Republic of Texas

[emperor_andreas]

Nice work!

[Redhorse]

In 1929, Texas also launched a new class of destroyer, the Madisonvilles, to replace the old and obsolete Beaumont Class.



The Madisonville Class was an outgrowth of the previous Halletsville Class. Eight units were ordered from Texas shipyards in 1927 and commissioned two years later. They were a shift in design characteristics. Instead of the customary 6" gun, they were armed with new, 5"25 dual purpose guns to counter both the air threat and the fast combatant threat. The rangefinder length increased from a six foot base to an eight foot base for greater accuracy at range. Though they had facilities for centralized surface-to-surface fire direction, they did not as yet employ efficient centralized fire control and had no capacity for high angle fire control. Two 3"/50 complemented the anti-aircraft armament.

The standard complement of six 21" torpedo tubes were placed amidships over the engine rooms, and the anti-submarine complement was a pair of depth charge racks at the stern with two K-guns nearby.

Initially Congress was not pleased with the 5"/25 dual purpose armament, because they failed to understand the changes in aircraft performance that required guns that could match the speed and altitude of likely threats. The 6" gun was just too slow to train and too limited in elevation. The newer guns could be trained and elevated much faster. Privately, the Navy was also critical of the newer gun and would replace it with the American 5"/38 when it became available.

They were the first ships capable of 30 knots, and were the fastest in the fleet when launched. Though they were comfortable boats for the crew, the machinery spaces were cramped and difficult to work in.

[klagldsf]

Haha, great little boat. But I'm wondering if 5/25s (especially just three of them?) isn't way too weak. You can't do 5/50s or 5/40s?

EDIT: Actually, I guess it's ok with the backstory.

[emperor_andreas]

Nice work...glad to see this thread returning!

[Rodondo]

Unless the aft funnel was right at the fore end of the aft boiler space that would make a cramped spot very, very cramped but I like the concept, especially the long forecastle

[eswube]

Great to see this thread going on.
Interesting ship, even if bit unusual looking.

[Redhorse]

The fore funnel is trunked for two boiler spaces, but yes - they are very cramped.

[Redhorse]

In 1928 the Texas Air Force needed to purchase new trainers. Eight years of hard landings, ground loops, wing and/or prop strikes had rendered the Vought T-1s unreliable for further service. The Consolidated PT-3, used by the US Army Air Corps, was selected as the replacement and designated the T-2.

[emperor_andreas]

Nice!

[Redhorse]

In 1930, the Navy replaced the Campeche Class Cruiser with its newest, most technologically advanced (and largest) ships, the Rio Grande Class Heavy Cruiser:



Like most large-displacement capital ships, they were built in the United States. Originally designed for 10" guns, Texas was forced to accept an 8"/55 main battery when the US refused to build a 10" cruiser. Treaty restrictions forbade the larger gun, and though Texas was not a signatory to the treaty it reluctantly accepted the change.

The secondary battery was a point of contention. The fleet was looking for dual-purpose armament, but none was readily available in 1927 when they were laid down. They were built with 6"/53s. Those guns would be replaced with a dual purpose weapon during the first refits.

Anti-aircraft battery was paltry, only 4 3"50s in single mounts. In later years it would be augmented by 40mm and 20mm guns.

Like many cruisers of the time, she carried 21" torpedos, and though built with internal anti-torpedo bulkheads, as warhead yields increased she would be increasingly vulnerable to torpedo attack.

Her armor was 8" thick at the sides with a 2" armor deck over her vital spaces. She is the last capital ship built with an "all or nothing" armor scheme. Later ships would have armor over the ends to protect against flooding from multiple smaller-caliber hits.

Machinery was turbo-electric drive, in standard use for all Texas capital ships built after WWI. She had a maximum speed of 28 knots and an endurance of 7000 miles at the cruising speed of 14 knots.