Meet the Schleswig-Holstein - 45 years of active service
Aug 30, 2020 3:32:42 GMT -6
garrisonchisholm, ieshima, and 3 more like this
Post by redmabuse on Aug 30, 2020 3:32:42 GMT -6
Playing Germany, the Schleswig-Holstein was the second ship of the Deutschland class. It was my first dreadnought battleship class (being late to the party), and since my scientist just recently came up with the idea of superimposed X turrets but had no idea of superimposed B turrets yet it came with forward firing wing turrets for a total of 10-14" guns. It served well in wars against France, Italy and Great Britain.
It was a standard 21kts, 26700ts design with 11" belt and 2" deck armor for 93.2 millions; among the largest and best armed of its time. It got its standard refits over the years, I even replaced its coal fired engines with oil firing in the 20ies, increasing its speed to 23kts, so it could work in conjunction with my newer battleline.
In 1932, after having finished a war against Russia (which got me Sakhalin) it seemed as its active service life was over. However, instead of scrapping it, our engineers came up with the plan of converting it from a (by now) weak BB to a diesel powered BC designed especially for CA hunting.
To convert it into a BC the speed was turned up to 29kts (and thus was reclassified as BC). However, due to hull form the maximum speed was limited to 26kts. Instead of re-classifying it as BB I refused and it stayed a BC. The project entailed:
• removing wing turrets [-2380ts]
• Diesel engines with 26kts (limited by hull form) instead of oil fired steam engines (23kts) [+865ts]
• replacing 14"(0) guns with new 14"(+1) guns
• Advanced Director [+5ts]
• MA: replace 8 casemates guns (3”) with 12 in turrets (5”) [+423ts]
• AA: 12-10,5cm 12MAA 24LAA 2directors [+246ts]
• 4 Seaplanes in Hangar with catapult [+536ts]
• additional Deck Armor [+1011ts]
The price was 62 million each. Very expensive; for that price I could have build a good CA in 1932. However I decided that it was worth it, since even a 6-14" gun BC is superior to any CA. I never intended them to be part of the main battle line.
Even though I out them in raider or trade protection function in the next wars, they never managed to get in a one-to-one duel with an enemy CA. They did thwart some attacks, though, and they greatly contributed to enemy merchantment sunk (but a cheap CL could probably done as well). The even were sometimes part of my main battles, and with heavily increased AA outfit (14-5"DP and 14-3"DP guns) even could provide FLAK cover to my Carriere Forces.
In 1952 I am in a three year war against Japan, and a big carrier battle, escorting a friendly convoy (the Japanese have invaded Sakhalin, but for more than a year couldn't make any headway and are losing ship after ship in the defensive battles) ensues. However, soon the weather worsens and no airplanes can be launched. Leading the Scout forces (1BC and 4DD) it encounters the enemy Scout forces which consist of 4CA and some DD. At long range and with the help of superior Funkmeßgeräte it sinks one enemy CA and cripples another one (which during a bout of good weather is attacked by my main striking force which fails to find the enemy carriers and descends on the poor cripple and plants 5 torpedoes in the ship).
The weather worsens again to heavy rain with the sighting range dropping to 5000yds. My main force (2BB 5DD) stumbles into the enemy carriers, but the 33kts CV can avoid getting in range of my 27kts BB.
I can position my Scout forces in the path of the fleeing CVs (escorted by a BC) though. Almost out of ammo it gets heavily pounded by the enemy BC, but the carriers turn around and run into my chasing BB which now hopefully can plant some 15" shells into the 2CV.
I miscalculated, though, and believed that the enemy DD were out of torpedoes by now, so closed to a dangerous range. Some DD still had a torpedo or two left, and the Schleswig-Holstein was hit by one. That did the job, finally, and after 45 years of service life the Schleswig-Holstein is sunk.
It served my well! May its sister ship, Deutschland, serve me even longer!
It was a standard 21kts, 26700ts design with 11" belt and 2" deck armor for 93.2 millions; among the largest and best armed of its time. It got its standard refits over the years, I even replaced its coal fired engines with oil firing in the 20ies, increasing its speed to 23kts, so it could work in conjunction with my newer battleline.
In 1932, after having finished a war against Russia (which got me Sakhalin) it seemed as its active service life was over. However, instead of scrapping it, our engineers came up with the plan of converting it from a (by now) weak BB to a diesel powered BC designed especially for CA hunting.
To convert it into a BC the speed was turned up to 29kts (and thus was reclassified as BC). However, due to hull form the maximum speed was limited to 26kts. Instead of re-classifying it as BB I refused and it stayed a BC. The project entailed:
• removing wing turrets [-2380ts]
• Diesel engines with 26kts (limited by hull form) instead of oil fired steam engines (23kts) [+865ts]
• replacing 14"(0) guns with new 14"(+1) guns
• Advanced Director [+5ts]
• MA: replace 8 casemates guns (3”) with 12 in turrets (5”) [+423ts]
• AA: 12-10,5cm 12MAA 24LAA 2directors [+246ts]
• 4 Seaplanes in Hangar with catapult [+536ts]
• additional Deck Armor [+1011ts]
The price was 62 million each. Very expensive; for that price I could have build a good CA in 1932. However I decided that it was worth it, since even a 6-14" gun BC is superior to any CA. I never intended them to be part of the main battle line.
Even though I out them in raider or trade protection function in the next wars, they never managed to get in a one-to-one duel with an enemy CA. They did thwart some attacks, though, and they greatly contributed to enemy merchantment sunk (but a cheap CL could probably done as well). The even were sometimes part of my main battles, and with heavily increased AA outfit (14-5"DP and 14-3"DP guns) even could provide FLAK cover to my Carriere Forces.
In 1952 I am in a three year war against Japan, and a big carrier battle, escorting a friendly convoy (the Japanese have invaded Sakhalin, but for more than a year couldn't make any headway and are losing ship after ship in the defensive battles) ensues. However, soon the weather worsens and no airplanes can be launched. Leading the Scout forces (1BC and 4DD) it encounters the enemy Scout forces which consist of 4CA and some DD. At long range and with the help of superior Funkmeßgeräte it sinks one enemy CA and cripples another one (which during a bout of good weather is attacked by my main striking force which fails to find the enemy carriers and descends on the poor cripple and plants 5 torpedoes in the ship).
The weather worsens again to heavy rain with the sighting range dropping to 5000yds. My main force (2BB 5DD) stumbles into the enemy carriers, but the 33kts CV can avoid getting in range of my 27kts BB.
I can position my Scout forces in the path of the fleeing CVs (escorted by a BC) though. Almost out of ammo it gets heavily pounded by the enemy BC, but the carriers turn around and run into my chasing BB which now hopefully can plant some 15" shells into the 2CV.
I miscalculated, though, and believed that the enemy DD were out of torpedoes by now, so closed to a dangerous range. Some DD still had a torpedo or two left, and the Schleswig-Holstein was hit by one. That did the job, finally, and after 45 years of service life the Schleswig-Holstein is sunk.
It served my well! May its sister ship, Deutschland, serve me even longer!