Refits

[KWorld]

I was looking at updating the USN's "New York" class ACs, installing new more efficient engines, a wireless, and perhaps updating the secondary armament.  Then I checked the price, and it seemed relatively reasonable.  So, I thought, lets see about some of the old PCs, like the Madison and New Orleans classes.  Whoops!  Because their engines are a much larger percentage of the ship, the costs are a LOT higher in relation to the cost of the ship.  I guess that won't be happening, just wear the old ships out and replace them with something better and newer.

[Tanthalas]

Yup you will find that extensive refits can be/are cost prohibitive on older ships, generaly my rule is pre startup ships are just to be worn out then scraped.

[KWorld]

Heh, it's not so much the age, from what I'm seeing, it's the percentage of the hull.  With New York, the engines aren't that big a chunk of the whole ship (less than 30% after refit).  That still means a cost of 2*30% + 20% (in $, it's not as bad in IP), but it's better than paying more than the cost of the ship which you do when the ship has 40% or more of it's displacement in the engine spaces.

[Jefgte]

Perso, I limit the refit 10yo ships, not older, to have 20 more useful years.

IMO, 1901 is too early to refit 1895 cruisers.


Jef