DKB Not News, IC Stuff that isn't public knowlege, but is nice to read

[Walter]

I'd expect Wilhelm to be married as historical in 1905 and before he caused trouble at home...

... of course that stunt of his might have resulted in a divorce. :)

[Sachmle]

Knowing Germanic women either that or a few really long nights.  ;D

[Tanthalas]

Knowing Germanic women either that or a few really long nights.  ;D

:o :o :o

[Desertfox]

We issue the following information regarding mine fields: (This information is available to ALL nations who may have shipping in the areas listed)

There are mines in the Torres strait

Wait? What the hell are mines doing in the Torres Strait? New Switzerland would like to know...

[Borys]

And a final note:
The former Kronprinz Wilhelm will be leaving Japan. Through the last few years he has made contact with his brother and their issues have been sufficiently resolved. Wilhelm will be the new provisional governor of Deutsches Indonesien.

I dont supose the Kronprinz is in the market for a wife =P

I don't think so ...

The ex-Kronprinz Wilhelm - single and happy

[The Rock Doctor]

So that's not a wedding ring I spy on his left ring finger?

[Borys]

So that's not a wedding ring I spy on his left ring finger?

No - it is fancy Japanese bottle cap opener.
Borys

[Walter]

I thought it was his special membership ring of the Brandenburger Beer Drinkers Society. :D

[The Bushranger]

I thought every Brandenburgian became a member at manhood? :D

[Walter]

No. Obviously things have changed during your absense. ;D

[Sachmle]

January 20, 1918
Office of Großesadmiral Friedrich von Ingenohl

A courier rushes into the outer office, obviously flustered from his journey. Quickly he salutes the Oberleutnant sitting at the desk.

Courier: I have an urgent message for Großesadmiral von Ingenohl. It's straight from the Abwehr office.

Oberleutnant: Very well. (Stands and knocks on von Ingenohl's office door.)

von Ingenohl: Yes. What is it?

Oberleutnant: Sir, a courier has arrived with a message from the Abwehr office.

von Ingenohl: Very well, send him in.

Courier:(salutes) Sir, I have a report that Generaloberst Nicolai wanted brought to you immediately.

von Ingenohl: (returns salute) Thank you. (Courier hands sealed envelope to von Ingenohl) That will be all oberfähnrich, you are dismissed.

Quickly von Ingenohl returns to his desk and fetches his letter opener. As he reads the information his face begins to turn a reddish complexion. As his finishes the letter he furiously throws it to the desk. He pushes the buzzer that alerts the Oberleutnant at the desk that he is in need of something. The Oberleutnant opens the door and immidiately recognizes that von Ingenohl is furious about something.

Oberleutnant: Yes sir, what can I get for you?

von Ingenohl: Get my car, and call over to Foreign Affairs. I need to see von Lindenhoff immediately.

Oberleutnant: Of course, right away.

FROM: Agent (CENSORED)
LOCATION: (CENSORED)
TO: Abwehr command, Neue Brandenburg
SUBJECT: Resale of former Großes Kruezer Prinz Heinrich

Informant (CENSORED) has given details that indicate that BRONZE has resold GK Prinz Heinrich to GREY. Informant is very reliable with close ties to (CENSORED). Information is presumed accurate. Will make inquires with (CENSORED) to confirm. Once confirmed or refuted will notify via (CENSORED)

Ominous Humm.............

[Sachmle]

Excerpt of a letter from Princess Viktoria Louise to Kaiser Friedrich IV:

Dear Brother,

It appears my impromptu journey to the old world has cause some interesting side effects. Aunt Julianna told me today that the Bavarian high consul passed a law allowing a limited number of Brandenburger with relatives back in the old  country to return for up to six months. Isn't this wonderful news!! Maybe it's finally time to mend old wounds and put our swords away? Oh, Brother I wish you were here to see this. It's even more amazing then the paintings Great Grandfather brought with him. Oh, there was a grand ball the other week........

[Sachmle]

Excerpt form a letter to Kaiser Friedrich IV from his sister, Prinzessin Viktoria Louise:


Dearest Brother,


Oh how I have enjoyed my stay here in Europe, particularly Italia. Such a wonderfully beautiful country with many rivers and streams, fountains in most courtyards. There is even an entire city built on canals. Oh I wish you were here with me. Perhaps one day you too can visit this wonderful place? I must say that my upbringing has limited my contact with those of the old country calling themselves "Bavarian", but I have yet to see any reciprocal actions on their parts. They seem to bare no ill will towards us in the slightest and honestly seem quite mystified as to why we dislike them so. Maybe we should not? We have been gone from those lands for generations with no apparent ill effect on the population.They have never taken up arms against Us, nor have the openly supported those who have. Even in our war against the Dutch to defend those poor illiterate Siamese the "Bavarian" nation did nothing to assist the Dutch openly against us, they simply remained neutral. I think Father may have been heading down the correct path when he started to open dialog with them, perhaps............

[Sachmle]

From the Office of General der Flieger Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen

Upon review of the current status of the equipment, disposition, manpower, and status of the Luftstreitkräfte by this committee the following report was generated.

Zeppelin

Current Facilities
There are 3 Type-2 and 12 Type-1 Zeppelin Hangers located within the Kaiserreich. However the Type-1 hangers are currently unused as no Type-1 zeppelins are currently in service. They are distributed as below:

Type 1 Hangers: NOT IN USE AT TIME

1 @ Angoram, Paderborn-Delbrück
1 @ Apia, Deutsch Samoa
1 @ Buin, Bougainville
1 @ Cape Cumberland, Espiritu Santo
1 @ Nadi, Viti Levu
1 @ Noumea, Neue Caledonia
1 @ Friedrichsburg, Neu Brandenburg
2 @ Neu Köenigsberg, Neu Brandenburg
1 @ Port Fitzroy, Neu Brandenburg
2 @ Neu Brandenburg, Neu Brandenburg

Type 2 Hangers:
2 @ Neu Brandenburg, Neu Brandenburg
1 @ Sarawak, Ost Inseln

Recommended Facilities
It is the belief of this committee that the existing Type-1 hangers should be enlarged to Type-2 size and new zeppelins be constructed to bring our scouting levels back to previous levels, albeit with increased range of the newer zeppelins, as well as the construction of new hangers at Kisumu, Dodoma, Aden, Hai Phong, and Neu Volgeldreck. It is recommended that this be done over the course of 1919-1921

Current Units
There are currently 6 Type-2 Zeppelins in service. 4 entered service in 1915 and will leave service in 1921 the other 2 entering service in 1917 and leaving service in 1923.

Recommended Units
At this time it is recommended that new Type-2 zeppelins be constructed as the old Type-1 hangers are enlarged and the new Type-2 hangers are constructed over the course of 1919-1921 including replacements for LZ-14 through LZ-17 as they leave service.

Operational Doctrine
It is the recommendation of this committee that zeppelins be primarily equipped with photographic equipment for reconnaissance missions over long ranges or for advanced warning of approaching vessels/troops/aircraft by stationing them over a fixed area and utilizing their superior loiter time.


Aircraft

Current Facilities
There are 2 1906/1910 airfields and 2 1910/1914 airfields located in the Kaiserreich. They are distributed as follows:

1906/1910 Airfields: NOT IN USE AT THIS TIME
1 @ Dar-es-Salaam, Ost Afrika
1 @ Neu Dusseldorf, Neu Brandenburg

1910/1914 Airfields
1 @ Dar-es-Salaam, Ost Afrika
1 @ Sarawak, Ost Inseln

Recommended Facilities
It is the recommendation of this committee that all 4 airfields be upgraded to the 1913/1916 standard and that new 1913/1916 airfields be constructed at Aden, Kisumu, Dodoma, Hai Phong, Wewak, Wilhelmshaven, Friedrichberg, and Neu Kiel over the course of 1919-1921.

Current Units
Our current aircorps consists of two variety of two seat/single engine scout aircraft and a two seat twin engine scout aircraft. All current aircraft are unarmed. The current unit levels are as follows:

500 1910/1914 Single engine planes, broke down into two groups of 250 aircraft of each manufacturer.
150 1910/1914 Twin-engine planes

They are dispersed equally amongst the airfields at Dar-es-Salaam and Sarawak with 250 single engine and 75 twin engine craft per airfield.

Currently their are two aircraft manufacturers in the Kaiserreich:
Daecher-Kappel, based in Seydlitzberg who produces a single engine scout aircraft with superior range
Waechter, based in Neu Kiel who produces a single engine scout aircraft with superior speed and a twin engine scout aircraft with superior range

Both state they have facilities and engineers to produce more advanced aircraft than those currently in service.

Recommended Units
It is the recommendation of this committee that specifications for a new twin engine and single engine aircraft be compiled and forwarded to both Daecher-Kappel and Waechter (1913/1916 tech) for the purpose of evaluated new designs.

It is the recommendation of the committee that a request for design be forwarded to Daecher-Kappel and Waetcher for a sea launched and landed single engine aircraft for utilization in areas were there is insufficient facilities for ground based aircraft.

It is the recommendation of this committee that a request for design be forwarded to Daecher-Kappel and Waetcher for a sea launched and landed twin engine aircraft for utilization in long range scouting from our smaller islands possessions where there is insufficient facilities for ground aircraft.

It is recommended that specifications for a long range aircraft, most likely equipped with two or more engines, capable of carrying a load of ordinance to be dropped on enemy positions or for very long range scouting be forwarded to both Daecher-Kappel and Waetcher for the purpose of evaluation of designs.

It is recommended that the new single engine variant be armed with a single 7.7mm machine gun operated by the observer.

It is recommended that the new twin engine variant be constructed to allow the carrying of either large photographic equipment or an ordinance load of at least 100kg.

It is recommended that the new long range variant be constructed to allow the carrying of at least 400kg of ordinance.

Operational Doctrine
It is the recommendation of this committee that the current aircraft be maintained for training and scouting purposes. Once newer aircraft become available to replace the existing units they should be forwarded to the outlying airfields first and that the older units be rotated back to Brandenburg proper for use as primary trainers for new pilots.

The new single engine aircraft should be utilized as scouts in operational areas where speed is of the utmost importance and in actions to restrict the aircraft and zeppelins of other nations.

The new twin engine aircraft should be utilized as scouts in operational areas where range is of more importance than speed and in actions to inflict losses to supply units of enemy ground forces close to our units.

The new long range aircraft should be utilized as scouts in operational areas where range is of the utmost importance and in actions to inflict losses to enemy basing far from our units or on larger groupings/more protected units closer to our area of control.


Closing
At this time it is the opinion of this committee that our air units are lacking in number in respect to the zeppelin corps and in modernization in regards to the aircraft corps. A rapid enlargement of the zeppelin corps is the first thing that needs to be accomplished while waiting on newer aircraft designs to be procured to allow the modernization of the aircorps.

It is realized that zeppelins possess superior range to all current aircraft and also operate at higher altitudes and are best utilized in the scouting/reconnaissance role. However, aircraft, with their superior speed and maneuverability are useful in low level recon missions allowing detailed information to be collected. We also believe that they will prove useful in removing other nations zeppelins from our area of operations, if so armed.

[maddox]

Funny, as the French Type 2 airships regulary pass Aden on their flight to Djibouti Island.

The 2 airships stationed at Djibouti are a  variant , with  large gondola's, something  observed by DKB personel (and others plying the Red Sea and the Great Rift), and that got a lot of speculation.

The most plausible explanation is that the airship carries large, but light recon equipment, .