Alternate Weapons of War thread...

Krall

Banned
Not my best work, quite unfinished, but I quite like it:

Airship for Italy-like thing in steampunk RP, never got off the ground sadly.

Looks more like a battleship to me. And it doesn't look steampunk at all.

I like the little planes, though.
 
With the greater cooperation between the Axis powers the IJN built the I-500 class submarines and used them to attack the Panama Canal.

I-500.gif
 
I'll get started with this lovely number from my Imperial China TL:

Chang'an Industries HY-3

Description: The Chang'an Industries HY-3 was a carrier based fighter aircraft that saw service in the Second World War. Known by the Americans and British as the "Fireknife", the HY-3 was one of the most formidable fighter aircraft of the Second World War. A favorite of many Chinese aces, the fast and heavily armed Fireknife was more than capable of holding its own against any aircraft in the American and British arsenals.

Design: The original HY-3 prototypes were developed using an inverted supercharged V12, which proved to be unsatisfactory for the task at hand. However, the supercharged CJ-200As, which developed more than 2,200 horsepower, were excellent for the heavy fighter. In order to maximize the powerful engine, the HY-3 was equipped with a very large, 5 bladed propeller. An inverted gull wing was selected after the original landing gear kept breaking in simulated carrier landings, necessitating the requirement for stouter landing gear. Due to survivability issues, the hydraulic systems in the aircraft were eliminated, and electrical components were used instead. This in addition to self-sealing fuel tanks, and more than one hundred kilograms of armor plating, meant that the HY-3 was an extremely survivable aircraft, especially with the rather ingenious rubber spall liner behind the cockpit armoring, which prevented fragments from being driven into the cockpit. The 40mm thick cockpit glass helped ward off fragments and stray bullets.

The HY-3 was as heavily armed as it was armored, with most variants being armed with four 23mm cannons, each with 240 available rounds. This gave HY-3 strong hitting power against enemy fighters and most enemy bombers. However, certain variants of the Fireknife were armed with 30mm cannons, for hunting down heavy bombers, or even a pair of 40mm cannon for hunting tanks. Assisting the pilot was a bubble canopy made of very thick plexiglas, which allowed for excellent visibility to the rear and downwards.

Aerodynamically speaking, the laminar flow wing on the HY-3 resulted in an increased range over older prototypes, due to lower drag and greater fuel efficiency. The Chinese Aeronautical Consortium worked to give the HY-3 the lower drag coefficient possible.

Development History: In 1936, the Imperial Armaments Procurement Bureau laid down specifications for a carrier based fighter. It had to be able to take off from a carrier deck, or from a gravel runway, it had to be tough, it had to be low maintanence, but above all, it had to be fast. The initial prototypes of the HY-3 were tested with flights between Xi'an and Beijing, as well as flights in the Marianas Islands, Afghanistan and Yue. The initial use of an inverted V12 was found to be unsatisfactory. Despite developing an unprecedented 1800 horsepower, Chang'an's own CJ-199 engine was found to be underpowered when fitted to the HY-3's bulky airframe. Eternal Spring's massive CJ-200 radial engine, which was originally intended for use on a heavy four engined bomber, was instead fitted to the HY-3. The CJ-200 developed more than 2,200 horsepower, which was good enough to meet the Imperial Military's standards. The first batch of 20 HY-3s were delivered to the 3rd Banner's air units stationed near Xigong, before being seeing landing trials on the carrier ICN Feitian. However, the fighter's long nose made looking downwards somewhat problematic. A series of cockpit fires that resulted in the deaths of a few test pilots, resulted in the hydraulic controls being replaced with electric ones. This helped greatly with the survivability of the plane, as burning hydraulic fluid was eliminated as a problem. Also, new sets of controls helped with dealing with the temperamental inverted gull wing. However because of the difficulties in landing, the HY-3 was never able to fully replace the smaller CY-4 in carrier operations. However, more skilled pilots preferred the HY-3, due to its incredible speed, heavy armament and surprising agility.

Operational History: The first 3 squadrons of HY-3s were delivered to the 3rd Banner in 1938 for use in the Philippines campaign. Initially, the plane peformed poorly against the P-37 Warhawks flown by the US 3rd Air Force, and the F4C Raiders flown by the US Navy. Many pilots were unused to the enormous power of the plane, and attempted to get into turning contests with the highly maneuverable P-37s proved disastrous. However, the HY-3 performed excellently in the ground support role, with its heavy armor allowing it to take tremendous punishment and its quadruple 23mm cannons able to knock out troops and light armor. A miscalculation on the part of American and British Intelligence, exacerbated by the HY-3's poor performance in air to air combat, led to the belief that the HY-3 was an attack plane. This miscalculation would cost many American pilots their lives, as powerful, heavy F4U Corsair was overlooked in favor of the cheaper, more agile F4F Buccaneer. However, the Banner Navies realized that the HY-3 was a potent attack plane, as well as a fighter, and that new tactics would have to be developed in order to take advantage of the enormous power offered by the HY-3.

These new tactics were first unveiled by during the Malaya campaign in late 1938 by Chang Jiesheng, the Mad Monk. Chang, a former Shaolin monk, applied his martial arts training to aerial combat. Realizing that his plane was extremely powerful, he emphasized the direct strike, ordering the pilots in his squadron to use their superior speed, armament and climbing rate to hit British Spitfire and Whirlwind formations from unexpected angles, before diving or climbing away in order to strike again. Dogfighting and turning contests were strictly prohibited, as they locked pilots into a fight which they couldn't win. His tactics proved to be successful. Not only did the 3rd Banner Air Force manage to clear the skies above Malaya, Chang would go on to become the highest scoring ace of the Second World War, racking up a staggering 376 confirmed kills against enemy planes.

With the excellent success of the HY-3 in the Southeast Asian theaters, the 7th and 8th Banners requested that a version be made for them. The heavily armored HY-3s would make excellent tankbusters in the fight against the British in Burma and against the Russians. The HY-3B, deployed for the Banner Air Forces, did away with the tailhook and other naval landing gear of the HY-3A. It was also equipped with a turbocharged 21 cylinder engine, the CJ-201, which allowed it to "climb like a hyperactive monkey on freebased cocaine." The naval version of the 21 cylinder HY-3, the HY-3C, followed soon after, with the first examples appearing in the Solomon Islands campaign in late 1940, during the fighting for Guadalcanal. During the final assault on Mitchell Field, HY-3s, along with HH-3 attack planes and Japanese G4B bombers, managed to destroy many of the fortifications defended by the fanatically motivated USMC. Over the skies of American Samoa in 1941, the HY-3 finally managed to find a proper opponent in the excellent F4U Corsair, which finally had been put into action. However, by this point, the US Navy and Air Force had lost many experienced pilots, and few pilots managed to stay alive long enough to become instructors. Carrier aviation was especially impacted by this turn of events, as mounting losses amongst the US Navy, including the death of the influential Fleet Admiral Archer, caused morale to plummet amongst the United States Navy.

On November 16th, 1942, The Beiyang Fleet of the 2nd Banner engaged elements of the US 5th Fleet off the island of Midway. The HY-3 played a critical role in the Battle of Midway, claiming hundreds of American planes in the battle that became known in America only as "Black Monday" or the "Midway Massacre". With the loss of 9 fleet carriers and 8 light carriers, the backbone of US Navy Aviation was shattered. Admiral Henry Truman was forced to resign in disgrace after the stunning defeat at Midway. 8 months later, the HY-3 would be present at the Battle of Pearl Harbor, where the remnants of the US Navy's carrier fleet were defeated.

In Southeast Asia, the HY-3 lent its support to the 100 Regiments Offensive in Burma, which resulted in the defeat of British forces in that region. During the invasions of Sri Lanka and India, HY-3 attack planes provided close air support for clearing the landing beaches. Although, unlike in the Pacific Theater, the HY-3 found increasingly stiff resistance in the Manticore engined Spitfires and Hawker Cyclones that the British began to ship over. However, the British were also feeling the impact of personnel losses, especially amongst troops from the Home Islands.

Upon the end of the war, the Fireknife stayed on as first a trainer, and then an air racer. Many versions exist today, some still air-worthy.

Legacy: When the HY-3 was introduced in 1938, it had a rough start. The plane was difficult to handle, and had trouble fulfilling its main role as a carrier plane, due to its long nose, odd stalling characteristics and bulky frame. However, its heavy armament and extremely powerful engine allowed Banner Air Force pilots to avoid dogfighting with the more maneuverable American and British planes, while its survivability allowed it to perform excellently as a carrier plane and in the ground attack role. Because of its survivability, speed and bulk, it did a fantastic job protecting the pilots that flew it. The result was that the Banner Air Forces avoided many of the losses in personnel suffered by the British and Americans. As a plane, the Fireknife did much to inspire terror in its opponents, and contributed greatly to the Chinese war effort.

Variants:

HY-3: The first version, with an 1800 hp inverted V-12. Never got beyond prototype stage.

HY-3A: The original carrier based plane. 18 cylinder super/turbo, double row radial.

-A1: 2,200 hp, 6x 14.5mm HMG.
-A2: 2,200 hp, 4x 23mm cannon
-A3: 2,450 hp, 4x 30mm cannon, interceptor variant, not as popular as the later HY-3C2.
-A4: 2,450 hp, 2x 40mm cannon, attack variant with additional armor.
-A5: 2,650 hp, 4x23mm cannon, radar

HY-3B: Army version, 21 cylinder twin-turbo, no tailhook, different landing gear, extra armor, engine block heater for Russian front.

-B1: 3,100 hp, 4x23mm cannon
-B2: 3,100 hp, 4x30mm cannon, interceptor, radar
-B3: 3,100 hp, 2x40mm cannon, attack variant
-B4: 3,300 hp, 4x23mm cannon, radar

HY-3C: Advanced Interceptor variant for the Navy, 21 Cylinder engine.

-C1: 3,100 hp, 4x23mm cannon, radar
-C2: 3,100 hp, 4x30mm cannon, radar
-C3: 3,300 hp, 2x40mm cannon, radar, night attack variant
-C4: 3,500 hp, 4x30mm cannon, radar, fast attack variant

Specifications (HY-3C2)

General Characteristics:
Crew: 1
Cockpit Controls: Electric

Dimensions:

Length: 11.1 meters
Height: 4.50 meters
Wingspan: 13.2 meters
Empty Weight: 4,521 kg
Loaded Weight: 6,954 kg
Max Takeoff Weight: 8,113 kg

Powerplant: 1x Eternal Spring CJ-201D Radial Engine, 3,100 hp (2,325 kW)

CJ-201D Specifications:
Type: 21 cylinder, 3 row radial engine with optional nitrous oxide injection.
Bore: 155mm
Stroke: 155mm
Displacement: 64 liters
Diameter: 1.35m
Dry Weight: 1325kg

Components:
Valvetrain: 3 valves per cylinder
Induction: Twin turbochargers, intercooled
Fuel System: Fuel injection
Cooling System: Air cooled
Fuel: 100/130 Gasoline

Power: 3,100 hp (2,325 kW) at 10,000m
Power+Nitrous Oxide Injection: 3,500 hp (2,625 kw) at 10,000m

Propeller: 5 bladed variable pitch propeller. 4.3m diameter

Performance:
Maximum Speed: 760 km/h at 10,000m
Rate of Climb: 27.3m/second
Range: 2,100 km
Service Ceiling: 16,000m

Armament:

Guns:
-2x wing mounted 23x135mm cannon, 240 rounds per gun, 2x cowling mounted 23x135mm cannon, 260 rounds per gun. (Standard)
OR
-4x wing mounted 14.5x115mm HMGs 400 rounds per gun, 2x cowling mounted 14.5x115mm HMGs, 500 rounds per gun. (Light)
OR
-2x cowling mounted 30x185mm cannon, 120 rounds per gun, 2x wing mounted 30x185mm cannon, 100 rounds per gun. (Bomber hunter)
OR
-2x wing mounted 40x364mm cannons, 22 rounds per gun, 2x cowling mounted 14.5x115mm HMGs, 500 rounds per gun. (Tank buster)

Rockets:
-2x 210mm rockets (bunker buster)
-8x 130mm rockets (ground attack)
-14x 90mm rockets (bomber attack)

Bombs:
-Up to 2000kg of bombs, or 2x 800 kg torpedoes.

Protection:
-Armor plated cockpit area
-Self sealing fuel tanks
-Armor plated engine cowling
-40mm thick bubble canopy

Avionics:
-Eternal Spring IC-2 gyroscopically stabilized gunsights
-Eternal Spring LD-3 wing mounted radar pod
-Eternal Spring DFQ-4 IFF/Radio homing beacon package
 
Not my best work, quite unfinished, but I quite like it:

Airship for Italy-like thing in steampunk RP, never got off the ground sadly.
Wow. That is awesome.

Permission to use those little 'planes for some of my own designs?
 
Time to revive this thread!
I had a really boring saturday today... had nothing to do but to draw in paint and listen to some music... -.-
So on this fateful day, I created this vessel (lol)

A fictional Swedish WWII Battleship (for an AH of mine where sweden is more powerful)

Hope u like it (edit; oh, maybe I will/should add some more lifeboats... was thinking they could have mostly inflatable ones if that's possible...)
danielMjlnirKlassSlagskepp.png
 
Last edited:
Time to revive this thread!
I had a really boring saturday today... had nothing to do but to draw in paint and listen to some music... -.-
So on this fateful day, I created this vessel (lol)

A fictional Swedish WWII Battleship (for an AH of mine where sweden is more powerful)

Hope u like it (edit; oh, maybe I will/should add some more lifeboats... was thinking they could have mostly inflatable ones if that's possible...)
*SNIP*
DEAR GOD!!!! *SHIP-GASM*
 
DEAR GOD!!!! *SHIP-GASM*

I guess you like it :p ?

(Btw, if anyone wonders why it has an allied aircraft on it, it's because in the AH story this ship belongs in, Sweden joins the Allied forces, by which they
are able to borrow seaplanes or whatever u want to call them :p)
 

Krall

Banned
Time to revive this thread!
I had a really boring saturday today... had nothing to do but to draw in paint and listen to some music... -.-
So on this fateful day, I created this vessel (lol)

A fictional Swedish WWII Battleship (for an AH of mine where sweden is more powerful)

Hope u like it (edit; oh, maybe I will/should add some more lifeboats... was thinking they could have mostly inflatable ones if that's possible...)

:eek:

You are definitely deserving of your title, God-Emperor.
 
true dat.

Darkraiz... would you be willing to make a super battleship for me? i asked Krall to do it back when he had the title...

Sure thing.

Any specifics about it that you would like to see? 3 big cannons in the front or something? The "Mjölnir class" ship I did has 2, as you can see :), or maybe something else?
 
and i have a small request. can you make a space-borne battleship? 8 main turrets on top and 8 on the bottom, each one with four, 36 inch, .75 caliber MAC guns, multiple smaller Rail Guns, Coil Guns, and some other futuristic weapons. missile pods, fighter bays, transport bays, escape pods, and Nuclear Depth Charges. very stealthy looking, very angular. and has 4 fusion "propellers" lined up horizontally in the rear. please! i can guarantee this would be awesome! i can give a small sketch i made of it a while back. which reminds me, my scanner is up.
and any other changes you wish to make. smaller guns, etc.
 
Top