Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/Ironclad Destroyer

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The Ironclad Destroyer is the used by the Minutemen. is planned to be voiced by *TBA*

History
"MY BRIDGE IS ON FIRE!"

-Destroyer captain in a perilous situation

Thought it was not the first war to have submarine warfare, the GVAW brought it to a strategic level. Suddenly shortages of goods were endemic throughout besieged Eorzea, despite the outpouring of resources from Zemuria, and later the Aquila. Ferelden citizens used to tea and crumpets had to make do with water and hardtack in some places.

This was a highly abhorrent situation, so the Alliance went to the Aquilan, which wasn't in the war yet but sympathized with the Alliance. They commissioned and bought on credit an entire fleet of ships meant specifically to escort cargo ships, crewed by Alliance sailors. Given their previous experience with submarine warfare, the (insert) government in exile was given the task of coming up with a design for a new Destroyer, which was dubbed the Ironclad class.

These ships, along with the new "Convoy" theory, reduced sinking to a fraction and even destroyed a few wolf packs. Though there was still an effect on resources and the shipping industry, the Alliance had gained significant breathing room in their fight against Communism. It's been theorized by (Eorzean) historians that this is why the Alliance eventually won, not the intervention of the Aquilans (though Aquilans historians are quick to point out that Destroyer production increased exponentially when the Aquilans entered the war.)

Production of these ships was so heavy that when the war ended, scrapping all these ships would have required more smelters than the world had at the time. Some continued on in service, still serving in reserve fleets to this day, while others were sunk to make artificial reefs for Andoran dolphin pods. Most, however, were mothballed in the port of Corpus Christi, considered one of the safest harbors for the Allies due to being pincered by two Allied nations. For years they rusted away, their engines removed and used elsewhere. Local residents claimed you could walk across the harbor on the destroyers floating in it. The new Assault Destroyer ensured that they would never need to be used.

It was in the mothball fleet that the Minutemen found all the destroyers they'd ever need. For their revolution to truly survive, they needed a fleet beyond the few specialized ships they already had. In a daring raid, they attacked the mothball fleet from both land and sea, overwhelming the guards and using tugs to push the ships to friendly ports, leaving nothing behind but empty moorings and anti-Aquilan graffiti. However, with much of the machinery removed, the destroyers were not battle ready.

Most obvious was the engine and propulsion system. Instead of using valuable parts to make a diesel engine and propeller system, the Confederate mechanics instead replaced the whole system with a paddle-wheel arrangement inspired by their cultural past. Almost any fuel can be used, usually coal, wood or kerosene; most notoriously, the USS Ass Kicker (formerly the ANV Excalibur) once fought a battle running on burning truck tires. As an extra touch, the Minutemen used their mastery of spiral technology to equip each destroyer with a shell or two that is capable of creating a waterspout that can swamp enemy ships, though destroyer captains have an unhealthy tendency to be floundered by the same attack.