List of Aircraft Carriers of the Burgundian Royal Navy (Principia Moderni IV Map Game)

SMS Fokker (bottom), with SMS Lexington (top), and SMS Saratoga (with black stripe) in Den Helder Naval Base, 1927.

While the Burgundian dominion of Borealia has pioneered early aviation technology, Burgundy itself was rather slow to adopt it, requiring advisors from the dominion to help jump-start its air arm. Once established, however, the advantages offered by aircraft became readily apparent to the Royal Navy, which almost immediately began developing ways to attach aircraft to the fleet. As early as 1912, the Royal Navy incorporated seaplane carriers into its formation. However, not satisfied, Burgundian engineers sought more efficient ways to launch, retrieve, and rearm aircraft. In 1916, the Royal Navy acquired the Collier SMS Jupiter and began the process of refitting it with a full-length flight deck. Renamed SMS Fokker, it was the first aircraft carrier commissioned when it was done in September of 1918.

Burgundian aircraft carriers are designated “KV”; K being the standard navy code for cruisers, and V for vliegen (“to fly”).

Fleet Carriers

SMS Fokker

SMS Fokker

Seeing the advantages seaplane carriers offered in terms of reconnaissance, the Burgundian Admiralty expressed a desire to utilize fixed-wheeled aircraft, as experiments suggested they could be retrieved and serviced quicker than seaplanes, for the role. In 1916, the collier SMS Jupiter was selected for the conversion. A full-length flight deck was built over an added scaffolding, and two 5” guns were added for short-range defense. Renamed SMS Fokker upon her re-launching, she was attached to the scouting fleet of the High Seas Fleet, though her slow speed meant she would be left behind during any sort of engagement.

SMS Fokker measured 542 feet long overall, and 65 feet, 5 inches wide at the beam, she displaced 12,700 tons of water at standard displacement. For defense, she carried two 5”/51 caliber guns. While most of her carrier career would be spent as a trainer, her combat aircraft load consisted of 20 T4M torpedo bombers, and sixteen Vought VE-7 fighters. Propulsion was provided by way of three boilers and turbo-electric transmission powering two screws, allowing a top speed of 15.5 knots.

The collier Jupiter was built at Texel Shipbuilding Company, the conversion to SMS Fokker was undertaken at Hoorn naval yard.

Ship	Aircraft	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate
SMS Fokker (KV-1)	36	12,700 tons	2 × shafts 2 × turbo-electric drives	18 October 1911	14 August 1912	6 September 1918	Converted to seaplane carrier, 1936, Retired 1943

Lexington-class

SMS Lexington

SMS Saratoga

As the Great War dragged on, it became apparent to the Navy that it would not be able to complete all of its Lexington-class battlecruisers/fast battleships before the war ended. So, it was decided to focus on completing one, of which the second ship, the SMS Belle-Île (renamed SMS Driemarines), was chosen. After the end of the war, while construction continued on the four other ships of the class, Lexington and Saratoga fell behind. Construction was halted in 1919 while their fate would be discussed. It was eventually decided the ships were an opportunity for the navy to acquire its first proper carriers. Conversion began in late 1919 and progressed slowly as the post-war depression struck, with the ships construction acting as a works project to combat unemployment. In light of the Malta Naval Treaty, the Navy undertook a large disinformation campaign to give the outward appearance the ships were compliant with the tonnage limits. Their official plane capacity was halved, thus allowing the reduction of the official crew complement and munitions and supplies stock. This allowed the Royal Navy to list the ships at the allowed 27,000 tons displacement, while they actually displaced 36,000 tons. During their service, Saratoga was differentiated from her sister by the addition of a thick black line on her funnel.

The ships were 888 feet long overall, had a width of 107 feet, 6 inches at the beam, and at standard load displaced 36,000 tons of water. They had a main armament of eight 8” SK L/55 C/25 guns in four twin turrets. Their secondary armament consisted of eight 5” SK L/25 C/21 dual-purpose guns, able to be used against both surface and aerial targets. In 1934, their dedicated anti-aircraft battery was upgraded to include 23 quadruple mount 1.57” LaK 28 guns, and 16 .8” Maussens. As of 1939, their typical aircraft complement consisted of 37 Grumman F4F Wëllkaz fighters, 37 Douglas SBD Furchtlos dive bombers, and 11 Douglas TBD Verwoester torpedo bombers. Power was provided by 16 boilers and turbo-electric transmission powering four screws. They were capable of a top speed of 33.25 knots.

In 1942, the 8” guns were removed, and replaced with eight 5” SK L/38 C/32 dual-purpose guns in four dual turrets. Likewise, her eight older 35 caliber 5” guns were replaced by an equal number of more effective 38 caliber 5” dual-purpose guns.

Lexington was built and converted by Haussmann-Wilton-Fijenoord, Rotterdam under the construction number 264. Saratoga was built by Kinnigleche Werft, Ostend under the construction number 301.

Ship	Aircraft	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate
SMS Lexington (KV-2)	38 (published) 78 (designed) 86 (capable)	27,000 tons (published) 36,000 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	1 August 1916	12 April 1924	14 March 1926	Out of active service, 1945
SMS Saratoga (KV-3)	38 (published) 78 (designed) 86 (capable)	27,000 tons (published) 36,000 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × steam turbines	15 September 1916	29 June 1924	16 July 1926	Out of active service, 1945

SMS Jager

SMS Jager

Following the proof of concepts in the Lexington-class carriers, in the late 1920s the Burgundian Royal Navy, in the midst of its first significant post-Great war naval expansion, decided an aircraft carrier built from the keel up as such was needed, especially considering tensions in mesoarcadia and in Southeast Asia. This carrier, which was given the name Jager, was designed for long-range deployments to the Burgundian dominion territories. While having an inferior top speed to the Lexington sisters (29.3 knots vs 33.25 knots), she possessed a superior operational range, an was able to cruise 10,000 miles at 12 knots, while the Lexington-class could only make that range at 10 knots. Following her completion, and despite her original intended role, Jager would spend most of her time in service accompanying the two Lexington-class carriers as Carrier Division 2 of the 1st Carrier Squadron. Due to her lower top speed, during independent operations she would typically be escorted by at least one of the Medway-class battlecruisers/fast battleships of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron.

Jager was 769 feet long overall, had a beam of 109 feet, 5 inches, and displaced 14,576 tons of water at standard load. Her main armament consisted of eight 5” SK L/25 C/21 dual-purpose guns. Initially, her anti-aircraft battery comprised 40 .50 caliber machine guns, but upon the advent of vastly superior weaponry, was upgraded to 24 1.57” LaK 28s in six quadruple mounts, and 46 .8” Maussens, all in single mounts. As of 1940, her typical combat aircraft complement was thirty Grumman F4F Wëllkaz fighters, thirty Douglas SBD Furchtlos divebombers, and 16 Douglas TBD Verwoester torpedo bombers. The ship was powered by two steam turbines with geared transmissions, which in turn drove two screws, allowing a top speed of 29.3 knots.

SMS Jager was built at Kinnigleche Werft, Emden under the construction number 405.

Ship	Aircraft	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate
SMS Jager (KV-4)	76	14,576 tons	2 x shafts 2 × steam turbines 29.3 knots	26 September 1931	25 February 1933	4 June 1934	Out of active service, 1945

Somme-class

SMS Resoluut

The result of lessons learned from Fokker, the Lexington-class, and Jager, the Somme-class ships were the Burgundian Navy’s first proper modern carriers. Evaluations showed that sub-20,000 ton designs like Jager were ill-suited for the fleet carrier role, and so the Burgundian Admiralty authorizes the study into a 23,000 carrier design, and a 27,000 ton design. It was found the 23,000 design made sacrifices to speed and protection that impaired the flexibility that would be attained with the larger design. Further experience would determine that the larger carriers held a better ability to operate in heavier weather.

The Somme-class measured 824 feet, nine inches long, 109 feet, six inches wide at the beam, and at standard load displaced 21,000 tons of water, which grew to 32,050 tons at deep load. The ships’ primary armament consisted of eight 5” SK L/38 C/32 dual-purpose guns in single mounts. The dedicated anti-aircraft battery constituted forty 1.57” LaK 28s in eight dual and six quadruple mounts, and 50 single-mounted .8” Maussen autocannons. The ships were designed to carry 90 combat aircraft, which in 1941 amounted to 20 Douglas TBD Verwoester torpedo bombers, 35 Douglas SBD Furchtlos dive bombers, and 35 Grumman F4F Wëllkaz fighters. The ships of the class were protected by an armor belt that ranged in thickness from 2.5”, to 4”. Propulsion was provided by nine boilers which powered four geared steam turbines. Four screws allowed the ships to reach a top speed of 32.5 knots.

Somme, Resoluut, and Hornisse were built at Kinnigleche Werft, Den Helder under the construction numbers 24, 25, and 31. Wespe was built at Quonset Point, Koningstad in the Borealian province of Nausetia.

Ship	Aircraft	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate
SMS Somme (KV-5)	90	21,000 tons	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	21 May 1934	4 April 1936	30 September 1937	In service
SMS Resoluut (KV-6)	90	21,000 tons	4 × shafts 4 × steam turbines	16 July 1934	3 October 1936	12 May 1938	In service
SMS Wespe (KV-7)	90	21,000 tons	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	1 April 1936	4 April 1939	25 April 1940	In service
SMS Hornisse (KV-8)	90	21,000 tons	4 × shafts 4 × steam turbines	25 September 1939	14 December 1940	20 October 1941	In service

Dreadnought-class

SMS Doggersbank

By the late 1930s the Kingdom of Burgundy commissioned a series a design studies with the purpose of creating a standard carrier design to arm the Burgundian dominion navies, allowing standardization among the forces. Incorporating the latest in electronics, aircraft facilities, and anti-aircraft defenses, a finalized product was presented before a combined board of representatives from the Burgundian Royal Navy and the various dominion Navies and approved. The first were ordered in February, 1940, but in 1941, with global tensions rising, the BRN and dominion Navies met again and concurred in the need to prepare for war, and approved another order in September of that year, followed by another in August of 1942 and July of 1943. To keep their construction a secret, most of the ships were referred to in public documents as ships of a new heavy cruiser class.

The class was divided into two sub-classes; the initial “short-hull” Dreadnoughts, and the later “long-hull” ships, also called the Doggersbank-class. The short-hull ships measured 872 feet long while the long-hull ships were 888 feet long overall. Both types had a beam of 93 feet at the waterline, and 145 feet at the maximum including overhangs. The ships were designed to displace 27,000 tons of water, but ended up weighting more, coming around 30,100 tons at standard load. The ships were armed with twelve 5” SK L/38 C/32 dual-purpose guns, eight in dual turrets mounted in a 2-2 arrangement fore and after of the island, and four in open single mounts. The lighter anti-aircraft was likewise formidable, depending on the ship and hull type, the carried anywhere from 32 to 72 1.57” LaK 28 guns in quadruple mounts, and 55 to 76 Maussen .8” cannons. The class was designed to operate the latest in electronics, initially carrying the Mk 4 fire control radar, later upgraded to the more modern Mk 12. The ships carried multiple radar systems, including air-search, surface-search, fighter direction, and height finding radar. They were also equipped with up to 17 Mk 51 AA gun directors, allowing much improved accuracy for the AA guns. The ships of the class could carry a hundred combat planes, though more often carried 90 to improve working space. The aircraft the carried were typically 18 Grumman TBM Vergelder torpedo bombers, 36 Courtois SB2C Hälldaucher, and 36 fighters, whether they were Grumman F6F Hällkazs or Vought F4U Korsars would depend on the squadrons assigned. The ships were propelled by four screws that were powered by geared steam turbines, allowing a top speed of 32.5 knots.

The ships were constructed at various shipyards in Burgundy, Borealia, Maryland, and Guyana.

Ship	Aircraft	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate
SMS Dreadnought (KV-9)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	28 April, 1941	31 July, 1942	31 December, 1942	In service
SMS Emmen (KV-10)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × geared steam turbines	1 December, 1941	21 January, 1943	15 April, 1943	In service
SMS Moedig (KV-11)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	1 December, 1941	26 April, 1943	16 August, 1943	In service
SMS Seminole (KV-12)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × steam turbines	3 August, 1942	30 August, 1943	29 November, 1943	In service
SMS Stenweide (KV-13)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	7 December, 1942	14 October, 1943	31 January, 1944	In service
SMS Doggersbank* (KV-14)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × geared steam turbines	1 February, 1943	7 January, 1944	8 May, 1944	In service
SMS Joubert* (KV-15)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	10 May, 1943	28 June, 1944	9 October, 1944	In service
SMS Ramaaker (KV-16)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × steam turbines	15 July, 1941	23 September, 1942	17 February, 1943	In service
SMS Steinbuerg (KV-17)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	15 September, 1941	7 December, 1942	25 May, 1943	In service
SMS Marne (KV-18)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × geared steam turbines	18 March, 1942	17 August, 1943	17 February, 1944	In service
SMS Mollerus* (KV-19)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	26 January, 1943	24 January, 1944	16 August, 1944	In service
SMS Wilmington* (KV-20)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × steam turbines	15 December, 1942	28 February, 1944	6 August, 1944	In service
SMS Boksar (KV-21)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	13 September, 1943	14 December, 1944	16 April, 1945	In service
SMS Arrogant (KV-31)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × geared steam turbines	1 February, 1943	29 April, 1944	26 November, 1944	In service
SMS Krounpunt* (KV-32)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	21 February, 1944	23 August, 1945	11 April, 1946	In service
SMS Afweer* (KV-33)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × steam turbines	1 March, 1944	5 May, 1945	2 March, 1946	In service
SMS Oriskany* (KV-34)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	1 May, 1944	13 October, 1945	31 July, 1946	In service
SMS Represaille (KV-35)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × geared steam turbines	1 July, 1944	14 May, 1945	11 September, 1946	In service
SMS Sint Sebastián* (KV-36)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	15 March, 1943	20 August, 1944	28 January, 1945	In service
SMS Dal Kommen* (KV-37)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × steam turbines	14 September, 1943	8 July, 1945	18 November, 1945	In service
SMS Kinnigräich* (KV-38)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	15 January, 1943	24 February, 1944	15 September, 1944	In service
SMS Eriemeer* (KV-39)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × geared steam turbines	15 March, 1943	2 November, 1944	3 June, 1945	In service
SMS Bali* (KV-40)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	1 March, 1944	12 May, 1945	8 December, 1945	In service
SMS Kazematberg* (KV-45)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × steam turbines	14 September, 1943	8 July, 1945	3 November, 1946	In service
SMS Iepres (KV-46)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × turbo-electric drives	14 February, 1945	N/A	N/A	Cancelled, 1945
SMS Ramillies* (KV-47)	90-100	27,000 tons (design), 30,800 tons (actual)	4 × shafts 4 × geared steam turbines	19 August, 1944	5 September, 1945	11 May, 1946	In service

* Long-hull units

Hull numbers 22-30 were assigned to the Soeverein-class light carriers. Hull numbers 41-44 were assigned to the Adler-class carriers.

Six fiscal year 1945 ships, with hull numbers KV-50 to KV-55 were assigned builders, but were cancelled in March, 1945.

Light Carriers

Soeverein-class

SMS Sudleche Bucht

The result of the Burgundian Royal Navy’s realized need for more aircraft carrying ships and that the first of the Dreadnought-class were not expected before 1944, the nine ships of the Soeverein-class were selected from the then under construction Chaumont-class. It was briefly considered keeping the forwardmost 6” gun mount on the Chaumont design in a manner similar to the aircraft carrying cruisers in use by Iberia, however was quickly rejected, as during engagements as either a carrier or a gun-ship, the other aspect of its design would be a deterrent to its performance.

The hull of the ships measured 622 feet, six inches long overall, and had a beam 71 feet wide at the waterline (109 feet wide including overhangs), the class displaced between 10-11,000 tons of water. Defensive armament consisted of 26 of the effective 1.57” LaK 28 anti-aircraft guns in two quadruple and nine double mounts. The ships could carry thirty-two aircraft, which at the time of their completions consisted of 24 Grumman F6F Hällkaz fighters and eight Grumman TBM Vergelder torpedo bombers. The ships were propelled by four screws powered by steam turbines carried over from the Chaumont design, allowing a top speed of 31.5 knots.

All nine ships were built by New Amsterdam Shipbuilding Corporation in New Amsterdam, Borealia.

Ship	Aircraft	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate
SMS Soeverein (KVL-22) (ex-Amsterdam)	32	10,000 tons	4 × shafts steam turbines	1 May, 1941	22 August, 1942	14 January, 1943	In service
SMS Sizilien (KVL-23) (ex-Tongeren)	32	10,000 tons	4 × shafts steam turbines	2 June, 1941	18 October, 1942	25 February, 1943	In service
SMS Belleauwoud (KVL-24) (ex-Nieuw Haven)	32	10,000 tons	4 × shafts steam turbines	11 August, 1941	6 December, 1942	31 March, 1943	In service
SMS Manchester (KVL-25) (ex-Hagenau)	32	10,000 tons	4 × shafts steam turbines	17 November, 1941	17 January, 1943	28 May, 1943	In service
SMS Indrapura (KVL-26) (ex-Dole)	32	10,000 tons	4 × shafts steam turbines	29 December, 1941	28 February, 1943	17 June, 1943	In service
SMS Fokker (KVL-27) (ex-Forbach)	32	10,000 tons	4 × shafts steam turbines	11 April, 1942	22 May, 1943	31 August, 1943	In service
SMS Slyke (KVL-28) (ex-Walferdange)	32	10,000 tons	4 × shafts steam turbines	16 March, 1942	4 April, 19423	24 July, 1943	In service
SMS Ottawa (KVL-29) (ex-Buffelstad)	32	10,000 tons	4 × shafts steam turbines	31 August, 1942	1 August, 1943	17 November, 1943	In service
SMS Sudleche Bucht (KVL-30) (ex-Neustad)	32	10,000 tons	4 × shafts steam turbines	26 October, 1942	26 September, 1943	15 November, 1943	In service