NationStates Jolt Archive

The Navy of the Southern Confederacy was about to get their long deserved tune-up

For years they have sailed around in outdated ships, and hand-me-downs bought after other countries had decomissioned them. But now, the Navy was reciving a large part of the military budget, and improve they will.

A message has been sent out to the nations of the world,



The Southern Confederacy is going to modernize their navy. For this, we have allocated a large part of the military budgjet to the Navy, and have several military contracts that must be fullfilled.

(You may choose to fullfill any number of these, from all of them, to just one, but you are under no obligation)

Aircraft Carriers:
We need two, reasonably sized (60+ aircraft) recent aircraft carriers. These do not have to be brand new, but they have to be of recent manufacture, as we no not need anymore relics, we have enough.

Destroyers:
We would like to purchase 15 destroyers, at least of recent manufacture.

Frigates:
We would like to purchase 20 frigates, at least of recent manufacture.

Submarines:
We would like to purchase 2 fleet submarines, at least of recent manufacture.

Walmington's introduction of the Astute Class fleet submarine to its own service has recently left eleven Trafalgar and Swiftsure Class submarines potentially available for export. The Admiralty is now no longer keen to release them all, for fear of losses to the Astute fleet in war with the Holy League, but the option of some sales remains.

The Southern Confederacy, though, would not have been choice number one for such a sale. Neighbouring Australasia, with which the Confederacy has every cause for dispute, is considered one of Walmington's greatest allies, and the legacy of the Falklands War is quite strong in the Empire.

London will need some convincing on the Confederacy's friendly intentions since the (post-Falklands?) rise of a new socialist government before there's any chance of military trade resuming. Until then, London is more likely to pressure other nations to think carefully about their provision of such powerful assets as fleet carriers and submarines.

Still, with the Holy League enemy number one, there's every chance for reconcilliation...

The Southern Confederacy would like to take the oppurtunity to stress the fact that they are neutral, and do not support anyone.

With that said, the Confederacy is very interested in the Trafalgar class submarines, and is keen on purchasing some of that class.

La Plata would like to remind London that the Southern Confederacy still regards the Malvinas and the South Altlantic Islands as Confederate territory, but to tell the truth, after the Malvinas War, is not likely to do anything in the future.

Apart from submarines, do you also have other naval elements that could be supplied to the Confederacy?

The Southern Confederacy would like to remind all countries that it is open to any offer, from anyone, that fits within the parameters we have given

The Indian Soviet Commonwealth is not traditionally a big dealer in arms when it comes to established states, prefering to arm revolutionary groups and then foster self reliance in socialist allies, but of late has been compelled to change its practices thanks to difficult global circumstances and the need for allies.

Though rumoured to be working on a trimaran frigate based on a single vessel deployed years ago by the old Principality, the Commonwealth Oceanic Guard currently makes use of the Bodkin Class general warfare frigate, having twenty-five in service.

The Bodkin has seen action from Madagascar to the Coral Sea, taking part in the sinking of a Roycelandian battleship and helping to down numerous French, Roycelandian, and -before reunification- Principality aircraft.


General Warfare Frigate BODKIN CLASS Batch 3A

Technical Data
Role: Ship to ship warfare, mine laying, anti-aircraft self-defence
Complement: 174
Displacement: 4,270tons
Dimensions: 137m length, 13.5m beam
Powerplant: Ashpo (August Shipbuilding Porthmadog) T-3 IFEPS Integrated Full Electric Propulsion System
Maximum Speed: 29knots
Armament: 1x110mm quick-firing cannon, 2x30mm BG-CIWS, 2x4 Qian Wei anti shipping missile containers in ready-to-launch configuration, 2x6 vertical launch missile silos for Charioteer anti-ship missile or Mangonel cruise missile, 1x8cell Loviatar-S VLS SAM, 2x3 517mm torpedo, mines.
Aircraft: 1xhelicopter Ka-32BG Super Helix
Notes: All current Soviet frigate classes are often referred to as “stealth ships” though the term is something of a stretch. They do at least present a reduced radar cross section, often taking longer to detect or target, appearing smaller and less significant than is actually the case. Their signature reduction technology is similar or slightly superior to that of the British Type 23 frigate.

Armament notes-
110mm Type-3 DP automatic gun replaced 76mm gun in Soviet service and this may be reversed in export models if desired, or potentially substituted for alternate gun system.

Qian Wei anti-shipping missile is a joint development with the Choson People's Republic of Dra-pol, initiated during better times for relations between the two states. It is typically described as the Commonwealth's Harpoon. Range is from 2.5 to 70 nautical miles (5 to 130km), speed is Mach 0.9 (300m/s), and warhead weight is 145kg. Guidance is inertial and active radar homing. Qian Wei (which apparently is due to be renamed in the Commonwealth) is a sea-skimming missile which uses a low-level attacking run and considerable agility to survive until striking its target.

Charioteer anti-shipping missile is a recent Soviet development featured in the armoury of Batch 3 Bodkins and of fleet and ballistic missile submarines. It is a highly expensive weapon rarely launched in anger, but with major destructive potential. Range is a formidable 140 nautical miles (260km), speed is a high subsonic cruise with Mach 2.7+ attacking sprint, and warhead weight is a deadly 295kg. Propulsion involves a turbojet and rocket booster, and guidance is inertial and active radar. Charioteer has a stealthy form and shielding, and flies at subsonic speed for most of its journey towards the target. After launch it climbs, engages a turbojet sustainer, extends folding wings, and descends to 10-12 metres from wavetops for a stealthy cruise. Usually inside 60km from its target the missile descends again, to just 5 metres, switches to active radar guidance, and engages a second rocket stage for a Mach 2.7+ dash to impact. Stealth is supposed to get the missile to the target, and a distinctly unstealthy high speed dash is supposed to punch through its defences in just seconds, leaving insufficient reaction time and a fast, low target.

Charioteer anti-submarine weapon is related to the above but deploys a Type 2-B MkII medium torpedo at long range to attack surface or submarine targets detected by other platforms.

Mangonel cruise missile has a 1,050km (635mile) range, 975kph (605mph) speed, and 550kg (1,100lb) warhead. High explosive, anti-personnel/material/armour submunition, or nuclear (not for export) warheads can be used. It can be deployed against ships, but is intended for land attack.

Loviatar surface-to-air missile has a 1 to 25km range and wavetop to 12,500m engagement altitude, and uses microprocesser intelligent computer and frequency agility technology to defeat countermeasures and guide a highly agile missile against helicopters, planes, and anti-ship missiles. Four targets can be attacked at once with up to eight missiles guided against them.

517mm Type 1-B MKII heavy torpedo has a 210kg (465lb) warhead, 24km (15 mile) range, 47+ knot speed, and is controlled by wire guidance and passive acoustic homing.

485mm Type 2-B MKII medium torpedo, deployed from Charioteer, has a 165kg (365lb) warhead, 18km range, 41+ knot speed, and guidance by active sonar and TV.

Ka-32BG helicopter can be armed with unguided rockets and bombs, napalm, depth bombs, machineguns, Qian Wei anti-ship missiles, sonar buoys, and Type 3-B MKII light torpedo. It may be substituted with other helicopter types, notably the HAL Dhruv, though others may prove compatible.

305mm Type 3-B MKII light torpedo has a 105lb warhead, 4.2+ mile range, 2,100+ foot depth, and 44+ knot speed. It is a fire and forget weapon.

The General Warfare Frigate BODKIN Class was an impressive ship. The Minister of the navy quite liked it, and he had heard of its great record during fighting.

A message was drafted to the Indian Commonwealth, these frigates had to be snatched up


Your frigates seem to be ships of great quality. We are very much intrested in purchasing some, 20 to be exact. We offer an alternative to the purchase. What tanks are you currently using? We are currently producing brand new EE-11 Osorios, wonderful fighting machines. They do not cost as much as some of the top-end, brand new MBTs (such as the Leopard 2), but they are still modern, having been recently designed, in parallel with the time that the Abrams was created. They are also fit in the same category as MBTs as the Leopard 2, as it is an excellent design, packing a great mixture of speed, armour and firepower. If you display an interest in this MBT, an exchange could be made.


We would also like to establish better relations with your nation, a trade deal perhaps.

The Indian Soviet Commonwealth has, unfortunately for the purposes of this trade proposition, one of the world's leading tank industries. MT-4 Hathi is one of the world's most powerful tanks, better protected than and able to out shoot anything from Europe, and is supported by the lighter battle-proven MT-3 Peripatus.

Still, other trade was desirable. Exchanging raw materials and foodstuffs unique to each nation would please the Soviets, and much of the currency earned in supplying twenty frigates to the Southern Confederacy will also likely be used to buy minerals from the region as the Commonwealth enters an industrial boom time in readiness for world war.

Several frigates have already been laid-down for the Confederacy contract, and though Portmeirion does not expect the nation to be interested, the Soviet Commune has also offered to lease other vessels in the interim should the Southern Confederacy have genuine security concerns (these would only be old D/E submarines and perhaps multi-role corvettes, but the offer will remain for the near future in the event of dire need).

The first frigate is expected to be dispatched in six weeks, as a great many are being built -originally for the Commonwealth Oceanic Guard- and are already near to completion.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/Chivtv/NS1/ERRHFrigateBodkin.jpg
Bodkin Class General Warfare Frigate

Whiel we are happy to hear that your tank needs are fullfilled, we are sorry that our tanks cannot be traded to you. We are very enthusiastic to start trading other things with you, such as the foodstuffs and raw materials you proposed. Bear in mind that the Confederacy does have the nessesary equipment to conver the raw materials into other products.

We do not need to lease any warships from you, as what we have now is sufficient, as we are not in conflict against anybody and have no intention of starting. However, we aprecite that you elave this offer open, as we do not know were enemies lurk.

We await the frigates eagerly

(OOC: how much would 6 weeks be in AMW time?)

The Indian Soviet Commonwealth's socialist economy dictates that most economic activity related to it be conducted in the Commonwealth, by Indian workers, so interest is primarily in unprocessed materials. However, as this presents the danger of resource-rich nations being exploited by getting only low-value work in primary industry (extraction of resources), it is well that the Soviets have little interest in the global free market, and usually try to agree long-term stable, fair prices with suppliers, often by negotiating to change labour conditions in the supplier, with more workers and shorter hours.

(OOC: Time is flexible, in AMW, so people decide on a case by case basis. Since nobody's moving to attack you right now, it's fairly safe to assume that by the time anybody does, you'll have your first Soviet frigates, anyway. It won't hurt to say that you already have the first, probably, because really your nation is years old and this deal doesn't perhaps have to have been negotiated today, if that makes much sense.)

OOC: Yes, very well, I understand, fluid time, got it

IC:

We understand your concerns, both for your nation and ours. However, the Southern Confedeeracy, while having a large primary job pool, due to the fact that there are many resources, also has large second and service industries. We do not have to process the goods for more jobs, we will just process goods for domestic use, or that of other countries. It is not a problem to ship the materials to you unprocessed.

To all nations:
The Frigate demands have been fullfilled, however, the other categories have not, and are open to offers by any nation

shameful bump

Pleased with recent relations with the Southern Confederacy, the Soviet Commune is said to be considering that possibility of offering Anunkai Class fleet submarines for export, but this would be a major decision as the nuclear-powered eight-thousand tonne guided-missile submarines have never been supplied to foreign powers in the past. It seems that there may be some chance of a modified export version being produced but, unfortunately for the Confederacy, there seems to be little haste about the Commune in considering this matter.

Fleet aircraft carriers are an area in which the Commonwealth certainly can not help: it took over twenty years for the Soviets to obtain their first fleet carrier (the Commonwealth was established in the year of the Falklands War, interestingly), and when they did it was an over-ambitious half-built North Korean example that was struck by hostile fire while being towed to India and has only in the last year entered full service.

The Commonwealth does build small carriers: six Nibiru Class vessels are in the COG, capable of carrying up to twenty helicopters or VTOL aircraft, and is prepared to offer ships of the type if the Confederacy fails to find fleet carriers elsewhere.

The Confederacy is thinking about taking the submarine offer from the Commonwealth. But are waiting on word from the Welmingtonians (OOC: Which sub is better, pretty much). The submarine looks interesting, and if it is accepted by the Confederacy, it hopes that the Commonwealth shall speed up their export version.

As for the aircraft carrier goes, for now, the Confederacy is not interested in small VTOL carriers, although some may be purchased if no other option is made available. If this happens, the VTOL carriers will support the carrier that is currently nearing the end of the designing phase. It is rumored to be a large fleet carrier. If no fleet carriers are offered for purchase, it seems that there will be a need to make more than one of this class.

OOC: is the Nibiru class related in any way to the Viraat?

The Chinese have long had an eye for reducing the PLAN carrier fleet and now with the Southern Confederacy's offer, this desire may finally be realised, reducing the Chinese carrier fleet to a mere 5 full sized ones.

Analysts consider the Chinese carriers to be equivalent to the Nimitz with 75 aircraft with heavier body armour.

Of course, this also hinges on good relations between Walmington and the Confedaracy.

I believe that the Viraat ended up with the Indian National Union. From 1947 to 1982, what is now the Soviet Commonwealth was instead known as the Principality, and was a Christian capitalist aggressor state in the region. British Labour governments certainly would have leaned towards the INU, while we probably got on better with Roycelandia. The Principality's navy was a nothing next to its massive army. In 1982, the Indian revolution ruined the start of better relations with Thatcher's Britain, and we started building our own ships in more significant numbers.

Long story short, no, the Nibirus are entirely domestic. They're actually quite impressively modern except that their top speed is a mere 21 knots: the Soviets spent most of the 1980s -as the Principality before them- struggling to build really good powerplants for ships, planes, and everything else.

The Batch 3 frigates, as sold to the SC, were about the first thing in which we really got it right.

I'm not sure about this, but if the Confederacy leans more towards the socialist nations than to the likes of Walmington, China, and the US et cetera, the Commonwealth may be interested in co-operating on mid-sized carrier building, possibly also using famous shipyards in the INU. Obviously that would mean waiting for carriers to be built from scratch, but, eh, that's what we have to do.

Why am I still talking out-of-character? Ach [stops]

The Confedracy is very interested in China's offer. One, maybe two, of those great carriers would fill the nations immediate needs.

As for the Soviet, co-building proposal. The Confederacy has already designed its own carriers. Unfortunately, we lack the facilities to build them, although work on proper ship-construction facilities has commenced already. What we are very interested in, is one of the Niburu carriers, to agument any carriers that might be bought from China.

We are working to improve relations with Walmington, as we hope that the fact that our nations have contradicting claims to the South Atlantic Islands can be overcome.

The Roycelandian Government had just finished putting together a package for The Southern Confederacy, including a number of "Fish"-class Dreadnaughts, several "Classical" class Frigates, and even a couple of "Wolf" class submarines, but the deal is immediately scrapped when it is learnt that The Southern Confederacy has been buying Soviet ships.

A polite but pointed communique is sent to TSC's Capital City informing them that, should they wish to reconsider the Soviet offer and go for Roycelandian ships, a very generous (VERY generous) package could be worked out for them...

OOC: The Beth Geletians are Roycelandia, Quinntonia, and France's Arch-Nemesis... just something you might want to be aware of.

Secondly, it's worth bearing in mind that AMW members live all over the RL world (for example, I'm in Australia, and BG lives in the UK) which creates some interesting time-delays because of the vagaries of international time zones, so the pace of RPs can be either lightening fast or very slow, depending on who is involved...

The Quinntonian government also makes contact through their Diplomatic Corps. that they would be interested in seeing some of their surplus materials and things like guidance systems and sensors go to a jiont Southern Confederacy/Roycelandian project, perhaps at little or no cost, acting as a subsidy demonstrating the Quinntonian governments friendship, at least should the Soviet orders be cancelled.

WWJD
Amen.

While the INU does boast one of the world's largest shipyards at Diu, the Union has never developed much of a naval industry, the IN relying on Walmingtonian surplus for warships larger than corvettes.

That said, the Indian National Union did design the Joint Indian Corvette, a very successful ship in service with four navies already, and could make more if prodded in the right way. And although Mumbai is, as ever, concerned about upsetting London, it also wants the money that comes from exporting defense equipment at profit.

The Confederacy is quite interested in what Roycelandia and Quinntonia have to offer. But they will not even think of "reconsidering" the Soviet orders until at least some information is given on the ships that might be available from Roycelandia.

The Confederacy is still triying to avoid getting in an armed conflict, and will do so for as long as it is possible. We will try to manuer around the harsh waters of diplomacy for as long as can possibly be.



OOC: I know Roycelandia is part of the Caribean and Northen South America, and what about Quinntonia?

((OOC: Assuming that they won't mind me answering, since I happen to be passing by, Roycelandia's home islands are pretty much all of the Caribbean's, and it has recently established a protectorate over part of Guyana. Its empire includes Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda traditionally, plus Socotra (off Yemen), but has recently moved, with Holy League help, into other areas such as parts of Nigeria, Gabon, and Algeria. Oh, it also has a colony at Goa, India, but this is the focus of major tension with the Soviets who're thinking about slaughtering the city, it seems.

Quinntonia is AKA the United States of Quinntonia, and is, well, the United States! Lately there is a move to incorporate Mexico into the Union. "Quinntonian Dra-pol" is a city state of a sort, in North Korea (Dra-pol), where refugees from the authoritarian socialist state receive US protection.))

Needless to say, seeing the US and Roycelandia in talks to re-arm the nation against which a certain Captain Mainwaring served in 1982 after an unprovoked invasion of British territory, and a nation which still maintains its claims there even after a sound military defeat by the British and their Australasian allies, is not the best propaganda. Major unions in Britain and the Empire are now openly calling for a restoration of major diplomatic and economic ties with the so-called progressive world, and even opposition parties, in the aftermath of Gibraltar and the heat of battle, are taking to quite increasingly anti-North American positions. London is having a hard time pushing the importance of, if nothing else, sealanes controlled by the US and Roycelandia, and Anglophone solidarity. Unfortunately, the Southern Confederacy is the last enemy that the British Empire was able successfully and almost independently to vanquish in major battle, and in times like this its importance is somewhat inflated in the popular conscience.

After consideration of likely near-future commitments and conflicts, the Soviet Commune has resolved to make a new, high-risk offer to the Southern Confederacy.

The Confederacy has been invited to associate itself in informal alliance with the Indian Soviet Commonwealth, making secure trans-Pacific trade routes and the territory of both nations, in an understanding that indicates the Holy League and its satellites, allies, and associates as the greatest threat to human liberty, peace, and prosperity. The Roycelandian Empire would clearly be included in the umbrella of this description, and Soviet propaganda directed at the Confederacy makes repeated note of global struggles against Roycelandian imperialism.

The murder by Roycelandia of several million people -mostly civilians- in South East Asia during the Vietnam War, the attempt to hinder socialist revolution in India during the formation of the Commonwealth, the attempted invasion of the Malagasy Republic (thwarted by Indian Soviet intervention) at the end of the 1980s, the Lusakan War of Independence in which the Empire fought to hold on to a colony that did not want its influence, the invasion of the Republic of Gabon and the partition of that country, the military presence in Guyana, the opportunist intervention in the troubled Philippines, the annexation of southern Algeria, the placing under profit-driven company control of part of Nigeria, the violent intervention on behalf of French pirates against Soviet security operations, the recent detonation of history's largest nuclear device, and countless other examples of untrustworthiness and acts of self-serving imperialism feature in documentary films, on websites, and in alternative and Sov-Pop music.

The Soviets are interested in placing limited military stations in Confederate territory, largely to watch against League/Roycelandian maritime transit around Cape Horn. This would include long-range-UAV control and servicing stations and facilities to accept ships and aircraft, though not necessarily to permanently station major combat forces.

The Soviet Commune is then prepared to sell CS India, formerly the Drapoel ship Oryonggeo, a nuclear-powered aircraft carried of 63,400 tonnes (full load).

The India was built in the Choson People's Republic of Dra-pol, with Soviet assisstance, but proved too expensive for the CPRD and really beyond their strategic needs. She was transfered to the Commonwealth but, while being towed still incomplete from Korea to India, was struck by hostile fire while passing Quinntonian waters, and damaged by fire.

A long emergency stay in the People's Republic of Spyr preceeded the delayed journey to India, where, eventually, Oryonggeo was refitted, completed, and commissioned CS India. She has been an active member of the Soviets' Commonwealth Oceanic Guard for only a very short time but, since her design is a one-off and will be different to future Indian-built carriers, the Commonwealth may be prepared to release her, for political gain.

India is neither the most advanced nor the most basic of carriers. She is primarily the work of a nation less technologically advanced than most, but was laid-down only in the 1990s (I think!), and has enjoyed a recent refit in the Soviet Commonwealth.

Statistics are reported as follows:
Commonwealth Ship India
(Formerly Choson People’s Ship Oryonggeo)
Displacement: 41,000 tonnes (light ship); 63,400 tonnes (full load)
Length: 264 metres (waterline); 292 metres (over all)
Beam: 36 metres (waterline); 71 metres (over all)
Draught: 10.4 metres
Complement: 1,084 ship’s crew, 624 air-group crew under normal conditions; short-term accommodation for 800 marines
Power: Nuclear reactor; 4 screws; 164,000shp
Speed: 31.2 knots
Armament: 4x2 Qian Wei ASM; 2x8cell Loviatar-S VLS SAM systems; 4x30mm modified Type 730 CIWS; 2xRBU-6000 ASROC; chaff launchers
Armour: Protection over critical areas; flight deck moderately armoured; splinter throughout
Radar: Citadel-S2 array search and tracking, Commonwealth-S1 command and control
Hanger: 20 aircraft
Aircraft: Up to 60 but usually- 16x helicopters: Ka-32BG, PAh.10 Dhruv, Ja-36 Yellowbat; 24x strike fighters: JaF NT-2 Puffin; 7x UAVs: MAl Morrigan R(econnaissance)/A(ttack)/A(irborn)E(arly)W(arning)
Ship Availability: Uncertain; between 250-300 days per year

It has recently been suggested that a more effective loadout may incorporate 36 strike fighters instead of 24, along with perhaps 4 ASuW helicopters and 2-6 UAVs including AEW platforms. As can be seen, the carrier has some debt to the USSR's aviation cruisers, as she mounts significant anti air, surface, and sub-surface weapons, which in some fleets is considered a false defence but in others -especially smaller forces- offers a greater degree of flexibility and capability.

This deal is by no means a certainty even if the ship appeals to potential buyers, but indicates the Commonwealth seriousness in respect of potential improper concession to the capialist imperialist powers of North America...

The Chinese have warm ties with both Quintonnia, the Progressives (and by extension Neo Anarchos to the North), and the Anglophone nations (Walmington and Australasia), and thus offer a politically safe choice for the Southern Confederacy.

But why stop at purchasing military equipment when co-operation with China would bring many benefits to both nations? Some form of military co-operation with China would make anyone, even the Holy League or that "minor power" Roycelandia think twice about messing with the Southern Confederacy.

In conclusion, the PRC is a safe and logical choice for the Confederacy to ally herself with.

The Southern Confederacy is trying to go through with its purchase without angering anyone. Something that seemed easy at first, but has grown increasingly difficult. However, analysts have found China to be in a sort of grey area, and has been confirmed as safe. The Confederacy will be careful, and order two of their carriers. (OOC: The "Nimitz-like" ones). But for now, just that.

The orders on the Soviet frigates will continue, and unless the Roycelandians can show specifics when it comes to their ships, will not be cancelled. The Soviets will also not be allowed to establish a military base on Confederate soil, the same is applied to any other nation.



OCC: To Wellington on Sea, you did not defeat the Confnderacy, but rather Argentina. In all Confederacy maps, The South Atlantic Islands, BA and the area above it, appear shaded. The shaded areas are explained on the legends as the "occupied territory". The Confederacy lays claim to all these territories. We're not gonna budge on it, as it is unrealistic, so you might as well get used to it.

OOC: Franberry, it's not necessarily realistic in AMW for Argentina to claim the Falkland Islands- history worked out a lot more differently here, and so the Falklands could- for example- have been a Roycelandian Colony gifted to Britain in the late 18th Century (just to pull one of many possibilities out of thin air). I don't know if that's necessarily the case, but I'm just saying.

As far as Roycelandia is concerned, however, the Falkland Islands are British, and should remain so for the foreseeable future.

I have to confess I don't have any hard numbers to give you on our Dreadnaughts, besides the fact the "Fish" class have 14" main guns, lots of armour, and are of 1960s/1970s vintage, having been upgraded in the early '80s before we finally started phasing them out in favour of the nuclear powered "Double-O" class, with 16" guns, advanced electronics, and pretty much everything else you could ever want on a modern naval vessel.

My interest (Like Walmington) is World War I and World War II military equipment- I'm really not au fait with the latest and greatest in military hardware, so I have to confess an element of "handwaving" when it comes to our top-of-the-line military stuff (ie, assume it's at least as good as the best in RL).

Minister of Finance Li Mei Chen is all smiles as she arrives in Brasilia (The right city?) to sign off on the sale of two Chinese carriers, to some criticism at home as the media argued that the navy shouldn't be downsizing as war seems imminent. Chen has also attached a condition to the sale - that the two carriers will never be used against Walmington on Sea.

The deal will leave China with four large carriers and a host of smaller vessels under construction, as well as a tidy sum of cash.

OOC: Franberry, it's not necessarily realistic in AMW for Argentina to claim the Falkland Islands- history worked out a lot more differently here, and so the Falklands could- for example- have been a Roycelandian Colony gifted to Britain in the late 18th Century (just to pull one of many possibilities out of thin air). I don't know if that's necessarily the case, but I'm just saying.

As far as Roycelandia is concerned, however, the Falkland Islands are British, and should remain so for the foreseeable future.
OOC: Then why would have they gone to war with Welmington? If it was like in RL, the fact that popularity was failing, they should've invaded Chile, much easier than the British Empire. And I think people would've been smart enough to notice that Australasia was right next door, and an ally of Britian.

Also, the fact that they are claimed does not mean that I'm gonna invade.

Minister of Finance Li Mei Chen is all smiles as she arrives in Brasilia (The right city?) to sign off on the sale of two Chinese carriers, to some criticism at home as the media argued that the navy shouldn't be downsizing as war seems imminent. Chen has also attached a condition to the sale - that the two carriers will never be used against Walmington on Sea.

The deal will leave China with four large carriers and a host of smaller vessels under construction, as well as a tidy sum of cash.
OOC: the capital, as well as one of the largest harbours, is La Plata. Brasilia is deep in Brazil, an NPC. And China, does the air component come with the carriers? Oh, and I assume I can use the carriers against Walmington if he attacks me.

IC:
Channel 3

The navy has bought two Chinese carriers. Each carrier is very powerful, and we have been told they can carry around 70 to 80 aircraft. The deal was finalized today in a ceremony involving the Chinese Minister of Finance. An undisclosed amount of money has been paid, and with one condition, that the carriers not be used to attack Walmington. The other commissions for the upgrading of the navy have bogged now, as navy analists are triying to determine wich offer is best.

OOC: Oh, my. It seems as though the map I was using before (internet map, now I use a real atlas) suggested that Buenos Aires was the closest large city to the Atlantic, and put it east rather than west of La Plata. Hm... no matter. It'd make sortieing ships during a war with the Southern Confederacy somewhat interesting, but I'm sure that I'd manage.

And BTW, any offensive actions against Roycelandia, Walmington or myself (be they Soviet backed or not) would be met by instant and deadly force against your capitol in the form of artillery and zillions of cruise missiles. So I'd advise you not to try.

OOC: Oh, my. It seems as though the map I was using before (internet map, now I use a real atlas) suggested that Buenos Aires was the closest large city to the Atlantic, and put it east rather than west of La Plata. Hm... no matter. It'd make sortieing ships during a war with the Southern Confederacy somewhat interesting, but I'm sure that I'd manage.

And BTW, any offensive actions against Roycelandia, Walmington or myself (be they Soviet backed or not) would be met by instant and deadly force against your capitol in the form of artillery and zillions of cruise missiles. So I'd advise you not to try.
OOC: WHY ARE YOU SO PARANOID! this has got to be at least the 5th time you've asked me not to attack you or warned me about attacking you. Its getting annoying. I might just attack you so you'd stop :P. And I think I can hold my own against Australasia, but im not gonna try.

Because your nation is buying aircraft carriers, frigates and submarines to beat the band, most of my fleet is halfway across the world and you're allying yourself via purchases with BG, a nation with which I have many differences at the expense (if BG propaganda is to be believed) of Roycelandia, a nation with which I have a certain affinity.

Furthermore, my nation stole your capitol city. That's got to piss lots of your people off. And to be fair, this is exactly the second time that I've directly told you not to attack me, but I've insinuated it other times.

Lastly, I don't think you could. While your fleet might be somewhat similar in numbers, in quality mine will beat yours in submarines, destroyers, cruisers and maybe carriers. Since you don't have BB/BC equivalents, that's a foregone conclusion. Aircraft; unless you get your hands on the Chinese J-14 (F-22 equivalent) or Quinntonia's F-22, your fighters won't cut it. Ground forces might be more matched, but the Victoria tank is a solid, capable unit. Australasian army forces are well trained and well equipped. You might not fold overnight, but you wouldn't win either unless you got your hands on the very latest stuff.

And I'm paranoid, OOC, because aside from missile defenses, a single armoured regiment, some fighter/bomber squads and one or two infantry regiments, I have absolutely nothing to defend Buenos Aires or the province of Uruguay (temporary name). So if you did decide to invade, my best bet would be to go crazy with missiles, threaten nuclear action and try to get the Atlantic Fleet back home as soon as I could. I counted on the rest of S. America remaining unclaimed, a gamble which didn't exactly work out. And now I'm really hoping that the S. Confederacy isn't too pissed about that whole 'stole the capitol and some other land while we weren't looking' bit.

OOC: it seems that you're triying to tempt me into attacking you. You having a single tank regiment and some infantry, and me having a dozendivisions within 100km of your border. Yes, I could easily take your South American territories. But I wont, why? becuase as you stated, while I can easily defeat you in South America, your navy is much better than mine, for the time being anyways. The same goes for your air-force. As it is now I can just spam missiles at it and overwhelm it, but if you manage to get a foothold somewhere, you could prbly start briningin in fighters if you got an airfield in the area. While im sure that in a one-one physical fight, our soldiers are evenly matched, your equipment gives you an edge. And while I might need to buy some planes here and there, its not like my designers are sitting at home watching tv either. And as far as the Victoria goes, it's too long

Guys, what's with the OOC banter?

The carrier deal doesn't include fighters of course - we don't have enough of them as it stands and we're not too keen on exporting the J-14.

Anyhow, China is keen on extending friendships to the Confederacy, but not at the expense of our friendships with the Anglophone nations Australasia and Walmington. We may raise the issue and try to hold a summit of some sort in the near future to resolve the whole thing.

The Confederacy would be most interested in seeing what China has to offer in terms of planes. And they would also be interested in seeing what Quintonnia has to offer as well.

As far as our past battles with the Anglos, we're not likely to do it again.

IC: The Imperial Roycelandian Government is extremely concerned about TSC military build up in South America, a region Roycelandia has traditionally paid little attention to as it was in the safe hands of the Australasians.

Of course, with the current global crises, TSC military build up looks very suspicious, and knowing that the Australasians are preoccupied elsewhere, it is decided to send two "Fish" class Dreadnaughts (the IRNS Barramundi and the IRNS Snapper[i]), along with one "Silencer" class Submarine (IRNS [i]Bramit), and one "Wolf" class submarine (IRNS Lycanthrope), and a couple of tenders down to the Falkland Islands/ Tierra Del Fuego area as part of a "Navigational Exercise and Systems Functionality Test".

The Australasian Government, and The Southern Confederacy, are informed of this ahead of time, along with proposed routes (international shipping lanes, primarily) and other pertinent information...

The Australasian government views the Roycelandian dreadnaughts with slight concern, despite historically friendly ties to the Empire. Royce I's relationship with Louis-Auguste has not exactly put him in PM Strathairn's good books, although nothing has been made of it officially. The corvettes that patrol the La Plata river are notably twitchier, but the authority in Sao Paulo realizes the intent of the Roycelandian move, and is grateful even if Raleigh is not.

The design board of Australasia's Victoria tank points out, in a memo spammed incessently towards La Plata, that said tank is shorter than both the Abrams and the Leclerc, extremely successful tanks in their own right. While barrel length can be an issue at 70 calibres, the long 105/120 mm Super Magnum is interchangeable with smaller guns for city and forest combat.

[/justification of the tank's size]

The Roycelandian HT-1 "Emperor" Tank (also sporting a 120mm main gun, as well as two 88mm auxiliary guns- basically that tank from Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, but with better armour, a minor redesign, a bigger main gun) might be of interest to Australasia- it's served Roycelandia well over the years (and is still in service), and it looks cool, too!

That Walmingtonian officials are not pre-warned of the deployment causes the launch of several Merlin, Typhoon and Super Harrier aircraft from RAF Mount Pleasant, and the sailing of surface fleet and submarine assets in the South Atlantic. Bermuda's defences also increase their alert status as the Empire, locked in battle with the forces of the Holy League, reacts to fresh naval deployments by France's Roycelandian ally.

Since China's friendship is important in keeping Russia off Britain's back, no major protests are made following talk of aircraft carrier sales to the Southern Confederacy, but it wouldn't take a supercomputer to figure-out that London is concerned that the South American nation should not aquire such dangerous offensive weapons as stealthy strike-fighters and the like.

OOC: Is this turning into an RP?

((Tag. Been away for long, Can someone please update me on the South American situation?

Gurguvungnit and The Southern Confederacy, do you have opening threads for your nations? If so, could you TG me the links or write them here? I'm going back to playing Neo-Anarchos on a regular basis, and would like to know what is going on in my backyard.))

I don't, really. Some discussion took place in the new membership thread (around pg. 8-9). But if Fran doesn't mind, I'll give you the very quick rundown here.

Until recently (read: 1950s) Australasia was a colony of Great Walmington, one of the last remaining pieces of her Empire. After WWII drained G.W's funds, they let me go to become the 'free colony'. As for nation shape; I hold all of Australia's RL claims, minus one of the islands that belongs to either Spyr or Sujava. In addition, I have the Brazilian coastline from around Rio down to the border with Uruguay (JUST the coastline and coastal cities, mind you. maybe 80 km inland, plus Sao Paulo). I also own all of Uruguay and a bit of the Parana river valley. During the Falklands war, I staged a blitzkrieg on the Southern Confederacy and captured, among other things, Buenos Aires. Everything but Buenos Aires was ceded back, and B. A. is my major port in the area. I'll TG you the historical reasoning behind my odd nation shape later, if you're interested.

I don't, really. Some discussion took place in the new membership thread (around pg. 8-9). But if Fran doesn't mind, I'll give you the very quick rundown here.

Until recently (read: 1950s) Australasia was a colony of Great Walmington, one of the last remaining pieces of her Empire. After WWII drained G.W's funds, they let me go to become the 'free colony'. As for nation shape; I hold all of Australia's RL claims, minus one of the islands that belongs to either Spyr or Sujava. In addition, I have the Brazilian coastline from around Rio down to the border with Uruguay (JUST the coastline and coastal cities, mind you. maybe 80 km inland, plus Sao Paulo). I also own all of Uruguay and a bit of the Parana river valley. During the Falklands war, I staged a blitzkrieg on the Southern Confederacy and captured, among other things, Buenos Aires. Everything but Buenos Aires was ceded back, and B. A. is my major port in the area. I'll TG you the historical reasoning behind my odd nation shape later, if you're interested.
OOC:
Heres my factbook http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=487212

and as most can prbly tell, I dont agree with that story. Anyways, the confederacy was founded in 1985, and experienced economical growth, as the other regions had to rebuild the Argentine areas. Anyways, its been a pretty modest country, but has experienced growth in the later years.

If TSC is looking for affordable aircraft, Imperial Aerospace might be able to help...

We have rather a lot of Spitfire II Turboprop Ground Attack/Fighter Aircraft available as a result of a military overhaul programme.

The thought occurs that a Nation like TSC really doesn't need uber-long range, expensive strike fighters- especially given almost universal Ack-Ack coverage anywhere you might want to operate overseas.

Of course, dissident Guerrilla groups and the like don't (generally) have decent AA measures, and so a Turboprop Ground Attack/Fighter plane would be of more use to TSC.

We, alas, don't have any spare Helicopters- our current fleet of AH-1 Zulu Combat Helicopters and CH-42 Bedouin Combat Transports are not for export, and we sold most of our UH-1Hs to France a few NS Years ago- but we do have transport planes as well, mainly DC-3s and Sunderland Flying Boats, if you're interested...

OCC: Royce, he's got the Pucara!

IC:

It also occurs to Mumbai to try and market HAL's new jet trainer, the FT(J).10, to the Southern Confederacy along with the JIC. While a new jet trainer probably isn't on the top of the list when the nation can boast home-built Pampas, the FT(J).10 is a good and useful airplane with handling described as similar to the MB.326; namely, almost viceless.

The FT(J).10 is driven by a Rolls-Royce/HAL Viper, although tests have been flown with alternate powerplants, and can carry just over 2,000kg of ordnance including a wide range of IR-guided AAMs. While not quite as cheap as Yugoslav Galebs and Super Galebs, and slightly more expensive than the IAR-99 if exported at profit, the FT(J).10 is still far and away cheaper than the BAe Hawk, and narrowly beats-out the similar MB.339. This low cost comes with unparalleled STOL and unprepared field performance, very low life cycle costs and friendly maintainance characteristics, and long fatigue life.

While none have entered service as of yet, HAL has also built a prototype single-seat attack variant, armed with a pair of BK-27s and moved by a non-afterburning Spey. Armament capacity is quoted as closer to 3,000kg in this configuration, and a multi-mode pulse doppler radar is fitted in place of the basic ranging set.