Verdant Archipelago
08-02-2005, 23:19
New Vessel Surprises Admiralty, Pundits Flee!
John Winston
Jacksonton
Naval officials throughout the Verdant Archipelago were shocked by reports of the latest vessel to come out of the Saxburg Kriegmarine’s shipyards. Speaker von Moloch claims that the ship is to aid the Saxburg Citizen’s Defence Korps in clearing their newly claimed islands for human habitation, but information has been leaked that the Admiral Jurgens carries a new fire direction system optimized for ship to ship combat rather than shore bombardment.
Details are still sketchy, but the main armament has been confirmed to consist of six enormous armored turrets each containing two 12” breach loading rifles. The configuration of the vessel also points to possible ship to ship combat, as two of the turrets are mounted on the bow, and two on each side… one would assume that for a bombardment mission, the Saxburgers would want as heavy a broadside as possible.
The vessel is also rumored to be extremely fast, exceeding 24 knots in sea trials, and can handle poor weather with aplomb.
This new vessel, along with a class of locomotive-torpedo carrier yet to be displayed, indicates the rising tensions in the archipelago. Who are the Saxburgers arming against? Why?
We can only hope their covetous eyes have landed on someone else.
OOC information
While largely accurate, the information leaked to the other major powers was doctored by Strategos von Schnellenberg, director of Saxburg counterintelligence. The vessel is designed both for shore bombardment and ship to ship combat, but is optimized for a bombardment role, as can be seen from the relatively light armor.
As well, the actual speed is considerably lower than the one leaked… the oil fired boilers can only propel the ship up to 21 knots, and the cruising speed is 12 knots. Here’s some stats… I’ll post more fluff when I’m less busy
Displacement:
22,749 t light; 23,832 t standard; 25,040 t normal; 26,006 t full load
Dimensions:
161.10 m x 24.50 m x 8.03 m
Performance
Top Speed: 21 kts
Range: 3,500nm at 12.00 kts
Oil fired, complex reciprocating steam engines, delivering 37000 hp to 3 shafts
Armament:
12 12” breach loading rifled guns mounted in double turrets on barbettes. Two turrets are mounted on either side of the superstructure, and two on the bow. One of the bow turrets, and one turret on either side are superfiring, so the entire main battery can be fired forward, but only four guns can bear aft.
8 5.91” breach loading rifled guns mounted in single casemates amidships, four per side.
14 3.46” cartridged rifled guns in deck mounts scattered around the superstructure. No protection
20 0.50 cal machineguns in single deck mounts scattered about the ship.
Armour:
Main Belt: 8"
Ends: 5"
Upper: 5"
Deck: 3"
Conning tower: 10"
Torpedo Bulkhead: 2"
Main Battery: 7"
Casemates: 5"
John Winston
Jacksonton
Naval officials throughout the Verdant Archipelago were shocked by reports of the latest vessel to come out of the Saxburg Kriegmarine’s shipyards. Speaker von Moloch claims that the ship is to aid the Saxburg Citizen’s Defence Korps in clearing their newly claimed islands for human habitation, but information has been leaked that the Admiral Jurgens carries a new fire direction system optimized for ship to ship combat rather than shore bombardment.
Details are still sketchy, but the main armament has been confirmed to consist of six enormous armored turrets each containing two 12” breach loading rifles. The configuration of the vessel also points to possible ship to ship combat, as two of the turrets are mounted on the bow, and two on each side… one would assume that for a bombardment mission, the Saxburgers would want as heavy a broadside as possible.
The vessel is also rumored to be extremely fast, exceeding 24 knots in sea trials, and can handle poor weather with aplomb.
This new vessel, along with a class of locomotive-torpedo carrier yet to be displayed, indicates the rising tensions in the archipelago. Who are the Saxburgers arming against? Why?
We can only hope their covetous eyes have landed on someone else.
OOC information
While largely accurate, the information leaked to the other major powers was doctored by Strategos von Schnellenberg, director of Saxburg counterintelligence. The vessel is designed both for shore bombardment and ship to ship combat, but is optimized for a bombardment role, as can be seen from the relatively light armor.
As well, the actual speed is considerably lower than the one leaked… the oil fired boilers can only propel the ship up to 21 knots, and the cruising speed is 12 knots. Here’s some stats… I’ll post more fluff when I’m less busy
Displacement:
22,749 t light; 23,832 t standard; 25,040 t normal; 26,006 t full load
Dimensions:
161.10 m x 24.50 m x 8.03 m
Performance
Top Speed: 21 kts
Range: 3,500nm at 12.00 kts
Oil fired, complex reciprocating steam engines, delivering 37000 hp to 3 shafts
Armament:
12 12” breach loading rifled guns mounted in double turrets on barbettes. Two turrets are mounted on either side of the superstructure, and two on the bow. One of the bow turrets, and one turret on either side are superfiring, so the entire main battery can be fired forward, but only four guns can bear aft.
8 5.91” breach loading rifled guns mounted in single casemates amidships, four per side.
14 3.46” cartridged rifled guns in deck mounts scattered around the superstructure. No protection
20 0.50 cal machineguns in single deck mounts scattered about the ship.
Armour:
Main Belt: 8"
Ends: 5"
Upper: 5"
Deck: 3"
Conning tower: 10"
Torpedo Bulkhead: 2"
Main Battery: 7"
Casemates: 5"