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East Africa 1930: An ORBAT Quest

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Turn 2 Vote: April 1930
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    • Current Events
    Rebels On The March: Ras Mulugeta Yeggazu, Minister of War for Ethiopia, led twenty thousand well-equipped and well-trained soldiers North to face the rebel forces. He had machine guns, cannon, and even a handful of aircraft that Ethiopia maintained. While many of these troops were untested, they could surely put down a poorly organised rabble under the command of a disgraced noble.

    He expected to meet thirty-five thousand rebels under Ras Gugsa Welle at Debre Tabor. He did not expect another ten thousand each to have joined his enemy from Gojji and Tigray, nor reports of another twenty thousand Yejju Oromo rebels less than a day's march away. Did he still have superiority in equipment? In training? There was only one way to be sure.

    In the two days leading up to the Battle of Anchem, two Potez 25 biplanes dropped thousands of leaflets on the advancing rebels. These detailed both Gugsa Welle's excommunication by the Ethiopian Orthodox church and the Empress' official labelling of her husband as a rebel. Though some of the seventy-five thousand fled, most did not.

    The two armies met on the 31st of March on open plains. Planes dropped bombs, artillery fired great salvoes, and machine guns chattered. Gugsa Welle, mounted atop a white charger, rallied his flagging army to hold and, inevitably, push back.

    Shortly after midday, the army of Ethiopia was in flight. Ras Mulugeta Yeggazu was shot dead by rebel snipers as he attempted to maintain cohesion from a shattered redoubt. Fitawrari Wondosson Kassa took command, and the survivors of the disastrous engagement fled South to regroup and hold. Barely ten thousand survived the terrible battle.

    Ras Gugsa Welle, jubilant in victory, followed them two days later with forty-thousand rebels at his back.

    South Of The Border: News of the rebel victory doesn't reach Bur Gaabo until the 3rd of April, and it comes as a footnote in a packet detailing the passing of Negiste Negest Zewditu. While rumours suggest the Empress' death has something to do with her husband's rebellion, the statement merely suggests a long illness and peaceful death. Negus Tafari is already planning his accession despite the ongoing uprising in the North.

    The government's response to this sudden flurry of news has been muted. With advice from both High Command and the civilian Defence Council, the elected leaders of Reewiin have erred on the side of caution and quelled any talk of operations in Northern Reewiin.

    The military, for their part, has found the whole discussion frustrating. With freshly appointed senior command and an insouciant junior officer corps, operations in Borana were supposed to be their blooding. With news now reaching them that Ethiopia has failed to crush Ras Gugsa Welle's rebellion, there is murmuring of cowardice and intransigence amongst the civilian government. After all, when will Ethiopia ever show itself vulnerable again?

    Internal Tension:
    Government Tension: -10
    Military Tension: 30

    Ongoing Projects:
    [X] Rail Expansion: Kismayo to Turkana - Improve the train line from Kismayo to the mining regions and extend it to Lake Turkana. The Japanese will likely invest in this project. (3 Months Remain) ☑◻
    [X] Establish the Ordnance Office - Developing an arms industry from scratch will take time and effort. An Ordnance Office will allow us to delegate some of that work to specialists.. (Constant Investment.)
    [X] Establish the Analytical Research Team - This group will be tasked with drafting reports on external threats, internal dynamic shifts, and other non-standard areas of intelligence. (9 Months Remain) ☑◻◻◻
    [X] Establish the Carabinieri Oversight Office - No one really keeps an eye on the paramilitary police force that keeps watch over the nation. If the force is to be reformed and re-established in a new role, then oversight is needed at the very least. (Constant Investment.)


    The Defence Council currently has one investment point available to be spent anywhere. In addition, they have two dedicated points available; one they may spend on Armaments, and one on Reforming the Carabinieri.

    Industry and Logistics
    • Armaments
    [ ] Modernise The .43 Egyptian - Reewiin's single ammunition factory is dedicated to producing .43 Egyptian for the Carabinieri's Remington rifles. Expanding production and modernising the round to use smokeless powder will offer immediate dividends at a low cost. (3-Month Investment. Initial production will be low-rate, and improve over time.)

    [ ] Weapon Testing: Rifles - The Ordnance Office will buy a handful of rifles from around the world and test them until they break. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of rifle licensing. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)

    [ ] Weapon Testing: Machine Guns - The Ordnance Office will buy a handful of machine guns from around the world and test them until they break. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of machine gun licensing. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)

    [ ] Production Licencing: Ammunition - Buy the tooling for one calibre of ammunition currently in service or soon to be in service. Expanding the .43 Egyptian factory will not be cheap, but it will be worthwhile. (6-Month Investment. Initial production will be low-rate, and improve over time.)
    - [ ] 6.5 mm Arisaka
    - [ ] 6.5 mm Carcano
    - [ ] .303 British
    - [ ] Write-In

    [ ] Production Licensing: Rifles - Attempt to buy the rights to produce a rifle design. Include a weapon available in 1930 as a Write-In. Some will be easily acquired, others will be immediately refused. (12-Month Investment. Initial production will be low-rate, and improve over time.)

    [ ] Production Licensing: Machine Guns - Attempt to buy the rights to produce a machine gun design. Include a weapon available in 1930 as a Write-In. Some will be easily acquired, others will be immediately refused. (12-Month Investment. Initial production will be low-rate, and improve over time.)
    • Breeding and Working
    [ ] Establish a Veterinary Oversight Office - Bringing hundreds of horses into Reewiin and establishing breeding programs will require extensive oversight, administrative effort, and coordination. As the Council is largely unfamiliar with the subject, forming an office of qualified professionals to manage the project would be of great use. (Constant Investment. Will enable better handling of the various breeding programs and equine care in Reewiin.)

    [ ] Equine Acquisition: Purchase Arabians - Buy Arabian horses for service en masse from Egypt. They will be monogender, and we will not be able to maintain the line if they're used for breeding stock. They also may not be resistant to AHS/ASS. (3-Month Investment. Sufficient mass of horses should be available in as little as one year.)

    [ ] Equine Acquisition: Donkeys & Mules - Buy partially resistant donkeys and mules for service en masse from South Africa. This sturdy stock will immediately enable us to improve our logistical and supply services while being somewhat resistant to AHS/ASS. (3-Month Investment. Sufficient mass of donkeys and mules should be available in as little as one year.)

    [ ] Equine Acquisition: Stud Farms - Buy a small number of Arabian studs from the United States. These will make good breeding stock for future programmes. (3-Month Investment. A breeding programme can begin within the year.)

    [ ] Equine Acquisition: Requisition Locally - Requisition local Borana horses from the cavalry and agriculture for breeding stock. (3-Month Investment. A breeding programme can begin within the year.)

    [ ] Government Action: Push for Equine Conscription - While pastoralism is not exactly a major industry in Reewiin, there are a large number of animals that could be put to wartime use, were they assessed in a proper census. (6-Month Investment. Implementation will occur at the government's pace.)
    • Lanes, Trains, and Automobiles
    [ ] Road Expansion: Somali Coast - Build some metalled roads connecting major towns and cities. (6-Month Investment. Construction will begin during this time.)

    [ ] Road Expansion: Inland Networks - Improve the unimproved road network to be more extensive and less vulnerable to flooding in the wet season. (6-Month Investment. Construction will begin during this time.)

    Doctrine and Organisation
    • DCIRRO
    [ ] Establish the Information Review Team - This group will be tasked with drafting reports on various arms of the internal structure of Reewiin. (12-Month Investment. Will enable additional work in this specific area, including write-in Information Review requests.)

    [ ] Information Review: Army - Determine the state, readiness and mood of the Army. (3-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Information Review: Carabinieri - Determine the state, readiness and mood of the Carabinieri. (3-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Information Review: Government - Determine what the civilian government wants out of their armed forces. (3-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Analysis: Immediate Improvements - Develop and implement 'quick win' organisational changes to improve the Armed Forces. (3-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Analysis: Ethiopia - Long-term analysis of the optimal army to defend Reewiin against our eternal enemy, Ethiopia. (6-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Analysis: Britain - Long-term analysis of the optimal army to defend Reewiin against our eternal enemy, Britain. (6-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Analysis: Italy - Long-term analysis of the optimal army to defend Reewiin against our eternal enemy, Italy. (6-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Analysis: The Foreigners Have Some Good Ideas - Form overseas observation teams to take the best ideas from foreign nations. (12-Month Investment.)
    • Reforming the Carabinieri
    [ ] Reform means Reform - Define a new doctrinal goal for the Regional Carabinieri. Are they police? A military force? The Council must decide. (3-Month Investment. Details will be determined by write-in and further votes.)

    [ ] Reforms from the Bottom up - Define a new tactical organisation for the Carabinieri, but leave the brigade structure alone. (3-Month Investment. Please write-in the new structure at the Company and Platoon level.)

    [ ] Reforms from the Top down - Define a new strategic organisation for the Carabinieri, but leave the company and platoon structure alone. (3-Month Investment. Please write-in the new structure at the Brigade level, including basing.)


    There will be a 6-hour moratorium on voting to encourage discussion. The vote will close in three days.
     
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    • Scheduled vote count started by 4WheelSword on Dec 23, 2022 at 2:19 AM, finished with 11 posts and 8 votes.
    • [X] Plan: Guns on the Table
      -[X] Weapon Testing: Rifles - The Ordnance Office will buy a handful of rifles from around the world and test them until they break. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of rifle licensing. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)
      -[X] Analysis: Immediate Improvements - Develop and implement 'quick win' organisational changes to improve the Armed Forces. (3-Month Investment.)
      -[X] Reform means Reform - Define a new doctrinal goal for the Regional Carabinieri. Are they police? A military force? The Council must decide. (3-Month Investment. Details will be determined by write-in and further votes.)
    Click to expand...
     
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    • Turn 2 News, Rumours, & Events - June 1930
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    • Project Development: April - June 1930
    Ongoing Projects:
    [X] Establish the Ordnance Office - Developing an arms industry from scratch will take time and effort. An Ordnance Office will allow us to delegate some of that work to specialists. (Constant Investment.)
    [X] Establish the Analytical Research Team - This group will be tasked with drafting reports on external threats, internal dynamic shifts, and other non-standard areas of intelligence. (9 Months Remain) ☑☑◻◻
    [X] Establish the Carabinieri Oversight Office - No one really keeps an eye on the paramilitary police force that keeps watch over the nation. If the force is to be reformed and re-established in a new role, then oversight is needed at the very least. (Constant Investment.)

    Kismayo-Turkana Line:
    Progress, Kismayo-Marsabit: 12.5% (Est. completion June 1932)
    Despite the Kismayo-Marsabit portion of the line being the longest, it is also expected to be the least complicated to lay. Placing a new main line and relegating the older track to subsidiary service is a simple enough process, though simple does not mean easy. With six hundred kilometres to lay in this section alone–discounting passing loops and points–it is expected to take at least two years to complete.

    The second part of the line, extending from Marsabit to Lake Turkana, has not even been surveyed. Expected to stretch two hundred and fifty kilometres, it will be the first connection to span the entire country's length. It has been questioned in the government (and alluded to by a member of the House) whether or not the Rendille people will disrupt the project.

    Japanese investment in the line's construction has been heavy, which is obvious in the increasing numbers of Japanese nationals in Kismayo. This has yet to cause any issues, but it has been noted that many of these nationals are uniformed.

    Ordinance Office Report on Remington Rolling Block Rifle:
    Calibre: 11.43×49.2 mm
    This is a full length breechloading rifle. It is a single-shot design that fires black powder cartridges. The Carabinieri maintains a stock of at least 6,000 of these, initially bought in the 1870s for the army.

    It is the service arm of over half the Carabinieri, and reports are positive: the rifle is reliable, and the large calibre round is ideal for foraging and hunting big game. It can also be used to deal with elephants in musth and other big animals without significant issues, and it is favoured for riot control in urban areas.

    It is no longer a modern battlefield rifle, as smokeless magazine-fed repeaters have come to dominate. Should the Carabinieri be deployed for war against a modern enemy force, the gun will surely be found lacking due to a relatively slow firing speed and the inferior accuracy of its round at long ranges.

    Weapon Testing - Rifles:
    The Ordnance Office Rifle Division, an internal working group, has begun buying, borrowing, and 'otherwise acquiring' weapons from the surplus market and commercial manufacturers. They plan to spend until September testing these rifles until they break to determine the best candidates for Reewiin's new service rifle. Crates have already begun to pile up in the back rooms of the Ordnance Office. What wonders might they contain?

    Rifles that have been gathered or ordered so far include:
    • New: FN mle 1924 - 7×57 mm and 7.65×53 mm
    • New: ZB vz.24 - 7.92×57 mm
    • New: Mannlicher M.95 - 6.5×53 mmR
    • New: Mannlicher-Schönauer M1903/14/27 - 6.5x54 mm
    • New: Arisaka Type 38 - 6.5×50 mm
    • New: ZH-29 - 7.92×57 mm
    • New: Pedersen rifle - 7×51 mm
    • New: Bang M1927 - 6.5×55 mm and 7.92×57 mm
    • New: Colt Machine Rifle model 1925 - 7.65×53 mm
    • New: Auto-Ordnance Thompson Gun Military Model - 11.43×32 mm
    • In service: Arisaka Type 30 - 6.5×50 mm
    • Surplus: Carcano mod.91 - 6.5×52 mm
    • Surplus: Enfield P17 - 7.62×63 mm
    • Surplus: Ross Mk.III - 7.7×56 mmR
    • Surplus: SMLE Mk.III - 7.7×56 mmR
    • Surplus: Lebel Mle 1886 M93 - 8×50 mmR

    Which rifle or rifles is the Council most interested in? This is not a binding decision and does not determine acquisition or affect the Ordnance Office's recommendations. It just tells us what to write up.

    Pick three weapons to write in, and please do not say 'everything'; there's only 24 hours in the day.
    [ ] Write-in: A weapon on the list,
    [ ] Write-in: A weapon not on the list.

    Suggestions may be vetoed due to limited availability.

    Army Quick Fixes:
    The Army of Reewiin is only a single organisation in theory. In reality, it is three unique and semi-independent formations: the elite 1st (Reewiin) Regiment, which prides itself on its aesthetics; the 2nd (Kismayo) Regiment, which is a full-sized formation; and the understrength 3rd (Bur Gaabo) regiment.

    The Defence Council has proposed a series of minor organisational and logistical changes which will improve the Army's ability to function and to adapt to future reforms.

    Choose as many of the following as you wish:
    [ ] Form an Army Headquarters unit to manage the overall functions. This will not be particularly effective without doctrinal reform, but it will inform what is expected of the Army.
    – [ ] Attach the 2nd Regiments Training company to Army HQ as a centralised training unit. This will begin to solve some of the training issues the army faces.
    – [ ] Attach the 1st Regiments Artillery detachment to Army HQ as a fire support unit for the army as a whole.
    – [ ] Attach the 1st Regiments Cavalry company to Army HQ as a reconnaissance and quick response force.
    [ ] Trade the Army's six Type 3 HMGs for six Perino HMGs from the Carabinieri. While the Perinos are older, they use the same round as the FIAT-Revellis, allowing all unification of machine gun ammunition logistics.
    [ ] Write in

    The Reewiin Army (~6300 men, 200 horses)
    • 1st (Reewiin) Regiment (~1150 men)
      • Regimental HQ & Signals, including baggage and medical (~300 men)
      • 3 x Infantry Company (~200 men and 2 HMG's each)
      • 1 x Cavalry Company (~100 men and 150 horses)
      • 1 x Artillery Detachment (12 guns, ~150 men and 50 horses)
    • 2nd (Kismayo) Regiment (~3200 men)
      • Regimental HQ (~150 men)
      • Signals Company (~100 men)
      • 3 x Infantry Battalion (~900 men, 6 HMG's and 2 guns each)
      • Training Battalion (~250 men and 2 HMG's)
    • 3rd (Bur Gaabo) Regiment (~1950 men)
      • Regimental HQ (~100 men)
      • Signals Company (~50 men)
      • 2 x Infantry Battalion (~900 men, 6 HMG's and 2 guns each)

    Equipment:
    • 4000 Type 30 Arisaka rifles, 6.5×50 mm Arisaka
    • 600 Moschetto Modello 1891 carbines, 6.5×52 mm Carcano
    • 32 FIAT-Revelli 1914 HMGs, 6.5×52 mm Carcano
    • 6 Type 3 HMGs, 6.5×50 mm Arisaka
    • 12 Krupp 75 mm horse-drawn guns
    • 10 Type 92 70 mm pack howitzers

    Reform Means Reform:
    The Carabinieri is a force that wears many hats. They are police, regional security forces, border guards, lake patrol, and more. Therefore, the question of reform must begin with what the Carabinieri's purpose ought to be and how their duties will be defined.

    The Carabinieri ought to be a… (choose one):
    [ ] Second line military force, divorced from policing.
    [ ] Military organisation with police and security units.
    [ ] Mixed force that covers both remits.
    [ ] Policing organisation with armed, military-style units.
    [ ] Pure police force, divorced from military duty.

    The Carabinieri will be responsible for… (choose as many as appropriate):
    [ ] Border Patrol
    [ ] Internal Security and Riot Control
    [ ] Wilderness Rangers
    [ ] Frontline Service
    [ ] Partisan and Skirmish Warfare
    [ ] Write-in

    The Provincial Carabinieri (~11,000 men)
    • Northern Brigade (~5000 men)
      • Training & Machine Gun Company (~250 men, ~6 Perino 1908 HMGs, ~6 Vickers HMGs)
      • 5x Carabinieri Company (~950 men each)
    • North-Western Brigade (~3500 men)
      • Training & Machine Gun Company (~250 men, ~6 Perino 1908 HMGs)
      • 4x Carabinieri Company (~650 men each)
      • 1x Carabinieri Company (~12 boats, ~650 men)
    • Southern Brigade (~2500 men)
      • Training & Machine Gun Company (~250 men, ~4 Maxim HMGs)
      • 4x Carabinieri Company (~550 men)

    Equipment (estimated)
    • 6000+ Remington Rolling Block rifles, .43 Egyptian
    • 2500+ Murata Type 13 rifles, 11×60 mm Murata
    • 1000+ Lee-Metford rifles, .303 British
    • 500+ Vetterli-Vitali Mod. 1870/87, 10.35×47 mm
    • 1000+ other firearms
    • 12 Perino 1908 HMGs, 6.5×52 mm Carcano
    • 6 Vickers HMGs, .303 British
    • 4 Maxim HMGs, 7.92×57 mm Mauser

    News & Rumors: April 1930
    International Headlines:
    - Berlin: Chancellor Brüning threatens to dissolve the German parliament if they do not implement his policies.
    - Los Angeles: The second annual award ceremony of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is broadcast over wireless. The Broadway Melody is awarded outstanding picture. Best actor is Warner Baxter and best actress is Mary Pickford.
    - Navisari: The protest march against salt taxes in India comes to an end after 24 days, having covered about 380 kilometres.
    - Tokyo: Selling panic causes Tokyo Stock Exchange to close early.
    - Taranto: Italian troops suppress riot with gunfire. 280 arrested.
    - Bombay: Half a million Indians protest the salt tax in a massive gathering.
    - Allahabad: Jawaharlal Nehru, leader of the Indian independence movement, is arrested for violating salt law and sentenced to six months in jail.
    - Calcutta: Riots erupt over the arrest of Indian independence movement leader Jawaharlal Nehru.
    - Leyte: A massive hurricane sweeps through the Philippine island, causing extensive damage.
    - New York: Charles Lindenbergh and wife set a new transatlantic flight record: 14 hours, 45 minutes, and 32 seconds.
    - Moscow: The communist party launches celebrations on the occasion of the completion of a 2,375 km railway between Turkestan and Siberia.
    - London: The London Naval Conference concludes with the signing of the Treaty for the Limitation and Reduction of Naval Armament, limiting the total and individual tonnage and armament of cruisers and submarines for all five signatories. Can Reewiin's Japanese allies spare the ships to patrol our territorial waters against piracy under these restrictions?
    - Chicago: Notorious gangster Alphonse Capone labelled 'Public Enemy no.1' by Chicago Crime Commission.
    - Delhi: Vithalbhai Patel, president of the Central Legislative Assembly of India, resigns, citing sympathies with the Indian independence movement.

    Local Rumours:
    - Ethiopia: In a series of skirmishes, Gugsa Welle has kept the Ethiopian Army (such as it remains) on the run. First at Dessie, then at Kombolcha, the rebel forces have proved their dominance on the field of battle.

    News & Rumors: May 1930
    International Headlines:
    - New York: Police publish letters indicating the Amtorg Trading Corporation has been funding riots and strikes on behalf of the Communist International.
    - Rangoon: Massive earthquake strikes, killing hundreds.
    - Dandi: Mohandas Gandhi, former leader of the Indian National Congress, arrested.
    - Dilman: Massive earthquake strikes Persia, killing over a thousand.
    - Nanking: Following boycotts of Japanese goods, Japan capitulates to Chinese demands for tariff agreement.
    - Samarkand: Soviet Union permits tourists entry to forbidden city.
    - Sherman: Texas National Guard deployed to stop looting of black business district by white lynch mob. City placed under martial law and 14 rioters arrested.
    - Santo Domingo: Rafael Trujillo elected president of the Dominican Republic.
    - Pretoria: Suffragettes achieve major victory, securing the right of white women to vote in South African elections.
    - Beirut: High Commissioner of the Levant introduces new constitution: Syria and Latakia become representative republics.
    - Port Darwin: Amy Johnston becomes first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.
    - Düsseldorf: Police announce arrest of man they believe to be the monstrous 'Vampire of Düsseldorf.'
    - Lausanne: The International Olympic Committee announces Berlin as host for 1936 Summer Olympics.
    - New York: Chrysler Building finishes construction, setting record for highest building in the world at 319 metres.

    Local Rumours:
    - Ethiopia: The forces that remain of Fitawrari Wondosson Kassa and the swollen horde of Ras Gugsa Welle have apparently fought a pitched battle. It is said that the citizens of Debre Berhan could hear the roar of rifle and cannon for hours. The miserable Ethiopian survivors march south for Addis Ababa and the mustering grounds of the second chitet called by Ras Tafari.

    News & Rumors: June 1930
    International Headlines:
    - Delhi: National Bank of India and shops ravaged by multiple fires of unknown origin.
    - Bucharest: Crown Prince Carol returns to Romania after nearly five years of exile, assumes throne as Carol II. Prime Minister Iuliu Maniu and cabinet resign in protest: Gheorghe Mironescu new prime minister. After surrendering mandate to Carol II, Mironescu resigns, replaced by Maniu.
    - London: The Parliament's Simon Commission publishes its findings on Indian constitutional reform and possible self-governance.
    - Washington: President Hoover signs Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law.
    - Paris: France objects to American Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, warns of tariff war.
    - Seville: Over 150 injured in clashes between police and workers following general strike.
    - La Paz: General Carlos Blanco Galindo, leading rebels, attacks and captures the Bolivian capital, assuming presidency.
    - Koblenz: The last Allied troops withdraw from the Rhineland, ending the eleven-year occupation of German territory.

    Local Rumours:
    - Ethiopia: The Ethiopian Army musters for the second time. Gugsa Welle's rebels are camped outside the Capital. Could this be the end of Ras Tafari's short reign?
    Roll 1d100 to determine the outcome of Gugsa Welle's rebellion.

    We will reserve 6 hours for discussion, then voting will open for three days.
     
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    • Scheduled vote count started by 4WheelSword on Dec 27, 2022 at 6:03 PM, finished with 60 posts and 12 votes.
    • [X] Plan: Insert Snappy Plan Name Here
      -[X] New: Arisaka Type 38 - 6.5×50 mm
      -[X] Write-in: New: Mannlicher M95/30 - 8x56 mmR
      -[X] New: Auto-Ordnance Thompson Gun Military Model - 11.43×32 mm
      -[X] Form an Army Headquarters unit to manage the overall functions. This will not be particularly effective without doctrinal reform, but it will inform what is expected of the Army.
      -[X] Attach the 2nd Regiments Training company to Army HQ as a centralised training unit. This will begin to solve some of the training issues the army faces.
      -[X] Attach the 1st Regiments Artillery detachment to Army HQ as a fire support unit for the army as a whole.
      -[X] Attach the 1st Regiments Cavalry company to Army HQ as a reconnaissance and quick response force.
      -[X] Military organisation with police and security units.
      -[X] Border Patrol
      -[X] Wilderness Rangers
      -[X] Partisan and Skirmish Warfare
      -[X] Write-in: Internal Safety, Security, and Policing
      -[X] Write-in: Military Reserve and Recruitment Pool
      [X] Plan Techincal Reforms, Fixes and Trials
      [X] Plan Hearts, Minds and LOTS of Firepower:
    Click to expand...
     
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    • Turn 3 Vote: July 1930
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    • Current Events
    The Battle of Addis Ababa: The history books would record the time between the Battle of Anchem (31st March 1930) and the Battle of Addis Ababa (17th-19th June 1930) as a quiet time for Ethiopia. In reality, it was no such thing. Fitawrari Wondosson Kassa commanded a noble but doomed fighting retreat to the doorstep of his nation's capital. Ras Tafari spent inordinate amounts of political capital to secure his position as the new Emperor while quashing unrest on the streets. The world (and Reewiin especially) watched with bated breath.

    Some senior figures in the Ethiopian establishment had hoped the excommunication of Gugsa Welle, the death of Empress Zewditu, and the gruelling march from Anchem to Addiss Ababa would lead the rebellion to fizzle out, allowing the loyalists to sweep in and brush aside what remained of the movement. Every day that passed dispelled this hope as the now-renamed Army of the Empress' ranks swelled. Runners, sent by the widowed Ras Gugsa Welle, went to towns and villages with news of the Empress' passing and allegations that it happened at the hands of Ras Tafari. Many hundreds and even thousands took up arms to join the growing force as it travelled south.

    Gugsa Welle did not travel with his army, at least not initially. Instead, he went north to Lalibela with a small band of his closest confidants. There he visited the eleven rock-hewn churches to pray. After spending a night in Biete Medhane Alem, the House of the Saviour of the World, and receiving a blessing with the Lalibela Cross, he emerged with a proclamation. He was now Negus Tewderos III, the true Emperor of Ethiopia, and he rode south secure in the knowledge that God went with him.

    Ras Tafari had not spent this time resting. A second chitet, the traditional mustering of the levies, was called; this time, its focus was in the south. It did not come in the name of Tafari, but in the name of the new Emperor–Neguse Negest ze-'Ityopp'ya Haile Sellasie I. Some feared indecision and discontent from the southern nobility, but this was not the case. Fifteen thousand regulars, including the seven thousand men of the Imperial Guard, and sixty-thousand irregulars answered the call to arms. The people of Ethiopia, it was said, knew the truth, and their loyalty was to their true Emperor.

    On the 15th of June, the rebels reached the capital's outskirts. Reconnaissance reports from the Ethiopian aircraft said they numbered almost a hundred thousand. At night, the horizon to the north of the city glowed with the light of a thousand campfires. Songs sung by unnumbered throats could be heard as a dull roar. If nothing else, the rebels' morale could not be doubted.

    At dawn on the 17th of June, the newly crowned Negus Tewderos III led his army's advance from atop a white charger. The best of his rebel force held the flanks, machine guns scattering loyalist militia as the centre broke into the city's outskirts. A commanding hill allowed Tewderos' few artillery pieces a dominating field of fire and shells began to land amongst the buildings. The loyalist guns answered from the steps of the Imperial Palace, raining hell amongst the advancing rebels.

    The battle soon descended into brutal street-to-street fighting. The guns of both armies could not fire; the loyalists feared hitting their own soldiers, and the rebels risked devastating a city they hoped to capture. In these tight confines, the spear and the bow could once again shine, and the streets ran red with the blood of thousands of Ethiopians.

    The first day ended with neither side retreating more than a handful of streets. Fresh soldiers from both sides moved into position for a resumption of hostilities. Artillery traded a few desultory shots in the darkness, damaging the Te'eka Negist mausoleum and the Zufan Aradash. A great fire began in the north-western sprawl, which would not be extinguished for several days. The dead of that first day would not be counted for months more.

    The 18th was a slower affair but no less lethal. It was a day of skirmishes between small groups of soldiers, with no great pushes or advances on either side. Frustration grew in the afternoon as Negus Tewderos committed a large portion of his professional forces to the centre to capture Menelik Square and the Cathedral of Saint George. By nightfall, the rebels had a dominant position in the city.

    Dominant, yet overextended. The rebels were beginning to flag, and the loyalists had maintained an overwhelming reserve.

    The 19th of June opened with the rumble and clank of something previously unseen in Ethiopia. A trio of Fiat 3000 tanks descended on Menelik Square alongside fresh battalions of the Imperial Guard. The mechanized assault shattered the rebel forces in less than an hour; a single tank was lost to mechanical failure, while the remaining pair fought for six more, twin machine guns reaping a bloody toll as the loyalists drove the rebels from Addis Ababa.

    Hundreds died in the desperate retreat, and thousands more fled the field. Many retreating forces were captured, among them the so-called Negus Tewderos III.

    Internal Tension:
    Government Tension: -10
    Military Tension: 25

    Ongoing Projects:
    [X] Establish the Ordnance Office - Developing an arms industry from scratch will take time and effort. An Ordnance Office will allow us to delegate some of that work to specialists. (Constant Investment.)
    [X] Establish the Analytical Research Team - This group will be tasked with drafting reports on external threats, internal dynamic shifts, and other non-standard areas of intelligence. (6 Months Remain) ☑☑◻◻
    [X] Establish the Carabinieri Oversight Office - No one really keeps an eye on the paramilitary police force that keeps watch over the nation. If the force is to be reformed and re-established in a new role, then oversight is needed at the very least. (Constant Investment.)
    [X] Weapon Testing: Rifles - The Ordnance Office will buy a handful of rifles from around the world and test them until they break. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of rifle licensing. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.) ☑◻
    Kismayo-Turkana Line:
    Progress, Kismayo-Marsabit: 12.5% (Est. completion June 1932)

    Report on 'Army Reform Program 1930'
    The ARP-30 has begun not with a bang but with a quiet redistribution of forces that will better enable future doctrinal changes. The Army Headquarters Unit, referred to in some documents as Division Command, is intended to serve as an overarching command and control formation with precedence over each of the three regiments.
    As such, three subunits have been assigned to AHQU:
    • First Regiment Cavalry has become the Division Cavalry Detachment, intended as the core building block of a future brigade-level quick response force.
    • First Regiment Artillery has become the Division Artillery Detachment, a fire support unit that can be attached wherever it is needed.
    • Second Regiment Training has become the Division Training Detachment and will hopefully be better able to provision training to the entire force.
    Therefore, Army Headquarters is only slightly smaller than the 1st Reewiin, with 650 men and 200 horses assigned on paper.

    Responses to these changes from within the Army are mixed at best. The Colonels commanding the 2nd and 3rd Regiments have voiced their full support, looking forward to future reform expanding the army (and the government's financial contribution to it). However, the Colonel commanding the 1st Reewiin has been less than enthusiastic. Given that the First has donated a large portion of their force to the new formation, this comes as no real surprise.

    The Brigadier who now holds the overall command of the army-in-being has passed some suggestions to the Defence Council:
    • Increase recruitment, improve resource allocation, and bolster numbers.
    • Unify the structure of the 2nd and 3rd regiments and make them symmetrical forces. Potentially, unify the structures of all three regiments.
    • Improved equipment in a number of areas, such as artillery and communications.

    The Reewiin Army (~6300 men, 200 horses)
    • Army Headquarters (~650 men, 200 horses)
      • Army HQ formation (~150 men)
        • Brigade Cavalry Detachment (~100 men and 150 horses)
        • Brigade Artillery Detachment (12 guns, ~150 men and 50 horses)
        • Brigade Training Detachment (~250 men and 2 HMG's)
    • 1st (Reewiin) Regiment (~900 men)
      • Regimental HQ & Signals, including baggage and medical (~200 men)
      • 3 x Infantry Company (~200 men and 2 HMG's each)
    • 2nd (Kismayo) Regiment (~2850 men)
      • Regimental HQ (~100 men)
      • Signals Company (~100 men)
      • 3 x Infantry Battalion (~900 men, 6 HMG's and 2 guns each)
    • 3rd (Bur Gaabo) Regiment (~1900 men)
      • Regimental HQ (~100 men)
      • Signals Company (~50 men)
      • 2 x Infantry Battalion (~900 men, 6 HMG's and 2 guns each)

    Select Reports From Ordnance Office Rifle Division Rifle Tests
    Tests of new rifles are in full swing. While the Ordnance Office Rifle Division does not expect to have a final report ready until late September, progress reports, internal memos, and drafts have begun filtering across the Council's desk.

    Arisaka Type 38

    This is a modification of the Type 30 Arisaka rifle already in service with the Army. Compared to most other rifles tested, it is light: it weighs 3.7 kg unloaded, and 4.2 kg loaded and fitted with a bayonet, comparable to the unloaded weight of many other rifles. The accuracy was good, comparable to the other Mauser-type rifles tested.

    Compared to the Type 30, bullets from the Type 38 flew well, extending effective range by approximately 10% and reducing sensitivity to wind. However, it was discovered that the ammunition provided with the rifle was not the same as the ammunition already in use with the Type 30. Tests of the new ammunition in the Type 30 and the old ammunition in the Type 38 rifle showed this to be caused by the ammunition differences only. The rifle has an internal magazine for five rounds that is loaded with the same type of clip as the Type 30 and most other repeating rifles in the test.

    The rifle is of simpler but more robust construction than the Type 30, and significantly fewer malfunctions were experienced when operating the bolt. Openings that allowed ingress of dust in the Type 30 rifle have been closed, making the rifle more reliable on windy days. The marksmen recruited for the tests took to the rifle easily, probably owing to its similarity to the existing Type 30.

    Overall, the Type 38 is lightweight while retaining a high level of accuracy. It improves upon the Type 30 in several ways without compromise.

    Steyr-Mannlicher M.95/30

    This is a modification of the M.95 Mannlicher rifle made by the Steyr company in Austria. It uses an 8×56 mm cartridge. Compared to most other rifles in the test it is very light: unloaded, it weighs only 3.4 kg. It is also shorter, at approximately 1 metre.

    The accuracy appeared equal to most other rifles tested, but marksmen found it easier to compensate for the descent of bullets at longer ranges than the Arisaka Type 30 reference rifle. The sensitivity to wind at long ranges was reduced in comparison to the reference rifle.

    During tests, marksmen commented that the M.95/30 rifle was among the easiest to fire rapidly of the non-self-loading rifles, due to its straight back-and-forth chambering motion. The rifle has an internal magazine that holds five rounds. The internal magazine is reloaded with a metal clip, which is required for the proper functioning of the magazine. Without it, rounds must be loaded directly into the chamber, one by one. When the fifth round in the clip is loaded into the chamber, the clip drops out the bottom of the magazine. While this simplifies extraction of the clip from the rifle, it requires additional effort to preserve clips for reuse. The fragile clips are easily damaged once on the ground.

    Overall, the M.95/30 rifle offers advantages in terms of weight and rate of fire.

    Thompson Gun Military Model

    This is a version of the infamous 'gangster gun' with a 364 mm barrel. Compared to most other rifles in the test, it is heavy: it weighs 6.5 kg with 20 rounds loaded.

    The 11.43×23 mm round fired has a quoted velocity significantly below all other rifles in the test and is slow to reach the furthest targets. The accuracy is also very poor, both at short and long ranges. No sights are provided for ranges over 550 metres.

    While the catalogue mentions that 100 rounds can be fired in a minute, this could not be replicated in tests: rates of fire were closer to 30 rounds per minute, over double that of most other rifles but comparable to the other autoloading rifles tested. Recoil was very gentle.

    Marksmen doing the tests commented that the rifle was very easy to use. It was found that fire from the prone position required raising the soldier's head higher than with most rifles. Replenishing the supply of ammunition is similar to Lee-Metford rifles, requiring replacement of the entire magazine. Unlike the Lee-Metford, a magazine cannot be filled while loaded in the gun and must be detached before it can be reloaded. Some failures to automatically eject and load new rounds were experienced on windy days and appeared to be caused by dust in the mechanism.

    In addition to automatic loading, the rifle can fire continuously as a machine gun. Laying down accurate automatic fire at longer ranges was basically impossible, even with the help of a support. At closer ranges, our marksmen could effectively lay down fields of fire.

    Overall, the Thompson rifle is easy to use and gentle to fire, but its lack of range will seriously disadvantage its use in open-ground combat. At very close ranges, it provides a flexible option for each rifleman to act as a machine gunner. It also suffers from deficient reliability, low accuracy, and excessive weight.

    The Auto-Ordnance catalogue supplied with the gun indicates it can be supplied with a sling, bayonet, and/or bipod, with 50 and 100-round ammunition drums, and in a variety of other calibres, though it does not specify which. On consultation, an Auto-Ordnance representative was quoted: 9×19 mm rounds, 9×25 mm rounds, an 11.43×25 mm round noted as more powerful than the 11.43×23 mm round, and 8.9×35 mm rounds. While Auto-Ordnance provided no physical examples of these, testing with a borrowed civilian auto-loading rifle in the 8.9×35 mm calibre showed that effective range would still be 20-35% less than that of all other rifles tested.

    Defence Council Investment
    The Defence Council currently has two investment points available to be spent anywhere and one to be spent on reform of the Carabineri.

    Industry and Logistics

    • Armaments
    [ ] Modernise The .43 Egyptian - Reewiin's single ammunition factory is dedicated to producing .43 Egyptian for the Carabinieri's Remington rifles. Expanding production and modernising the round to use smokeless powder will offer immediate dividends at a low cost. (3-Month Investment. Initial production will be low-rate, and improve over time.)

    [ ] Weapon Testing: Machine Guns - The Ordnance Office will buy a handful of machine guns from around the world and test them until they break. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of machine gun licensing. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)

    [ ] Production Licencing: Ammunition - Buy the tooling for one calibre of ammunition currently in service or soon to be in service. Expanding the .43 Egyptian factory will not be cheap, but it will be worthwhile. (6-Month Investment. Initial production will be low-rate, and improve over time.)
    - [ ] 6.5 mm Arisaka
    - [ ] 6.5 mm Carcano
    - [ ] .303 British
    - [ ] Write-In

    [ ] Production Licensing: Machine Guns - Attempt to buy the rights to produce a machine gun design. Include a weapon available in 1930 as a Write-In. Some will be easily acquired, others will be immediately refused. (12-Month Investment. Initial production will be low-rate, and improve over time.)

    • Breeding and Working
    [ ] Establish a Veterinary Oversight Office - Bringing hundreds of horses into Reewiin and establishing breeding programs will require extensive oversight, administrative effort, and coordination. As the Council is largely unfamiliar with the subject, forming an office of qualified professionals to manage the project would be of great use. (Constant Investment. Will enable better handling of the various breeding programs and equine care in Reewiin.)

    [ ] Equine Acquisition: Purchase Arabians - Buy Arabian horses for service en masse from Egypt. They will be monogender, and we will not be able to maintain the line if they're used for breeding stock. They also may not be resistant to AHS/ASS. (3-Month Investment. Sufficient mass of horses should be available in as little as one year.)

    [ ] Equine Acquisition: Donkeys & Mules - Buy partially resistant donkeys and mules for service en masse from South Africa. This sturdy stock will immediately enable us to improve our logistical and supply services while being somewhat resistant to AHS/ASS. (3-Month Investment. Sufficient mass of donkeys and mules should be available in as little as one year.)

    [ ] Equine Acquisition: Stud Farms - Buy a small number of Arabian studs from the United States. These will make good breeding stock for future programmes. (3-Month Investment. A breeding programme can begin within the year.)

    [ ] Equine Acquisition: Requisition Locally - Requisition local Borana horses from the cavalry and agriculture for breeding stock. (3-Month Investment. A breeding programme can begin within the year.)

    [ ] Government Action: Push for Equine Conscription - While pastoralism is not exactly a major industry in Reewiin, there are a large number of animals that could be put to wartime use, were they assessed in a proper census. (6-Month Investment. Implementation will occur at the government's pace.)

    • Lanes, Trains, and Automobiles
    [ ] Road Expansion: Somali Coast - Build some metalled roads connecting major towns and cities. (6-Month Investment. Construction will begin during this time.)

    [ ] Road Expansion: Inland Networks - Improve the unimproved road network to be more extensive and less vulnerable to flooding in the wet season. (6-Month Investment. Construction will begin during this time.)

    Doctrine and Organisation

    • DCIRRO
    [ ] Establish the Information Review Team - This group will be tasked with drafting reports on various arms of the internal structure of Reewiin. (12-Month Investment. Will enable additional work in this specific area, including write-in Information Review requests.)

    [ ] Information Review: Army - Determine the state, readiness and mood of the Army. (3-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Information Review: Carabinieri - Determine the state, readiness and mood of the Carabinieri. (3-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Information Review: Government - Determine what the civilian government wants out of their armed forces. (3-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Analysis: Ethiopia - Long-term analysis of the optimal army to defend Reewiin against our eternal enemy, Ethiopia. (6-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Analysis: Britain - Long-term analysis of the optimal army to defend Reewiin against our eternal enemy, Britain. (6-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Analysis: Italy - Long-term analysis of the optimal army to defend Reewiin against our eternal enemy, Italy. (6-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Analysis: The Foreigners Have Some Good Ideas - Form overseas observation teams to take the best ideas from foreign nations. (12-Month Investment.)

    • Reforming the Carabinieri
    (Must spend one point)

    [ ] Organisational Reform: Regional Headquarters - The Carabinieri currently has a national headquarters based in Bur Gaabo. Regional HQ units would enable better management of the various units and duties of the force. (6-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Organisational Reform: Police Force - While the Carabinieri is responsible for internal security, its position as a military force can compromise that. Each Region should have a specialist policing force subsidiary to its larger military formation. (9-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Organisational Reform: Wilderness Rangers - The Carabinieri is responsible for massive tracts of rural land. A specialist ranger unit trained in long distance patrol and survival would be useful to the force as a whole. (9-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Reinforce the Somali border - Diverting funds to the North-Eastern border will better protect against any future Italian aggression. (12-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Reinforce the Ethiopian border - Diverting funds to the North-Western border will better protect against any future Ethiopian aggression. (12-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Reinforce the Kenyan border - Diverting funds to the Southern border will better protect against any future British aggression. (12-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Doctrinal Reform: Army Drill - Dispatch the Army Training Detachment to spend time with each Carabinieri force, improving and formalising some aspects of their training methods. These troops will be better suited as a wartime reserve and as partisans. (9-Month Investment.)

    [ ] Government Action: Commissioning Officers - The Carabinieri lacks the ability to operate in small units. The Government, via the Defence Council, will commission a number of junior officers and promote long-serving carabinieri officers to senior positions. Companies will be reorganised into operational 'platoons.' (6-Month Investment.)



    There will be a 6-hour moratorium on voting to encourage discussion. The vote will close in three days.
     
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    • Scheduled vote count started by 4WheelSword on Jan 3, 2023 at 5:39 PM, finished with 23 posts and 16 votes.
    • [X] Plan: Carabinieri Capacity (Prepare the Officers)
      -[X] Information Review: Carabinieri - Determine the state, readiness and mood of the Carabinieri. (3-Month Investment.)
      -[X] Organisational Reform: Regional Headquarters - The Carabinieri currently has a national headquarters based in Bur Gaabo. Regional HQ units would enable better management of the various units and duties of the force. (6-Month Investment.)
      -[X] Government Action: Commissioning Officers - The Carabinieri lacks the ability to operate in small units. The Government, via the Defence Council, will commission a number of junior officers and promote long-serving carabinieri officers to senior positions. Companies will be reorganised into operational 'platoons.' (6-Month Investment.)
      [X] Plan: Logistics today weapons tomorrow
      -[X] Equine Acquisition: Requisition Locally - Requisition local Borana horses from the cavalry and agriculture for breeding stock. (3-Month Investment. A breeding programme can begin within the year.)
      -[X] Road Expansion: Somali Coast - Build some metalled roads connecting major towns and cities. (6-Month Investment. Construction will begin during this time.)
      -[X] Government Action: Commissioning Officers - The Carabinieri lacks the ability to operate in small units. The Government, via the Defence Council, will commission a number of junior officers and promote long-serving carabinieri officers to senior positions. Companies will be reorganised into operational 'platoons.' (6-Month Investment.)
      [x] Plan: Carabinieri Capacity (Prepare the Automatics)
    Click to expand...
     
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    Turn 3 Update: September 1930
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    • Project Development: July - September 1930

    Ongoing Projects:
    [X] Establish the Ordnance Office - Developing an arms industry from scratch will take time and effort. An Ordnance Office will allow us to delegate some of that work to specialists. (Constant Investment.)
    [X] Establish the Analytical Research Team - This group will be tasked with drafting reports on external threats, internal dynamic shifts, and other non-standard areas of intelligence. (3 Months Remain) ☑☑☑◻
    [X] Establish the Carabinieri Oversight Office - No one really keeps an eye on the paramilitary police force that keeps watch over the nation. If the force is to be reformed and re-established in a new role, then oversight is needed at the very least. (Constant Investment.)
    [X] Information Review: Carabinieri - Determine the state, readiness, and mood of the Carabinieri. (Complete!) ☑
    [X] Organisational Reform: Regional Headquarters - The Carabinieri currently has a national headquarters based in Bur Gaabo. Regional HQ units would enable better management of the various units and duties of the force. (6-Month Investment.) ◻◻
    [X] Government Action: Commissioning Officers - The Carabinieri lacks the ability to operate in small units. The Government, via the Defence Council, will commission a number of junior officers and promote long-serving carabinieri officers to senior positions. Companies will be reorganised into operational 'platoons.' (6-Month Investment.) ◻◻

    Kismayo-Turkana Line:
    Progress, Kismayo-Marsabit: 22.5% (Est. completion June 1932)

    Reports on Rifle Tests 1930
    The rifle group acquired eighteen models of rifle considered potentially suitable as military weapons:
    • FN mle. 24, 7 mm
    • FN mle. 24, 7.65 mm
    • ZB vz.24, 7.92 mm
    • Mannlicher M.95, 6.5 mm
    • Mannlicher-Schönauer, 6.5 mm
    • Arisaka Type 38, 6.5 mm
    • ZH-29, 7.92 mm
    • Vickers-Armstrong-Pedersen, 7 mm
    • Bang M1927, 6.5 mm
    • Bang M1927, 7.92 mm
    • FN Browning fusil automatique, 7.65 mm
    • Thompson Military Model, 11.43 mm
    • Carcano mod.1891, 6.5 mm
    • Enfield P17
    • Ross Mk.III, 7.7 mm
    • Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk.III, 7.7 mm
    • Lebel Mle.1886 M93, 8 mm
    • Mannlicher M.95/30, 8 mm
    For comparison, the following rifle already in service with the Army was included in the tests:
    • Arisaka Type 30, 6.5 mm
    The rifles were tested for accuracy, hardiness, and general suitability. The panel was formed from members of the Rifle Group and marksmen seconded to the group by the Army. Testing included both precision and close-range shooting, as well as dirt and wear assessments. As such, the Rifle Group has reached a consensus and is able to recommend the following weapons as acceptable:
    • FN mle.24
    • ZB vz.24
    • Arisaka Type 38 (with 1907 Type 38 Arisaka spitzer cartridge)
    • Enfield P17
    These rifles are all distinguished by high quality, acceptable rates of fire at short range, and the ability to engage enemy forces accurately at long ranges. They all offer a 20-25% increase in point-blank range against man-sized targets over the current Type 30 rifle, and are also proven and affordable.

    After significant deliberation, the Rifle Group has decided to recommend the Defence Council place orders for the Arisaka Type 38 and stocks of the improved Type 38 Arisaka spitzer round. While it does not offer the greatest possible increase in engagement ranges, it is the lightest of them, the most robust against dust, and requires no to minimal training for troops already familiar with the Type 30.

    A dissenting minority wishes to instead recommend the Enfield P17 on the basis that it may be possible to acquire it for a significantly lower cost than new Type 38 rifles.

    The Rifle Group tested a number of self-loading rifles as part of the review. None were considered acceptable for Reewiin's needs, but it is worth mentioning two nonetheless:
    • FN Browning fusil automatique: This was the only self-loading weapon to meet the standards of accuracy and long-range fire set by the Rifle Group. It achieved similar results to the FN mle.24, with which it shares ammunition. However, it is technically complicated and excessively heavy at 7.2kg unloaded. It is also significantly more expensive to acquire than an equivalent factory-fresh bolt-action rifle. It is capable of sustained fire like a machine gun with acceptable accuracy at long ranges.
    • ZH-29: This weapon was unable to match the accuracy of the Type 30 Arisaka. It is mechanically complicated, and while lighter than the FN Browning, it is still heavy at 5.3kg. While less expensive than the Browning, it is still significantly more costly than non-self-loading rifles.
    The following summarises the Rifle Group's principal objections to those rifles not already mentioned:
    Mannlicher M.95: No notable increase in capability compared to the Type 30.
    Mannlicher-Schönauer: No notable increase in capability compared to the Type 30.
    Vickers-Armstrong-Pedersen: This was the lightest self-loader but suffered numerous mechanical failures, especially when exposed to dust.
    Bang M1927: Mechanically unreliable and inaccurate. Scorch marks were found inside the 7.92 mm calibre variant after firing. The 6.5 mm calibre variant offered no advantages in range compared to the Type 30.
    Thompson Military Model: Heavy, expensive, somewhat unreliable, and severely lacking in range.
    Carcano mod.1891: No notable increase in capability compared to the Type 30.
    Ross Mk.III: Accurate but mechanically unreliable.
    Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield Mk.III: Cheap, and its 7.7 mm calibre is manufactured by our Japanese allies. Dropped from consideration as the Mauser-type rifles had better accuracy.
    Lebel Mle.1886 M93: Met accuracy and range standards, but it was dropped from consideration as it could not be rapidly loaded with any kind of clip or detachable magazine.
    Mannlicher M.95/30: Generally favourable comments, but it was dropped from consideration as the Mauser-type rifles had better accuracy.​

    July 1930
    International Headlines
    Chicago: New flight endurance record established by Hunter brothers: 553 hours, 41 minutes, 30 seconds.
    Crowborough: Renowned 'Sherlock Holmes' author Arthur Conan Doyle dead, plans to 'contact family from spirit world.'
    Helsinki: 16,000 members of anti-communist Lapua movement march on Finnish capital, demanting anti-left-wing legislation.
    Paris: France halts construction of new warships, pursues naval conference with Italy.
    Rome: Italy agrees to French proposal: six month moratorium on warship construction.
    Berlin: President Hindenburg issues emergency budget decree after German parliament votes against down budget. Entire parliament dissolved by emergency decree after demanding revocation of budget: budget restored by emergency decree.
    Irpina: Over a thousand dead as earthquake strikes southern Italy.
    Ottawa: Incumbent prime minister King defeated in election: R. B. Bennet new Canadian prime minister.
    Changsha: Regional Chinese capital seized by communist rebels.

    August 1930
    International Headlines
    Montreal: Airship R100 lands at Canadian airport, becoming fastest transatlantic airship: 78 hours, 51 minutes.
    Marion: Mob abducts, kills, two black men awaiting trial from jail.
    Addis Ababa: Gugsa Welle, widower of Ethiopian empress, executed for rebellion on orders of king Tafari Makonnen.
    Hankow: Dozens of reds executed, hundred jailed, in crackdown on communism.
    London: Frank Hawks sets new transatlantic flight speed record: 12 hours, 25 minutes, 3 seconds.
    Hamilton: British Empire Games open in Canadian city.
    Boleslawiec: Three dead, ten injured as communists, German nationalists, police clash in Poland.
    Lima: President Augusto B. Leguía resigns following coup. General Manuel María Ponce Brousset assumes interim presidency, replaced by new president Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro.
    Geneva: League of Nations report condemns Britain for failure to defend Jews during Arab riots in Mandate for Palestine.
    London: Italian divers discover SS Egypt wreck in English Channel: $5,000,000 in gold, silver onboard.

    Exercises
    The yearly national live fire exercises have been conducted in August, before the major planting for the Deyr rains begins. Results have been excellent, with the troops completing their twenty practice rounds more quickly and accurately than last year's averages. The artillery have achieved similarly pleasing results, scoring direct hits on all five targets provided. The artillery troops have praised their Japanese instructors' assistance.

    September
    International Headlines
    Budapest: Thousands clash in riot between police and communists.
    New York: Aviators Costes, Bellonte complete non-stop flight between Paris and New York.
    Buenos Aires: President Hipólito Yrigoyen resigns after a week of demonstrations in the Argentine capital. Army troops enter presidential palace. General José Félix Uriburu recognised by supreme court as provisional president, dissolves congress, declares country besieged by leftists.
    Trieste: Four Yugoslavs arrested, executed, for attempted assassination of Italian prime minister Mussolini.
    Berlin: Communists, Nationalist Socialists clash on eve of parliamentary elections. Social Democratic party retains majority; Nationalist Socialist party second largest party in Germany. Fifteen thousand communists stage protest against Nationalist Socialist party.
    Moscow: Soviets execute 48 for conspiracy to create food panic and overthrow the government.
    Leipzig: During trial of army officers, Nationalist Socialist party leader Adolf Hitler vows no coup by his party, plan to replace constitution if elected.
    Panvel: Fifteen dead in clash between Indian protesters and police.
    Huntsville: Alabama national guard uses gas against white mob attempting to storm prison holding black murder suspect.
    Vienna: President appoints Carl Vaugoin chancellor of Austria.
    Havana: Students, police clash in protest against Cuban president Gerardo Machado. One student killed.

    The Retreat from Addis Ababa
    The rebellion in Ethiopia is not over simply because the largest congregation of rebels has been shattered. While Gugsa Welle was captured and most of his most loyal companions slaughtered in Addis Ababa, many of those fleeing north have been raiding as they go. Fighting is rumoured to be ongoing across the country's north even after several months. Both towns loyal to both Gugsa Welle and ones supporting Emperor Haile Sellasie have been put to the torch. It is presumed the uncrowned Emperor will launch a crackdown soon, but as yet, little has been heard.

    As for Ras Gugsa Welle, he was publicly executed on the 5th of August, 1931. Thus ended the short 'reign' of Emperor Tewderos III.

    From the House of Representatives
    A message has been delivered to the Defence Council after a question was raised on the floor of the House. The Ethiopian military has defeated the rebels assaulting the Capital, and they did it with two things unseen in East Africa before: Aeroplanes and Tanks.

    The question put before the House was this; War has changed, and we must change with it. Is Reewiin currently prepared to face such weapons? If not, what does the Defence Council intend to correct these matters?

    What is the Defence Council's answer to the House?
    [ ] Reewiins army is perfectly capable of handling these weapons with well-trained artillery and riflemen.
    [ ] The Defence Council will assess anti-armour and anti-air weapons as soon as possible (Industry and Logistics - Armaments will now include AT and AA options.)
    [ ] The Defence Council will be revisiting the Long Term Plan in the new year to respond to this change in the strategic landscape (January 1931 will include a Long Term revote.)
    [ ] The Defence Council has plans for the future, but the situation is not yet right for introducing these elements.
     
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