Winter, 1890, Design Phase.Resolute-class Armored Cruiser
Based on the Niflung, the Resolute-class armored cruiser is effectively just an evolution of the design to 7000 tons. Moving speed up to 21 knots with the increased room and improved efficiency of turbine engines being installed from the start, Bolstad Armor belt and deck capable of resisting its own main battery from 3000 out to 15000 yards, and a main battery of two twin 9" turrets fore and aft, with not one but TWO whole superfiring twin 6" turrets (one fore and one aft, of course) on the centerline, it provides a similar but noticeably different profile from the older Niflungs. A set of two additional twin 6" turrets and 8 shielded 4" guns per side of the superstructure round out the armament, providing us with a very capable combatant.
The main battery turrets are our standard twin turrets, the armored very heavily indeed, meant to resist 9" fire from the front and at any point on the barbette so that the magazines can't be easily taken out of action or set alight. The 6" turrets carry 4" of Bolstad Steel on the front, thinning to 2" at the back, providing comprehensive protection with lessened weight. Our rangefinders and advanced fire control is all integrated into protected positions, obviously with the option to just not use the Mark 2 'Eyeball' until it's fixed. Notably, the conning tower is also armored with 6" of Bolstad steel to resist incoming fire and prevent lighter HE from rendering the ship uncontrolled or destroying its ability to range on targets.
The armored citadel is not the only armor on the vessel: Being aware of the risks of high explosive shells fired at the present short battle ranges, an extended belt covers the rest of the areas of the ship with 1" of Bolstad Steel, capable of detonating a 6" shell early so that it cannot pierce deeper into the vessel. The armored deck, however, terminates with the citadel athwartships, as HE is not fired at extreme range because AP's capability to deal much more serious damage is desirable when very few hits can be achieved. The main belt covers the entirety of the ship's vitals, and the coal bunkers are focused on providing a form of torpedo protection---the firetight doors and walls of the coal bunkers are repurposed as watertight doors and a sort of simple torpedo bulkhead to prevent hits a few feet under the waterline from being immediately fatal. There is an additional inch-thick plate over the propeller shaft and aft machinery sections, deep in the ship, to provide a little bit of crucial extra protection for those sections to prevent things like hits that warp the propeller shaft and cause it to rip open large sections of the hull and flood all of the engine rooms and whatnot.
Obviously, the ship is built with our trademark durability. Our experience and design effort invested in increasing survivability allows us to have more and superior pumping arrangements and more comprehensive flooding protection and better-subdivided machinery compartments than other vessels without sacrificing as much in terms of displacement or size. Additional bulkheads, fire suppression, etc. are all combined to make the ship extremely durable, a necessity given they may end up facing off against larger opponents and trading body blows with bigger ships.
Effectiveness: 5 | Cost: 2 | Bugs: 3 | Time: 2=2
The Resolute class is a brand new cruiser. One that likely will be able to be made once we are finished finalizing the design and our newest dry dock finishes its expansion. We have gone over the entire design, and have a fairly good idea as to what the ship should be capable of when it is finished and what it has. As designed, like our coastal defense ship, it has nine inch guns, specifically 4 of them. Also like our coastal defense ship it has the armor to resist shots of the same gun it utilizes, 8 inches. The main difference between the two ships is the size and speed. While the Niflung is a squat and fairly slow ship, but one that can pack a good punch, the Resolute class should be able to reach a speed of 21 knots. Additionally, it has a decent secondary and tertiary battery, with eight six inch guns and eight four inch guns, in twin turrets and single turrets respectively.
This comes at a cost however. We found with its heavy armament, the ship might be overweight and top heavy, and with the size of the ship, combined with the layout and the extended belt armor, the ship is likely to cost much more than we would like and it is expected to take longer to finish than we'd like. Then again, generally speaking, we like things that are cheep but still effective, and it was expected to take longer to finish anyway so this point was somewhat to be expected. Regardless, we expect that the ship will cost a decent amount more than a Niflung, but it makes up for that in its much wider range of versatility.
Also, we made sure to keep a spot for the calculator once we actually fix the damn thing and get it into a decent working order. We just decided to put a simple table where the calculator will go for when we decide to replace it, which will be good as an extra spot for our rangefinders to note down what they need to...Or used for a card game whenever the ship isn't in combat and the men aren't on active duty.
Main Battery Central Director Firing System (1 die spent, 0 die rushed)
5+2=7/6. 4 PP spent
Work has quickly been finalized on the Main Battery Central Director Firing System. We should be able to apply this to new designs fairly easily, and current designs can have it added as a fairly quick modernization refit as well. Of course, we already planned to apply this to our ships under construction, but those which were made without it will need some time for it to apply. Though, again, we already planned for everything relating to the finishing of this project. So, really nothing new to report other than now we can put certain things into motion.
Mark Two "Eyeball" Fire Control Computation Machine | 5/8 progress | 2 PP per die | Rushed 0 times | 2 PP invested
Resolute Class | 0/2 Seasons to Completion | Armored Cruiser | 8/3 PP cost | 8 Season Construction Time
Naval
Early 2/3/5/7/10/12 inch guns
9"/45 M1890 'Gungnir' (9 inch gun, Fairly reliable unless damaged. Has a basic optical rangefinder. Max range of roughly 21,000 yards)
6"/45 QF M1890 (6 inch gun, Fairly reliable unless damaged. Has a basic optical rangefinder. Max range of roughly 18000 yards)
4"/45 QF M1890 (4 inch gun, Fairly reliable unless damaged. Has a basic optical rangefinder. Max range of roughly 12,000 yards)
Triple-expansion engines.
Early steam turbine engines.
Early coal/oil hybrid firing.
Steel hull construction.
Compartmentalization.
Single Casemates.
Single and Double gun turrets.
Prototype Central Rangefinding
Harvey Bolstad Steel Armor
Early Damage control techniques.
Decent Anti Flash fire measures.
Very Early Central Rangefinding.
Ballistite.
Blackfoot torpedo (Reliable fast torpedo capable of 26 knots, and 1k yards
Marines
Defensive guns (Uses same calibers as naval guns)
4"/45 QF M1890 (Mobile Artillery piece with Gun shield.)
Rosemary 85 Rifle (Basic Bolt Action Rifle)
Holly 8 (Basic Revolver)
Spear class Scout Cruiser: A blisteringly fast scout cruiser capable of 28 knots and armed with two 6"/45 QF M1890 main guns in both forward and aft gun mounts along with three four inch guns and four two inch guns. Is protected by an inch of armor in turtle back formation, and can carry a platoon of soldiers.
Costs 5/2 PP, 5 seasons construction time.
Refit's of Spear class:
QF 4"/45 QF M1890 refit: Costs 1 PP to refit, takes 1 season to complete. Shipbuild cost same as original.
Turbine Refit: Costs 1 PP to refit, takes 2 seasons to complete. Shipbuild cost 4/2, time the same.
Dual Refit: Costs 2 PP to refit, takes 2 seasons to complete. Shipbuild cost 4/2, time the same.
CDFS Refit: Costs 1 PP to refit, takes 1 season to complete. Shipbuild cost same as original.
Modernization: Costs 3 PP to refit, takes 2 seasons to complete. Ship build cost 4/2, time same as original.
Niflung class Coastal Defense Ship: A heavily armored short range ship with 8 inches all around that has a main battery armed with 9 inch main guns in two turrets, along with a secondary armament of five 6"/45 QF M1890, one of which is in the Niflung iconic position in the back, meshing in with the superstructure.
Costs 6/2 PP, 7 seasons construction time.
Gungnir Refit: Costs 1 PP to refit, takes 1 season to complete. Shipbuild cost same as original
Turbine Refit: Costs 1 PP to refit, takes 2 seasons to complete. Shipbuild cost 6/2, time the same.
Dual Refit: Costs 2 PP to refit, takes 2 seasons to complete. Shipbuild cost 6/2, time the same.
CDFS Refit: Costs 1 PP to refit, takes 1 season to complete. Shipbuild cost same as original.
Modernization: Costs 3 PP to refit, takes 2 seasons to complete. Ship build cost 6/2, time same as original.
CS - Scout Cruisers
Spear Class, 19 ships, 40 Maintenance.
Spear | CS | No Refit | Currently under repair | Crew are Greenhorns | Heavily Damaged (2 turns to repair)|Montgomery Finley is captain, Greenhorn, Aggressive.
Bill | CS | No Refit | Currently assisting in Bombarding | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Daniel Fletcher is captain, Greenhorn, Aggressive.
Fork | CS | No Refit | Currently Raiding and Scouting | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Anthony Palmer is captain, Greenhorn, Aggressive.
Earspoon | CS | No Refit | Currently assisting in Bombarding | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | James Henderson is captain, Greenhorn, Aggressive.
Partisan | CS | No Refit | Currently Raiding and Scouting | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Rory Williamson is captain, Greenhorn, Cautious.
Glave | CS | No Refit | Currently under repair | Crew are Greenhorns | Heavily Damaged (2 turns in repair)| Freddie Grant is captain, Greenhorn, Aggressive.
Pike | CS | No Refit | Currently assisting in Bombarding | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Charles Wilson is captain, Greenhorn, Cautious.
Bardiche | CS | No Refit | Currently under repair | Crew are Greenhorns | Moderate Damage (1 turns in repair)| Jasper Griffith is captain, Greenhorn, Balanced.
Brandistock | CS | No Refit | Currently under repair | Crew are Greenhorns | Moderate Damage (1 turns in repair)| Arthur Barnes is captain, Greenhorn, Balanced.
Poleaxe | CS | No Refit | Currently assisting in Bombarding | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Owen Jefferson is captain, Greenhorn, Balanced.
Halberd | CS | No Refit | Currently Raiding and Scouting | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Andrew Wilkinson is captain, Greenhorn, Cautious.
Corseque | CS | No Refit | Currently assisting in Bombarding | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged |Reece Foster is captain, Greenhorn, Balanced.
Voulge | CS | No Refit | Currently Raiding and Scouting | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Brendon Morton is captain, Greenhorn, Cautious.
Spetum | CS | No Refit | Currently assisting in Bombarding | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Hayden Gardner is captain, Greenhorn, Cautious.
Falx | CS | Dual Refit | Currently Under construction, 2 seasons remaining, 4 PP per turn construction cost
Dory | CS | Dual Refit | Currently Under construction, 2 seasons remaining, 4 PP per turn construction cost
Rhomphaia | CS | Dual Refit | Currently Under construction, 2 seasons remaining, 4 PP per turn construction cost
Xyston | CS | Modernized | Currently Under construction, 3 seasons remaining, 4 PP per turn construction cost
Sarissa | CS | Modernized | Currently Under construction, 3 seasons remaining, 4 PP per turn construction cost
CDS - Coastal Defense Ships
Niflung Class, 6 Ships, 10 Maintenance.
Niflung | CDS | No Refit | Currently Bombarding | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Eddie Campbell is captain, Greenhorn, Cautious.
Gjúking | CDS | (Modernizing Refit) | Currently under refitting. 1 more turn | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Bertram Faulkner is captain, Greenhorn, Aggressive.
Sigurd | CDS | No Refit | Currently Bombarding | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Russell Faulkner is captain, Greenhorn, Balanced.
Gunnarr | CDS | (Modernizing Refit) | Currently under refitting. 1 more turn | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Markus Merrill is captain, Greenhorn, Balanced.
Hǫgni | CDS | No Refit | Currently Bombarding | Crew are Greenhorns | Undamaged | Elliot Burns is captain, Greenhorn, Cautious.
Gjúki | CDS | Modernized | Currently Under construction, 4 seasons remaining, Construction fully Funded |
CDF 1.1 (Coastal bombardment)
-Niflung
-Sigurd
-Hǫgni
CDF 1.2 (CDF 1.1's Vangard)
-Spetum
-Corseque
-Poleaxe
CDF 1.3 (CDF 1.1's Vangard)
-Pike
-Earspoon
-Bill
CDF 2.1 (Refitting)
-Gjúking
-Gunnarr
FCF 1 (Raiding and Scouting)
-Spear
-Partisan
FCF 2 (Raiding and Scouting)
-Fork
-Glave
FCF 3 (Intercepting raiders)
-Brandistock
-Bardiche
FCF 4 (Raiding and Scouting)
-Halberd
-Voulge
Nemorland Naval Academy's School of Nautical Engineering (Costs 6 PP Per turn to keep running)
Intensive Nautical Training School (Costs 5 PP per turn to keep running)
4,000 Displacement Dry docks. (2 turns remaining till 7,000 displacement) (4 to upgrade, takes 4 seasons to finish, increases by 3 each upgrade)
73 PP, 50 Maintenance