I have recently been playing some Hearts of Iron 3 and got to thinking, what would a direct translation of WWII naval ships into Aurora look like? The answer as you will find out is big and heavy. For my first experiment I decided to design copies of the ships attached to the British Royal Navy Home Fleet of September 1939. This comes to (deep breath in) 5 Battleships, 3 Battlecruisers, 1 Heavy Cruiser, 5 Light Cruisers, 1 Anti-aircraft Cruiser, 2 Carriers, 1 Seaplane Carrier, 17 Destroyers, 1 Destroyer Tender, 22 Submarines, 2 Submarine Tenders, 7 Minesweepers, and lastly 14 Patrol Boats.
What I found when I first started was that the mass of the ships would have to be massively increased as the components used in Aurora are a lot larger than what would be used in real ships, at least when it comes to WWII ships, so it would be impossible to have the same ship with the same tonnage. Therefore I decided to increase the mass of all ships by 10x, that is to say, a 2 500 ton Destroyer would become 25 000 tons, and a 8 100 ton Destroyer Tender would become 81 000 tons etc. Secondly I decided to take the posted speed of the WWII ships and increase them to something approaching ~360 000x; 36 knots (67 km/h) would become 6 700 km/s and so on.
For the weapons systems I decided that Main weapons would be Lasers, while Secondary and Tertiary weapons would be Lasers, Mesons, or Microwave Guns, and Anti-aircraft guns would be Gauss Cannons. In regards to sensors, even if the actual WWII ship had no radar whatsoever, each ship would need to be able to independently spot its supposed targets it being impossible to visually spot and target targets at the ranges used in Aurora.
So far I have designed the following, which I will be posting below; the Tribal and F Class Destroyers, the Greenwich class Destroyer Tender, the C Class (Carlisle Group) Anti-aircraft Cruiser, and the Arethusa Class Light Cruiser. All ships will be using mostly Ion Tech level components, with the exception of fire rate on Gauss Cannons which I pushed up to 8 per 5 seconds, and of course when I get to them the size of Battleship guns. I have included a link to the source(s) I have been using in the name of the different classes.
To start then the
Tribal Class Destroyer:Tribal class Destroyer 25,000 tons 799 Crew 5866 BP TCS 500 TH 1500 EM 0
6000 km/s Armour 4-76 Shields 0-0 Sensors 55/33/0/0 Damage Control Rating 109 PPV 114.44
Maint Life 2.1 Years MSP 3320 AFR 555% IFR 7.7% 1YR 1003 5YR 15044 Max Repair 450 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 4 months Spare Berths 1
Magazine 64
Parsons 1250t M200 Ion Drive (5) Power 600 Fuel Use 212.13% Signature 300 Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 5,280,000 Litres Range 17.9 billion km (34 days at full power)
4.7" QF Mark IV Twin 15K Mark V Mount (3x2) Range 160,000km TS: 15000 km/s Power 8-8 RM 4 ROF 5 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 1 1
4" QF Mark IV Twin 20K Mark V Mount (1x2) Range 120,000km TS: 20000 km/s Power 6-6 RM 4 ROF 5 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1
2" QF Mark VII Quad 20K Mark V Mount (1x32) Range 40,000km TS: 20000 km/s Power 0-0 RM 4 ROF 5 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
20mm Oerlikon Mk.VI Twin 20K Mark V Mount (2x16) Range 30,000km TS: 20000 km/s Power 0-0 RM 3 ROF 5 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Type 2020-142 Gunnery Control Sensor (2) Max Range: 40,000 km TS: 20000 km/s 75 50 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Type 6020-242 Gunnery Control Sensor (1) Max Range: 120,000 km TS: 20000 km/s 92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Type 8015-232 Gunnery Control Sensor (1) Max Range: 160,000 km TS: 15000 km/s 94 88 81 75 69 62 56 50 44 38
Parsons Pebble Bed P18 Reactor (2) Total Power Output 36 Armour 0 Exp 5%
20" Missile Launcher (4) Missile Size 16 Rate of Fire 120
Type 2111-12002 Missile Control Sensor (1) Range 98.0m km Resolution 200
Prototype 20" Mark VI Antiship Missile (4) Speed: 12,000 km/s End: 52m Range: 37.4m km WH: 25 Size: 16 TH: 100/60/30
Type 2111-2202 Area Search Sensor (1) GPS 840 Range 20.7m km Resolution 20
Type 2111-412 Missile Tracking Sensor (1) GPS 84 Range 9.2m km MCR 1.0m km Resolution 1
Type 2111-32002 Area Search Sensor (1) GPS 12600 Range 98.0m km Resolution 200
Type 115-2 TH Receiving Sensor (1) Sensitivity 55 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 55m km
Type 113-2 EM Receiving Sensor (1) Sensitivity 33 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 33m km
ECCM-2 (5) ECM 20
I should probably mention now that I am using 3 Tracking speeds; 10 000 km/s for anti-ship guns, 15 000 km/s for guns that should be used as mixed anti-ship / anti-missile guns and 20 000 km/s for dedicated anti-missile guns. I will also most likely not use CIWS at all.
Main armament for the Tribal Class Destroyer are 3x 4.7" (12cm) Twin UV Laser Turrets, with a single 4" (10cm) Twin UV Laser Turret as an extra mid range anti-fighter / anti-missile gun.
Anti-missile armament consists of 1x Quad Gauss Cannon Turret using 1.5HS Gauss Cannons, and 2x Twin Gauss Cannon Turrets using 0.6HS Gauss Cannons
For torpedo equivalents I have used large single use missile launchers, currently they are at full size, although the lack of reloads carried on the ship itself means I could possibly use reduced size Launchers. The missile itself is marked as a prototype as I am unsure as to a) its effectiveness and b) whether I should use a single large Missile or a larger number of smaller missiles. Current Tech is limited to a 4x engine power modifier in missiles, this could probably be improved without much hassle I suppose. I have also not included any Depth Charge launchers, mainly as I am unsure as to what their equivalent in Aurora would be.
Question: Can I stuff say, 4 size 4 missiles in a single size 16 launcher and shoot them all at the same time? Or am I limited to only a single missile per launcher?
The Home Fleet in September 1939 had 8 Tribal Class Destroyers in the 6th Destroyer Flotilla organised into 2 4-ship Divisions.
The
F Class Destroyer:F class Destroyer 19,950 tons 745 Crew 4240 BP TCS 399 TH 1080 EM 0
5413 km/s Armour 3-65 Shields 0-0 Sensors 22/11/0/0 Damage Control Rating 26 PPV 154.24
Maint Life 1.38 Years MSP 1797 AFR 530% IFR 7.4% 1YR 1026 5YR 15397 Max Repair 540 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 4 months Spare Berths 1
Magazine 128
Parsons 1500t M200 Ion Drive (3) Power 720 Fuel Use 197.99% Signature 360 Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 3,250,000 Litres Range 14.8 billion km (31 days at full power)
4.7" QF Mark IV Single 15K Mark V Mount (4x1) Range 160,000km TS: 15000 km/s Power 4-4 RM 4 ROF 5 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 1 1
16mm Mark III Quad 20K Mark V Mount (2x32) Range 30,000km TS: 20000 km/s Power 0-0 RM 3 ROF 5 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Type 2020-142 Gunnery Control Sensor (1) Max Range: 40,000 km TS: 20000 km/s 75 50 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Type 8015-232 Gunnery Control Sensor (1) Max Range: 160,000 km TS: 15000 km/s 94 88 81 75 69 62 56 50 44 38
Parsons Gas-Cooled Fast P9 Reactor (2) Total Power Output 18 Armour 0 Exp 5%
20" Missile Launcher (8 ) Missile Size 16 Rate of Fire 120
Type 2111-12002 Missile Control Sensor (1) Range 98.0m km Resolution 200
Prototype 20" Mark VI Antiship Missile (8 ) Speed: 12,000 km/s End: 52m Range: 37.4m km WH: 25 Size: 16 TH: 100/60/30
Type 2111-1202 Area Search Sensor (1) GPS 420 Range 10.3m km Resolution 20
Type 2111-12002 Area Search Sensor (1) GPS 4200 Range 32.7m km Resolution 200
Type 2111-112 Missile Tracking Sensor (1) GPS 21 Range 2.3m km MCR 252k km Resolution 1
Type 112-2 TH Receiving Sensor (1) Sensitivity 22 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22m km
Type 111-2 EM Receiving Sensor (1) Sensitivity 11 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 11m km
ECCM-2 (3) ECM 20
Main armament for the F Class Destroyer are 4x 4" (10cm) Single UV Laser Turrets, with anti-missile duty being handled by 2x Quad Gauss Cannon Turrets of the same type as the Tribal class.
Sensor coverage is reduced as the F Class had an additional Destroyer Leader variant, which is posted below.
F - Leader class Destroyer Leader 20,300 tons 741 Crew 4744 BP TCS 406 TH 1080 EM 0
5320 km/s Armour 3-66 Shields 0-0 Sensors 55/33/0/0 Damage Control Rating 126 PPV 127.44
Maint Life 1.9 Years MSP 2876 AFR 549% IFR 7.6% 1YR 1025 5YR 15376 Max Repair 540 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 4 months Spare Berths 2
Magazine 96
Parsons 1500t M200 Ion Drive (3) Power 720 Fuel Use 197.99% Signature 360 Exp 20%
Fuel Capacity 3,250,000 Litres Range 14.6 billion km (31 days at full power)
4.7" QF Mark IV Single 15K Mark V Mount (5x1) Range 160,000km TS: 15000 km/s Power 4-4 RM 4 ROF 5 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 1 1
16mm Mark III Quad 20K Mark V Mount (2x32) Range 30,000km TS: 20000 km/s Power 0-0 RM 3 ROF 5 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Type 2020-142 Gunnery Control Sensor (2) Max Range: 40,000 km TS: 20000 km/s 75 50 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Type 8015-232 Gunnery Control Sensor (1) Max Range: 160,000 km TS: 15000 km/s 94 88 81 75 69 62 56 50 44 38
Parsons Gas-Cooled Fast P22 Reactor (1) Total Power Output 22.5 Armour 0 Exp 5%
20" Missile Launcher (6) Missile Size 16 Rate of Fire 120
Type 2111-12002 Missile Control Sensor (1) Range 98.0m km Resolution 200
Prototype 20" Mark VI Antiship Missile (6) Speed: 12,000 km/s End: 52m Range: 37.4m km WH: 25 Size: 16 TH: 100/60/30
Type 2111-32002 Area Search Sensor (1) GPS 12600 Range 98.0m km Resolution 200
Type 2111-2202 Area Search Sensor (1) GPS 840 Range 20.7m km Resolution 20
Type 2111-412 Missile Tracking Sensor (1) GPS 84 Range 9.2m km MCR 1.0m km Resolution 1
Type 115-2 TH Receiving Sensor (1) Sensitivity 55 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 55m km
Type 113-2 EM Receiving Sensor (1) Sensitivity 33 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 33m km
ECCM-2 (3) ECM 20
The Leader variant has an extra 4" (10cm) Single UV Laser Turret, and similar Sensors to the Tribal class. In reality the F class was 3 generations behind the Tribal Class Destroyers, which is shown with the reduced anti-missile armament, the extra 2 missile launchers, and reduced operational range.
The Home Fleet had 8 F Class and 1 F-Leader Class Destroyers making up the 8th Destroyer Flotilla, again organised into 2 4-ship Divisions.
The
HMS Greenwich was the assigned Destroyer Tender for the Home Fleet Destroyer Flotillas. All I could easily find about it was that it was 8 100 tons, it had 5 guns and had a speed of 11 knots (20 km/h)
Greenwich class Destroyer Tender 81,600 tons 570 Crew 8380 BP TCS 1632 TH 2700 EM 0
2205 km/s Armour 4-167 Shields 0-0 Sensors 22/11/0/0 Damage Control Rating 98 PPV 20.94
Maint Life 2.95 Years MSP 19155 AFR 2959% IFR 41.1% 1YR 3277 5YR 49159 Max Repair 375 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 4 months Spare Berths 0
Magazine 432 Cryogenic Berths 800
Parsons 2500t M100 Ion Drive (6) Power 600 Fuel Use 25% Signature 450 Exp 10%
Fuel Capacity 52,800,000 Litres Range 465.7 billion km (2444 days at full power)
4" Mark IV Twin 15K Mark V Mount (2x2) Range 120,000km TS: 15000 km/s Power 6-4 RM 4 ROF 10 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1
2.6" QF Mark VII Twin 20K Mark V Mount (1x16) Range 40,000km TS: 20000 km/s Power 0-0 RM 4 ROF 5 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Type 6015-232 Gunnery Control Sensor (1) Max Range: 120,000 km TS: 15000 km/s 92 83 75 67 58 50 42 33 25 17
Type 2020-142 Gunnery Control Sensor (1) Max Range: 40,000 km TS: 20000 km/s 75 50 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Parsons Gas-Cooled Fast P9 Reactor (1) Total Power Output 9 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Prototype 20" Mark VI Antiship Missile (28) Speed: 12,000 km/s End: 52m Range: 37.4m km WH: 25 Size: 16 TH: 100/60/30
Type 2111-412 Missile Tracking Sensor (1) GPS 84 Range 9.2m km MCR 1.0m km Resolution 1
Type 2111-2202 Area Search Sensor (1) GPS 840 Range 20.7m km Resolution 20
Type 112-2 TH Receiving Sensor (1) Sensitivity 22 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22m km
Type 111-2 EM Receiving Sensor (1) Sensitivity 11 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 11m km
ECM 20
Its main armament is rather anaemic consisting of 2x 4" (10cm) Twin UV Laser Turrets and a single Twin Gauss Cannon Turret using 2HS Gauss Cannons. However it carries enough fuel to completely refuel all 8 Tribals from empty, a large number of maintenance supplies and a small amount of replacement Missiles. I am not sure whether to decrease the amount of maintenance supplies in order to fit more replacement missiles in however.
Hmm, this post is getting a bit long, so I'll finish this off here and use a second to post up the 2 Cruiser designs I have at the moment. Some final words then, I haven't tested these in a game yet however I do intend to. Looking at them I can see I'm probably going to come across a couple of problems with the lack of jump drives, hugely inflated costs in terms of both raw materials and crew required to build them, and possibly failing to be able to defend against enemy missile attacks. The low speed of my 'torpedoes' will be helped with a tiny bit more research in engine power, so hopefully I can increase the speed to something like 15 000 - 20 000 km/s, although I am hopeful that the large amount of armour on them (3 layers) means that they might penetrate enemy point defence.