RE: RHS Comprehensive Update 5.41
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2019 3:25 pm
Micro Update 5.41
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ap7XOIkiBuUwhZAU7bdtWbbscE_oLg
This update is confined to scenario files. Mainly class, (air) group and ship files.
The focus was on completing the review of CVEs and related ships, in particular
the late war merchant aircraft carriers of Japan converted from Type 1-TL and Type 2-TL
tankers.
It turns out 1-TL, a designation from the 1942 standardized ship design program, is virtually
identical to its pre-war antecedent. It is a rare case where a Japanese non-warship design
was superior to its Allied counterpart - being 3 knots faster and with more capacity. Stock
used this for pre-war tankers, but it turns out that is the right choice: they WERE so close
no data exists on any changes.
It also turns out that 2-TL has the same hull as 1-TL. They cut the horsepower of the engines
and also reduced the own ship's fuel/range requirement (by 10%), resulting in slightly more fuel
cargo capacity.
The size of the ships was wrong - stock and I both had used commercial tonnage ratings instead of
full load tonnage (which is the only acceptable model for damage control and naval combat).
The increased size also increased durability of the hulls.
Late in the war, these two types were converted to merchant aircraft carriers. These were extremely
limited conversions that would take about 120 days in normal conditions. In my view the hulls are too
slow, but they were a way to insure ASW or fighter protection to vital convoys. [The CVE forms only
carry one small squadron - either of ASW or of fighter aircraft - which seems odd because both
conversions were undertaken at the same time. It appears the Navy was more worried about submarines
while the Army was more worried about enemy air attacks.] Since these ships convert so late, in most
cases there is no actual air group in RHS. Typically the lead ship gets one squadron. But some
other squadrons might embark. For example, two land based Army rotary wing ASW units are rated so they
can fly anywhere - because they could.
Except in (unfinished test bed) Scenario 126 (a full map Downfall scenario set in 1945) - where the CVE's
appear as such - all these ships appear as tankers and must convert to get a CVE. Since the decision to
convert was taken only very late in 1944, and since identical hulls could have converted, it is better modeling
(and causes more uncertainty) if players take control of which ships convert?
The tanker versions have the option to convert to replenishment oilers (AO). The CVE versions may also
'reconfigure' as AKVs - permitting transport of any type of aircraft on the flight deck - or other
cargo for that matter. As is now standard in RHS, AKVs may reconfigure back to carrier form.
There are probably some eratta to USN and RN CVE's - which were the main focus of the last update.
One ship changed names (representing a new transliteration of the Japanese name). Many dates were revised
in view of better information, and more careful assumptions about when they could appear in the various scenarios.
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ap7XOIkiBuUwhZAU7bdtWbbscE_oLg
This update is confined to scenario files. Mainly class, (air) group and ship files.
The focus was on completing the review of CVEs and related ships, in particular
the late war merchant aircraft carriers of Japan converted from Type 1-TL and Type 2-TL
tankers.
It turns out 1-TL, a designation from the 1942 standardized ship design program, is virtually
identical to its pre-war antecedent. It is a rare case where a Japanese non-warship design
was superior to its Allied counterpart - being 3 knots faster and with more capacity. Stock
used this for pre-war tankers, but it turns out that is the right choice: they WERE so close
no data exists on any changes.
It also turns out that 2-TL has the same hull as 1-TL. They cut the horsepower of the engines
and also reduced the own ship's fuel/range requirement (by 10%), resulting in slightly more fuel
cargo capacity.
The size of the ships was wrong - stock and I both had used commercial tonnage ratings instead of
full load tonnage (which is the only acceptable model for damage control and naval combat).
The increased size also increased durability of the hulls.
Late in the war, these two types were converted to merchant aircraft carriers. These were extremely
limited conversions that would take about 120 days in normal conditions. In my view the hulls are too
slow, but they were a way to insure ASW or fighter protection to vital convoys. [The CVE forms only
carry one small squadron - either of ASW or of fighter aircraft - which seems odd because both
conversions were undertaken at the same time. It appears the Navy was more worried about submarines
while the Army was more worried about enemy air attacks.] Since these ships convert so late, in most
cases there is no actual air group in RHS. Typically the lead ship gets one squadron. But some
other squadrons might embark. For example, two land based Army rotary wing ASW units are rated so they
can fly anywhere - because they could.
Except in (unfinished test bed) Scenario 126 (a full map Downfall scenario set in 1945) - where the CVE's
appear as such - all these ships appear as tankers and must convert to get a CVE. Since the decision to
convert was taken only very late in 1944, and since identical hulls could have converted, it is better modeling
(and causes more uncertainty) if players take control of which ships convert?
The tanker versions have the option to convert to replenishment oilers (AO). The CVE versions may also
'reconfigure' as AKVs - permitting transport of any type of aircraft on the flight deck - or other
cargo for that matter. As is now standard in RHS, AKVs may reconfigure back to carrier form.
There are probably some eratta to USN and RN CVE's - which were the main focus of the last update.
One ship changed names (representing a new transliteration of the Japanese name). Many dates were revised
in view of better information, and more careful assumptions about when they could appear in the various scenarios.
