Shipbucket

I'm still on a bit of a submarine spree following the last challenge, so I've decided to update, or more completely redraw from scratch, the Collins-class drawing to something more accurate (at least according to the few drawings I could find).

Collins-class Submarine



A class of six submarines in service with the Royal Australian Navy, the Collins-class replaced the obsolescent Oberon-class submarines from 1996. Planning for the design began in the late-1970s and carried on into the 1980s, with construction beginning in 1990. The class is effectively an enlarged Vastergotland-class submarine, though this approach, along with some major project management issues, led to a number of significant technical difficulties that left the class struggling in service right through to the early-2010s. A new maintenance and full-cycle docking plan, along with a number of modifications, has fixed many of these problems, with more upgrades to be carried out on the class to ensure they can remain in service into the 2030s, after which they shall be replaced by the Attack-class of submarines.

Beautiful work on the Collins - class! I love the shading in particular. In the late ‘80s the Canadian government briefly explored the idea of a joint procurement program with the Aussies to replace their own Oberon - class boats; it’s a pity that the idea didn’t go any further. From what I understand, the Collins - class has evolved past some pretty steep hurdles in their early life to become a very formidable fleet of submarines.

More of a redraw than a new one. The original(s) didn't seem quite right.

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AU Projects: | Banbha et al. | New England: The Divided States
Blood and Fire

Even though this one has been drawn before, I just could not resist temptation. Just for fun, and for this challenge alone, I drew the USS South Carolina BB-26; the first US dreadnought.

The US started working on an all-big gun battleship as early as 1902. The design was finalized in 1905 and laid down in december 1906, a year later than HMS Dreadnought. The South Carolina was optimised for the line of battle, having an all-centerline mounted turrets with turrets B and C superfiring over turrets A and D. This meant that the South Carolinas broadside was just as heavy as HMS Dreadnought, despite having two guns less. The South Carolina was rather small, even when compared to some of the contemporary pre-dreadnoughts with a total length of just 138 meters. The small size, and heavy armor and taking into account for the heavier triple vertical expansion steam engines, the South Carolina had a low top speed of just 18,5 knots. This meant that the South Carolina, and the Michigan never operated with other dreadnoughts, instead they sailed along side the older pre-dreadnoughts, conducting secondary missions away from the "frontlines." The South Carolina had an uneventful carreer, being decommisioned in 1922, as per Washington Naval Treaty. The South Carolina would set a new standard, especially with the US Navy that never built a dreadnought type battleship with wing turrets that was so common among European navies, who also avoided using superfiring turrets for over five years.



USS South Carolina as she appeared in 1918 having received a minor rebuild to her conning tower and spotting tops. The platforms for the search lights now wrap around the cage masts and the search lights on top of the cranes have been replaced with the 3"/50 AA gun.

Japanese fast-Battleship Kirishima

As commissioned in 1915:


as of 1916:

By 1916 Kirishima had recieved her full equipment of 90 and 110cm searchlights, sighting hoods on the turrets, a 4.5m rotating rangefinder for the n°2 main gun turret, bridge wing extensions, four small spotter platforms on the fore tripod mast, a retractable 3,5m rangefinder on the bridge, slight mofications on the aft tripod starfish and minor extra equipment.

As of 1920:

By 1920 all main guns had recieved canvas bags and 8cm training guns, searchlights were rearranged with the addition of an extra platform on the foremast and by extending the aft flying bridge. The spotter platforms were enlarged, enclosed and turned into secondary battery command stations. The original low-angle 76mm guns were replaced with four hig-angle models, fitted on raised platforms.

As of 1924:

Between December 1923 and September 1924 Kirishima underwent her first, smaller scale, refit: the forward tripod topmast was reduced in height and the forward spotting top enlarged. Extra platforms housing fire-control equipment and stations were added to the tripod mast by building up the starfish and deleting the former searchlight platform. Two 3,5m rangefinders for the secondary battery were also added. The four secondary battery command stations on the tipod legs were modified, the upper ones was deleted and turned into searchlight platforms, the lower ones were doubled in size. Two large searchlight towers were added between the birdge and the forefunnel. Main battery guns also had their maximum elevation increased from 20 to 33°.

As of 1930:

Between May 1927 and April 1930 Kirishima went through her first major modernization: Deck armor was increased to 80mm over machinery and 120mm over magazines. Turret armor was increased to 152mm and barbette armor below the main deck was strengthened to 152mm as well. Two antenna towers were added on top of turret 2 and 3, which also had their older 4m rangefinders replaced by newer 8m ones. The forward tripod topmast was deleted altogether, to make space for a LA director and RDF equipment. New 3,5m rangefinders for the secondary battery was fitted, and new platforms for command and lookout stations added to the tripod mast creating the usual Japanese pagoda effect. The compass bridge level was partially enclosed and extended aft to include a lookout platform and a flag station. A 4,5m rangefinder for secondary battery fire control was added on a platform above the conning tower, the lower secondary battery command stations were deleted while the lower bridge level was extended aft, supported by lattice platforms. The two forward 76mm guns were relocated at deck level to make space for an elevated set of platforms housing a lookout tower and an open 4,5m rangefinder each. The original searchlight towers were removed and replaced by a single standalone two-level one. The forward funnel was removed altogether, while funnels 2 and 3 were removed and replaced with a larger and taller one in the first case and a smaller one in the latter. Torpedo bulges were added on the hull, increasing beam for 29 to 31m and four of the eight original underwater torpedo tubes were removed. The scupper pipes were extended and the elevated boat deck was increased in size, allowing to fit new enlarged ventilators for the boiler rooms at deck level. The aft flying bridge was expanded both forward and aft with new enclosed deckhouses and fitted with an open 3,5m rangefinder. A derrick for aircraft handling was added aft of turret 3 to operate a single a single Yokosuka EY3 reconnaissance floatplane. All anti-torpedo-net equipment was removed.

As of 1934:

Between late 1932 and early 1933 Kirishima recieved another small-scale refit, during which the four single 76mm anti-air guns were replaced four twin 127mm mounts. Also, the aircraft-handling deck was expanded in size, in order to allow the ship to carry up to three Nakajima E4N seaplanes. A Kure n°2 catapult was also embarked. Further modifications were made to turret 4, which recieved a much larger radio antenna tower (turret 3 also had its one upgraded), and the aft superstructure, which was slightly enlarged and recieved a set of maneuvering lights on the flying bridge. The midship spotting platforms were modified as well, fitting an enclosed lookout post and a Type91 HA director coupled with a 4,5m rangefinder for the 127mm guns fire-control. two twin 40mm machine guns were fitted at midship, leading to modifications of the scupper pipes. The forward pagoda also had the lower lattice supports being plated over to both protect it from gun blast and also to fit extra stairs for the upper levels. The top of the mainmast was shortened significantly. Finally, piping on the funnels was modified and the paravane equipment upgraded.

As of 1937:

Between November 1934 and June 1936 Kirishima went through her second major modernization. During the works all of her boilers were replaced, the stern lenghtened by 7,5m and the bow line reshaped for an increased top speed of 30knots. The second starboard anchor and capstan was removed. The forward pagoda bridge was extensively modified and expanded to house an extensive array of fire control systems. This included a Type94 10m rangefinder and a type94 director for the main guns, two Type94 4,5m rangefinders for the secondary guns, observation and direction controllers, target tracing, Type94 secondary gun directors, 1,5m navigational rangefinders, searchlight directors, RDF equipment, Type90 radio antennas, 60cm signaling searchlights, navigation lights, morse deck lamps and a plethora of 12 and 8cm binoculars. Also fitted were six twin 25mm machine gun positions. The searchlight platform was expanded around the forefunnel, now housing six 110cm searchlights and two Type95 machine gun directors. The two twin 40mm machine guns at deck level were replaced by two twin 25mm ones. The aft searchlight platform on the mainmast was moved to a higher position and fitted with two Type95 machine gun directors. The entire topmast was removed along with most of the starfish and replaced with a much smaller one. height of the aft funnel was increased substantially as to make it as tall as the forward one. The aft superstructure was completely enclosed and streamlined and fitted with an auxiliary Type94 director, two Type94 4,5m rangefinders and an enclosed lookout positions. The aircraft handling area was further expanded with the catapult moved aft an on centerline. The original derrick was removed and replaced by a foldable 4-ton crane on the port side. The airwing was upgraded to two Nakajima E8N and one Kawanishi E7K. Armament-wise, the 140mm casemated guns had their elevation increased to 30° while the forwardmost pair was landed. The main gun elevation increased to a maximum of 43°.

As of 1941:

By the start of the war Kirishima had recieved a degaussing cable, two extra twin 25mm machine gun mounts and an anti-aircaft command platform on top of her pagoda tower. The starfish on the mainmast was deleted. Turret faces and barbettes recieved additional armor plates.

As of 1942:

Wartime modifications before her loss were minimal but still happened: The floatplane complement was upgraded from one E7K and two E8N to one E13A and two F1M. Minor modification were also made on the director plaform at midship, the aft searchlight platforms were raised and the 25mm machine guns at midship were raised onto a new platform to improve their firing arcs.
In this fit she took part in the first an second naval battle of Guadalcanal. During the latter she damaged the USS South Dakota befor being crippled by gunfire from the USS Washington, eventually sinking (because of damage or by being scuttled) at 03:25 on the morning of 15 November 1942.

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My Worklist
Sources and documentations are the most welcome.

-Koko Kyouwakoku (Republic of Koko)
-Koko's carrier-based aircrafts of WWII
-Koko Kaiun Yuso Kaisha - KoKaYu Line (Koko AU spinoff)
-Koko - Civil Aviation

Absolutely impressive, all of you here right now have taken less than a week to complete a real design drawing, which even if you were halfway done is still fast. And all of them are good!

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w o r k l i s t :
Hatsuyuki-class Escort Ships . . . <3

Excellent work on all these drawings, guys!

Armoured man: Great to see some WWII German DDs on the forum!

BB1987: ...Words fail me. You've outdone yourself yet again, my friend!

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MS State Guard - 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

The Official IJN Ships & Planes List

#FJB

Project 22800 Karakurt Class Corvette
Type : Guided missile corvette

Planned : 18 ships

The first two ships were fitted with a pair AK-630M's CIWS.



The Third vessel and all other after it were equipped with a single Pantsir M CIWS which was equipped with HERMES K missile which replaced the AK-630's.



The fourth vessel was seen equipped with new Radar systems.

Awesome!

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MS State Guard - 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

The Official IJN Ships & Planes List

#FJB

My entry is a surprising omission from the Royal Navy ships in the archive, the Black Swan class sloop.



This ship is HMS Starling, which became the most successful anti-submarine vessel in the Royal Navy, being credited with the destruction of 14 U-boats. She was a Modified Black Swan, of wartime design.
She is depicted here as of 1943. Luckily Kim had already completed a crest for her!
Deceptively complicated I thought I could complete this in one sitting but its taken about 18-20 hours of work.

More Black Swans may emerge later but given the huge amount of differences between the ships and their various refits etc., it will be a large job.

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