From what I remember, the USA didn't have any official intelligence agency until WW2 the UK has DMI at this point if memory serves which will probably be painful for the US's effort at HUMINT.
Why the Chinese play cricket (an Imperial Federation timeline)
- Thread starter Miss Construction
- Start date
A conversation with my GF/wargame opponent regarding the US blockade of Cuba during the Spanish-American War
GF: So the Yanky devils (she seems to have developed a certain sympathy for the Spanish in the the S-A War) are trying to stop the Spanish from getting stuff to Cuba? (Cuba said with a high pitched fake Spanish accent).
Me: Yes
GF: How?
Me: They put their fleet off Cuba and try to sink any Spanish coming in.
GF: All the ships in one bunch? Doesn't seem likely to work.
Me: No, they send out ships to patrol and find the ones coming in, then use the ones in a bunch to stop them.
GF: So some Yanky ships are lurking around on their own just asking to be mugged? Why aren't the Spanish doing that?
Me: Because most of the Spanish fleet hasn't arrived yet, all they have in Cuba is a handful of torpedo boats and destroyers.
GF: Those are the little fast ships meant to dash out and sink big ships with honking great torpedoes right? Do things like mugging big Yanky ships lurking around on their own? (about here I got a sinking feeling in my stomach).
Me: Yeeeessss
GF: So why aren't they?
All this point my partner and other GF who are sitting on the couch drinking vodka start pissing themselves with laughter as the so called amateur expert who has spent decades reading up on military and naval history etc is thoroughly stumped by the twenty something who only picked her first book on naval history less than a week ago. Sigh.
Upshot, the entire Spanish-American War needs to be reworked. GF and I have started a little mini campaign gaming out the Cuban and Philippines campaigns. She's taken the Spanish despite me insisting they get penalties for poor training, morale, maintenance and faulty weapons. So far she's bagged a brand new gunboat and an older cruiser. Little bit of luck on her part, but also a lot of me underestimating her on my part. That last bit seems to fit with the TL. Plus due her successes, I have now removed the Spanish penalty for poor morale going forwards in the campaign. I will keep you updated.
GF: So the Yanky devils (she seems to have developed a certain sympathy for the Spanish in the the S-A War) are trying to stop the Spanish from getting stuff to Cuba? (Cuba said with a high pitched fake Spanish accent).
Me: Yes
GF: How?
Me: They put their fleet off Cuba and try to sink any Spanish coming in.
GF: All the ships in one bunch? Doesn't seem likely to work.
Me: No, they send out ships to patrol and find the ones coming in, then use the ones in a bunch to stop them.
GF: So some Yanky ships are lurking around on their own just asking to be mugged? Why aren't the Spanish doing that?
Me: Because most of the Spanish fleet hasn't arrived yet, all they have in Cuba is a handful of torpedo boats and destroyers.
GF: Those are the little fast ships meant to dash out and sink big ships with honking great torpedoes right? Do things like mugging big Yanky ships lurking around on their own? (about here I got a sinking feeling in my stomach).
Me: Yeeeessss
GF: So why aren't they?
All this point my partner and other GF who are sitting on the couch drinking vodka start pissing themselves with laughter as the so called amateur expert who has spent decades reading up on military and naval history etc is thoroughly stumped by the twenty something who only picked her first book on naval history less than a week ago. Sigh.
Upshot, the entire Spanish-American War needs to be reworked. GF and I have started a little mini campaign gaming out the Cuban and Philippines campaigns. She's taken the Spanish despite me insisting they get penalties for poor training, morale, maintenance and faulty weapons. So far she's bagged a brand new gunboat and an older cruiser. Little bit of luck on her part, but also a lot of me underestimating her on my part. That last bit seems to fit with the TL. Plus due her successes, I have now removed the Spanish penalty for poor morale going forwards in the campaign. I will keep you updated.
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Several people asked would Spain buying those extra ex Brazilian warships make a difference to the Spanish American War ITTL. I can now say definitely yes, a very major difference, particularly in the Philippines. You put just the two old ironclads out there and the suddenly the USN face a logistical nightmare. Yes the enlarged USN ITTL has more than enough ships to counter them, what they don't have is a base in South East Asia to support such an enlarged squadron.
Also need to consider as well that the USN isn’t the force we tend to think of now, it was for a large chunk of it's history the Black Sheep and went through long periods of neglect even with the buildup I have to wonder if there is the catch-up in terms of skill and training as well as thought here.
Apparently the USN was rather shocked when they came in contact with the RN in the 1st WW and discovered how badly they compared. But we're almost through gaming out the Philippines campaign and we'll into the Cuban campaign. The US don't come out of the S-A War ITTL as lightly as they in the OTL. So far they've lost a battleship and two cruisers sunk, with three more cruisers needing many months in a dockyard.
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Holy shit on a shingle!
Heads would roll for that level of losses to say nothing of what the boards on inquiry and senate committees will have to say. Still are you rolling for surface commerce raiders going after US trade and vice-versa as well?
Final US losses
Sunk: Two battleships, one armoured cruiser, two other cruisers, three gunboats.
Requiring extensive repairs: Four cruisers
Many of US ships of the era had some serious issues, particularly with protection and stability. The Montgomery class cruisers (one sunk, one crippled in the war), were poorly protected and very unstable. The Indiana class battleships (one sunk) had a main belt which was totally useless at full load (operating off Cuba, they were over full load).
There are many other examples too, most of which can be traced back to Congress imposing limits on size to reduce costs. Plus the USN had no professional head or command structure like the RN's First Sea Lord and Admiralty Board. Operations were basically directed by the civilian Secretary of the Navy. In the OTL the USN got lucky, ITTL they didn't. The professionals in the navy knew some of their ships had issues and in the OTL they kept them out of harms way. With those extra ex Brazilian ships in the Spanish fleet they had to use some of them in combat. Half the cruiser losses come from the Montgomery (one sunk, one crippled) and Cincinnati (one crippled) classes which fall into this group.
Yes heads will roll, and Congress will be kicking up a stink, but they are actually where the problem lies. Means will take a lot to fix.
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US “new” Navy: 1883 to 1904
I actually posed this awhile ago, the first fleet list I posted actually. This is an updated version (I've deleted the old one to avoid confusion). I reflects the losses of the Spanish-American War and some changes due to shifts in the TL plus improved data I've found.
A few extra notes. The Saratoga class armoured cruisers are the OTL battleship USS Maine with three extra sisters (Blaine butterflies). The Kearsage class is the OTL USS New York again with three sisters (more Blaine butterflies). While the Bunker Hill class is the OTL USS Brooklyn but with a sister ITTL (indirect Blaine butterflies). The USS Maine ITTL is a sister to the OTL USS Texas (direct Blaine butterflies). The first 1883 USS Denver is also unique to TTL as is the entire Fort Worth class (indirect Blaine butterflies again). As you can see, most of these extra ships are due to Blaine butterflies. Really only the Extra USS Denver can't be traced to him.
Finally the Ticonderoga class is the OTL Pennsylvania class and the Lake Champlain class is the OTL Tennessee class. How two of those end up being sold to Japan in 1905 is something I won't go into right now
Battleships
Texas class
6,200 tons, 2 x 12" BL barbette, 3 (6) x 6" BL, 2 (4) x 14” TT, 12" Nickel belt, 2" Nickel deck, 17 knots TE FT Coal
- Texas, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892
- Maine, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892, lost Spanish-American War
Indiana class
10,200 tons, 4 x 13" BL turret, 4 (8) x 8" BL, 2 (4) x 6” BL, 3 (6) x 18” TT, 18" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 15 knots TE FT Coal, low freeboard, belt useless at full load
- Indiana, ordered 1890, commissioned 1895
- Massachusetts, ordered 1890, commissioned 1896, lost Spanish-American War
- Oregon, ordered 1890, commissioned 1896
Iowa class
11,400 tons, 4 x 12" turret, 4 (8) x 8", 3 (6) x 4”, 2 (4) x 18” TT, 14" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 16 knots TE FT Coal
- Iowa, ordered 1892, commissioned 1897
Kentucky class
11,500 tons, 4 x 12" turret, 4 x 8" on top of main guns, 7 (14) x 5”, 2 (4) x 18” TT ,14" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 16 knots TE FT Coal
- Kentucky, ordered 1895, commissioned 1900
- Illinois ordered 1895, commissioned 1900
Montana class
11,600 tons, 4 x 13", 7 (14) x 6”, 2 (4) x 18” TT, 16.5" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 16 knots TE FT Coal
- Montana, ordered 1896, commissioned 1901
- Alabama, ordered 1896, commissioned 1901
- Wisconsin, ordered 1896, commissioned 1901
Missouri class
12,700 tons, 4 x 12", 8 (16) x 6”, 2 (4) x 18” TT, 11" belt, 2.5" deck, 18 knots TE WT Coal
- Missouri, ordered 1898, commissioned 1903
- Georgia, ordered 1898, commissioned 1904
- Ohio, ordered 1898, commissioned 1905
Maine class
15,000 tons, 4 x 12", 6 (8) x 8" four on top of main guns, 6 (12) x 6”, 6 (12) x 3”, 2 (4) x 21” TT, 11" belt, 1.5" deck, 19 knots TE WT Coal
- Maine, ordered 1899, commissioned 1906
- Massachusetts, ordered 1899, commissioned 1906
- Virginia, ordered 1899, commissioned 1906
- Nebraska, ordered 1900, commissioned 1907
- Rhode Island, ordered 1900, commissioned 1907
Connecticut class
16,000 tons, 4 x 12", 4 (8) x 8”, 6 (12) x 7”, 10 (20) x 3”, 2 (4) x 21” TT, 11" belt, 1.5" deck, 18 knots TE WT Coal
- Connecticut, ordered 1902, commissioned 1906
- Louisiana, ordered 1902, commissioned 1906
Vermont class
16,200 tons, 4 x 12", 4 (8) x 8”, 6 (12) x 7”, 10 (20) x 3”, 2 (4) x 21” TT, 11" belt, 1.5" deck, 18 knots TE WT Coal
- Vermont, ordered 1903, commissioned 1907
- Kansas, ordered 1903, commissioned 1907
- Minnesota, ordered 1903, commissioned 1907
- New Hampshire, ordered 1903, commissioned 1907
Mississippi class
13,000 tons, 4 x 12", 4 (8) x 8”, 4 (8) x 7”, 6 (12) x 3”, 1 (2) x 21” TT, 9" belt, 1.5" deck, 17 knots TE WT Coal
- Mississippi, ordered 1904, commissioned 1908
- Idaho, ordered 1904, commissioned 1908
Armoured Cruisers
Saratoga class
6,700 tons. 2 (4) x 10” BL turrets, 3 (6) x 6” BL, 2 (4) x 14” TT, 12” Nickel belt, 2” Nickel deck, 17 knots TE FT Coal
- Saratoga, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892
- Lexington, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892
- Brandywine, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892
- Ticonderoga, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892, lost due to spontaneous magazine explosion 1898
Kearsage class
8,200 tons, 5 (6) x 8" BL turrets, 6 (12) x 4", 1 (3) x 14” TT 1 fwd, 4" Nickel belt, 3" Nickel deck, 20 knots CE FT Coal
- Kearsage, ordered 1887, commissioned 1892
- Shenandoah, ordered 1887, commissioned 1892
- Antietam, ordered 1888, commissioned 1893
- Intrepid, ordered 1888, commissioned 1893
Bunker Hill class
9,200 tons, 6 (8) x 8" turrets, 6 (12) x 5", 2 (5) x 14” TT 1 fwd, 3" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 20 knots TE FT Coal, poor main belt
- Bunker Hill, ordered 1892, commissioned 1896, lost Spanish-American War
- Yorktown, ordered 1892, commissioned 1896
Ticonderoga class
13,700 tons, 4 x 8", 7 (14) x 6”, 9 (18) x 3”, 1 (2) x 21” TT, 6" belt, 1.5" deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Ticonderoga, ordered 1900, commissioned 1903
- Bunker Hill, ordered 1900, commissioned 1903
- Lake Erie, ordered 1901, commissioned 1904
- Chesapeake, ordered 1901, commissioned 1904
- Essex, ordered 1901, commissioned 1905
- President, ordered 1901, commissioned 1908
Lake Champlain class
14,500 tons, 4 x 10", 8 (16) x 6”, 11 (22) x 3”, 2 (4) x 21” TT, 5" belt, 1.5" deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Lake Champlain, ordered 1902, commissioned 1905, sold to Japan as Kasaga 1905
- Chippawa, ordered 1902, commissioned 1905, sold to Japan as Nisshin 1905
- Concord, ordered 1904, commissioned 1907
- Congress, ordered 1904, commissioned 1907
- Lake Champlain (ex Japanese Kasaga), ordered 1903, purchased 1905, commissioned 1906
- Chippawa (ex Japanese Nisshin), ordered 1903, purchased 1905, commissioned 1906
Cruisers
Atlanta class
3,200 tons, 2 x 8" BL, 3 (6) x 6" BL, 0” belt, 1.5" Nickel deck, 13 knots CE FT Coal
- Atlanta, ordered 1883, commissioned 1886
- Boston, ordered 1883, commissioned 1887
Chicago class
4,500 tons, 2 (4) x 8" BL, 4 (8) x 6" BL, 0” belt, 0” deck, 14 knots CE FT Coal
- Chicago, ordered 1883, commissioned 1889
- Denver, ordered 1883, commissioned 1889, lost Spanish-American War
Newark class
4,100 tons, 6 (12) x 6" BL, 3” Nickel slope, 2" Nickel deck, 18 knots TE FT Coal, highly unreliable machinery
- Newark, ordered 1885, commissioned 1893
Charleston class
3,800 tons, 2 x 8" BL, 3 (6) x 6" BL, 3” slope, 2" Nickel deck, 19 knots CE FT Coal
- Charleston, ordered 1885, commissioned 1889, wrecked 1899
Baltimore class
4,400 tons,2 (4) x 8" BL, 3 (6) x 6" BL, 4” slope, 2.5" Nickel deck, 19 knots TE FT Coal
- Baltimore, ordered 1887, commissioned 1890
Philadelphia class
4,300 tons, 6 (12) x 6 BL", 0” belt, 0” deck, 19 knots TE FT Coal
- Philadelphia, ordered 1887, commissioned 1890
San Francisco class
4,100 tons, 6 (12) x 6 BL", 3” Nickel slope, 2" Nickel deck, 19 knots TE FT Coal
- San Francisco, ordered 1887, commissioned 1890
Olympia class
5,900 tons, 4 (2) x 8" BL, 5 (10) x 5", 3 (6) x 18” TT, 5” Nickel slope, 2" Nickel deck, 20 knots TE FT Coal
- Olympia, ordered 1888, commissioned 1895
Cincinnati class
3,200 tons, 1 x 6", 5 (10) x 5", 2 (4) x 18” TT, 2” Nickel slope, 1" Nickel deck, 19 knots TE FT Coal, poor subdivision
- Cincinnati, ordered 1888, commissioned 1894
- Raleigh, ordered 1888, commissioned 1894
Montgomery class
2,100 tons, 5 (9) x 5", 1 (3) x 18” TT 1 fwd, 0” belt, 0” deck, 17 knots TE FT Coal, unstable
- Montgomery, ordered 1888, commissioned 1894
- Detroit, ordered 1888, commissioned 1893
- Marblehead, ordered 1888, commissioned 1894, lost Spanish-American War
Columbia class
7,400 tons, 1 x 8", 1 (2) x 6", 4 (8) x 4”, 2 (4) x 18” TT, 4” Nickel slope, 2.5" Nickel deck, 21 knots TE FT Coal, unstable
- Colombia, ordered 1890, commissioned 1894
- Minneapolis, ordered 1891, commissioned 1894
Fort Worth class
2,600 tons, 4 (6) x 5", 2 (4) x 18” TT, 1” Harvey slope, 0.5" Harvey deck, 23 knots TE FT Coal, unstable
- Fort Worth, ordered 1894, commissioned 1898
- Fort Wayne, ordered 1894, commissioned 1898
New Orleans class
3,800 tons, 3 (6) x 6", 2 (4) x 4.7", 1 (3) x 18” TT 1 fwd, 2” slope, 1" deck, 20 knots TE FT Coal
- New Orleans (ex Brazilian Minas Gerais), ordered 1894, purchased 1895, commissioned 1896,
- Albany (ex Brazilian Sao Paulo), ordered 1894, purchased 1895, commissioned 1896
Denver class
3,200 tons, 7 (10) x 5", 2.5” slope, 1" deck, 16.5 knots TE WT Coal
- Denver, ordered 1899, commissioned 1904
- Marblehead, ordered 1899, commissioned 1905
- Des Moines, ordered 1899, commissioned 1904
- Galveston, ordered 1899, commissioned 1905
- Tacoma, ordered 1899, commissioned 1904
- Cleveland, ordered 1899, commissioned 1904
St Louis class
9,700 tons, 8 (14) x 6", 9 (18) x 3", 4" belt, 2" deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- St Louis, ordered 1900, commissioned 1906
- Milwaukee, ordered 1900, commissioned 1906
- Brooklyn, ordered 1900, commissioned 1906
Scout Cruisers
Chester class
3,800 tons, 2 x 5", 3 (6) x 3", 1 (2) x 21” TT 2" belt, 1" deck, 24 knots Tu WT Coal
- Chester, ordered 1904, commissioned 1908
- Birmingham, ordered 1904, commissioned 1908
Monitors
Puritan class (Supposed repair)
6,100 tons, 4 x 12" BL turret, 7 (14) x 6 BL”, 12” Steel belt, 2" Steel deck, 12.5 knots CE FT Coal, very low freeboard
- Puritan, ordered 1885, commissioned 1896
Amphitrite class (Supposed repair)
3,400 tons, 4 x 10" BL turret, 2 (4) x 4”, 18" Nickel belt, 3" Nickel deck, 15 knots CE FT Coal, very low freeboard
- Amphitrite, ordered 1886, commissioned 1895
- Monadnock, ordered 1886, commissioned 1896
- Terror, ordered 1886, commissioned 1896
- Miantonomoh, ordered 1886, commissioned 1891
Roanoke class (Supposed repair)
4,100 tons, 2 x 12" BL turret, 2 x 10” BL turret, 13” Nickel belt, 3" Nickel deck, 13.5 knots TE WT Coal, very low freeboard
- Roanoke, ordered 1887, commissioned 1893
Colossus class
3,200 tons, 2 x 12" turret, 2 (4) x 4", 11" Harvey belt, 0.5" Harvey deck, 12.5 knots TE WT Coal, very low freeboard
- Colossus, ordered 1898, commissioned 1903
- Thunderer, ordered 1898, commissioned 1903
- Hercules, ordered 1898, commissioned 1903
- Hecla, ordered 1898, commissioned 1903
I actually posed this awhile ago, the first fleet list I posted actually. This is an updated version (I've deleted the old one to avoid confusion). I reflects the losses of the Spanish-American War and some changes due to shifts in the TL plus improved data I've found.
A few extra notes. The Saratoga class armoured cruisers are the OTL battleship USS Maine with three extra sisters (Blaine butterflies). The Kearsage class is the OTL USS New York again with three sisters (more Blaine butterflies). While the Bunker Hill class is the OTL USS Brooklyn but with a sister ITTL (indirect Blaine butterflies). The USS Maine ITTL is a sister to the OTL USS Texas (direct Blaine butterflies). The first 1883 USS Denver is also unique to TTL as is the entire Fort Worth class (indirect Blaine butterflies again). As you can see, most of these extra ships are due to Blaine butterflies. Really only the Extra USS Denver can't be traced to him.
Finally the Ticonderoga class is the OTL Pennsylvania class and the Lake Champlain class is the OTL Tennessee class. How two of those end up being sold to Japan in 1905 is something I won't go into right now
Battleships
Texas class
6,200 tons, 2 x 12" BL barbette, 3 (6) x 6" BL, 2 (4) x 14” TT, 12" Nickel belt, 2" Nickel deck, 17 knots TE FT Coal
- Texas, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892
- Maine, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892, lost Spanish-American War
Indiana class
10,200 tons, 4 x 13" BL turret, 4 (8) x 8" BL, 2 (4) x 6” BL, 3 (6) x 18” TT, 18" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 15 knots TE FT Coal, low freeboard, belt useless at full load
- Indiana, ordered 1890, commissioned 1895
- Massachusetts, ordered 1890, commissioned 1896, lost Spanish-American War
- Oregon, ordered 1890, commissioned 1896
Iowa class
11,400 tons, 4 x 12" turret, 4 (8) x 8", 3 (6) x 4”, 2 (4) x 18” TT, 14" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 16 knots TE FT Coal
- Iowa, ordered 1892, commissioned 1897
Kentucky class
11,500 tons, 4 x 12" turret, 4 x 8" on top of main guns, 7 (14) x 5”, 2 (4) x 18” TT ,14" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 16 knots TE FT Coal
- Kentucky, ordered 1895, commissioned 1900
- Illinois ordered 1895, commissioned 1900
Montana class
11,600 tons, 4 x 13", 7 (14) x 6”, 2 (4) x 18” TT, 16.5" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 16 knots TE FT Coal
- Montana, ordered 1896, commissioned 1901
- Alabama, ordered 1896, commissioned 1901
- Wisconsin, ordered 1896, commissioned 1901
Missouri class
12,700 tons, 4 x 12", 8 (16) x 6”, 2 (4) x 18” TT, 11" belt, 2.5" deck, 18 knots TE WT Coal
- Missouri, ordered 1898, commissioned 1903
- Georgia, ordered 1898, commissioned 1904
- Ohio, ordered 1898, commissioned 1905
Maine class
15,000 tons, 4 x 12", 6 (8) x 8" four on top of main guns, 6 (12) x 6”, 6 (12) x 3”, 2 (4) x 21” TT, 11" belt, 1.5" deck, 19 knots TE WT Coal
- Maine, ordered 1899, commissioned 1906
- Massachusetts, ordered 1899, commissioned 1906
- Virginia, ordered 1899, commissioned 1906
- Nebraska, ordered 1900, commissioned 1907
- Rhode Island, ordered 1900, commissioned 1907
Connecticut class
16,000 tons, 4 x 12", 4 (8) x 8”, 6 (12) x 7”, 10 (20) x 3”, 2 (4) x 21” TT, 11" belt, 1.5" deck, 18 knots TE WT Coal
- Connecticut, ordered 1902, commissioned 1906
- Louisiana, ordered 1902, commissioned 1906
Vermont class
16,200 tons, 4 x 12", 4 (8) x 8”, 6 (12) x 7”, 10 (20) x 3”, 2 (4) x 21” TT, 11" belt, 1.5" deck, 18 knots TE WT Coal
- Vermont, ordered 1903, commissioned 1907
- Kansas, ordered 1903, commissioned 1907
- Minnesota, ordered 1903, commissioned 1907
- New Hampshire, ordered 1903, commissioned 1907
Mississippi class
13,000 tons, 4 x 12", 4 (8) x 8”, 4 (8) x 7”, 6 (12) x 3”, 1 (2) x 21” TT, 9" belt, 1.5" deck, 17 knots TE WT Coal
- Mississippi, ordered 1904, commissioned 1908
- Idaho, ordered 1904, commissioned 1908
Armoured Cruisers
Saratoga class
6,700 tons. 2 (4) x 10” BL turrets, 3 (6) x 6” BL, 2 (4) x 14” TT, 12” Nickel belt, 2” Nickel deck, 17 knots TE FT Coal
- Saratoga, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892
- Lexington, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892
- Brandywine, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892
- Ticonderoga, ordered 1886, commissioned 1892, lost due to spontaneous magazine explosion 1898
Kearsage class
8,200 tons, 5 (6) x 8" BL turrets, 6 (12) x 4", 1 (3) x 14” TT 1 fwd, 4" Nickel belt, 3" Nickel deck, 20 knots CE FT Coal
- Kearsage, ordered 1887, commissioned 1892
- Shenandoah, ordered 1887, commissioned 1892
- Antietam, ordered 1888, commissioned 1893
- Intrepid, ordered 1888, commissioned 1893
Bunker Hill class
9,200 tons, 6 (8) x 8" turrets, 6 (12) x 5", 2 (5) x 14” TT 1 fwd, 3" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 20 knots TE FT Coal, poor main belt
- Bunker Hill, ordered 1892, commissioned 1896, lost Spanish-American War
- Yorktown, ordered 1892, commissioned 1896
Ticonderoga class
13,700 tons, 4 x 8", 7 (14) x 6”, 9 (18) x 3”, 1 (2) x 21” TT, 6" belt, 1.5" deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Ticonderoga, ordered 1900, commissioned 1903
- Bunker Hill, ordered 1900, commissioned 1903
- Lake Erie, ordered 1901, commissioned 1904
- Chesapeake, ordered 1901, commissioned 1904
- Essex, ordered 1901, commissioned 1905
- President, ordered 1901, commissioned 1908
Lake Champlain class
14,500 tons, 4 x 10", 8 (16) x 6”, 11 (22) x 3”, 2 (4) x 21” TT, 5" belt, 1.5" deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Lake Champlain, ordered 1902, commissioned 1905, sold to Japan as Kasaga 1905
- Chippawa, ordered 1902, commissioned 1905, sold to Japan as Nisshin 1905
- Concord, ordered 1904, commissioned 1907
- Congress, ordered 1904, commissioned 1907
- Lake Champlain (ex Japanese Kasaga), ordered 1903, purchased 1905, commissioned 1906
- Chippawa (ex Japanese Nisshin), ordered 1903, purchased 1905, commissioned 1906
Cruisers
Atlanta class
3,200 tons, 2 x 8" BL, 3 (6) x 6" BL, 0” belt, 1.5" Nickel deck, 13 knots CE FT Coal
- Atlanta, ordered 1883, commissioned 1886
- Boston, ordered 1883, commissioned 1887
Chicago class
4,500 tons, 2 (4) x 8" BL, 4 (8) x 6" BL, 0” belt, 0” deck, 14 knots CE FT Coal
- Chicago, ordered 1883, commissioned 1889
- Denver, ordered 1883, commissioned 1889, lost Spanish-American War
Newark class
4,100 tons, 6 (12) x 6" BL, 3” Nickel slope, 2" Nickel deck, 18 knots TE FT Coal, highly unreliable machinery
- Newark, ordered 1885, commissioned 1893
Charleston class
3,800 tons, 2 x 8" BL, 3 (6) x 6" BL, 3” slope, 2" Nickel deck, 19 knots CE FT Coal
- Charleston, ordered 1885, commissioned 1889, wrecked 1899
Baltimore class
4,400 tons,2 (4) x 8" BL, 3 (6) x 6" BL, 4” slope, 2.5" Nickel deck, 19 knots TE FT Coal
- Baltimore, ordered 1887, commissioned 1890
Philadelphia class
4,300 tons, 6 (12) x 6 BL", 0” belt, 0” deck, 19 knots TE FT Coal
- Philadelphia, ordered 1887, commissioned 1890
San Francisco class
4,100 tons, 6 (12) x 6 BL", 3” Nickel slope, 2" Nickel deck, 19 knots TE FT Coal
- San Francisco, ordered 1887, commissioned 1890
Olympia class
5,900 tons, 4 (2) x 8" BL, 5 (10) x 5", 3 (6) x 18” TT, 5” Nickel slope, 2" Nickel deck, 20 knots TE FT Coal
- Olympia, ordered 1888, commissioned 1895
Cincinnati class
3,200 tons, 1 x 6", 5 (10) x 5", 2 (4) x 18” TT, 2” Nickel slope, 1" Nickel deck, 19 knots TE FT Coal, poor subdivision
- Cincinnati, ordered 1888, commissioned 1894
- Raleigh, ordered 1888, commissioned 1894
Montgomery class
2,100 tons, 5 (9) x 5", 1 (3) x 18” TT 1 fwd, 0” belt, 0” deck, 17 knots TE FT Coal, unstable
- Montgomery, ordered 1888, commissioned 1894
- Detroit, ordered 1888, commissioned 1893
- Marblehead, ordered 1888, commissioned 1894, lost Spanish-American War
Columbia class
7,400 tons, 1 x 8", 1 (2) x 6", 4 (8) x 4”, 2 (4) x 18” TT, 4” Nickel slope, 2.5" Nickel deck, 21 knots TE FT Coal, unstable
- Colombia, ordered 1890, commissioned 1894
- Minneapolis, ordered 1891, commissioned 1894
Fort Worth class
2,600 tons, 4 (6) x 5", 2 (4) x 18” TT, 1” Harvey slope, 0.5" Harvey deck, 23 knots TE FT Coal, unstable
- Fort Worth, ordered 1894, commissioned 1898
- Fort Wayne, ordered 1894, commissioned 1898
New Orleans class
3,800 tons, 3 (6) x 6", 2 (4) x 4.7", 1 (3) x 18” TT 1 fwd, 2” slope, 1" deck, 20 knots TE FT Coal
- New Orleans (ex Brazilian Minas Gerais), ordered 1894, purchased 1895, commissioned 1896,
- Albany (ex Brazilian Sao Paulo), ordered 1894, purchased 1895, commissioned 1896
Denver class
3,200 tons, 7 (10) x 5", 2.5” slope, 1" deck, 16.5 knots TE WT Coal
- Denver, ordered 1899, commissioned 1904
- Marblehead, ordered 1899, commissioned 1905
- Des Moines, ordered 1899, commissioned 1904
- Galveston, ordered 1899, commissioned 1905
- Tacoma, ordered 1899, commissioned 1904
- Cleveland, ordered 1899, commissioned 1904
St Louis class
9,700 tons, 8 (14) x 6", 9 (18) x 3", 4" belt, 2" deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- St Louis, ordered 1900, commissioned 1906
- Milwaukee, ordered 1900, commissioned 1906
- Brooklyn, ordered 1900, commissioned 1906
Scout Cruisers
Chester class
3,800 tons, 2 x 5", 3 (6) x 3", 1 (2) x 21” TT 2" belt, 1" deck, 24 knots Tu WT Coal
- Chester, ordered 1904, commissioned 1908
- Birmingham, ordered 1904, commissioned 1908
Monitors
Puritan class (Supposed repair)
6,100 tons, 4 x 12" BL turret, 7 (14) x 6 BL”, 12” Steel belt, 2" Steel deck, 12.5 knots CE FT Coal, very low freeboard
- Puritan, ordered 1885, commissioned 1896
Amphitrite class (Supposed repair)
3,400 tons, 4 x 10" BL turret, 2 (4) x 4”, 18" Nickel belt, 3" Nickel deck, 15 knots CE FT Coal, very low freeboard
- Amphitrite, ordered 1886, commissioned 1895
- Monadnock, ordered 1886, commissioned 1896
- Terror, ordered 1886, commissioned 1896
- Miantonomoh, ordered 1886, commissioned 1891
Roanoke class (Supposed repair)
4,100 tons, 2 x 12" BL turret, 2 x 10” BL turret, 13” Nickel belt, 3" Nickel deck, 13.5 knots TE WT Coal, very low freeboard
- Roanoke, ordered 1887, commissioned 1893
Colossus class
3,200 tons, 2 x 12" turret, 2 (4) x 4", 11" Harvey belt, 0.5" Harvey deck, 12.5 knots TE WT Coal, very low freeboard
- Colossus, ordered 1898, commissioned 1903
- Thunderer, ordered 1898, commissioned 1903
- Hercules, ordered 1898, commissioned 1903
- Hecla, ordered 1898, commissioned 1903
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It might help explain the US losses if I mention a little more about the rules I use to game. I use the idea that certain guns can't really damage certain ships. For example you fire a 4" gun at a modern battleship and unless it's a golden BB all it does is bounce. Likewise you fire a 16" gun at a destroyer all you get is a nice 16" hole where it enters the ship and another where it exits. Also I take into account guns ability to penetrate armour over critical areas. An 8" gun might be able to inflict damage on a battleship but it's not going to be able to penetrate its barbette or magazine armour.
So ships are divided into a damage groups which determines how many points a particular calibre of gun will do. Say a 9.2" will do 2 points to a battleship (damage group 4), 4 points to an amoured cruiser (damage group 3), six points to a protected cruiser (damage group 2) but can't damage a destroyer (damage group 1). Then I have critical categories. That 9.2" can't inflict a critical hit on a battleship (critical category A) but can on an armoured or protected cruiser (critical category B and C) and since it can't damage a destroyer (critical category D) it also can't inflict critical damage.
The problem the US had (most other navies run into this too), is some of their ships drop critical category or damage group due to design flaws. For example their Bunker Hill class armoured cruisers should be damage group 3 as an armoured cruiser, but its armour scheme was flawed dropping them to group 2. Or the Indiana class battleships with their belt utterly useless at full load drop from critical category A all the way to C.
There is also flotation value which determines much damage a ship can take. There are different formulas for three different groups. Large 13,000 tons and above, medium 4,000 to 13,000 tons and small below 4,000 tons. Obviously ships near the boundaries can move up or down depending on other factors.
So ships are divided into a damage groups which determines how many points a particular calibre of gun will do. Say a 9.2" will do 2 points to a battleship (damage group 4), 4 points to an amoured cruiser (damage group 3), six points to a protected cruiser (damage group 2) but can't damage a destroyer (damage group 1). Then I have critical categories. That 9.2" can't inflict a critical hit on a battleship (critical category A) but can on an armoured or protected cruiser (critical category B and C) and since it can't damage a destroyer (critical category D) it also can't inflict critical damage.
The problem the US had (most other navies run into this too), is some of their ships drop critical category or damage group due to design flaws. For example their Bunker Hill class armoured cruisers should be damage group 3 as an armoured cruiser, but its armour scheme was flawed dropping them to group 2. Or the Indiana class battleships with their belt utterly useless at full load drop from critical category A all the way to C.
There is also flotation value which determines much damage a ship can take. There are different formulas for three different groups. Large 13,000 tons and above, medium 4,000 to 13,000 tons and small below 4,000 tons. Obviously ships near the boundaries can move up or down depending on other factors.
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Great comment. People usually forget logistical requirements. In video game this increase in Spanish naval strength would not matter, but in real life it would. USN deficiencies in naval logistics were on display in Great White Fleet trip around the world.
The battle off Samar is a great example of this from OTL. The Japanese misidentified the Escort Carriers of Taffy 3 as Fleet Carriers, which in turn meant that they misidentified the escorting Destroyers as Cruisers. The Japanese then loaded AP shells, which... Well. Battleship Calibre AP Shell will go in one ear of a Destroyer and out the other before the fuse stops slacking.
However, that was AP Shells. I'm fairly sure HE shells are contact fused and, as such, would be a very different story.
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Jan-April 1898: Endless humiliation
~Jan-April 1898: Endless humiliation
January 1898: With public pressure over the Dreyfus Affair mounting in France, Major Esterhazy demands a trial so that he may be acquitted. The trial is held in a closed military court and duly finds Esterhazy not guilty. The verdict only serves to further deepen the divide in France with anti-Jewish riots breaking out throughout France. With the nation now polarised, prominent intellectual Émile Zola publishing a lengthy open letter titled J'Accuse condemning the French establishment, accusing the Minister of War, Jean-Baptiste Billot of covering up evidence of Dreyfus's innocence. Zola's letter will further increase the divide between the Dreyfusards and Anti-Dreyfusards, increasing the growing chaos. In response to the unrest Esterhazy flees to Britain.
January 1898: With the Germans and Russians having seized control of Chinese ports, the French land an occupation force in the minor fishing port of Zhanjiang in the Guangdong province, intending to turn it into a major naval base to challenge British Hong Kong.
February 1898: In an effort to protect US interests, President McKinley dispatches the armoured cruiser Ticonderoga to Cuba. The Ticonderoga however suffers a magazine explosion whilst in Havana harbour, sinking with heavy loss of life. While McKinley calls for calm and avoids blaming the Spanish, the US public is incensed, with the press proclaiming it a deliberate act of sabotage by the Spanish and calling for war. Despite the popular clamour for an immediate response, McKinley refuses to take any action until a full investigation into the Ticonderoga's loss is completed
February 1898: Émile Zola is charged with criminal libel against Billot for J'Accuse. During his trial clear evidence presented showing Dreyfuss to be innocent. Nevertheless Zola is convicted and sentenced to the maximum penalty, one year in prison and a 3,000 franc {£133} fine, however the verdict is overturned on a technicality, requiring a new trial.
February 1898: With the purchase of the ex Brazilian warships, the Spanish have reinforced their squadron in the Philippines with the two older ironclad battleships. With war now appearing unavoidable, the US desperately need to reinforce their Asiatic squadron to counter these vessels. However their lack of a base in South East Asia means they could not support such an enlarged squadron. In an effort to resolve this issue, US ambassador to Britain John Hay, a committed Anglophile with an excellent relationship with Chamberlain's government, secures an assurance of friendly neutrality in the event of war. The agreement includes allowing neutral merchant ships to load coal and ammunition for the US Asiatic Squadron at Hong Kong. With this agreement secured, the US charters Danish shipping company Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab to provide logistic support for the Asiatic Squadron and moves two older battleships, three armoured cruisers and two additional protected cruisers to reinforce Commodore George Dewey's existing force of three Montgomery class cruisers.
February 1898: The Temple Commission into the 1896-97 Indian Famine releases its report. The report finds the relief efforts were generally well organised and timely, but the funds available where overwhelmed by the scale of the famine. It suggests the annual contribution to the Famine Relief Commission be increased and the Viceroy be able to make an immediate cash injection should the available funds prove insufficient. It also recommends food exports be halted and price controls on food be implemented in affected areas immediately a famine is declared. For the longer term it recommends India be moved away from subsistence agriculture and industrial development be encouraged to provide alternate forms of employment. The report also stresses the importance of railways in distributing food, advising the Famine Relief Commission be given priority for rail transport in effected areas. The Temple Report is well received both in Britain and India, with Chamberlain's government committing to enact legislation to implement its recommendations as soon as possible.
February 1898: Despite the Spanish Navy strongly advising the government of Práxedes Sagasta that the navy is in no state to fight the US, Sagasta orders the bulk of the Spanish Fleet under Admiral Pascual Cervera to immediately sail to reinforce Admiral Taylio Montoya's Caribbean Torpedo Flotilla in Cuba.
March 1898: Zaifeng, the Guangxu Emperor's half brother, enters the Royal Navy's Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth as a midshipman.
March 1898: The French introduce the Canon de 75 Modèle 1897 as their standard field artillery piece. Featuring a revolutionary hydro-pneumatic recoil system allowing the gun to avoid the need to be relaid after firing and one piece self contained ammunition, the gun is capable of an unprecedented rate of fire. While it is capable of firing up to fifteen rounds per minute for short periods, its sustained rate of three to four rounds per minute is twice that of any other contemporary artillery piece. The 75mm Mle 1897 will be the first modern quick firing weapon and lead to all other nations seeking to upgrade their artillery to this new pattern.
March 1898: After having seized Lüshunkou in December 1897, renaming it Dal'niy, the Russians force the Chinese to relinquish sovereignty over the southern tip of Liaodong Peninsular, while the remainder of the peninsula is to become a 'neutral zone, with the Chinese unable to grant any concessions to other nations in the region. In addition, the Russians are granted the right to construct a branch line of the Trans-Manchurian railway, linking Dal'niy to Harbin. In return the Russians agree to pay ten million roubles {£1,130,524} over ten years. Despite the new name of Dal'niy, the region will be more commonly referred to as Port Arthur, the name of the Naval base located in the new Russian territory.
March 1898: Concerned at the Russian expansion into the Liaodong Peninsula, the British negotiate for a lease over Weihaiwei to establish a naval base. Unlike the German and Russian expansions, the Chinese are to retain sovereignty and responsibility for civil administration of the territory, while the British will pay an annual lease fee of £400 {£434}. While the British will only be responsible for defence and other military matters, British subjects in the territory will have extraterritoriality rights. To assist in the defence of the base, the formation of Weihaiwei Regiment of two battalions recruited from the Shandong Province is authorised.
March 1898: The US navy inquiry into the loss of the Ticonderoga concludes the sinking was caused by the detonation of a mine attached to her hull, resulting a fatal magazine explosion. While the inquiry does not directly blame Spain, the US public are convinced of Spanish responsibility by further inflammatory reporting in the press. With the calls for war now near impossible to resist, US Congress votes to imposes a blockade around Cuba, leading to a Spanish declaration of war.
April 1898: Despite only having four destroyers, two torpedo gunboats and three small torpedo boats at his disposal, Spanish Admiral Taylio Montoya in Cuba adopts an aggressive strategy of fast hit and run raids against the blockade. Requisitioning the Hayak, a 800 GRT Mexican steamer as a crude depot ship, he keeps his flotilla moving to prevent being trapped. His strategy is surprisingly successful, claiming the cruisers Denver sunk and the San Francisco crippled along with sinking three gunboats and an armed yacht, for the loss of a two destroyers and one torpedo boat. However his luck runs out in early May when he is lured into an ambush. His flagship, the Audaz is sunk along his two torpedo gunboats in the following battle. However his operations greatly reduce the blockade's effectiveness, allowing Admiral Pascual Cervera to reach Cuba undetected. Montoya himself survives the Audaz's sinking to be captured, but returns to Spain a hero after the war.
April 1898: With the outbreak of war with Spain two days ago, the US naval estimates include three new battleships, four monitors and twenty additional torpedo boats. The Maryland class introduce Krupps armour and water tube boilers to US ship designs, while the monitors are intended to form the basis for the expansion of the naval militia. A proposed amendment to the act by Senator Henry Teller committing the US not to annex Cuba is narrowly defeated in the Senate. Instead a modified resolution calling simply for the Cuban people's 'interests' to be respected is passed.
April 1898: Seeking to see active service, US assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt resigns and enlists as second in command of the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry or Rough Riders being raised for the war with Spain. The unit's initial commander will soon be promoted to command of a cavalry brigade, leaving Roosevelt as commander of the regiment.
April 1898: With the ongoing scramble to obtain ports in China, the French force the Qing to cede the port of Zhanjiang and its surrounding area as the Territory of Guangzhouwan for the sum of 15,000,000 francs {£644,876} over twenty years. The new territory will be placed under the administration of the French Indochina but will not be considered part of those territories.
January 1898: With public pressure over the Dreyfus Affair mounting in France, Major Esterhazy demands a trial so that he may be acquitted. The trial is held in a closed military court and duly finds Esterhazy not guilty. The verdict only serves to further deepen the divide in France with anti-Jewish riots breaking out throughout France. With the nation now polarised, prominent intellectual Émile Zola publishing a lengthy open letter titled J'Accuse condemning the French establishment, accusing the Minister of War, Jean-Baptiste Billot of covering up evidence of Dreyfus's innocence. Zola's letter will further increase the divide between the Dreyfusards and Anti-Dreyfusards, increasing the growing chaos. In response to the unrest Esterhazy flees to Britain.
January 1898: With the Germans and Russians having seized control of Chinese ports, the French land an occupation force in the minor fishing port of Zhanjiang in the Guangdong province, intending to turn it into a major naval base to challenge British Hong Kong.
February 1898: In an effort to protect US interests, President McKinley dispatches the armoured cruiser Ticonderoga to Cuba. The Ticonderoga however suffers a magazine explosion whilst in Havana harbour, sinking with heavy loss of life. While McKinley calls for calm and avoids blaming the Spanish, the US public is incensed, with the press proclaiming it a deliberate act of sabotage by the Spanish and calling for war. Despite the popular clamour for an immediate response, McKinley refuses to take any action until a full investigation into the Ticonderoga's loss is completed
February 1898: Émile Zola is charged with criminal libel against Billot for J'Accuse. During his trial clear evidence presented showing Dreyfuss to be innocent. Nevertheless Zola is convicted and sentenced to the maximum penalty, one year in prison and a 3,000 franc {£133} fine, however the verdict is overturned on a technicality, requiring a new trial.
February 1898: With the purchase of the ex Brazilian warships, the Spanish have reinforced their squadron in the Philippines with the two older ironclad battleships. With war now appearing unavoidable, the US desperately need to reinforce their Asiatic squadron to counter these vessels. However their lack of a base in South East Asia means they could not support such an enlarged squadron. In an effort to resolve this issue, US ambassador to Britain John Hay, a committed Anglophile with an excellent relationship with Chamberlain's government, secures an assurance of friendly neutrality in the event of war. The agreement includes allowing neutral merchant ships to load coal and ammunition for the US Asiatic Squadron at Hong Kong. With this agreement secured, the US charters Danish shipping company Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab to provide logistic support for the Asiatic Squadron and moves two older battleships, three armoured cruisers and two additional protected cruisers to reinforce Commodore George Dewey's existing force of three Montgomery class cruisers.
February 1898: The Temple Commission into the 1896-97 Indian Famine releases its report. The report finds the relief efforts were generally well organised and timely, but the funds available where overwhelmed by the scale of the famine. It suggests the annual contribution to the Famine Relief Commission be increased and the Viceroy be able to make an immediate cash injection should the available funds prove insufficient. It also recommends food exports be halted and price controls on food be implemented in affected areas immediately a famine is declared. For the longer term it recommends India be moved away from subsistence agriculture and industrial development be encouraged to provide alternate forms of employment. The report also stresses the importance of railways in distributing food, advising the Famine Relief Commission be given priority for rail transport in effected areas. The Temple Report is well received both in Britain and India, with Chamberlain's government committing to enact legislation to implement its recommendations as soon as possible.
February 1898: Despite the Spanish Navy strongly advising the government of Práxedes Sagasta that the navy is in no state to fight the US, Sagasta orders the bulk of the Spanish Fleet under Admiral Pascual Cervera to immediately sail to reinforce Admiral Taylio Montoya's Caribbean Torpedo Flotilla in Cuba.
March 1898: Zaifeng, the Guangxu Emperor's half brother, enters the Royal Navy's Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth as a midshipman.
March 1898: The French introduce the Canon de 75 Modèle 1897 as their standard field artillery piece. Featuring a revolutionary hydro-pneumatic recoil system allowing the gun to avoid the need to be relaid after firing and one piece self contained ammunition, the gun is capable of an unprecedented rate of fire. While it is capable of firing up to fifteen rounds per minute for short periods, its sustained rate of three to four rounds per minute is twice that of any other contemporary artillery piece. The 75mm Mle 1897 will be the first modern quick firing weapon and lead to all other nations seeking to upgrade their artillery to this new pattern.
March 1898: After having seized Lüshunkou in December 1897, renaming it Dal'niy, the Russians force the Chinese to relinquish sovereignty over the southern tip of Liaodong Peninsular, while the remainder of the peninsula is to become a 'neutral zone, with the Chinese unable to grant any concessions to other nations in the region. In addition, the Russians are granted the right to construct a branch line of the Trans-Manchurian railway, linking Dal'niy to Harbin. In return the Russians agree to pay ten million roubles {£1,130,524} over ten years. Despite the new name of Dal'niy, the region will be more commonly referred to as Port Arthur, the name of the Naval base located in the new Russian territory.
March 1898: Concerned at the Russian expansion into the Liaodong Peninsula, the British negotiate for a lease over Weihaiwei to establish a naval base. Unlike the German and Russian expansions, the Chinese are to retain sovereignty and responsibility for civil administration of the territory, while the British will pay an annual lease fee of £400 {£434}. While the British will only be responsible for defence and other military matters, British subjects in the territory will have extraterritoriality rights. To assist in the defence of the base, the formation of Weihaiwei Regiment of two battalions recruited from the Shandong Province is authorised.
March 1898: The US navy inquiry into the loss of the Ticonderoga concludes the sinking was caused by the detonation of a mine attached to her hull, resulting a fatal magazine explosion. While the inquiry does not directly blame Spain, the US public are convinced of Spanish responsibility by further inflammatory reporting in the press. With the calls for war now near impossible to resist, US Congress votes to imposes a blockade around Cuba, leading to a Spanish declaration of war.
April 1898: Despite only having four destroyers, two torpedo gunboats and three small torpedo boats at his disposal, Spanish Admiral Taylio Montoya in Cuba adopts an aggressive strategy of fast hit and run raids against the blockade. Requisitioning the Hayak, a 800 GRT Mexican steamer as a crude depot ship, he keeps his flotilla moving to prevent being trapped. His strategy is surprisingly successful, claiming the cruisers Denver sunk and the San Francisco crippled along with sinking three gunboats and an armed yacht, for the loss of a two destroyers and one torpedo boat. However his luck runs out in early May when he is lured into an ambush. His flagship, the Audaz is sunk along his two torpedo gunboats in the following battle. However his operations greatly reduce the blockade's effectiveness, allowing Admiral Pascual Cervera to reach Cuba undetected. Montoya himself survives the Audaz's sinking to be captured, but returns to Spain a hero after the war.
April 1898: With the outbreak of war with Spain two days ago, the US naval estimates include three new battleships, four monitors and twenty additional torpedo boats. The Maryland class introduce Krupps armour and water tube boilers to US ship designs, while the monitors are intended to form the basis for the expansion of the naval militia. A proposed amendment to the act by Senator Henry Teller committing the US not to annex Cuba is narrowly defeated in the Senate. Instead a modified resolution calling simply for the Cuban people's 'interests' to be respected is passed.
April 1898: Seeking to see active service, US assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt resigns and enlists as second in command of the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry or Rough Riders being raised for the war with Spain. The unit's initial commander will soon be promoted to command of a cavalry brigade, leaving Roosevelt as commander of the regiment.
April 1898: With the ongoing scramble to obtain ports in China, the French force the Qing to cede the port of Zhanjiang and its surrounding area as the Territory of Guangzhouwan for the sum of 15,000,000 francs {£644,876} over twenty years. The new territory will be placed under the administration of the French Indochina but will not be considered part of those territories.
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Well the USN is wearing clown shoes right there because that will be particularly embarrassing for them.
Though the British gaining Weihaiwei is intresting and given they are training a regiment to guard it I have to wonder if they will be used as Cadre to train Chinese troops at some point or if the progressives will funnel their best officers and NCOs there to act as a water test for them in some way.
I’m almost worried to ask how the US army and marines did.
Though the British gaining Weihaiwei is intresting and given they are training a regiment to guard it I have to wonder if they will be used as Cadre to train Chinese troops at some point or if the progressives will funnel their best officers and NCOs there to act as a water test for them in some way.
I’m almost worried to ask how the US army and marines did.
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The US army and marines do pretty much as per the OTL. Basically launching ACW style frontal assaults on entrenched Spanish troops equipped with modern high power repeating rifles and suffering casualties accordingly. The US really got a Boer War style drubbing from the Spanish even in the OTL, but unlike the British they didn't actually learn much from it. All they seem to have got was "we need a new rifle."
Weihaiwei, that's pretty much from the OTL, the British did lease it from 1898 to 1930. Just they never did anything with it lol.
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May-August 1898: Attempting to go boldly forwards
~May-August 1898: Attempting to go boldly forwards
May 1898: While Commodore George Dewey's reinforced Asiatic Squadron is more than a match for Admiral Patrico Montojo's Spanish squadron of two battleships, two protected and three unprotected cruisers, he has been unable to force his opponent to give battle. Montojo, aware of the logistical problems facing Dewey has been content to remain in Manilla Bay, protected by guns of Manila's coastal fortifications. Despite the agreement with the British for support from Hong Kong, Dewey's situation is growing desperate. Needing to take action or return to the US, Dewey launches an attack into Manilla Bay in an effort to destroy Montojo's squadron. While Dewey is successful in sinking or disabling most of Montojo's squadron, he loses the battleship Maine after she strikes a mine along with a cruiser sunk and another crippled Also the battle all but exhausts Dewey's ammunition, allowing Montojo's survivors to escape to be interned in the Netherlands East Indies. Despite his losses, the victory in the Battle of Manilla Bay gives the Dewey control of the sea around the Philippines. However he lacks sufficient troops to capture Manilla itself and is forced to call for reinforcements.
May 1898: The humiliation caused by the recent treaties ceding territory to France, Germany and Russia finally enables the Emperor Guangxu to gather sufficient support to end Dowager Empress Cixi's regency and begin ruling in his own right. He immediately embarks on an ambitious program of reforms to fundamentally transform the Qing government. His first act is to abolish the traditional exam system governing admission to government service, replacing it with a system based around modern western style ideas and knowledge, To support this change he orders the creation of western style universities in Beijing, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Jinan and Wuhan.
May 1898: The elections for the French Chamber of Deputies are totally dominated by the Dreyfus Affair. The election sees a majority of Anti-Dreyfusard candidates elected, including 80 boulangists and members of the racist Antisemitic League of France, enabling the Prime Minister Jules Méline to remain in power. However Méline replaces Billot as Minister of War with Anti-Dreyfusard Godefroy Cavignac. Cavignac is determined to put the Dreyfus Affair to rest and obtains access to the secret dossier of evidence against Dreyfus. After reviewing the dossier, Cavignac announces to the Chamber that there is incontrovertible evidence of Dreyfus's guilt. However to reassure the public once and for all, he appoints Captain Louis Cuignet to conduct a final investigation.
June 1898: Filipino rebels declare their independence from Spain as the Republic of the Philippines with Emilio Auginaldo as President. The declaration is not recognised by the US or Spain. Nevertheless the Filipinos set about creating a government and drafting a constitution. The Filipino declaration will be followed by a similar move by Cuban rebels led by Bartolomé Masó, which is likewise ignored by the US and Spain.
June 1898: Since the French forced the Chinese to cede Guangzhouwan, the British have been attempting to pressure the Qing to cede territory to expand their colony of Hong Kong. While the Guangxu Emperor is aware of the potential damage further territorial concessions might cause his precarious position in the Qing court, he agrees to cede 162km2 to the British. He is however successful in increasing the offered payment from £3 million {£3,259,145} over twelve years to £3.5 million {£3,802,336} to be paid over three years. Approximately half of these funds are to be invested in implementing western education throughout China, with the remainder used to purchase two powerful armoured cruisers from British yards. In conjunction with these orders, the existing four independent fleets are finally amalgamated into a single unified Chinese navy.
June 1898: US troops land in Cuba in an effort to take the island. The US forces will suffer heavy casualties, engaging in repeated Civil War style frontal assaults against Spanish troops armed with highly accurate Mauser rifles and modern smokeless powder Krupps artillery. In comparison many of the US are still armed with single shot Springfield black powder rifles, while the US artillery is likewise entirely obsolete black powder weapons. Despite these losses, the US will gradually gain control of the island.
July 1898: Émile Zola's second trial begins. Zola is again found guilty but flees to Britain before the end of the trial. By this point the violence and rioting throughout France has reached the stage where it is feared it may lead to a complete breakdown of civil order.
July 1898: With anti-Jewish violence in France now reaching frightening levels the British Interfaith Jewish Relief Society, established after the Great Eastern War in 1879, begins providing assistance for French Jews to migrate to Britain and the Dominions. Over the next few years nearly two thirds of France's Jewish community will migrate, with more than half relocating to Canada. There they will provide a solidly pro-Imperial voice in the previously overwhelmingly anti-Imperial Francophone community.
July 1898: As with Admiral Montojo in the Philippines, Admiral Pascuel Cervera has adopted a fleet in being strategy, simply sitting under the guns of the coastal fortifications at Santiago de Cuba and forcing the bulk of the US Atlantic Fleet to blockade him, allowing supplies to continue to flow to the Spanish forces in Cuba. However with US troops now threatening his base at Santiago de Cuba, he is left with little choice but to attempt a breakout. With ten armoured ships to Cervera's six, US Admiral William Simpson has a clear advantage. While Simpson is able to all but destroy the Spanish squadron, the Battle of Santiago de Cuba will highlight some serious deficiencies in the US ships with a battleship and armoured cruiser being lost. Once again, the Spanish survivors escape to be interned in neutral territory However the US victory does give them total naval dominance, essentially deciding the war in their favour.
July 1898: The Guangxu Emperor divorces the Empress Jingfang, taking his consort Keshun as his Empress. The move angers many conservatives in the Qing court and in an effort to placate them, she is granted the title Emeritus Empress Longyu.
July 1898: Santiago de Cuba falls to the US after a ten day siege, ending major operations in Cuba. With the island secured, the move on to attack the Spanish island of Puerto Rico. As with in Cuba, the US forces will engage in wasteful frontal attacks, suffering heavy casualties from the modern Spanish weapons.
August 1898: Continuing his reforms, the Guangxu Emperor implements sweeping changes to the Qing bureaucracy, with large numbers of officials dismissed and the abolishment of sinecures which provide income for little or no work. While this promises to dramatically improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of the Qing administration, it also creates many disaffected former bureaucrats who begin appealing to the Dowager Empress Cixi to intervene on their behalf.
August 1898: Unwilling to allow Filipino insurgents take Manilla, the Spanish and Americans stage a 'show' battle before the Spanish surrender to Commodore Dewey's forces. The US actions in preventing Filipino forces from entering Manilla fatally damage their relations with the Filipino insurgents. However, with the Philippines and Cuba having been lost and Puerto Rico close to falling, Spain sues for terms and an armistice is hastily arranged to end the fighting.
August 1898: Under instructions from the Guangxu Emperor, Chinese diplomat Tan Sitong negotiates an agreement with a number of British and US steel companies, including Hume and Tata Steel in India, for the sale of several Chinese iron works, particularly those feeding the arsenals at Chengdu and Hanyang along with the modern shipyards at Fuzhou and Nantong. The intention is not only to improve the works efficiency, but also serve to as part of the Emperor's program to move China to a western capitalist economy. The funds from the sales are used to retire Qing debt to western powers.
August 1898: Captain Louis Cuignet, reviewing the dossier against Dreyfus discovers a critical piece of evidence is a forgery. He brings the matter to Minister of War Cavignac's attention. While remaining convinced of Dreyfus's guilt, Cavignac obtains a confession from head of French counter intelligence Hubert-Joseph Henry admits to forging the document and reports the forgery to the National Assembly. In the wake of this revelation, Cavignac is forced to resign, being replaced by Émile Zurlinden, while the government is left with no choice but to allow the Court of Cassation, the French court of last resort in criminal cases, to review Dreyfus's 1894 court martial.
May 1898: While Commodore George Dewey's reinforced Asiatic Squadron is more than a match for Admiral Patrico Montojo's Spanish squadron of two battleships, two protected and three unprotected cruisers, he has been unable to force his opponent to give battle. Montojo, aware of the logistical problems facing Dewey has been content to remain in Manilla Bay, protected by guns of Manila's coastal fortifications. Despite the agreement with the British for support from Hong Kong, Dewey's situation is growing desperate. Needing to take action or return to the US, Dewey launches an attack into Manilla Bay in an effort to destroy Montojo's squadron. While Dewey is successful in sinking or disabling most of Montojo's squadron, he loses the battleship Maine after she strikes a mine along with a cruiser sunk and another crippled Also the battle all but exhausts Dewey's ammunition, allowing Montojo's survivors to escape to be interned in the Netherlands East Indies. Despite his losses, the victory in the Battle of Manilla Bay gives the Dewey control of the sea around the Philippines. However he lacks sufficient troops to capture Manilla itself and is forced to call for reinforcements.
May 1898: The humiliation caused by the recent treaties ceding territory to France, Germany and Russia finally enables the Emperor Guangxu to gather sufficient support to end Dowager Empress Cixi's regency and begin ruling in his own right. He immediately embarks on an ambitious program of reforms to fundamentally transform the Qing government. His first act is to abolish the traditional exam system governing admission to government service, replacing it with a system based around modern western style ideas and knowledge, To support this change he orders the creation of western style universities in Beijing, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Jinan and Wuhan.
May 1898: The elections for the French Chamber of Deputies are totally dominated by the Dreyfus Affair. The election sees a majority of Anti-Dreyfusard candidates elected, including 80 boulangists and members of the racist Antisemitic League of France, enabling the Prime Minister Jules Méline to remain in power. However Méline replaces Billot as Minister of War with Anti-Dreyfusard Godefroy Cavignac. Cavignac is determined to put the Dreyfus Affair to rest and obtains access to the secret dossier of evidence against Dreyfus. After reviewing the dossier, Cavignac announces to the Chamber that there is incontrovertible evidence of Dreyfus's guilt. However to reassure the public once and for all, he appoints Captain Louis Cuignet to conduct a final investigation.
June 1898: Filipino rebels declare their independence from Spain as the Republic of the Philippines with Emilio Auginaldo as President. The declaration is not recognised by the US or Spain. Nevertheless the Filipinos set about creating a government and drafting a constitution. The Filipino declaration will be followed by a similar move by Cuban rebels led by Bartolomé Masó, which is likewise ignored by the US and Spain.
June 1898: Since the French forced the Chinese to cede Guangzhouwan, the British have been attempting to pressure the Qing to cede territory to expand their colony of Hong Kong. While the Guangxu Emperor is aware of the potential damage further territorial concessions might cause his precarious position in the Qing court, he agrees to cede 162km2 to the British. He is however successful in increasing the offered payment from £3 million {£3,259,145} over twelve years to £3.5 million {£3,802,336} to be paid over three years. Approximately half of these funds are to be invested in implementing western education throughout China, with the remainder used to purchase two powerful armoured cruisers from British yards. In conjunction with these orders, the existing four independent fleets are finally amalgamated into a single unified Chinese navy.
June 1898: US troops land in Cuba in an effort to take the island. The US forces will suffer heavy casualties, engaging in repeated Civil War style frontal assaults against Spanish troops armed with highly accurate Mauser rifles and modern smokeless powder Krupps artillery. In comparison many of the US are still armed with single shot Springfield black powder rifles, while the US artillery is likewise entirely obsolete black powder weapons. Despite these losses, the US will gradually gain control of the island.
July 1898: Émile Zola's second trial begins. Zola is again found guilty but flees to Britain before the end of the trial. By this point the violence and rioting throughout France has reached the stage where it is feared it may lead to a complete breakdown of civil order.
July 1898: With anti-Jewish violence in France now reaching frightening levels the British Interfaith Jewish Relief Society, established after the Great Eastern War in 1879, begins providing assistance for French Jews to migrate to Britain and the Dominions. Over the next few years nearly two thirds of France's Jewish community will migrate, with more than half relocating to Canada. There they will provide a solidly pro-Imperial voice in the previously overwhelmingly anti-Imperial Francophone community.
July 1898: As with Admiral Montojo in the Philippines, Admiral Pascuel Cervera has adopted a fleet in being strategy, simply sitting under the guns of the coastal fortifications at Santiago de Cuba and forcing the bulk of the US Atlantic Fleet to blockade him, allowing supplies to continue to flow to the Spanish forces in Cuba. However with US troops now threatening his base at Santiago de Cuba, he is left with little choice but to attempt a breakout. With ten armoured ships to Cervera's six, US Admiral William Simpson has a clear advantage. While Simpson is able to all but destroy the Spanish squadron, the Battle of Santiago de Cuba will highlight some serious deficiencies in the US ships with a battleship and armoured cruiser being lost. Once again, the Spanish survivors escape to be interned in neutral territory However the US victory does give them total naval dominance, essentially deciding the war in their favour.
July 1898: The Guangxu Emperor divorces the Empress Jingfang, taking his consort Keshun as his Empress. The move angers many conservatives in the Qing court and in an effort to placate them, she is granted the title Emeritus Empress Longyu.
July 1898: Santiago de Cuba falls to the US after a ten day siege, ending major operations in Cuba. With the island secured, the move on to attack the Spanish island of Puerto Rico. As with in Cuba, the US forces will engage in wasteful frontal attacks, suffering heavy casualties from the modern Spanish weapons.
August 1898: Continuing his reforms, the Guangxu Emperor implements sweeping changes to the Qing bureaucracy, with large numbers of officials dismissed and the abolishment of sinecures which provide income for little or no work. While this promises to dramatically improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of the Qing administration, it also creates many disaffected former bureaucrats who begin appealing to the Dowager Empress Cixi to intervene on their behalf.
August 1898: Unwilling to allow Filipino insurgents take Manilla, the Spanish and Americans stage a 'show' battle before the Spanish surrender to Commodore Dewey's forces. The US actions in preventing Filipino forces from entering Manilla fatally damage their relations with the Filipino insurgents. However, with the Philippines and Cuba having been lost and Puerto Rico close to falling, Spain sues for terms and an armistice is hastily arranged to end the fighting.
August 1898: Under instructions from the Guangxu Emperor, Chinese diplomat Tan Sitong negotiates an agreement with a number of British and US steel companies, including Hume and Tata Steel in India, for the sale of several Chinese iron works, particularly those feeding the arsenals at Chengdu and Hanyang along with the modern shipyards at Fuzhou and Nantong. The intention is not only to improve the works efficiency, but also serve to as part of the Emperor's program to move China to a western capitalist economy. The funds from the sales are used to retire Qing debt to western powers.
August 1898: Captain Louis Cuignet, reviewing the dossier against Dreyfus discovers a critical piece of evidence is a forgery. He brings the matter to Minister of War Cavignac's attention. While remaining convinced of Dreyfus's guilt, Cavignac obtains a confession from head of French counter intelligence Hubert-Joseph Henry admits to forging the document and reports the forgery to the National Assembly. In the wake of this revelation, Cavignac is forced to resign, being replaced by Émile Zurlinden, while the government is left with no choice but to allow the Court of Cassation, the French court of last resort in criminal cases, to review Dreyfus's 1894 court martial.
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