Izvestia, The Official Russian Newspaper

[olekit]

September, 1906

Russia has cancelled shipbuilding plans
The Russian General staff and the Naval Ministry had cancelled the "Naval Shipbuilding Programm 1903 - 1909". The Bill had been signed by the former Imperator Michail II at the late 1902, and provided the building of  4 BB Type 30, 4 AC Rurik II type, 8 CL Vityaz type, 12 CL Boyarin type, 30 DD Dobry type and 40 PL Kasatka type. During 1903 – 1906 was build 4 BB, 12 CL and 8 PL, 2 AC had been laid down.   
"The former program is now out of date: great changes happened in Russia and all over the world. And now we are working on the new shipbuilding plan. The main picularity on it will be the domination of light forces in all fleets. They are more mobile and may be used in any conditions", - said to "Izvestia" the newly appinted Minister of the Navy Admiral Grigorovitch.

[olekit]

The Russian Government and the Naval Ministry of Russian Empire announces that 5 Coastal Guard Battleships will be sold to any one, which gives the declared price for them

Type Imperator Nikolay I

2 pieces

Dimensions: 105,60 m / 105,60 m x 20,40 m x 7,90 m
Displasement:9 616 t normal; 9 842 t full load
Armament: 2 x 305 mm (1x2), 4 x  254 mm in casemates, 8 x  152 mm in casemates, 16 x 47,0 mm deck mounts
Weight of broadside 4 639 lbs / 2 104 kg

Armour: belt 356 mm, ends 102 mm, turrets 254 mm, deck 76 mm, CT 203 mm
Mashinery: Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 2 shafts, 7 162 ihp / 5 342 Kw = 16,00 kts
Range 2 500nm at 9,00 kts (Bunkerage = 595 tons)


PRICE
         - FOR ONE FULLY EQUIPPED SHIP - $4
         - FOR THE SHIP WITH MECHANISMS BUT NO ARMOUR AND ARMAMENT - $2.8
         - FOR HULL ONLY - $2


Type Admiral Ushakov
3 pieces

Dimensions: 86,60 m / 86,60 m x 15,90 m x 5,20 m
Displacement: 4 667 t normal; 4 893 t full load
Armament: 4x254 mm (2x2), 4 x 120 mm in casemates, 6 x 47 mm in deck mounts, 4 x 450 TT
Armour: belt 254 mm, turrets 178 mm, deck 50 mm, CT 178 mm
Masinnery: Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 2 shafts, 5 050 ihp / 3 767 Kw = 16,00 kts
Range 2 500nm at 11,00 kts (Bunkerage = 550 tons)

PRICE
         - FOR ONE FULLY EQUIPPED SHIP - $3
         - FOR THE SHIP WITH MECHANISMS BUT NO ARMOUR AND ARMAMENT - $2.2
         - FOR HULL ONLY - $2

please send a PM with your quiestions and suggestions.

[Borys]

The Asutrian Military Attache read the notice with interest, and grunted to hisef - "All very well and pretty, but when were they built?"

[olekit]

1892 - Type Nikolay I
1896 - Type Admiral Ushakov

[olekit]

All 5 ships have been successfully sold. 

[Walter]

So who is the unfortunate soul shrewd businessman who made this big mistake excellent deal? :D

[olekit]

Could not say it now. Will publish it later. $)

[olekit]

So, our foreign affairs bring us the first dividents, Your Majesty, - graf Muraviev said loudely entering the Throne hall of the Whinter palace. We have returned our base at Hibraltar with all of the facilities and, moreover, we have rented a small bay not far from Singapore. This make it possible to count Russia as one of the greatest naval states.
- Good, - said Ksenia without any interest. Very Good, Alexander Sergeevitch. But, you know, that our financial situation could not give us a chance to use those bases properly, if they will stay empty, without any ships, soldiers and international interests? Do you understand, that Russia, being beaten by japanese tribes or something like that, Threatening by the closure of the straights by Ottomans and playing undercover games with some europeans might be weakened if we do not use those resoures?
-Yes, of course. Sure, we should settle there some divisions, we will send our ships there and the main goal of my policy still is to balance the Powers and not admit the Great war.
- The Great war...  think Russia would not have an opportunity to partisipate at those wars.... too far and no any interests on those faraway theatres...
- Your Majesty. Ksenia. Russia as you say ar far away but we do have interests at Asia. And our cruisers and our explorers already looking for the reach land at India.
- Ok. I need you dosomething more than just send explorers.

Muraviev get out of audience with the Tsaritsa. He thinks it was a good idea not to tell her about those several jokes at the Ukranian border, which were made by some drunk soldiers last night. Now Ukraine frosen her relations with Russia. And troubles with Kirill and Vladimir may happen at the future....

[The Rock Doctor]

Is Russia still allied to France?  It would be more difficult to balance the European powers if you are actively aligned with some...

[maddox]

France did not repeal the Treaty of versailles

[Desertfox]

An alliance of the 3 largest powers? That doesn't sound balanced.

Between France, UKN, and Russia there are:
55 Battleships
35 Armored Cruisers
87 Protected Cruisers
271 Destroyers

Now taking Rohan, CSA, and NS (next 3 in rankings):
25 Battleships
32 Armored Cruisers
103 Protected Cruisers
195 Destroyers

And Orange, GC, and Japan (other big ones):
25 Battleships
22 Armored Cruisers
48 Protected Cruisers
149 Destroyers

Or the Monarchy Alliance (Dutch, DKB, Austria, Iberia, Firanj, China):
28 Battleships
30 Armored Cruisers
68 Protected Cruisers
234 Destroyers

[maddox]

In theory, the first alliance is in existence....  The Treaties of Versailles and  New York.

[Borys]

Sankt Peterburg, November 1907

The Minster-Envoy of Bharat presents the following document

These are the terms at which Bharat is ready to lease the town and bay of Kundapura (Coondapoor in some transcriptions):

1. ANB transfers soverignety and usu fructu of said Territory to Russian Empire for a period of 99 years;
2. Russia is free to develop and use said Territory as she sees fit, for civilian or military purposes, with any international obligations or other entanglements affecting Russia and the Territory not having any bearing on the position of Bharat;
3. the semi-annual fee for the territory is 1$;
4. the lease is conditional upon Russia investing 24$ per annum (in two tranches) into the Aryan economy. Any profts from this investment will be shared by the two Contracting Powers;
5. In Court cases involving Residents of the Territory, the Judiciary Power will depend on the Nationality of the two Parties; in mixed cases the Body of Law to be used will be one with more severe punishment for the Defendant;

Agar Main Kahun, Minister for Dealings with Beyond Black Water

[olekit]

November, 1907
The Grand Consilium took place at the Sheremetyev Palace, St. Peterburg.

Sederunt: the President of Consilium – Prime Minister of the Russian Empire Graf Petr Stolypin, members: Minister of the Foreign Affairs Graf Alexander Muraviev, Minister of the Army General Alexey Kuropatkin, Minister of the Navy Admiral Ivan Grigorovitch, Minister of the Economy Knyaz Uriy Vitte. Auditory: representatives of the Duma and the Gosudarstvenny Sovet, representatives of the main industries, representatives of the mass-media, church representatives, representatives from middle class, labours and peasants.

The main topics: International Policy, The Great Pasific War, Imperial Growth, Situation inside the Country.
After the main session there were several close sessions without the auditory. There were discussed the Army and Navy building and the reasons pro et contra to enter the war.

The Grand Consilium decisions:
1.   Provide the growth of the influence to the third countries which are still out of grabbing by other countries. Set there own colonies and invest to the economy of the countries and territories. Start usage and building of Russian bases at Hibraltar and Tanjung Plepas. Continue negotiations with Bharat to lease the Coondapoor bay and town.
2.   Negotiate with The Ukraine, do not admit her military growth, do not admit her military alliance with other powers against Russia. Admit Triple alliances with the Russia as a member.
3.   Do not enter the Great Pasific War and do not support Powers, which are fighting there. But negotiate with the potential members of the conflict and do not allow new member enter there.
4.   Invest to the self economy and start building new industrial branches.
5.   Situation inside the country recognized as adequate.
6.   Recognize the need of the army modernization and accept the Naval Building program 1908 – 1918. Set funds and make plans of investitions to complete these Programms.

[The Rock Doctor]

Russia has a lot more people than IC; if you invest in enough IC to even things out, it'll make a large difference in your economy.