Horblower vs the USS Constitution

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-12-01 01:20am

Well since I've got the inclination, what would happen if Hornblower in H.M. Frigate Lydia (as per her peak condition) were to enage the Constitution in place of HMS Java (who is of a similar weight and armament)?

Perinquus · Post by **Perinquus** » 2003-12-01 01:24am

Proabably the same thing. The American frigate is simply a better ship. THe difference in performance is enough that even a captain of Hornblower's resourcefulness is simply fighting in an outclassed vessel.

Constitution is faster, significantly better armed, and significantly better protected.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-12-01 01:29am

Another one? Lydia is disintegrated when Constitution gives her eight tons of 16-inch shellfire at close range, detonating the ships magazine among other things.

Perinquus · Post by **Perinquus** » 2003-12-01 01:39am

Sea Skimmer wrote:Another one? Lydia is disintegrated when Constitution gives her eight tons of 16-inch shellfire at close range, detonating the ships magazine among other things.

I think you are confusing the Constitution with the Iowa.

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2003-12-01 01:42am

One more of these and I'm going to make a thread about USS Iowa vs. her tonnage in 1797 RN frigates.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-12-01 01:44am

No! USS Iowa vs a toaster!

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-12-01 01:47am

Perinquus wrote:
I think you are confusing the Constitution with the Iowa.

Learn your warships, she's CC.5, he didn't say which Constitution, now come-on, we've got Kongo's to kill.

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2003-12-01 01:50am

Sea Skimmer wrote:
Perinquus wrote:
I think you are confusing the Constitution with the Iowa.
Learn your warships, she's CC.5, he didn't say which Constitution, now come-on, we've got Kongo's to kill.

Besides, using the superheavy 16" AP shells, Iowa's main broadside weighs in at 12.15 tons, not eight.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-12-01 02:14am

Iceberg wrote: Besides, using the superheavy 16" AP shells, Iowa's main broadside weighs in at 12.15 tons, not eight.

The AP shells would leave nine round 16 inch holes in a wooden ship, its a job for the 1,900 pound HE shells.

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2003-12-01 11:08am

Sea Skimmer wrote:
Perinquus wrote:
I think you are confusing the Constitution with the Iowa.
Learn your warships, she's CC.5, he didn't say which Constitution, now come-on, we've got Kongo's to kill.

Except CC-5 was cancelled before she was laid down...

EDIT: No she wasn't, I was thinking of CB-5 USS Puerto Rico for some reason.

Crazedwraith · Post by **Crazedwraith** » 2003-12-01 01:09pm

Obviously the Constitution would take out any 17th century naval vessels with her powerful phasers and photon torpedeos.

After all you never specified *which* Constitution

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2003-12-01 02:22pm

Nitpick: It's funny as hell, I wish to see it not changed. But, did anyone else notice the thread title states Horblower vs...?

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-12-01 03:23pm

Iceberg wrote:Except CC-5 was cancelled before she was laid down...

EDIT: No she wasn't, I was thinking of CB-5 USS Puerto Rico for some reason.

AFAIK, the Mk. 2 and Mk. 3 16"/50s weren't designed to take the superheavy shell anyways.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-12-01 05:54pm

phongn wrote: AFAIK, the Mk. 2 and Mk. 3 16"/50s weren't designed to take the superheavy shell anyways.

The guns might well be able to fire them, but the ammunition handling equipment very likely wouldn't be able to move the longer heavier shells, that's what kept superheavy's off the Colorado class.