Shipbucket

Sorry, busy the last few days.

I like all three designs. I note that the ten 12-inch version with turbines is not only a knot faster but has greater range as well. That's the version I'd go with but, as you mention, you have issues with turbine reliability.

The eight 13.5-inch version isn't bad, basically a slower but cheaper "Lion". I got the impression from your designs you were trying to keep size and cost down and these are good designs given those constraints.

Yeah the turbine design does have a shorter belt if I remember correctly as well as slightly better performance but historically in this AU Steam Turbines were slow in development and the first reliable designs available to Sieran weren't until 1910. Until that date effectively all vessels continued to use triple expansion engines.

As for the 13.5 inch version, that was what I had in mind. Effectively taking the early super-dreadnoughts like the Lion and Orion but scaling them down so that they would fit the existing port facilities.

On an alternate note, I've been thinking I might scrap the current Anadyr class battleship design I have in favour of something more compact like these would be. Sieran after all has only a tiny population of under 5 million so she can't afford a large fleet but at the same time she has to defend her trade routes to America from the IJN.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Small nations do have their own problems. I deliberately designed mine (Erwhon) with a number of problems including only having a very small pool of recruits, meaning only a small fleet is practical. This and other issues force me to have to make design choices I'd otherwise not have to make. Which is good, otherwise my navy would consist solely of 1905 versions of USS Montana..

Indeed they do. In Sierans case the recruit pool is small but enough to man the available ships (at the expense of the Army which is small as current doctrine dictates that the Navy is the primary offensive and defensive branch of the defense forces. For my restraints I have to keep in mind who the 'natural' enemy is (Japan thanks to Tsushima where the nucleus of our Navy both vessels and officers survived from), limited oil refining capability (requiring coal to either remain the dominant fuel source or to have double-acting boilers), limited engineering capability thanks to lack of experienced naval designers, small shipyard facilities and the ever present ice which requires all vessels to have ice-strengthened hulls.

I've actually been thinking about how it would be best to defend Trade routes cheaply and I keep reverting to the German 'Pocket Battleship' designs as they were about the right size and more than enough for escort purposes as well as taking part in any fleet engagements. The guns might need to be down-sized though if I were to do that.

Speaking of AUs, would you be interested in joining this one? I'm tying to find other nations to join in this time period for what is essentially an alternate-universe Earth where most nations are the same other than some small differences (Russian Empire fragmented into smaller nations, Empires not quite as large and such.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Been a while in the making but here it is, the Guryev Class Icebreaker.



One of the most important vessel types to Sieran, the icebreaker is essential in keeping the sealanes open during the 9 months of the year average when rivers and ports are icebound. The Guryevs, with their distinctive tumblehome hulls were designed as both civil and naval use icebreakers.

Uncomfortable in open seas, the Guryevs nevertheless provided an essential service often overlooked by budget planners and citizens alike. The Guryevs were progressively upgraded throughout their years of service despite them being outclassed in size in their later years by newer designs.

The last Guryev was not retired until the 1970s.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

An 1890's style icebreaker certainly isn't something that shows up in a lot of people's AUs.

...I might have to keep that one in mind for my AU (which operates in close enough to where Antarctic expeditions would be worthwhile)

Well I wanted it to look like an early 20th Century icebreaker so I'm glad it was recognizable as one.
Yeah I had great difficulty finding shipbucket pics of them (only found two actually in my searches) so they must not be as 'exciting' as warships. I like them though as they have a character of their own.

For Antarctic expeditions you would certainly want at least one, though probably of a much larger scale than these Guryevs.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Nice. Slap a couple of 3in guns on her and she'll be able to pull double duty as a patrol boat.

_________________
“Close” only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades, and tactical nuclear weapons.
That which does not kill me has made a grave tactical error

Worklist

Source Materiel is always welcome.

I actually considered that in the original design but I had a change of heart as I wanted her to be a civilian ship that is also used by the Navy.

That said, I'm assuming having fittings for but not mounted with a 3in gun would work?

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

That would work just fine. Many warships at the time had strengthened areas for 3-6in guns.
I'd ad a small bulwark on the bow to keep the water away from the gun placement and I'd do a second drawing of her in her military guise.

_________________
“Close” only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades, and tactical nuclear weapons.
That which does not kill me has made a grave tactical error

Worklist

Source Materiel is always welcome.