1/700 Maximum BB - "Sandwich Battleship" circa. 1947

[Sr. Gopher]

Hey everyone! Some of you might have seen me mention a What-if Project I am working on. This is it! As soon as I can, I'll post pictures of current progress.

But just as a tip, what would make sense as a good secondary armament: 5/38 twin or 6/47 RF twin?

[Sr. Gopher]

I'm sorry of the presentation of the model so far, as nothing has been glued down yet.

Still needs a lot of work. I await the time to get the supplies to fill in the holes... Also, doea anyone know which weapon would be more appropriate yet? 5"/38 twin or 6"47 twin Rapid Fire.

[Sr. Gopher]

Anyway, progress has slowed due to the lack of parts. I am working on design plans. Also, I am planning on a complete overhaul on the hull and superstructure, using parts from the Fujimi Iowa,Trumpeter North Carolina, and my first attempt at scratchbuilding with styrene. This BB will, in my Alt. History, come during 1947, as the field test platform for a variety of weapons:
-triple RF 8/55 guns
-twin 6/47 DP RF guns
-twin 3/50 DP RF guns
-single 3/50 DP RF gun
-single 5/54 DP gun
-Elco quad 20mm "Thunderbolt" mount
-Maxim quad .50 mount
It will be a very long time, so I hope that nobody minds if I post a few things on the design work until I actually start, so as not to let this thread go to the back of the forum (and get deleted).
Plans are as followed:
Armament:
4 16/50 inch turrets
4 8/55 inch RF triples
8 6/47 DP RF twins
6 5/38 open mounts
3 5/54 singles
6 casemate 5/51 single mounts
4 3/50 RF twins
5 3/50 RF singles
4 quad 20mm "Thunderbolts"
6 quad .50 Maxim turrets
16 quad 40mm Bofors
60-65 single 20mm Oerlikons

Speed: 27 knots
Length: to be determined
Beam: to be determined
6 propeller shafts (if I do a full hull)

Because I know there will be questions, the 8 inch gun armament came from these What-if threads:

http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.c ... wboat.html

http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.c ... rt-II.html

http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.c ... t-III.html

http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.c ... rt-IV.html

http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.c ... art-V.html

http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.c ... rt-VI.html


The USN cruisers use their main guns to disable more vulnerable parts of the enemy ship. I plan this BB to be self-sufficient as possible, only to have AA cruisers and destroyers as escorts. For this BB to fight alone, I have equipped it with a mixed armament of heavy/light cruisers. The 6 inch guns however, are mostly for AA use than ship-to-ship combat, as they don't have as much of a punch as the 8 inch guns. I have included the 5/38s because they are only supposed to be used if the 3/50s don't work out as well as hoped. They are for more of an AA punch. the Thunderblots and Maxims are to be placed in strategiic AA posts around the ship. The Maxims are in the concentrated with the other AA guns though, as the 50 cal is best at throwing up a spread of bullets along with the more, precise 20mm guns. The Thunderbolts are placed in areas of less AA defense, and on the tops of some 16 inch and possibly, 8 inch turrets. Other weapons are placed as they would normally be: where there is enough room . The casemates; I know there are questions about that. Well, these are to be manned by the 5/38 crews during ship-to-ship battles. They will sort of be snipers, aiming at things like directors, masts, and the bridge. Any questions, I'm online almost everyday, with a bunch of free time, and an iced tea sitting next to me.

[prowannab]

So how did this bad boy turn out? I'm very interested in seeing more!