CHS Pending Change List

[Don Bowen]

OK, here is results of my research on the Kitty Hawk class.

First the name of the lead ship should indeed be Kitty Hawk and not Kittyhawk. The name is spelled correctly in the class entry but not the ship.

I have a number of reference works that mention the Kitty Hawk but only one that gives complete details. That is the very large ONI document released at the very end of the war - the book from which I took the original specifications for the Kitty Hawk Class. The inclusion of the 40mm and 20mm batteries from this reference work is what initiated the questions.

The basis of the Kitty Hawk class was five large ocean-going train ferries that were in civilian service before the war. One of them (Seatrain Havana) appears to have remained in civilian service throughout the war. Of the other four, two were taken into service by the Navy (Kitty Hawk and Hammondsport) and two more by the Army (Seatrain Texas and Seatrain New Jersey). One of the Army ships (Seatrain New Jersey) was latter transferred to the Navy as Lakehurst and it is from her data that I found a better light AA Armament.

US Warships of World War II: No armament details
Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet (War Edition and Victory Edition): No Armament Details
Conway: Class not Mentioned
US Naval Vessels 1945: Late war armament bristling with 40mm and 30mm
US Amphibious Ships (Friedman): Class Not Mentioned
DANFS for Kitty Hawk: 1 5", 4 3", no light AA Mentioned.
DANFS for Hammondsport: 1 5", 4 3", no light AA Mentioned.
DANFS for Lakehurst: 1 5", 4 3", 8 20mm

Therefore I will add the following to the list of changes for the next CHS release:

Rename ship from Kittyhawk to Kitty Hawk
Change light AA of existing Class to 8 20mm.
Add upgrade to new class (same light AA as existing class) with upgrade date of 8/44 (based on Kitty Hawk's overhaul)
Alter Kitty Hawk date and location of arrival to Panama City on 12/16/41 (stumbled on this during research).

NOTE:
The British aircraft transport Athene has been included in the Kitty Hawk class. This is not correct but I am leaving it this way for two reasons:
1. As a single ship and the only British aircraft transport it is hardly worth it to add another class.
2. I do not have an icon for Athene.

Lastly, I would like to say that the amount of research required for these lesser classes is excessive and the results are barely worth it. The net change for Kitty Hawk is 4 40mm and 24 20mm. I have other things I want to be doing right now so I will not be researching any additional classes in the foreseeable future.

[akdreemer]

ORIGINAL: Don Bowen


OK, here is results of my research on the Kitty Hawk class.

First the name of the lead ship should indeed be Kitty Hawk and not Kittyhawk. The name is spelled correctly in the class entry but not the ship.

I have a number of reference works that mention the Kitty Hawk but only one that gives complete details. That is the very large ONI document released at the very end of the war - the book from which I took the original specifications for the Kitty Hawk Class. The inclusion of the 40mm and 20mm batteries from this reference work is what initiated the questions.

The basis of the Kitty Hawk class was five large ocean-going train ferries that were in civilian service before the war. One of them (Seatrain Havana) appears to have remained in civilian service throughout the war. Of the other four, two were taken into service by the Navy (Kitty Hawk and Hammondsport) and two more by the Army (Seatrain Texas and Seatrain New Jersey). One of the Army ships (Seatrain New Jersey) was latter transferred to the Navy as Lakehurst and it is from her data that I found a better light AA Armament.

US Warships of World War II: No armament details
Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet (War Edition and Victory Edition): No Armament Details
Conway: Class not Mentioned
US Naval Vessels 1945: Late war armament bristling with 40mm and 30mm
US Amphibious Ships (Friedman): Class Not Mentioned
DANFS for Kitty Hawk: 1 5", 4 3", no light AA Mentioned.
DANFS for Hammondsport: 1 5", 4 3", no light AA Mentioned.
DANFS for Lakehurst: 1 5", 4 3", 8 20mm

Therefore I will add the following to the list of changes for the next CHS release:

Rename ship from Kittyhawk to Kitty Hawk
Change light AA of existing Class to 8 20mm.
Add upgrade to new class (same light AA as existing class) with upgrade date of 8/44 (based on Kitty Hawk's overhaul)
Alter Kitty Hawk date and location of arrival to Panama City on 12/16/41 (stumbled on this during research).

NOTE:
The British aircraft transport Athene has been included in the Kitty Hawk class. This is not correct but I am leaving it this way for two reasons:
1. As a single ship and the only British aircraft transport it is hardly worth it to add another class.
2. I do not have an icon for Athene.

Lastly, I would like to say that the amount of research required for these lesser classes is excessive and the results are barely worth it. The net change for Kitty Hawk is 4 40mm and 24 20mm. I have other things I want to be doing right now so I will not be researching any additional classes in the foreseeable future.

Don, thanks, this anomoly is solved, however minor it must have seemed. However if you are not able to do the research for the other "minor" changes then let me have a crack at it. Are we not striving to be historically accurate as the game will allow it? Which brings up the other issue, that being the historical availability of 40mm naval mounts (for the US limited to twin and quad). With this in mind there is at least one class of AP's that also appear in early 42 with 40mm on them. Let me take a look at tthis and report back to the group. By the way, as a professional archaeologist and historian research is what I do for a living.