Glorious Republique class BB rebuild

[maddox]

1913 is approaching and the 6 ships of the Republique class are overdue the mid life overhaul.

As Build.

Republique, French Battleship laid down 1897

Displacement:
   14.097 t light; 14.894 t standard; 16.657 t normal; 18.067 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   433,07 ft / 426,51 ft x 80,38 ft x 28,87 ft (normal load)
   132,00 m / 130,00 m x 24,50 m  x 8,80 m

Armament:
      4 - 12,01" / 305 mm guns (2x2 guns), 865,70lbs / 392,67kg shells, 1897 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
      4 - 10,83" / 275 mm guns (2x2 guns), 634,55lbs / 287,83kg shells, 1897 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on side, all amidships
      12 - 6,50" / 165 mm guns in single mounts, 137,06lbs / 62,17kg shells, 1897 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     6 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in all but light seas
      12 - 2,76" / 70,0 mm guns in single mounts, 10,47lbs / 4,75kg shells, 1897 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
      12 - 1,85" / 47,0 mm guns in single mounts, 3,17lbs / 1,44kg shells, 1897 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 7.809 lbs / 3.542 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100
   4 - 18,0" / 457,2 mm submerged torpedo tubes

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13,0" / 330 mm   277,23 ft / 84,50 m   8,00 ft / 2,44 m
   Ends:   4,00" / 102 mm   149,26 ft / 45,49 m   10,76 ft / 3,28 m
   Upper:   4,00" / 102 mm   277,23 ft / 84,50 m   10,00 ft / 3,05 m
     Main Belt covers 100% of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   13,0" / 330 mm   10,0" / 254 mm      10,0" / 254 mm
   2nd:   12,0" / 305 mm   10,0" / 254 mm      10,0" / 254 mm
   3rd:   4,00" / 102 mm   1,00" / 25 mm      1,00" / 25 mm

   - Armour deck: 3,00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 13,00" / 330 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 13.402 ihp / 9.998 Kw = 17,50 kts
   Range 6.000nm at 12,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3.172 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   733 - 953

Cost:
   £1,621 million / $6,484 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 976 tons, 5,9%
   Armour: 5.285 tons, 31,7%
      - Belts: 2.021 tons, 12,1%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0,0%
      - Armament: 1.704 tons, 10,2%
      - Armour Deck: 1.377 tons, 8,3%
      - Conning Tower: 183 tons, 1,1%
   Machinery: 2.197 tons, 13,2%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 5.539 tons, 33,3%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2.560 tons, 15,4%
   Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0,6%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     15.937 lbs / 7.229 Kg = 18,4 x 12,0 " / 305 mm shells or 2,1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,11
   Metacentric height 4,4 ft / 1,3 m
   Roll period: 16,1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 83 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,61
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,67

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0,589
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5,31 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 20,65 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -5,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 6,56 ft / 2,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      25,59 ft / 7,80 m
      - Forecastle (20%):   18,04 ft / 5,50 m
      - Mid (50%):      14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Quarterdeck (15%):   14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Stern:      14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Average freeboard:   16,52 ft / 5,03 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 91,6%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 100,1%
   Waterplane Area: 24.817 Square feet or 2.306 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 95%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 155 lbs/sq ft or 757 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,91
      - Longitudinal: 2,41
      - Overall: 1,00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

After rebuild.

Republique, French Battleship laid down 1897 (rebuild plans 1911)

Displacement:
   13.002 t light; 13.774 t standard; 16.657 t normal; 18.963 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   433,07 ft / 426,51 ft x 80,38 ft x 28,87 ft (normal load)
   132,00 m / 130,00 m x 24,50 m  x 8,80 m

Armament:
      4 - 12,01" / 305 mm guns (2x2 guns), 881,85lbs / 400,00kg shells, 1910 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
      2 - 12,01" / 305 mm guns in single mounts, 881,85lbs / 400,00kg shells, 1910 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on side, all amidships
      10 - 5,51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 92,59lbs / 42,00kg shells, 1912 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
      4 - 2,76" / 70,0 mm guns in single mounts, 10,47lbs / 4,75kg shells, 1912 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on centreline, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 6.259 lbs / 2.839 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 120

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13,0" / 330 mm   277,23 ft / 84,50 m   8,00 ft / 2,44 m
   Ends:   4,00" / 102 mm   149,26 ft / 45,49 m   10,76 ft / 3,28 m
   Upper:   6,00" / 152 mm   277,23 ft / 84,50 m   10,00 ft / 3,05 m
     Main Belt covers 100% of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   13,0" / 330 mm   10,0" / 254 mm      10,0" / 254 mm
   2nd:   13,0" / 330 mm   10,0" / 254 mm      10,0" / 254 mm
   3rd:   2,00" / 51 mm   1,00" / 25 mm      1,00" / 25 mm
   4th:   1,00" / 25 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 3,00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 13,00" / 330 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 18.404 ihp / 13.729 Kw = 19,00 kts
   Range 8.500nm at 14,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 5.189 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   733 - 953

Cost:
   £1,264 million / $5,056 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 759 tons, 4,6%
   Armour: 5.183 tons, 31,1%
      - Belts: 2.269 tons, 13,6%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0,0%
      - Armament: 1.355 tons, 8,1%
      - Armour Deck: 1.377 tons, 8,3%
      - Conning Tower: 183 tons, 1,1%
   Machinery: 1.223 tons, 7,3%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 5.386 tons, 32,3%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3.655 tons, 21,9%
   Miscellaneous weights: 450 tons, 2,7%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     23.243 lbs / 10.543 Kg = 26,8 x 12,0 " / 305 mm shells or 3,3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,09
   Metacentric height 4,3 ft / 1,3 m
   Roll period: 16,3 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,49
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,45

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0,589
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5,31 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 20,65 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 48
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -5,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 6,56 ft / 2,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      25,59 ft / 7,80 m
      - Forecastle (20%):   18,04 ft / 5,50 m
      - Mid (50%):      14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Quarterdeck (15%):   14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Stern:      14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Average freeboard:   16,52 ft / 5,03 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 62,3%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 100,1%
   Waterplane Area: 24.817 Square feet or 2.306 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 118%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 151 lbs/sq ft or 736 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,92
      - Longitudinal: 2,51
      - Overall: 1,02
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

A possibility of the mid life overhaul of the Republique class ships.
Removing the side/centre twin 275mm turrets and replacing them with modern 305mm single turrets gives them a better punch against the more modern heavier armored ships.
The change from a very large and mixed secundary up to a quintary battery to a much simplified and modern setup gives the option to integrate Ears with the first attempts to centraly controled weapon control-therefor the huge reserve of misc weight.

10 140mm QF in lightly armored mount and hoists  to replace the unwieldy 165mm casemated ones are a mayor improvement in handling "lighter" cruisers and destroyers the 4 70QF guns are delegated to deal with smaller fry, like TB's and those pesky eyes in the sky, Airships.

[P3D]

You won't be able to integrate a listening apparatus with the FCS. Not enough resolution to do anything besides telling that ' some ships might be in that direction', especially if the ship is powered with the much quieter turbines.

The ships are 15 years old, the new engines are a waste of BP and money. France doesn't need such a long range armed coaliers with 6000t bunkers either. I'd argue that with lighter secondaries, you could even have twin 12" turrets amidships.

[maddox]

Twin 12" turrets on twin 10.83" barbettes, I see some issues.
That's why I opted to replace them with  12" singles. But another way is to lower the caliber on the main turrets and drop in the newly developed tripples- with courtesy to Rohan and Italy.
Not replacing the engines, but a reboilering and upgrade of the parts could simulate an engine year like 1905.
A more uniform secundary armament is also added value.

Republique, French Battleship laid down 1897 (Engine 1905)

Displacement:
   13.948 t light; 14.751 t standard; 16.657 t normal; 18.182 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   433,07 ft / 426,51 ft x 80,38 ft x 28,87 ft (normal load)
   132,00 m / 130,00 m x 24,50 m  x 8,80 m

Armament:
      6 - 10,83" / 275 mm guns (2x3 guns), 661,39lbs / 300,00kg shells, 1897 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
      4 - 10,83" / 275 mm guns (2x2 guns), 661,39lbs / 300,00kg shells, 1897 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on side, all amidships
      14 - 5,51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 92,59lbs / 42,00kg shells, 1910 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread, 6 raised mounts
      4 - 2,76" / 70,0 mm guns in single mounts, 10,47lbs / 4,75kg shells, 1910 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on centreline, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 7.952 lbs / 3.607 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13,0" / 330 mm   277,23 ft / 84,50 m   8,00 ft / 2,44 m
   Ends:   4,00" / 102 mm   149,26 ft / 45,49 m   10,76 ft / 3,28 m
   Upper:   4,00" / 102 mm   277,23 ft / 84,50 m   10,00 ft / 3,05 m
     Main Belt covers 100% of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   12,0" / 305 mm   10,0" / 254 mm      10,0" / 254 mm
   2nd:   12,0" / 305 mm   10,0" / 254 mm      10,0" / 254 mm
   3rd:   2,00" / 51 mm   1,00" / 25 mm      1,00" / 25 mm
   4th:   0,50" / 13 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 3,00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 13,00" / 330 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines ,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 22.520 shp / 16.800 Kw = 20,00 kts
   Range 6.000nm at 12,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3.431 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   733 - 953

Cost:
   £1,545 million / $6,179 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 945 tons, 5,7%
   Armour: 5.258 tons, 31,6%
      - Belts: 2.021 tons, 12,1%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0,0%
      - Armament: 1.677 tons, 10,1%
      - Armour Deck: 1.377 tons, 8,3%
      - Conning Tower: 183 tons, 1,1%
   Machinery: 1.877 tons, 11,3%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 5.749 tons, 34,5%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2.709 tons, 16,3%
   Miscellaneous weights: 120 tons, 0,7%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     17.607 lbs / 7.986 Kg = 27,7 x 10,8 " / 275 mm shells or 2,5 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,06
   Metacentric height 4,0 ft / 1,2 m
   Roll period: 16,9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 62 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,61
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,23

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0,589
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5,31 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 20,65 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -5,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 6,56 ft / 2,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      25,59 ft / 7,80 m
      - Forecastle (20%):   18,04 ft / 5,50 m
      - Mid (50%):      14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Quarterdeck (15%):   14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Stern:      14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Average freeboard:   16,52 ft / 5,03 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 80,5%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 100,1%
   Waterplane Area: 24.817 Square feet or 2.306 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 161 lbs/sq ft or 786 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,90
      - Longitudinal: 2,48
      - Overall: 1,00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[Borys]

Ahoj!
I wholeheartedly agree that 2x12" in a 2x11" arbette fit wll not.
Good idea with the triples. Stability is worringly low.
The Habsburgs would had scrapped or sold those ships.
Borys

[maddox]

France can't build 6 BB's in 1 go, especialy not the newer, heavier ones.
And these are the oldest in the inventory, except the 2 Polynesian BB's, Meganta and Marceau- but those had a refit in 1902, and therefore are good for another 5 years before scrapping.
One idea is to scrap 3 and use those funds and materials to rebuild the 3 others.

Stability isn't much of an issue if the ships are kept for duty in the Red Sea and/or Med.

[Borys]

Ahoj!
Stability is what keeps you afloat after taking damage. Personally I never go below 1,10.

The idea to retain 3 is good. They could be stationed in Annam.
Borys

[maddox]

The cheapest solution.

Taking the 275mm twin turrets from 3 of this class, and mount them in place of the 305mm turrets of the 3 others. Giving a uniform 275mm main gun armament.
Plate over the casemates and replace the gazillion secundary to quintary guns with a more uniform armament. The classic 140mm QF gun fills the gap nicely.
Reboiler and tweak the VTE's a bit, gaining a bit of speed and range.
The 280 tons of misc weight can be used to fit on FC, and the left over for a bit of crew comfort increasing measures.

Scrap the other 3 or sell them without the 275mm guns.
If scrapping is the end option, the 6 305 twin turrets will go in storage- those are the same as on the Ligne DeCreme and/or can be used for other costal fortifications.

Republique, French Battleship laid down 1897 (Engine 1905)

Displacement:
   13.979 t light; 14.856 t standard; 16.657 t normal; 18.098 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   433,07 ft / 426,51 ft x 80,38 ft x 28,87 ft (normal load)
   132,00 m / 130,00 m x 24,50 m  x 8,80 m

Armament:
      4 - 10,83" / 275 mm guns (2x2 guns), 683,43lbs / 310,00kg shells, 1897 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
      4 - 10,83" / 275 mm guns (2x2 guns), 683,43lbs / 310,00kg shells, 1897 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on side, all amidships
      16 - 5,51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 92,59lbs / 42,00kg shells, 1911 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread
      4 - 2,76" / 70,0 mm guns in single mounts, 11,02lbs / 5,00kg shells, 1911 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 6.993 lbs / 3.172 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 130

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13,0" / 330 mm   277,23 ft / 84,50 m   8,00 ft / 2,44 m
   Ends:   4,00" / 102 mm   149,26 ft / 45,49 m   10,76 ft / 3,28 m
   Upper:   4,00" / 102 mm   277,23 ft / 84,50 m   10,00 ft / 3,05 m
     Main Belt covers 100% of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   12,0" / 305 mm   10,0" / 254 mm      10,0" / 254 mm
   2nd:   12,0" / 305 mm   10,0" / 254 mm      10,0" / 254 mm
   3rd:   2,00" / 51 mm   1,00" / 25 mm      1,00" / 25 mm
   4th:   0,50" / 13 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 3,00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 13,00" / 330 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 16.590 ihp / 12.376 Kw = 18,50 kts
   Range 7.000nm at 12,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3.242 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   733 - 953

Cost:
   £1,504 million / $6,016 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 807 tons, 4,8%
   Armour: 5.090 tons, 30,6%
      - Belts: 2.021 tons, 12,1%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0,0%
      - Armament: 1.509 tons, 9,1%
      - Armour Deck: 1.377 tons, 8,3%
      - Conning Tower: 183 tons, 1,1%
   Machinery: 2.404 tons, 14,4%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 5.397 tons, 32,4%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2.678 tons, 16,1%
   Miscellaneous weights: 280 tons, 1,7%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     16.787 lbs / 7.614 Kg = 26,5 x 10,8 " / 275 mm shells or 2,3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,11
   Metacentric height 4,4 ft / 1,3 m
   Roll period: 16,1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,53
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,49

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0,589
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5,31 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 20,65 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 48 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 47
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -5,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 6,56 ft / 2,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      25,59 ft / 7,80 m
      - Forecastle (20%):   18,04 ft / 5,50 m
      - Mid (50%):      14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Quarterdeck (15%):   14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Stern:      14,76 ft / 4,50 m
      - Average freeboard:   16,52 ft / 5,03 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 86,5%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 100,1%
   Waterplane Area: 24.817 Square feet or 2.306 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 151 lbs/sq ft or 738 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,90
      - Longitudinal: 2,36
      - Overall: 1,00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[Guinness]

The 280 tons of misc weight can be used to fit on FC, and the left over for a bit of crew comfort increasing measures.

She is French. She simply cannot be refit without increasing her wine stores.

[maddox]

Installing the granite rock winecellar takes a bit of extra weight.
But the ventilation systems to avoid cheese smells all over the ship, those are powerhogs.

[Borys]

Installing the granite rock winecellar takes a bit of extra weight.
But the ventilation systems to avoid cheese smells all over the ship, those are powerhogs.

LOL!

[Korpen]

Installing the granite rock winecellar takes a bit of extra weight.
But the ventilation systems to avoid cheese smells all over the ship, those are powerhogs.

Why would one want to avoid the cheese smell?

[Borys]

Ahoj!

How many miles downwind can French shps be detected?
By a human nose? Maybe some mechanical smell amplifier?
A trained Murderous Balkan sheep?
Mechanical device
Can I research cheese detector technology?

Hmm, sauerkraut fart detectors might be the next step ...

Borys

[Desertfox]

All you need to do is look for the circling seagulls which folllow every French warship....

[Sachmle]

How much work to neck down the 305mm barbettes to hold the 275mm's?

[P3D]

My suggestion:
Keep belt armor, 12" turrets, scrap the rest. Build new battleships using old armor and turrets. End and upper belt uses the same amount, while main belt is just two rows of armor blocks from the old ships. Old type armor, equivalent of I guess 11 or 12" KC, but don't have to buy it.

Cost:
Saved on old turrets: 2BP
Saved on old armor: 3BP
Saved on 20,000t of scrap: 3BP

cost per ship: 7BP and $7

When money is available, replace old turrets and guns with new ones.
Similar to the Orange 2nd-class BBs, but slower, heavier armor and armament for higher reused content.

French BB Avant-Garde, laid down 1912

Displacement:
   15,065 t light; 15,871 t standard; 17,250 t normal; 18,354 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   426.00 ft / 426.00 ft x 85.00 ft x 26.00 ft (normal load)
   129.84 m / 129.84 m x 25.91 m  x 7.92 m

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm guns (4x2 guns), 864.00lbs / 391.90kg shells, 1912 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      14 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.19lbs / 37.73kg shells, 1912 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, all amidships
   Weight of broadside 8,077 lbs / 3,663 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13.0" / 330 mm   277.00 ft / 84.43 m   16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   Ends:   4.00" / 102 mm   149.00 ft / 45.42 m   10.76 ft / 3.28 m
   Upper:   4.00" / 102 mm   277.00 ft / 84.43 m   8.00 ft / 2.44 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
      2.00" / 51 mm   260.00 ft / 79.25 m   25.00 ft / 7.62 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   12.0" / 305 mm   10.0" / 254 mm      12.0" / 305 mm
   2nd:   4.00" / 102 mm   1.00" / 25 mm      1.00" / 25 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 23,821 shp / 17,770 Kw = 20.00 kts
   Range 6,000nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2,483 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   752 - 978

Cost:
   £1.522 million / $6.086 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,010 tons, 5.9 %
   Armour: 6,949 tons, 40.3 %
      - Belts: 3,241 tons, 18.8 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 481 tons, 2.8 %
      - Armament: 2,036 tons, 11.8 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,018 tons, 5.9 %
      - Conning Tower: 173 tons, 1.0 %
   Machinery: 1,045 tons, 6.1 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,762 tons, 33.4 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,185 tons, 12.7 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 300 tons, 1.7 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     22,848 lbs / 10,364 Kg = 26.4 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 4.6 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
   Metacentric height 4.6 ft / 1.4 m
   Roll period: 16.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 47 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.47
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.641
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5.01 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 20.64 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 44
   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:      24.00 ft / 7.32 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   15.00 ft / 4.57 m
      - Mid (50 %):      15.00 ft / 4.57 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   15.00 ft / 4.57 m
      - Stern:      15.00 ft / 4.57 m
      - Average freeboard:   15.72 ft / 4.79 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 86.3 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 104.6 %
   Waterplane Area: 27,518 Square feet or 2,556 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 99 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 156 lbs/sq ft or 760 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.92
      - Longitudinal: 1.95
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate