Antara 2.5

Shigure

Post subject: Re: Antara

Posted: July 5th, 2019, 9:07 am

Posts: 967
Joined: May 25th, 2016, 2:05 pm

Syce class destroyer

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First drawn up in late 1339, the Syce class of sixty destroyers were to be built as the successors of the Shannon class, who at the time were already under construction. Syce originated as the DD-22 class, which were intended to be smaller, cheaper and quicker-to-build versions of the very large Shannons, displacing about 2/3 of the latter's 3300 tonne displacement. At 2200 tonnes, DD-22D (the chosen variation) went 36 knots, carried 3x2 127mm/45s (as opposed to 4x2) and carried two quad 610mm launchers with reloads for the forward launcher. However as the first batch neared commissioning in early 1346, the aft torpedoes were typically replaced with additional AA.

Twenty-two vessels were laid down by two separate dockyards in late 1344 and were given their names once construction had begun, with Syce being the lead ship, named for a Medal of Honor recipient during the war. Typical of late war destroyers, many names of sunken destroyers would be reused. The first batch of destroyers were commissioned in early 1346 and would be the only vessels of her class to engage in surface combat with the ION, however they were generally not as spectacular as other classes in terms of combat record. However due to the large size of the class and late entry into the WW, they had the highest survival rate of any class of large combatant (destroyer, frigate, etc) in the navy, not that any captains wear it as a badge of honor. In total, six destroyers were lost in the WW, all to kamikazes from 1347-1348. While the various sub classes were largely the same in gun loadout - the fourth subclass were the only ships to launch with autoloading 127mm/45 Mk46s in 1348. They were a mechanical nightmare and thus only those five members used that mount in the navy.

The Syce's several subclasses are also a testament to the change in role of destroyers in the navy, becoming more specialized towards a specific role than other ships. The later batches often launched with only a single torpedo launcher and were configured primarily for air defense in one way or the other, either sporting vast amounts of AA, or being converted to radar pickets. Post-war conversions were no exception, as members were often converted either to primarily ASW, air defence or radar picket, and rarely did they have capability of all.

As a result of their young age and size, both the Shannons and Syces were chosen for heavy modernization post-war (around the late 50s, early 60s), which sought to prolong their careers in the navy. Modernization included the aforementioned specializations. Vessels like ARS J.Raymond were built as radar pickets, a sizable proportion were converted to air defense ships like ARS Ellis, and ASW such as that of ARS Myra.

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Displacement - 2200 tonnes standard
Speed - 36 knots
Range - 8000nm at 16 knots
Main battery - 3x2 127mm/45
Torpedoes - 4x1 with reloads/4x2 with reloads/none. Varies.
Air defense - various 25mm and 38mm. 76mm from 1946.
Armor - 15mm anti-fragmentation around machinery and weapon mounts/shields. 25mm turret front plate and conning tower.

Ships in class

First batch - 22 vessels - early 1346

Syce - sold to Karsig, 1359
Brooklyn - scrapped, 1370
Adams - scrapped, 1376
Sylvia - sold to Hatia, 1363
Runa - sold to Osora, 1383
Habard - scrapped, 1370
Arden - sold to Forzetta, 1357
Edwards - sold to Tsarbil, 1379
Branson - sold to Hatia, 1363
Richmond - sold to Osora, 1383
Camden - scrapped, 1378
Carrywood - sold to Etressia, 1357
Sampson - scrapped, 1378
Eastwood - scrapped, 1366
Heila - sold to Forzetta, 1367
Alice - sunk by kamikaze, 1347
Maron - sold to Heryu, 1376
Zeela - scrapped, 1378
O'connor - sold to Karsig, 1359
Sadara - sunk by kamikaze, 1348
Boice - sold to Tsarbil, 1378
Oscar - sold to Tsarbil, 1378

Second batch (C.J. Smith subclass) - 19 vessels - late 1346

C.J. Smith - scrapped, 1367
Matherson - scrapped, 1377
Vesenu - scrapped, 1362
Davenport - scrapped, 1375
Antony - sold to Tabarai, 1377
Lorraine - sold to Etressia, 1357
Philips - sunk by kamikaze, 1347
Garnier - sold to Forzetta, 1382
Harvest - scrapped, 1374
Gray - sold to Osora, 1383
Yushio - sold to Osora, 1383
Cummings - sold to Heryu, 1376
Tamzin - sold to Hatia, 1363
Carson - sold to Etressia, 1357
Southerland - sunk by kamikaze, 1348
Diedricks - scrapped, 1375
Gus - sold to Tabarai, 1375
Allen - sold to Tsarbil, 1379
Ember - sold to Karsig, 1359

Third batch (Helburg subclass) - 14 vessels - mid 1347

Helburg - scrapped, 1380
Shannon - sold to Etressia, 1357
J. Raymond - scrapped, 1372
Furrow - sunk by kamikaze, 1348
Perry - sold to Karsig, 1359
Myra - scrapped, 1351
Monica - sold to Forzetta, 1367
Celestia - scrapped, 1386
Kenworth - sold to Forzetta, 1382
Brooks - scrapped, 1363
M. James - sunk by kamikaze, 1348
Chasity - scrapped, 1382
Harlem - sold to Etressia, 1357
Bennion - sold to Heryu, 1376

Fourth batch (Delila subclass) - 5 vessels - mid 1348

Delila - sunk as target, 1387
Katerina - scrapped, 1387
Veswood - scrapped, 1363
Ellis - sunk as target, 1386
Humphries - scrapped, 1387

Note - as post-1349 history has yet to be written, careers of these vessels are subject to change

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Last edited by Shigure on May 17th, 2023, 4:14 pm, edited 8 times in total.

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