Rapa Rapa: Difference between revisions

As [[Urcea]] began to expand its interests abroad in the 19th century, it inaugurated a period of [[History_of_Urcea_(1798-1902)#Birth_of_a_global_navy|major expansion of]] its [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]]. These efforts accelerated following the acquisition of a naval base in [[Arona]], giving Urcea westward access across the [[Polynesian Sea]] and [[Ocean of Cathay]] for the first time. As a new naval power in the era of coal-powered steam ships, Urcea was disadvantaged relative to other great powers in its lack of an expansive island colony network, a fact which limited its ability to project power due to a lack of {{wp|Fuelling station|coaling stations}}. Accordingly, the Royal Navy began to seek a new island in the Polynesian Sea to acquire as a forward refueling and logistical center, and after several options were examined Rapa Rapa was chosen. The island had no Occidental claimant and was nominally owned by the [[Daxia]]n government via its conquest of Truk, but Daxia had no interest in the island. Accordingly, Urcea purchased the island in November 1861 and dispatched a force from Arona to subdue the island in January 1862.