WesWorld

[SIZE=3]THE NAVALIST[/SIZE]
- South Africans Official Navy Newspaper -
7th January 1929

On Wednesday the Royal South African Navy presented a new 6-year plan. The paper was put together by a panel of experts lead by Admiral Thomas Hooman and focuses on the development of the RSAN´s cruiser force. It was the Admirals first official task after being announced successor to Vice-Admiral (retired) Graaf Gerrit van de Haartlijners, K.D.T., as Lord Administrator of the Navy and Commissary Extraordinary for Naval Affairs on Monday, 3rd of January. The paper includes an analysis of the requirements the RSAN cruiser force faces today and in the future, the number of vessels necessary and an abstract showing which ship will be rebuild or laid down during a 6 year period (see below).

The analysis shows the RSANs need for various designs (total 10 CAs, 44 CLs and 11 DLs):

a) Escort to battle line (14 capital ships) - 14 CLs (30kn, 6.000nm/15kn, 6+ guns of 13+cm, floatplanes)
b) Escort to scout forces (4 aircraft carriers) – 4 CAs (31kn, 7.000nm/15kn, 8+ x 21cm, floatplanes, flag facilities), 8 CLs (31kn, 7.000nm/15kn, 8+ guns of 13+cm, floatplanes)
c) Independent heavy cruiser force (3 groups) – 6 CAs (31kn, 8.000nm/15kn, 8+ x 21cm, floatplanes, flag facilities), 6 CLs (31kn, 7.000nm/15kn, 6+ x 15+cm, floatplanes)
d) Independent light cruiser force (3 groups) – 12 CLs (31kn, 7.000nm/15kn, 8+ x 15+cm, floatplanes, flag facilities)
e) Leader of destroyers (8 squadrons) – 2 CLs (32+kn, 6.000nm/15kn, 6+ x 15+cm, TTs, flag facilities), 6 DLs (2.000+ts, 32,5+kn, 5.000nm/15kn, 6+ x 11,5+cm, flag facilities)
f) Leader of large torpedo boats (5 squadrons) - 5 DLs (2.000+ts, 34+kn, 4.000nm/15kn, 6+ x 11,5+cm, TTs, flag facilities)
g) Training force – 2 CLs (31+kn, 7.000nm/15kn, 6+ x 15cm, floatplanes, flag facilities, enlarged crew quarters)

The tonnage allotment allowed by the Cleito Treaty will not be reached by this plan. Hence some experts proposed to build each individual hull to the maximum limits set by the treaty but material, labor and crew costs make this impossible. Economical aspects will continue to force designers to find the smallest possible hull for the individual tasks.

On paper the requirements do not seem to be too difficult to fulfil but the RSANs cruiser force is aging and some tasks have to be left over to relatively small and old cruisers with their guns in open shields. However, rebuilds of various classes will help making sure all units are up to very high standards. Current planning lists the following units for the various tasks:

a) 2x CL08 (to be replaced 1934 onwards), 4x CL13, 4x CL19 (to be rebuild), 4x CL21
b) 2x CA26, 2x CA29 (to be build), 6x CL16 (to be rebuild), 2x CL31 (to be build)
c) 4x CA23 (to be refitted), 2x CA33 (to be build), 2x CL13, 4x CL24
d) 4x CL22, 4x CL27, 4x CL29 (to be build)
e) 2x DL31 (to be build), 6x DL34 (to be build)
f) 5x DL30 (to be build)
g) 2x CL08 (to be replaced by CL(T)33)

So 12 new light cruisers have to be build during the next 6 years, including two units especially designed as cadet training vessels to replace the rapidly aging ships of the Academy Squadron and two small CLs (named DL31) to act as leaders for two heavy destroyer squadrons planned. In addition 11 DL of more than 2.000ts standard displacement have to be laid down. Few details have been released as some of the designs to come have not yet left the drawing boards but what is known is given in the table below.

I. CL29 / 12x 15cm / 31+kn / 8.000ts
II. CA29 / 10x 21cm / 31+kn / ~11.500ts
III. DL30 / 6x >11,5cm / 32+kn / >2.000ts
IV. DL31 / 6x 15cm / 32+kn / 4.000ts
V. CL31 / 9x 15cm / 31+kn / 8.000ts
VI. CL(T)33 / 9x 15cm / 31kn / 6.000ts
VII. CA33 / ?x 21cm / 31+kn / >11.500ts
VIII. DL34 / ?x ?cm / 33+kn / >3.000ts
IX. Replacement CL08 (CL34?) / 8x 15?cm / 32?kn / ?ts

The units which will be modernizised are those of the CL16, CL19, CL21 and CL22-classes. On these single 15cm guns will be replaced by twin shields or mounts comparable to similar rebuilds in the past. Further more their machinery will get an extensive overhaul, most likely including new boilers and probably also new turbines, to increase their speed and range if possible. Where possible floatplane facilities will be added as the latest war in the Pacific clearly showed the value of seaborne reconnaissance planes. Overall the navy yards will be quite busy as is shown by the time table below.

In 1929
- 2x CL29
- 2x CA29
- 4x CL16 rebuilds

in 1930
- 2x CL29
- 4x DL30
- 2x CL16 rebuilds

in 1931
- 1x CL31
- 1x DL30
- 1x DL31
- 2x CL19 rebuilds
- 2x CA23 refits/rebuilds

In 1932
- 1x CL31
- 1x DL31
- 2x CL19 rebuilds
- 2x CA23 refits/rebuilds

in 1933
- 1x CL(T)33
- 3x CA33
- 4x CL21 refits/rebuilds

in 1934
- 1x CL(T)33
- 6x DL34
- 2x CL34? (replacement for CL0
- ?x CL22 refits/rebuilds

Of course these are not the only ships to be build in the future for our glorious navy. Other naval designers are currently working on the navy´s future regarding capital ships and small combatants. Several battleships and battlecruisers have passed their peak and need to be replaced or extensively rebuilds. Experts expect the RSAN to lay down up to 6 new hulls within the next 5 years. Those will consume most of our nations naval budget but will be a indispensable tool to secure our nations safety and interests. Only if we are prepared for the challenges of the next decade we can hope to preserve peace in our part of the world.

Interesting...

-> cue evil laugh

Shouldn't the escort vessels have a bit of a margin of speed over their respective capital ships?

Looks good, that DL31 looks vaguely familiar...... I'd agree that escorts ought to have an edge in speed over the units they're escorting. Is it worthwhile having different classes for escort CLs and independent CLs, or would it be better to have a single class that can swing between the roles?

Depending on the capital ships involved battle line speed varies from 21kn to 28kn. So a 30+kn cruiser (and 30kn is only because of the old units) should have some speed advantage for manoeuvres, right?

The escorts are older cruisers not capable to operate effectively as independant units because they are lacking in capabilities. With the exception of 2x CL13 in category c) I used modern units in general to build those groups of cruisers.