[WIP] Type VIII - Fictional U-cruiser for SH4

[Fritz Klum]

Hey all,


This mod is my biggest work yet, and will (hopefully) be usable as a sub-mod for Fifi's Excellent Dark Waters.


The idea behind the boat is to model a boat that is something between a cross between the type XI Cruiser boats (which were granted as contracts for construction, but never actually even laid down,) and the Type IX boats already in game.


As a full-on type XI is beyond my skills to model, I decided to make a fictional U-cruiser that would have been less ambitious than a type XI, but more ambitious than a type IX. I chose Type VIII (Type 8) as a designation as historically there never were even plans for a type VIII, so I am free to make it however I see fit.


The actual design in-game boils down to a Type IXB early war conning tower mounted on a Type IXD2 hull. In addition, the boat should have 2 105mm deck gun mounts (1 in front, and 1 in rear,) with a total of ~300 rounds for each gun. Surfaced endurance and speed will be the same as the type IXD2, but it will move more slowly underwater, and take around a full minute to crash dive. In addition, all those extra 105mm shells will mean reduced external torpedo storage (though internal storage will be the same) when compared to a IXD2. Also, it will never be able to mount more than a single AA mount. Finally, the boat will be available starting from 1939.


Anyhow, I am making good progress. I'll post a few screenshots in a bit.