Battleship Turret Fly-Off Platforms and Cruiser Ramps
May 27, 2019 16:01:51 GMT -6
archelaos and rex4801 like this
Post by thesovietonion on May 27, 2019 16:01:51 GMT -6
Hi guys.
I'd like to suggest a small but IMO immersive and useful addition to ship construction and aerial scouting.
Currently in the game capital ships can only carry seaplane scouts, and must either stop to deploy them or use a catapult. This is missing the real-world use of two very interesting innovations.
The first is the Battleship Turret Fly-Off Platform. These were light enough to be attached to a capital ship turret without impeding turret function, and could be turned into the wind so the ship would not need to alter course at all, or as much. This generated enough wind for aircraft of the time to take off. This included both seaplanes, that could be recovered and land-based types that would either need to ditch or fly back to an airfield. These aircraft were used for aerial gunnery spotting and other uses. If this could somehow be incorporated into the game as a turret option (Similar to DP, autoloader, etc) I could see a dedicated spotter plane functioning along the same lines as the Z-ship's parasite fighters. Maybe an option of when to launch them, and once their endurance is out they are gone, even if the fight is longer. It may even add scenarios where a DD or CL has to be detached to pick up a ditched pilot.
The second innovation which was tried off and on during WW1 was the aircraft ramp built onto many light cruisers. These functioned in a similar way to the BB mounts, but since the turrets were too small it was fixed forward. These eventually evolved into rotating platforms on flat sections of the deck.
Both of these technologies would allow a third option somewhere between catapults and having to stop to deploy seaplanes, with the obvious downside of making recovery much more difficulty/expensive/lengthy, and the subtler effect of negative influences on aircraft design as experienced by the Royal Navy. Mechanically in game I would expect a tonnage cost lower than a catapult, but a higher impact on maintenance. Catapults would still have a long-term edge by being able to support larger (later year) aircraft for multiple uses. Personally I'm really keen on the idea of using dedicated gunnery spotters like the parasite fighters for airships.
I hope this tickles the interest of those in charge!
Some good reading on the subject: globalmaritimehistory.com/flying-off-platform-evolutionary-dead-end/
I'd like to suggest a small but IMO immersive and useful addition to ship construction and aerial scouting.
Currently in the game capital ships can only carry seaplane scouts, and must either stop to deploy them or use a catapult. This is missing the real-world use of two very interesting innovations.
The first is the Battleship Turret Fly-Off Platform. These were light enough to be attached to a capital ship turret without impeding turret function, and could be turned into the wind so the ship would not need to alter course at all, or as much. This generated enough wind for aircraft of the time to take off. This included both seaplanes, that could be recovered and land-based types that would either need to ditch or fly back to an airfield. These aircraft were used for aerial gunnery spotting and other uses. If this could somehow be incorporated into the game as a turret option (Similar to DP, autoloader, etc) I could see a dedicated spotter plane functioning along the same lines as the Z-ship's parasite fighters. Maybe an option of when to launch them, and once their endurance is out they are gone, even if the fight is longer. It may even add scenarios where a DD or CL has to be detached to pick up a ditched pilot.
The second innovation which was tried off and on during WW1 was the aircraft ramp built onto many light cruisers. These functioned in a similar way to the BB mounts, but since the turrets were too small it was fixed forward. These eventually evolved into rotating platforms on flat sections of the deck.
Both of these technologies would allow a third option somewhere between catapults and having to stop to deploy seaplanes, with the obvious downside of making recovery much more difficulty/expensive/lengthy, and the subtler effect of negative influences on aircraft design as experienced by the Royal Navy. Mechanically in game I would expect a tonnage cost lower than a catapult, but a higher impact on maintenance. Catapults would still have a long-term edge by being able to support larger (later year) aircraft for multiple uses. Personally I'm really keen on the idea of using dedicated gunnery spotters like the parasite fighters for airships.
I hope this tickles the interest of those in charge!
Some good reading on the subject: globalmaritimehistory.com/flying-off-platform-evolutionary-dead-end/