If you simply use coal-fired boilers and steam engines, the limit for large cruisers to 23 knots, and the limit for battleships to 20 knots is generally the limit for battleships. There is no way, the weight and volume of coal-fired boilers and steam engines are too large and efficiency is too low. To reach a higher speed, you must increase the boiler or main engine. Both can be lifted together or separately. Early dreadnoughts could continue to use coal-fired boilers and steam engines (such as the Nassau). However, early battleships had to improve the boilers and steam turbines.

For Ruprecht, it is not difficult for cruisers to have battleship-level firepower. What is difficult is that they have a speed that is much higher than conventional battleships. The Japanese like to call the pommel horse the world's first battle patrol, because the pommel horse is equipped with 12-inch heavy artillery and has a speed of 20 knots.

But if we have to follow this standard, the Italian Queen Margaret was the earliest battle patrol. They entered service in 1904, with 4 12-inch guns, 4 8-inch guns and speeds of more than 20 knots. When the Queen Margaret was in service, the Semi-Mara had just started construction! What are the differences between the two sides? Why is it called BB in Italy, and ACR or BC in Japan? This is unscientific.

Of course, some people say that these two warships have the same speed as cruisers at the same time. The crosser can only say that this is correct when Queen Margaret was in service, but after the Summer Horse was in service, this speed was slightly worse than that of the large cruisers of the same era. The Summer Horse was in service in 1907, but it had a speed of 20.5 knots, while the speed of the British first-class armored cruisers of the same period was generally 23 knots! The speed difference was 2.5 knots. Of course, you can also use slow ships like Rurik 2 to say something about it.

Adding some private goods, Ruprecht believes that the real battle patrol should be at least the same speed as the large cruisers of the same period, and it should have at least three knots of speed advantage over the battleships of the same period. Only in this way can the role of the battlecruiser be fully utilized. In other words, when the slow battleships generally have a speed of about 18 knots, the real battle patrol should be around 21 knots. Most first-class cruisers of the same period have no speed (except for the strong BT)

What is the purpose of the battle patrol? Fisher's definition is that it is faster than the battleship, more than the cruiser, and can use the battle patrol to suppress the opponent's cruiser. It was not intended to be used for decisive battles on the battlefield. The Germans' definition is that at least it must be able to beat the British battle patrol of the same period. So what about the definition of Prince Ruprecht?

This definition is quite complicated. Part of it is because it is really troublesome, and part of it is because His Highness the Prince himself has not yet figured out what to say!

Simply put, it means that the firepower is sufficient to pose a serious threat to battleships of the same level, and the speed is faster than battleships. The specific standard is that if the luck is not very bad, you can get rid of the opponent's range before the dominant opponent severely attacks him.

This sentence seems very simple, but it contains a lot of information. First of all, the first sentence is that firepower can threaten battleships of the same level, which requires that the gun caliber of the battle patrol equipment is large enough. At least the battle patrol in Germany's history is not good. It is still OK to knock a lion with imperfect fire protection with chocolate, but try fighting with the American iron turtle? You can't kill you!

The firepower of the battlecruiser can be slightly inferior to that of the battleship, but it must not be much different. For example, the opponent has 10 14-inch cannons, while the BC has only 8 14-inch cannons, which is acceptable, and 6 cannons. As for 8 12-inch cannons, it is even more passable, and the designer can pull it out and shoot it!

The second sentence is even more complicated. Before the battleships severely damaged the Battlecruiser, the latter can run out. Battlecruisers of the same level will definitely not be able to defeat the Battleship. This is tolerant, after all, the tonnage is limited. On the one hand, the enhancement will weaken the other hand, but at least in terms of defense, you must not be killed instantly or easily slow down. Of course, if you encounter a bomb in the water and pierce the ammunition depot directly, there is no way. It is God who lets you die, no wonder others.

Therefore, in order to achieve this goal, there must be strong protection and a certain speed. Protection must be to ensure that the core area can be avoided from being instantly killed by artillery of battleships of the same level, and there is certain damage and redundancy in non-core areas. Before this redundancy reaches its limit, the battle patrol can rely on speed to run beyond the effective range of the battleship.

The idea of ​​escaping from the enemy simply by relying on speed is sometimes unreliable. There are many such examples, such as the Invincible Battlecruiser in the Battle of Jutland. This guy is backed by the British fleet and his backstage is terrible. As a result, he was shot in one shot because he rushed too far. The Germans did not give you a chance to escape! Is it useful to have speed but no protection?

Also in the Battle of Jutland, facing the huge German high seas fleet, Thomas's four Queen Elizabeth-class battleships performed much better. Their speed was indeed not as fast as the battle patrol, and even the rudder was damaged and unable to operate. What was the result? The queens braved the bomb rain of German BB and BC, and not only escaped, they also cleaned up the German fleet.

Therefore, excessive pursuit of speed is not desirable. In the view of Prince Rupree System, it is possible to build several BCs with speeds above 27 knots for reconnaissance as avant-garde. However, it must not be the core of the fleet. Because under a certain tonnage, such warships will always have various shortcomings. The British lions and tigers are not good at defense, and the German chocolates are not good at firepower.

The former's lack of defense resulted in the firecrackers being lit. (In fact, when facing German small cannons, if the British fire protection is good enough, there will be fewer firecrackers.) The latter is at a loss for battleships. The real idea is the British Queen Elizabeth-class battleship, with moderate speed and good protection. If the shell quality is not considered, the firepower level is the highest. It can escape from a large number of BBs and beat high speed BCs. What's more important is that if it is changed, it can use 2 battles...

Therefore, in His Royal Highness's future fleet plan, there will be no large number of pure blood BCs and pure blood BCs. The former will be a separate reconnaissance force. The latter is a substitute for when the power technology is incomplete. The largest number should be a fast battleship similar to Queen Elizabeth with a speed of about 25 knots.

Of course, this is just a future plan. At present, the prince wants to promote the use of kerosene mixed boiler and the development of steam turbines. The former is not difficult. The latter can only be used on smaller ships such as torpedo boats and destroyers.
Chapter completed!