I guarantee it lol
Yep it will happen again, at least once, more often if I can electric cattle prod it in.
I just couldn't resist
Why the Chinese play cricket (an Imperial Federation timeline)
- Thread starter Miss Construction
- Start date
As for how to get the ball rolling in the first place: There is, of course, always the old reliable that is Corruption. Someone on the committee had been on a Kenyan Safari once and really really wanted to go back. Or had an interest in a local construction company or railway line. Or just really really hated the the physical location of the other option. Or something went horribly wrong with the fact-finding mission to the other location etc.
So how is Tarren (aka Miss Construction) doing? Surprisingly well given how bad I was. Can actually get around as long as I take it slowly. My memory is recovering and I no longer quite need everything written down for me. Basically up from about 10% functionality to about 50%, so not bad for about six weeks. Still rely heavily on my social worker to get me places when I don't where they are, but once I know where they are I can do it lol. So huge improvement. Unfortunately still lacking a computer so pushing the TL on is still quite difficult, but hopefully get that sorted soon.
Oh and for anybody who's interested, this is me. But enough vanity, back to the TL.
April-June 1910: The dogs of war
~April-June 1910: The dogs of war
April 1910: As with previous years, the US is unable to convince Congress to authorise the construction of the cruisers they regard as essential, and the 1910 estimates only include two dreadnoughts and another six destroyers.
April 1910: The Dona Isabel, the first of the two Brazilian dreadnoughts is handed over and commissioned into the Imperial Brazilian Navy in Britain. With no other navy other than the British having yet commissioned a dreadnought, this makes Brazil the second nation to have a dreadnought enter service. The Dona Isabel's sister ship, Don Pedro II will enter service next month, making Brazil one of the leading naval powers in the world.
April 1910: With tensions in Europe continuing to grow, Belgium introduces a major program to modernise its army. The plan calls for the army to be increased from 180,000 to 335,000 along with the purchase of modern field and heavy artillery, as well as additional machine guns including an order for 500 Madsen light machine guns. Unfortunately the program will only proceed slowly due to limited funding.
April 1910: The Danish and Norwegian Armies have been holding trials for a new service issue handgun. The regular Dano-Norwegian security meeting decides on the adoption of the radical Schouboe Pistol offered by DRS in Denmark. Designed by Theadore Schouboe, the pistol fires a unique 10.4x25mm cartridge known as 10.4mm Nordic from an eleven round double stack magazine using a innovative gas retarded blowback system which bleeds off some of the propellant gas at the chamber to hold the breach shut until the bullet has left the barrel.
April 1910: Champ Clark, leader of the majority Democrat Party in the US House of representatives, delivers a speech in which he essentially calls for the annexation of Canada. The speech is widely reported throughout the Empire, causing massive outpouring of anger and a huge upswing in anti US feeling, leading to both Canadian Premier Robert Borden and British Prime Minister Charles Dilke issuing formal protests. Despite attempts by US President Taft to reassure the Empire the US has no territorial ambitions regarding Canada and Clark loudly stating his comments were taken out of context, the affair will cause lasting damage to US-Imperial relations.
April 1910: Since the passing of the Suppression of Political Violence Act a number of nationalist groups through out the Empire, including the INA in India, have been declared Criminal Political Organisations. In the first application of the act, Veer Savarkar, a prominent INA leader, is spotted and arrested in London. While it is suspected he was planning terrorist attacks in Britain, there is insufficient evidence to charge him. Therefore it is decided to return him to India to be tried for membership of a Criminal Political Organisation. Despite being unable to try him for terrorist offences in Britain, intelligence gathered in his arrest will lead to the breakup and arrest of the INA terrorist cell in Britain.
May 1910: King Edward VII dies and is succeeded by George V. With Anglo-French relation continuing to deteriorate, French Emperor Napoleon IV will take the opportunity of his funeral to privately reassure the new King the current French government's attitude is in no way representative of the French public. The Emperor goes on to invite King George to make a state visit to France in the near future, hoping increase pro Imperial feeling in France before the upcoming French elections.
May 1910: After the end of the Chinese Civil War, the front line between Northern and Southern China became a closed border and all large scale traffic across that border fell under the control of gangs of bandits and smugglers. These gangs activities were unofficially tolerated by both sides, allowing them to grow extremely rich and powerful. However with the opening of the border last year, both the Zheng and Xianfa have been attempting to crack down on these gangs but efforts have proved ineffective due to corruption by local officials and the complete lack of cooperation between the two sides. In attempt to improve the situation, the Zheng and Xianfa sign the Agreement for the Suppression of Banditry in Shanghai. This agreement allows for the sharing of intelligence and coordinated action against these cross border gangs. Additionally both sides will being forming specialist elite anti bandit units within their border guards to put further pressure on these gangs.
May 1910: Since the end of the War of the Pacific Chile has been actively courting both Colombia and Ecuador, due to their territorial disputes with Peru. Recently tensions have been growing between Peru and Ecuador over their border in the Amazon basin, with both sides massing troops in the disputed area. A seemingly minor incident of an Ecuadorian soldier's dog wandering across the border and being shot by the Peruvians escalates and within a matter of days the two nations are at war. Though outnumbered, the Ecuadorian troops superior training due to their Chilean advisors enables them to hold their ground.
May 1910: With every other Great Power already having begun construction of their first dreadnought, Austria-Hungary finally begins places an order for four Tegethoff class dreadnoughts. The class is a 20,000 ton design with twelve 12” guns in a pair of superfiring triple turrets fore and aft, with an 11” belt and capable of 20 knots, However due to the complicated nature of politics within the Dual Monarchy, the ships will be ordered and laid down before official approval for their construction is given.
May 1910: The British Parliament passed the South Africa Act creating the Union of South Africa in March. The act guarantees property and residence rights to the non white population. However more importantly, it reserves the power to alter the franchise to the new provinces, preserving the Cape Province's non racial franchise. The Union was set to come into existence on the 1st May, with elections to be held two weeks later. These elections will see former Boer general Lois Botha elected as the first Prime Minister of the Union.
June 1910: The British Army begin trials of an automatic pistol to replace their existing 0.455” Webley revolvers. The requirements specify a calibre of no less than 0.40”, seven round magazine capacity, weight no greater than the existing Webley revolver and at least equal performance. While most major arms manufacturers submit designs, the trails quickly come down to a choice between the US designed Colt Automatic, the British Webley Self Loading Pistol and the Danish Schouboe.
June 1910: Since the start of the Tibetan Revolt in 1908, the Xianfa garrison of the country has grown to some 45,000 troops, representing roughly one third of the Xianfa Army. With the Xianfa economy and finances now well into recovery from the chaos of the early 20th century, the Grand Council authorises the expansion of the Xianfa Army from 120,000 regulars and 230,000 reserves to 190,000 regulars and 310,000 reserves. Included in this are ten specialist Yóuqíbīng (遊騎兵) or Ranger battalions, intended to counter the Tibetan guerillas.
June 1910: After over a year of work and testing, Vickers delivers the R1 Mayfly, the Royal Navy's first rigid airship. The airship will however be destroyed after being caught by a strong wind gust leaving its hanger before beginning trials.
June 1910: Since the flight of the rigid airship LZ1 in 1899, the Zeppelin Company has made great strides, leading to the construction of LZ8, named Deutschland, intended for commercial service. With great fanfare, the Deutschland makes her first commercial flight, carrying 16 fare paying passengers from Fredrichafen to Düsseldorf in a nine hour flight. The Deutschland will make several more commercial flights before being destroyed by wind gust in early 1911. Despite her eventual loss, the Deutschland will prove the viability of commercial airship travel.
June 1910: The development of new artillery for the Imperial forces begun after the Boer War continues with the introduction of the 203mm 8” extra heavy howitzer. The new gun utilises the same carriage and recoil system of the 100pdr extra heavy gun and is intended to destroy field fortifications and strong points. However only 16 guns are ordered for four batteries as the Imperial command sees only limited use for the weapon.
June 1910: Finland was taken from Sweden by Russia in 1808 as an autonomous Grand Duchy, guaranteed its own laws and legislative Diet. However since 1863, the Russians have instituted a policy of Russification, attempting to progressive limit Finish autonomy. In the latest move, a new Russian law removes most of the Finish Diet's legislative powers, transferring them to the Russian Duma. This Russification policy has provoked the Finns to create the Jäger Movement where Finnish volunteers receive military training in secret in preparation for an armed uprising. This movement is supported by both Germany and Sweden, with them providing funds and weapons for the volunteers
April 1910: As with previous years, the US is unable to convince Congress to authorise the construction of the cruisers they regard as essential, and the 1910 estimates only include two dreadnoughts and another six destroyers.
April 1910: The Dona Isabel, the first of the two Brazilian dreadnoughts is handed over and commissioned into the Imperial Brazilian Navy in Britain. With no other navy other than the British having yet commissioned a dreadnought, this makes Brazil the second nation to have a dreadnought enter service. The Dona Isabel's sister ship, Don Pedro II will enter service next month, making Brazil one of the leading naval powers in the world.
April 1910: With tensions in Europe continuing to grow, Belgium introduces a major program to modernise its army. The plan calls for the army to be increased from 180,000 to 335,000 along with the purchase of modern field and heavy artillery, as well as additional machine guns including an order for 500 Madsen light machine guns. Unfortunately the program will only proceed slowly due to limited funding.
April 1910: The Danish and Norwegian Armies have been holding trials for a new service issue handgun. The regular Dano-Norwegian security meeting decides on the adoption of the radical Schouboe Pistol offered by DRS in Denmark. Designed by Theadore Schouboe, the pistol fires a unique 10.4x25mm cartridge known as 10.4mm Nordic from an eleven round double stack magazine using a innovative gas retarded blowback system which bleeds off some of the propellant gas at the chamber to hold the breach shut until the bullet has left the barrel.
April 1910: Champ Clark, leader of the majority Democrat Party in the US House of representatives, delivers a speech in which he essentially calls for the annexation of Canada. The speech is widely reported throughout the Empire, causing massive outpouring of anger and a huge upswing in anti US feeling, leading to both Canadian Premier Robert Borden and British Prime Minister Charles Dilke issuing formal protests. Despite attempts by US President Taft to reassure the Empire the US has no territorial ambitions regarding Canada and Clark loudly stating his comments were taken out of context, the affair will cause lasting damage to US-Imperial relations.
April 1910: Since the passing of the Suppression of Political Violence Act a number of nationalist groups through out the Empire, including the INA in India, have been declared Criminal Political Organisations. In the first application of the act, Veer Savarkar, a prominent INA leader, is spotted and arrested in London. While it is suspected he was planning terrorist attacks in Britain, there is insufficient evidence to charge him. Therefore it is decided to return him to India to be tried for membership of a Criminal Political Organisation. Despite being unable to try him for terrorist offences in Britain, intelligence gathered in his arrest will lead to the breakup and arrest of the INA terrorist cell in Britain.
May 1910: King Edward VII dies and is succeeded by George V. With Anglo-French relation continuing to deteriorate, French Emperor Napoleon IV will take the opportunity of his funeral to privately reassure the new King the current French government's attitude is in no way representative of the French public. The Emperor goes on to invite King George to make a state visit to France in the near future, hoping increase pro Imperial feeling in France before the upcoming French elections.
May 1910: After the end of the Chinese Civil War, the front line between Northern and Southern China became a closed border and all large scale traffic across that border fell under the control of gangs of bandits and smugglers. These gangs activities were unofficially tolerated by both sides, allowing them to grow extremely rich and powerful. However with the opening of the border last year, both the Zheng and Xianfa have been attempting to crack down on these gangs but efforts have proved ineffective due to corruption by local officials and the complete lack of cooperation between the two sides. In attempt to improve the situation, the Zheng and Xianfa sign the Agreement for the Suppression of Banditry in Shanghai. This agreement allows for the sharing of intelligence and coordinated action against these cross border gangs. Additionally both sides will being forming specialist elite anti bandit units within their border guards to put further pressure on these gangs.
May 1910: Since the end of the War of the Pacific Chile has been actively courting both Colombia and Ecuador, due to their territorial disputes with Peru. Recently tensions have been growing between Peru and Ecuador over their border in the Amazon basin, with both sides massing troops in the disputed area. A seemingly minor incident of an Ecuadorian soldier's dog wandering across the border and being shot by the Peruvians escalates and within a matter of days the two nations are at war. Though outnumbered, the Ecuadorian troops superior training due to their Chilean advisors enables them to hold their ground.
May 1910: With every other Great Power already having begun construction of their first dreadnought, Austria-Hungary finally begins places an order for four Tegethoff class dreadnoughts. The class is a 20,000 ton design with twelve 12” guns in a pair of superfiring triple turrets fore and aft, with an 11” belt and capable of 20 knots, However due to the complicated nature of politics within the Dual Monarchy, the ships will be ordered and laid down before official approval for their construction is given.
May 1910: The British Parliament passed the South Africa Act creating the Union of South Africa in March. The act guarantees property and residence rights to the non white population. However more importantly, it reserves the power to alter the franchise to the new provinces, preserving the Cape Province's non racial franchise. The Union was set to come into existence on the 1st May, with elections to be held two weeks later. These elections will see former Boer general Lois Botha elected as the first Prime Minister of the Union.
June 1910: The British Army begin trials of an automatic pistol to replace their existing 0.455” Webley revolvers. The requirements specify a calibre of no less than 0.40”, seven round magazine capacity, weight no greater than the existing Webley revolver and at least equal performance. While most major arms manufacturers submit designs, the trails quickly come down to a choice between the US designed Colt Automatic, the British Webley Self Loading Pistol and the Danish Schouboe.
June 1910: Since the start of the Tibetan Revolt in 1908, the Xianfa garrison of the country has grown to some 45,000 troops, representing roughly one third of the Xianfa Army. With the Xianfa economy and finances now well into recovery from the chaos of the early 20th century, the Grand Council authorises the expansion of the Xianfa Army from 120,000 regulars and 230,000 reserves to 190,000 regulars and 310,000 reserves. Included in this are ten specialist Yóuqíbīng (遊騎兵) or Ranger battalions, intended to counter the Tibetan guerillas.
June 1910: After over a year of work and testing, Vickers delivers the R1 Mayfly, the Royal Navy's first rigid airship. The airship will however be destroyed after being caught by a strong wind gust leaving its hanger before beginning trials.
June 1910: Since the flight of the rigid airship LZ1 in 1899, the Zeppelin Company has made great strides, leading to the construction of LZ8, named Deutschland, intended for commercial service. With great fanfare, the Deutschland makes her first commercial flight, carrying 16 fare paying passengers from Fredrichafen to Düsseldorf in a nine hour flight. The Deutschland will make several more commercial flights before being destroyed by wind gust in early 1911. Despite her eventual loss, the Deutschland will prove the viability of commercial airship travel.
June 1910: The development of new artillery for the Imperial forces begun after the Boer War continues with the introduction of the 203mm 8” extra heavy howitzer. The new gun utilises the same carriage and recoil system of the 100pdr extra heavy gun and is intended to destroy field fortifications and strong points. However only 16 guns are ordered for four batteries as the Imperial command sees only limited use for the weapon.
June 1910: Finland was taken from Sweden by Russia in 1808 as an autonomous Grand Duchy, guaranteed its own laws and legislative Diet. However since 1863, the Russians have instituted a policy of Russification, attempting to progressive limit Finish autonomy. In the latest move, a new Russian law removes most of the Finish Diet's legislative powers, transferring them to the Russian Duma. This Russification policy has provoked the Finns to create the Jäger Movement where Finnish volunteers receive military training in secret in preparation for an armed uprising. This movement is supported by both Germany and Sweden, with them providing funds and weapons for the volunteers
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What that I'm 62? Yes I really am. Actually turn 63 in a month lol.
This is "ranger" as in park ranger, literally protect-forest-personnel.
You probably meant Yóuqíbīng (遊騎兵), which is the usual translation of ranger as in the U.S. Army Rangers.
With a name like that, how could they be surprised when it was quickly destroyed.
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I've dug up a movie in which the Madsen featues prominently, if not very correctly. It's the 1964 take of James Jones; The Thin Red Line, vaguely based on the book. Pretty grim for the time, though not really much cop. Keir Dullea gets into practice for dealing with HAL.
Apparently made in Spain, and the production company presumably used what they could hire locally. So, the IJ and US armies use MP40s, and the LMG of the former is the Madsen. Couple of grease guns glimpsed.
Clearer view at 65.04 (curious way of steadying the gun)
77.36 another gunner holds the beast in the same fashion, and again a few seconds later.
Final battle, more - everyone basically wipes each other out.
I remember reading in a history book the sentence "It was called the Mayfly, but it didn't".
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To quote Churchill: "The mishap which destroyed the Mayfly, or the Won't Fly, as it would be more accurate to call it, at Barrow, was a very serious set-back to the development of Admiralty policy in airships."
Thank you corrected. Sadly I have to rely on Google translate for the various Chinese languages.
Well the name was prophetic
It's really far too early to tell. I know it happened in the 3rd iteration but it took a very specific set of circumstances to result in it and even then it was right down to the wire.
At this point in the TL it would seem incredibly unlikely, despite various US politicians driving a truck through them, US-Imperial relations are quite good with close cooperation between the two. However if you look closely you can see subtle signs this close relationship may not last. The growing US-Japanese relationship is the biggest along with potential for conflict over China.
Whether or not this will lead to actual hostility, let alone tensions which could potentially result in war are another matter entirely.
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Must admit I have a particular soft spot for the Madsen. Not only does it come from my native country, just can't help but look at it and go "how the hell did they come up with that!"
In the OTL the mayfly disaster set back British airship development years as the design team was broken up after it. ITTL that won't happen and they'll learn from it. Plus will be the first sighting of Barnes Wallis ITTL.
Denmark and Norway went with the Schouboe!!!? That's... deeply unorthodox, but very fascinating. Early adoption of rapid-fire handguns could completely change the character of the Great War. The fact that it's also on the table as the standard issue handgun for the entire British Army is incredible, since that'll likely be the weapon of choice when Imperial troops land on the continent.
George V's tour of France has the potential to be pretty good, or really really bad for Anglo-French relations, depending on how it plays out. What do the Boulangists think about the British monarchy? Could there be a little Gavrileau Príncèp hiding in the crowds?
Also, Champ Clark you idiot.
George V's tour of France has the potential to be pretty good, or really really bad for Anglo-French relations, depending on how it plays out. What do the Boulangists think about the British monarchy? Could there be a little Gavrileau Príncèp hiding in the crowds?
Also, Champ Clark you idiot.
It's not the wood cored lightweight Schouboe of the OTL, it's actually something far closer to the OTL H&K P7 or Steyr GB. Schouboe has taken a rather distinct kink in his development ideas ITTL. The key is rather than relying on a straight blowback, he's developed a gas retarded action. Unfortunately while great in theory, likely to have some serious fouling issues in practice especially throwing out a heavy slow 10.4mm slug.
The Boulangists are split. Some see the value of the Empire as a potential ally against Germany, others see a massive colonial rival. But when it comes to monarchy in in general, the Boulangists are actually anti monarchy.
Oh yes and then some. But reading through the OTL there seemed to be a string of such idiots in US politics at the time in the OTL. Who have only been intensified by the strengthening of US anglophobia ITTL. Thank you President Blaine again for that.
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