Proposal to Improve Historical Accuracy of Turret Traverse Technology

[BattleshipOfDestruction]

This topic is to discuss an improvement to the historical information on the topic of Turret Traverse 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 Turret Traverse Technologies of the game are mostly faithful in their depiction, however one glaring omission and one anachronistic option is noted. The original options had two options for electro-hydro. Electro-Hydraulic technology was not present until the 1930s so therefore the first option is anachronistic and will be removed. The omission that will be solved here in place of the electro-hydraulic option is steam turret traverse. Interestingly enough, miniature steam engines were frequently used to traverse the turrets in the early 1890s as a carry over from the turret ships of the 1870s and 1880s originating with the steam traverse system of USS Monitor in the 1860s. By 1895, however, they had been replaced by hydraulic actuators. The enhancements to this section are detailed below:
 

At Tier I we have the Steam Turret Traverse System. It will be introduced in 1890 and available until 1900 (in-game). A staple of 1890s design, and pioneered originally by turret ships like USS Monitor in the 1860s, the steam turret traverse system used waste steam fed into a miniature steam engine to turn and eventually elevate, and depress naval guns. These systems took up a lot of space and weighed much more than future technologies. They were phased out over time, providing no advantage once hydraulic systems were introduced.

Preliminary Values:

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Weight: 0%

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Cost: 0%

Turret Traverse Speed: 10%

Flash Fire Chance: 0%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 0%

Ship Flaws: 0%

 

At Tier II we have the first Hydraulic Turret Traverse System. It will be introduced in 1895 and available until 1920 (in-game). When SMS Nassau was launched in 1898, it was one of the first battleships equipped with hydraulically powered turrets. These systems were lighter than steam traverse, but not as light as electric traverse, while taking up less space. Hydraulic systems matched or surpassed the power of steam systems and were more precise than steam, but less so than electric systems. They were more durable and easier to maintain due to their simpler design. However, the high-pressure mineral oils used were highly flammable and these early actuators were prone to leaks, leading to the risk of flash fires spreading as leaked fluid seeped into metal surfaces.

Preliminary Values:

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Weight: 5%

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Cost: 5%

Turret Traverse Speed: 12.5%

Flash Fire Chance: 0%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 15%

Ship Flaws: 0%

 

At Tier III we have the first Electric Turret Traverse System. It will be available starting in 1914 and available until 1925 (in-game). Electric traverse mechanisms, initially developed for smaller ships with surplus electrical power, could also be used on larger ships. One of the first battleships to use electric motor-assisted turrets was USS Nevada, launched in 1914. These systems offered more precise control over turret positions than hydraulic or steam systems but provided less than 50% of the torque needed to move turrets as quickly as steam systems. This limitation and the reliance on electrical power affected efficiency, reducing available power for other functions. Additionally, wires were shielded with natural rubber and cloth, which wore down over time, posing a fire risk from worn down wires arcing against each other which could ignite the flammable insulation. The flammability of the insulation also facilitated the spread of flash fires throughout the ship.

Preliminary Values:

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Weight: 5%

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Cost: 10%

Turret Traverse Speed: 5%

Flash Fire Chance: 5%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 2.5%

Ship Flaws: 5%

 

 

At Tier IV we have the second generation of Hydraulic Turret Traverse System. It will be available starting in 1920 and available until 1950 (in-game). These Hydraulic Traverse Mechanisms were miniaturized which lead to less fluid being in the system. This did lower the risk of flash fires spreading while sporting a higher amount of power than their predecessors.

Preliminary Values:

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Weight: 10%

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Cost: 20%

Turret Traverse Speed: 15%

Flash Fire Chance: 0%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 10%

Ship Flaws: 7.5%

 

At Tier V we have the second generation of Electric Turret Traverse System. It will be available starting in 1925 and available until 1950 (in-game). The engines of this electric traverse system were more space-efficient and provided more torque than previous technologies, offering similar torque to hydraulic traverse while being more electrically efficient. This resulted in lower power losses to other electrically powered functions. However, the standard electrical insulation was still cloth and natural rubber, which had the same hazardous properties as earlier technologies. The Japanese used such electrical systems on the Yamato Class Battleships.

Preliminary Values:

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Weight: 0%

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Cost: 30%

Turret Traverse Speed: 7.5%

Flash Fire Chance: 5%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 2.5%

Ship Flaws: 2.5%

 

Finally At Tier VI we have the Electro-Hydraulic Turret Traverse System. It will be available starting in 1930 and available until 1950 (in-game). Much lighter, smaller, and more powerful electro-hydraulic systems integrated electronically controlled hydraulic pumps with high-pressure actuators. Introduced in the 1930s with the Bismarck and South Dakota Class Battleships, they used water-glycol solutions instead of mineral oils, making them the first completely inert hydraulic fluid in use. Additionally, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) insulation became available for electrical components, providing wear resistance and reducing the risk of fires and flash fire spreading.

Preliminary Values:

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Weight: 5%

Main/Secondary/Casemates Gun Cost: 50%

Turret Traverse Speed: 30%

Flash Fire Chance: 0%

Flash Fire Spreading Chance: 0%

Ship Flaws: 5%