WesWorld

Considering the fuss I raised about India bailing out of the treaty in...whenever that was...you might find it odd that the 1935 program does not subsequently deviate off into treaty-busters. The treaty withdrawal was a political statement, and the 1935/36 programs were planned in such a way as to focus on key needs while allowing India to re-enter a treaty system without too much fussing if such a situation were to arise (and be beneficial). Not that this seems to be an issue now.

Consequently, I believe after this year's construction was completed, the only violation of India's rejected Cleito limits would have been in the Type A cruiser category. The third Kanpur class CL, being > 8,000 t, would fill it, and the fourth unit would be "over the top".

So you get a "more of the same" - more light combattants, more escorts.

Laid down:

-2 x Kanpur class CL (Units 3 & 4)
-2 x DD (1670 t light. No idea where the design is; probably a faster Miraj type)
-2 x Kudligi-34 class sloops (units 5 & 6)
-2 x Kudligi-35 class sloops (units 1 & 2)
-2 x Magar Macchh class dakuu (units 3 & 4)
-2 x APD derived from the Kudligi class sloops (units 3 & 4)
-4 x G-131 class destroyers refitted (25%)

Conversions to Service:

-CL Jaipur converted to experimental ship (50%)

Deletions:

-CA Hyderabad scrapped.
-CL Colombo, Port Blair scrapped.
-Two old Peruvian CL scrapped.
-Three surviving ex-RSAN Cat class DD scrapped

Foreign Stuff:

-Filipino CV Sibuyan being continued.
-CA Bangalore was to be sold to Mexico for 2500 t of material

Infrastructure:

-1.5 pts to SATSUMA
-0.6 pts to completed the D1 at Trincomalee
-The Persians sent back 4,000 t of material as repayment for the 0.5 IP loan in '34.

Wasn't the Mexican deal untill 1936? With the possibility of 2 Indian CAs?

The spreadsheet tells me Q3 and Q4 of '35, and only Bangalore going. If Mexico wants Hyderabad, fork over another 2500 t and I'll revise accordingly.

Hmm my info shows 3,000t on 1936. Let me see if I can find the PMs its on.

You know Rocky, my Hawks aren't going to like this. It's far easier to blame India when there's like, you know, valid reasons.

But thanks for posting the 1935-36 stuff. Likewise, part of the reason the Netherlands held off a year was to give time for something to be salvaged from the treaty.

Humblest apologies to your Hawks. If they were to siphon off a few thousand tonnes of Dutch material to India, I'm sure I could conjure something suitably offensive to their tastes.

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor
Humblest apologies to your Hawks. If they were to siphon off a few thousand tonnes of Dutch material to India, I'm sure I could conjure something suitably offensive to their tastes.

Well,

Funny you should mention that....
Once upon a time, I had the idea of an event I could explore with you that could be manufactured by the defense minister, or his party, to increase tensions.

Simply that a ship laden with munitions would be "driven off course" by a hurricane and "forced" to beach in Sri Lanka. The Dutch of course would deny (truthfully in the case of most ministers) intent, and demand access to salvage their ship.

So, a couple thousand tons of small arms dispersed among the peoples brutally conquered by Shambaji II in 1714-1723. While there is no persistent unrest, there have been hints- such as the gassing of a city- in the past.

That would qualify as siphoning off a couple thousand tonnes of Dutch material to India, would it not?

That would qualify, although it's you conjuring the offensive something rather than myself.

Give it a whirl if you want. Might be a small fringe element with independence on their minds.

Hmm, well it looks like I already missed the window of opportunity. Typhoon season- or at least Monsoons, seem to be Q3. I thought my elections were in 1936, but looks like 1935.

The goals would be to both test the waters of revolt, and primarily to create a vitrolic India less than 6 months prior to elections. Which would mean Q3, 1934.

The current govt., fronted by the Progressive party's Edwuart Land is looking vulnerable. In a time of escalating foriegn tensions and a treaty free SATSUMA, they have remained focused on the domestic agenda. Due to expenditures related to implementing the TIDE report and aid to Belgium, the military budget is down 14%, while threats have escalated and Italy has been wild.

The DMZSBD sees an opportunity where thier hardline authoritarian and military message would "Sell". An incident with India would boost their hand as "right all along".

Hmm, maybe I will find the time to write my Q3 1934 news out fully...

If India reacts in a vitrolic fashion, this might suit the DMZSBD; but it is an "if". Accidents do happen, and the government is politically savvy.

I've never indicated any unrest in Sri Lanka for any reason; the only place where there was active unrest was around Chittigong, in 1925-6. That got sorted out through the implementation of civic and later state elections, among other things. On the whole, I doubt there's any more appetite in Sri Lanka to rebel than in Kalimantan to rebel. Given the general tolerance of the Indian government to local culture, probably less.

But that's my view, and I'm no longer playing, so you're free to go at it as you and the moderators see fit.

Sri Lanka would have been chosen as the Dutch know the shores and terrain there extremely well, would be able to prep agents with local languages and customs, etc. Further if anything did occur, it's always harder to fight on the other side of a strait.

But the point wouldn't be to spark a revolt- you've indicated in the past that there was reasonable stability- but more test the waters while creating the opportunity to make political hay.

And yes, Indian was annoyingly good at presenting itself diplomatically, so it may have been all for naught.

Oh well. I'll have to see what Fall 1934 brings to see how my elections go.

An alternative is to see if the Saudis managed to snag any Indian stuff in the early part of that war - they did wipe out at least one significant unit. Buy the kit from them, and have it show up in a ship on some NEI beach (whose inhabitants you trust) at a convenient time.

Easier to stage, and less risky to the Netherlands.