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Tankerace -> RE: War Plan Orange Mod: First Look! (8/12/2004 9:43:11 PM)
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Heh, I wouldn't mind doing derigables, but that would be hard to model. Hmmm.... You know, I could make them act as scout planes, and give them a butload of fuel, and slow speed. But I honestly don't think that WiTP could accurately model it.
As for the Macon and Arcon, I would love to simulate those. But, to do that I would have to make them act as ships, which means large caliber guns could be brought to bear, and I don't think a 16" shell and hydrogen react very well [:D]. Plus, they are about 10 years to modern for my mod, lol.
So far, my class list is pretty big, because what I am going for is to make a large enough mod, that other people could "add-on" to it, and make other scenarios. The only British capital ships that won't be represented are the predreadnoughts preceding the Majestic class (though I might write that class off too), and the dreadnought Canada. The seized, on off Agincourt and Erin will be included, as well as the Outrageous clasS (Corageous and Glorius), but not in their carrier forms. To signify their special purpose role, they will be classified as Heavy Cruisers.
I am not sure yet what RN capital ships will make definate appearances in the scenarios, but the 2 I can guarantee are the Indefatigable class battlecruisers Australia (which belonged to Australia) and New Zealand (which belonged to New Zealand).
HMS Furious will also be in the game, but will appear as she did during WWI, with a landing deck and a flying off deck, separated by a tripod mast.
All US capital ships will be represented with only a few exceptions, even back to the Indiana class battleships that fought the Spanish American War. However, the only ship that will actually be available from this class is the USS Oregon (BB-3), as the other two had been sunk and scuttled before the Washington Treaty was ever heard of.
The exceptions to this rule will be the Mississippi class (BB-14), as in 1914 the two ships were sold to Greece, to become the Kilkis and Lemnos (Ironically, the oldest serving battleships in WW2).
In addition, the USS Langley will also be in the game, and will serve as your scouting tool.
The US never were designs include the 5 South Dakotas, and the 6 Lexingtons.
The Japanese will ahve almost all of their capital ships, dataing back at least to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. In addition, several ships will actually be ex-Russian ships that were captured at Tsushima and Port Arthur.
Unlike the Americans, the Japanese will have 2 carriers, Hosho and Shokaku. Shokaku was a sister ship, cancelled in 1922 because of the Treaty. She is not the same Shokaku we all know was at Pearl harbor.
Never were designs include the Amagi class battlecruisers, and the Kaga class Battleships.
As for balance, it is more balanced than you think just from a historical standpoint. The RN won't make a large appearance, so it is mostly a showdown between the US and Japan.
The Japanese will be the strongest force, as she will have all her ships, and a good sized, balanced, fleet. Her main defeciency is in submarines. Unlike the US, she has a good strong cruiser force, and her dreadnoughts are all of the latest construction.
The United States will have a much smaller fleet in the beginning, as most of her predreadnoughts are out of commission, and most of her dreadnoughts in the Atlantic. In the begining, she will have only around 7 dreadnoughts available, all on the West Coast. Of her dreadnoughts, only a select few are of the latest construction.
In addition, she lacks a good cruiser force, yet has more destroyers than they know what to do with. As such, the bulk of your destroyer flags and cruiser scouts will have to be your newest ships, the 10 Omaha class cruisers. The rest of your cruisers are either big, slow, armored cruisers, or a variety of protected cruisers dating from before WWI to before the Spanish American war. Your submarines are of a good, large design, but are still nowhere near as effective as the German Uboats of WWI. Torpedoes are stil highly unreliable to even fire, and if they hit, it is up to chance as to whether they detonate or not.
What I believe will make this mod set a success, apart from its array of ships, is the fact that as the player you will have to adjust your tactics. There is no radar, or long range bomber. Submarines and Carriers are scouts, not front line waeapons. And the battleship is not just a tool for invasions. You must rely on speed, armor, and big guns.
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