Shipbucket

The Kingfisher has more elan.

Even more elan could be acquired by mounting an even older floatplane, but we don't want to overdo it.

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

The floatplane, catapult, and handling crane all kinda ruin the image of the Arleigh Burke for me, Colosseum. The paint scheme's cool, but please, leave the floatplane and associated equipment off in favor of the helicopters the design actually uses (or SH-34s, if you care to go old school).

That would be the anti-kamikaze machine from hell... until it ran out of missiles. Take quite a while to tool up a new batch of standards...

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In Hoc Signo Vinces

By This Sign You Will Conquer

Floatplanes are more efficient for shipboard use than helicopters, especially for this ship's purpose. Long-range spotting for missile attacks can be accomplished better with a Kingfisher than with a helicopter.

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

I would think that mounting a catapult on a ship of this class would be difficult, to put it mildly, Colosseum.

Now with 99% more defensive elan; note the removal of the missiles and all guidance radars bar the AEGIS system, which is of course used to control the 40mm Bofors gunfire. An advanced SK air search sits at the top of the foremast, augmented by an SP height-finding radar (essential for fighter direction) on the mainmast. Above the SK is an SG surface search set. Mk.37 gun directors control the main battery of 5"/38 dual purpose guns. Also, an advanced mine hunting vehicle designed along the lines of the Japanese Ko-Hyoteki minisub sits on the starboard rail.

Structural modifications include the addition of an armored conning tower right forward of the bridge and the addition of the mainmast. Future units will have their uptakes trunked into one funnel to clear sky arcs for the AA guns.

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

Oh, there wasn't... but how awesome would that be?

Colo, just replace both of those air search radars with an SX and it'll look better. Erik_t, I'm pretty sure it would have been very interesting.

On another note, am I the only sane person on this thread?

I think you might be missing the joke, friend.

I have a very dry sense of humor.