League of Nations 1st International Hope Float

[Captain Enema]

With the haggling going on at the ongoing conference to determine the future, if any for the League of Nations, the decision is made to provide a clear example of one of the many possibilities for such an organization. A Medical Taskforce was ordered to put to sea with orders to tour Northern Africa, Western Africa, and Eastern South America. An open invitation is extended to other nations who wish to participate.

 

The Hope Float consists of the following vessels:

 

 

 

 

 

The newest addition to the Maltese Navy, the Peace Ark is a full-fledged floating hospital with eight operating rooms, 20 intensive care units and the ability to conduct 40 major surgeries per day. The ship has a helicopter landing pad and six small boats to ferry patients, supplies and personnel between the ship and shore. 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Essex Class Landing Ships are assigned the duty of providing sealift capacity to onshore engineering support teams. The ESTs will conduct infrastructure development surveys for future missions and complete what repairs they can to power, sewer, water, and hospitals that they can. 

 

Each Landing Ship has a 60 man Engineering Team with vehicles and equipment.

 

 

 

The MNS St. George carries three Surgical Support Companies, 240 men total. These companies will be helicoptered in to provide medical relief onshore from small bases supported by two Order of St. George Infantry Teams consisting of 180 men total. The Order of St. George is also providing a Rapid Response Team in the event that Maltese citizens or military personnel require specialized armed assistance. A Maltese Marine Company is on board and consists of 100 Marines. The MNS St. George has 10 CH-53 Sea Stallions and 6 LUH-72 Light Utility Helicopters. 

 

The entire Hope Float will be escorted by two Selong the Great Class Destroyers and four Incheon Class Frigates. Fleet Logistical Vessels will be making regular resupply runs at various points along the entire route. 

 

Planning is already in place for Hope Float 2 and Fix It Float 1. 

Edited November 17, 2014 by Tidy Bowl Man

[Mr Director]

While Belarus was unable to directly take part, for obvious reasons, it would send a shipment of medical supplies to assist with the operation.

[Captain Enema]

A single Ruffrider Class Fleet Logistical ship would be made available for transporting this contribution and others from interested foreign parties. 

[Mogar]

The Imperium Hospital Ships Konfōto, Māshī, and Kaifuku would be sent to join the Maltese fleet, along with the Corvettes, Jintsu, Oyodo, Ukuru and, Hiburi.

[Captain Enema]

A detailed operations plan and at sea replenishment schedule would be forwarded to the Imperium Navy. The ships of Hope Float currently at sea would commence operations in North Africa as they begin a slow cruise stopping at major cities for two to three days each providing as much medical care as possible. The Engineering survey teams would begin making quick inspections of critical infrastructures and what repairs they could. Reports detailing both the medical and engineering work would be sent directly to the formed League of Nation's Office for Public Affairs, which at this time consists of a pair of secretaries and a rather cranky Maltese Army General who was detailed to handle the administrative aspects of the emerging effort.

 

Once received the reports giving the Engineering surveys of the visited cities would be made available to other participating nations with the motivation of providing transparency to Malta's expenditures and operations. The donation from Belarus is quickly distributed to hospitals and medical clinics along the first three cities visited. A detailed report containing the dates, locations, and items distributed is sent to the appropriate authority in Belarus along with a hand written note of thanks from King Gregory. 

Edited November 17, 2014 by Tidy Bowl Man

[Captain Enema]

All forces that have been promised by foreign governments would be provided with the following. A detailed operational plan, replenishment schedule, and shared radio frequencies and codes. Rather than send orders as no attempt had been made, at this point, to establish a Fleet Command Authority, Admiral Alessandjo De Grasse sends polite requests and suggestions. He makes times available for fellow nations to assist in specific medical relief and engineering missions that are being carried out by Maltese forces. Perhaps one day there would be a more coherent organizational structure but for now just making opportunities available and being polite is what he's been ordered to do.

 

 

"Damn liberals, no respect for military culture, tradition, or god damn common sense," he grunts as he works. "Send out the word, we are setting sail for Benghazi in 24 hours. Tell all onshore detachments to begin breaking down. The intel teams have 24 hours to collate their reports and get them sent off to the PR office for distribution. According to the replenishment schedule we'll do a dockside replenishment here before departing to Benghazi. We'll do it at sea instead, the docks are a complete mess and the harbor isn't any better."

[Yerushalayim]

The Greek fleet, consisting of five Arleigh-Burke class destroyers, three Alvaro de Bazan class frigates, three Fridtjof Nansen class frigates, a Wasp class landing ship, a cargo ship with aid supplies, and a pre-war luxury cruiser converted into a mobile coordination and command center for the Greek staff, as well as possessing a hospital wing, made rendezvous with the aid fleet prior to its arrival in Benghazi.

[Captain Enema]

The Hope Fleet arrived in Benghazi and found the city under the occupation of a badly over-stressed city government. Relief work commenced immediately. 

[Shave N Haircut]

The Empress would forward a roster of the ships to be sent:[spoiler]

• Aircraft Carrier:  EIF Ney - Loaded primarily with transport helicopters and supplies for the sustainment of the present mission
• Destroyers:  8 Horizon Class - Supply
• Frigates:  6 Aquitaine  Class, 6 La Fayette Class - Supply and Emergency response
• Hospital ship: 1[/spoiler]

This accounts for the entirety of the French Mediterranean fleet.

 

[hr]

The fleet hit the sea from Marseilles and made steam for Benghazi, rendezvousing with the Hope Fleet the next day and immediately beginning to assist in the efforts, a large tricolor of the Empire flying alongside the flag of the White Cross, which flew slightly lower over the Ney.

Edited November 19, 2014 by Shave N Haircut

[Captain Enema]

The relief operations for Benghazi went smoothly. As a unit the Greek, Maltese, and French ships would proceed along the coastline of Northern Africa delivering aid, medical care, and doing Engineering surveys. Tripoli was a complete mess, the Hope Fleet would stay an extra week to try and bring some semblance of normalcy to the city. Tunis was in decent shape, it has a city government and provides minimal services to its citizens. Prior to exiting the Mediterranean the fleet did a major replenishment evolution to restock on food, fuel, and supplies. 

 

Once Gibraltar passes by, the fleet turns south and begins visiting major cities on the West African coastline. 

[Dillon1102]

The Cascadian hospital ships Care, Compassion, and Hearth that were sent to meet up with the League of Nations Hope Float. They were hard at work finishing the job in major cities such as Togolese capital of Lome and the Ghanaian capital of Accra. When they had arrived the situation was bad. Most if not all of the people had little no food, had some type of disease, and all they owned was kept on their back.

 

 

             To begin with an amount of 5,000,000,000 Cascadian Marks (CMr) was poured into an account that would be operated by a central government. The Cascadian would help to install a Central Government that would help the people, Oluchi Ihejirika was selected as President, while second in command of the Cascadian section of the Hope Float was selected to be vice president. So that the president did not go wild with the funds and use them for things other than helping his people in their time of need.

 

 

             With a government installed the Cascadian began to focus on the food problem that was ravaging the nation. Another 5 million CMr would be used to purchase food from the major countries nearby. This food was then distributed among the stressed citizens. That was only the short term solution. Another twelve cargo ships would be sent from mainland Cascadia to Accra to then be again distributed to the citizens.

 

 

             Now it was on to the medicinal problem. Each of the three Cascadian ships would take a fourth of their medical supplies and bring them to an old hospital in Accra. This hospital would be transformed over the next two weeks into a fully functioning medical center that would be able to treat any illness, ranging from the common cold to ebola, this hospital could treat it. With all the known problems given solutions the Cascadians set off to meet with the hope float on the west coast.

[Xavier Harkonnen]

OOC: NVM, since apparently my nation has shrunk by nearly 40% in the last day or two. WTF?! Lol.

Edited November 20, 2014 by Xavier Harkonnen

[Captain Enema]

ooc- as africa is white space, i'm going to move through this verrry quickly in one summary post.

 

ic:

 

The Hope Float found the West coast of Africa one long stretch of misery and hell. The conditions necessitated the replenishment of the fleet's stocks at a rate three times what was expected. Luckily, the contributing nations had assets in the region that allowed this to happen. City after city of death, plague, and radioactive wasteland slid by as the fleet progressed down the coast. The reports paint a horrific picture of human suffering, yet at numerous points the hard work of the locals in the light of such massive obstacles gleamed like beacons of hope. One of these high points being the government the Cascadians installed that seemed to be shaping up to be responsible stewards of their people.

 

Farther south problems erupted as local warlords took objection to the Hope Float entering their waters. Two Maltese security team members were shot and killed in what developed into a brisk skirmish that grew to involve the participation of three different governments in what Admiral De Grasse described as marines and special forces operators dropping out the sky looking for heads to bash together.

 

With the West African coast cruised the Hope Fleet does one more major replenishment before had to the Falkland Islands for the beginning of a patrol up the coast of South America. Reports indicated major pockets of stability with regions of total chaos. It shouldn't be a surprise to the fleet that they have their work cut out for them in the following days.

Edited November 21, 2014 by Tidy Bowl Man

[Captain Enema]

The fleet's visit to the Falklands went without incident. Things were running smoothly in the Falklands under local Argentinian rule. Argentina itself was doing fine as well. Further up the coast, in Uraguay, things were not going so well. The fleet would pull into Montevideo and commence immediate operations to bring relief to a city torn by fighting and crime. 

 

The very first arriving Engineering Support Team would come under immediate fire. 

 

(ooc if any one wants to blow something up, go for it.) 

[Shave N Haircut]

Though the understanding of the Naval forces was that this was a humanitarian mission, they were all too used to what was going on instead in Montevideo. French Mediterranean Command would go into action immediately, having no fewer than 700 Marines on-board the various ships as per standard military protocol. They hadn't exactly been prepared for such an occurrence as what was happening now, but there were people who needed defending.

 

The Marines would be brought into Montevideo to defend any operations the Hope Fleet put in, some French personnel who would normally go unarmed being given sidearms for the present mission.

[Mogar]

Imperium drones would dot the sky above Montevideo, scanning the population outside for weaponry and reporting the signs back to the humanitarian fleet, deliberate focus was put upon Carrasco International Airport, and request put in for formal assistance in retaking the airport for use as a staging ground for rapid transport of additional troops and aid. After nightfall, a company of the marines  attached to the fleet would be deployed by MH-60S Black Hawks to the airport, heavy fighting occurred for the control tower, with several casualties, unfortunately while returning to the ships one of the Black Hawks was struck by a SA-16, the chopper crashing into a house and all on board dying in the crash. 

 

[hr]

 

Hours beforehand the Imperium's Rapid Reaction Force had been sent from Japan to South America, now it was a waiting game. The gangs were displeased with the restoration of order that the Hope Float represented, and were not interested in allowing them be a success at their mission.

Edited November 22, 2014 by Mogar

[Rudolph]

The Kingdom of Yugoslavia would forward a roster of the ships to that were on their way:
[spoiler]

• Destroyers: 2 Beograd Class - Supply
• Frigates: 3 Split Class - Supply and Emergency response
• Hospital ship: 3

[/spoiler]
This accounts for the entirety of the ships that the Kingdom would spare in addition to the brave men and women manning the ships.

[hr]

The Yugoslavian hospital ships Nega, Nada, and Saosećanje were sent alongside the military and supply escort to meet up with the Hope Float collectively administered by the League of Nations. Before passing Gibraltar, they would re-supply in Marseille, French allied territory, before continuing their trek and finally traversing past Gibraltar.

Once free of the Mediterranean, the ships would follow the natural curvature of Western Africa before reaching the closest tip to South America, resupplying there and fully committing to the hours to reach the Hope Fleet in South America in time.

[Captain Enema]

The Maltese Marines were going to get revenge for the dead and injured Engineers. Further, two of the wounded were Marines detailed to guard the Engineers, which was all the more reason in their minds to settle the score. To accomplish this the Maltese Marines take over one of the Essex Class Landing Ships and with the help of an additional platoon of Order of St. George Infantrymen they turned it into an Ad Hoc Warship. They then place peace and love banners all over it with speakers calling for the gangs to let them do their mission of mercy and love.

 

As the ship approached a different dock, the gang members were at first confused. A bunch of crazy white men were asking them to not kill them and even saying please. A large number of the gang members gathered near the waterfront pushing and shoving to get a better view. As the ship drew close one of the Marines stood up from his hiding place and called out in Spanish, "Excuse me, I can't believe its not butter". This drew jeers and unfortunately for the gang members one of them fired on the Marine. With sufficient provocation given, every single Marine and Order of St. George Infantryman opened fire and turned the waterfront into a slaughter house of gang members. 

 

A message was then sent out over the open airways.

 

 

We came in peace, you killed eight of our countrymen. We came to help, not to fight. A blood debt was created when you attacked us and now it has been paid. We see that you do not really want our help, very well. The medical and engineering contingent of the Hope Fleet from Malta will not offer its services at this destination unless requested by a proper delegation of local citizens. 

 

Should a delegation present itself, they would be vetted before being allowed to meet with Admiral de Grasse. Once their identities were properly established he would then allow them to request Maltese assistance. After a thorough investigation was conducted into the delegation's backgrounds to ascertain their legitimacy, the Maltese would begin arming them to allow them to seize control of their own destinies. A small troop of Maltese Order of St. George Special Forces would be sent to train and support the locals but beyond that they would be encouraged to secure their own future.

 

If no one came forward, there is always the MOOB that used to cleanse the stain called Montevideo from the Earth if it came to pass that the city is just too dangerous to leave standing. 

[Mogar]

The city was left in turmoil, the Imperium forced that had landed at the airport fought through the gangs that had begun to besiege the place, with aerial support from the Harriers of the Greek Wasp Class ship Agenor, they pushed them back, the precision strikes left the untrained militias in disarray or full retreat, unable to do much against the modern technology with mere AKs, even SAMs would prove to be largely ineffective due to the various defensive systems within the aircraft. 

 

Unlike the Maltese, the Imperium did not send offers to the locals, they would return to a civilized city whether they spoke up or not.

 

Mitsubishi C-5 Sūpāgyarakushī would begin landing, a new one every few minutes, unloading 270 soldiers, and 10 Type 96 APCs, most fitted with turrets to provide extra support, a total of 5,000 troops would be landed this way, with 1,200 of them specialized in training militias, they had seen practice in the Steppes and India, and both had proven to be successful engagements, the airport would be secured and kept monitored for now while more supplies were brought in.

 

In the mean time, fighting continued among the population between gangs wishing to keep the city as a den of criminal activity, and those who wished to accept the offer of generosity this group of foreigners was affording them. Fortunately the general population preferred a way of life that did not involve gangs, and within a few hours the ad hoc governmental body that formed soon found itself with their own militia to fight the various crime lords that had overtaken the city. A response would be sent via one of the radio stations in the city.

 

 

"These criminals do not represent the people of Montevideo. We, a group of local business and religious leaders have the best interests of those who inhabit this city, and thank you for your help. We do not have the firepower they do unfortunately, and we will require assistance in removing them."

 

 

The Imperium would continue to ferry in weaponry and pass along a message to the rest of the Hope Float in the area.

 

 

"While nation building is a bit extreme for our budget, we've got the guns and teachers, shall we use this city to provide an example to the rest of the world of just what rational nations working in collaboration can accomplish?" 

[Captain Enema]

 

"These criminals do not represent the people of Montevideo. We, a group of local business and religious leaders have the best interests of those who inhabit this city, and thank you for your help. We do not have the firepower they do unfortunately, and we will require assistance in removing them."

 

A detachment of Order of St. George Special Forces had arrived with orders to assist local citizens in training and organizing themselves into a credible deterrent against chaotic forces of all sorts. Weapons already were flowing in from the Japs, which at first was considered to be a possible long term problem. Once it was discovered the caliber of the infantry rifles were of the same kind used by reserve units in Malta, the order was given to provide ammunition for them directly out of Malta Defense Force stores. 

 

Weapons alone do not make a bulwark against anarchy. The Order of St. George men quickly gather willing recruits and quickly begin training them to use their new weapons. Uniforms are found, boots, helmets, body armor, and all the other odds and ends needed to separate a pale flabby civilian from a Militia man. Of course new equipment alone wouldn't create any sort of fighting man, they need hard training and in the coming days they were going to get it from the end of the Order trainers boots and from the hot forge of battle when those same trainers lead them against the gangs holding their city.

 

Until that day, not all that far off, the Malta Defense Force Intelligence unit sets up a small office on the docks of Montevideo. They begin interviewing the Militia men and they ask the same questions over and over again. Who runs the gangs, where are these gangs based, can you identify gang members, are you willing to go in with a small camera to take pictures for us? The sort of questions one would expect from a force that was creating a coherent picture of the opposition. Once the picture was readily clear, the information would be distributed to the other members of the Fleet. Until then, they are informed of Malta's intelligence collection and training activities, they are encouraged to assist if they had the manpower on site to do so. 

Edited November 25, 2014 by Tidy Bowl Man

[Captain Enema]

The Hope Float would proceed onward up the coast and finally complete its mission. Once the float is deemed completed the Maltese vessels would return immediately to Malta for replenishment, rest, and preparing for their involvement in Hope Float 2. 

 

 

(you all can keep rping the Montevideo thing as a sorta separate by ongoing, but past sort of time line if you want. ICly, the city is revitalized and local government put into place. How that happens can be rped if wanted.)

[Shave N Haircut]

The French Marins, one of the smallest forces present now, made up for it by being the most aggressive. Teams of Marins would prowl the streets, looking for trouble, disarming anyone who needed to be disarmed, through force or other means. Rapid deployment from quickly adapted helicopters would put squads down in particularly troublesome areas and they would wipe the floor with the place.

 

Of course, this also led to them being surrounded by the most controversy, having a high rate of collateral damage by comparison to the larger forces.

 

[hr]

 

The French Mediterranean fleet returned home, the mission having been accomplished.