User:Continuator/Scribblepad

Thuylemans' offensive

(Bringing the Sathrati Emergency to its agreed end state)

Background

Until the Sathrati situation was dealt with, Shireroth would not be able to bring the full force of its might down upon the Benacian Union. To leave some of the most populous Imperial dominions, on the southern islands astride the maritime routes of the Shire Sea, in the hands of a rogue regime aligned to the northern foe would be unconscionable.

However, the extent of the defensive preparations undertaken by the Council of Sathrati, the logistical and economic support provided to Sathrati by blockade-runners sponsored by the Honourable Company, and the altered political dynamics of the Emirate in the aftermath of the Articles of Just Secession, all meant that the rapid successes of the conquest of Zy-Rodun were unlikely to be repeated on Amity, Mirioth, or Yardistan. Yet it would also be intolerable for the status quo, punctuated only by periodic blockade enforcement actions, to continue into 1731 AN. A demonstration of overwhelming Imperial might would have to be given.

A year of preparation

• Requisitioned merchant shipping
• Conversion of barges for use in open seas
• Assembly of the invasion flotillas in the So-Sara isles

Unprecedented economic mobilisation

• Shipyard Labour Force:
  • At least 250,000 skilled shipbuilders and trades workers
  • Drafting approximately 10% of auxiliaries into shipyards
  • Supplemented by tens of thousands of conscripted unskilled civilian labourers
  • Mass reallocation of workers from other manufacturing sectors
  • Likely requiring two 10-hour shift cycles to maintain round-the-clock production

• Raw Material Mobilisation:
  • Over 5 million tons of steel required for hull construction
  • Equating to at least 25% of annual steel output of a major industrial power
  • 15 million board-feet of lumber for hulls, decking, installations
  • Drafting excessive timber from national forests/reserves
  • Large quantities of coal, piping, wiring, steam engines and auxiliary components

• Production Facilities:
  • Requiring over 100 coastal shipyards operating at emergency capacity (Duchy of Modan and So-Sara)
  • Many new slipways, drydocks, workshops constructed in just months
  • Rail network upgrades to transport material stocks to shipyards
  • Prefabricated components moved from inland factories on crash basis

• Logistics & Manpower:
  • Feeding and housing a workforce of over 400,000 in shipyard towns
  • Retasking whole sectors of the merchant marine for supply chain conveyancing
  • Mobilising tens of thousands of dockworkers, mechanics, riggers, etc.
  • Mass call-up of civilian mariners and naval reserves to crew ships

• Management & Oversight:
  • Centralised authority controlling design, costs, labour, material flows
  • Demanding unrealistic production quotas met through martial enforcement
  • Likely making extensive use of forced/conscripted labour sources
  • Cutting corners on quality, safety protocols given rushed timeframe

Producing an invasion armada of this size within just 15 months would require staggering economic disruption and commitment of national resources. It would consume a lion's share of raw material stockpiles, industrial capacity, and labour forces diverted from other sectors.

Pushing shipyards and supply chains to their absolute limits could see production rates quadrupled through totalitarian management. However, even then quality would be severely compromised along with massive waste, inefficiency and human costs. Only through complete martial mobilisation of society and industry could such a gargantuan naval armada potentially be completed in little over a year - and at a potentially ruinous price.

The "auxiliary armada"

Vessel Type	Quantity	Gross Tonnage (each)	Personnel Carried	Stores/Cargo Carried
Gunboat-Barges	1,000	150 tons	50 troops	Light Artillery
Horse Transports	2,000	60 tons	-	30 horses
Small Landing Craft	2,000	20 tons	30 troops	Light Supplies
Artillery Barges	200	300 tons	30 crew	Heavy Artillery
Gunboats	100	400 tons	60 crew	Medium Artillery
Pioneer Ferries	1,000	1,500 tons	200 troops	30 Tanks/Vehicles
Marine Barges	630	500 tons	120 troops	6 Light Tanks
Assault Boats	3,000	20 tons	30 troops	Light Supplies
Artillery Lighters	250	150 tons	15 crew	Light Artillery
Troopships	200	7,500 tons	1,500 troops	-
Cargo/Supply Ships	130	3,000 tons	50 crew	3,000 tons stores
Hospital Ships	25	6,000 tons	500 medical staff	1,000 casualties
Auxiliaries/Lighters	70	100 tons	10 crew	100 tons supplies

The invasion flotillas combined commercial vessels requisitioned from industry alongside a multitude of scratch-built small craft, to create an armada of over 8,600 vessels totaling nearly 10 million gross tons.

It could transport an initial assault force of over 450,000 troops along with 2,000 horses, 1,200 armored vehicles/tanks, and 1,500 artillery pieces.

Immense quantities of supplies could be carried, including over 2.5 million tons of ammunition, construction materials, fuel, food and other stores to support the invasion force.

Over 100 hospital ships could evacuate up to 25,000 casualties from the beachheads.

Supporting the invasion force would be 1,550 gunboats, artillery barges and coastal defense craft providing offshore fire support.

While an astounding logistical feat to assemble, the sheer size of this armada showcased the massive maritime resources that the Imperial Republic would have to marshal for an island hopping campaign against Sathrati.