"Your Majesty, Marshal," Qin Tian declared as he unfurled the blueprints of the battlecruiser he had designed across the desk.
Both Emperor Wilhelm II and Marshal Tirpitz were momentarily taken aback, clearly surprised by Qin Tian's readiness.
"Oscar, you've certainly come well-prepared!" Wilhelm II exclaimed with a smile.
"Indeed, the Prince has been fully prepared; his previous hesitations were merely to persuade us!" Marshal Tirpitz responded with a grin.
"Of course, it's all about being well-prepared in advance," Qin Tian replied, smiling.
"However, Father, Marshal, the battlecruiser is not my only concern. The British have likely completed their designs for the first class of battlecruisers and will soon commence construction. Thus, we must accelerate our progress," Qin Tian said, his expression turning serious.
He recalled that the British navy's first class battlecruiser, the "Dreadnought," began construction in 1906. While the "Dreadnought" boasted impressive speed, its other attributes were lacking. Its four twin-mounted 305 mm main guns were powerful, but the performance of British artillery left much to be desired. In another timeline, Admiral von Hipper's German battlecruiser squadron had utterly decimated the British battlecruiser fleet, which, with its flimsy armor, was no match against the might of superior German ships.
"The British are indeed planning to construct battlecruisers?" both Wilhelm II and Marshal Tirpitz gasped.
If there had been any lingering doubts about building battlecruisers, those doubts evaporated now. If the British were undertaking such a project, it could hardly be subpar. Although Wilhelm II and Marshal Tirpitz aimed to surpass the British navy, they had to acknowledge that British foresight far exceeded that of the German navy. Had Qin Tian not intervened at this crucial juncture with his designs, Germany would have been significantly outpaced in this arms race, making it all the more challenging to catch up.
"Yes, Father. The British are acutely aware of their vulnerabilities. They urgently seek to construct a powerful and fast warship to safeguard their maritime supply lines against our potential assaults. Hence, they have designed the 'Dreadnought' battlecruiser," Qin Tian explained.
"Oscar, does your battlecruiser outperform the British 'Dreadnought' in performance?" Wilhelm II inquired. Naturally, he hoped their battlecruiser would surpass the British vessel to ensure German naval superiority.
"Certainly, Father. The British 'Dreadnought' has a full load displacement of 20,700 tons, a maximum speed of 25.5 knots, armed with four twin-mounted 305 mm guns, sixteen 102 mm single-mounted guns, and five 450 mm underwater torpedo tubes. Its defensive armor ranges from 102 to 152 mm on the main armor belt, with deck armor thickness between 38 to 64 mm, turret armor at 178 mm, command tower armor at 254 mm, and torpedo bulkhead armor at 64 mm," Qin Tian detailed.
Both Wilhelm II and Marshal Tirpitz frowned.
"From this perspective, the 'Dreadnought's' defenses are indeed lacking. Such armor thickness cannot withstand even medium-caliber artillery, let alone the heavy guns of battleships," Marshal Tirpitz shook his head.
"This is the consequence of excessively prioritizing firepower and speed. While its maximum speed of 25.5 knots and four twin-mounted 305 mm guns are formidable, they come at a cost," Wilhelm II remarked.
"The British design philosophy does not intend for battlecruisers to engage in line battles; rather, they are meant to counter enemy cruisers. Simply put, they fear our cruisers disrupting their maritime supply lines. In light of this design philosophy, their overall concept is not fundamentally flawed. However, in comparison to our battlecruiser, they fall significantly short in comprehensive capability," Qin Tian explained, shaking his head.
If Qin Tian had not been a traveler from another timeline, he would have lacked foresight into the British naval development direction, making it impossible to implement targeted strategies. This undoubtedly granted the German navy a substantial advantage.
"Your Highness, please present us with the details of your design," Marshal Tirpitz urged.
"Certainly, Marshal," Qin Tian nodded.
"The battlecruiser I have designed measures 165 meters in length, 26.6 meters in width, and has a draft of 8.9 meters, with a full load displacement of 26,000 tons. Its armament consists of three triple-mounted 305 mm 50-caliber main guns, ten 150 mm single-mounted secondary guns, twelve 120 mm quick-firing guns, and four 88 mm quick-firing guns. The propulsion system features eighteen improved Sulzer oil boilers and four steam turbines, with four shafts, delivering a maximum output of 48,000 horsepower and a top speed of 26 knots. In terms of armor, the main belt boasts a thickness of 305 mm, deck armor is 45 mm, turret frontal armor is 305 mm, and command tower armor is 305 mm," Qin Tian elaborated.
Both Wilhelm II and Marshal Tirpitz nodded repeatedly. At least on paper, Qin Tian's battlecruiser entirely eclipsed the British 'Dreadnought,' particularly in terms of defense. The British 305 mm guns, due to their performance limitations, might struggle to penetrate the armor of the German battlecruiser, while the 'Dreadnought's' armor would be as fragile as paper against the German 305 mm guns. A single hit could rend its armor asunder, leading to catastrophic failure.
"Oscar, we are highly satisfied with this battlecruiser," Wilhelm II declared.
"Father, does this mean the navy has decided to place an order?" Qin Tian asked, unable to contain his smile.
"Your Highness, with such an excellent warship, we must certainly place an order. However, the exact quantity requires further discussion," Marshal Tirpitz stated.
For Marshal Tirpitz, the day was exceedingly joyous. Not only had he received four 'Nassau-class' battleships, but he had also secured the construction of five 'Helgoland-class' battleships. Soon, they would also order battlecruisers, representing a significant enhancement to the strength of the German navy.