Subscribe to download
Cachalot-class 75k Gunboat

An inexpensive APS gunboat with a tough armor belt and capable guns. The Cachalot is a solid all-rounder, with a good mix of speed, firepower, and armor, and is an affordable backbone for a strong early game fleet. Offensively, it carries four 200mm 3m APHE APS guns in two double turrets with integrated rangefinders, plus two 5M Medium HE Torpedoes in a pair of submerged tubes in the bow. Defensively, the Cachalot is protected by a trio of 179mm 1M Flak APS cooled to an emergency maximum of 30 rounds per minute, though 18 is a far more realistic rate for sustained fire. Radar/IR and Torpedo Decoys are also included, plus passive detection systems. While somewhat ungainly and slow to turn, the Cachalot's triple propellers can still manage a decent 25 m/s in a straight line - not exactly recordsetting, but good enough for general fleet operations. While a reliable warship, the 200mm main guns will struggle against heavily armored opponents, though the 5x5 turret wells permit their replacement with single 300mm mounts if desired.

Note that the player is intended to manually switch between the Charge, Circle, and Retreat Behaviors as desired. This is intended for convenience in Adventure Mode, and may prove annoying if commanding a larger fleet.

Fully walkable, with interior decorations and detailing.


Cost: 75401 material

Top Speed: 25 m/s, from triple 3m standard propellers fed by ~1300 power from twin fuel engines, producing 625-650 ppm

Weapons:
4x 200mm APS firing 3M APHE at 9 rpm, mounted in two single turrets fore and aft
2x 5M Medium HE Torpedo tubes in bow, effective range 1750m

Defenses:
3x 179mm APS firing 1M Timed Flak at 30 rpm (18 sustained), mounted in three single deck turrets
1x 2M Radar/IR Flare, ejected upwards from the stern
1x 3M Regulated and Ballasted Sonar Decoy, dropped from the keel
Smoke Dispensers/Laser Warners mounted fore, aft, and superstructure

Detection:
2x 7M Coincidence Rangefinders, mounted on 200mm turrets
3x Laser Range Finder Trackers, scattered throughout superstructure
1x Active Radar 360, mounted on forward masthead
1x Passive Radar 360, mounted on forward masthead
1x Passive Sonar 360, mounted on the keel

Armor:
Two-decked with very light armor belt above waterline and heavy citadel below waterline
Upper Deck: | Reinforced Wood | with | Metal | reinforcement around turret bases
Upper Belt: | Alloy | with | Applique | Alloy | Alloy | Air | Metal | around turret barbettes
Lower Deck: | Metal | Metal |
Lower Belt: | Metal | 4M Metal Slope | Metal |
AI/LWC: | Stone |

Strengths:
Inexpensive and very well armored. Full set of active defenses. Average speed and decent main battery.

Weaknesses:
The main guns have limited elevation and have little chance of hitting anything flying, though the elevation limits are for cosmetic reasons and can be disabled if desired. Will have a decent chance of running into opponents too heavily armored for the 200mm shell to be effective against.