NationStates Jolt Archive

Commonwealth Press

www.commonwealthpress.tol

BRAYTON - Naval Minister Steven Church formally announced Ministry's new Five Year Fleet Plan. The plan details the Navy's plans for the next five years in regards to procurement programs, force structures, and basing postures. The general contents of the plan were widely disseminated on the Internet over the past month, but the full scope was unknown till today. While the plan held very few surprises, one revelation was the Navy's plan to acquire nuclear powered surface vessels for the first time in nearly 20 years since the retirement of the last Warrior class carriers in 1991.

The Navy recently purchased fifty Type 46 (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13684904&postcount=157) nuclear powered destroyers from the now defunct Beaufort Naval Industries (based in Questers). In addition two new types of aircraft carrier will be acquired to replace the Triumph class fleet carrier and Unicorn class light carrier. The Unicorn will be replaced by the Type 52 Light Carrier (based on the popular CVF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CVF) light carrier design. However, Tolvanic designs will feature a hybrid design to allow them to operate both VTOL and CTOL aircraft. The Type 52 will carry an air wing of 50to 60 aircraft and crew of around 2,000. The ships will primarily be used to escort Tolvanic convoys and patrol areas that don't warrant deployment of a full fledged carrier.

The new Type 50 CVN will be nuclear powered, carry an air wing of 90 or more aircraft and crew of around 5,000 to 6,000. A final design has yet to be chosen.

The plan calls for an overall reduction in the number of hulls in service, but the increased size and capability of the newer vessles is expected to dramatically increase the capabilities of the Navy's surface fleet.

In addition the plan calls for increased forward basing of Fleet units to decrease the time it takes the Navy to react to situations across the world.

An approval vote is scheduled in Parliament for Friday and the plan is expected to pass easily despite opposition from the Green-Labour Party and Libertarians Party over the use of nuclear power and the increasingly expeditionary nature of the Navy. Both parties favour a smaller and more defensive minded force.

Two Bums on the street, the City of the Blessed

Bum 2: Those guys over in Tolvan are at it again.

Bum 1: Really, what are they doing now?

Bum 2: Revamping they're navy.

Bum 1: Really? You'd think they're be more worried about they're many other problems.

Bum 2: They probably feel threatened by the many nations in the region with large defense budgets, such as ours.

Bum 1: Well that's true, but do you think they would actually think the Beatus is a threat to them?

Bum 2: They could, some of those people out there in the world don't see our nation the same way we do. They can't see past the hulking military, to the Utopian society it protects.

Bum 1: Well, I for one, am glad we have a large, powerful military, keeps the riffraff out, if you know what I mean.

Bum 2: Yeah, like my brother-in-law from Tolvan, that guy is crazy.

Bum 1: Well, look at the nation, pouring thousands of dollars into a military that clearly doesn't need it, it's obviously a culture thing.

Bum 2: At least we don't have to worry about things like that here. There isn't any way that any ones getting into this nation, without a long drawn out fight.

Bum 1: Yep.

Bum 2: *Cell Phone Rings* Oh, it's the wife.

Bum 1: I just remembered, I've got to go do that thing, at that place, see ya.

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The nation of Orbath would like to know if the Unicorn classes of light carrier are in good condition and available for sale with specifications? Furthermore, the nation of Orbath would like to inquire as to what exactly ''increased forward basing'' entails?

Hooker 1: I do say, those destitute folk in beatus are awfully interesting.

Hooker 2: Here here, good friend, I concur. However I find that the comments the are said to make can often times be a bit delusional.

Hooker 1: Indeed, can you imagine The Theocracy in Beatus having a large military?

Hooker 2: Indeed! Har har har. It is indubitably a stretch, and while the latest updates indicate that they spend upwards of 31% of their budget on their military, their low tax rate keeps their military might to a modest sum. Indeed, Aissur has a larger military.

Hooker 1: Care to go enjoy a bit of Earl Gray?

Hooker 2: Of course.

Soldat #1: Well, comrade, the hookers I met in Yanitaria were certainly very entertaining!

Soldat #2: Almost as entertaining as the Homeless chaps in The Beatus!

Soldat #1: Absolutely! Did you hear that Tolvan is planning to increase it's naval power?

Soldat #2: Bah! No nation with such a low tax rate can succeed in devloping a navy as powerful as ours!

Soldat #1: I can see why you are the captain here. Tea?

Soldat #2: Thank you.

OOC: Send your soldiers on a bit of R&R in Yanitaria for epic lulz

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The nation of Orbath would like to know if the Unicorn classes of light carrier are in good condition and available for sale with specifications? Furthermore, the nation of Orbath would like to inquire as to what exactly ''increased forward basing'' entails?

TO: Whom it May Concern, People's Republic of Orbath
FROM: Robert Donovan, Foreign Minister, Commonwealth of Tolvan

RE: Recent Inquiries

The Unicorn class carriers were acquired from the now defunct Questarian company of BNI. The vessels are unavailable for sale as they are being placed in reserve or being converted to serve as training carriers for the Fleet Air Arm.

The Navy will likely be liquidating its force of twenty-five (25) Triumph (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13225956&postcount=7) class fleet carriers pending the completeion of the CVNX Programme, provided the Questarian government approves of the transfer. If not the vessels will be scrapped.

Our intention for "increased foreign basing" merely means that the Commonwealth intends to seek agreements to allow Tolvanic ships to refuel and refit in forieng ports while deployed. Current Defence policy does not call for increased foreign permenant basing at this time. However, any proposals will be considered by the Parliamentary Subcommittee on Defence Installations.

OOC: It's ironic that I have one of the largest populations and the highest GDP (I think) in the region but my budget is so low. I guess low taxes are the price you have to pay for a massive economy on NS.