Shipbucket

Thanks for the comments guys. The Hesperus class was my cruiser in between the RN E class and the Japanese 5.5" CL's. Faster than the E's but less well armed, slower than the Japanese 5.5's but better armed (except for those damned 24" torpedoes!). The Hesperus type turned out as well as I had hoped it would and they will be with the Athena at Malaya, Coral Sea and Midway. Then I might just throw them into the meat grinder that was Guadalcanal.


On another subject.

The Nike class DDE's as I originally drew them up just looked wrong. Too much forecastle with the superstructure cramped up. So I redrew it.

Andromeda Class Cruisers

Like a lot of other nations, Atlantis trialled full automatic guns. The three Andromeda class cruisers were the results of those trials. A new 5" twin automatic weapon system and a new 51mm (2") Auto-cannon were the armament. To make the most of those new weapons required a large amount of controller equipment for locating and targeting both sea and air targets.

I like the Nikes, I've played around with similar looking vessels for Wesworld.

Do you need 16 5in auto guns on Andromeda? That's a serious amount of firepower, a bit too much?
I like the directors though, they look very funky.

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Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

Thanks for the comments.

I was looking at creating something like the French Colbert with the 16x5". But the armament could be reduced to 8 guns and increase the ammunition stowage, the faster firing guns will go through it very quickly. I could then replace the removed 5" with a few more 2" autos or at least rearrange the existing ones.

Very good looking cruiser. I join Hood in his comment, and would suggest removing the wing guns, and add more directors, for the 2" auto-cannons.

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Thank you Kim for the crest

"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"

Thanks for the comments.

Funny you should both say that.



I actually like the 8 gun version better myself, it was whether I could get the Atlantean Admiralty to agree to a 500+ foot cruiser with eight five inch.

Just sell it to them as having the firing rate of a 16 gun ship and throwing heaver shells as an added bonus it very nice example of the forgotten post war pre missile age.

Looks better now and much more 2in firepower for smaller aerial targets.

_________________
Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

Thanks for the comments guys, I am pleased with how the Andromeda turned out. They were designed and built to escort the....


Athena Class Aircraft Carrier.

The Athena was named as such to commemorate the Athena lost at Midway. Laid down in 1942, the Athena was to be the biggest ship ever built by Atlantis. The hull itself was 1019 x 130 feet. The Athena was huge. Working with the previously completed carriers showed the need for as large an air wing as possible. The other thing that had come to light with the large amounts of aircraft to be moved around, required lots of space and elevators/lifts that did not impinge on the flight deck. As with other ships of its time it was fitted with 5" automatic guns, for the Athena these were mounted in singles. The new 51mm/2" auto-cannon was also fitted to the Athena. This required a lot of radar control gear to search, find and target enemy units, be they surface or air targets. With two full height hangar decks the Athena could fit over 100 aircraft internally and if using the American 'deck park' system could have 130 aircraft aboard. Being such a large ship the machinery to move it was also rather large, 200,000shp through 4 shafts for 32 knots. As the commanding Atlantean Admiral said "She is a beauty!".

I am not sure how these look as aircraft are not something I have spent much time with yet. Constructive criticism much appreciated.

Atlantis Carrier Aircraft 1944-48.

The Fletcher Aero Corporation had been the main contractor and supplier of aircraft to the Atlantean Navy since the First World War. In 1940 the Canard designs were to be fitted with jets. This project was handed over to Francis Wattle who had been testing jet engines since the early 1930's. The fighter variant was to be fitted with a single jet engine producing 3500lb of thrust. The bomber variant had two 2500lb thrust engines.



With the engines fitted I figure about 480-500mph with very quick handling reactions. The bomber I think would make approximately 390-400mph. Those of you with more knowledge of these systems may be able to advise me batter. Again any constructive help is appreciated.


This is the last drawings for the Atlantis AU. I would like to give large thanks to Heuhen for allowing me to use his hulls, and I hope I have not disappointed him with the drawings I produced from them. Also my thanks to those who gave comments and questions about the drawings. I know I am not perfect so I am quite happy to have faults pointed out to me especially if the person giving the feedback can make it positive by giving me some help in what might be best to correct the error(s).

Thanks to all.
Nigel

(now to dream up my next set of drawings)