Shipbucket

I was in a hurry, had to go to a meeting. The Z-66 is still a WIP. I agree with both of you. A 8" gun is not necessary but it would be very germanish to do that any way. The design of the mounting does not satisfy my by now, too. I will improve it. Sure, 122kg shells wont be handled like snowballs. How was loading done on Hawkins-class? The 7,5" weighted 91kgs and was hand operated, too. I think, I'll design a single 8"-turret with loader.

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There's a reason why they were rearmed with 6in guns and the 7.5in never repeated.

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The original Spaehkreuzer was to be armed with three turrets LDrh LC/38 (the 15cm lightweight twin) each weighting 60 tons. I expect the 20,3 cm single turret to weight ca. 46 tons. Overall the weight does not change much. The displacement of batch 1 spaehkreuzer was 6000 tons, beam was 15m, so I don't care about the punch of the guns. Finally there is the question of the usefulness. There is one good reason: range! The 15cm/48 TBK has a max range of 23500m, the 20,3cm/60 SK has a max range of 35000m. For comparision: the US-5"/38 has a max range of 16000m.
Well, if the design works, then why not? More helps more... it's germanish
So now the Z-66 with 8"singles with mag loader.
displacement: ca. 6000 tons empty, length: 152m oa, beam 14,9m , Performance: 110000 shp, max Speed: 36,2 kn, range: 12000 at 17 kn
armament: 4x203mm, 3x2x10,5cm aa, 4x4x2cm aa, 2x5 torpedotubes 53,3cm, waterbombs

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Agreed, the 7.5 was crippling to man; it far exceeded what was safe and fast to load, and that was in reasonable sea conditions! As we can see with Novice's excellent continuing series on the Hawkins, the substitution of 6-in was remedial, and it had a higher rate of fire. So yes, if we want to stick with manual loading 6-in is the upper limit. I see Ashley has now gone for enclosed turrets with assisted loading, and what we have here is actually a cruiser; the logic being: if it clucks, lays eggs, and scratches the ground - it most probbaly is a chicken

The 7.5" guns on the Hawkins class, were manually operated, but to assist in loading each mounting had a small 10hp engine to supply some power assistance.
So it seems your new single 8" guns, are better with a loader.

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"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"

A German version of the Shimakaze...I LOVE IT!!!

-Matt

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MS State Guard - 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

The Official IJN Ships & Planes List

#FJB

The Z-66 class was perfect base for a new aa-cruiser. The new class was equipped with 5" DP twins and needed directors. Here comes the Bayreuth CLAA.

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Such an inefficient AA director disposition seems extremely unlikely. I'd expect the total loss of the surface control director if that's what it took.

Very nice! With as lengthy as the forecastle is, might another turret fit there?

BTW: when might we get a glimpse of the timeline for this AU? Still working on it, I hope! I know I'm looking forward to reading it!

-Matt

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MS State Guard - 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

The Official IJN Ships & Planes List

#FJB

She is fitted with 6 turrets, more would turn her instable. And 12 barrels are a good punch for a CLAA, plus the 2cm-quads.

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