Chapter 324
March, 1906
Rotterdam
For the first time since the Napoleonic Wars, British army forces would disembark to fight upon Continental soil. 40,000 British troops, mostly recent conscripts fleshing out established regiments in hopes that the experienced men help with the sharp learning curve of combat, would be the first Britons to aid their allies. It was determined by agreement with Germany that the British Expeditionary Force would serve in the Low Countries. This was more palatable to the British voter as Belgium and the Netherlands were neutrals before invasion and.....for the Army brass.....this would also make a retreat somewhat easier if that became necessary.
Finland
The Finnish patriots had not been idle over the winter. Armed by Britain, the Finns had prepared defensive fortifications at key points along the border with Russia (Czarina Anna had formally announced the end of all Finnish liberties and concessions granted over the generations due to their treason).
In April, several thousand British artillerymen would land in Finland (the Finns had few such experts) to offer "advice" and "training" but would, in all reality, be forced to fight over the spring and summer themselves.
Stockholm
The King of Sweden, with full support of Parliament, would renew his country's pledge of neutrality. It had been a long time since Sweden had been relevant on the Continent in a military role and the Scandinavians had no intention of playing a game meant for much, much larger nations.
Norfolk
The USS South Carolina's "shakedown" cruise had gone moderately well. However, the engines continued to vex the most powerful class of American ships. The USS Michigan had several boilers burst over the past year and it was feared the South Carolina may follow.
American naval strategy was based around two things: big guns and thick armor.
After that, corners could be cut.
Portsmouth
While the Cuniberti-Class and Michigan-Class ships had been the initial vessels of the new "super-battleship" mode of naval warfare, they would swiftly be outclassed by the newest arrival, the HMS Dreadnought, which was launched in March of 1906. Bearing about 15% higher displacement and similar armament to the other modern vessels, the Dreadnought would also have the luxury of considerable speed due to her revolutionary steam turbines.
Yokosuka
By coincidence, the Japanese would also launch the first of the Satsuma-class heavy warships in March as well. These were now the most powerful vessels in the Pacific.
Toulon
Over the past two years, the French Navy had launched three of the "Liberte" class battlecruiser. A fourth would be commissioned the summer. The French were proud to have resolved some of the issues long vexing previous models over the past 30 years, namely poor armor and dismal flood prevention measures.
However, by the time the fourth Liberte-class was launched, it was already obsolete.
The Michigan-class, Cuniberto-class and, most of all, the Dreadnought, were already a step beyond in most measures. Indeed, the long decision-making process of the French design committee would prove France's greatest hindrance as decisions often took four to six years to implement.
The Dreadnought, on the other hand, took merely a year and a half from design inspiration to launch, an astonishing accomplishment by the Royal Navy which shocked the French (and the rest of the world) to the core.
Worse, two vessels of the Edward VII class were expected to launch in the next year and were reportedly IMPROVEMENTS on the Dreadnought design (though a bit smaller).
Simply outnumbering the British Royal Navy in Europe would no longer guarantee victory.
Rotterdam
For the first time since the Napoleonic Wars, British army forces would disembark to fight upon Continental soil. 40,000 British troops, mostly recent conscripts fleshing out established regiments in hopes that the experienced men help with the sharp learning curve of combat, would be the first Britons to aid their allies. It was determined by agreement with Germany that the British Expeditionary Force would serve in the Low Countries. This was more palatable to the British voter as Belgium and the Netherlands were neutrals before invasion and.....for the Army brass.....this would also make a retreat somewhat easier if that became necessary.
Finland
The Finnish patriots had not been idle over the winter. Armed by Britain, the Finns had prepared defensive fortifications at key points along the border with Russia (Czarina Anna had formally announced the end of all Finnish liberties and concessions granted over the generations due to their treason).
In April, several thousand British artillerymen would land in Finland (the Finns had few such experts) to offer "advice" and "training" but would, in all reality, be forced to fight over the spring and summer themselves.
Stockholm
The King of Sweden, with full support of Parliament, would renew his country's pledge of neutrality. It had been a long time since Sweden had been relevant on the Continent in a military role and the Scandinavians had no intention of playing a game meant for much, much larger nations.
Norfolk
The USS South Carolina's "shakedown" cruise had gone moderately well. However, the engines continued to vex the most powerful class of American ships. The USS Michigan had several boilers burst over the past year and it was feared the South Carolina may follow.
American naval strategy was based around two things: big guns and thick armor.
After that, corners could be cut.
Portsmouth
While the Cuniberti-Class and Michigan-Class ships had been the initial vessels of the new "super-battleship" mode of naval warfare, they would swiftly be outclassed by the newest arrival, the HMS Dreadnought, which was launched in March of 1906. Bearing about 15% higher displacement and similar armament to the other modern vessels, the Dreadnought would also have the luxury of considerable speed due to her revolutionary steam turbines.
Yokosuka
By coincidence, the Japanese would also launch the first of the Satsuma-class heavy warships in March as well. These were now the most powerful vessels in the Pacific.
Toulon
Over the past two years, the French Navy had launched three of the "Liberte" class battlecruiser. A fourth would be commissioned the summer. The French were proud to have resolved some of the issues long vexing previous models over the past 30 years, namely poor armor and dismal flood prevention measures.
However, by the time the fourth Liberte-class was launched, it was already obsolete.
The Michigan-class, Cuniberto-class and, most of all, the Dreadnought, were already a step beyond in most measures. Indeed, the long decision-making process of the French design committee would prove France's greatest hindrance as decisions often took four to six years to implement.
The Dreadnought, on the other hand, took merely a year and a half from design inspiration to launch, an astonishing accomplishment by the Royal Navy which shocked the French (and the rest of the world) to the core.
Worse, two vessels of the Edward VII class were expected to launch in the next year and were reportedly IMPROVEMENTS on the Dreadnought design (though a bit smaller).
Simply outnumbering the British Royal Navy in Europe would no longer guarantee victory.