Northford
31-08-2006, 17:25
Northford Herald: GASN Escort Force expands; future roles questioned.
By John Bruce
Stepping off from a government podium today, the Prime Minister of Northford, Alan Brookes, and The Head of Navies, James Tricker, delivered a joint statement on the subject of the recent enlargement of Northfordian Naval assets in the GASN naval force:
“Greeting’s ladies and gentlemen. Today I wish to share with you the some of the details of the recent expansion of the GASN escort force. At present, the Northfordian element of the GASN escort force consists of around 150 Destroyers. The overall plans of the Escort Force this means that while Northford is the biggest contributor, the homogeneity of the Northfordian contribution means it cannot operate on its, due to the fact that it either lacks air cover, or ASW provisions. In today’s world, the Commonwealth of Northford is facing a rather unfortunate crossroads. The GASN is, and for the foreseeable future will be, the corner stone of the Northfordian foreign policy. It is the GASN’s policy of mutual defence, and the faith in free trade, for example that have caused the Escort Force to form in the first place. That said, it has become clear to Northford that, over time, there is a growing need for countries to be able to secure their sovereignty, and, in some cases, neutrality outside of existing frameworks. Without commenting on existing situations, it is also clear, that this need extends to the escort force itself. As it stands now, the Escort Force patrols along Northfordian Trade routes only. That is to say, that as it stands, it will patrol the routes between say Northford and Cravan, and The Aeson and Northford, but it will not patrol the trade route between the Aeson and Cravan.”
“It was planned, when the Escort force expanded, to extend these links between other countries, in an effort to secure the GASN as a whole. The plans originally were outlined to include all countries, to ensure that all countries were given an equal amount of security.”
“It is however, through a measure of sadness, that we have decided to review this plan. It has been decided that in an event of a war, the Escort force should provide service to countries in most dire need of them. With that in mind, and the fact that it should be noted that the GASN is not a fighting force, and only there to ensure the presence of free trade, it has been decided that Northfordian Ships will only patrol non-Northfordian trade routes with countries that have Significant trading links between Northford, and not in a case of war. ”
“It is with that, I announce the exact details of the expansion of the GASN escort force. The Commonwealth of Northford has recently ordered, from the IPS, a Praetonian Company, 50 more Praefele class Destroyers, 100 Knight Class Destroyers, 300 Minister Class Frigates and 50 Port Class Corvettes”
“As for their application, the new ships will greatly enhance the operability of the GASN Escort Fleet. As it stands now, when a Northfordian Convoy travels, it will have 2 Destroyers at either Port, and 3-5 Destroyers actually with the fleet. As it can quickly be recognised, although having ships stationed in the ports is a very effective work-saver, having those ships as destroyers is a gross under utilisation of the Destroyers abilities. To that end, the new Corvettes will, where necessary and permitted, be stationed in the Ports themselves on the GASN member nations, to both ensure that an escort presence is felt towards the last 100 Miles of the journey, and to ensure that more Praefele Destroyers are employed in more useful situations. The acquirement of the 100 Knight Class Destroyers are, also, surprisingly to allow the GASN greater operability. As it stands now, often at least one destroyer in a convoy is there for purely engineering and support assistance, with no need or requirement for any viable combat ability. To that end, this position is to be filled with the Knight class, as, although it has a somewhat smaller combat capability, the ship is faster and somewhat more able, which is in this case, more necessary. The major component of the latest purchase is, however, the acquirement of 300 Minister Class Frigates. It is these ships that will fill the back bone of the new rejuvenated Escort Force, and will allow the fleet to provide not only greater coverage of individual convoy’s, but allow them to perform more escort duties as well as finally allowing the fleet a modest ASW component. All of this is done on a modest budget, a budget which will allow the GASN escort force to expand further”
“To those who wish to question, please raise your hand and allows the Head of Navies and the Prime Minister to answer”
GASN till the end? Pages 4-5
Tensions in the Botz! Pages 6-7
Sailors protest sacrifice. Pages 10-11
[OOC: GASN till the end? Coming soon…]
By John Bruce
Stepping off from a government podium today, the Prime Minister of Northford, Alan Brookes, and The Head of Navies, James Tricker, delivered a joint statement on the subject of the recent enlargement of Northfordian Naval assets in the GASN naval force:
“Greeting’s ladies and gentlemen. Today I wish to share with you the some of the details of the recent expansion of the GASN escort force. At present, the Northfordian element of the GASN escort force consists of around 150 Destroyers. The overall plans of the Escort Force this means that while Northford is the biggest contributor, the homogeneity of the Northfordian contribution means it cannot operate on its, due to the fact that it either lacks air cover, or ASW provisions. In today’s world, the Commonwealth of Northford is facing a rather unfortunate crossroads. The GASN is, and for the foreseeable future will be, the corner stone of the Northfordian foreign policy. It is the GASN’s policy of mutual defence, and the faith in free trade, for example that have caused the Escort Force to form in the first place. That said, it has become clear to Northford that, over time, there is a growing need for countries to be able to secure their sovereignty, and, in some cases, neutrality outside of existing frameworks. Without commenting on existing situations, it is also clear, that this need extends to the escort force itself. As it stands now, the Escort Force patrols along Northfordian Trade routes only. That is to say, that as it stands, it will patrol the routes between say Northford and Cravan, and The Aeson and Northford, but it will not patrol the trade route between the Aeson and Cravan.”
“It was planned, when the Escort force expanded, to extend these links between other countries, in an effort to secure the GASN as a whole. The plans originally were outlined to include all countries, to ensure that all countries were given an equal amount of security.”
“It is however, through a measure of sadness, that we have decided to review this plan. It has been decided that in an event of a war, the Escort force should provide service to countries in most dire need of them. With that in mind, and the fact that it should be noted that the GASN is not a fighting force, and only there to ensure the presence of free trade, it has been decided that Northfordian Ships will only patrol non-Northfordian trade routes with countries that have Significant trading links between Northford, and not in a case of war. ”
“It is with that, I announce the exact details of the expansion of the GASN escort force. The Commonwealth of Northford has recently ordered, from the IPS, a Praetonian Company, 50 more Praefele class Destroyers, 100 Knight Class Destroyers, 300 Minister Class Frigates and 50 Port Class Corvettes”
“As for their application, the new ships will greatly enhance the operability of the GASN Escort Fleet. As it stands now, when a Northfordian Convoy travels, it will have 2 Destroyers at either Port, and 3-5 Destroyers actually with the fleet. As it can quickly be recognised, although having ships stationed in the ports is a very effective work-saver, having those ships as destroyers is a gross under utilisation of the Destroyers abilities. To that end, the new Corvettes will, where necessary and permitted, be stationed in the Ports themselves on the GASN member nations, to both ensure that an escort presence is felt towards the last 100 Miles of the journey, and to ensure that more Praefele Destroyers are employed in more useful situations. The acquirement of the 100 Knight Class Destroyers are, also, surprisingly to allow the GASN greater operability. As it stands now, often at least one destroyer in a convoy is there for purely engineering and support assistance, with no need or requirement for any viable combat ability. To that end, this position is to be filled with the Knight class, as, although it has a somewhat smaller combat capability, the ship is faster and somewhat more able, which is in this case, more necessary. The major component of the latest purchase is, however, the acquirement of 300 Minister Class Frigates. It is these ships that will fill the back bone of the new rejuvenated Escort Force, and will allow the fleet to provide not only greater coverage of individual convoy’s, but allow them to perform more escort duties as well as finally allowing the fleet a modest ASW component. All of this is done on a modest budget, a budget which will allow the GASN escort force to expand further”
“To those who wish to question, please raise your hand and allows the Head of Navies and the Prime Minister to answer”
GASN till the end? Pages 4-5
Tensions in the Botz! Pages 6-7
Sailors protest sacrifice. Pages 10-11
[OOC: GASN till the end? Coming soon…]