NationStates Jolt Archive

The Byzantium League has begun large numbers of modern defensive works, including renovating existing defences around all cities, creating defensive belts near all mountain passes in the rugged Turkish geography, and stocking additional material near most areas with defensive lines to repair damages. Additional small fortifications (mainly watchtowers and such) equipped with demolition charges to destroy the bridges to deny them to the enemy. The defensive lines consist of pillboxes, bunkers, well made trenches, prepositioned artillery (or pre-ready coordinates).

The Byzantium League begins re-training of 50,000 soldiers, beginning an extensive training for naval landings under fire. Another 50,000 people are beggining large re-training programs to bring them into regular army forces.

The Byzantium League unveils production plans for the Anatolian Assault Transport and accompanying Landing Barge

Assault Transport:
6'' guns: 6
4" guns: 12

Holds 10 Landing Barges
Moves at 25 knots
Shallow Bottomed
4'' thick armor around sides

Landing Barge
.50 cal Machine guns: 2
Holds 100 Soldiers
Moves at 15 knots

Plans for a faster Barge with more armament are underway

The Lycurgan Empire expresses it's concerns over the seeming military preparations of the Byzantium League, especially in the area of amphibious transport craft and their use.

OOC: The armour's not much on the transport. I think that the first ironclad ships had around 4.5in thick hull plating, and that was on top of wood. Go wiki.

OOC: I don't expect it to be able to withstand a lot of hits, , if it's in that situation, it's screwed anyway. I'll beef it up a bit though

IC:

The Byznatium League replies that the Lycurgian Empire should not feel threatened unless it wishes war with the Byzantium League or its allies.

The Byzantine League lays down kels for 6 Valentine Class Cruisers, 18 Vatican Class Assault Destroyers, 15 Assault Transports, 150 Landing Barges.

Projected Fleet:
6 Battleships (Eventual Plans to add 6 Heavy Battlecruisers)
18 Cruisers
40 Destroyers
15 Assault Transports
150 Landing Barges

The Byzantium League releases plans for the "Leviathan" class Dreadnought.

12 12'' guns
28 3 Inch anti-air craft/anti-antishipping guns
Speed: 24 Knots Max
Belt: 12 inch (100 to 280 mm) midship, 2.5 inch (64 mm) at ends
Deck: up to 4 inch (75 mm)
Turrets: 12 inch (280 mm)
Barbettes: up to 12 inch (280 mm)
Conning tower: 12 inch (280 mm)

Plans to Build 6 of them to replace the current older ships are underway

OOC: I might be mistaken, but I thought part of the point of 'Dreadnought' type vessels was that they largely removed secondary armament, such as the 8" and 5" guns.

mistake, has been updated, thanks for letting me know

The byzantium League begins construction of 6 more Dreadnoughts, mothballing the 8 Pre-dreadnoughts, and mothballing 12 older cruisers, while 19 new Cruisers are being constructed (Valentine Class)

Projected Fleet:
6 Heavy Battlecruisers
12 Leviathan Dreadnoughts (all under construction)
25 Cruisers (All valentine Class, 19 under construction)
40 Destroyers (eventually all replaced by Vatican Class)
15 Assault Transports
150 Landing Barges

Mothballed:
8 Pre-Dreadnoughts
12 Cruisers
30 Destroyers

Byzantium League scientists begin looking into chemical weapons as a possible weapon of war, and arming airplanes with weapons. Scientists working with the navy begin looking into working seaplanes with ships to assist with scouting, and to construct a submarine. All plans are in early stages of development.

The army has begun upgrading its artillery, moving to heavier pieces (105 and 150mm guns), and moving older pieces to reservist units or to gather dust in various storage sites. The army begins looking into a lighter machine gun to assist troops.

OOC: Illar is gonna LOVE you.

And, do I read that right that at the moment you have no active dreadnoughts, only mothballed ones?

No active dreadnoughts at the moment, only Heavy Battlecruisers, and Pre-Dreadnoughts that will be phased out as the Dreadnoughts come in.

It'll also be hard for me to challenge Illar, seeing as he's like 5 times my size and I don'y have any overseas colonies to speak of (just some stuff in the ME and South Asia). But yes, I suppose he'll feel angry in 2 or 3 years time when the ships come in

OOC: Actually, yes. This is precisely what the naval arms race is supposed to spark - the Illar have land isolation (comparatively speaking, there's no major hostile powers bordering them), and they're probably the richest nation in the world. My goal here is to force a naval buildup by other nations, which, for one, more-or-less beggars them, which, in turn, means that my economic superiority is more-or-less assured.

I mean, when everyone has twelve dreadnoughts, and I have less, comparatively speaking (in comparison to my population), there will be much rejoicing. 'cause you'll all be poor. Of course, this is all OOC - so, keep building up, suckers!