Commonwealth of Recherche

[BB1987]

Very Nice cruiser indeed!

[BCRenown]

Sorry Rowdy, your "toothless terror" doesn't work for me. I think, on that displacement, you'd be better off with an Arethusa type - a ship that can fight aircraft as well as other ships.

[Rodondo]

Once again Rowdy you prove you have one of the best AU's on SB, a certain taste to it that makes these drawings so great!

[Krakatoa]

At 530x49 feet you have no margin for additional topweight. To add radar to your topmasts you would have to lose your broadside turrets. You might be better off having a 54ft beam and 5 turrets inline. The 4.5" turret is much lighter than the 5.25" so you would not have the same topweight problems the Didos had.

I like the look of the ships - they have that 'Recherche' feel to them.

Keep up the good work Rowdy!

[Hood]

Another very good looking design, but then Rowdy has a fine eye and hardly ever draws anything less than beautiful!
Sure a 4.5in cruiser is always going to be hampered in its traditional role, but in peacetime its sufficiently grand to show the flag and in wartime the AA firepower is worthwhile (though the beam turrets can't handle crossing targets well).

[Rowdy36]

Thanks for the comments guys

At 530x49 feet you have no margin for additional topweight

Hmm that's a good point you raise - I might look in to increasing the beam slightly, but although not as effective I do prefer the beam turrets to an extra turret inline. Perhaps a mid-war refit could see the beam turrets replaced with 40mm mounts?

I think, on that displacement, you'd be better off with an Arethusa type

I already have the Anvil class to fill that role

[MihoshiK]

Thanks for the comments guys

At 530x49 feet you have no margin for additional topweight

Hmm that's a good point you raise - I might look in to increasing the beam slightly, but although not as effective I do prefer the beam turrets to an extra turret inline. Perhaps a mid-war refit could see the beam turrets replaced with 40mm mounts?

Thing is, you cal lthose things 4.5 cannons, but it's a 5.25 turret. Which is it?

Because the 5.25 wasn't actually all that hot as an AA turret, in which case replacing the wing turrets with 40 mm would be an improvement, especially if it frees up weight for radar.

If these are 4.5 guns, you might want to change the look of the turret a bit.

[Rowdy36]

Thing is, you cal lthose things 4.5 cannons, but it's a 5.25 turret. Which is it?

I call those things 4.5in cannons because they're 4.5in cannons.
The turret resembles the 5.25in turret because I like how it looks but I didn't want to use the 5.25in guns, so in this AU Recherche develops their own turret using existing 4.5in guns at the same time (and using similar design practices and aesthetics) as the British develop the 5.25in turret, hence the similarity.

If these are 4.5 guns, you might want to change the look of the turret a bit.

Why?

[MihoshiK]

Thing is, you cal lthose things 4.5 cannons, but it's a 5.25 turret. Which is it?

I call those things 4.5in cannons because they're 4.5in cannons.
The turret resembles the 5.25in turret because I like how it looks but I didn't want to use the 5.25in guns, so in this AU Recherche develops their own turret using existing 4.5in guns at the same time (and using similar design practices and aesthetics) as the British develop the 5.25in turret, hence the similarity.

If these are 4.5 guns, you might want to change the look of the turret a bit.

Why?

The 5.25 turrets were really rather cramped, which interfered with the firing rate, although this might be alleviated somewhat by using a smaller gun with lighter ammunition. If anything, you could try and make them somewhat larger

Looking pictures of the 5.25 at Navweapons over, if anything it convinces me that the 5.25 on the parts sheet needs a do-over.

[eswube]

Nice addition.