Post by alias72 on May 20, 2019 13:09:11 GMT -6
Good afternoon ye scurvy dogs. The following is a narrative description of the development of the dreadnought armoured cruiser in my current Germany campaign.
The armoured cruiser had been a core part of most navies for decades. Many observers, however, noted the small number of such vessels in the German navy. The higher prioritization given to battleships left little room in the budget for vessels of this type. As a result the light cruiser force, which was by no means outstanding, was forced to substitute in this role. To resolve this the German navy initiated a design study for a new ship capable of destroying enemy armoured cruisers before they could whittle away the German light cruiser force.
The vessel would displace 18000 tons, have a speed of 26 knots, and be armed with 8 11 in guns of the type commonly found on pre-dreadnought battleships in four double turrets. She would pioneer the use of cross deck fire, allowing her to bring all 8 of her guns to bear on either broadside. This would give her more larger guns than traditional armoured cruisers, she would even outgun pre-dreadnought battleships. However the higher priority given to pre-dreadnought ships for such weapons and concern about how such guns would be mounted off center on a ship so small, convinced the design board to adopt 10 in weapons instead. Given her unified main armament she became known as a dreadnought armoured cruiser. Ships of this type diverged from the battlecruisers who mounted actual capital ship weapons and which were designed to fight in the line of battle.
Two vessels of this class were laid down. The first entering commission just as war started with France. Unfortunately she would be sunk by an underwater explosion within the first few months of the war. This incident would spur the development of underwater protection in the German navy. The second Blucher class ship would see occasional action against enemy raiding cruisers where she demonstrated her viability as a combat unit. Her relative expense compared with battle cruisers delayed the further development of ships of this class. Following the conflict, the increasing size and cost of battlecruisers left an opening for more developments of the concept. Advances in engine and hull manufacture convinced the German navy to construct a new class of ship. This class adopted an all center-line gun arrangement as well as an extensive underwater protection scheme. The speed was increased to 29 knots and the cost of her powerplant was reduced. The armour was also lightened somewhat as the existing fleets of pre-dreadnoughts found themselves entering scrapyards across the world. Five ships of this class would be built.
Vessels of this new type would serve with distinction against Russian and Italian cruiser formations, often defeating twice their number. Further refinements to the concept in the late 1910's include oil firing and the inclusion of directors.main armament has increased in quantity to 10 guns in five double turrets including the use of superfiring turrets. It is a testament to the design that the vessel designed to destroy the armoured cruiser has outlived it. With the year 1920 seeing the wholesale scrapping of many older ships. Navy's have chosen to adopt more light cruisers or increasing numbers of battlecruisers. Cementing the legacy of the new armoured cruisers as kings of the cruiser force.
I am interested in what you think of the concept and implementation of this vessel. Was this a good idea? Would cruisers have evolved into such vessels had it not been for the Naval treaties?
The armoured cruiser had been a core part of most navies for decades. Many observers, however, noted the small number of such vessels in the German navy. The higher prioritization given to battleships left little room in the budget for vessels of this type. As a result the light cruiser force, which was by no means outstanding, was forced to substitute in this role. To resolve this the German navy initiated a design study for a new ship capable of destroying enemy armoured cruisers before they could whittle away the German light cruiser force.
The vessel would displace 18000 tons, have a speed of 26 knots, and be armed with 8 11 in guns of the type commonly found on pre-dreadnought battleships in four double turrets. She would pioneer the use of cross deck fire, allowing her to bring all 8 of her guns to bear on either broadside. This would give her more larger guns than traditional armoured cruisers, she would even outgun pre-dreadnought battleships. However the higher priority given to pre-dreadnought ships for such weapons and concern about how such guns would be mounted off center on a ship so small, convinced the design board to adopt 10 in weapons instead. Given her unified main armament she became known as a dreadnought armoured cruiser. Ships of this type diverged from the battlecruisers who mounted actual capital ship weapons and which were designed to fight in the line of battle.
Two vessels of this class were laid down. The first entering commission just as war started with France. Unfortunately she would be sunk by an underwater explosion within the first few months of the war. This incident would spur the development of underwater protection in the German navy. The second Blucher class ship would see occasional action against enemy raiding cruisers where she demonstrated her viability as a combat unit. Her relative expense compared with battle cruisers delayed the further development of ships of this class. Following the conflict, the increasing size and cost of battlecruisers left an opening for more developments of the concept. Advances in engine and hull manufacture convinced the German navy to construct a new class of ship. This class adopted an all center-line gun arrangement as well as an extensive underwater protection scheme. The speed was increased to 29 knots and the cost of her powerplant was reduced. The armour was also lightened somewhat as the existing fleets of pre-dreadnoughts found themselves entering scrapyards across the world. Five ships of this class would be built.
Vessels of this new type would serve with distinction against Russian and Italian cruiser formations, often defeating twice their number. Further refinements to the concept in the late 1910's include oil firing and the inclusion of directors.main armament has increased in quantity to 10 guns in five double turrets including the use of superfiring turrets. It is a testament to the design that the vessel designed to destroy the armoured cruiser has outlived it. With the year 1920 seeing the wholesale scrapping of many older ships. Navy's have chosen to adopt more light cruisers or increasing numbers of battlecruisers. Cementing the legacy of the new armoured cruisers as kings of the cruiser force.
I am interested in what you think of the concept and implementation of this vessel. Was this a good idea? Would cruisers have evolved into such vessels had it not been for the Naval treaties?
