Battlefrigate is Lorraine''s first attempt to add his own understanding of naval warfare under the existing technical system in the sail age, or more accurately, the understanding of naval warfare in future generations.


    The predecessor of its design is the famous Battlecruiser in World War II, which is a special ship with sufficient size and tonnage, can fight battleships, and can respond quickly when fighting on the battle line, form a fast group in the form of independence or group, and harass the head or end of the enemy battle line.


    Lorraine clearly remembers that Fisher, the father of the battle patrol, commented on the battle patrol that such high-speed armored ships can suppress anything floating on the sea. From the data, they are actually high-speed battleships.


    Indeed, it is impossible to build a real Battlecruiser in the wooden sailing age. There is no cruiser class in this age.


    The grading of wooden sailboats is simple.


    Ships above class III exist for the battle line and are collectively referred to as battleships; Ships below class IV are not incorporated into the battle line and are collectively referred to as patrol ships.


    Cruisers are class 4 to class 6 warships. According to their main functions, they are called "patrol", "expulsion" and "escort". Although they are quite similar to later ship classes in terms of translation, they are completely different in terms of expression and purpose.


    Frigates are not large warships in the formation, but non war or auxiliary war affairs such as navigation channels, merchant ships and logistics;


    Destroyers, of course, what she destroys is not haunted submarines, but pirate ships and smuggling ships that run around the sea like rabbits and can''t be caught up by battleships.


    Patrol ship is the general name of this kind of small and medium-sized ships, and it is also the special name of class IV ship. It refers not only to its flagship role in small formation, but also to its campaign function on the flank of defense battle line.


    The so-called frigate and gate are doors, which are arranged at both ends of the battle line, like doors, so that the large ships in the [door] can vent their firepower without distractions.


    Therefore, patrol ships are different from small and medium-sized ships.


    Although in theory they are not incorporated into the battle line, in fact they are an indispensable part of the battle line.


    In addition to cost considerations, the reason that can not be ignored is that the generals are unwilling to excessively weaken the positive power of the battle line.


    However, from the results, the general 24 pound heavy artillery of class IV ships did not live up to the expectations given to her by the naval generals in the battle line of the ship''s artillery. On the contrary, its clumsiness and slowness became the weakness of the battle line. With the development of sailing technology, it could not afford to be called [door].


    This may be the source of the American idea of designing a new type of pocket battleship.


    The new US Navy is very weak, very weak. This weakness is not only reflected in the professionalism of soldiers and generals, but also in the accumulation of strategies and tactics and the lack of technology.


    They have not built warships with more than two gun cabins, can not cast 32 pounds of naval guns, and have not experienced the baptism of large battle lines. They can''t imagine how they should react to the shell rain that destroys the sky and the earth.


    This means that they cannot design mature and reliable warships above class IV.


    So they came up with a compromise.


    Unable to build a double-layer gun cabin, they focused on a single layer, lengthening and enlarging the standard size destroyer, so that it can bear the terrible recoil caused by the roar of heavy guns.


    If the 24 pound artillery does not perform well in the battle line, they do not want the battle line. Anyway, the US Navy does not have to expect to establish a qualified battle line in the short term.


    By removing the shackles of the battle line, the new ship can focus on regional defense and small-scale conflicts, be faster, braver and stronger, and strive to get the match point in the decisive victory of a single ship or small battle group.


    This idea is the same as the marine idea of Germany in World War II, and the data tendency of the new ship is the same as that of Bismarck. The only difference is that later Germany can only splash in the small fishing pond of the North Sea, while the United States has a vast Atlantic to gallop.


    This doomed two similar ships to have different endings.


    However, Lorraine is not the US Navy after all. He does not need to pay attention to the help and value of a warship to the development of the national Navy, let alone consider the cost performance.


    All he needs is faster, braver and stronger.


    So he needs a Battlecruiser.


    The pocket battleship is an inferior battleship with a cruiser physique. The battleship cruiser is an excellent cruiser with the power of the battleship. At the same time, it will also be the most powerful cruiser in sail history.


    The debate in the conference room has broken through the roof, and three top shipbuilders are doing their best in terms of battlecruisers.


    But they always seem to miss the point. For this new concept of the ocean, they are always around the answer, but they are not willing to touch it.


    Lorraine began to fret.


    Boston''s behind the scenes is still unknown. The reason why he took a valuable day here is not to listen to the increasingly whimsical brain holes of employees, but to finalize the final shape of his future flagship.


    "Too narrow..." he couldn''t help muttering, "too conservative!"


    Boom!


    The broad palm clapped on the table with anger, and the table creaked painfully, because the palm fell on the ground.


    The argument came to an abrupt end.


    Lorraine narrowed her eyes, turned around the three masters on the field and cleared her throat.


    "You are all the top shipbuilders in the world. You have a talent in design that I can never reach. But I am a boss or a sailor. Please understand that you are building a ship for me. On the basis of the new ship in dock No. 1, you are building a ship that satisfies me and is willing to entrust my life!"


    "Now, I''ll tell you the parameters I want. You''ll find a way to implement them. Try not to let me hear [unreasonable] and [impossible]."


    "First, I want high speed. Ships faster than me can''t threaten me, and those who can threaten me can''t catch up with me. Based on the above two points, their downwind speed can''t be less than 11 knots, and the upwind state can''t be less than 3.5 knots."


    "Second, I want excellent speed. When the speed is similar to the wind, I have the right to choose whether to pursue or leave according to the on-site conditions. Therefore, she needs to have top kinetic energy utilization and run faster than the wind most of the time."


    "Third, I want to be flexible. I can''t turn around in place for more than 20 minutes, and the minimum turning radius can''t copy three hulls. As long as the water depth is appropriate, she should have navigation capacity in any type of hydrological environment, including but not limited to Straits, huge waves, reefs and shoals."


    "Fourth, I want firepower. I want to suppress class IV ships in an all-round way. A single ship duel is no weaker than Class III ships. I need to have the ability to sink each other, and I need more options and be able to do it with ease."


    "Fifth, I want to be strong. It''s still the level of class IV and class III ships. The distance of 50 meters should be able to withstand the direct attack of 24 pound guns. I can''t break at one touch in the face of 32 pounds. You have to give me the confidence to launch a dead fight at the critical moment."


    "Sixth, I want to be tough. No one can guarantee that I will not fall into the trap of first-class or second-class ships in the future. In the face of such high freeboard sea monsters, I have to have the ability to carry the first round or even the first three rounds of full shelling. Only if I survive in hell can I turn around and escape and give full play to all the advantages mentioned above."


    After saying all the words in one breath, Lorraine took a deep breath, let the fresh air infiltrate his lungs and clear his mind.


    The first time he laughed, he laughed very frighteningly.


    "These are all my requirements, gentlemen. Do not accept the unreasonable and impossible. Realizing them is your only task today!"


    "So gentlemen, please rack your brains and start thinking, I''m waiting for you."