War Plan Orange Mod: First Look!

[Tankerace]

Heh, I wouldn't mind doing derigables, but that would be hard to model. Hmmm.... You know, I could make them act as scout planes, and give them a butload of fuel, and slow speed. But I honestly don't think that WiTP could accurately model it.

As for the Macon and Arcon, I would love to simulate those. But, to do that I would have to make them act as ships, which means large caliber guns could be brought to bear, and I don't think a 16" shell and hydrogen react very well [:D]. Plus, they are about 10 years to modern for my mod, lol.

So far, my class list is pretty big, because what I am going for is to make a large enough mod, that other people could "add-on" to it, and make other scenarios. The only British capital ships that won't be represented are the predreadnoughts preceding the Majestic class (though I might write that class off too), and the dreadnought Canada. The seized, on off Agincourt and Erin will be included, as well as the Outrageous clasS (Corageous and Glorius), but not in their carrier forms. To signify their special purpose role, they will be classified as Heavy Cruisers.

I am not sure yet what RN capital ships will make definate appearances in the scenarios, but the 2 I can guarantee are the Indefatigable class battlecruisers Australia (which belonged to Australia) and New Zealand (which belonged to New Zealand).

HMS Furious will also be in the game, but will appear as she did during WWI, with a landing deck and a flying off deck, separated by a tripod mast.

All US capital ships will be represented with only a few exceptions, even back to the Indiana class battleships that fought the Spanish American War. However, the only ship that will actually be available from this class is the USS Oregon (BB-3), as the other two had been sunk and scuttled before the Washington Treaty was ever heard of.

The exceptions to this rule will be the Mississippi class (BB-14), as in 1914 the two ships were sold to Greece, to become the Kilkis and Lemnos (Ironically, the oldest serving battleships in WW2).

In addition, the USS Langley will also be in the game, and will serve as your scouting tool.

The US never were designs include the 5 South Dakotas, and the 6 Lexingtons.

The Japanese will ahve almost all of their capital ships, dataing back at least to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. In addition, several ships will actually be ex-Russian ships that were captured at Tsushima and Port Arthur.

Unlike the Americans, the Japanese will have 2 carriers, Hosho and Shokaku. Shokaku was a sister ship, cancelled in 1922 because of the Treaty. She is not the same Shokaku we all know was at Pearl harbor.

Never were designs include the Amagi class battlecruisers, and the Kaga class Battleships.

As for balance, it is more balanced than you think just from a historical standpoint. The RN won't make a large appearance, so it is mostly a showdown between the US and Japan.

The Japanese will be the strongest force, as she will have all her ships, and a good sized, balanced, fleet. Her main defeciency is in submarines. Unlike the US, she has a good strong cruiser force, and her dreadnoughts are all of the latest construction.

The United States will have a much smaller fleet in the beginning, as most of her predreadnoughts are out of commission, and most of her dreadnoughts in the Atlantic. In the begining, she will have only around 7 dreadnoughts available, all on the West Coast. Of her dreadnoughts, only a select few are of the latest construction.

In addition, she lacks a good cruiser force, yet has more destroyers than they know what to do with. As such, the bulk of your destroyer flags and cruiser scouts will have to be your newest ships, the 10 Omaha class cruisers. The rest of your cruisers are either big, slow, armored cruisers, or a variety of protected cruisers dating from before WWI to before the Spanish American war. Your submarines are of a good, large design, but are still nowhere near as effective as the German Uboats of WWI. Torpedoes are stil highly unreliable to even fire, and if they hit, it is up to chance as to whether they detonate or not.

What I believe will make this mod set a success, apart from its array of ships, is the fact that as the player you will have to adjust your tactics. There is no radar, or long range bomber. Submarines and Carriers are scouts, not front line waeapons. And the battleship is not just a tool for invasions. You must rely on speed, armor, and big guns.

[Maliki]

Heh, I wouldn't mind doing derigables, but that would be hard to model. Hmmm.... You know, I could make them act as scout planes, and give them a butload of fuel, and slow speed. But I honestly don't think that WiTP could accurately model it.

Just to let you know i wasn't being a total smart alec...I have read where the US navy considered dirigibles over planes for recon duty(they scrapped the idea of using them as an offensive platform) because of their greater endurance.They experimented with them for awhile but the whole program seemed to come to nothing after some accidents.From what i have read the pacific was considered the prime location for these craft because of its great size and their ability to patrol more area than conventional aircraft at the time.I guess you're right though,and i thought about that afterwards,they would be a pain to model.I'm sure when you're done with you're scenario i'll be playing it as well.Nice work.

[Tankerace]

I know you weren't being a smart alec, in the 1920's airships were extremly popular and useful. The only thing that really stopped it was the Hindenburg.

[Maliki]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

I know you weren't being a smart alec, in the 1920's airships were extremly popular and useful. The only thing that really stopped it was the Hindenburg.

IIRC the US navy program with dirigibles did not end until sometime in the 30's.I think they even used them in the 40's for anit-sub patrol.

Just call me Dirigible Fanboy[:D]

[Cmdrcain]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

I know you weren't being a smart alec, in the 1920's airships were extremly popular and useful. The only thing that really stopped it was the Hindenburg.

Hydrogen filled I believe.

Don't think Helium ? Filled disappeared, I can recall as a boy Blimps passing in sky in 60's in NJ


Of course those were Like the Goodyear Blimp.

[witpit]

dirigibles

How about the Russians?

[Tankerace]

Don't mean to clog up the WitP forums, but look what I found from exactly a year ago! Wow, we've come a long way. Just thought I'd bump this, to show War Plan Orange then, and now.

[WhoCares]

In this case you probably would have better added a link to the Link: WPO forum. Or put a link to it in your sig [;)]

[DrewMatrix]

I would really enjoy Dirigibles if you can get them to work at all.

Yes, you could make them Scout A/C, ultra high endurance and slow speed as you said. What happens when ou set the endurance to 100 hours or more? Will they actually patrol way out there?

What about making the dirigibles (all of them) "ships" instead? Fragile PT boats maybe (but obviously slow PT boats). That would let you patrol out 2 days from base looking for the Japanese.

And if they were "ships" you could model the Akron and Macon (I don't care if they are too late. We rushed them into production for War Plan Orange).

The USN used blimps pretty late. I remember them in the 1950s based at Alameda Naval Air Station (San Francisco Bay) and I currently live near the old hanger for the Akron and Macon in the south bay.

I would really enjoy Dirigibles if you can get them to work at all.

Oh, I said that.

[Bradley7735]

ORIGINAL: Beezle

I would really enjoy Dirigibles if you can get them to work at all.

Yes, you could make them Scout A/C, ultra high endurance and slow speed as you said. What happens when ou set the endurance to 100 hours or more? Will they actually patrol way out there?

What about making the dirigibles (all of them) "ships" instead? Fragile PT boats maybe (but obviously slow PT boats). That would let you patrol out 2 days from base looking for the Japanese.

And if they were "ships" you could model the Akron and Macon (I don't care if they are too late. We rushed them into production for War Plan Orange).

The USN used blimps pretty late. I remember them in the 1950s based at Alameda Naval Air Station (San Francisco Bay) and I currently live near the old hanger for the Akron and Macon in the south bay.

I would really enjoy Dirigibles if you can get them to work at all.

Oh, I said that.

Subs could "sink" them with torpedoes. That's really the only major drawback. And surface ships could shoot them down with guns that really couldn't fire on them.

[DuckofTindalos]

Yeah, it's not as though the airship/dirigible idea hasn't come up before, and been shot down (pun intended)...

[DrewMatrix]

Subs could "sink" them with torpedoes

Can subs shoot PT boats with torpedoes? Is there some sort of PT boat flag that makes them different in combat? I vaguely remember that but then I frequently have vague incorrect memories.

[DuckofTindalos]

Actually, I've never seen a PT boat attacked by torpedo. I just think the AI won't wear it (the dirigible idea, that is). You know how easily confused the AI can get...[8|]

[Tankerace]

Right now we are trying to make sure the AI is aggressive and puts up a good, consistent fight.

[Tophat]

This will be an interesting mod and i'm still very interested! Glad you brought this back to the forefront!