I had been working on these before Rowdy put up his 14" battleships so it seems only fitting to actually finish them for posting. As ever, only late war illustrations because the bulk of stuff I do is 43-45 sort of period for WW2.
There's probably some fine detailing to do so nowhere near the standards of
BB1987 or
Garlic Design
- The 14" guns elevate to 45 degrees have a range of ~45,000yds and were capable of firing US or domestic projectiles.
- The 5.1" DP guns use Rowdy's lovely turrets and are NOT RN 5.25" guns but a domestic design.
- The 23mm and 30mm Hispanos are both OTL designs but perfect for use in the AU
Ealga Class Fast Battleship
Ealga and Etain shown in late 1944 and early 1945 conditions for the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Shown in 1944 the pair retained their overall blue scheme as an air-defence measure but by early 1945 both had been repainted into the now standard blue and two-tone grey scheme.
By 1944 both ships had landed their aircraft and had structures fitted amidships to increase accommodation and workspace as well as providing a boat platform and freeing up topside space for increased anti-aircraft armament.
With three out of the four Kongos sunk at this point their whole reason for being ceased to exist and as such they found themselves ever increasingly operating as carrier escorts for Inflexible and Incoercible as well as coming in close to shore to provide gunfire support to troops on the ground.
Specifications as designed unless stated otherwise.
HMGS Ealga - EA (1940)
HMGS Etain - ET (1940)
Dimensions in feet and inches, weights in tons
Dimensions
Length PP: 730ft
Length OA: 770ft
Beam (Max): 104ft
Draught (Mean): 28ft
Power + Speed
Power (Normal): 130,000SHP
Power (Forced): 143,000SHP
Speed (Clean): 30kts
Total Fuel Capacity: 4,000tons
Vertical Armour
Magazines
- Belt (Above WL) 15"
- Belt (Below WL) 15"
Machinery
- Belt (Above WL): 14"
- Belt (Below WL): 14"
Non-Citadel
- Belt (Above WL): 12" tapering to 10"
- Belt (Below WL): 10" tapering to 8"
Horizontal Armour
Magazines
- Main Deck: 7"
- Lower Deck: Splinter Protection
Machinery
- Main Deck: 6"
- Lower Deck: Splinter Protection
Non-Citadel
- Main Deck Splinter Protection
- Lower Deck 5"
Bulkheads: 12"
Barbettes
Main Guns Barbettes: 14"
DP Guns Barbettes: 2"
Turret Armour
Main Guns
Turret Front: 12"
- Turret Side: 9"
- Turret Rear: 6"
- Turret Roof: 6"
DP Guns
Turret Front: 4"
- Turret Side: 3"
- Turret Rear: 2"
- Turret Roof: 2"
Torpedo Defence System
- Triple-bottom under machinery and magazines with double-bottom elsewhere
- Compartmented into 28 watertight compartments
- Water-filled internal bulges between lower belt and torpedo belt
Torpedo Bulkhead: 1.75"
Conning Tower
Back + Front: 3"
Sides: 3"
Floor + Roof: 3"
Conning Tower Trunks: 2"
Director Trunks: 2"
Funnel Uptakes 1"
Splinter Shields: 1"
Weights (Est.)
General Equipment: 1,200tons
Machinery: 3,200tons
Armament: 6,000tons
Armour: 14,000tons
Hull: 13,500tons
Total: 37,900tons - Stated to treaty signatories as 35,000tons
Armament
1944
Main Armament: 9x14"/50 (3x3)
DP Armament: 16x 5.1"/40 (8x2)
AA Armament:
- 64x 23mm x122 L70 HS.407 Cannon in single and twin mounts
- 16x 30mm x170 L75 HS.411 Cannon in quad mounts
- 48x 40mm x311/56 Bofors in stabilised twin mounts and US-pattern quad mounts
- Numerous 13.2mm x99 and 7mm x57 machine guns
1945
Main Armament: 9x14"/50 (3x3)
DP Armament: 16x 5.1"/40 (8x2)
AA Armament:
- 48x 23mm x122 L70 HS.407 Cannon in single and twin mounts
- 48x 30mm x170 L75 HS.411 Cannon in quad mounts
- 56x 40mm x311/56 Bofors in stabilised twin mounts and US-pattern quad mounts
- Numerous 13.2mm x99 and 7mm x57 machine guns
That's all for now.
~Mark.