News and Stories from the Vilnius Union

[The Rock Doctor]

This is problematic, as both the Norse and 5 Guys are currently NPCs, and NPCs are not "open" for treaty interaction.  I am getting 'caught up' on where I was...oh about August before everything blew up.  I will think on this and confer with Snip

OOC:  I know, and I don't expect an immediate or even necessarily rapid-ish response.  In the event of a non-response, the Union will just keep the status quo for a while.  But the news item did seem timely.

[The Rock Doctor]

July 14, 1915

To:  Head, Design Bureau
From:  B. Kopa, Naval Architect

I have returned from distant Zwiazek Erica Polnocnej to report on possible naval design considerations for Lake Erielhonan.  This included a trip to the lakeside city of Gihe'hoga, trips on the lake, and consultations with knowledgeable persons (fishermen, search and rescue, etc.) from local native communities.

While I understand that Zwiazek Wilno is in the process of acquiring a small stretch of shoreline on Lake Mishigami, I was not able to travel there myself.  This report only applies to Lake Erielhonan.

Lake Erielhonan is the second smallest and most southerly of the five great lakes of North Erika.  The lake is approximately four hundred kilometres long and up to ninety wide.  Its bathymetry is not well charted but the western fifth or so is generally in the seven to ten metre range.  The lake often freezes in winter, and the western basin is known to generate significant wave action in even modest weather conditions.

The lake's major source of inflow is the Otseketo River, which drains the smaller (and not formally "great") Lake Otseketo.  Its major outflow is the Ongniaahra River, which flows north to Lake Ontari'io.

It is understood from discussion with local people that some degree of navigation is possible from Lake Erielhonan all the way to Lake Mishigami via Lakes Otseketo and Karegnondi and adjoining rivers. However, the largest sailing craft observed on the lake were small, single-mast sailing craft and low-tonnage steamers.  A maximal length or draft is not currently known.  Navigation downriver to Lake Ontari'io, on the other hand, is rendered quite impossible by a significant cataract. 

Zwiazek Wilno controls the southern third of the shoreline; the remainder is held by the Confederacy of Five Nations. It bears noting that both inflow and outflow are located in areas under Confederacy Control; the Union can not navigate between lakes without Confederacy permission. The Northern Kingdom currently possesses no shoreline on lakes accessible to Erielhonan but is thought to have designs on the western part of Lake Mishigami.

Apart from its obvious utility as a transportation route, Erielhonan hosts a significant fishery which is the most likely source of friction between the Union and the Confederacy.

My general recommendations for hypothetical naval construction of lacustrine naval forces, based on these factors and detailed below, are:

-That the draft be relatively shallow, ideally less than three metres, to facilitate operations close inshore.

-That hulls be strengthened for breaking of winter lake ice, and that bottoms be reinforced for potential groundings.

-That propulsion be provided through coal-fired boilers, given the absence of locally available fuel oil.

-That reciprocating machinery be considered for ease of maintenance given the limited shipbuilding facilities extant at Gihe'hoga.

-That freeboard and seakeeping reflect the potential for significant wave action, particularly in the shallow western basin.

-That fittings reflect missions including:  Search and rescue; fisheries and customs patrol; and marine surveying/bathymetry.

Such craft would be practical with the construction of relatively modest facilities, at Gihe'hoga or elsewhere, should relations with the Confederacy warrant it.

Sincerely,

Boris Kupa
 

[The Rock Doctor]

July 21, 1915

"Gentlemen, this meeting will come to order.  The Sejm Committee on Finance is in session," the Chairman, a fellow from old Latvia, pronounced with a small bang of his gavel.  "Our current order of business is:  Vilnius Union Navy Main Estimates for nineteen sixteen.  Minister Schmidt and Grand Admiral Grabowski are in attendance to testify in response to member questions.  Do we have questions for either witness?"

The Honorable Member for Helsinki-East raised a hand and was recognized.  "Minister Schmidt, when this committee met last year to discuss the Preliminary Estimates for nineteen sixteen, we provided what I thought was fairly clear direction that we would entertain a funding proposal for new armored cruisers but not battleships.  So you can forgive me if I look at the documents you've supplied to use and wonder if you either did not understand that direction or have chosen to act against it...?"

Minister Schmidt smiled tightly.  "Thank you for your question, sir.  To clarify, that direction was clearly understood and incorporated into the Navy's Main Estimates ask.  We are seeking funding for armored cruisers at this time.  We are not seeking funding for battleships."

The Honorable Member for Helsinki-East frowned.  "With all due respect, Minister, what I see here is not an armored cruiser as I have ever seen described.  This is a battleship."

Schmidt said, "With respect, sir, I'll ask Grand Admiral Grabowski to clarify this misinterpretation?"

"Certainly, Minister," Grabowski said.  "Honorable members, thank you for the opportunity to be here today.  In heeding your advice to submit a proposal for new armored cruisers, we examined available information on existent armored cruisers in foreign service or understood to be under construction.  Given recent history, our analysis focused primarily on those vessels operated by the Northern Kingdom and Iberia, with some attention paid to Rome, Parthia, and local Erican powers.  It may not come as a surprise that the armored cruisers designed by these different navies with their different strategic priorities are also somewhat different.  Consequently, we were not able to look at any one specific ship and say that we could design against it.  We had to design against them all."

"And you designed a battleship?" the Honorable Member for Helsinki-East replied.

"No, sir.  Let me be clear:  There is a long history of armored cruisers being as large as battleships.  This is a consequence of their need for high operating speeds and large bunkers - the machinery, in particular, is quite volume intensive.  In this case, we are looking at the Norse armored cruiser types and design against their reported top speed of twenty-nine knots, while being mindful of our own need to operate across the entirety of the Atlantic."

"And the guns?" Helsinki-East followed up.

"Again, a reaction to foreign decisions.  We are quite satisfied with our Lucznik class, which have proven themselves admirably," Grabowski said.  However, the Iberians have adopted a twelve-inch battery in their recent types, the Norse have moved to fourteen inch, and our information indicates that the Roman Respublica is similarly equipped.  Failing to heed these developments would be detrimental to our own naval security.  Thus our submission reflects these developments."

The Member for Stuttgart Centre spoke up.  "And then the protection must scale up as well?"

"That's correct, sir," Grabowski said.

"Minister Schmidt, how is this proposal going to be impacted if the Union signs on to a naval arms limitation treaty?" the Member for Lubeck inquired.

"With respect, sir, I can not answer that question," Schmidt replied.  "I have, at this time, only heard informal mention of possible negotiations to be held at some future date; nothing formal or binding.  Obviously we will comply with whatever terms we agree to, but we have not yet agreed to anything, much less seen anything tabled.  My preference is to advance our interests as we see them here and now, and address limitations if they come up, when they come up."

"But at the end of the day, Minister, we're still talking about battleships here," Helsinki-East sighed. 

"With respect, sir, I can understand why it may seem so, but we are not..." Schmidt started.

"But we are.  Battleship guns.  Battleship size.  Battleship protection," the politician groused.  "This is a distinctly uncouth attempt to circumvent the wishes of the Sejm and I think we've got to take a stand against this by voting the proposal out of the Main Estimates.  Come back with an armored cruiser proposal for nineteen seventeen, if you've learned your lesson by then.  Mr. Chairman, I call a motion."

"Seconded," Stuttgart-Centre affirmed.

"Very well," the Chairman said.  "Minister, any additional comments before we vote on the motion?"

"Uh..." Schmidt started.

Grabowski glanced at another member of the committee and that member, for Rostock, spoke up.  "Minister Schmidt, I note that you're proposing to name the lead unit Szermierz.  That's consistent with our armored cruiser nomenclature, not that of our battleships, correct?"

"That's correct, sir," Grabowski said.


*****

"That was a close call," Schmidt said later, as he and Grabowski drank Norse scotch in his office.

"Yes, sir, it was."

"Surprised that Herr Mueller knew about our nomenclature schemes," Schmidt added.  "Think it swayed at least one of the other members there."

"Before the meeting, one of my aides had engaged in some idle chatter with his assistant about where we might be building our next protected cruiser class and perhaps this jogged his interest," Grabowski mused.  "One can never be sure."

"Indeed.  To Swordsman, then," Schmidt said, raising his glass.

"To Swordsman."

[The Rock Doctor]

September 3, 1915

"Acupulco?  I thought it was Japan working on a conference?" the Prime Minister said.

"That is what we were hearing, yes, but evidently the Sultan has decided to take the plunge," Minister Borowiecki replied. 

"It wouldn't surprise me if the Japanese have their hands in there somehow," Minister Schmidt noted.

"No argument there," Borowiecki said.  "I admit I'm not completely familiar with naval construction these days - is there pressure to cap ship numbers or sizes or guns?"

"Some," Schmidt agreed.  "Foreign ship sizes are escalating, as are ours-"

"Yes, we saw that in the Sejm," the Prime Minister nodded.

"So there is a prospect for continued expenses and one-upsmanship," Schmidt finished.  "I wouldn't be surprised if the Japanese come out strongly for a conference but I don't know whether the other major powers will necessarily be as enthusiastic."

"But if one agrees to attend, I expect the pressure will increase on the others to do likewise," Borowiecki said.

"What would we like to see come out of a conference?" the PM asked.

"Hard to say.  A cap on individual capital ship size could be helpful.  Caps on numbers or total tonnage could go either way."

"Either way, I'd recommend that we be at the table," Borowiecki said.  "Confirming our attendance and willingness to talk is useful but doesn't commit us to any specific outcomes.  No doubt Minister Schmidt and his people and present their perspectives to Cabinet for a final decision on negotiation mandates."

"I'd need a couple of weeks, but yes," Schmidt agreed.

"Sounds good," the PM said.  "Let the Sultan know we'll show up."

[The Rock Doctor]

September 12, 1915

The nation's largest floating drydock is poised to begin its first significant journey.

The two hundred metre long structure, not formally named at this time, was completed in Stockholm in July.  It has since passed a series of inspections and will be towed to see by the chartered tug Wojack on about September 16th.  Two additional tugs will accompany the pair as a precaution. 

Contrary to some expectations, the tug and drydock will not traverse the Kiel Canal, with a navy spokesman noting, "The risks associated with maneuvering an enormous, unpowered object such as the floating dock in a confined space such as the canal's locks seemed somewhat elevated.  We'll keep a close eye on the weather and have it go around Jutland instead."

The dock will be delivered to Amsterdam, where the tugs will replenish their bunkers and a team of engineers and shipwrights will inspect the dock.  It's expected that the dock will then be moved to the Azores in mid- to late October, with another inspection taking place before a final (for now) voyage to distant Johannestadt, Haiti in November.

"Apart from the need to periodically examine the drydock, we're timing her delivery to Johannestadt such that the worst of the Atlantic Hurricane Season should be concluded by then," the spokesman said.  "We'll have weather observations coming in from ships in several parts of the Atlantic as an early warning against problematic storms."


4 October 1915

Implementation of the Treaty of Sonnionto continues with Union frontier forces reaching the western margins of the Grand Council of the Shawnee.  While the Union is generally expected to occupy and claim territories to the north of the Shawnee in the coming year, further westward expansion is understood to be forbidden on account of an agreement with Rome.  As it stands, relations with the Illini Confederation, on the Shawnee's western frontier, are understood to be limited but correct.

Reports indicated that the Union and the Shawnee have agreed upon Sonnionto, in the eastern part of the territory, as the eventual administrative centre of a new territorial area designated Kenta Aki.  Neither party was available to comment before going to press.

[The Rock Doctor]

1 January 1916

The armored cruiser Szermierz is laid down in Gdansk's recently expanded 230m drydock.  Expected to measure barely a metre and a half less than the length of the drydock, she's the largest warship yet laid down for the Union Navy.

The ship's length is having knock-on effects in naval planning elsewhere.  As a starting point, another of the nation's three other 200 m drydocks will have to be expanded to accommodate construction of Szermierz's sister in 1917.  Also an issue - the nation's largest floating drydock, completed just a few months ago, will not be able to handle the class (unless her bow or stern is blown off, and even then...).

For now, canal planning is unaffected.  Kiel and Trans-Erika are or will be designed to fit 250m ships, and that will hold for now.  In a decade or two, though, the growth of Union warships will probably require an expansion to 300m at both locations.

5 January 1916

Meanwhile, what is currently the largest ship completed for the Union Navy, the Anders Angstrom, takes to the southern Baltic for initial sea trials.  Her captain takes her up to half-power, reporting afterward that the ship handles smoothly and responsively, and maneuvers under the watchful eyes of two tugs and a torpedo-boat for three hours before returning to her berth.

The sortie draws a fair bit of attention from the civilian population of Gdansk, a number of whom take to the water in their own small craft to get a closer look at the new battleship.  Just after noon, two boats collide and begin taking on water; one of the city's ubiquitous harbour patrol launches arrives on the scene to retrieve all concerned and render repairs to the less damaged boat.  The other sinks to the bottom of the harbour, much to the distress of its owner, a local banking executive.

10 January 1916

Meanwhile, the Navy's largest warships prior ot the Angstrom class - the Wrogi class battleships - sortie with a retinue of light cruisers and torpedo-boats, heading into the Channel from Amsterdam en route to the Azorez.  In a couple of weeks, they'll arrive in the Caribbean, where they're expected to take part in maneuvers with the Union's squadron at Johannesstadt.

14 January 1916

Meanwhile, the two Nieugiety class battleships - the Navy's first dreadnoughts and primary units of said Johannestadt squadron - sortie for a naval gunnery drill against targets on a small island off the coast of Boriken.

15 January, 1916

Meanwhile, in Guyana, the last two Odwazny class battleships are handed over to their new Japanese owners.  It is believed that the ships are destined for immediate scrapping in Japan, as the distant island nation appears keen to acquire scrap material at a time when the Union welcomes new cash.

[Kaiser Kirk]

  Also an issue - the nation's largest floating drydock, completed just a few months ago, will not be able to handle the class (unless her bow or stern is blown off, and even then...).

It's lines like this which make me really miss Walter.
I can just see the Norse eagerly offering to help out.

[The Rock Doctor]

The Norse are a generous folk.

Whatever's happened, hopefully Walter is well.

[The Rock Doctor]

19 February 1916

To:  Kontradmiral Hagen
From:  Komandor Jansen, Office of Anti-Submarine Solutions

Sir,

Please find attached my report on opportunities to upgrade anti-submarine capabilities within the navy, for your review and concurrence prior to transmission to the Grand Admiral's office.

My findings are as follows:

-The K (30 units) and L (8+8 units) class torpedo-boats in service and under construction offer adequate anti-submarine capabilities for their size at this time, and do not require immediate retro-fitting of equipment.

-The J class torpedo-boats (12 units) offer very limited room for additional fittings.  It is recommended that the navy consider refurbishing these units with oil-fired machinery and remove two secondary battery guns.  This would likely allow addition of a basic hydrophone package and a few tons of munitions for long-term utility as detailed in Annex A.

-The I (20 units) and H (20 units) classes are less suitable for fuel conversion.  However, landing two of the secondary battery may be sufficient to allow for additional of the basic hydrophone package and a few tons of munitions, as detailed in Annex B.

-The F/G (50 units) class actually have greater construction reserves than their successors.  It may not be necessary to land any existing armament in order to fit the basic package.  On the other hand, doing so might permit the fitting of the enhanced hydrophone package and/or additional munitions, making them more effective in an ASW capacity.  Given that they are generally obsolete as anti-shipping platforms, we consider the options in Annex C.

-We did not examine options for surviving units of the D/E class given their impending removal from service.

-The Type 1895 Armored Patrol Boat (30 units) has capacity to add a few tonnes of munitions (only).  This would provide a basic ability to harass surfaced or diving submarines but no long-term capacity to meaningfully prosecute dived boats. 

-The Type 1908 cutter (22 units) has considerable capacity to take on an enhanced hydrophone package and munitions suite, but is relatively slow.  Nonetheless, their surfaced speed is sufficient to pace submerged boats.  We present options for retrofitting them and the Type 1895 boats in Annex D.

-We did not examine options for the Liedtke class sloops or the navy's icebreaker inventory, given their specific operating environments.

-The AM-1 class (18 units) minesweepers have limited margin for basic ASW munitions and can be fitted with such for additional functionality, as detailed in Annex E.

-Finally, we consider design options for new-build anti-submarine hunters in the 500, 750, and 1,000 t ranges in Annex F. 

Sincerely,

etc., etc.

[The Rock Doctor]

13 July

It was weird and not a little uncomfortable to be standing on the moist bottom of a drydock, starting up at his command, but that was Komandor-Porucznik Anton Sleiger's situation.  The Havel was the second Lippe class cruiser to come for a refurbishment, and the cruiser was now resting on her hull and an extensive system of blocks as shipwrights began the process of opening her up.

Everything he'd heard about the refurbishment was encouraging:  New machinery and an additional five knots of speed; replacement of the coal bunkers with oil tanks; newer, heavier guns; and a host of new fittings otherwise.  No more coal smoke broadcasting the ship's location, no more ash falling on the deck, fewer men crammed into the ship's accommodations. 

And when it was done - scuttlebutt suggested they'd be heading out of the Baltic and across to the Caribbean.  Lippe had been deployed to Battle Squadron 5 and it seemed reasonable to assume Havel would join her in protecting the battleships Nieugiety and Dziki.  Perhaps he'd cross paths with warships from more exotic places - Azteca, Maya, Parthia, Japan.  Maybe he'd see the sun-drenched beaches of the islands, the beautiful local women.  If they were on station long enough, maybe he'd even get to take his ship through the Trans-Erica Canal one day...

[The Rock Doctor]

2 August 1916

"I suppose we have a decision to make about a new monitor," Minister Schmidt sighed.

Grand Admiral Grabowski shrugged.  "Not immediately, but we do need to think about it."

"First question, can we sell it as an armored cruiser?"

Grabowski almost choked on his drink. 

"I'm joking, Admiral," Schmidt said after a moment. 

"And I'm grateful for that," Grabowski said.  "But to be clear, no, we can't.  Our past monitors have served complementary purposes:  They provide a shallow-draft, heavy artillery component to the Jutland Swarm; they let us trial new heavy artillery while new capital ships are still under construction; and they let us utilize them as gunnery training platforms. 

"With our approach to the Swarm evolving towards motor-torpedo boats and submarines, the first role is somewhat less important than it used to be.  The second and third remain relevant, but the cost of the platform grows with the size of the gun in question.  Our most recent monitor, Szczyt, is more than twice as heavy as the preceding Wasserkuppe."

"How big would a new monitor have to be to accommodate the new gun?"

Grabowski looked over to Kontradmiral Hagen.  "Sir, that would depend on the number of guns fitted.  A twin 400/45 turret would be very similar in size to the triple 350/45 fitted to Szczyt, so we would anticipate a similar-sized vessel in the eleven to twelve thousand tonne range.  A triple turret would require something larger - our initial estimates are in the fifteen thousand tonne range if we locked in the level of protection and operating speed.  Alternately, we could take a different approach and build something lighter, with a single barrel turret and/or less protection and/or less speed."

"But less capability," Schmidt suggested.

"Absolutely," Hagen agreed.  "And we would need to consider the other functions of the monitor as we look forward.  Szczyt has deployed to North Erica as a coastal defence platform and Wasserkuppe will soon take on the same function at Orimirilandia.  Should we take the plunge and build the ship with the intention of deploying her to South Erica?"

"How much does that add to cost?" Schmidt asked.

"Not really a great deal.  The main battery dictates hull dimensions, and everything else falls out from there," Hagen said.

"Are there any particular advantages - other than cost - to a one-gun turret, as compared to a twin or triple?"

"Well, it depends on what else we ask of the hull," Hagen said.  "Notionally, we could put a single turret on a longer, narrower hull, which would perform better at higher speeds if we sought something fast."

"Do we?"

"That goes back to what we want the ship to accomplish," Grabowski answered.  "In Africa, there's likely little value.  In South Erika, I think we'd want to focus on minimizing draft rather than maximizing speed.  If based in Europe, though, a high-speed monitor might have some utility in offensive missions against a hostile neighbour.  Might."

"Well I guess for now I have to ask that you develop some preliminary designs for all three scenarios.  We'd be looking at a 1918 lay-down I assume?"

"At the earliest, yes," Hagen nodded.  "Thank you, Minister, we'll do that."

[Desertfox]

Couple of one gun turrets... add some speed and minimize draft... Furious!

[TacCovert4]

LARGE LIGHT ARMORED CRUISER!

[The Rock Doctor]

WORLD'S MOST TERRIFYING PRE-DREADNOUGHT

[Jefgte]

LARGE LIGHT ARMORED CRUISER!

WORLD'S MOST TERRIFYING PRE-DREADNOUGHT

=> PANZERSCHIFFE !!!