Shipbucket

June 1917 - The Texas Navy has spent much time consulting with the British Naval Attache in Austin to prepare her small navy for service in the Atlantic. Foremost in the discussions are fighting the U-Boat threat. The fleet has 20 destroyers available, which have been organized into five 4-vessel squadrons. The Royal Navy has agreed to supply a large quantity of Type D depth charges, supplanted by those made in the United States, but the means to employ them is limited so their effectiveness is uncertain. The Attache has also recommended that our light cruisers are also armed with depth charges to increase the number of ships available for fighting submarines.





All ships are getting repainted for service in the North Atlantic. A darker gray will be applied to the hulls; on destroyers the hull number will be shrunk to a smaller size. Canvas bridge enclosures are fitted (also on the recommendation of the British). The capital ships, with their bigger guns and longer ranges, will receive long-base range finders to improve their marksmanship.

The destroyers and light cruisers are expected to patrol from Cuba to the Azores and the French Coast to protect material shipments to the Western Front. The capital ships are expected to escort troop transports from American or Canadian ports as the distance from there is shorter but the risk to the men greater. Texas submarines will continue their role of coast defense while the Army fully mans the forts protecting harbors and waterways.

Now THIS is REAL AU! I'm following the unfurling of events with increased interest and not a little apprehension. One word, Redhorse: BRAVO!!!

This is my favorite thread on SB. Great work, Redhorse!

September, 1917 - War alterations continue on the fleet. Most of the destroyers are finished, as they are the easiest to modify. The light cruisers are nearly finished, though they are not likely to be fitted with depth charges until a better means of employment are found. The slings used by the British are considered inadequate in the destroyers; the deficiency is only greater in the larger light cruisers. Instead, the longer range of their 6 inch main guns will be used to deter U-boats unfortunate enough to be caught on the surface.

The Leon Class has been fitted with canvas bridges except for the Navidad. She had just come out of rebuild with new engines and boilers, and was fitted with a permantent enclosed bridge. She is expected to be much warmer and drier in heavy weather than her sisters:


The Navidad Class is also ready for the Atlantic, repainted with a temporary sheltered bridge:


Even the old light cruiser Invincible, a venerable veteran of over 20 years, was taken out of reserve and put back into service for the war. Gone is her stately wooden deck house, replaced with wartime canvas and a new coat of paint. Her modifications are mostly superficial, since her replacement is being designed while the war continues:

Gooooooooooddddddd job Red' !

Every time I think this can't get better, you prove me wrong! Keep it up!

Have you considered adding light weather shields to the six inch guns on the Leon and Navidad? Steel tubes and canvas should do the job.

...though such features really wasn't a part of USN practice, maybe the Texian navy will adopt them.