If you do the VLS thing, the crew will not be happy; the aft launcher cell is right where the ship’s store and soda fountain was located . . . Now If I were so inclined, I’d go with the cells replacing the No. 3 turret barbette, but a few more tubes than what are on the individual pieces you have there.
The Admiral would probably reply, “We ain’t here to make you mugs happy!” Lol!
That was a possibility, not something I seriously considered. I shuddered when I heard they were looking at making the Iowa’s into missile carriers; these are GUN ships, people! (Smh)
Looking at the pictures again, I’m thinking I might have to cut the launcher decks in half and remove some material to make them a bit narrower. Looks like there’s gonna be some serious overhanging the side if I don’t.
The midships ABL deck actually works fine, though you might want to lose the boxy section behind it. The aft ABL deck is a bit too wide, if you use it al all. But the concept is still good.
As for the VLS, that is workable, but figure that ‘they’ would probably either remove the entire barbette, OR, make the VLS a ‘drop-in’ module, into the barbette. Of course, if you do that you lose major access to the magazines below. and I don’t think you can load VLS launch tubes from the bottom.
Yep, if I use the VLS, it’s going into the barbette but as far as reloading, I thought they could only be reloaded in port?
Not sure if I wanna lose that boxy part; that’s where the CIWS mounts go; on an Iowa anyway. And if I leave it as is, the crane towers (original idea for the CIWS Mount) won’t fit.
Now my brain hurts. Lol!
Or not–that barbette has 10" & 12" steel in it from memory, and it’s closely fitted into the ship’s strucure. And more significanly, in the ship’s balance. That armor is fitted into the entire ramor belt system of the ship, so some of it is supported by the barbette, too.
Turret and barbette on Alaska probably weighs in abou the same as a Benson DD, which is a lot of op hamer to have to replace.
Dunno.
VLS is not very deep, installed–probably could get an installation over the engineering spaces without too much trouble. The harder part woulf be the overhead clearance for reloads and launching.
Now, something the VLS supplanted was the use of common box launchers. The ASROC launcher will fit most of the SM-1 variants. For SAMs the Sea Sparrow and Sea AMRRAM boxes would work. Those latter will fit in a quad 40 tub (you need director space up in the masts and superstructure tops, though)
“Now, something the VLS supplanted was the use of common box launchers. The ASROC launcher will fit most of the SM-1 variants. For SAMs the Sea Sparrow and Sea AMRRAM boxes would work. Those latter will fit in a quad 40 tub (you need director space up in the masts and superstructure tops, though)”
One idea I had (pictures above) was putting the box launchers for the Tomahawks on the stern 4 each port and starboard, skipping the helicopter pad.
“Amatuers discuss tactics, professionals discuss logistics” a quote variously attributed to General of the Army Omar Bradley.
While an onboard helicopter asset could help with ASW or over the horizon targeting, an important task of a helicopter (or helo drone) is replenishment. Yes barrels of fuel oil can be piped over from the AOE, pallets of beans can be slung over too. But to replenish the missile stocks and naval artillery rounds your build is going to be slinging downrange you will need a place to land them, the helicopter pad. To remove that asset would be an amatuer move.
I concur. Look around at ALL other modern / semi-modern ship types and classes. one common is a flight deck or at minimum, a one spot vertrep deck. you just got to have one. And this is especially true on a ‘capitol ship’. Look at what this ship (if it were still in existance) would be used for.
By the way, you probably should have put the CIWS in the 03 level 40mm tubs that you lopped off.
I, on the other hand, am looking at a major ‘hybrid’ conversion. Weaps elevators will go in the No. 3 barbette, and the hangar bay ‘floor’ will be about 4 feet above the main deck. This facilitates ventilation requirements and system maintenance requirements. She will have two semi deck edge elevators and the flight deck will extend from abaft the stack structure to just short of the stern gun tubs so they can be used for CIWS / ram launchers.
As you can see, the aft mooring stations will be on sponsons.
In case you missed it, this is my first ship build and first ever conversion attempt, so naturally everything is in a state of flux. I might put the launchers aft, I might not. At this point, I’m leaning towards not.
And I might put a helicopter pad in, I might not. But whichever way I build it, I’m not building this to make you happy or satisfy how you think it should be done.
Okay, that makes sense and should give you decent coverage.
Now, from the comments from me and others, as you can see, you should probably keep the flight deck in your planning. The ability to handle and work with air assets is critical in modern warfare, for tactical and strategic / logistical reasons. How extensive your aviation facilities are is up to you, but again, you really need to have something.
