Yamato II Class Battleships.

 

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Everybody who knows anything about warships knows the Yamato class. Originally to be a class of four, Yamato and Musashi were completed as battleships and their war stories have been covered extensively. The Shinano was finally completed as an aircraft carrier in 1944 and was sunk during trials by a submarine. The fourth unit (Hachimantai?) was never completed or even started from what I can tell.

The thing I have against the Yamato class is the sheer amount of resources that was used for these ships. What if (I love those two words) the Japanese updated the No.13-16 class designs and laid down four ships in 1933 and 1934 for completion in 1939 to 1941. These would be almost 20,000 tons smaller than the Yamato class ships and still be armed with 8x18.1" guns. It would be in the armour protection scheme that the largest saving in weight would be found. The massive 25 inch turret faces would reduce to 16 inch, side armour and deck armour would be reduced. In spite of all that, they would still be better than any of their overseas competitors and only matched by my German giants. Imagine what you could do for the Japanese with 80,000 spare tons of shipyard production? Four Hiryu, or three Shokaku, talk about tip the scales in the Japanese favour.




 

Completed in October 1939 the Yamato made a great sight. No hangar was provided for the aircraft. A tent like structure could be erected off the funnel surrounds for maintenance work. The aircraft were removed completely in 1943.


Displacement: 50,000 tons standard, 61,500 tons full load
Dimensions: 864 x 118 x 32 feet
Machinery: 4 shaft, steam turbines 140,000shp
Speed: 27 knots
Endurance: 14,000 miles at 14 knots.
Armour: 14" belt, 6" deck, 18/12/9" turrets
Armament:
8 x 18.1" (4x2)
20 x 5" (10x2)
54 x 25mm (18x3)
Aircraft - 3
Crew: 3250


Just as a different drawing I have updated the Yamato type with a 40mm drawing. My premise for the change to 40mm guns is the capture of Dutch guns in the East Indies. Japan should be able to reverse engineer these and have them in service 1943, which should certainly enhance their AA capabilities. I am sure the Japanese would do the same as they did with the 25mm and pop new 40mm weapons wherever room could be found for them.




Displacement: 50,000 tons standard, 61,500 tons full load
Dimensions: 864 x 118 x 32 feet
Machinery: 4 shaft, steam turbines 140,000shp
Speed: 27 knots
Endurance: 14,000 miles at 14 knots.
Armour: 14" belt, 6" deck, 18/12/9" turrets
Armament:
8 x 18.1" (4x2)
20 x 5" (10x2)
36 x 40mm (18x2)
Aircraft - 3
Crew: 3250



Original real life Yamato in final guise with hundreds of AA guns in every little space that could be found for them. Did not help of course with the Yamato being overwhelmed by aircraft from USN carriers.



 

 

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