Post
by VoidSamukai » Mon Jan 25, 2016 11:25 am
Make that 6 improved Panzerschiffs. Maybe the D or P class, but anything with at least the same firepower and range, but also higher speed: the one thing I critise about the Deustchs. Have that, and why build the Ad Hipps?
The problem is that by WW2, commerce raiding had became much more difficult, since planes scouts could scan the seas and detect raiders. And a lone warships can be easily trapped and sunk, given the right choices and tactics.
The problem with such ships is that while it can take on an armed merchant ship, a destroyer and even possibly a light cruiser, anything larger than that will be quite a challenge for the ship. And in order to hide the guns, the ships would need to use them in castmate-like mounts, meaning that they could be possibly outranged by other ship's guns. Then there is the fact that these ships would be sitting ducks to aircraft. One escort carrier armed with some Swordfish or even fighters can sink or at least damage such a ship badly. And not all commanders are like that of Kormoran. If used properly, I can see these ships being useful to the German navy, but there are many problems with such a concept. I think that just using U-Boats would've been a better tactic, if only just.
Maybe try and have something like a submarine cruiser, with lots of 5.5inch guns, torps and great range. An I-400 only with powerful guns and speed, not space-consuming aircraft.