ANS Variaette (BB-1916)
The Variaette Class was the natural progression from the earlier Euryale
Class. The Euryale had 10x14" mounted in two triple and two twin turrets. The
Variaette would go to 12x14" in four triple turrets. Three ships were laid down
before the first of the Euryale class had finished its trials. The ships did not
complete until 1916-17 and all missed Jutland. In fact the three ships never
left home waters as the Argentinians were making warlike noises again.
Argentinian beef had been commanding good prices in the European market. But its
largest customer had been Germany that was now closed to imports through the
British Blockade. Like so many countries, when there is trouble at home, start a
war. Hopefully nationalism will rally the country to fight the enemy. With the
major part of the Amazonian Navy away saving the world in Europe, The
Argentinians had a thought about another try at invading Mu. The completion of
these ships stopped that thought in its tracks.
With the end of World War One, the Amazonian Navy was in the great position of
having Battle Squadron One consisting of six brand new battleships armed with
12xx14" and 8x16" (three of each). These six ships would form the backbone of
the Amazonian Navy for the next 15 years until the new crop of ships would join
the fleet in the mid 1930's. Only then could these ships be released from fleet
duties for badly needed rebuilds to bring them up to date.
The rebuilds followed the, by then, normal routine of removing everything
between 'B' and 'X' turrets to update, upgrade and renew everything above and
below decks. The Penthesilea class having exactly the same footprint except for
the shell handling areas being different for the change from 14" to 16". No
thought was given to fitting aircraft as this would have required the removal of
a lot of the secondary armament to provide the space required. These ships in
their Battle Squadron would always have an aircraft carrier with them, obviating
the need for these ships to have their own aircraft.
| Displacement | 31,300 tons std, 35,800 tons full load | 33,250 tons std, 38,500 tons full load |
| Length | 620 ft | 632 ft |
| Breadth | 101 ft | 101 ft |
| Draught | 30 ft | 30 ft |
| Machinery | 3 shaft, Steam Turbines, 50,000shp | 3 shaft, Steam Turbines, 80,000shp |
| Speed | 22 knots | 26 knots |
| Range | 9,000 miles at 12 knots | 10,000 miles at 12 knots |
| Armour | 13.8" side, 2" deck, 13.8"/7.1"/4.1" turrets | 13.8" side, 6" deck, 13.8"/7.1"/4.1" turrets |
| Armament | As Completed 1916 12 x 14" (4x3) 16 x 6" (16x1) 8 x 3" AA (8x1) |
After rebuild 1939 to 1941 refits 12 x 14" (4x3) 20 x 4" (10x2) 40 x 2pd (5x8) 12 x 20mm (1x2, 10x1) |
| Torpedoes | 5 x 18" Submerged | nil |
| Complement | 1200 (1300 as Flagship) | 1270 (1350 as Flagship) |
| Notes | ANS Variaette +2 |
|
Variaette was part of a Triumvirate of leaders that ruled during the
Middle Ages. This was a tough time for the Amazons. The Amazons in South
America were almost wiped out by the European diseases brought by the
Conquistadors. The remaining Amazons were withdrawn from South America to
Mu, but brought the diseases with them. One of the only ways to stop the
spread of some of the diseases was to burn the bodies. Having already been
exposed to these diseases, by the time te British and French explorers
arrived in the late 1700's the population had built up their immunities to
them. This class was named for those leaders.
I have only been able to find a limited number of 'leadership' names for
the Amazons. So I can't give individual names to all the different ships in
each class, only the leading ship will get a name of its own.