Rule The Waves 3 - A Graphical Experiment

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[X] Give ground to the British. We cannot win such a war.
[X] Superior Armoured Cruisers, to fight the Italians

A risky move to fight the British without preparation.
 
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[X] Give ground to the British. We cannot win such a war.

Especially if it's over Africa. We need not waste our influence and risk a costly war attempting to maintain our hold over the worthless deserts of the Sahara.

[X] Superior Armoured Cruisers, to fight the Italians.

The Italians have directly stymied our own efforts to gain influence in the Mediterranean with their treacherous seizure of Rhodes. They are much more of a relevant threat to our ambitions than the British.
 
[X] Attempt to maintain peace, but give no ground. If there is to be a war, let them start it.
[X] Superior Protected Cruisers of great size, to match the British.
 
[X] Attempt to maintain peace, but give no ground. If there is to be a war, let them start it.
[X] Superior Protected Cruisers of great size, to match the British.
 
Fighting Tops
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    • Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Mar 25, 2024 at 11:09 AM, finished with 9 posts and 9 votes.
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    If we are pressed, what do we do? Give ground to the British. We cannot win such a war.
    We have a budget, now how do we spend it? Superior Armoured Cruisers, to fight the Italians.


    It is clear we cannot win a war against Great Britain and her Empire, and thus we will have to give ground in Africa and elsewhere in order to appease the ravenous bulldog. Better to focus on the threats in the Mediterranean and avoid angering the monarchists too much.

    As such, we will instead be focusing on our cruisers forces and the Italians. A new class will be designed, capable of carrying a considerable primary armament of the 203mm guns that were so effective in the war against Germany. It will be as fast as the Amiral Aube-class but with a larger hull to accommodate the greater armament and significant secondary and torpedo batteries as well. With six rifles on the broadside, the Duquesne-class is likely to be viciously effective against any other cruisers it encounters. It has, of course, grown to 10,000 tons displaced, 10% larger than either of its predecessors. A fair price to pay? Almost certainly.
    ​

    Eighteen-Ninety-Nine
    The first of the new cruisers is laid down with the New Year, the last we will see before a new century. A second joins her in March, as an agreement between the French and Austrian governments allows the sharing of a specific piece of torpedo aiming technology. While the Austrians pay handsomely for the deal, with almost six million francs being transferred solely to the Navy, the agreement actually stems from an historic diplomatic agreement that allowed the acquisition of Whiteheads torpedo's from the Austrian company in Fiume. We also, in the same month, maintained our edge as naval scientists demonstrated the effectiveness of a new type of rangefinder that can be deployed on our warships.

    Refits will begin as soon as possible, especially for our large cruisers. The Leon Gambetta-class will be the first to receive these new rangefinders, entering a brief 3 month refit in order to rebuild their upper works to carry the heavy rangefinders. The British have placed a large portion of their battle line into ordinary as well, and we can only presume it's for similar reasons.

    We have also uncovered the secrets of a new kind of armour plating for our ships! Developed in Germany in the early part of the decade, so called 'Krupp' armour replaces the coal-carbonization of Harvey armour for a gas-carbonization system. While a complex and expensive process, this armour has been demonstrated to be as effective as Harvey armour with only 85% of the thickness allocated to it. As such, our new class of cruisers will likely have better protection than was previously expected during the design process.

    ​
    The third Duquesne is laid down in June, the Suffren joining her two sisters. on the slips. The first four of the Brennus class to receive their new fighting tops follow soon after and, although their guns are tired and (frankly) terrible, they will benefit from a small increase in accuracy.

    In August something of a shudder passes across Europe, the death throes of the monarchs perhaps. Iceland, a dependency of the the Kingdom of Denmark, has rejected their overseas ruler and called for aid from the very Republics they wish to join. We have no choice but to answer their plight, sending a squadron of cruisers to anchor off the coast of Reykjavik and ensure the safety of the people. Over the next months, negotiations are made and diplomatic agreements are reached. Denmark will transfer formal protectorship over Iceland to the French, and we will safeguard this burgeoning parliamentary republic. There is a question as to what this means for the future of European colonial empires, including ours. If we are to defend European sovereignty so carefully, what of the overseas states? Fortunate then that we French recognise the importance of such questions.

    A fourth Duquesne-class, Islande, has been laid down to celebrate this new change in the politics of the continent. With the Republique-class almost complete, the money is freed up for more of these dangerous cruisers. A new version of the Sabre-class of torpedo boat follows, carrying two tubes instead of one and better crew accommodations. The Durandal-class is 400 tons rather than 300 and requires twelve additional sailors, but she does also carry a 3-pound gun fore and aft.

    Republique and her sister on sea trials​

    Nineteen-Hundred
    The new year passes with little in the way of notice by the Marine Nationale. Tensions are still high with both Great Britain and Italy, but this is simple the way things are now. Half our cruiser fleet was in for a small refit, and a few new ships were under construction, but overall there was only so much that could be said about developments in that area. Nonetheless, it is a new year and a new century! What could happen in the years to come? The decades? Perhaps in a hundred years, Navies will no longer be needed... though perhaps that is simply foolish idealism.
    ​

    Italy has a new style of cruiser! Sort of. At 8,100 tons, the Trento-class are not unusually large, and with a pair of 225mm guns (one forward, one aft), she is not particularly concerning in the gunnery department. She is also capable of only 20 knots, and as such our newest cruisers should have no concerns. Nonetheless, it is important to keep half an eye on the Italian cruiser force, to ensure we are not outdone.
    ​

    A second class of newer torpedo boats, this time called the Carabinier, will join the Durandal's, however these will mount 9-pounder hotchkiss guns and be intended for hunting other torpedo boats. However, before any of them can be laid down, there is a shocking departure. Citing the ruinous levels of naval spending, the government has been locked in fierce debate with protestors and half-hearted revolutionaries. Nonetheless, the government is forced to resign, and a new more liberal parliament sits and quickly passes bills reducing our financial position.

    ​
    Where we previously received three-hundred-million francs per year, we will now receive just two-hundred-and-seventy-million francs. This is several months of our budget struck from the balance, and we will have to manage it carefully in the coming months to ensure we do not have to break too far into our war chest. At least it came just after our major refit program.

    However, this internal politicking is matched with excellent diplomacy overseas! Our bases in South-East Asia have long been somewhat ignored, and it is of great concern to the government that we not see major risks there. Thus a defensive pact is negotiated with Japan and we find ourselves in the centre of an Alliance that spans the globe!

    But what of our budget? There is only so much the reserve list can do and even with many ships on it, we have a deficit of about two million francs per year. We must cut costs, but how? Choose two.
    [ ] Reduce our spending on training.
    [ ] Take a 'building holiday' for the next year or two.
    [ ] Reduce our spending on training.
    [ ] Halt our current construction until further notice, reducing costs immediately.
    [ ] Reduce our spending on intelligence operations overseas.
     
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    • [X] Take a 'building holiday' for the next year or two.

    Our fleet is in a good position. We can afford to lay down less hulls for a bit, though obviously this isn't a permanent solution

    Edit: Derp overlooked that we're supposed to choose two

    [X] Reduce our spending on intelligence operations overseas.
     
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    [X] Take a 'building holiday' for the next year or two.

    We're presently four million over budget per year. Which isn't nice, no sirreh.
     
    [X] Take a 'building holiday' for the next year or two.
    [X] Reduce our spending on intelligence operations overseas.
     
    [X] Reduce our spending on training.
    [X] Take a 'building holiday' for the next year or two.

    But only reduce our spending on training once!
     
    [X] Take a 'building holiday' for the next year or two.
    [X] Reduce our spending on intelligence operations overseas.
     
    [X] Take a 'building holiday' for the next year or two.
    [X] Reduce our spending on intelligence operations overseas.
    Is reduce training supposed to be on there twice?
     
    Is a boat a boat under the sea?
  • Threadmarks
    • Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Mar 26, 2024 at 7:02 AM, finished with 9 posts and 8 votes.
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    We must cut costs, but how? Take a 'building holiday' for the next year or two, Reduce our spending on intelligence operations overseas.


    A New Government
    The decision is final. Not only will we reduce our spending on overseas intelligence operations, but we will not lay down any new ships for at least a year. With the last of the four Duquesne-class cruisers intended to be commissioned around then, we would then have the full scope of our budget to spend going forwards - we simply have to hope that our war-chest will survive the intervening months.

    Tensions continue to climb with the English. They claim it is to do with concerns about the stewardship of Iceland and consider it to be untenable for one European state to have dominion over another. Given that this is patently ridiculous, it is a clear sign that we are of enough concern to the British to make them risk war. It increasingly looks like they are going to be willing to start it whether we want them too.

    Despite setbacks in funding, our Intelligence Operatives in Europe are still finding significant information for us. ​

    The United States implement a peacekeeping occupation of the Dominican Republic which has, in their words, been a constant thorn in the side of East Coast trade. Simultaneously we sign an extension to our defence arrangement, maintaining the globe-spanning diplomatic collective. Nonetheless, the latest round of European military missions to China does not include a French detachment, hoping that this will stand as a symbol of Frances hope for peace.

    Even so, with the dawn of 1901 comes the breaking of ground on a coastal battery intended to protect Iceland from any attacks. Using 305mm guns wound speculatively for the presumed next class of battleships that would have been ordered by the Marine Nationale, these long guns will be mounted to dissuade any squadron that might try to block the port. Newer guns will replace them in future batteries, an expense but one we can currently afford.
    ​

    September Nineteen-Hundred-and-One
    Tensions run high around the world
    - Austria Hungary and the Kingdom of Italy face off over the future of Dalmatia
    - The United States faces down Spanish frustration in home waters and German Aggression overseas
    - Russia fumes at both Eastern and Western borders, infuriating Japan and Germany both.
    Any of these flash points could be the source of the next major conflict, and it's of note that our allies feature in two of these areas. We will, of course, back them considerably as our negotiations expected of us.

    Also of note is the development of new technology, technology that raises new and important questions for the Marine Nationale.

    Submarines - we now have the ability to build small coastal submarines. What is the Navies position on these new weapons?
    [ ] A torpedo boat that can submerge and approach battleships undetected? What could be more fitting for the Jeune Ecole!
    [ ] There are interesting, but little more than a curiosity. We should commission a handful for testing.
    [ ] We do not approve of the these boats. We will not be building them at this time.
    Surface Warfare - It has been a year and we now have some seven million francs per month surfeit. What should we build?
    [ ] New battleships, upgrading and enhancing on the Republique-class
    [ ] New armoured cruisers, of similar intent.
    [ ] New light and fast forces, to fulfil the goals of the Jeune Ecole!
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] There are interesting, but little more than a curiosity. We should commission a handful for testing.

    A fascinating device for the guerre de course, but as yet more promise than reality. Watch developments closely and do not fall behind, but do not expect a great deal yet.

    [X] New armoured cruisers, of similar intent.

    But what if we gave them...twin turrets
     
    [X] A torpedo boat that can submerge and approach battleships undetected? What could be more fitting for the Jeune Ecole!

    [X] New armoured cruisers, of similar intent.

    Gotta go for them subs.
     
    [X] There are interesting, but little more than a curiosity. We should commission a handful for testing.
    [X] New armoured cruisers, of similar intent.
    I'm with Night on this one, early submarines suuuuuuuuuucked over in our timeline. Better let the technology advance a bit further before we start making them a serious component of the fleet.
     
    [X] There are interesting, but little more than a curiosity. We should commission a handful for testing.
    [X] New armoured cruisers, of similar intent.
     
    I want to go full hog on Submarine development, but I also don't want to be dragged down by having a bunch of really early submarines before we've even invented the Snorkel or what have you.

    So, alas
    [X] There are interesting, but little more than a curiosity. We should commission a handful for testing.

    [X] New light and fast forces, to fulfil the goals of the Jeune Ecole!

    More speed! More torpedoes!
     
    [X] A torpedo boat that can submerge and approach battleships undetected? What could be more fitting for the Jeune Ecole!

    Any new technology is a better technology. Full speed ahead!

    [X] New light and fast forces, to fulfil the goals of the Jeune Ecole!

    Elan!
     
    [X] A torpedo boat that can submerge and approach battleships undetected? What could be more fitting for the Jeune Ecole!
    [X] New light and fast forces, to fulfil the goals of the Jeune Ecole!

    Torpedo Torpedo, Torpedo!
     
    [X] There are interesting, but little more than a curiosity. We should commission a handful for testing.
    [X] New armoured cruisers, of similar intent.
     
    [X] A torpedo boat that can submerge and approach battleships undetected? What could be more fitting for the Jeune Ecole!

    [X] New armoured cruisers, of similar intent.
     
    [X] There are interesting, but little more than a curiosity. We should commission a handful for testing.
    [X] New armoured cruisers, of similar intent.
     
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