Shipbucket

This was done for an AU that will likely go no further, so I decided to display this design here. Originally, the AU was supposed to be a sizable former British colony located in place of either Ascension or St. Helena, but I realized such a place wouldn't really need much of a navy, beyond a couple of good GP designs, and some OPVs--hardly worth opening up a special AU thread for, so I give you this:



It was suggested I put the "Egg" on the front mast instead, but that would have relegated the radar to the aft mast, and I'd prefer not to have it blocked, (granted, that's the situation with the Van Speijks) so I installed two instead, one for the gun forward.

The RAM installation would have been the newest upgrade of those shown. I figure all 4 of the class would have participated in the Falklands campaign, (where they operated in otherwise present configuration) and based on experience there, would have been added when it became available around 1985.

I realize the 40mm "Boffins" are old, but when the Falklands conflict broke out, they were sent scurrying around for whatever could be dug up quickly, and that was the best available, and afterwards, they sorta stayed on.

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We can't stop here--this is Bat country!

If it's close enough to cast a shadow, I think the flying house wins initiative.

Bronies are like the Forsworn. Everyone agrees that they are a problem but nobody wants to expend the energy rooting them out.

"That is a very graphic analogy which aids understanding wonderfully while being, strictly speaking, wrong in every possible way."

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Realized that in addition to the expense of the second egg, there is space (and cost!) issue as well, so here's my modified version.

Blast shield added, just in case--be bad if the RAM launcher accidently cooked off the Harpoons. Probably not too likely, but why chance it?

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We can't stop here--this is Bat country!

If it's close enough to cast a shadow, I think the flying house wins initiative.

Bronies are like the Forsworn. Everyone agrees that they are a problem but nobody wants to expend the energy rooting them out.

"That is a very graphic analogy which aids understanding wonderfully while being, strictly speaking, wrong in every possible way."

Thinking about it, I am curious, how would Sea Sparrow and Tak-120 fared in the Falklands? Older systems to be sure, but perhaps more reliable than Sea Wolf and Sea Dart? I know the radar is better than on some RN DDGs--they had those mattress looking things from way back for the most part.

I figure a combo of Sea Sparrow, TAK-120 and Stinger would probably be effective at keeping away Argentinian A-4s, since assuming the vessels operate in pairs, they could put up a lot more credible AA defence against low flying aircraft than probably most other RN vessels at the time.

_________________
We can't stop here--this is Bat country!

If it's close enough to cast a shadow, I think the flying house wins initiative.

Bronies are like the Forsworn. Everyone agrees that they are a problem but nobody wants to expend the energy rooting them out.

"That is a very graphic analogy which aids understanding wonderfully while being, strictly speaking, wrong in every possible way."

I like these mods, looks pretty credible, especially the second drawing with the one 'egg'.
I think there would be ample single Bofors Mk6 mounts around to not need to mount Boffins. I've no objections though, its your AU and less outlandish than many AU weapon fits.

RAM is surely a little late for the Falklands? Sea Sparrow is an interesting idea though, had the British followed-through with the supersonic Sea Cat 2 then it may have offered a similar capability.

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Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

The RAM was added in 1985 when it became operational. The rest of the ship was pretty much the same, though. I agree, the Boffins aren't the greatest weapon in existance, but I liked the look of the mount, and it's easy to imagine some of them stored in a remote warehouse in the middle of the South Atlantic, forgotten until someone in a panic goes digging for anything available. Some RN vessels had to make due with even less; 20mm Okerlikons of like vintage, IIRC.

The reason I asked the above question, was I recall reading Sea Cat was praised for its reliability, if not effectiveness over newer systems. Sea Sparrow is quite a leap in comparison, so should have been a rather good performer in such a scenario. Lastly, I'd think the TAK, due to its high ROF would have been better than the 114mm.

Stinger would have been carried by marine detachments as a last ditch, cheap SAM though it did not otherwise see wide use at the time, being comparatively new, and expensive.

_________________
We can't stop here--this is Bat country!

If it's close enough to cast a shadow, I think the flying house wins initiative.

Bronies are like the Forsworn. Everyone agrees that they are a problem but nobody wants to expend the energy rooting them out.

"That is a very graphic analogy which aids understanding wonderfully while being, strictly speaking, wrong in every possible way."

The Approach for the lynx would have been interesting and not popular

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"There was nothing wrong with Titanic when she left the Shipyard" Tim McGarry Belfast Comedian

I see your point--the Harpoon cannisters need to go back a few meters, the blast shield moving correspondlingly.

I likely will replace the Boffins with some Dardo or Fast-40s for late 1980s-1990s. These things would still likely be in service today, money for replacements being hard to come by, so I'll come up with some other upgrades.

_________________
We can't stop here--this is Bat country!

If it's close enough to cast a shadow, I think the flying house wins initiative.

Bronies are like the Forsworn. Everyone agrees that they are a problem but nobody wants to expend the energy rooting them out.

"That is a very graphic analogy which aids understanding wonderfully while being, strictly speaking, wrong in every possible way."

Great update's:D why dont you try a 76mm instead of this gun? its fast , modern and not that expensive.

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Vi coactus
Door geweld gedwongen
Forced by violence
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Caption signing treaty with England by Johan de Witt

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The TAK-120 fires 80 RPM, outranges the 76mm, and fires a 120mm shell weighing 77lbs, opposed to the lighter 76mm weapon. That's plenty enough to do its duties. That aside, I've seen the 76mm mounting on the former Van Speijks (sp?) and it looks just wrong, besides appearing small and dinky in a place that was designed for a bigger gun, it needs a pedestal/platform to raise it for a clear field of forward fire over that raised forecastle, further contributing to the ugliness.

I see no reason not to love the TAK, assuming ample spares were purchased, or are otherwise available for it. If it did need to be replaced, I figure that either the Italian 127mm lightweight mount would go there, or ESSM as part of a comprehensive upgrade.

_________________
We can't stop here--this is Bat country!

If it's close enough to cast a shadow, I think the flying house wins initiative.

Bronies are like the Forsworn. Everyone agrees that they are a problem but nobody wants to expend the energy rooting them out.

"That is a very graphic analogy which aids understanding wonderfully while being, strictly speaking, wrong in every possible way."

The class as updated in the 1990s to the present. Their replacements, currently building, are MEK0 A-200 class. One vessel is likely to become a museum, another become a training vessel, with the current hangar area devoted to classrooms and/or accomodations. The third, and one in best condition may go to the reserves, while the last one is likely to provide spare parts for the remaining pair. All of the vessels will be replaced on a 1 for 1 basis, staying in service until their replacements are commissioned.

_________________
We can't stop here--this is Bat country!

If it's close enough to cast a shadow, I think the flying house wins initiative.

Bronies are like the Forsworn. Everyone agrees that they are a problem but nobody wants to expend the energy rooting them out.

"That is a very graphic analogy which aids understanding wonderfully while being, strictly speaking, wrong in every possible way."