Destroyer Leader/Frigate/Really Light Cruiser

[The Rock Doctor]

If I introduce the type, I'll probably call it a frigate. 

Gran Colombia's got several protected cruisers assigned to hang out with torpedo-boat divisions, where they undertake patrols and would make fast strikes against enemy targets in wartime.  The protected cruisers are, of course, several knots slower than the torpedo-boats, so keeping up is a problem.  On the other hand, the larger platform provides space for command and wireless facilities that some TBs don't have.

One option is to replace them with the Westmoreland-type cruisers, of which I was planning to build two more in 1909.  Alternately, I could build four of these smaller vessels that are more specialized for the task, but also more expendable in the madness of a torpedo attack.  I believe they would be adequate to serve as the station flagship at more distal GC possessions like Coquimbo (as mentioned in my last ship thread). 

They're still slower than a torpedo-boat, but not by much.

Appearance-wise, think a scaled-down Puerta Espana class cruiser with two guns side-by-side forward.

Fregata, laid down 1909

Displacement:
   1,999 t light; 2,067 t standard; 2,245 t normal; 2,387 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   368.98 ft / 367.45 ft x 39.37 ft x 12.63 ft (normal load)
   112.46 m / 112.00 m x 12.00 m  x 3.85 m

Armament:
      4 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns in single mounts, 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1909 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      2 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns in single mounts, 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1909 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, all amidships
      2 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns in single mounts, 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1909 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
      2 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1909 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 189 lbs / 86 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 200
   4 - 18.0" / 457 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.98" / 25 mm         -         0.98" / 25 mm
   2nd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -         0.98" / 25 mm
   3rd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -
   4th:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Coal and oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 22,000 shp / 16,412 Kw = 27.63 kts
   Range 4,000nm at 10.00 kts (Bunkerage = 320 tons)

Complement:
   162 - 211

Cost:
   £0.232 million / $0.927 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 24 tons, 1.1 %
   Armour: 15 tons, 0.7 %
      - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 15 tons, 0.7 %
      - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 1,014 tons, 45.2 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 865 tons, 38.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 246 tons, 10.9 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 81 tons, 3.6 %
                -Flag Facilities:  30 t
                -Wireless and Communications:  25 t
                -Weight Reserve:  22 t
                -Torpedos:  4 t

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     1,154 lbs / 523 Kg = 37.8 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.24
   Metacentric height 1.8 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 12.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.17
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle
   Block coefficient: 0.430
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.33 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.17 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 68
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.50 degrees
   Stern overhang: -3.28 ft / -1.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      19.36 ft / 5.90 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   19.36 ft / 5.90 m (11.48 ft / 3.50 m aft of break)
      - Mid (50 %):      11.48 ft / 3.50 m
      - Quarterdeck (20 %):   11.48 ft / 3.50 m
      - Stern:      11.48 ft / 3.50 m
      - Average freeboard:   13.06 ft / 3.98 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 158.4 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 105.5 %
   Waterplane Area: 9,084 Square feet or 844 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 94 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 59 lbs/sq ft or 289 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.95
      - Longitudinal: 1.51
      - 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

[Borys]

Ahoj!
Flotilla Leader - yes. Cruiser - no.

Too short ranged and too poor seaboat for cruiser duties.

My Improved Ulan's cost 2,7$ versus your 2,3$ and are IMO much more capable ships.

Borys

[The Rock Doctor]

A slightly larger variant, with 100% oil-firing (bearing in mind the historical production out of Venezuela).

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1909

Displacement:
   2,067 t light; 2,139 t standard; 2,332 t normal; 2,488 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   368.98 ft / 367.45 ft x 39.37 ft x 13.12 ft (normal load)
   112.46 m / 112.00 m x 12.00 m  x 4.00 m

Armament:
      2 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns in single mounts, 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1909 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, all forward
      2 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns in single mounts, 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1909 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
      2 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns in single mounts, 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1909 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on centreline, all aft, 1 raised mount
      2 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns in single mounts, 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1909 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
      2 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1909 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 189 lbs / 86 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 200
   4 - 18.0" / 457 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.98" / 25 mm         -         0.98" / 25 mm
   2nd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -         0.98" / 25 mm
   3rd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -
   4th:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 24,000 shp / 17,904 Kw = 28.06 kts
   Range 5,000nm at 10.00 kts (Bunkerage = 349 tons)

Complement:
   167 - 218

Cost:
   £0.241 million / $0.964 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 24 tons, 1.0 %
   Armour: 14 tons, 0.6 %
      - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 14 tons, 0.6 %
      - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 1,062 tons, 45.6 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 901 tons, 38.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 265 tons, 11.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 66 tons, 2.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     1,175 lbs / 533 Kg = 38.5 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.25
   Metacentric height 1.8 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 12.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.18
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.05

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle
   Block coefficient: 0.430
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.33 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.17 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 67
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.50 degrees
   Stern overhang: -3.28 ft / -1.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      19.36 ft / 5.90 m
      - Forecastle (25 %):   19.36 ft / 5.90 m (11.48 ft / 3.50 m aft of break)
      - Mid (50 %):      11.48 ft / 3.50 m
      - Quarterdeck (20 %):   11.48 ft / 3.50 m
      - Stern:      11.48 ft / 3.50 m
      - Average freeboard:   13.45 ft / 4.10 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 158.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 102.3 %
   Waterplane Area: 9,084 Square feet or 844 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 95 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 60 lbs/sq ft or 293 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.94
      - Longitudinal: 1.68
      - 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

[Borys]

Ahoj!
You sure you don't want to buy the design of the Ulan?
:)
Borys

[The Rock Doctor]

I'm not sure I see why it's a better design for a leader...the seakeeping for these designs is adequate, the armament is not much less, and it's a knot and a half faster, on three quarters the displacement.

[Korpen]

A slightly larger variant, with 100% oil-firing (bearing in mind the historical production out of Venezuela).

I thought that oil was not discovered in venezuela untill 1914?
Before that petroleum was a small side business to the Asphalt industry (as far as i can tell).

[The Rock Doctor]

I had 1903 in mind for some reason - I'll go have a look around, if you think it's later.

[Borys]

I'm not sure I see why it's a better design for a leader...the seakeeping for these designs is adequate, the armament is not much less, and it's a knot and a half faster, on three quarters the displacement.

The 0,4$ buys you cruiser and scoutuing duties (can operate in bad seas alone, has greater range), and the armoured deck. The 1,5 knot difference is insignificant. And my ship costs 2,7, your's - 2,4, so your flotilla leader is not "three fourths of price". Eight nineths, by the looks of it. 88%?

Borys

[The Rock Doctor]

Sorry - I was thinking in terms of BP.  It's more of a limitation than money.

Korpen - you're right.  The big oil find in Venezuela is 1914.  I'll have to think the fuel thing over, then.

[Borys]

Ahoj!
I also feel the BP screw :)

1914 is just right the corner ...

Borys

[Korpen]

1914 is just right the corner ...

Borys

And economic revival for Curaçao! :)

(Historically, Curaçaos economy too a gigantic leap when it became the main refining station and export port for the oil from the Maracaibo Basin.)

[The Rock Doctor]

Maybe then I'll come nag at you (again) to sell Curacao to me...

1914 isn't that far away, but I'm thinking it's not terribly unreasonable to bump the discovery forward a bit given how much more industrialized Gran Colombia is compared to historical.  We'll see...