Poll

Which Faction?

Rule Brittania (GB)
German Steel (G)
Austrian Yodeling (A-H)
Delicious Pasta (I)
Land of the Free (USA)
The Russian Bear (R)
Hon Hon Hon (F)

Author Topic: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]  (Read 80034 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline StarSlayer

  • 211
  • Men Kaeshi Do
    • Steam
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
Do intelligence coups push R&D?  Since you are making off with the blueplans for all these warships I would imagine it would benefit your development or does it simply allow you to see what the competition is building?
“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world”

 

Offline Enioch

  • 210
  • Alternative History Word Writer
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
I believe it does, especially for 'working parts' technologies (like firing control systems, or mine rails) and ship design, but I can't confirm.

It is also possible for your spies to steal actual technologies, instead of ship designs. In one of my games, this is how I once got Oil-Firing.  :lol:
'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent'  -Salvor Hardin, "Foundation"

So don't take a hammer to your computer. ;-)

 

Offline Spoon

  • 212
  • ヾ(´︶`♡)ノ
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
So uh, why is nu-fuso represented by kaga?  :p
Urutorahappī!!

[02:42] <@Axem> spoon somethings wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> critically wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> im happy with these missions now
[02:44] <@Axem> well
[02:44] <@Axem> with 2 of them

 

Offline Enioch

  • 210
  • Alternative History Word Writer
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
For a multitude of reasons:

  • She is a ship that experiences a major change and the OTL BB-> CV conversion of Kaga is a good parallel.
  • Kaga is a good waifu and needs to be depicted as much as possible.  :p
  • Spoiler:
    If you go Kongou, you need to go full Kongou and there's no way I could have afforded her sisters at that point. So I reserve the Kongou name for...later.
'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent'  -Salvor Hardin, "Foundation"

So don't take a hammer to your computer. ;-)

 

Offline Spoon

  • 212
  • ヾ(´︶`♡)ノ
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
Good enough reasons  :p
Urutorahappī!!

[02:42] <@Axem> spoon somethings wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> critically wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> im happy with these missions now
[02:44] <@Axem> well
[02:44] <@Axem> with 2 of them

 

Offline Enioch

  • 210
  • Alternative History Word Writer
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
Of course they are.  :p

Also (massive spoiler):

Spoiler:
'Later' involves the number '17'. :drevil: :p
'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent'  -Salvor Hardin, "Foundation"

So don't take a hammer to your computer. ;-)

 

Offline Lepanto

  • 210
  • Believes in Truth
    • Skype
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
Been following this series avidly since the beginning! The Kancolle reaction images just make an already-gripping story better.

Kinda hope the enemy nations put up more of a fight, TBH. This is the third time you've pasted the Germans. If you've had any knock-down-drag-out battles with major powers since then, I'd be looking forward to seeing them. (Not been following spoilers.)
"We have now reached the point where every goon with a grievance, every bitter bigot, merely has to place the prefix, 'I know this is not politically correct, but...' in front of the usual string of insults in order to be not just safe from criticism, but actually a card, a lad, even a hero. Conversely, to talk about poverty and inequality, to draw attention to the reality that discrimination and injustice are still facts of life, is to commit the sin of political correctness. Anti-PC has become the latest cover for creeps. It is a godsend for every curmudgeon and crank, from fascists to the merely smug."
Finian O'Toole, The Irish Times, 5 May 1994

Blue Planet: The Battle Captains: Missions starring the Admirals of BP: WiH
Frontlines 2334+2335: T-V War campaign
GVB Ammit: Vasudan strike bomber
Player-Controlled Capship Modding Tutorial

 

Offline Enioch

  • 210
  • Alternative History Word Writer
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
I see what you mean.

I can't guarantee a gripping, nailbiter war (especially since the snowball effect is a very real thing in this game and beating on people when they're down is a winning strategy) but there will be 'oh crap' moments.

And what I can guarantee is an...interesting ending.
'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent'  -Salvor Hardin, "Foundation"

So don't take a hammer to your computer. ;-)

 

Offline Enioch

  • 210
  • Alternative History Word Writer


The new territories yielded to Japan consisted of the entirety of the German holdings in West Africa: Kamerun and Southwest Africa. When the Japanese surveyors and administrators arrived, in early October of 1916, they were immediately struck by the obvious differences compared to Southeast Africa.

Here, the German rule was harsh. Several rebellions in Southwest Africa, coupled with the discovery of a rich diamond mine, had led the Germans into establishing a forced labour system, in most aspects indistinguishable from slavery. Kamerun was better off, with an agricultural and trading-based economy, backed by German railroads and infrastructure; yet here the Germans had not commited to educating and befriending the natives as they had done in Tanganyika.


Mining town in Southwest Africa


Banana harvest from Kamerun being loaded to a German freighter

The problem of how to best deal with these holdings caused no lack of headaches to the Japanese Alliance. There was heavy criticism of Katō's policies: that had placed two more heavy millstones around Japan's neck. Yet Katō - and his allies in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Finances had an ace up their sleeve: for the first time since its change of administration four years ago (and for the first time as a colonial holding) Southeast Africa's budget was in the black, with a net gain for the Alliance economy. Natives now comprised more than 30% of the local administration and public services, with infrastructure handled entirety by locally elected mayors and regional 'chiefs' (the latter being legally acknowledged as samurai nobility in the Alliance); the Japanese consultants' and governors' plans were for a more-or-less fully locally handled administration by the end of the decade.

It was, therefore, possible to focus the Alliance's efforts onto the new holdings, with an immediate priority being the reexamination of Southwest Africa's diamond mining and forced labour systems. Advisors and experts were summoned from the Sumatran and Tsingtaou industries; American contractors were hired for a massive, five-year plan for infrastructure improvements. Naval forces were dispatched to maintain the peace; geographers and prospectors braved the African hinterland to scout out routes for a massive trans-African railway that would connect Tanganyika to Namimbia.



In November, Japanese shipbuilders started experimenting with new techniques for a more robust framing system. It would be impossible to retrofit into older hulls, but it would considerably improve future constructions - if the Navy could only get the money to afford any.



This was a major problem for the Admiralty. Their efforts seemed to be rewarded by major budget cuts - even the treasured war loan funds were being channeled to the African projects. The Japanese sailors and officers could not shake the feeling that they had fought and died to be rewarded with an increasingly obsolete fleet. There was considerable resentment, especially in the higher echelons.



To deal with the reduced budget, the Admiralty ordered the scrapping of all remaining Asanagis and Asanagi-Kais. These destroyers were thought to be too obsolete to contribute to the war and their machinery (built for speed and not reliability) was wearing down, with no funds available for a rebuild program.



Somehow, somehow funds were scraped together to continue the rebuild of the venerable Izumi-class cruisers. Yet the Unebis would have to wait, for a long, long time.



The Maru boys would not. Thankfully, the minesweepers' wooden hulls and simple machinery could be cheaply handled by civilian yards and their maintenance was subcontracted immediately.



January and the New Year brought another piece of bad news. Intelligence managed to confirm the characteristics of the new Russian Kilburn-class battlecruiser. She was at least the equal of Fuso, with bigger guns and tougher armour, but worse accuracy and speed. The Admiralty could see the Russians further closing the gap and could do nothing about it.



The ship designers dedicated their efforts into implementing what the Japanese did have in new, innovative ways - for instance implementing the principles of the aft superimposed turrets into a forward superfiring battery. It was not a simple task, as the bow of the ship is subjected to completely different stresses than its aft. Months of research resulted in the discovery of many ways of how not to implement a superfiring 'B' turret.



Thankfully, the British were more than willing to assist Japanese R & D efforts. Her Majesty's Government was impressed with how Japan was handling security in South-eastern Asia and was happy to pull out forces from the region; they were also willing to licence their new shell designs to the Japanese. The Japanese Admiralty had to halt the reconstruction of the Izumis for a month to pay for the licence but did not hesitate.


Seriously, guys.



At least the new Italian cruiser design produced some laughs. It was funny how Italy thought she would ever be a relevant sea power.


We still love you Spaghettis. Let's have a tea party.



In June, the reconstruction of Izumi and Naniwa was complete. This released almost two million for the budget, which was immediately assigned to the modernisation of Japan's submarine fleet. Ten more large subs were ordered; the Japanese Silent Service would be the biggest and most modern submarine service in the world when these would be complete.



And then, in July of 1917, success! A success that had the Admiralty in fits. The R & D department submitted the first functional design for the structural supports needed for B-type superfiring turrets. These would need the massive hulls of a battlecruiser or dreadnought to be properly implemented; cruisers and destroyers would still need to mount more conservative turret layouts.



And then, a year after the end of the war, the post-war recession came to an end. Markets boomed. Industries expanded. The diamond mines of Southwest Africa, now under a new administration, showed their worth. The Navy dockyards, with new hands, tools and drydocks and the booming national steel industry stood ready to support the Admiralty; and the Admirals allowed a faint note of optimism for the future to creep in.



Oh, come ON, Germany!
« Last Edit: June 18, 2018, 07:47:26 pm by Enioch »
'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent'  -Salvor Hardin, "Foundation"

So don't take a hammer to your computer. ;-)

 

Offline StarSlayer

  • 211
  • Men Kaeshi Do
    • Steam
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
How secure are alliances?  Can you build a long standing relationship or is like Civilization were even if you never offer provocation eventually Ghandi decides he hates your guts and wants to crush you under foot?
“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world”

 

Offline Enioch

  • 210
  • Alternative History Word Writer
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
Alliances are secure and limit the 'passage of time' raising of tension (e.g. tension rises and falls by itself, even without player actions, as time passes. An Alliance pretty much prevents it from rising).

However, an Alliance has an expiry date and can be brought to an end at any time if you allow tensions with your allied nation to rise above 50%

I.e. respect your friend and they'll stay your friend. Take specific actions against them and they might forgive it, up to a point. But push your luck and they repudiate the alliance and come after your ass.

Also:

If you're in an Alliance, you can't refuse to sell tech to your ally without raising tensions.

Also also:

If tensions are really low at the end of the alliance (ca 10%), the ally might suggest a renewal of the alliance. If you accept, that saves you the budget hit that you get when starting a new alliance from sratch. So it's a good thing to pick an ally and stay with them in the long run.
'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent'  -Salvor Hardin, "Foundation"

So don't take a hammer to your computer. ;-)

 

Offline StarSlayer

  • 211
  • Men Kaeshi Do
    • Steam
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
Cool beans, I much prefer that alliances stay solid unless you do something provocative.
“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world”

 

Offline Spoon

  • 212
  • ヾ(´︶`♡)ノ
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
Round 3... 4? I'm starting to lose count

Urutorahappī!!

[02:42] <@Axem> spoon somethings wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> critically wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> im happy with these missions now
[02:44] <@Axem> well
[02:44] <@Axem> with 2 of them

 

Offline Enioch

  • 210
  • Alternative History Word Writer
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
That was Round 3. This is Round 4. They don't quit.

Seriously, Germany, STAY DEAD.
« Last Edit: December 16, 2016, 12:19:36 pm by Enioch »
'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent'  -Salvor Hardin, "Foundation"

So don't take a hammer to your computer. ;-)

 

Offline StarSlayer

  • 211
  • Men Kaeshi Do
    • Steam
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
I'm sure Napoleon had similar thoughts. :lol:
“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world”

 

Offline Lorric

  • 212
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
Hannibal won rounds 1, 2 and 3 against Rome. Round 4 though...

 

Offline Enioch

  • 210
  • Alternative History Word Writer


In September 1917, elections brought a new Government to power, under Hara Takashi. The new Prime Minister was noteworthy in that he was a commoner and a Christian; he was also one of the strongest believers in further developing Japan's holdings overseas. In that, he did follow Katō's vision.

He was also an enemy to the Navy. having once failed to pass the entrance exams to the Officer's Academy. One of the first motions that he sought to pass was to assign part of the Naval budget to commission a new yacht for the Imperial family. The Admiralty could do little but to grin and bear it.



And, behind closed doors they did grin. For the Tsingtaou foundries had finally produced a working prototype of a 13'' rifle. Too late to be refitted to the Fuso, but what the Admiralty thought might be the backbone of their future capital ship fleet.



However, tensions between the Admiralty and Hara quickly brought the situation to its boiling point when the Prime Minister suggested adopting a conciliatory stance toward Germany. The proposal, as put forward by Germany, would require the Japanese Navy to put a large part of its forces in reserve 'in the interest of world peace' and other platitudes of the sort. A committee of seven Vice- and Rear Admirals was formed, under the revered Admiral Fujiwara; with the backing of most of the Alliance's industrialists, they succeeded in having the proposals shelved and the Naval budget raised to a reasonable yearly amount.



Germany did not appreciate that. In November, an uprising near Hong Kong, later proved to be instigated by German agents, resulted in Fuso being dispatched to the area, with a small destroyer escort and an Army convoy. Like her predecessor, her presence (and the Army contingent she brought to the scene) succeeded in putting an end to the uprising; like her predecessor, she thoroughly rattled the status quo in the area and tensions skyrocketed, with only Woodrow Wilson's America applauding the rapid Japanese response, in the interests of 'democracy, security and international peace'.





Shortly after, the R & D department submitted working designs for Cruiser-mounted above-water torpedo mounts...



...five more long-range subs were laid down...





...and the Italians approached the Admiralty with knowing grins and the chemical formulae for improved AP projectile explosive fillers, for some reason printed in German. The Admiralty winked back and paid them a good price.



Then, in January, things got explosive again.
 


Fuso was in Tanganyika, in a show-the-flag mission; she was moored next to a Dredger-ship, which was further expanding the Tanga harbor. At 20:03, on the 7th of January 1918, the Dredger came under surprise torpedo attack and sank in a matter of minutes. The culprit was never identified; but it was clear that their target was Fuso in her moorings and that only pure luck had saved her.

It wasn't hard to figure out under whose orders the attack had been carried out. After a bried period of posturing, war was declared on the 18th of February - one of the stupidest wars in modern history.







What the Germans didn't know was that the Japanese coastal subs were fitted to test the new lengthened torpedoes that would be the basic armament of the new fleet submarines; and that the 'Maru boys' had spent the last three months training in conjunction with them. It was a disaster for the Germans. In a single month, they lost six supply vessels that they tried to sneak around the Cape; in return, three German subs operating from Java managed to sink their targets, but the Maru boys were always on the scene in time to nail them back.



And then, on the 29th of March, Naniwa and her destroyer escort intercepted a German Niobe-class cruiser off Sumatra. Unfortunately for the Germans, this was the newly modernised Naniwa, capable of reaching 29 knots, with new oil-fired boilers, firing directors, and the beautiful Japanese 6-inchers.



The destroyer Numakaze made the mistake of getting too close to the Niobe and got mauled by her fast-firing 4-inch batteries.







But the outcome of the battle was never in question. Unable to run and unable to outfight Naniwa, the Niobe was riddled with holes, torpedoed and sunk in short order.



Taking advantage of the increased budget, the Admiralty considered laying down a new battlecruiser, armed with 13'' guns...



...but the initial cost of starting a new ship class would be excessive.



Funds were economised and shunted to refitting the old Unebis...
 


...and further improving the performance of the Japanese 13-inchers, with the introduction of heavier AP shell designs.



In April, the Germans made overtures for peace. They had sunk a destroyer, three freighters and a dredger; and had lost twice the tonnage and a light cruiser to boot. Their army in the Orient was undersupplied. Fuso, Ikoma and Tsukuba were still operational and threatening to support a Japanese invasion of Korea.

The Japanese agreed, mostly at the behest of the Americans and in the interest of maintaining stability in the South China Sea. If they were to further improve their holdings in Africa, they needed peace to do so. And so, peace was signed after three months of what would come to be known as the 'Hundred-Day War'.

Once again, the Navy's budget got slashed in the aftermath. Multiple Admiral heads met palms or desks.

« Last Edit: June 18, 2018, 07:48:15 pm by Enioch »
'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent'  -Salvor Hardin, "Foundation"

So don't take a hammer to your computer. ;-)

 

Offline Spoon

  • 212
  • ヾ(´︶`♡)ノ
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
Urutorahappī!!

[02:42] <@Axem> spoon somethings wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> critically wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> im happy with these missions now
[02:44] <@Axem> well
[02:44] <@Axem> with 2 of them

 

Offline Lorric

  • 212
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
How nice of the Germans to continue to volunteer themselves to help you try out your new weapons and technologies under real combat conditions.

What will they do to your budget if you get your butt kicked in a war?

 

Offline Enioch

  • 210
  • Alternative History Word Writer
Re: Enioch's naval shenanigans - RTW as Japan - [Image Heavy!]
Slash it, obviously. :doubt:

Look at that Kongou folks. Look at how distressed she is. That's what happens when you allow politicians to handle military finances.

Pathetic. The only helpful people around here are the Germans.

'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent'  -Salvor Hardin, "Foundation"

So don't take a hammer to your computer. ;-)