Commonwealth of Recherche

[Hood]

Excellent work, it looks perfect and would be a very capable design.

[Krakatoa]

Nice work Rowdy, Belladonia would certainly have the edge in a battle with the Deutschlands, it could go either way. The 11" would go through your armour scheme, you would need 8-9" belt to keep out the 11". Your 12" would take bigger chunks out of the PB's than the 11" out of your ship. Come down to who hits who most. Early war 50/50 on hitting each other, but as the British/Rechercheans improve their radar ranging, the percentage would definitely go Belladonia's way.

With the Sea Slug conversion, I do remember reading where the British kept the remaining Southamptons, in preference to the Colony's, because of the better building standards compared to the war built ships. So you could go either way. In a smaller navy like Recherché would your ships remain in service a bit longer than the Major Powers? That might sway the Recherchean's either way.

I quite liked Erik-t's idea of an all forward armament especially as a PB or Thiarian cruiser would run at the sight of a Belladonia, give both turrets to fire in a chase.

[Rowdy36]

Thanks Hood

Yeah despite its paper advantage a real battle would likely go to whichever ship was more accurate/lucky. The Balladonia class were oddballs though in that they weren't designed to counter any specific ships, but rather as platforms for 12" guns that had become redundant once it was decided to convert the 3rd and 4th Recherche class battlecruisers into aircraft carriers. The (currently being redrawn) Recherche class were the real counters to the Deutschlands and Japanese heavy cruisers and the Balladonia class were initially just a cheaper way of getting excess guns to sea, with sufficient armour to allow them to tangle with heavy cruisers.

Hmm... when I get some time I might look into a Sea Slug conversion then and see what I can come up with.

[maomatic]

Let me join the praise:

Those are indeed superbly drawn and beautiful looking ships!
Excellent work.

[Oberon_706]

Fantastic design fantastically drawn! Well done Rowdy!

[Rowdy36]

Well I had a night off for once so I came up with something nice and quick, and a bit of a change from my usual:


Seen with dive cage fitted at the rear.

Length: 26.8m
Beam: 9.5m
Draft: 1.5m
Passengers: 14
Crew: 5
Max speed: 26kn

[BB1987]

How much for a tour with dive included?

[Krakatoa]

We could do with a cruise for sure. Temps here are -2 to 8 overnight, and 5-18 during the day. And I hate the cold.

I would be quite happy with a place round the NSW/QLD border.

The drawing is a great little earner. Wouldn't we all like to be in a position to be owner/skipper of a boat like that.

[Obsydian Shade]

Hmm... when I get some time I might look into a Sea Slug conversion then and see what I can come up with.

I don't know how committed you are to Sea Slug, or all-British armament postwar, but personally, I think that Terrier might be a better way to go, and maybe even a bit more aesthetic, though I suppose that point might be debatable.

As for Seacat, I've honestly never exactly understood the point of a subsonic SAM, or why it lasted in service as long as it did. I mean, yes, I understand it's basically replacing the 40mm Bofors mounts, but by the time the thing entered service, it seems to have been obsolete. In your particular position, I'd just create your own AU alternate weapon system. Certainly a nation capable of producing such fine vessels can afford it!

[Rusel]

I would be quite happy with a place round the NSW/QLD border.[/quote]

Not at the moment Rowdes old son! That East Coast Low is not a pretty sight, 100k/h winds and 7m tide last night.
Byron probably won't have a beach front left after this one.
Do you have Whale Sharks migrating through Recherche, and perhaps one of those Hammerhead get togethers?