New Confederate Destroyer - 1st/1908

Carthaginian · July 08, 2007, 09:45:30 PM

Based on the experimental TR-1907X (to become TR-187 in service) class soon to be built by Rohan, the TR-192's also draw upon the Rohirrim Running Wolf-class which was based upon the TR-1907X. The TR-192-class begins a new design linage for Confederate Torpedo Rams- torpedo rams designed specifically to operate as fleet scouts. Armed with fewer, though heavier guns and outfitted with a Marconi, these new Torpedo Rams are designed to cross the Atlantic on a single fueling (albeit at a conservative speed). This long-range sailing capability gives the TR-192's the ability to preform the duties once filled by the overly-expensive and marginally-capable 3^rd Class Cruisers of the late 19th Century.

A pair of 4.5"/50-pounder guns and six 57mm/6-pounders provide decent firepower while allowing sufficient deckspace for 4 x 19.5" torpedoes. The Marconi is beneath the waterline, affording a small amount of protection during a fight. The primary defense of the TR-192's will be their speed- 30 and ¹/₂ knots.

Between 5 and 8 are expected to be laid down in 1908.

TR-192X, Confederate States of America Fleet Torpedo Ram laid down 1908 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   750 t light; 785 t standard; 880 t normal; 956 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   300.00 ft / 300.00 ft x 25.00 ft x 9.00 ft (normal load)
   91.44 m / 91.44 m x 7.62 m x 2.74 m

Armament:
2 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns in single mounts, 50.00lbs / 22.68kg shells, 1908 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
6 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns in single mounts, 6.00lbs / 2.72kg shells, 1908 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
   Weight of broadside 136 lbs / 62 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 200
   4 - 19.5" / 495.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.00" / 25 mm     -           -
   2nd:   0.50" / 13 mm     -           -

- Conning tower: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 20,000 shp / 14,920 Kw = 30.52 kts
   Range 4,000nm at 10.50 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 172 tons

Complement:
   80 - 105

Cost:
   £0.105 million / $0.420 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 16 tons, 1.8 %
   Armour: 12 tons, 1.4 %
     - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
     - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
     - Armament: 8 tons, 0.9 %
     - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
     - Conning Tower: 4 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 468 tons, 53.2 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 240 tons, 27.3 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 130 tons, 14.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 14 tons, 1.6 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     214 lbs / 97 Kg = 4.7 x 4.5 " / 114 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.35
   Metacentric height 1.1 ft / 0.3 m
   Roll period: 10.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.26
   Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle
   Block coefficient: 0.456
   Length to Beam Ratio: 12.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 17.32 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 65 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 66
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
     - Stem:      18.00 ft / 5.49 m
     - Forecastle (20 %):   14.00 ft / 4.27 m (12.00 ft / 3.66 m aft of break)
     - Mid (50 %):      10.00 ft / 3.05 m
     - Quarterdeck (15 %):   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
     - Stern:      10.00 ft / 3.05 m
     - Average freeboard:   11.42 ft / 3.48 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 187.7 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 81.8 %
   Waterplane Area: 4,809 Square feet or 447 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 45 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 24 lbs/sq ft or 118 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.50
      - Longitudinal: 1.56
      - Overall: 0.56
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

Carthaginian · August 15, 2007, 12:52:54 AM

The high cost of the TR-192 and her sisters (8 under construction and 16 more planned) has raised some eyebrows at the Confederate Admiralty. Both Secretary Roosevelt and First Sea Lord Anderson feel that the new ship is too large and expensive for the coastal work traditionally done by torpedo rams. In order to offset this, specifications were put forth for a complementary class of torpedo ram- a smaller and less costly ship that could be deployed in large numbers, and built with ease in any shipyard.

The resulting design is- when considered remembering the limitations placed upon it's design- nothing short of astounding. The projected TR-200X class is capable of being constructed in a Level 0 port facility, able to reach almost 28 knots, and carries 4 of the new 20" torpedoes. Of course it has many drawbacks due to the limitations placed on it by its design requirements. Small ships are not very survivable, and the TR-200X is no exception. Virtually every penetrating shell will hit something vital. It's gun armament is light, meaning it is limited to torpedo attack or fleeing when faced with any ship larger than itself- meaning almost anything. Also, the powerful torque of the ship's single 12,000 shp Curtis turbine engine causes a slight list to port when it is at top speed... and thus the ship requires a degree of starboard rudder to maintain a steady course. This is more an annoyance than anything else, but it can be seen as one of the ship's defining characteristics.

TR-200X (projected for l1909)

Displacement:
   500 t light; 518 t standard; 554 t normal; 583 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   230.00 ft / 225.00 ft x 20.00 ft x 9.00 ft (normal load)
   70.10 m / 68.58 m x 6.10 m x 2.74 m

Armament:
2 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 25.00lbs / 11.34kg shells, 1909 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 1 raised mount
4 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (2x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1909 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
2 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (1x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1909 Model
     Machine guns in deck mount
     on centreline aft, all raised guns - superfiring
   Weight of broadside 53 lbs / 24 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 200
   4 - 20.0" / 508 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.50" / 13 mm     -           -
   2nd:   0.25" / 6 mm     -           -
   3rd:   0.25" / 6 mm     -           -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 1 shaft, 12,000 shp / 8,952 Kw = 27.73 kts
   Range 2,200nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 66 tons

Complement:
   56 - 74

Cost:
   £0.064 million / $0.256 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 8 tons, 1.5 %
   Armour: 2 tons, 0.4 %
     - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
     - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
     - Armament: 2 tons, 0.4 %
     - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
     - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 282 tons, 50.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 194 tons, 35.0 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 54 tons, 9.7 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 14 tons, 2.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     165 lbs / 75 Kg = 5.2 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 0.5 ft / 0.2 m
   Roll period: 11.5 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.39
   Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.51

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.479
   Length to Beam Ratio: 11.25 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 15.00 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 69 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 47
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 15.53 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
     - Stem:      18.00 ft / 5.49 m
     - Forecastle (20 %):   14.00 ft / 4.27 m
     - Mid (50 %):      12.00 ft / 3.66 m
     - Quarterdeck (15 %):   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
     - Stern:      12.00 ft / 3.66 m
     - Average freeboard:   13.02 ft / 3.97 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 178.5 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 53.1 %
   Waterplane Area: 2,817 Square feet or 262 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 47 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 22 lbs/sq ft or 107 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.50
      - Longitudinal: 6.89
      - Overall: 0.65
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

*NOTE: This ship is equipped with a Marconi (10 tons)*

Carthaginian · August 16, 2007, 10:52:07 PM

Boy... the crickets are loud in here.
Wish I had some opinions to drown them out. ;)

Borys · August 16, 2007, 11:32:50 PM

Ahoj!
Hmmm ... slow, overarmed, only one shaft ... apart from that, excellent.
Borys

Carthaginian · August 17, 2007, 05:39:19 AM

Ok... I might see about dropping one of the 4" guns to make it faster.
Thanks to Maddox for helping me trim it down this far.

Earl822 · August 17, 2007, 05:52:11 AM

As a way of comment, and to provide some form of comparison, here is the E/J class design of destroyer from the UNK. It is comparable with the 192 class. The nearest I have to the 200 class is the L class of 1906, but they only mounted 2, 3inch QF's

E & J Class, United Norman Kingdom Destroyer laid down 1908 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   750 t light; 778 t standard; 938 t normal; 1,065 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   302.47 ft / 300.00 ft x 28.60 ft x 8.50 ft (normal load)
   92.19 m / 91.44 m x 8.72 m x 2.59 m

Armament:
5 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm guns in single mounts, 13.50lbs / 6.12kg shells, 1908 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on centreline ends, majority forward, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (2x2 guns), 1.95lbs / 0.88kg shells, 1908 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, all amidships
4 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns in single mounts, 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1908 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 77 lbs / 35 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 190
   4 - 18.0" / 457.2 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.50" / 13 mm     -           -

- Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 14,762 shp / 11,012 Kw = 28.00 kts
   Range 4,886nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 287 tons

Complement:
   84 - 110

Cost:
   £0.100 million / $0.401 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 10 tons, 1.0 %
   Armour: 10 tons, 1.1 %
     - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
     - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
     - Armament: 4 tons, 0.4 %
     - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
     - Conning Tower: 6 tons, 0.7 %
   Machinery: 470 tons, 50.1 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 237 tons, 25.3 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 187 tons, 20.0 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 24 tons, 2.6 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     306 lbs / 139 Kg = 22.7 x 3.0 " / 76 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.52
   Metacentric height 1.6 ft / 0.5 m
   Roll period: 9.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.10
   Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.17

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.450
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.49 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 17.32 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 62 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 60
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
     - Stem:      14.00 ft / 4.27 m
     - Forecastle (10 %):   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
     - Mid (50 %):      11.50 ft / 3.51 m
     - Quarterdeck (10 %):   11.00 ft / 3.35 m
     - Stern:      12.00 ft / 3.66 m
     - Average freeboard:   11.63 ft / 3.54 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 172.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 109.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 5,473 Square feet or 508 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 65 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 24 lbs/sq ft or 117 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.50
      - Longitudinal: 1.22
      - Overall: 0.54
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

HMS Echo, Eclipse, Electra, Encounter, Escapade, Escort, Esk & Escape
HMS Jackal, Jaguar, Janus, Javelin, Jersey, Jervis, Juno & Jupiter

Carthaginian · August 17, 2007, 06:10:00 AM

Borys,

The single shaft is a 'built-in flaw.' It's something to give it flavor.
I can always change it to be a two shaft design if it makes a huge difference. :)
I did try loosing one of the 4" guns, but it only gained 0.1 knots... not enough to justify loosing it.

Earl822,

Thanks for the comparison material.
I took into account the growing size of destroyers with the 192's, but was specifically looking at cheapness and speed of manufacture with the 200's. I'm really not sure whether to call these ships 'light destroyers' or 'heavy torpedo boats'. Designed to defend against torpedo boats, but to be cheap and expendable themselves, they are stuck in a strange niche between the two. I can produce 3 for the same price as you can produce 2 of your E & J's, and can construct 6 in the same length of time.

This was their primary design consideration- effectiveness through numbers. Like a Sherman compared to a Panther, they are neither as fast, nor as powerful, nor as survivable. One enemy cruiser might be able to kill 10 of them- but thy are designed so I am always able to produce that 11th one which tips the balance.

Hopefully, it's not a bad strategy.

The Rock Doctor · August 17, 2007, 06:22:29 AM

I'd certainly keep the second gun if the result of losing it is just a tenth of a knot.

I don't think it's overarmed with respect to main battery or torpedos, but I do think both you and Earl822 have far more light guns than is really warranted.

I think it's a perfectly good defensive torpedo-craft. The speed is slow compared to your previous class, but it's still as good as any of my current designs and certainly enough to run down any capital ships lurking nearby.

Nomenclature-wise - just call them torpedo-rams like previous, smaller ships that have fulfilled the same basic function.

Carthaginian · August 17, 2007, 06:29:19 AM

Quote from: The Rock Doctor on August 17, 2007, 06:22:29 AM
I don't think it's overarmed with respect to main battery or torpedos, but I do think both you and Earl822 have far more light guns than is really warranted.

Nomenclature-wise - just call them torpedo-rams like previous, smaller ships that have fulfilled the same basic function.

Well, the 25mm's are just there to take up that last bit of weight.
I couldn't find deckspace for another 4", and wanted to have SOMETHING... and a 25mm can pierce splinter protection, making them good, easily handleable weapons with which to knock out main guns.

And all Confederate small vessels- destroyers or true torpedo boats are going to be called 'Torpedo Rams.' The Admiralty can't get out of that rut if they tried.

Desertfox · August 17, 2007, 07:18:52 AM

I like this sucker, especially with them torpedoes foward. Very similar to my own pocket destroyers. Quantity has a quality all of its own.

Carthaginian · August 17, 2007, 09:22:43 AM

Quote from: Desertfox on August 17, 2007, 07:18:52 AM
Quantity has a quality all of its own.

Especially in a theater like the Gulf of Mexico, where range is not an issue.
Short cruise distances and really short-duration missions (like the pre-WWI Hochseeflote) mean that cruising range and accommodations can be skimped upon a bit in order to make the ship smaller and cheaper, without sacrificing too much in the way of combat capability.

Desertfox · August 17, 2007, 01:08:48 PM

Found my own design. Very similar except my design sacrifices seakeeping for speed. Do you need Excellent Seakeeping in the Gulf? Also mine has the TTs fixed on the sides instead of on twin centerline mounts.

Fritz II class, New Switzerland Destroyer laid down 1909

Displacement:
470 t light; 487 t standard; 545 t normal; 592 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
251.22 ft / 250.00 ft x 21.00 ft x 9.00 ft (normal load)
76.57 m / 76.20 m x 6.40 m x 2.74 m

Armament:
2 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1909 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on centreline ends, evenly spread
2 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (1x2 guns), 1.95lbs / 0.88kg shells, 1909 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mount
on centreline aft, all raised guns - superfiring
4 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1909 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 68 lbs / 31 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
4 - 19.7" / 500.38 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Direct drive, 2 shafts, 14,775 shp / 11,022 Kw = 30.00 kts
Range 2,400nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 105 tons

Complement:
56 - 73

Cost:
£0.064 million / $0.256 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 9 tons, 1.6 %
Armour: 2 tons, 0.4 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 2 tons, 0.4 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 289 tons, 53.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 162 tons, 29.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 75 tons, 13.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 9 tons, 1.7 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
132 lbs / 60 Kg = 4.1 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.17
Metacentric height 0.6 ft / 0.2 m
Roll period: 11.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.28
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.00

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.404
Length to Beam Ratio: 11.90 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 15.81 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 67 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 70
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
- Forecastle (25 %): 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
- Mid (50 %): 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
- Stern: 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
- Average freeboard: 10.08 ft / 3.07 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 184.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 57.5 %
Waterplane Area: 3,239 Square feet or 301 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 38 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 22 lbs/sq ft or 108 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.50
- Longitudinal: 2.22
- Overall: 0.58
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

Mis weight:
5t WIDAR
4t Torpedoes

Carthaginian · August 17, 2007, 01:47:43 PM

Excellent seakeeping was just a side effect of the hull lines.
It was so unintentional that I actually got a giggle out of it.
All I was trying to do was keep the forward gun crew dry. 8)

Speed on this ship was limited by two factors:
1.) weight - a key design requirement was that the ship was to use the least amount of materials as possible, in order to allow for a large production run while producing the least disruption to other projects already underway (i.e. not slowing up my Nuevo Leon's any more than necessary). This, by necessity, limited the weight of the ship and thus weight of the engines that I could install.
2.) hull size - the hull size was governed not so much by speed, but by other factors: carrying 4 torpedoes on minimum space, carrying a short-range Marconi transmitter, and a theoretical 2000 mile range of action (was to be 2400, but was lowered). A minimum gun armament (sufficient to threaten other destroyers in the neighborhood) was then added to the design. Only with all these requirements met did I go after speed.

Since the ship was meant more as a torpedo launch platform than a torpedo-boat destroyer outfitted with torpedoes, I chose 28 knots for a desired top speed. This would give it sufficient speed to run down any capital ship in the world without generating excessive expense. It would also place it on par with most other destroyers in the area, giving it a decent chance of fleeing a forced engagement. I couldn't quite get it to the desired speed, but I did manage to get it fast enough to make any destroyer around think twice about getting into an extended tail-chase with her. I think Rock Doc has a new oil-fired DD planned that beats her out by about ⁷/₁₀ of a knot... which means that unless his ship get lucky and knock out my engines, it ain't gonna catch mine without dedicating a hard day's work towards the job. Also, considering that many of the destroyers in service in the world are still coal-fired designs, that means the enemy's stokers are gonna be dropping dead of exhaustion long before they can get into good gun range.

The centerline rotating torpedo mounts are for a reason as well. This ship- being designed as primarily a torpedo delivery system- needs the most flexibility that can be provided to her primary weapons. Rotating tubes mean that I can fire the torpedoes in most any direction I need to. That gives me a small advantage over your ship. Your design has to be pointing straight at your target, and can only begin to turn after the torpedoes have cleared you bows. My design can begin to turn while still firing her torpedoes, meaning I get to stay a couple of hundred yards farther out from my target... meaning that I'm a couple of hundred yards farther from her guns. In the days of manually aimed guns, those yards are precious. I've fired at long-range targets (aprox 1 mile, long range for a ground-pounder) with both a 40mm Mk 19 grenade launcher and a .50 caliber BMG; at that kind of range, you notice that the target 9 football fields away is MUCH easier to hit than the one 10 football fields away... and the one 12 football fields away is hard to SEE, much less hit.

So, there are my reasons for designing her the way I did.
Hopefully, I won't have to see the design tested in battle, because I'll probably be dead wrong... but they seemed like good, sound, rational decisions at the time. ;)

Carthaginian · August 17, 2007, 01:58:51 PM

Just a word on the design's FLAWS:

Borys noted that she's a single-screw ship, and this causes problems- especially with low-speed handling. She has paired rudders to help limit the steering problems. She probably still needs help getting away from the pier, but this is nothing that a very cheap ICE powered boat (which would be so small and light as to be almost impossible to sim) cannot accomplish. Heck, a simple sloop-rigged shrimp boat with an axillary gas engine could do the job.

I might even sim a small tug, just for the heck of it, because of this need. :D

Korpen · August 17, 2007, 02:04:19 PM

Quote from: Carthaginian on August 17, 2007, 01:47:43 PM
So, there are my reasons for designing her the way I did.
Hopefully, I won't have to see the design tested in battle, because I'll probably be dead wrong... but they seemed like good, sound, rational decisions at the time. ;)

Great post!
It is always fun and interesting to hear what thinking is behind different designs and what lead up the compromises that was made.

However afraid that I do not have a lot of feedback on the designs themselves, they are both quite solid (I would have preferred more guns, but that is just me).