God save the tsar (Imperial Russia quest)

[ed0016]

[X] Plan: 'Operation: Remove Kebab'

 

[Star]

Let's see how this war effects the Great Game. I suspect Britain would ally with the Ottomans, hoping to kneecap our expansion into Afghanistan that threatens their Indian possessions. Seeing as the Hunza–Nagar Campaign - Wikipedia has yet to come to pass.

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Ottomans are kind of wild card because while we are at bad relationship now it doesn't mean that we will be later, other great powers beside Russia took bite from their clay after all, or have said aspirations.

Plus there is Greman factor to take into consideration as well, they might still draw Ottomans into their own sphere and with certain guarantees from us they might as well succeed.

 

[Thule]

a lot of countries are now up in the air on who they would ally if it came to war like the kingdom of Romania as there is no way it would ally with the Entente as they are now box in by Russia, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. even Italy and Greece wont probably join the Entente

 

[captain_mercury]

vote closed

 

[SpicyAussie]

Imperial Russian Army: Standard Infantry, Ryadovoy (Private) circa. 1889

Uniform:​

Model 1889 Camouflaged Uniform
Coming in 2 different standard colours, that being drab coloured, and grass coloured, the uniform was created with the purpose of trench warfare and limited wars of movements in mind.

The uniform is the first to replace the leather belts and pouches of previous generations infantry gear with webbing mad from thick, woven cotton. The webbing is comprised a wide belt, left and right ammunition pouches which held 75 rounds each, left and right braces, a bayonet frog and attachment for the entrenching tool handle, an entrenching tool head in web cover, water bottle carrier, small haversack and large pack. A mess tin was worn attached to one of the packs and was contained inside a cloth buff-coloured khaki cover. Inside the haversack were personal items, knife and when on war-footing, unused portions of the daily ration. (Section mostly borrowed from the British 1908 Pattern Webbing)

The sections of the uniform consisted of lightweight woolen undershirt and underwear, underneath a mostly woollen shirt and overall-type pants and leather belt. Over the top of the uniform is a first-generation trench coat stolen adapted from the British designers Burberry and Aquascutum. (I am mostly making this up as I go, so this is pretty bare. Basically, mid WW1 uniforms, after nations realised bright colours was a bad idea)

Helmet provides protection from bullets and shrapnel, with a brim to cover the forehead and wide flares over the ears. The helmet is also fitted with a comb on top, which allows for ventilation of the infantrymen's head. (This is basically the SSh-36, which took the lessons from WW1, that our generals already seem to know the basics of.)


The Standard Infantrymen was required to carry several additional items that are key for sustained fighting, including:

• 150 rounds of ammunition (7.62x54mmR)
• Bayonet
• Water bottle
• Model 1889 Entrenching tool – Foldable head
• Blanket

Weapon
3-line rifle M1887 (Mosin-Nagant Rifle)

Specifications:
​

Mass: 4 kg (8.8 lb)
Length: 1,232 mm (48.5 in)
Cartridge: 7.62×54mmR (aka 7.62 Russian)
Action: Bolt-action
Muzzle Velocity: Light ball, 865 m/s (2,838 ft/s) rifle
Effective Range: 500 m (550 yards), 800+ m (875+ yards with optics)
Feed System: 5-round non-detachable magazine, loaded individually or with 5-round stripper clips.

Quote from Sergei Mosins brother:
"This bad ass [Expletive removed] has a grand total of 25 parts, and only 12 are actually required for it to function. With a butt plate made of pure skull crushing steel and a bayonet as long as your arm, this son of a [Expletive removed] was made to kill from end to end, and did I forget to mention that this [Expletive removed] bayonet makes those German [Expletive removed] look like a tooth pick." (quoted, with…corrections, from Urban Dictionary)

Excerpt from Imperial Russian Army field manual:
Note that your rifle is an essential part of the Russian Empire and has been handed to you specifically for the purpose of seeking the death of her enemies, this means that this is a gift to you from the Tsar himself. Therefore, using your rifle as a still for making vodka is inappropriate behaviour for a member of the Imperial Russian Army. Despite the fact that it is possible for several parts, including the firing ping, stock, barrel and cleaning kit, to be used to create a still (diagrams shown on the next page) it is heavily discouraged. The use of your gunpowder to add 'kick' to the resulting vodka is also to be avoided.

Notes found scrawled underneath:
General Ignatiev: 4 litres, delivered by 4 March
General Kivekäs: 8 litres, delivered by 28 February
Major Bibikov: 2 litres, delivered by 12 March
Field Marshall Nikolai II: 12 litres, delivered by January 1

Edit: this is my best attempt at trying to show what our average soldier is. Parts were inserted in order to try and adjust it to the era we are in

 

[godofsmallthings]

Haha this is great.

 

[SpicyAussie]

Haha this is great.

Click to shrink...

Thanks, initially it was just going to be a dry and serious report, but when I was doing research on the Mosin I came across that lovely piece and just had to include it.

 

[captain_mercury]

ok to those that dont know my cpu had a problem and the file with roll 8 result got deleted so the new update is dalayed for at least tommorow (my muse got depressed by these) and i started an other quest which its not going to replace these one, im writting it so i can improve and make this quest better

 

[captain_mercury]

Diplomacy (pick three)


Let's go to war (can't be taken with wait up)

Now that the plan red has been finished the only thing left is to declare war against the Ottomans.

Chances of success: 100 %

Reward: war declared

Needed: 0

Rolled: 81

To be continued in "News from the world part 2"


Land of criollos

With Argentina being the biggest country, in terms of land, in your sphere invest in them to keep away from countries like Britain or the US and to secure food supplier should a famine break out.

You can invest in (pick one):

Industrialization

Chance of success: 60%

Rewards: Increase influence in Argentina

Needed: 40

Rolled: 104 (crit roll: 74)

With Brazil now a member of the pact of then north industrialization in Argentina seems like a good idea and Mijail managed to exceed your expectation and improving Argentina to a medium industrialized country

Rewards: Argentina gain medium industrialization Increase influence in Argentina


The Andes

With Chile in your zone, you have access to the south pacific and now almost fully control the passage of ships who cross America invests in them so you can keep them close to you.

You can invest in (pick one):

Electrification

Chance of success: 60%

Rewards: Increase influence Chile

Needed: 40

Rolled: 114 (crit roll: 96)

The electrification of Chile went smoothly and now thanks to a great job done by the workers the country has electricity in both the north and the center of it leaving only the south to plan for.

Rewards: North and center of Chile electrified Increase influence Chile.



Military (pick three)



Don't worry I am an engineer

With the studying of the American civil war Brusilov discovered the importance of a good fortification and why it needs men that know how to maintain it, establish Russia's first engineer corps.

Chance of success: 50 %

Rewards: engineer corps founded (grant +5 to army defense)

Needed: 50

Rolled: 66

The new engineer corps was finally ready, there are some who believe that it served no purpose after all if ordered a soldier would do the same thing, but it's your belief and Brusilovs that having men who know how to fortify an area in the army would help improve the army defense

Rewards: engineer corps founded (grant +5 to army defense)


Introducing the car

The armored car can be very beneficial to your forces, but you'll need to adapt them into the doctrine, Brusilov tells you that he will see it done.

Chances of success: 65%

Rewards: armored car (grants +5 in army ground combat rolls)

Needed: 65

Rolled: 85

This concept was a revolutionary one, it allowed machine gunners to advance towards the enemy with enough cover so that both the driver and the gunner were protected from the enemy.

Rewards: armored car (grants +5 in army ground combat rolls)


New uniforms

The use of brightly colored uniforms and trenches do not go well together, it makes your soldiers easy targets for the enemy, a designer proposed to give those uniforms with the color of the dirt or grass so that they can blend in with their surroundings.

Chance of success: 70 %

Reward: camouflaged uniforms (+5 to army stealth)

Needed: 30

Rolled: 116 (crit roll: 77)

The new uniforms were a success, with the new colors of drab and grass your men were less likely to be spotted in the trenches, allowing them to stay a little bit more hidden from the enemy.

Reward: camouflaged uniforms (+5 to army stealth)




Intrigue (pick two)


I spy with my little aye

With the ISB you can now start screening for foreign agents and stop them from discovering your secrets and plans.

Chance of success: 65 %

Reward: enemy agents discovered.

Needed: 35

Rolled: 85

It seems that the French did not take well your rejection regarding their alliance, several agents have been found in compromising locations now you have to decide what you are going to do with them

Reward: enemy agents discovered new actions unlocked.


What Russian advisors?

With your agents now inside the Ottoman Empire send military advisors so that the Armenian army can fight in a coordinated manner.

Chances of success: 65%

Rewards: +10 to the Armenian army

Needed: 35

Rolled: 70

Igor reports that the advisor you sent are now training the Armenian army to be a military that can aid your men instead of dragging them down in fights

Rewards: +10 to the Armenian army




Research and development (pick two)


Do you like my truck?

With the cars now working, there is a possibility of creating a larger version so that more people can fit in them, the army seems interested in this idea.

Chances of success; 50%

Rewards: truck now a possibility and new actions unlocked

Needed: 50

Rolled: 65

The new trucks seem like an idea that has both military and civilian uses, with the first few, now constructed you can now integrate them with the army and to the general public

Rewards: truck now a possibility and new actions unlocked



It needs more armor

Now that the armored car has been created Tesla can add more armor to it to protect the operators in a much better way.

Chances of success: 80%

Rewards: better-armored cars (armored car improves from +5 to +10)

Needed: 20

Rolled: 62

The new variant of the armored car seems to be an improvement, with better protection for the driver and gunner and good stability for the gun this new weapon will defiantly help break some of the deadlocks in the fighting.

Rewards: better-armored cars (armored car improves from +5 to +10)



Stewardship (pick two)


Awaken the bear (locked for 2 turns)

Now that Witte finished with his plans he can start implementing them in the regions he managed to plan (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Moscow, Belarus region).

Chance of success: 50% (will last 3 turns)

Rewards: industrialization of the region chosen.


The Caucasus

The Caucasus region connects you to the Ottoman Empire and with the war approaching surveying the region seems like a good idea.

Chance of success: 75% (will last 2 turns)

Rewards: can now plan industrialization of the Caucasus region and railway

Needed: 25

Rolled: 51

The Caucasus region is now being explored you can only hope that the results are positive.


The Urals (locked for one turn)

The Ural Mountains stand between you and the Far East tell Witte to send people there so that he can plan their industry, railways, and electrification

Chance of success: 60% (will last 3 turns)

The Urals survey finished this year and with it, you can now plan the railway and the industry for the new region, you can also look for men to start surveying the Far East region.

Rewards: can now plan industrialization of Ural region and railway




Personal (pick two)


Pen pals part 3

Now that you are engaged your mother recommends starting talking with her for both of you to begin building some sort of friendship at the very least.

Chance of success: 90%

Reward: You and Victoria continue developing friendship

Needed: 10

Rolled: 59

Letter from Victoria have slowed down this 6 months, partially because of the war your country is about to start, nonetheless you still send and receive a few of them where you learn that she is excelling in her studies, and that she wants you to either visit England or for her to go to Russia.

Reward: You and Victoria continue developing friendship



Visiting troops

With the war near the soldiers and sailors could use a visit from you, it will help with their moral.

Chance of success: 80%

Reward: Soldier's moral increased

Needed: 20

Rolled: 96


Continued in interlude VI



Event roll: 30 Brazil is now allied with Britain, now a member of the pact of the north.

 

[captain_mercury]

finally done with the update the interludes and the war turns will come tomorrow.

edit: sorry if its not on the same level than the others, losing the first draft was a bummer.

 

[RandomDwarf]

well this is interesting...is Brazil in our turf? If not then we just really pushed south America to be pretty decent in terms of standards...we just need to continue to invest and create better industrial and electrical purposes...

and if we get Tesla coils and other little bits and bobs? Tesla is going to be a very famous man in Russia!

 

[Thule]

there are 2 things we are gonna need to do in the future with the Caucasus now open we need to find the oil there and do [] let's build it, so we get more shipyards so we get more ships

 

[SpicyAussie]

Ok, things went well this turn, no major fires that need to be put out. Focus is to be placed on the Armenian War, which we have spent several turns working on so it's all good

Question Carvacho, does getting crits actually have any mechanical benefits, or is it just a thing that happens?

 

[captain_mercury]

if you crit high enough you get bonuses in actions meaning that you skip some if the action has is 2 turn time for reserch is cut short

 

[SpicyAussie]

So for something like the camo uniforms it doesn't mean much?

 

[captain_mercury]

So for something like the camo uniforms it doesn't mean much?

Click to shrink...

with the uniforms unfortunatly no

 

[Redhead222]

wonder if we can invent something that could at least slow scrapnel or something that might make thing just a bit better?

i think the leather stuff might help with that some.

other then that like the update a lot.

 

[SpicyAussie]

wonder if we can invent something that could at least slow scrapnel or something that might make thing just a bit better?

i think the leather stuff might help with that some.

Click to shrink...

The technology just isn't there for that. The closest you get until the invention of Kevlar in the 50's (or earlier if we are involved) is the steel plates that the Soviets used in WW2 and helmets, which we already have.

 

[Redhead222]

The technology just isn't there for that. The closest you get until the invention of Kevlar in the 50's (or earlier if we are involved) is the steel plates that the Soviets used in WW2 and helmets, which we already have.

Click to shrink...

thinking more like heavy leather or something along those lines.

nothing that would likely stop a direct bullet but might just help with scrapnel or a graze or something.
the fact that we had too "invent" helmets is still something that somewhat shocks me.

also how many of our army officers are still of the old guard lead them from the front (with or without a sword) type? you know the kind one seen at the start of WW1 in england and got killed a lot of?

 

[SpicyAussie]

also how many of our army officers are still of the old guard lead them from the front (with or without a sword) type? you know the kind one seen at the start of WW1 in england and got killed a lot of?

Click to shrink...

Speaking of that, I'm actually in the middle of an omake that deals with a cossack general seeing an armoured car for the first time. Mostly because we have been focusing on cars over horses and I wanted to write his reaction to that.

 

[SpicyAussie]

The Cossack's Understanding

"What do you mean the Tsar isn't funding the cavalry!" shouted Cossack General Alexey Kaledin, his prominent moustache bristling at the thought. He is holding a man by the collars of his shirt up to his face, his shouts spitting flecks onto his cheeks.

"S-sir the Tsar has announced that due to recent developments in technology tha-that he will pursue Teslas 'Armoured Cars' as a new type of cavalry" the Generals adjutant managed to stammer out.

"Bah" the General drops the the aide, who manages to stumble away clutching his throat. "As if Teslas 'toys'" He spits, "can match honest Russian steel and horse. Our traditions have been in them for generations, I will not be the first Cossack in five hundred years to trade our steeds for simple metal contraptions"

The General stalks back around to his desks and reads the communique from High Command personally, looking more and more irritated by the line.

"Hmm" he huffs, "Aide!" he commands.

"S-sir!" the man comes to attention.

"Take me to one these metal boxes" he commands

{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}


"These don't look any special" Kaledin comments, pacing around the armoured car like a battleship circling for a broadside.

"Sir, this is the 'Moscow Automobile Works Armoured Car Model 2" she is equipped with a standard heavy machinegun, a half inch of steel armour and can travel at 80 km/h over 300 kilometres" pipes a young lieutenant who was the commander of this section of armoured cars, his badge which detailed him as part of the Motor Corp still shining from the factory.

"80 kilometres an hour over 300km!?" the General questioned, surprised by the speed and longevity of the automobile. He had imagined them as nothing more as a worse horse.

"Yes sir, with our new all-terrain wheels and machinegun we can provide as much firepower as a platoon of men with only one of my beauties" the lieutenant was obviously very happy about his position "Me and the men are even thinking of new ways we can use them, we were thinking something like charging gaps in the line, trusting in our armour and guns to punch holes in the enemies front for the infantry to clean up."

"Hmm" the Generals hum was more considering this time. The cars are sounding more and more like horses then he had imagined. The guns and armour sound like they would let his men survive for longer and do more damage as well. "I would like to ride it" he stated"

"Yes Sir"

The Lieutenant guided the General into the driver's seat and started to explain how to drive but was interrupted.

"I know how to use these contraptions" he said resting his hands on the steering wheel "My idiot of a son bought one of Teslas first models".

He turned on the armoured car, hearing the soft whine that came with the electric engine.

"You can drive it over to the training course we set up just past the camp sir, we are allowed to use live ammo on it." His guide informed "maybe you can beat our course record sir" the man smiled, eager to warm the General up to his beloved vehicle.

Driving the vehicle to the range General Kaledin looked out the armoured slit to the starter.

"Go!" the starter said, holding a stopwatch in one hand, firing a pistol into the air with his other.

The General accelerated around the first corner and seeing that a wooden silhouette of a Turkish soldier had been set up ordered to the machine gunner "Fire on that target!"

The machinegun was near deafening in the confines of the car, but the feeling of power that went through the Generals body as he fired it was extraordinary. As he proceeded to press the accelerator all the way, gunning around the corner, more targets appeared, and the machinegun continued to fire.

As he drove the car around the course and the machinegun thundered throughout the vehicle, the General did not see himself in a training camp. No, the General saw himself charging on a field towards an enemy trench line. looking to his left he expected to see his fellow Cossacks on their stallions, but instead he saw them driving armoured cars similar to his own, guns blazing and shouting their traditional war cries. He realised his heart was resounding in his chest and he roared as he charged towards the enemy, eager to see the fear in their eyes and fleeing before him.

"Sir!"

He was close, he could almost see them.

"Sir!"

They were scattering before him, but it was odd. His machinegun had stopped firing, why would it do that?

"SIR, BREAK!"


General Kaledin looked at the man beside him, who was clutching one of the handles in the car, then back to the viewport. He was heading for a tent and the enemy soldiers were actually his own who were running away from the seemingly out of control vehicle.

He slammed on the brakes, the lieutenant shooting forward and catching himself on the machinegun. Thankfully they were slowing down but it would be close. The car managed to brake within two feet of the tents, an annoyed private poking his head out then nearly passing out in shock at what he sees.

Kaledin sits in the driver's seat, breathing heavily, the steering wheel clutched in a deadmans grip. He was so caught up in the illusion of battle that he saw that coming back to real life sent his heart racing.

"S-sir, are you alright?" The lieutenant asked, his face pale from the near catastrophe. Inside he is hoping that this accident did not cause the General to speak against his cars.

"I-I'm fine Lieutenant" the General replied.

The lieutenant started to climb out of the armoured car, Kaledin following him. As they exit a group of men, including the several of the Generals own men and the course timer run over to him.

"General are you hurt?!"

"General that damn vehicle nearly killed you!"

"General that time was amazing!"


"Silence!" General Kaledin commanded. The men went quiet, fearful of the general's wrath. Kaledin took a second to breath in the crisp air of the camp before asking "What was that last one?"

The timer for the course startles, then straightens up.

"Sir, your time broke the record of the course and it was some of the best driving I've ever seen!"

Several of the Motor Corp men muttered appreciative words at that.

The General takes a moment to acknowledge what the timer said, then casts and appreciative gaze over the armoured car. Turning back to the assembled troops, he particularly looks at his fellow Cossacks with a speculative gaze.

Before walking back to his camp, he only says one sentence.

"I think I'd like a few of those for my command"

{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}{Line Break}


A few weeks later at the Moscow Automobile Works main factory

"What do you mean we've just got an order for 50,000 new Armoured Cars! That's double what we made for the Motor Corps!"

 

[Redhead222]

Speaking of that, I'm actually in the middle of an omake that deals with a cossack general seeing an armoured car for the first time. Mostly because we have been focusing on cars over horses and I wanted to write his reaction to that.

Click to shrink...

this might sound angry but is not meant that way.

none of that addressed my question!

thanks anyway for the response

 

[SpicyAussie]

none of that addressed my question!

Click to shrink...

I don't know, maybe being in a car with an inch of steel in front of them might stop them from copping too many bullets to the head.

Mostly I was trying to show them putting their tendencies for charging the enemy into a useful outlet, such as an early invention of Blitzkrieg

 

[bryanfran36]

Seriously, looking at our military advancements we are relatively in the late 1910s to the early to 1920s in tech and doctrine without the bloody meatgrinder lessons of the First World War sans submachineguns, stormtroopers and airplanes!

We have drab uniforms when the first ones were the British taking khaki in their 1902 Boer War.

We have post-WW1 helmets adopted after a study, which historically such things done where rejected due to reasons.

We have integrated combat medics and machineguns when those were either where separate units not under central command for the former and battalion-level for the artillery branch for the latter.

We have armoured cars and the skeleton for a mobike formation when those thoughts were still the stuff of dreams and deemed not traditional and possibly money wasters by higher command.

We have formalised and integrated military engineers when the times they were created adhoc and temporarily for a single campaign or siege.

The Armenian conflict is definitely gonna be an eye opener to military observers everywhere.

 

[SpicyAussie]

Hell next turn could be even better for us:

Early radio if we role well enough on the Tesla coil

Military logistics trucks in an era where horse drawn carts are the pinnacle of military supplies

Tanks, planes and even better automobiles

Hell, we haven't even gone into the Penicillin and the vaccine trees yet