Chapter 416: Different Strategic Needs
When it came to purchasing warships for East Africa, Ernst was not the kind of man to do bad business. Archduke Ferdinand's current trip to Austria was essentially to scout out and add East Africa's preferred ships to the "shopping cart." Ernst himself would wait for the next global economic crisis before actually placing any orders. Though the timeline of events had shifted, Ernst believed that the cyclical nature of such crises meant one was bound to erupt soon.
Ernst to Ferdinand:
"There's no need to rush into ordering ships. There's no available capacity now anyway, and we've got a full seven years—until 1880—to complete East Africa's naval expansion. It just means you'll have to do a bit more groundwork, Father-in-law: explore all the options, discuss with your former subordinates in the Austrian Navy, and tailor our requirements to East Africa's needs. Our seas are not the Adriatic—so our naval doctrine must also differ."
Austria-Hungary's navy was hemmed in by the Strait of Otranto, trapped in the Adriatic. Even if they escaped it, they'd only find the enclosed Mediterranean—still dominated by British and French fleets. This confinement brought strategic advantages: if Austria couldn't get out, others couldn't get in. Their biggest threat—Italy—was now out of the Adriatic thanks to the loss of Venice, the Papal States' coast, and Naples. So Austria's navy leaned toward passive defense. Their rare victory over the Italians had more to do with luck and skill than strategic dominance.
That made Austria's naval high command uniquely qualified: cautious but competent. Their input could greatly benefit East Africa's strategy. Unlike Austria, East Africa faces the open Indian Ocean and cannot afford to wait for war to come knocking at its door. Its naval strategy has to be far more proactive.
Ferdinand: "Fair enough. I suppose I've been impatient. I can't help it—East Africa's navy is in such poor shape. Maybe I lost my composure a bit."
As Austria's former Navy Chief, Ferdinand now found himself running a tiny, understaffed fleet. Most would've given up. But Ferdinand, already hardened by the Mexico debacle, saw his East African role as a chance at redemption. The idea of leading this navy to outpace even Austria's thrilled him.
Ferdinand: "Actually, we don't have to limit ourselves to Austria. France or Britain could be options too."
Ernst: "In theory, yes. But I'd prefer to keep standards uniform. Our navy is basically a continuation of Austria's, and having compatible systems makes maintenance and logistics far easier."
This wasn't just a technical decision—Ernst had political and strategic motives, too. On paper, East Africa could submit requests to British or French shipbuilders, and they'd comply. This era's military-industrial exporters—especially Britain—offered great value for money and top-tier quality.
But emotionally, Ernst couldn't stomach the idea of letting Britain profit. His anti-British sentiment ran deep. Opposing the British, undermining the Americans, and resisting Japan were his three lifelong missions.
So, as the next economic crisis loomed, Ernst actually hoped Britain would suffer the most. Sending them East African contracts? That would be aiding the enemy.
France posed a similar threat. Both Britain and France were dominant forces in Africa, natural rivals to East Africa. Why fund them?
Besides, Ernst had homegrown talent to support. The broader German-speaking world—especially Austria-Hungary—was his most trusted partner. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was elite in many ways but often couldn't fully apply its strength. Its navy had performed surprisingly well in recent battles, despite limited funding and chronic political gridlock.
Austria's shipbuilding industry, boosted in part by the Hechingen Consortium, was among the best in the world—even better than Germany's at the moment. Austria lacked the budget to experiment, but Ernst could help absorb that cost. If Austria's shipbuilding thrived, so too would East Africa's. Two of Hechingen Overseas Shipping's four shipyards were already located in Austria.
More importantly, Austria wasn't a threat. Even if it wanted to meddle in East African affairs, it lacked the strength. Germany, however, was another story. Though both governments hailed from the Hohenzollern line, their national interests diverged. So far, Wilhelm I and Bismarck had prioritized diplomacy and cooperation. But in a previous timeline, Germany had plunged into African colonization under pressure from industrialists and militarists.
Now that East Africa controlled nearly a third of the continent, Ernst feared that some in Germany might view him as competition—especially as Germany's internal options for expansion were limited. To the west: France. To the east: Russia. Not easy neighbors. Austria, by contrast, had the Balkans nearby—a tempting goal shared by Russia, but both sides thought they had the better odds.
Ferdinand: "If that's how you see it, I won't press further. It does narrow our options, but we can use this exclusivity to pressure Austrian shipyards for better terms."
Ernst (laughing): "Now that's what I like to hear, Father-in-law. I hadn't thought of that angle."
In a downturn, global firms would scramble for orders. East Africa could leverage this to secure major discounts. Normally, Ernst's naval budget would only just be enough. But if he played the market smartly during a recession, his funds could go much further.
Still, Ernst remained cautious. Economic downturns typically led major powers to expand their militaries—to create jobs and prepare for war. The American Civil War, after all, had erupted after the 1857 crisis.
That meant Ernst couldn't afford to slack off on army readiness. While no major changes were needed for now, some fine-tuning and reinforcement would be essential.
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