A Shift in Priorities

[rast]

Keep your lips buttoned up and build ships.
(Alfred von Tirpitz)

Following the Battle of Iceland, the Reichstag had authorized the construction of two new aircraft carriers and ten fast battleships in 1930. But – after thorough evaluation of lessons learnt – the Kaiserliche Marine had asked for five aircraft carriers, five fast battleships and ten large anti-aircraft cruisers in 1931.
This had promptly been endorsed by the parliament, and extra funds had been allocated. Actually, the deputies had been worried about the modest demand. Well knowing about the massive construction plans of the US Navy and the existing strength of the Royal Navy, even left-wing socialists feared that the German navy might be marginalised in future.
The Trans-Atlantic War (TAW) had demonstrated the importance of a strong navy. So, why did the OKW and the SKL not ask for an adequate increase?

But Admiral Erich von Raeder, Chief of OKW, would neither explain the navy’s modesty nor ask for more ships. The SKL had used its available funds to replace SMS Deister, the MIMS lost at the Azores Islands, laying down SMS Solling. The two aircraft carriers from the 1930 allowance, SMS Werner Voss and SMS Otto Könnecke,
had been started as well. But – as a parliamentary commission of inquiry had found out to their utter bewilderment – the construction of the other vessels approved had not yet had been initiated.
What was the Kaiserliche Marine up to?

Theodor Heuß, Imperial Minister of War, knew of course, but wouldn’t tell the public either. The navy was planning a new generation of ships – and the design wasn’t ready yet.
Constructing the carriers well armoured and segmented like fast battleships had been a success. Despite frequent torpedo hits, none of the vessels had been lost in the war with the Amis.
But the new Japanese Washi class outmatched the established Graf Zeppelin class in terms of aircraft carried. SMS Werner Voss and Otto Könnecke would still be ships constructed after the old design, carrying 52 airplanes, but being somewhat faster than the older vessels.

However, the three new carriers were scheduled to carry 96 airplanes each; they thus had to grow considerably. This – again – corresponded with the intended increase for the new fast battleships. SMS Posen II had been the ultimate fast battleship constructed before the Trans-Atlanic War; she had done splendidly at Iceland, but adding more mass would make the new class truly ‘unsinkable’ – which meant not sinkable under normal battle conditions.

When ships grew in size, the shipyard facilities had to grow before. – This was the process happening at present: The major construction sites were vamping up for the new larger vessels.

There had been some discussion in the SKL about the large anti-aircraft cruisers. If these were built using the Posen II design, time could be saved and the result would be undeniably combat-worthy.
But waiting for the larger design would create much larger platforms for anti-aircraft weapons, providing a much harder punch against enemy aircraft.

What was happening in the meanwhile was the construction of a dozen Dortmund class light cruisers for the Middle African Navy, just to replace their losses from the TAW and give them some modern up-to-date men of war.
In early 1932, it was, however, noted in Wünsdorf, Berlin and Wilhelmshaven – with considerable perplexity – that at Daressalam and Duala the Middle Africans had laid down four fast battleships.

[Kelenas]

Originally Posted by rast

In early 1932, it was, however, noted in Wünsdorf, Berlin and Wilhelmshaven – with considerable perplexity – that at Daressalam and Duala the Middle Africans had laid down four fast battleships.

Methinks Herr Bauer will be asked some very pointed questions in the near-future.

- Kelenas

[Peabody-Martini]

The SKL seems to be trying to learn the right lessons of the TAW. Building aircraft carriers that nearly double the capacity of the prior generation is the right step. Pressure for the fighter-bombers currently used by the fleet air arm of the HSF to give way to more specialized aircraft will increase as larger aircraft carriers began to offer new possibilities.

A dedicated anti-aircraft cruiser based on a Posen II skips the refits required of the Iowa class to achieve this. They might lack the ability for shore bombardment of the Iowa but the fleet is far more likely to come under air attack.

The Middle African situation might result in pointed questions for Max von Bauer. However the reaction in the Oval office when U.S. Naval intelligence finds out is where the real fireworks will be.

[Parma]

I asume the shipyards of Duala and Daressalam had considrable experience with building of some complex merchant/passangerships, torpedo boats, light cruisers, heavy cruisers, before undertaking a compex design as a battleship?
This African ships yards must be a good competitor for years of the European ships yards.

[nerdknight01]

¡ HI ! ¡ MAD MAX VON BAUER !.
I like the fact that Germany, Europe and Middleafrica are learning the right and correct leasons of the last war, and why i have the sweet, very sweet feeling that Middleafrica maybe it be the first superpower in all senses from the african continent.
About the american naval program, i remember some time back about some afroamerican worker creating american warships, it be nice see how is his live in this times, if the economic problems are beggining to afect the american armament program, if are creating obsolete warships, or ships with hiden problems or lesser quality, etc...
Thanks and good luck.

[Peabody-Martini]

Originally Posted by Parma

I asume the shipyards of Duala and Daressalam had considrable experience with building of some complex merchant/passangerships, torpedo boats, light cruisers, heavy cruisers, before undertaking a compex design as a battleship?
This African ships yards must be a good competitor for years of the European ships yards.

The industrialization within Middle Africa was well advanced even before the arrival of von Bauer and the TAW kicked it into high gear. There was Middle African businessman mentioned earlier who ran a company that made electric motors, highly advanced work in the 1930s. The construction of battleships is a way for Middle Africa to anounce that they are an emerging power.

There was an African American engineer working on the construction of the "South Dakota" if the ship numbers match those of OTL. If its discovered that professionals such as this man and others have emigrated to Middle Africa and are working on building ships there. Also considering that they could have a working knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the American battleships and are working the strengths into German ship design. Heads would start exploding at the U.S.O.N.I.

[Parma]

I will buy it ithat African shipyards can build relative simple freighters and more complex mail boats and I will even accept that they can build even to heavy cruisers.

But shipyards which can not ahve a track record of not more than 10 years are not capable of building battleships.
Battle ships are in the 30ties the most comlex vessles to be build. At that time the were also one of the larggest vessels floating, exept for mailboats and passanger liners.
It is not only a matter of knowledge, so enough engineers, but also qualified yard workers, infrastructure like slips or (floating-)docks and experience. This can not be done by a nation which had absolute nothing at all 12 years ago.

This whole Mittel Africa thing evolves at a speed which even made the Meji Japanese look stupids, and that was a breathtaking pase of evolution from a medival society to a industrial society. Africans were small organised societies of peasants not even close to pre Meji Japan at the start of the 20th century.

[Monty Burns]

Originally Posted by Parma

I will buy it ithat African shipyards can build relative simple freighters and more complex mail boats and I will even accept that they can build even to heavy cruisers.

But shipyards which can not ahve a track record of not more than 10 years are not capable of building battleships.
Battle ships are in the 30ties the most comlex vessles to be build. At that time the were also one of the larggest vessels floating, exept for mailboats and passanger liners.
It is not only a matter of knowledge, so enough engineers, but also qualified yard workers, infrastructure like slips or (floating-)docks and experience. This can not be done by a nation which had absolute nothing at all 12 years ago.

I have to disagree here. The Germans planned and constructed the shipyards early on according to rast, not necessarily for Middle Africa, but for their own needs. Thus the infrastructure is already established by a first world power for their own military usage - and that makes quite some things possible. Besides, the Middle African home fleet that's already around needs port facilities anyway.

Then, the Germans have an education scheme going which was never tried IOTL. Thousands of Middle Africans were learning in Germany, not only academics, but also skilled workers. Obviously, the Germans had an interest in providing skilled local workers for their shipyards, so those should be covered. And the Middle Africans already have a small fleet to supply, providing some working experience for these.

Third, I wouldn't wonder if some Afro-American consultants are helping the Middleafricans already.

Finally, note that rast did not mention what equippment the four fast battleships should hold. IMHO the main complexity in battleships are these systems, like FUMEO or the like, larger ship hulls were around for decades, right? Those equippment could be bought from Europe - or, more likely, the Germans will provide them for free.


To conclude, I think this is a bold undertaking from Middleafrica, and it's not a signal of Middle African economy and technological standard throughout the land, and the result likely wouldn't be up to European standards, but it's far from impossible. It's what a highly militaristic emerging power would do to assure its position in the world.

[Bmao]

I'm calling BS for the Mittleafrikan battleships. The problem I've stated before is that we hear all sorts of things about their military acheivements, but little about their societal problems. With Bauer in command, I get the feeling that Mittleafrika is spending like 30% of its GDP on military spending; that's the only way that I can explain the construction of MittleAfrikan Battleships, special forces, airforce etc.

[Decrian]

Originally Posted by Bmao

I'm calling BS for the Mittleafrikan battleships. The problem I've stated before is that we hear all sorts of things about their military acheivements, but little about their societal problems. With Bauer in command, I get the feeling that Mittleafrika is spending like 30% of its GDP on military spending; that's the only way that I can explain the construction of MittleAfrikan Battleships, special forces, airforce etc.

Bauer may be in command but I doubt very much that he himself allocates the funds for armed forces himself.

And attempting to build battleships and actually building (or more to the point) finishing on schedule is a completely different matter. And then there is also the question just how many of the workers (especially skilled workers) are actually African and not German. And then there was also no mention who actually owns the shipyards. I don't think that they are government owned. It's more likely that Germania or Vulcan (or any other big German shipbuilding company) owns them and supplies the workforce. If that were to be the case they can built anything they can in a comparable German shipyard.

[Parma]

I agree with Bmao.

I understand that there is na enourmos effort , energy and capital invested in MittleAfrica, and that all this paid of extremly well. And that in just 12 years!!! Which is still an extreme achivement. Again compare this with the Meji restauration of Japan.

There is much more needed to build any thing like a ship let alone a battleship. There is also something different in maintaining a ship and building a ship.
It is not just a slip or a dock with some cranes or some highly educated engineers, you need a whole army of skilled and educated workers nad a whole infrastructure of machine shops. I cannot immagine that the whole German Industry in the Rhur area could or will train such a vast amount of workers, who will go a way after some months or years.

You can elevate a society by education and training, but you also need to make social structures fit for this technique. And this you cannot, cannot achieve in just 12 years.
Japan had social structures which were more or less compatible for forreign techniques, African social structures were mostly not.

Almost all what is written is not possible in just 12 years time and even when it is closely possible there must be a temendous discrepany between an educated class and a vast uneducated mass, since Germany with all there best intentions would never have the capital or the man power to trian and educate so many African trainers and teachers and skilled crafts man or engineers.

[rast]

Without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definite, and with it, everything honourable and glorious.
(George Washington)

The only things limiting US Navy ship construction were the locks of the Panama Canal. The locks allowed nothing longer than 1,000 feet, wider than 110 feet and limited the draft to 41.2 feet. For practical reasons, this had been condensed to a maximum ship length of 965 feet, a maximum width of 106 feet and a maximum draft of 39.5 feet in tropical fresh water.

BB 57, which was to carry the name USS Delaware, was almost ready for launching. George Washington Cooper still was proud to work on the vessel.
The hulk was 862 feet long and 106 feet wide; it would be a true leviathan of the sea.

Fortunately, the Treaty of Dublin had not led to a reduction in the US armaments programme; only to a certain slowing down, which had had to be expected anyway; one couldn’t build thirty new battleships in one streak.
BB 57 was one of the four battleships ordered in March 1930 after the Battle of Cape Palmas. Her design had been altered four times early on – in the blueprint phase, letting her grow considerably each time.
The Navy had decided that speed was important as well; so the new battleships were to be thickly armoured, well armed – and fast.

George W. hoped to get a job at one of the following-on projects. He had briefly considered to go the Middle Africa, where experienced mechanical engineers were in demand as well.
Three of his black colleagues had done it. One had been seized by the FSS, and was facing a charge for high treason now. The other two presumably had made it to Duala.
George W. had had qualms deserting to the ‘enemy’, although this enemy was black, would not discriminate him – and could be expected to pay better...

No, damn, he was a US citizen! He would not work for the Krauts. His place was here in Newport News, Virginia. He would proudly continue building warships for Uncle Sam.

Well, Uncle Sam wasn’t quite accommodating. Prices were on the rise considerably, while his salary at the Newport Shipbuilding and Drydock Company had been kept at low level since months. Without a second job as taxi driver he wouldn’t be able to come up for his living. – But that was the American Way, wasn’t it?

There had been rumours about a drought in the Midwest, but 1932 seemed to be more humid. Nevertheless, the farmers had complained about the sleet storms; yet, didn’t farmers complain always? Either it was too warm or too cold, or too dry or too wet...

[Detlef]

Originally Posted by Decrian

Bauer may be in command but I doubt very much that he himself allocates the funds for armed forces himself.

And attempting to build battleships and actually building (or more to the point) finishing on schedule is a completely different matter. And then there is also the question just how many of the workers (especially skilled workers) are actually African and not German. And then there was also no mention who actually owns the shipyards. I don't think that they are government owned. It's more likely that Germania or Vulcan (or any other big German shipbuilding company) owns them and supplies the workforce. If that were to be the case they can built anything they can in a comparable German shipyard.

Not persuaded yet.
You see I can readily believe that the Germans upgraded both naval bases with a shipyard, a dry dock, repair facilities and depots to repair and supply even the largest German naval ships.

However repairing a ship and building a new battleship is different.
Especially in the amount of "special" steel needed. Just remember that you need special steel for the (big) guns, another special one for the armor of the battleship and so on...
Plus the machinery (engines/boilers) and all the electrical and optical equipment. Not to mention knowledge and experience to construct and build such a large ship. Most (new) naval shipyards back then first started building smaller ships and gradually expanded to larger ships. But the two ones here in Africa went from zero to battleships in just a few years?
Where did they get the plans, by the way?

There was a reason why only a few countries IOTL were able to build battleships. And why the rest of the world was forced to buy them from the few countries before and after WW1.

The German shipbuilding companies owning the shipyards would probably be forced to buy and transport thousands of tons of material from Germany to Africa. And why would they do it? Who´s going to pay for it?
Mittelafrika still needs a lot of money for basic domestic things (infrastructure, education, etc.)
Not to mention that in this case the German government probably would know about it. No way a German shipbuilding company would risk angering their largest customer - the German navy - by transferring equipment and knowledge secretly.

Think back to when Bauer arrived in Mittelafrika (not that long ago).
I seem to remember that he was appalled by the almost complete lack of a modern domestic African arms industry? The African soldiers using German WW1 artillery and old Kanobils? The Mittelafrikan navy equipped with older cruisers and submarines decommissioned by the German navy? Don´t remember anything about the air force but I would assume that they were flying older German models too?

And all of that changed in just a few, a very few years?
Highly unlikely, there´s just not enough money and resources to do everything at the same time. The base (population size, education, manufacturing, mining, finance) simply isn´t there yet. And with Bauer an army man, I´d suspect he´d concentrate on the army and - maybe - the air force. It´s what he knows best. And what he already did in China.
(IIRC he proposed invading/liberating some African "regions" before the German-US war. So I don´t think he´d concentrate on naval affairs.)

Given the (small) time frame I would expect some modernization of the army. Maybe domestic production of some modern airplanes too. But at best production of destroyers in Africa for now. Definitely no battleships.

[Peabody-Martini]

For starters the 12-year time frame is way off, that is only from the POD. The German colonies that make up the core of Middle Africa date from the the end of the nineteenth century, so the time frame is more like 45 years give or take. The industrial and education programs were underway before WW1 but were interrupted by the war. In OTL the British and the French took over the colonies and were interested mostly in resource extraction, the programs were never resumed. In TTL a liberal German government decided that having colonies was more trouble than they were worth and began the process to cut them loose partially by investing in the people in those colonies. They soon discovered that the Africans themselves were better partners than subjects.

The question of industrialization revolves around the the extent of development. The answer involves railroads and the tech base that revolves around them. To build a railroad in Sub-Saharan Africa the 1040 steel typically used in the rails would not cut it in that climate. So the rails are likely alloy steel with chromium and nickle added to prevent rust. The climate likely has prompted the earlier development of concrete ties as well. To make battleship armor only molybdenum would need to be added. The only other industrial process would involve face hardening. This process was developed by Krupp who probably built the foundries where the steel was made.

Next education, there is the K through 12 then on to higher ed model or some other version thereof that most people would think of. This is actually a recent development of the last 100 years and only universal in the last 50. The education requirements to start industry would only need to be around a 6th grade level. Think its happenstance that most newspapers are written at this level? Functional literacy and basic mathematics are all that's required to start a industrial apprenticeship.

To build a battleship a small army of workers in dozens of building trades would be required. In most of these Journeyman status can be attained in less than 5 years. The labor movement in Middle Africa is probably on the rise as well.

For the ships themselves the only ticklish parts would be the turbines for the engines and the liners in the main guns. The rest is just a matter of scale.

The ace in the hole for the Middle Africans has been that they have been underestimated repeatedly by friends and enemies alike. Think the US Navy would have left a ship full of German commandos tied up in a harbor with friendly territory less than a mile away? German industrialists being undercut by African competition. It fits a pattern.

[rast]

The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people.
(Karl Marx)

With surprise, Plenipotentiary Heinrich von Schnee was reading the cables from Wünsdorf and Berlin. Why were these people perplexed that Mittelafrika had begun constructing battleships? Didn’t they read his reports? After all, the four units – SMMAS Tabora, SMMAS Kongo, SMMAS Kamerun and SMMAS Togo – were part of his high technology transfer programme, and had – for a long time – been co-ordinated with Schichau in Danzig, Vulcan in Stettin, Howaldt in Kiel and Blohm&Voss in Hamburg.
In 1930, the four leading German shipyards had created a joint enterprise, the Mittelafrikanische Werft AG (MAWAG), which now was conducting construction in Daressalam and Duala.

The MAWAG was designed to attract customers from the southern hemisphere; the countries of South America, South East Asia – and not least the Union of South Africa. States and private enterprises that normally could not afford the prices of hardware made in Germany.
That battleships had been chosen as opening items was because of their high prestige worldwide, especially after the Trans-Atlantic War. If the Middle Africans shipyards could master this job, they also were good for everything else.

Von Schnee hadn’t minded the choice; he actually hadn’t cared. Admiral M’kiba had thought it a good idea; - and General von Bauer in Monrovia hadn’t been asked at all.
Now, Berlin was ranting about the battleships, calling them ‘premature’ and ‘helter-skelter’. And the SKL wanted to know why Mittelafrika was constructing a design not agreed by them.

He had asked Admiral M’kiba and Herrn Walter Blohm, the senior MAWAG representative, for an interview; they were just arriving.
“Welcome, Gentlemen, please be seated. – Official Germany is displeased about the four battleships. Can you imagine why?”
“Yes.” grumbled M’kiba, “They’d rather continue feeding us with their antiquated crap – and keep all the modern stuff for themselves.”

“Well, actually, there’s an intensive debate going on in Germany about battleship design. They may think we’re kind of barking up the wrong tree.” said Blohm. “But that’s moot as far as Mittelafrika is concerned. You know, it’s the standard approach: SMMAS Tabora will be constructed by our German engineers with the Middle African engineers as apprentices. Then SMMAS Kongo will be built by the Middle Africans with our staff supervising, and the last two will be done with the Middle Africans fully in charge. – That our design is a modified Posen II class ship doesn’t matter. What matters is the knowledge dump we’re conducting. – I mean, nobody expects that Mittelafrika is the world leader in ship technology. If the MAWAG proves capable of constructing modern battleships, we’ve attained our goal.”

“I suppose that MASeKriL has definite plans how to employ the vessels, once they’re completed, Admiral?”
“You can bet on that, Your Excellency. – We’re fed up with riding ships from the Great War. High time we get something adequate.”

“Oh, before I forget,” injected Blohm, “there’s already an application: Greater Mysore is very interested in what we’re doing. They’ve asked to send some observers – and indicated that they might order two vessels, if our battlewagons are up to expectation. – They want something to balance the Indian Chakram men of war, but they can’t afford British, German or Japanese prices.”

[Peabody-Martini]

I wonder how Bauer will react to being left out of the loop this time?

[Kelenas]

Hm. I actually had the impression that the battleships were Bauer's work, because I remember him making deals with the EVEG, and military expansions like that (even if he's not a navy-man, so to speak) would fit his profile.

- Kelenas

[trekchu]

The alliance between the Empire and Mittelafrika will soon be more a team up of equals than anything else.

[rast]

Von Bauer is busy up to his ears in the West African Protectorate. - The battleship construction is a co-operation between v. Schnee and the German shipyards, - but rest assured that in this case v. Bauer will not disagree.

[Expat]

This Mysore/Mittelafrika arrangement makes me wonder what has happened to the Asian-African populations in the British colonies. Immigration to Africa from Asia had been occurring for a long time prior to the POD. They often played a major role in the service economies of the British colonies, especially Indians. Any word on their presence?