Friday 14 December 2012

Schlachtkreuzer

Not exactly new models, more refits of existing vessels; and not exactly historical as the 'real' ships were never built.  I decided that something had to be done with regard to my glut of Scharnhorsts (I had five of 'em!) so replaced the turrets on this pair with twin 15in guns (as per Bismarck). 
This modification was actually planned for the real ships but a modest disagreement known to history as WW2 got in the way...
It will be interesting to see how these up-gunned ships perform in a game.

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11 comments:

  1. David Crook14 December 2012 at 09:59

    Hi Tim,

    If you are feeling brutal match them up against Repulse and Renown!

    I think they would have been very effective in this configuration but the 11" had a prodigious range and for raiding purposes would have had the advantage in terms of the number of shells carried.

    A great 'what if' and as you rightly point out, very close to seeing the light of day.

    All the best,

    DC

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  2. Geordie an Exiled FoG14 December 2012 at 20:35

    Hmm, just when I thought I had fulfilled my 1/1200 KM collection and thought the Channel Dash was enough

    Although I am tempted to scratch build those extra ships needed fro a Sink the Bismarck affair

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  3. Archduke Piccolo14 December 2012 at 20:45

    Presumably, then, they were to be converted into fleet line-of-battle ships, pretty much. At that, one suspects it would have certain effects upon their stability and speed. Interesting concept, though!

    Now, one needs names for these fellows. I was thinking of 19th Century Chess Masters 'Adolf Anderssen' and 'von der Lasa', but the Germans tended to choose more prominent personalities that weren't royalty.

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  4. Tim Gow14 December 2012 at 23:09

    David Crook
    As I recall, this was all your idea.....

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  5. Tim Gow14 December 2012 at 23:10

    Geordie
    Another foolproof plan undermined? Excellent!

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  6. Tim Gow14 December 2012 at 23:12

    Archduke Piccolo
    I'm not sure what to do about names - either name them Scharnhorst and Gneisenau as they're just up gunned or give them completely new names. In case I ever want to use them all at once.....

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  7. David Crook15 December 2012 at 09:02

    Hi Tim,

    Happy to help....;-)

    All the best,

    DC

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  8. Young Stan15 December 2012 at 09:12

    lovely looking ships.

    According to Breyer, only Gneisenau was to be converted.
    Being decommissioned in 1942 for the work.
    The f'castle being removed so a 10m longer replacement could restore some of the buoyancy.

    Cheers,

    Stan.

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  9. Martin Rapier15 December 2012 at 15:11

    In keeping with the Bismarck & Tirpitz tradition how about 'Von Moltke' and 'Schlieffen'?

    Are these ships going roll over when they fire their first broadside??



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  10. Tim Gow15 December 2012 at 17:18

    Cyril Walker
    Thanks for the info - according to Conway it was planned to convert both but Gneisenau came closest!

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  11. Tim Gow15 December 2012 at 17:20

    Martin Rapier
    Good idea for the names - I think I'll go with that. I'm not too worried about the ships capsizing - waterline models on a hardwood floor tend to have good sea keeping abilities....

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