[Sweden]: Message to the Netherlands

[Connor]

Government of Sweden
Löfven Administration

Security Classification: SECURE
Document Classification and Security Act 1995
Encrypted by the Swedish Security Service​

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Dear Max Holst (Minister of Defence, Kingdom of the Netherlands),

I am writing to you on behalf of the Defence Materiel Administration, an organisation within the Swedish Department of Defence, responsible for the development of the Swedish Armed Forces.

The Kingdom of Sweden has for some time been the operator of the Ōsumi-Class Amphibious Transport Dock which has served us well over the years. However as the Swedish Royal Navy has progressed substantially since the purchase and the inability for us to easily purchase, develop and continue service of this class of vessel, it has become somewhat cumbersome; preventing us from developing further. As such we intend to decommission the HSwMS Ystad in the coming months and instead replace it with a much more advanced piece of equipment which can fill the void in our navy. I am hoping that the Kingdom of the Netherlands will be able to do so with the Rotterdam-Class Landing Platform Dock.

We intend to purchase two to three of these vessels dependant on the price-points available.

Naturally conversation surrounding the purchase of military equipment requires some degree of negotiation and I would be happy to accept an encrypted telephone call from your respective department in order to discuss this purchase or perhaps a more suitable alternative.

Regards,
Göran Mårtensson
General Director
Defence Materiel Administration

@Dutchy

 

[Connor]

@Dutchy

 

[Dutchy]

The Secretary of the Minister of Defence would ensure that the message was forwarded to the Director of the Defence Material Organisation of the Ministry of Defence. The Director, after reading the message, would pick up his phone and ensure it was encrypted prior to dialing the Swedish Materiel Administration. Upon someone picking up he introduced himself, "Good afternoon, Frank van Veen speaking, Director of the Defence Material Organisation of the Netherlands. Mr Mårtensson requested a meeting, is there any chance he is available at the moment?"

@Connor

 

[Connor]

All lines into the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration were encrypted by default, there telephone call would initially be answered by Sandy, an employee almost as old as the organisation itself and still working through her daily tasks as if she had only just began, she grabs the phone as soon as it begins ringing and slams it against her ear "Sandy, Defence Materiel Administration, how can I help?" she grumbles in a robotic fashion. It was a line she reeled off all day every day when answering the phones.

Without saying a word in response to the Dutch she forwards on the call, not having a clue who he was or what he was calling about however allowing the phone to ring out in the General Directors office...

"Hello, Göran Mårtensson speaking?"

 

[Dutchy]

"Good Afternoon Mr Mårtensson. This is Frank van Veen speaking, Director of the Dutch Defence Material Organisation. Your request regarding the procurement of Rotterdam-class Landing Platform Docks has been forwarded to my office. Due to the positive and cooperative relationship between our two nations the government has given me the mandate to open negotiations."

 

[Connor]

"Ah, it is so good to hear from you! Yes, we've recently sold the only large-scale landing platform we had to a foreign state and as such wish to replace it with a European variant of similar stature. The Rotterdam-Class came to mind as it appears to be a highly sought after piece of equipment, indicating t me that it's capabilities far outweigh the cost implications of going with another, similar ship. There are a few questions we have before we start laying money down however..."

Goran coughs into a closed fist before flipping open his notepad.

"I am curious as to what self-defence systems the vessel has and what an ordinary deployment would look like? Does the vessel require substantial support from destroyers and frigates?"

 

[Dutchy]

The Director would open a file which he had prepared on the Rotterdam-class before responding, "The vessel has two Goalkeeper CIWS as well as ten Browning 12.7 mm machine guns, this provides minimal security and safety to the vessel for anti-piracy operations. However, we would advise that this vessel remains part of a fleet when performing amphibious assaults in a large-scale conflict in order to guarantee the vessels safety."

 

[Connor]

"I see, I see, and how much should we expect a bulk buy of two or three of these vessels to cost us? We intend to get some form of vessel in this class into production as soon as possible to fill the void in our fleet"

 

[Dutchy]

"The associated price would be $737,500,000.00 per unit, upon receiving those funds we can assure you that production will begin immediately in order to ensure that your void is filled as quickly as possible."

@Connor

 

[Connor]

"I see... we would be looking to purchase two vessels for around the price of $1,300,000,000.00, with the consideration to the fact we need to be able to fund the necessary fundamental and necessary support frigates"

 

[Dutchy]

"I'd like to propose a counter offer of $1,400,000,000.00."

@Connor

 

[Connor]

"Hm, how about we meet in the middle at a flat $1,349,999,999.99?"

@Dutchy

 

[Dutchy]

The Director would chuckle, "Well, you know we Dutchmen are extremely precise when it comes to financial affairs. I agree that we should meet in the middle at $1,350,000,000.00, would this be acceptable?"

@Connor

 

[Connor]

Similarly Göran smiles at the conversation "That amount seems fair, I will make the transfer as we speak"