2 replies to this topic

[W. Clark]

I'm putting together a large "what if" armored cruiser scenario using the best armored cruiser designs for Enfilade 2016 to honor Jutland's 100 year anniversary. In doing so I ran up against something I had not noticed before concerning B* armor and I would like to have my question clarified so I get it right when I run the scenario.

 

 I noticed the Pisa class armored cruisers including Georges Averof are rated as B* for belt armor and CA for their turret armor and secondary armor.  I looked at the various gunnery CRTs and equivalent hits charts and came to the conclusion that B* armor is treated as BD for penetration and as CA for equivalent hits. Do I understand this correctly?

 

The above got me thinking and I pulled out my Conway's and looked up the Pisa class in both the Italian and Greek sections for the specifics of their armor. I then compared them to the Bluecher and Minotaur classes which IMHO are their contemporaries and found the following;

 

Armor Location  Bluecher  Averof        Pisa                  Minotaur

Belt                      7 to 2.4"   8 to 3.25"   7 7/8" to unk   6 to 3"

Main Turrets       7" max      8" max       6 3/8" max        8" max

Secondary          5.5"           6.9" max    5.25" max         unknown

CT                       10" max    8" max        7 7/8" max       10" max

Barbettes            7" max     8" max        unknown         7 to 3"   

Bulkheads           6 to 3.2"  unknown    unknown         unknown

Deck                    unknown 2" max        2" max             1.5" max

 

I'm sure that Bluecher (given how hard it was to sink her) was better subdivided and perhaps her armor is of better quality giving better protection inch per inch. But on the stats alone it appears that Bluecher is a cut above the Minotaur (as reflected in BD versus CA). However the Averof (and in some respects the Pisa) are at least equally well protected or better. So, have I got it right that the B* is an attempt to show the Pisa classes' better protection while still grading it a cut below Bluecher in subdivision?

[Cpt M]

I'm putting together a large "what if" armored cruiser scenario using the best armored cruiser designs for Enfilade 2016 to honor Jutland's 100 year anniversary. In doing so I ran up against something I had not noticed before concerning B* armor and I would like to have my question clarified so I get it right when I run the scenario.

 

 I noticed the Pisa class armored cruisers including Georges Averof are rated as B* for belt armor and CA for their turret armor and secondary armor.  I looked at the various gunnery CRTs and equivalent hits charts and came to the conclusion that B* armor is treated as BD for penetration and as CA for equivalent hits. Do I understand this correctly?

 

The above got me thinking and I pulled out my Conway's and looked up the Pisa class in both the Italian and Greek sections for the specifics of their armor. I then compared them to the Bluecher and Minotaur classes which IMHO are their contemporaries and found the following;

 

Armor Location  Bluecher  Averof        Pisa                  Minotaur

Belt                      7 to 2.4"   8 to 3.25"   7 7/8" to unk   6 to 3"

Main Turrets       7" max      8" max       6 3/8" max        8" max

Secondary          5.5"           6.9" max    5.25" max         unknown

CT                       10" max    8" max        7 7/8" max       10" max

Barbettes            7" max     8" max        unknown         7 to 3"   

Bulkheads           6 to 3.2"  unknown    unknown         unknown

Deck                    unknown 2" max        2" max             1.5" max

 

I'm sure that Bluecher (given how hard it was to sink her) was better subdivided and perhaps her armor is of better quality giving better protection inch per inch. But on the stats alone it appears that Bluecher is a cut above the Minotaur (as reflected in BD versus CA). However the Averof (and in some respects the Pisa) are at least equally well protected or better. So, have I got it right that the B* is an attempt to show the Pisa classes' better protection while still grading it a cut below Bluecher in subdivision?

B* armor class represents those ships with BD armor and limited subdivision.  The * indicates poor underwater protection against hits from mines and torpedoes.  So, yes, the B* for Pisa represent better armor protection but inferior subdivision.  

[W. Clark]

Thank you. I always figure the rules have it right but I still like to understand the reasoning. I can not speak for anyone else but I like to be able to correctly explain the reasoning behind the rules when asked and not just say "Because the rules say so".