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Post by saint19 on Dec 8, 2013 11:40:52 GMT -6
While trying to learn the mechanics of the campaign I sent a coupe of divisions out on patrol. This included BBs, CLs, and DDs. We followed intelligence and tried to engage a German group on shore bombardment. We gave chase and lost contact. As I gave chase I kept getting Log messages indicating that various ships needed to "clean grates". Throughout the patrol I kept getting these Log messages. Am I missing something or does the AI take care of this maintenance itself? Also are there any tips for getting started in the campaign? Oh just FYI, I was in the North Sea campaign and have updated to the latest patches.
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Post by julianbarker on Dec 8, 2013 11:54:17 GMT -6
Can't find it in the manuals anywhere, but last year one of the patches included fouled grates as an issue. Constant high speed increases chance of fouled grates which then requires ships to slow to clean the grates.
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Post by randomizer on Dec 8, 2013 12:28:59 GMT -6
Julianbarker is correct.
Coal fired ships had difficulty running at high speeds for prolonged periods and the build up of clinker material in the fire boxes of was only one of the problems represented by Fouled Grates in SAI. Any ship running at > 16 kts may suffer from a reduction of maximum speed in 1-knot increments over time until it slows to =< 16 kts. At the lower speeds, the problem will solve itself over time eventually restoring the capability to reach maximum rated speed. If I recall correctly this had been posted on one of the change logs included on the old Forum but subsequently lost.
Apologies for the absence of documentation.
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Post by saint19 on Dec 8, 2013 13:20:43 GMT -6
Thanx. I didn't recall seeing it in the 1.5 manual. I forgot to check the 1.6 changelog. Did you gents have any tips for campaigns in general?
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Post by oldpop2000 on Dec 8, 2013 14:59:47 GMT -6
Does SAI simulate the different coals, like bituminous, anthracite, coke, coke breeze and lignite in the engine power and speed of ships? I know, impertinent question however, at the Battle of Santiago, the US ships carried both of the first two depending on engine power requirements. In the engineering books of the period, they do speak of the different coals in reciprocating and turbines. They also speak of the quality differences between coal producing regions and its effects.  |
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Post by julianbarker on Dec 8, 2013 15:49:25 GMT -6
IIRC the original posting about this said German ships were more prone due to inferior coal.
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Post by Fredrik W on Dec 9, 2013 0:52:27 GMT -6
Yes, that is right. Or, more correctly, British ships are less prone to it due to excellent British coal.
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Post by oldpop2000 on Dec 9, 2013 12:53:57 GMT -6
Yes, that is right. Or, more correctly, British ships are less prone to it due to excellent British coal. Interesting, but does the coal type change the speed of the ships? |
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Post by Fredrik W on Dec 9, 2013 13:16:59 GMT -6
No, it is not that detailed, it is just the effect that British ships are less prone to grate-fouling.
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Post by oldpop2000 on Dec 9, 2013 14:41:34 GMT -6
No, it is not that detailed, it is just the effect that British ships are less prone to grate-fouling. Thanks FW, it really is a great game. I've been playing computer games since the late 1970's and this ranks as one of the best. Going into coal types would be a bit much. Keep it up and good luck with the interwar period and WWII, if they become reality. |
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Post by randomizer on Dec 9, 2013 15:33:37 GMT -6
Yes, that is right. Or, more correctly, British ships are less prone to it due to excellent British coal. Interesting, but does the coal type change the speed of the ships? Scenario designers wishing to simulate this may do so by reducing the performance of individual ships in the scenario editor ship dialog. For what it's worth, between January 1902 and February 1904 Japan imported over 1-million tons of Welsh Steam Coal for use by the Imperial Navy in the planned war with Russia so quality coal was certainly a factor in the day. |
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Post by oldpop2000 on Dec 9, 2013 15:53:00 GMT -6
Interesting, but does the coal type change the speed of the ships? Scenario designers wishing to simulate this may do so by reducing the performance of individual ships in the scenario editor ship dialog. For what it's worth, between January 1902 and February 1904 Japan imported over 1-million tons of Welsh Steam Coal for use by the Imperial Navy in the planned war with Russia so quality coal was certainly a factor in the day. That is entirely true, David Evans in Kaigun talks about the Japanese bituminous coal that was very smoky and not really good for ship use, unless it could be made into briquettes. They used it exclusively in the Sino-Japanese War but for the Russo-Japanese war they had to import about 650,000 tons of Cardiff coal from Britain but that was only one quarter of the requirement. They eventually were able to get another treaty and got 500,000 tons of British coal, type not specified but my guess is that it was Welsh anthracite. I've also read about the movement of Welsh coal to the British overseas ports for use by their warships, might be something to simulate in the game.
I know we are supposed to discuss history in the other forum, but this is quite interesting to me. Thanks, gents. If I get more information from my period engineering books I will put it on the other forum.
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Post by Rasputitsa on Dec 10, 2013 7:39:03 GMT -6
Yes, that is right. Or, more correctly, British ships are less prone to it due to excellent British coal. Interesting, but does the coal type change the speed of the ships? Welsh 'Steam Coal' was the 100 octane fuel of the steam age, with a high calorific content and low level of impurities, you got more power per ton and less clinker to foul the grates. So it's not so much a question of speed, that's down to horsepower, it's more about efficiency and staying power. |
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Post by saint19 on Dec 10, 2013 19:03:58 GMT -6
Fascinating stuff. I never had a real interest in Naval Warfare prior to this game and recently Command...and a dash of Harpoon within the past few weeks. Now it seems I'm sorta stuck on it.
So far this game has provided lots of fun and helps when reading books like Castles of Steel.
I really like how easy it is to get into and yet has some of the complexities like mentioned in this thread...but not overdone complexities either.(for the sake of being well, complex).
I hope that all made sense. I'm typing this as my 5 babies are running around screaming in my ear.
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