Gran Colombian News, H1/1906

[The Rock Doctor]

1/1/06:  Cartagena

"Well", remarked President Rey Alizandro, as the year's first cabinet meeting commenced in the Presidential Palace, "That's a whole month without any reports of serous international crises.  Any bets as to how long it can continue?"

"So long as world leaders are too hung over from the New Year to issue coherant instructions", replied his uncle, Defence Minister Ricardo Alizandro, observing the president's haggard appearance.

"Good, good.  I'm not up to dealing with anything serious today", Rey replied.  "We haven't met for the past two weeks, but I want to keep this short. Let's just go 'round the table and tell me what's happening in your world."  He looked back to his uncle expectantly.

"Okay", Ricardo replied.  "We're raising another corps of troops for Jamaica, should be done in a few weeks.  It's going straight to reserve status, we just don't want a repeat of Montego Bay any time soon.  Two corps of troops make it far less likely that anybody can establish a meaningful foothold on the island. Naval stuff, the battleships are building, and we've started some new torpedo-boats for the Jamaican contingent."

"How many?"

"Two, with another ten staggered through the year."

"Alright.  Sir Edmund?"

The Minister for Jamaiacan Affairs nodded to the President.  "Little to report as of today, Mister President.  Further to Minister Alizandro's report, I can say that there is surprisingly high interest amongst the young male population in signing up for service in this new army corps.  Having your homeland invaded twice in four years will do that, I imagine.  Otherwise, the islands are quiet; while a portion of the population continues to regret joining the Republic, the majority are satisfied that this government has shielded them from the worst of the chaos of the past year or so."

"Glad to hear it", Rey said.  "Industry?"

Sebastien de Soto, brother to the president's mother, stated, "The Darien Canal has been opened up to foreign interests paying for transit rights.  The DKB and CSA both acquired such rights for their merchant shipping.  France requested rights and was refused.  Other nations seemed to feel that the transit fees were excessive and opted not to purchase.  Time will tell how wise that decision proves to be.

"From an infrastructure perspective, the Pimichin Canal is on schedule and expected to open at the end of next year.  Corporate interest is minimal, but we expected that; it's largely a strategic measure anyway.  Of more concern is a lack of interest in the Trans-Amazonian Railway, with a number of corporate mouthpieces telling us we should be heading south to a port on the Amazon.  I've asked my advisors to examine the feasibility of this, but for now, we're continuing to build southeast towards Manaus."

"El Dorado?  I mean, San Sylvestre?"

"Progress.  We are aiming to complete reconstruction in 1907, to the extent that we can.  Obvously large parts of the city are simply destroyed and work there would essentially be new construction.  We're not worrying about that.  Local infrastructure couldn't support it anyway.  The railway linking San Sylvestre to Manaus should be done within the next twelve months, which will make for considerably faster progress in 1907."

"Foreign Affairs?", the president said.

Eduard Torres said, "Good morning.  We are still working to make complete sense of events in the more distal parts of the world, and it may be some time before we can work to establish normalized relations with some of the new nation-states to form this past year.  One nation we are keeping an eye upon is France, which will not likely be pleased at the Canal situation.  The French have taken quite the beating this past year, losing Switzerland and Brazil, and generally looking poor as a result of the Palpete era.  While France is now smaller, it remains to be seen if this means she is weaker or merely leaner.

"As events have generally calmed in Europe, we expect we will also be working to get a sense of the new Iberian and Baltic regimes, and the slightly longer-lived Dutch government now that its troubles are behind it.  Of considerable interest, naturally, is the approach the new Iberian government takes to our...acquisition...of Cuba and Amazonas del Sur.  If they accept these acts, we should be able to re-establish cordial relations; if not, my colleague in Defence is liable to be busy."

"Agriculture?", Rey Alizandro asked, then added, "He's not here.  Where is he?"

"Still on that junket to the rubber plantations around Manaus", de Soto answered.

"Right...Benicio?"

Benicio Delgado now had a cabinet posting, Minister of Miscellaneous Affairs; it was quite a non-descript term to describe what amounted to Gran Colombia's foreign intelligence service.  "My organization continues to ply away.  We are working with Minister Torres to sort out the situation in a few locations such as the Philippines and Japan, though neither is expected to directly impact upon us.  The splintering of the USA warrants some observation, and the reformation of the Norman state bears watching as relates to their views on the CSA and Jamaica."

"Do you expect them to make a play for either?"

"Not at this time", Delgado responded, "But the former Island Commonwealth did originate as a Norman population.  While I gather the Jamaicans themselves feel no particular attachment to the Norman state - ", and he looked over to Sir Edmund, who nodded, "We do not know the Norman view on the matter."

"Keep an eye on it, then", Rey said.  "That's good for now, thank you.  We'll talk later this week, at which time this damned headache should have gone away..."

[The Rock Doctor]

17 Feburary 1906:  Aboard the battleship Poderoso, cruising in the western Caribbean

With the bar and buffet fully stocked, the last steward took leave, leaving the sernior admirals of the Armada alone in the dining room aboard the fleet flagship. 

"Help yourselves", Admiral Ruiz invited his colleagues.  Most already had, of course, but Vice-Admiral Castillo marched to the bar and started examining the various bottles of whiskey.

"Having one on the rocks?", quipped Vice-Admiral Calderon.

Castillo's one eye did not blink.  "Whiskey, like warships, should not be wasted upon rocks."  He poured two fingers' worth into a small glass, set the bottle down, and returned to the table as the others chuckled.

"Let's begin, then, shall we?", Ruiz began.  "Thank you all for coming; I find these gatherings so much more rewarding than exchanging letters, yet we always seem to lack time for anything except just that."  He sipped cautiously at a cup of tea, then continued, "Let me first give you a few thoughts of my own to begin, and feel free to interject as you see fit."

He glanced down at his notes.  "We find ourselves once more at the back of the pack.  France, the Normans, the Baltics, the Confederates, the Rohirrim, the Swiss, the Iberians, the Russians:  all building battleships or armored cruisers well advanced beyond the capabiilties of our own shipwrights.  For all their improvement on Poderoso, the Invencible class will be a second-rate class upon entering service.  We lost ground over the past decade, and are still struggling to make it up."

"We have the complex task of integrating the Island Commonwealth Navy into the Armada.  The ICN and Armada differed in many respects, ranging from general strategy down to details like the pitch of thread on screws.  Whereas the Normans appear to have simply painted over pennant numbers and created a new navy, we remain essentially two navies operating under a common command structure."

"We have different responsibilities.  The Armada as a whole is now responsible for the defence of a large portion of the western Caribbean islands in addition to the mainland.  There is also a new command based in the Amazon watershed."

"The completion of the Darien Canal has afforded us new strategic mobility that we once lacked.  In due course, the New Beleriand Canal and perhaps even the Great Canal will provide similar mobility to foreign powers of concern to us.  Increased use of these canals will complicate the task of defending our island possessions."

"So there is much to think about as we begin consideration of the 1907 estimates.  We need to consider the state of our technology, and how best to use what we have.  We need to spend wisely, avoiding obsolete or impractical ideas.  We need to anticipate future needs that may yet arise."

Having covered his speaking points, Ruiz looked around the table.  "Let's begin with the issue of integrating the ICN and the Armada..."

[The Rock Doctor]

...continued...

Taking his cue, the lone admiral in navy and white dress uniform said, "I believe we have all had the pleasure of making acquaintances, but if I have missed anybody, I am Vice-Admiral Adam Davidson, second in command of the Caribbean Fleet and senior officer of the Jamaican Contingent, as the former Island Commonwealth Navy is now known. 

"The past five years have been difficult for the officers and men of the ICN.  We suffered serious losses against the Confederates in 1901, and the new government that took power in its aftermath did little to make good those losses.  In 1904, we suffered further losses as a result of the Montego Bay attacks, then found ourselves under 'new management', as it were.

"To say that the current situation is unusual would be an understatement.  Gran Colombia and the Island Commonwealth had a lively history of making war upon each other, and many of us around the table are old enough to have participated in the most recent example of this.  Finding ourselves under your command has not been easy for all of us, and many officers and men of the ICN chose to resign from service rather than continue under a new flag.  Hence, in conjunction with the ship losses of the past five years, the much-reduced size of the Jamaican Contingent versus its pre-amalgamation predecessor."

He paused to swallow some ice water.  "This being stated, note that those of us who remain agree that our two nations, now one, are better able to mount a joint defence against foreign adventures and internal betrayal.  We see the madness that shook the world and agree that Gran Colombia's interventions in Cuba, Brazil, and the Commonwealth were necessary and for the best.  We agree that there are still threats out there, waiting for us to cease our vigilance.  For those reasons, you will find that I, and those under my command, are truly committed to the defence of Gran Colombia and its interests.

"Our current strength consists of four armored cruisers, twenty-five torpedo-boats, four submarines, and supporting fleet auxiliaries, plus one armored cruiser in a training capacity. 

"The armored cruisers are typical of their type and were, at the time of construction, as effective as any other on the seven seas.  As with the Gran Colombian armored cruisers on the Pacific coast, we are primarily involved in defence of sea lanes and trade, with a lesser emphasis on battlefleet screening.  Overseas, these same functions are beginning to fall under the domain of a new type of warship - these so-called 'battlecruisers'.  These vessels feature greater speed and heavier armament than traditional armored cruisers, and may render the type obsolete.  Our challenge will be to determine whether the battlecruiser is the best solution for our own needs, or if something else may be the more appropriate response.

"Our torpedo-boats were intended for coastal defence.  As such, they were build in significant numbers, at the expense of reliability.  In particular, the hulls are strained by the amount of machinery installed within them, and we have documented cases of hull failures in action and in heavy weather.  Our intermin solution to this is wholesale replacement with larger boats derived from a Gran Colombian design; we have two such vessels under construction, and are planning ten more this year at staggered intervals.

"Our submarine program has yielded mixed results.  Two of the six units built have been lost in accidents.  The scenario we built them for - attacks upon enemy vessels engaged in a blockade of our shores - have not come to pass.  This being said, the type has the virtue of stealth and affordability.  Those in the program are of the opinion that the type may find success in ways we have not yet considered, and are pushing for further development of larger, more capable units.

"From the standpoint of integration, a number of programs are underway.  Technology exchanges began almost a year ago, and have most notably resulted in the new class of torpedo-boat, featuring a larger and sturdier hull than we had been capable of producing previously.  Personnel exchanges and liaison programs are over a year old, and a number of officers have been learning Spanish."

"Apart from the accent, yours is excellent", Ruiz noted.

"Thank you - I've been working hard at it", Davidson replied.  "Operating procedures, signals, rank structures - all largely normalized at this point, apart from service-specific idiosyncracies like uniform color, for instance.  The difficult task, however, has been standardizing hardware, and this is only just beginning.  Items like Marconis are new and easy; standardizing gun calibres, electrical wiring, boat winches, bolt sizes, and so forth are neither new nor simple.  Partial progress is being made with the Havoc class boats, where a number of items are being imported from the mainland, but the three inch guns remain non-standard compared to the Armada.  This is a complex yet manageable task for a torpedo-boat, another matter entirely for an armored cruiser.  Replacement of the existing armored cruisers should therefore not be entertained until the physical incompatibilities between Jamaican and other Colombian hardware have been erased."

"Are there other gaps in your order of battle at this time?", asked Vice-Admiral Castillo.

"What you would call protected or light cruisers", Davidson answered.  "Events in the Pacific suggest that our armored cruisers lack the armament necessary to defeat significant torpedo-boat attacks.  Just as my colleague at Esmeraldas employs protected cruisers in the screening and scouting roles for his armored cruisers, so too would I prefer to do.  That will entail new construction, however."

"With all the hardware challenges associated with it", Ruiz noted.

"Indeed", Davidson confirmed.

"Thank you, Adam - sorry, Miguel?"

Vice-Admiral Santander, the Pacific Fleet commander, inquired, "Were you going to discuss the state of your infrastructure?"

"Vice-Admiral de Irujo will speak to that later", Ruiz answered.  "Very good.  Next, the Battle Fleet.."

[The Rock Doctor]

...continued...

Vice-Admiral Morales nodded at his colleagues.  "Battle Fleet currently consists of three squadrons based at Cartagena.  Each squadron consists of two divisions, one of battleships and one of protected cruisers.  The latter type is included with the squadron command structure to provide the squadron commander with an integral scouting and screening element.  I won't dwell on them except to note that they are the most recent units of the type and are suitably armed and equipped for the tasks presented to them.

"The battleships currently in service are, of course, all of domestic origin.  The Audaz class comprises the first squadron, and will be twenty years old when replaced by the Invencibles.  They received a mid-life refit last year after we demobilized, but can not be considered front-line units at this time.  The Valiente class is now thirteen years old, and remain reasonably capable for their age.  They are in generally good condition, but due for a refit in two years.  The Poderoso class is the youngest class, and the most capable, although their firepower and speed pale in comparison to some of the new foreign designs under construction.

"The Invencible class were laid down last year, but the basic design has existed since 1902 with little change.  We had initially hoped to arm them with thirteen inch guns based on Helene's, but the pocket-protector brigade has somehow consistently failed to replicate the weapon successfully.  Improvements on the Poderoso include better flag facilities, better armor, turbines and marginally greater speed, and the inclusion of 'Q' turret.

"Our primary challenge in Battle Fleet is addressing the more advanced battleship designs now being built abroad.  As noted, the Invencibles will be second-rate even when completed.  Options for dealing with this include retaining the Audaz class in service; adding two additional Invencible class to make up the technological shortfall with quantity; foreign purchases; or standing pat until our own engineering capabilities catch up with the world."

"Is it feasible to keep the Audaz class in service", asked Vice-Admiral Davidson.  "You did say they aren't front-line units."

"I did, and although I think it's feasible, I don't think it's a wise idea.  They're outclassed - better to replace them."

"What does another pair of Invencibles do to our projections?", asked Vice-Admiral Castillo. 

"Buggers up the AC replacement schedule, perhaps, but our colleague has already indicated that this needs to be re-thought anyway."

"I can't imagine foreign orders would be politically feasible", Castillo added.

"Probably not, but it is not impossible.  No doubt the local yards would complain, and there is the small question of whether any foreign builders would actually accept a contract with us."

"What's your preference?", asked Admiral Ruiz.

"I think the best course of action is to order another pair of Invencibles and go for the quantity over quality for now.  Assuming they replaced the Audaz class, we would have four ships with four guns and four with six guns, for forty in total.  That's not an insignificant figure compared to, say, the French fleet at Port-au-France", Morales noted.

"What's happened to the foreign-built ships that were in service?", Davidson inquired.

"Although newer than the Audaz class, the decision was made to scrap the three former Spanish coastal battleships due to the basic hardware incompatabilities and their own limited ocean-going capability.  Had I realized that the budget would be as rosy this year as it is, I'd have suggested keeping them around long enough for the Invencibles to enter service.  But I didn't, and it's a moot point now.  The other foreign-built battleship, the ex-ACM Helene, is currently in service as a training vessel.  She is adequate for this function, but not ideal, since - again - there are hardware incompatabilities and the trainees are learning their trade on equipment we don't necessarily use elsewhere.

"Current planning foresees the Audaz class being relegated to reserve and training status when the Invencibles complete next year.  Helene will, at that point, be disposed of:  probably scrapped, but perhaps Admiral de Irujo will find a buyer for her.  There are a few users of ex-ACM vessels out there, and one may be interested and politically acceptable."

de Irujo, in charge of the Armada's physical upkeep and infrastructure, leaned forward.  "Sales of scrap from those vessels will be accruing to our budget in the second half of the year, incidently.  It'll offset most of the cost of a protected cruiser."

"Good to know", Morales commented. 

"Any other questions?", Ruiz asked.  "No?  Let's cover the rest of the Caribbean Fleet, then..."

[The Rock Doctor]

...continued...

Admiral Palmero slugged back some cerveza, stifled a belch, and began.  "Other than the Jamaican Contingent we've already heard from, Caribbean Fleet consists of five small groups at ports around the sea:  Cartagena, Colon, Havana, Ciudad Jorge, and San Jorge."

"I guess we can be thankful the Island Commonwealth didn't name any cities after a George", Vice-Admiral Davidson interrupted.

"Damn straight, two are plenty", Palmero replied.  "The rest of the fleet musters five protected cruisers and twenty-four torpedo-boats.  The cruisers are a mixed bag; two are older domestic models, the others slightly newer ex-Spanish types.  We've lumped each in their own squadron, for operational simplicity.  The ex-Spanish boats cover the area between Colon and Cuba, the domestic boats the eastern mainland and the Windward Islands.  Additional cruisers would be good, but for the main functions of patrol and trade protection, they're adequate.

"The torpedo-boats provide a local high-speed coastal-defence capability as well as help the cruisers in the patrol function.  A flotilla is assigned to the eastern mainland and Windwards sector, the Colon/Cuba sector, and Cartagena.  The Cartagena flotilla includes the newest class, the Tucupitas, and would ride shotgun with Battle Fleet in the event of a sortie.

"Fleet also includes two coastal artillery commands, at Colon and Havana.  Each features the firepower of a battleship.  El Morro covers the harbour in Havana, while El Leon overlooks the approach to the Colon side of the Darien Canal. 

"The two peripheral sectors see different activity.  The Colon/Cuba sector is substantially busier, and includes Confederate, Rohirrim, and Mesoamerican coastal traffic, French shipping to Port-au-France, and both French and Norman traffic to the Great Canal zone on the Isthmus.  The Windward sector picks up Iberian traffic moving between Puerto Rico and Brazil, Dutch traffic for Surinam and the ABCs, and any traffic on a trip between the Gulf of Mexico and southern Africa."

"There's a reason Battle Fleet's operational missions usually take us north rather than east", Admiral Morales noted.

"So we've seen", Ruiz said wryly.  "And with the Dutch seemingly stable again, and the Iberians apparently negotiating with us, that's not likely to change."

"Probably not", Palmero agreed.  "From a priorities point of view, I'd like to ratchet up the defences around Colon, and get some guns at Montego and Cromwell.  I'd also like to add some plain ol' gunboats or revenue cutters, so my torpedo flotillas can concentrate on training for sinking battleships, rather than chasing tramp freighters smuggling cigars out of Cuba."

"What about the Windwards?"

"Batteries for the two Jorges would be nice, but I'm not as concerned about them.  My comment on gunboats would apply there as well", replied Palmero.

"What's the current plan for Port-au-France if we were to have it out with the French?", asked Castillo.

"Ideally, Battle Fleet goes over and levels it, but that's not likely to work out in practice", Palmero said.  "I'm intrigued at the idea of getting some more of these submarines.  You get a squadron parked across the each end of the Windward Passage and there's an invisible blockade for the French to deal with.  Combine that with some scouts operating out of Cromwell, and we can keep an eye on them."

"Speaking of whom - any trouble with the canal lately?"

Palmero shook his head.  "The last attack we know of was in 1903.  The spooks caught wind of a planned attack in early '04 that the French apparently aborted, some kind of plan to load a tramp up with explosives and ram her into the Colon locks.  We'd just completed El Leon at the time, so that may've been a factor."

"There's still no love lost for the French back in the capital", Ruiz noted.  "That's why they didn't get the transit rights they asked for."

"There any concern about the Normans?", Davidson inquired.

"Not especially.  They've not said a word about you guys, and I've never gotten a sense that they have ambitions in these parts.  Their involvement in the canal is thought to be a matter of riding French coat-tails. 

"And the Mesos?", Davidson asked, a hint of something dark in his voice.

"Warrant careful attention on our part.  They've been...testing their boundaries lately", Ruiz answered.  "If they push too hard, they may get pushed in return."

[The Rock Doctor]

...still being continued...

Vice-Admiral Santander started, "Pacific Fleet is no longer the smallest command in the fleet, thanks to our friends in the Amazon, but it remains a less powerful command than the Caribbean.  This is primarily a function of the less complicated strategic situation in the Pacific, so don't think I'm bemoaning it.

"The fleet is centred around four armored cruisers of the Sentinela and Campeon class.  All are currently home-ported at Esmeraldas, but we're contemplating moving one of the scouting squadrons up to San Miguelito on a more permanent basis.  The four ships are fairly powerful and sturdy, but not particularly fast by modern standards.  The oldest, Sentinela was laid down in 1894, and is not due for a mid-life refit until 1910 or so; judging from the rate of technological advance in the past few years, I expect she'd be better off replaced than refitted.

"Complementing the big cruisers are four protected cruisers and eight torpedo-boats, split equally between the two primary ports of call with those based at Esmeraldas paying regular visits to the Galapagos as well.  Both major ports are covered by defensive works of the El Toro type.

"Functionally, our task is sealane and coastal defence; in the event of a significant crisis, the expectation is that Battle Fleet would cross the canal to reinforce us.  We see a fair bit of traffic moving between North and South America, as well as some trans-Pacific traffic starting or ending their travels in our ports or the canal.  The Galapagos are a fairly busy coaling stop for such shipping.

"Compared to the Caribbean, the last few years in the western Pacific have been downright dull.  To the north, the Rohirrim have a significant but restrained presence, and are keeping the Mesoamericans in line.  Most traffic related to the New Beleriand canal project is concentrated on the Pacific side of the isthmus, but rarely enters our territorial waters.  French and Norman traffic related to the Grand Canal does, however, pass our coasts, and we tend to keep an eye on that.

"To the south lies Peru, which has been rather introspective of late.  More distal powers such as Argentina and Maoria seldom make themselves visible in our region."

Santander paused to scratch his chin for a moment.  "On the whole, I think I'd echo what has been said about the Caribbean.  Dedicated patrol or revenue vessels would be good as a means of letting my larger combatants focus on military matters.  With the range of coastline I have, though, another two cruisers and a torpedo flotilla would be helpful.  One thing that does concern me is the use of mines - somebody drops a few of those in front of the canal and my life becomes much more complicated.  A squadron of purpose-built minesweeping sloops would be useful."

"I think a full squadron would be a tough sell", Admiral Palmero commented, "but now that you mention it, I'd be happy with a few too."

"I agree on the tough sell", Ruiz said.  "When I talk to the cabinet, they aren't asking about mines.  They're asking about Arcadias and Alliances."

"Battleships aren't any good if they're trapped in a harbour", Santander observed.

"I'm aware of that", Ruiz agreed.  "These revenue cutter types - what have you got in mind?"

"Something around a thousand tons, enough to be functionally sea-going.  One or two decent guns, a few lighter weapons and perhaps torpedoes to keep people honest.  Armor, if any, just sufficient to keep out small arms fire."

Palmero added, "No need for high speed, but turbines would be good for reliability.  Range requirements might be different for each fleet, though."

"Provision for boats and a boarding team would also be good.  Hell, you could maybe add a surveying function to them", Santander continued.

Ruiz looked over to de Irujo.  The latter shrugged.  "Give me your requirements on paper, and I'll have a design team assembled."



Anybody care about this stuff?  If not, it's still useful to me to sort out my needs, wants, and desires in this way...

[Borys]

OOC
I love reading such stuff.
Borys

[Desertfox]

Excellent stuff Rocky, wish I could do the same.

[The Rock Doctor]

You can.  Doesn't have to be in the same style - you could present it in the form of a briefing document or a letter.

And feel free to comment out-of-character.  I still need to run through the Amazon, the infrastructure, and R&D guys yet.

[swamphen]

I'm surprised there wasn't comment about the no-longer-USA coast south of Peru, and the possiblities for instability and/or landgrabbing.  8)

[The Rock Doctor]

GC's still trying to understand what's going on there, I suspect.  Anyway, GC's still digesting what it's already eaten.

[The Rock Doctor]

...continued...

The last geographic area to be covered was the Amazon, which fell to the only non-admiral in the room, Commodore Grimaldo.  "Thank you.  I've been at Manaus for just a few months now, my one and only predecessor having been bumped to rear-admiral and posted to one of the scouting squadrons, as you'll recall.

"The Amazon Command is a different can of worms than what we're used to.  Rather than being a large marine expanse with some land, it's a large terrestrial expanse with some water.  During the campaign against the Anahuac, our forces at Manaus included two protected cruisers and some torpedo-boats.  Neither type proved very useful, so are no longer deployed there.

"In the case of the cruisers, getting them up to Manaus wasn't an issue - the river's deep enough there to accomodate vessels with five metre draft.  Getting something for the cruisers to do, however, was a challenge.  We expected the Anahuac or their French puppets would challenge our use of the river through shore batteries or warships, but they never did.

"Torpedo-boats were similarly not overly useful:  their speed was rarely required, and accurately aiming a torpedo is a challenge when one has a river current to consider.  Running depth can also be a problem, as many torpedoes hit the bottom after launch.  Consequently, both cruisers and torpedo-boats were relegated to functioning either as gunboats or transports, roles which could be undertaken more effectively by other, smaller, vessels.

"For now, I have four riverine craft under my command.  Three are Cuervo-class gunboats, with two ten centimetre guns.  These are shallow-draft vessels that can work quite a ways up the various tributaries of the Amazon, and can provide fire support to troops onshore, transport a bit of cargo, or police the waterways.  The other unit is the river monitor Pescador, which is twice as large and carries a single 19.4 cm gun in a turret forward.  The installation is an oddity, as the barbette is taller than the hull allows for - so the turret itself is two and a half metres above the main deck.  Kind of like the turret installation the Rohirrim are working on for their battleships.  Pescador's primary function will be shore bombardment, again, but we also foresee her being useful as a mobile shore battery that can be anchored in a position to ambush passing traffic.  Nothing that can make it up the river is likely to be armored against a 19.4 cm shell, after all.

"So - issues.  Well, for one, it's a very large area to cover.  Some smaller gunboats - perhaps armed with a sixty-five or forty-seven at the most - would be useful for the more distal regions of the watershed.  A few dedicated transports would spare me from having to worry about requisitioning civilian ships that might not be around in times of a crisis.  Finally, shore batteries for Manaus and perhaps another location down-river towards the border would be good; if I lost Manaus to a bombardment or landing, I'd be up a creek, so to speak.  The batteries don't have to be on the scale of an El Toro -  a few fourteen centimeter guns would probably do the trick."

"Any thought about a larger riverine warship?", Admiral Morales inquired.  "A river battleship, perhaps?"

"Nothing very advanced.  One of my subordinates has been tinkering with preliminaries for something with a greater number of ten or fourteen centimeter guns and useful armor, but I'm not yet satisfied it would be anything more than a white elephant."

"Would it even be necessary?  Is there any serious marine threat to the river?", Admiral Santander asked.

"If I read the dispatches correctly, the government is hammering out an access agreement with the Iberians right now.  That really only leaves the Peruvians - who own some of the headwaters of the river around the town of Iquitos - and whatever Anahuac bandits might still be lurking out there.  I'm not aware of the Peruvians or Iberians having anything more powerful than our Cuervos.  For the most part, we really should be focusing on troop movement and policing, not grandiose river fleets."

"What's the state of the port at Manaus?", intoned Admiral Castillo.

"Do you...?", Grimaldo asked de Irujo, but the latter nodded back at him to go ahead and answer.  "Manaus has a single slipway and drydock set, capable of taking in seventy metre long craft.  We've been careful to plan our gunboats with these dimensions in mind.  The town's construction capacity is, however, quite limited as all machinery has to be imported up-river.  So for all intents and purposes, it's a repair and maintenance facility only."

"Any other facilities out there?"

"We have a small supply depot at Teffe, further up the main river.  We established it in '04 when we were worried about the French", Grimaldo replied.  "I've heard rumblings that the railway coming out of Mitu will end up going south to the river - not east to Manaus as planned.  I've petitioned to be involved in the planning if this is so, because I'm worried that the Ministry of Industry will take it to Leticia.  That's too close to the Peruvian border for my comfort.  I'd rather see it somewhere further east at a new site, with a new port built."

"But Industry's not talking to you?", Ruiz inquired.

"No."

The commander in chief shook his head.  "Well, we can't have that, now, can we?"

[The Rock Doctor]

...continued...

Vice-Admiral de Irujo spoke.  "I don't really have a great deal to say.  Mine is the unglamorous part of our business. 

"With respect to infrastructure and its operation, we are in a generally good way.  Cartagena is the major fleet base, as a consequence of it also being both the national capital and an exceptional harbour.  With the Canal now completed and in service, Cartagena can also be considered centrally located within the nation, these factors combining to make the basing of the Battle Fleet there to be quite understandable.

"Elsewhere in the Caribbean, we maintain significant bases at Colon, Ciudad Jorge, La Guaira, Cromwell, Montego Bay, and Havana.  Montego Bay and Havana are almost an embarassment of riches, providing multiple exceptional harbours in close proximity to each other.  Were we the type of nation to lease its land out to foreigners, I'm sure the undeveloped yet equally good harbour at Guatanamo Bay would be a candidate for such an agreement.

"We spent much of 1905 undoing the damage that was done to Montego Bay in October of zero-four.  We did not repair all of the facilities, as we did not need all of the facilities.  We simply repaired enough to support, in conjunction with Cromwell, the needs of the Jamaican Contingent.  As noted, this did not extend to the fabrication facilities, so in that sense, the Jamaican sites are not fully integrated.  We will be doing this as opportunity allows over the next two to three years.

"On the Pacific side, we maintain two significant bases at Esmeraldas and San Miguelito which support the Pacific Fleet adequately.  A small port at the Galapagos has been sufficient for our needs there thus far.  Commodore Grimaldo discussed the situation in the Amazon and I have little to add to that; the facilities there will, in due course, be capable of building small craft provided that machinery and weapons are imported.  This is acceptable as it is unlikely we would build anything larger than a gunboat there anyway.  Like you, Commodore, I have not been involved in any discussion of a facility further up-river."

"It sounds like we're not really in need of expanding our facilities, then", Admiral Ruiz observed.

"By and large, we aren't", de Irujo agreed.  "The bases could certainly use some shore batteries, especially Cartagena and Cromwell, where the existing guns are essentially relics.  We did implement an ad-hoc anti-airship defence plan in 1904, but the deficiency for anti-surface weapons remains.

"Any additional facilities you'd want, though?"

"If we're going to have a torpedo-boat presence at San Jorge, a small naval port and drydock would be sensible.  Expanded facilities at Cromwell and Montego would be useful to support the larger torpedo-boats being built for service there."

"I'll make notes of these", Ruiz said.  "What of general capacity?"

"The nation's heavy industrial sector could, if wholly dedicated to naval construction, produce about 30,400 tonnes of armor, machinery, and what-not.  By comparison, we estimate French capacity to be about one third greater:  not a huge disparity considering our more compact strategic situation.  In large part that is due to the inclusion of the Jamaican industrial complex.  Less significant, but hardly in-significant are the completion of the Darien Canal - which has freed up some production long involved in excavation-related work - and the capture of San Sylvestre.  True, much of the city was ruined, but there are some significant industrial facilities there that will add to our overall capacity - an iron mine not least of all."

"That sounds fairly promising, then", Admiral Ruiz said.  "Anything else you wanted to add?"

"That was all I had to say", de Irujo replied.

"Then Vice-Admiral Calderon can update us on the technological side."

Calderon nodded.  "It is rather ironic that while our production capabilities are fairly strong, our technological base is lagging behind many other powers in the world, some of them with smaller economies and navies than our own.  This is really a consequence of the near-constant threat of conflict we faced over the past four years - money went to preparedness, not to research.  Rather than bore you with every aspect of what we can do, let me focus on what we're trying to improve upon."  He reached into a briefcase and distributed single sheets of paper around the table.  Seeing the bemused expressions upon the faces of his brothers-in-arms, he said, "Yes, yes, I know - informal.  Court-martial me.

"Probably the single most important program we have ongoing at this time is the new turbine program.  If we want fast cruisers to match the Swiss, or fast battleships like the Brandenburgers or Rohirrim, this is what we need to get it done.  We're not quite there yet, but I'm confident that we'll be ready to begin production within the year.

"Concurrent with this is experimentation with mixed oil and coal-firing boilers.  Oil's easier to move, makes for a cleaner ship, and we have supplies around Caracas.  Folks in places like the CSA seem keen on it, so we're making a move to catch up and try it for ourselves.

"Battleship design has been leaping ahead lately, with some truly large vessels in the works.  We got caught flat-footed there, but we're now in the process of scoping out designs for new designs that incorporate features such as wing turrets and torpedo bulkheads.  Adding features like these to existing battleships is no simple matter - the entire performance of the hull is changed.

"After the trials and tribulations of the Anahuac conflict - not to mention our extensive island-related responsibilities - we're starting to work up ideas and techniques for landing troops without the use of captured enemy facilities.  This is not just a hardware matter, but also a doctrinal program.  As a heads-up, a recommendation you'll probably see come from it is to raise a force of naval infantry specifically trained to take and hold beachheads in advance of army troops."

"Oh, good - another source of inter-service rivalry", Palmero groaned.

"Don't hate the player, hate the game", Calderon replied.  "These latter three projects have all just commenced, so we're unlikely to see anything fit for actual production and usage until late next year.  That includes the formal recommendation on the naval grunts.

"Now, I also have my fingers in a few Ejercito pies.  They're very interested in aircraft and airships - hardly a surprise after 1904.  Of the most interest to us, I think, is the airship program.  Right now, they're fragile, slow and short-ranged - but they offer considerable long-term upside as scouting platforms and transports.  It's the transport function that interests our ground-pounding friends:  they like the idea of an aerial courier service from Cartagena to outlying areas such as Havana, Cromwell, and San Sylvestre."

"How many years away is that?", Admiral Castillo asked.

"A few.  The blimps they can build now have a range of no more than four hundred miles, which isn't enough to be useful.  But one has to build them and play with them in order to make progress on them."

"Hmm", Castillo grunted.

"Am I correct in thinking that the Confederates handed over some information on their armor-fabricating?", Admiral Morales queried.

"You are.  Unfortunately, I won't have the budget to make good on it until after we finish up the turbine program.  Once that happens, it'll take no more than a year to bring our own armor rolling plants up to the new standard."

"And guns?"

"As discussed earlier - you're best to look overseas for any short-term fixes."

"Thank you", Admiral Ruiz said.  "It's coming up on lunch, and I need to hit the head.  Let's break for a few minutes before we get down to the nitty-gritty..."

...so ends the Admiral's round-table.

[The Rock Doctor]

28 January 1906 - Cartagena

"Do we have a position on this issue of strait crossing fees?  I've been receiving a lot of pressure from the steamship companies about this", commented Industry Minister de Soto.

"I didn't realize we had much traffic going through the Dover Strait", President Alizandro replied.

"There is some, mostly delivering goods to northern Europe", de Soto clarified.  "They stand to be affected by such fees."

"The most recent information from the Normans indicates that they are only charging warships", Foreign Minister Torres observed.  "Therefore, the steamship lines ought not to be impacted by that decision.  It is more a matter of determining our general policy in case other powers apply similar ideas to more strategically important locations."

"You've spoken with the Dutch, haven't you?", asked the President.

"I have.  They have invited us to participate in some discussions in the early summer and I have stated an interest in attending.  I affirmed general support for the notion of free passage in natural, international waterways, but noted that we could not commit to the notion of enforcing free passage without clarification of what that meant", Torres explained.

"That sounds reasonable", Alizandro said.  "Keeping away from obligatory punitive action has been sound policy for this nation for some time.  I'd prefer to continue it.  Is there any indication that the nations rallying to the free passage banner are forming an alliance of some kind?"

"There have been rumors on the continent, but my own personnel have heard nothing substantive as of yet", Torres answered. 

"Tell them to keep listening."

28 March 1906:  El Sol

[OOC Note:  El Sol is Gran Colombia's tabloid newspaper, last noted internationally for its many spiteful articles about former Spanish king Juan.  It would not be unreasonable for player-governments to assume that El Sol is a Gran Colombian propaganda device.]

Perhaps the most interesting article our editors have read this past week comes from a copy of Le Monde we received just yesterday.  This French newspaper reports on the apparent decision by France to employ slave labor at its so-called Grand Canal project, just north of our own completed and fully-functional Darien Canal.  Apparently, the French will be buying labor from the Orange Republic, which is more than happy to get rid of the Zulus who trouble Orange expansion plans into the interior of Southern Africa.

Now, we at El Sol are not about to go off and rant about French human rights violations.  French history in Brazil told that story far more eloquently than we ever could.  No, what we wonder is how the landlord of the Grand Canal will react to news of slave labor being used on its soil.  Rohan is well known for its staunch support of the hunter/gatherer tribes in the interior of North America - how will they react to Glorious France's latest peculiar decision?"

15 April 1906:  Cartagena, aboard the battleship Poderoso

It was a lovely spring day, neither raining nor hot, and Vice-Admiral Morales was entertaining Admiral Ruiz and Vice-Admiral de Irujo aboard his flagship.  The three were seated in comfortable chairs under an awning on the battleship's quarterdeck, smoking cigars, drinking wine, and watching the routine bustle of the naval base.

"Did you talk to the politicians about the battleship issue?", Morales asked, following a lengthy discussion about turbines.

"I did", Ruiz confirmed.  "As expected, the Minister of Industry was quite adamant that ordering warships from overseas was unacceptable to the domestic ship-building industry."

"Greedy bastards", Morales snapped.

"Yes, so I kept up pressure for a week, then offered to withdraw my request if I could get authorization to import the main battery of the next class", said Ruiz.  "Naturally, Minister de Soto huffed and and puffed about the harm it would do to our munitions sector.  He later conceded we could solicit orders from overseas if we would throw the domestic industry a bone in the form of new coastal battery orders."

"Which, I recall from February, you were planning on anyway", Morales noted.  Ruiz nodded.  "You sneaky git!", Morales exclaimed with fake indignation.

"I resemble that remark", Ruiz answered. 

"So have you sent out some inquiries?"

"I have", de Irujo said.  "We talked first with the Brandenburgers about a thirty-five centimeter gun they've designed.  They seem open to do business - but we're not clear on whether they've already developed a twin turret for the weapon or not.  If not, that's another year to wait, which threatens our ability to lay down a new class during 1907."

"That's true", Morales affirmed.

"I sent out an inquiry to the Confederates about their thirteen point five inch guns but they have yet to respond", de Irujo noted.  "The Rohirrim were approached about their fourteen inch guns.  They're willing to talk about their 1899 model, but not their current model."

"Isn't production closed on that one?", Morales inquired.

"They have enough barrels for the guns themselves, but would have to re-open a facility to build the spare barrels and parts.  We haven't talked about ammunition yet."

Morales looked away for a few seconds.  "I can't think of anybody else we'd be able to buy a larger weapon from, even if it is seven years old."

"Neither could I", de Irujo replied.  "Evidently, word of my inquiries got around, though - I received a note from the French three days ago."  Morale's eyebrows rose like a battle standard going up the mast.  "My thoughts exactly.  If the note is to be believed, they're willing to sell thirty-four centimeter guns.  More intriguing is the fact that they apparently have a fifteen inch gun that could be on the table."

Morales could not help but whistle.  "Fifteen inches?  If it works, that'd be one hell of a broadside, even with just six guns.  Are they serious?"

"I'll find out soon.  Buying from the French will have a political cost, I'm sure, but it could be a good move for us.  If our boss here spins the purchase as a matter of getting the world's biggest guns, the politicians just might grab at it", de Irujo said, a wolfish smile on his lips.

6 May 1906

A diplomatic note to the Middle Kingdom:

Your Most Serene Imperial Majesty,

Over the past years, the officers and men of the Armada de Gran Colombia have been greatly impressed with the skill, courage, and success demonstrated by the Middle Kingdom's torpedo-boat crews in their actions with powerful New Swiss fleets.  Even the mightiest Swiss warships have fallen victim to your nimble predators of the seas.

Our navy has been building up a force of torpedo-boats to deal with potential threats from France, New Switzerland and/or other powers in the Americas, but we have very little practical experience in their successful employment.  We would be greatly honored if Your Most Serene Imperial Majestry were to permit a small team of Gran Colombian officers the opportunity to travel to your lands and learn from the world's pre-eminant torpedo-boat crews.  With such knowledge, we would be able to better preserve law and order in the Americas against the scavengers and hyenas of the world.

Our ambassador to your great land, Senor Miquel Vargas de Serrano y Topete, is at your disposal if you should wish to discuss our humble request with him.

Respectfully,

Ricardo Alizandro,
Defence Minister
Gran Colombia

[Desertfox]

Oh S***!