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Arco Polar Expeditions: Difference between revisions
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The history of Arco Polar Expeditions was a period spanning from 1891-1918 (27 years) during which | The history of Arco Polar Expeditions was a period spanning from 1891-1918 (27 years) during which the Arctic was explored by different [[Arcerion|Arcer]] explorers. This period was a massive expansion of Arcer naval influence outside of the Malentine and Songun Seas, and much of these travels were sponsored by the Arcerion Naval Service as part of its ongoing efforts to expand its ability to conduct blue-water operations. | ||
[[File:Chester and Emily Sailing.png|thumb|Sailing ships Chester and Emily as depicted in this artist rendition prior to departure for the 1891 Arco Polar Expedition. ]] | [[File:Chester and Emily Sailing.png|thumb|Sailing ships Chester and Emily as depicted in this artist rendition prior to departure for the 1891 Arco Polar Expedition. ]] | ||
During this time period, the Arctic became the focus as it held a great amount of scientific and geographical importance to the Arcer community. As most of Crona was Indigenous, there was few maritime-based opportunities for Acers to explore or venture beyond the [[Crona|South Cronan Peninsula]]. Therefore, with the initial state-sponsored expedition of 1891, Arcer explorers, navigators, geographers, and officers ventured North through the Odoneru to stake their claim to the frozen expanses of the Arctic Circle. There was 10 major expeditions, although smaller, privately-funded ones also occurred throughout this period but were not as intensely logged or chronicled. | During this time period, the Arctic became the focus as it held a great amount of scientific and geographical importance to the Arcer community. As most of Crona was Indigenous, there was few maritime-based opportunities for Acers to explore or venture beyond the [[Crona|South Cronan Peninsula]]. Therefore, with the initial state-sponsored expedition of 1891, Arcer explorers, navigators, geographers, and officers ventured North through the Odoneru to stake their claim to the frozen expanses of the Arctic Circle. There was 10 major expeditions, although smaller, privately-funded ones also occurred throughout this period but were not as intensely logged or chronicled. | ||
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The primary focus of many of the early expeditions were the use of new or novel technologies that expanded the limits of human endurance and physical stamina due to the exceedingly harsh conditions. As well, the Arco climate, mostly plains and warm in nature, did not immediately outfit or set up the explorers for success, and the initial exposure/frostbite casualties of the 1891 and 1893 expeditions reflect this. Although official estimates vary between public and private sources, somewhere between two and three dozen Arcers died during these forays North. | The primary focus of many of the early expeditions were the use of new or novel technologies that expanded the limits of human endurance and physical stamina due to the exceedingly harsh conditions. As well, the Arco climate, mostly plains and warm in nature, did not immediately outfit or set up the explorers for success, and the initial exposure/frostbite casualties of the 1891 and 1893 expeditions reflect this. Although official estimates vary between public and private sources, somewhere between two and three dozen Arcers died during these forays North. | ||
The expeditions also claimed several important achievements for Arcerion, notably being the first nation to have a citizen reach the North Pole, both geographic and magnetic. Previously, nomadic indigenous locals were assumed to have reached it, this was the first time a modern nation state had achieved the accomplishment. Additionally, much of the Arctic coastline was mapped during the first three expeditions, with [[John Howland]]'s expedition accomplishing not only the survey task, but also the successful mission to | The expeditions also claimed several important achievements for Arcerion, notably being the first nation to have a citizen reach the North Pole, both geographic and magnetic. Previously, nomadic indigenous locals were assumed to have reached it, this was the first time a modern nation state had achieved the accomplishment. Additionally, much of the Arctic coastline was mapped during the first three expeditions, with [[John Howland]]'s expedition accomplishing not only the survey task, but also the successful mission to the North Pole. The expeditions all generated a fair amount of scientific data for the greater Cronan scientific community, much of which became a focal point for inviting Arcer explorers and scientists to [[Levantia]] and [[Sarpedon]] for conferences and university tours to give lectures and share results with newer explorers. | ||
== Origins == | == Origins == | ||
== Expeditions 1891-1918 == | == Expeditions 1891-1918 == | ||
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The return to Arcerion was considerably less enthusiastic as the brave adventurers had lost so many of their own, and the government was incredibly hesitant to now continue funding these expeditions. However the [[Arco Transpolar Investigatory Commission]] was setup by the Foreign Office in conjunction with the Naval Service to investigate the sinking of the ''Forthright'', and found that rushed preparations, poorly trained and equipped crew, and a lack of experienced Arctic sailors had led to the demise of the ''Forthright''. However, from this, the government began to work on codifying the requirements for future expeditions should the appetite arise again, and recommended that much more time and effort be invested into future expeditions in order to minimize unnecessary loss of life. Hetherington, in his memoirs, stated that the loss of the ''Forthright'' was entirely preventable, and only a mad frenzy to foster another successful expedition had led to the deaths of almost thirty men. | The return to Arcerion was considerably less enthusiastic as the brave adventurers had lost so many of their own, and the government was incredibly hesitant to now continue funding these expeditions. However the [[Arco Transpolar Investigatory Commission]] was setup by the Foreign Office in conjunction with the Naval Service to investigate the sinking of the ''Forthright'', and found that rushed preparations, poorly trained and equipped crew, and a lack of experienced Arctic sailors had led to the demise of the ''Forthright''. However, from this, the government began to work on codifying the requirements for future expeditions should the appetite arise again, and recommended that much more time and effort be invested into future expeditions in order to minimize unnecessary loss of life. Hetherington, in his memoirs, stated that the loss of the ''Forthright'' was entirely preventable, and only a mad frenzy to foster another successful expedition had led to the deaths of almost thirty men. | ||
=== Expedition of 1899 === | === Expedition of 1899 === | ||
After the loss of the ''Forthright'' in 1893, John Howland had been determined to take another expedition North and set up a long-term survey and research camp dedicated to providing that Arctic expeditions were still feasible. Howland entreated the Arco Transpolar Investigatory Commission twice unsuccessfully, in both 1894, and 1896 for a new expedition of this sort to be made. Finally, the decision was made to permit the sailing of a single ship and crew to minimize the fallout should it be lost after the ''Forthright'' loss. Howland during this time had kept up his academic research and preparations, leading a pair of mountaineering expeditions to [[Mount Carter]] in [[Moorden]] in 1895 and 1896. From this, he had cultivated an experienced team of civilian and military explorers. However, with the turn of the century and a renewed effort to cement Arco national identity, Prime Minister Daniel Hayes approved a limited expedition of a single ship to the Arctic, with the caveat it was led by Howland and was comprised of experienced volunteers. Concurrent to this, oversight from the Arco Transpolar Investigatory Commission for preparation based off of their 1893 report on the previous expedition's shortcomings and failures leading to disaster were mandated. | After the loss of the ''Forthright'' in 1893, John Howland had been determined to take another expedition North and set up a long-term survey and research camp dedicated to providing that Arctic expeditions were still feasible. Howland entreated the Arco Transpolar Investigatory Commission twice unsuccessfully, in both 1894, and 1896 for a new expedition of this sort to be made. Finally, the decision was made to permit the sailing of a single ship and crew to minimize the fallout should it be lost after the ''Forthright'' loss. Howland during this time had kept up his academic research and preparations, leading a pair of mountaineering expeditions to [[Mount Carter]] in [[Moorden]] in 1895 and 1896. From this, he had cultivated an experienced team of civilian and military explorers. However, with the turn of the century and a renewed effort to cement Arco national identity, Prime Minister Daniel Hayes approved a limited expedition of a single ship to the Arctic, with the caveat it was led by Howland and was comprised of experienced volunteers. Concurrent to this, oversight from the Arco Transpolar Investigatory Commission for preparation based off of their 1893 report on the previous expedition's shortcomings and failures leading to disaster were mandated. | ||
[[File:1899 Expedition.png|thumb|Location of John Howland's Camp in the Arctic, c.1899]] | |||
Howland accepted the terms and in the summer of 1897 began a two-year plan to prepare his teams for what they would experience. He recruited his land contingent from not only the mountaineers and alpine experts of Moorden, but he specifically targeted his maritime and naval contingent from a mixture of 1891/93 veteran sailors, augmenting them with whalers from [[Burgundie]] as best he could. Howland felt they brought rough sea experience that was lacking in 1893, that would make the difference for the longer, more difficult expedition of 1899. The maritime contingent specifically focused on sailing in rough seas, going through drills, procedures, and contingencies that would help them excel. In this instance, a twin Arco-Burgundian pair would set the conditions for a successful maritime navigation to the Arctic. Douglas Shaw, and Ensign of 28 and descendant of a blockade runner from the [[Cronan Beaver War|Cronan Beaver Wars]], he had made a name for himself in the Navy for his emphasis on what would eventually become known as "blue-water" (open sea) operations. He had taken a small sloop from Chester-on-Moore, and in 1894 sailed to the [[Pelaxia|Pelaxian]] capital of Albalitor in record time, and the first time an Arcer sailor had done this with only a two-masted sloop made for Songun Sea travels exclusively. Shaw would be complemented by Lucien Boissieu, a whaler from Burgundie who had recently travelled to the [[New Archduchy]] to begin whaling in the [[Odoneru Ocean]]. His experience with the type of long-distance, expeditionary sailing, combined with Shaw's emphasis on preparation and robust training combined to create a solid naval complement for the journey. | |||
[[File:Howland's Camp.jpg|thumb|John Howland's encampment in the Arctic, late May of 1899. Ship's company shown here during a break. ]] | |||
Howland tasked both Shaw and Boissieu together to find a ship suitable for the journey. In this instance, they found in the port of Kinnaird the ''Defiance'', a three-masted schooner, that was being refit as a whaler. Upon a petition by the Arcer government, it was purchased for £19,000 Arcer Pounds and sailed to Chester-on-Moore to undergo retrofitting for Polar exploration in 1888. The land contingent procured sleds, cold-weather clothing, and the requisite equipment they would need for an extended stay on the Arctic shores. | |||
In January of 1899, the ''Defiance'' left the port of Chester-on-Moore. With a complement of fifty six, it had nearly half a complement more than it had been designed for, and living conditions were increasingly cramped. However, between Howland, Shaw, and Boissieu, the voyage North was made in record time, and they arrived in the Albion Sea after roughly two and a half months travel, skipping the Cape's port and transiting the [[Songun Straits]] without the need for a resupply stop. | |||
The search began for an initial place from where to encamp and begin their surveys, studies, and observations in the Arctic. Secondary to this, Howland had begun to prepare for a petition to the Arcer Parliament for a longer expedition that would permit a single team to make the trip to the North Pole. Howland at this time discovered a new island, previously unmapped and what many had thought to be part of the Arctic mainland. [[New Moorden Island]], the Westernmost of the three [[Arctic Albion Islands]], was also the largest, and there was a brief two day expedition led by Howland inland while Shaw and Boissieu undertook necessary repairs and maintenance on the ''Defiance''. On New Moorden, the highest point allowed Howland to gain a good vantage point, and from there using his telescope and survey equipment he was able to identify suitable future spots for expeditions on the island, as well as a small deep-water inlet he believed could serve as the basis for a future Carnish or Arco colony. Returning to the ship's company, they departed late April and arrived at the mainland shore, from where Howland set up their permanent encampment for the next months. The weather by now, in the summer, was far more permissible, but they knew they were in for a long tenure. By day, temperatures remained around 10°C, but at night they dropped just below zero. The warmest day recorded was in the last week of June with a daily high of 19°C. | |||
=== Howland's Expedition === | === Howland's Expedition === | ||
Burg built ships (2) for Howland's big trip up North | Burg built ships (2) for Howland's big trip up North | ||