• Registered: 2006-05-03
  • Posts: 44

Topic: First Ship Design

Decided the best way to get a hang for what works was to just start and see what you guys think.  Here's my first ship, an Austrian Battlecruiser.  Now the Austrians already have a big cruiser (the Janos Hunyadi is quite huge, actually), but I decided to build this new ship to slightly different specs.  Same armor, slightly faster, slightly more gun and torpedo power.  The main feature is that it carries a battery of machine-guns to ward off FAC's (fluff-wise I'm envisioning this being a post-merchant war design, so more 'AA' would be a desired feature).  Though I have noticed the Janos has a large light battery which might do the job just as well, I dunno.  Anyway, eagerly awaiting feedback!

-Will

  • Registered: 2022-11-15
  • Posts: 1,286

Re: First Ship Design

Some pretty BIG guns there...any target you tag is gonna feel it.

If I understand you right, this is pretty much a slugger with a FAC defense component; such being the case, I'd be prone to sacrificing the torps for more light guns or down sizing them for use vs lighter units and again, add a few more light guns. 

You're also correct in that Light Guns may be used vs FACs.

  • Registered: 2005-03-28
  • Posts: 379

Re: First Ship Design

There ya go.  And glad to see someone else cheering for the Austrians.

Janos Hunyadi class heavy cruisers may appear undergunned at first, until you release that anything short of a battleship is going to have to get within PB range to hurt them (thanks to 4 Armor), at which point their D8 primaries and torpedoes are likely to hurt the other side right back.  In pick up games I play two of them in line, where their stabilizers help.

The ship looks solid smile 

One bit of kit to consider if you're thinking FAC defense is hale rockets.  They ignore size, have a 12" range and ANY hit on a FAC kills it.  They're the best chance to kill a fast attack craft before it actually hits you.

  • Registered: 2005-03-29
  • Posts: 859

Re: First Ship Design

Rockets?

Hmm, I tend to try and use them against heavily armed ships--but, unfortunately, with limited success. Yesterday we played a game (Japanese vs a race of my own design), and the Japs had the Makuhari. Due to the thick (5!) armour on the dreadnought, the Makuhari fired all of her rockets (18 by this point). Only 5 hit and two penetrated the armour...:D

Although, of course, they were congreve rockets.

  • Registered: 2006-05-03
  • Posts: 44

Re: First Ship Design

Ok, here's an updated version of the Battlecruiser.  Reduced the Torpedos slightly, scaled back the Machine guns to make room for 5 Hale Rockets as suggested.  Thanks for the feedback, if anyone thinks it could use more changes don't hesitate to pip up.

And I certaintly didn't mean to sound like I was criitizing the Janos Hunyadi- I think it's a very capable design, and good enough that I question if my own heavy weight design is really needed at all!  Maybe it would be better to try to design a medium weight cruiser, as the gap between the 19 Hull Janos Hunyadi and the 7 Hull Huszar leaves a niche to be filled....

-Will

  • Registered: 2005-03-28
  • Posts: 379

Re: First Ship Design

no no no, yer fine big_smile 

Never thought you were slamming the ship.  I love the old design, but I think it's charms might be lost on some folks. Just offering input as to FAC defenses.

Any Austrian hulls you wanna put up, DO SO (and forward ideas to me via PM).  The Sternmarine remains my favorite faction and it did really well today in a pickup game against the Soviet fleet  8)
Matt

  • Registered: 2006-05-03
  • Posts: 44

Re: First Ship Design

Yea, I hope the Sankt Georg ends up being a useful asset to a fleet's 'air defense' along with bringing enough firepower to lay down the hurt on the Dual Monarchy's enemies.

As for new Austro-Hungarian ships to protect the empire from Reds and hostile powers, I already have two more on the drawing board, will probably post them this weekend.  The Sankt Georg was actually intended in part to provide heavy escort to the new fleet carrier currently being laid down.... yikes

-Will