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Gran Colombian News, 1919

Started by The Rock Doctor, March 13, 2010, 07:50:04 AM

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Carthaginian

I wonder how this will affect the local situation in the South Atlantic.
So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in old Baghdad;
You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man;
We gives you your certificate, an' if you want it signed
We'll come an' 'ave a romp with you whenever you're inclined.

The Rock Doctor

I'm opting not to click that link.

As for affecting the local situation - the Colombians would like to think it'll mean they have two well-equipped brigades of cordilleran troops able to monitor Montana's borders with New Zion and Italy while tensions are high between those states.

ctwaterman

Seems Reasonable to me...

Charles
Just Browsing nothing to See Move Along

The Rock Doctor

Mid May, south of Ophir

As the patrol sloop Lerida plodded its way towards Dar-es-Salaam, Pascual Serrano mulled the situation in his head. 

The DKB was hosting a conference to resolve the current diplomatic squabble between Italy on one hand and New Zion and New Switzerland on the other.  Orange and Gran Colombia, as neighbours in the Rift Sea, had also been invited and it was reasonable to assume the DKB would do more than just host the meeting.

As the ambassador to Orange, Serrano was the senior diplomatic representative for Gran Colombia on the continent and would speak for the Republic at the conference.  However - somewhat to his annoyance - the sloop dispatched from Villa Alberto had included a passenger, an aide to Vice President Menant.  While not part of Serrano's delegation, the young Senor Garay would be there to advise on "Montana's unique circumstances and concerns" and no doubt make his task that much more difficult in general.

"Bureaucrats", he sighed.

The Rock Doctor

18 June 1919

To:  Admiral de Irujo
CC:  Admiral Calderon
From:  Capitan de Navio San Martino

RE:  Naval Aviation Developments

Sirs,

As requested, I am writing to advise upon the current state of Armada shipborne naval aviation. 

Trials on the protected cruiser Casanare have been suspended with the ship due for paying-off in the next few months.  Although generally useful over the past few years, the ship's utility is largely gone now that an effective, faster ship is in service.

The Guyana continues to work with the Battle Fleet in scouting and spotting operations.

The Espiritu Santo has completed trials and is considered to be satisfactory by her commanding officer.  The seaplane detachment is working up in a satisfactory manner, despite the loss of one aircraft due to a rough landing.  Such losses have been anticipated in the purchase order.  No crew were lost in the incident. 

The fighter detachment has had less operation, which is to be expected given that they can only be recovered while portside.  Initial intercept tests against airships out of Ciudad Jorge suggest that it can take up to half an hour for the fighters to reach altiudes necessary to actually engage the airships, which will probably make it impossible to prevent sighting reports.  However, a fighter launch at the initial stage of a surface action would allow enemy spotting aircraft to be shot down, reducing the effectiveness of enemy batteries.

Operation of the Yubarta continues to be a mixed affair.  The ship's utilty as a blimp transport is unquestioned, but her captain reports that she handles poorly and weathervanes in modest winds on account of the hull form and superstructure.  Her speed limits her application in a combat setting, although it has been suggested that she would be of considerable assistance suppressing enemy submarines or spotting enemy raiders if attached to a convoy or auxiliary force.

Landing trials on the Yubarta, employing single-seat wheeled fighters without blimps onboard, have been largely unsuccessful.  Four landings have been attempted thus far.  Two have been complete fialures, with destruction of the aircraft, minor damage to the ship, and the loss of one pilot.  One attempt resulted in moderate damage to the aircraft but a technically successful landing.  One attempt was judged successful, with no significant damage to either aircraft or ship.  Observations and pilot reports indicate two primary problems:  short length of the landing deck, being intended for vertical recovery of a blimp, and turbulence in the wake of the superstructure.  We have observed this turbulence using smoke pots to render the vortices visible and do not think it is possible to eliminate them or the hazard they present. 

As you are aware, some new construction has been designed with blimp operations in mind.  The Bahia Tortugas and Portland Blight have a large mooring mast aft to refuel blimps or rigid airships.  Next year's Ironside class will have facilities for blimp operations. 

In respect to future dedicated portaavione designs, the concept put forward last year was clearly ahead of its time in terms of technical practicality, utility, and political acceptance.  It may be logical to pursue two separate developmental tracks as we move forward.  One would be an improvement on the Espiritu Santo.  Two units would provide the remainder of the Battle Fleet with adequate scouting and anti-airship capability.  These ships pose no particular technological challenge and work could begin in 1920, once we have rolled up lessons learned from Espiritu Santos' initial operations.  The other concept would be a faster vessel capable of operating alongside our armored cruisers.  This would, by necessity, be a larger hull and may afford opportunities to embark more aircraft and perhaps allow for wheeled landing operations rather than alongside recovery of floatplanes.  It would be helpful to obtain an experimental vessel for landing trials - one for which we could construct a dedicated landing deck - as we consider next steps.

Should you have any questions or coments on the above, I would be pleased to respond.

Sincerely,

Rafeal San Martino
Naval Aviation Development
Ciudad Jorge

The Rock Doctor

20 June 1919:  Cartagena

As the multinational conference unfolds in Dar-es-Salaam, Dutch diplomatic personnel are seen visiting the Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs.   

A continent away, Colombian diplomatic personnel are seen visiting the Dutch Ministery of Foreign Affairs in the Hague...

The Rock Doctor

1 JULY 1919

QuoteNOTICE!

Due to the commencement of hostilities between Italy and New Zion, the Government of the Republic of Gran Colombia declares the following:

1)  Colombian ports, marine infrastructure, and territorial waters are hereby closed to armed craft of all belligerents.

1a)  For clarification, the Zionite enclave at Guantanamo, Cuba shall be considered and treated by all belligerents as Colombian territory for the purposes of this conflict.

2)  The Republic of Gran Colombia asserts its neutrality in this conflict. 

2a)  Bearing in mind recent issues associated with freedom of neutrals, the Republic of Gran Colombia strongly advises belligerents to respect and permit the free passage of Colombian and neutral shipping in international waters.  Colombian shipping in the Rift Sea and Gulf of Tanganyika shall be well illuminated and marked for recognition purposes.

2b)  The Republic of Gran Colombia shall mobilize its military forces in Montana for precautionary purposes. 

2c)  Violations of Colombian neutrality may be considered as acts of war, and shall be responded to in an appropriate fashion.

The Rock Doctor

31 September 1919:  cartagena

"Good morning, Senor President and Ministers.  My name is Herbert Murray, with the Department of Miscellaneous Affairs.  I'm here to brief you on the current status of the Second African War."  The analyst, a former Island Commonwealth marine, was dressed in a crisply ironed silk suit, its left arm pinned to the breast of the jacket.  His right hand held a slim metal pointer, which he used to identify geographical locations as he spoke.  "I will give you a brief summary of pertinent events, following which I am available for your questions."

President Alizandro nodded.

"Beginning in the north, an unreported mine field has cost Madgalena Steamship Lines a three thousand gross-register-tonnes freighter in the Strait of Gibraltar.  No belligerent has claimed responsibility of this minefield, which is now being swept by Iberian Armada assets. 

"In the Gulf of Oman, our observers with the NSN report that the Dutch have landed at the former Swiss base on Masirah Island, off Oman.  The Netherlands has not, to our knowledge, declared war against the Swiss.

"In Montana, several thousand refugees have crossed the border from New Zion in an effort to flee actual or expected fighting.  Some are from the city of Ashdod, others from the rural regions north of that city.  The Army has constructed temporary camps for these people and are assisting local constabularies in maintaining order.  Fighting in New Zion has moved northeast from Ashdod, and our patrols along the borders with New Zion and Italy have reported no unusual incidents other than the arrival of the refugees.

"In the Gulf of Tanganyika and the southern Rift Sea, maritime trade is relatively unhindered.  Orange policing activities have been less vigorous than feared, and no combat has been reported south of Nairobi.  Our merchant ships have reported the coming and going of French ships to Italian ports, possibly in support of troop or supply movements.

"Cross-border trade between locals in Montana and northern Orange have yielded reports of Orange troop movements and activiations, though no reliable details have been obtained.  Our forces continue to watch the border with Orange for indications of a possible Orange offensive, and naval and air forces remain on alert.  Mister President?"

"Thank you, Senor Murray", Rey said.  "Would it be reasonable to say that the Allies are winning at present?"

"Indications are that this is the case.  The various powers have considerably more manpower than the Zionites, and superior firepower in most respects.  I would say that defeat is inevitable without major foreign intervention."

"The Swiss don't count as major intervention?", Minister de Soto inquired.

"Swiss intervention has been primarily naval; it will not prove decisive unless the Swiss and Zionites can fully cut off supply and troop movements into Africa.  Although the two navies have fielded submarines in the region, our merchantmen are reporting that the Allies are making use of convoys as a defensive measure, reducing the effectiveness of the submarines."

"So who laid the mines off Gibraltar?", Rey asked.

"Currently unknown.  The mines are hurting the Allies, but the choice of location is puzzling if the Swiss are responsible.  Iberia is on reasonably good terms with the Swiss, and to endanger that relationship would be foolish.  The Swiss are rash, but not stupid."

"French scheming?", Defence Minister Fitzroy inquired.

"A possibility", Murray said.  "However, this would make more sense if the Allies were needing to court neutral powers against the Swiss.  With no powers coming to Swiss and Zionite aid, this would seem to be unnecessary and risky."

"Third party, perhaps", Fitzroy mused.

"Some of my analysts are speculating along those lines."

"Speaking of third parties, what's the deal with the Dutch?", Rey asked. 

"This is unclear.  The Dutch remain enemies of the Swiss, but are presumably also enemies of the DKB despite the changes in Dutch government in the past three years.  This operation may have been directed at supporting Ottoman goals in Oman, as a takeover appears to have occurred there.  Alternately, the Dutch may have longer term goals regarding the Swiss."

"Either way, it does seem like they're sticking their noses into something that doesn't concern them", Rey observed.

"This would be consistent with Dutch entry into the Second and Third Pacific Wars", Murray concurred.

"Yes, it would", Rey agreed. 

"What about the Swiss themselves - how involved are they?", Aquileo Alizandro asked.

"With the departure of the NSN, their current involvement appears limited to whatever land forces were brought into New Zion earlier in the campaign", Murray replied.  "Certainly future involvement can not be ruled out.  However, they may opt to cut their losses."

"Have they been sending us those informal 'suggestions' like they did in 2PW"?, asked Defence Minister Fitzroy.

"One, thus far", the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed. "We have not yet responded to it, but a briefing note has been prepared for Cabinet review."

"Good, good.  What are the Confederates doing?", Rey asked.

"Patrolling in the southern Rift Sea", Murray said.  "We do not know if they have seen action, but there are no overt signals from Richmond that the CSA will become an active belligerent."

"They don't need to", Fitzroy said.  "Their friends have this one in the bag."

"So the Zionite's hubris is getting them killed", Rey said.  "While I'm not keen to see Italy and France gain any kind of power, it's been difficult to summon sympathy for the Zionites after they refused to think with their brains and not their balls.  Are there possible endings for this other than outright conquest?"

"Orange intervention would change the strategic balance in the south, but the Orange government does not seem inclined to get involved.  The Allies may offer terms that fall short of total conquest, but a simple return to pre-war borders seems unlikely", Murray said.

"What if I offered to annex the unoccupied parts of New Zion?", Rey asked.

Murray blinked and stared vacantly at the president for a few moments.  "That's a complex scenario, Mister President, with possible answers ranging from war against the Allies to a peaceful occupaton and annexation of territory."

"It'd be good to see an options paper on that", Rey mused.

"I'll work with Foreign Affairs to coordinate one", Murray said.

"Thank you.  I should probably float the idea to the Iberians, to get a friendly but foreign viewpoint."

"The Iberians might pass it on to the Allies", the Deputy of Foreign Affairs noted.

"They might, in which case we can always deny it while guaging their reactions", Rey said.  "In the meantime, Edmund, let's get some more troops moved over to Africa.  Thank you, Senor Murray.  Let's break for coffee before we move on to the next item."   

The Rock Doctor

~August 1919:

Noting that wars make for business opportunities, Gran Colombia gives notice that offers for the eight Tucupita and four Monte Patria class torpedo-boats will be considered.  As always, Gran Colombia remains willing to consider a range of payment types and timing.

http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=51.msg831#msg831

http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=51.msg19028#msg19028

The Rock Doctor

August 11, 1919:  Neu Brandenburg

Capitan de Navio Rafael San Martino could only marvel at the symmetry of it all.  His career had started, eighteen years earlier, in this very same building - the Colombian embassy to the DKB - as a junior naval attache.  Now here he was as the senior naval attache for the region.

"It's good to be back", he said to Ambassador Walter Hemingway, as the latter rapped on his open door and stepped in.

"Hmm", the ambassador smiled, holding a slip of paper in one hand.  "I hope you haven't unpacked." 

San Martino took the sheet and read it twice.  "Shit", he said.  "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit."

Hemingway nodded sympathetically, having already read the note.  "I've asked the staff to start looking into transport to the Middle Kingdom for you and your mission.  There is, I believe, a steamer departing this evening."

"Marvellous", San Martino replied.