GiovanniBlasini
Transhumanist Nutcase from Niops IX
- Location
- San Diego, CA, USA, Sol III
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Build a series of Medium and Missile submarines to re-equip our decimated submarine forces
Rule The Waves 3 - A Graphical Experiment - Complete
- Thread starter 4WheelSword
- Start date
- Location
- Wörms, the half continent
[X] Build a series of Medium and Missile submarines to re-equip our decimated submarine forces
More Quiet Times
4WheelSword
The original N-body Problem
- Pronouns
- It/She/They
Which one should we run? Build a series of Medium and Missile submarines to re-equip our decimated submarine forces.
Night Fighters
While the idea of flying at night has been beyond us for decades, the development of radar and other electro-optical detection systems may have finally put us on the right track for developing such a system. We are not quite there yet but with airborne radars perhaps, perhaps. And then we have it! Finally, in April of 1955, our clever scientists develop a series of instruments that combine radar, telescopes and a particular kind of image enhancement to allow specific types of aircraft to operate (and especially to land) at night. We begin the training of several torpedo bomber squadrons as well as some of our land based patrol units for night flying.
In May we lay down our first class of modern submarines. Six of the Sirene-class, a modified version of the previous generation of Loutre-class submarines that were built during the war, are laid down in the South coast ports, while another six missile-carrying submarines of the Ludion-class are laid down at Cherbourg and Dunkerque where information control is tighter.
The Ludion, the first French missile carrying submarine
We also begin a rebuild program for our original large carriers, the Bois Bellau-class. Most of this program consists of tearing out the old casemate 150mm guns and re-mounting the single 100mm DP guns into twin 75mm autoloaded turrets. Accommodation spaces are rebuilt to be more comfortable for the 2,000 sailors living aboard and she will receive new masts for her radar and electronics. In the same month, Neptune arrives with the fleet with her expansive angled deck and is equipped with her aircraft - 22 light jet fighters, 12 dive bombers, 10 torpedo bombers trained for night flying and an eight aircraft strong special squadron including the first deployment of helicopters aboard a ship.
Torpedo bombers
During the last war with Italy we transitioned a lot of our torpedo bomber squadrons over to dive bombers in the hopes of keeping them alive in modern combat conditions. Now torpedo bombers are some of our best options for night-time strikes against enemy warships. This has led to a resurgence in the torpedo bomber and the request for a new, modern design being sent out to tender.
The Heroine class are ordered into a major service life extension program, with the following goals:
- Upgrading the 300mm guns to the best our modern industry can build
- Enhancing the secondary battery to improve the ships as carrier guards
- Replacing the old coal fire engines and improving the ships speed by applying additional horsepower
- Providing fittings more modern radar, including new masts and better upper works
It will be an expensive program, and will last a year, but it will provide better protection for our modern carriers than we could previously have hoped for.
Heroine before thirty years of rebuilds and upgrades.
The wear between Japan and Russia ends with Annam - traditionally French territory - ceded from Japan to the Soviets. Perhaps we need to spend some time reminding them who controls that particular quarter of South East Asia.
Money Saving
With the encroachment of high technology and the developments of several fields, we no longer need as many of our older ships. They Gloire-class cruisers are the first victims, these forty year old cruisers finally reaching the end of their service life. One, however, the Marseillaise, will survive her sisters as the centrepiece of a naval museum. Eighteen destroyers are not so lucky, heading for the scrap yards rather than receiving another refit to restore their creaking hulls.
Tensions are rising with Germany and by August of 1956 we are growing concerned that they will end up committing to some transgression that forces a war.
What is our policy with the Germans?
[ ] Appeasement - We cannot afford a war with them currently.
[ ] Aggression - Hit them hard and fast in the North Sea.
[ ] Disinterest - Let them be angry, we are not even going to consider them.
- Location
- his hidden lair
[X] Aggression - Hit them hard and fast in the North Sea.
The carrier gap will only widen, and the strength of air power will only grow. We must secure a decisive victory for the Marine Nationale while our battle line has parity and retains relevancy. Their naval air wing might be longer, but land based aviation can rapidly be spooled up and will be telling in the narrow confines of the North Sea around German home waters.
The carrier gap will only widen, and the strength of air power will only grow. We must secure a decisive victory for the Marine Nationale while our battle line has parity and retains relevancy. Their naval air wing might be longer, but land based aviation can rapidly be spooled up and will be telling in the narrow confines of the North Sea around German home waters.
- Location
- Soviet Canuckistan
[X] Disinterest - Let them be angry, we are not even going to consider them.
Berlin does not dictate French policy, we will continue as we are, and should they take offense, we shall slap them down.
Berlin does not dictate French policy, we will continue as we are, and should they take offense, we shall slap them down.
- Pronouns
- They/She
[X] Disinterest - Let them be angry, we are not even going to consider them.
The End of History? part 2
4WheelSword
The original N-body Problem
- Pronouns
- It/She/They
What is our policy with the Germans? Disinterest - Let them be angry, we are not even going to consider them.
The Rebuild
As the first Sirene-class submarines come off their blocks we immediately lay down more boats of the same class, expanding the submarine force even further. We may have the third largest submarine force in the world, but we would preferably like to return to the sixty boats we had before the war. We also develop the first ever surface-to-surface missile, an adaptation of a heavy air-to-surface missile that can be launched from a warship and guided onto a target either by directors or by radio control.
The Horrors
March 1957 is a tragic month - the destroyer Valmy is sunk with all hands when she is hit by a spread of torpedoes from an unidentified submarine while conducting a standard patrol in the North Sea. While no information is forthcoming about which nation was responsible for this travesty, we have our suspicions and we begin preparing a case for the Hague. The International Criminal Court will find the truth, and meanwhile we order our destroyers to run their Sonar whenever they are patrolling near enemy waters.
The Minister of the Navy hears about this and comes to the obvious conclusion - our most modern destroyers are not properly equipped for the needs of the fleet. The Marine Nationale requires at least twenty new destroyers and nothing short of the best will do! With a grumble we begin planning a pair of new designs, one heavy fleet destroyer and one smaller patrol destroyers. Both will take advantage of several new systems available to ships of their kind, including modern radars, anti-submarine systems and aluminium super-structures to reduce top weight.
The 3,500 ton Pistolet-class mounts eight 125mm dual-purpose autoloaded guns, a secondary battery of radar directed anti-air autocannons and four heavy SSM tubes of the same kind fitted to the Bouvet. She will have modern anti-submarine detection systems and weapons, and a four-tube torpedo launcher amidships intended primarily for attacking submarines. She will be capable of 35 knots on 70,000 horsepower and in a just world would probably be considered an unprotected cruiser rather than a destroyer.
The 1,700 ton Baliste-class is no simpler a design despite its size. Six 75mm autoloaded guns, a smaller AA battery and just two missile tubes on the quarterdeck make up her primary armament. She mounts the same anti-submarine systems as her big sister and is also capable of 35 knots on just 30,000 horsepower, requiring half the crew to run as well. She is intended mostly for overseas duties and anti-submarine warfare rather than fleet escort.
We lay down eight of the larger class and twelve of the smaller class by August of 1957.
The End of History
Decolonisation is the word on the street, as the Americans establish a special independent zone in Guantanamo Bay to experiment with self-rule while Britain grants independence to the Falkland Islands with barely a murmur. We raise the idea of a naval arms treaty to limit our enemies growth, but while much talk is had, nothing concrete comes of it. It truly feels like the fantastic broiling mystery of global politics of the last 70 years is coming to a close.
In October of 1958 we are staring down a budget surplus of great size as the missile destroyer program comes to an end and these fine ships join the navy.
What should we focus our budget on? Choose two;
[ ] More fleet carriers of the La Fayette type
[ ] Increased land based air power
[ ] More surface warfare ships armed with missiles, including protected cruisers
[ ] Small Carriers equipped for anti-submarine warfare
[ ] Submarine forces to rival Italy or Spain.
[ ] Write-in
MordredRaal
Agitating
- Pronouns
- She/They
[X] Submarine forces to rival Italy or Spain.
[X] Small Carriers equipped for anti-submarine warfare
[X] Small Carriers equipped for anti-submarine warfare
- Location
- Soviet Canuckistan
[X] More fleet carriers of the La Fayette type
[X] More surface warfare ships armed with missiles, including protected cruisers
It looks like we actually have the chance to get another big flattop, so we should try for it. Also, missile boats are going to rapidly become the backbone of warfare, so we'd best get in on the ground floor.
[X] More surface warfare ships armed with missiles, including protected cruisers
It looks like we actually have the chance to get another big flattop, so we should try for it. Also, missile boats are going to rapidly become the backbone of warfare, so we'd best get in on the ground floor.
- Location
- Wörms, the half continent
[X] Submarine forces to rival Italy or Spain.
[X] More surface warfare ships armed with missiles, including protected cruisers
I don't want another big flat top until we can manage a jet-sized angled deck, which I don't think we can.
[X] More surface warfare ships armed with missiles, including protected cruisers
I don't want another big flat top until we can manage a jet-sized angled deck, which I don't think we can.
- Pronouns
- They/She
[X] More fleet carriers of the La Fayette type
[X] More surface warfare ships armed with missiles, including protected cruisers
[X] More surface warfare ships armed with missiles, including protected cruisers
- Location
- his hidden lair
[X] More fleet carriers of the La Fayette type
[X] Submarine forces to rival Italy or Spain.
The missile destroyers should give us a big leg up in having surface combatants for this new paradigm- but I'm not sure if we can adequately protect a protected cruiser from and anti ship missiles just yet. Missile subs would let us bolster our missile capacity with platforms that are more survivable.
[X] Submarine forces to rival Italy or Spain.
The missile destroyers should give us a big leg up in having surface combatants for this new paradigm- but I'm not sure if we can adequately protect a protected cruiser from and anti ship missiles just yet. Missile subs would let us bolster our missile capacity with platforms that are more survivable.
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- Location
- Yes
[X] More fleet carriers of the La Fayette type
[X] More surface warfare ships armed with missiles, including protected cruisers
Have we waited long enough for it to be worth doing a half sister for La Fayette instead of a repeat? Regardless, we need to develop the large carrier force even more, now that we are truly in the missile age.
[X] More surface warfare ships armed with missiles, including protected cruisers
Have we waited long enough for it to be worth doing a half sister for La Fayette instead of a repeat? Regardless, we need to develop the large carrier force even more, now that we are truly in the missile age.
The Edge of Tomorrow
4WheelSword
The original N-body Problem
- Pronouns
- It/She/They
What should we focus our budget on? Choose two; More fleet carriers of the La Fayette type, More surface warfare ships armed with missiles, including protected cruisers
Carriers and Cruisers
Our first move towards this new fleet is a version of the La Fayette large carrier that is fundamentally identical in hull form and design, but which develops the straight-deck of the proceeding design into the angled deck previously seen on the smaller Neptune class. The Joffre will be used to test the carrier for the heavier jets and attackers now in service with the fleet before the La Fayette receives a similar reconstruction.
As for protected cruisers, we begin working on a ship that carriers forwards some of the concepts indicated in the enhanced Bouvet design. The Condor-class is a 9,900 ton ship with five twin 150mm dual purpose gun mounts, four missile tubes, six torpedo tubes and numerous radar directed smaller guns. She will be a true replacement for much of our older cruiser fleet, incorporating all the lessons of the modern navy including Aluminium superstructures.
Out in the rest of the world, things are tense. The British and the Germans are staring at each other across the broad stretches of the North Sea, daring each other to come closer, to threaten one another, to launch the first missile. The United States is backing its Anglo counterpart, conducting a variety of carrier operations around Norway to make its presence known. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the Soviets and Japan are once again at each others throats and it is only so long until they end up skirmishing again, surely.
Construction program
We eventually lay down six of the Cassard-class, alongside a single Joffre, which should keep our yards happy for the next few years. We also lay down another handful of medium submarines, simply to ensure we retain institutional knowledge in construction. The Navy beats the Army in a game of football, and morale across the navy improves. We try to ignore global tensions as our submarines and corvettes trail American, British, German and Soviet fleets just to keep an eye on them, even though those tensions are terrifyingly high.
As we watch, war breaks out between the United States and Germany. Intercontinental bombers cross the Atlantic both ways, interceptors in Norway, Germany and the East Coast screaming into the air on jets and rockets to engage them. The naval war starts quietly but will surely ramp up into surface engagements before too long.
War? Not for us
A major political crisis breaks out between us and Great Britain and we do everything in our power to soothe those bullish Brits. We are already on the verge of war with Germany, and we cannot face conflict with both nations at once - We can only hope that they accept our apologies and do not decide that conflict is the best thing.
Somehow the German fleet has found its way out to the American West Coast, and in a series of indecisive actions manage to sink the US destroyer USS Hopewell. We receive reports that there are discussions with opening a front with France in the German war planners office and we cannot help but wonder what the hell they're doing. Maybe we should consider opening our ports to the US fleet just to show the Germans what a bad idea that would be...
War breaks out between the Soviets and Japan for the second time since 1950, and we can only watch in terror as the missiles streak across the gap between Sakhalin and Japan proper. In the first engagement between the fleets, both Japan and the Soviets lose a Super Cruiser - the Marshal Timoshenko and the Iburi both sinking in the same engagement. Japan loses another capital ship, the battleship Yashima, a month later.
There is no escape from conflict
Of course we cannot evade the British for so long. One a visit to one of our African colonies, a senior dignitary of the government has been kidnapped and executed by a group of anarchist rebels; rebels that are apparently funded entirely by the British Ministry of Intelligence. In an ideal world we would issue an ultimatum to them, but we are staring down the barrel of the second largest fleet in the world - we issue a protest, publicise their involvement but make no demands of the British.
Heavy, anxious breathing
We do, at least, spend some time usefully selecting a new light fighter. The Loire 299 is our fastest aircraft to date, with good guns and the ability to carry light anti-ship missiles if it's not needed for escort duty. With a range of over 800km and a maximum speed of 830 knots (or 430m/s) she will be our most agile and hopefully survivable aircraft.
And then on the 8th of May 1960, Germany declares war.
At the outbreak of war, the balance of power is as follows:
- Germany has the budget and the tonnage advantage, but this will hopefully be at least partially mitigated by the involvement of the Americans.
- We have the capital ship advantage, and while the German ships are generally superior, the same could be said of the Italians in the last war and we were able to hunt down several major warships without losses.
- There is no argument to be had - the German carrier fleet is more capable and larger than ours, and we are going to have to be smart if we wish to reduce these numbers significantly.
- While there is little to say about their (larger, more modern) cruiser force, we must at least point out the true points of concern. For example, the Luneburg-class carries an array of missile weapons inconceivable to our naval scientists.
- The German Destroyer and Corvette fleet is not particular modern and while they have more hulls they are going to need them. We outnumber their submarine fleet by a factor of five, and will likely build many more boats during this war.
How must we conduct this war?
[ ] Seek allies and crush them together!
[ ] Slowly ruin them with submarines and raiders.
[ ] Meet them on the high seas and smash them apart.
[ ] Something else, write-in.
- Location
- Soviet Canuckistan
EDIT:
[X] Write in: Pursue a strategy of surface attrition in the hopes of creating a joint blockade with the Americans
If the Yanks are fighting Germany already, we can hopefully draw them into a more formal alliance, or at least let them do a little damage before we commit.
Changing my vote to match Frangible's; that's probably a workable strat even if the USA doesn't want to ally.
Vehrec: Atomic weapons are not part of the game, unless there's mods at play (or something has changed in a recent patch)
[X] Write in: Pursue a strategy of surface attrition in the hopes of creating a joint blockade with the Americans
If the Yanks are fighting Germany already, we can hopefully draw them into a more formal alliance, or at least let them do a little damage before we commit.
Changing my vote to match Frangible's; that's probably a workable strat even if the USA doesn't want to ally.
Vehrec: Atomic weapons are not part of the game, unless there's mods at play (or something has changed in a recent patch)
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- Location
- Yes
[X] Write in: Pursue a strategy of surface attrition in the hopes of creating a joint blockade with the Americans
I'm envisaging subs to fleet support, use lots of air power, take engagements but don't get decisively engaged with major forces. We try to run down their tonnage without losing ships ourselves.
I'm envisaging subs to fleet support, use lots of air power, take engagements but don't get decisively engaged with major forces. We try to run down their tonnage without losing ships ourselves.
- Pronouns
- They/She
[X] Write in: Pursue a strategy of surface attrition in the hopes of creating a joint blockade with the Americans