Kalistani Major History

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Sounds of Naval Gunfire at National Proving Grounds in Suldanor
"Music to my ears" says Defense Minister
Sulari, Suldanor
May 28, 4407

Ahead of Nationalization and the formal survey of Kalistani defenses, naval and artillery gunfire exercises began at the recently reopened National Proving Grounds.  The purpose was to test the serviceability of assets that have been kept in storage for decades.


Units from the Regular Standing Force test a Howitzer at Suldanor Proving Grounds this May.
Of all guns fired, more than 80 percent failed or were too deteriorated to fire.
Artillerymen marked working guns with pithy named.  They named this one "Old Granny."

The commanding Officer of the exercises, Captain James McCook-Jones, spoke to reporters during the live fire demonstrations.

"I've been authorized to report that of the nation's indirect fire assets tested here today, no more than 18 percent of existing weaponry was usable.  This figure is obviously quite concerning for the Brass in the regular Navy and Standing Force, but the silver lining is that we are not completely defenseless.  And the servicable items can be employed immediately, as well as improved once the Steel Works gets back on line.  We can begin mass producing cannons for both army and navy, as well as building munitions at a fairly rapid pace.  I imagine that within a year following the reopening of Sulari, we will be on pace to replacing most of what was lost."

The Defense Minister, Cpl Santamaria was on hand for the demonstration.  Minister Santamaria said,

"We are on track to completing the survey of Kalistani forces within two months.  As a matter of preview, now that the shipyards have been reopened, Kalistan will be able to refit two of its Ananto-class destroyers.  The rest of the old navy, unfortunately, will need to be scrapped.  The guns in those ships are so rusted, and the hulls in such a state of disrepair, that they are not seaworthy.  However, we have it on good authority that the Militia will be reorganizing, and are already beginning to recruit new Partisans, to serve as a standing force until the Regulars can take their place, fully armed, trained and supplied.  I have asked the Government to begin to prepare a bill to reauthorize the National Agricultural Enterprise, for strategic logistical purposes, and they are expected to float a bill to that effect in June or July.  All told, Kalistan's military preparedness will increase, and thanks to the generous grant of 750 Billion Rubles for each of the next 10 Years, Kalistan's fighting force could be restored to pre-privatization levels very soon."

The guns which held up best were the 155 mm light towed howitzers, preferred by the Militia, and Mk. 22 3x16 Turrets developed for the Kalistani Navy 350 years ago.  Several of these turrets were stripped from old Schmee-class Battleships and brought to the Proving Grounds.  Barrels were replaced from stocks purchased from the still privately run defense industries in Kalistan, and the automatic loading and firing mechanisms on these cannons worked as expected.

"Luckily," said Santamaria, " what didn't rust away, were the schematics for these weapons.  As soon as our foundry provide us with the steel, we will set to building ships and cannons based on our old schematics.  And until then, we will purchase steel on the open market, and send it off to Port Devon.  Within 6 months of the Nationalization, we will produce our first new Ananto Class Destroyer in over 350 years."  The Minister was more circumspect about modernization.  "That will take some time, obviously.  Shipwrights and engineers need to be trained.  The goal is to get on two feet for now.  Modernization will take a bit longer.  As for now, this gunfire is music to my ears."  Santamaria was all smiles.