Berlin, one month after Operation Weserübung
The battleship Bismarck was alone in her room, a list of casualties on hand. The operation had been costly in term of light vessels, but not even one of her capital ships were sunk. While Konigsberg and Karlsruhe were unlucky on the first day of the invasion, Blücher and Deutschland were severely damage, but made it back to port safely. The occupation had been successful, at what cost? Köln entered the room.
"Here's the detail report about the resources allocated for their reparation."
Köln seemed undeterred by the disappearance of her sisters.
"I am sorry for your sisters," Bismarck said on a heartfelt tone.
"They defended the landing troops. They did their job wonderfully."
Köln bowed and left the room. In the hall, Admiral Hipper and Prinz Eugen could be heard.
"You called me?" Prinz Eugen stated to Bismarck.
"Yes. Now that we have our north secured from the Royal Navy, our high command wants to secure the south. You will be dispatch as a diplomat to the Österreich. Maybe with their support, Sardegna will feel like intervening."
"It was finally time to not make ourselves another enemy!" laughed Eugen.
"Convince Teggethoff that the best course of action is us."
"It shall be done!"
"And how is Blücher doing?"
"Some holes and fires destroyed her machinery and left her wounded. Nothing threatening compared to me!" Hipper answered.
"Thank you for your service," politely said Bismarck.
Again, she was left alone in her room. Would the development of the surface fleet, under Raeder's Plan Z, work as intended? The campaign in the freezing cold had been the doom of their submarine's forces, rendering G7E's torpedoes useless. The submarine would have to be sent in hotter water to function properly. As for the surface fleet, knowing they had little chance against the might of the Royal Navy, would have to use the Arctic waters to their advantage. The Kalmarian fleet had proven the utility of the weather manipulator. If trained, they could outplay the Royal Navy in colder conditions. And only one people truly mastered the freezing elements : Kalmaria.
For multiple strategic reasons, Bismarck would gain a lot from direct cooperation with Kalmaria. She hoped her counterplan to Donitz total invasion increased Kalmaria's opinion of them. She pulled out her hair, unable to make her mind. Knowing she would not see action soon, she opted for a direct diplomatic mission with Kalmaria.
"Can I have Raeder please…" she said on the phone. After some minutes, the man finally answered, "I am going to Kalmaria for a diplomatic mission. Please, don't tell anybody about it. no problem?"
"I was about to assign you to an important mission. Donitz is still not convinced of your capabilities. But it can wait. After all, you make those decisions. Not me!"
"Thank you, Raeder. I knew I could rely on you."
As soon as she put down the phone, she called for the future best units of the Ironblood Navy, excluding carriers.
The battleship Tirpitz, Hindenburg (H39), Friedrich der Große (H41), Kaiser Wilhelm (H41), Kaiserin Victoria (H41), Prinz Luitpold (H41) and Konig Albert (H41).
And the battlecruiser Odin (O), Ägir (P) and Siegfried (Q).
Almost completed, these future surface units of Ironblood sported the best equipment their nation could offer. It's without their weapons that they would go on a secret meeting with the Kalmarian Navy.
Kalmaria, Stockholm
Peace once again settled on the kingdom with businesses booming. In the city, life went on, with worries of air attacks, which increased the city's AA defense and coastal bunkers.
For Oscar II, it was a blow that left a sour taste in her mouth. She knew very well how her comrades felt about the situation. Eidsvold, Norge, Bjørgvin and Nidaros had chosen Oldenburg while Peder Skram and Niels Juel had chosen Kalmaria. Their family ties had limit when their honor was on the line. Her regrets anchored the ship to her room in the Stockholm Palace, inconsolable. Her phone rang.
"I have been sacked from my post," Gustav V said, "Charles XII has been selected as my successor."
"The government has started a crackdown?" asked in a sadden voice Oscar II.
"It seems I was too – a long silence ensued – I expressed too much sympathy for Azur Lane and not enough for the Red Axis."
"How about Charles XII?"
"She's eager to meet her idols. You should have listened to her going on and on about Bismarck, Littorio, Washington, King George V, Jean Bart… Actually, you were lucky to hear nothing of it! It was pretty annoying. She dreams big, but with little to back it up," Gustav criticized harshly.
"As long as we are kept out of any future war, I don't see any problem," Oscar II did not want to lose any more of her comrades.
They both knew how difficult of a task that would be.
[…]
In the dockyards, Charles XII had been approached by Ironblood cargo vessel. The captain held a letter in his hand that he handed over to Charles. He told her to open it in secret. Back in the docks, she isolated herself in her new office. So new Gustav's things and style had yet to be taken down. Gustav liked a sober style and family photos. Charles couldn't wait to take a more… Ironblood approach. Charles inspected the letter with an Ironblood seal on it. After opening it delicately, she read :
Dear Charles XII,
It is with my upmost respect that I write to you today. I shall excuse in person my subordinates' behavior toward your comrades. Your upmost comprehension in our current war situation is appreciated and we shall never let it go to waste. As you answered our pressing demands, we can't repay it enough now, but we shall repay it in the future. On my life, I swear to you. For now, I simply ask of you for a secret group meeting between our most important figureheads of each other's navy as a token for your continued cooperation, your needed help, and your courage to face the storm together with us. Please, keep this secret from your admirals. We will meet south of Gotland, in the night, in three days.
From the future flagship of Ironblood, Bismarck
Charles was jubilating, fighting for air even though she did not need it. She kissed the letter and embraced it in her arms. The letter seemed to release an aura of love she wanted to grasp. It was like a secret between them. She savoured the product of her devotion to the cause. Now that she would be the boss around, she would be respected, and this letter was already more than she ever wanted. She assembled her thoughts and prepared her roster for the occasion.
Northern Parliament, Leningrad
The strategic room office of the Northern Parliament was crowded with marshals and admirals who were listening to the speech of the famous Chief of Staff Boris Shaposhnikov. The rapid defeat of the Benelux and Iris had led to increased preparation in the eventuality of any Ironblood aggression despite Ironblood's favorable dealings with Intermarium (Eastern possessions), Kalmaria (Karelia) and the Österreich (Bessarabia). They had gained a lot from Ironblood's aggression while minimizing their losses. With the terrible performance of the Winter War, the general attitude of the high command had become defensive. Boris' prediction was for a three or four prompt attack : Kalmaria on Leningrad through the Gulf of Finland, Ironblood on Moscow through the Vistula-Dnieper-Volga waterways and the Österreich on Volgograd through the Black Sea.
Sovetsky Soyuz listened carefully to the chief's prediction from her above ground chair at the end of the table. Her sisters, Sovetskaya Ukraina, Sovetskaya Rossiya and Sovetskaya Belorussiya listened without chair like the rest of the people. Boris Shaposhnikov finished his speech, letting the flagship speak.
"It would be a devastating naval-land-air battle," she concluded, "in three to four years, we should be able to take them on, even if the Royal Navy fails to defend their islands."
The recent defeat of Iris had led to a belief in the invincibility of the Ironblood's navy and army. Sovetsky Soyuz wasn't impressed, more embarrassed by the complete fiasco of Iris' performance. The defeat of the Benelux was expected, but the complete surrender of Iris was another. She cursed these bastards as the Royal Navy and Iris almost drag them into the war by intervening in their little adventure in Kalmaria. They had never done this for the Österreich or Intermarium…
The selling of the cruiser Lützow, before Operation Weserübung, had been seen as kind gesture. The naval technological buy had also been a good opportunity to test Ironblood's advancement in the computing field. Sovetsky Soyuz was confident Ironblood would wait until their invasion, as Father was.
"On land, we've witnessed Kalmaria's tactics," Soyuz said, "we've studied Ironblood's tactics. I am sure Boris can take care of these matters. But on sea, we suffer from a lack of intelligence. Ivan, do you have any idea?"
Ivan Isakov, a robust man with a large forehead, answered after some seconds of thinking : "We have vast waterways, long canals and hidden docks. We can always retreat the fleet to safety and sortie it when it is needed. Unfortunately, it leaves our capital, Leningrad, powerless in case of a strong naval push through the canal into the Ladoga area."
He pointed his strategies on the map, like a teacher, and Soyuz listened. After the dismal failure in the Winter War, she gained a spirit of learning. She spoke up : "Under normal circumstances, we could bait them in and use our artillery to our advantage. Kalmaria has shown us that land support could be useful in battle."
He agreed. With mobile land units, they could theoretically strike a same fleet from multiple angles if the chain of command is more direct.
"Shouldn't we cooperate on these matters then?" Belorussiya suggested.
The generals did not see any problems, but if the artillery was needed on land, the army would take priority.
"Ain't that an insult to our honor?" Rossiya asked.
Belorussiya laughed : "I don't see Kalmaria complaining about it."
Kalmaria, Gotland
A dense fog had settled over the region of Gotland. The cold morning of autumn covered the vegetation with a small layer of water, which took a crystalline form. The sound of the departing birds resonated through the fog.
Beside a marked rock, Charles was waiting eagerly for the arrival of the Ironblood fleet. With her, Oscar II, Gustav V, Sverige, Drottning Victoria, Carl Wrangel, Drottning Kristina, Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen, Peder Skram and the cruisers Gotland and Niels Juel. They waited patiently.
In the fog, red signals appeared. The eyes of the Ironblood riggings served as good signal signs in the fog. Bismarck and her crew had dressed conveniently for the beginning of the cold season. With their riggings, the Ironblood capital ships appeared menacing compared to the smaller, steampunk, royal riggings of Kalmaria. Bismarck moved forward to Charles. Bismarck's voice was neither strict nor authoritarian. It was the tone a close friend would take for a visit in the weekend.
"Congratulation on your promotion. I just learned it hours ago."
"Thank you so much! It is a pleasure to receive you again!"
Bismarck discussed formalities to which Charles only listened partially as the Kalmarian ship was too absorbed in her guest. She presented apologies to Peder Skram and Niels Juel for the treatment of their sisters-in-arms. Both accepted her apologies like it had been a minor incident.
"Instead of wasting time," Gustav V said, "can you get to the point of your little visit?"
Gustav V was still mad of her sacking of the flagship role.
"We want a report on the weather manipulator. It seems to be working fine," Bismarck said while looking around.
Charles XII had prepared the papers and was about to give them to Bismarck when Oscar II blocked her : "We give you resources, we test your things, and you still allowed the Northern Parliament to invade us, dragging us in this whole mess! We better get a good deal for your stupid report!"
"Your friend seemed ok with giving us what we wanted," Friedrich der Große said.
"Bismarck honors gifts!" Charles protested.
Oscar II was struggling as Charles was more than eager to cooperate. Väinämöinen intervened on her behalf.
"We allowed your intervention. You know what that means…"
Bismarck took from her large pockets a pair of documents. Both documents had the large seal of secrecy and weren't thicker than a finger.
"Here are the plans for advanced anti-aircraft guns and armor schemes. These upgrades will be ideal for fortresses like you."
Charles moved Oscar II out of her way and gave the report to Bismarck. The Bismarck's reviewed the introduction of the document and were satisfied with the conclusion. The weather manipulator is immune to its own field generator; it lasts as long as the parameters says; it has a long range of multiple kilometers. With the complete failure of magnetic systems in cold condition, she hoped the weather manipulator could nullified this downside of their magnetic systems.
"We guess you are not here for that alone," Sverige concluded as they were a big size force.
"Knowledge is key in planning," Odin pronounced, "we hoped for enlightenment in the art of shore battles."
"Ah common Odin! As we don't have good master, we have to rely on foreign training for better performance!" the demoness Ägir said.
"Odin is right," Siegfried added, "we might be well oiled machine. Without adequate training, we are nothing more than bad puppets."
"Don't tell yourselves such things," Charles intervened in a joyful matter, "you are all incredible!"
Ägir and Siegfried laughed. Odin stayed stoic, her heart beating a little bit faster.
"An orchestra can't survive without a good conductor," Friedrich der Große added.
Gotland and Juel deployed the little gadget on their wrist that would record the session. The only reason of their presence.
"It shall be a short training session, but a rich one," Bismarck pronounced to her colleagues.
"We are neither battleship nor battlecruiser," Oscar II said. "We shall do our best…"
While they were enthusiastic, Oscar, Gustav and Sverige were not confident.
Azur Lane base
After a day at the beach, the night came. Barbecues were opened, campfires were lit up and the starry sky illuminated the sky. The air had cooled down. The absence of Sirens made this occasion possible. Yet, without their existence, he would have never been able to share marshmallows with his subordinates who he treated more like friends. When he looked around, he noticed Charles absence.
"Where is Charles?" the commander asked.
"She told us she was going to her room," Brooklyn said, "she has been gone for a while."
The man got up and told the girls to wait while he checked on her. The illuminated halls were empty. Everyone was either outside or sleeping. Each fast steps of his sandals resonated. When he was about to make his way to the fourth floor, he encountered Charles in front of the Ironblood dormitories. She stood in front of Bismarck's old room.
"What are you doing here?" the commander asked puzzled.
"Oh. Commander! Where is Bismarck?"
"She has been gone for three days now. On request of Tirpitz, I sent her to more active Siren zones."
Disappointed, she scratched her head. Her smile vanished. what had stung her? The commander took her hand.
"She will be back, don't you worry."
"But I had photos to show her… And what if the Siren get her!?"
"Bismarck can defend herself fine! And she has her sister alongside."
The commander guided the exhausted Charles back to her room on the fourth floor. On his way, they encountered some company. Little tails wiggled around a corner.
"We see you."
Two little submarines came around the corner.
"Commander saddened Charles!" Vesikko said.
"Commander saddened Charles!" Saukko repeated.
Vessiko and Saukko were small, resembling Ironblood with their little diving suit and the Sakura Empire with their little tail and ears, reminiscent of the family of Mustelidae.
"It is not what happened," the commander simply said.
"The commander is right… It is me," Charles finally said.
After explanation, the submarines pronounced excuses joyfully and rapidly rushed to their room. In her room, Charles crashed in her bed. The commander was delighted to see images and posters of multiple shipgirls. Jean Bart calling the motherland against the Red Menace, North Carolina in a bunny suit for a bar publicity, the fist of Bismarck, Littorio and Yamato crushing the British Isles. He wasn't sure if it was by simple admiration or obsession. The depressed Charles laid in her bed.
"Where did you get all these posters?"
"Over the years, I collected them. I always bring them with me whenever I'm relocated."
"Tell me, do you think you admire or obsessed over them?"
"I envy them! They exist and represent their nation proudly… while I just exist."
The commander sat beside her.
"You are forbidden from telling yourself such things. You all have a reason to exist. If you don't, I shall give you one!" his tone raised.
"I've never participated in any battle! I'm useless! I'm useless!" Charles shouted.
"That is not what Oscar told me about you."
"Oh! Of course mom told everything to mister commander! We are bringing shame to our names! The shame is devouring me inside. If only we had simpler name like Catherine or Maria!"
Shame. In her idols, she sought heroes. These heroes would elevate and validate her as another ship worthy of remembrance. The commander was too familiar with this type of behavior.
"If you had simpler name, we would lose a long-time tradition of ship-naming. It is part of the process for you to receive an appropriate name."
"Charles? The conqueror of many lands? How is it appropriate to a nobody like me?"
"On a list, names are put. Your People voted a name. You could have been named Eric Haraldsson, Ragnar Lodbrok or Erik Thorvaldsson. It happened that day in this universe, your people went with Charles XII."
"But why giving me such a heavy burden!? I didn't want it!"
"Why should your name be a burden? Why should you compare yourself to your ancestors?"
"Bismarck! When you look at Bismarck, she is majestic, she honored the chancellor's great name in war! As for me, I did not do anything!"
"It doesn't matter. All that matters is you – The commander pointed her heart – Your soul. Your personality. Yourself."
Charles pouted, embarrassed to receive such corny lessons. The commander got closer.
"Do you want to witness your glory?"
"If I have any…"
"Then let me tell you a story. It starts in June of an undetermined year. It is the moment Ironblood invaded the Northern Parliament, and your government was dragged in the war. It was during the famous Continuation War."
Story break!
If you are not interested in the history/potential of the Scandinavian ships, you can skip. It has nothing to do with the story. It is a little explanation of the ships before I start the Continuation War.
Now that this is out of the way, enjoy!
The Kalmarian Navy includes 75 ships that I selected as being compatible with the game. Of these, 14 are capital ships, 7 are cruisers, 18 are destroyers and 36 are submarines. All capital ships are coastal defense ships, which mean they are hybrids between cruisers and battleships. In gameplay, they could be small backline ship or large "tank" cruiser for frontline.
Sweden made 8 of them. I excluded the Aran-class because they were too old (same age as Mikasa). I included the Oscar II (1905) and Sverige-class (1915). I replaced the Aran with the Charles XII-class (1936, 1941), which are based on the paper ship Viking-class.
Charles XII is based on the 1934/1936 design :
2x2 254mm Guns (Main gun)
2x3 120mm DP-AA Guns (Secondary)
4x2 40mm AA Guns (AA)
Carl Wrangel is based on a 1941 design by Ansaldo :
3x2 280mm Guns (Main gun)
4x2 120mm DP-AA Guns (Secondary)
5x2 57mm AA Guns (AA)
2x2 40mm AA Guns
6x1 20mm AA Guns
Drottning Kristina is based on a 1941 design by the Swedish engineer Einar Wikander :
2x4 190mm Guns (Main gun)
2x4 120mm DP-AA Guns (Secondary)
8x2 40mm AA Guns (AA)
Norway started WW2 with 4 coastal defense ships. Two of the Tordenskjold class (even older than Mikasa) which I replaced with two more advanced Bjørgvin-class (1913), and the Eidsvold-class (1900, as old as Mikasa, but could not replace due to their important involvement in Norway). The Bjørgvin-class had been requisitioned by the Royal Navy upon the start of WW1. In my story, instead of being scrapped, they are bought back by Kalmaria and they served until their demise in WW2.
Bjørgvin and Nidaros are equipped with :
2×1 240 mm Guns (Main gun)
4x1 150 mm Guns (Secondary)
6x1 100 mm Guns (Secondary)
2 submerged torpedo tubes
For comparison, here's Eidsvold and Norge :
2x1 210mm Guns (Main gun)
6x1 150mm Guns (Secondary or AA)
8x1 76mm Guns (Secondary or AA)
2 submerged torpedo tubes
In the present of Azur Lane, I gave Eidsvold and Norge the Tordenskjold German retrofit, which transformed them into floating AA fortresses (like the Curacoa retrofit)
Finland started WW2 with only 2 coastal defense ships, the Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen. I could not find any paper ship for Finland.
Specs of Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen :
2x2 254mm Guns (Main gun)
2x2 105mm Guns (Secondary)
2x2 40mm AA Guns (AA)
Danemark started WW2 with a single coastal monitor, the Peder Skram. Her specs :
2x1 240mm Guns (Main gun)
4x1 150mm Guns (Secondary)
4x1 75mm Guns
4x1 40mm AA (AA)
4x1 20mm AA
4 submerged torpedo tubes
For the cruisers, 6 are from Sweden, 1 is from Denmark.
Fylgia (1905-1957) was the smallest armored cruiser in the world during her service. During her career, she was mostly a training ship and was modernized in the 1940. Her specs (WW2) :
4×2 152 mm/50cal. Bofors M/1903 (Main gun)
2× 530 mm torpedo tubes (Torp)
2×2 57 mm/55cal. AA M/89B-38B (AA gun)
2×2 40 mm/56cal. Bofors AA M/1936
2×1 25 mm/58cal. Bofors AA M/1932
Gotland (1933-1963) is a weird one. She was a seaplane cruiser which became an AA cruiser during WW2. In conclusion, she is a light cruiser with planes or more AA (Köln style or Curacoa). Her specs :
2×2 and 2x1 152 mm Guns (Main gun)
6 × 533 mm torpedo tubes or 4×1 75 mm (AA or torp)
4×1 25 mm
Seaplanes or 4×2 40 mm (AA or Seaplane)
Clas Fleming (1914-1960) is another weird one. She is a mine cruiser. Since minecruiser are useless in the game, she is an underpowered light cruiser or could be classified as a destroyer.
4x1 120mm (Main gun)
3x1 25mm (AA)
Mines or torpedoes (torp)
The Tre Kronor (1944-1964) and Göta Lejon (1945-1984) are light cruisers that were finished late in WW2 because of political reasons. Their specs :
2x2 and 1x3 152mm (Main gun)
6 torpedo tubes (Torp)
10x2 40mm (AA)
7x1 25mm
Björn Järnsida is a paper project from 1939 by the Swedish navy.
Niels Juel (1918-1952) holds the title of being a coastal defense ship that a classified as a cruiser because of her low caliber armament. Originally, she was supposed to be fitted with 305mm main gun. Since she is a lot more armored than a light cruiser with light cruiser armament, she is a heavy cruiser. Her specs :
10x1 150mm or 1x2 305mm (Main gun)
2 450mm torpedo tubes (Torp)
2x1 57mm (AA)
As for destroyers and submarines, there is too much for me to review.