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I do not need to go into much detail but one fact to note is there is wiki pages and info sites for the armed transports of WW2 and even WW1 if you look harder enough. Here is some examples of armed transports or also Merchant Cruisers. RMS Alcantara (1913) BRITAIN An ocean liner that was turned into an armed merchant cruiser from 1915-16 Armament: 8 × 6-inch guns and 2 × 6-pounder guns RMS Empress of France (1913) BRITAIN Same treatment but this one had initially 8 x 4.7 inch guns but eventually got the same as the Alcantara Here is a link for the American attack transports: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_transport This is a link for WW2 of course, but this shows there was uses for it. Problems I noticed is I can barely find much info on similar ships for the other powers during WW1, some even in WW2, and I can see why it would be not desired unless you had to use info from other similar tonnage ships that had guns to make it a reason to add, however the concept can bring a little something more interesting to campaign Combat is fine and dandy but so is keeping a steady flow of income, what you can do is have maybe a difficulty system that makes you start with less income than usual, where you are expected to have to start out using the transports for your builds and needing to slap together essentially a cruiser sized yet destroyer armor weak vessel to count as your main fleet until you can get enough research done to make money to out-date them. But even if your armed transports do eventually get fazed out, their weapons can still do some damage and support the actual fleet, but as usual they are by default controlled by AI and can be given command to you if you need the numbers. It is a bit of a stretch, but something I believe many would like to see, it can also open more to bringing in smaller caliber guns nearly close to auto-cannons that was used against PT boats and lighter vessels.

Hey folks, I love the array of classes already available, but there a few others I'd love to see: WWII Era Heavy Cruisers: IJN Takao Class, USN Portland Class, KM Deutschland Class, KM Admiral Hipper Class, RM Zara Class, RN County Class Addressed. Thank you to the Devs for your great work! These CAs were generally Treaty limited to max 8" armaments (except the Kriegsmarine), and had a sleeker profile than the CAs currently on offer in the game. @Nick Thomadis I'm sure some of these are probably already in development, and the list is by no means exhaustive. It'd be cool to see this as another thematic element and as a compliment to advances in BBs from WWI to WWII. 2. Late Monitor/ Coastal Defense Ships: FN Väinämöinen Class, MB Deodoro Class, A-HN(KuK) Monarch Class, KDM (HDMS) Niels Juel Class. @Nick Thomadis Can you let us know if this is a possibility? This is a bit of a messy category, but essentially these were short range littoral defense ships deployed by smaller powers. Their shallow draft meant they remained fairly close to home port, but could provide significant defensive capability for the home coast. In many cases, these ships fielded heavy 9" and 10" guns. I think they'd make a great addition to the campaign, as it would make raids and gunboat incursions into 2nd rate ports not a gimme. Nick: Again, this may already be in the works, but hopefully this would add some mechanical depth and greater variety to the world. 3. Gunboats: KM Itlis (SMS Panther) Class, RNLN Jacob van Heemskerck, RN Bramble* Class, RN Insect Class, USN Wilmington Class. Same as #2 Probably an even messier category, but gunboats were power projection tools used by great powers.In terms of size, armor, and armament, they're all over the map. Often they were just converted civilian steamers, though they tend towards smaller caliber. Of course this only worked if these ships could access the global coaling network pr- WWI, and still required port calls in the age of oil. They could be used to establish a presence at lower cost than sending major fleet units. Smaller powers could also (and did) build them, but were usually very limited by range. Nick: This could certainly be a takeoff of the "Torpedo boat" class (some "Patrol Gunboats" were indeed armed with torpedoes), but the difference would usually be a larger displacement, more available calibers, and a greater range capacity. 4. WWII era light cruisers: RN Town Class, IJN Mogami class, USN Brooklyn Class, KM Konigsberg Class Addressed. Thank you to the Devs for your great work! CLs adopted a significantly sleeker look, especially characterized by flush decks, light belt armor, ~6" main armament, and rated speeds of 30+ knots. Crucially, these ships featured superfiring turrets, something very lacking in the current stable. @Nick Thomadis I've noticed that the 1926+ CA design could provide a decent visual starting point for CLs of the later years. Principally, I'd adjust the default speed to ~36 knots, adjust the standard armor accordingly (and keep the upper limit cap on CL armor), and treaty limit caliber to 6" (or 7"-8" for non-treaty fleets). What other suggestions do you guys have? *RN Bramble was actually equipped with sailing rig, though it could cruise on coal power for about a week when necessary. If you were to use an early era steamer of this type, I'd suggest just having the rigging be a non-functional combat liability in scenario, but it could reduce the maintenance costs and refueling expenses of the class.

Hi guys, I'm making a Gunboat in 3D. What do you think? http://imgur.com/a/v12H7 http://imgur.com/a/8LSyC http://imgur.com/a/bN3dj http://imgur.com/a/04oyc http://imgur.com/a/S1XsB

Hi Guys, Brits would like to organise a 25v25 Gunboat brawl in the open world near I'll la Vache. Anybody interested? Regards, Gooneybird

Not sure if this is interesting to sail in a game like this, but still funny enough to not leave it unmentioned Source: Jotika Ltd Front (on a swivel): 24 pd long cannon Stern: two 12 pd carronades

The following 3D model of the Gunboat Philadelphia can be viewed here http://3d.si.edu/explorer?modelid=47 at the new Smithsonian X3D website http://3d.si.edu/browser You may have to update your browser (Internet Explorer 6 won't cut it... ) and perhaps download a browser plugin to be able to view, manipulate, zoom in, change lighting, etc. but it is worthwhile to poke around this boat and some of the other Smithsonian virtual "charter collections" being made available. They are all composed of real museum objects laser scanned, some textured. Updates and improvements happen sporadically, the gunboat wasn't there not so long ago... Most 3D models can be downloaded and I believe used without restrictions. The Tlingit Killer Whale hat http://3d.si.edu/explorer?modelid=392 has cultural-use restrictions, it came out of my office. I do not know anything about this gunboat (edit: but see below), though am sure there is a wiki page, and some of you history buffs likely know more. I can't believe a boat like that could handle the recoil of those side guns; the bow gun sure, but... Shortly after the American Revolution began, American forces in Lake Champlain, located between New York and Vermont, began capturing British strongholds in Canada. The British were determined to isolate New England from the middle and southern colonies by advancing down Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor. To accomplish their mission, the British gathered a fleet at the head of the lake. It was essential for the British to reach and recapture Fort Ticonderoga at the southern end of the lake before winter conditions made military operations impossible. In order to have any hope of defending the lake from the British, the Americans had to expand their tiny navy. American General Benedict Arnold built a fleet consisting of eight gondolas and four galleys in the summer of 1776 to resist. The gondolas, or flat-bottomed rowing boat with sails, were designed and constructed as simple gun platforms. Armed with three cannon and eight swivel guns, Philadelphia was one of them.

In reading "the Age of the Ship of the Line: The British & French Navies, 1650-1815", I noticed a passage by author Jonathan R. Dull that references "prames": "... Choiseul now prepared a vast plan for invading Britain. He planned to construct between 225 - 275 shallow draft transport to carry troops, and a dozen shallow draft 22-cannon warships called prames to Escort them..." (in reference to year 1757) I know we have the brig (similar?). Any thoughts? I have a wiki leak is all, curious if others have come data on these? http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pram_%28ship%29