Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Ida Special Cruise Ship

As soon as I heard that Contini was going to build a special cruise ship, the United Shipyard (Grand Union) was overjoyed, a blue ribbon cruise ship is 700-10 million US dollars (the decoration of some shipyards to entrust other companies, almost no money), and to build such a special cruise ship, it will cost at least 12 million to 13 million US dollars, and more importantly, after mastering this technology, will there be no orders from the Navy in the future?

So in just a week, the designers designed a sketch for Contini to look at as quickly as possible, and in order to satisfy the other party, the designers tried their best to compare the British and American aircraft carriers day and night - although it is called a special aircraft carrier, everyone knows what this thing is. Just when they were full of joy and waiting for Contini's praise, they were poured with a basin of cold water on their heads, and their hearts were half cold:

"You can't design it, you have to tear it down and start over!" Contini pointed to the sketch that I don't know how many times better than his hand-drawing, and hated to make iron, "First of all, I told you, I want 30,000 tons for the cruise, why did you get me 27,000 tons?" Secondly, I said no less than verse 32, and you give me verse 30.5, what does that mean? ”

The designer stammered: "Your Excellency, the Washington Naval Arms Treaty stipulates that aircraft carriers of various countries cannot exceed 27,000 tons ......"

"That's not right!" Contini retorted, "The treaty also has a provision that allows for the addition of up to 3,000 tons of additional armor protection in order to prevent torpedo and deck attacks." Besides, I'm not a signatory to the treaty, do you know it's a civilian ship? From the captain to the sailor, from the passengers to the pilot, all ordinary civilians, not a single active officer of the Italian Navy - not even officers and soldiers, can we talk about the navy? This is the ship of my United Group! ”

The designer was completely defeated, and there is still such a thing in the world? After careful consideration, His Excellency the President also has a point - the United Group has enough people to make head, and besides, there is no money allocated by the government, so it really does not belong to the state.

As for verse 32, the designer didn't even dare to argue, only said that he would have to add to the cost.

"If you add it, you can add it, I can still afford this money!" Contini simply set the speed at 33 knots, and the power became 4-axis propulsion, 160,000 horsepower, "Endurance, 8,000 nautical miles/18 knots, right?" ”

"After the weight increases, the size should also be adjusted, I see that the deck is set to be 260 meters long and 30-32 meters ......wide," the designer quickly wrote down.

"And ......," Contini tapped on the blueprint, "you have to use your brains, this chimney smoke exhaust can easily interfere with the take-off and landing of escort aircraft, and it should be designed as an integrated ...... bridge chimney."

"Besides, who told you to put such an ugly 8-inch naval gun on it? Neither! ”

"No naval guns?" The designer was stunned and asked, "What if we are in distress?" ”

"This is a defensive civilian ship, not an aircraft carrier, I repeat, it's not going to attack, it's based on defense, and I'll cut down all the naval guns and torpedoes." "In order to strengthen the defense, the flight deck should be laid with armor steel, which I think is not less than 75mm thick, and in addition to the center of gravity, it is planned to add 20-25mm special steel plates...... Of course, you don't have to cover all of them, you can cover the key parts. ”

The designer kindly reminded: "Such a thick can't stop the 8-inch gun ......"

"Who said I was going to defend against 8-inch guns? I'm defending against bombs! Contini glared, "I will hand over the 8-inch gun to the 50,000-ton special escort cruise ship to solve the ......"

Well, the Navy's 35,000-ton Caracciolo-class has not yet been built, and His Excellency the President is planning a 50,000-ton special escort cruise ship - now the designer has understood the black language, isn't the special escort cruise ship equal to a battleship?

"The elevator area should be designed to be larger, and the carrying capacity should be stronger, at least to be able to withstand an 8-ton aircraft. If two units are not enough, two small side lifts are arranged on the side side for rapid distribution of ammunition; It's okay to have a closed bow, but you have to lower your center of gravity a little, it's not stable in the Atlantic......" Contini looked at the armor arrangement, and said dissatisfied, "The 185mm armor belt on the side is thicker, you can weaken it a little, but the bulletproof ability of the bridge should be enhanced, and the focus should be on the armor and compartment of the underwater anti-torpedo section...... Also, the height of the double-decker hangar is designed to be higher, and the future aircraft will definitely develop higher and bigger, and it must be foreseeable! ”

The designer boldly said: "According to your current requirements, I'm afraid you can't get 30,000 tons, and you need 3.2-33,000 tons." ”

"It doesn't matter if it's a little more, Britain and the United States can't see it, when the time comes, it's good to report less, and fill up less fuel during the sea trial, isn't that what the sea trial is all about? Besides, it's not a warship. Civilian boats! Civilian boats! Civilian boats! Say the important thing three times! Contini remembered one more thing, "Catapults should be installed on the deck, and there will be 2-4 scouts in addition...... Don't embezzle the 8-inch guns just now, I'm going to keep them all for anti-aircraft guns......"

"How many anti-aircraft guns do you want?"

"8-10 128mm twin anti-aircraft guns, 20-25 twin 40mm anti-aircraft guns, 40-50 quadruple 20mm anti-aircraft guns, if possible, another 200-300 anti-aircraft machine guns, I recently got a heavy machine gun, good anti-aircraft shooting performance......," Contini stressed, "I probably can't finish loading at one time, you can keep it and add it slowly, just leave the spot." ”

"Crazy!" When they thought of this scene where the barrel was like a hedgehog jungle, the designers couldn't help but burst into tears - how afraid the president was of death.

"Your Excellency, I'm afraid that the budget of 12 million to 13 million ships will not be able to stop it......"

"Give you 16 million, artillery, machine guns, and planes are all mine." Contini smiled, "Didn't you say last time that you would pay in 4 installments, it's $4 million a year, and it's drizzling......"

Two days ago, they said that they were short of money, but today they said drizzle, and the designers couldn't help but laugh dumbly. How did they know that in the past few days, the United Group's money has undergone earth-shaking changes, not only has the British (Iranian) oil company's $55 million stake money arrived, but the New York market has soared extremely in the past two days, and the American radio and General Motors in Contini's hands have risen by 15 percent a week, and they have suddenly increased by $20 million. And Wall Street tycoons are still coming to the door to ask for the underwriting of $100 million corporate bonds issued by the United Group in New York, which has turned from a tight amount of money to a lot of money.

After another ten days, the sketches and design plans drawn by the designers were submitted again, and finally this time Contini was more satisfied, and he mentioned a few details, which basically determined the outline and data of the Ida special cruise ship:

Displacement: 30,170 tonnes (baseline, declared), 32,980 tonnes (benchmark, actual), 40,250 tonnes (fully loaded, estimated)

Length× width × draft: 266m× 29.4m×9.71m

Flight deck size (length × width): 260m×32m (partially outflow, sideboard compensation)

Power: 4 steam turbines with 174,000 horsepower for 4-shaft propulsion

Maximum speed: 33 knots (estimated)

Endurance: 8500 nm/18 knots

Carrier-based aircraft: 72 standing + 10 reserve + 3 water reconnaissance

Crew: 2200 people

"Very good, roughly according to the assumption to study the details of the plan, layout and design drawings, if you don't understand, you can come and visit our floating sea airport, it's always good to learn more." Contini waved his hand in a dashing manner, "I ask that the keel be laid in July next year, during the summer vacation, so that Ida can see the lively scene of the construction of the Blue Ribbon cruise ship, and strive to complete it in four years...... It can be extended to 4 and a half years, of course, when it was built, it was only said that the Blue Streamer tanker - they could not see it again. ”

"This ...... Time is tight. ”

"It doesn't matter, I'll draw people from my joint shipyard and other shipyards, and I'll draw people from Germany...... There are still a lot of designers, I add 10 million lira as your design overtime bonus, you must have six plus one, white and black fighting spirit, especially to learn the joint speed of the spirit of the first forever. As for the armor steel, boilers, artillery, etc., don't worry about it, you are guaranteed to have the best goods. Contini thought for a moment, "If there are not enough workers, they can be recruited from my shipyard for training, and if they are not enough, I will be caught from Germany, and the best workers must be the best!" Don't steal and play tricks, and if you find out, you'll be expelled! I will hire a German supervision team to supervise you, you know, the Germans are not us Italians, that is really six relatives do not recognize! ”

"Yes, yes!"

"You have to have a high sense of political responsibility and mission, what is this ship called? It's called Ada! Ida is still a little girl, she doesn't understand anything, but he has a knowledgeable prime minister's father, this ship represents the image of the country, represents the achievements of the construction of the fascist and youth unions, and symbolizes the grandeur and prestige of the new Roman Empire. You must implement the important idea of the three banners with practical actions, and present the 8th anniversary of the leader's reign with the most exquisite quality, the best craftsmanship, the strictest management, and the most efficient speed - this is not an ordinary business task, but a serious political task! Well done, there are many awards, if you don't do well, don't count on orders from the Admiralty in the future, I won't be able to pass this level in the first place, do you understand? ”

Several designers were dizzy by Contini's training, and nodded again and again that the power of political leadership is not so great, and the key cost of 16 million US dollars and 10 million lire design bonus are too tempting - the president is the president after all, and he is rich.

In early December, when Sickert promised to release Hitler before Christmas, Contini wanted to go to Bavaria, but Zakaria informed him: "President, the gentleman named Christie you recruited in the United States has come, bringing a full set of materials and drawings, saying that he has a good idea." ”

Okay...... To study tanks, the trip to Germany will have to be delayed for a few more days.