ThomasP
Senior Master Sergeant
Hey guys,
A few years ago a local wargaming group (of which I am a member) ran an alternate reality WWII naval campaign where WWII did not happen (at least not when it did historically) and instead the situation evolved into a cold war. The combatants in this case were smaller countries being sponsored by the greater powers, in a similar manner to what happened in the historical Cold War period.
The rules of the campaign did not allow submarines or any kind of naval mine other than moored contact types.
The sponsored nations (combatants) had discovered unobtainium as a natural resource, hence money was no limit as such. The build-up to the conflict started in 1935, and any modifications that were practicable could be made (ie the technology exists and the modifications can be accomplished within the time constraints). We included ground forces and land based and naval aviation.
The hot war began on 31 December 1941, so the players had 6 years to implement their concepts.
Many strange and wonderful things occurred and much fun was had.
For my part, among other things, I modified 3 carrier aircraft:
SeaHurricane LF Mk IIIE with folding 'C' type wings/Spit VB armament, and a navalized Merlin 24M (9.75" diameter impeller)
Albacore TB Mk IIIE fitted with a BP Mk II 4-gun turret and the Merlin 24M with a 4-blade prop. (This is not as radical as it might sound, the Albacore specification originally called for accommodating either an air-cooled radial or a modified Kestrel water-cooled type. And a turret was considered but deemed not worth the weight trade-off. When I did the Loading & C.G. calculations, the BP turret balanced out the Merlin installation almost exactly.)
Fulmar FBR Mk IIIE with Spit Mk VB armament and a Developed 'R' engine with Rotol 6-blade contra-rotating prop. (The increased weight forward, based on the installation weights of the Spit Mk XIV, was balanced by the addition of armour plate behind the observer and a small rearrangement of equipment.) The maximum speed was the same as for the SeaHurricane Mk IIIE at about 330 mph, though at a lower altitude. Incidentally, the enlarged radiator required reduced the top speed by about 15 mph.
I figured that it should be practical to develop the 1931 'R' engine into a reliable performer over the 6 years of the pre-war build up. I used the final ratings that were achieved during the 1931 period as the basis. The Developed 'R' was capable of 2300 BHP for 60 minutes using the special fuel mix, with out exceeding charge, oil, or cylinder temperature limits. It could maintain 2500 BHP for 15 minutes. The trade-offs I had to make in order to be able to field the Developed 'R' were the special fuel needed, a relative short 80 hour TBO/replacement, and the space and weight on the carriers for stowage of the special fuel needed. I got around the short TBO by using a quick-change arrangement and a lot of extra engines stowed on the carrier. The special fuel needed (30,000 USgal for 100+ sorties) stowed per UK standards below the WL on the carrier (a modified Illustrious class), reduced the FO load by 350 tons, but was not really a problem in terms of operations.
A few years ago a local wargaming group (of which I am a member) ran an alternate reality WWII naval campaign where WWII did not happen (at least not when it did historically) and instead the situation evolved into a cold war. The combatants in this case were smaller countries being sponsored by the greater powers, in a similar manner to what happened in the historical Cold War period.
The rules of the campaign did not allow submarines or any kind of naval mine other than moored contact types.
The sponsored nations (combatants) had discovered unobtainium as a natural resource, hence money was no limit as such. The build-up to the conflict started in 1935, and any modifications that were practicable could be made (ie the technology exists and the modifications can be accomplished within the time constraints). We included ground forces and land based and naval aviation.
The hot war began on 31 December 1941, so the players had 6 years to implement their concepts.
Many strange and wonderful things occurred and much fun was had.
For my part, among other things, I modified 3 carrier aircraft:
SeaHurricane LF Mk IIIE with folding 'C' type wings/Spit VB armament, and a navalized Merlin 24M (9.75" diameter impeller)
Albacore TB Mk IIIE fitted with a BP Mk II 4-gun turret and the Merlin 24M with a 4-blade prop. (This is not as radical as it might sound, the Albacore specification originally called for accommodating either an air-cooled radial or a modified Kestrel water-cooled type. And a turret was considered but deemed not worth the weight trade-off. When I did the Loading & C.G. calculations, the BP turret balanced out the Merlin installation almost exactly.)
Fulmar FBR Mk IIIE with Spit Mk VB armament and a Developed 'R' engine with Rotol 6-blade contra-rotating prop. (The increased weight forward, based on the installation weights of the Spit Mk XIV, was balanced by the addition of armour plate behind the observer and a small rearrangement of equipment.) The maximum speed was the same as for the SeaHurricane Mk IIIE at about 330 mph, though at a lower altitude. Incidentally, the enlarged radiator required reduced the top speed by about 15 mph.
I figured that it should be practical to develop the 1931 'R' engine into a reliable performer over the 6 years of the pre-war build up. I used the final ratings that were achieved during the 1931 period as the basis. The Developed 'R' was capable of 2300 BHP for 60 minutes using the special fuel mix, with out exceeding charge, oil, or cylinder temperature limits. It could maintain 2500 BHP for 15 minutes. The trade-offs I had to make in order to be able to field the Developed 'R' were the special fuel needed, a relative short 80 hour TBO/replacement, and the space and weight on the carriers for stowage of the special fuel needed. I got around the short TBO by using a quick-change arrangement and a lot of extra engines stowed on the carrier. The special fuel needed (30,000 USgal for 100+ sorties) stowed per UK standards below the WL on the carrier (a modified Illustrious class), reduced the FO load by 350 tons, but was not really a problem in terms of operations.
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