AoI 4.0: Bolivar's Dream, a New Granada AAR

Tani Coyote

Son of Huehuecoyotl
Joined
May 28, 2007
Messages
15,191
Why yes, after a long period of inactivity, I have decided to start a new thread for all five people who will read it. :p

This has a more informal format, focusing on the action rather than creating a narrative. I will most likely be flipping between past and present tense like there's no tomorrow so bear with me.

This uses my modified map as usual, which has the Mahdists replacing Abyssinia and iron/coal on Cuba, Hispaniola and the Philippines. Other than that it is the same as the standard AoI 4.0 map.

...

1895-1900

1895 saw a dramatic reordering of the political order in Latin America. Colombia brokered a deal to form a confederacy with Ecuador and Venezuela, prompting Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay to form their own in response. This left five major powers in South America: the Granadine Confederacy (informally, Gran Colombia), La Plata, Brazil, Argentina and Chile. The Central American countries formed their own confederacy, but it could not hold a candle to the South American powers.



A strategic overview. Gran Colombia has a smaller territorial size than other nations, but is rich in hills and resources that provide ample defense and production. We have one of the most secure positions in the world, as the rough terrain makes it hard for anything besides Cavalry to hit us in one turn.

Strategically, all our cities except Panama are linked by railway, another advantage that not every Latin American power shares. Our location is easy to defend accordingly.

Which brings us to the main immediate threat: Brazil. All of Brazil's cities are linked by railways, and they have an easy shot at Bogota. They have more cities than any other South American power, and they also have a powerful naval line to boot. They will be our first major rival that we must deal with at some point.

Compared to European powers, we lack industrial buildings and have slower technology, while we also have a much weaker naval line. The greatest weakness to a builder (yes, despite the ease at which I tend to roflstomp other countries, I'm actually a peacenik) like myself is the fact we are limited to one Civil Engineer (a worker, for those unfamiliar with AoI) every 13 turns, so we must protect them. We cannot build Colonial Conscript Workers like the imperial powers can, so workers must be allocated carefully.

Bolivar’s dream of a united South America was preempted by weak-minded fools too interested in localized power. We shall revive it!

...

The initial strategy of Gran Colombia is simple. Central America is the obvious target due to its small size and lack of reinforcements, and so the President's primary objective is to conquer the small territory and integrate it into the Colombian Confederacy. Central America also has valuable Silver reserves which can be used to keep the population complacent.

For most of the remaining 19th century, the Confederacy mixed raising troops with improvements, leaning towards improvements to increase production. As soon as production was up, the economy would be mobilized.

The President also raised large amounts of Militia units. While they were weak in battle, their numbers made the Colombian Army look far more intimidating than it actually was. The same can be said for field cannon artillery batteries, which helped a little in any campaign but were ultimately garbage.

There was also discussion of invading Guyana if the British ever were tied down in a war, but taking out Central America was a better goal so as to give the British time to improve the land of their colonies, making them more profitable conquests (and not requiring further investment of labor by Colombia's valuable workers).

...

By Week 33, 1898, all production-increasing improvements had been constructed, and the President gave the order for mobilization. The many hills, mines and improvements all came together with war mobilization to make Gran Colombia's economy a beast that could easily churn out troops and hardware.

In Week 49, 1898, the Germans declared war on Britain, creating an opportunity to attack Guyana. Advisers convinced the President that Guyana was not fully developed and so it made more sense to focus on Central America instead.

In Week 5 of 1899, Austria declared war on France, putting Germany and Austria at war with both Britain and France. As it would turn out, neither power would make any gains from the war, but Britain and France would expand their African territories.

Week 45, Gran Colombia had reached military readiness and so war was declared on Central America. To minimize losses, a defensive strategy would be adopted to let them make the strike into Colombian territory.

In spite of that, no Central American troops arrived by Week 49, indicating severe weakness on the part of Central America's forces; the President ordered all spare troops forward for the glory of Colombia.



Week 1 of 1900, the Central Americans landed a pitiful 1 Cavalry that was easily swept away.

In Week 5, a raid on Tegucigalpa killed 2 Central American units while Gran Colombia lost none; Central America later counterattacked and killed a single Gran Colombian rifleman. Regardless, the Central Americans lost their City Guard unit and so were much more vulnerable.



In Week 9, Tegucigalpa saw a second battle that killed 7 Central American and 1 Colombian forces, but the city still managed to hold out. It was not until Week 13 that Tegucigalpa fell with 5 Central American losses and no Colombian; the total death toll for the Tegucigalpa campaign was 14 Central American and 2 Colombian units.

In Week 21, as troops recovered in Tegucigalpa, the United States extorted 100 gold from Colombia. The President was not stupid and yielded given the American fleet would shred the Colombian coastline otherwise.



Week 37 and 41 saw attacks on Guatemala City, with 9 Central American and 1 Colombian units lost.

The Central American Republics were re-organized into states of a new Granadine Federation, which was born from the Confederacy using the momentum of the War to concentrate more power in the hands of the President and central government.

With huge economic gains, the President turned his eyes towards Brazil. The President did not desire an occupation of all of Brazil, but a short war to alter the balance of power. Numerous objectives would be served by a war with Brazil:

1. The conquest of Manaus would extend the Granadine border into the thick jungles of the Amazon, eliminating the most vulnerable point of New Granada's defenses (the grasslands of Bogota).

2. Given New Granada had designs on the European colonies in Guyana, conflict with Brazil was inevitable. It would be better to roll back the Brazilian border so the latter did not feel threatened when New Granada made its push into European territory.

3. A war in the field would allow New Granada to humiliate Brazilian military forces and assert itself as the prime power of South America.



The chart above illustrates the power differences between the various South American powers. Given scores proportionate to each other, they are roughly:

Brazil: 12
Argentina: 10
New Granada: 10
La Plata: 9
Chile: 7

Defeating Brazil and taking some of its territory would firmly establish New Granada as the leading South American power.

For the time being, efforts were focused on consolidation of Central America. But it would not be long before the New Granadine wolf looked for sheep to devour.
 
A new story in the civ3 forums? Excellent! Subscribing, I look forward to Colombian successes!
 
==Chapter II: King of the Amazon (1901)==

Week 17.

War was declared on Brazil, and Bogota fortified. The President’s strategy was an offensive defensive: the Brazilians would send in their spare forces and be defeated in the home territory. Once that was accomplished, an offensive could be planned.



Week 21. 7 Brazilian Infantry and 3 Cavalry invaded Gran Colombia. Brazil’s infantry were better trained than Colombia’s, but Colombia had the home field advantage.

6 Brazilian Infantry were destroyed and 1 left neutralized. Brazil’s President saw his approval ratings begin to sour as Brazil’s massive invasion force was utterly destroyed.



Week 25. The poor performance of the Infantry caused Brazil to send 4 Cavalry in. 2 of the 3 Cavalry that were already in Colombian territory were purged.

Week 29. 6 Brazilian units were destroyed with 1 Colombian unit lost. Brazil’s losses were now 14 to 1.

Week 33. No more Brazilian troops invaded; this indicated that the Brazilian Army had exhausted its spare manpower and would not be able to throw a dangerous invasion force together for some time.

The Brazilian fleet finally showed up off the coast of Venezuela, but several gunships were built for this exact reason.

The Brazilian cruisers and their last Cavalry were soon picked off, and the President ordered the Army forward into the Amazon.



Week 37. The Brazilians, seeing the destruction of their expeditionary forces and the impending invasion of Manaus, made a desperate peace overture. Gran Colombia would have none of it; either the Amazon was Colombian or the fight would continue. Naturally, the fight continued.

More Brazilian ships were sunk off the Dutch Antilles as the Army marched forward to the gates of Manaus.



Week 45. The assault on Manaus destroyed 4 Brazilian units, while 4 Brazilian artillery units were captured. The President gave a final mission to dislodge any dug-in Brazilian forces before securing the region pending peace.



Another naval battle destroyed 3 Brazilian ships, including one of the Brazilian coastal battleships that set the Brazilian fleet apart from the rest of Latin America’s. A transport was destroyed in the process, drowning a would-be amphibious assault force. This climactic naval battle was made possible by a pact with Britain that allowed Granadine artillery to use British territory to shell the Brazilian fleet; this projected an illusion of goodwill as well, keeping Britain ignorant to Granada’s designs on Guyana.

Week 49. In spite of the military access treaty, the British demanded tribute, and were paid it gladly… though plans were already being made in Bogota to strike the British Empire shortly after Brazil was pacified.

In early December, 5 Brazilian troops were wiped out, and Manaus was secured. The President sent diplomats to Rio de Janeiro to broker a peace with Brazil and end the "Red Amazon's" existence.



The Christmas Peace was soon signed with Brazil, ending the War just in time for the holidays.

In total, Brazil lost 25 units while Gran Colombia lost 2. The Brazilians lost 6 ships as well, putting a dent in the naval prominence they enjoyed in South America. Gran Colombia’s acquisition of Manaus bestowed a rich source of rubber to the federation as well as a more defensible location. Above all else, though, the War sent a clear message: New Granada was the most powerful nation in South America.

With Brazil’s power factor now equal to New Granada’s on paper (though of course, it was obvious that when it came to application, Brazil was more like a massive drunkard, whereas Gran Colombia was a refined gentleman knight, in terms of power), 1901 ended. With Britain having nearly fully developed Guyana, the timer was set – in 19 months, Gran Colombia would begin the eviction of Europeans from Latin America.
 
==Chapter III: The Scramble for Britain (1902-1904)==

1902

Britain declares war on Russia in Week 25.



Chile attempts to try and shore up its position with Colombian gold, but is rebuffed.

Week 29:

Turks declare war on Britain.

Week 45:

America declares war on Britain.

1903

Preparations nearly complete for a transition to a war economy. Deals with Britain nearly expired, and roads and railways have been completed that make Gran Colombia easier to defend.

Week 9:

Cuban rebels declare war on Spain. Spain immediately after demands tribute and is rebuffed.

Week 13:

Gran Colombia is formally mobilized for War. British Guyana and Belize are the primary targets.

Week 17:

Germany declares war on Colombia in response to a lack of tribute. All forces are ready to intercept whatever puny expedition they dispatch.

Week 21:

Germany declares war on Britain at the behest of Russia. That should occupy their military forces.

Week 25:

Argentina demands tribute, but is rebuffed.

Argentina declares war on Britain as part of an agreement with Russia. Russia declares war on Germany.
Gran Colombia declares war on Britain, now that it is pinned down worldwide. As with Brazil, the decision is made to let the British send their offensive forces first, cut them down in Colombian territory, and then launch a counterattack.

Week 29:

Portugal and Scandinavia declare war on Britain, while Argentina declares war on Spain.

Italy, Portugal and the Balkans declare war on the Central Powers on the behalf of Russia.



Britain’s offensive is pitiful, with 2 Cavalry and 1 Infantry. 2 of them are killed and 1 left to roam aimlessly with no support.

Week 33:

Britain launches an attack on the force marching into British Honduras, losing 1 Cavalry.
France declares war on Britain. Tibet also declares war on Britain.



Attack on Belize. Losses: 9 British, 1 GC. Good fortune: the borders of Belize expanded this same turn; had the war waited another four weeks, it would have been harder to take the city.



Attack on Georgetown. Losses: 8 British, 1 GC.

With Guyana taken, the President’s main goals are achieved. However, the British are at war all over the world, tying up their forces… and they have island outposts in the Antilles and Jamaica. The President authorizes construction of a transport flotilla to ferry troops to take Jamaica in particular.

Week 41: The Mahdists declare war on Britain courtesy of the USA.

Week 45: Britain declares war on Italy; its position in Africa becomes more dire as a result. Japan and Italy declare war on Spain. The Lowlands declare war on Portugal.

Week 49:



The Hispaniola Confederacy severely weakened Jamaican defenses with the help of Colombian naval bombardment, but the spoils fell to Colombia. Losses: 6 British, 1 GC.

Debating the merits of a campaign to seize the Antilles, the President ultimately decided Jamaica was satisfactory. Britain’s loss of the island as well as Belize and Guyana effectively ended any real threat to Colombian interests in and around the Caribbean.

However, his attempts at peace were rebuffed. The fleet was given the order to move at full steam towards the Antilles to seize whatever might be acquired there.

1904



Week 1:

Peace with Germany. The President agrees to a small tribute so as to keep Germany off Colombia’s back for a while.

Week 5:

Germany declares war on the Benelux, while France declares war on Portugal.

Week 9:

Germany and Austria-Hungary peace out with Britain.

Lowlands and China declare war on Britain.



The British Antilles are seized; 2 British and 1 Colombian lost. It is a high cost for such a small reward. Regardless, the Antilles have strategic value: they serve as an early warning against approaching fleets.

Week 13:

Germany declares war on the Mahdists.

Raid on the British-occupied Danish Antilles; 1 British unit destroyed.

Week 17:

The British abandon the Danish Antilles entirely, so Colombia takes it without a fight. The Navy sinks the ship the small garrison escaped on. After centuries of British presence, the Caribbean no longer has any British forces in it.

The Danes request control of the islands, but the President denies their request. With the Scandinavians far away and pinned down fighting Germany and Britain, Denmark has no real means of forcing Colombia to return the islands.

Week 21:

Italy demands gold; rebuffed.

The President begins preparations for assault on a new target: Hispaniola. The island is rich in resources and well-developed, so would be an excellent addition to the Colombian Federation.

The British finally saw reason and made peace. They paid a decent indemnity and abandoned all claim to the lost territories. They asked for one concession: that the former British subjects receive protection and be free to emigrate to other British territories. Colombia signed off on both proposals, and the President soon oversaw the restructuring of Colombian federalism to grant statehood to the former British colonies, while also granting English co-official status with Spanish.
 
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