Matrix Games Forums

Well boys, what can I say. Its been a very fun (and tough) four months. But, the work is finally shaping up. The hundreds of hours of graphic editing, researching, and database entry is finally paying off. While the mod isn't done, it is almost there. Hopefully (God willing) I can have it out in December.

Hopefully this week, I'll be talking to Mike Wood over the phone, and hopefully we can do something about setting the scenario starting date in the 1920's (@Mike, my hotmail is down, that is why I haven't emailed you).

So, without further delay, here are some new screens. They are showing off battleships and cruisers, and show graphic changes as time progresses.

First up, the Armored Cruiser Charlotte (ex-North Carolina)


A sister ship, USS Missoula, after being rebuilt in 1926.


The Protected Cruiser Chester. A small cruiser, useful as a destroyer leader.


The First Class Cruiser St. Louis. While in WW2 terms a light cruiser, under the 1920 designation system she is classed as a CA.


The First of the "Capital Cruisers", USS Lexington.


The L class submarine L-11. The L class served in US, British, and Russian Navies (American Built sub).


The First of the V boats, The V-1. (Better known as USS Barracuda)


Now, the first working pre-dreadnought in WPO, the Vermont class Kansas.


Compare the South Dakotas after some modernizing (Note, 4 of the 6 SDs will arrive in the configuration of the second example).

The South Dakota in her as built fit, without catapault.


The Indiana after modernizing in 1928. Note catapaults and 5"/25 Mk 10 AA guns.


The Nevada as built in 1916, and little modified at the start of War Plan Orange.


The Oklahoma after modernization. Note catapaults and 5"/25 guns. Also note relatively uncluttered look, compared to the 1941 Pearl Harbor fit.


The Texas after rebuilding in 1927. Again, note tripods and other goodies. Compare to earlier pics of her in my previous updates.


The Wyoming after rebuilding. Again, compare to previous shots in previous updates.


The Beloved Utah, after 1927 modernization. The near-sister Delawares are modernized to a similar design. Note 5"/25s and catapault on Q turret.


Well, that's all for now. As you can see, lots of work being done. Enjoy!.

OK, more screenshots. Gunboats! Can you say Sand Pebbles.

The Ashevilles (at Manila in Scenario 15) are present, but are considerable different from their normal Witp appearance. They are also the only US made seagoing gunboats (barring the PG-CL Denver class)


The Elcano (Incorrectly spelled Eclano in Jane's Fighting Ships) is an old Gunboat captured during the Spanish American War. She is based out of Manila.


Looking similar to the Elcano, this class (Small Gunboat) represents a myriad of 3pdr armed US gunboats. The same graphic also represents a myriad of 3pdr armed Phillippine owned gunboats (US have 4 3pdrs, PI have 3 3pdrs)


And the most famous gunboat, the Panay. The Panay, Wake, and Luzon classes of River gunboats are all represented, though they do not arrive until 1926.

Looks great... Can't wait for the final product!

Looks fantastic. [:)] BC Lexington looks splendid.

By the way, are you modeling the DEI?

For the non-battle specific scenarios, the entire Pacific is your sandbox. As the Japanese, you can hit the DEI, SRA, PI, China, Russia, or go for the US.

No Dutch ships will be present, as I can find no evidence that would suggest a large Dutch naval presence in 1922.

Also, more screenshots are coming in a few minutes. I can describe them with a movie title: "The Sand Pebbles".

Beautiful!

I will patiently wait.[:D]

Ok, 4 gunboat screenshots added to the first post.

I am posting these three screens, because I think it is quite impressive. Look how much a ship can change in 21 years.

The Queen Elizabeth, as built WWI and as first appearing in WPO


The Valiant, as modernized in 1926. Only Valiant, Warspite, and QE will be allowed to upgrade to this fit in WPO


Finally, Warspite as she appeared in WW2. It is just wierd how a large chunk of steel and armor can be molded and reshaped.

Fantastic doesn't begin to describe it![X(] Can't wait to try it out!!![:)]

excellent job and looking forward to it.

Should be fun. I think your WPO will add a great deal to the WitP experience. I can see this leading to much more Surface/Comerce raiding in all other scenarios.

UB

Make sure you have a reserved slot for the scenario! LOL

LOL. Thanks all. As I said, I hope you all have as much fun playing it as I did making it.

[&o]

Stupid question Tank,

But whats with the A/C valued on the BBs? I was under the impression that youre not including spotter A/Cs. Or are they just there for historical reasons?

I am including spotting aircraft.

In 1923, all Dreadnoughts from the Nevadas on receive 2 catapaults, and a section of 3 Vought UO-1s. Then, in 1928, they receive more modern catapaults and aircraft, and the Delawares, Floridas, Wyomings, and New Yorks receive catapaults aswell..

Originally I wasn't going to include them, because I couldn't find solid evidence as to when they were added. But from further research, it seems that starting in 1923, the Nevadas, Pennsylvanias, New Mexicos, Tennessees, and Colorados received very early catapaults, though not as sophisticated as what they had in WW2.

In the First nine months of the scenario (June 1922-March 1923) there will be no scouting planes for either side, as I don't think WitP can simulate flying off platforms that well. Then, starting in March 1923, the later US dreadnoughts receive catapaults, and their Japanese counterparts follow suit in 1925. In 1927, the older US dreadnoughts (excluding the South Carolinas) begin receiving catapaults, and in 1928-29 the later US dreadnoughts undergo their reconstructions.

Each class can have catapaults added in a certain month, and in the same month VO and Chutai sections become available. Also, for the US, about 3 sections of FB sections become available. Historically deployed only on the Tennesse, these "Battleship Fighter" squadrons can give your fleet some cover from air attack, especially since the Langley doesn't arrive from the Atlantic until 1924.

Aircraft will not play a major role in War Plan Orange, however, a good selection of planes will be present. The main effort, however, is still on surface combat.

I didnt realize that BBs hat torp launchers in the 20s. Just goes to show you how drastically naval tactics can change in some 15-20 years. Incidentally, what does the "A" facing on a gun mean?

P.S. Valiant at Midway?! What are you doing over there? [:D]

lol, those screens are from my "Publicity" scenario, where I just stick ships in a port to get screenies.

A means all arcs, because the few AA machineguns there were could be mounted anywhere, and it would seem to me that if you only have 2, you can move them around.

BTW, As far as torps, if you look at the Repulse in WitP, she still has her torps, and During the final battle with the Bismark, the Rodney fired 2 torpedoes at her (none hit), and became the first and only battleship in history to fire her torpedoes in combat.

I assume you will let us know when it is out and posted on Spookys?????

LOL, yup.

So, when you wrap this up how about following up with Russo Japanese War[:D]