Reiner-class monitor
After the end of the Vinnish Civil War in 1871, ironclad warships had proven themselves the new face of naval warfare technology. In particular, monitors were favored by the northern Verein for their revolving turrets and idea capability for patrolling rivers and coastal areas. In the years following the war, the remaining Vinnish navy fell behind as the government allocated more resources into national expansion and reconstruction. A sudden encounter with Maian ironclads off the southern Vinnish coast in 1876 soon brought attention to the need for rapid naval re-armament.
The department of the navy re-examined the monitor as an effect combat vessel. The navy had several civil war era vessels still lying around in somewhat derelict condition, and funds were allocated for their reconstruction into modern fighting ships. Work began first on Reiner, named after the 17th century religious movement (we don't know why, all of the monitors have strange names). The original hull was stripped of its turrets and funnel, which were scrapped, and a new superstructure was built on top with two new 12" gun turrets and many smaller 6pdr guns, 1pdr guns, and autocannons. The old wrought iron armor was replaced with modern Harvey steel, the best available at the time. In all, Reiner essentially was reborn into a new vessel, being commissioned in 1891. Being a monitor in the new age of battleships, however, presented some drawbacks. The low freeboard and short range of the vessel essentially barred it from being an oceanic fighter, being limited to the coasts, rivers, and fair weather. However, there have been several cases of wily captains daring to prove otherwise, taking their ships across oceans to far flung ports where no one would ever expect a monitor. The ships of the Reiner class are also infamously poorly ventilated, which has led to some unfortunate casualties due to heat exhaustion. This may also be a factor in the corrosion of the ship's armored piping, which has led to reliability issues and safety hazards during excercises.
Despite these drawbacks, the Reiner-class monitors have proven multiple times that under the right conditions and under a skilled crew, these vessels can far exceed their limitations, and have proven themselves an invaluable asset in the modern Vinnish navy.
PERKS & QUIRKS:
Guns: 12in (+1)
Armor: 14in (+2)
Speed: 12kn (+0)
Armored Superstructure: +1
Low Freeboard: -1
Uncomfy: -1
Corroded Pipes: -1
Baby Coal Bunkers: -1
Credit to BackwardMatt for the turrets and the hull technique.
Reiner-class monitor
After the end of the Vinnish Civil War in 1871, ironclad warships had proven themselves the new face of naval warfare technology. In particular, monitors were favored by the northern Verein for their revolving turrets and idea capability for patrolling rivers and coastal areas. In the years following the war, the remaining Vinnish navy fell behind as the government allocated more resources into national expansion and reconstruction. A sudden encounter with Maian ironclads off the southern Vinnish coast in 1876 soon brought attention to the need for rapid naval re-armament.
The department of the navy re-examined the monitor as an effect combat vessel. The navy had several civil war era vessels still lying around in somewhat derelict condition, and funds were allocated for their reconstruction into modern fighting ships. Work began first on Reiner, named after the 17th century religious movement (we don't know why, all of the monitors have strange names). The original hull was stripped of its turrets and funnel, which were scrapped, and a new superstructure was built on top with two new 12" gun turrets and many smaller 6pdr guns, 1pdr guns, and autocannons. The old wrought iron armor was replaced with modern Harvey steel, the best available at the time. In all, Reiner essentially was reborn into a new vessel, being commissioned in 1891. Being a monitor in the new age of battleships, however, presented some drawbacks. The low freeboard and short range of the vessel essentially barred it from being an oceanic fighter, being limited to the coasts, rivers, and fair weather. However, there have been several cases of wily captains daring to prove otherwise, taking their ships across oceans to far flung ports where no one would ever expect a monitor. The ships of the Reiner class are also infamously poorly ventilated, which has led to some unfortunate casualties due to heat exhaustion. This may also be a factor in the corrosion of the ship's armored piping, which has led to reliability issues and safety hazards during excercises.
Despite these drawbacks, the Reiner-class monitors have proven multiple times that under the right conditions and under a skilled crew, these vessels can far exceed their limitations, and have proven themselves an invaluable asset in the modern Vinnish navy.
PERKS & QUIRKS:
Guns: 12in (+1)
Armor: 14in (+2)
Speed: 12kn (+0)
Armored Superstructure: +1
Low Freeboard: -1
Uncomfy: -1
Corroded Pipes: -1
Baby Coal Bunkers: -1
Credit to BackwardMatt for the turrets and the hull technique.