Orange Frigates

[P3D]

And the small one:

6800t Orange Cruiser laid down 1912

Displacement:
   6,800 t light; 7,062 t standard; 7,886 t normal; 8,545 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   533.19 ft / 531.00 ft x 59.00 ft x 20.00 ft (normal load)
   162.52 m / 161.85 m x 17.98 m  x 6.10 m

Armament:
      8 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (4x2 guns), 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1912 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      4 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm guns in single mounts, 13.50lbs / 6.12kg shells, 1912 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, all amidships
      4 - 0.36" / 9.2 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1912 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      4 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns in single mounts, 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1912 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 920 lbs / 417 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 200
   12 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   3.00" / 76 mm   422.00 ft / 128.63 m   13.00 ft / 3.96 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 122 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.00" / 25 mm   0.50" / 13 mm      1.00" / 25 mm
   3rd:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 66,045 shp / 49,269 Kw = 31.00 kts
   Range 8,000nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,483 tons

Complement:
   417 - 543

Cost:
   £0.703 million / $2.813 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 115 tons, 1.5 %
   Armour: 1,084 tons, 13.7 %
      - Belts: 666 tons, 8.4 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 25 tons, 0.3 %
      - Armour Deck: 367 tons, 4.7 %
      - Conning Tower: 26 tons, 0.3 %
   Machinery: 2,633 tons, 33.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,808 tons, 35.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,086 tons, 13.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 160 tons, 2.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     6,528 lbs / 2,961 Kg = 60.4 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.38
   Metacentric height 4.0 ft / 1.2 m
   Roll period: 12.4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 57 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.19
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.441
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 23.04 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 54
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      25.00 ft / 7.62 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   21.00 ft / 6.40 m
      - Mid (40 %):      21.00 ft / 6.40 m (13.00 ft / 3.96 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   13.00 ft / 3.96 m
      - Stern:      13.00 ft / 3.96 m
      - Average freeboard:   16.52 ft / 5.04 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 122.2 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 103.1 %
   Waterplane Area: 19,832 Square feet or 1,842 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 91 lbs/sq ft or 444 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.96
      - Longitudinal: 1.36
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

[P3D]

What's the opinion about a 5-turret version with reserved space for a floatplane and catapult fore of the X turret?

[Jefgte]

What's the opinion about a 5-turret version with reserved space for a floatplane and catapult fore of the X turret?

Too early in 1912.


Jef

[P3D]

All the slack cut from the design (reduced beam and freeboard). 12x6". Range 10000@12, 8000@12 would save 200t. On 7800t light.

Pietermaritzburg, Orange Frigate laid down 1912

Displacement:
   7,799 t light; 8,137 t standard; 9,267 t normal; 10,171 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   556.73 ft / 554.00 ft x 54.00 ft x 20.00 ft (normal load)
   169.69 m / 168.86 m x 16.46 m  x 6.10 m

Armament:
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (6x2 guns), 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1912 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      4 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm guns in single mounts, 13.50lbs / 6.12kg shells, 1912 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, all amidships
      4 - 0.36" / 9.2 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1912 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      4 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns in single mounts, 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1912 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 1,352 lbs / 613 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 200
   12 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   4.00" / 102 mm   431.00 ft / 131.37 m   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 120 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.00" / 25 mm   0.50" / 13 mm      1.00" / 25 mm

   - Armour deck: 1.50" / 38 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 73,906 shp / 55,134 Kw = 31.00 kts
   Range 10,000nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2,034 tons

Complement:
   471 - 613

Cost:
   £0.827 million / $3.310 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 169 tons, 1.8 %
   Armour: 1,488 tons, 16.1 %
      - Belts: 839 tons, 9.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 36 tons, 0.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 575 tons, 6.2 %
      - Conning Tower: 38 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 2,947 tons, 31.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,031 tons, 32.7 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,468 tons, 15.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 165 tons, 1.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     7,150 lbs / 3,243 Kg = 66.2 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
   Metacentric height 2.6 ft / 0.8 m
   Roll period: 14.0 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.45
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.542
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.26 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 23.54 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 70
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 6.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      26.00 ft / 7.92 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   21.00 ft / 6.40 m
      - Mid (48 %):      21.00 ft / 6.40 m (13.00 ft / 3.96 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   13.00 ft / 3.96 m
      - Stern:      13.00 ft / 3.96 m
      - Average freeboard:   17.24 ft / 5.25 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 119.7 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 99.7 %
   Waterplane Area: 20,724 Square feet or 1,925 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 91 lbs/sq ft or 443 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.98
      - Longitudinal: 1.18
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

[P3D]

Started a 3D model on the frigate in Alibre (freeware SolidWorks clone):

[The Rock Doctor]

You're off to a good start.  How're you liking the software?

Are the main gun mounts fully enclosed?

[P3D]

You're off to a good start.  How're you liking the software?

Are the main gun mounts fully enclosed?

Solidworks clone, so it did not take too long to get used to. Not up to Dassault standard, but the best free one on the market. The free version handles only 10-part assemblies so turrets and guns cannot move on this model. I will try to render it using a different software.
Mounts are fully enclosed.

[P3D]

With masts, 3" AA guns and rangefinders added.

[The Rock Doctor]

Looking good.  Would you recommend this software to folks like me who've only used Paint?

[P3D]

Looking good.  Would you recommend this software to folks like me who've only used Paint?

I could not yet find how to color different surfaces, and photorealistic rendering is obviously not part of the package (looking for other programs). Also, creating a ship with anything but straight bow is not straightforward, and it takes much more time than a simple drawing. The upper limit on 10 parts in an assembly also limits how much you can copy-paste from other ships.
If you are time-constrained, you can get much better pictures with Paint in significantly less time.
I am thinking giving TrueSpace a second try (rendering program, but not straightforward when you want to use exact coordinates).

[P3D]

Some Commerce raider studies. If built, they'd be in relatively large numbers to provide numbers against enemy commerce. Fast enough to get away from the small number of existing cruisers. The six current cruisers and planned heavies should provide heavy backup if they encounter a convoy. Diesel propulsion on the center shaft to provide long-range economy.

Might have a single floatplane or observation balloon for recon.

But there's a big problem with N3verse commerce warfare, however. Namely, reflagging merchants is apparently an automatic action, and the abundance of neutrals make declared blockade the only meaningful way to hurt opponent economies. Actually, let's start a separate thread for it.

Limiting range to 10000@12 would allow a ~2300t ship.

Orange raider laid down 1916

Displacement:
   2,550 t light; 2,692 t standard; 3,409 t normal; 3,983 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   405.00 ft / 393.00 ft x 42.00 ft x 13.00 ft (normal load)
   123.44 m / 119.79 m x 12.80 m  x 3.96 m

Armament:
      4 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1916 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      8 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1916 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, all amidships
      8 - 0.36" / 9.2 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1916 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 436 lbs / 198 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 300
   4 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.00" / 25 mm   0.50" / 13 mm      0.50" / 13 mm

   - Conning tower: 1.00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines plus diesel motors,
   Direct drive, 3 shafts, 26,919 shp / 20,082 Kw = 27.00 kts
   Range 14,000nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,291 tons

Complement:
   222 - 289

Cost:
   £0.451 million / $1.803 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 55 tons, 1.6 %
   Armour: 18 tons, 0.5 %
      - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 13 tons, 0.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 5 tons, 0.1 %
   Machinery: 1,003 tons, 29.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,294 tons, 38.0 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 859 tons, 25.2 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 180 tons, 5.3 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     3,522 lbs / 1,597 Kg = 32.6 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 0.8 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.22
   Metacentric height 2.0 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 12.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.40
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.20

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.556
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.36 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.82 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 59
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      21.00 ft / 6.40 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   20.00 ft / 6.10 m
      - Mid (45 %):      20.00 ft / 6.10 m (12.00 ft / 3.66 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
      - Stern:      12.00 ft / 3.66 m
      - Average freeboard:   15.68 ft / 4.78 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 114.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 124.8 %
   Waterplane Area: 11,585 Square feet or 1,076 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 129 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 67 lbs/sq ft or 327 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.94
      - Longitudinal: 1.84
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

OTOH I could abuse the destroyer rules and build a slightly less capable ship that is faster and ~800t lighter than the 2300t version above.


Even cheaper raider laid down 1916

Displacement:
   1,500 t light; 1,595 t standard; 1,969 t normal; 2,268 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   404.50 ft / 393.00 ft x 36.00 ft x 12.00 ft (normal load)
   123.29 m / 119.79 m x 10.97 m  x 3.66 m

Armament:
      3 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1916 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount
      8 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1916 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, all amidships
      8 - 0.36" / 9.2 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1916 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 328 lbs / 149 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 300
   4 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -

   - Conning tower: 1.00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines plus diesel motors,
   Direct drive, 3 shafts, 23,168 shp / 17,283 Kw = 29.00 kts
   Range 10,000nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 674 tons

Complement:
   147 - 192

Cost:
   £0.330 million / $1.318 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 41 tons, 2.1 %
   Armour: 9 tons, 0.4 %
      - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 5 tons, 0.3 %
      - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 3 tons, 0.2 %
   Machinery: 818 tons, 41.5 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 543 tons, 27.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 469 tons, 23.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 90 tons, 4.6 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     712 lbs / 323 Kg = 6.6 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.44
   Metacentric height 2.0 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 10.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.42
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.46

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.406
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.92 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.82 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 48
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      21.00 ft / 6.40 m
      - Forecastle (15 %):   19.50 ft / 5.94 m
      - Mid (33 %):      19.50 ft / 5.94 m (11.50 ft / 3.51 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   11.50 ft / 3.51 m
      - Stern:      11.50 ft / 3.51 m
      - Average freeboard:   14.23 ft / 4.34 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 156.7 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 123.6 %
   Waterplane Area: 8,739 Square feet or 812 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 91 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 34 lbs/sq ft or 166 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.50
      - Longitudinal: 1.16
      - Overall: 0.54
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[maddox]

I would change the 1" and the .36" breech loaders into machine guns.

[P3D]

Tweaked the raider a bit. Built under destroyer rules. Main propulsion is "CODAS" - two 750HP diesels, with an 'emergency' high-speed steam power plant.

Orange Raider, laid down 1916

Displacement:
   1,500 t light; 1,618 t standard; 1,999 t normal; 2,304 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   393.00 ft / 393.00 ft x 33.00 ft x 13.00 ft (normal load)
   119.79 m / 119.79 m x 10.06 m  x 3.96 m

Armament:
      4 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1915 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      8 - 0.40" / 10.2 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.03lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1915 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on centreline, all amidships
      2 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm guns in single mounts, 13.50lbs / 6.12kg shells, 1915 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on centreline, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 459 lbs / 208 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 300
   6 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.00" / 25 mm   0.50" / 13 mm      0.50" / 13 mm
   3rd:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines plus diesel motors,
   Direct drive, 1 shaft, 23,296 shp / 17,379 Kw = 29.00 kts
   Range 10,000nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 685 tons

Complement:
   149 - 194

Cost:
   £0.309 million / $1.234 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 57 tons, 2.9 %
   Armour: 14 tons, 0.7 %
      - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 14 tons, 0.7 %
      - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 796 tons, 39.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 533 tons, 26.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 499 tons, 25.0 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 5.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     591 lbs / 268 Kg = 5.5 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.28
   Metacentric height 1.5 ft / 0.5 m
   Roll period: 11.4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.82
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.35

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.415
   Length to Beam Ratio: 11.91 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.82 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      23.00 ft / 7.01 m
      - Forecastle (12 %):   17.50 ft / 5.33 m
      - Mid (30 %):      17.50 ft / 5.33 m (11.00 ft / 3.35 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   11.00 ft / 3.35 m
      - Stern:      11.00 ft / 3.35 m
      - Average freeboard:   13.21 ft / 4.03 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 158.2 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 83.8 %
   Waterplane Area: 7,635 Square feet or 709 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 87 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 35 lbs/sq ft or 170 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.51
      - Longitudinal: 1.07
      - Overall: 0.55
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Misc weight is:
25t FC
25t long-range Wireless
24t provisions for 12x2t torpedoes
20t - some additional crew spaces
6t - weight reserve

[P3D]

Orange have five early turbine-powered frigates, but they become too slow (24kts) and underarmed (8x4").

http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=670.0

One of them is to be reconstructed as an experimental carrier - although the 393' long ship would be deemed too short for the purpose. That still leaves four to play with.

Now the options for the reconstruction are the following:

a/ 2x2x6"+ 4x1x6" hexagonal, 27kts (like the 8 more modern I have), 10000@12kts range, 175t misc weight. 1.44 BP cost each.
b/ 6x6"  hexagonal, 28.5kts 8000@12kts range, 150t misc. weight. Cost 1.72BP. Max speed possible without a full reconstruction.
c/ 6x6", FC and oil firing keeping the 24kts machinery
Relevant Orange ship speeds are 23kts for the battleline, 27kts for the 8 frigates and 28.5-29kts for the fastest ships.

I could, however, get a 8x6" 29kts frigate on 4600t, or an economy 6x6" 27kts on 3100t.
Any suggestions about which choice is preferable?

[Guinness]

(A) and (B) must be refurbishments then, I expect.

Assuming (A) includes fire control, I like that option better. Even though you'd be sinking more resources into these, I wouldn't expect to keep them in service more than 10 or 15 years after the refit. At least, that's the assumption I'm making with my refits. So for that amount of time, hopefully 27 knots will be fast enough, especially if you have 12 ships with that top speed.

The 28.5 knot ship may lend the appearance of being more future-proof, but it's fighting power is less, and you may not get all that much mileage out of it to justify the additional speed.