Reino Unido de Portugal- alternate history Co-op AAR

[General_Grant]

To the minister of Armament & Industry José Nunes

Dear sir,

As the new minister of armament and industry you must be aware of the current industrial situation of the nation.

Our industries are supported by the vast riches of our colonial empire. and by trade.

Technologies are not yet optimised and it is realistic to plan an industrial efficienty improvement of 15% for the next 2 years.

Our budjet:

It is your task to balance a budjet with the available resources. You should try to balance the request made by the Royal Army, Air Force and Navy, and eventually by the General-Governor of Brasil. You are also allowed to use some of the available resources to further improve the nation's industrial capacity, according to what you feels is the best for the nation.


Best of Luck,

Your King


Signed and sealed,
Manuel Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Eugénio de Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha e Bragança.

 

[General_Grant]

To the General-Governor of Brasil Ariadna de Braganza
Dear Signora,

Your nomination at the post of General-Governor of Brasil, at your age, is exceptional. You are aware that despite my best efforts to support your nomination at this post some traditionalist elements may be opposed to this move.

You are also aware that your name also played a great part in the fact that you were nominated; a member of the royal family in charge of Brasil keeps a better link between both part of the Kingdom. But you were most of all chosen because of your qualities- I am taking a risk by nominating you at this key position in the rule of Brasil. As you know, every day we must face opposition within the very peoples of this Kingdom and the Brasilians, despite being advantaged by our rule, are often influenced by the ideals of their spanish-speaking neighbors. As a psycologist, and as a member of the noblity generally loved by the people, it is up to you to keep Brasil within this United Kingdom.

You also have your word to say considering the military moves of the Land, Air and Naval forces all over your territory. Use this power with moderation, any vain obstructionism will quickly lead to general disaproval from the Royal Cabinet and I may not be willing to help you anymore in this case.

I know that your task is not easy, but considering how far you went in so few years, I am confident into your ability to impress me even more.


Best of Luck,

Your King


Signed and sealed,
Manuel Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Eugénio de Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha e Bragança.

 

[General_Grant]

To the Chief of the Air Force Fernando Felipe

Dear sir,

It is a pleasure to have you leading the young Air Force of this country. I still remember discussing of your exploits with my staff during the Great War, almost two decades ago.

The national air force is not something that this coutry can yet be very proud of. Despite a good start during the Great War, the air force made little to no progress in the last 15 years. Our planes are the same that you piloted during your service during the war.

Together with this letter is attached the (small) OOB of our air force. You will have to try to do the best with your small resources, and will have to limit your priority. In wich type of plane we should invest our research and how many of each type should be builded is up to you.

Best of Luck,

Your King


Signed and sealed,
Manuel Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Eugénio de Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha e Bragança.

---

TOP SECRET

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, JANUARY 1, 1936
ORDER OF BATTLE


COMPOSITION OF AIR FORCES


--METROPOLITAN SQUADRON--
-1ST BOMBER GROUP (TACTICAL) (LISBON)

--COLONIAL SQUADRON--
-1ST INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON (INTERCEPTOR) (RIO DE JANEIRO)


ALL AIR WINGS ARE AT FULL STRENGHT

 

[General_Grant]

To the Chief of the Staff D. Bruno Leal de Olivença

Dear sir,

As the chief of the staff during peacetime, your mission is quite simple: your main task is to set a general doctrine of fighting for our troops to follow. Our previous experiences on the battlefield made us embrace the idea of firepower focus, yet we have to decide between the superior firepower or the grand battle plan. It is up to you to see the advantage and disadventages of each, and to discuss it with the various other ministries under your indirect command. Try to coordinate the efforts of the land, air and naval forces.

Your mission in peace-time is quite simple, you will receive more elaborate directives if the need arise in war-time.

Best of Luck,

Your King


Signed and sealed,
Manuel Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Eugénio de Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha e Bragança.

 

[General_Grant]

To the Chief of the Navy Rodrigo Vinícius de MacHenry

Dear sir,

You have been put in charge of what have been the most prestigious branch of the Portuguese military: the navy.

Why I am using a past form is that this glory is no more. Our navy is mediocre-sized, outdated, and discarted all over our possetions. You will take full consiousness of this sad situation when you will see the OOB included with this letter.

We are Portugal. As a nation that marked forever its name in the history of this planet we cannot tolerate this situation to continue anymore. And as the master of an extensive colonial empire we cannot afford to lose control of the sea lanes to any rival power.

Your task will be to define a guideline for the naval doctrines of the nation, and as well select wich type of ship should be build or researched. The localisation of our fleets is also important, as we must strategically place our units were they may be needed.

Best of Luck,

Your King


Signed and sealed,
Manuel Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Eugénio de Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha e Bragança.


---

TOP SECRET

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, JANUARY 1, 1936
ORDER OF BATTLE


COMPOSITION OF NAVAL FORCES

--PORTUGAL SQUADRON-- (LISBON)
-1ST DESTROYER FLOTILLA (DDI)
-1ST SUMBARINE FLOTILLA (SSII)
-1ST TRANSPORT FLOTILLA

--AFRICAN SQUADRON-- (BISSAO)
-2ND DESTROYER FLOTILLA (DD2)
-2ND TRANSPORT FLOTILLA

--ROYAL FLEET-- (PORTO ALLEGRE)
-HMS CABRAL (BBI)
-HMS BRAGANCA (BBI)
-HMS BAHIA (CLI)
-HMS RIO GRANDE DO SUL (CLI)

--TRANSPORT FLEET-- (RIO DE JANEIRO)
-3RD TO 8TH TRANSPORT FLOTILLAS

 

[unmerged(80905)]

As the equipment of our army falls behind our allies, it is suggested that our army should be modernisied immediately to protect our homeland from potential threats.
In order to protect both north and south Brasil more effectively ,it is suggested that the 2nd Brasilian Division in the 1st Army of Brasil should be redeployed to the 2nd Army of Brasil. Also, the Artillery Bridage under the 1st Brasilian Division should be redeployed under the 1st Cavalry Division.
Also, in order to protect our homeland as well, it is suggested that new divisions should be trained. First, a single Infantry Division should be trained to fill the place in the Army of Portugal. After that, 3 Infantry Divisions should be trained in the same time and continue until 18 new divisions are ready for further deployment.

(I wonder if this is the format we should do?)

 

[unmerged(62281)]

Lisboa, January, 2 1936

THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS​

Your Serene Highness,

I'm aware of the resolves our country is facing, and the impending challenges towards other countries. The political changes that Germany has faced in the last three years are frightening me a bit: even if this man, Hitler, doesn't seem to be a dangerous man, the current rumours of a future remilitarization of the Rhineland must be considered with a particular attention. If our French ally of the Great War fail to respond with effectiveness, the Treaty of Versailles will be totally obsolete, and we shall be ready to defend ourselves from any major threat in Europe.

About America: I have sent orders, hoping you would accept it, to prepare a diplomatic mission to Santiago del Chile. As you know, the Argentine claims over Cisalpina have taken a turn to the worse with the last irrendist speeches from the current Argentine head of state, Agustin P. Justo, who has received support from Germany and Italy. Even if we haven't condemned the fascist regime, the recent illegal Italian intervention in Ethiopia makes us fear their next moves. So we could eventually need a strong ally in South America in order to protect the Colony in case of war. If Chile isn't interventionist enough to accept a defensive alliance, please send me a memorandum about the Latin American countries who would. *

About Spain: The incoming general elections that will be held in February, 16 could reach a level of chaos we never saw before in our great neighbour. Two forces are facing: the leftist Popular Front, which counts Soviet-driven communists in its ranks, and the rightist National Front, which we officiously support, but that is plagued by fascist and violent elements. We shall be ready to get the army in a state of full emergency like during the 1934 crisis, and eventually be ready to intervene in the conflict that could rise from this election. Of course, any decision are in your hands, Your Highness.

With all due respect, Your Highness, I must also inform you that our ambassador in London has reported that your cousin, King George V of Windsor, seems to be in his deathbed. A plane is ready on Lisbon airfield to transport you to London if (I hope not) he deceases. I will of course go with you: it will be a good occasion to enhance our relations with our British ally.

Respectively yours,

ARTURO COSTA DE GUIMARAES

*This could be an idea for trouble events in South America, and eventually a war with Argentina.

 

[Tommy4ever]

With such a small Air Force I think it is vital that all squadrons are regrouped in Portugal itself. There they should be refitted with more modern aircraft and we should also make a significant expansion in the coming months and years. Here are my suggestions for expansion: 2 moe Interceptor, 2 more Tactical Bombers. It is vital that we enlarge our Tactical Bomber forces as they will have the versitility to fight in both Europe and South America. I will not set a date for the completion of the expansion but urge the Arnaments Minister to begin work ASAP with the tense atmospher in Spain and South Aerica they could prove vital.

I also have a suggestion for the management of Royal funds in the reseach of neew technologies. I believe we can support 4 (correct me if I'm wrong) then 1 should be manged entirely be manged entirely by the arnaments Minister and should be focused on Industry, another should be under the Control of the Chief of the Army and be focused onimproving our land forces, another should be split between myself and our Naval Officer in order to manage proper funding into both areas whilst the final one should be under the sole control of our great Monarch and he shall sed them to research whatever he wishes, for his wisdom exceeds our own.

 

[Viden]

From: Ariadna de Braganza, General-Governor of Brasil

To: His Majesty Manuel I, King of Portugal and Brasil


Río de Janeiro, 2nd January, 1936

Your Majesty,

I'm grateful with the honor you given to me. I'm willing to serve as best as I can and show that women can take and manage an important position of power.

By the moment I saw some failures in the relation beetwen Brasil and Portugal. The first of them is the army name. "Colonial Army"? That's a big mistake. Should I remember to you Highness that Brasil had the status of national territory? I can sound ridiculous, but is tested that this "ridiculous" thing affect the moral of our troops here in Brasil. Negative effect, to be more exactly. Something as simple as deleting the "colonial" tag will help to strengthen the loyalty of the brazilian armed forces and the ties with the metroplis.

Another issue I want to comment is the intention of our minister of foreign affairs, Costa, to strengthen our relationship with Chile. Even if this is a good idea, I must suggest to you that we cannot forget our relations with Argentina. Even if we aren't friends, an approach to Chile can increase the paranoia of the argentinian goverment.

About the intention of our chief of air forces to retire the interceptor wing from Brasil, I have no problem, but I suggest that air forces should be deployed here in Brasil soon.

Carefully,

Ariadna María de Braganza

 

[Jingles]

Co-op AARs are always very interesting. Best of luck to you!

 

[Bruno Leal]

From: D. Bruno Leal, Marquis de Olivença
To: D. Manuel II de Bragança, King of Portugal, Brasil and Algarve

Elvas, 2nd January 1936

Your Highness, I am most honoured by Your invitation for a seat in the Royal Cabinet of this blessed empire, and therefore have started preparations for my trip to Lisbon, in order to sit with the rest of the Royal Cabinet as soon as possible.
Has it might be of Your knowledge, I've been last summer in the Great Britain capital, and in Springfield on the United States of North America, by invitation of some generals friends of my family, to see their latest progresses in technology and battle doctrines.
I took the conclusion that we should apply in our United Kingdom the superior firepower doctrine, as it gives us a technologic step ahead of our south american rivals and provides a solid base to upgrade the jewel of our military, the Marinha Real, which shall rule the Atlantic waves once again.
I choose this technological doctrine against the number superiority ideas, mostly because I think that despite this having a faster result in practical ways, it lacks reliability in sea superiority, and obviously a big outdated army would be smashed by small divisons of modern and well armoured Europeans.
I also inform you that this superior firepower doctrine, will require some scientific research, and consequentely large sums from the royal treasury, but I personally think that it shall not be a problem.

I also share from the same idea as Your Majesty, that the reform and upgrade of The Portuguese Royal Navy, shall be prioritized due to our glorious past as explorers, and to the strategic location of our dominions.

Truly yours,

D. Bruno Leal de Olivença
Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Royal Cabinet

 

[Bruno Leal]

@General_grant:

In real life King D. Carlos, and the Royal Prince and heir to the throne D. Luis Filipe, were shot in 1908 in Lisbon. 2 years after the monarchy was overthrown by anarchists that proclaimed the republic.
In this alternative reality, what hapenned to the king and the heir for D. Manuel II (brother of Luis Filipe and thus next in line) be the king? Were they also shot but the coup failed?

 

[Hannibal Barca2]

Sua majestade,

Amongst the various ministries, Senhor Guimaraes, have expressed my some of my gravest concerns these days, and I am nothing but satisfied with the man you have chosen for this ministry. This concern is Spain, who I fear could wish to force her influence upon us like in old days, now under disguise of spreading the heretic communist movement opposing your majesty’s birthright of leading the most prestigious nation under the sun.


Proposed National Budget

Civil Funds - 16.1% (23 IC): While our economy strightly only demand around 15.3 % to keep Portugal and her colonies running, It is my opinion this level of funding is necessary in order to maintain a decent economy and a loyal population. Portugal have not yet completely recovered from the wounds of the great depression, and I have strong faith in your majesty’s concern for his people well being.

Army Investments – 10.5% (15 IC): To oppose the Spanish threat, I have found it necessary to grant funds of larger scale to our ministry of defence, having a strong desire for him to improve our national defence. While I believe readiness amongst the army, I disagree with his desire for a vast standing army: such huge assets are expensive and would hurt our economy more than our enemy would do if we keep a decent force. Number’s are extreme: an increase in our standing army of 18 divisions would require 180.000 men, wich would mean mobilising as much as, according to my calculations, 92.31% of our available manpower.

Navy Investments – 4.9% (7 IC): While I do understand your majesty’s concern for the current state of our naval forces, I pledge for your understanding in that the most important aspect of protecting our motherland against the communist threat would be to keep an decent army within metropolitanian Portugal. While I support investment in smaller naval vessels for protecting our sealines: capital ships simply would not be cost effective in such vast space of ocean, I leave it to the ministry of naval affairs how to spend his limited recources.,

Air Force Investments – 7% (10 IC): While I note young senhora Braganza do not feel any urgent need for protecting Portugal’s prize colony from potential threats within the air. For an nation of limited size like ours, it is vital to protect our air: otherwise we could quickly find ourselves with an mighty army, but a ruined economy that even with God’s help could not support anything but demobilisation and capitulation.

Industrial Funds – 7.7% (11 IC): While the threat from Spain increase demand for military investments, we should not forget to keep up development: otherwise we could quickly find ourselves in a postion where we won the war, but still end up falling behind other countries who seak to secure their future by peaceful means. Long term planning is necessary, short thinking would bring us greatness but would mean we loose everything in the long run.
Seeing this is my department, I have made my policy of a centralized Portuguese economy: an economy searching to reach a future goal, a dream, of a Lisboa as grand capital of Europe, perhaps even the world. For the time being I request, with his majesty’s agreement, construction of a new factory in Lisboa and in the nearby city of Oporto, While at the same time improving infrastructure within our capital in order to further strenghten our economy.

Production of Weapon and Supplies 2.8% (4 IC): Weapon of new ammunition and supplies for our army is also within the priority list of my department. According to my sources our armed forces have decent demands of maintenance, a need which I am more than glad to satisfy. For this however, I expect to get a report on our current national recources in close future: which is necessary for me to decide wether we need to produce more goods for Portugal to export.


Seu mais humilde servo,
José Nunes - Ministro de Armamento

 

[Hannibal Barca2]

l would also like to see how many convoys/escorts, a table of recources freighted from colonies, and used TC/available. This to make better decisions and see the nation's needs

 

[General_Grant]

Lisboa, January 3

To the Royal Cabinet

The measures suggested by the Royal Cabinet are being applied in the country.

A division from the 1st Brasilian Army is en route to Rio de Janeiro with the artillery brigade.

The air squadrons are being regrouped in Lisbon.

The research budjet is the following:

A research slot is to be devoted entirely to the naval research, considering our very few options regarding ship building. We aim to research better Destroyer, Light and Heavy Cruisers. Should our fleet be equiped with bigger capital ships, and if yes, of wich type (Battlecruiser, Battleship, Carrier) is a decision that is leaved to the Chief of the Navy.

Until we have reached an optimal improvement in production (+15% IC efficienty), a slot will be given to industrial research, after what the Ministry of Industry will decide in wich domain to continue advances: cryptography, agriculture or oil refining. We do not have the budjet nor the skills to even consider nuclear or rocket research right now.

Another slot shall be devoted to the research of better equipement for our land troops: after having reached better level of infantry and cavalry equipement, the Chief of the Staff and the Chief of the Army will have to decide if we improve our artillery or if we attempt to innovate in the radically new domain of armored vehicles.

The last slot is subjet to change depending of the needs of the moment, and will probably alternate between research about new planes (currently focusing research on tactical bombers and interceptors, any new change in this policy is leaved to the discretion of the Chief of the Air Force), new doctrines (in the Superior Firepower path), air, naval doctrines, and logistic reforms.


The production budjet is the following:

I have decided to closely follow the instructions of the Minister of Industry, but all of the suggestions cannot be applied yet. To reach a maximum of efficienty, most of the budjet of the navy and a part of the budjet of the army will be suspended until we reach a better level of technology. It would not be efficient to produce outdated ships and guns while we are researching more advanced ones in the meantime. Until September, where we expect to meet better results in technology, the production fundings shall be granted to the construction of an HQ for the general staff of the army, wich will greatly help the coordination of our troops whereever needed.

When this HQ will be finished the available funds will be splited between the army and the navy: As the 18 divisions plan seems very ambitious for this first year it has been decided to build only 12 of them, wich seems enough to guarantee our security for now. The additional division commanded to be integrated in the Army of Portugal is already in training.



Regarding Brasil:
The naming of the armies is a leftover of the old colonial administration, and can only be found in the papers here in Lisbon. Officially, the Brasilian armies are not colonial armies.

The deployment of air units in Brasil is not yet our priority as the immediate theat is Spain. But the simple facts that those units are air units allows them to be redeployed wherever needed, much more quickly than a fleet or an army. If the need arise an air unit can be operational within less than a week in Brasil.

The positioning of the two armies located in Brasil have yet to be decided, if they should be left in Goias and Rio or if they should be moved elsewhere is of the discretion of the General-Governor. Placing an army on our territory of Cisplatina would confirm our dominance there but would anger Argentina even more.


Regarding diplomacy:
The matter of a strategic axis of collaboration with Chile is suspended as the General-Governor of Brasil have admited concerns about the Argentine answer. If we should aim to isolate them completly or if we should try to calm the problem should be discussed between Senhora de Braganza and Senhor de Guimares.

Regarding Spain:
If we should prepare a better national defence or if we should set a force able to intervene in an hypotetical civil war is yet to be decided.



Your King,
Manuel Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Eugénio de Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha e Bragança

 

[General_Grant]

OOC: regarding resources and supplies, I have decided to handle that myself, to avoid to much micromanagement and to simplify the whole thing.

 

[unmerged(80905)]

OOC : Great update, and thank you for the HQ.

After the creation of our new Infantry Division and the first Mobile Command Headquarter is started, I paid a visit to the base in Lisbon. After an inspection visit to inspect the training of our soldiers, I can proudly say that they will be able to defend our homeland bravely. Also, the new mobile headquarter seems to be more useful than I expected, as it will provide a command centre at the front, and the army will be able to react quicker and more accurate than our old headquarters inside bunkers. It is suggested that both the Division and the headquarter should be assigned under the Army of Portugal. Also, this Army should be commanded by a General.

Also, I am proud to inform that the development of our new infantry equipment is going smoothly, and the fruit of the technology will be seen after they are equipped by our soldiers.

However, as the static defense doctrine which was used in the Great War will probably degenerated into a trench war, and many lives have to be wasted in order to progress a little, I suggest that the new doctrine of elastic defense should be adopted by our army. The old artillery our army is currently using does not have enough mobility to cooperate with our soldiers to perform this doctrine greatly.

The advance of material technology will be able to provide us new designs for artillery, and a high mobility artillery design should be available after we have conducted enough studies on the subject. Therefore, I suggest that artillery technology should be developed until such designs are available.

Also, I have heard that the German Army is developing a new army type, which aims to utilise the mobility provided by vehicles. If we can have such technology, then this new idea should have a chance to be tested. I believe that this idea will be useful.

 

[Hannibal Barca2]

Very off-topic note: I cant find the form of Signora and Signor in google's dictionary It keep insisting its Senhor and Senhora in Portuguese


EDIT: ALSO notice it is possible to use the small buttons to set economic sliders more correctly, avoiding loosing any IC and it looks more smooth with whole shiny numbers you can right click to lock them as well without moving slider

EDIT2: I like your graphics and AAR style very much ! Keep up the good work and I will never be absent

EDIT3: I would also like to see a screenie of the government in game format.. just eye candy but u know

 

[Demoking]

From: Rodrigo Vinícius de MacHenry

To: D. Manuel II de Bragança, King of Portugal, Brasil and Algarve

In light of the budget allotted to the Department of the Navy by the Ministry of Armaments and Industry, I deem it prudent for the time being to focus naval expenditures on the production of Destroyers and Light/Heavy Cruisers. It may also prove helpful to, in time, build a submarine fleet.

As regards the temporary suspension of the naval budget in lieu of better technology, I am in full agreement. My recommendation on naval research is that it first be focused on modernizing our destroyers, then our heavy cruiser designs followed by light cruisers. The Navy should eventually have some capital ships, most likely battleships with possibly some experimentation in naval aviation (i.e. Carriers), though this probably won’t happen for several years.

As to the deployment of naval forces, no changes as yet are required except of the separation of the Submarine flotilla from the Portuguese Squadron into its own Submersible Squadron. Also, orders should be sent to the Royal Fleet in Porto Allegre to remain in a state of readiness to sail for either Lisbon or Bissao if the current situation in Spain flairs into conflict. In such an event, I also leave the Transport Fleet in Rio de Janeiro open for use by the Army if troops from Brazil are needed in Metropolitan Portugal, if supported by the Chief of Staff and the Governor-General of Brazil.

most truly, your obedient servant
R.V. de MacHenry


O.O.C. Sorry it took a while to reply, I'm in the midst of Finals week.

 

[Tommy4ever]

From Cheif of the Air Force Fernando Felipe
To D. Manuel II de Bragança, King of Portugal, Brasil and Algarve

I am glad to see that production of our airforce has begun already. I suggest that reseach should at first focus on the latest Tactical Bomber designs so the new models can be ready by the time we begin the expansion of our Bomber squadrons. Once both Interceptor and Tactical Bomber designs have been reseached to the level of the current time period I recoomed we focus on new AIr Doctrines so our forces can become more effective.