Turn 15 News, Rumours, & Updates: July-September 1933
- Location
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Turn 15 News, Rumours, & Updates: July-September 1933
Project Development
Ongoing Projects
[X] Marksmanship Training - With an average of twenty rounds per man per year, marksmanship is of very poor quality. Regular range training will begin to improve this, not only for the infantry but for the cavalry and artillery too.-[X] Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge. (3 Months remain, free slot) ☑☑☑◻
[X] Send Observers: Paraguay - Send a military attaché to learn from the Paraguayan army's experiences on the Chaco front. (Until recalled or conflict ends)
[X] Construct a naval base - Currently the RMCF is based out of the commercial port facilities at Kismayo, but this state of affairs is not acceptable in the long run. We have little secure storage for arms and ammunition, we don't have proper facilities for the effective routine maintenance of our ships, and the port fees are shocking. If we established a proper naval base, all of these problems would go away, although drydock facilities would still be provided by the private sector. (6 Months remain) ☑☑◻◻
-[X] In Kismayo, the largest port city
[X] Establish an Officer Academy - Our officers are currently trained in an ad-hoc fashion. The establishment of a proper Academy would allow us to educate more officers, and provide a centre for spreading doctrinal advances across the military by running a series of advanced courses and bringing able officers back as instructors. (9 Months remain) ☑◻◻◻
[X] Establish an Infantry School - Our riflemen are currently trained in an ad-hoc fashion. The establishment of a proper School would allow us to drill our soldiers in more advanced tactics and provide a single baseline for all of our forces, so that officers can more easily assume command of troops they have not trained with. (3 Months remain) ☑◻
-[X] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJA institutional knowledge.
-[X] Ask to de-emphasise aggression, discipline and bayonet training somewhat, as our troops are not ready for such rigors.
Completed Projects
[X] Weapon Testing: 13.2 mm machine guns - The Ordnance Office will research a handful of 13.2 mm machine guns and dual-purpose mountings whose capabilities meet those of the current 13.2 mm Hotchkiss guns. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council. (Complete!) ☑☑Kismayo-Turkana Line:
Progress, Marsabit-Turkana: 93% (Est. completion October 1933)
Weapon Orders, and Production:
Progress, Rifle Deliveries: 100%, deliveries complete.
Progress, Rifle Factory: 3 rifles per day for Reewiin, continuing. 12 rifles per day delivered to Japan under the terms of the 1932 agreement, to end in April 1935.
Progress, LMG Deliveries: 40%, (Est. completion June 1934).
Progress, LMG Factory: 1 gun per day, full rate.
Type 3 HMG Project:
Progress, Reverse Engineering: Experiencing delays
July-September 1933
International Headlines of Note
A quiet few months, internationally.Local Rumours
Left and Right wing groups have more or less coalesced into two parties: The Free Somalia party on the right and the All-Reewiin Communist League on the left. Polling in Reewiin is a new and extremely difficult art, but it appears that both parties are sapping support from the more radical wings of the established parties.Reports
Report on Dual Purpose Heavy Machine Gun options
Our experts have tested a number of different options for the mounting of our Hotchkiss 13.2mm guns, and their competitors in class, and the results are presented here:Hotchkiss M1929 on Wheeled DP Mount
These are the guns we already have on the mounts we already use them on. Our ones feed from a stripper clip pushed into a tray on the side, a somewhat awkward arrangement, and could be instead provided with a top magazine feed that reduces the likelihood of dust ingress to the mechanism. Conversion of our guns to magazine feed would not be too difficult, but we would have to send them back to Hotchkiss. The mount is a wheeled arrangement designed to be dual-purpose, with a reasonably low shooting position when in the direct fire role and a swinging arm that allows it to be fired into the air to a limited extent. The swing arm is not tall enough to permit 360 degree firing without traversing the carriage.
Hotchkiss M1929 on Fixed Tripod
This is the other system in use with the French Air Force, a heavy tripod mount that the gunner sits on and uses a geared traverse and elevation system to aim the gun. This variant comes with a proper AA sight, 360 traverse and is extremely stable. Versions are available with one or two guns, but the form of the mount necessitates top feeding magazines. This variant is better optimised for air defence than the wheeled mount and is not significantly heavier, but cannot be towed and would have to be disassembled and carried by mules or horses for tactical mobility.
Hotchkiss M1929 on Mobile Tripod
The Hotchkiss gun is also available on a light, low profile tripod that would allow it to be transported by a small team of men. This combination could take either magazines or stripper clips, but it is too low to the ground to achieve sufficient elevation to fire at aircraft. Hotchkiss have so far sold very few of these, probably because they are not capable of defence against aircraft. The mobility and concealability is likely to make this mount the most effective option against tanks.
Hotchkiss M1929 on Naval Quad Mount
This gigantic mount is used aboard French battleships for close range air defence, but because it is entirely manually operated, Hotchkiss tell us that it could be mounted on trucks or tractors for land use. The mount has four magazine fed Hotchkisses and a crew of five, plus the driver of the vehicle if required. It has 360 traverse and a proper AA sight like the smaller twin and single tripod mounts and can put out an awesome fusilade of fire, as demonstrated by a French aviso visiting Reewiin to support the trials. This mount, and the similar naval twin mount, have also been offered to equip the Kutulo.
MAC Mle. 1921
Chatellerault in France have offered us this interesting weapon, which lost the competition for the French contract to the Hotchkiss gun. It was originally designed for a proprietary and rather unreliable 13.5mm cartridge, but it is being offered to us in 13.2mm Hotchkiss, and Chatellerault say it likely would have won the French contract if it had used the Hotchkiss round originally. Its party trick is the dual magazine feed, which allows it to fire from one side while the other is being reloaded, effectively allowing it to have the rate of fire of two guns in the weight and space of one. The truck mount pictured above is one option, but Chatellerault say they are happy to develop a tripod or wheeled mount similar to the above Hotchkiss ones to meet our needs.
FN-Browning MG52
Colt cannot sell arms in Africa under their licensing agreement with FN, so we have consulted with FN to find out if they will supply us with the Browning HMGs. They do not currently produce the guns but are willing to supply Colt-built guns with their own markings on them for something of a mark-up. The brand new MG53 air-cooled gun is not yet available for export, so the only gun we are being offered is the water-cooled MG52. These guns feed from a continuous belt, allowing them to be shot basically until the water boils off and the barrel overheats, which is a point in favour against sustained air attack; but the requirement for a water supply for the gun may be an issue in the arid parts of Reewiin. Unfortunately, the Browning guns use an unusual 12.7x99mm cartridge that is not compatible with our Hotchkisses, which is a mark against them. Mounts available include a rather large ground tripod which is not suitable for use against aircraft, a tall tripod for anti-aircraft work or a fixed twin mount with a gunshield suitable for a truck or a ship.
Breda Modello 1931
Breda in Italy are offering a copy of the Hotchkiss 13.2mm gun. The two mounts offered are a dual naval one broadly similar to the French model and this rather terrifying tripod contraption. During testing this was easily the worst performing mount of the set, while it does uniquely combine a mobile wheeled mount and a 360 traverse this was not assessed to make up for the weight, cost and constant trip hazard of the system.
Type 93 Heavy Machine Gun
Our colleagues in Japan are just beginning to acquire and set up production for the Hotchkiss 13.2mm gun, possibly influenced by Reewiin's purchase of it. They are currently not willing to export any of their guns.Initial Observations from the Chaco War
Our observers in the Gran Chaco have mostly been in meetings and briefings with Paraguayan officers, many of whom are on temporary or permanent medical leave from the front. They are working on a larger and more comprehensive report which will be submitted at the end of the conflict or upon their withdrawal, but the key points they have seen fit to raise so far are as follows:- This is a war of grenades and sub-machine guns. Engagement ranges are extremely close and whoever can get the most fire out in the first fifteen seconds of a contact usually wins. Larger machine guns have also been useful, but mostly defensively.
- Most casualties, especially in positional phases of the campaign, have been inflicted by light artillery and mortars. The Bolivians and Paraguayans both made use of lightly fortified strongpoints early in the war; this has since been abandoned in favour of trenches. The Paraguayans have been particularly pleased with their Stokes-Brandt 81mm mortars.
- The Bolivian tanks have not provided them with a decisive advantage. At the recent battle of Nanawa, Paraguayan forces managed to repel a tank attack and knock multiple vehicles out despite having no dedicated anti-tank weapons.
Defence Council Investment - September 1933
The Defence Council currently has one investment point available to be spent in the Ordnance area.Industry and Logistics
Armaments
[ ] Weapon Testing: Sub-Machine Guns - The Ordnance Office will buy a handful of sub-machine guns and machine carbines from around the world and test them until they break. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of portable assault weapons. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)
[ ] Weapon Testing: Light Anti-Air Weapons - The Ordnance Office will buy a handful of machine guns and cannons from around the world and test them until they break. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of light AA weapons. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)
[ ] Weapon Testing: Heavy Anti-Air Weapons - The Ordnance Office will research a handful of high angle anti-aircraft artillery pieces from around the world. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of heavy AA weapons. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)
[ ] Weapon Testing: Anti-Tank Weapons - The Ordnance Office will research a handful of field guns and large calibre rifles from around the world. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of AT weapons. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)
[ ] Weapon Testing: Grenades - The Ordnance Office will buy a handful of grenades from around the world and test them. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of grenades and other handheld explosives. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)
[ ] Weapon Testing: Mortars - The Ordnance Office will buy a handful of mortars from around the world and test them until they break. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of mortars. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)
[ ] Weapon Testing: Light Artillery Weapons - The Ordnance Office will research a handful of field guns and pack howitzers in the 3" class from around the world. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of artillery weapons. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)
[ ] Weapon Testing: Artillery Weapons - The Ordnance Office will research a handful of field guns and howitzers in the 4" and possibly larger classes from around the world. Afterwards, they will make recommendations to the Defence Council on the topic of artillery weapons. (6-Month Investment. Recommendations will be made at the end of this process.)
[ ] Emergency Purchase - Buy weapons directly from any available source. Write in the weapon and quantity. Emergency purchases that the government views as overly large, precipitous or having been made without due consideration may have consequences. If the requested weapon is not approved for export by the selling country you could get nothing. (3-Month Investment. Variable delivery time. Can be selected multiple times.)
[ ] Purchase Heavy Machine Guns - Buy heavy machine guns that have been reviewed by the Ordnance office in the report of September 1933. Write in the weapon and quantity. (3-Month Investment. Variable delivery time.)
[ ] Increase Funding: Type 3 - By funnelling additional investment towards the Type 3 project, it may be possible to have a prototype ready faster. (6-Month Investment.)
[ ] Cancellation: Type 3 - If the problems with the Type 3 are insurmountable, cancelling the programme could free up much-needed national resources for the design and production of other arms. This does not cost an investment point and can be done at any time. (Free.)
[ ] Increase Funding: Arisaka Type 38 - By funnelling additional investment towards the Type 38 production line, it may be possible to increase rifle production above the current rate. (3-Month Investment.)
[ ] Cancellation: Arisaka Type 38 - We have enough 6.5mm rifles to cover all of our needs and our order is complete. Stop purchasing them from the factory. This does not cost an investment point and can be done at any time. (Free.)
[ ] Restructure the Ordnance Office - Reduce staffing in the Ordnance Office to retain oversight of programs in progress and free up capital for investment elsewhere. This does not cost an investment point and can be done at any time. (3-Month Wait.)
Breeding and Working
[ ] Restructure the Veterinary Oversight Office - To reduce operational costs the Veterinary Oversight Office has been shrunk significantly. Funding and personnel would allow the Office to perform specialised tasks. (3 Months, Constant Investment)
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: 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.)
Reforming the Carabinieri
[ ] Re-Implement the Carabinieri Office - Re-allocate staff to the Carabinieri Office in order to return Defence Council oversight to the national militia. Funding and personnel would allow the Office to perform specialised tasks. (3 Months, Constant Investment)
Reforming the Army
[ ] Manoeuvre Training - The Army Review has determined that Reewiin's standing military is not currently fit for the task. Field manoeuvres will begin to improve this. (6-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge.
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJA institutional knowledge.
[ ] Cavalry Training - The Cavalry are loath to conduct operations en-masse, leaving them poorly equipped for the field. Regular deployments into central Reewiin will begin to improve this. (6-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJA institutional knowledge.
[ ] Artillery Training - Our artillery capability is doctrinally obsolescent, with all firing conducted over open sights. More realistic training will begin to improve this. (6-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge.
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJA institutional knowledge.
[ ] Enlarge the Officers Corps - The Army of Reewiin lacks many things, one of which is junior officers. While this is not a significant issue at the high level, it leaves the junior officers seriously overworked. Beginning a major drive to recruit and train new officers will shift this issue towards the positive. (12-Month Investment.)
[ ] Enlarge the Army - Currently, Reewiin maintains a standing Army of 6,000 men organised into six effective battalions. There are several options for enlarging this, and we can create formations and units that we do not currently have the equipment for if we want. It's perfectly possible to specify an artillery division is to be formed and only then start looking for an artillery piece to equip it. Select one or more:
-[ ] Establish a more formal reservist force from those claiming their pension. - Write in the desired force size and structure. (12-Month Investment)
-[ ] Increase recruitment and expand existing formations - Write in the desired force size and structure. (Variable Investment, 6-12 months)
-[ ] Increase recruitment and create entirely new formations - Write in the desired force size and structure. (Variable Investment, 12-24 months)
-[ ] Increase recruitment and split up current formations as cadres for the new recruits - Write in the desired force size and structure. (Variable Investment, 6-12 months)
-[ ] Institute conscription - Write in the desired force size and structure. (6-Month Investment)
-[ ] Write in.
[ ] Confine Idle Soldiers to Barracks - We can't have the Army tarnishing its image by gambling and causing trouble on the streets! Confining the soldiers to their barracks when they don't have leave will keep them from being a nuisance. (3-Month Investment).
Equipment and Logistics
[ ] Prepare to acquire new large ships - A temporary committee will be formed to investigate options for the procurement of large ships, whether that involves purchasing ships that are in service, having them built abroad or attempting to build a ship in Reewiin. For our purposes, large ships are those of destroyer escort/high endurance cutter size and above. (3-Month Investment.)
[ ] Prepare to acquire new small ships - A temporary committee will be formed to investigate options for the procurement of small ships, whether that involves purchasing ships that are in service, having them built abroad or building ships in Reewiin. For our purposes, small ships are torpedo boats, coastal patrol vessels and associated types. (3-Month Investment.)
[ ] Prepare to refit the Kutulo - A temporary committee will be formed to investigate options for the refit of RRCS Kutulo, which could be a deep refit to modernise her into an acceptable cruiser for the 30s and 40s, or could be a shallow refit to rapidly improve her reliability and suitability for purpose. (3-Month Investment.)
[ ] Establish a national fuel reserve - Reewiin is not rich in coal or oil, the lifeblood of navies. The purchase of a significant reserve of fuels would allow us to continue to operate the RMCF under blockade conditions for longer than usual, as well as allowing the government to smooth out price shocks to fuels. (9-Month Investment.)
Doctrine and Organisation
[ ] Improved Training - The RMCF is completely new and knows very little, institutionally, about policing or combat at sea. More realistic training will begin to improve this, although it may be a long process. (6-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge.
[ ] Establish a Naval Officer Academy - Our officers are currently drawn from the merchant marine and trained in an ad-hoc fashion. The establishment of a proper Academy would allow us to educate more officers, and provide a centre for spreading doctrinal advances across the military by running a series of advanced courses and bringing able officers back as instructors. (12-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge. (Reduces to 6-Month Investment.)
[ ] Establish a Sailing School - Our sailors are currently drawn from the merchant marine and trained in an ad-hoc fashion. The establishment of a proper School would allow us to drill our sailors in better seamanship and especially the art of fighting at sea. (12-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge. (Reduces to 6-Month Investment.)
[ ] Restructure the Veterinary Oversight Office - To reduce operational costs the Veterinary Oversight Office has been shrunk significantly. Funding and personnel would allow the Office to perform specialised tasks. (3 Months, Constant Investment)
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: 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.)
Reforming the Carabinieri
[ ] Re-Implement the Carabinieri Office - Re-allocate staff to the Carabinieri Office in order to return Defence Council oversight to the national militia. Funding and personnel would allow the Office to perform specialised tasks. (3 Months, Constant Investment)
Reforming the Army
[ ] Manoeuvre Training - The Army Review has determined that Reewiin's standing military is not currently fit for the task. Field manoeuvres will begin to improve this. (6-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge.
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJA institutional knowledge.
[ ] Cavalry Training - The Cavalry are loath to conduct operations en-masse, leaving them poorly equipped for the field. Regular deployments into central Reewiin will begin to improve this. (6-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJA institutional knowledge.
[ ] Artillery Training - Our artillery capability is doctrinally obsolescent, with all firing conducted over open sights. More realistic training will begin to improve this. (6-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge.
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJA institutional knowledge.
[ ] Enlarge the Officers Corps - The Army of Reewiin lacks many things, one of which is junior officers. While this is not a significant issue at the high level, it leaves the junior officers seriously overworked. Beginning a major drive to recruit and train new officers will shift this issue towards the positive. (12-Month Investment.)
[ ] Enlarge the Army - Currently, Reewiin maintains a standing Army of 6,000 men organised into six effective battalions. There are several options for enlarging this, and we can create formations and units that we do not currently have the equipment for if we want. It's perfectly possible to specify an artillery division is to be formed and only then start looking for an artillery piece to equip it. Select one or more:
-[ ] Establish a more formal reservist force from those claiming their pension. - Write in the desired force size and structure. (12-Month Investment)
-[ ] Increase recruitment and expand existing formations - Write in the desired force size and structure. (Variable Investment, 6-12 months)
-[ ] Increase recruitment and create entirely new formations - Write in the desired force size and structure. (Variable Investment, 12-24 months)
-[ ] Increase recruitment and split up current formations as cadres for the new recruits - Write in the desired force size and structure. (Variable Investment, 6-12 months)
-[ ] Institute conscription - Write in the desired force size and structure. (6-Month Investment)
-[ ] Write in.
[ ] Confine Idle Soldiers to Barracks - We can't have the Army tarnishing its image by gambling and causing trouble on the streets! Confining the soldiers to their barracks when they don't have leave will keep them from being a nuisance. (3-Month Investment).
Maritime Carabinieri Force
Equipment and Logistics
[ ] Prepare to acquire new large ships - A temporary committee will be formed to investigate options for the procurement of large ships, whether that involves purchasing ships that are in service, having them built abroad or attempting to build a ship in Reewiin. For our purposes, large ships are those of destroyer escort/high endurance cutter size and above. (3-Month Investment.)
[ ] Prepare to acquire new small ships - A temporary committee will be formed to investigate options for the procurement of small ships, whether that involves purchasing ships that are in service, having them built abroad or building ships in Reewiin. For our purposes, small ships are torpedo boats, coastal patrol vessels and associated types. (3-Month Investment.)
[ ] Prepare to refit the Kutulo - A temporary committee will be formed to investigate options for the refit of RRCS Kutulo, which could be a deep refit to modernise her into an acceptable cruiser for the 30s and 40s, or could be a shallow refit to rapidly improve her reliability and suitability for purpose. (3-Month Investment.)
[ ] Establish a national fuel reserve - Reewiin is not rich in coal or oil, the lifeblood of navies. The purchase of a significant reserve of fuels would allow us to continue to operate the RMCF under blockade conditions for longer than usual, as well as allowing the government to smooth out price shocks to fuels. (9-Month Investment.)
Doctrine and Organisation
[ ] Improved Training - The RMCF is completely new and knows very little, institutionally, about policing or combat at sea. More realistic training will begin to improve this, although it may be a long process. (6-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge.
[ ] Establish a Naval Officer Academy - Our officers are currently drawn from the merchant marine and trained in an ad-hoc fashion. The establishment of a proper Academy would allow us to educate more officers, and provide a centre for spreading doctrinal advances across the military by running a series of advanced courses and bringing able officers back as instructors. (12-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge. (Reduces to 6-Month Investment.)
[ ] Establish a Sailing School - Our sailors are currently drawn from the merchant marine and trained in an ad-hoc fashion. The establishment of a proper School would allow us to drill our sailors in better seamanship and especially the art of fighting at sea. (12-Month Investment.)
-[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJN institutional knowledge. (Reduces to 6-Month Investment.)
You are more than welcome to ask questions about what is acceptable as a write-in vote, and you are also welcome to ask the Council Liaisons for in character advice on decisions.
There will be a 6-hour moratorium on voting to encourage discussion. The vote will close in three days.
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