Battleship
A Battleship (/ˈbæt(ə)lˌʃɪp/ Kiltic: Longchatha [lɒŋ ˈt͡ʃa tɑ]) is any of a class of large, heavy warships characterized by steel plate armor and a main battery of high caliber guns. After early 19th century advances in steam propulsion, weaponry and munitions technology rendered the old wooden Ships of the Line obsolete by the 1870s, battleships became the new capital ships of modern navies. They are the most powerful type of warship, and form the core of many modern navies even today. Battleships were deployed in force to "command the seas" and came to represent the vitality of a country's naval power. They were a symbol of a nation's naval dominance and might, becoming an important factor in both diplomacy and military strategy for the major countries of the world.
The keel of the first vessel to be officially classified a "Battleship" was laid down on 1 Uganmonat 1882 in the Royal Navy Drydocks at Haulbow, Covania in Bréifne. It was launched as the Ugaine Mor on 26 Elfmonat 1883, and completed the following year. Heavily armored, and carrying an armament of four .35 yd. guns mounted on turrets fore and aft, along with a mixed-caliber secondary battery amidships, the twin-screw steam powered Ugaine Mor saw action throughout the Great Intercontinental War, and remains a commissioned capital ship of the Bréifnean Royal Navy, serving as a floating classroom of the Royal Naval College at Cnocánbhá.
The beginning of the battleship era coincided with Bréifne's reassertion of its naval dominance of the seas. For most of the nineteenth century Bréifne had taken its naval supremacy for granted, allowing a massive buildup of maritime power by the Caliphate of Nemed to go unanswered. Bréifne's allies Érevon and Hy Mainey were also expanding their naval forces, as were the emerging Kingdoms of the Velands and Jarmenia.
Recognition of these challenges gave renewed impetus to public support for strengthening the Royal Navy, resulting in the Naval Defense Act of 1883, which provided funding for an expanded and modernized fleet, including nine new battleships to join the Ugaine Mor. In addition, the policy of "double dominance" was adopted by Bréifne's Naval High Command. Designed to deter other powers from building more battleships, the policy dictated that Bréifne's navy must be at least twice as strong as its nearest competitor. Despite its noble intentions, the policy led to a naval arms race that was a contributing factor to the World War.
History
The keel of the first vessel to be officially classified a "Battleship" was laid down on 1 Uganmonat 1882 in the Royal Navy Drydocks at Haulbow, Covania in Bréifne. It was launched as the Ugaine Mor on 26 Elfmonat 1883, and completed the following year. Heavily armored, and carrying an armament of four .35 yd. guns mounted on turrets fore and aft, along with a mixed-caliber secondary battery amidships, the twin-screw steam powered Ugaine Mor saw action throughout the Great Intercontinental War, and remains a commissioned capital ship of the Bréifnean Royal Navy, serving as a floating classroom of the Royal Naval College at Cnocánbhá.
The beginning of the battleship era coincided with Bréifne's reassertion of its naval dominance of the seas. For most of the nineteenth century Bréifne had taken its naval supremacy for granted, allowing a massive buildup of maritime power by the Caliphate of Nemed to go unanswered. Bréifne's allies Érevon and Hy Mainey were also expanding their naval forces, as were the emerging Kingdoms of the Velands and Jarmenia.
Recognition of these challenges gave renewed impetus to public support for strengthening the Royal Navy, resulting in the Naval Defense Act of 1883, which provided funding for an expanded and modernized fleet, including nine new battleships to join the Ugaine Mor. In addition, the policy of "double dominance" was adopted by Bréifne's Naval High Command. Designed to deter other powers from building more battleships, the policy dictated that Bréifne's navy must be at least twice as strong as its nearest competitor. Despite its noble intentions, the policy led to a naval arms race that was a contributing factor to the World War.
RNS DOSHÁRAITHE
In 1888, as international tensions increased around the world, and the powerful Caliphate of Nemed across the Torrean Sea built up its navy at an increasingly rapid pace, Bréifnean First Admiral of the Navy Peadar ÓHéidín became the driving force behind the development of a new, fast, all-big-gun battleship to maintain Bréifne's advantage. Optimized for long-range battle, RNS Dosháraithe ("Invincible") was the prototype of ÓHéidín's design, and included two revolutionary features: an armament scheme consisting of all big guns, with less reliance upon lighter-caliber guns than previous battleships, and steam-turbine power, which was a great advancement over traditional reciprocating steam engines.
Dosháraithe's keel was laid down at the shipyards in Haulbow on 22 Dreimonat 1890. Able to achieve a top speed of 25 knots with its twin steam-turbine engines, and designed to carry a main armament of ten .35 yd. guns capable of firing two rounds per minute, with a secondary armament of 22 high-velocity defensive guns firing 10.5 pound .09 yd. shells, RNS Dosháraithe was launched on 3 Naoimonat 1890. In a remarkable example of speed in shipbuilding, the ship was completed on 7 Seachmonat 1891, tipping the scales of naval power overnight.
To be continued...
Dosháraithe's keel was laid down at the shipyards in Haulbow on 22 Dreimonat 1890. Able to achieve a top speed of 25 knots with its twin steam-turbine engines, and designed to carry a main armament of ten .35 yd. guns capable of firing two rounds per minute, with a secondary armament of 22 high-velocity defensive guns firing 10.5 pound .09 yd. shells, RNS Dosháraithe was launched on 3 Naoimonat 1890. In a remarkable example of speed in shipbuilding, the ship was completed on 7 Seachmonat 1891, tipping the scales of naval power overnight.
To be continued...
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