WesWorld

So, it's time to reveal one of my major projects for the next five years for Chile: the Fast Carrier Force.

Strategy Thesis
Between late 1936 and the end of 1940, Chile intends to construct and commission a carrier group composed of one fleet carrier, one large cruiser escort, two AA cruisers, and eight destroyers. The sale of the predreadnoughts Constitution and Libertad, and the lease of the Capitan Tylor to Columbia has given the Armada the open slots to consider replacement.

Evaluation of the Chilean carrier Mapuche's performance during the Bolivian War has impressed the Naval Staff enough to order a second carrier. During the war, Mapuche launched fighter and bomber sweeps at the advancing Bolivian Army, hindering their operations. Mapuche and her air group had more operational mobility and flexibility than the more stationary land-based aircraft. As virtually all of Chile is easily reached by carrier aircraft, a carrier air group can significantly reinforce land-based operations anywhere in Chile.

Evaluation RSAN carrier operations in the South American War slightly dampened Chile's expectations of air operations causing significant threats to fleets at sea, and also pointed to the serious lessons tied to the loss of the carrier Hammer. Carriers were shown to be vulnerable to surface actions, particularly against fast battleships and battlecruisers. On the other hand, the RSAN carriers had several successes, including the damaging strike against the Brazilian fleet.

Prior proposals to the Chilean Navy [Note 1] advocated two further examples of the Capitan Oyama-class armoured cruisers, with the possibility of one being completed as a hybrid carrier-cruiser. The hybrid idea has been reevaluated following the loss of the Hammer; a hybrid would have fared no better, but been a poorer carrier due to the constraints of armour and gunnery. However, the need to put big guns in the vicinity of the carrier was reinforced, and thus the Armada planners determined to create a matched Cruiser-Carrier set, named Constitution and Libertad after the predreadnoughts which they are replacing on the order of battle.

Both CA-3 Constitution and CV-1 Libertad will use the same machinery on similar hulls in order to lower machinery costs and reduce design work between the two vessels. Although the original designs sought a 34-knot hull, this dropped first to 33.5 knots, then 33 knots as designers added torpedo defenses and bulges, first to the Libertad and then to the Constitution. In the end, the ships differ less than 200 tons from each other by all tonnage measurements, though the carrier will be more beamy both in actual hull and in terms of bulges.

Action Plan
Constitution will be built first, and, upon completion, form a cruiser group with the flak cruisers Astraea and Antrim, and eight new Flight One destroyers of the Capitan Eyzaguirre class. This cruiser group will be formed in May 1939, one year before the anticipated delivery of the Libertad; the group would practice maneuvers in conjunction with the Mapuche in order to prepare for the carrier's arrival in the group in mid-1940.

Starting in 1937, the carrier Mapuche will be assigned three rotating air-groups, composed of 36 aircraft, 54 pilots (plus additional crewmen), and the technical maintenance staff. This permits eighteen pilots for every twelve aircraft. 1 Grupo (Blue) will spend one month out of three aboard Mapuche before deploying ashore for two months R&R, type training and flight operations at the Naval Aerodrome. 2 Grupo (Gold) will follow a month behind Blue; 3 Grupo (Green) will follow a month behind Gold. The Naval Staff's goal is to keep Mapuche at sea for eleven days per month, hopefully permitting the pilots at least 220 carrier flight hours every year, with the goal of 1,200 hours each year overall. At the end of each year, Mapuche's captain will award the Almirante Moore Prize to the Air Wing with the most flight hours per time at sea, fewest training accidents, best maintenance uptime, and most excellent conduct ashore and afloat; this will be accompanied by an extra month of pay for the Grupo's aviators and deck crews. Six slots on the roster of 1 Grupo are reserved for Brazilian trainee pilots.

Upon completion of Libertad, the three Grupos will be split into six Grupos (Blue, Gold, Black, White, Green, and Red). Grupos 1 through 4 will rotate aboard Libertad, while Grupos 5 through 6 will rotate aboard Mapuche. Ideally, maintaining eleven days per month for flight operations at sea, the pilots will be acquiring at least 330 carrier and 700 land-based hours per year.

Notes
The Cousins both have some features which bear note. Range is high, as Chilean ships may be called to navigate from Antarctic Circle to the Equator nonstop; the ships are also expected to fuel up the shorter-endurance destroyers intended to support them. Additionally, the Chilean Navy will make possibly its first experiment into building vessels equipped with a bulbous bow. The two ships both carry their own ice-cream makers and movie theatre equipment, with the ice-cream makers being large enough to permit production and distribution to the destroyers and cruisers assigned to the CVTF. Movie theatre equipment is also added. Constitution and Libertad will also be equipped with high-end heating and air-conditioning units to permit more comfortable operations in both the tropic and arctic regions Chile regularly deploys to.

Both ships also feature integrated air- and surface-search radars (acquired via FAR allies) and the Constitution will have space set aside for radar-directed fire control. [Note 2]

CA-3: Constitution
Constitution was laid down October 1936 and will complete in January 1939, finishing her trials by July of that year. Compared to the Capitan Oyama-class she is smaller and less expensive, with a similar armament of nine triple-mounted 10"/50cal guns and fourteen twin 130mm DP secondaries. Torpedoes are included in her design in the event of her use as a raider, or the need to launch fish in defense of the carrier. The emphasis in Constitution's design has always been making her a good companion for her carrier cousin, leading to her nickname of "the geisha cruiser".

CV-2: Libertad
Libertad will be laid down in early 1938, situation permitting, and will complete in April of 1940, completing her trials by mid-September. Compared to the preceding Mapuche, Libertad will be 39% larger, two knots faster, feature better underwater and vertical protection, have better AA/DP artillery, and carry nearly thirty aircraft more (for a total of 65 aircraft). The ship will also feature a flag bridge suitable for commanding the Carrier Force.

[Note 1] Per Ithekro and other sources.
[Note 2] I'm not certain when radar-directed fire control came into play, but since these ships will have radar from their design stage, I'm incorporating the extra weight in the anticipation of having it upon completion, or later. At the very least, the Armada will have specialists looking at solving the problem, even if it isn't solved by 1940.

[SIZE=1]Drawing originally by Wes Wilson/thesmilingassassin and modified heavily by me.[/SIZE]

Quoted

[SIZE=3]Constitution, Chilean Heavy Cruiser laid down 1936[/SIZE]

Displacement:
18,275 t light; 19,194 t standard; 21,955 t normal; 24,164 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
734.56 ft / 700.00 ft x 68.00 ft (Bulges 74.00 ft) x 27.10 ft (normal load)
223.89 m / 213.36 m x 20.73 m (Bulges 22.56 m) x 8.26 m

Armament:
9 - 10.00" / 254 mm guns (3x3 guns), 500.00lbs / 226.80kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
2 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns (1x2 guns), 67.03lbs / 30.40kg shells, 1936 Model
Dual purpose guns in a deck mount with hoist
on centreline aft, all raised guns - superfiring
12 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns (6x2 guns), 67.03lbs / 30.40kg shells, 1936 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, evenly spread
12 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1936 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
16 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (8x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1936 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 5,531 lbs / 2,509 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
12 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 7.50" / 191 mm 514.00 ft / 156.67 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 113 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead and Bulges:
1.00" / 25 mm 514.00 ft / 156.67 m 26.00 ft / 7.92 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 8.50" / 216 mm 5.00" / 127 mm 8.00" / 203 mm
2nd: 3.50" / 89 mm - -
3rd: 3.50" / 89 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 129,829 shp / 96,852 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 15,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 4,969 tons

Complement:
901 - 1,172

Cost:
£9.124 million / $36.495 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 691 tons, 3.1 %
Armour: 5,334 tons, 24.3 %
- Belts: 1,575 tons, 7.2 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 494 tons, 2.3 %
- Armament: 1,298 tons, 5.9 %
- Armour Deck: 1,915 tons, 8.7 %
- Conning Tower: 51 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 3,643 tons, 16.6 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,437 tons, 38.4 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,680 tons, 16.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 170 tons, 0.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
30,418 lbs / 13,797 Kg = 60.8 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 3.9 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
Metacentric height 3.5 ft / 1.1 m
Roll period: 16.7 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 56 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.76
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.21

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.547
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.46 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.16 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 46
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 50.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Mid (50 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Stern: 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Average freeboard: 24.94 ft / 7.60 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 112.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 147.4 %
Waterplane Area: 34,498 Square feet or 3,205 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 120 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 142 lbs/sq ft or 691 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.94
- Longitudinal: 1.60
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Breakdown of Weights
Air search radar - 20 tons
Surface search radar - 20 tons
Radar-assisted fire control - 30 tons
2 Seaplanes - 50 tons
Catapult - 35 tons
Air conditioning/Heating - 10 tons
Crew Comforts, movie theatre, ice cream machines - 5 tons
Total extra weight - 170 tons

[SIZE=1]Drawing originally by Wes Wilson/thesmilingassassin and modified heavily by me.[/SIZE]

Quoted

[SIZE=3]Libertad, Chilean Carrier (Portaviones) laid down 1938[/SIZE]

Displacement:
18,300 t light; 19,152 t standard; 21,855 t normal; 24,017 t full load

Dimensions:[/B] Length overall / water x beam x draught
734.56 ft / 700.00 ft x 70.00 ft (Bulges 74.50 ft) x 27.10 ft (normal load)
223.89 m / 213.36 m x 21.34 m (Bulges 22.71 m) x 8.26 m

Armament:
16 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns (8x2 guns), 67.03lbs / 30.40kg shells, 1938 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, evenly spread
4 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns (2x2 guns), 67.03lbs / 30.40kg shells, 1938 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
32 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1938 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
32 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1938 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 3 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 1,398 lbs / 634 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 500

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 543.00 ft / 165.51 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 119 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead and Bulges:
1.00" / 25 mm 543.00 ft / 165.51 m 26.00 ft / 7.92 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 2.00" / 51 mm

- Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 129,132 shp / 96,332 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 15,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 4,865 tons

Complement:
898 - 1,168

Cost:
£7.228 million / $28.910 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 175 tons, 0.8 %
Armour: 2,855 tons, 13.1 %
- Belts: 221 tons, 1.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 522 tons, 2.4 %
- Armament: 102 tons, 0.5 %
- Armour Deck: 1,959 tons, 9.0 %
- Conning Tower: 51 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 3,536 tons, 16.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,835 tons, 31.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,555 tons, 16.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 4,900 tons, 22.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
29,719 lbs / 13,480 Kg = 443.3 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 3.7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
Metacentric height 3.6 ft / 1.1 m
Roll period: 16.5 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.19
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.44

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.541
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.40 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.20 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 38
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 50.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Mid (50 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Stern: 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Average freeboard: 26.24 ft / 8.00 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 119.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 194.7 %
Waterplane Area: 35,304 Square feet or 3,280 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 135 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 112 lbs/sq ft or 545 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.94
- Longitudinal: 1.68
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Breakdown of Weights:
Weight for 68 planes: 4,624 tons / Room for 65 1/3 planes (Extra weight for spares)
Air search radar - 20 tons
Surface search radar - 20 tons
Radar-assisted fire control - 30 tons
Air conditioning/Heating - 10 tons
Additional parts, aircrews, etc. - 100 tons
Crew Comforts, movie theatre, ice cream machines - 6 tons
Flag Bridge - 90 tons
Total extra weight - 4,900 tons

CVF - The Expansion Pack?
Plans for the fleet beyond the CVF's completion will be evaluated in late 1938 or early 1939, when another major project will be selected. Currently, two alternatives present themselves: the construction of a heavy, fast battlecruiser or battleship to replace aging vessels within the battleline, or the construction of a "second half" to the Fast Carrier Force.

Should the Armada seek to expand the carrier forces again, it will almost certainly come at the expense of the battleline, which will be unpopular in the Navy.

Most likely, this option will take the form of two newly-built light carriers, theoretically named Esmeralda and Independencia, or alternately Capitan Prat and Blanco Encalada, followed by the down-rating of Mapuche to a maintenance and training carrier. These two light carriers will be sought by the carrier officers to operate within the scope of the Carrier Force, in order to bolster the overhead air cover Libertad provides. This alternative will probably be accompanied by the acquisition of light cruisers to serve as escorts (much like the pairing of Constitution and Libertad).

Other Simultaneous Chilean Programs
While the Plan-1940 program will form a significant part of Chilean expenditures into 1940, it comprises only one-quarter of Chile's total probable expenditures over the same period. Other separate programs are running simultaneously; Plan-1936 is working to improve the number of mine-warfare vessels available, while Plan-1939 oversees the construction of twenty-four new escorts (including eight Capitan Eyzaguirre-class destroyers which will escort the Plan-1940 ships). Additional support ships (oilers and tenders) and one-time acquisitions (the purchase of the Talcahuano / Den Norske Løve) will also continue apace.

Here are the stats of a possible 1939 CVL; please note this is a hypothetical design for a program which has a mediocre chance of being adopted.


[SIZE=1]Drawing originally by Wes Wilson/thesmilingassassin and modified heavily by me.[/SIZE]

Quoted

[SIZE=3]Esmeralda, Chilean Light Carrier laid down 1939[/SIZE]

Displacement:
12,400 t light; 12,810 t standard; 14,913 t normal; 16,596 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
636.17 ft / 620.00 ft x 63.00 ft (Bulges 68.00 ft) x 24.00 ft (normal load)
193.90 m / 188.98 m x 19.20 m (Bulges 20.73 m) x 7.32 m

Armament:
8 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1939 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
32 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1939 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts
on centreline, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1939 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 97 lbs / 44 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 1,500

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Ends: Unarmoured

- Torpedo Bulkhead and Bulges:
1.00" / 25 mm 403.00 ft / 122.83 m 21.44 ft / 6.53 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.75" / 19 mm -

- Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 105,332 shp / 78,578 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 15,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 3,786 tons

Complement:
674 - 877

Cost:
£4.906 million / $19.622 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 12 tons, 0.1 %
Armour: 1,896 tons, 12.7 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 320 tons, 2.1 %
- Armament: 25 tons, 0.2 %
- Armour Deck: 1,525 tons, 10.2 %
- Conning Tower: 26 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,850 tons, 19.1 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,143 tons, 34.5 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,513 tons, 16.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 2,500 tons, 16.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
21,112 lbs / 9,576 Kg = 3,736.2 x 2.2 " / 57 mm shells or 3.0 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
Metacentric height 3.2 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 16.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.02
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.24

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.516
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.12 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.57 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 48
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Mid (50 %): 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Stern: 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Average freeboard: 23.02 ft / 7.02 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 120.6 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 174.4 %
Waterplane Area: 27,470 Square feet or 2,552 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 146 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 109 lbs/sq ft or 532 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.08
- Longitudinal: 1.84
- Overall: 1.14
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Breakdown of Weights:
2,304 tons - 48 aircraft
Air search radar - 20 tons
Surface search radar - 20 tons
Radar-assisted fire control - 30 tons
Air conditioning - 10 tons
Additional parts, aircrews, etc. - 110 tons
Crew Comforts, movie theatre, ice cream machines - 6 tons

Nice designs Brock. The Imperial Brazilian Navy might be interested in the Esmeralda design in the future, as well as the hull design for the Constitution

My God! His fleet is turning into a Bharat clone.

Really, how so?

Quoted

Originally posted by thesmilingassassin
Really, how so?

Bharat's carrier force is composed of an aircraft carrier protected by an armored cruiser, two CLAA, one light cruiser and four destroyers per the two newest carriers.

Quoted

Originally posted by perdedor99
My God! His fleet is turning into a Bharat clone.

Heh, I actually kinda expected you to say that, based on your post from earlier...

However, I developed the kernel of this plan before I even started playing Chile; Chile was just the first country I played with the budget to withstand it.

Ithekro always had the intention of building a second pair of Capitan Oyamas, with one of the pair intended to be a carrier hybrid or simply a regular carrier. With Peru's Almirante Villar being built, I could not justify the construction of two more Oyamas: the Oyama is too expensive to justify another pair.

Most of the reason I'm running this carrier plan is because I don't feel an expansion of the battle-fleet is required at this time. With the two Latorres in a slow wing, the two Valparaisos in a fast wing, and the Gideon in coast defense, I feel the battle-line is well-founded for the remainder of this decade. On the other hand, my cruiser and destroyer fleet, I feel, is seriously lacking, which is why I have 26 destroyers on order, and the possibility of 16 more before the end of 1940. That does not preclude my interest in acquiring secondhand USN four-pipers to convert to minesweepers, ASW patrol ships, and APDs; or the hope to acquire more Atlantean Alphabet-class destroyers to turn into Capitan Orella DDEs.

Quoted

Originally posted by TheCanadian
Nice designs Brock. The Imperial Brazilian Navy might be interested in the Esmeralda design in the future, as well as the hull design for the Constitution.

Design work is gratis for FAR and ABC allies. Feel free to use or tweak the design as you wish.

I think is funny we are both thinking on the same lines. One of the reasons of accepting the treaties with Australia and Great Britain is that I was being forced to rely more in carriers as the main stricking force.

Quoted

Originally posted by perdedor99
I think is funny we are both thinking on the same lines. One of the reasons of accepting the treaties with Australia and Great Britain is that I was being forced to rely more in carriers as the main striking force.

*Nods.* From the time I joined WW, I wanted to build a fast armoured cruiser of my own design. Originally it was going to be smaller - you'll see a lot of my springsharp work popping up as Bulgaria mulls a new surface combatant - but in the end I've refined these designs to my satisfaction for the Cousins.

I almost always design ships in task force groups: the Carrier Group is not an exception. I bought Antrim and Astraea from Atlantis with the sole intent of rebuilding them into CLAAs to escort the Cousins; the first eight Eyzaguirre-class DDs were similarly earmarked for the Carrier Force even before the first one laid down. The RSAN's experience with Hammer and Chilean experience with Mapuche gave me the justification for the Cousins themselves.

I should note: Chile is not expecting Libertad nor any other carrier to be wildly successful at sea, but understands that the potential might be there. The carrier is being designed partly to serve as a floating air-base (hence the larger air-group) and as a fleet scout (hence the speed).

---------------------------------------------

Regarding the light carrier possibilities: I don't like to get locked into new plans that far out, and so acquiring two CVLs to accompany Libertad is still highly theoretical at this point. My theory is that the Libertad would serve as flagship, with a strike-heavy air wing; the two CVLs would carry more fighters and scouts. Our earlier discussion about launch rates plays into this idea; I think it'd be better to have two CVLs scrambling a CAP, rather than one medium carrier scrambling a CAP from a bigger air wing. If one of the CVLs is hit, the other can continue working and hopefully recover planes.

To me, that calls for around 36 to 48 aircraft per ship, which the CVLs above have the capability of carrying according to our rules. Realistically they'd be akin to the USN's Saipan-class CVLs, and with ASW helicopters they'd probably last Chile into the 1980s; Libertad could also theoretically take on a Harrier fleet.

Another consideration would be building another geisha cruiser and carrier set - Esmeralda being the cruiser, Independencia being the carrier - to form a second half to the Carrier Force. While that gives four roughly identical hulls and machinery sets - two ACRs, two CVs - I feel at this moment it's not the best plan.

In 1938 when I start planning for follow-up to Plan-1940, I'll probably write a bit more about my options. By then, however, I might be looking to dabble again in the big guns...

After all, Chile has designed 15" and 17" battleship guns, and it'd be a shame not to use them.

Quoted

Originally posted by perdedor99

Quoted

Originally posted by thesmilingassassin
Really, how so?

Bharat's carrier force is composed of an aircraft carrier protected by an armored cruiser, two CLAA, one light cruiser and four destroyers per the two newest carriers.

Atlantis has used a similar concept for several years now with its BC's and large CV's along with multiple CL's and DD's. AA cruisers have been asigned to their task forces whenever available.