Rule The Waves 3 - A Graphical Experiment - Complete

What ships should we build: More Vengeur's - We can simply scrimp and save and increase the two-ship class to a class of six.

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More Vengeurs
Plans are laid down - with some difficulty in finding where to cut - to lay down four more of our latest battleship class, the Vengeur. We order the Veterane immediately, making space in the slips for it while we wait for additional dock space to come free.

War! With Puerto Rican rebels pushing Spain to the brink of defeat, the Spanish have seen little recourse but to declare war on their Caribbean neighbour, the United States. It is likely that they will position their fleet to attempt a blockade of Cuba in preparation for a land campaign from Guantanamo Bay, though doubtless the Americans will have much to say about it.
In August we lay down Victorieuse to join her three sisters, with a prospective completion date around January 1933. We also welcome a new Medium Bomber into trials, ready for development and testing. The Dewoitine D.115 is a large, twin engine aircraft with a cruiser speed of almost 100 knots and a maximum speed of 125. She will be capable of carrying a torpedo out to a range over 500 kilometres and 2000lbs of other payload to 400 kilometres. We also request tenders for a new aircraft design - this time for dive bombers, a brand new type of aircraft.

We lay down a fifth Vengeur, the Atlante, and the sixth Europe, as 1930 comes to a close.

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The Reserve Fleet
With so much spending going into the Super Cruiser program, almost the entirety of the Marine Nationale is now in reserve. It is easy to wonder what the government would say if they knew their requests were forcing such drastic measures to manage spending, but they simply see the six Vengeurs and fantasise about the future of France.

An internal dispute leads to fighting in Southern Joseon, and Japan seems intent on moving back into the region to 'pacify' what was once their colony. We join an international force alongside the Americans and the autocratic Germans and the Japanese decide that actually they would rather not. Shortly afterwards, a minor ally in the Balkans - the ex-ottoman colony of Serbia - is threatened by the Italians. We, of course, back them unconditionally as to do otherwise would be a failing on behalf of our client. The Germans are furious, but what can they do?

With the funds garnered by demonstrating to the government the importance of a strong Navy, we lay down six of the most modern submarines we can build - the Narval-class - and begin expanding our docks in preparation for the next large ships. Many nations around the world are building large aircraft carriers much bigger than our own, and it would be worthwhile having at least a pair to match them with and to carry our new dive bombers.

Also of note is the thrashing of the Armee de Terre in a series of sporting events by the Marine Nationale. Fleet morale improves.

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International Construction
It is interesting to note that we are currently building the most capital ships of any nation in the world. No nation is currently building more than three, and of those only Japans 54,000 ton behemoths are of significant concern. On the other hand, however, the United States is currently building it's 5th and 6th large carriers.

We begin bringing our older Super Cruisers in for much needed refits in order to give them better directors and AA batterys, starting with the Actionnaire-class Scipion. We also take an entire class of torpedo boats into the yards for minor refits including light AA guns and modern directors for their main guns, twenty ships taking three months out of their duties. Heroine follows after in August '31.

The War in the Caribbean has been going in the Americans favour up until September, when protests across the US force the government to cut naval spending. We will see what comes of this and what an eventual peace looks like.

We discover a Japanese spy operating in Annam and have her shot, publicising the news without actively targeting Japan for their efforts. Nonetheless, tensions are frayed in East Asia.

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What happened?
While tensions have been high with Germany for over a year, they had not yet seemed to have reached a tipping point until November 1931. Suddenly, and seemingly without warning, Autocrat-aligned German militias have marched across the border into Alsace-Lorraine with the intention of 'retaking what is rightfully German'. Local forces are, in places, immediately overwhelmed, though others hold out overnight while major elements of the Armee de Terre manage to activate properly and walk, ride and drive to counter them. Tanks drive into Forbach and Colmar, breaking the brownshirts apart and thrashing them.

Germany considers this a tragedy, and cannot help but move their Wehrmacht to counter this killing of German citizens by the French Army, ignoring of course where the fighting has taken place. Soon the two Armies are engaged along the border.

The Navy activates, pausing the construction of four of our six new cruisers in order to afford re-crewing and re-training the entire fleet. Airbases are brought up to strength and our submarines put to sea. We are at war, and we will fight it decisively. We didn't choose it, but nonetheless;
What do we want from this war?
[ ] The last of the German colonies overseas
[ ] To crush the Autocrats at home if possible.
[ ] To end it as quickly as possible.
[ ] Write-in

What do we want from this war? To crush the Autocrats at home if possible.

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An Ideologues War
Autocracy cannot be allowed to survive. Oppressive regimes are against the very nature of the French people, and Germany, France and Italy are all falling victim to the vile tenets of proletariat monarchies. If the government of Germany wants war, then the German government cannot be allowed to survive their choices. We - preferably with the help of the Soviet state - will crush them.

We begin the expansion of air bases in Western France, ensuring better bomber coverage of the Bay of Biscay and beyond. The Germans were ready for this war and we were not, and so in the opening months they are able to conduct a close blockade of our Northern ports. A breakout attack by a squadron of Super Cruisers led by the advanced all-forwards ship Colosse becomes the greatest air battle ever seen in the war as carriers from both sides - including the aging Liberte - launch strike after strike and report hit after hit. Actionnaire suffers numerous dive bombers hits, and Colosse herself is hit by a torpedo amidships. Colosse is detached to return home as Actionnaire and Scipion go hunting for damaged ships in the night. Sadly, nothing is found and Colosse is lost on her long voyage home.

To lose one of our most modern ships in her first engagement is, of course, utterly frustrating, but it is also a reminder of the power of modern aircraft. We must stay under the cover of our airbases and our carriers. We must also consider the necessity of fighter craft to combat incoming bomber swarms - a large carrier seems more and more necessary every day. Hopefully the Soviets will join this war soon to reduce the pressure on us while we re-train our forces.

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Would that it were so simple
Two super cruiser groups encounter each other in the distant North Sea, far from the air power of either parties coasts. Vigilant, Actionnaire and Scipion are ordered to flank speed and bring their heavy guns to bear. Forty five minutes from the opening salvo, Actionnaire is penetrated by an enemy shell and explodes, her after deck seeming to rise some fifty feet into the air before crashing down into the sea.

The survivors of the action run South, attempting to return to Dunkerque without delay. We press the Soviets to join us in the wake of this battle, to come to our aid as they have promised before while our ships are still working up. They have not demonstrated much in the way of intent thus far, and thus we order our ships into their ports and our raiders and submarines to sea to sink any and all German flagged ships they can find. Prize rules and morals are for debating after the war.

A raid on the German coast begins with sixty torpedo bombers taking to the air, delivered to the combat zone by our entire combined carrier force. Not long after, two cruisers stumble into a minefield and are sunk, while the enemy battlefleet speeds to engage our carrier force. The recently refit Amiral Charner has her magazines penetrated and explodes. The carrier Agamemnon suffers repeated bombing attacks and burns down, her survivors recovered aboard a destroyer.

After four brutal, crushing months of losses and suffering, the Soviets finally join the war. The Germans immediately lift the blockade and move to engage the new fleet that has joined. Perhaps now we will be able to make something of this horrible war.

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Perhaps a Peace?
The Prime Minister recommends peace negotiations to the Ministers, and we impress upon our Minister that with proper support we can turn this war around. Negotiations must be torpedoed, and the Russians demonstrate exactly why in early April. In a short, vicious engagement they ensure that the German Super Cruiser is sent below the waves and it only costs them two destroyers and a cruiser of their own. We are, vitally, now the ones conducting the blockade and the Germans are not pleased about it.

Vengeur arrives in the fleet, replacing the Colosse. New submarines join the fleet, replacing numerous losses to German patrols. A raid on a convoy sees one German cruiser explode with her magazines penetrated, and the Leon Gambetta repeatedly torpedoed. Thirteen transports loaded with cargo desperately needed in Germany end up at the bottom of the North Sea and although the Marine Nationale suffers losses, they are insignificant comparatively.

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We are eleven months into this war, and we are finally clawing back the losses we suffered in the opening months. Our submarines are sinking transports on an almost daily basis, supported by Super Cruisers and Protected Cruisers which operate in the Atlantic and North Sea.
Currently our submarines and raiders are operating without restriction. If they see a German flag, they open fire.
Should this continue?
[ ] Yes, it's the only path to victory
[ ] No, we must return to the prize rules
Soon we will have budget available. We shall spend it on:
[ ] Trade protection
[ ] Submarines
[ ] Raiders
[ ] Something Else.

Should this continue? Yes, it's the only path to victory
Soon we will have budget available. We shall spend it on: Submarines

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The War Beneath The Sea
We must lay down more submarines, it is decided. While we are currently operating thirty-three to the German six, and we are winning the trade war, it is not currently enough to dismember the German maritime system on its own. We have lost thirteen submarines in this war and we have not thus far replaced them. With Ulysse arriving next month, this will soon change.

The above is made particularly clear in October when we lose 5 submarines in a single month. We quietly lay down six coastal submarines (the Triton-class) and six medium range submarines (the Espadon-class).

Raiding operations continue apace, with scores of German merchants and several cruisers heading for the bottom. Heroine's captain, Degouy, makes sport of hunting ships sent to catch his gigantic cruiser and sinking them with a handful of salvoes. The first major operations for the 'all-forwards' cruisers comes on the 4th of December as Vengeur and Majesteux - accompanied by the still active Attilio Regolo - engage a small German force in the Bay of Biscay. The duo of German Super Cruisers, one a Stralsund-class, the other a Prinz Heinrich, engage without supporting ships while the Marine Nationale has a whole array of ships. However the battle is cut short by the arrival of a pair of additional German Super Cruisers, both of the smaller Graf Spee-class, forcing the French to turn away. Sadly, the Vengeur is lost to a fire below decks before the end of the day.

The Armee de Terre requests additional resources to attempt to break this war down on land. We accede, understanding that this is a war that must be fought on both fronts. The Army has held the Germans along the border with minimal give and take, but it has been a brutal time and now they will be able to combine their push with one on the Soviet front and perhaps we will see Berlin before the end of Spring. We are forced to halt work on two Venguer's to afford this, but that is a price worth paying.

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Bread and Circuses
There are widespread protests in the Metropole demanding that the young men of France be allowed to return home and that this war must be ended as soon as possible. It seems we are on a time limit all of a sudden. We institute an Air/Sea rescue service using flying boats to attempt to save downed pilots lost in battle, a small sop to those pointing out the casualties of war.

Breakthroughs on the German front see French troops enter German provinces for the first time in many years, and French tanks rolling down the streets of cities such as Saarbrucken and Karlsruhe. We lay down four more coastal submarines as a sort of victory lap.

A short, sharp engagement sees the sinking of a German treaty cruiser by a combined Air and Sea force at the Norther mouth of the Channel. Another sees the Super Cruiser Vaillant close to just 700 metres to sink a German anti-submarine corvette that refused to surrender. And then tragedy strikes.

The merchant cruiser SS Atlantia has been sailing under an American flag for over a decade, plying the Atlantic with bulk loads of food and grain. She, in all her 12,000 tons of majesty, has a quiet but workmanlike history, even with the wars that have raged around her. Unfortunately, one fateful day the commander of the submarine Sirene saw her as a target and put a torpedo into her engines. Many lives were lost in the sinking, and the so-called 'neutral' nations of the world are outraged. We are cut off from oil shipments, and must end this war decisively if we are going to have a chance of victory.

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Air Power
A group of German protected cruisers, the Stettin-class, are caught in the Bay of Biscay by a flight of forty medium bombers armed with torpedoes. The Dewoitine D.115 bombers drop low until they're skimming above the water and drop weapon after weapon into the waves. The damaged and limping German cruisers are caught in short order by a group of our own cruisers and sunk.

It is almost two years to the day since the start of this war. We are not winning, but nor are we losing. The people hate this war and so do we, but we cannot allow it to end with anything but a decisive victory for France and for the United Soviet Socialist Republics. We are welcoming the first of a new class of submarines into the fleet, the first of many that will define the rest of this conflict. Indeed we lay down even more as soon as they come off the slips.

There are several questions to be answered about our fleet, how it is trained and other issues.
1) There have been serious losses due to failures of damage control. Some are arguing we should reopen the specialist torpedo school, but convert it to training damage control teams.
State your opinion:
[ ] We should stop training for night fighting and start damage control training.
[ ] We should add damage control training to the syllabus.
[ ] We should leave things as they are.
[ ] Alternately, suggest a plan combining up to two training programs; Gunnery, Night Fighting, Torpedo Warfare or Damage Control

2) Developments in torpedo warfare have opened new options for torpedo design. We now have the option of utilising an oxygen fuelled torpedo which increases the range and speed of torpedoes but leads to them being risky in case of accidents or enemy action.
State your opinion:
[ ] We should use oxygen fuelled torpedoes on destroyers
[ ] We should use oxygen fuelled torpedoes on destroyers and cruisers.
[ ] We should not use oxygen fuelled torpedoes.

3) Armour Piercing shell design has developed to the point that we can make choices about what we want our shells to be capable of.
State your opinion:
[ ] We should design general purpose AP shells.
[ ] We should design shells specialised in off-angle penetration.
[ ] We should design shells which contain a larger bursting charge.
[ ] We should design shells that are fused to explode underwater in case of a near miss.