Shipbucket

Something I have been toying with for several months while other projects have taken precedence.

HMAS Oceania was laid down at the Newcastle Royal Dockyards in November 1939. The design was to be larger than the RN Lion class as Australis had received notification that the Japanese giants were going to be over 50,000 tons with 16" guns or larger. The original design was for a 55,000 ton ship to carry 12x16" rifles. The final design showed a 58,500 ton ship with heavy secondary and tertiary armaments to back up the main armament. Aircraft were carried in the US fashion with a large hangar in the stern of the vessel using a lift to access.

The ship was finally launched in 1943 and went for fitting out. In mid 1944 an express order went to complete the ship within 12 months. Oceania was commissioned in March 1945 with trials and working up completing in May 1945. Oceanias first war cruise left Sydney Harbour in June 1945. The ship went to the British Pacific Fleet and was Flagship of the Australis contingent.

Nice but,
- would the stern Aircraft not just be a mass of AA ? (IE all aircraft replaced with 40mm as in RN practise ?)
- would it use budges ? (KVG/Lion/Van didn't ?) (sorry if they are not bulges )

JSB

Hey Kraka
I think you've left off the 40mm abreast of B turret!

JSB 1, No, 2, that's the armoured belt apparently.

Rusel, Quite correct, my mistake, I will fix it.


Like Davids Jean Bart, the completion date would allow for the Oceania to go through a BBG conversion. This would be a US systems conversion given Australis' closeness to the US after the end of WW2. Though a second conversion with Sea Slug and UK radar might be a nice alternative drawing as well.

Nice credit I got.

Btw. I have drawn so many ships that I can't recognize what you are crediting me for.

The bow of the overhead is all yours Heuhen, from your 'Awesome BB'

An interesting design, but I must admit is has some ugly features, buts its certainly a capable beast.

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

Hmm... Not to be "that guy", but I wonder if this ship would win against Yamato.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich." -Napoleon Bonaparte
"Dulce bellum inexpertis." (War is sweet to those who have never fought.)

Algin,
Short answer is 'Yes'. Longer answer is that the Allied fire control systems by 1945 were so far in advance of the Japanese that Yamato was almost blind in comparison. Having big guns does not mean they will hit your opposition. The only way Yamato may have done any good is with a lucky hit. But the lucky hit scenario is more likely to favour the Oceania as well, as it would hit Yamato many more times to give it the chance of a 'lucky' hit.

I wonder ( not to sound ridiridiculous or again, be "that guy") how this ship would fare in combat with the Montana. Its probably a more even playing field as compared to the Yamato. Just a little thought exercise.