dr.jones
Midshipman
Posts:13
 | | 18 Jan 2012 10:37 AM | | I am curious whether or not there is a good French ship for a rookie? I have a few that have caught my fancy: FS Dunkerque FS Richelieu FS Le Fantasque Are any of these good for a rookie, or are there any that are better suited? | | | |
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RichelieuBB
Veteran
Rear Admiral (RDML)
Posts:1418
| | 18 Jan 2012 11:20 AM | | It probably depends on what format you plan on battling in.
The French ships like the Richelieu has a good reputation in big gun due to it's concentrated main gun armament, speed, and three triple turret secondaries.
In Fast Gun formats (MWC and IRCWCC) the Richelieu and Dunkerque usually do not do so well due to not-so-great turning, long length, and the all forward gun arrangement. In the IRCWCC, the French battleships are at an even worse disadvantage due to the better turning Bismark having the same dual sidemount setup as the Richelieu.
In Treaty, the big ships like the Richelieu do well due to their fast speed.
Notice I didn't put the Le Fantasque in any of the formats. That ship has speed in all formats and can stay out of trouble for the most part while using it's cannons for hit and run tactics.
With all that said, no one has really explored the older French ships like the Bretagne. Although the Bretagne only has a single rudder, it is a short beamy ship with an oversized rudder that scould give it better turning that the usual single rudder dreadnought. It is one of the ships I am considering to build in 2013.
Ultimately though, a French ship could do fairly well in any format as long as it is reliable. | | Mike Mangus
Beware the French Revolution!
Operational:
HMS Erin DN
FN Richelieu BB
FN Verite PDN
Launched
Le Requin Xebec (AoS)
Under Construction:
FN Mogador DE
FN Gascogne BB (Treaty)
FN Bretagne (1/96) (delayed)
Mothballed:
FN Bearn CV
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love lZ evol
Lieutenant
Posts:350
| | 18 Jan 2012 09:25 PM | | Also keep in mind the build, how long u want to build it, the detail u want to put in it, there are many ways to doing this. I never noticed that on some of the products before you buy them it will tell you either you should have experience or a beginner for a build. you want something that works for you and if ur battling it i would highly recommend looking at the battler experience level as well. if im not mistaken cruisers are a beginner level which is why im now looking into buying the Prinz Eugen for my battler ship. | | | Life: its not about the destination, its about the journey getting there*********************************Life's a garden...DIG IT! | |
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Nick
Veteran
Rear Admiral (RDML)
Posts:1246
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Steve Tyng
Veteran
Ensign
Posts:245
| | 19 Jan 2012 01:52 PM | | Posted By Nick on 18 Jan 2012 09:37 PM
I wouldn't recommend Le Fantasque for a beginner. It is a bit small and the return value of effectiveness vs what you ahve to put in just isn't there.
I would concur on not doing a DD for your first boat. I'm building a Mogador and though nothing in the build is beyond my ability. It is a bit tedious at times, having to track weight, space, balance, etc. As my first warship build from scratch, I chose it for cross-format capability and to just see if I could do it.
Steve | | | |
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The Frog
Ensign
Posts:53
| | 19 Jan 2012 04:01 PM | | I believe the best rookie ship is the french heavy cruiser Suffren. single shaft ,twin rudders make it one of the best at turning | | | |
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Nick
Veteran
Rear Admiral (RDML)
Posts:1246
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Anachronus
Rear Admiral (RADM)
Posts:2286
| | 19 Jan 2012 11:33 PM | | It is, I feel, unfairly discriminated against for being French.
| | | Vive la France! | |
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dr.jones
Midshipman
Posts:13
| | 20 Jan 2012 08:23 PM | | It is, I feel, unfairly discriminated against for being French. That is why I would like to sail a French ship. | | | |
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Anachronus
Rear Admiral (RADM)
Posts:2286
| | 20 Jan 2012 08:56 PM | | Vive la France!
| | | Vive la France! | |
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dr.jones
Midshipman
Posts:13
| | 20 Jan 2012 09:17 PM | | Does anyone have info about the Suffren? | | | |
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Nick
Veteran
Rear Admiral (RDML)
Posts:1246
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dr.jones
Midshipman
Posts:13
| | 20 Jan 2012 09:23 PM | | Plans or a good place to get a kit, that sort of thing. | | | |
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Nick
Veteran
Rear Admiral (RDML)
Posts:1246
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dr.jones
Midshipman
Posts:13
| | 20 Jan 2012 09:45 PM | | Thanks. | | | |
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Anachronus
Rear Admiral (RADM)
Posts:2286
| | 21 Jan 2012 07:51 PM | | I think the BC plans that come with the ship are for the Colbert, not the Suffren. The ships of that class were all a little bit different from each other.
| | | Vive la France! | |
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RichelieuBB
Veteran
Rear Admiral (RDML)
Posts:1418
| | 21 Jan 2012 08:41 PM | | The French Defense site plans for the Suffern are in good shape. I used to have a cleaned up set in 1:144th and 1:96th scale but lost them during a hard drive crash. Still, the plans straight off the web site and scaled appropriately will work to build a ship.
The Suffern itself makes for a rather good cruiser in fast gun. It has slightly more speed to help it survive around the big battleships, plus twin rudders and three shafts to give it some pretty good turning. I think the only reason we don't see more of them is because they are French. Heh. | | Mike Mangus
Beware the French Revolution!
Operational:
HMS Erin DN
FN Richelieu BB
FN Verite PDN
Launched
Le Requin Xebec (AoS)
Under Construction:
FN Mogador DE
FN Gascogne BB (Treaty)
FN Bretagne (1/96) (delayed)
Mothballed:
FN Bearn CV
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RichelieuBB
Veteran
Rear Admiral (RDML)
Posts:1418
| | 21 Jan 2012 08:48 PM | | While talking about French cruisers ...
The Gloire light cruisers are excellent ships in fast gun. Fast in IRCWCC, faster in MWC, they are quick to accelerate and outruns most everything else. They are also low profile, which makes it tough to get a good scoring shot on one. The disadvantage is a shallow hull which may make it difficult to get everything put in. It also has two shafts and a single rudder, so won't out turn a twin ruddered ship. But with its speed, that is not much of a problem. Heh. | | Mike Mangus
Beware the French Revolution!
Operational:
HMS Erin DN
FN Richelieu BB
FN Verite PDN
Launched
Le Requin Xebec (AoS)
Under Construction:
FN Mogador DE
FN Gascogne BB (Treaty)
FN Bretagne (1/96) (delayed)
Mothballed:
FN Bearn CV
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Nikki
Captain
Posts:985
| | 24 Jan 2012 04:12 PM | | hey Mikey,
that was little Gloire that i was looking at last years (2010) IRC Spring Regional in your room right??? I know Richelieu was there two!
Nikki | | | The mighty beast is wounded, a Swordfish torpedoed the steering gear, with rudder's jammed..is his Achilles Heel with... K.G.5 and Rodney closing in for the kill". From "You Must Sink The Bismarck" on youtube.. On a sidenote, That line is true :D | |
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RichelieuBB
Veteran
Rear Admiral (RDML)
Posts:1418
| | 24 Jan 2012 04:29 PM | | Yup, it was. I think that was the last time it was battled also.
The Richelieu will see a couple battles this year, most likely in a Wednesday Nats pickup battle (want to go head to head with the Vanguard) and the Treaty Conference. | | Mike Mangus
Beware the French Revolution!
Operational:
HMS Erin DN
FN Richelieu BB
FN Verite PDN
Launched
Le Requin Xebec (AoS)
Under Construction:
FN Mogador DE
FN Gascogne BB (Treaty)
FN Bretagne (1/96) (delayed)
Mothballed:
FN Bearn CV
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