warspite1
Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008 From: England Status: offline
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I have finally got around to looking at the Super Yamoto what-if vessel. Details are sketchy to say the least so if there is anything that people can add I would be interested to hear. [4361 Hizen - by Robert Jenkins] .B Engine(s) output: 150,000 - 200,000 hp .B Top Speed: Approx 27 knots .B Main armament: 6 x 20-inch (510mm), Unspecified no. of 3.9-inch (100mm) guns .B Displacement (full load): Approx 70,000 tons .B Thickest armour: 18-inch (belt) .P In addition to the five planned Yamato-class battleships, World In Flames allows the Japanese player to build one of the two planned "Super Yamatos" - ship 798. These ships - design A150 - were an attempt to counter anything the United States Navy may have built in response to the Yamato-class. Sadly, the plans for this class that did survive the war appear to be sketchy, so little of the detail is known. .P It is thought certain however that they would have employed a 20-inch main armament, fitted within three twin turrets. The main armament would have been supported by the dual-purpose 3.9-inch gun, although no numbers are available. .P The armour protection was likely to have been extensive and an 18-inch belt was to have been fitted. No other details are known, but there is no certainty that the IJN would have learned from the armour protection layout limitations of the Yamato-class (see Yamato). .P Note, the Hizen counter is not superior to the Yamato-class ships. This may be for play balance purposes. Alternatively, it may be that it was considered that it was impractical to fit a 20-inch gun, without severe problems affecting the hull and superstructure of the ships; thereby affecting overall effectiveness. .P In reality, the building of this class, coming after the completion of the five Yamatos, was probably well beyond the economic and industrial means of Japan in peace time; after the Pacific War had started, they were never even a remote possibility, as was proved with the Yamatos. The raw materials that were required to build these ships were too desperately needed elsewhere. .P No name was chosen for either ship, but ADG have given this Super Yamato "what if" counter the name Hizen in line with Imperial Japanese Navy naming convention; Hizen being a former province of Japan. .P Ship 798 and 799 were cancelled before even being ordered in 1942.
< Message edited by warspite1 -- 4/27/2010 7:01:32 AM >
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