WesWorld

THE SOUTH AFRICAN TELEGRAPH
13th May 1921

Pretoria. The Raj and the King arrived in Pretoria. They left Durban on 11th of May and arrived at Pretoria Central Station around noon yesterday. It was announced to the press that both Royals used the time for an informal chat and a briefing by SPEARFISH about the Greco-Australian arms deals, current aircraft carrier programs, and Russian icebreakers.

Once their train arrived in the capital of the South African Empire both men met with Prince Lukas, acting Minister for Traffic and Transport, Mr. Walter Blauwboer, acting Minister for Industry and Trade, and leading industrialists to discuss trade opportunities. The meeting happened behind closed doors and no results were revealed to the waiting reporters. In the evening, there was a formal ball attended by much of Pretoria's high society.

Today the Raj and the King will board their train again and head north for a safari on May 14th. There are a few brief stops planned along the way, but no real business.

Mar del Plata. On the 12th of May a new unit for the Royal South African Navy touched water. Named Bulldog the torpedoboat left its slip at 15.19 o´clock after it got stuck during the first attempt at 11.30h. The problems were caused by a block which cant and made it impossible for the more than 500 tons of the hull to slide into the water. Technical data available about the Hound-class is rare but we were told that the hull, once completed, will have a weight of about 1,150ts. The ship will be armed with at least 6 torpedo tubes, three 105mm and several guns of smaller calibre. Maximum speed is still a secret but “it will be faster than 32kn”. So far six units of the new class were laid down for the RSAN.

well, a destroyer by another name, even if it is just a wee one :-)

Bernhard

Well, no. It really is a torpedoboat, not a destroyers. That´s not just a matter of terminology.

A torpedoboat is a relatively small and fast combatant build for hit and run tactics using its torpedos as mein weapon.

A destroyer is a relatively small and fast combatant build for fleet duties for which its main weapons are guns.

At least that´s the way it is within the RSAN...

hmmm. so what are my Avada Kedavras then? the 12*13cm cruisers?

Bernhard

Hoomans got it right with the terminology and Atlantis possesses 24 of these vessels displacing between 800/1000 tons with three 18" torpedo tubes and two 4" guns, but a slow speed of 20 knots. They are used for coastal defence and Atlantis plans on building faster units to keep pace with development.

Replace those tubes with some depth charge throwers and you've got yourself some sloops or sub chasers.

Quoted

Originally posted by LordArpad
hmmm. so what are my Avada Kedavras then? the 12*13cm cruisers?

Bernhard

Well, I´m not sure if I remember their stats correctly but as it seems you´ve already said it: They are cruisers.

At least I would rate their guns as their main armament...

What would be a reasonable range for a 800/1200 ton vessel?

There is no such thing as an ultimate "reasonable" range for a vessel of that size.

What is it´s mission?

Type of vessel?

Environment build for? etc.

See, a 800ts sloop might have a different range than a 800ts TB.

Seeing as we are on the subject of torpedo boats, what would be a reasonable range and speed for a 1904 torpedo boat/ gunboat displaceing around 950 tons?