Chapter 27 Aida Special Cruise

When he heard that Contini was going to build a special cruise ship, the United Shipyard (Grand Union) was very happy. A blue streamer cruise ship costs $7-10 million to $10 million (the decorative shipyards have to entrust other companies and can hardly make money). Building such a special cruise ship costs at least $12-13 million. More importantly, after mastering this technology, are you afraid that the Navy will not have any orders in the future?

So in just one week, the designer designed the sketches for Contini to see. In order to satisfy the other party, the designers tried their best to use British and American aircraft carriers day and night to refer to them. Although they were called special aircraft carriers, everyone knew what kind of business this thing was. Just as they were waiting for Contini to praise him, they were poured into a basin of cold water, and their hearts were cold:

"You have no idea what you have designed, you must push it down and start over!" Contini pointed at the sketch that was so smart that he didn't know how much smarter than his hand-painted, and said with regret, "First of all, I tell you that I want 30,000 tons of cruise ships, why did you get me 27,000 tons? Secondly, I said it is no less than 32 verses, and you give me 30.5 verses. What does this mean?"

The designer stammered: "Your Excellency, the Washington Naval Arms Treaty stipulates that aircraft carriers of each country cannot exceed 27,000 tons..."

"This is wrong!" Contini retorted, "The treaty also has a provision that to prevent torpedoes and deck attacks, an additional 3,000 tons of additional armor protection can be allowed. Besides, I am not the signatory party to the treaty. Do you know this? From the captain to the sailor, from passengers to pilots, they are all ordinary civilians. No active-duty officer of the Italian Navy does not even have officers or soldiers. Can you talk about the Shanghai Army? This is my ship of the United Group!"

The designer was completely defeated, and there was such a thing in the world? After careful consideration, the President said something reasonable. The United Group was enough to make a fortune. Besides, there was no money to government fund, which really did not belong to the country.

As for Section 32, the designer didn't even dare to argue, just said that he would add the cost.

"If you add, add it, I can still afford this little money!" Contini simply set the speed at 33 knots, and the power becomes 4-axis propulsion, with 160,000 horsepower. "It's the battery life, 8,000 nautical miles/18 knots, right?"

"After the weight increases, the size must be adjusted correctly. I see that the deck is 260 meters long and 30-32 meters wide..." The designer quickly remembered it.

"And..." Contini tapped the design drawing, "You have to think more. This chimney smoke exhaust can easily interfere with the take-off and landing of the escort aircraft. It should be designed as a bridge and chimney integration..."

"Also, who asked you to install such an ugly 8-inch naval gun on it? Don't do it all!"

"Don't have a naval gun?" the designer asked in surprise, "What if you are in danger?"

"This is a defensive civilian ship, not an aircraft carrier. I will repeat that it is not an attack. It is based on defense, naval guns, and torpedoes. "Contini said unsatisfiedly, "In order to enhance defense, the flight deck must be laid with armored steel. I think the thickness is no less than 75mm, and there is also a remaining one on the center of gravity. I plan to add 20-25mm special steel plates... Of course, it doesn't need to be covered all, but the key parts are covered."

The designer kindly reminded: "It's so thick that it can't stop the 8-inch cannon..."

"Who said I want to defend against 8-inch cannons? I'm defending against bombs!" Contini glared at him, "I will hand over the 8-inch cannon to a 50,000-ton special escort cruise ship to solve the problem..."

Well, the Navy's 35,000-ton Caraciolo class has not yet been built, and the President is planning a 50,000-ton special escort cruise ship. Now the designer has understood the slander. Isn't the special escort cruise ship equal to a battleship?

"The lift should be designed to be larger, with a stronger load capacity, and it must be able to withstand at least 8 tons of aircraft. If the two are not enough, two small side-side lifts will be arranged on the side side for quick ammunition distribution; the bow is closed to the bow, but you have to lower the center of gravity a little, and the Atlantic Ocean is not stable..." Contini looked at the armor arrangement and said dissatisfiedly, "The 185mm armor belt on the side side is thicker, you can weaken it a little, but the bulletproof ability of the bridge must be enhanced, and the key is to do a good job in the armor and cabins in the underwater torpedo protection section... Also, the floor height of the double-layer hangar is designed to be higher, and the aircraft will definitely develop higher and greater in the future, and it must be predictive!"

The designer boldly said: "According to your current requirements, I'm afraid I can't get 30,000 tons, it takes 32,000 to 33,000 tons."

"It doesn't matter if it's so much. Britain and the United States don't see it. Then, you'll need to report less and decorate less oil during the trial sailing. Isn't that the trial sailing just now? Besides, it's not a warship. Civilian ship! Civilian ship! Civilian ship! Important things are said three times!" Contini remembered another thing, "The deck needs to be equipped with catapults, and there are 2-4 water reconnaissance ships... Don't embezzle the places where the 8-inch cannons were cut off just now, I'll keep them all with anti-aircraft cannons..."

"How many anti-aircraft guns do you want?"

"128mm dual-mounted anti-aircraft guns are 8-10 seats, 20-25 seats of dual-mounted 40-25 seats, and 40-50 seats of quad-mounted 20mm anti-aircraft guns. If possible, add 200-300 anti-aircraft machine guns. I recently got a heavy machine gun, which has good air shooting performance..." Contini emphasized, "It may not be installed at one time. You can keep it and install it slowly, just leave the position."

"Crazy!" When the designers thought of this scene of the cannon barrel like a hedgehog jungle, the designers couldn't help but burst into tears. How afraid the president was.

"Your Excellency, this is probably a budget of 12-13 million to build a ship cannot be stopped..."

"Give you 16 million, artillery, machine guns, and planes are all mine." Contini smiled, "Last time, I agreed to pay for installments of 4 years, it's $4 million a year, it's drizzling..."

The two days ago, he said he was tight on his hands, but today he was drizzling. The designers couldn't help laughing. How could they know that the United Group's monetary policy has undergone earth-shaking changes in the past few days. Not only did the British (Iranian) Oil Company's $55 million investment have arrived, but the New York market has risen sharply in the past two days. Contini's American Radio and General Motors rose 15% in a week, and an additional $20 million was added. Wall Street tycoons are still coming to the door to demand the underwriting of $100 million of corporate bonds issued by United Group in New York, which has changed from tight on his hands to a lot of money.

Ten days later, the sketches and design plans drawn by the designers were presented again. Finally, Contini was quite satisfied this time. He mentioned a few details, which basically determined the outline and data of the Aida special cruise ship:

Displacement: 30170 tons (benchmark, claim), 32980 tons (benchmark, actual), 40250 tons (full load, estimated)

Length x width x draft: 266mx29.4mx9.71m

Flight deck size (length x width): 260mx32m (partial floating outside, side side compensation)

Power: 4 steam turbines, 4-axis propulsion of 174,000 horsepower

Maximum speed: 33 knots (expected)

Endurance: 8500 nautical miles/18 knots

Carrier-based aircraft: 72 standby + 10 standby + 3 water reconnaissance

Crew: 2200 people

"It's very good. Just follow the idea and study the details, layout and design drawings. If you don't understand, you can visit our floating marine airport. It's always good to learn more." Contini waved his hand casually. "I asked next July to lay the keel during the summer vacation, so that Ada can see the lively scene of the construction of the Blue Ribbon Cruise, and strive to complete it in four years...it can be extended to four and a half years. Of course, when the construction is only mentioned, they can't see the blue Ribbon tanker."

"This...time is very tight."

"It doesn't matter, I will draw people from my joint shipyard and other shipyards. I will also draw people from Germany... There are still many designers. I will add 10 million lira as your design overtime bonus. You must have the spirit of six plus one, white plus black, especially to learn the spirit of united speed. As for armored steel, boilers, artillery, etc., don't worry about it, and ensure the best goods." Contini thought for a while, "If there are not enough workers, you can recruit training from my shipyard. If it is not enough, I will catch them from Germany. I must have the best workers! Don't even want anyone who is cheating, and you will fire them if you find out! I will hire a German supervision team to supervise you. You know, the Germans are not Italians, and that's really a relative who doesn't recognize you!"

“Yes, yes!”

"You must have a high sense of political responsibility and mission. What is the name of this ship? It is called Aida! Aida is still a little girl and knows nothing, but he has a master-father who knows what is the master. This ship represents the image of the country, represents the achievements of the construction of fascist and the Youth League, and symbolizes the style and prestige of the New Roman Empire. If you do well, the leaders can see it! You must implement the important ideas of the three flags with practical actions, and present a gift to the 8th anniversary of the leader's rule with the most exquisite quality, the best craftsmanship, the strictest management, and the most efficient speed. This is not an ordinary business task, but a serious political task! If you do well, you have many awards and don't do well, don't count on the orders of the Admiralty in the future. I can't pass this level first, do you understand?"

Several designers were dizzy by Contini and nodded repeatedly, saying that the power of political leadership is not that great. The key is a $16 million construction cost and a 10 million lira design bonus are really tempting. The president is the president after all, he is the president, and he is rich.

This trouble has reached early December, and it is getting closer and closer to Sickett's promise to release Hitler before Christmas. Contini wanted to go to Bavaria, but Zacharia notified him: "President, the gentleman named Christie you recruited in the United States has come. He brought a complete set of information and drawings, saying that he has good creativity."

OK... I have to study tanks, and the trip to Germany will have to delay for a few more days.
Chapter completed!