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Why is this a thing? If I want my cruisers to have 11 inch guns, I should be able to do it. The Kriegsmarine did in the 1930s and nobody tried to go graffiti the Graf Spee and mark it as a BC instead.

I think you can have 4 11 inch guns.

A few games back, my researchers came up with 11 inch +1 quality guns. With my 8, 9, & 10 inch guns all at 0 quality (or worse), I designed a CA with 11 inch gun. Like you, I found out that it was immediately reclassed to a BC. I wanted a pair of these 'cruisers' and couldnt afford a pair of large BCs. So these were cruisers in all but name. Much smaller and a bit slower than conventional BCs.

The game, however, would always pair them against enemy BCs - something literally twice their displacement with 15 to 17 inch guns. So they became a liability. I dont remember the ultimate outcome, but it was disappointing enough that I wont do it again. I guess if you built something with four to six 11 inch guns with an over 30 knot speed, it should be able to outrun other capital ships, but with the game normally seeking to pair off capital ships vs capital ships, they will spend their time running for their lives.

I always hope for good 6 inch guns (CLs), 9 or 10 inch guns (CA), and a good 15 to 17 inch gun (BB & BCs).

I discovered this too, although my guys with their 9 11 inch guns were a pretty good match for (lower tech) BCs - they could either outrun or outfight. But yeah, a lot of my so-called BCs in this game are actually upgunned CAs.

The best CA I found was a CA with as many autoloading 8 inch guns as possible. If anything comes to range it's in huge trouble. Of course the problem is that CAs are really obsolescent until you have good missile tech so you have to refit these ships fast. Of course now the lack of armor isn't as bad since missiles pretty much make armor useless except in supercarriers.

The only reason you can have a CA with 11" guns is the existence of the Panzerschiffe (Armoured Cruisers) of the Deustchland Class of WW2 that had an 6 11" guns in two turrets, A and Y.

Not sure if you're limited to just that, or if you can have quad turrets (don't think so, but not tried).


Other than that single class of 3 ships, every other ship armed with 11" guns has been a Battleship or Battlecruiser - and that's carried over in game.

The special requirements for 11" cruisers are: displacement no greater than 12000 tons, no more than six main guns (in any arrangement), and no more than 7.5" of belt armor.

Yep, this worked. 12k tons and 6 11 inch guns does not leave you much weight for anything else on the ship, but it sure packs a hell of a punch.