| BullDog69 | 25 Jan 2012 5:29 a.m. PST |
Can any of the great minds of TMP assist me? A friend has just told me that he remembers a story about the Transvaal's Paul Kruger buying a patent / plans for a submarine prior to the Boer War. He says this was in 'Engineering News' some time in the early 1990s. I don't suppose anyone can confirm that, and a quick Google has drawn a blank. But does anyone have any other references to this? Though the Transvaal was land-locked, the claim is not as farcical as it seems. An ex-Italian Naval officer in the service of the Boers proposed the Transvaal should acquire four submarines and base these in German South West Africa to attack British troops ships en route to the Cape. (Rosenthal, 1975, pp.121-122) 'The Best of Eric Rosenthal' Any ideas? |
| Mooseworks8 | 25 Jan 2012 6:34 a.m. PST |
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| Hazkal | 25 Jan 2012 6:44 a.m. PST |
I was about to say- the Transvaal was landlocked! Given the amount invested into the latest artillery and rifles it doesn't seem outside of reason- I too would like to see any references. |
| bsrlee | 25 Jan 2012 7:02 a.m. PST |
Uncle Paul was a devious old….err…individual, so I wouldn't put it past him to have spent a few schillings on some plans, just to keep the Uitlanders guessing. But serious efforts? No. Even the Kaiser – or at least his advisors – knew not to get involved with Great Britain at that time. |
 John the OFM  | 25 Jan 2012 7:59 a.m. PST |
Basing submarines out of a German colony to attack British shipping cannot be seen as anything but an act of war. |
| Texas Jack | 25 Jan 2012 12:42 p.m. PST |
Basing submarines out of a German colony to attack British shipping cannot be seen as anything but an act of war. Hmmmm, I feel a scenario coming on… |
| Lion in the Stars | 25 Jan 2012 4:54 p.m. PST |
Basing submarines out of a German colony to attack British shipping cannot be seen as anything but an act of war. As a wargamer, you say that like it's a bad thing, John! |
| John the OFM | 25 Jan 2012 5:23 p.m. PST |
And I play VSF too!
And the good news for Britain is that von Lettow-Vorbeck is a simple lieutenant in China.
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| tuscaloosa | 25 Jan 2012 9:05 p.m. PST |
"I was about to say- the Transvaal was landlocked!" You have to admit – they'd have surprise on their side! |
| BullDog69 | 25 Jan 2012 10:21 p.m. PST |
Ah – but the Transvaal has spent the previous 15 years desperately trying not to be land-locked and, indeed, their objectives when they started the Second Boer War were Cape Town and Durban. So maybe Kruger was thinking long term. If he already had a sub or two based in German SW Africa, they could move into place. |
| freecloud | 31 Jan 2012 2:54 a.m. PST |
From the Transvaal to Delagoa Bay (Mocambique) is but a day away after the 1895 railway to Pretoria was built….. |
finally dips his toe into the world of Aeronef.
