CSA 1907 Battleship (final)

[Carthaginian]

After several design phases, the CSA has finalized the design for it's newest class of dreadnought battleship- the Nuevo Leon. They are not as large as some battleships being built, nor as fast. They are, however, heavily armed and armored in order to fulfill their primary mission: remain afloat and fight the enemy. In order to accomplish this, new experimental armor has been fitted to increase protection (simmed by the odd-number armor measurements).

There are some problems with the design.
For instance, the long propeller shafts prevent the ship from applying too much power too quickly, meaning that the ships are slow accelerators. If a chief engineer isn't careful in applying power to a shaft, the torque could damage or even destroy the shaft. Also, the ships are slightly more vulnerable to torpedo boat attack than desired. The result is that the Nuevo Leon and her sisters will have to be escorted at all times (which has given rise to the latest generation of long-range destroyers).

All in all- firepower, protection and speed taken together- the Nuevo Leon's are average battleships meant to do OK at all things at the expense of shining in one particular area.



Nuevo Leon, Confederate States of America Battleship laid down 1907 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   17,000 t light; 17,976 t standard; 18,844 t normal; 19,538 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   557.00 ft / 550.00 ft x 82.00 ft x 22.00 ft (normal load)
   169.77 m / 167.64 m x 24.99 m  x 6.71 m

Armament:
      6 - 13.50" / 343 mm guns (3x2 guns), 1,250.00lbs / 566.99kg shells, 1905 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline, evenly spread
     Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 100.00lbs / 45.36kg shells, 1907 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     12 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      10 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns in single mounts, 6.00lbs / 2.72kg shells, 1907 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side ends, evenly spread, 6 raised mounts - superfiring
   Weight of broadside 8,760 lbs / 3,973 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 120

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13.7" / 347 mm   350.00 ft / 106.68 m   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Ends:   5.25" / 133 mm   200.00 ft / 60.96 m   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Upper:   5.25" / 133 mm   300.00 ft / 91.44 m   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
     Main Belt covers 98 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   14.7" / 373 mm   9.20" / 234 mm      12.6" / 320 mm
   2nd:   5.25" / 133 mm   3.45" / 88 mm      3.45" / 88 mm
   3rd:   0.53" / 13 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 3.45" / 88 mm, Conning tower: 14.70" / 373 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 24,000 shp / 17,904 Kw = 20.24 kts
   Range 6,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,562 tons

Complement:
   803 - 1,045

Cost:
   £1.665 million / $6.659 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,092 tons, 5.8 %
   Armour: 7,990 tons, 42.4 %
      - Belts: 3,700 tons, 19.6 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 1,832 tons, 9.7 %
      - Armour Deck: 2,235 tons, 11.9 %
      - Conning Tower: 224 tons, 1.2 %
   Machinery: 1,091 tons, 5.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,803 tons, 36.1 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,844 tons, 9.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 25 tons, 0.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     29,373 lbs / 13,323 Kg = 23.9 x 13.5 " / 343 mm shells or 3.6 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
   Metacentric height 4.9 ft / 1.5 m
   Roll period: 15.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.55
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.33

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.665
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.71 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 23.45 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 43 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 16.25 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      24.00 ft / 7.32 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Mid (50 %):      16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Stern:      16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Average freeboard:   16.64 ft / 5.07 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 63.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 132.9 %
   Waterplane Area: 35,017 Square feet or 3,253 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 147 lbs/sq ft or 716 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.97
      - Longitudinal: 1.21
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[Korpen]

After several design phases, the CSA has finalized the design for it's newest class of dreadnought battleship- the Nuevo Leon. They are not as large as some battleships being built, nor as fast. They are, however, heavily armed and armored in order to fulfill their primary mission: remain afloat and fight the enemy. In order to accomplish this, new experimental armor has been fitted to increase protection (simmed by the odd-number armor measurements).

There are some problems with the design.
For instance, the long propeller shafts prevent the ship from applying too much power too quickly, meaning that the ships are slow accelerators. If a chief engineer isn't careful in applying power to a shaft, the torque could damage or even destroy the shaft. Also, the ships are slightly more vulnerable to torpedo boat attack than desired. The result is that the Nuevo Leon and her sisters will have to be escorted at all times (which has given rise to the latest generation of long-range destroyers).

Well, i will say about the same thin i have said about most battleships, over armoured.
you could easily decrease the amount of deck armour to around 60-75mm without affecting the real effectiveness of the protection. This due to the simple fact that for a shell to hit the deck without first penetrating the upper belt it must have a fall of around 22 degrees, even for guns with low MV that is at least 160hm, and for most guns even further out.

That kind of Wight saving can either make the ship smaller or faster, or increase her very short range.

But otherwise it is not a bad ship, as you have little need to send ships around the world on a regular basis.

[Borys]

Ahoj!
The deck, although on thick side, is still within OTL limits for the era. The German fleet, thinking of the North Sea, went for 2,5 inch decks. The RN, with a broader perspective, used 3 inch decks for 1907 ships. And went for 4 inches in 1909.
What bugs me in this design are the two shafts ...

Borys

[Carthaginian]

Ahoj!
The deck, although on thick side, is still within OTL limits for the era. The German fleet, thinking of the North Sea, went for 2,5 inch decks. The RN, with a broader perspective, used 3 inch decks for 1907 ships. And went for 4 inches in 1909.
What bugs me in this design are the two shafts ...

Borys

Well, the CSN set the speed requirement low for this ship. As a result, between the new turbines becoming available and that low speed requirement, the ship necessitated only two shafts. Since only the Virginia had 4 shafts- and this was viewed as an experimental design rather than a design progression- the old familiar twin screw layout was used.

No worries, as this is the last such design that the CSN will field.
From here on out, all battleships are going to be quad-screw ships.

[Borys]

Ahoj!
Nice ship - build 3-6 of them for a uniform Geschwader or Division.

Borys

[Carthaginian]

Ahoj!
Nice ship - build 3-6 of them for a uniform Geschwader or Division.

Borys

I'm expecting to lay down 6 total over the next 3 halves, though that number might be cut to 4 if a more economical or advantageous design is developed. At present, it's intended to leave the Georgia-class in the Gulf of Mexico, send Virginia to join the Atlantic fleet, and lay down 2 Nuevo Leon's (one on the East Coast, and one on the West) for 2nd/1907. The construction schedule will be repeated for 1st/1908, and possibly again in 2nd/1908.

That build plan will give me 6 modern BB's with which to replace my old pre-dreads, three on either coast. Virginia and the Georgia's will labor on in the Gulf for a time, until it's time to replace them.

[The Rock Doctor]

Decent design, and a nice sketch.  She's pretty.

Have you got the industrial capacity to actually build six of these in such a short time period?

[Carthaginian]

Decent design, and a nice sketch.  She's pretty.

Have you got the industrial capacity to actually build six of these in such a short time period?

I've saved up enough scrap that I can get a good start on the first two. :)
They will be slow in building, but I should be able to send them down the ways in a timely fashion. They only cost 17 BP, and they will take a minimum of 36 months to build. I can do that at 3 BP per half per ship. If I can simply acquire a bit of scrap from here and there, I should be able to handle it.

[P3D]

The ship has a very shallow draft. A feet or two might save you a lot.

[Carthaginian]

Call it an 'intentional design flaw' of the Confederate Navy. ;)
The CSN will generally try and make it's ships as shallow draft as possible, in order to exploit the massive number of navigable bays, sounds, river deltas, etc within their territory. No one expects a battleship to be sitting 5 miles inland from the coast, hidden upriver among the trees and firing via spotters.

Handy to build a ship that can park in a place that you can't see it from, but where it can fire at you.


Of course, that's the thought of the last of the 'Ironclad Admirals' in the service... later designs are going to do away with this design feature, but I want it to stick around for a bit yet. Old habits die hard, especially among flag officers.