Shipbucket

Hi I've decided to make my own island nation (inspired by may cool examples in the north Atlantic, south Atlantic and even the Indian ocean).

But due to trying to hide from giant butterfly swarms I have decided the following,

- I will have to use a OTL island as my base, to prevent to much change early on (would be a pity if no hominids evolved to create ships wouldn't it )
- Will have to be relatively small, to prevent massive changes to world ship procurement and the outcome of major wars.
- It will have to speak mainly English due to making it easier for this forum
- It will of course be part of the GB empire/commonwealth/Nato/etc (who wouldn't want access to the best ships and get to beat the SS/KGB ?)

After much through I settled on Not-Ireland as my island due to it being suitable for all of the above, this lead me to my POD back in 1845 to miss out of the Great Famine (Irish: an Gorta Mór) due to wanting a richer (more ships ) and better relations with UK (RN ships ).

The following posts will out line the RIN and its development (and maybe a bit of backstory about this different not Ireland when I can find time not thinking about ships).

RN,IS - RN, Irish Squadron
RIN - Royal Irish Navy 1914
RIN - 1939
RIN - CW
RIN - Post CW

Apologies to anybody knowledgeable in Irish history (nothing is this NOT Ireland is real or any relation with anything in OTL Ireland) and anybody feel free to offer any help no matter how unhelpfully ........

HMIS - His Majesty Irish Ship
RIM - Royal Irish Marines

JSB

RNIS
Royal Navy Irish Squadron 1860-1914



Formed in 1860 (with the beginnings of home rule) the Irish Squadron was initially formed out of the RN to act a patrol force near Ireland. it started out as RN ships on temporary duty but gradually became ships paid for by the Irish parliament as a contribution to the empires defence.

HMS Niamh ordered in 1878 the first ships for the new RNIS,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doterel-class_sloop

Next HMS pearl class .... 1890s to replace/augment the Niamh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl-class_cruiser

Disbanded in 1910 with the formal formation of the RIN Royal Irish Navy.

RIN 1914 - WNT

Formation of the RIN Submarine service 1915 with the transfer of its first subs from the RN.

RIN WNT - 1945

Royal Irish Navy

RIN CW

RIN Post CW

Place holder Air forces

Place holder land forces

An interesting idea JSB. So how would that work out, would the RIN have it's own separate Admiralty running it's navy ?

Yes eventually, the idea is that Ireland gets home rule (= dominion like) and then early SoW etc, they develops into a totally independent nation still allied with UK due to historic friendships etc (yes its ASB that everybody can be nice but why not, well not to nice or they will not need warships )

So I'm working on a spread sheet of ships (and drawing them slowly).

But the idea is basically,

RNIS - a series of Cruisers - building up to ACs (with a few torpedo/gun boats for local use)
RIN 1914 - AC gradually become towns and a BC or BB (start of subs/destroyers/ASW escorts)
1939 - maybe still a BB, a few CLs, DDs, SSK, sloops etc
CW - CV, Leander's, SSKs ? ASW to the max
PCW - LPH, FFG, OPV , SSK

(basically all RN/NATO based but not to like RL or I will not get to draw much , not that Irland is richer/large pop as well due to no hunger/more trade as well)
Any suggestions welcome,
JSB