Peru News 1912

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2 February 1914

Defensa Minister, Sir Julio Sorena & Almirante Commandante del Armada - Fidel Salazar Vencedores.


Sir Julio Sorena
Well Almirante, What are your proposals for the next Armada Plan.

Almirante Vencedores
I have consulted our Squadrons Almirantes.
Like you know Sir, some major countries had built fast battleships with medium armor. They call them battlecruisers or frigates.
They are made to screen the battleships line, in tactical reinforcement of the line or made raids; Peru couldn't use battlecruiser to defend the coasts.
This kind of ship is perfect in offensive nevertheless, Peru is a small power & our battleships probably work in inferiority so we need well protected battleships with powerful artillery. Speed is secondary, the classic 21 or 22kts is enough. We couldn't use battlecruiser to defend our coasts.
Like I said, we need powerful boxers, not fast runners.

Sir Julio Sorena
As I know Almirante, battlecruisers are built with lighter armor than battleships.
The last projects are nearly equal to about 30.000t.
We are limited to 28500t.
What is your Plan?

Almirante Vencedores
We could build 8000t of battleship in a year.
The other 3000t are reserved for lighter unities; submarines, torpedo boats, cruisers.
With this plan, we could build 2x24.000t battleships, 1x3750 scout cruisers, 4x750t submarines & 7x1500t torpedo boats.

Sir Julio Sorena
24.000t for the battleships...hmmm that is smaller than the 28500t for Huascar.

Almirante Vencedores
Yes, we have reduced the number of guns from 15 to 12 in 4 turrets & also the speed by 1 kts.
Protection is identical to Atahualpa...

That means lighter protection than 28500t Huascar? Ask Sir Julio Sorena

Yes; answer Almirante Vencedores

Hmmm...I don't like that very much; said Sir Julio Sorena
 
Almirante Vencedores
We have another study, a Huascar with 12 guns, about 26000t.
But we are over the possibilities of the Plan.

Sir Julio Sorena
The Plan is for 6 years, we could probably increase by 1 year.
That is the cost to have a correct fleet &, we could also build more torpedo boats or another cruiser with the remaining 4000t.

Almirante Vencedores
I am going to studying a plan for 7 years.
Another suggest from the Almirantes Squadrons is to built small fast 200t torpedo boat directly for harbors protection.
That is certainly economical.

Yes; answer Sir Julio Sorena
The Prime Minister said yesterday that Autofagasta Shipyards are not very busy.
They could build 200t torpedo boats.

For the plan in 7 years, that is probably not a problem. As you know Almirante, we could affect the warship in the squadron of our choice, adapted for the mission.
The most important is to replace the 3 old 10400t battleships by new modern one with 340mm guns.

I have received the answer from Gran Colombian Minister about the Santa Maria Torpedo boats.
They answer favorably about our request. We are going to receive 8 Santa Maria in July.

Almirante Vencedores
The Mancora class could be placed in reserve.
We could reuse their guns on the Santa Maria class.

Sir Julio Sorena
Yes, that is minor works, about 2 weeks per ship.
Well, I am going to inform the President about the Battleships plan.

Thank you Almirante

Sir

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8 February 1914

- EL President Del Republica – His Excellence Fernando Moreno
- Defensa Minister - Sir Julio Sorena


His Excellence Fernando Moreno
I have received your Armada plan 2 days ago.
I am globally satisfied.
That is a good idea to built 8000t of battleships per year & 3000t of light unities.

- Thank you, Excellence; said Sir Julio Sorena

His Excellence Fernando Moreno
I have receive from my Military Bureau the characteristics from others countries builds or projects.
We can see, since a few years, that battleships displacements & power increase regularly. Some of them are over 30.000t.
I think, with the technical progress, in a few years, 40.000t or much is a high probability for battleships.

I agree with you, Excellence; said Sir Julio Sorena

His Excellence Fernando Moreno
We must build now, the maximum battleship for Peru.
I have restudied the project Huascar - 28.500t with my Military Bureau.
That is an excellent project. You could made congratulations to the engineers responsible of the design.

Thank you, Excellence; said Sir Julio Sorena

His Excellence Fernando Moreno
I hope that the Huascar project "ll start in 1915

Sir Julio Sorena
We have limited the displacement in the plan to 26.000t Excellence.

His Excellence Fernando Moreno
With 8000t of battleship per year during 7 years, that made 56.000t or 2 x 28.000t battleships.

Sir Julio Sorena
28.000t ... we could decrease slightly the speed to economize 500t without touch armament & protection.

That is exactly my idea; said His Excellence Fernando Moreno
Alianza Members understand very well to sacrifice slightly the speed, but 15 guns are too precious in the future battleline.

Sir Julio Sorena
Yes excellence, NUS has communicated the characteristics of their last 25.300t battleship just laid down.
She is always well protected but just 20kts. Huascar "ll be always over.

His Excellence Fernando Moreno
I have also seen their design, a splendid unity.

About the other builds in the plan, no modifications, just little adjustments.
Small 200t coastal torpedo boats are good idea.
4 submarines in 1915...etc.


I thank you dear Julio.

Thank you Excellence