HOME | DD

Description
Length: 730 feet
Deadweight Tonnage: 32,250 tons

When the GCK entered into negotiations with Ordania for its first major international trade treaty in 21AF, the greck merchant marine was well on its way to expanding--but not in the manner needed for the national economy. While the production of a new generation of standardt type freighters was well underway, their small size was intended for domestic routes within the greck's growing economic hegemony in the Nord Emihst, and was ill suited for the very long haul routes that bulk trade with Ordania would require. Accordingly, the artsee commissioned the design and construction of what at the time would be the largest civil freighters in the world: the same size as the grecken's new Compelling class grotcruisers and half again heavier, the enormously large design substantially exceeded in size any prior bulk carriers as yet under construction, a testament to the value the greckstatt placed on improving its supply of ferrous metals. The Iron Crisis put some jeopardy into play pertaining to the fate of these large freighters, to such an extent that the grecken was considering purchasing the incomplete superfreighters and converting them into very large amphibious assault ships, but this was ultimately declined. Construction continued throughout the troublesome summer of 22AF at an accelerated pace, allowing the type to enter service on the last day of summer of that year.

The two Duke class freighters represent a substantial increase in the international trade capabilities of the GCK. Prior to their introduction, the standard route from Bonnhaven to Herceg was a long and windy one, inefficient from an economic standpoint and politically troublesome given the international situation at the time. Iron trade, albeit frequently interrupted during the summer in question by the Iron Crisis, was routed from Bonnhaven across the Nord Emihst to Port Progress in the Pongatar Islands; from there, ships would proceed from Port Progress to the major Alexandrachan port of Par, then onto Reichenbach in West Aerah before finally proceeding to Herceg. This was on account of their small size; accordingly, operating costs were high due to repeated fuel stops and the time lost during them; combined with the smaller cargo sizes of these freighters meant that the Bonnhanven-Herceg iron run, while very necessary in order to support the ravenous appetite for iron and steel that greck growth demanded, just barely broke even on a good run and in many cases lost the company money. While the trip will take roughly the same time, elimination of stops along the way, combined with the exponentially larger cargo capcity of the Duke class, means that the launch of these ships represents a new chapter in greck overseas trade.

In accord with the artsee's naming conventions of naming their ships after royal positions, the first two ships ordered were named Duke of Herceg and Vurkhall, respectively;

MS Duke of Herceg
MS Duke of Vurkhall

For Thin-Red-Line

Description
Length: 730 feet
Deadweight Tonnage: 32,250 tons

When the GCK entered into negotiations with Ordania for its first major international trade treaty in 21AF, the greck merchant marine was well on its way to expanding--but not in the manner needed for the national economy. While the production of a new generation of standardt type freighters was well underway, their small size was intended for domestic routes within the greck's growing economic hegemony in the Nord Emihst, and was ill suited for the very long haul routes that bulk trade with Ordania would require. Accordingly, the artsee commissioned the design and construction of what at the time would be the largest civil freighters in the world: the same size as the grecken's new Compelling class grotcruisers and half again heavier, the enormously large design substantially exceeded in size any prior bulk carriers as yet under construction, a testament to the value the greckstatt placed on improving its supply of ferrous metals. The Iron Crisis put some jeopardy into play pertaining to the fate of these large freighters, to such an extent that the grecken was considering purchasing the incomplete superfreighters and converting them into very large amphibious assault ships, but this was ultimately declined. Construction continued throughout the troublesome summer of 22AF at an accelerated pace, allowing the type to enter service on the last day of summer of that year.

The two Duke class freighters represent a substantial increase in the international trade capabilities of the GCK. Prior to their introduction, the standard route from Bonnhaven to Herceg was a long and windy one, inefficient from an economic standpoint and politically troublesome given the international situation at the time. Iron trade, albeit frequently interrupted during the summer in question by the Iron Crisis, was routed from Bonnhaven across the Nord Emihst to Port Progress in the Pongatar Islands; from there, ships would proceed from Port Progress to the major Alexandrachan port of Par, then onto Reichenbach in West Aerah before finally proceeding to Herceg. This was on account of their small size; accordingly, operating costs were high due to repeated fuel stops and the time lost during them; combined with the smaller cargo sizes of these freighters meant that the Bonnhanven-Herceg iron run, while very necessary in order to support the ravenous appetite for iron and steel that greck growth demanded, just barely broke even on a good run and in many cases lost the company money. While the trip will take roughly the same time, elimination of stops along the way, combined with the exponentially larger cargo capcity of the Duke class, means that the launch of these ships represents a new chapter in greck overseas trade.

In accord with the artsee's naming conventions of naming their ships after royal positions, the first two ships ordered were named Duke of Herceg and Vurkhall, respectively;

MS Duke of Herceg
MS Duke of Vurkhall

For Thin-Red-Line