In a Pole, what is in the heart, is also on the tongue. - Anonymous
Plan for technical and organizational modernization of the Armed Forces of the People's Republic of Poland for 1976-1986 according to the Polish count. Document approved by Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Edward Gierek and Commander-in-Chief Marshal Wojciech Jaruzelski.
Mechanized Troops
A new small arms system code-named "Lantan" for infantry. The program assumes the development of a new fixed-barrel assault rifle, a landing rifle with a folding butt, a selection rifle, a hand-held machine gun, a deck-mounted belt-fed machine gun and a heavy machine gun. The whole is based on the 7 x 41 mm intermediate cartridge newly developed under the Marshyt program.
Completion date, 1980 by Polish reckoning.
(Addition in Gierek's pencil, Is that an exaggeration?)
4. The program of the Polish soldier of the future code-named "Titan". Lessons learned from the use of the purchased equipment from Japan by our special forces proved positive. Feedback from soldiers and officers recommended that the new equipment be deployed as soon as possible in the ranks of the army.
The request was granted, one with a significant change. It was decided that instead of seeking a license from the Japanese, they would develop all the required equipment themselves.
This includes the development of a modern Kevlar helmet design, a modular bulletproof vest, a modern communications system, a new uniform design and camouflage that meets the requirements of the future battlefield. New design of gas mask, protective uniform against weapons of mass destruction. Moreover, the program intends to develop modern weapon sights yes and optical equipment such as night vision devices for the use of rank-and-file soldiers.
Completion date, 1986 according to Polish reckoning. It is recommended to link the new equipment designs to the tradition of Polish arms.
(Jaruzelski's addendum, This should cool the mood of soldiers and the public.)
7. Implementation of serial production of the disposable anti-tank grenade launcher RPG-76 Komar.
Completion date 1980 by Polish reckoning.
8. Implementation of the new P-75 personal pistol into serial production.
Completion date 1978 by Polish reckoning.
(Jaruzelski's addendum, See to it personally.
Below Gierek's, Sell all older guns to foreign countries or individuals).
11. Modernization of the wz.63 PM-63 Rak submachine guns to the PM-75 Rak-Duch standard using technical gains from Japan. The whole is based on a self-made modification by Lieutenant Szymon "Duch" Rilejski which turned out to be better than the original while eliminating its main flaw.
Completion date 1978 by Polish reckoning.
(Jaruzelski's addendum, And that's a cheeky one!)
12. Implementation of serial production of the new wz.78 signal pistol.
Completion date 1980 by Polish reckoning.
(Written in pencil annotation by Gierek, Try to sell the previous gun design in its entirety)
16. Develop a new design of grenades, that is, offensive and defensive to replace the Soviet F-1.
Completion date 1979 according to the Polish count.
27. Development of a revolver grenade launcher and ammunition in 40 mm caliber.
Completion date 1979 according to the Polish count.
28. Development of a new design of heavy and light mortar.
Completion date 1978 by Polish reckoning.
29. Developing a new design of hand-held anti-tank and anti-aircraft launcher to obtain equipment capable of fighting against enemies on the modern battlefield.
It also assumes the development of modern guided missiles for these launchers that will also be used on tank destroyers and infantry vehicles.
The code name for the "Grot" anti-tank launcher, the code name for the "Piorun" anti-aircraft launcher.
Completion date 1984 by Polish reckoning.
(Jaruzelski's addendum, It's about the Japanese First Secretary. With what we have, we can at most knock God at the window and not shoot at the Japanese.)
of all remaining T-34/85s from mechanized divisions. Although the vehicles fulfilled their role during the war against Parpaldia flawlessly. Their time for departure has finally arrived.
We no longer need these machines as part of total war with NATO. It is assumed that the least worn copies will be moved to deep reserve until they are replaced by T-55 and future modernized T-55s under the "Merida" program. Then they will be sold as the current worn-out tanks of this type in the Polish Army. The idea of converting them into tank destroyers or self-propelled guns has been rejected.
Completion date 1978 according to Polish reckoning
(Jaruzelski's addendum, It's about time, this scrap has been sitting with us for too long. Sitting in them is pure suicide.)
33. Program of a new combat infantry vehicle code-named "Borsuk". It is to be a completely new design based on technical achievements and news from Japan (while not modeling on Japanese equipment) and its own capabilities hitherto limited by the unification of Warsaw Pact troops. It is to replace all the existing BWP-1 which, due to its obsolescence and lack of modernization capabilities, are to be eventually withdrawn as soon as possible.
Completion date 1980 by Polish reckoning.
(Jaruzelski's addendum, a bit of a waste of money but the intelligence conclusions are clear. For the BWP-1, time was over before it really began. The new design is supposed to be more capable of long service. Fortunately, we intend to sell all the BWP-1s we have to our allies and the willing).
34. Deep modernization of SKOT code-named "Ryś". The goal is to improve and modernize the forward-looking design by replacing the existing fire control system with a fully digital one that gives a better view of the battlefield. Introducing a modern turret with a 40mm caliber cannon to all vehicles, increasing armor to more acceptable standards.
Completion date 1979 according to Polish reckoning
(Jaruzelski's addendum, as the First Secretary wished, either a new Combat Infantry Vehicle or Armored Personnel Carrier. We chose the "Borsuk.")
35. Improvement and modernization of BRDM-2 armored cars. The aim is to eliminate the main drawbacks of the vehicles (mainly poor armor) as well as to adapt them to be the main universal light wheeled platform. Codenamed "Tukan."
Completion date 1979 according to the Polish count.
Artillery and Anti-Aircraft Forces
40. Accelerate work on the "Dunajec" as well as "Dunajec-P" program.
Completion date 1982 according to Polish reckoning.
(Jaruzelski's addendum: Intelligence news from Japan confirmed that the developments under the MONAKO program were not only right but correct. We will accelerate the program for a fully automatic and digital air defense command and control system. The conclusions and knowledge gained from this system will be used to build such a general network for the entire armed forces under the "Milky Way" program)
42. Modernization of BM-21 Grad to modern battlefield standards required of self-propelled multi-propelled rocket launchers. Replacement of cabs and landing gear on Star 660, increase in the number of slides. Code name "Langusta"
Completion date 1978 according to Polish reckoning.
(Jaruzelski's addendum: Nothing much, modernization of a proven design and unification with what we produce at home for our trucks. It's hard to improve anything beyond the fire control system and communications. It's an ordinary truck firing ordinary unguided rockets in large numbers.
43. Withdrawal of all artillery guns, instead developing and introducing a self-propelled version of the cannon howitzer and mortar. Cryptomines "Krab" and "Rak".
Date of completion of withdrawal 1982, elaboration 1982, according to the Polish count.
Armored Forces
50. Commencement of the light "Merida" and deep "Super Merida" modernization program for T-55 medium tanks. The Merida program involves the development of a new communications, thermal imaging, night vision and fire control system for T-55 medium tanks.
Completion date 1978 by Polish reckoning.
50.b The "Super Merida" program is a specialized program for designated armored regiments with the highest skill levels of soldiers. It entails, in addition to what is included in the Merida program, upgrading engines and transmissions. Rebuilding the turret to add shielding and adding additional armor., improving the 100mm caliber main gun and ammunition for it.
Adding side screens and additional armor for the tank's hull, improving the suspension in for greater vehicle weight. What's more, it is intended to apply achievements in the magic field from the "Judge" program for increased vehicle protection. All vehicles from the "Super Merida" program are to be produced from scratch and from scratch. If the program is successful, the PT-81 "Super Merida" medium tank is expected to become the Polish Army's target medium tank by 2020 according to the Polish count.
Completion date 1981 by Polish reckoning.
55. The "Twardy" program, the goal is to develop a new heavy tank with parameters comparable to the Japanese Type 90 and Type 10 and the US M1 Abrams.
Completion date 1986 by Polish reckoning.
(Jaruzelski's addendum: Of comparable parameters ... good for you. Not a bad way to figure out how to convey to the public and world opinion that we are designing a tank with only one purpose. To kill every Japanese and American 3rd Generation heavy tank).
Air Force
60. Extensive program of modernization and renewal of all owned fighter and attack aircraft using the latest scientific capabilities and discoveries. Code name "Sztorm"
Date of completion 1981 according to Polish reckoning
(Jaruzelski's addendum: It's about repairing worn-out engines, new radars and the like. Well, and the addition of extracted for the time being the most important novelty from the object 22. Shield, seemingly nothing, de facto the principle of operation turned out to be very simple, so simple that it is a wonder that no one has ever discovered it and it changes so much in combat. For the time being, our aircraft, Super Merids, Hard and planned and current ships will have it in action. The power requirements are only reconcilable with a strong engine and spare space).
61. Implementation of serial production in order to master new aircraft production techniques, TS-16 Grot fighter-strike aircraft.
Completion date 1980 by Polish reckoning.
(Addition by Gierek: Wasn't that plane thrown in the trash because of cost? Why was it deployed?
Jaruzelski's addendum: Simple first secretary, the plans are there, the mock-ups have already been built for these two years in secret. It's better to try with something simpler and already developed than to start from scratch.)
62. Iryda program, a new trainer-combat aircraft to replace the obsolete TS-11 Iskra. Ultimately, it is to become the foundation for a full-fledged air superiority fighter.
Completion date 1986 by Polish reckoning.
63. The "Grzmot" program. The successor to the IL-28 bomber, the TS-28 Grzmot. It is intended to eventually replace it in all units. Specialized versions are planned.
Completion date 1980 by Polish reckoning,
(Gierk's addendum: So the upgrade turned into a new aircraft? Heck, as many as three new planes at once, it's going to cost some money.
Jaruzelski's addendum: Savings will be found First Secretary, we do not need to maintain an army to conquer Denmark. Just turn our army into something better and more suited to us and not like the Soviets wanted).
Navy
(Gierek's addendum: That is, how to get a ton of money out of the State for an already obsolete fleet to begin with)
78. "Huragan" Program. Development and production of a temporary destroyer with partial use of the latest trends. Assumed number of ships 24.
Completion date 1986 according to Polish reckoning.
(Jaruzelski's addendum: For our sailors, it will be a ship below their aspirations, they wanted a fully missile destroyer, unfortunately, we first have to develop our own and suitable missiles. Hence, the destroyer will be more artillery-based, although everything else will be as modern as possible. Another thing is that Shields puts the future of guided missiles in question. Our tests have proved unfavorable to missiles economically and tactically.
79. Tarantula Program Develop and produce small missile ships using the latest trends. Assumes number of ships 100.
Completion date 1986 by Polish reckoning.
(Jaruzelski's addendum: A mere plug, in fact, Janczyszyn doesn't even want 10 of these ships, they are just an excuse for new guided missiles. Once they are developed, the program will be canceled.)
80. Program "Smok". Development and introduction into the ranks of the Polish fleet of modern submarines in cooperation with Mitsubishi and Kawasashi on the basis of the Sonryu class as well as obtaining technical capabilities for the production of this type of ships. Assumed number of ships 12.
Completion date 1982 by Polish reckoning, 2023 by Japanese reckoning.
(Gierek's addendum: The only sensible ship on the list.)
88. "Tankowiec" Program. Development and introduction into the ranks of the Polish fleet of new fleet support ships. Completion date 1978 according to Polish count.
(Jaruzelski's addendum: And the ship? Also meaningless?)
The projected total amount for the entire plan. Two hundred billion Polish zlotys. The document was approved by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Edward Gierek, Commander-in-Chief Marshal Wojciech Jaruzelski, Minister of Finance Henryk Kisiel.
It comes into force on March 14, 1976 according to Polish reckoning.
March 15, 1976 P.C
Polish People's Republic
Warsaw
"Sensational, Sensational. The government has announced a new 10-year plan for the People's Army! It plans to spend up to 200 billion zlotys on the military!" Exclaimed a small boy on a street corner selling newspapers. Many Varsovians hearing this bought newspapers from the boy. The burgeoning private television made this the news of the day, as did the radio and all the newspapers.
For many Poles it came as a shock, they thought the government would come to its senses and stop the constant rearmament and yet. The Armed Forces were to reach a level and number of expenditures unprecedented in Polish history. The goal: to modernize everything possible. Jump straight into the 21st century.
As Edward Gierek announced, "The renewed and modernized Polish Army, is to become the symbol and face of a new era for our homeland. The wind of change has finally blown for our homeland tortured by constant invasions. We are today revived by water and mountains from all threats. But we must not lull our vigilance, hence the plan to modernize our military to be able to respond effectively to existing threats." That was the message of this speech on radio and television today.
It sounded proud, maddening even. That is, as befits the Poles. Of course, immediately flew in a whole cloud of malcontents and complainers who ominously said "Gierek will kill the country, the economy with this dumb plan. What we have is enough for a long time!"
For those more averse to the government, they sounded wise. After all, what is the threat from the natives? They are all very primitive. The devil was, as always, in the details. Parpaldia was just signing contracts to buy very expensive Japanese weapons and licenses, as well as willingly opening up to Japan and their companies to modernize their country. In the minds of the Parpaldians, the lust for revenge for the humiliation was slowly growing, but for now they hid it behind a mask of coolness.
Japan's satellite states in Roderius also modernized by buying preferentially priced weapons from the Japanese for their armies, and while the Japanese invasion destroyed their existing economies, the gains in agriculture and raw materials outweighed the losses in other areas.
The ruined Louria and former dependent territories absorbed like crazy any technical innovations and any weapons that could be obtained. Altaras cooperated with Poland and was interested in buying anything Poland no longer wanted at home. Huge stocks of second-war weapons were put up for sale, thus avoiding unnecessary and expensive disposal.
Countries hostile to or afraid of Parpaldia, starting with Riem and ending with Topa, eagerly looked at the contents of Polish military warehouses as well as Polish companies offering to export arms or licenses to those countries for Philades.
The richer ones took the full package, while the poorer ones had to settle for fakes of second-war weapons produced by Polish factories in the Nowe Kresy.
Weapons, of course, were also followed by civilian goods and a pattern of modernization. Those who bought weapons from Poland simultaneously chose the Polish side. Those who preferred Japan preferred Japanese goods. In this way, the entire Third Zone began to divide into two camps.
One much larger but at the same time much poorer, led by Poland, which had more to bite off than it could chew, especially since it had to find a way to reconcile disputed states and countries. This, for a country that until then had not been famous for its diplomacy, was something of a novelty and something they had to learn through a series of mistakes. Mistakes that will cost Poland dearly in the future.
The second, smaller, consisted of only eight countries in the Philades, and four outside them. All of these starting with Parpaldia were located on the east coast of the continent. They were all more or less dependent on Japan. For Japan, this was far too few than it would have liked, but the wealth of these states, especially Parpaldia, compensated for their small numbers. Of these, only Topa, located in the very north, established and maintains more than minimal relations with Poland. For the rest, Japan suffices on its own.
Thus the entire Third Zone began to divide, the hitherto Hegemon was knocked down and subjugated by Polish hands but the gains were made by the Japanese who easily and smoothly snatched victory and its fruits from Polish hands. Other than keeping the Atlaras in their sphere of influence and thus their contacts with the wider world and a series of naval bases and concessions in Parpaldia itself, the Polish gains were small. They gained the enmity of the richest country in the Philades a which, though unseen, was to prove in the future to be another missed opportunity in Poland's history. But for now, contacts were cool but profitable for both sides.
Last but worth mentioning was a detail. Seemingly nothing but noticeable. Gierek never once mentioned socialism, the nation or the people. Those who were more attentive noticed this change, especially since there was a brawl about it in the Sejm. For many Poles, including Wyszynski, this was a sign.
A grim sign of the Communists' adjustment to the new reality.
But someone was also going to adapt to the new reality and Poland decided to help him.
April 26, 1976 P.C/2017 A.C..
Polish People's Republic
Warsaw
Party Headquarters
Thomas Hayden, interim president of the United States, looked around the office with curiosity. Wainscoting everywhere on the walls, old floorboards made clumsy and creaked under the pressure of standing, and wooden furniture lightly decorated at the edges. On the right wall from the entrance he noticed a huge map of Poland with lights attached to it. Some glowed green, others were yellow but quite a few were still red.
It was impossible not to notice that a piece depicting the Nowe Kresy had been attached to the map, which depicted the old Europe, in a makeshift manner. And next to it was a large map of the continent of Westal, or as the Poles called it, Sarmatia.
"Pour, sir?" asked an elderly Pole with a bass voice, holding a glass bottle of vodka in his hand. What was his name? Jaros... he was unable to pronounce his name, too many rustling elements. His name was easier to pronounce.
"No, Mr. Piotr. I don't drink." replied Hayden shaking his head.
The Pole nodded "Your loss, Mr. President." after which he poured the contents of the bottle into a large glass for himself and then drank half of the slurpee. The American lifted his head in amazement at the ease with which the Polish prime minister did this. This one saw it when he took a bite to wash away the bitter taste.
"Surprised?"
The American nodded, "Well, yes, I have heard about your ability to drink vodka but I thought it was bullshit."
"Because these are ramblings." surprised Hayden with this statement from Piotr. Thomas made a questioning face.
"Why?"
"This came from two things," the Pole began to explain, showing his index finger, "the first, vodka is cheap and always available so it's mainly used at parties as the main alcohol."
Piotr's point was that in the stores of the People's Republic you could always find two things, vodka and vinegar. The first to get the nation worked up, which had been used on Polish soil since the partitions. Drunken Poles were much less willing to take action. And the fact that some Pole had developed on producing it from potatoes only made it easier. The other thing was always available because the demand was less than the supply so by force of things there was always something left over.
"The second" Piotr raised a heartfelt finger" going to Moscow and not becoming an alcoholic to some extent is like saying that poverty can be abolished by law."
Hayden involuntarily parched with laughter, the serious face of the Pole made him rephrase, "I'm sorry but it sounded absurd. You have to drink at the Russians'?"
"And how, Brezhnev will look at you crookedly if you abstain from alcohol. With the Red Tzars and their courts there is no joke." explained Piotr very succinctly every working visit to Moscow. What his liver suffered is a subject for a really long story.
Thomas nodded slowly. He clicked his tongue before replying "Uh." a reply perhaps short but expressing more than a thousand words.
An awkward moment prevailed, fortunately the door opened and the first secretary hastily entered through it. "I apologize to you, it turned out to be more time-consuming than I thought. I hope you are not bored?"
Hayden smiled falsely standing from the hard wooden chair "No Mr. Edward, Mr. Piotr was a pleasant companion." At the same time, he complained in his spirit, here's how little he means. He is the president of America and he is forced to sit politely on a Polish leader, and a communist one at that, who had to deal with another no less pressing matter.
On Earth, this would sound absurd and would be showing the middle finger to the most powerful country in the world with certain doom for the one who came up with it.
But here? In Arcadia? The U.S. is a joke, a joke kept alive over the years only by the generosity of the Japanese, a generosity for which America pays to be kept on a leash and to be Japan's dog.
Not very pleasant for Hayden, overnight he went from being the ambassador of a superpower to being the de facto president of nothing. Hence he had an idea, an idea that he probed cautiously but thanks to Poland might be realized. Another thing is that the Polish leader also came up with the idea.
Hence Hayden's visit to Poland.
Gierek sat down on an equally hard chair behind the desk, asked the secretary for two coffees and tea for the callers then began.
"Coffee on the bench" Gierek decided to skip the formalities, those they already had "Mr. President, the current situation of your country is abnormal. We have heard about your attempts to change it." he looked at the Prime Minister "We agree with your conclusions, and we as the People's Republic of Poland want to help the United States of America normalize its condition."
Hayden looked at Gierek, then at Jaroszewicz. In spite of his will, he snorted with laughter. Poland and it's communist helping America, the symbol of capitalism, with anything.
"I'm sorry gentlemen, it sounded a bit silly to me, it's not something I would have heard for sure in my 54 years of life."
Poles accustomed to telling ordinary people more nonsense than this just now acted indifferently. The other thing is that acutely this was true. When Hayden calmed down after a long moment, the transfer and what followed negatively affected his mental health as well as his ability to be diplomatic, he nodded .
"Yes that's right, we are interested in colonizing the eastern uninhabited part of Vestal otherwise Sarmatia, hence my request for assistance in settling there from the Polish People's Republic."
"As we said earlier in the talks, we grant this request albeit not for free." replied Gierek looking communicatively at the prime minister.
Hayden expected this, this is what he came for. What price must America pay to help them settle?
"What does the Polish side want?" Jarosiewicz handed him a contract from his briefcase, it actually consisted of four separate sheets of paper... One in Polish, the other in English. Below were the stamps of the translators swearing that everything matched in both languages.
The title of the deal made Hayden smile in spite of himself. The contract itself, on the other hand, looked like this.
Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the People's Republic of Poland and the United States of America.
The pacting parties, affirming the principle of self-determination of peoples, the rights to their independence and sovereignty, and their common and shared aspirations for freedom, have decided to conclude the following agreement for greater peace in Arcadia.
Further on there was a long preface about noble ideals and appointed representatives. We will skip that and move on to the articles and the most important ones.
Article 2
A non-aggression pact and a defensive alliance against anyone attacking either side is concluded between the People's Republic of Poland and the United States.
Article 4
The People's Republic of Poland will support the settlement effort undertaken by the United States of America on the eastern side of the Sarmatian/Westalian Continent. And at the same time it will relinquish all claims to this side of the continent. The funds that the Polish Republic will give are economic support, that is, mainly raw materials and industrial support.
Article 5
The People's Republic of Poland will not charge customs duties on goods that are destined for America.
Article 6
Polish ports will be open to U.S. ships on an allied basis, as will U.S. ports for polish ship except those in Japan.
Article 7
The People's Republic of Poland has the right to demand as payment:
(a) Until a permanent settlement is established, it has the right to lease any ship with its crew at any time.
(b) Once a permanent settlement is established, it has the right to demand any ship with full equipment or US Marine Corps equipment as payment for the economic support it receives.
(c Receive preferential priority in tenders and contracts for local and central government.
(d) Priority to obtain a concession for the extraction of natural resources.
(e) One of the technological secrets of America's Armed Forces.
Anything not included in the above is illegal under the agreement, and the People's Republic of Poland must pay for it through normal means under a separate agreement.
The next articles of the agreement were already formal information about the contract and when it takes effect and who holds it. No less, Hayden studied the seventh article carefully and a few times, wanting to make sure what the Poles were asking for help.
When he was sure, he nodded his head then looked at Gierek and Jarosiewicz, these only looked at the American neutrally. In view of this, he nodded again and asked
"Where do I sign?"
The Poles smiled broadly.