Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

"European Times" reported that according to research by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a think tank at the University of Oxford in the British Empire, the Dutch military has the resources to support its continued naval planning reforms after the 1870s. The institute used a model analysis of the Dutch Navy's budget and size growth rate to obtain results showing that it is expected that until the early 1880s, the Dutch army will still carry out more military operations than those of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Russian Empire, the Militian Confederacy, Italy and other countries. The budget and other countries' relative military budgets are even higher after price increases, but they are smaller than the military budgets of Britain, France, and Prussia, the fourth largest military budget country in the world.

The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a think tank at the University of Oxford in the British Empire, predicts that with the astonishing emergence of the world's leading Dutch submarines, the Dutch Navy will no longer focus on surface ships in the future. It may be the future to reduce the surface fleet and continue to expand the advantages of underwater submarines. With the trend of ten years, other countries in the world, including Britain and Prussia, will be dragged into the submarine strategy.

At the same time, old surface ships such as sail battleships will be gradually phased out, and their number will become smaller and smaller. In other words, the Netherlands will focus on cultivating steam battleships that can compete with Britain and France in emergencies. Competing on the sea and under the water, the Netherlands will become the king of undersea combat and the ability to project military power on the international stage.

According to the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a think tank at the University of Oxford in the British Empire, the Netherlands' global military strength includes steam battleships, sailing battleships of all levels, submarines, etc. Specifically, the Netherlands' navy will be by 1880 Grow into an oceanic navy operating at least 20 steam battleships and 100 submarines.

As the advantages of submarines expand, the British Empire's current position as the world's largest naval power will be in jeopardy.

The Dutch fighting power in 1880, as depicted by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a think tank at the University of Oxford, immediately sent a warning to the British Empire, and in particular to the British Imperial Navy, which entered a state of emergency.

The British Empire currently has 2 Channel Fleet (stationed in the English Channel),

There are currently five fleets with 8 steam battleships, 2 of which are deployed in the northern Indian Ocean in the Indian Ocean Fleet and 2 in the Atlantic Fleet (one each in South Africa and Canada on the east coast of the Americas). There are 2 ships in the Mediterranean Fleet (one each in Egypt and Crete), and 2 ships in the mainland North Sea Fleet.

The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a think tank at the University of Oxford in the British Empire, warned the cabinet government of British Prime Minister Disraeli and Queen Victoria that in the future, these eight steam battleships will not only have to face the navies of powerful countries such as France, Spain, Russia, and Austria, but also the navies of France, Spain, Russia, and Austria. In response to the Netherlands, coupled with the sudden emergence of submarines in the Netherlands, the British navy's 32 tonnage is only smaller than that of France (250,000 tons of surface ships) and the Netherlands (200,000 surface ships, at least 50,000 tons of underwater ships). , Spain (180,000 tons of surface ships), Tsarist Russia (170,000 tons of surface ships), Austria-Hungary (150,000 tons), Prussia (140,000 tons of surface ships), Portugal and the Commonwealth of America and Italy (120,000 tons Ton).

Faced with so many threats at sea, British surface ships may therefore not be sufficient in numbers.

Phil Davidson, a former English Channel Fleet commander who participated in the study of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a think tank at the University of Oxford, said, "The British Empire currently has an advantage over France in terms of surface combat capabilities, but it is inferior to the Netherlands in terms of underwater submarines. There is a generation gap of at least 5-8 years. In the future, it is necessary to focus on widening the gap in surface warship combat effectiveness with France and the Netherlands, and quickly create a British naval force and form a certain ability to suppress the Netherlands."

To this end, the former commander of the English Channel Fleet proposed to the British Disraeli government and Queen Victoria that "the British Empire should expand the tonnage of surface warships and maintain its status as the first naval power. The tonnage should at least reach the second place after the United Kingdom." The sum of first and third place countries”

As soon as the proposal of the former British naval commander came out, there were countless responders in the UK.

At the same time, this British military eagle represents the agent of the British arms dealer. He has behind-the-scenes connections with the three major military ports and three major shipyards established in the UK and Ireland.

This was a pressure from the military that forced Queen Victoria and Disraeli's cabinet government to discuss it.

Prime Minister Disraeli seemed to be very urgent and said: "The Netherlands actually produced such a sharp weapon. It has to be said that this makes the entire British military passive. Your Majesty, the current British approach is naturally to protect the Dutch in the water." We must stop this situation that allows the Netherlands to dominate the underwater world. To this end, our cabinet government will promote the British Navy’s submarine bill in the next week and strive to pass the draft budget at the same time in the British House of Commons and the House of Lords.”

Queen Victoria refused to accept this trick and asked directly: "What budget does the government need?"

Disraeli: "£5 million"

"So many?" Queen Victoria looked at the former displeased.

After Disraeli pretended to cough twice, he smiled bitterly and said: "At present, the three major shipyards in the British Isles have put forward their own plans. Your Majesty knows that these three major shipyards are currently competing in the market. The former Channel Davidson, the former commander of the fleet, has become their spokesperson. It is conceivable that if the budget is not enough, they can only bid. In that case, these three major shipyards will not be vegetarian. After that time, the forces behind the navy and military preferential treatment Trouble."

Queen Victoria was speechless when she heard this.

The three major shipyards are all supported by different consortiums. In the past, because various British shipyards allocated various levels of ships to build the British fleet, the steam battleships that originally appeared caused the three major shipyards to have their own agendas. They are ready to move. Now facing the emergence of new types of maritime warships, it is surprising that they can sit still.

Therefore, they have asked the British government to provide orders. They must confidently form their own submarine R\u0026D and manufacturing team. It is precisely because they need to allocate three major shipyards to subsidize R\u0026D funds, so the number is relatively large.

Disraeli faced the risk that the budgets of the House of Commons and the House of Lords would be blocked, so he turned to the Queen for help.

Disraeli continued to explain: "Institutional research and development, weapons matching, parts supply chain, manufacturing and assembly, launching. There are also submarine crew training fees and salaries, etc., which all require time, money, etc., so the budget is quite large. "

Not only is it not small, it is quite large, accounting for almost one-twentieth of the British national budget.

Seeming to put further pressure on this budget, Disraeli said nervously: "Currently, various countries have begun to use Dutch submarines as a model to promote submarine projects. I think the three major shipyards of the British Empire are working at the same time. This is not an advantage. .

And with all due respect, according to intelligence reports, countries with capabilities such as France, Austria-Hungary, Tsarist Russia, Spain, and even the Commonwealth of America have developed their own submarine projects. Others, such as Sweden, Portugal, Sweden, and Denmark, have developed their own submarine projects. , the Ottoman Empire and South American countries have all expressed their willingness to order submarines from the Netherlands."

He raised his head worriedly and looked at Queen Victoria with a wry smile and said: "Currently, we, the largest country selling arms, are in danger in front of the Netherlands. Now the emergence of submarines has put us on the edge of being pulled to the second place. Maybe starting next year, Our status will no longer be preserved.”

Queen Victoria's expression changed greatly.

Arms export has always been the core of Britain's global dominance. This arms business is not only a business, but also because it represents the improvement of Britain's external strategic advantage.

When countries buy British naval products, the British-made warships will be worn out during war exercises and other activities in that country. Whether it is parts or shells, they all need British support, and such heavy weapons often require the release of the British government. OK.

At this time, it will cause the purchaser to rely on the technology of the three major British shipyards and obey certain requirements of the British Empire, especially in diplomacy. The purchaser Congress will unconsciously follow the British diplomatic line in handling foreign relations.

This is also the reason why the medium-sized and small European countries that do not have the ability to build ships are not willing to offend the United Kingdom easily, because they are afraid that when the United Kingdom cuts off the supply of warships, the British-made warships purchased by the country will have no guns, no accessories, and no weapons. Technicians come to repair.

Nowadays, various countries are purchasing submarines from the Netherlands that require high-end technical support. This is technology that even Britain, a naval power, does not currently have. Queen Victoria can foresee the final results of these purchasing countries.

William IV's confident face suddenly appeared in Queen Victoria's mind.

William IV of the Netherlands was indeed as cunning as a fox and a submarine. This can instantly dismantle a lot of the advantages that Britain has. At least, it will be difficult to regain this situation in the short term.

Thinking of this, Queen Victoria secretly sighed: "It seems that Britain's status is about to decline. Maybe it would be a good idea to really agree to William IV and cooperate with the Netherlands on maritime power. But when she thinks about transferring New Zealand to William IV, I feel quite unwilling to do so."

After looking down at the British Prime Minister Disraeli for a while, she sighed again, so she told Disraeli in detail the conversation between William IV and her in Athens.

The latter was inexplicably shocking. Disraeli could imagine that if the Netherlands truly supported Britain's status as the world's largest naval power, then Britain would receive enough support to make up for the current dilemma. Many problems were also solved.

For example, in the Franco-Prussian War, Britain gained more room for maneuver. What's more, if Britain has the support of the Netherlands, its influence on the European continent may go further. The offshore balancer will be with the support of the Netherlands. It is more comfortable to check and balance the European powers.

However, the Netherlands has become an indispensable partner of the United Kingdom. It is difficult to say whether this is a benefit or a disadvantage.

Queen Victoria and Disraeli looked at each other, worried.