Senator M-B-H has launched a scathing attack on Senator Jimmy's competence and his performance in leading the 4th Dino convoy to Loeuss, the convoy was badly hit by a Utrek ambush. "This is the man who wishes to be Consul next year? The Gods help us!" M-B-H told a meeting of Lakes' political party VERITAS = TRUTH. "The truth is being uncovered now, Jimmy always has been a mediocre talent. Content to skulk in the shadows and count the paperclips while men like Ronald did the actual fighting. It would be a disaster if he was in a position to lead us into battle. The Republic would be in peril!"
M-B-H stopped short of confirming that he will be standing in the Consul election against Jimmy however. Officially Veritas have not chosen a candidate.
The deputy leader of Jimmy's Liberal Party Legate Z-B-H said, "Jimmy led the battle well, in very difficult circumstances. How the Utrek got to discover the convoy is an interesting question..."
31.7.07
Fleet news (31/07/07)
The DDS frigate fleet is to receive an update. All Isometrics will receive Isometric 2107 Update A (I2107UA) and the Terran Seas Terran Sea 2107 Update A (TS2107UA). The updates are both purely software and will be rolled out to the fleet over the next week. A total of 35 different systems will receive the latest builds of software (both updates can be released at the same time because both frigate types use the same software, albeit different versions). Improvements include better engine management, tactical data handling, target acquisition and damage control.
Isometric frigate F116 Cryptozoic has just left refit and has become the third ship to be fitted with the Pave Yellow mine warfare control equipment. Pentekonter P111 Pindar has become the latest Pentekonter-M minesweeper and has been redesignated M111.
The first Panther destroyer D101 Panther has reached a new milestone. External construction has been completed and the ship has been towed to another rig to complete internal fitting out and static testing. Engine testing is due to take place in the late summer with live trials around September until the end of the year. Construction has begun of D102 Jaguar and D103 Puma.
Isometric frigate F116 Cryptozoic has just left refit and has become the third ship to be fitted with the Pave Yellow mine warfare control equipment. Pentekonter P111 Pindar has become the latest Pentekonter-M minesweeper and has been redesignated M111.
The first Panther destroyer D101 Panther has reached a new milestone. External construction has been completed and the ship has been towed to another rig to complete internal fitting out and static testing. Engine testing is due to take place in the late summer with live trials around September until the end of the year. Construction has begun of D102 Jaguar and D103 Puma.
30.7.07
ANALysis : The Utrek fleet is crumbling
The Utrekians have sacrificed the cream (and quite a lot of the chaff) from their fleet in return for very meagre gains. Many of their front-line units have been lost, taking away irreplaceable experience and skills. The Utrek fleet is still powerful however.
The DDS estimate the Utrek have around 150 warships still deployed to the war, the Utrek have reduced all other fronts and strategic areas to the bare minimal to send as many ships as possible to the war. The Utrek have also tapped into their reserve areas and restored (or are carrying it out) these ships to service to release operational ships to the front. There are thought to be no other reserves available. Most of these ships are Kalahati Tuuls though the Utrek shipyards are working flat out. Molentic Tuuls are being produced in lieu of the more complicated and expensive Reptoli Tuul even though that ship is much more of a match for the Allied ships.
However even with shipyards are full capacity it will take years to replace the 250+ losses the Utrek have suffered to date.
The Utrek largely have to make do with what they have and they have tried their best to upgrade their KTs and older MTs. Technology from destroyed ships is hungrily gathered by Utrek salvage parties for reuse on existing warships. Decades of interface standardisation has made retrofitting newer technology to older ships easy. There is said to even be a Kalahati Tuul fitted with a sensor array from a lost Reptoli Tuul!
The next major battle is likely to be decisive, the Utrek also have a financial problem. Their war chest is running dry and they will be unable to maintain offensive operations beyond the end of the year.
The DDS estimate the Utrek have around 150 warships still deployed to the war, the Utrek have reduced all other fronts and strategic areas to the bare minimal to send as many ships as possible to the war. The Utrek have also tapped into their reserve areas and restored (or are carrying it out) these ships to service to release operational ships to the front. There are thought to be no other reserves available. Most of these ships are Kalahati Tuuls though the Utrek shipyards are working flat out. Molentic Tuuls are being produced in lieu of the more complicated and expensive Reptoli Tuul even though that ship is much more of a match for the Allied ships.
However even with shipyards are full capacity it will take years to replace the 250+ losses the Utrek have suffered to date.
The Utrek largely have to make do with what they have and they have tried their best to upgrade their KTs and older MTs. Technology from destroyed ships is hungrily gathered by Utrek salvage parties for reuse on existing warships. Decades of interface standardisation has made retrofitting newer technology to older ships easy. There is said to even be a Kalahati Tuul fitted with a sensor array from a lost Reptoli Tuul!
The next major battle is likely to be decisive, the Utrek also have a financial problem. Their war chest is running dry and they will be unable to maintain offensive operations beyond the end of the year.
XE holed up in mountains
The Sword of Truth have been very quiet lately following a series of successful raids by HCS Police on SOT cells and a softening of the Friar's ban on the Church Of Oojok. Now it looks like the SOT is a spent force. Ayatollah Clone XE and a band of core followers are said to be hiding in the Amari Mountains in Southern Micom.
The SOT have said they will continue to fight the evils of secularism though at the moment there doesn't seem to much stomach in the Clone race at large for such an ideological fight.
The SOT have said they will continue to fight the evils of secularism though at the moment there doesn't seem to much stomach in the Clone race at large for such an ideological fight.
Dino convoy ambushed by Utrek
The fourth Dino convoy to Loeuss commanded by Senator Jimmy has been ambushed by strong Utrek forces as it approached Loeuss. The fleet of 15 Dinomarks and 6 third-party transports was attacked by around 40 Utrek warships. It is thought the location of the convoy was betrayed to the Utrek as the route was a secret and cloaking measures undertaken.
Three of the transports were destroyed in the opening salvo. The transports were carrying Dino soldiers and AFVs from the 10th Dino Armoured Brigade. It is estimated around 2,000 Dinos were killed. 4 Dinomarks were also destroyed and 2 others damaged. Jimmy's ship was among the damaged ships and Jimmy had to transfer his flag.
The Dinos regrouped and fought back and managed to cost the Utrek 6 losses. The Utrek then withdrew, seemingly not wanting to lose any more ships. A fifth Dinomark was destroyed by damage caused earlier that resulted in a reactor overload though the crew managed to escape. In all 2 PTs, 1 NG and 2 XTs were destroyed, total Dino loss of life has been listed at 2,110 and a further 200 injured.
The convoy limped to a rendezvous with G-B-H's task force.
Three of the transports were destroyed in the opening salvo. The transports were carrying Dino soldiers and AFVs from the 10th Dino Armoured Brigade. It is estimated around 2,000 Dinos were killed. 4 Dinomarks were also destroyed and 2 others damaged. Jimmy's ship was among the damaged ships and Jimmy had to transfer his flag.
The Dinos regrouped and fought back and managed to cost the Utrek 6 losses. The Utrek then withdrew, seemingly not wanting to lose any more ships. A fifth Dinomark was destroyed by damage caused earlier that resulted in a reactor overload though the crew managed to escape. In all 2 PTs, 1 NG and 2 XTs were destroyed, total Dino loss of life has been listed at 2,110 and a further 200 injured.
The convoy limped to a rendezvous with G-B-H's task force.
25.7.07
DDS looking again at littoral warfare OPV
A while ago the DDS announced they would purchase 10 modified Dinomark XTs to perform the littoral patrol and ground forces support roles. However now the DDS have said the order is not definite and will depend on the findings of a review after the Utrek war is over. The DDS have a gap in capability in the so-called "space littoral", the region of space between low orbit and high atmosphere. Conventional space craft cannot easily operate in this region the DDS call the Littoral Patrol Battlespace (LPB).
The DDS are currently investigating whether the Pentekonter OPV can be modified to perform better in this role though it is likely the order for Dinomarks will be carried out though with a changed specification. The initial specification of the proposed Fighting Falcon class was for a ship to provide the bridge between orbital ground force support assets like the Z5g equipped Rome and the ground forces themselves. Combat in the littorals was not considered a high enough priority but recent analysis has shown that this can be a vulnerability an enemy could use to great advantage. A DDS analyst said it was the DDS' "soft underbelly".
Dinomark XTs are good performers in space combat though do have a weakness in the transition realm between space and an atmosphere which is exactly where the DDS want the ship to be able to fight.
It is thought likely the review will look at options for improving the XT's performance in the littorals, the Dinos have already been asked for information on options. It will also look if the Pentekonter could be an alternative or whether a new clean-sheet class would be needed. A Pentekonter solution would be unable to provide ground forces support though.
"The Dinos have looked into improving XT littoral performance before." A DDS source said, "Though they haven't gone ahead with it for cost reasons, it is most likely we will be able to find a solution using XT but it won't hurt to have another look at alternatives."
The DDS are currently investigating whether the Pentekonter OPV can be modified to perform better in this role though it is likely the order for Dinomarks will be carried out though with a changed specification. The initial specification of the proposed Fighting Falcon class was for a ship to provide the bridge between orbital ground force support assets like the Z5g equipped Rome and the ground forces themselves. Combat in the littorals was not considered a high enough priority but recent analysis has shown that this can be a vulnerability an enemy could use to great advantage. A DDS analyst said it was the DDS' "soft underbelly".
Dinomark XTs are good performers in space combat though do have a weakness in the transition realm between space and an atmosphere which is exactly where the DDS want the ship to be able to fight.
It is thought likely the review will look at options for improving the XT's performance in the littorals, the Dinos have already been asked for information on options. It will also look if the Pentekonter could be an alternative or whether a new clean-sheet class would be needed. A Pentekonter solution would be unable to provide ground forces support though.
"The Dinos have looked into improving XT littoral performance before." A DDS source said, "Though they haven't gone ahead with it for cost reasons, it is most likely we will be able to find a solution using XT but it won't hurt to have another look at alternatives."
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