McPherson
Banned
PDF...So a random question. Assume for a moment that you are in the admiralty of a mid tier power in the 1935-45 period and have been tasked with leading a delegation to acquire a pair of battleships from a foreign power. It is desired that the ships you purchase are based on an existing design either already in service with your nation of choice, or under construction. Said battleships can are desired to be treaty compliant, 35,000 tons and up to 16 inch guns, vessels which were ostensibly built to the treaty, but broke its terms either through invocation of the escalator clause, or cheating may be chosen as well, though Yamato is strictly off limits as Japan is unlikely to share its secret battleships capabilities with an export customer. Also vessels that were laid down or ordered historically, but never commissioned for whatever reason, may also be chosen. What would your vessel of choice be?
And the insanity. Be FRENCH.
See that insanity?Also assume you are a traitor to your nation looking to give them the most badly compromised design to ensure that the fleet will have the worst possible battleship in service. What would your choice now be?
You wrote the worst possible design?Personally my own choices for the first category would be either the Richelieu class of the French navy, or the British King George V class. The KGVs gave good service during the war once certain issues were addressed, while the French ships were really good designs on paper, but never had the chance to prove themselves. I had considered the Iowa's of the US, but they arrived very late in the period and I want my ships now. Earlier US vessels are a bit cramped IMO, and honestly I like the look of the quad turret ships better. I also considered the Dunkerque class, but they have to light armor and guns too light for me.
You want the best of the best? A North Carolina, as built and worked up, would munch on its compeers and spit them out as razor blades.Now for the second category I would probably pick either the German Scharnhorst class for their light guns and flawed armor, or a North Carolina class ship. Neither vessel is especially bad, Scharnhorst gave good service but really her 11 inch guns were too small for the period, even if I understand the logic behind them at the time and know it was planned to replace them with 15 inch guns. While the US ships were perfectly servicable, but were quite cramped as I have said and due to this it would likely be hard to find space for things like improved AA, and RADAR once they become available.
See previous remarks.Now that's just evil. I love it.
Scheme A. And have a Russian naval yard build her for assured quality control.If you are a traitor you probably want to order battleships from your parent nation.
KGVs.For example if I was a British agent in Netherlands I would order a British battleship to boost the British economy and allow Britain to take it over if there was a need.
There would also be an element of what the needs of the country is.
Possibly at the Leningrad yards, if one is a real traitor.Does this country have the facilities to build battleships of that size, a la Spain? Or do the ships have to be built at the seller's shipyards?