Shipbucket

First thread on the forum! By now I think I may have enough works under my belt and to one standard that I can start posting them on here and not just on the Discord. This also allows me to flesh out some of the lore associated with these ships, because there's a lot planned. This also means that this here thread is going to be

WORK IN PROGRESS

for quite some time, possibly forever. I'm just a lil' guy after all.

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LOOOOORE!

Factions:
Federation of Columbia (Columbia)
Five Empires Confederacy (Ming)
Alantian Commonwealth (Alantia)
Kingdom of Fushan (Fushan)
Empire of Solmonte (Solmonte)
Free Republic of Basqueraña (Basqueraña)
Holy Normannian Republic (Normanne)
Hellian Federal Republic (Hellia)
People's Commonwealth of Kharabask (Kharabask)
... and more to be added in the future.

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Dreamer's Fighting Ships of the World

Columbian Federal Navy (CFN)
Destroyers (DD)
-???-
Hill class
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Owens class
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Light Cruisers (CL)
-???-
Redwood Ridge class

Armoured Cruisers (CA)
Fredrickstate class
-???-

Battleships (BB)
-???-

Carriers (CV)
-???-

Five Empire Navy (Wu Diguo Haijun, FEN)
Destroyers (DD)
-???-
Hezhuo class (1922)
-???-
Zhanglieyang class (1941)
Tiazheng class (1942)
-???-

Light Cruisers (CL)
-???-

Armoured Cruisers (CA)
-???-

Battleships (BB)
-???-

Carriers (CV)
-???-

Auxiliaries
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Hezhuo class conversion (1922)

Submarines
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Q1700 class (1929)
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Royal Alantian Navy (RAN)
Destroyers (DD)
-???-

Light Cruisers (CL)
-???-

Battlecruisers (BC)
-???-

Battleships (BB)
-???-

Carriers (CV)
-???-

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Hezhuo class destroyers



History:
In 1917, the Columbian Federation and the Kingdom of Fushan signed an agreement of mutual support in case of a conflict. This threatened the Five Empires Confederacy, who had maintained hostile relations and fought multiple wars with the Fushani over the last fifty years. In any future conflict, the Empires would not only have to defeat the militarist but relatively economically fragile Fushan, but also the looming specter of the rich, large Columbian Federation, who had already beaten back the leading naval power of the world once before.

While this agreement was ostensibly defensive in nature, the Five Empires didn't trust this stance one bit, and the Emperor decreed that a significant military buildup and standardisation effort should occur.

While some work had been done to keep the fleet current with foreign capabilities, it was by no means a world beater. The bulk of the destroyer forces for example dated back to a time when all five member states still maintained their individual navies, and thus was a wild hodge podge of more or less outdated designs going back beyond the turn of the century in some cases. The situation was similar with other ships of war and even land-based equipment. A concise doctrine was also lacking.

To achieve the required lightning buildup of force, workers were conscripted into foundries and machine shops to meet demands. This had deletrious effects on the country's economy and food situation and led to significant shortages, but was nonetheless enforced by the Emperor's orders.

First, a doctrine had to be devised, accounting for the Ming's inferior industrial fidelity at the time, as well as the general lack of experience among higher officers. What was arrived at was essentially a sea-based version of the land-based "Two Thrusts" doctrine:

The first attack was to be made at dusk by the destroyers. These would envelop the enemy force in a melee and then apparently disengage, prompting the enemy to follow them - into the guns of the approaching friendly cruisers coming the other way. Then, both elements would conduct a combined torpedo attack on the enemy battle force at night, thinning out the enemy battle line enough by dawn to allow the friendly battle force to defeat the survivors in a surface gunnery duel.

The focus of the plan was to deprive the enemy of their fleet screen. As such, friendly destroyers needed to be both well armed and fast, it was stipulated, to avoid getting bogged down in a melee without the ability to disengage towards their cruiser allies.

Design work on a destroyer to meet these criteria began in 1917 and lasted a full four years writhe with dispute and corruption. The penultimate design for the new series of destroyers was sound at a glance, if somewhat undergunned, but frightfully speedy, achieved by using boilers prepared for the light cruiser program underway at the same time.

Heavy critique came from many of the Admirals who decreed the ship to be too lightly armed for surface action against enemy destroyers, but there was not enough time and budget left to remedy these issues, and so an order for a whole 60 hulls was placed at practically all military shipyards in the country. Immediately, issues began cropping up: The demand for steam turbines outstripped the supply of such powerplants. Instead of waiting for supply to catch up, alternate powerplants were substituted: One prototype set was installed that had been ordered from Alantia for testing purposes, other ships carried direct drive turbine and cruising VTE setups like older destroyers had, and four even carried only VTE powerplants, greatly reducing their vaunted capability to run at high speed. Thankfully, someone had the sense to group all four into a division together and dispose of them at the earliest convenience.



Eventually, much of the 60 ship order was cancelled in favour of gradually iterating and improving on the design in follow-up classes.

During the World War, the fleet of Hezhuo class ships were the oldest destroyers still in frontline service with the Five Empire Navy, and it showed. Poorly maintained and outmatched, they were spared most of the early war action by filling secondary roles, such as convoy escort, ASW patrol or supply or personnel shuttle runs to Fushan. Jintzeping would be lost in such duty while carrying special forces intended to seize an underwater cable hub, becoming the first surface warship sunk in the conflict.

As the war dragged on, the class began to suffer heavily. Many were converted to other roles, such as light troop transports, a role that was practically expected to be a one-way trip past 1940. Most were sent on convoy escort, but radar and hydrophones were prioritised for fleet units, leaving them pretty much incapable of defending their charges. None of the class made it past 1945.

Displacement:
1380 tons

Main armament:
3x1 7sho (123,8mm)/42 guns

Torpedo armament:
3x2 20sho (531mm) torpedo tubes

Speed:
37,3 knots (Huixhi)

Ships in class:
Hezhuo - Started January 1921, launched November 1921, commissioned March 1922. Sunk February 1941 by CFN submarine while escorting a convoy.
Hanpho - Started January 1921, launched January 1922, commissioned March 1922. Sunk August 1943 by CFN aircraft near Kuruk Lagoon.
Gaotze - Started January 1921, launched December 1921, commissioned March 1922. Ran aground during training exercise, 1924, subsequently scrapped.
Jintzeping - Started January 1921, launched March 1922, commissioned May 1922. Sunk by Fushan submarine while carrying commandos, 1938.
Ganjin - Started February 1921, launched February 1922, commissioned May 1922. Training ship by 1937. Sunk in port by CFN aircraft, September 1945.
Gunzhang - Started January 1921, launched March 1922, commissioned May 1922. Converted to fast transport (APD) [see Hezhuo class fast transport].
Longdan - Started January 1921, launched April 1922, commissioned June 1922. Sunk at anchor August 1943 by CFN aircraft in Kuruk Lagoon.
Dalang - Started March 1921, launched June 1922, commissioned September 1922. Sunk August 1943 by CFN aircraft near Kuruk Lagoon.
Kaicheng - Started March 1921, launched July 1922, commissioned September 1922. Converted to fast transport (APD) [see Hezhuo class fast transport].
Mophe - Started March 1921, launched July 1922, commissioned September 1922. Destroyed by arson, 1933.
Huixhi - Started April 1922, launched July 1922, commissioned September 1922. Converted to fast transport (APD) [see Hezhuo class fast transport].
Zhangdaoe - Started April 1922, launched August 1922, commissioned October 1922. Converted to fast transport (APD) [see Hezhuo class fast transport].
Ganphao - Started April 1922, launched August 1922, commissioned October 1922. Sunk January 1943 by Columbian submarine.
Yushe - Started April 1922, launched August 1922, commissioned October 1922. Sunk February 1944 by CFN Ward and CFN Flusser.
Wangdaiwang - Started April 1922, launched August 1922, commissioned October 1922. Sunk November 1944 by RAN submarine.
Kundang - Started May 1922, launched August 1922, commissioned October 1922. Sunk June 1943 by CFN aircraft while escorting a convoy.
Kamyo - Started July 1922, launched December 1922, commissioned March 1923. Sunk February 1943 by CFN aircraft.
Bayo - Started July 1922, launched December 1922, commissioned March 1923. Sunk in collision with sistership Kundang, 1930.
Tsutze - Started September 1922, launched January 1923, commissioned March 1923. Sunk October 1941 by CFN submarine.
Bakham - Started October 1922, launched October 1923, commissioned December 1923. Scrapped, 1932.
Weihai - Started October 1922, launched November 1923, commissioned February 1924. Sunk October 1941 by CFN submarine.
Kamphe - Started October 1922, launched January 1924, commissioned April 1924. Scrapped, 1932.
Donwangdang - Started October 1922, launched January 1924, commissioned April 1924. Scrapped, 1932.
Yoshiue - Started October 1922, launched January 1924, commissioned April 1924. Scrapped, 1932.

Gallery:


A decade after her commissioning, Hezhuo has not changed significantly.


Immediately before the war, a pair of boats were deleted from the class to free up displacement for future changes and reduce fire hazards.


Hezhuo as she appeared on the day of her sinking.


Hanpho received dual purpose main guns and radar along with much of the escort force in 1942, but it would not be enough to prevent her sinking by Columbian aircraft.


Wangdaiwang wore an elaborate and colourful camouflage scheme when she was sunk near her home port in 1944.

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Very nice work, especially with the camo scheme on that last one! I'm sensing a Tenryu-class inspiration?

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MS State Guard - 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

The Official IJN Ships & Planes List

#FJB

Correct! Tenryuu and her lesser known destroyer half-sister Kawakaze, as well as Imperial Russian destroyers.

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Q1700 class submarines


Q1700 as launched in 1929. Note her assigned number matches her hull number.

History:
The Q1700 class were a quartet of cruiser submarines that, by themselves, were relatively unremarkable in design and service. They were built during the 20s period, when the Ming submarine doctrine was mostly a confused mess that tried to do everything at once and ultimately fell short on the grounds of insufficient technological capability.

For their time the boats had a decent underwater endurance and speed, but their armament was quite lackluster given their size, with four bow and two stern tubes. There was a singular reload in the stern torpedo room and six reloads forward for 13 33sho (584,1mm) torpedoes. Initially, a deck gun was fitted along with a specially designed watercooled submarine capable LMG mounting, but all four had their cannons removed before the World War as the added resistance was deemed to impede underwater performance.

One peculiar trait about Ming submarines is that they carry two names: One is their hull number, which is emblazoned on their manufacturer's plate and matched to their logbook.

The other is their assigned number, by which the boats are referred to in official communications and which is visible on their conning towers, which may change sometimes multiple times a year. This was done to deceive enemy intelligence efforts as to the true number of submarines in service with the FEN. As they were considered an important element in their country's intelligence system as well as the conventional military, this level of secrecy is somewhat understandable.

Q1701 was even launched twice with different assigned numbers painted on.

FEN submariners were sworn to an additional oath of secrecy and received additional benefits compared to their surface brethren. This lead to a certain level of elitism among FEN submariners, and in organisation they represented almost a "branch within a branch", similar to the Columbian Federal Army Air Forces during the same time.

All four boats were on patrol when the War began, having deployed in advance to official declaration. With the receipt of the code phrase "Cross the river Ganji", the hunt was on for FEN forces. The Q1700 class (who all carried numbers ranging from 1700 to 1799 at various times) would operate in the northern Orienne as part of a smaller set of "tripwire" patrols intended to catch Columbian assets coming to the aid of embattled Fushan.

Q1700 opened the score by attacking the carrier CFN Jackson after bypassing her escorts, scoring a hit that sent Jackson back to port. Q1700 though was found on hydrophones by her escorts and subjected to a violent attack that ultimately sank the boat.

The rest of the class would not fare great either: Q1701 did not find any enemy warships and killed a Fushani merchantman instead. Q1702 stalked a Columbian seaplane tender in heavy seas but was not able to press the attack. Q1703 returned to port with engine troubles without any kills.

During the course of the war, the boats were quite heavily engaged despite their age, which showed in their loss rates. Ming skippers were brave, trained to score big or not score at all. Unfortunately for them, many were too aggressive and paid the ultimate price for their hubris. By 1942, Q1702 was the only boat left of her class.

Displacement:
1770 tons surfaced, 2672 tons submerged

Gun armament:
1x1 7sho (123,8mm)/42 gun
1x1 0,5sho (8,85mm) LMG

Torpedo armament:
6x1 33sho (584,1mm) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern, 7 reloads)

Speed:
19,1 knots surfaced, 9 knots submerged

Ships in class:
Q1700 - Started April 1928, launched January 1929, commissioned April 1929. Sunk April 1940 by Columbian destroyers.
Q1701 - Started April 1928, launched March 1929, commissioned June 1929. Sunk December 1938 by Fushani and Columbian destroyers.
Q1702 - Started June 1928, launched April 1929, commissioned June 1929. Vanished 1942, presumed lost to a mine.
Q1703 - Started June 1928, launched April 1929, commissioned June 1929. Sunk September 1940 by Columbian aircraft.

Gallery:


Q1701 at the dawn of conflict.


Q1702, showing that the FEN affection for camouflages extends to submarines as well.

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Nice! I especially like the camo on the sub!

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MS State Guard - 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

The Official IJN Ships & Planes List

#FJB

Thank you!

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Gunzhang class fast transports


Gunzhang on her only mission as a fast transport in 1940.

History:
The initial first months of the Confederacy's war effort against her enemies went well, but failed to achieve the goals needed to neutralise the CFN in-theater. While the Columbians had been beaten back, their fleet was mostly intact, licking their wounds, rather than on the bottom of the ocean. This had effects on the planned campaigns of the Ming Confederacy going forward.

Columbian resistance was tougher than expected. Aviation caused significant losses on both sides of the conflict, as each side lashed out against the other's troop transport fleets with air power.

One solution both sides attempted was to convert older destroyers into fast transports. These ships would have the ability to dash into a contested island at night and deliver important supplies, or land a spearhead that could distract the shoreside enemy troops from slower transports.

Four ships of the Hezhuo class were initially chosen for conversion to this role. They performed well, however their loss rates were astonishingly high, as they were generally considered as auxiliaries and, therefor, expendable compared to fleet units. Many ships would rather beach themselves and see their troops ashore than attempt to retreat if engaged. Grouped into the 103rd transport flotilla, 2nd fleet, in 1940, only two were left by 1941, and none would make it to the war's end. Still, their success prompted more ambitions conversion attempts in the future and proved vital for delivering reinforcements to embattled troops on the front.

Displacement:
1410 tons

Main armament:
2x1 7sho (123,8mm)/42 guns
5x3 1sho (17,7mm)/70 autocannons

Speed:
37,3 knots (Huixhi before conversion, no data available after)

Capacity:
Capability to carry up to four "Type A" landing craft aft or two "Type C" armoured gunboats, derricks and stern ramps for deployment.

Ships in class:
Gunzhang - Recommissioned May 1940. Beached September 1940 in a gale to get troops ashore.
Kaicheng - Recommissioned May 1940. Damaged by Columbian submarine February 1941, beached.
Huixhi - Recommissioned May 1940. Sunk August 1943 by CFN aircraft near Kuruk Lagoon.
Zhangdaoe - Recommissioned June 1940. Sunk May 1941 while returning from resupply run by RAS Steadfast.

Gallery:


Kaicheng survived her beaching in relatively good condition. Many colour photos exist that document her gradual degradation over the years, taken by Columbian troops on the island.

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Another great camouflage scheme!

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MS State Guard - 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

The Official IJN Ships & Planes List

#FJB