The Italian Navy has made great achievements in protecting the Italian economy over the years.
For the Italian Navy, these hardships are nothing. After all, the kingdom invests a lot of money every year, and the navy still has to show a sufficient role. However, as time goes by, everyone in the navy can feel that the naval warships are becoming more and more important.
There are becoming more and more insufficient. To be more precise, the cutting-edge warships are increasingly insufficient.
Although the Venetian Improved Class and the Torino Class are both pioneering masterpieces, the warships launched in various countries are not inferior to the Turin Class, and the trend of catching up makes the navy worried.
Therefore, everyone from Admiral Yagier, the Minister of the Navy, to the sailors are eager to enhance the strength of the navy so that the Italian Navy can continue to gallop on the sea.
As the head of the Italian Navy, Admiral Argier certainly has the unshirkable responsibility. But fortunately, His Majesty the wise King still cares about the Navy very much, so he has not forgotten the needs of the Navy.
"Your Majesty, this is the shipbuilding plan that our navy has been preparing for five years. Your Majesty, please take a look at it."
Following Admiral Yagir's words, a thick shipbuilding plan was handed to Carlo.
Carlo did not read the plan immediately, but asked Admiral Yagir. "Your Excellency, before reading the plan, I must declare that in the next five years, the government will only allocate 280 million lire."
We will not allocate an extra lire for the cost of shipbuilding, so if the navy’s shipbuilding plan exceeds the limit, it must find a way to raise funds on its own.”
Why did Carlo say such harsh words first? The Navy had precedents before this, and not just once or twice. Warships were launched and outfitted, and all the money was spent. Then, in order to prevent the warship from being unable to serve, it was not allowed to
The government can only allocate funds, because the money is not much, only about 10-15% of the balance. The Navy has done this kind of thing too much, and the government also has complaints. This financial expenditure is originally a carrot and a pit, and the Navy
If you give too much, you need to deduct it from other sources.
Moreover, the new Prime Minister Antonio has a new attitude and is unwilling to take over this kind of bad thing again.
Therefore, Carlo's intention in greeting him first was also to care about the navy and avoid any major conflicts between it and the government.
Facing Carlo's words, Admiral Yagir smiled unnaturally. "No way, our Navy Department will never do such a thing this time."
However, his words could not convince Carlo that his unnatural expression had betrayed him.
Carlo opened the plan. The first page was the Navy's total scale of shipbuilding. The Navy planned to build 3 new battleships, 3 new armored cruisers, 8 cruisers, and 18 cruisers in the five-year shipbuilding plan.
A torpedo boat destroyer (also known as a destroyer), as well as various warships such as gunboats, torpedo boats, and special support ships.
In this shipbuilding list, the core are 3 battleships and 3 armored cruisers.
Because they are all big guys weighing over 10,000 tons, they are more able to attract Carlo's attention.
In order to facilitate Carlo's review, the Navy also carefully marked the performance requirements of each ship in this plan.
The three 10,000-ton armored cruisers must reach a high speed of 22 knots according to the requirements of the Navy. The Ministry of the Navy believes that as the cruise speeds of various countries are getting faster and faster, Italy cannot lag behind. Therefore, the new armor must be designed.
In order to have a speed that is unparalleled in other countries, 22 knots is essential.
In addition, we cannot lag behind in terms of firepower. Three twin-mounted 254mm rapid-fire cannons must be installed to deal with the increasing number of patrols in the navies of various countries. As for the secondary guns, they will be installed after the main guns are equipped.
Consider it.
In addition to speed and firepower, the armor of warships cannot lag behind. In terms of armor, the Navy has good news, and the armor steel jointly researched with Krupp has received good news one after another. After water steel and oil steel, Krupp
Rupp has developed carburized and surface-hardened nickel-chromium alloy steel, which is the famous Krupp armor steel. Compared with the Harvey armor steel currently used in various countries, this armor steel has a 25% improvement in protective performance.
This also means that with the same defense, only 80% of the weight can be achieved using Krupp armor steel. This not only saves tonnage, but also greatly benefits the design of warships.
The Ministry of the Navy's armor requirements for the new cruise patrol are higher than those of the Venice improved class. Compared with the hull armor of the improved Venice class of 90 mm to 152 mm, the hull armor requirements for the new cruise patrol are 115 mm to 190 mm.
The height has also been increased from 3.2 meters to 3.7 meters. The increased armor is mainly placed below the waterline. This is the experience summed up by the navy after fighting the Japanese. Because if it is attacked below the waterline, warships lacking armor will suffer
serious injury.
As for the tonnage, the Navy Department also strictly limits it. The standard displacement must not be higher than 11,000 tons, and the full-load displacement must not be higher than 12,800 tons. As for the endurance, it must not be less than 8,000 nautical miles/10 knots.
It can be said that if Italian designers can design this cruiser in accordance with the requirements of the navy, as long as it is launched within three years, Italy can immediately regain the throne of the king of cruisers.
Carlo was very satisfied with the new patrol plan proposed by the navy. As expected of the Italian Navy, which is known for its high requirements, this was embarrassment for the country's warship designers.
But when he saw the battleship plan, Carlo couldn't help but frown.
Admiral Yagier, who had been staring at Carlo, felt nervous and asked quickly, "Your Majesty, is there anything inappropriate?"
Don't blame Admiral Yagir for being so nervous. This may be the biggest shipbuilding project in his tenure. The navy is eager to see what happens. If something goes wrong, how will he explain it to the navy officers and soldiers? He, the navy minister, is afraid
The only option is to take the blame and resign.
"There are indeed some problems. I feel that the battleship in the plan is not much different from the Turin class?"
Carlo expressed his doubts, which made Admiral Argyle a little embarrassed. Because the king was right, the new battleship was indeed not much different from the current Turin class.
In the new plan of the Ministry of the Navy, new battleships are required to be equipped with four 356 mm main guns. The speed is only required to be a maximum speed of 19 knots. In addition, the maximum armor thickness is only 380 mm. However, considering the improvement of new armor steel
,also
It is better than the Turin class in terms of protection. Of course, the only saving grace of the new battleship is that its displacement is less than that of the Turin class. Compared with the Turin class, which has a standard displacement of more than 14,900 tons, the standard displacement of the new battleship is required to be reduced to 13,500.
ton.
This ensures firepower and speed while also enhancing defense and reducing displacement. This is a dojo built in a snail shell, and it is equally difficult.
And reducing the displacement also has an advantage, that is, the construction cost of the new battleship will definitely be cheaper than the Turin class.
The Admiralty does not focus on performance, but instead focuses on price. Is this a sign that the more you live, the more you go back?
In fact, this cannot be blamed on the Admiralty, because the Turin-class design is very classic, and it is difficult for the Admiralty to set high targets for new warships.
As for the large-caliber rapid-fire cannon on the main gun, it hasn't been developed yet. You can't drastically reduce the caliber to accommodate the rapid-fire cannon. Isn't this putting the cart before the horse? In terms of power, even the latest triple-expansion steam engine cannot improve it.
How much horsepower? As for the armor, we can think of some ways, but we can't significantly improve the performance of the warship just by thinking of ways on the armor. Therefore, the Navy Department can only make a new plan that is quite satisfactory.
Don’t think that the Ministry of the Navy will only be demanding on warship designers. In fact, this is also the Ministry of the Navy’s rational maximization request after collecting the latest technologies. On the battleships, since the Turin class is already dazzling enough, it wants to
For a new type of warship that far surpasses the Turin class, the Admiralty can't think of a way to do it.
Facing Admiral Yagier's explanation of the Admiralty's difficulties, Carlo nodded silently. It seemed that it was really difficult for the Admiralty to come up with an epoch-making masterpiece again.
Since Admiral Yagir explained it this way, Carlo accepted it. After all, he definitely didn't know more about battleships than the navy.
However, considering the development of future warships, he still had to ask, "How is the research on steam turbines going?"
"Currently, the Naval Power Research Institute has built a 1,000-horsepower steam turbine and is testing it."
Admiral Yagir also reported good news but not bad news. He did not say a word about the results of this test, because the test results were very bad. In less than half an hour, the steam turbine exploded and almost injured people. Afterwards, it was found that
The reason for sealing.
However, after Carlo heard this good news, he continued: "If we continue to research steam turbines, it is best to develop high-power ones. In addition, we cannot develop large-caliber rapid-fire naval guns or new ammunition.
fall."
"Your Majesty, please rest assured that our Navy Department will not neglect research in this area."
Carlo still believed Admiral Yagir's assurance. After all, the Navy was more active than anyone else in the research of large-caliber naval guns and new ammunition.
"Now I feel relieved!"
As he spoke, Carlo turned to the price page in the plan, and the total shipbuilding cost of 287-325 million lire appeared clearly in front of him.
Based on his understanding of the habitual offender of the Admiralty, he should generally look at the latter number at this time.
