...to convert a coal fired warship to oil-firing?
Let's suppose LT forwards to January 1916 and Jim's dice have not sunk the Von der Tann & Moltke in the Russian convoy battles. The weather closes down this arena for at least four months.
With lots of new RN dreadnoughts coming into use these ships' 280s are become less capable against big ships.
By converting them to oil they gain about 50% range and lose about 20% of their crew (stokers) With oil firing, they have a less noticeable smoke plume - very stealthy by 1916 standards. They will not lose speed because of stoker fatigue.
They remain good CL-killers. They are perfect for another American convoy in late winter/early spring 1916, esecially if the Germans figure out radio security. A smaller liner is used as an oiler. I don't take any CLs this time as I have not thought of more than casual commerce raiding.
Escort the liners into NY harbor and bug out for home. Come back in a few months when the liners have a suitable load. On the off chance the British are lax in their American blockade, it is entirely possible these ships make it out and back on the liners' westbound run without being noticed.
If they can support a breakout in the summer of 1916, that is probably the last hurrah for the KM surface forces.
The key parameter is how long these valuable ships will be laid up making the conversion. I would think six to eight weeks. While I'm at it, the Von der Tann loses all her 88s and the superstructure gets 105s taken from CLs. Single 150s (instead of twin 88s or 105s) would be better but I suspect that would require too much structural reinforcement to fit in this tight time frame. Again, I have freed up gunners for use elsewhere.
Is six to eight weeks too aggressive?
Let's suppose LT forwards to January 1916 and Jim's dice have not sunk the Von der Tann & Moltke in the Russian convoy battles. The weather closes down this arena for at least four months.
With lots of new RN dreadnoughts coming into use these ships' 280s are become less capable against big ships.
By converting them to oil they gain about 50% range and lose about 20% of their crew (stokers) With oil firing, they have a less noticeable smoke plume - very stealthy by 1916 standards. They will not lose speed because of stoker fatigue.
They remain good CL-killers. They are perfect for another American convoy in late winter/early spring 1916, esecially if the Germans figure out radio security. A smaller liner is used as an oiler. I don't take any CLs this time as I have not thought of more than casual commerce raiding.
Escort the liners into NY harbor and bug out for home. Come back in a few months when the liners have a suitable load. On the off chance the British are lax in their American blockade, it is entirely possible these ships make it out and back on the liners' westbound run without being noticed.
If they can support a breakout in the summer of 1916, that is probably the last hurrah for the KM surface forces.
The key parameter is how long these valuable ships will be laid up making the conversion. I would think six to eight weeks. While I'm at it, the Von der Tann loses all her 88s and the superstructure gets 105s taken from CLs. Single 150s (instead of twin 88s or 105s) would be better but I suspect that would require too much structural reinforcement to fit in this tight time frame. Again, I have freed up gunners for use elsewhere.
Is six to eight weeks too aggressive?
capture
additional turbines.
