Engine Usage / Engine Deterioration

[zill4449]

Engine Usage / Engine Deterioration:

As we have noticed in this RW3 vrs RW2 engines now "wear out" or your ships top speed now decreases with age.

I am curious is there a correlation to how often your ships are in battle/ at there max/flank/top speed and how wore out there engines become? If a ship is more often in battles and is more often pushed to its max does it relate to how quickly the ship wears out?

I have noticed that in a battle I have gotten a message stating that the ship has been at sea for over a week and its engines are not working there best.

Also does being in reserve or mothballed "save" wear and tear on the ships engines?

[wlbjork]

So far, I know Speed engines deteriorate faster and Speed captains are likely to damage the engine from abuse.

Reliable engines deteriorate more slowly.

You may be able to damage the engines with extended high speed steaming, but other than that I'd expect it to be time based.

[cormallen]

It would be nice if ships kept in reserve/mothballs kept working properly...

[director]

Between the age of sail and WW2, ships in 'Reserve' were - to my best knowledge - kept operational but with a minimal crew. I can see how machinery could degrade in that situation as rust and neglect built up.

After WW2 the US Navy sealed 'mothballed' ships, replacing the air inside with a dry, non-oxygenated atmosphere. More delicate components were removed and ship systems were not run at all as no-one could live aboard. That preservation was very successful and it is a reason the Iowa class (for one example) were so well-preserved.

So yeah, after WW2 a 'mothball' operation should keep engines and other machinery from degrading. But I can understand the design decision to just make engines degrade every ten years - much easier to implement.

My suggestion would be to introduce a level between a minor 'refresh' refit and a complete engine overhaul, which would permit you to stretch your engine life without the cost of a complete engine replacement and without any reduction in weight.