Shipbucket

Alright I've been working on some more aircraft for Sieran lately, in particular the designs appearing around 1940-41 and as such will be the types that see true combat against Japan.

Here is a WIP showing one of my methods for building a drawing; collage.
I gather pieces from other line drawings of the subject I'm interested in then using either GIMP or Photoshop, I resize, combine and edit the pieces into an image which I can use to give me an idea of how it will look before I've even started drawing a line for it.



This here is an as yet un-named and un-designated fighter (I've yet to decide on which manufacturer produces this and its designation) entering service either late 1940-early 1941. It is powered by an Imported Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp 14 cylinder, two row supercharged radial engine producing 1,200 hp (895 kW) of power, over 300hp more than the previous fighter design (the PF-34). This aircraft took in experience from that previous type (which entered service in 1938) in squadron service as well as from the two squadrons aiding the Chinese in their war against Japan.

Some observations included the desire for greater visibility from the cockpit. Visibility was improved through the use of a single piece molded canopy with a two piece windscreen and attempts to improve rearward vision. The inline engine of the previous type was also found to be difficult to operate during the Winter months as it was prone to seizing. For this new fighter, Sieran reverted to their preferred radial engine which had already proved superior in cold climates.
Much effort was spent on the new design in making it as aerodynamic as possible to improve speed and climb performance. The aircraft was also the first all-metal fighter to be built by Sieran.
Fighting in China as well as the observations from the war in Europe revealed the drawbacks of the 7.62mm machine guns of the previous type whilst also proving the impact of the 20mm cannon. As a result the new fighter was fitted with 2x 20mm cannon in the wings with 110 rounds each. Two 12.7mm machine gun positions (450rpg) were available on the fuselage decking firing through the propeller arc however often only the port machine gun was fitted to most early production machines.

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I'm still working on the information for this design. It's main opponents would be the Ki-43 'Oscar' and the A6M 'Zero' fighters of design from the similar time period. Compared to those the Sieranian aircraft is heavier with shorter range. It would however have a faster top speed and more durable. Potentially it'd be more maneuverable than the zero at high speed and high altitude though that information will have to wait until I've got the final design for the specifications done.

This collage uses pieces from the following aircraft; ki-43, ki-100, Kawanishi J6K, Yak-3, Reggaine 2002 and SBD Dauntless.

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"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

It's been a while in the works but here is the latest warship drawing; the Veter (Wind/Breeze) Class Destroyer;



With the first member of the class laid down in 1926, the Veter class of 26 destroyers became the largest operational class of destroyers until the commissioning of their larger replacements during 1938-1940. Over 10 knots faster than the preceding R class destroyers, the Veters represented a new age for the Sieranian Navy. Armed with 4x 120mm (4.7") guns in single mounts fore and aft, they also packed a greater punch than the earlier design. Range had also been improved though it was still rather short.

The Veters saw much use during the interwar period experimenting with fleet tactics as well as partaking in organised exercises to test battle plans. It was found that the Veters were rather uncomfortable ships in gale force seas with much spray thrown over the decks. Attempts were made to correct this by the additional of bilge keels and spray deflectors which worked somewhat but the issues never really went away.

The ships were also the testbed for a variety of new machinery including new boilers and turbines. Whilst these gave the ships great performance, they also proved difficult to work given the cramped working conditions in the engine room and were prone to malfunction due to manufacturing defects in the turbines. Many of these flaws were reduced in the later ships however cramped spaces were to always remain an unwelcome but necessary factor with the class.

By far the biggest drawbacks of the class lay in their lack of depth charge equipment and anti-air firepower. Space had not been available on the stern to fit depth charge racks and positioning them on the sides was considered to great of a risk to the ship so they were abandoned. The anti-air capability of the vessels was adequate at the time of their commissioning however by the start of hostilities they were considerably lacking in defensive weaponry. Flexible 7.62 machine gun mounts were made available along the ships railings that could be stowed in the superstructure when not in use however these weapons did not prove effective beyond improving crew morale.

Even with these flaws, the Veters were considered as one of Sierans most capable vessels during the interwar period due to their ease of modification and relatively basic construction.

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The below Springsharp report was made before the drawing was done so it is not 100% accurate (but very close, only a few things might be off). I'm not entirely happy with the report but it's telling me the ship works so I guess it's alright.

[code]
SRN Veter, Socialist Republic of Sieran Veter Class Destroyer laid down 1926

Displacement:
1,268 t light; 1,320 t standard; 1,400 t normal; 1,464 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(352.68 ft / 347.77 ft) x 31.63 ft x (14.11 / 14.45 ft)
(107.50 m / 106.00 m) x 9.64 m x (4.30 / 4.40 m)

Armament:
4 - 4.72" / 120 mm 50.0 cal guns - 55.82lbs / 25.32kg shells, 180 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts, 1922 Model
4 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
2 raised mounts
8 - 1.60" / 40.6 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2.07lbs / 0.94kg shells, 140 per gun
Breech loading guns in deck mounts, 1926 Model
1 x Quad mount on centreline, aft deck aft
1 raised mount
1 x Quad mount on centreline, forward deck aft
1 raised mount
Weight of broadside 240 lbs / 109 kg
Main Torpedoes
6 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 22.97 ft / 7.00 m torpedoes - 1.503 t each, 9.015 t total
In 2 sets of deck mounted centre rotating tubes

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 31,000 shp / 23,126 Kw = 33.48 kts
Range 2,000nm at 14.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 145 tons

Complement:
113 - 148

Cost:
£0.555 million / $2.221 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 68 tons, 4.8 %
- Guns: 50 tons, 3.6 %
- Weapons: 18 tons, 1.3 %
Machinery: 739 tons, 52.8 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 461 tons, 32.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 132 tons, 9.4 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
446 lbs / 202 Kg = 8.5 x 4.7 " / 120 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.36
Metacentric height 1.5 ft / 0.5 m
Roll period: 10.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.27
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.19

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
a normal bow and small transom stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.316 / 0.323
Length to Beam Ratio: 11.00 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 20.24 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 14.00 degrees
Stern overhang: -3.28 ft / -1.00 m
Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
Fore end, Aft end
- Forecastle: 23.00 %, 19.69 ft / 6.00 m, 17.39 ft / 5.30 m
- Forward deck: 24.00 %, 17.39 ft / 5.30 m, 17.39 ft / 5.30 m
- Aft deck: 38.00 %, 9.06 ft / 2.76 m, 9.06 ft / 2.76 m
- Quarter deck: 15.00 %, 9.06 ft / 2.76 m, 9.06 ft / 2.76 m
- Average freeboard: 13.18 ft / 4.02 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 179.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 106.1 %
Waterplane Area: 6,633 Square feet or 616 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 66 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 37 lbs/sq ft or 181 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.58
- Longitudinal: 2.27
- Overall: 0.66
Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Adequate accommodation and workspace room
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_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

What a pretty little design! There are a few schemes running through my head on alternate armament fits too.

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AU Projects: | Federal Monarchy of Tír Glas| Other Ivernic Nations | Artemis Group |
Blood and Fire

Thanks. I also am rather pleased with their lines, more graceful than RN destroyers of the period yet still having that aggressive look of a warship.

Feel free to have a go at some if you'd like or let me know about them so I could attempt a few. These ships saw a lot of experiments done during the 1930s and due to their numbers armament would be one of those areas experimented with.

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"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

I really like the sleak hull lines of this ship. The bridge structure is very good-looking as well.

Depending on weight tolerances I was thinking along the lines of the following:

1: A general re-work with a twin 4.7 in the A and Y positions and either a pair of 12pdr / 3" AA mounts or some singular pom-poms
2: An AA boat hastily converted at the outbreak of war after mounting losses from air power with either 4" or 4.7" HA singles landing the rear most set of tubes, replacing them with one of said mounts and mounting another pom-pom in the position formally occupied by a full bore gun.

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AU Projects: | Federal Monarchy of Tír Glas| Other Ivernic Nations | Artemis Group |
Blood and Fire

@KHT: Thanks. I do love clipper bows so I like having them on ships that suit them.

@Blackbuck: both of those ideas sound interesting. The first one is certainly possible and would improve the AA capabilities of the ship whilst retaining their surface firepower. I do like the second idea as well however that one might push the limits of the displacement. Losses to air power is a possibility considering its the IJN who will be the navy's opponent.

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"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

That's a really nice looking ship you've got there. I like the angle of the stern.

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Worklist

"If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done." ~Ludwig Wittgenstein

The stern is close to the French destroyers of the interwar period as well as the early torpedo boats. I felt it gave a good effect for showing the design is an evolution of previous theories and not entirely new.

_________________
"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Nice design!