Japan Space-Time Strange Chronicles

The Mobile Unit's Prestige (In A Double Sense)

This is the first chapter this month.

Finally, the mission to intercept the Yi Empire is launched.

- Kazuhiro Kasami

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February 25, 1750

Waspaniat Kingdom, Capital Mecomin, Harbor

On this day, Queen Waspanium XIV of the Waspaniat Kingdom was looking forward to the arrival of a Maritime Self-Defense Force escort group, which was sent from Japan.

"I wonder what kind of warships the Japanese have... this is something worth looking forward to."

Chiffon, a young foreign minister and secretary to Waspanium XIV, was standing next to her. She, too, was very concerned about the country of Japan, which was highly praised by countries such as the Grand Lago Kingdom and the Divine Kingdom of Anubisius.

"They sold our country new types of firearms and cannons, airplanes, and warships... although, to be honest, I thought it was quite an expensive purchase, even including second-hand goods."

"Don't say that. Weapons become more expensive as their quality improves. It can't be helped."

In fact, when the Waspaniat Kingdom completed the paddle-wheel steamship and the cannon with a range of 3 kilometers, it alone cost far more money than the conventional ship-of-the-line. What it cost was money for 'improved quality.' The same goes for methods of casting purer metals, and sophisticated shipbuilding methods.

"Yes... but the Treasurer is angry because of the rampant spending..."

That being said, for the Japanese, the mass production effect has made the price of the Pistorix much cheaper, as four more ships have been purchased by the Republic of Francesca and the rebuilding Neutrine Empire, among others, in the future. Anubisius also benefited from the mass production effect, as it sold tanks and self-propelled artillery to Francesca and Neutrine.

"Sorry, sorry... huh?"

Waspanium XIV quickly looked through her binoculars (bought from Japan).

"Are those them?"

Chiffon looked through the binoculars as well, and saw a fleet consisting of huge ships approaching the port. On average, they looked similar to the Pistorix-class cruisers. However, they sported single main guns instead of a triple gun, and it is slimmer than the Pistorix-class, making it seem unreliable at first glance.

"Wow, it's quite large... but compared to the Yi Empire's battleships, they seem a bit unreliable."

"Is that so? The battleships of the Yi Empire are mainly equipped with cannons and machine guns, but there are many other unexplainable devices on those ships. Perhaps they are equipped with radar, which was provided to our country, and sonar, which is used to search for submarines. And, I believe that they are also equipped with that deadly weapon, the guided missile. If the weapons provided to our country are degraded versions intended for export, then the capabilities of the SDF's weapons should be far superior."

"Then... is the seemingly unreliable appearance of these weapons meant to catch the enemy off guard?"

Chiffon's offhanded guess made Waspanium XIV break out in a cold sweat.

"...I don't think that's true."

But it's true.

In the past, warships did not have certain-hit weapons like guided missiles, so they don't think that accurately intercepting an attack was important, and they needed enough armor to repel shells and fire back even if hit by an attack and enough speed to dodge an attack, but today, since the capability of missiles has greatly improved, most flying objects (as expected, supersonic anti-ship missiles are quite tough to intercept...) are now possible. Therefore, Japan's main destroyers are at best between light cruisers and heavy cruisers by the Great War Standards (they are called destroyers in English, but...) The Izumo-class destroyer is also a light aircraft carrier of less than 20.000 tons (which is a full-fledged fleet carrier in World War II standards...).