Dontgonearthere
30-03-2007, 20:27
(OOC NOTE:
I have NOT claimed yet. Will make my claim on Sunday when claims outside of Europe open up)
Name: The Empire of the Great Ming
Government: Buerocratic Monarchy
Capitol: Beijing
Population: 35,400,000
Language: Several, Mandarin Chinese 'officially', but there are several 'court languages'.
Economy: Mercantilist
Trade:
Exports: Food, clothes, silk, wood, precious stones, iron, copper, drugs, paper products, oil, cattle, porcaline, art, medical and scientific instruments, and so forth.
Imports: Silver, 'Western' luxury items, artisans, inventors, tourists
Black Market Imports: Drugs (mostly Opium)
Military:
6,000 Imperial Guards
%1 standing (322,000), divided into seven 'banners' (IE: Armies)
Red, yellow, gold, white, black banners: 'regular' army, 60,000 men per banner.
Silver banner: Air force (7,000 men)
Blue banner: Navy (15,000 men)
%2 'Reservists' (640,000) Green Banner (Local troops called up in emergencies, also double as police and cheap labour if required.)
Organization:
The 'Army' banners are organized as follows:
1 'Banner' = 10 'Jalan'
1 Jalan = 20 'Niru'
1 Niru = 300 men
Men are organized into squads of 10.
Equipment:
Varies. The Red and Black banners are the most modern, equipped, for the most part, with bolt action rifles, decent artillery, and some motorized transport.
The yellow, gold and white banners though, are less modern, but have been brought up to a point where they can reliably fight against a comprably sized European force. While not quite as well equipped as the Red and Black, they are still a competent military force now, especially compared to their old selves.
The Ming Army relies mostly on Maxim-type machine guns, but several garrisons still maintain older Gatling-type weapons, especially in the far west where the quality of military equipment declines significantly compared to more easterly troops.
Infantry Rifles:
Mostly imported European designs.
Imperial Guard issued with custom-built rifles produced by the Imperial Artisans in the Forbidden City. As is to be expected, these are EXTREMLY good weapons, if somewhat complex and difficult to maintain. However, this is not an issue since the Imperial Guards have access to virtually unlimited funding.
Pistols:
Again, imported designs.
Currently favour revolvers over automatics.
Machine Guns:
Maxim-type guns
Gatling and other older designs on the western frontier.
Artillery:
122, 152 and 220mm howitzers
76, 82 and 90mm guns
Presently experimenting with a variety of mortars.
Vehicles:
A variety of trucks, mostly in use by the Red and Black banner armies.
Fifty armoured cars of different types.
Lots and lots of horses.
The air force has some 200 planes of various types.
Chinese planes do enjoy a certain material advantage over Western designs, since silk can be used in place of canvas on the wings of the aircraft.
Chinese planes tend to be extravagantly painted, featuring designs of dragons, phoenix, and other assorted flying animals.
Planes are unarmed, but the Chinese air force is experimenting with a crossbow which can throw rocks, grenades, and so forth some distance.
The navy is composed of:
3 Dreadnaught battleships
Ting Yuan Class
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/germany/battleships/kaiser/kaiser1.jpg
Ting Yuan
Complement 1085
Dimensions
Displacement 24530 tons std
26790 tons max
Dimensions 565' 6" x 95' 1"
Draught 29' 4"
Armament
Main guns 10 x 12" (2 x 5)
Secondary guns 14 x 5.9" (14 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 5 x 19.7"
Other weapons 9 x 3.46" (9 x 1)
Countermeasures None
Armour Turrets 11.8"
Belt 13.8"
Deck 2.4"
CT 15.75"
Machinery
Engines Steam turbines
Power output 31000shp
Speed 21.5kts
Shafts 3
Range 7200NM @ 12kts
Fuel N/A
Zhen Yuan Class
Zhen Yuan
Zheng He
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/germany/battleships/bayern/baden1.jpg
Complement 1173
Dimensions
Displacement 28330 tons std
31950 tons max
Dimensions 590' 6" x 98' 3"
Draught 30' 9"
Armamen
Main guns 8 x 15" (2 x 4)
Secondary guns 16 x 5.9" (16 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 5 x 23.6"
Other weapons 4 x 3.46" (4 x 1)
Countermeasures None
Armour Turrets 13.8"
Belt 13.8"
Deck 4.7"
Machinery
Engines Steam turbines
Power output 48000shp
Speed 22kts
Shafts 3
Range 8000NM @ 12kts
Fuel N/A
two older pre-dreadnaughts
Chih Yuen Class
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/germany/battleships/kfiii/kfiii1.jpg
Kuang Chia
Chih Yuen
Complement 651
[b]Dimensions[b]
Displacement 11100 tons std
11780 tons max
Dimensions 411' 3" x 66' 9"
Draught 26' 9"
Armament
Main guns 4 x 9.4"/40 (2 x 2)
Secondary guns 14 x 5.9"/40 (14 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 5 x 17.7"
Other weapons 12 x 3.46"/35 (12 x 1)
Countermeasures None
Armour Belt: 11" on 9" teak
Waterline belt: 4"
Deck: 2" - 3"
C.T.: 1" - 10"
Turrets: 5" - 9"
Machinery
Engines 12 x Marine boilers
3 x vertical triple expansion
Power output 13000ihp
Speed 17kts
Shafts 3
Range 2200NM @ 12kts
Fuel 1000 tons coal
six cruisers
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/russia/cruisers/ryurik1/ryurik3.jpg
Yangwei Class Cruiser
Yangwei
Chaoyong
Kuang Ping
Complement 683
Dimensions
Displacement 11690 tons max
Dimensions 435' x 67'
Draught 27' 3"
Armament
Main guns 4 x 8"/35 (4 x 1)
Secondary guns 16 x 6"/45 (16 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 4 x 15" above water
Other weapons 6 x 4.7"
6 x 3pdr
10 x 1pdr
Countermeasures None
Armour Belt: 5" - 10" steel
C.T.: 8"
Deck: 2.5" - 3.5"
Machinery
Engines 8 x cylindrical boilers
2 x vertical triple expansion
Power output 13250ihp
Speed 18.7kts
Shafts 2
Range N/A
Fuel 2000 tons coal
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/britain/cruisers/warrior/natal1.jpg
Ping Yuen Class
Ping Yuen
Fu Lung
Complement 712
Dimensions
Displacement 13550 tons max
Dimensions 505' 4" x 73' 6"
Draught 25'
Armament
Main guns 6 x 9.2" (6 x 1)
Secondary guns 4 x 7.5" (4 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 3 x 18" submerged
Other weapons 26 x 3pdr
Countermeasures None
Armour Belt: 3" - 6"
Deck: 0.75" - 1.5"
Bulkheads: 2" - 6"
C.T.: 10"
Turrets: 4.5" - 7.5"
Machinery
Engines 25 x Yarrow boilers
2 x 4 cyl. triple expansion
Power output 23000ihp
Speed 23kts
Shafts 2
Range N/A
Fuel 2050 tons coal
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/britain/cruisers/drake/drake2.jpg
Choi Ti class
Choi Ti
Complement 900
Dimensions
Displacement 14150 tons max
Dimensions 533' 6" x 71' 4"
Draught 26'
Armament
Main guns 2 x 9.2" (2 x 1)
Secondary guns 16 x 6" (16 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 2 x 18" submerged
Other weapons 14 x 12pdr
3 x 3pdr
Countermeasures None
Armour Belt: 2" - 6"
Deck: 1" - 2.5"
Bulkheads: 5"
C.T.: 12"
Turrets: 6"
Casemates: 2" - 5"
Machinery
Engines 43 x Belleville boilers
2 x 4 cyl. triple expansion
Power output 30000ihp
Speed 23kts
Shafts 2
Range N/A
Fuel 2500 tons coal
Three Dreadnaughts
Two Pre-Dreadnaughts
Ten frigates
Fifty patrol/torpedo boats
Ten submarines
There are some fifty to sixy wooden Junks which are generally used in a patrol capacity, as well as troop transports. A number of these have been 'modernized' with steam engines.
Bckground:
The Ming Empire is the successor of almost five thousand years of states which have existed, more or less, in the same fashion. Established two hundred years ago after a rebellion against invaders from the West who had established their own government, the Ming Empire controlls much of the Chinese coastline and has dominated Chinese trade with Europe for some time.
This, of course, resulted in massive wealth for the Ming Emperors.
However, poor management and extensive palace building projects saw much of this wealth vanish in the mid-19th century after a string of poor Emperors and a rather unpleasant civil war. It is estimated that as much as %10 of the Chinese population was killed during the fighting, which pitted religious rebels against the Empires troops.
Shortly thereafter a series of conflicts with overseas powers left the Ming humiliated and defeated, after finding out that the 'Glorious Ming Army' was at least a hundred years behind the times when it came to military technology.
After this, the Ming withdrew from world affairs for some time, several reforms were instituted in the trade system and corruption in the government was gradually weeded out, until the Ming state was somewhat functional once again.
However, even in the new age, the Ming Empire has its problems. It is estimated that as much as %15 of the population is addicted to Opium, and that figure is rising. The army is still dreadfully out of date, while the navy is still operating several wooden ships.
The airforce, at least, is somewhat modern, providing a decent array of aircraft of a modestly effective design.
The Ming Banner armies are well disciplined, perhaps TOO well disciplined. Emphasis is on parade and pomp, and although firearms training does exist, it is generally showy and impractical. The Green banner armies receive more practical training, but are less disciplined and more likely to run. However, both armies are possessed of rather high moral, with a devotion to the Emperor, or at least, to the Mandate of Heaven.
Present Chinese doctrine favours, as with most other nations, the mass charge as the ideal means of destroying an enemy. Generally this is modestly effective against the typical foes of the Chinese army, those being Koreans and Vietnamese who dont know that theyre properly conqoured yet.
Its effectiveness against Western barbarians is somewhat less so, at least, when they decide to use backhanded and devious tactics like...not charging when you charge them.
Perhaps the greatest advantage the Ming have is their possession of a wide variety of export items. Silk is still much sought after in the world and, although produced in other places, the Chinese produce more and better quality silk items, possibly because theyve been doing it longer than everybody else. China is also possessed of large amounts of rare woods, as well as other luxury items sought after by European traders and nations, including precious iron and copper, both of which go into just about everything nowadays.
I have NOT claimed yet. Will make my claim on Sunday when claims outside of Europe open up)
Name: The Empire of the Great Ming
Government: Buerocratic Monarchy
Capitol: Beijing
Population: 35,400,000
Language: Several, Mandarin Chinese 'officially', but there are several 'court languages'.
Economy: Mercantilist
Trade:
Exports: Food, clothes, silk, wood, precious stones, iron, copper, drugs, paper products, oil, cattle, porcaline, art, medical and scientific instruments, and so forth.
Imports: Silver, 'Western' luxury items, artisans, inventors, tourists
Black Market Imports: Drugs (mostly Opium)
Military:
6,000 Imperial Guards
%1 standing (322,000), divided into seven 'banners' (IE: Armies)
Red, yellow, gold, white, black banners: 'regular' army, 60,000 men per banner.
Silver banner: Air force (7,000 men)
Blue banner: Navy (15,000 men)
%2 'Reservists' (640,000) Green Banner (Local troops called up in emergencies, also double as police and cheap labour if required.)
Organization:
The 'Army' banners are organized as follows:
1 'Banner' = 10 'Jalan'
1 Jalan = 20 'Niru'
1 Niru = 300 men
Men are organized into squads of 10.
Equipment:
Varies. The Red and Black banners are the most modern, equipped, for the most part, with bolt action rifles, decent artillery, and some motorized transport.
The yellow, gold and white banners though, are less modern, but have been brought up to a point where they can reliably fight against a comprably sized European force. While not quite as well equipped as the Red and Black, they are still a competent military force now, especially compared to their old selves.
The Ming Army relies mostly on Maxim-type machine guns, but several garrisons still maintain older Gatling-type weapons, especially in the far west where the quality of military equipment declines significantly compared to more easterly troops.
Infantry Rifles:
Mostly imported European designs.
Imperial Guard issued with custom-built rifles produced by the Imperial Artisans in the Forbidden City. As is to be expected, these are EXTREMLY good weapons, if somewhat complex and difficult to maintain. However, this is not an issue since the Imperial Guards have access to virtually unlimited funding.
Pistols:
Again, imported designs.
Currently favour revolvers over automatics.
Machine Guns:
Maxim-type guns
Gatling and other older designs on the western frontier.
Artillery:
122, 152 and 220mm howitzers
76, 82 and 90mm guns
Presently experimenting with a variety of mortars.
Vehicles:
A variety of trucks, mostly in use by the Red and Black banner armies.
Fifty armoured cars of different types.
Lots and lots of horses.
The air force has some 200 planes of various types.
Chinese planes do enjoy a certain material advantage over Western designs, since silk can be used in place of canvas on the wings of the aircraft.
Chinese planes tend to be extravagantly painted, featuring designs of dragons, phoenix, and other assorted flying animals.
Planes are unarmed, but the Chinese air force is experimenting with a crossbow which can throw rocks, grenades, and so forth some distance.
The navy is composed of:
3 Dreadnaught battleships
Ting Yuan Class
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/germany/battleships/kaiser/kaiser1.jpg
Ting Yuan
Complement 1085
Dimensions
Displacement 24530 tons std
26790 tons max
Dimensions 565' 6" x 95' 1"
Draught 29' 4"
Armament
Main guns 10 x 12" (2 x 5)
Secondary guns 14 x 5.9" (14 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 5 x 19.7"
Other weapons 9 x 3.46" (9 x 1)
Countermeasures None
Armour Turrets 11.8"
Belt 13.8"
Deck 2.4"
CT 15.75"
Machinery
Engines Steam turbines
Power output 31000shp
Speed 21.5kts
Shafts 3
Range 7200NM @ 12kts
Fuel N/A
Zhen Yuan Class
Zhen Yuan
Zheng He
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/germany/battleships/bayern/baden1.jpg
Complement 1173
Dimensions
Displacement 28330 tons std
31950 tons max
Dimensions 590' 6" x 98' 3"
Draught 30' 9"
Armamen
Main guns 8 x 15" (2 x 4)
Secondary guns 16 x 5.9" (16 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 5 x 23.6"
Other weapons 4 x 3.46" (4 x 1)
Countermeasures None
Armour Turrets 13.8"
Belt 13.8"
Deck 4.7"
Machinery
Engines Steam turbines
Power output 48000shp
Speed 22kts
Shafts 3
Range 8000NM @ 12kts
Fuel N/A
two older pre-dreadnaughts
Chih Yuen Class
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/germany/battleships/kfiii/kfiii1.jpg
Kuang Chia
Chih Yuen
Complement 651
[b]Dimensions[b]
Displacement 11100 tons std
11780 tons max
Dimensions 411' 3" x 66' 9"
Draught 26' 9"
Armament
Main guns 4 x 9.4"/40 (2 x 2)
Secondary guns 14 x 5.9"/40 (14 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 5 x 17.7"
Other weapons 12 x 3.46"/35 (12 x 1)
Countermeasures None
Armour Belt: 11" on 9" teak
Waterline belt: 4"
Deck: 2" - 3"
C.T.: 1" - 10"
Turrets: 5" - 9"
Machinery
Engines 12 x Marine boilers
3 x vertical triple expansion
Power output 13000ihp
Speed 17kts
Shafts 3
Range 2200NM @ 12kts
Fuel 1000 tons coal
six cruisers
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/russia/cruisers/ryurik1/ryurik3.jpg
Yangwei Class Cruiser
Yangwei
Chaoyong
Kuang Ping
Complement 683
Dimensions
Displacement 11690 tons max
Dimensions 435' x 67'
Draught 27' 3"
Armament
Main guns 4 x 8"/35 (4 x 1)
Secondary guns 16 x 6"/45 (16 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 4 x 15" above water
Other weapons 6 x 4.7"
6 x 3pdr
10 x 1pdr
Countermeasures None
Armour Belt: 5" - 10" steel
C.T.: 8"
Deck: 2.5" - 3.5"
Machinery
Engines 8 x cylindrical boilers
2 x vertical triple expansion
Power output 13250ihp
Speed 18.7kts
Shafts 2
Range N/A
Fuel 2000 tons coal
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/britain/cruisers/warrior/natal1.jpg
Ping Yuen Class
Ping Yuen
Fu Lung
Complement 712
Dimensions
Displacement 13550 tons max
Dimensions 505' 4" x 73' 6"
Draught 25'
Armament
Main guns 6 x 9.2" (6 x 1)
Secondary guns 4 x 7.5" (4 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 3 x 18" submerged
Other weapons 26 x 3pdr
Countermeasures None
Armour Belt: 3" - 6"
Deck: 0.75" - 1.5"
Bulkheads: 2" - 6"
C.T.: 10"
Turrets: 4.5" - 7.5"
Machinery
Engines 25 x Yarrow boilers
2 x 4 cyl. triple expansion
Power output 23000ihp
Speed 23kts
Shafts 2
Range N/A
Fuel 2050 tons coal
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/britain/cruisers/drake/drake2.jpg
Choi Ti class
Choi Ti
Complement 900
Dimensions
Displacement 14150 tons max
Dimensions 533' 6" x 71' 4"
Draught 26'
Armament
Main guns 2 x 9.2" (2 x 1)
Secondary guns 16 x 6" (16 x 1)
Torpedo tubes 2 x 18" submerged
Other weapons 14 x 12pdr
3 x 3pdr
Countermeasures None
Armour Belt: 2" - 6"
Deck: 1" - 2.5"
Bulkheads: 5"
C.T.: 12"
Turrets: 6"
Casemates: 2" - 5"
Machinery
Engines 43 x Belleville boilers
2 x 4 cyl. triple expansion
Power output 30000ihp
Speed 23kts
Shafts 2
Range N/A
Fuel 2500 tons coal
Three Dreadnaughts
Two Pre-Dreadnaughts
Ten frigates
Fifty patrol/torpedo boats
Ten submarines
There are some fifty to sixy wooden Junks which are generally used in a patrol capacity, as well as troop transports. A number of these have been 'modernized' with steam engines.
Bckground:
The Ming Empire is the successor of almost five thousand years of states which have existed, more or less, in the same fashion. Established two hundred years ago after a rebellion against invaders from the West who had established their own government, the Ming Empire controlls much of the Chinese coastline and has dominated Chinese trade with Europe for some time.
This, of course, resulted in massive wealth for the Ming Emperors.
However, poor management and extensive palace building projects saw much of this wealth vanish in the mid-19th century after a string of poor Emperors and a rather unpleasant civil war. It is estimated that as much as %10 of the Chinese population was killed during the fighting, which pitted religious rebels against the Empires troops.
Shortly thereafter a series of conflicts with overseas powers left the Ming humiliated and defeated, after finding out that the 'Glorious Ming Army' was at least a hundred years behind the times when it came to military technology.
After this, the Ming withdrew from world affairs for some time, several reforms were instituted in the trade system and corruption in the government was gradually weeded out, until the Ming state was somewhat functional once again.
However, even in the new age, the Ming Empire has its problems. It is estimated that as much as %15 of the population is addicted to Opium, and that figure is rising. The army is still dreadfully out of date, while the navy is still operating several wooden ships.
The airforce, at least, is somewhat modern, providing a decent array of aircraft of a modestly effective design.
The Ming Banner armies are well disciplined, perhaps TOO well disciplined. Emphasis is on parade and pomp, and although firearms training does exist, it is generally showy and impractical. The Green banner armies receive more practical training, but are less disciplined and more likely to run. However, both armies are possessed of rather high moral, with a devotion to the Emperor, or at least, to the Mandate of Heaven.
Present Chinese doctrine favours, as with most other nations, the mass charge as the ideal means of destroying an enemy. Generally this is modestly effective against the typical foes of the Chinese army, those being Koreans and Vietnamese who dont know that theyre properly conqoured yet.
Its effectiveness against Western barbarians is somewhat less so, at least, when they decide to use backhanded and devious tactics like...not charging when you charge them.
Perhaps the greatest advantage the Ming have is their possession of a wide variety of export items. Silk is still much sought after in the world and, although produced in other places, the Chinese produce more and better quality silk items, possibly because theyve been doing it longer than everybody else. China is also possessed of large amounts of rare woods, as well as other luxury items sought after by European traders and nations, including precious iron and copper, both of which go into just about everything nowadays.