Fyrflota Cabal

The Fyrflota Cabal (Fēþisc: Flotagang) was an influential political faction within the Fyrflota existing between 1923 and 1933 that resisted the conditions imposed by the Selkiö Naval Treaty. This faction rose to prominence in the public eye through government obstruction to achieve its goals.

Background

The 1923 Selkiö Naval Treaty (SNT), also known as the Ten-Power Treaty, sought to curtail naval armament production of its signatories; Akeniran, Dayashina, Fyrland, Menghe, New-Tyran, Ostland, Rajamaa, Serenoro, Sieuxerr, and Tir Glas. At the Selkiö Naval Conference (SNC), all parties signed the treaty, for which negotiations concluded on March 12, 1923, and provisions within the SNT were to begin on September 27, 1923.

The SNT sought to impose qualitative and quantitative limits on capital ship tonnage, with no single vessel exceeding 46,000 tons whilst limited to carrying guns not greater than 16.5 inches in calibre. Other restrictions included the number of aircraft carriers that signatories could build and limits on cruiser tonnage capped at 12,000 tons. Capital tonnage was allotted based on a ratio, with the Fyrflota limited to 324,000 and 120,000 tons for capital ships and carriers, respectively. The arguments presented at the SNC for this restriction predominantly revolved around the perception of the Fyrflota being a one ocean navy.

Development

The treaty restrictions proved highly unpopular with the Fyrish public, many of whom saw the ratio as proof of Casaterran contempt for their rising nation. Furthermore, the Liberal-Republican coalition government had not appreciated the public affection the navy had gathered during the War of Sylvan Succession, which greatly damaged opinions of the coalition government following the treaty signing. However, despite being somewhat aware the SNT restrictions would be catastrophic, the weak Fyrish coalition government was incapable of mounting a unified front on defence policy, ultimately forcing it to accept the terms.

In the aftermath of the SNC, Fyrflota politics split into two opposing factions, the pro-treaty largely conservative Restrictionist Cabal and the anti-treaty largely liberal Fyrflota Cabal. The Restrictionists wanted to abide by the Selkiö Naval Treaty, arguing that a naval arms race would invariably commit Fyrland to another war with Casaterran powers.

On the opposing side, the Fyrflota Cabal comprised the right-wing Liberal elements of the navy, including a majority of the influential admirals within the general staff. The Fyrflota Cabal wanted nothing less than a full rescindment of restrictions, with full leave to complete the 1919 naval plan, which aimed to supplant Casaterra as the predominant source of maritime power. The 1919 plan would invariably put Fyrland on a potential warpath; however, fulfilling the ambition to supersede Casaterran naval power was the original remit of many within the general staff. Although this remit stemmed from the last naval arms race leading up to the War of Sylvan Succession, many within the navy staff had entered their careers with a political and emotional investment in a Fyrish dominated Meridian ocean, which continued to drive the Fyrflota Cabal post-SNT.

See also

• Fyrish Armed Forces