Chapter 929: The Navy’s Thoughts

As Ernst's order was issued, it was the East African Defense Forces that ultimately bore the brunt. The armored force, which had originally decided to experiment before 1900, was delayed until the next century, which was actually three years later.

For the Army, the impact of the armored force's delay is not great, because there is no generational difference between the East African Army and the European and American Army.

Of course, East Africa is not as large as the European and American powers in terms of military size. This is mainly in terms of the combined navy and army. Although the U.S. Army and the East African National Defense Force are confident that one can defeat ten, the U.S. Navy has expanded too fast in recent years and has actually expanded. and East African armies.

"Ernst, why has the Navy's funding been reduced again? According to the original agreement, the Navy will not expand, but I can't reduce it!"

Soon, Archduke Ferdinand aggressively went to his son-in-law to ask for an explanation. After the South African War, the navy entered an era of slow development. Although the East African navy was still among the top ten in the world, other countries in the world were busy expanding their navies crazily. .

East Africa was already alien enough, and now it had to reduce naval military expenditures, which made Archduke Ferdinand unable to sit still.

"After the South African War, in 1892, the British built the world's first battleship with an all-steel hull, the Royal Sovereign. Now is a period of change for the navy. How can we get it from the navy? It’s time to spend money on military expenses! I think it’s better to let the Army pay more. Let’s not talk about the armored forces that are still missing. Let’s just reduce the number of fast mobile units.”

This is the main reason for Ferdinand's anxiety. The Royal Sovereign, a new generation of main battleship developed by the British, was born as early as 1892.

Warships of this level had a famous name in the previous life, and that was the pre-dreadnought battleship. Of course, this name corresponded to the later dreadnoughts, as well as the even crazier super-dreadnoughts.

The East African Navy is naturally following the trend, and is rushing with other countries to develop or import pre-dreadnought ships to fill its own navy. Currently, the East African Navy's first pre-dreadnought ship, the Sea Wolf, has been completed at the Bagamoyo Shipyard. Most of the progress.

As the head of the East African Navy, Archduke Ferdinand naturally wanted to increase construction efforts on this basis, so that all East African navies would enter the battleship era in the future. However, Ernst's stick to cut military expenditures this time hit the navy at once. On the head.

"Father-in-law, don't worry. I naturally understand what you just said. Moreover, this military expenditure reduction is not aimed at the navy, but also the army. As for the reduction of the army's mobility force that you mentioned, it is impossible. The mobility of the army The biggest feature of the army is the use of automobiles to replace livestock such as mules and horses, and the current development of the automobile industry in East Africa cannot be separated from the support of orders from the military," Ernst reassured.

It is true that the output of civilian automobiles in East Africa is not low, but military orders are equally important. In previous generations, the early development of the German automobile industry was inseparable from the support of the military.

"The automobile industry is indeed important, but our navy's new warships are not bad, no, they are more important. After all, the main military pressure in East Africa now comes from the sea. Didn't we just get Mindanao a while ago? Plus the Kingdom of Northern Hawaii, and Mozambique Along the coast of Angola, the size of the East African navy has long been insufficient, and you have to reduce naval military expenditures. This is simply unreasonable!" Ferdinand said loudly.

The defensive pressure on the East African Navy is indeed great from the perspective of territorial expansion in East Africa. However, after the South African War, no country dared to tease the East African tiger's beard at the doorstep of East Africa, unless the British came back, but the British obviously do not want another South African War. , after all, it had only been seven years since the South African War.

Behind the British are Germany and the United States, whose navies are expanding wildly. Under such circumstances, it is even less possible to focus on East Africa and cause trouble. Therefore, it is a good thing that the East African navy does not expand.

After all, Germany and the United States are enough headaches for the British. If East Africa intervenes again, it will only make the situation more chaotic.

Of course, as the main military service, the navy must not be too stretched, so Ernst said: "What you said makes sense. The sea area we control in East Africa now extends to the Pacific Ocean. According to the current size of the navy, it is indeed powerless. , so of course the Navy’s new shipbuilding plan cannot be delayed, so it should be enough for us to build four more battleships before 1905.”

"Four is too few! At least seven are enough, otherwise our number of battleships will not even reach half of that of other countries." Constantine said.

In fact, Ernst's psychological expectation was that before 1905, building two or three ships would be enough. However, East Africa was not a small country after all, and two or three ships were indeed too cold, so he reluctantly raised the number to four.

As for the future, after 1906, the dreadnought will appear on the scene as expected. At that time, it will be better to increase the number of warships.

Of course, Constantine must not be clear about these. He knows that the pre-dreadnoughts are already powerful enough, and the big navy plans of other countries are too crazy. Even Japan, a small island country in East Asia, is ambitious. The future of East Africa will be affected by this projectile. It would be too embarrassing for a small country to surpass us.

"Isn't the Navy currently rushing to equip its submarine force? So battleships are indeed useful, but we also have other options. Anyway, after two or three years, East Africa's financial situation will improve. I will definitely give priority to the Navy's funding for ship development."

Ernst chose the procrastination decision. After all, the East African government's current expenditures are too large. After this period of time has passed, it will naturally be possible to loosen the East African army again.

"Submarines are turtles on the seabed. They don't have the momentum and deterrence of battleships, and the importance of deterrence to the navy of a great power is self-evident." Ferdinand said.

Ernst didn't think so. Compared with the mainstream ironclad ships and battleships today, submarines have huge potential. Even in the 21st century, they are still an important deterrent force for the navy. This is why Ernst started to invest in the development of East African submarines as early as the 1970s.

Moreover, submarines are cheap, which is also the main reason why Ernst wants the navy to use submarines to make up for the number temporarily. Although the current submarine cost is relatively high due to technical reasons, it is not as expensive as battleships. The cost of a battleship is enough to build 20 to 30 submarines.

"Don't worry! Father-in-law, the country is in economic difficulties now. If the economic situation improves in a while, the navy will have an opportunity. In the first decade of the 20th century, the scale of our East African navy must be greatly expanded." Ernst gave Constantine a reassurance.

Of course, this reassurance is full of traps, because Ernst did not specify the specific time. If there is no accident in history and the time of World War I remains unchanged, East Africa must start preparing in advance before 1914.

So after 1905, East Africa’s army and navy must be prepared, because Ernst does not know whether the war will be fought in advance or delayed. After all, the sound of gunfire in Serbia may disappear due to historical interference? Now Rudolf is still alive and kicking!

The assassinated Crown Prince Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the previous life does not even have the opportunity to become the Crown Prince of the Empire, so the future is full of variables, and Ernst is also dancing on a tightrope, trying to maximize the interests of East Africa.