East Africa 1930: An ORBAT Quest
- Thread starter 4WheelSword
- Start date
- Original Alt. History
KlinkerKing
Man bites dog?
- Location
- The Lion's Den
I agree, I think the Bofors gun's low weight, easy transportability and high elevation makes it a prime candidate, along with the lower weight, but less flexible American. I think the Bofors probably has the advantage in the long run, given that the ammunition on the American gun is like 20% heavier (that matters when you're loading by hand) and has less traverse and elevation. I think of those two, the one with better dust handling is probably the winner.
- Pronouns
- He/She/They
[X] Plan: Horses, bullets, and regimental AA/AT companies
[X] Plan: Horses, bullets, and regimental AA/AT companies
Vote closed
4WheelSword
The original N-body Problem
- Pronouns
- It/She/They
Depends on who's fighting, IMO. The Japanese could be our allies, or they could be our enemies (it's noted in one of the introductory posts that there's a decent amount of anti-Japanese sentiment in Reewiin as a result of the resource exploitation funneling wealth away). Ethiopia could be an ally, but unless we develop a large enough arms industry that we can sell large numbers of guns to them, it'll likely be tough. We border the British and Italians as well, both of whom could be allies or enemies depending on how things go. The other colonial powers could be more distant allies in event of an African proxy war, as could powers such as the Soviet Union or the United States who may find it in their interests to weaken one of our neighbours by propping us up.
Of course, right now Reewiin is friends with everybody and should be shown all the fancy new military tech, please.
Turn 5 News, Rumours, & Updates: January-March 1931
4WheelSword
The original N-body Problem
- Pronouns
- It/She/They
Turn 5 News, Rumours, & Updates: January-March 1931
Project Development: January-March 1931
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 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] Production Licensing: Rifle - Build a factory to produce a licensed version of a currently available rifle design. Write in the weapon of choice. (9 Months Remain) ☑◻◻◻
[X] Information Review: Army - Determine the state, readiness, and mood of the Army. (3-Month Investment.) ◻
[X] Establish a Veterinary Oversight Office - Bringing hundreds of horses into Reewiin and establishing breeding programs will require extensive oversight, administrative effort, and coordination. (Constant Investment.)
[X] Production Licencing: Ammunition - Buy the tooling for one calibre of ammunition currently in service or soon to be in service. (6 Months Remain) ◻◻
[X] Doctrinal Reform: Army Drill - Dispatch the Army Training Detachment to spend time with each Carabinieri force, improving and formalising aspects of their training methods. These troops will be better suited as a wartime reserve and as partisans. (9 Months Remain) ◻◻◻
Kismayo-Turkana Line:
Progress, Kismayo-Marsabit: 45% (Est. completion June 1932)
Progress, Marsabit-Turkana: 9% (Est. completion October 1933)
Arisaka Rifles, Orders, and Production:
Progress, Rifle Deliveries: <1% (Est. completion June 1932)
Progress, Rifle Factory: None
January 1931
International Headlines
Cardiff: 150,000 Welsh coal workers strike.Rome: In radio broadcast, Benito Mussolini assures United States of peaceful intent.
Panama City: Acción Comunal movement deposes President Florencio Harmodio Arosemena. New president Harmodio Arias Madrid transfers powers to U.S. envoy. Supreme court approves of vice president Ricardo J. Alfaro as interim president for Harodio's term.
Guatemala City: José María Reina Andrade assumes presidency.
Paris: Joseph Joffre, hero of the battle of Marne, dies. Two million French attend funeral at Notre Dame cathedral.
Berlin: Unemployment reaches new heights of 4.5 million.
Szolnok: The first of the Angel Makers of Nagyrév executed for mass poisoning.
Oaxaca: Over 100 dead in earthquake.
London: Round Table Conference concludes. Prime minister Ramsay MacDonald pledges to allow Indian self-governance.
Geneva: Germany accuses Poland of persecuting German minority in Poland, affirms hopes to reclaim lost territory, in League of Nations.
Paris: Prime minister Théodore Steeg dismissed after wheat price plan falls through.
Chemnitz: Chancellor Heinrich Brüning attacked by mob.
New York City: Unemployment reaches new heights of 4.5 million.
Poona: Former president of the Indian National Congress Mohandas Gandhi released from prison.
Washington: Major General S. Butler alleges Benito Mussolini ran over child with motorcar. After protests from Italian government, Butler faces court martial.
February 1931
International Headlines
Buenos Aires: Anarchists responsible for 1928 bombing executed.Hawke's Bay: Over 200 dead after New Zealand earthquake.
Rome: One policeman dead after attempted arrest of anarchists. One anarchist still at large.
Tokyo: Twelve injured after brawl in Diet. Baron Kijūrō Shidehara's comments about Emperor Hirohito's approval of London Naval Treaty spark vigorous debate, knife drawn.
Fushun: 3,000 dead after gas explosion in mine.
Madrid: King Alfonso XIII of Spain opens for free elections in royal decree. Toothless dictator Dámaso Berenguer resigns as prime minister. Elections cancelled, admiral l Juan Bautista Aznar-Cabañas assumes presidency.
New Delhi: Festivities go on for several days as New Delhi becomes Indian capital.
Amsterdam: Madman attacks Rembrandt painting with axe.
Vienna: Assassination attempt on Zog I of Albania fails!
Havana: President Gerardo Machado survives two assassination attempts in as many days.
Berlin: Four dead after riots during communist 'World Unemployment Day' march.
Rifle Manufacture
Negotiations continue to extend the current Reewiin Munitions Plant. Land for the expansion has been marked out for aquisition.Regimental Gun Company
The Army has accepted the Council's proposal to form regimental gun companies. The divisional training detachment has practised the manual of arms for the new Hotchkisses, and experienced machine gunners have been selected from the gun sections to form the first class of anti-aircraft/anti-tank gunners. Within the year, they are expected to return to their regiments alongside the new weapons.March 1931
International Headlines
New Dehli: Former president of the Indian National Congress Mohandas Gandhi, Viceroy Lord Irwin come to agreement: no civil disobedience, salt tax reform, amnesty for political prisoners, new Round Table Conference.Jersey City: Ruth Rowland Nichols sets women's altitude record in aeroplane: 8,761 metres!
Wusong: Over 300 dead as cargo ship Ta Chi sinks.
Hamburg: Hamburg city council communist shot dead. Reds raid local Nationalist Socialist headquarters, kill one. Three Nationalist Socialist killers surrender to police, 35,000 attend councilman's funeral.
Belgrade: Bombs explode near government buildings. Explosives soldier killed trying to defuse discovered bomb.
Magdeburg: Thirty arrested after communists, Nationalist Socialists clash over assassination.
Lima: Army regiment mutinies, attempts coup, fails.
Tokyo: House of Peers block suffragette legislation.
Rome: 48 countries attend conference on low grain prices. Soviet delegate reaffirms Soviet Union's plans to export as much grain as it pleases. Austrians call for United States to end prohibition, lower grain exports.
Berlin: President Hindenburg restricts freedom of speech, assembly, privacy with decree.
Managua: 2,000 dead in earthquake.
Local News
A sombre mood weighs heavily on the civilian administration: with global exports down, Reewiinite shipping has entered into a lean period. Income from taxes is projected to be low for the next financial year, and significant belt-tightening is expected for several branches of government, the armed forces included.The New Rifle
By late March, about 2,000 new rifles have arrived in the hands of the Reewiin Army. The Army is finally able to give every soldier a rifle. The cavalry and machine gun units still use Italian weapons, but nearly 6,000 men now carry Arisaka rifles. If deliveries continue on schedule, the old Arisakas will have been entirely replaced by the new Type 38 pattern before the Christian year is over.Alongside the Type 38 rifles, handfuls of Type 44 carbines have arrived. It's not yet enough to replace the Cavalry's Carcanos, but they have been seen training with them on occasion.
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- Pronouns
- She/Her
The Press: Vanderbilt Truth
Last week, just as the fuss over Major General Smedley Darlington Butler's "Mussolini Speech" had nearly died away. up popped Cornelius ("Neely") Vanderbilt Jr. in Los...
Rat King
Izutsumi-pilled
Unsurprisingly, the economy's tanking, and a pessimistic outlook suggests it'll be bad for a while.
If a war kicks off, at least, we might be able to sell Type 38s abroad and thus make enough money to continue our military procurement.
A silver lining, at least, is that we might be able to get some equipment for cheap.
If a war kicks off, at least, we might be able to sell Type 38s abroad and thus make enough money to continue our military procurement.
A silver lining, at least, is that we might be able to get some equipment for cheap.
Rat King
Izutsumi-pilled
The bad news is that the gear we can get for cheap will probably be older stuff.
- Location
- The Netherlands
Rome: In radio broadcast, Benito Mussolini assures United States of peaceful intent.
View: https://imgur.com/gallery/cIAg6
View: https://imgur.com/gallery/cIAg6
Turn 6 Planning: April 1931
Eukie
Powered by furious Canadian redheads
Turn 6 Planning: April 1931
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 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] Production Licensing: Rifle - Build a factory to produce a licensed version of a currently available rifle design. Write in the weapon of choice. (6 Months Remain) ☑☑◻◻
[X] Establish a Veterinary Oversight Office - Bringing hundreds of horses into Reewiin and establishing breeding programs will require extensive oversight, administrative effort, and coordination. (Constant Investment.)
[X] Production Licencing: Ammunition - Buy the tooling for one calibre of ammunition currently in service or soon to be in service. (3 Months Remain) ☑◻
[X] Doctrinal Reform: Army Drill - Dispatch the Army Training Detachment to spend time with each Carabinieri force, improving and formalising aspects of their training methods. These troops will be better suited as a wartime reserve and as partisans. (6 Months Remain) ☑◻◻
Kismayo-Turkana Line:
Progress, Kismayo-Marsabit: 57.5% (Est. completion June 1932)
Progress, Marsabit-Turkana: 18% (Est. completion October 1933)
Arisaka Rifles, Orders, and Production:
Progress, Rifle Deliveries: 15% (Est. completion June 1932)
Progress, Rifle Factory: None
Completed Projects:
[X] Information Review: Army - Determine the state, readiness, and mood of the Army. (3-Month Investment.) ☑Reports
Production Licensing: Ammunition: It is wholly expected that Reewiin will be granted the rights to produce the 6.5x50mm Arisaka round by Japan. While still in negotiations with Japanese army manufacturers, Reewiin dignitaries expect that work can begin on modifying the Bur Gaabo plant by the middle of 1931.Doctrinal Reform: Army Drill: The 1st and 2nd Companies of the Army Training Detachment have been dispatched to spend several months in each of the Carabinieri Regional Headquarters. Here they will drill elements of the border guards and militia and attempt to instil professional standards amongst them.
Unfortunately, the Battalion Gun Section could not accompany them, as they have been left behind in the Capital to prepare the new Anti-Air/Armour sections.
Veterinary Oversight Office: In a building adjacent to the Cavalry Offices, a new set of signs have gone up–the Veterinary Oversight Office has been formed. This will focus on managing incoming cattle and equine stock for use with Army logistics and breeding programs.
Information Review: Army: A thick report has landed on multiple desks towards the end of March 1931 (notably but coincidentally coinciding with the anniversary of the Battle of Anchem). Titled 'The Army of Reewiin: Its Nature and Disposition,' it purports to accurately account the status of the nation's six thousand men under arms.
The report finds the mood in the Army is generally positive. The soldiery at large have generally excellent morale and consider themselves widely prepared for action. This should not come as a surprise to the Defence Council, given that little is expected of them while also being well-paid enough to maintain large families on their singular salary. Those men equipped with the new rifle have found it to be a fine upgrade to their previous weapon, with the 1st Guards Regiment having completely reequipped themselves.
The Guard is generally more content than expected with the reorganisation of the Army. It is widely believed that in any actual wartime situation, the Headquarters detachments would simply attach themselves to the 1st Guards, and manoeuvres would proceed as they always have. There have been no significant exercises since the Defence Council took control to show any other option.
The officer corps, small and underserved as it may be, is looking forward to a brighter, better future for Reewiin and the Army in particular. While reforms and reorganisations are putting stress on the small numbers of junior and non-commissioned officers, this is mollified somewhat by the clear signs that the Defence Council is looking to improve all aspects of military thinking. The IJN Artillery contingent has also made approving noises about the modernisation of the Army. One has even commented about re-equipping the artillery with new Japanese pieces or a remounted 8 cm high-angle gun.
Uniform standards across the army are poor. The officers primarily wear IJA surplus or IJA style uniforms with several local affectations, and the cavalry troop are equipped similarly. Infantrymen wear whatever khaki or jungle green dyed outfit they can find and are often missing issued belts, pouches, and shoes.
When asked for their opinions on the future of Army reform, one point raised is that the Army currently has limited input on the Defence Council's decisions. While there is some respect for the civilian leadership, Japanese influence has led to the Army understanding its place as one with equal footing to the Council.
The last question raised by the report, and in some eyes perhaps the most important, is that of readiness. The report is not kind; the Army is undertrained, underequipped, and understaffed. With barely a handful of magazines fired per year by any infantryman, marksmanship is poor. Training exercises are rare to non-existent. The Guards spend most of their time practising for their next parade drill; the 2nd and 3rd regiments do even less, and are often seen roaming the streets of Bur Gaabo and Kismayo in groups of four or five, gambling and causing trouble. The artillery leans too heavily on their Japanese officers. The cavalry are incredibly proud of their horses to the point where they rarely exercise them en-masse.
Were a war declared tomorrow, the Army of Reewiin would stand up and fight, but the report has only limited faith in their ability to fight effectively.
The Guard is generally more content than expected with the reorganisation of the Army. It is widely believed that in any actual wartime situation, the Headquarters detachments would simply attach themselves to the 1st Guards, and manoeuvres would proceed as they always have. There have been no significant exercises since the Defence Council took control to show any other option.
The officer corps, small and underserved as it may be, is looking forward to a brighter, better future for Reewiin and the Army in particular. While reforms and reorganisations are putting stress on the small numbers of junior and non-commissioned officers, this is mollified somewhat by the clear signs that the Defence Council is looking to improve all aspects of military thinking. The IJN Artillery contingent has also made approving noises about the modernisation of the Army. One has even commented about re-equipping the artillery with new Japanese pieces or a remounted 8 cm high-angle gun.
Uniform standards across the army are poor. The officers primarily wear IJA surplus or IJA style uniforms with several local affectations, and the cavalry troop are equipped similarly. Infantrymen wear whatever khaki or jungle green dyed outfit they can find and are often missing issued belts, pouches, and shoes.
When asked for their opinions on the future of Army reform, one point raised is that the Army currently has limited input on the Defence Council's decisions. While there is some respect for the civilian leadership, Japanese influence has led to the Army understanding its place as one with equal footing to the Council.
The last question raised by the report, and in some eyes perhaps the most important, is that of readiness. The report is not kind; the Army is undertrained, underequipped, and understaffed. With barely a handful of magazines fired per year by any infantryman, marksmanship is poor. Training exercises are rare to non-existent. The Guards spend most of their time practising for their next parade drill; the 2nd and 3rd regiments do even less, and are often seen roaming the streets of Bur Gaabo and Kismayo in groups of four or five, gambling and causing trouble. The artillery leans too heavily on their Japanese officers. The cavalry are incredibly proud of their horses to the point where they rarely exercise them en-masse.
Were a war declared tomorrow, the Army of Reewiin would stand up and fight, but the report has only limited faith in their ability to fight effectively.
Defence Council Investment - April 1931
The Defence Council currently has 1 investment point available to be spent anywhere and 1 point to be spent on Breeding and Working.Industry and Logistics
- Armaments
[ ] 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 Licensing: Machine Guns - Attempt to buy the rights to produce a machine gun design. Include a weapon available in 1931 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
[ ] 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: 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
[ ] 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 - Send observation teams overseas to take the best ideas from foreign nations. (6-Month Investment.)
- Reforming the Carabinieri
[ ] 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.)
- Reforming the Army
[ ] 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.
[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJA institutional knowledge.
[ ] 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.
[ ] Optional: Request Japanese support for this program, improving impacts and benefiting from IJA 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 for many things and an identified issue is with the small officers numbers. While at the high level this is not a significant issue 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 NCO Cadre - Reewiin lacks an effective base of experienced sergeants and corporals. Improving this will improve the Army overall. Choose one:
[ ] Increase Recruitment (12-Month Investment.)
[ ] Write-in: How?
[ ] Increase Retention (6-Month Investment.)
[ ] Write-in: How?
[ ] New Uniform Standard - The current issued uniform barely qualifies and is only truly standardised amongst the officers and the cavalry. Order new, standardised uniforms and web gear for the whole army. (6-Month Investment)
[ ] Write-in: What do you order?
[ ] 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).
[ ] Give Council Position to Army Liaison - By letting an Army liaison vote on Council matters, we can reassure the Army that their concerns are given due weight. (3-Month Investment).
You are more than welcome to ask questions about what is acceptable as a write-in vote.
There will be a 6-hour moratorium on voting to encourage discussion. The vote will close in three days.
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- Location
- The Netherlands
[ ] 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.)
[ ] 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.)
I know some people want both of these instead of just one option. It might be an idea to do both options now in order to follow up with a combined breedingprogram next turn.
[ ] 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.)
I know some people want both of these instead of just one option. It might be an idea to do both options now in order to follow up with a combined breedingprogram next turn.
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- Location
- an unseen void
- Pronouns
- Any
Both will probably take longer than that to mature enough for the breeding programs to start. My goal is to do one this turn (probably donkeys & mules) and the second next turn, so we keep the per turn investment on animals from eating the rest of our budget.
For the other point -
I am....maybe okay with the army liaison council seat? Curious how people feel about that and also how it would be reflected in votes.
Also interested in NCO retention and the government review.
For the other point -
I am....maybe okay with the army liaison council seat? Curious how people feel about that and also how it would be reflected in votes.
Also interested in NCO retention and the government review.
- Pronouns
- He/They
I think this would be a good time for [ ] Analysis: The Foreigners Have Some Good Ideas. We are presumably going to start a training action in 6 months anyway once the Army Training Corps is free, and this would gain us some broader experience than Reewin and any Japanese advisors might have. If we do it and an animal acquisition program this turn, another animal acquisition program next turn, we should be able to buy new uniforms the turn after that once our current purchasing actions have wound up. Since there might be some budget trouble, spreading out purchases makes sense even if it kind of sucks to delay on the uniforms.
4WheelSword
The original N-body Problem
- Pronouns
- It/She/They
You're welcome to write something in, but we make no promises that you'll achieve additional information. This is not an intelligence operation in the modern sense.
The latter.