NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC> This is where nation information goes.

Marching to Armageddon:
http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=383111

1905 Application

Name of Country: Deutscher Reich (German Empire)
Head of State: Kaiser Wilhelm III
Head of Government: (in theory) Chancellor Karl von Holstein
(in reality) Erich von Manstein, Chief of the General Staff
Form of Government: Officially Constitutional Monarchy, increasingly a military dictatorship
Region: Central Europe

Population of Country: 79,230,000

Capital: Berlin (population 3,120,000)
Offical Language: German
Common Languages: German, Czech, Polish
Ethnicity of Country: 86% German, 7% Czech, 6% Polish, 1% Other
Religion of Country: 60% Protestant, 32% Catholic, 2% Jewish, 6% Other

Economy:
General: The German economy is an industrial juggernaut, producing more goods than any country in the world except for the United States. As a centre of international finance, only Britain is larger. It is also the world leader in the production of chemicals, electrical equipment and most forms of armaments and munitions.

Main Exports: Steel, chemicals, electrical equipment, weapons, investment money
Main Imports: Grains, industrial raw materials, oil

Military:
Land Military: Approximately 1,100,000 men, second in size only to Russia. It can also add nearly two million men from the first reserve class in a few weeks in order to create an incredible military impact that is unmatched in the world. Germany has the world's most efficient logistical system and the largest pool of trained men to draw from.

Navy: Approximately 140 vessels, the second largest navy in the world to Great Britain. Germany's navy is mostly composed of new and powerful vessels, although it currently has no dreadnoughts. It is, however, hastily converting four battleships in production to dreadnought status and laying down plans for two genuine dreadnoughts.


History: Since national unification in 1871, Germany has become one of the most powerful nations in the world. During the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm IV, the last Kaiser, the German Empire acquired vast overseas territories and almost bloodlessly absorbed the sizeable nation of Osterlich into its territory. Currently, German industry is secondly in total production only to the United States, exceeding Britain in most fields and is the world leader in the chemical , electrical and armaments industries.

Culture of Country: Primarily traditional German, although there is an increasing modernist and socialist-based counterculture in evidence.

Colonies: The Germans possess a considerable worldwide colonial empire.

The Congo:
Population: 19 million
Resources: rubber, copper, diamonds, ivory
Garrison:

Mozambique:
Population: 4 million
Resources: Cotton, cattle
Garrison:

German West Africa:
Population: 2 million
Resources: cocoa, cotton, coffee
Garrison:

The Philippines:
Population: 12 million
Resources: wheat, rice, iron ore, tropical wood
Garrison:

New Guinea:
Population: 500,000
Resources: gold, tropical wood, fish
Garrison:

German Pacific Islands:
Population: 100,000
Resources: copra, fish
Garrison:

Tsingtao:
Population: 275,000
Resources:
Garrison:

bump until later...

United States of America 1905
Background:
In 1864, the American Civil War was in its third bloody year. In May, Admiral David Dixon Porter and General Nathanial Banks came up with an idea to campaign up the Red River in Lousiania and capture Shreveport and from there move into eastern Texas and the Indian Territory and at a stroke, bring that entire area plus the portions of Arkansas under occupation firmly into Federal control. Through incredible mismanagement, the hard fighting of General Kirby Smith, commander of the Trans Mississippi district of the Confederacy, and some bad luck the entire expedition is trapped and destroyed and 50,000 Yankee troops and 20 warships are lost. (ooc by the way, this happened except that the Yankees got away in just the nick of time to avoid this very disaster).

In a series of blows, the Rebels take back Arkansas and much of Lousiana west of the Mississippi and force a massive diversion of Federal troops from more important theaters of war to prevent the fall of Missouri.

Lacking the decisive edge needed, the Yankees are not able to force a decision that year and Lincoln loses the election. McClellan sues for peace and the Confederacy gains its independence.

Over the next few years the United States and Confederacy splinters further. A brief race war as armed colored troops refuse to go home rages in the South; and an effectively isolated Texas, western Louisiana, Arkansas and the Indian Territory form the Republic of Texas and elect their hero Kirby Smith as President.

The failure of plans to build a transcontinental railroad leads to the loss of Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada, plus the Idaho, Wyoming and Montana territories. This area forms the Pacific Republic and awash in gold and silver it buys Alaska from cash strapped Russia in 1868. The Confederate States of America is reduced to eastern Louisiana (which becomes part of Mississippi), Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee but is exhausted economically by both the War of Southern Independence (as they term it) and the racial troubles after the war. The Black rebellion in the deep South is brutally put down, but the South is also forced to make concessions to end slavery, especially some of the more brutal practices. At the same time, the Mormans declare their independence in Utah, which becomes the Republic of Deseret (and is essentially ignored for the rest of the century).

The United States is left much smaller than before. It consists in 1867 of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland (less part of the eastern shore), Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, plus Colorado (statehood 1876), Nebraska (statehood 1876), and Dakota Territory.

The postwar US President, Winfield Scott Hancock (1866 – 1872) manages to knit his demoralized nation back together, ease tensions between the various new nations in North America and improves relations with the British and British Hannover. His successors, Tilden and Blaine, further improve the US relations with the world, and Blaine makes the US a naval power with the creation of a modern fleet. His successor, McKinley, oversees the establishment of the United States as a world power with the annexation of Hawaiian, Marianas, and Marshal Islands, plus pressures Spain to pull out of Cuba and defeats an aggressive Colombia in the Caribbean War (with the help of the British, British Hannoverians, the Republic of Texas and Pacific Republic as well as Whutefeckia) that ends with the US in control of Puerto Rico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and the establishment of a free Venezuela. This war also brings the Republic of Texas into the Union, adding the states of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

His tragic assassination by an anarchist in 1903 does however lead to the current President, Theodore Roosevelt, who became Vice President in the 1902 election after his heroism in Panama and his efforts as Secretary of the Navy prior to the War with Colombia.

In 1905, after a disastrous earthquake in San Francisco, election reforms that overthrow the established oligarchies in Seattle, San Francisco and Sacramento, and increasing worry about the Russians and the Germans in the Pacific, the Pacific Republic also rejoins the United States (adding California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Idaho as states, and Arizonia, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska as territories).

ooc
this basically sets the background for the USA, CSA, and nation of Deseret (which is a minor entity and not really important) and establishes the needed back story

United States of America (New Shiron player)
Head of Government and State: President Theodore Roosevelt
Capital: Washington DC
Largest cities: New York City, Chicago, Kansas City, St Louis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, San Antonio

Consists of the 34 states, 5 North American territories (Montana, Wyoming, Dakota, Arizona, and Alaska) plus overseas territories in the Pacific, and the US has control over Puerto Rico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama and has de facto control over Mexico, El Salvador, and Cuba.

Culture: US Northeastern and Midwestern, with frontier culture west of the Mississippi

Economy: The US is an economic and industrial powerhouse, and is now the largest industrial economy on the planet, bigger since 1900 the UK and Germany, and far outdistancing the rest of Europe. The US is also rich in resources, especially iron ore, coal, precious metals, oil and food stuffs.

Population: (actual 1900 census) 60 Million (and growing fast because of immigration). (includes adjustments for not having the other missing states with CSA having about 15 million, and a few hundred thousand living in Utah). Another 10 million live in the Caribbean territories, and about 100,000 live in either Hawaii or the US Pacific Territories.

Official Language: none, but English the de facto official language but just about every language in Europe is spoken in the US, especially in the big Eastern cities. A lot of Texans and New Mexicans, plus some Californians are primarily Spanish speakers, as are of course the Caribbean territories.

Stability: Very stable and the US has no desire to reincorporate either Utah or the CSA back into the Union (views Mormons as religious kooks to be ignored in their desert kingdom and doesn’t want to deal with the race relations issues the CSA has).

Military Forces:
United States Navy
Major bases (capable of substantial repair or building)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Fall River, Massachusetts; Brooklyn, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Other bases (can repair some damage and refueling)
San Juan, Puerto Rico; Guantanemo Bay, Cuba; Colon, Panama; Pago Pago, American Samao; Panama City, Panama; San Francisco, California; Bremerton, Washington; plus access to facilities in Japan, Whutefeckia, British Hannover and British Empire. Refueling bases only at Guam, Kwajalein, Shanghai.

Ships
Michigan class Battleship (Dreadnought type)(1906)
18,000 tons, 20 knots, crew 1000, 8 x inch, 20 x 3 inch, 12 machine guns

Ranger class Battle Cruiser (Dreadnought type)(1906)
18,000 tons, 28 knots, 8 x 12 inch, 16 x 3 inch, 12 machine guns

Indiana class battleship (1895 -1896)
11,000 tons, 15 knots, 500 crew, 4 x 13 inch, 8 x8 inch, 4 x 6 inch, 10 x 3 inch, 6 machine guns

New Hampshire class coast defense battleship (1886)
7,000 tons, 17 knots, 350 crew, 4 x 10 inch, 6 x 6 inch, 7 x 3 inch, 8 machine guns, 4 torpedo tubes

Lake Erie class Armored Cruiser (1903 – current)
9700 tons, 22 knots, 675 crew, 8 x 8 inch, 12 x 5 inch, 12 x 3 pdr, 12 machine guns, 6 torpedo tubes

Lexington class Armored Cruiser (1895 – 99)
9300 tons, 20 knots, 500 crew, 8 x 8 inch, 12 x 5 inch, 12 x 3 pdr, 12 machine guns, 5 torpedo tubes

Chester class Protected Cruiser (1902 – current)
3800 tons, 28 knots, 360 crew, 6 x 5 inch, 10 machine guns, 4 torpedo tubes

Philadelphia class Protected Cruiser (1884 – 1892)
6,000 tons, 20 knots, 450 crew, 4 x 8 inch, 10 x 5 inch, 4 x 6 pdr, 6 machine guns, 6 torpedo tubes

Brooklyn class Protected Cruiser (1878 – 1883, modernized 1900)
3500 tons, 20 knots, 8 x 6 inch, 4 x 3 inch, 10 machine guns, 4 torpedo tubes

Nantucket class Gunboat (1878 – 1886, modernized 1902)
1800 tons, 20 knots, 180 crew, 4 x 5 inch, 10 machine guns,

Petrel class Gunboat (1883 – 1895, modernized 1903)
1000 tons, 20 knots, 150 crew, 4 x 5 inch, 8 machine guns

Bainbridge class Destroyer (1900 – 1902)
500 tons, 28 knots, 75 crew, 2 x 3 inch, 2 x torpedo tubes

Terry class Destroyer (1903 – current)
900 tons, 30 knots, 100 crew, 5 x 3 inch, 2 machine guns, 6 torpedo tubes

A class Torpedo Boat
150 tons, 25 knots, 25 crew, 6 machine guns, 2 torpedo tubes

(the Ranger, Chester, and Terry classes have steam turbines, and all three plus the Michigan and Bainbridge classes are oil burning instead of oil burning)

Deployment February 1905
Pacific Fleet
China Squadron (based at Shanghai) 2 Indiana class battleships, 4 Lexington class Armored cruisers, 6 Petrel class gunboats, 8 Bainbridge class destroyers

West Pacific Station (Guam) 4 Chester class protected cruisers, 2 Nantucket class gunboats

South Pacific Station (American Samoa) 2 Chester class protected cruisers, 4 Nantucket class gunboats

Central Pacific Station (Kwajalein) 3 Petrel class gunboats

East Pacific Squadron (San Franscisco) 1 New Hampshire class coast defense battleship, 5 Nantucket class gunboats, 6 Petrel class gunboats, 20 A class torpedo boats

Battleforce (Pearl Harbor) 2 Indiana class battleships, 2 Lake Erie class armored cruisers, 2 Lexington class armored cruisers, 8 Philadelphia class protected cruisers, 8 Terry class Destroyers, 10 A class torpedo boats

Caribbean Fleet
Caribbean Squadron (Canal Zone) 4 Brooklyn class protected cruisers, 2 Nantucket class gunboats, 3 Petrel class gunboats

Atlantic Fleet
Refitting / Modernization / Overhaul (various yards) 1 Indiana class battleship, 2 Philadelphia class protected cruisers, 2 Brooklyn class protected cruisers

Trials/Final commissioning work (various yards) 1 Lake class armored cruiser, 2 Chester class protected cruisers, 4 Terry class destroyers

Atlantic Squadron (Brooklyn) 2 Chester class protected cruisers, 2 Philadelphia class protected cruisers, 2 Brooklyn class protected cruisers, 16 Bainbridge class destroyers, 12 A class torpedo boats

Under construction (date of expected commissioning)
1 Terry class destroyer a month 1905 and 1906, 1 Lake Erie class Armored cruiser (November 1905), 4 Chester class protected cruisers (February, March, May, August 1905), 2 Michigan class Battleships (dreadnoughts)(November and December 1906), 2 Ranger class battle cruisers (November and December 1906), 4 Michigan class Battleships (1907), 2 Ranger class battle cruisers (1907)

US Marine Corps
Shanghai 4th Marine Regiment (2500 men)
Pearl Harbor 2nd, 3rd, 8th Marine Regiments (8,000 men)
Brooklyn 5th, 6th Marine Regiments (5000 men)
Washington DC 1st Marine Regiment (2500 men)
Boston 7th Marine Regiment (2500 men)
Shipboard detachments and Embassy Guards (4500 men)

Strengths indicated are authorized strengths, currently all 4 regiments in the US are at roughly half strength, and the regiments in Hawaii are at 75% strength.

United States Army
Garrisons
Shanghai
2 infantry regiments (5000 men)

Marshal Islands
2 coast defense artillery battalions (2000 men)

Marianas Islands
3 coast defense artillery battalions (3000 men)

American Samoa
1 coast defense artillery battalion, 1 infantry regiment (3500 men)

Hawaii
6 coast defense artillery battalions, 1 Infantry division (32,000 men)

Central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras)
3 infantry regiments (6000 men) plus 9 colonial infantry regiments (36,000 locals)

Panama
4 coast defense artillery regiment, 1 Infantry division (20,000 men) plus 6 colonial coast defense artillery battalions (6000 locals)

Puerto Rico
1 infantry regiment (2500 men), 3 colonial coast defense artillery battalions, 1 colonial infantry regiment (7000 locals)

Strategic Reserve
9 infantry divisions, 2 Cavalry divisions, 3 infantry regiments, 9 cavalry regiments, 1 mountain infantry regiment, 3 Corps headquarters, (300,000 men authorized strength although currently at 70% actual strength)

National Guard
6 Coast Artillery divisions (NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, Galveston, San Francisco, Seattle), 14 infantry divisions, 6 infantry regiments, 3 cavalry regiments, 8 Corps Headquarters, (500,000 men authorized strength, currently at 80% strength)

The Confederate States of America 1905

Background: The War of Southern Independence and the subsequent slave rebellions left the Confederacy nearly destitute after the war. British investment turned away after the slave rebellion because of the excesses of the Confederate government and the continuance of slavery, while Yankee investment was practically non existent as well. The drop in cotton prices because of new supplies in Egypt and elsewhere prevented the return of the previous prosperity in much of the South as well. These factors eventually led to the abolishment of slavery, and the CSA approaching France for help. Eager to obtain a source of cheap cotton for its own industry, the French loaned money to the cash strapped Confederacy enabling it to buy out the remaining slaves and prevent wholesale economic collapse.

During these years (1866 – 1880) the Old South remained a proud but poor nation, not much better off than the Latin American nations further south. However, the freeing up of capital because of the French Loan, and the ending of slavery allowed the South to partially industrialize (along with a strong need for a home grown defense industry). Better relations with the Yankees helped as well, and by the 1880s Yankee and British investment began to come in as well. New Orleans, Richmond, and Atlanta became important textile industrial areas, and other industries emerged as well. By 1900, the South had surpassed Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands in industrial capacity (although it remained a relative industrial pygmy compared to the French, British, Yankees and Germans).

However, the Confederacy is still a deeply divided land. Blacks have second class citizenship, and cannot vote for the most part, nor hold office. Their children go to third rate schools (if they go at all) and most are poor sharecroppers living hand in mouth. Many white southerners aren’t much better off either, but more of them, and a few blacks, have found employment in the cities.

Over the last 40 years since independence the Confederacy has remain an isolationist nation, but in recent years, in gratitude over the French Loan, it has signed a treaty of friendship with France and has from time to time provided troops (as mercenary units) to the French government in colonial operations in order to retain a measure of military experience and to pay for needed arms. The Confederacy also has a small but highly innovative navy (a lesson learned in the Civil War) and retains that navy still.

In recent years, the discovery of oil in western Mississippi (near New Orleans) has provided the Confederacy with its own source of oil and allowed for some export. Confederate textiles are also world class and have managed to achieve considerable success in the Yankee and British Hannover marketplace, supplanting the Yankee textile industry. A number of Yankee manufacturing concerns have also moved south as wages are cheaper and there is far less union activity.

If the Confederacy can ever fully heal the wounds of slavery, it has a promising future.

Confederate States of America (NPC or player to be determined)
Head of Government and State: President Woodrow Wilson
Capital: Richmond, Virginia
Largest cities: Richmond, Charleston, New Orleans, Atlanta, Savannah, Norfolk/Newport News

Consists of the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee (eastern Louisiana is part of Mississippi)

Culture: US Southern (as in the Old South but also similar to Afrikaaner Aparthid rules)

Economy: the CSA is a major agricultural nation and a world leader in the export of cotton but in the last few years has also become a world leader in the export of textiles. An oil industry has also developed, and the CSA has a steel industry (mostly for government needs and the railroads). The South also has substantial coal deposits, but has to import iron ore and most of the other raw materials needed for industry.

Population: (actual 1900 census) 15 Million (9 million White, 6 million Black)

Official Language: English

Stability: Somewhat stable with a dangerously divided but so far stable divide between White and Black.

Military Forces:
Navy: 6 Cruisers (Alabama, Virginia, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, similar to US Philadelphia class protected cruisers), 100 torpedo boats, 2 submarines with the fleet stationed at Norfolk and Charleston and a sizeable torpedo boat force at New Orleans.

Regular Army: 50,000 men organized into 4 small infantry divisions and a cavalry division
National Guard: 250,000 men organized into 18 small infantry divisions, 2 cavalry divisions, and 5 coast artillery divisions (New Orleans, Norfolk/Newport News, Charleston, Savannah, and Mobile Bay)

During the War of Southern Independence the South raised 600,000 troops. It could probably raise up to a million now if called to do so, but at serious social and economic cost.

The Navy and Regular Army have modern weapons (bought from France or the US), but the National Guard is still equipped with older single shot Martini Henry rifles and has obsolete artillery. It would take months to get the National Guard up to standards and require help from allies to do so.

Russian Imperial Military forces 1905
Pacific Fleet (based at Port Arthur)
1st class battleships Retvizan, Tsarevich, Borodino, Imperator Alexandr III, Knyaz Suvorov,
2nd class battleships Peresvyet, Petropavlovsk, Pobyeda, Poltava, Sevastopol
Protected cruisers Askold, Bogatyr, Boyarin, Diana, Novik, Pallada, , Varyag
22 destroyers, 10 torpedo boats

Korea
4 gunboats

Vladivostock
Armored Cruisers Bayan, Rossiya, Rurik Gromoboi,
12 torpedo boats, 5 gunboats

Garrisons
Port Arthur – 40,000 men (3 divisions plus fortress troops)
Korea – 10,000 men (3 brigades)
Manchuria – 20,000 men (6 brigades)
Army of Observation (Mukden Manchuria) – 40,000 men (3 divisions plus support troops)
Maritime Siberia – 5,000 (5 regiments)
Vladivostok – 40,000 men (3 divisions plus fortress troops)

TransSiberian railroad can bring in 40,000 troops a month

Other Russian Naval Forces
Baltic Fleet with 4 3rd class Battleships, 20 destroyers
Black Sea Fleet with 4 1st class Battleships, 3 2nd class battleships, 10 destroyers
Mediterranean squadron with 4 Armored Cruisers, 9 colliers and supply ships

Army
Ukraine area – 300,000 troops (sharp increase) (15 divisions)
Central Asia – 200,000 troops (sharp increase) (10 divisions)
Caucasus Region – 200,000 troops (sharp increase) (10 divisions)
Elsewhere – 500,000 troops (sharp decrease) (25 divisions)

1905 Application

Name of Country: British Hannover
Head of State: Queen Edward VI
Head of Government: Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier
Form of Government: Constutional monarchy with a parliamentary democratic system. All men over the age of 18 are able to vote.
Region: Canada

Population of Country: 31,200,000 (growing rapidly due to immigration and high natural birth rate, about the same rate as the USA)
Capital: New Hannover (670,000, same location as IRL Ottawa)
Offical Languages: English, German
Common Languages: Hannoveran*, English, German, French (Most Hannoverans are bilingual or multilingual)
Ethnicity of Country: Hannoveran 57%, British 14%, German 13%, Quebecois 12%, other 4%
Religion of Country: Protestant 51%, Catholic 39%, Jewish 2%, Other 8%
Largest Cities: Toronto (1,204,000), Montreal (1,054,000), New Hannover (670,000), Winnipeg (367,000), Vancouver (350,000), Halifax (214,000)

*= Hannoveran is technically a sort of English/German creole. About 60% of the vocabulary is German, with about 35% English and the rest other borrowings. Structurally, it could be said that it is about 50% English and 50% German. It's never been officially recognized, but it is the majority first tongue of the population.

Economy:
General: The British Hannoveran economy is rapidly expanding and industrializing. In terms of size, it is on par with France although slightly more prosperous per capita due to a slightly smaller population. Industrial production is concentrated in the large cities of Toronto and Montreal, the former the main site for heavy industries and Montreal being a centre for consumer industries. British Hannoveran industry is currently mainly based on processing of raw materials, ie, turning timber into lumber, furniture and paper, smelting iron into steel, brewing grain into beer and liquor. Halifax, Vancouver and St. John's are also home to a significant shipbuilding industry.

Main Exports: Grain, timber, fish, various minerals, processed forms of said raw materials
Main Imports: Machinery, textiles, various luxury items and foodstuffs that cannot be grown in the northern climate.
Trading Partners: British Empire and the United States together account for 89% of trade, being approximately of equal importance.

Military:
Land Military: The British Hannoveran army is rather small, but is well-equipped and trained. There is also a moderate-sized number of trained reserves to draw upon if needed. The army is volunteer-only.

Royal Hannoveran Army: 50,000 standing force.
Trained Reserves: 150-200,000

Navy: The British Hannoveran navy is moderately sized, but a significant force in its own right. There is also a crack force of marines associated with the navy.

Major Ports: (Capable of constructing and repairing vessels)
Pacific Coast: Vancouver
Atlantic Coast: Halifax, St. John's
Access To: All British and American ports on request, French and Japanese ports if really needed and in the case of war.

Royal Hannoveran Marines: 10,000 standing force
Trained Reserves: 10-20,000

Royal Hannoveran Atlantic Fleet: (Based in Halifax)
Battleships: H.M.S. Ontario (built in 1895), H.M.S. Quebec (1902)
Armoured Cruisers: 6
Protected Cruisers: 13
Destroyers: 12
Torpedo Boats: 40

Royal Hannoveran Pacific Fleet: (Based in Vancouver)
Battleship: H.M.S British Columbia (built in 1904)
Armoured Cruisers: 3
Protected Cruisers: 7
Destroyers: 8
Torpedo Boats: 20

Royal Hannoveran Reserve Fleet: (Based in St. John's)
Battleship: H.M.S. New Hannover (1893)
Armoured Cruisers: 2
Protected Cruisers: 4
Torpedo Boats: 12

Royal Hannoveran Submarine Fleet: (Based in Halifax)
Submarines: 3

Under Construction:
1905: (ie, will be ready soon)
H.M.S. Manitoba (battleship)
1 armoured cruiser
2 protected cruisers
5 destroyers
1 submarine

1906:
H.M.S. Wilfred Laurier (dreadnought)
H.M.S. New Hannover (battlecruiser)
8 destroyers
1 submarine

1907:
H.M.S. Heinrich Stade (dreadnought)
H.M.S. Johann Ritter (dreadnought)
H.M.S. Toronto (battlecruiser)
8 destroyers
1 submarine

Ship Types: Equivalent to British vessels. However, the under-construction H.M.S. Wilfred Laurier (dreadnought) will incorporate elements of American and German design as well.

History: (Will fill in later)

Culture of Country: British Hannoveran culture is a innovative mix of Old and New World influences. The multilingual, multicultural people take inspiration both from influences as varied as Middle American and the German avant-garde. Montreal is probably second only to New York for its cosmopolitanism and cultural importance in North America and almost certainly nicer to look at and live in.

Battleships 1905

The British sprang the Dreadnought on everybody and pretty much got surprise, with only the Americans and Germans working on anything similar (at a slower pace) and British Hannover could pretty much have been in the race too. Everybody else was caught flat footed, and it took a couple of years for them to get started.

Royal Navy (the British)
Dreadnoughts: Dreadnought (fitting out), Superb, Bellerophen, Temeraire under construction (1907)
Battlecruiser: Invincible (fitting out), Indomitable, Inflexible under construction (1907)

1st Class Battleships: Lord Nelson, Agamemnon, Triumph, Swiftsure, Hibernia, Britannia, Africa, New Zealand, Hindustan, Commonwealth, Dominion, King Edward VIII, Montagu, Albermarle, Russell, Exmouth, Cornwallis, Duncan, Prince of Wales, Queen, Venerable, London, Bulwark, Implacable, Irresistable, Formidable,

2nd Class Battleships: Vengeance, Ocean, Goliath, Albion, Glory, Canopus, Illustrious, Caeser, Mars, Jupiter, Victorious, Prince George, Hannibal, Magnificent, Majestic

3rd Class Battleships: Renown, Centurian, Barfleur, Hood, Royal Sovereign, Royal Oak, Revenge, Resolution, Ramilles, Empress of India, Trafalgar, Nile

Japanese navy (in addition to listed elsewhere)
1st class battleships Katari, Kushima, Satsuma fitting out (first Japanese built heavy ships), Aki, Kuwachi, Settsu building (1906 in Japan)

can’t build a dreadnought until 1912

Italian Navy
2nd Class Battleships Regina Morgherita, Beredetto Brin, Vittorio Emmanuel, with Napoli, Roma building (1906 and 1907)

3rd Class Battleships Dulio, Dondolo, Italia, Lepanto, Russierro di Lauria, Francesco Morosini, Andrea Doria, Re Umberto, Sicilia, Sardegna, Emanuele Filberto, Ammoraglio di Saint Bon,

no dreadnoughts until 1908

French Navy
1st Class Battleships Henri IV, Suffren, Republique, Patrie with Justice, Democratie, Veritie, Danton, Condorcet under construction (1907, 1907, 1908, 1908)

2nd Class Battleships Charlemagne, St. Louis, Gaulouis, Iena

3rd Class Battleships Jaureguiberry, Charles Martel, Massena, Bouvet

no dreadnoughts until 1910

Russian under construction (not listed elsewhere)
1st Class Battleships Evstafi, Ioann Zlatoust (1906, both in Baltic), Andreai Pervozvanni, Imperator Pavel I (1907, in Black Sea)

German Navy
Dreadnoughts (building) Nassau, Westfalen (1907), Rhenland, Posen (1908)

Battlecruiser: (building) Blucher (1906) Von der Tann (just laid down, 1908)
1st Class Battleships: Wittelsbach, Wettin, Zahringen, Schwaben, Mecklenburg, Braunschweig, Elsass, Hessen, Preussen, Lothringen, Deutchland, Hannover, with Pommern, Schlesian, Schelieswigh Holstein building (1906)

2nd Class Battleships: Kurfurst Friedrich Wilhelm, Brandenburg, Weisenburg, Worth, Kaiser Freidrich III, Kaiser Wilhem II, Kaiser Wilhem der Grosse, Kaiser Karl der Grosse, Kairser Karl Barbarossa

based on extensive research

Japanese forces at the time of the Russo Japanese War (historic)
Japanese Forces 1904 Admiral Togo Commanding
Battleships Asahi,Chinyen, Fuji,Fuso, Hatsuse, Mikasa, Shikishima, Yashima,
Protected Cruisers Adzuma, Akashi, Akitsushima, Asama, Chihaya, Chitose, Chiyoda, Hashidate,
Idzumo, Idzumi, Itsukushima, Iwate, Kasagi, Kasuga, Matsushima, Naniwa, Niitaka, Nisshin,
Otowa, Saiyen, Suma, Takachiho, Takasago, Tatsuta, Tokiwa, Tsukushi, Tsushima, Yaeyama,
Yakumo, Yoshino,
Plus 23 destroyers, 4 gunboats. 20 torpedo boats

Japanese Army 270,000 men (18 divisions)
Reserves 100,000 men


incidently, the 4 Indiana class US battleships are 1st class BBs, the New Hampshire is a 3rd class BB, and all of the Japanese BBs are 1st Class (and the ones in service were built in the UK).


In addition, the US acquired the First class Battleships Oregon and California with the annexation of the Pacific Republic (built in US), along with 12 destroyers, and Protected cruisers (Philadelphia class) San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Sacremento and Portland, plus 30 torpedo boats, and 4 Bainbridge class Destroyers. All of these ships are assigned to the Battleforce or East Pacific Squadron.

What did you think of the British Hannover naval stuff? It was mostly a guesstimate on my part. Technology wise, most BH ships are pretty much identifical to British designs, as BH facilities are not infrequently used to construct warships for Britain to supplement their own facilities. However, the dreadnoughts incorporate a few American and German elements, and more generally, the British Hannoveran navy is becoming somewhat more unique.

However, unique really means sitting back and watching the Big Three navies and picking and choosing stuff to go in their own ships.

The main reasons for British Hannover having a fairly large and powerful navy are partly due to the fact that it frees Britain from most North American duties, allowing them to keep more ships at home, but also because in the case of a war, British Hannover will be expected to make a military contribution, and it was hoped by some leaders, especially Heinrich Stade that a sizeable naval presence would maybe reduce the number of young Hannoverans sent to fight Britain's wars.

Of course, that won't work at all. :D

the British Hannover navy seems reasonable for its size, population and level of industry and I figured that you simply use British or American designs initially.... especially guns and armor. Propulsion is probably American designs (which seemed to do better than the British propulsion systems) but you are probably stuck with the British system for laying down fire which was inferior to the American and German system. However, I would half the number of torpedo boats you have as they are a coastal defense system, unsuitable for the North Atlantic and North Pacific, and easy meet for destroyers.

I am going to look up everybodys cruisers etc tomorrow and will post them then, and then lay out the British Imperial fleet deployment (which would include yours). I figure everybody would have a peacetime deployment strategy at this point except for the Japanese and Russians which are starting to seriously glare at each other.

I figure the British Hannover Navy covers the West Indies, North Atlantic, North Pacific and South American (west coast) stations, leaving the RN to concentrate its Home Fleet, Mediterranean Fleet, Asiatic Station, Indian Station and South Atlantic station (Capetown), as Jackie Fisher is in charge of the RN now and he concentrated the RN and got rid of a lot of useless gunboats (freeing up crews).

Whutefeckia, do you want me to figure out your fleet? I know you have 1 ex American 3rd class Battleship, 4 ex US Monitors (essentially the equiv of 4th class Battleships) and a few ex Colombian (French and Italian built) protected cruisers plus torpedo boats built by who ever you want to buy them from.

You could probably purchase some British destroyers, but the Americans are busy adding to their destroyer fleet and aren't selling those at the moment.

1905 Application

Name of Country: Imperial Empire of Kanor
Head of State: Emperor Tobunga
Head of Government: General Nagata
Form of Government: Militaristic Empire
Region: Japan
Population of Country: 44,890,000
Capital: Tokyo
Offical Language: Japanese
Common Languages: Japanese, Korean, Chinese, English
Ethnicity of Country: 86% Japanese, 7% Chinese, 6% Korean% Other
Religion of Country: 100% Buddhist

Military:
Land Military: 270,000 Standing Army. 100,000 men in reserves

Navy: 84 vessels.
Battleships Asahi,Chinyen, Fuji,Fuso, Hatsuse, Mikasa, Shikishima, Yashima,
Protected Cruisers Adzuma, Akashi, Akitsushima, Asama, Chihaya, Chitose, Chiyoda, Hashidate, Idzumo, Idzumi, Itsukushima, Iwate, Kasagi, Kasuga, Matsushima, Naniwa, Niitaka, Nisshin, Otowa, Saiyen, Suma, Takachiho, Takasago, Tatsuta, Tokiwa, Tsukushi, Tsushima, Yaeyama, Yakumo, Yoshino,
Plus 23 destroyers, 4 gunboats. 20 torpedo boats

History: Formed only 12 years ago Kanor is not so much modernising its government as going backwards to the days of Clan Governments. However the new Emperor is very militaristic and as such the armed forces are getting bigger and better.

Culture of Country: Primarily traditional Japanese, although there is an increasing modernist counterculture in evidence.

Application for 1905 RP
Name of Country: The Kingdom of Italy
Head of State: King Humbert I
Head of Government: Francesco Crispi
Form of Government: Parliament
Capital: Rome

Population of Country: 38 million
Official Language: Italian
Ethnicity of Country: Mainly Italian, some Germanic and Slav
Religion of Country: Nearly all Roman Catholics

Culture of Country: Italian

Stability of Country: Stable.

Economy of Country: Main source of income is food, textiles and trade.

Land Military of Country: 495,000 men in the standing army, equipment is of German make.

Navy of Country: 72 combat vessels.
2nd Class Battleships Regina Morgherita, Beredetto Brin, Vittorio Emmanuel, with Napoli, Roma building (1906 and 1907)

3rd Class Battleships Dulio, Dondolo, Italia, Lepanto, Russierro di Lauria, Francesco Morosini, Andrea Doria, Re Umberto, Sicilia, Sardegna, Emanuele Filberto, Ammoraglio di Saint Bon

Other Information: King Humbert I has recently had an attempt on his life the assailant did not reveal if he was hired by anyone before he died. Humbert is very much pro- Germany/Russia. Crispi wants more colonies. Alliance between Russia, Italy and Germany.

Colony:
Libya
Resources: Gypsum, Salt, Limestone
Population: 4.1 million
Colonial Army: 12,000 (2,000 Italians 10,000 Natives)
Navy: 9 Ironclads (rejects from the fleet)

Dodecanese Islands
Population: 100,000
Resources: Agriculture, Pearls, Fruit
Colonial Army: 5,000 (500 Italians 4,500 Natives)
Navy: 2 Ironclads

OOC> Japan looks alright. As does Italy, with the main caveat of Libya's population, which wouldn't be more than 1-1.5 million, as its modern population is about 6 million, I believe. But the bulk of it is just dandy. And I'll halve the BH torpedo boats. As for the technology, sounds good for everything that's actually afloat, although the dreadnoughts in construction might look rather more like the new American ships than the British dreadnoughts.

Royal Navy 1905
37 Armored cruisers, 8 light cruisers, 72 protected cruisers, 120 destroyers, 100 gunboats, no torpedo boats, 5 submarines

Royal Australian Navy
4 protected cruisers, 12 gunboats, no torpedo boats

French Navy
18 Armored Cruisers, 21 protected cruisers, 50 destroyers, 40 gunboats, 30 torpedo boats, 2 submarines

Spanish Navy
1 2nd class Battleship (Pelayo), 6 armored cruisers, 1 protected cruiser, 10 destroyers, 4 gunboats, 12 torpedo boats

Dutch Navy
6 2nd class battleships, 4 protected cruisers, 10 destroyers, 8 gunboats, 12 torpedo boats

Turkish Navy
2 2nd class battleships, 1 3rd class battleship, 3 protected cruisers, 5 destroyers, 8 gunboats, 20 torpedo boats

Italian Navy
6 armored cruisers, 7 protected cruisers, 20 destroyers, 10 gunboats, 40 torpedo boats

I would expect Whutefeckia to have a navy about the size of the Dutch

this should fill in the gaps for everybody who hasn't had the gaps filled in yet and is based on historical records.. I wouldn't expect much bigger fleets than this from anyone, although reducing the number of armored cruisers to increase the number of protected cruisers would be reasonable, as would be subtracting a armored cruiser to man 5 destroyers (about the same numbers of sailors and maintanence cost annually)

British Army by the way consists of 6 infantry divisions, 1 cavalry division (regulars) in UK, another infantry division and cavalry division in India, and various brigades scattered around (about 4 more divisions).

Territorial Army adds another 8 divisions infantry, 2 cavalry, and no other British forces exist in peacetime.....

British, Dutch and Commonwealth Naval and Colonial Forces 1905

British Empire
Shanghai – 1 infantry brigade
Hong Kong – 1 infantry brigade
Singapore – 1 infantry brigade
British East Asia Station (no facilities other than refueling facilities available)
3 3rd class battleships (acting as guard ships), 30 gunboats (mostly patrolling coastal waters and rivers in China and Malaya), 4 2nd class battleships, 7 armored cruisers, 12 protected cruisers, 10 destroyers, plus 3 battalions of Royal Marines
India – British Indian Army 120,000 troops (can form 5 infantry, 2 cavalry divisions)
New Zealand / Australia – Militia only, but historically formed 6 Divisions (5 infantry, 1 cavalry) in World
War I
South Pacific Station – RAN ships, 4 protected cruisers, 12 gunboats
British Indian Station (dockyard facilities at Bombay, Calcutta, refueling all major and minor Indian and Sri Lankan ports) 4 3rd class battleships (guard ships), 10 armored cruisers, 20 protected cruisers, 20 gunboats, 4 battalions of marines

South Africa – 3 brigades infantry, 2 cavalry brigades, plus various detachments in other African colonies (usually battalion sized)
Aden –1 infantry brigade
Egypt – 2 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade

South Atlantic Station (dockyard facilities at Capetown, refueling all major ports in British Africa)
2 3rd class battleships (guard ships at Capetown and Falklands), 10 protected cruisers, 40 gunboats (patrolling coasts of west and east Africa, plus South America), 2 battalions marines

Mediterranean Fleet (dockyard facilities at Malta, Alexandria, refueling at Suez, Port Said, Aden, Gibraltar)
3 3rd class battleships (guard ships at Suez, Port Said and Gibraltar), 11 2nd Class Battleships, 10 Armored cruisers, 10 protected cruisers, 30 destroyers, 10 gunboats, 4 battalions marines

Home Fleet (dockyards at Portsmouth, Plymouth, London, Rosyth, Liverpool, and minor facilities at all British and Irish ports)
26 1st class battleships, 10 armored cruisers, 8 light cruisers, 20 protected cruisers, 80 destroyers, 5 submarines plus 1 dreadnought battleship, 1 dreadnought battlecruisers fitting out, 6 battalions of marines

Atlantic Station (also includes West Indies station)
British Hannover fleet

North Pacific Station (also includes west coast of South America)
British Hannover fleet

Dutch
Battalions in Surinam, Dutch East Indies, plus 50,000 troops in Dutch East Indies (garrison troops) plus a brigade of Marines in Dutch East Indies

Dutch East Indies squadron is 2 2nd class battleships, 2 protected cruisers, 4 gunboats, 4 destroyers
Dutch West Indies squadron is 1 protected cruiser, 4 gunboats
Dutch home fleet is 4 2nd class battleships, 6 destroyers, 12 torpedo boats
The Dutch have 9 infantry divisions and a cavalry division for home forces (conscript and reserves included) with a substandard level of training and equipment compared to German or French forces.

1905 Application

Name of Country: Hungary
Head of State: King Josef of Habsburg
Head of Government: Prime Minister Stefan Kossuth
Form of Government: Constutitional monarchy, albeit with little in the way of democracy
Region: Central Europe

Population of Country: 20,300,000
Capital: Budapest (700,000)
Offical Languages: Magyar
Common Languages: Magyar, Romanian, Slovak, Serbian, German, others
Ethnicity of Country: Magyar 45%, Romanian 16%, Slovak 13%, Serbian 10%, other 17%
Religion of Country: Catholic 71%, Orthodox 13%, Protestant 12%, Jewish 3%, Other 1%
Largest Cities: Bratislava, Debrecen (no really major other cities)

Economy:
General: Hungary is mostly a moderately poor agrarian nation, although there is some industry in Budapest.

Main Exports: Cattle, grain, fruit, textiles
Main Imports: Machinery, fertilizers, steel
Trading Partners: Germany accounts for about 60% of trade. Russia accounts for just over 30%.

Military:
Land Military: The Hungarian Army is fairly large, but is of dubious quality. It is expected to be used mainly as cannon fodder under German command in the case of a European war.

Hungarian Army: 270,000
Hungarian Reserves: 200,000

Navy: N/A (Landlocked)

History: (Will fill in later)

Culture of Country: Hungary is a confusing welter of nationalities that may fall apart at any time.

Tentative German Military Strategy:

Basics: A variant on the Schlieffen Plan, although with somewhat greater military resources to work with, as well as no immediate pressure from Russia, who are allies.

Total Forces: Approximately 3 million. Given Germany's military structure and population, they could get their army up to about this number in perhaps a week or so after the start of hostilities.

1st Army Group: (Northern Schlieffen Thrust, through Netherlands, northern Belgium and into Northeastern France)

Army Commander: Field Marshal Mackensen
1st Army: 250,000 (Crown Prince Friedrich)
2nd Army: 250,000 (Falkynhayn)
3rd Army: 250,000 (Von Kluck)
4th Army: 250,000

2nd Army Group: (Southern Schileffen Thrust, through Luxembourg, southern Belgium and into Northeastern France)

Army Group Commander: Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg
1st Army: 250,000 (Ludendorff)
2nd Army: 250,000
3rd Army: 250,000
4th Army: 250,000

3rd Army Group: (All other operations)

Army Group Commander: Field Marshal Alfred von Schlieffen
5th Army: 200,000 (Providing extra support for Alsace-Lorraine)
6th Army: 200,000 (Providing extra support for Alsace-Lorraine)
7th Army: 100,000 (Occupation of Denmark)

1st Army Group Reserve:
8th Army: 250,000

2nd Army Group Reserve:
9th Army: 250,000

Further Forces:
Due to total mobilization of the economy, up to a million extra Class 2 Reservists are likely to be called up rapidly to supplement the attacking forces and fill in the gaps caused by casualties. In addition, some Hungarian, Italian and possibly even Russian troops might end up there.

Ultimate Goal:
Of course, the ultimate goal is to destroy the French army within a short time. With France crushed, Germany would then have an extremely strong position to begin peace negotiations from.

This is the following list of German war aims:

European Territorial Acquisitions:
French Lorraine (from France)
Luxembourg (national annexation)

European Influence:
Controlling influence over Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands (or annexation in the case of total victory)

Other Influence:
China (dominant or shared if Russia doesn't annex Manchuria)
Turkey (shared with Russia)

Colonial Acquisitions:
French Indochina
Dutch East Indies
Taiwan (from Japan)
Various Treaty Ports (from Britain, France, Japan, etc)

What It Has In Mind For Allies To Gain:

Italy:
European Annexations:
Albania (from Ottoman Empire)
Corsica, Savoy and Nice (from France)

Colonial Acquisitions:
Tunisia (from France)
Various Mediterranean Islands (from Britain and/or Turkey)
Somalia (from Britain)
Ethiopia (to be conquered later)

Russia:
European Annexations:
None (doesn't really border anything relevant in Europe)

Other Annexations:
Afghanistan (if the Russians themselves choose to do so)
Manchuria (if the Russians themselves choose to do so)
Mongolia (if the Russians themselves choose to do so)

Controlling Influence:
Persia
Korea
Turkey (with Germany)

Bulgaria:
European Annexations:
Roumelia (from Ottoman Empire)

Serbia:
European Annexations:
Northern Macedonia (ie, IRL Macedonia, from Ottoman Empire)

United Elias (if allied)
Annexations: Arabian Peninsula, Syria, Palestine

Punishment of Enemies:
Britain: (other than territorial losses)
Imposed naval restrictions, reparations

France: (other than territorial losses)
Disarmament, reparations

United States: (other than territorial losses)
Reparations (unless the Germans can woo the US somehow)

British Hannover:
Reparations (unless the Germans can woo the Hannoverans somehow)

Turkey:
Becoming a vassal state

Japan:
Total disarmament, reparations, possible occupation

Okay, I'll try to get up an application soon.

OOC> Glad to see you're still with us. :D

bump until after the gift wrapping is done

Russian war aims

Annexation of Mongolia, Manchuria, Sakhalin Island, Kurile Islands, Afghanistan, Persia, and the Kurdish and Armenian areas of Turkey,

Bulgaria or Greece (if allied) to get Constantinople and Turkish Thrace, with free passenge for the Russian fleet and establishment of the Metropole of Moscow as the Patriarch of Constanople (returning the Orthodox Church to its proper home).

Italian control over Palestine if United Elias chooses the wrong side, otherwise, insurance of the place of Christianity in Jerusalem

Italy to get Egypt and control of the Suez Canal, as well as Malta and Algeria

permanent removal of the British Navy from the Mediterranean Sea and north of Hong Kong

disarmament of Japan and massive trade concessions (effective domination)
same for Korea (already disarmed but want effective domination and possible annexation)

elimination of the American Navy west of the date line and elimination of American fleet base in Hawaii

Annexation of Finnmark (northern Norway) and base at Tromso (Norway)

this basically gives the Russians those warm water ports they have always dreamed of, domination of the Greek Orthodox faith, and permanently crushes the Turks (which the Russians look foward too)

Major Russian plans
Pacific Fleet to crush Japanese, Siberian Army to clear Manchuria and Korea of Japanese forces, joint German / Russian moves against British and American navies should it become necessary

In Europe, Rumania and Bulgaria will need to provide free passage so that Russian Army can take Thrace and deal with Greeks should it be needed. Black Sea Fleet to assist

Invasion of Persia and Eastern Turkey with major forces

occupation of northern Norway and all of Norway if needed, plus Sweden if it gets in the way.

Baltic Fleet to help Germans (although relatively the smallest of Russian fleets at the moment)

Forces can be sent to help Germany if needed eventually, but will take a year to organize, equip and train the troops for that.

Well, a lot of this stuff will be discussed at the Budapest Conference. The German policy could be described as dominance of Europe to the Russian border and acknowledgement as a truly global power. Actually, if they could get away with it at all, Germany might just annex Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark outright.

I'll start a thread for that straightaways.

Budapest Conference- http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7780982#post7780982

bump... and MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

the US government is quietly working on developing a chain of wireless stations at is major bases overseas, along with the world wide chain of telegraph undersea cables

The British are attempting to get another 100,000-200,000 volunteers to increase military strength dramatically in the Far East as well as smaller garrison increases in other potentially vulnerable areas. Again, some loose cannon MP will introduce a conscription bill and will fail, although the margins are getting smaller and smaller.

The US is beginning to take measures against the Russians...

Russian merchant shipping and warships using the Panama Canal are finding that they face unexpected delays and have difficulty getting pilots (usually an extra day or two), while US ships (usually protected cruisers) begin port visits to Russian ports and if denied entry, begin loitering just outside of Russian waters... they are actually taking soundings and checking out defenses, especially at Petropovlask (Kamchatka) and in the waters near Magadan and other isolated Russian Siberian ports.

The US also begins shipping large quantities of coal and supplies to its forward base at Guam, as well Shanghai.

Congressional leaders and the President are meeting to discuss what to do if war breaks out between Russia and Japan and spreads. A major item of concern is Germany, and the very strong possibility of war spreading to Europe.

In back channel discussion, the US Government makes it clear that if the CSA supports France, the US will offer loan guarantees and manufacturing assistance.

The Russian government is thrown into flux by the death of the Czar and Czarina... however, plans with the Germans have been made in Budapest, and the Prime Minister and Army place the only surviving son Alexander on the throne. He is a weak child, and barely more than an infant, and so the Grand Duke, Nicholas' more competent and stronger willed brother, is regent.

A quick investigation by the Russian Secret Police 'proves' that the Turks are behind the assissination and a nasty note is sent to Turkey demanding official apologies, indemnities, and a host of concessions. In the shuffle of events, Japanese movements are ignored. Most of the senior military leadership is in either Moscow or Budapest and so now the Russians are relatively vulnerable in the Far East.

The US is offering up 6 Indiana/Oregon class battleships (which are essentially 2nd class battleships) up for sale. The CSA, Japan, Brazil, Turkey, and Norway are being offered first bidding rights.

The US Navy views them as inefficient and lacking sufficient hitting power to equal their vulnerability, plus they are too slow for US Navy needs but ideal for coastal defense duties or operations in narrow waters.

The remaining New Hampshire class 3rd class battleship remains in service as a glorified gunboat though.

Construction is ordered speeded up on the dreadnoughts, and a new class of 4 ships is ordered laid down at once. This will bring both dreadnoughts into service by the end of 1905 instead of 1906, and 4 more will be in commission by the end of 1906, with 4 more after that in the spring of 1907. Additional battlecruisers (2) are also ordered laid down. The 1907 class with be larger than the initial 6 (Arkansas class for the new ships)

This essentially means the US Navy is the only major navy without a single first line battleship for a few months, but it still has a lot of cruisers for its main mission.... backing up the RN.

At war start (August) the USN will have only 1 battleship, but dozens of cruisers. By spring of 1906, it will have 6 dreadnought battleships and 2 dreadnought battlecruisers and by spring of 1907 it will have 10 dreadnought battleships and 4 battlecruisers.... this should scare the hell out of the Gemans and Russians.

The Royal Navy is similarly speeding up construction of dreadnoughts and battlecruisers as much as possible in order to insure total naval supremacy against Germany and Russia in the event of a war. Militarily, it is strengthening its position in India somewhat (in case the Russians try something out of Central Asia, although this is somewhat unlikely in practice), significantly in the Far East (expecting to support a largely Japanese force) and slightly in most of its African colonies (to grab German colonies).

In addition, the Australian and New Zealand militia is undergoing a process of being converted into an actual army of two divisions (to start with). The South African garrison (fairly strong already) is being brought to full combat readiness in order to swiftly take the German colony in Mozambique and later, the colonies in West Africa and the Congo.

The five divisions of the Royal Hannoveran Army (slightly understrength, at about 50,000 men) are being brought up to full numerical strength (about 12,000?) and plans are being laid down to incorporate the trained reserves in order to increase the size of the army to ten divisions, or about 120,000 men. The BH government expects that their army will largely be used piecemeal, division by division in relatively small actions.

The Royal Hannoveran Navy is generally expected to be the most active arm. Moves are being made to increase the construction of all classes of ships as much as possible, although the creation of more than two dreadnoughts and, say, one battlecruiser a year would require an expansion of the main fleetyards in Halifax and Vancouver. However, there's a bit of room to increase the production of destroyers from eight a year to perhaps ten or so.

I would suggest that the Turks buy 2 of the US battleships (with British financial help), the Brazilians 2 (to impress the neighbors) and the CSA 2 (for coastal defense). Since all are NPC countries, that makes since.

I am working on the naval rules, and may have them ready later today

naval combat rules have been sent to the German and Italian players... and can be sent to France if he gives me an email address

The rules look good. A few questions though. How will we play out the war? Does anyone have a map with the sea regions marked? Also when shall we start the war?

The number of hits each ship has is not listed.

the map is basically in my head, but a good world atlas should make things reasonably clear. I lack the resources to post a map. As far at hits go, the ships defense factor is how many hits it can take... in other words, a protected cruiser that takes a hit sinks (no flood protection, no internal compartmentalization, weak armor)

the submarine and mine rules are brutal for a reason, as routinely in World War I pre dreadnoughts and even dreadnoughts were sunk by single mine or submarine torpedo hits.... ouch

I am still working up detailed fleet and base information (maybe tomorrow but definitely by thursday), and who controls what sea zone at war start. Basically I was figuring each nation deploys his fleet each turn (3 month season basically), I resolve the battles (and you tell how hard you want to push an offensive) and email / telegram you the results, and then you RP out as you wish

as far as land fighting goes.... I have tables and extensive information available to provide as needed for land campaigns.. this is World War I, and nothing land combat wise is going to move fast (not like World War 2)

the Russians are pushing the Turks hard and being very provacative... its only a matter of time now. Russian reservists aren't very good troops by the way, but better than the Persians and in the Caucasus and Ukraine regions there are sufficient regulars, as well as in Manchuria, to provide a solid back up to them.

The Russian Navy is preparing transports and boats secretly in the Black Sea and are going to attempt an amphibious landing to support the drive south into Turkey.

Meanwhile, the Russians are continuing provacations against the Japanese, blissfully aware of Japanese plans. However, plans are being made to send a portion of the fleet to Inchon to prevent a Japanese landing there (of course, that leaves Wonsan and Pusan undefended on the western and southern coasts). The Russians are sending a few protected cruisers out to sea though so that commerce raiding can be conducted if the Japanese do strike.

The United States passes another massive Naval Bill aimed at further increasing the size of the Navy. For the first time funds are also allocated for the War Departmant and Navy Department to spend on aviation, as well as significant amounts of money for motor cars, trucks and increasing the number of wireless stations available to the Navy.

The Reichstag has been badgered into approving a massive increase to the Army and Naval budgets. In its form, it is essentially a wartime budget. The Germans are now openly mobilizing reserves and taking steps to establish a wartime economy. The very moment the Russians attack the Caucasus or the Japanese attack the Russians or anything like it, the invasion of France will be set into motion. Although the Germans are trying to hide it, it's quite clear they're up to something, although the sheer magnitude of it would probably be a surprise to almost everyone when it actually comes.

German vessels in the Pacific have been placed on high alert and are prepared to assist Russian naval units in Pacific operations. A telegram has been sent to the Russian government informing them of that fact. In addition, the Germans have made sure that Serbia, Croatia, Hungary and Romania will attack the Turkish territories in the Balkans as soon as they can after hostilites break out. The Germans have also sent a telegram to Italy requesting them to make immediate preparations for an offensive against France, supporting Italian claims to Savoy, Nice and Corsica in the event of victory.

Colonial garrisons have been told to strengthen themselves as much as possible in the likely event of a conflict. This means, in practice, recruiting as many natives as possible. Many governors will have considerable trouble doing this. However, the most important African colony, the Congo, will be quite well protected, with its port being somewhat fortified and mixed European and native troops commanded by General Lettow-Vorbeck.

Most of the Pacific territories are relatively lightly guarded, save for the Philippines (the largest Pacific territory) with perhaps 150,000 regulars and native troops and Tsingtao, a large fortress which is the main symbol of German influence in China. Tsingtao has a garrison of 15,000 troops, but orders are to reinforce it to around 20-22,000. However, the Japanese will probably need to commit at least three times the number of troops in order to crack it. Tsingtao is quite well protected, perhaps more so than any other single German fortress outside of Europe.

Commander in Chief, British Army: Sir Douglas Haig
Planned Size of Initial BEF: 200,000

Commander, Royal Hannoveran Army: Arthur Currie
Planned Size of Initial BHEF: 50,000 (under British authority)

OOC> One really wishes that they could switch. Well, almost anyone, really.

The US has warplans to seize the Gilbert and Caroline Islands from the Germans, and to attack and seize Kamchatka from the Russians. However, political events may delay that. However, once those objectives are secure, the US is prepared to move against the Germans in the South Pacific, as well move against the Philippines should it be required.

The US plans to operate in conjuction with the British Fleet in Chinese waters, and in conjuction with the British Hannover fleet in the North Pacific. The US will assist the Allies in the Atlantic, and even if neutrality remains in effect, the USN will escort Allied civilian merchant shipping to Bermuda and Nova Scotia. If a more active role is politically possible, then cruisers and destroyers and eventually dreadnoughts will be sent to assist the British Home or Mediterranean Fleet, while the new Battlecruisers will operate in either the Atlantic or Pacific against enemy raiders (as needed)

Although defenses are ready in the Pacific, the US Army at home is not ready for war yet (still seriously understrength) and at best can send only a corps sized expeditionary force (about 50,000 men) overseas within the first 3 months. However, within a year, a much larger army of up to a million men can be fielded.

By the last week of July, the Russians are ready to move against the Turks. An ultimatum, with impossible demands is issued to the Turks, and even before the Turks really have a chance to answer it, the Russians cross the border into Turkish Armenia just before dawn on August 1.

http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7819907#post7819907

The Russians recommend to the Germans that a staggered entry into the war is desirable. The British will almost certainly react, especially to the invasion of Persia, but as they are not being directly attacked, this will not automatically draw in the Americans and British Hannoverians. This will also force the British to send their Indian Army to Turkey, a significant portion of their military strength and possibly even forces from England. Then, a few days after that, the Germans should make their move in the West. Only after that should the Italians enter the fray.

This also allows time for the Russian and German fleets to combine in the Pacific to crush the Japanese and British forces there, or at the very least, force the British to reinforce their forces there.

Once the British are engaged in a naval war of multiple fronts, and facing serious overstretch, then the Kriegsmarine should make its move to break the British fleet in battle, even as the Germans break the French Army. The two catastrophes (or at the very least, serious blows) might even force England to quit the war. (ooc, very serious wishful thinking but not implausable form the Russian and German viewpoint)

Roosevelt isn't able to declare war yet, but he can take some measures.

1. Trade embargo and boycott against Russian, and all Americans are ordered out of the countries of Turkey and PErsia (safety reasons) and Russia (to make a point).

2. The US Navy will begin escorting neutral (and unofficially Japanese) merchant shipping from Guam to Tokyo Bay and Shanghai (using protected cruisers and gunboats from the Asiatic and Pacific Fleet). The Asiatic Fleet pulls everything except the gunboats out of Chinese waters and moves to Guam as a principal base.

3. The embargo also means the Russians can't use the Panama Canal.

4. The Turks are told in confidence they can buy American war supplies and weapons but the US will not ship them to Turkey. Other neutrals, British or Turkish shipping will have to do that.

5. Roosevelt will meet privately with President Wilson of the Confederacy to discuss further joint measures.

6. British and British Imperial (ie British Hannover) ships can continue to use US bases and harbors, and the usual rules on neutrality are ignored in practice.

7. Russian protests concerning this are ignored brusquely.

World War I Master Thread - http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7827277#post7827277

Tell me if I missed anything.

I doubt the Germans will be able to delay too much, it's clear that the French are starting to prepare and the plan does rely rather on as near to total surprise as they can possibly manage. Not to mention the Marshals are getting antsy. For war, of course.