[X][DESIGN] Proposal 2, the Bremen-Class
[X][ORDER] We should be prudent with our funding, but we are not trying to make a profit here. (Order as many ships as our current budget will allow)
A bit torn between the Bremen and Medusa honestly (Saying this as someone with no knowledge of how the game works )
Wow, all these cruisers feel lacking in some way.
Medusa (22kts, 8x4in) is fast but the lacking weapon scheme was one of the problems with the Gazelle, and it is not addressed here.
The Arcona (21kts, 4x6in, 4x4in) is neither fish nor fowl, neither a CL hunter nor a fast ship. But an improvement overall.
Bremen (21kts, 2x7in 4x7in, 6x6in, 8x3in) is the best armed out of all of these, but just 1in armor on the 6in guns means they will be knocked out by splinters or random shells quickly and the firepower advantage will disappear.
Also, all of these are filled to exactly 0 tons left, leaving you with no wiggle room to put a better fire control in, and risking the "trouble reaching design speed" event.
So yeah, Arcona seems to be the lesser evil.
[X][DESIGN] Proposal 1, the Arcona-Class
[X][ORDER] We should be prudent with our funding, but we are not trying to make a profit here. (Order as many ships as our current budget will allow)
Wow, all these cruisers feel lacking in some way.
Medusa (22kts, 8x4in) is fast but the lacking weapon scheme was one of the problems with the Gazelle, and it is not addressed here.
The Arcona (21kts, 4x6in, 4x4in) is neither fish nor fowl, neither a CL hunter nor a fast ship. But an improvement overall.
Bremen (21kts, 2x7in, 6x6in, 8x3in) is the best armed out of all of these, but just 1in armor on the 6in guns means they will be knocked out by splinters or random shells quickly and the firepower advantage will disappear.
Also, all of these are filled to exactly 0 tons left, leaving you with no wiggle room to put a better fire control in, and risking the "trouble reaching design speed" event.
So yeah, Arcona seems to be the lesser evil.
[X][DESIGN] Proposal 1, the Arcona-Class
[X][ORDER] We should be prudent with our funding, but we are not trying to make a profit here. (Order as many ships as our current budget will allow)
Torpedo research hasn't been unlocked yet but you can still put submerged tubes on ships, and all of them have a pair of submerged tubes (one port, one starboard).
Also just to make a small correction regarding the Bremen, its main battery is in fact 4x7in.
[X][DESIGN] Proposal 3, the Medusa-Class
[X][ORDER] We should be prudent with our funding, but we are not trying to make a profit here. (Order as many ships as our current budget will allow)
I know nothing about naval stuff but I like the name of the Medusa. Clearly the superior reason to vote for a ship.
[x][DESIGN] Proposal 2, the Bremen-Class
[x][ORDER] We should be prudent with our funding, but we are not trying to make a profit here. (Order as many ships as our current budget will allow)
[X][DESIGN] Proposal 2, the Bremen-Class
[X][ORDER] We should be prudent with our funding, but we are not trying to make a profit here. (Order as many ships as our current budget will allow)
None of these ships will do particularly well in a war against our likely opponents outside of the rare protected cruiser fight. If we want to follow a traditional Mahanian doctrine, then we need to build battleships to offset our crippling lack of good battleline units (and yes, they are capable at this point in time if you future-proof them appropriately); if we want to follow a Jeune Ecole-style raiding doctrine, then we need to build armoured cruisers to defeat enemy trade protection (and then lots of armed merchant raiders in wartime to actually sink ships).
I'd like to build up some savings for a future construction program of actually-useful ships, but we only have enough money for 2 cruisers at present so saving even more isn't really an option.
[X][DESIGN] Proposal 2, the Bremen-Class
[X][ORDER] We should be prudent with our funding, but we are not trying to make a profit here. (Order as many ships as our current budget will allow)
[X][DESIGN] Proposal 2, the Bremen-Class
[X][ORDER] We should be prudent with our funding, but we are not trying to make a profit here. (Order as many ships as our current budget will allow)
Specialization seems the way to go early game, and specialization in knocking the fuck out of other light ships seems to be a good plan.
I am going to murder whoever wrote the mobile version of this board software with a rusty pipe.
[X][DESIGN] Proposal 2, the Bremen-Class
[X][ORDER] We should be prudent with our funding, but we are not trying to make a profit here. (Order as many ships as our current budget will allow)
Great Britain is reported to be preparing to construct a large number of Armored Cruisers, and has increased naval spending as a result.
No other activity of note.
Our Scientists report that they are working on a concept for a new type of high-explosive filler for our shells called "Melinite", but that success has so far eluded them.
No other activity of note.
Though the beginning of the year was quite quiet, in April news comes that a local tribal leader identified as 'Hendrik Witbooi' has risen up in rebellion against the local colonial authorities. At first there is consideration of sending additional ships to Africa to help secure the colony, but the bases there are unable to support any additional ships, and the conflict is soon overshadowed by other news.
At a gala in May, the Kaiser is asked for his opinion on the status of Cuba, the increasingly brutal governance of which has recently become a flashpoint in the relationship between America and Spain. His response makes headlines across the Atlantic, as he denounces the Americans as a 'mongrel race' that 'ought not to question the actions of its betters'.
Later on in the month however, the most shocking news yet rocks Germany - a coup, evidently planned by France with what most assume to be tacit British support, has seized Oslo and declared an end to the union of Norway and Sweden, with Sweden forced to back down under the threat of French intervention. German opinion is outraged, but it seems clear that no other European power is willing to challenge this blatant aggression. Shortly thereafter the newly independent Norwegians sign a treaty placing their ports at the disposal of France.
Some good news finally comes at the beginning of July, as the first new coastal batteries finish construction.
However, tensions remain high with France and especially the United States. Britain is also the subject of grumbling, as many remember how the Royal Navy stood by and did nothing as the neutrality of Sweden was violated.
The Navy is still in good financial straits by the beginning of July, though the lack of activity and some overeager discipline on the part of our officers has impacted morale.
The status of currently building ships, Jul. 1890
The current dispositions of the world's naval forces, Jul. 1890
The current status of the ships of the Kaiserliche Marine, Jul. 1890
EMERGENCY MATTERS PLACED BEFORE THE NAVAL CONTROL BOARD
Currently our fleet is in an almost completely demobilized posture. With the sudden spikes in tension between Germany and the nations of France and the United States, many are questioning if this remains wise. Of course, many of the same debates from earlier in the year are being relitigated over precisely which ships ought to be activated. Additionally, there are those who argue that initiating a large-scale mobilization now would be seen as provocative.
[][MOBILIZE] We need to move to a war footing immediately, there's no telling how soon we may be called into battle! (Mobilize all ships)
[][MOBILIZE] If we are to go to war with France, we must have our battleline at the ready! Mobilize our Battleships! (Mobilize Battleships)
[][MOBILIZE] Any war with the United States will be fought on the high seas, far from our home waters. We must mobilize our cruisers in preparation! (Mobilize Cruisers)
[][MOBILIZE] To mobilize now may inflame tensions even further, but perhaps we shall move our ships out the mothballs, which should be less alarming. (Move all ships in mothballs to reserve status)
[][MOBILIZE] These war scares happen from time to time, nothing to worry about! (Mobilize nothing)
We have a number of ships that are approaching completion, but we could go even further and attempt to have their construction to try and make sure they finish before or shortly after the outbreak of any conflict. Naturally, this will be an expensive endeavor, but the extra ships could make all the difference.
[][ACCELERATE] Accelerate the construction of the ships that are closest to completion.
[][ACCELERATE] Accelerate the construction of the ships that are closest to completion, and our new Bremen-Class as well! You can't put too high a price on security.
[][ACCELERATE] Do not accelerate any construction.
With the threat of war on the horizon, minds have turned to what can be done to expand our fleet in the shortest possible time. Though hardly combat vessels, adding in a few more corvettes to the fleet would be relatively quick and would make our trade more secure. Covertly modifying a few civilian ships into armed merchantmen would be even quicker, but the number of ships we could prepare this way would be limited, as we would need to avoid attracting undue attention (arming civilian ships is highly illegal, after all). Lastly we might consider ordering a few more Gazelle-Class protected cruisers. Though the deficiencies in the design are well known, its small size means it would be faster to construct than any of our other proper fighting ships.
[][BUILD] Begin construction of a squadron of corvettes for trade protection duties.
[][BUILD] Begin converting a pair of armed merchant cruisers for commerce raiding.
[][BUILD] Begin construction on a pair of Gazelle-Class light cruisers.
[][BUILD] Do not construct any additional ships.
Though tensions are high, war is not necessarily inevitable. If the Navy were to put pressure on the Kaiser he might be persuaded to back down from his positions at least somewhat, but this is likely to strain our relationship. Alternatively the Navy could attempt to try and commit the Kaiser to war with one of our most likely enemies, hopefully precluding a conflict with the other. Of course, we could also simply step back and allow things to fall where they may.
[][WAR] The Kaiserliche Marine can take all comers! Let our enemies tremble! (Do not attempt to avert war)
[][WAR] The French seizure of Norway is an outrage that must be answered! Surely all will see the righteousness of our cause! (Attempt to commit to a conflict with France, trying to avert war elsewhere)
[][WAR] If there must be war, better it be against the Americans. They lack the high seas fleet to be a true threat and the conflict will likely peter out soon enough. (Attempt to commit to a conflict with the United States, trying to avert war elsewhere)
[][WAR] We must try to get the Kaiser to back down somehow, war would be disastrous! (Attempt to avert war in all cases)
[x][MOBILIZE] To mobilize now may inflame tensions even further, but perhaps we shall move our ships out the mothballs, which should be less alarming. (Move all ships in mothballs to reserve status)
[x][ACCELERATE] Accelerate the construction of the ships that are closest to completion.
[x][BUILD] Begin construction of a squadron of corvettes for trade protection duties.
[x][WAR] We must try to get the Kaiser to back down somehow, war would be disastrous! (Attempt to avert war in all cases)
[x][MOBILIZE] To mobilize now may inflame tensions even further, but perhaps we shall move our ships out the mothballs, which should be less alarming. (Move all ships in mothballs to reserve status)
[x][ACCELERATE] Accelerate the construction of the ships that are closest to completion.
[x][BUILD] Begin construction of a squadron of corvettes for trade protection duties.
[X][WAR] The French seizure of Norway is an outrage that must be answered! Surely all will see the righteousness of our cause! (Attempt to commit to a conflict with France, trying to avert war elsewhere)
[X][MOBILIZE] These war scares happen from time to time, nothing to worry about! (Mobilize nothing)
I cannot stress enough how incredibly worthless the ships currently in mothballs are. The battleships only have a sustained speed of 12 knots and poor crew accomodations, which will translate to awful effectiveness in wartime. If it weren't for the prestige loss of scrapping them all, I'd suggest we get rid of them and stop paying for their upkeep; in wartime, the only thing they'll manage to do is get German sailors killed.
[X][ACCELERATE] Do not accelerate any construction.
We're not at war yet, and accelerating construction may cause delays to the Bremen-class cruisers while also not being cost-effective. America's on the other side of an ocean, so we don't have to worry about things with them, and it's unlikely for tensions to spike all the way from the current 7 with France to the 11-12 needed for war within 4 months.
[X][BUILD] Do not construct any additional ships.
AMCs take 4 months to build, and we'll want dozens of them, not only two. At this point, the most likely enemy raiders are armoured cruisers; a corvette 1/5th the size is not helpful on trade protection. It's better to save up and build battleships or armoured cruisers when we have the budget for it.
[X][WAR] If there must be war, better it be against the Americans. They lack the high seas fleet to be a true threat and the conflict will likely peter out soon enough. (Attempt to commit to a conflict with the United States, trying to avert war elsewhere)
America's easy pickings at this point in time. The US can't send their ships to blockade us or invade our possessions, so we could win the war simply through building a handful of ~2000 ton AMCs every month and sending them to the North American East Coast to raid US shipping.
[X][ACCELERATE] Do not accelerate any construction.
[X][MOBILIZE] If we are to go to war with France, we must have our battleline at the ready! Mobilize our Battleships! (Mobilize Battleships)
[X][BUILD] Begin converting a pair of armed merchant cruisers for commerce raiding.
[X][WAR] The French seizure of Norway is an outrage that must be answered! Surely all will see the righteousness of our cause! (Attempt to commit to a conflict with France, trying to avert war elsewhere)
[x][MOBILIZE] To mobilize now may inflame tensions even further, but perhaps we shall move our ships out the mothballs, which should be less alarming. (Move all ships in mothballs to reserve status)
[x][ACCELERATE] Accelerate the construction of the ships that are closest to completion.
[x][BUILD] Begin construction of a squadron of corvettes for trade protection duties.
[X][WAR] The French seizure of Norway is an outrage that must be answered! Surely all will see the righteousness of our cause! (Attempt to commit to a conflict with France, trying to avert war elsewhere)
[X][ACCELERATE] Do not accelerate any construction.
[X][MOBILIZE] If we are to go to war with France, we must have our battleline at the ready! Mobilize our Battleships! (Mobilize Battleships)
[X][BUILD] Begin converting a pair of armed merchant cruisers for commerce raiding.
[X][WAR] The French seizure of Norway is an outrage that must be answered! Surely all will see the righteousness of our cause! (Attempt to commit to a conflict with France, trying to avert war elsewhere)
[X][MOBILIZE] These war scares happen from time to time, nothing to worry about! (Mobilize nothing)
[X][ACCELERATE] Do not accelerate any construction.
[X][BUILD] Do not construct any additional ships.
Our CAs are the best ships we have available, so we should mobilize them, even if we go up against France. And France is the enemy to fight, with African colonies and Norway being our targets.
[X][MOBILIZE] Any war with the United States will be fought on the high seas, far from our home waters. We must mobilize our cruisers in preparation! (Mobilize Cruisers)
[X][ACCELERATE] Do not accelerate any construction.
[X][BUILD] Do not construct any additional ships.
[X][WAR] The French seizure of Norway is an outrage that must be answered! Surely all will see the righteousness of our cause! (Attempt to commit to a conflict with France, trying to avert war elsewhere)
[x][MOBILIZE] To mobilize now may inflame tensions even further, but perhaps we shall move our ships out the mothballs, which should be less alarming. (Move all ships in mothballs to reserve status)
[X][MOBILIZE] Any war with the United States will be fought on the high seas, far from our home waters. We must mobilize our cruisers in preparation! (Mobilize Cruisers)
[X][WAR] The French seizure of Norway is an outrage that must be answered! Surely all will see the righteousness of our cause! (Attempt to commit to a conflict with France, trying to avert war elsewhere)
[X][WAR] If there must be war, better it be against the Americans. They lack the high seas fleet to be a true threat and the conflict will likely peter out soon enough. (Attempt to commit to a conflict with the United States, trying to avert war elsewhere)
The war scare of 1890, though closely followed by the German public and the press, turned out to be something of an anticlimax. Neither France nor the United States had much desire for war with Germany, and both would privately take steps to avert a conflict despite the rising tension. This would prove a disappointment to many within the Navy, who privately burned with resentment over the French establishment of a puppet regime in Norway. Publicly however, the Navy's response was generally even handed, limited to the removal of some ships from the mothballs and the ordering of a handful of corvettes, a fact which the Navy's accounting staff was quite thankful for. Peace may have prevailed for now, but the Concert of Europe was unmistakably more discordant than it had been but one short year ago - and naval planners had numerous ideas for how to put their now significant budget surplus to good use.
Intelligence confirms that Great Britain is once again considering a substantial increase in their naval budget to retain their naval dominance.
Politicians in France are reported to be doing what they can behind the scenes to reduce tensions with us out of fear of our superior military might, though their refusal to give up their laughable claims to Elsaß-Lothringen (probably out of fear of political backlash) have prevented this from being as effective as they would like.
Tensions with the US have cooled somewhat as US naval officers made comments on their nation's inability to prosecute a war on the high seas. They are using this to urge their President for a larger budget and naval modernization program, which has concerned some analysts.
Italian scientists are reported to be researching a new type of shipbuilding steel, but have run into significant delays.
Our scientists have continued their work on the 'Melinite' explosive compound, reporting that their current issues are only a 'temporary setback'.
No other activity of note.
In July, with tensions in Europe still running hot over the Norwegian affair, Great Britain takes the opportunity to effect a seizure of Mozamique, using the presence of a local rising against Portuguese authority as a pretext. The Navy, still concerned with a potential European war, urges the Kaiser not to make a fuss over the incident.
Also quick to take advantage of the distraction of the European powers are the native peoples of Namibia, who flock to join Hendrik Witbooi's rebellion once it becomes clear no reinforcements will be arriving to assist the beleaguered German garrison. German forces reluctantly pull out shortly afterwards, leaving Namibia de-facto independent.
The end of August brings with it the completion of Germany's program to expand its' coastal defenses, with the new 8-inch batteries adding a significant punch.
November is a time of significant excitement in the Navy, as the newly completed armored cruiser Furst Bismarck passes its' trials with flying colors, easily surpassing its' designed speed - making her the unquestioned fastest ship in the fleet.
Ships in Class: 1
The revelation of the Furst Bismarck's new top speed has turned what was already a good design into a great one. At 22kts, she should be more than capable of matching or even exceeding the speed of most protected cruisers, and will certainly be able to outmaneuver any armored cruiser currently afloat. Combined with her respectable armament and armor, this speed advantage will ensure that the Furst Bismarck is able to set the terms of any engagement she enters into.
The Imperial German Navy in January, 1891 - in addition to the Furst Bismarck, the Gazelle-Class SMS Hamburg had also finished her construction.
Ships under construction in January, 1891 - naval appropriators agreed to lay down an additional Bremen-Class ship to eat into the increasingly large budget surplus after the completion of the costal fortification program.
The economic status of the Imperial German Navy in January, 1891
Prudent financial decisions and the foresight not to overreact to what had seemed like impending war left the Kaiserliche Marine with both a healthy budget surplus and a substantial financial reserve to start off the new year. With another armored cruiser just 2 months from completion, German yards are already clamoring for new orders. Though not an immediate concern, there are also worries within the Navy that if the amount of money on the Navy's books continues to grow unspent, other departments may attempt to have some of the funds reappropriated for their own purposes.
A comparison of the Imperial German Navy in 1891 with other powers of the period
The strategic situation of the Kaiserliche Marine in 1891 looked much the same as it did in 1890. Though the British fleet had added on more than 40,000 tons, this made little material difference to German planners as the Royal Navy had Germany completely outmatched regardless. France and Russia's fleets were also little changed, though the earlier war scare with France had ignited concerns in the Navy that the superior size of the French battlefleet could well enable it to enforce a blockade against Germany, were it all to be concentrated in northern Europe. The most notable other additions to foreign fleets came from Italy and Austria-Hungary, both of which laid down a substantial number of new battleships.
Diplomatic Tensions in January, 1891
The establishment of the Kaiserliche Marine's Nachrichtenbüro, or as it soon became commonly called, department N, had already yielded what some thought of as an intelligence coup in their confirmation that the two nations which Germany had seemed on the brink of war with were privately considering backing down. The elevated level of tension on the European continent more generally however kept N's agents busy even as the scare had passed, and there were some grumblings over the fact that N had yet to obtain any actionable naval intelligence, which was the department's ostensible purpose.
German Research Options in January, 1891
German doctrine, January 1891
German coastal defenses, January 1891
Currently serving officers, January 1891
Some time amongst the officer corps had given the new naval command staff a better idea of the men who reported to them, but there were still many unanswered questions about the quality of the Navy's commanders and the staff had yet to identify anyone with either exceptional skill or an exceptional lack of it.
German force disposition, January 1891
The World, January 1891
THE DECISIONS BEFORE THE NAVAL CONTROL BOARD
The loss of German Southwest Africa, though (privately) not considered any great loss by many amongst the naval staff given its' utter dreariness as a posting, nonetheless reignited debate about the necessity for an increased fleet presence in Africa. Tanganyika, and specifically, Dar Es Salam was once again put forward for a new potential base for the Kaiserliche Marine, as opposed to the ad-hoc nature of the currently existing facilities. Naturally, this would not be without its' expenses.
[][BASE] We need to increase our presence overseas, and we have the money to invest in it. (Build the base)
[][BASE] Our most pressing concerns are still at home, and we have other ideas on how to spend our money. (Do not build the base)
As in 1890, the question has come up regarding the wisdom of the creation of special training regimens for our sailors. With a significant portion of our fleet still demobilized, this has the potential to be cheaper than before, as there are fewer sailors to train. It could put us in a bind during mobilization though, as new sailors will require substantial time and effort to bring up to speed should they be necessary.
Cost of Gunnery Training
Cost of all other training
[][TRAIN] Let us focus on Gunnery training!
[][TRAIN] Our Night Fighting will be superior!
[][TRAIN] Damage Control will be our specialty!
[][TRAIN] It is to early - and expensive - to commit to such training at the moment (No special training - Current)
As the war scare subsides, the naval staff still notes that tensions are at an elevated level throughout Europe. In light of this much of the staff views our current level of mobilization as appropriate, though some desire us to take an even more assertive stance, while others say that the combat ability of our worst vessels is poor enough that a stint in the mothballs will both save money and be unlikely to make them any poorer than they already are.
[][MOTHS] A war could break out at any time! We should keep all our combat forces at the highest state of readiness. (Maintain all ships on active status)
[][MOTHS] Our cruisers may well face the enemy alone and on the other side of the world, and need to maintain their edge. (Keep our cruisers active and place the rest in reserve)
[][MOTHS] The Battleline is what will win us control of the sea, and it must be of the highest quality. (Keep our battleships active and place the rest in reserve)
[][MOTHS] While we don't have the need to keep ships mobilized at the moment, things are perhaps just a bit too tense to put much of our fleet in the mothballs. (Keep all ships in reserve but do not mothball any ships - Current)
[][MOTHS] We are on a tight budget and cannot afford to spend money preparing for a war that may never come. (Keep major ships in reserve and put the rest in mothballs)
Once again, the Navy has the opportunity to finance the expansion of the naval dockyards. Though the Navy has not yet made use of their full capacity, the naval budget's ever upwards trend under Kaiser Wilhelm has left many thinking of grand projects in the Kaiserliche Marine's future.
[][DOCKS] Larger dockyards are always a worthy investment. (Expand dockyards)
[][DOCKS] Unfortunately I don't think we can fit that in the budget. (Do not expand dockyards)
At the moment, the Navy finds itself with both a budget surplus and room in the yards to make use of it. Naturally this has occasioned many opinions about what sort of ships the Navy might place on order. Regarding existing designs, the Furst Bismarck-class's revealed strengths has many pushing for the Navy to order as many as it can manage, but there are also those who wish to expand our battlefleet to counter the threat of France, seeking a newer and more powerful design. The Gefion-class and the Bremen-class also have their advocates, though these are less numerous as most officers feel our navy already has sufficient numbers of protected cruisers.
[][BUILD] Our current battleships are sadly limited to coastal defense in our home waters. We should seek new designs that will allow us to project power beyond Europe.
[][BUILD] Our Bremen-class protected cruisers seem promising. Why not place a few more on order?
[][BUILD] The Gefion-class is already in service and well-liked. Why pay for new designs when we have something good available?
[][BUILD] The new Furst Bismarck-class has proven to be even better than thought. Perhaps we ought to order a few more?
[][BUILD] The fleet does not have any pressing needs at this time. (Build nothing)
[][BUILD] Write-in
The completion of new batteries along the German coast has pleased most of the naval staff, but advocates still remain for the artillery. Specifically, many argue that the mooted creation of a naval base in Tanganyika should be accompanied by the establishment of coastal forts there as well, to ensure the port is protected. Others still regard Germany as vulnerable, given the superiority of the French and especially British fleets.
[][FORTS] We ought to invest more in the defense of our Empire! Make sure our possessions are properly protected. (Expand defenses in colonial holdings)
[][FORTS] The German coastline is still vulnerable and must be our priority. (Expand defenses in Europe)
[][FORTS] Our current coastal batteries are sufficient for our needs. (Build nothing)
[][FORTS] Frankly it's not clear the coastal artillery is worth the expense. (Decommission coastal guns)
[][FORTS] Write In
Without much to show for themselves yet, some are grumbling that the Navy could make better use of its' funding than handing it over to some civilians. However, German scientists do not seem to be proving any more inept than their counterparts the world over, and with a budget surplus there does not appear to be any great need for cost saving measures.
[][EGG] I knew these eggheads were a waste of money. Cut their budget! (8% monthly spending)
[][EGG] Though scientific research is important, perhaps we could find better uses for some of this funding. (10% monthly spending)
[][EGG] We can't accept anything less than the best in technology. (12% monthly spending - Current - MAX)
Also regarding research, there is considerable debate within the Navy as to what direction our efforts in technical development ought to focus on. The three main schools of thought include those who wish to take advantage of the expertise we already possess in steelmaking, those who wish to create forward-looking designs for a modern battlefleet, and those who wish to increase the lethality of our naval rifles.
[][RESEARCH] We cannot afford to rob Peter to pay Paul, all our technological endeavors are equally important. (No prioritization - Current)
[][RESEARCH] Let us focus our research in the areas which our scientists are most skilled in. (Prioritize Armor Development and AP Projectiles)
[][RESEARCH] We should focus on coming up with new and innovative design schemes for our future fleet. (Prioritize Ship Design and Turrets & Gun Mountings)
[][RESEARCH] We need better guns and projectiles to decisively engage the enemy! (Prioritize Naval Guns and HE & AP Projectiles)
[][RESEARCH] Write In
Now beginning to establish itself, department 'N' has thus far been focused on Germany's most likely enemies - at this point France and the United States. However, there are a number of alternative theories as to how 'N' could divide its' attention.
[][MAIL] Gentlemen do not read each other's mail! (No intelligence spending)
[][MAIL] We shouldn't ignore our adversaries entirely, but better (and cheaper) not to be provocative… (Focus on keeping costs down)
[][MAIL] Our first priority should be to keep an eye on our immediate neighbors. (Focus on Russia, France, and Great Britain)
[][MAIL] Our attention should be on our most likely enemies. (Focus spending on high tension - Current)
[][MAIL] We should have an agent in every port! (Focus on getting the best intelligence the budget will allow)
[][MAIL] Write-in
Despite the patronage of the Kaiser, the Navy still has a long way to go before it is as revered an institution as the Army. With this in mind many officers wish to take any available opportunity to increase the prestige of the Navy, while others worry that this approach will leave the service putting honor before reason. {NOTE - Lack of Prestige is the only way to 'lose' a game of RTW. If the Prestige of the Navy falls below a certain threshold (usually 16), the game is over!}
[][HONOR] The honor of the Navy is paramount! (Try to keep Prestige as high as is practical)
[][HONOR] We are willing to endure a few sneers and jeers if it's for the good of the nation. (Be pragmatic about spending Prestige for other benefits - Current)
[][HONOR] We need to be effective far more than we need to be liked. (Be very pragmatic about spending Prestige for other benefits)
Strictly speaking, foreign policy is no business of the Navy's, being the purview of the diplomatic corps and their political masters. However it is well known that the Kaiser adores the Navy and if necessary it is possible that a word in his ear might influence him away from some of his... less sound ambitions for imperial expansion.
[][SUN] Germany deserves its place in the sun! The navy backs the Kaiser's ambitions to the hilt. (Make no effort to restrain tensions)
[][SUN] Though it is not our place to question the Kaiser, it is clear that the Navy cannot challenge Britain just yet… (Focus on avoiding a conflict with Britain - Current)
[][SUN] Our REAL enemy is clearly the perfidious nation of {COUNTRYNAME}! (Try to focus tension against a particular nation)
[][SUN] At the current time, any conflict would not be in Germany's best interests… (Try to keep tensions low)
Voting will close Approximately 24 hours after the time of this post!
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