River Gunboat and Monitor Challenge

Artwork by Tony Bryan published in Angus Konstam's 'Yangtze River Gunboats 1900-49'.

Welcome to the latest Shipbucket challenge! Participants are asked to draw a river monitor or gunboat. There is no restriction on period. You can draw anything from a Victorian gunboat on the Nile to a futuristic river monitor from your own alternate universe. Please do read the design requirements and challenge rules before starting your entry. Returning participants should be aware of a new challenge rule: "7. Non-serious entries, or entries substantially deviate from the challenge requirements, are not allowed." This has been introduced to clarify the kind of entries we are seeking. If you wish to explore a concept that pushes the design requirements, please feel free to ask if it is permissible.

Design Requirements

Your submission must depict a gunboat, monitor, or equivalent type.
The vessel must be designed to operate primarily on rivers.
Draught cannot exceed 5 metres (16.4 feet).

Challenge Rules

Each participant must submit a single image.
The image should be a Shipbucket template modified to include the participant’s art. Templates which include a data sheet are allowed.
One side-view of the participant's ship must be included. One top-view is also permitted, but not required. All other views are prohibited.
If two views are included, they must depict the same ship, in the same configuration, at the same point in time.
All art must be in Shipbucket scale and conform to the Shipbucket style guidelines.
A textual description accompanying each submission is permitted, but not necessary.
Non-serious entries, or entries substantially deviate from the challenge requirements, are not allowed.
Off-topic posts will be reported to the relevant authorities.

This challenge will run until the 8th of April, ending at 23:59 UTC-12 (International Date Line West).
A countdown timer can be found at this link.

A poll will be held after this date. This normally occurs within an hour of the deadline. Members of the Shipbucket community will have an opportunity to rate each submission. Please provide honest and meaningful scores for each entry. Responses which grant maximum scores to a select group of entries, and minimum scores to all other entries, will be deleted. Members of the community who manipulate the results in such a fashion may also be subject to a permanent ban. Scores will be allocated in three categories, each with a scale of 1 to 10. They are as follows:

Drawing Quality - The overall quality of the drawing. One might consider detailing, shading, and accuracy.
Design Realism - How realistic is the design presented? Any accompanying text may be considered.
Originality - Does the submission present a new and unique design, or is it a copy of an existing one?

A couple of questions have been asked about the new challenge on Discord. For those of you who are not members of Shipbucket's Discord server, hovercraft are allowed so long as they conform to the design requirements described in the opening post. Vessels converted into river gunboats or monitors are also permitted alongside purpose-built designs. If you want something clarified, don't be afraid to ask.

PGR-21 class river gunboat

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The PGR-21s, commissioned in 1333, were a unique class of riverine warships in two ways: they were designed by the navy but used by the army, and they were more heavily armoured than the navy's treaty cruisers. The class filled a special spot in Antaran military doctrine that arose from growing trends in the warfare unique to Antara's Western region, on her border with Ilyanora.

While inland seas gave the navy access to important coastal cities and choke points, there were a great deal many rivers that needed to be patrolled. While previous river gunboats could have done the job somewhat adequately, the military was worried by the prevalence aircraft and tanks began to play in war. This meant the 21s became one most heavily armoured river boats in the world, and we expected to come under fire from tanks, bombs and artillery from the shore.

Another threat that was only realized once the class had entered its design faze was naval incursion from the Ilyanorans. While the navy was already prospecting on the potential of mounting cruiser level artillery on the boat for shore bombardment, the naval threat further solidified the desire to install somewhat overkill weaponry on a river boat.

The artillery would be procured from the stocks of 8"/50 guns and mounts from the Cascadia class cruisers, who had swapped out their armament for the standardized 8"/55 gun. While the navy had plenty of guns in stock, the army wanted only six vessels and took the bill for the ships. The navy design went to the Bureau of Construction and Repair, who drew up the final plans and contracted the boats out to Riberton Naval Shipyard and Entarro State Shipyards.

When the World War erupted in June 1342, the six PGR-21s were at the forefront of the action. True to their design, no boats were sunk directly in naval combat or from fire from ground forces, rather half were sunk via sabotage, and one was boarded and captured, the ARS Lake Chimera. Chimera, was however sunk by 1000 pound bomb from an Antaran naval aircraft in February 1343. No monitors saw action against anything larger than torpedo boats or gunboats, with the exception of a destroyer which fled from combat.

When the boats were not offering fire support to ground forces along rivers, they were instead pounding coastlines meters from the shore. By the end of the war five gunboats were lost, the 5th by air attack (unrelated to Lake Chimera) in 1344.

Specifications

Tonnage - 2730 tonnes standard, 3050 tonnes full load
Speed - 15 knots
Range - 5000nm at 11 knots
Main battery - 1xII 203mm/50 Mk24
Secondary battery - 4xI 100mm/45, 2xI 152mm/45, various 12.7mm machine guns
Armor - 152mm main belt and conning tower, 100mm extended belt, 36mm deck amidships, 20mm fore and aft decks,
152mm turret face and barbettes, 100mm casemates
Complement - 215

Ships in class

Lake Anara - captured and ran aground, 1342
Lake Chimera - captured and sunk by aircraft, 1343
Lake Vissenu - destroyed by explosive charges, 1343
Lake Barton - sunk by aircraft, 1344
Lake Jinora - scrapped, 1348
Lake Rasmise - destroyed by explosive charges, 1342

Army doesn't get enough love in my Endless Seas AU so I decided to give them a river monitor. This is the same AU as my modern surface combatant challenge.

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While the USN is the dominate force among USFORCES ENDLESS SEAS, the other branches also play important roles in the US efforts to colonize the super continents scattered across the endless seas. One of the more notable non-USN efforts is the US Army's ongoing attempt to exterminate the indigenous Morlock population on the continent of Mu, home to Columbia, the largest American Colony on the Endless Sea. The Muian Morlock (Homo Wellsian Mu)are degenerated and mutated descendant of a now destroyed civilization that once dominated the continent of MU approximately 10-12,0000 Years ago. Their Civilization collapsed due unknown cataclysm circa 10,000 BC and the race has seemingly never recovered. Dwelling among the ruins the Morlocks venture forth only at night to terrorize other races. Morlock hives range from subway systems beneath the shattered remains of cities to abandoned mines and even what where once their ancestor's military command bunkers. Regardless of the original purpose of the dwellings, they tend to be deeply buried and notoriously difficult to fully clear. While historically most Morlock hives have been ignored, increased expansion of the Columbia colony into new areas has resulted in increased conflicts which has led to the Army starting a campaign of extermination. As many hives are located along rivers, the Army's Riverine Force has come to play a key role in hive clearing operations.

The largest class of combatants operated by the Mu Riverine Forces is the Snake Class Monitor. Based on the Terrestrial Army's Runnymede Class LCU, the Snake Class is a heavy artillery platform designed in the mid 1990s to support army operations in the inland waterways of Mu. Primary modifications from the base design was the addition of a new superstructure over the cargo deck. This superstructure consisted of a large raised platform mounted atop two rows of ISO shipping containers along with additional supports to increase strength. Forward of this a deck house consisting of a stack of reinforced ISO containers. Once in service the ships saw the addition of sandbags around the main platform and weapons stations. Overall the Snake class offered a large low cost weapons platform to provide fire support for riverine operations. The main battery varied but was typically some form of heavy artillery, MRLS and M198 Howitzers being among the most common. Secondary weapons for self defense include a pair of 25mm guns aft of the bridge, 4 x M2 .50 Cal Heavy Machine guns, a M120 120mm mortar and 2 TOW missile launchers. Stinger Missiles could be carried for air defense. Accommodations were provided for a detachment of infantry and it was expected that the infantry's small arms would also be used to protect the vessel.

Pictured below is the USAV Cottonmouth as she appeared in mid 2002.
As originally built in 199, the Cottonmouth was fitted with 3 M198 howitzers and saw initial service in counter-kaiju operations and the controversial campaign against the swamp-men of the lower Moloch River Delta. Following the conclusion of those campaigns she moved up river in support of the ongoing colonization efforts in the Moloch River basin. She participated in actions against both hostile wildlife and indigenous races such as the Morlocks. She is pictured as of Operation Backhoe, a large scale offensive against the largest Morlock Hive then discovered, the Long Canyon Hive. Located in the canyon of the same name along the Moloch River cuts through the Wolf Mountains, the Long Canyon Hive was located in what is believed to be a former continuity of government bunker. Destroying the large, deeply buried bunker was seen likely to require multiple nuclear strikes and the 2 kt yield of the W82 shells fired by the M198 was suspected as likely to be inadequate. As a result Cottonmouth and some her sisters saw their deck weapons removed and replaced with surplus M652 "Atomic Annie 2" nuclear howitzers. The M652 was 12 inch howitzer capable of firing a 20 kt shell up to 30 miles, a significant increase in both range and yield over the W82.

Despite the increase in firepower, the configuration proved to be a disappointment. The recoil force of the weapon led to cracking of the super structure and while reinforcements were added to the deck to support the increased weapon weight, they were inadequate which led to the sagging. Lack of conventional shells for the cannons also meant that the ship's options for responding to attacks were limited. Despite these drawbacks the ships were able to complete their portion of the offensive successfully. The atomic barrage successfully collapsed the majority of the hive's upper levels. The followup infantry offensive on the remaining entrance however was less than successful. The complex extended deeper than expected and much of the hive was unaffected by the barrage. Combined with labyrinthian nature of the hive the assault teams found themselves outnumbered and outflanked. After taking high casualties the offensive was called off and US forces withdrew from the area around the hive. A second campaign to clear the hive, Operation Backhoe 2 was launched the following year. Through the use of nerve agents the hive was successfully cleared and later collapsed via atomic demolition munition to prevent recolonization.

Following her part in Operation Backhoe, the Cottonmouth and her similarly equipped sisters saw their atomic cannons removed and replaced with other weapons. In Cottonmouth's case a pair of HIMARS launchers and additional mortars. All 8 vessels remain in service.

Type: Snake Class River Monitor
Displacement: 900 tons
Length: 174 ft
Beam: 42 ft
Draft: 7.5 ft
Speed: 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Complement: 43 (13 Ships Crew, 30 Weapons Crew,) + Up to 80 Infantry
Main battery - 1 x M652 12" Atomic Howitzer (Depicted), Alternate 2 -3 x 155mm Howitzers or HIMARS
Secondary battery - 2 x 25mm guns, 4 x M2 .50 Cal Heavy Machine guns,1 x M120 120mm mortar, 2 x TOW Missiles, Stinger Missiles

Ships in Class:
LCU(M)-1 USAV Diamondback
LCU(M)-2 USAV King Snake
LCU(M)–3 USAV Cottonmouth
LCU(M)-4 USAV Coral Snake
LCU(M)-5 USAV Gopher Snake
LCU(M)-6 USAV Rattlesnake
LCU(M)-7 USAV Rat Snake
LCU(M)-8 USAV Water Snake

Can it fire conventinoal shells?

Corp wrote: *

March 13th, 2021, 6:48 pm

Army doesn't get enough love in my Endless Seas AU so I decided to give them a river monitor. This is the same AU as my modern surface combatant challenge.

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S67 Class Army Gunboat

General Ratsilikaina’s defection to the socialist FSN in 1963 ended the Merina Civil War and established the Union of Madagasikara. Peace was not guaranteed, however, and the S67 class is a reflection of this fact. Ordered for the Army in 1965, these gunboats were arbiters of internal security in the post-civil war environment. Thirty were built in total. They replaced ancient river gunboats that pre-dated the First World War. The older vessels were worn out from years of service and, generally speaking, too large for Madagasikara’s waterways. Years of deforestation from slash-and-burn agriculture had increased erosion and decreased navigability. Four S67 boats were shipped to Angola in the 1980s and operated on the Kwanza until Madagasikara’s withdrawal from that conflict. In the civil war following General Ratsilikaina’s death, the S67 class saw extensive service on all sides. If ammunition was available, they could be maintained with minimal resources. As of 2021, twelve remain in service.

The S67 class was not known for its speed. Each boat had two small screws driven by a pair of diesel engines. 12 knots could be attained in normal conditions. Armament was where the S67 distinguished itself. Each boat was equipped two turrets from the PT-76 light tank, one forward and one aft. The PT-76 had just entered service as a replacement for the aging M24 Chafee. These turrets were supplemented by a pair of DShK machine guns in a twin mount. The machine guns could elevate higher than the turrets, which was of particular concern in areas where the surrounding terrain loomed over the river. A small high-resolution radar was provided. The crew normally consisted of nine.

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I am number four

Magway-Class Gun boat (Ma-Gway)

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Displacement: 223 tons full load
Dimensions: 43.16 m x 7.2 m x 1.9 m
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 6,210 bhp
Shaft: 2 shafts
Speed: 26.5 knots
Range: 1,900 nmi at 12 knots
Crew: 29

Armament:
1xBofors TAK76 single gun (Automatic Control, Magazine 100 Rounds)
1xBofors 40 mm L/70 single gun (Automatic Control, Magazine 28 Rounds)
2x12.7 mm DShK machine guns
1xSiggnal WM26 Fire Control Radar
1xDecca I-band navigation radar (Retractable)

Ships:
PG-11 UMS Magway Commissioned 1973
PG-12 UMS Samee Commissioned 1973
PG-13 UMS Mandon Commissioned 1974
PG-14 UMS Tamu Commissioned 1974

What is the chance, I was drawing a river monitor with similar idea but with 2x bofors TAK76 and 4x40mm as wing guns backed up by two 25mm guns.... although on a much bigger hull

heuhen wrote: *

March 16th, 2021, 9:55 am

What is the chance, I was drawing a river monitor with similar idea but with 2x bofors TAK76 and 4x40mm as wing guns backed up by two 25mm guns.... although on a much bigger hull

heuhen : I’m really sorry, I'm sleep in your Volkswagen

my gunboat base on norwegian navy storm-class patrol boat and singapore navy type-B patrol boat , I'm plane to draw semi-submersible vessel but fail, maybe someone can do it in this Challenge

Großdeutschland Kriegsmarine - Flußpatrouillenboot Typ F 1944 (F44)
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Originally envisioned as a coastal patrol ship (Küstenpatrouillenboot), it was realized that there was a sore lack of more modern river patrol gunboats (Flußpatrouillenboot) that patrolled Germany's rivers. As such, a number of ships on the stocks were outfitted to take upon this new role given to them. In general, the Flußbooten were outfitted with a pair of 8.8cm SK L/45 C/06 dual purpose guns that were taken from older Kriegsmarine vessels - albeit with new gun shields - as well as superfiring 3.7cm and 2cm Flakvierling. On the sides of the bridge were two twin 2cm guns, however, some vessels had slightly differing armament loadouts - two vessels were converted to fire 21cm Nebelwerfers at advancing Soviet troops later in the war.

In battle, the ships had differing amounts of success, out of the 27 vessels completed, 14 were lost by war's end. Seven of these were sunk by aircraft, 3 were blown up by their own crew to avoid being captured, 2 sunk by Soviet frogmen, and the last 2 sunk in combat with Soviet ground forces near Berlin as they closed in on the capital. However, they did prove their worth both inside and outside of combat, as several were credited with shooting down low-flying Soviet aircraft, as well as providing fire support for German troops. At war's end, many of the surviving vessels were used to ferry civilians eastward, away from the advancing communists in the west, since it was perceived that they would fare better among in American and British hands.

Post-war, the surviving 13 vessels (plus 3 more completed that were in various stages of completion at surrender), were split among the victors, with 5 going to the Soviets, and the rest divided among the Western Allies. But, most of these were deemed as surplus and either scrapped or expended as gunnery targets in the late 40's. The vessels that fell into Soviet hands served until the early 60's, with one surviving ship (F-18) being saved and serves as a museum ship to this day.

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