War Cruise

[snaphance]

The War of Russian Aggression was at a stalemate. While the small but mighty armies of the Inca had managed to liberate a major city of the Polynesians from their Russian oppressors, the front was quiet, inactive.

The Russians were still there; sporadic skirmishes still erupted from time to time. The Russians had lost too many units to breach the front in Polynesia. They couldn't take Samoa again. The Inca were too few to manage an assault on Nuku Hiva. The city was too well defended.

The Polynesians were also too weak and outdated. Woefully outdated. Meanwhile, the Russians were building more units and sending occasional frigates to harass Kuala Lumpur, ally of the Inca.


While new divisions were being made for the eventual attack on Nuku Hiva, the General Staff and Admiralty were trying to figure a way to bring the fight to the Russians. Any ideas were welcome. Some had suggested using the new Destroyers to harass their navy and shipping. Others had suggested a small naval landing to draw Russian troops from the Nuku area. Others suggested a direct attack on Moscow itself. None of the ideas were worth anything. Then a young Lt. Commander fresh out of the Cuzco Military Academy came forward with a new plan which involved something that had only been experimented with, never tried in battle.

 

[snaphance]

Lieutenant Commander Apo-Mayta had graduated 3rd in his class. That is why he was only 21 at his rank. He had been heavily involved in ship design at the Academy. He was fascinated with the new torpedoes that they were using on these new Destroyers. His good friend Lieutenant Maricanchi had graduated 10th in the same class. He was 20 and would be Apo's only supporter at the beginning.
The navy had been undergoing radical changes recently. The old wooden and ironclad ships were to be replaced with new steel vessels. The esteemed scientists at the National College had just learned how to make a diesel substitute out of the nation's vast coal reserves. regular gasoline was still out of reach, but the new navy would at least be well powered.

While at the academy Apo had seen something that set is mind in motion. One day at the harbor a small craft, about 75 feet long, suddenly surfaced. As the strange craft approached the piling a small hatch opened and an elderly man emerged.

"I hope I didn't startle you too much." said the stranger. "Actually, you just witnessed a successful test of a new vehicle. It's called a submarine torpedo boat, sort of like the torpedo boats that we use to defend our harbors, but this one does it while submerged. My name is Yupanqi by the way."

"Cadet Apo-Mayta at your service." I must admit that our instructors at the Academy never told us about this aspect of naval warfare. Is this boat going to be used by our navy?"
"No, they don't really want it. But they 'appreciate my enthusiasm and attempt to help my country in its war'. My design doesn't have much practicality anyway. It can only go about 100 miles total, and it's electrical. You have to recharge it at the dock every so often. The idea is sound, though. A boat like this could slip into an enemies harbor and destroy their merchant ships or navy undetected."

The cadet was intrigued. "Why wouldn't anyone at the Admiralty be interested in this sort of thing?" The old man thought for a while, then said "Well, they don't seem to have much use for scientists, or at least civilian ones. Can't blame them. I don't have much experience designing practical warships. Also doesn't help that resources and funding is going towards newer destroyers and maintaining out close status with Kuala Lumpur. With all that going on nobody is interested in something as potentially dangerous as this."

While all of this was going on Cadet Maricanchi had sat down next to his friend and was listening. Finally he spoke up: "Maybe if a Naval Officer were to present your idea it might go smoother. You said that this is an experimental boat, limited range and all that. If you could build something larger, with Synthetic-diesel engines and a larger range, maybe that boat would be of use. Then this boat could be used to train submarine crews." The others stared at Maricanchi like he was insane. Then Apo started to smile. "Cadet Maricanchi, sometimes your insanity is your best part. But we're just two cadets one week from graduation. They haven't even assigned us our ranks yet. Chances are we will be a couple of Ensigns on a destroyer somewhere. What good will it do us to try and present this to anyone?"

Maricanchi now smiled. "Apo, I wasn't supposed to tell you, but yesterday when the Commandant asked to see me there was a list on his desk. It was the top graduates in our class. Before he put it away I saw two names: mine under 10th and yours under 3rd. I would bet my monthly allowance that they make you a Lt. Cmdr or higher. I'm a shoe-in for 1st Lieutenant, so I bet that if we presented this idea to the Admiralty we could at least get an audience, which might be enough for more meetings."
Apo checked his watch. "It's 4:30 now, and we have assembly in 30 minutes. Tell you what, if Yupanqi feels up to it, we can meet in the Academy Library later, say about 6:00. we can discuss this idea further, but I don't have much faith in the full potential of the idea."

That evening they looked at the blueprints of Yupanqi's small boat and looked at a series of small drawings he had made over the years of different designs for his boat. Suddenly Apo saw one that just seemed to scream "Pick me!" in his ear. The scientist noticed. "Oh that one, I call it the H-Class. It has good potential, and I think it might amount to something." Apo's mind was made up. He would see this boat completed and he would be its commanding officer.

 

[snaphance]

Apo-Mayta was nervous as he entered the room. Seated around a very large old table were many of the most important men in the navy. Admiral Capac had agreed to hear them out, but the chances of a follow up meeting were slim. Each officer had a copy of the blueprints that Yupanqi had supplied, just two weeks befor his untimely passing. Befor then Apo and Maricanchi had become familiar with his 75 foot craft. They had even secretly modified it with a 5 inch diameter tube in the bow through which they fired dummy torpedoes. The system worked beautifully. Now all they needed to do was convince others. Maricanchi had to wait outside, as only one representative was allowed between them.

"Thank you all for hearing me today. I am sure you have many questions, which I will try to answer to the best of my abilities. Before we proceed I beg you all to keep an open mind." "Sir," an officer interrupted, "what do you possibly think that this boat can do that a destroyer can't?"

"Well, if you will let me explain..."

The meeting went for one hour. Two. Three. Finally, Maricanchi saw the doors open and out stepped his comrade with a smile on his face. "Well, they want to hear us again, same day, same time next week. Only this time the King will be there." Maricanchi was floored. "The King? Seriously?" "Seriously. I have to warn you, convincing them to allocate funds to this will be a bit difficult. They also suggested that since you were foolish enough to go along with this idea you can be my 1st Officer on my boat. I don't know whether to congratulate you or not."

The second meeting went much smoother than expected. Even the King was enthralled by the description of this boat and what it could do to the Russians. Now came the part about the specifics of the craft.

"This submarine will be 150 feet and three inches long. It will be at its widest 15 feet 4 inches and 12 feet 5 inches tall. On the surface it should displace 365 tons and displace 474 when submerged. There will be a crew of 27 including the officers. Four 17 inch torpedo tubes will be in the bow with 8 reloads. Just behind the structure known as the 'conning tower' will be a small 3 inch gun, like the ones used on destroyers. On the surface this boat will reach up to 12.5 knots, and 8.5 knots underwater. Diesel engines will propel it on the surface with electric motors for submerged travel. The batteries for the electric motors can be recharged by running the diesels on the surface. On the surface it will have an operational range of 1600 nautical miles at 10 knots and 130 nautical miles at 2 knots submerged. I estimate that it will be able to dive to 150 feet. While submerged the crew will be able to see and target ships through a periscope. We already have a small craft where a crew can be trained in all necessary measures, except for engine maintenance. With your permission we can begin construction immediately. I have plans ready to go to the most prominent naval yards."

Everyone was silent. Then Admiral Capac spoke. "Perhaps there is something to this idea after all. You will be the commander of this vessel. If it should be a disaster we at least won't lose anyone important. We will build on to start with. Should the design prove good than there will be more. As for your training boat, very well. You may train your crew while the boat is constructed. You and your crew will receive their orders when the boat is completed. They will then have a few weeks to get accustomed to this vessel before setting sail. And if this doesn't work, you will be held to blame."
Apo chafed at the words of the Admiral. Oh well, what did it matter. He would have his own command. His submarine might not decide the course of the war, but it would at least score some damage on the enemy. The plans were sent to the naval yards. H-1 was born.

 

[snaphance]

Lt. Cmdr. Apo-Mayta walked around his new command, high and dry in the dry docks. the last few touches were being added to the paint job, and the engines were being tested. His crew had completed their training and were eager to ship out. Admiral Capac was distancing himself from this absurd project. The press had gotten wind of it and most were declaring it to be a mistake and a flop before the craft was even launched. Apo had to laugh at the cartoons about him and his little boat. It didn't matter to him. His orders had come in the morning. He was to patrol the waters surrounding the city state allies of Russia. So Tiwanaku would be his home base. Belgrade, Ragusa, and Quebec City would be his targets. Most people didn't expect him to return alive. Naysayers be damned, he would return alive, maybe a hero. Three days later his little craft slipped out of the dry dock.


The General Staff with Polynesian support was attempting to liberate Nuku Hiva from Russia. So far the artillery was doing good work, while the Polynesians did everything they could with their little cannons. Apo admired them as he read a newspaper in Tiwanaku. His boat was refueling on diesel and his crew was enjoying a break in the monotony of sea life.


The city states were soft targets. Apo was grateful for this. Although his crew had done very well on their way to Tiwanaku, but now they would face an enemy devout in its hatred of freedom and liberty. Against such a foe they would need to be as good as could be. Nuku Hiva would fall soon, and all the news would be about the bravery of the army. The navy would get its day, just not yet.

 

[snaphance]

Nuku Hiva had fallen. There was rejoicing in the streets. The war was moving north. The Russians could be beaten. Even Apo-Mayta was happy, even though any achievement by his crew would be overshadowed. The boat was quickly approaching the city states.




These were the enemy, but not very powerful ones. Nobody reported on the war against the city states because noting was happening. All anybody cared about was Russia. This was probably a calculated move by Admiral Capac. If the boat failed then there would be very little said about it. If it succeeded there would be very little said about it so the Admiral wouldn't be ridiculed as a naysayer and doubter of this wonderful invention. Apo honestly thought that nothing would happen. The city states didn't have any navies to speak of and little commerce to raid. H-1 approached Ragusa.


Lt. Maricanchi woke Apo one morning. The Watch Officer had spotted something on the horizon. Through his binoculars he could make out the double eagle of Russia. It appeared to be a pair of troop transports.


Apo gave the order for attack. The helmsman changed course, and they sailed directly at them. They would be in range of the guns of Ragusa. "Periscope depth immediately!" The tanks flooded and the hatches were closed. The attack periscope was raised. As the distance to target, the target heading, and the target speed were calculated, Apo saw something odd on the deck. They appeared to be large machine guns. Now he was very glad that he hadn't decided to attack on the surface. Then again... "Surface!" The crew looked at him strangely. Then they obeyed. The crew had 20 carbines among them and several pistols. They were going to board the enemy.
The Russians were rather shocked to see this little boat emerge from the waters. Even more surprised when men emerged with Inca weapons. The Russians surrendered without a fight. After searching the ship (and discovering that there was diesel, actual diesel here for the taking) the H-1 was refueled while the Russians were put into life rafts and sent to Ragusa. The large machine guns were of immense interest to the crew and several blueprints were found. These were taken, and the gun crew got some practice on the two ships.


With the primitive shortwave device (it was still being experimented with) the crew radioed Admiral Capac with the news. They had just sank 10,000 tons of ship. Moreover, they had the blueprints to a new weapon. The Admiral radioed back with a new set of instructions: Patrol coast of Quebec City.

 

[snaphance]

I unfortunately won't be able to complete this story, as I accidentally deleted the save game this morning after mistaking it for a different one. I also have a habit of deleting all of my autosaves, so no luck there. I will try to do another, better, similar story again soon. Until then, thanks for reading.