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Minelayer Hull Class


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#1 davec_24

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Posted 04 September 2020 - 11:58 AM

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been answered before, but I'm not sure after reading the rules and playing a few games, which damage column the "ML"  hull class would be resolved under. Referring in this case to the Abdiel class minelayers (HMS Welshamn being provided with the RN Escorts), these ships have a standard displacement of around 2,650 tons which would put them in the DD category according to the design notes files, though with 8 hull-boxes. These ships actually have 6 hull-boxes in-game which would then be comparable to a Hunt-class destroyer escort. I'm aware that much of the upper deck is a single compartment due to being designed for mines, but this still seems a little odd and normally the game would treat reduced watertight integrity as a reduction of one hull-box, as with some of the older ships.

The Royal Navy referred to these ships as "mine-laying cruisers", though they are more akin to a destroyer in size and six hull-boxes as a cruiser would give them better hull-integrity than the substantially larger C-class cruisers (at 5 hull boxes), though the latter ships are older and in-game this sometimes gives a reduction in hull-boxes to reflect poorer compartmentalisation, etc. 

So I see an argument for either DD or CA-CS! What do you guys reckon? And on a related note, I assume that TB and PC would be resolved using the "DD" column for damage resolution, with their fewer hull-boxes being what reflects their smaller size? Thanks in advance :) 

 



#2 Cpt M

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Posted 05 September 2020 - 03:11 PM

The Abdiel class presents a unique challenge to classify since it follows neither traditional cruiser nor destroyer construction practice and, in fact, reflects some aspects of both.  That said, it was decided to "meld" the two categories when assigning the hull points and damage category.  For the Abdiel class that meant the damage column used would be the DD-TB column and the hull points assigned would be 6..           



#3 davec_24

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Posted 06 September 2020 - 03:27 PM

Ah so it would be the DD/TB column then. That's great, thanks for the reply!

Yes indeed, they are an odd sort of ship, but I think treating them as a destroyer makes more sense than as a cruiser, in terms of general layout and underwater protection, etc.



#4 Cpt M

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Posted 06 September 2020 - 07:23 PM

And given their high speed, they would definitely by lightly built, like a DD.  For high speed minelaying, most nations used converted DDs (US) or had minerails built-in on their DDs (Italy).  IIRC, the RN may have the only purpose built, large high speed minelayers. 



#5 m1017242

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Posted 13 November 2020 - 01:06 AM

I see you are not using the delux ship log, as in the delux version the class is designated DM, short for destroyer minelayer.




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