Republic of Texas

[nighthunter]

Thanks Red, as for your interwar scheme, post 1925, is it the same as your early 1920's schemes? This is why:

[Redhorse]

By 1924 it was clear that the F-1 fighters (Curtiss-Orenco Ds) were outclassed by newer designs, so the following year the Texas Air Force evaluated several potential replacements for their first fighter planes. The winner was again the Curtiss company, whose PW-8 airframe (Model 34) had been selected by the US Army Air Corps for its P-1 Hawk.



They had a top speed of 155mph (249kmh) and a range of 300 miles, considered adequate for Texas air defense. But their engine cooling systems were hard to maintain, and kept many of them on the ground. In spite of these troubles, the F-2 (as designated by the TAF) served until it was outclassed in 1931 when it was replaced by a Boeing aircraft.

Remaining F-1s were slowly transferred to the 1st Training Squadron where they were used as Fighter Transition Trainers, allowing new pilots to 'get the feel' of a single seat fighter before joining their first operational squadrons. The rest were kept in storage for cannibalization until the last were sold off in 1932.

[emperor_andreas]

Sweet!

[nighthunter]

Hey Red, is the TAF or the RTX Naval Service going to use. Rigid Airships, similar to USS Macon & USS Akron?

[kellyj]

This is an absolutely brilliant AU history and the reason that caused me to join.
Re: the 6" gun destroyers. An interesting and believable concept. Considering that the US was looking at their 6" gunned "cruiser-submarines" in the same inter-war period, another Navy less submarine orientated could consider that a good solution for destroyers they felt were under-gunned next to some of the CLs that were starting to come online.
It will be interesting to see what direction you plan to take Texas and her Navy...keeping it basically a coastal defense force operating in the Gulf (seeing Mexico, Argentina, and maybe Brazil as your adversaries) or if you will become an open ocean global force.

[Redhorse]

NH - we'll probably commission some non-rigid airships in the 1930's. I'd have trouble manning the rigid ones.

kellyj, I appreciate your interest in the thread. The Texas Navy can project power into the Atlantic, but not very far. The strategic mission keeps their focus on the two major approaches into the Gulf of Mexico, but there is also a strong memory for the U-boat threat during WWI. If I had a bigger population to work with (there's only 4.6M people in Texas in 1920) I could have a much larger Navy with a more regional reach.

[CanisD]

Rigids would be of limited use in the Gulf considering the fact that its not open ocean like the Atlantic or Pacific and there would be plenty of land based fixed wing to deal with.

[Erusia Force]

Must.. Have.. More!!! This thread is awesome!!

[Redhorse]

By 1926 the O-1B (Vought VE-7G) Observation Floatplanes were worn out - after only four years of service! They were in terrible condition, many had been wrecked by storms at sea, and the Texas Air Force struggled to keep planes on the Navy's newest ships. Requirements were published, and bids taken by various airplane manufacturers in the US and Great Britain.

The winner was another Vought product - called the O2U-1 in the US Navy, and adopted for Texan service in 1927:



The Corsairs were far more durable than their predecessors, with a metal tubing structure that better withstood the elements. They were also faster, had greater endurance, and were well liked by their pilots. By 1928 both Naval Observation Squadrons - the 16th and the 19th - were equipped with the O-2, and the older aircraft junked.

[eswube]

Very nice!