Proposal to Improve Historical Accuracy of Rudder and Steering Engine Techs (Double Feature)

[BattleshipOfDestruction]

This topic is to discuss an improvement to the stats and historical information on the Rudder types in the game. Due to the small amount of options for Rudders, We will additionally be talking about Steering Engines as well since it is a related technology. More topics will be coming about other modules and discussions on their accuracy and possible improvements that can be made.  As previously mentioned, if you see 1950 as an ending year it signifies the end of the campaign so these components would be available until the end of the campaign.

The Rudder Technologies of the game are faithfully depicted in terms of their basic types, however, no date introduced nor stats reflect their true pros and cons. Additionally expanded information will be provided in terms of each Rudder's in-game description:

At Tier I we have the Unbalanced Rudder. Introduced in 1890 and available in-game until 1920; Unbalanced Rudders are the oldest type of rudder used aboard ships. They have the slowest rudder shift speed due to requiring the most amount of torque to move and maintain the rudder's position, but have the highest maximum rudder angle which allows for tight maneuvers.

Preliminary Values:

Sustained Speed While Turning: -15%

Acceleration: -5%

Turn Rate: 15%

Rudder Shift Speed: -20%

Rudder Max Angle: -15%

Fuel Efficiency: 0%

 

At Tier II we have the Balanced Rudder. Introduced in 1900 and available in-game until 1920; Balanced Rudders are a relatively new development in naval architecture. They have the highest rudder shift speed, but as a result of that high shift speed have the lowest maximum rudder angle which doesn't allow for as tight maneuvering. They also have less hydrodynamic resistance than an Unbalanced rudder, allowing for much better fuel efficiency.

Preliminary Values:

Sustained Speed While Turning: 15%

Acceleration: 5%

Turn Rate: -15%

Rudder Shift Speed: 20%

Rudder Max Angle: 15%

Fuel Efficiency: 5%

 

At Tier III we have the Semi-Balanced Rudder. Introduced in 1915 and available in-game until 1950; a Semi-Balanced Rudder combines the fuel efficiency and rudder shift time advantages of a Balanced Rudder with the high rudder angle advantage of an Unbalanced Rudder. This in effect means that you will have tighter maneuvers than a balanced rudder, but not quite as tight as unbalanced, while having a similar rudder shift time as a balanced rudder due to the lower torque required. This also has similar fuel efficiency bonuses compared to the Balanced Rudder as well making it the best of both worlds.

Preliminary Values:

Sustained Speed While Turning: -10%

Acceleration: 0%

Turn Rate: 10%

Rudder Shift Speed: 15%

Rudder Max Angle: -10%

Fuel Efficiency: 2.5%

 

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The Steering System Technologies on the other hand are somewhat less accurately depicted. The basic options: Hydraulic, Steam, Electric and Electro-Hydro are okay, but the years introduced, the advantages and disadvantages, number of options of each type and even the name of the category itself are out of scope and in some cases anachronistic. To start with the actual system these options are talking about they are actually called steering engines. It is a mechanism powered by the ship's power plant in some way to allow steering assistance to most ships. These engines were used because when iron and steel were used to build warships, the rudders became too heavy for human helmsmen to properly turn. Each type of steering engine above has its own advantages and disadvantages. You will see this soon enough. Unfortunately this section is generic by design due to the fact that innovations were not well documented beyond the type of system used and knowing in a general sense there were slight improvements to efficiency and performance as time went on.

 

At Tier I we have the Steam Steering Engine. This steering engine was introduced in 1890 and available in-game until 1915. Before the SS Great Eastern in 1866, ships were steered by hand, requiring significant torque and large helm crews, often using double wheels, such as on HMS Victory. As ships grew in size and weight, especially with iron armor plating, manual steering became impractical. The SS Great Eastern, too heavy for manual steering, was the first to use a mechanically assisted steering gear, or steering engine. This first-generation steering engine was powered by waste steam from expansion engines, slower than future options but faster than manual turning. Steam steering engines, though powerful, required much space and maintenance, limiting their use on smaller vessels like torpedo boats and destroyers. They were widely used in early 20th-century warships but were gradually replaced during World War I.

Preliminary Values:

Hull Cost: 7.5%

Hull Weight: 10%

Turning Rate: 10%

Rudder Shift Speed: 10%

Flash Fire Chance: 0%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 0%

Turret Traverse Speed: 0%

Water Pumping: 0%

Ship Repairs (All Modules): 0%

Ship Repairs (Engines): 0%

Ship Flaws: 0%

 

At Tier II we have the Electric Steering Engine. This was introduced in 1905 and available in-game until 1920. At the turn of the 20th century, some ships began using electric motors for steering due to their lower weight and space requirements. The Russian tanker Vandal, launched in 1903, was the first to implement this. Smaller warships soon adopted electric steering, saving space and utilizing the efficiency of electrical power. Electric steering systems offered more precise rudder control than hydraulic or steam systems but provided less than 50% of the torque needed to move the rudder as quickly as steam steering engines. This reduced their efficiency and impacted the available power for other functions. Wires at the time were shielded with natural rubber and cloth, which wore down easily and posed a fire hazard due to their flammability, further complicating the use of electrical systems.

Preliminary Values:

Hull Cost: 5%

Hull Weight: 5%

Turning Rate: 5%

Rudder Shift Speed: 5%

Flash Fire Chance: 2.5%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 5%

Turret Traverse Speed: -10%

Water Pumping: -10%

Ship Repairs (All Modules): -10%

Ship Repairs (Engines): -10%

Ship Flaws: 5%

 

At Tier III we have the Improved Electric Steering Engine. This was introduced in 1914 and available in-game until 1940. By 1914, USS New York was launched, becoming one of the first battleships equipped with electric steering. These electric engines were more space-efficient and provided similar torque to steam steering while being more electrically efficient, leading to lower power losses for other functions. However, the standard insulation was still cloth and natural rubber, which had hazardous properties similar to previous technology.

Preliminary Values:

Hull Cost: 7.5%

Hull Weight: 2.5%

Turning Rate: 7.5%

Rudder Shift Speed: 7.5%

Flash Fire Chance: 2.5%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 5%

Turret Traverse Speed: -7.5%

Water Pumping: -7.5%

Ship Repairs (All Modules): -7.5%

Ship Repairs (Engines): -7.5%

Ship Flaws: 2.5%

 

At Tier IV we have the Hydraulic Steering Engine. This was introduced in 1915 and available in-game until 1930. Around the same time as the original electric system, experiments with hydraulic steering engines began. The USS Arizona and other Pennsylvania Class ships were among the first to use this system. Hydraulic systems were lighter than steam but not as light as electric systems and took up less space. They could match or surpass the power of steam systems and offered more precise control than steam engines, though less granular control than electric engines. Hydraulic systems were more durable and easier to maintain due to their simpler design. However, the mineral oils used at high pressure were highly flammable and the actuators prone to leaks, which could lead to flash fires spreading as leaked fluid seeped into metal surfaces, making them inherently flammable.

Preliminary Values:

Hull Cost: 10%

Hull Weight: 7.5%

Turning Rate: 12.5%

Rudder Shift Speed: 12.5%

Flash Fire Chance: 0%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 15%

Turret Traverse Speed: 0%

Water Pumping: 0%

Ship Repairs (All Modules): 0%

Ship Repairs (Engines): 0%

Ship Flaws: 5%

 

At Tier V we have an Improved Hydraulic Steering Engine. This was introduced in 1920 and available in-game until 1950. In the 1920s, improved and miniaturized hydraulics were utilized until the advent of electro-hydraulic systems. The reduced amount of fluid in these systems lowered the risk of flash fires spreading while providing greater power than earlier versions.

Preliminary Values:

Hull Cost: 12.5%

Hull Weight: 5%

Turning Rate: 15%

Rudder Shift Speed: 15%

Flash Fire Chance: 0%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 10%

Turret Traverse Speed: 0%

Water Pumping: 0%

Ship Repairs (All Modules): 0%

Ship Repairs (Engines): 0%

Ship Flaws: 2.5%

 

At Tier VI we have the Electro-Hydraulic Steering Engine. This was introduced in 1930 and available in-game until 1950. Much lighter, smaller, and more powerful electro-hydraulic systems integrated electronically controlled hydraulic pumps with high-pressure actuators. Water-glycol solutions replaced mineral oils, becoming the first completely inert hydraulic fluid in use. Although used as antifreeze in automobiles, it also served as hydraulic fluid. By the 1930s, new insulation materials such as PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) became available for electrical components, providing wear resistance and reducing the risks of fire and flash fire spreading.

Preliminary Values:

Hull Cost: 15%

Hull Weight: 2.5%

Turning Rate: 20%

Rudder Shift Speed: 20%

Flash Fire Chance: 0%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 0%

Turret Traverse Speed: -5%

Water Pumping: -5%

Ship Repairs (All Modules): -5%

Ship Repairs (Engines): -5%

Ship Flaws: 2%

Edited December 14, 2024 by BattleshipOfDestruction