The Rise Of Australasia

Chapter 320: Chapter 281: Saint Vincent-class Battleship_2

Thus far, the Island Nation has sev battleships, but they are all old battleships, with limited combat capabilities.

Although the Island Nation has plans to build dreadnoughts, the plan was already in place as early as 907.

However, in order to cooperate with Russia, the United Kingdom promised to suspd aid to the Island Nation during the validity of the Anglo-Russian Agreemt.

With the help of the United Kingdom, could the Island Nation indepdtly produce dreadnoughts? The answer is negative.

In history, the Island Nation's first dreadnought, the Settsu-class battleship, was not completed until the d of March 9, ev with the help of the United Kingdom.

The second dreadnought was not completed until early July 9, making the Island Nation one of the latest among the major powers to build dreadnoughts, aside from France.

Now, without the aid of the United Kingdom, the Island Nation's dreadnought-building plan was naturally delayed once again.

Arthur had be paying atttion to the Island Nation, and if the Royal Security Intelligce Agcy's intelligce was correct, the Island Nation's dreadnought-building process seemed to have run into trouble. It was good ough for them to expect to see their dreadnoughts in 93, let alone like the historical timeline where they were completed successfully in 9.

However, this didn't matter to Arthur, as the Island Nation was also considered a pottial emy for Australasia.

The slow progress of the Island Nation in building dreadnoughts may not be a bad thing for Australasia.

After establishing a good relationship with the United Kingdom, Australasia had a good foundation for relationships with major countries among the Allies and the Allied Nations.

This would be helpful for Australasia to join World War I in the future, as they could calmly choose the more advantageous side to join.

However, before the European Nations suffered heavy damage, Arthur did not intd to directly ter the European War.

But the damage of the European Nations could not be too severe, otherwise, the rise of the United States would be inevitable.

At least the European Nations should still have the ability to compete with the United States after the two world wars, so as not to let the Old World Powers slack against the United States and the Soviet Union's export of liberal nationalism, as major European colonies declared indepdce due to their powerlessness like in history.

The collapse of the colonial system would be a heavy loss for the Old European Powers, and it might not be a good thing for Arthur either.

After all, Australasia had a large number of Indigous Peoples, although they were not recognized at the momt and their role was just cheap and free labor.

But wh the colonial system collapsed in the future, it would be impossible to slaughter all the Indigous Peoples in Australasia.

If these Indigous Peoples still existed after World War II, they would very likely seek indepdce under the influce of the United States.

This would also be a headache for Australasia, as it would not be easy to control public opinion and slaughter colonial natives without restraint after World War II.

At the invitation of King George V, Arthur visited the Royal Fleet stationed near London and personally boarded the first dreadnought, HMS Dreadnought.

Australasia's three dreadnoughts also participated in joint training with the Royal Navy for a few days. Judging from their performance in the training, the combat capabilities of the Monarch-class battleships and the Dreadnought-class battleships should not be much differt.

King George V was very interested in the dreadnoughts indepdtly developed and built by Australasia.

In fact, King George V's career as a prince was known as the Sailor Prince.

This was because King George V, as a naval cadet, was assigned to HMS Bacchante to receive nautical education.

During his service, George visited the British colonies in the Caribbean, South Africa, and Australia, as well as Norfolk, Virginia, South America, the Mediterranean, Egypt, and East Asia.

At that time, George V's brother Prince Albert was still alive, and he was the second in line to the throne, so he needed to prepare himself for inheriting the throne.

Therefore, King George V chose to become a navy officer, following his father Edward VII and his brother Prince Albert.

George V's naval officer career included serving as the captain of a torpedo boat and a naval squadron leader, among others, but a severe typhoid fever ded his naval service.

However, this did not prevt Prince George from loving the navy and warships. This was how he got his nickname as the Sailor Prince.

It's worth noting that during his naval service, George V was under the command of his uncle, Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.

During that time, George V fell in love with the Duke of Edinburgh's daughter, Princess Mary. Th, George fell in love with another Princess Mary from the Kingdom of Fortberg.

Unfortunately, George V's elder brother, Prince Albert, got gaged to Princess Mary, causing a rift in their relationship that had be very good.

Interestingly, just six weeks after Prince Albert and Princess Mary announced their gagemt, Prince Albert unexpectedly died of pneumonia.

The unfinished bride of Prince Albert, Princess Mary, was also designated by Que Victoria to marry George V, who would later become George V's Que Mary.

George V evtually got the woman he loved, although the process was somewhat melodramatic and bumpy.