2017-2018 Micronaut Predictions

[Donald M. Scheef]

My guesses for 2017-2018 Micronaut releases

GHQ has released the last of the 2016-2017 Micronauts and within the next month they will announce their new releases for the coming year. I would like to post my predictions/guesses for next year’s Micronaut releases. A suggestion from Mikee started this several years ago and it seemed to provoke some good discussions. We are interested in any support or contradictory opinions. Those of you interested in Microarmor, ACW or Napoleonic figures, etc.; start your own thread.

For those of you following the Consolidated Micronaut Wish List, predictions/guesses for next year’s releases do not count as votes in the Wish list.

For some time now, GHQ has consistently released twelve Micronauts per year. Since they resumed production of modern warships, there has been a pattern of four ships from the WWI era, four from WWII, and four modern (late Cold War or post-Cold War) ships (although in the 2016-2017 series there were five WWII and only three WWI). I predict that they will continue with twelve releases this year and return to four each WWI, WWII, and four post-Cold War.

WWI era releases: GHQ has already provided a fairly good collection of German and British ships of this era (although there are still a pre-Dreadnaught battleship, several cruisers, and plenty of destroyers yet to be produced). For other countries for which GHQ has produced WWI ships (Austria-Hungary, France, Russia, and the USA) there are diminishing good choices.
All of the ‘modern’ (by Great War standards) battleships, cruisers and destroyers of the Austro-Hungarian navy have been produced. The armored cruiser Sankt Georg and the never-built ersatz Monarch, are possibilities. There are a number of pre-Dreadnought French ships that would make reasonable choices, including Charlemagne class battleships and Edgar Quinet class armored cruisers. Among Russian ships, the Svetlana class light cruisers and Kerch class destroyers are desirable. For the USA, New Mexico (BB 40) class battleships and Caldwell (DD 69) class destroyers would extend the available line.

I believe that it’s about time for GHQ to introduce another country into the Great War series. The two obvious choices are Italy and Japan. Although neither navy participated in extensive combat during the war, their ships were interesting and there were possibilities among hypothetical battles. Eventually, both should be represented but I think that Italy will come first.

My predictions for Great War releases are the same as last year (obviously, I didn’t do very well on those predictions):
- France pre-Dreadnought battleship Charlemagne class (three in the class, all at the Dardanelles). The armored cruiser Edgar Quinet class is my backup choice.
- Italy battleship Dante Alighieri (only a single ship but with unique appearance)
- Italy battleship Doria class or Cavour class (eventually both, but not in the same year)
- Italy destroyer Indomito class.

For my four selections in the era of WWII, I’m going to divide them according to type of ship rather than by country.

Recently GHQ seems to have been producing at least one aircraft carrier each year. Although I am more interested in surface warfare, I predict that there will be another aircraft carrier in this year’s offerings. My prediction is USS Lexington (CV-2) as she appeared at Coral Sea (most notably; four twin 8-inch guns replaced by seven quadruple 1.1-inch anti-aircraft guns). A second possibility is USS Yorktown (CV-5) as at Midway.

I also think there will be a battleship from WWII produced in the next year. I predict USS Idaho (BB-42) as she appeared in 1945 at Iwo Jima and Okinawa with individual enclosed 5â€￾/38 gun mounts. My alternate is a late-war Fuso.

GHQ should produce a WWII era cruiser in the coming year. My first choice is the French heavy cruiser Duquesne class. My second choice in this area are the Dido class cousins Scylla and Charybdis.

For my fourth choice in the WWII era, I am having trouble deciding between a destroyer type, an amphibious type, a merchant type, or a pack of aircraft. Last year, I waffled on this and named one of each (and was incorrect on all). This year, I’m going to make only one prediction: UK Fleet Air Arm carrier-based aircraft. With six different carrier types available, all the Brits have for their decks is Seafires and Swordfish.

Last year, GHQ produced the Yuting (type 072,) landing ships. For this year, I think they will produce two more Chinese ships; the larger Type 071 (Yuzhao)-class amphibious transport and the Type 052D (Luyang III) destroyer

I thought it was too soon to release a model of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), but I was wrong about this. USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is just about ready to enter service, but only three of these innovative ships will be built. If GHQ makes a model of a modern US ship this year, I expect the USS America (LHA-6) class to be the subject.

With HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) entering trials this summer, it’s likely that GHQ will produce this ship. The next most likely UK release is an Albion-class landing platform dock.

Since the fall of Communism until recently, the Russian navy has been relatively stagnant or even contracting. The only ships recently in service are the Admiral Grigorovich (Project 11356) frigates, Admiral Gorshkov (Project 22350) class frigates, and Steregushchy (Project 20380) class corvettes.

Some more Japanese ships are also a possibility, although the current Japanese practice of building only a small number of ships to a single design before going on to something newer makes it difficult to select a favorite for modelling. Possibilities include Akizuki (DD-115) class destroyers, Atago (DDG-177) class destroyers, Kongō (DDG-173) class destroyers, Ōsumi (LST 4001) class amphibious transports, and Hayabusa (PG-824) class fast patrol boats.

I don’t think that GHQ will start a new line of modern ships. If they do, here are the most likely ones:

- South Korea: For a HSK series, I would start with a Sejong the Great class destroyer. Additional choices of ships from this country include the Dokdo class amphibious assault ship, Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin class destroyer, and Inchon class frigates.

- One of the European countries that is not yet represented, perhaps France or Italy. These two countries have cooperated in the design of several destroyer/frigate types. Aside from their nation navies, these countries are eager to export their designs to second-level navies. Possible ships are the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the Mistral class amphibious assault ships (perhaps augmented by several ordered by Russia but resold to Egypt), the Horizon (Forbin/Andrea Doria) class frigates, and FREMM (Aquitaine/Bergamini) class frigates.

My selections for four modern ship releases in this season are:
- China destroyer Type 052D (Luyang III) class
- China Type 071 (Yuzhao)-class amphibious transport
- UK aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth (R08)
- US amphibious assault ship America (LHA-6) class

Don S.

[michaelw43]

Since this year is the 75th anniversary of the 1942 carrier battles of WWII, I think GHQ might come out with an aircraft carrier from the battles of Coral Sea or Midway. So here is my prediction for WWII ships in 2017-2018:
One of the following:
USA aircraft carrier Yorktown as at Midway
USA aircraft carrier Lexington as at Coral Sea
Japan light aircraft carrier Shoho as at Coral Sea.
Also:
Germany battlecruiser Gneisenau
France heavy cruiser Duquesne
UK sloop Black Swan.

As Don mentioned above, these are not votes for the Micronaut wish list.
Michael D. Waters

[dattrains]

My thoughts on the 2017/2018 1/2400 ship releases:

WWI
Italy battleship Doria class
UK light cruiser “Câ€￾ class, Caledon group
UK light cruiser “Câ€￾ class, Ceres group
Germany battleship Braunschweig class

WWII
USS Enterprise/USS Yorktown as at Midway
USS Idaho (BB-42) 1945 at Iwo/Okinawa with enclosed single 5â€￾/38 gun mounts
French heavy cruiser Duquesne class
UK frigate Black Swan and modified Black Swan classes

Modern
USA destroyer Gearing, FRAM I conversion
China destroyer Luyang III (Kunming) (Type 052D) class
Japanese Akizuki (DD-115) class destroyer
UK HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)

[ed*b]

Adding the Italian WW1 ships would make sense (though I personally would prefer to see Japan added, possibly starting with ships from the Russo-Japanese war).

However, what about the most obvious and glaring omission in the entire line of WW1 ships? I refer of course to Renown and Repulse. Both joined the Grand Fleet in the fall of 1916, so served for two years in the Great War. HMS Repulse participated in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight. It is most unusual that they aren't already part of the catalog.

Another excellent choice (since they were so active in the Mediterranean) would be Lord Nelson and Agamemnon. GHQ has produced a number of pre-dreadnoughts of other nations, but so far only the King Edward VII class for the UK.

Along the same lines, the Braunschweig class would fill out the German pre-dreadnought line.

For WW2 ships, it would be really appreciated to get a proper Strasbourg model, as well as York. Back in the French line, the Duquesne CA would fill a significant gap.

No opinion on modern ships.

[CG2]

I still find it peculiar that GHQ hasn't added a German submarine pack (such as the U31 class). This would be the most obvious addition if they felt that wargaming WW1 was significant - clearly collecting is more popular to date.

For WW2 - I concur with the British aircraft pack, the US Carrier and the Black Swan - not sure about others.

Modern - the QE carrier is surely a given and I'm going to forecast the french Aquitaine (FREMM) frigate, a Virginia SSN and the Chinese Type 071 LPD.

[LAX_Kev]

First and foremost, a massive thanks to Don for maintaining the ships voting list, as well as these annual predictions postings. You help keep our hobby in focus, and provide us all with a great opportunity to post our sage predictions, which in my case are almost universally wrong. Still, it's fun!! On that thought, here's my 2 cents on predictions for the 2017-18 micronaut releases:

Great War - 4 releases:
Aust-Hungary: 1 ship - either ACR Sankt Georg or Pre-Dreadnaught Habsburg (whichever one doesn't get done this year will be produced in the next release year)
Another British Pre-Dreadnaught (Canopus?)
A British Seaplane Tender (Ark Royal, or Engadine)
USS New Mexico class (with cage masts)
I don't think that this will be the year for the release of the Italian Navy - perhaps next year.

WW2: 4 releases:
An early war USN CV - either LEX (as sunk configuration), or ENT/YORKTOWN in their Midway configuration.
British A thru I class DD Leaders
German Raider (Atlantis, Thor, or Penguin)
British CV Argus (this could also go on the WW1 list)

Modern: 4 releases
Another JMSDF current destroyer
Another PLAN DDG (I don't think we'll see their LPD this year...)
the introduction of an ROKN line, starting with their AEGIS DDG
And the big ticket item: British CV Queen Elizabeth / Prince of Wales

Remember guys, I'm usually wrong, but wouldn't these be nice?
Cheers!!
Kevin

[Donald M. Scheef]

I was just updating my files and as I was entering HUS22 (CVN-78, USS Gerald R. Ford) it occurred to me that one of GHQ's modern Micronaut releases for next year may be post-Cold War USN aircraft:
- x-47 B, 6 deployed and 6 stored
- F-35C, 6 deployed and 6 stored
- FA-18E, 12 deployed and 12 stored

This would give 48 aircraft total, about right for this kind of pack.

This would allow augmenting the CVN-78 deck park and updating that for HUS4.

[33YearsGHQ]

I was just updating my files and as I was entering HUS22 (CVN-78, USS Gerald R. Ford) it occurred to me that one of GHQ's modern Micronaut releases for next year may be post-Cold War USN aircraft:
- x-47 B, 6 deployed and 6 stored
- F-35C, 6 deployed and 6 stored
- FA-18E, 12 deployed and 12 stored

This would give 48 aircraft total, about right for this kind of pack.

This would allow augmenting the CVN-78 deck park and updating that for HUS4.

I would love to see a pack of F-35 and FA-18E - much needed. They can skip the X-47B since that weapon system is canceled.

[Donald M. Scheef]

I agree; I put in the X-47B only because these were already in the mix for HUS22. I would rather see some EA-18G and perhaps FA-18F or more F-35C.

[33YearsGHQ]

My Predictions (modern only, still thinking about WWII):
- CV HMS Queen Elizabeth
- USS Zumwalt
- (2) South Korean releases

My wants:
- CV Queen Elizabeth
- USS Zumwalt
- LHA America (guessing 2018 for this one)
- SSN Virginia & SSBN Ohio (also works for SSGN Michigan) pack
- T-AKE Lewis & Clark (need some auxiliaries!)

[intruder523]

Here's something I doubt will happen in the next release but I'll throw it out there. Maybe down the road somewhere. I've been mulling this over for awhile now.
Some Argentine ships for a Falkland's war scenario.
The Cinco de Mayo
The Belgrano
And maybe an aircraft pack with A4s, Entendards w Exocets, etc.
GHQ could almost put them all out as a CC.
Just a thought to shake things up a bit. LOL

[CG2]

One thing I'm surprised at is that there are no Naval 'Combat Commands'. Why not have a 'Fleet Command' with a US Carrier, a cruiser, a couple of destroyers and a fleet sub?

[CG2]

Oh dear, I'm not getting any better at this......

[Donald M. Scheef]

Now that GHQ has announced its 2017-2018 releases I can evaluate my predictions/guesses for the Micronauts line.
I predicted that there would be 12 new Micronauts, 4 each for WWI, WWII, and modern eras. I was correct about this, but don’t consider it a great achievement.
For WWI I had predicted that GHQ would introduce a new GW-country line and that the country would be Italy. I was right on target for this and claim it as a major victory.
• I predicted France pre-Dreadnought battleship Charlemagne class, with armored cruiser Edgar Quinet as a backup. In fact, no French ships were announced.
• I predicted Italy battleship Dante Alighieri. Two Italian battleships were announced, but not this one.
• I predicted either Doria class battleship or Cavour class battleship, but not both. GHQ announced that both will be produced.
• I predicted Italian destroyer Indomito class, but no WWI destroyers are in the list.
• GHQ will produce UK light cruiser Birkenhead (Town-class). I didn’t predict this, but I’m perfectly happy with this.
• GHQ will produce Germany Zeppelin LZ 38 type. This is totally outside my predictions.
For WWII:
• I predicted USS Lexington (CV 2) as at Coral Sea with USS Yorktown (CV 5) as at Midway as a backup. GHQ will produce the Yorktown. I count this as a half success. GHQ will also produce a Japanese aircraft carrier, the Unryu-class.
• I predicted USS Idaho (BB 42) as at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. GHQ will produce a WWII battleship/battlecruiser but it will be the German Gneiseneau. No success here for me.
• I predicted French heavy cruiser Duquesne class. GHQ has no French ships and no cruisers in the WWII releases. This is a total miss for me.
• I predicted UK Fleet Air Arm carrier-based aircraft. GHQ has no UK ships and no aircraft in the WWII releases.
• GHQ will produce the Germany armed merchant cruiser Pinguin (HSK 5). I had no prediction at all for this.
For modern era:
• I predicted two Chinese ships; Type 071 (Yuzhao)-class amphibious transport and Type 052D (Luyang III)-class destroyer. I was correct about the Type 052D, but there is only one Chinese ship. I’ll count this as one complete success for the Yuzhao.
• I predicted that GHQ would NOT produce the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) but they did. At least I mentioned the Zumwalt, but I can’t count it as a success.
• I predicted that GHQ would produce USS America (LHA-6), but they actually produced an older US amphibious ship, the Whidbey Island (LSD 41) dock landing ship. I’ll give myself a small point for at least getting the correct nation and general type of ship.
• I predicted that GHQ would produce the UK aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth (R08)-class. They didn’t.
• GHQ will produce the Japanese LST Ōsumi-class. I had predicted an Asian amphibious ship, but one from China rather than Japan.
Overall, I think I did fairly well in this year’s predictions (actually guesses). I scored a major coup in predicting the GWI line and identified two of four releases in the WWI group. I didn’t get anything exactly correct for WWII but did manage a half point for the Yorktown. For modern ships I got one exactly correct and was close on two others.

Don S.

[Mikee]

Although Donald credits (or blames) me for starting this thread, I haven't put in my two cents worth for a couple of years. My predictions have been a sad failure, and I could have pretty much just referred to my last list when the new year comes. Also, I have a bunch of ships to paint - STILL! About 147 on my list, plus some CinC I have yet to record on my master lists.

The 2017-18 list is a bit of a disappointment for me. I've already painted one of the Hornets in Yorktown colors, already have three '3D-printed' Unryus painted up, two in camouflage colors, and have kit-bashed a Gneisenau using a CinC or Superior part and some modifications. I might be interested in Pinguin, if it has its guns exposed. WWI is better, with the Duilio and Dorias and the Birkenhead. Maybe 2018-19 will be better, but at age 77 I'm running out of time (particularly if I take after my mother's side of the family).

If I can clean up some more of my backlog, I've been thinking of starting on WTJ's 3-D printed pre-dreadnoughts. They've got all of the Battle of Santiago ships, most or all of the Battle of Tsushima, part of the U.S. White Fleet, and about half of the English ships that were at the Mediterranean disaster in 1893 (or thereabouts) and lots more. The Mediterranean thing fascinates me, for no good reason; the Admiral set up an evolution that resulted in his two flagships colliding, sinking the Fleet Flag.WTJ may not be as detailed as GHQs products, but they're not bad. And they're available.

Mike C.