[WIP] - Isherwood - Style Modern Tanker

[iambecomelife]

I am building several new tankers for the Merchant Fleet Mod's next beta version (or the final release!). One of them is a large, American-style tanker based on the Isherwood design system. These ships were unusual-looking compared to most WWII tankers; the most notable feature was the extended poop deck/sterncastle. This was designed to increase cargo capacity by allowing for bigger stern tank sections. The Isherwood method was originally a British innovation, and was used on many small British coastal vessels. For some reason, no large British merchant vessels seem to have used this design.

http://www.t2tanker.org/ships/images/virginia.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Campus/3415/images/panpenns.jpg

To my knowledge only one of these ships was completed before America entered the war (S.S. "Virginia"). She was sunk by a U-Boat in 1942, and "Pan Pennsylvania" was lost in 1944 to U-550:

http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/1635.html

http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/3236.html

About 11 other near-sisters were constructed between 1942 and 1945. At 10,700-11,000 GRT they were among the largest tankers in the world at the time. After the war they were all sold to civilian operators based in the US and Greece, serving well into the 1970's.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/iambecomelife/Untitled-1-12.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/iambecomelife/Untitled-2-13.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/iambecomelife/Untitled-3-15.jpg

They were constructed by welding together massive prefabricated sections of hull, in order to save time. Interestingly, this design seems to have shared some of the same structural issues found with T-2 Tankers and Liberty Ships. "Keo" (ex-"Bulkoil") broke in two off Nantucket in November 1969 with no survivors. "Pacocean" (ex-"Bulkoceanic") broke apart and sank in a storm off the Taiwanese coast less than three weeks later. "Amphialos" (ex-"Bulkstar") broke up and sank near Cape Cod in 1964. "Golden Drake" (ex "Bulktrader") exploded in 1972 and sank after a towing attempt failed. At least 39 crewmembers were lost in these incidents. For more details, click here:

http://www.t2tanker.org/ships/nashbulk.html

BTW, sincere apologies to everyone for the additional delays with my mod. :damn:

[Sailor Steve]

Awesome!:rock:

I already have several of those names assigned to tankers of similar size. With the list you linked to moving them will be no problem at all once this new model is out.

Thanks for the link (and all your hard work).

[mkubani]

Nice one. I really like the shape of this ship.

I know it's WIP, but maybe couple things I dare to point out:

1. UVW mapping - there are small remains of doors right on the edges of the forward bridge. ;)

2. Some texture stretching on the stern bridge. You can spot this easily because of the stretched rescue wheel (more oval than a circle).

3. Stern bridge (last picture). You got doors right on the edge of both corners. I don't think they would be placed like this in real life.

I hope you don't mind a bit of constructive criticism. I am a fan of your fine work.

[iambecomelife]

Nice one. I really like the shape of this ship.

I know it's WIP, but maybe couple things I dare to point out:

1. UVW mapping - there are small remains of doors right on the edges of the forward bridge. ;)

2. Some texture stretching on the stern bridge. You can spot this easily because of the stretched rescue wheel (more oval than a circle).

3. Stern bridge (last picture). You got doors right on the edge of both corners. I don't think they would be placed like this in real life.

I hope you don't mind a bit of constructive criticism. I am a fan of your fine work.

Points taken - this skin was originally assigned to the improved T-2 and while it's almost perfect, it doesn't quite match up to all the parts. The final version will have some changes.

@Sailor Steve - yes; I would just check the T-2 tanker site for any names. If I find out that there were any more tankers like this I will let you know.

It's been a little odd working on this ship - I think it's one of my better tanker models but the design looks pretty unattractive, with the enlongated deck and tiny funnel. Not to mention that they seem to have had some extremely dangerous design flaws.

[bigboywooly]

Interesting tanker

I would have to ask any chance of any smaller ships ??
Still have the last beta of the MFM ingame as career still running
While have noticed no trouble in your ships spawning esp in convoys I have noticed massive tonnage figures on return to port - not far off a million tonnes in 13 patrols :o

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h22/bigboywooly/tonnageking.jpg

Few 2000 tonners to offset the many 4\5500 tonners might be a good idea

[iambecomelife]

Interesting tanker

I would have to ask any chance of any smaller ships ??
Still have the last beta of the MFM ingame as career still running
While have noticed no trouble in your ships spawning esp in convoys I have noticed massive tonnage figures on return to port - not far off a million tonnes in 13 patrols :o

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h22/bigboywooly/tonnageking.jpg

Few 2000 tonners to offset the many 4\5500 tonners might be a good idea

Could you please send me your patrol data?

Thanks.

[iambecomelife]

@BBW: I have a few more styles of 3000 - 3800 ton merchants in the pipeline. Only thing is I am worried about making ships that have too many design similarities. Here are two of the new vessels:

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/iambecomelife/Untitled-5-13.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/iambecomelife/Untitled-6-11.jpg

[denis_469]

Interesting tanker

I would have to ask any chance of any smaller ships ??
Still have the last beta of the MFM ingame as career still running
While have noticed no trouble in your ships spawning esp in convoys I have noticed massive tonnage figures on return to port - not far off a million tonnes in 13 patrols :o

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h22/bigboywooly/tonnageking.jpg

Few 2000 tonners to offset the many 4\5500 tonners might be a good idea

It's in GWX3???????? :o

I'm first time see it... Really - you need run War Elite - in it mod 500000 before end war is dream near reallity. All ships what made IABL is very good, but you results it's not true made ingame origins. As I understand (and see in you results) in GWX not really torpedo defectes. May be I unright, may be...

My results in War Elite:
Patrols: 1 - 19704 grt (01.09.39 - 14.10.39)
2 - 14.11.39 - 05.12.39 - 66898 grt
3 - 05.01.40 - 04.02.40 - 18165 grt
4 - 14.03.40 - 10.04.40 - 46793 grt
5 - 19.05.40 - 21.06.40 - 40705 grt
6 - 25.07.40 - 20.08.40 - 19872 grt
7 - 20.09.40 - 17.10.40 - 49204 grt
8 - 05.01.41 - 17.02.41 - 72216 grt

So all results like real tonnage sunk.

As I made - plus MFM beta with current ships.

[coronas]

@BBW: I have a few more styles of 3000 - 3800 ton merchants in the pipeline. Only thing is I am worried about making ships that have too many design similarities.

http://www.vidamaritima.com/search/label/Barcos
http://www.vidamaritima.com/2009/02/el-extrano-torpedeamiento-del-provence.html. A good picture of torpedo effect in a ship.
Give a try. Spanish ships but many build in England. Follow links at the right, many pictures. Odd merchants from 300 to 4000 ton.
By the way: I love first new vessel

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/619/gobeowc2.th.jpg (http://img294.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gobeowc2.jpg)
Gobeo
Vida Maritima courtesy

[bigboywooly]

Will send you the career later Iam
Tied up tonight
And not in a fun way
:rotfl: