The Battlecruiser Blueprint

Oscar leaned forward with a gleam in his eye, his hand steady as he spread out the blueprint for the battlecruiser on the large desk before his father and Marshal Count Tirpitz. The room was dimly lit by the amber glow of oil lamps, the air thick with anticipation as the two men stared at the blueprint.

"Father, Your Excellency, Marshal, this is the blueprint for the battlecruiser I have designed for the empire," Oscar declared, his voice carrying a note of pride.

William II and Marshal Count Tirpitz exchanged a glance, both visibly surprised. They had not expected Oscar to have prepared so thoroughly.

"Oscar, you have already prepared everything!" William II exclaimed, a broad smile forming on his face. His son had once again proven his foresight and meticulous planning.

"Yes, His Royal Highness has already prepared everything, and it was just to convince us before!" Marshal Count Tirpitz said, his tone warm with approval. A slight smile tugged at his lips as he examined the intricate details of the blueprint.

Oscar nodded, his expression calm yet triumphant. "Of course, this is called preparing in advance," he replied, his confidence unwavering.

As the initial excitement of the moment settled, Oscar's tone shifted. "However, Father, Your Excellency the Marshal, the battlecruiser design isn't the only thing on my mind. We need to accelerate the construction of our own ships. The British are already progressing with their own battlecruiser designs, and they may soon begin construction on their first-tier 'Invincible-class' battlecruiser. We must not fall behind."

Both William II and Marshal Count Tirpitz were taken aback by this revelation. The British, too, were pursuing the construction of battlecruisers, which only underscored the urgency of the situation. The last thing the German navy could afford was to be left behind in the arms race that was beginning to unfold across Europe.

"Are the British really building battlecruisers?" William II asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

Oscar nodded gravely. "Yes, Father. The British are keenly aware of the potential threat to their naval supremacy, especially regarding their vulnerable sea transportation lines. They are building these ships to counter our potential raids. We cannot allow them to get the upper hand. The 'Invincible' battlecruiser is a first-class warship that they plan to deploy against us."

Marshal Count Tirpitz leaned forward, his face a mask of determination. "Oscar, your insights have proven invaluable so far. But what makes you so sure our battlecruisers will outperform the British ships?"

Oscar's eyes gleamed with resolve. "I've studied the British design extensively. The 'Invincible' class is formidable, no doubt. It has a full-load displacement of 20,700 tons and a maximum speed of 25.5 knots. It's armed with four twin-mounted 305mm guns and sixteen 102mm single guns. Additionally, it's equipped with five 450mm underwater torpedo tubes. The armor, however, is lacking. The main armor belt ranges between 102 and 152mm thick, while the turret armor is just 178mm. This means their battlecruisers have relatively poor defensive capabilities, especially when compared to the caliber of our weapons."

William II and Marshal Count Tirpitz exchanged a concerned look. While the British had a substantial advantage in terms of numbers, the weaknesses in their design were now apparent.

"Indeed," Marshal Count Tirpitz muttered, his brow furrowing deeper. "They've placed too much emphasis on speed and firepower, leaving their ships vulnerable in defense."

Oscar nodded. "Precisely. Their design concept was to counter enemy cruisers and smaller ships, rather than to engage in battle with the largest warships. But with our own battlecruisers, we can exploit their weaknesses."

The room fell into a tense silence as both William II and Marshal Count Tirpitz absorbed the weight of what Oscar was proposing. The German navy had always struggled to match the British in sheer numbers, but now, for the first time, it seemed they had the chance to leap ahead in terms of quality.

Oscar continued, his voice steady and calculated. "Let me explain my design. The battlecruiser I've envisioned is a much more powerful vessel, designed not only to outpace the British but also to withstand their attacks. This ship is longer, heavier, and more heavily armored. It's built to be fast, but more importantly, it's built to endure. With a full-load displacement of 26,000 tons, this ship will be much more stable and resistant to enemy fire."

Marshal Count Tirpitz's eyes widened. "That's a significant increase in displacement compared to the 'Invincible'. But what about speed?"

Oscar smiled. "The battlecruiser I've designed will have a maximum speed of 26 knots, faster than the British ship's 25.5 knots. But more importantly, it's not just about speed. It's about firepower and armor. We will arm it with three triple-mounted 305mm 50-caliber main guns, ten 150mm secondary guns, and twelve 120mm rapid-fire guns. The armor will be considerably thicker. The main armor belt will be 305mm, the deck will have 45mm of armor, and the frontal armor of the turret will also be 305mm. In addition, the conning tower will be armored to the same thickness. This level of protection will make it far superior to the British ships."

William II leaned back in his chair, his expression one of deep consideration. "And the propulsion system?"

Oscar was ready with the answer. "It will be powered by 18 improved Sulzer oil-fired boilers and four steam turbines, with four shafts providing propulsion. The system will deliver a total of 48,000 horsepower, allowing the ship to achieve a top speed of 26 knots. This combination of speed, firepower, and armor will make it a formidable force on the battlefield."

Marshal Count Tirpitz nodded approvingly. "Your design seems to outclass the British in nearly every respect. The increased armor alone could be the key to our superiority."

Oscar's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Exactly. While the British 'Invincible' might be fast, its armor is its greatest weakness. A well-placed shot from our 305mm guns would tear through their defenses. Furthermore, the firepower of our ship would allow it to engage enemy cruisers with relative ease, making it an ideal vessel for the kind of operations we need to carry out against their sea transportation lines."

William II stood up, his face alight with enthusiasm. "Oscar, your design is impressive. It's clear that this battlecruiser will be a vital addition to our fleet."

"Your Highness, it is not just impressive," Marshal Count Tirpitz added, his voice thick with approval. "It is essential. With the British navy beginning to build their own battlecruisers, we cannot afford to fall behind. This ship is exactly what we need to gain the upper hand."

Oscar's smile widened. "Father, Your Excellency, I trust that this design will be approved for construction?"

William II nodded resolutely. "Yes, of course. This is a warship we need. We'll start the necessary discussions on production immediately. As for the quantity… we'll need to consider that carefully. But I'm confident this battlecruiser will form the backbone of our naval strategy."

Marshal Count Tirpitz leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping thoughtfully on the armrest. "The construction of the battlecruiser will strengthen our fleet immensely. It will give us the necessary tools to disrupt the British transportation lines and challenge their dominance on the seas."

Oscar's heart swelled with pride as he stood before them, knowing that this was just the beginning. The design was not only a testament to his own ambition but also a pivotal moment in the larger struggle for naval supremacy. The future of the German navy rested in their hands, and with this battlecruiser, they would seize the advantage.

"Thank you, Father, Your Excellency. I'm glad to have your support," Oscar said with a smile.

"Indeed, your foresight will help us secure victory," Marshal Count Tirpitz added. "Let us proceed with the orders and ensure that we stay ahead of the British."

With that, the three men stood together, their faces reflecting the gravity of the task ahead. The German Navy was on the cusp of a new era, one that would see them rise to challenge the British Empire's maritime dominance.