Linetti di Santua

The Old Liner

Linetti di Santua is a naval officer in the Arracian Navy, and the former Supreme Admiral of the Admiralty, or the Arracian Navy's central command. Linetti di Santua served in the navy since he was 19, initally being commissioned as a Lieutenant, and rising through the ranks to become an Admiral, and later being appointed Supreme Admiral of the Admiralty by President di Pasqua. Admiral di Santua was born in 1841, in Porta Veccia and was a third-generation Raszo-Achaeyand immigrant. He would die on September 1st, 1896, when the ship he was on, the RAS Totaro, was struck by several submersed torpedoes. di Santua's funeral would be attended by every member of the Arracian Armed Forces High Command, and over 10,000 other people.

## Life

### Birth and Childhood

Admiral di Santua was born on the 17th of March, 1841 in Porta Veccia General Clinic, to Rascho, and Alara di Santua. He was named Linetti, an Arracian name to recognize the fact that he was a 3rd Generation immigrant. di Santua's childhood from then on is very hazy, as not many records exist of his childhood. What is known is that di Santua attended Totaro Elementary School in Porta Veccia, and chose to pursue higher education. It is at the age of 14, that diary entries reveal he gained his interest for the navy.

### Adulthood and Initial Naval Service

di Santua would be described by many of his teachers as a 'wonderful' and 'intelligent' student as he moved through the 'President Amelli School for Higher Education'. After graduation at the age of 17, he would apply for the Arracian Republican Naval College in Alsard, where he was accepted. He would distinguish himself as an excellent student, and would graduate 3rd in his class of 110. This distinction would earn him several acolates, and a recommendation for the Navy's special leadership course, all at the age of just 21. After a further 6 months in the Navy's special leadership course, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant on the RAS Endurance, a Ramido-Class Armored Cruiser. He would perform his duty well, and would be promoted to Lieutenant-Commander in 1860.

By 1862, he was chosen for promotion again to Commodore, which is where he would gain his first command. He patrolled a small flotilla, consisting of an Armored-Cruiser, and three Protected-Cruisers during the War of Liberation. Three years later in 1865, he would fianlly be promoted to Rear-Admiral, thanks to his competent leadership, and cool head under pressure. Just a year later, he would be transfered to the Aartelvan Naval Academy and Shipyard, in an exchange program intiative for the Navy. He would return to Arracia in 1869, with new ideas, and a fluent grasp of Obech. With his return, he took up a command in the Home Fleet, which was Arracia's largest naval formation at the time, and helped oversee the construction of the first Bezian-Class Battleships, including the RAS Totaro.

In 1876, di Santua would be recommended for a promotion to Admiral, after the elderly Admiral Constantine announced his retirement. He would take up command in 1877, making the now completed RAS Totaro his permanent flagship. His command would be mostly uneventful, however despite this, he would be reccomended for a position in the admiralty in 1880, since he was a member of the Home Fleet. His appointment to the admiralty would mark almost 22 years in service of the Arracian Navy. After just two years in the Admiralty, di Santua would be hand-picked by President di Pasqua to become the Navy's Supreme Admiral, which is the highest position a man of the navy can hope to achieve. This made him one of the most senior members in the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

### Naval Doctrine

di Santua would base his naval doctrine heavily on that of the more developed and refined Obech doctrine, mainly of supporting fast, powerful battleships with a long range that could make hit and run attacks on the enemy. This was reflected in di Santua's heavy endorsement of the commissioning of the Evodio Cutrona-Class of battleships, as well as his support of a modernization of the navy in order to reflect his doctrine. This has made him controversial in the Army, as his [and his colleague's] outspoken reformist views clashed with the more traditionalist Old Guard that was prevalent in the Army. Despite this, Admiral di Santua stated in his journal:

*"Kreutzen, despite his views on the Armed Forces, is a great man, and I shall be most honored to again make his acquaintance over tea, and converse as we did last week. Such gentlemen are unfortunately few and far between in the Navy, which I admit myself into the category."*

### Death

Admiral di Santua was killed while on confidential assignment, commanding the Home Fleet Personally as it sailed South to his home-town of Porta Veccia. The RAS Totaro was anchored in the harbor, along with the rest of the fleet, until it was struck by three submerged torpedoes, causing multiple catastrophic explosions as the torpedoes detonated the ship's ammo wracks, and caused immediate and uncontrollable flooding and fires. The ship in 18 minutes, taking Admiral di Santua, and the 777 crew onboard down to the bottom. No survivors were found from the wreckage. Admiral di Santua's body would not be recovered. It is suspected that somewhere, what remains of it is still trapped under the tonnes of steel that now cover the harbor floor.

### Legacy

Admiral di Santua would leave a lasting mark on the Arracian Navy. His competency, cool head, and general demeanor would mean that he was extremely well-connected in the Armed Forces, and on friendly terms with almost everyone, even those who vehemently opposed his doctrine. In addition, di Santua's doctrine would be transcribed postmortem in numerous naval literature pieces, and his long history in the navy transcribed in every naval textbook. Many future naval officers would subscribe to his doctrine, including a member of the Admiralty. (Admiral Litici Amara)

In addition to literature and doctrine, a building in the new Porta Veccia Naval Academy would be dedicated to the late-Admiral, and several places in Porta Veccia as a whole would be named after the di Santua, the most relevant of these being di Santua Park, which is the city's second largest open public space.