Cuzco Class Battleships (1870)
First Incan steel hulled battleship that could be considered a 'modern'
battleship.
1870 and the Incan Empires individual Kingdoms were struggling to be able to
afford the new generation of steel hulled sailing ships, then the paddle steam
ships, then screw ships. The escalating costs reminded all the Kingdoms why the
Emperor had also had the position of Warlord and Commander in Chief of the Armed
Forces. All of the Kingdoms would pay a portion of their annual income to the
Emperor who used that money to provide the weapons and much needed resource and
development of future weaponry for all of the Incan Empire. The kings came
together with the Emperor and a resolution was made putting the defence of the
Empire back in the hands of the Emperor. The future Empire Armed Forces would
take a while to work out. Where the major land and sea bases would be. Where the
foundries and other support infrastructure would be. The Emperor knew that these
industries and bases had to be shared around the Empire so that all of the
Kingdoms would have some part of the Armed services to generate income for the
kingdom. The major item on the agenda that the Emperor had had on his mind was
the digging of a canal between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. This would
have to take place on the narrow isthmus at the top of Chinchansuyu. This would
also be the place to build the major Naval base for the north, where it would be
able to supply ships to either west or east coast as required. Two major
shipbuilding ports were to be constructed at Tiahuanaca in the Kingdom of
Antisuyu in the north and Colorado in the Kingdom of Cuntinsuyu to the south.
The first major warship was laid down at Colorado in 1877. The Cuzco class
battleship was based on European designs that had been made known to the Incan
Empire.
Probably the most striking feature of the Incan design was the fitting of
pyramid superstructure and guns. This feature was to appease the gods and allow
the crews to pray to their god/gods.
The guns were the biggest the gun foundry could produce, 16" rifled muzzle
loading weapons easily as good as anything being produced in Europe. The ship
was launched in 1879 and after fitting out was completed for service in 1882.
The new ship was to be the first to utilise the new Yapunqui Canal named for the
Royal Bloodline.
The new steel line-of-battleship Cuzco had issues that were not recognised till
it was too late. During the 'wooden walls' age the Incan ships had featured a
wooden Pyramid that was set there for religious purposes. Those pyramids were
quite light, unlike the armoured Pyramid fitted to the Cuzco. During trials the
pyramid did what it was supposed to, deflecting solid and rifled shot. The
trials had been carried out in the Caribbean. The Cuzco passed through the
Yupanqui Canal into the Pacific Ocean and headed for Lima (closest Royal port to
the Emperors residence). A violent squall was encountered with large seas. The
Cuzco took on an uncomfortable roll, on one roll of which the Cuzco did not
recover, the ship capsizing, much to the horror of the two escorts. Many
dignitaries had joined the ship at Chanchan to pass through the canal and onto
Lima aboard the latest and greatest Incan achievement. The grand Admiral of the
Fleet was one of those lost, with others of his staff that were some of the
rising stars of the Incan Navy. A great loss.
A near sister, the IS (Imperial Ship) Tambo, was building at Tiahuanaca. This
ships construction was halted while an investigation into the loss of Cuzco was
conducted. The priests did not like the report which clearly pointed to the
worst factor being the armoured pyramid. The Emperor (also head of the various
religious orders) had to decree that in future the ships of the navy could no
longer have the pyramid aboard as it may become an evil omen. The Emperor went
on that to compensate, all future ships of the Incan Navy would have 'pyramid'
shaped turrets (where applicable). The end of an era. (Still working on this
angle).
The Cuzco had been underpowered and very slow. 4000hp machinery had only got the
ship to 11 knots flat out, and a steady 8 knots cruising. This was in comparison
to the Italian Dandolo which made 15-16 knots on 7,500hp. The Tambo as part of
the recasting of its design was to be fitted with 8,000hp machinery which would
also give it a speed of 15-16 knots.
1890 and the Tambo is taken in hand for a rebuild of the superstructure. The priests had been a flea in the ear of the Emperor about the loss of the pyramid on the Incan ships. The Emperor requested the Naval designers to come up with a plan to keep the pyramid. The original pyramid on the Cuzco, that caused all the problems, had been of the same 'step' construction as the many Pyramids built throughout the Empire. This method had required a lot of strength beams to carry the load, very heavy. A new design featuring flat planes for the sides with armour only on the lower sides and up to the conning tower level. The upper triangle was built of the same 25mm construction steel as the upper bridge level. Unlike the earlier pyramid which had required so much extra strengthening, the new pyramid was able to be honeycombed for offices and accommodation. These extra boxes constructed within the flat planes were the additional strength required for the pyramid.
The new arrangement added some topweight to the ship but not enough to destabilise the overall stability of the hull. The Tambo would not capsize the way the Cuzco had.