Republican News 1919

[Logi]

OOC: Due to not know whether or not Blooded is using him, Igor Sikorsky appears with a slightly different name. So if need to be, he is an entirely different person. Now don't tell me people don't immigrant. I assume he wanted aircraft-centric countries, and CSA developments of the autogyro are mostly secret.

Also the parachute was invented well before 90 AD, maybe a few centuries, in China. Hence, the art of parachuting is not alien to the Chinese. In fact, records show that they often had acrobats and what not perform using parachutes to drop from high spots.

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Igor Ivanov was a Russian immigrant, having been fascinated by the aircraft developments around the world. Being such, there were only a few places to be.

Italy, the forefront of aircraft technologies.

The Republic of China, the greatest producer of aircrafts.

Through some trick of fate, Igor Sikarsky had landed in the Republic of China. Perhaps it was because of the program for immigrants (offering cash for immigration) in the Republic o the great number of aircraft produced there and Igor, aged twenty-seven, decided to try living in China.

So there he went and settled in Shanghai, where the house prices were low. Soon after a CSA commerce zone was created nearby and the the multilingual community made Igor feel at home.

A few companies had invested in Igor's experiments, as they called it. He attempted the creation of something called a helicopter, though to his observers it seem more like a hovercraft. He failed often, being quotes as saying he need, "Lighter Materials, Better Engines, and Better Mechanics". Improvements in aircraft technologies, reaching China had achieved partial the need for better engines and lighter materials.

"Not enough!" He would say, but he kept working on those helicopters, despite a nagging feeling of wanting to go into aircrafts.

He was a famous member of his community, and that was why Igor Ivanov was invited to Project Kite. He obliged, knowing a government-sponsored project would have better engines, lighter materials, and people knowledgeable on mechanics.

When he heard the mission of Project Kite was to develop a system for aerial transport of supplies, his eyes lit up. The perfect thing to put his helicopter designs to work for!

-----------

Leslie Chi'en was a simple Kite maker. However, he did a side job of stunt acting on the side and in the tradition of Chinese acrobats, he used parachutes to perform jumping tricks. He was not remarkable save for the fact that he created his own parachutes and he had often read the archives about the ancient art of parachuting.

Whether it was the Emperor Shun saving his life with a straw parachute or scouts mounted on kites, he knew them all.

Leslie was a man fairly interested in aircrafts and parachutes, to say the least. But he had never found a chance to break into the industry, so when rumors of Project Kite came around, he volunteered and joined.

[Logi]

August, starting after the damages on the dykes and levee's of the Yangtse becomes obvious. The RRC is aware of the daunting task it has taken upon itself. free the Celestial Kingdom ,and become a wellspring of Humanity.
Unfortunatly, the dark Empire is using every trick in the book to avoid the enlightenment.

RRC Envoys embark on an horrifying , and especially long trip by boat.

First the diplomats had to brave the Middle Kingdoms blockade. Cross the Pacific, resupply in Rohan, with all the diplomatic regards that are needed to observe all the protocol. A gentle cruise along the Californian and Mesoamerican coast, avoiding the New Beliarad canal- because the New Swiss still have a hand in that. To arrive at New Rhun.
The Pacific entrance of the Great Canal, where rigorous safety measures are followed to the letter, soldiers guided by customs agents swarm over every merchant, and quite a few Dutch and Ottoman vessels are at anchor.

The RRC diplomats, after presenting their credentials, get a kind of privileged pass, but even then, a squad rides on the merchant vessel that act as a diplomatic courier.
A Chardon meets the ship halfway, and escorts it to the Caribbean. In the mean time, Paris gets a full update via telegraph.



Messieurs les diplomats. I have a reply from Paris. In interest of your safety, we would ask you that you join one of the convoys we're installing to avoid any more unexplained losses that plagues the Nassau shipping since the Rift war started.

the RRC envoys graciously accept the convoying offer.


October 16, 1919
Paris, Offices of Premier Galpoux.

Bonjour messieurs , what brings you to Glorious France in such a roundabout way?

A good day to you too Premier Galpoux.
We had a matter of importance to discuss with a fellow Republic, and we only trust Glorious France for such.

One eyebrow raises...
Trust France.. that would be a unicum for non Nassau Members.  What did France do to deserve that?
I'm well aware of the misfortunes of your first envoy, who stranded in Indochina during the transition to independence.

Indeed. But a stranger is perhaps better to trust, than known enemies.

True, harsh, but true.

We are surrounded by a sparing amount of Republics and Democracies. Of that, Orange and the Confederate States of America. Whilst we realize France has no enemies, that same can not be said for the Republic of China. The Orange Republic has muted it's so called support for fellow Republics.
And the Confederates have shown themselves not for the equality and betterment of each citizen nor their-freedom, but for lining their own pockets with money by double-dealing with the Middle Kingdom.

That is a heavy accusation against our trusted ally, the CSA

It is an accusation we make in the face of evidence and a very very heavy heart.
It is not one we make lightly or easily. We are also in a binding and trusting relationship with the CSA. But we have observed Confederate aid, ships, and technologies going in the Middle Kingdom, with naught into our own.

I'm not aware that the Confederates are aiding the Imperials in any way, rather the opposite, with Shanghai they should be firmly in your camp. Maybe you're looking at the situation from a obscured angle.
One thing is a fact, France shares all technology of the airships with anybody who asks for it. Those gentle giants of the air are not great weapons of war. We know, we tried that.


We understand and know.

But if you are interested, France is willing to share the airship technologies, free of any obligation.
Of course, it would be a courtesy that if the RRC develops airships and hangars, that French airships can land and use the infrastructure, for the betterment of the future of mankind.

Of course, your generous offer with be forwarded towards my gracious President.
However, I must talk on a more grim note.

Grim, with 2 wars taking  100 000's even  millions of lifes, I dare to say that life on this world is looking bleak.

It pains all of China to fight this war, but revolutions are thrown when the curelty of life under the Imperial system is too much to bear. We fight brother to brother, to end the decadence of the Emperor. Like France during it's revolution, we try to end the starving streets, the corruption.
It is a grim fate, a bleak fate. But it must be done.

A you say, France had to cast off the burden of nobility and church, but had to do it on their own.
If you compare the avenues of a French city, with the streets of a Orange Republic town, the difference is obvious. In the OR there still is a rank and caste system, with people divided according arbitrary criteria, like skin color.

I know, that is why we are not surprised by Orange inaction. In the Republic of China, we do not tell between skin color or rank, Every men or women that is a citizen in the Republic is equal.

A admirable and lofty goal if achieved. Not even France got that far yet. There are legal differences between male and female in France, and differences between citizens and civilians. The big difference between those is the fact that citizens earned their status.

The Republic of China operates based on the designation of either Citizen or Militaryman. But even though that is the law, we have a way to do about enforcing it. Not all of China will change that quickly.

Changing  a quarter of the worlds population is a daunting task.

Indeed. But our President is more concerned about the survival of the Republic of China. When I left from the Republic, militarymen deaths were reported to be 200,000 KIA, millions of civilians are unaccounted for due to the Imperial flooding of the Yangzte River.
The latest news I have recieved, Premier Galpoux, is the appearance of Dutch troops acting in conjunction with Imperial troops to fight our brave soldiers.

It seems the Dutch have found a new way to annoy the world.
But why doesn't the Chinese Republic have simular help?
Funny, if payed, the Dutch would even help you against themselfs.

Would a righteous revolution accept foreign troops fighting in their civil war? We are not fallen as much as the Emperor.

On a modern battlefield....  you need all the help you can get, we learned that harsh lesson in Kolkatta.
There is a difference in a revolution  where the best arms are single shot muskets for a handfull of elite soldiers and a full scale war with both sides employing the most modern weapons in a trained configuration. But I understand the analogy.

But beyond just the acceptance of Dutch troops, the Emperor has gone farer. Even now he harasses innocent merchants with hordes of submarines, mines our waters under the guise of civilian ships, blows rivers dykes, killing hundreds of thousands.
The Emperor is pulling every trick in the book to keep his wrongful seat at the throne.

That is an emperors prerogative. You should have known that before you launched the pre-empive strike on Wuhan, and the latest round of hostilities.
as France learned, and shows to the world, nobilty writes a book, and abuses the book to gain even more advantages.

We are saddened for we thought even the inept Emperor would still have the people's wellbeing in his mind. We were foolish to think so.

Foolish, no,
ready to mature, yes.  
We have rather comprehencive documents about the Siam, Burma, DKB and Independent Inochina situations, but those are biased. if you can can get me the documents from your side, I would be gratefull. It would give me the needed information to explain your needs to the French Parliament

That is not a problem, Premier Galpoux, we would be glad to provide.

OOC Note: Italics is Premier Galpoux, Regular text is the Chinese Envoy.
Editted and approved by Maddox
To be continued

[Desertfox]

NS IS a republic... and is willing to do just about anything for money...

[Carthaginian]

NS IS a republic... and is willing to do just about anything for money...

And sometimes, that is just the problem.

Nice storyline, Logi- I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

[Logi]

September 30, 1919
Munitions Testing Facility, Guangzhou

With a sharp boom, muted somewhat within the huge facility, a shell flew from a test barrel straight into a awaiting concrete plate some meters straight ahead.

"What is the problem?", one of the researchers (Zhun Yin) who had recently entered the room asked.

"We are figuring out the needed caliber to penetrate this steel plate." The researcher motioned towards the plate held and bolted into place into the ground, a 13" thick layer of steel (representing the resistance of a 3m thick reinforced concrete wall) sitting a few inches behind to stop the shell. The steel plate was designed to imitate semi-infinite reinforced concrete. "Thing is," the researcher continued, "the shell has a tendency to mushroom before it breaks through the plate."

Zhun Yi nodded, "That would be because of the shell filling isn't enough to withstand the impact pressure, no? What shell are you using?"

The researcher forced a smile, "Of course, the shell is a APC, no filler pure shot shell. As you note, the shell mushrooms because of the forces the shell is subject to. We believe either a larger shell or a longer shell would allow the shell to last longer before mushrooming. As for that, it has been confirmed that a density increase would serve to lower the erosion rate of the projectile. There has been a nasty problem of the shells we were using grounded down to pieces or shattering."

Another sharp boom, the researcher smiled with half-worry, "Of course, the problem is with finding a suitable high density and high strength material that won't shatter under stress."

Zhun Yi nodded again, thinking a bit as the next shell was loaded and launched into the steel plate. "What about Wu or Xang? They are dense and strong materials. But if a large shell is what you need, is not the Dora-Dora enough for that purpose?"

Again the shell failed to penetrate the steel plate, the researcher waved to the men loading the next shell, signaling them to stop, before turning back to Zhun Yi, "Wu and Xang are excellent ideas. But the problem with Wu is the difficulty of refining and mining, although we possess vast amounts of deposits of it. As you say, the Dora-Dora is enough to penetrate the plate." The researcher paused for a breath, "But the Dora-Dora weights in at 108 tons assembled. The process to reassemble the gun would take hours, not to mention the difficulty with transporting it. The lighter Lina is not enough to penetrate the plate. Partial penetration is not enough to do that task, we need complete penetration. For that, if we try to downsize from the Dora-Dora, a few things must happen. Either we make a better penetrator, or we make a longer barreled gun."

Zhun Yi replied, "Well I would suggest working on it with haste. I will assist in the design of the shell."

October 8, 1919
Munitions Testing Facility, Guangzhou

The Xang ore was mined and cleansed of impurities as well as possible, the standard drill being wearing a dust mask and operating within a well ventilated facility.

Being some 2.4 times denser than RHA steel meant for a single shell, a much larger weight could be fitted into the shell, without deducting from the rifling capabilities of the barrel.

Zhun Yi had ordered preliminary tests with the shell in a scaled down version. The shell in question was 5.88" in diameter and 276.75 lb in weight. Launching into a 9" RHA steel plate meant a scramble of partial and complete penetrations were achieved.

Eventually, it became clear after failing to penetrate the 13" plate with a 6.7" (170mm) shell that a larger gun was needed. How much larger?

"Try an 8" standard shell with Xang instead." Zhun Yi urgued the rest of the team, it was a gut feeling he had. His gut feelings had often pulled through for him, and it wouldn't fail now.

So an 8"/50 heavyweight barrel was conceived, both to yield a great barrel length and thus propel the shell faster and to withstand the shock of the additional bagged charges added to the chamber.

The 8" dia. 40" shell weighted at 550kg (1212.5 lb) and was something of a wonder. It penetrated the 13" RHA plate from 0 to 41 degrees with usable range.

Zhuan Yi and the other researchers decided to banish the notion of adding an explosive filler to the shell in hopes to keep both shell weight down and performance up. The purpose was to punch holes into concrete walls, thereby severely weakening the force dispersion power of reinforced concrete.

For the rest of the concrete, it was decided that an 8" dia. 40" 128lb shell (being more hollow then usual and filled with lightweight materials) would be used. The barrel would propel the shell at 4000 fps, to shatter the weakened concrete at range.

The end result? A gun carriage 35 tons heavy using a combination of 1212.5lb and 128lb shells to penetrate 3m thick concrete walls. Of course, the shells had to be supplied separated and were a good deal heavy, but in the end, it was thought it would save the mess of moving the 108 ton Dora-Dora and it's 4800lb shells.


USA 8 Inch Gun M1 picture

*Note: Wu is Chinese for Tungsten. China is rich in Tungsten, so rich, in fact, that is pretty much has a monopoly over it. Take note it is south china (RRC) that is rich with it. The problem lies in the fact that proper refining techniques and working tungsten is extremely difficult. Xang is Cantonese for Uranium. In this case, natural uranium. Natural Uranium mining has existed for a long them and refining (aka getting rid of other elements in the extracted ore) is fairly ahead and within our time-line. Of course, techniques for separating 238 and 235, and even knowledge and detection of the difference is something else entirely and not within this period. In other words, natural Uranium, in our time, can not be used for anything save for it's density. Natural Uranium (which is workable, and quite safe with a dust mask and proper ventilation -according to Maddox-) is used in the shell to replace the metal in order to produce a heavier shell without increasing shell length (due to the great density). Of course, there are concerns about the availability of natural Uranium, and accidents do happen and Uranium, despite it's muted form is still toxic. But there are expensive prices for super-dense materials.

The problem of mushroom is noted caused by the low density and amount of stress given to a projectile. This deforms and erodes the shell. Thus a more dense projectile would withstand a greater amount of stress and resist deformation for longer. A longer projectile would withstand a greater amount of stress and can go through more deformation and erosion before deceleration kick-stops the projectile. In this case, a denser shell was used as concerns about rifling length and accuracy was raised against a longer shell.

It is a property of reinforced concrete as well as normal concrete to shatter when impacted by a high velocity projectile (the shell weight does not matter) and for a large piece it may be as high as a velocity of 0.45 cm/?s. For a smaller piece, it may be much lower. For that effect, what the 1212.5lb shell does is make the piece dissipate over a much smaller area, making it act as though it were a smaller piece of concrete. This makes the impact velocity needed to shatter the concrete much lower. I do not think 4000 fps is enough to do the job unless quite small, but it would force-crack a good portion of concrete it make it much much easier for other artillery to penetrate.

*** There is more to say here, but it is late, so expect it to appear when I wake up.

[maddox]

OOC
Uranium-metal can be worked relatively safe. It still is a low radioactive heavy, poisonous metal (in the range of mercury) with pyrophoric abilities. Using dust masks, gloves and such prevents inhalation and ingestion of the metal, therefore reducing the risk of poisoning. But long time exposure will still cause radiation poisoning (especialy in the amounts Logi is talking about).

And refining uranium ore into uranium metal has its own problems. Especialy the pyrophoric effects are dangerous here. Any dust or swarf will catch fire quite easely, and extinguishing such a fire is not easy at all.

And of course, casting steel shells is "easy" in the 1920's. Casting uranium billets is not "difficult", but in simple words, hidiously expensive.
Like the privetag of a destroyer for 1 shell.

[Carthaginian]

Still in all, will make a hell of a siege weapon.

[Logi]

October 10, 1919

The team was satisfied with the performance of the Xang metal, but the problem was the exorbitant price tag. So they worked to find different elements for this use. What would be dense and would fine?

Osium, Iridium, it seemed the problem increasing was the difficulty of working the element, as with Wu. The cheapest dense material they could find was Tantalum, Mercury, and Lead. But the problem with Tantalum was lack of industry ready for the production of something so large as a artillery shell. The industry was devoted to nothing but production of filaments for light bulbs! On the other hand, Mercury was less common than Tantalum and lighter, but there was a significant industry for producing mercury in large scale already. And the nature of the element meant that scaling up the size was not a large problem.

However the problem remained, Mercury was a liquid and therefore a soft material. It would create a great deal of deformation!

For Lead, it was extremely common material, but less dense than mercury. Still, it was harder than Mercury (due to the latter being liquid!).

A compromise was eventually hammered out. To lower on production costs, a steel canister filled with lead bullets and mercury poured in to fill the rest. It that it sounded a lot like a shrapnel weapon so the team decided, with the lowered production costs already, a burst charge could be fitted into the shell.

This shell was tested against a 10.8" plate, and the steel canister quickly crumbled against the plate, releasing the very dense contents onto the surface of the steel plate at high velocity. The resulting impact warped the steel plate as a shock-wave of splinter was launched from the back of the steel plate. No penetration was achieved, but the test was a success.

If the shell had the power to warp the steel plate and cause it's back to splinter, then a concrete wall would be half-cracked due to the high velocities shattering the surface of the concrete.

Of course, it was less than desired. Penetration was needed, cracking was not the best solution. But the Mercury-Lead shell would do for now, at least, until sufficient capabilities in the industry of Tantalum production could be achieved.

[Logi]

October 31, 1919

"Of course the correct conclusion is the absolute inadequacies of your generals, President Hu. General Feng Xujian lead his attacks from favorable ground into a crossing of the Yangste River, resulting a swift and brutal repelling of the offensive.

In favor of a movement to flank enemy and cross the river in safe areas, the General Xiao Jimian conduct an opposed landing.

I would point that it seems your generals have an absolute and irrational love for crossing the Yangste River under fire. But not only that, but even when given secure communication lines and the ability to coordinate attacks for maximum effect (Schwerpunkt) on the smallest point, the Generals and commanders seem content to ignore such materials and attack as through a disorganized militia. They tried to sweep the broad front, an irrevocable bad move, resulting in low concentration of needed effort and force."

That is a great failing on the part of the army and it's inability to follow doctrine. General Xiao and Feng attempted to use mobile troops as though they were built to slug it out. You can tell from their failures. We can not continue to allow such incompetents to continue to lead our armies, they will only lead to our lost."

President Hu Hanmin looked at the reports given to him about the movement of the large front, shaking his head ever so slightly. "I will relieve the necessary people of their command."

Chiang Kai-shek smiled, "An army of shock and mobility, an army of elite force and sophisticated doctrine, can not operate like a peasant militia, it shames our name, wastes our men, and burdens our people. I have shown you the effectiveness of speed and shock with the Motorized Rocket Corps' series of successes, even if we run on a thin string. Xiao and Feng have shown the failure of a mass army. It is clear, I desire those items post-haste."

President Hu Hanmin waved his hands, "That is easier said than done. We simply do not have the materials."

Chiang Kai-shek nodded, "Of course, but I trust you and the Legislative Assembly will be able to remedy it. It is not a matter or can or can not. It is a matter or doing."

[Sachmle]

It is not a matter or can or can not. It is a matter or doing.

"Do or do not.... there is no try."

[TexanCowboy]

It is not a matter or can or can not. It is a matter or doing.

"There is no try, only do or not do."

Thus spoke Jedi Master Sachmle.

[Guinness]

Actually it's:

"Do or do not... there is no try."

Sorry I'm a Star Wars pedant.

[Logi]

October 6, 1919

President Hu Hanmin look again at Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, Hu had bags under his eyes, indicating he had not slept in the past few days. "Chiang, I need a victory. There is no other way to keep the Jacobs suppressed." Chiang smiled faintly, "Don't we all?"

"Time is running out isn't it? Perhaps it's time for Operation Red Dusk?"

President Hu Hanmin looked again at the Generalissimo, "Do we have to?" "I'm afraid, there is really no other choice, unless we want this Northern Expedition to fail. We must win before our revolutionary father passes away."

President Hu Hanmin chuckled, "That old man? He's probably somewhere far away right now, making the Imperials look like fools." Chiang Kai-shek chuckled in response, looking around the bleak room, the oil lamp on the tabletop. The flame wavered from side to side, illuminating portions of their faces at a time.

Chiang gulped a thought down before speaking again, "We should prepare for Scenario Four. HUMINT is giving abysmal feedback." Hu Hanmin's face darkened, "Get a victory, or the Jacobs will take over." "I know." As Chiang left the room, President Hu Hanmin sat alone at the table, his face grim, and the only sound the ticking of a clock.