RevRick
Posts: 2508
Joined: 9/16/2000
From: Just above the gnat line, GA
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I have been 'fiddlin' with Iron Storm, and some of the AltNaval ideas as well. I like the reworking of the Fuso and Ise classes, and included them in my fiddlin'.
Herewith the results of my orchestration thus far:
With the Washington and London Naval treaties (the latter almost being a failure except for limiting cruiser and destroyer tonnages) not being as encompassing as they were - the IJN is allowed two Amagi class as expanded Nagatos. The IJN also builds the first six carriers, replaces Junyo and Hiyo with two more Shokakus, but then begins to standardize on a successor class, for which I have adopted the Kairyu's. They begin building in 1941 after the last two Shokaku's are launched, and begin appearing in early 43.
Since the IJN had planned to build a lot of 16.1" armed ships and (presumably) started work on the weapons, instead of two more Amagis and four Tosas, they find they have enough weapons to fit out three modified Tosa class (they actually look more like smaller Yamatos) with a speed of 32 kts, and somewhat less armor employed. Since the treaty limitations on new battle ship construction in the first London treaty ends in 1935, these ships begin construction immediately (obviously the plans had been developed over the previous several years.) This class will be completed in 1941-42. All of this work will obviously require new ways to be built as well, and they all cannot be accounted for by the requirements for new tenders, merchant shipping, and reconstructions (unless the IJN is building 40,000 ton Oilers!) There are still rumors of the IJN comtemplating, and or building some super battleships, which must be taken into account.
The combined signals, rumors, and odd photos of construction ways (including one snapped from a long oblique shot taken from a government charted Pan Am Clipper flight which was landed in Tokyo bay with an emergency diplomatic delegation to discuss the naval crisis in 1934 which showed a vessel with a long flat top under construction from a long way off) finds its way to USN and RN intel circles, and combined with the new data being heard from agents and sources in Germany, gets the attention of CNO, FDR, and the congress. In the grand tradition of the "repair" of the USS Constellation in the previous century, the USN (still being led by the gun fraternity) first takes a long look at it Battle Line - primarily the age and speed factors. The "Big Eight" are looked at long and hard. The two South Dakotas allowed in the Washington Treaty, the four Colorados, and the Tennessee class are taken, by turns, in hand and rebuilt, beginning with the engines.
The South Dakota and Indiana are taken in hand first, following the logic that the IJN is just starting its building program, and should not be ready to do anything hostile immediately. The improved boiler designs of the current engineering allow for enough steam generation in a smaller plant to run the engines designed for the Lexington battle cruisers to be fitted and run at 85% capacity. And increase of 150% in power increases the speed of the South Dakota twins to a touch over 28 kts. There is a redesign of the superstructure and the secondary battery is changed to reduce the 6" secondaries to eight, four on each side, and add 10 5"25 mounts. Torpedo blisters are also added to the underwater protection.
The four Colorados are taken in hand next. They receive a more extensive upgrading topside, as well as new engines. They serve as the test bed for the engines of the new North Carolinas being designed. With 115K horsepower, a slightly lengthened bow structure, torpedo blistered sides, their speed doesn't increase as much as expected, does reach a tick under 27 kts. The topside modernization sees all of the 5"51s removed, and replaced by a total of 10 (5/side) 5"38 single mounts, and a pair of 1.1" AA cannon each. (The gun fraternity is finally paying attention to what the Lexington and Sara are doing in Fleet Exercises, at least as far as possible damage to their precious babies!!!) Beginning modernization in 1940, the Tennessees will carry this a bit farther.
The Tennessee class is last, and Tennessee herself is still in the yards at Seattle on out outbreak of war. The same engineering plant changes take place, but with modified torpedo blisters and bow to reduce enough drag to put their speed just over 27.5 kts. The superstructure is completely redone, with four of the twin 5"38 mts being built and put on the North Carolina and the New Hampshire, as well as the four Massachusetts class follow-ons, (Massachusetts, Alabama, Ohio, and Louisianna)
In carrier development, the USN decided to build the fourth carrier (Ranger) using more of the 84,000 tons left under the carrier tonnage, and built a 17,000 ton precursor to the Yorktown class. A useful ship, the Ranger was too lightly built for extended operations, but could maneuver with and conduct flight operations with the Lexington and Saratoga in most situations. By the time of completion in 1934, it was realized that somewhat larger designs were necessary, and the Yorktown and Enterprise were built, then a slightlly improved ship, the Hornet, completing in 1939. When the IJN walked out of the final treaty, the USN realized that they would also need more aircraft carriers (and Congress realized they would need more of everything) simply to say within reach of the IJN, and thus passed the Two ocean Navy bill in 1939. That led to the ordering of the Wasp and Constellation upon completion of Hornet, and a fourth improved Yorktown, Congress (since they went along with the appropriation despite intense efforts by the pacifists to cease the "arms race in the guise of public works spending" efforts of the Navy. But, FDR, and Carl Vinson, loved the Navy. This also allows for the completion of the Illinois and Kentucky, as well as four more Baltimores during the war which follows, at the expense of the Alaska class.
Two of the Montanas are ordered, and will complete sometime in 1944, depending on the needs of the war effort.
The IJN does build two Yamatos, and with the Amagis, the three Tosa new battleships, and the Yamatos, does have a strong battle line of fast powerful ships. The upgrading of all of the 14" battleships, and the Nagato class still gives the IJN an overall speed advantage.
At the beginning of the Pacific War, North Carolina and New Hampshire are both in the Atlantic working up, along with Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, New York, Texas, and Arkansas. The final three were scheduled to be decommissioned as the North Carolinas and the Massachusetts came into service. I doubt they will be now, but they may remain in the Atlantic.
I've been fiddling with this, as I've said, for over a year, and have just got back to it. There are flaws in it, but then again, this is a "What If" situation anyway.
Let me know what you think. It has always been a Naval History fantasy of mine to upgrade the Tennessees and Colorados before the war started, and now I can...
< Message edited by RevRick -- 3/17/2009 4:04:19 PM >
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