BB 1935 Dionysus

Dionysus Class Battleships.

With the advent of the 'Pocket Battleships', all Allied nations looked for answers to the problem they presented. Those countries that had spare battleship tonnage to build new units did so. See French Dunkerque type. Atlantis was one of those countries. A full 35,000 ton battleship would not be required, and as all countries working under the 35,000 ton limit found, each ship was a different set of compromises to design a workable unit. In storage the Atlanteans had the eight triple 16" turrets removed from the Athena class battleships. Two new battleships were to be designed around two triple turrets on each ship. This coupled with the new dual purpose weapons and automatic loading cannons made for a saving in weight compared to the previous ships with 4 or 5 different calibers of guns. For the first time on an Atlantean ship aircraft handling facilities were designed into the plans rather than being added on afterwards.

1939 and the Dionysus and Demeter are at the center of search Squadrons to do what these ships had been designed to do. Catch and sink the German pocket battleships.

Battle of the River Plate - Commodore Harwood, deploys his three cruisers to intercept the Graf Spee and contact is made just after 10am and both sides prepare for battle. The airwaves are alive with sighting reports calling for assistance. Force P, is closest, 4 hours steaming away at 20+ knots. Force P had been considered too small to tackle the Graf Spee by itself and the battleship Demeter had joined the squadron. Cutting corners and following the continued stream of reports, Force P roars toward the battle at best speed (30 knots). The reports tell the fortunes of Commodore Harwood’s ships. Exeter is badly hit and forced to withdraw, on fire and fighting bravely to survive. Ajax is sorely wounded, and with the Achillies is trying to draw the Graf Spee toward Force P. Demeter slows enough to fly off a seaplane, which reports back 5 minutes later with a true view of the battle space. Admiral Smith aboard Demeter deploys his ships to best advantage. Admiral Smith is mentally rubbing his hands, this is exactly what Demeter had been designed and built for. Ten minutes later and the battle is in sight, five minutes after that and the Graf Spee’s death arrives with the first salvo of 16”shells. Graf Spee turns to run but the Demeter is faster, bigger, better armed and armoured, it is just a matter of time. At 25,000 yards the first 16” hit is achieved and the Graf Spee visibly slows. Further hits turn the Graf Spee to a wreck. The range comes down to under 12,000 yards, point blank range. But the German flag is still flying and Admiral Smith orders the Apollo to close and finish the Graf Spee with torpedoes.

More to come as I dream it up.

Displacement: 28,000 tons standard, 35,150 tons full load.
Dimensions: 680 x 94 x 26 feet
Machinery: 4 shaft, geared turbines, 150,000shp
Speed: 32 knots
Endurance: 10,000 miles at 15 knots.
Armour: 11" belt, 5" deck, 14" turrets.
Armament:
6 x 16" (2x3)
16 x 5" (8x2)
28 x 40mm (4x4, 6x2)
32 x 25.4mm (16x2)
Aircraft: 3
Crew: 1550

AWS Dionysus (1935) Fate:

AWS Demeter (1936) Fate:

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