President Grover Cleveland was meeting with his advisors in the White House....
The Military Advisor was talking about how the United State's navy was quite a bit smaller than many of its counterparts in Europe. Namely, Germany, The United Kingdom, and France. Also in the Far East, The Empire of Japan's navy was growing slowly..but surely. So he suggested that we increase our Atlantic and Pacific Fleet sizes, by building Indiana Class Battleships, in New York, New Orleans [For the Caribbean Fleet] Philadelphia, Charleston and San Fransisco, that will slighty improve our posistion by increasing our Battleship numbers from 5[counting the Maine and Texas] to 10 Battleships by 1896. After he was finished talking about the Navy he went on to talk about our armed forces, America's army is vastly outnumbered by a few countries, from the latest spy reports this is how our army compares.
France: Weak Austria Hungary: Strong
Britain: Weak Ottoman Empire: Strong
Germany: Average Italy: Strong
Russia: Weak Portugal: Strong
Japan:Strong Spain: Strong.
After his 2 day long meeting with his advisors President Cleveland ordered the Naval Shipyards in New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, San Fransisco, and New Orleans to build the most modern battleships the U.S has, the Indiana Class. With an armament of 4 13 inch Guns, it had a huge firepower, its speed was slow at 15 knots, and its length was 350 feet, so it was a good solid battleship. After looking at a picture of the Uss Oregon[BB3], Cleveland fell in love with these ships.
While, building the big boys in the bigger cities, the United States' colonies of Alaska, Hawaii, Samoa, and Midway would build steam transports for the shipment of the yearly raw materials back the Washington D.C.
The U.S Navy states how all ships will be named from now on: Battleships and only Battleships can be named after states, while Protected Cruisers[PC], Light Cruisers [CL] and Heavy or Armored Cruisers [CA] will be named after cities, and destroyers and torpedo boats will be named after people...[who comment on the story.. of course
While the Steam Transports will have the name of TR01 02 03 04.. and so forth.
Here are my current Fleets as of 1895:
Atlantic:
Pacific:
As you can see the Atlantic Fleet is quite a bit larger. With 4 battleships, while the pacific fleet just has 1 battleship. There is also a Caribbean. Mini Fleet, with 4 Atlanta Class PC's- Baltimore, Newark, Chicago, San Fransisco, with a Indiana Class getting built.
As for colonies, the U.S is very lacking in this department, with just 4, Alaska, Hawaii, Midway, and Samoa.
And I press the "End Turn Button"
Week 9 1895
Grover Cleveland is in his office when he hears a knock, "Come in" he replies, the always smiling Diplomatic Advisor walks in and says "um...sir.. Portugal declared war on Britain" The President gives a look of awe and thinks, a weaker colonial power declaring war on the top dog
. And Replies "Oh ok. thank you for telling me and would you telegraph the Portuguese King and Prime Minister, I want to send them some aid and have a meeting with them...
Later that Week President Cleveland meets with King Carlos I in Lisbon,
"So..." Cleveland says "Why did you declare war on Britain"? "Well" King Carlos Begins "They were romping through our territory, just because they are the largest Empire the world has ever seen DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN JUST DO WHAT EVER THEY *(**&^ WANT!" President Cleveland ignores the King's anger and says, "we can give you 500 gold and 3 GPT to help you in your war, but we will not get involved, sorry Carlos". After a few minutes after Carlos makes sure he has calmed down says "Certainly we understand and yes we would graciously accept the gift, thank you my friend"
As Cleveland ponders the recent war, the Military Advisor comes in and reports, "Sir the Shipyards in Philadelphia have completed the Indiana Class Battleship you ordered, they christened it the 'Uss Pennsylvania[BB4]' ", "good" replies Cleveland, "you may leave now".
I press the "End Turn Button"
Week 13 1895
After another meeting with his Military Advisor the President learns that San Fransisco has also completed an Indiana Class Battleship, it is Christened the "Uss California[BB5]" Both the Military Advisor and the President are ecstatic.
The Uss Pennsylvania joins the Atlantic fleet after touring the major cities in the east letting people on to look at this modern naval wonder.
[Please Ignore that it says Iowa
]
The naval shipyards of New York completes the United State's 6Th Battleship [not including Maine and Texas as they are older] The "Uss New York[BB6]"
The Military Advisor and President Cleveland meet to discuss our navy after the launch of New York, California, and Pennsylvania. The advisor tells the President "I am very glad to see 3 very modern Battleships to be built, this increases our world and naval dominance" While Listening, President Cleveland tell the Military Advisor that he has a surprise, "The Naval Shipyards of New Orleans" he says "have just informed me that they have finished the ship they were working on and have already broken the wine bottle on it, It is named the 'Uss Louisiana[BB7]' in honor of the state". The advisor can't help but jump up and scream, "YAH!!!" after he calms down, the President and he start to discuss, the navy. The Advisor says "I've been thinking.... The Atlantic Fleet really isnt large enough to cover the Whole coast in case of invasion.. so how about we split it into "sub" fleets, it sounds like a bad idea I know, but it will be manged by the same Admiral for both, but there will be people in both advising him what to do, there will be the "Northern Atlantic Fleet" centered around Boston, and New York. And the "Souther Atlantic Fleet" centered around Charleston. This way the two fleets can protect the coast my efficiently." The Advisor says. President Cleveland, after thinking for a moment says " This is a very good idea, more defence, good job!". "Thank you sir!" Replies the Advisor.
So it is done, Cleveland put this into effect the next day, the 2 fleets will split the 6 capital ships evenly,
The South Will get the, Maine, Texas and the Pennsylvania,
While the North will get the, Indiana, Massachusetts, and New York.
The Southern consists of:
Uss Brooklyn[CA] Uss Stiletto [TB] and the 3 Battleships i mentioned above.
The Northern Fleet Consists of:
Uss Raleigh [PC] Uss Cincinnati [PC], Uss Cushing [TB], and the Uss Albany[CA].
And the 3 Battleships i mentioned above..
The North has more ships, as time goes on i will try to make it even,
I have ordered 2 more TBS to be built, one for each fleet,
while the southern fleet needs 2 PCS and both the fleets need One more CA.
While still discussing the separation strategy with his Military Advisor, the Diplomatic advisor walks in... without a smile on his face for once....
He says......"sir the British have taken Maccau from the Portuguese".....
To Be Continued
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'Till next time