Grays Harbor Designs

[Zephyr]

A few, I believe, improvements on this thing.

[Clonecommander6454]

I think the opening at the bow is very strange and it will get the interior wet very fast so I suggest remove it

[Zephyr]

I don't seem to recall any reports of the Illustrious class carriers being flooded. They had those bow openings as well, thats where I got the idea. Perhaps move it back some, but not remove it is as far as I go on that one.

edit: ok, moved aft some, and reduced in size a bit.



EDIT: Skua/Roc switcheroo fix'd

[Portsmouth Bill]

I like the overall look of the design, but the air wing is a bit puzzling; I'm not sure what the value is in having the Blackburn Roc, as it was a very flawed design, maybe better to have the Skua instead, or even better a USN dive bomber?

[Blackbuck]

I concur, Skuas over Rocs. I'd imagine by the end of 1940 you'd be transitioning towards something like F4F-3s, SBD-1s and retaining the Devestators until being able to procure the Avenger or Barracuda?

[Zephyr]

I like the overall look of the design, but the air wing is a bit puzzling; I'm not sure what the value is in having the Blackburn Roc, as it was a very flawed design, maybe better to have the Skua instead, or even better a USN dive bomber?

ummm .... that is the Skua. At least, it was supposed to be. Its what I got off the British aircraft sheet anyhow, unless my 20-ohmygod eyes have failed me even more than previously thought.

EDIT: AH-HA! I have uncovered the problem. On the sheet the Skua and Roc are lumped together, and at this scale I didn't notice the turret and grabbed the wrong bloody one. That needs fixin' I do believe.

[Zephyr]

I concur, Skuas over Rocs. I'd imagine by the end of 1940 you'd be transitioning towards something like F4F-3s, SBD-1s and retaining the Devestators until being able to procure the Avenger or Barracuda?

I'm still working on my exact aircraft line-up, mostly trying to work from memory (which, according to my wife is rapidly approaching alzheimers stage. I love my wife. ) as I had it all worked out previously, but it was on the hard drive that crapped out on me. The IT guy where she works has got it and is slowly recovering some of the data, I think.

Anyhow, the way I have it right now, at least for the 30's-40's is:
(my designation followed by the RW equivelent. Dates are when it was in "front line" service.)

fighters:
Porter Sparrowhawk Mk I = Grumman F2F (1933-40)
Porter Sparrowhawk Mk. II/III/IV = Grumman F3F1/2/3 (1935-42)
Schaeffer Falcon = Brewster F2A Buffalo (1939-43)
Porter Goshawk Mk. I/II/III/IV= Grumman F4F1/2/3/4 (1940-46)
Schaeffer Tigershark = Vought F4U (1942-50)

I kinda skipped the F6F and went straight to the Corsair. I like Corsairs.

Bombers:
Porter Kingfisher = Blackburn Skua (1936-41)
Schaeffer Banshee = Douglas SBD Dauntless (1940-45)

Torpedo:
Simpson Aviation Mantaray = Douglas T2D (1927-38)
Simpson Aviation Stingray Mk. I = Martin T2M (1925-30)
Simpson Aviation Stingray Mk. II = Martin T4M (1928-34)
Simpson Aviation Stingray Mk. III (also used as an experimental dive bomber)= Martin T5M (1930-34)
Schaeffer Dragonfly = Douglas TBD (1934-42)
Porter Halberd = Grumman TBF Avenger (1942-56)

Scout/Observation:
Simpson Aviation Observer = Avro Bison (1922-33)
Porter Goblin = Grumman FF (1933-40)
Schaeffer Valefor = Fairey Fulmar (1940-46)
Schaeffer Venom = Fairey Firefly (1943-58)

Paint schemes for carrier aircraft
1921-34: Overall LtGrey, yellow wings, tail in squadron/ship colors
1934-40: Fuselage Grey-Green, yellow wings, undersides Sky Type S, tail either grey-green or squadron/ship colors at squadron commanders discretion
1940-46: Continental Theater - Extra Dk Sea Grey/Dk Green, underside Sky Type S. Equatorial Theater - Overall Dk Blue

[APDAF]

No swordfish?

[Zephyr]

No swordfish. I love the old stringbag, but I like the Devastator better. Don't know why, just do.

and ... an example of carrier aircraft of the 30's, this one the Sparrowhawk fighter. (not my drawing. Got it someplace else and recolored and re-marked it)

[Hood]

The forward 4.5in turrets are too far forward, the flare of the hull and the shape of the bows would not make such layout possible. In fact the whole ship would probably look more balanced if you moved the island further aft and swapped the positions of the forward 20mm and 4.5in mounts.