Worse than Madness?

[Korpen]

Beats me.  If she gets any smaller, the recoil effect becomes a problem.  On the other hand, one could probably develop and swap in a single 12" instead.

There's the little problem of NZ not being on such good terms with GC's Iberian allies, however.

Is there anyone that NZ has NOT managed to antagonise?
Of course helped by the NZ taking no steps to end its walk in the desert.

[The Rock Doctor]

NZ hasn't antagonized GC directly*, but GC values its relationship with Iberia somewhat more than its does a relationship with NZ.



*Incomplete investigations into papal demises notwithstanding

[P3D]

I'd move the big gun aft. The turret makes the ship definitely bow-heavy.

Korpen's powered floating battery does not need fire control, just a single rangefinder. Anyways, if there are any waves around, the pitching and rolling of the ship would make accurate aiming impossible except in very calm waters.

I vaguely recall reading on the net' that dead-end firing was much less accurate, as the roll of the ship induced a significant error in elevation and training - even if you fire on the roll.

[Desertfox]

There's the little problem of NZ not being on such good terms with GC's Iberian allies, however.

There's a simple solution to that. Just don't give the ship enough fuel to reach any Iberian possesions from NZ. ;)

[The Bushranger]

Hmm...I really like this one, Rocky. :D

[The Rock Doctor]

I don't know whether to be pleased or alarmed.

[Carthaginian]

Drop two of those in the Gulf, sir, and the CSA would have fits, and the UNK would see nothing but visions of 50 dead merchants for every one you set loose on the Atlantic. I daresay that you'd actually see us have to invent a new class of ship, simply to sink them.

[The Rock Doctor]

I think Guinness told me something similar - and while that was very tempting, my need for more straight-forward cruisers precludes a bout or two of Madness. 

For now, anyway.

[Desertfox]

Hey, both me an Swampy agreed that you need this ship. What could possibly go wrong?  ;D

[Carthaginian]

The UNK can understand that pretty well... though it is contemplating a bit if madness here and there.

[The Rock Doctor]

Staid, stiff-upper-lip UNK contemplating madness?  Say it ain't so.

Hey, both me an Swampy agreed that you need this ship. What could possibly go wrong? 

*Destroys all plans and disappears anybody ever connected to the design process*

[Carthaginian]

Staid, stiff-upper-lip UNK contemplating madness?  Say it ain't so.

Hey, if there isn't a little madness in one's building plan, what fun is it?
Hey, if we could only be designing pre-dreadnought ships... now, THERE is the time for true design madness! Before everybody decided that you had to have a 1) big ship, 2) a fast ship or a 3) big, fast ship there was actually a lot of room for experimentation.

[The Rock Doctor]

You've got a point there.  Too bad GC was spending most of its energies building the Darien Canal back then.

I've got a couple of real abominations in "development hell" right now - one of these days, you'll be subjected to get to see them.

[mentat]

I like the design a lot - how about a squadron of these working together:

Based on this design of 'Fast Attack Ship' - 3 different versions

Fast Attack Squadron:

1 Command Ship - 6 7.5 inch   6 4 inch 6  TTs  Some light armour

3 Gun Ships  - 2 11 inch  6 5.5 inch  6 TTs  No armour

2 Torpedo Attack Ships - 6 5.5 inch 18 TTs Some light armour - esp for TTs

Attack formation is 2-1-3  -  2 TT Attack Ships, Command Ship, 3 Big Gun Ships

If they work together they can demolish any Light forces ( they have to come through multi-layer gun defence of 11 inch, 7.5 inch, 5.5 inch ) and threaten anything bigger with both TTS and Heavy Guns

Would certainly mix things up vs conventional Light Forces of CLs DDs TBs etc  ;)

On combined tonnage of 30 k tons (= to a Large BC) - you get more useful strike power, multiple platform resilience and much greater flexibility in both attack and defence

The 6 11 inch can also be used for Coastal  Attack - hit Enemy Bases etc at Night

Same ship would also make a great Fast Minelayer - 5 5.5 inch 100+ Mines No armour and maybe 30 knots

[P3D]

A mere two large caliber guns cannot utilize one of the two main advantage of large caliber - range. You won't be able to spot, so their utility against other ships would be limited.

Multilayered gun defense means only that there will be difficulty distinguishing splashed from different ships and calibers.