Building BEFORE finishing research of something ...

[Borys]

Ahoj!
Please nudge me towards relevant thread.
My gun&turret will finish in II/1919. Can I lay down a ship with such such MG in 2HY1919, or must I wait until 1HY1920?
I believe there were some threads on this subject, but I don't remember the conclusion (if any).

Borys

[Walter]

I know that there is this bit here in the rules...
http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=2965.msg30705#msg30705

Shipbuilding Technology

In most cases, the technology used in a ship must be completed prior to the half-year in which the ship itself is laid down.

There are a few exceptions, in which a ship's design can be modified without penalty, so long as:

1)  The technology is completed prior to the half-year in which the ship is launched
2)  If the modification adds weight to the design, there is either a "construction reserve" of miscellaneous weight that can be reduced to compensate or simple external fittings (deck mounted weapons) that can be omitted.

These exceptions are technologies that have limited physical impact on the ship, or affect components installed late in the construction of the ship:

Torpedo (above-deck installations only)
Mine Warfare (type of paravanes installed only)
ASW Warfare (type and number of depth charges only)
Night-Fighting
Range-Finding, Fire Control and Gunnery
Radar
Anti-Aircraft Guns

Personally I don't see why it needs to be necessary to do it before a ship is launched as pretty much everything is above deck stuff anyway and should be able to be fitted on the ship after it is launched.

MGs as in Machine Guns would be possible to add. MGs as in Main Guns not.

[Guinness]

The rule of thumb I'd use is this: If it can be bolted on without significant structural modifications, it can be added after a ship is laid down. If, however, the item can be expected to have structural impact, it needs to be part of the design already at lay down.

Now there is some gray area here and there. Fire control additions are one place we've allowed as "bolt-ons" after lay down, but which could be argued to require structural changes, for instance.

For specific scenarios, it's best to just go ahead and PM all three mods so we can discuss.

[Borys]

Ahoj!
MG as in "Main Guns". So 1HY1920 it is :)
Borys

[Kaiser Kirk]

Ok,

A related question which I was eventually going to get around to. It's likely something others will encounter, so I'll ask it here.

By the end of I/1918, the two Luitpold class vessels will have 3,962t of 12,962t invested - 30.6%.
Also by the end of I/1918, I will finish digesting 1915 All Imp. KC types +10%  and 1913: Engine year 1916, Max. non-VTE power 35,000 HP/Shaft . 

How much rebuilding on the ways will I need to do in order to install the improved engines and armor. At 31% the vessels are not launchable.  I expect engines are in, but I don't know if the armor deck would be sealed, or the belt installed.

[Guinness]

Belt is almost certainly not installed. The deck probably isn't quite complete either, or at the very least probably still has some good holes in it for equipment installation.

For the machinery: If you are going from 1912 turbines to 1916 turbines, I'd be ok with you just charging yourself the cost in engine weight again, and call additional labor a wash.

For the Armor: In theory, even if it isn't installed, it's already been ordered, if not paid for, so either the money has been spent, or Bavaria owes someone. So you really probably need to pay for all that again too, but I suppose a fun story about the works rejecting the armor and some sort of row coming about as a result could be a fun way to wiggle out of that. If you want to do something like that, and avoid paying twice for armor, that would be ok with me.

In both cases, anything you've already acquired can be scrapped at the usual 15% rate. You might also be able to find a buyer for that machinery if you look hard enough I imagine.