Ships (Early)

[Chuck?]

Any ideas on when to use the early ships? For example there are Destroyer (early) and Destroyer. The early Destroyer has a little less armor, half the anti-shipping capability, and no anti-air defenses.

The lack of anti-air defenses might be the biggest issue here. A Battleship (early) has none while a Battleship has anti-air value of 240. I haven't done test but this should make a big difference. At what point in time do ships get enough anti-air weaponary to justify a move from the early classification? I'm assuming the date varies depending on nation.

[JMS]

Around 1920s-early 30s navies reckoned that airplanes were more than expensive toys and AA started to appear, although in rather inadequate numbers.

[Chuck?]

Would you say the Prince of Wales was a Battleship (early) or Battleship? What about the Repulse?

[Ben Turner]

Early warships should probably refer to pre-wwi- perhaps pre-dreadnought warships. Regarding lack of AA in particular, the vast majority of elderly warships had some guns removed and replaced with AA when aircraft became an issue in the 1910s-20s. Remember Britain had already laid down the world's first purpose-built aircraft carrier, HMS Hermes, by 1917.

HMS Prince of Wales was finished in 1940, IIRC. At the time of its completion the match of any ship in the world.

HMS Repulse was a battlecruiser. 1920s construction IIRC but as effective as German Pocket Battleships- remember that British Battlecruisers tend to be on the heavy side.