Rule The Waves 3 - A Graphical Experiment

Reader mode
[X] Yes, when the budget is available.

I want a Dunkerque or Richelieu.
 
A new Cruiser for a new Decade New
  • Threadmarks
    • Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Apr 27, 2024 at 9:05 AM, finished with 10 posts and 9 votes.
    Click to expand...


    Should we build a new Super Cruiser? Yes, when the budget is available.


    The early months of 1924 are quiet. We pass the review of the submarine building program and look forward to welcoming twenty new submarines by the end of 1925. The Army has been developing the concepts of the high-level bomber and wonders if, perhaps, the navy could find a use for them - this may be especially true if they have better patrol range and payload over the torpedo attack squadrons we are currently operating from our land bases for coastal defence. Not only that but with the Indomptable completing her refit in May of 1924, we have some eight million francs available per month with which to begin construction of a new class of Super Cruisers.

    The Future Capital Ships
    With a wide variety of interest in the future of the fleet, we have numerous recommendations and plans being drawn up by different sectors of the fleet for what the Marine Nationale should look like some five years from now. The proffered designs are as follows:
    - Design 'A' is an evolution of the current standard for Super Cruisers, fitting four turrets armed with 350mm guns in a 2-3-3-2 arrangement. She would have a broad array of secondary guns including 125mm twin turrets, high-angle 9-pound AA guns, 37 and 13.2mm automatics and a pair of deck mounted torpedo tubes for the finishing blow. She would displace around 35,000 tons.
    - Design 'B' comes from the same program but rather than mounting the 350mm gun it instead mounts the more modern 405mm Model 1919 in a 2-2-2-2 arrangement with the hull growing to accommodate these guns.
    ​
    - Design 'C' is the first unusual design. It fits eight 350mm guns in a 4-4 arrangement with both quad turrets forwards of the bridge and conning tower. This allows a significant weight saving, bringing the ships total tonnage down to just 30,000 under standard loads. The 125mm guns would then be arranged aft to protect the rear from darting attacks by enemy torpedo boats.
    - Design 'D' is a semi-traditional design with a single turret fore and aft, each mounting four 350mm guns. It uses the weight savings from refusing super firing guns to fit engines capable of 30 knots on a 35,000 tons displacement ship. It would otherwise not be an unusual design.
    ​
    - Design 'E' offers an entirely radical new thought for ship design. Using so called 'box' protection around the magazines extends the concept of all-or-nothing armour to its extreme, providing massive thickness in the most vulnerable places but leaving others almost unprotected. Thus the ship is protected from critical damage but is vulnerable to much else. The mass reduction allows for a 27,500 ton ship that will be capable of 33 knots while carry eight 305mm guns in a 2-2-2-2 arrangement.
    - Design 'F' would carry an entirely new gun - the 450mm Model 1924 firing a 1.4 ton shell to a range of around 34,000 yards. It would only be able to carry six of these enormous rifles, with two forwards of the conning tower and four aft in two turrets. It would otherwise be a relatively standard design, offering all the potential that would bring.
    ​
    - An enterprising young fellow from the Aeronavale has suggested that, rather than building more expensive Super Cruisers, the navy would be better off with Design 'G'; A 16,000 ton purpose built aircraft carrier capable of carrying some thirty-two aircraft. We could build two of these for each Super Cruiser and conduct highly capable naval air operations which our enemies are hardly prepared for.
    ​

    Please select one of the above designs to take forward:
    [ ] Write in a single Design
    or
    [ ] Write in something else that isn't represented above.
     
  • New
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Design C

    Dunkerque, my beloved. Well, with larger guns, but still!
     
    [X] A mix is called for! 2 of Design C and one of Design G! As many of these sets as we can afford!

    These exemplify the spirit of the Jeune Ecole - design C is aggressive and swift enough for a Super Cruiser; and its armament layout emphasizes the kind of bold, agressive action that we excell at; whilst design G would provide scouting suport and the ability to force our foes to react to even more threats. Also, whenever our foes themselves awaken to the potential of air power, they would add to our ability to defend our own forces.
     
    Design E looks interesting with the new armour scheme and 33kt speed, but is pitifully undergunned... so I think we need to go with the other innovation

    [X] Design C

    Weight-savings, a presumably decent speed (if this doesn't equal that russian bote i will be sad), and a nice large set of guns.
     
    [X] A mix is called for! 2 of Design C and one of Design G! As many of these sets as we can afford!

    I do love a mix.
     
    [X] Design D
    RETURN TO PRE-KLEBER! :V

    No but really for a super cruiser with the speed to control the range of engagement, I think keeping the ability to shoot the main guns far aft seems important for whenever we're trying to keep enemy BBs at a distance and not get stuck in a slugging match. So I'll put down an approval vote too, for

    [X] Design A
     
    Also as something important, designs C and D are the only ones truly french, with a quad-turret.
     
    [X] Design D
    [X] Design F
    [X] write-in -- combine the turret layout of D with the guns of F (possibly in triples instead of quads), and the armor arrangement of E, prioritizing speed

    The last one is just to be silly, but I have to vote big guns, even if D or E is probably the more practical...
     
    Mon Dieu, this budget New
  • Threadmarks
    • Adhoc vote count started by 4WheelSword on Apr 28, 2024 at 8:27 AM, finished with 13 posts and 12 votes.
    • [X] Design C
      [X] A mix is called for! 2 of Design C and one of Design G! As many of these sets as we can afford!
      [X] Design D
      [X] Design A
      [X] Design B
      [X] Design F
      [X] write-in -- combine the turret layout of D with the guns of F (possibly in triples instead of quads), and the armor arrangement of E, prioritizing speed
    Click to expand...


    Please select one of the above designs to take forward: Design 'C'


    The New Super Cruiser
    We move forwards with just one of the seven designs; design 'D' with its all forwards armament and four-rifle turrets. After feedback from the selection committee the design grows to 33,000 tons standard displacement in order to accommodate thicker deck armour and a powerplant that can produce thirty knots of speed. Five-thousand tons of machinery will produce some 120,000 horsepower with 320mm of effective belt protection and 100mm of deck armour protecting it. It will be a remarkable ship, this Colosse with her massive battery of guns forwards.
    ​

    We conduct a crash refit program while waiting for the design to be completed, finishing work on the Indomptable as well as updating several protected cruisers to have modern fire directors and an anti-air armament. This will help maintain a modern force while we work on the Colosse-class.

    Shocking news from across the border - the government of Germany which has previously been trending liberal has collapsed into a coup! The so called Kapp Putsch has established Wolfgang Kapp as Reichskanzler and established a new, autocratic, provisional government. We had previously hoped that relations between our states could improve in the wake of the war with Italy, but an autocracy is not a friend to the people of France. Perhaps another war will fix it...
    ​


    The Italian Centre
    Even as our neighbour in the North is descending into illiberal radicalisation, the newly elected Italian government approaches us wishing to reduce tensions. We agree to some miniscule accession in order to ensure that we can lean on them should war come with Germany and keep them out of such a conflict. It wouldn't suit us to fight on two fronts again after all.

    We accept our first twin-engine, land based bomber into service to complement our flying boat patrol planes. The Breguet 88 will be capable of 80 knots while carrying 1500lbs of payload with a range of around 350km. While it is not equipped to carry a torpedo, it has double the range and is faster than our most capable torpedo bomber and thus we will begin replacing our land based strike squadrons with this new aircraft.
    ​

    We lay down a second Colosse-class in November, the Majestueux, which we expect to be completed some time in 1926. Refits continue quietly as our corvette and destroyer forces are updated to maintain relevancy.

    Unfortunately, Italy's outward projection of a liberal and gentle image is shattered shortly before the new year, as they once again begin making moves on Albania. We once again join an international force to delay them and allow the Albanian government a chance to restore order. This time, however, the Italians ignore us and simply take control of the tiny nation. We send a diplomatic grievance and have done with it.


    There's something wrong with our bloody budget
    With tensions low in Europe (ignoring the Italian menace and the German autocrats), the wise and noble Assemblee Nationale decides to reduce naval spending again, and in the very same week we are approached by the Minister of the Navy with requests for twenty new destroyers for the fleet. We are perhaps fortunate that the submarine force is arriving and entering service as without that we would surely be unable to afford such a request, but as it is we modify the Flamberge-class to accommodate new technology. The Dehorter-class will carry 100mm guns fore and aft in twin turrets as well as an extra pair of depth charge throwers to maximise efficacy against enemy submarines. One day we will be in a position to lay down a new large destroyer and it will be a remarkable ship, but for now we are limited to these small, capable vessels.

    There is clearly something in the water in Europe. The communists, a group of radical leftists that are just a little too radical for our tastes, have taken power in Russia in a bloody coup. Another monarchy falls amongst stories of fighting from block to block in Moscow and St Petersburg, with the Tsar and his family captured and strung up in the opening days. Perhaps they will be more tractable than their monarchist predecessors.
    ​

    We lay down the first ten Dehorter-class destroyers, and receive word of an odd German ship that has been laid down. The Scharnhorst seems to be an attempt to recapture the Armoured Cruisers of previous decades, utilising modern technology to ensure that this 13,000 ton ship will be capable of engaging anything smaller than itself. With 220mm main guns and a broad secondary battery, she will be deadly - unless she is caught by one of our Super Cruisers. Perhaps she will make for an excellent commerce raider, but otherwise, she seems unnecessary.
    ​

    The Assemblee Nationale reduces our budget once more in April of 1925, just as we lay down the second tranche of ten destroyers. At the current rate of spending, we will run out of money in seven months, around the turn of 1926. That is, unless the Assemblee decides that it would like to support its staunchest defender in the wake of this spate of revolutionary violence around Europe.

    Borneo is granted independence from Japan after a year long rebellion that has seen vicious fighting and massive casualties on both sides. This denies the emerging Pacific power a base in South-East Asia, securing our positions even more than they already were.

    Finally, in September of 1925 a new government is elected and this one wants to raise expenditures on the Navy. Will this raise tensions around Europe? Yes. Will it allow us to complete our construction program? Also yes. It is obvious which is most important at the current time. We are still in a deficit, but now it will last (with current spending) until late 1926, allowing us to complete at least half of the new destroyers and free up budget that way. It is fortunate, perhaps, that we have been insistent on growing a war chest wherever possible as it has saved us from any number of budgetary swings.

    We also finally let go of the last of the Edgar Quinet-class of Armoured Cruisers. After twenty years of service, the Foch is showing her age and is without any surviving sister ships. She took part in a number of battles over two wars, earning herself seven battle stars and establishing herself as a remarkable fighting ship but, sadly, technology and time catches up with us all and it is time for her to go to the breakers yard.

    The aging Foch in port​


    Tensions are very high between Italy and France, Italy and Austro-Hungary and (though presumably only because of an alliance) Italy and Japan. We are placed in a position where we can make a choice; While some clever young men are going to attempt to blow up one of their capital ships, what is our public facing?

    We must:
    [ ] Remain neutral and support anyone fighting Italy
    [ ] Fight Italy as and when we can, but on their terms.
    [ ] Stay out of it entirely, if we can.
    [ ] Other, write-in.
     
  • New
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Remain neutral and support anyone fighting Italy

    Italy is still recovering from the last round, and despite our budgetary issues we're in a better position than they are - especially with all our widespread air bases and that new medium bomber to allow us to deal with any ground targets we might ahve to go after. If the chance presents itself for us to jab a dagger into their kidneys, we ought to do so.
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Back
    Top