John Cattling Naval Trawler [DLC]
"The Naval Trawler is a concept for converting a nation’s fishing boats and fishermen to military assets. England used trawlers to maintain control of seaward approaches to major harbours. No one knew these waters as well as local fishermen, and the trawler was the ship type these fishermen understood and could operate effectively without further instruction. The larger and newer trawlers and whalers were converted for antisubmarine use and the older and smaller trawlers were converted to minesweepers"
HISTORY
Naval trawlers are requisitioned fishing trawlers or built following their design, which featured robust and seaworthy construction, and they are armed for naval purposes as auxiliaries, either as sub hunters to help control coastal areas and protect docks from submarine attacks or for mine laying purposes, toghever with corvettes serving as help or replacing destroyers, often busy in other operations such as escorting. They were widely used during WW1 and WW2.
INGAME
This ingame version is a mix of various designs of trawlers, since many weren’t standardized, following mostly the line of "Castle Class" trawlers. It is in a subhunting configuration, with a 3 inch gun on the bow, two 12.7mm machine guns on the bridge, a sonar and 3 depth charges in a rack at the back.
It features a full interior according to deck plans, with storage rooms, crew quarters, ammo magazine, fully detailed engine room, galley, bridge and more.
STARTUP
The boiler has a simple startup procedure, simply turn on the air and exhaust valves and light the firebox (which is NOT self refilling and has a limited coal storage of 120, not connected to the main bunker of around 1600). Once it is turned on and the temperature has reached 200 it will generate steam, which allows you to turn on the engine, which can be done either from the bridge or with an override from the engine control station next to the engine itself, and to operate the whistle head to the helm in the bridge.
WEAPONRY
All guns have a control handle for using them, with the machine guns being mouse controlled and the 3inch being wasd. Operating the depth charges can be done in more ways, either from the depth charges rack itself by setting desired depth from the right side of the charges (or by using default 40/30/20 m) and turning the respective kets, or from the bridge where they can be remotely dropped from the helm, using the sonar as aiming aid.
Credit for the depth charges: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2824668255
I hope you enjoy this build, and sink some of those nasty submarines!
-Person
