NS Military Realism Consultation Thread #4

[New Tyran]

Could a miniaturized laser be theoretically used as an active protection system for armored vehicles against incoming anti-tank missiles, rockets and grenades?

"Miniaturised" and "anti-munition laser" are not terms that should really be put together.
Its power requirements would be atrocious, as would be its reaction time.

Fair enough.

[Horizont]

I know that superdreads don't really work in MT, but could they work in PT? Again, I'm thinking 1940s to 1950s tech.

The idea is that I would build a class of enormous battleships with superheavy armament on them. They would be virtually unsinkable due to their immense size, and their huge (I'm thinking up to 70cm in caliber) weaponry would mean they could take out anything else they meet.

In this time period, the technology wouldn't exist to effectively bring them down, am I correct?

[The Akasha Colony]

I know that superdreads don't really work in MT, but could they work in PT? Again, I'm thinking 1940s to 1950s tech.

The idea is that I would build a class of enormous battleships with superheavy armament on them. They would be virtually unsinkable due to their immense size, and their huge (I'm thinking up to 70cm in caliber) weaponry would mean they could take out anything else they meet.

In this time period, the technology wouldn't exist to effectively bring them down, am I correct?

A proper magnetic torpedo will still sink them, and perhaps more importantly, there's nothing that would ever warrant such a ship to be built in the first place. That aside, the development of nuclear weapons by the middle of the 1940s also makes such ships of questionable utility.

[Immoren]

I know that superdreads don't really work in MT, but could they work in PT? Again, I'm thinking 1940s to 1950s tech.

The idea is that I would build a class of enormous battleships with superheavy armament on them. They would be virtually unsinkable due to their immense size, and their huge (I'm thinking up to 70cm in caliber) weaponry would mean they could take out anything else they meet.

In this time period, the technology wouldn't exist to effectively bring them down, am I correct?

Umm...

[Stahn]

I know that superdreads don't really work in MT, but could they work in PT? Again, I'm thinking 1940s to 1950s tech.

The idea is that I would build a class of enormous battleships with superheavy armament on them. They would be virtually unsinkable due to their immense size, and their huge (I'm thinking up to 70cm in caliber) weaponry would mean they could take out anything else they meet.

In this time period, the technology wouldn't exist to effectively bring them down, am I correct?

Umm...

That might be overkill. Even for such a warship as described.

I don't think such a ship could have been built. It is very easy to write all those specs down, but what shipyard could have built it? Wouldn't the shells be too heavy?
You can not simply take a thing and make it 505 bigger and expect it to perform 50% better as well.

By the way, like all battleships during WW2 and after, it's biggest enemy would probably be either a submarine or a fighter/bomber.
It couldn't possibly be so well protected that bombs dropped from dive bombers would have no effect what so ever.

[Immoren]

I was wondering that would there be any sense to create "rank-and-file" career track for enlisted men, who want to serve for longer periods and are capable, but for reasons X, Y and Z aren't really made from stuff that would make them NCO material, so they'd be serving as different grades of private? Or is it that having (for example) five grades of different privates wouldn't bring anything on table that private and private first class grades did? Or are those Non-NCO rank-and-file grades such "soldiers journeyman" grades that he/she should think deeply why'd he want to remain in the forces, if he/she can't be promoted upwards from lance-corporal/private first class?

[Velkanika]

I know that superdreads don't really work in MT, but could they work in PT? Again, I'm thinking 1940s to 1950s tech.

The idea is that I would build a class of enormous battleships with superheavy armament on them. They would be virtually unsinkable due to their immense size, and their huge (I'm thinking up to 70cm in caliber) weaponry would mean they could take out anything else they meet.

In this time period, the technology wouldn't exist to effectively bring them down, am I correct?

Umm...

Um, this is off topic but I think that picture is mislabeled. Those are palm trees in the foreground.

Edit: Yep, that's Bikini Atoll.

[The Corparation]

Umm...

Um, this is off topic but I think that picture is mislabeled. Those are palm trees in the foreground.

Edit: Yep, that's Bikini Atoll.

Nonsense haven't you ever heard of the glorious Novaya Zemlyaian Palm tree? It is the palm tree of the proletariat, and a staple background for any glorious show of soviet military might.

[Horizont]

I know that superdreads don't really work in MT, but could they work in PT? Again, I'm thinking 1940s to 1950s tech.

The idea is that I would build a class of enormous battleships with superheavy armament on them. They would be virtually unsinkable due to their immense size, and their huge (I'm thinking up to 70cm in caliber) weaponry would mean they could take out anything else they meet.

In this time period, the technology wouldn't exist to effectively bring them down, am I correct?

A proper magnetic torpedo will still sink them, and perhaps more importantly, there's nothing that would ever warrant such a ship to be built in the first place. That aside, the development of nuclear weapons by the middle of the 1940s also makes such ships of questionable utility.

Assuming the situation doesn't go nuclear, though, it should be pretty useful as I see it, and the idea is that this ship would be so large and well-armored that torpedoes would have little effect.

The main problem that I can see is how such a thing could be built, but since there's a non-realistic element to my nation I can disregard that. However, what I do want to make sure is that such a thing, if built, could realistically function and perform its role well.

[Lubyak]

A proper magnetic torpedo will still sink them, and perhaps more importantly, there's nothing that would ever warrant such a ship to be built in the first place. That aside, the development of nuclear weapons by the middle of the 1940s also makes such ships of questionable utility.

Assuming the situation doesn't go nuclear, though, it should be pretty useful as I see it, and the idea is that this ship would be so large and well-armored that torpedoes would have little effect.

The main problem that I can see is how such a thing could be built, but since there's a non-realistic element to my nation I can disregard that. However, what I do want to make sure is that such a thing, if built, could realistically function and perform its role well.[/quote

IIRC, if the enemy has their torpedoes set to run under your vessel, then detonate, the actual weight will make the damage worse, rather than prevent it. Armour might help protect you from direct torpedo impacts, but not from under keel torpedoes.

[Spirit of Hope]

A proper magnetic torpedo will still sink them, and perhaps more importantly, there's nothing that would ever warrant such a ship to be built in the first place. That aside, the development of nuclear weapons by the middle of the 1940s also makes such ships of questionable utility.

Assuming the situation doesn't go nuclear, though, it should be pretty useful as I see it, and the idea is that this ship would be so large and well-armored that torpedoes would have little effect.

The main problem that I can see is how such a thing could be built, but since there's a non-realistic element to my nation I can disregard that. However, what I do want to make sure is that such a thing, if built, could realistically function and perform its role well.

You can't really armor against torpedoes or dive bombs, for different reasons.

A good magnetic torpedo will go off under your ship, possibly breaking its keel, and almost certainly damaging the bottom of the hull.
Bombs are hard to armor agains because they damage things that can't be really armored like communications arrays, radar, guns, command areas, etc. Plus it is rather easy to make bombs that could be dropped and penetrate deck armor.

As to its usefulness, I don't see it having much of a role. Aircraft carriers would be far more cost efficient at delivering explosives to an enemy. If your going to use it for shore bombardments go with smaller guns, more guns, less armor, and more speed.

[Imperializt Russia]

Umm...

Um, this is off topic but I think that picture is mislabeled. Those are palm trees in the foreground.

Edit: Yep, that's Bikini Atoll.

It...
Doesn't look real, somehow.

[Ea90]

Um, this is off topic but I think that picture is mislabeled. Those are palm trees in the foreground.

Edit: Yep, that's Bikini Atoll.

It...
Doesn't look real, somehow.

That picture was my Facebook profile pic for quite a while.
Not any more though, so bad luck any of you trying to track me down.

[Velkanika]

A proper magnetic torpedo will still sink them, and perhaps more importantly, there's nothing that would ever warrant such a ship to be built in the first place. That aside, the development of nuclear weapons by the middle of the 1940s also makes such ships of questionable utility.

Assuming the situation doesn't go nuclear, though, it should be pretty useful as I see it, and the idea is that this ship would be so large and well-armored that torpedoes would have little effect.

The main problem that I can see is how such a thing could be built, but since there's a non-realistic element to my nation I can disregard that. However, what I do want to make sure is that such a thing, if built, could realistically function and perform its role well.

The Yamato was the heaviest battleship ever produced. She was sunk by a combination of aerial torpedoes and bombs dropped by carrier aircraft of the US Navy. She never was able to fire a single shot at the US Navy fleet that sunk her, and currently is corroding in 1,120 feet of water in two pieces.

You're welcome to field such ships against your enemy, but be weary of enemy air and submarine action. Both can easily sink that gigantic and overly expensive ship with ease for a pittance of the resources you'd loose with it. You could build an entire navy for a minor power in that period with the resources you'd spend on one ship. In a nutshell, if you built that ship you'd guarantee the loss of the war it's supposed to fight.

[Velkanika]

Um, this is off topic but I think that picture is mislabeled. Those are palm trees in the foreground.

Edit: Yep, that's Bikini Atoll.

It...
Doesn't look real, somehow.

Old film gets that effect. That's a real archival image of a nuclear test. I think it's part of Operation Hardtack I.

[Ea90]

It...
Doesn't look real, somehow.

Old film gets that effect. That's a real archival image of a nuclear test. I think it's part of Operation Hardtack I.

nope, chuck testa tsar bomba

[Onekawa-Nukanor]

It...
Doesn't look real, somehow.

Old film gets that effect. That's a real archival image of a nuclear test. I think it's part of Operation Hardtack I.

I did found an image of a colourized nuclear test photo. Its rather quite vivid, and seems way more real than the same image in black-and-white.

Hey, I found it!

[Purpelia]

The only time a really huge battleship would make sense is in the period just before magnetic torpedoes and aircraft became serious threats. (before that you could not physically build them) So somewhere in the pre-dreadnaught era or maybe early WW1. I wager that you could probably get quite a lot of mileage out of a giant warship back in the 1880's - 1900's.

[Crookfur]

A proper magnetic torpedo will still sink them, and perhaps more importantly, there's nothing that would ever warrant such a ship to be built in the first place. That aside, the development of nuclear weapons by the middle of the 1940s also makes such ships of questionable utility.

Assuming the situation doesn't go nuclear, though, it should be pretty useful as I see it, and the idea is that this ship would be so large and well-armored that torpedoes would have little effect.

The main problem that I can see is how such a thing could be built, but since there's a non-realistic element to my nation I can disregard that. However, what I do want to make sure is that such a thing, if built, could realistically function and perform its role well.

You also have to consider hilarious bombs like tallboy and grand slam. IIRC at least one tallboy passed all the way through the tirpitz before detonating on the sea bed.

To answer your basic question: nope there is no chance anythign like what you have proposed could even appraoch being built. The yards, steel production facilities and technology simply didn't and more or less couldn't exist.

Face it The Montana/yamato were as big as things had any chance of getting.

[Crookfur]

The only time a really huge battleship would make sense is in the period just before magnetic torpedoes and aircraft became serious threats. (before that you could not physically build them) So somewhere in the pre-dreadnaught era or maybe early WW1. I wager that you could probably get quite a lot of mileage out of a giant warship back in the 1880's - 1900's.

And guess what, they did biuld giant battleships back then, called things like HMS Dreadnought and HMS Queen Elizabeth (a Super-Dreadnought indeed!).

The Us also did a serious study into the biggest msot heavily armed battleships they coudl biuld during ww1, a study that resulted in the Tillman/maximum battleship proposals

[Rich and Corporations]

The only time a really huge battleship would make sense is in the period just before magnetic torpedoes and aircraft became serious threats. (before that you could not physically build them) So somewhere in the pre-dreadnaught era or maybe early WW1. I wager that you could probably get quite a lot of mileage out of a giant warship back in the 1880's - 1900's.

And guess what, they did biuld giant battleships back then, called things like HMS Dreadnought and HMS Queen Elizabeth (a Super-Dreadnought indeed!).

The Us also did a serious study into the biggest msot heavily armed battleships they coudl biuld during ww1, a study that resulted in the Tillman/maximum battleship proposals

Where is the Panama Canal in NS?

[Tule]

Umm...

Um, this is off topic but I think that picture is mislabeled. Those are palm trees in the foreground.

Edit: Yep, that's Bikini Atoll. French Polynesia

FTFY

It's the Licorne shot If I'm not mistaken, ~1 megaton.

...

What have I been doing with my life?

[Orussia]

And guess what, they did biuld giant battleships back then, called things like HMS Dreadnought and HMS Queen Elizabeth (a Super-Dreadnought indeed!).

The Us also did a serious study into the biggest msot heavily armed battleships they coudl biuld during ww1, a study that resulted in the Tillman/maximum battleship proposals

Where is the Panama Canal in NS?

Is there even a Panama Canal in NS?

[Rich and Corporations]

Where is the Panama Canal in NS?

Is there even a Panama Canal in NS?

I've seen nations adopt the map of Latin America as their map.

[Ea90]

Where is the Panama Canal in NS?

Is there even a Panama Canal in NS?

Only if you want there to be one.
There are probably a thousand.