Matrix Games Forums

Something I've had on my mind for a bit has been a hypothetical scenario set in the mid to late 1950s; when a lot of new stuff was coming in, yet the conversion to missiles hadn't begun (mainly because the game engine can't handle guided missile SAMs) to illustrate the firepower just ten years advancement means.

Idea is to make it PBEM only, because:

1.) I don't know how to do AI.
2.) Because I plan to do a lot of conversion specials like this to let the player "build" their fleet the first two turns or so.


Converting South Dakota BBs into Fast AORs. Yes, this was studied in the 1950s.

The plan as concieved would have stripped the superstructure except the smoke stack and the 5"/38 handling rooms off; and a new shelter deck would be added fore and aft for UNREP protection as well as cargo space. The former 16" barbettes would become ammunition stowage areas served by cargo elevators.

All the weapons would be stripped except for four 5"/38 Twin mounts. Speed would remain the same, 27 kts, but range would fall to about 8,000 nm (compared to 12,00 nm before).

She'd be able to transfer 10,700 tons of oil and 2,600 tons of bulk cargo over the sides.

Later, BuShips studied the Iowas for possible UNREP conversions; this was the line of thought which led to the Sacramento AORs, which used half-Iowa plants and a vague Iowa Hull shape.

I also plan on letting the USN player have a squadron or two of SSPs. Historically, two were built as prototypes. The Marines wanted a squadron of 12 of them, to land a full 1,440 man Marine Assault battalion with pack howitzers, and RCLs ashore.

And here is the USS New Jersye, following her CIP (Class Improvement Program) refit after being brought out of the Reserve Fleet for wartime duty -- all the 20mm mounts are gone, and all the 40mm mounts are replaced on a 1:1 basis with the 3"/50 Mark 33 mounts.

The seaplane catapult, etc and hangar have been removed; and various other systems have been "refreshed"; I still haven't added in the 1950s radars she'd have received.

Also notice, the Mk 23 KATIE [:D]

And here is the WeeVee -- I haven't yet done the radar devices yet -- so ignore the WWII radar fit.

The "Big Five"; Colorado, Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee, and California were actually retained until 1959 or so in the reserve fleet; and like the Iowas, had CIP programs drawn up and updated every so often for them in case of a return to active duty status.

Subs so far for the game:



"Austere" Fleet Snorkel Conversion with streamlined sail and snorkel.

"Full" GUPPY conversion with new batteries, new motors, streamlined casing, streamlined bow, streamlined sail.

FY48 SSP Transport Submarine Conversion: Two were converted (SS 313 Perch and SS 315 Sealion). Can carry 120 Troops, plus 51 tons of cargo; and one LVT in the pressure proof hangar. Additionally, inside the LVT itself is a Jeep + 75mm Pack Howitzer.

FY48 SSA Cargo Submarine Conversion: One was converted (SS 317 Barbero). I've seen cargo capacities of 120 tons or 300 tons for this; not exactly sure which is the definite figure.

FY48 SSO Submarine Oiler Conversion: One was converted (SS 362 Guavina). Carried 585 tons of fuel in saddle tanks.

FY52 SSM Submarine Minelayer Conversion: SS 382 Picuda was picked for this conversion, but it was cancelled and she was GUPPYized instead. It consisted of a 35 foot mine section plug to be inserted between the forward torpedo room and forward battery room. Additionally, the Ballast tanks would be modified to hold mines in wet stowage, for a total of 158 x Mark 49 mines; allowing a minefield that was both dense AND large to be quickly laid by a submarine.

This is a splendid idea! Keep up the work: I am really looking forward to it.

Sounds interesting but who will be the enemy? Also notice that the AA values are lesser than previously with the 40mm and 20mm combos. Is this intentional? The 3" Mk33 would run circles around thise with it's VT fuze.

By adjusting the accuracy (ROF) effect (weight of "burst") I increased the AA values.

"single rapid-fire 3"/50 (7.62 cm) was as effective as two 40 mm quad mountings and that it could effectively engage at a much longer range"

"additional weight meant that these guns replaced the Bofors guns on a one for three basis, rather than the originally intended one for two basis"

While I am here. Does your AOR work? I can not get TFs to replenish supplies from an AO...or fuel from an AE. I was trying to create an AOE/AOR.

What's the time, and are you trying for UNREP or in port?

Just fyi, and before ya'll get too far along. The executable code contains many, many references to specific years, with the years ranging from '41 to '46. Anything outside that range will cause significant issues. That is one of the major reasons that WPO has a different executable than WiTP. The code will not be exposed, and no support will be given to anything earlier than '41 or later than '46.

Think, please, before you leap off the cliff. The journy isn't difficult, it's the hard landing at the bottom.

Ciao. John

ORIGINAL: csatahajos

Sounds interesting but who will be the enemy? Also notice that the AA values are lesser than previously with the 40mm and 20mm combos. Is this intentional? The 3" Mk33 would run circles around thise with it's VT fuze.

Thanks for the noticing of that. I am now doing tests to figure out the AA system.

The executable code contains many, many references to specific years, with the years ranging from '41 to '46. Anything outside that range will cause significant issues.

Such as?

I can always make it run from 1945-1946 and tell the player to "close their eyes and imagine it's 1956-57".

ORIGINAL: csatahajos

Sounds interesting but who will be the enemy?

Either:

A.) The Japanese -- Alt History -- the Japanese do not bomb pearl harbor -- there was much internal dissent within the Jap high command over whether to do it or not -- the strike can be called off right up to the moment of launch if someone gets cold feet.

or

B.) The Soviets -- I have a 1951 JCS report that estimates the Commie navy in the Far East in 1962 to be

6 x BB
1 x CV
2 x CVL
10 x CA
2 x CL

[:D]

Thanks for the noticing of that. I am now doing tests to figure out the AA system.

The AA Rating you see is simply "Effect" divided by two.

E.G.: the 40mm Bofors Gun has an effect of 20.

A Quad 40mm Mount would have an effect of 20 x 4 = 80.

Dividing that by 2 gives you 40; which is their AA rating in the game.

I honestly don't know if there are any "hidden" rules in the game executable; like:

After 4/44; ALLIED antiaircraft weapons with an effect LARGER than 50 gain 6x effectiveness from VT fuzing; or if the game engine takes into account the fact that longer ranged weapons can fire multiple times at an incoming attacker; e.g. the 40mm can only begin engaging at about 6,000 yds; while the 3"/50 can at 15,000; effectively giving it twice the chance to shoot down an attacker.

What is a Mk 23 KATIE?

Wow, a 16 inch atomic shell? That would ruin your day...