alliance block, something the English took ownership of and turned into SEAR.

However, in the 1935 Elections Eduard Land was faced by the semi-fascist & pro-Italian DMZSBD (De Mannen met Zeer Boze Blikken Partij ) and looked to be winning until- ostensibly over the alleged Italian transgressions, Bahrat and SATSUMA quit the Clieto Treaty. As the DMZSBD Hawks had been warning that SATSUMA was only in the treaty to catch up, and would leave early...and Bahrat had just about capped allowable construction... Land's approach was repudiated and the DMZSBD swept into office.

This set the stage for the next 4 years.
From the Hawks' point of view, the withdrawal of SATSUMA meant a new series of “superior” ships could be built free of treaty restrictions, and war would come in 1938-1943, but most likely 1940-42 when SATSUMA had the edge and the second series of vessels would be completing. This timeline strongly influenced the building of the small Ijelsijk battleships, the purchase of the SAE battleships, and the choice to build the mid-sized Walcheren class CV rather than larger vessels.

AANM, then AEGIS were embraced, SEAR happily joined, the Clieto treaty abandoned, taxes raised, funds put into military expansion,

The first post is the stuff I wrote quite sometime back...Jan 2010 for some of it.
I think I posted some of it, but not sure which.

1938 News Elements

January
Jan 3rd
With the Assassination of the Persian Shah, unrest threatens to envelope the region.

January 20th
The Legislature has approved a government proposal to classify procurement details and specifications for the Army and Air Force. A temporary order has been in place since last year, to which trade journals vociferously objected, and the courts deemed such a curtailment of information unacceptable without legislative action. i.e. I don’t expect I’ll be reporting on or updating the Dutch or Belgian Army/Air force encyclopedia info any more .

February
Feb 2. News reports reveal that United Kingdom forces have landed in the Kingdom of Eastern Baluchistan on February 1st 1938. The United Kingdom has maintained a vested interest in the fate of the provinces they surrendered to Persia and Bahrat, and with the annulment of the agreement last fall, and the growing instability in the region, the United Kingdom has apparently decided to intervene, with the Royal Marines landing in Gwadar and Pasni.

Feb 4. Rumors of a Bahrati invasion at Ormara on the 1st would appear to have sustenance. This marks the 6th armed conflict for Bahrat in the past twenty years, marking the nation as the most warlike on the globe. Notably, this is the first of the conflicts in which Bahrat has a land border, but like the others, Bahrat has been the aggressor nation.

Feb 6th. Reports from the middle east confirm that the United Kingdom and the Empire of Bahrat appear to be operating in cooperation in the intervention against the Muslim League in the United Kingdom’s former province of Baluchistan.

Feb 17th
The Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the coronation of the Raj of Bahrat as Shah of Persia. The spokesmen merely commented “Such an event appears to be merely a formality”.

March
March 15th, The United Kingdom has announced that in Baluchistan the Balochi Administration is officially removed from power and a joint Anglo-Bharat military administration has been established.

Military : BB-14 Koning Wilhelm and BB-15 Koning Phillip III finish trials and enter fleet service.

April
April 5, An ostensibly Independent Muslim Republic of Baluchistan was officially created yesterday. The seat of the new government is to be in Quetta, and awaits the creation of a constitution and code of laws. The Foreign Minister responded to reporters questions “We expect to recognize the new state eventually, once it is clearly functioning autonomously. Until such a time we expect any interaction to occur through the British authorities.

April 7th
The War Ministry confirms rumors that fleet units are enroute to the Persian Gulf.
“Attacks on shipping transiting the Straits of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf are not acceptable. The Netherlands has long backed the Freedom of the Seas, and the navy is in the process of moving escort squadrons into position to protect friendly traders. We will be cooperating with the engaged powers in the region to ensure that escorted ships and cargoes are clearly known and entanglements with belligerents can be avoided.”

Responding to a question of why this was not explicitly announced earlier, “The countries and shipping companies involved have been notified, but this is nothing more than continuation of the Navy’s traditional trade protection mission, and we expect it to go as smoothly as the Red Sea operation several years ago when Bahrat had their last war. “

editorial note : this, the 2nd convoy system the Dutch had run in the Red Sea, is both why they have Saudi and Yemeni bases, and also why in the later South China Sea incident the Dutch moved quickly to offering convoys- it's their way of offering protection to their merchant lifeblood, adding value to their allies, and reminding everyone they have a worldwide reach.

April 25th
“ a motion presented in the League of Nations to condemn the actions of the Persian rebels against neutral shipping failed in the Council of Twenty. “

Ed note : not going to complete this ancient news thread, but the events in 1938 decidedly had an effect in 1939.


May
In the Malay Archipelago, the populace for the first time cast their ballots. An estimated turnout of 75% of eligible voter cast ballots. The system set in place by the TIDE initiative created local legislature bodies, and provided for appointees to fill the seats initially. In this election, ½ of those seats are to transition to elected representatives, with the remainder being elected in the 1942 cycle, at which time delegates to the Dutch Erste Kamer will allowed.

Note : The timing is deliberate, with this 1938 election at the beginning of the perceived “danger time” from SATSUMA. The 1942 election, by making the local legislatures fully elected would answer one of Bahrat's/SATSUMAs political planks. The path forward presented also substantially undermined local The enfranchisement is limited to people with property or 'high school' education at this time, and the appointees were loyalists with vested ties in the status quo.

June
June 13th
The start of the governments youth summer camps were met with some protests today. The curriculum last summer was abbreviated to August, allowing parents to holiday without the children. The expansion of the camps to encompass the summer session is proving less palatable to parents.

June 31st.
We have it on good authority that nothing happened yesterday.

July

The government announced budgetary plans to raise three additional Armored brigades. One will be retained at home as part of the Mobile corps, while the additional two will be deployed to Java and Sumatra respectively. The War Ministry continues to advocate plans for additional Infantry brigades in each DEI territory continue to gain favor and are expected to be advanced.

Opposition critics complain that while government revenues have been rising, both from trade and tax increases, the citizens continue to see little additional services.

DMZSBD leadership has consistently maintained that additional defense spending is necessary to protect Dutch international interests and allow robust response to aggression.

The DMZSBD also has pointed to it's advancement of “Family Planning” clinics and free assistance pilot programs on Java as an example of expanded services. This claim has proved ironic, as the program has led to denouncements from some opposition members. The issue has not gained significant traction with the public, despite the long term problem of Javanese overpopulation. Officials in the DEI are split, with native Javanese having mixed reactions, while officials in other DEI provinces appreciate measures being taken to lighten the impact of Javanese immigration to other provinces, which has led to local friction.

The DMZSBD also counters that the additional funds demanded by TIDE represents a drain on the treasury and is instead responsible for the Citizens not observing additional benefits. Observers say the TIDE program is resulting in substantial industrial growth in the DEI, and has led to reduced internal dissent. Government insiders have long maintained that the Queen's insistence on continuing TIDE have resulted in the DMZSBD resorting to threats to the program as a negotiating tactic in order to gain the Queens signature. This tactic has not always been successful, as the Queen has been rumored to have flatly told the Prime Minister that certain legislation, if passed, would not gain her signature and so not enter into law.

August
August 29th
The return of children from the government youth camps has sparked a furor as it becomes increasingly evident that there was a political element in some 'classes' which some parents are accusing amount to indoctrination of DMZSBD political ideology.

September

September 6
Reports from Chile indicate a coup is underway in that nation. The Foreign Ministry stated “There appears to be no valid complaint to support the Coup, as such we will continue to recognize the regular Chilean Government, and expect we will deny support to the opposition should events escalate.”

September 20th
Prinsjedag
The Queen gave the annual Speech from the Throne in the Ridderzaal today. The Queens speech contained several veiled references to DMZSBD policies which the Queen is known to object to, and concluded with the statement
“As Queen, service to the People is primary, and guidance to the peoples government an element of that duty. It is the Monarchs task to guide the nation towards the future while serving as guardian of the traditions and laws of this nation, even when that leads to conflicts with the peoples government. Winter approaches, and the days grow short, but with the Spring we can count on new life.”

This last statement was widely interpreted as alluding to the Spring elections, with some editors maintaining it amounted to an unseemly public criticism of the Government by the Queen.

Military : BB-9 Tromp reenters full service and CV-4 Walcheren finishes trials and enters fleet service.


December
Military : BB-16 & BB-17 of the Ijelsijk class finish trials and enter fleet service.
Note: as 1938 was seen as the very beginning of the “danger” time, managing to add 4 battlewagons and 1 carrier was seen as a very desirable achievement.

Quoted

Originally posted by Kaiser Kirk
June 31st.
We have it on good authority that nothing happened yesterday.

Heh! ;o)

Nice write up, waiting for more catch-up to learn about Netherlands background.

Well it's just so long ago I felt a little prologue could help refresh things.

The 1938 stuff I had partially worked up, just had to flesh out.
The 1939 elections wound up being modified by such things as the events in the Middle East, the Peruvian crisis of late 1937, and general instability.

Mainly I'll be making sure I've covered the high points and the why/wherefore of Dutch reactions so I can rapidly get back up to "now". There are a couple key things that have to get covered, and some which should be identified as part of the summary.

Handy stuff. Those events of 1938 seem so far away now, yet those events have probably shaped WW ever since.

Quoted

January 20th

The Legislature has approved a government proposal to classify procurement details and specifications for the Army and Air Force. A temporary order has been in place since last year, to which trade journals vociferously objected, and the courts deemed such a curtailment of information unacceptable without legislative action. i.e. I don’t expect I’ll be reporting on or updating the Dutch or Belgian Army/Air force encyclopedia info any more .

I can understand the difficulty in keeping non-naval encyclopedia information up to date. It also makes assessment of the Netherlands capabilities difficult - unless one assumes that the Netherlands is using late 1930s kit until the end of time, which would be disconcerting, and, quite unlikely. I regret that this option has been chosen, but it is your choice.

OOC:

This is a naval sim. Or at least that's what it was when I signed up for it.

I was one of the early ones to specify force structures, and equipment.

I used to do tankbuilder and planebuilder but the one-upsmanship and bitter discussions/accusations soured me and had a large part in why I stopped doing any writing here.

Plus it was extremely frustrating to put time and energy into making what I thought was a "period" design with news reports about it's prototypes, only to have somebody create something out of thin air that was the same or better.

So I stopped. I put some disclaimers in my encyclopedias so readers know I stopped.

The Dutch generally field "B+" or "A-" kit. Their engines are a year behind the lead countries. They favor wing area and flying characteristics over absolute top speed. Their tanks have lower ground pressures and slightly smaller guns. They have their Czech ZH-36 semi autos, and the Zh-39s. The Belgians field the FNmodel40 Semiauto.

You'll see I make some allusions to improved kit, but they are not comprehensive and the details of what the Dutch/Belgian/Kong actually have will be worked out if and when I script a war with someone.

Q3, 1938.

Elections are held in Belgium. The Kingdom has seen pronounced changes since 1934. The new Queen, the new constitution and the new government have been coupled with fiscal sanity, regulatory certainty and a harsh line against corrupt practices. The Belgian economy has been resurgent as a result. Internationally, the mission to Lithuania is seen as a success for the League, and Belgium's international standing. While the decision to buy Panzer-II tanks from Germany still is a black mark, the founding of the Dutch-Belgian Mobile Corps is seen as a boon to the common defense.
The electoral opposition proved weak and divided, allowing the current leadership to recapture their offices.

1938-41 Belgian Government

Prime Minister :Count Hubert Marie Eugène Pierlot
Finance Minister : Paul Guillaume van Zeeland
Minister of Foreign Affairs : Paul-Henri Spaak
Economic Minister : Count Jean Charles Snoy et d'Oppuers
Belgian Minister of Defense : Andre Flahaut



1939
Q1.

February 4th
The morning papers carried this excerpt :
"Citizens of Bharat, Today we are entering a new era. An era were the cooperation with Europeans is now a reality. An era were our needs are being fulfilled and the future will be bright. An era were the Empire will rise to greater glories. Today we have ended our ties to Satsuma, a relationship that helped our nation in the past and we are thankful for the cooperation between the members nations of Satsuma but is the time to move on..."

The Foreign Ministry confirms that the speech comes from legitimate sources, but had no comment. Prime Minister Krook's Assistant Secretary for Public Relations issued this statement : “The apparent withdrawal of Bahrat from the SATSUMA alliance structure is consistent with the behavior of the regime. The Empire of Bahrat has a long history of exploiting others for their gain, and having received maximum benefit from SATSUMA and reached the point of diminishing returns, they have cold heartedly left the Alliance. Only time will tell if this is in fact a true action, or rather a subterfuge by Bahrat in collaboration with it's now secret allies. ”

When contacted, the Queen's spokesman, Frederick Mercurr, offered this statement “ The Queen has never felt that the adversarial relations between the Empire of Bahrat and the United Kingdoms of the Netherlands were in the enlightened self interest of either people. It is the Queen's hope the future deeds of the Nation of Bahrat match the words uttered this week. “


Rotterdam, April 20th.

The Engagement of Princess Julianna of the House of Orange to Prince Louis-Ferdinand of the House of Hohenzollern was announced today. The couple has intermittently appeared together at public events for several years, first appearing in a formal setting at the Nordmark Coronation review in 1936.

The ceremony is to occur on March 31st, 1940 in Den Hague.

Initial reaction by the Belgian people is muted. The engagement has been rumored as immanent for sometime, but the couple's charitable ventures has gained the Prince a great deal of exposure to the common people, and he is generally well thought of.

Military : The Design 122 Flying Boat, formally designated the T.14W was accepted into service today. Designed by Fokker, the hull was designed and built by Dornier, with first delivery in May of 1936. The plane is powered by Jumo diesel radials which give good fuel consumption, and modular fuel tanks may be fitted in the bomb bays, allowing ferry or personnel transport flights from the Netherlands to Dutch Guiana or the Kongo, and from the coast of East Afrika to Sumatra.

KLM airlines is said to be conisidering an “Express” version for passenger and package deliveries from the Netherlands to Afrika, Asia and South America, from Grand Uraguay to the Moluccas.

( this was something Hrolf and I started way back when, but not sure I finished it. But heck it's close enough to an armed Pacific clipper I'm not going to worry about it )

Q2.
April 26th
Dutch Elections

The incumbent DMZSBD campaigned on the promise of security, pointing to the past four years of international upheaval. Pointing to conflicts and crises in South America, Lithuania, the Middle East, Peru, and elsewhere, the DMZSBD pointed to their strong record of military preparedness. The DMZSBD cited the signings of AEGIS and SEAR as foundations, and their buildup of the Dutch Fleet as a deterrent. The DMZSBD postulates that their “Armed to Fight” slogan helped persuade Bahrat that participating in SATSUMA's future warplans were no longer in their interests. A parallel to Grand Uruguay was drawn, with SATSUMA in the position of the South American powers.

Eduard Land's De Progressieve Eland-Stier Partij (PEP) campaigned on the diplomatic improvements during the Land administration laying the groundwork for the current international situation, an argument that did not seem to work well with the public, as the events occurred during Krook's administration. The PEP also campaigned on educational reform- rolling back many of the more unpopular aspects of the DMZSBD programs, and broadening and cutting taxes- in part to be funded by “savings from Defense reviews undertaken in the current international climate”, a claim the DMZSBD turned into “Land doesn't mix with Water, so he wants to Sink the Navy”.

Note: Actually, the Land administration prior to 1935 got most of those programs rolling

The Dutch election results once again failed to produce a clear majority party.

Support for the Partij van de Arbeid or PvDa (labor party) and Communistische Partij Holland (Communist) was insufficient to garner seats in the 150 member Erste Kamer.

Former PM, Jan de Voor's Vrijheidsbond has recovered somewhat. The Vrijheidsbond had split prior to the 1931 elections, giving rise to the De Progressieve Eland-Stier Partij (PEP) of then PM Herr Land. The 1935 decision of Herr de Voor to form a coalition with the De Mannen met Zeer Boze Blikken Partij (DMZSBD) placed Herr Krook in power. The split between de Voor and Land explains while the two ideologically similar parties do not form a coalition, but rather the Vrijheidsbond hitches itself to the DMZSBD to form a slight majority.

The retirement of Herr Lodewyk van der Berg from politics seems to have impacted his conservative Rooms-Katholieke Volkspartij .

De Progressieve Eland-Stier Partij or PEP (Progressive): 34%: 51 members
-Vrijheidsbond (Freedom league-conservative party): 14%: 22 members
-Arbeiders-Democratische Bond (Democratic Workers' league): 8%: 12 members
-De Mannen met Zeer Boze Blikken Partij (DMZSBD, semi-fascist): 36% : 54members
-Rooms-Katholieke Volkspartij or RKVP (catholic peoples party): 8% : 10 members
-Partij van de Arbeid or PvDa (labor party) : failed to qualify
-Communistische Partij Holland (communist party): failed to qualify

The DMZSBD has announced that Herr Herman Loeder, currently War Minister, will seek to form a coalition government with the Rooms-Katholieke Volkspartij and Vrijheidsbond again.. The Rooms-Katholieke Volkspartij is expected to keep control of the Foreign ministry and medical policy, while the Vrijheidsbond will now take the Treasury post.

No reason was given for the choice of Herr Loeder over Herr Krook, but rumors from the palace have long indicated a pronounced rift between the Queen and the Prime Minister.

1939-42 Netherlands Government :
Prime Minister : Herman Loeder
Treasury Minister : Jan De Voor

Foreign Minister :Jan Baars
Staatssecretaris of Foreign Affairs, Jan Bogaart
Staatssecretaris of Foreign Affairs, Louis JM Beel

Education Minister : Coenraad AA Haighton

War Minister : Lieutenant-Admiral (ret)Hans Pienaar
Staatssecretaris of the Army, Jan Snellensoon
Staatssecretaris of the Air force, Hendrik Visscher
Staatssecretaris of the Navy, Ernst van Rappard
Staatssecretaris of the Marines, Willem de Rave

Editorial note : This was of course the “known” to me, and factored into some of my participation, this just codifies it for the rest of you all.


Q3.
Prinsjedag
The Queen gave the annual Speech from the Throne in the Ridderzaal today. While in recent years, the Queen has often made veiled references to differences with the Government's policies, in this year's speech the primary theme was a 'feel good' state of the Kingdom.

Subsequent to the speech, Prime Minister Loeder gave his address, which included the line “we are waiting patiently on Her Majesty's deliberations and signatures on several important bills to fulfill the DMZSBD's promises to our constituents”. Research by this paper has identified three potential bills which have been passed but which have not been signed by the Queen. These include the Church registry, a revision to Identity papers, and changes to the State Mental Hospital involuntary incarceration regulations.

Military : Z85 & Z86 enter service. T-35C enters service.

Q4.
October – The Indic Fleet arrived off the East African coastline today for exercises with the Royal South Afrikaan Navy. This is the first joint exercises since the 1934 Libreville games. The Royal Army of the Kongo will be engaged in wargames with the Royal South Afrikaan Army near Petauke between the Luangwa and Zambezi rivers.

November,
The spat between China and the English Commonwealth over territorial waters raises concerns. The publications of correspondence placing demands on the Iberians at San Hianando, and Australian concerns over the Bahrat navy lead to a higher alert status throughout the Dutch East Indies, with leaves limited to 48 hours and maritime patrols are conducted at a heightened rate. Submarines are dispatched from Medan to supplement the patrols in the Bay of Bengal. At military bases, “Surprise raid” drills are undertaken.

Note: the above is really just par for the course, the Dutch get more worked up when SATSUMA warships transit one of the straits

Military :
The Navy accepted the lead two ships of the S44 Escort class, and the lead 4 ships of the South Afrikan-based TBJ “Buizzard” class. Additionally, the O-9 and O-10 submarines are to finish trials.

Quoted

Originally posted by Kaiser Kirk
You'll see I make some allusions to improved kit, but they are not comprehensive and the details of what the Dutch/Belgian/Kong actually have will be worked out if and when I script a war with someone.

Though I don't mean to aim this directly at you, it's a comment that I've noted in some aspects from others and wished to comment on; since it's come up here, I might as well take the opportunity. From my perspective, I will not script a war with someone who leaves their encyclopedia out-of-date in this fashion (though I recognize your reasons for choosing to do so, as you've pointed out many of the issues which frustrate me as well). If the information isn't available before it comes time to script a war, then people may be surprised by something they've not been led to expect. While I have every confidence, Kirk, that you would not set things up for unrealistic gain in such a scripting situation, I'm not so confident of others who've advanced that statement. I interpret that disinterest in giving out public information until a war-scripting as a negative check-mark (and a very important one) in my decision-making process of whether or not I wish to script a war with someone.

I don't wish to make this a criticism of you or anyone else, by the way - I'm just coming at it from a radically different perspective.

On a different topic, thank you very much for putting together some Dutch/Belgian news. I'm glad to know what's going on with my northern neighbor.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine

Though I don't mean to aim this directly at you, it's a comment that I've noted in some aspects from others and wished to comment on; since it's come up here, I might as well take the opportunity. From my perspective, I will not script a war with someone who leaves their encyclopedia out-of-date in this fashion (though I recognize your reasons for choosing to do so, as you've pointed out many of the issues which frustrate me as well).

Which is also quite fair.
I find it's an issue I ran out of patience regarding.

Quoted

Originally posted by Kaiser Kirk
...... the Queen's spokesman, Frederick Mercurr.......

Love it!!

Local lad, or is he from Zanzibar?

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
If the information isn't available before it comes time to script a war, then people may be surprised by something they've not been led to expect. While I have every confidence, Kirk, that you would not set things up for unrealistic gain in such a scripting situation, I'm not so confident of others who've advanced that statement. I interpret that disinterest in giving out public information until a war-scripting as a negative check-mark (and a very important one) in my decision-making process of whether or not I wish to script a war with someone.

I feel a need to chime in here and make a couple of quick comments on the issue;

1) Kirk is hardly the only player who's taking this approach, he's just the only one who's formally announced he's doing so. For example, I've gotten most of Canada' forces worked out for circa 1940, and I generally announce new projects and technology, but I'm not obsessively updating the OrBats every quarter, nor have I ever intended to. As Kirk's said, this started as, and has never officially changed from being a primarily Naval sim, and many of us have neither the time nor expertise to churn out the kind of detailed information other players do; Again, for example, Most of the foundations of Canada's Air and Land data has been farmed out to other players, as it's not areas I'm familiar with.

2) Kirk did point out that should anyone be interested in pursuing a conflict with the UKN that he would work out the current makeup of his forces; I will go out on a limb and suggest he means that he would generally do this work in the preliminary phases of such a conflict, before any serious scripting began.

3) Rounding back to something I said in my first point, I would highly suggest that anyone who feels overwhelmed or out-of-depth in these areas consider asking around to farm out such work to some of our fellow players with more of an interest in such areas. While I don't feel that our players need to go into the kind of depth and detail of the exact OrBats of the cooks and latrine departments of their armies, I feel it's a reasonable goal to keep the rest of the playerbase informed on new planes (especially carrier aviation), and an occasional overview on the army.

3a) And lastly, for anyone who wants to work out issues or ask for help in these (or other areas), I'll again plug the IRC channel Brock and I have set up; While it's somewhat tricky at first, especially in making sure other folks are around, we've done our best to make it easy to get started in, and I think many of us find it to be quicker and less stressful for dealing with involved and detailed matters.

Quoted

Originally posted by ShinRa_Inc

3) Rounding back to something I said in my first point, I would highly suggest that anyone who feels overwhelmed or out-of-depth in these areas consider asking around to farm out such work to some of our fellow players with more of an interest in such areas. While I don't feel that our players need to go into the kind of depth and detail of the exact OrBats of the cooks and latrine departments of their armies, I feel it's a reasonable goal to keep the rest of the playerbase informed on new planes (especially carrier aviation), and an occasional overview on the army.

As someone who has an interest (and some would say inordinate interest) in detailed orders of battle, I would second ShinRa's suggestion regarding assistance. It's something I've done for a few folks, and it is something I'd be happy to do - at least enough to get the ball rolling.

Assistance is always on hand. On the other hand scripting the SA war with a reletively undefined RSAA and RSAF didn't make too many problems or throw too many oddities.

If anyone is in doubt Avions Fairey has access to anything that Fairey designs/ produces.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood

On the other hand scripting the SA war with a reletively undefined RSAA and RSAF didn't make too many problems or throw too many oddities.

This speaks highly for the participants. For myself, I suspect I would find such a situation unsettling, to say the least.

The South Afrikaan model- where reasonable equipment was created to allow the conflict- had part to do with my choice.

As for help- while I realize it's a more generalized offer, actually I can, and have, done all this stuff myself. My 1944 Handbook on the German army has very nice TO&Es to work off of, and Niehorster's site is very good. I've done both planebuilders- with careful measurements, discussions over misc weight for self sealing tanks and ejection seats, etc, and tankbuilders where I've sought to establish reasonable turret ring diameters and ratios to hull width. I have a design "arc" for the various Dutch aircraft.

Quoted

I feel it's a reasonable goal to keep the rest of the playerbase informed on new planes (especially carrier aviation)

I really wasn't intending to. I probably already have them worked up in my files, but I see no need to post the details. Presume my carriers have planes. Generally figure I'm entitled to something equivalent to a OTL design +2-3years ahead of the official date and you're going to be in the ballpark. Afterall, if I make something to far outside that range it's invalid anyhow.

I've witnessed far to many nasty and rancorous dialogs about AFVs and planes - Maybe it's all calm now, I dunno,now I just don't look in those forums, which alleviates the issue.

Many of the fights focused on if the tech/ technique was appropriate or period, and rarely resolved much, with folks feeling picked on but stubbornly clinging to their new toy that happened to be a world beater and probably several years ahead of where it should be.


Further, I wound up being ticked because I'd sink time and research and backstory into developing something reasonable, only to have somebody else trot out their nifty toy sooner than they should. So I really don't plan on specifying equipment.

1940

Q1. The Rijks-Studiedienst voor de Luchtvaart cut the ribbon on the 3rd and 4th wind tunnels at their facility. The last wind tunnel was the HST commenced operations in October 1936, these two closed wind tunnels are the LST 3 x 2 m² for powered testing and the smaller LST 1.5 x 1.5 m² for research purposes.

The Admiralty announced today that the long anticipated movement of elements of the Indic fleet from the base in Siamese Phuket to the fleet base in Balikipapan would commence during the coming year. (note : actually meant to do this ~1938, 1940 is the fall back time).

A crack between the de Voor's treasury and the PM Loeder bubbled over into the Erste Kamer today as the funding for the massive Fokker Design 121, the so called “Bengal Bomber” was cut. The DMZSBD's raising of taxes to fund the military, while shrinking social services won broad support in the past. With Bahrat's apparent withdrawal from SATSUMA, de Voor faced a party revolt on the issue of raising taxes to pay for a wing of “Bengal Bombers”, and the DMZSBD's proposal for issuing a bond to pay for them died in the chamber. Legislature watchers believe that any such law would join the 8 others the Queen has steadfastedly refused to sign for various reasons.


Military:
Netherlands : The first two dedicated anti-aircraft cruisers, the Windmill, and
Polder started sea trials today.

The Navy issues a new shell, with a deliberately blunt nose hidden behind a windscreen. Developed after a series of new target shells landed “short” and holed the target battleship Molucca in September 1935, these “diving” shells are issued in 320mm, 310mm, 280mm, 240mm and 210mm to ships and coastal batteries with guns of those bores. The “diving” shells are to take 35% of the magizine space, AP 35% , HE 25% and training rounds 5%

Belgium : The Cockerill 90mm AAG enters service, both in towed and SP variant. A navalised version of the gun is to follow shortly.

With the antiquated FT-17/18s & T-15s replaced in 1937-1938 by the 47mm armed “Pz-II bel” purchased from Germany, funds for replacement of the T-13 tank Destroyers became available. The Belgian army also begins to accept a long-overdue replacement Tank Destroyer to replace the elderly T-13 B-3 models. Ironically, while the Dutch funded Fairmilleax Heavy casting facility in Maastricht produces hulls for Dutch tanks, the Skoda works in Holland has been contracted to build the T-21 TD.

Addendum :
While I was preparing this update, I went digging up many of the 'foreshadowing' bits that I had built into earlier news, and it helped me realize just how much time has passed. So a couple notes on how I perceive the Wesworld the Dutch, which will spare everyone rereading my 1928-1938 news...

The Dutch Economy : This is not your OTL Dutch. The OTL Dutch were poorly industrialized pacifists who relied on their neutrality to protect them.

The Wesworld Dutch were backstabbed in WWI and have become paranoid militarists with a good degree of industrialization behind them. “Factories” in WW do not represent the overall economy, rather the relative willingness and capacity to produce naval material. Still, it's the only metric we have, and by that the Dutch do well.

The United Kingdom has ~46 million people and 50 factories, or 1.1 per capita. The Dutch have ~8.5 million and 12 factories (in NL) or ~1.5 per capita. With 2 factories, DEI has roughly the same # of factories per capita as Wesworlds' Bahrat.

Overall, with the recent addition of Belgium, the United Kingdoms of the Netherlands count more than 100 million people, much of it a vast pool of fairly cheap labor and manpower. The warrior cultures of the Kongo particularly see social value in military service and provide a disproportionate amount of troops.

The Monarch: The OTL Queen Wilhelmina was a formidable person. She tweaked the British Lion twice, first by sending a ship to rescue the Boer leader, and then by offering sanctuary to the Kaiser. Of course the persecution of Dutch colonists in the Boer war, and the British blockade and seizure of Dutch ships in WWI (neutrality? Who us worry about it? no we make the rules...). She hosted a peace conference, she steered the Prime Minister for many years, and privately she was held to be a shrewd investor (Royal Dutch oil for one). Rumor held her to be the first female Billionaire, though her assets took hits in the wars, and then were parceled out. Extremely popular for much of her reign.

In Wesworld, she's the above and more. A behind the scenes power. Liberator of the Kongo, Protector of Belgium, the one who brought the Ethical policy to the Indies. While only a constitutional Monarch in Belgium and the Netherlands, she runs the Queen's council, the Queen's investigative Service, she has nearly 40,000 “Household” troops which she can unilaterally send to battle. Any bill she refuses to sign simply does not become law. As for the Kongo, there are trappings of limitations because she wishes to limit the governor and transition to a constitutional monarchy. The limitations are little, and her popularity so large, that she can simply declare a war. All of that on top of a personal fortune exceeding a billion in 1935, which gives her tremendous heft in the international financial sector. It's made her a useful writing tool when I need it.


Other I had a general idea of the historical analogies for the future development of my major aircraft and such. I could simply map that path without dates.
I.e. a G.1C -> P-38L -> F-7F, while a D.XXIII -> Do.335, and the Belgian TDs go T-13 ->Marder -> M18 -> M36/Nashorn etc. That at least gives an idea of the general path such things are going in.

Quoted

Originally posted by Kaiser Kirk
Other I had a general idea of the historical analogies for the future development of my major aircraft and such. I could simply map that path without dates.
I.e. a G.1C -> P-38L -> F-7F, while a D.XXIII -> Do.335, and the Belgian TDs go T-13 ->Marder -> M18 -> M36/Nashorn etc. That at least gives an idea of the general path such things are going in.

Any data and insight you can give would be welcomed, as far as I'm concerned. I know I've put a couple "Not quite there yet" placeholder entries in my Encyclopedia, for example.

Very interesting about the Dutch politics. Thanks for that.

I'm developing a wee bit of dislike for the DMZSBD, though. Not sure why.