CSA VTE cruiser rebuilds

[Guinness]

EDIT: realized I'd missed the difference in Armor weights, so I added the cost figures for those, and fiddled with armor a bit. Also recalculated according to re-reading of reconstruction rules.

Inspired by Iberians ideas for their ACs, and encouragement by Sachmle, here's a prospective CSA 2nd class cruiser rebuild. Not sure if I'm doing this right though. Do the costs break down correctly?

The highlights:

-Entirely new 100% oil burning machinery for lighter weight and more speed.

-A new Raised forecastle deck for better seakeaping.

-2nd main battery mount raised to a superfiring position. I tried to represent this by upping the barbette armor for the main battery by an inch.

-New upper belt and added secondary armament armor.

-Added an extra inch to the armored deck.

-Marconi, and new above deck torpedo tubes.

-Deleted the useless 6 pounders.

-Replaced previous single mount 1" MGs with current standard twin 1" AA mounts.

Here's the old design:

http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=744.msg4930#msg4930

CSS Buchanan, Confederate States of America Second Class Armoured Cruiser laid down 1901

Displacement:
7,429 t light; 7,782 t standard; 9,159 t normal; 10,261 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
531.00 ft / 531.00 ft x 60.00 ft x 18.00 ft (normal load)
161.85 m / 161.85 m x 18.29 m x 5.49 m

Armament:
6 - 7.50" / 191 mm guns (3x2 guns), 200.00lbs / 90.72kg shells, 1901 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward
8 - 4.85" / 123 mm guns in single mounts, 55.00lbs / 24.95kg shells, 1901 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
8 - 4.85" / 123 mm guns in single mounts, 55.00lbs / 24.95kg shells, 1901 Model
Quick firing guns in casemate mounts
on side, evenly spread
8 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in all but light seas
8 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns in single mounts, 6.00lbs / 2.72kg shells, 1901 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
12 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (1x12 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1901 Model
Machine guns in deck mount
on side, all raised guns
Weight of broadside 2,134 lbs / 968 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 130
6 - 19.5" / 495.3 mm submerged torpedo tubes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 531.00 ft / 161.85 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 154 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
3rd: 1.00" / 25 mm - -

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

Machinery:
Coal and oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 2 shafts, 18,402 ihp / 13,728 Kw = 21.50 kts
Range 12,000nm at 10.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,479 tons (60% coal)

Complement:
467 - 608

Cost:
£0.875 million / $3.501 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 279 tons, 3.0 %
Armour: 1,429 tons, 15.6 %
- Belts: 629 tons, 6.9 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 141 tons, 1.5 %
- Armour Deck: 622 tons, 6.8 %
- Conning Tower: 38 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 2,722 tons, 29.7 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,999 tons, 32.7 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,730 tons, 18.9 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
7,177 lbs / 3,256 Kg = 34.0 x 7.5 " / 191 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.61
Metacentric height 5.2 ft / 1.6 m
Roll period: 11.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.26
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.61

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.559
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.85 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 23.04 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 41 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 44
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -12.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
- Mid (50 %): 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
- Stern: 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
- Average freeboard: 15.51 ft / 4.73 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 129.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 139.3 %
Waterplane Area: 22,423 Square feet or 2,083 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 101 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 92 lbs/sq ft or 450 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.99
- Longitudinal: 1.03
- 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
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post Refit:
CSS Buchanan Rebuild, CSA 2nd Class Cruiser laid down 1901 (Engine 1912)

Displacement:
   7,892 t light; 8,239 t standard; 9,159 t normal; 9,895 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   531.00 ft / 531.00 ft x 60.00 ft x 18.00 ft (normal load)
   161.85 m / 161.85 m x 18.29 m  x 5.49 m

Armament:
      6 - 7.50" / 191 mm guns (3x2 guns), 200.00lbs / 90.72kg shells, 1901 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      8 - 4.85" / 123 mm guns in single mounts, 55.00lbs / 24.95kg shells, 1901 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     8 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in all but light seas
      8 - 4.85" / 123 mm guns in single mounts, 55.00lbs / 24.95kg shells, 1901 Model
     Quick firing guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
      10 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (5x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1901 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 2,085 lbs / 946 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 130
   6 - 20.0" / 508 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   4.00" / 102 mm   531.00 ft / 161.85 m   8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
   Upper:   4.00" / 102 mm   431.00 ft / 131.37 m   7.00 ft / 2.13 m
     Main Belt covers 154 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   4.00" / 102 mm   1.00" / 25 mm      4.00" / 102 mm
   2nd:   1.00" / 25 mm         -               -
   3rd:   4.00" / 102 mm   4.00" / 102 mm      3.00" / 76 mm

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 40,000 shp / 29,840 Kw = 26.33 kts
   Range 12,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,656 tons

Complement:
   467 - 608

Cost:
   £0.729 million / $2.915 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 273 tons, 3.0 %
   Armour: 2,717 tons, 29.7 %
      - Belts: 1,120 tons, 12.2 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 315 tons, 3.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,244 tons, 13.6 %
      - Conning Tower: 38 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 1,595 tons, 17.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,127 tons, 34.1 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,267 tons, 13.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 181 tons, 2.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     12,565 lbs / 5,699 Kg = 59.6 x 7.5 " / 191 mm shells or 1.9 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.21
   Metacentric height 3.3 ft / 1.0 m
   Roll period: 13.9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 72 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.36
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.27

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle
   Block coefficient: 0.559
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.85 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 23.04 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 57
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -12.00 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 (20 %):   22.00 ft / 6.71 m (15.00 ft / 4.57 m aft of break)
      - Mid (50 %):      15.00 ft / 4.57 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   15.00 ft / 4.57 m
      - Stern:      16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Average freeboard:   16.56 ft / 5.05 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 82.0 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 121.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 22,423 Square feet or 2,083 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 95 lbs/sq ft or 462 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.98
      - Longitudinal: 1.14
      - 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

Misc Weights:
6 tons: torpedos
100 tons: Fire Control
25t: Marconi
50t: Reserve etc.

Conversion Costs:

New hull additions: 148 tons, .148 bp and $0.074
Old Machinery to be scrapped: 2722 tons * .15 = .408 bp and $0.408
New Machinery: 1595 tons, 1.595 bp and $3.19
Armor Additions: 1288 tons, 1.288 bp and $1.288
Torpedos: 6 tons, .006 bp and $0.006
New 1" twin AA armament: 6 tons, .006 bp and $0.006
Wireless: 25t, .025 bp and $0.05
Fire Controll: 100t, .1 bp, and $0.2

Totals: 2.76bp and $4.406

[P3D]

There's a rule that you cannot replace VTE with turbines. VTE and turbine rooms have completely different architecture and that would require a much more comprehensive and costly rebuild.
Your hull weight addition is like 400t (compare weight breakdown).

[Guinness]

Ok, didn't see a rule about not replacing vte with turbines, but that does make sense.

Thanks also for proving conclusively that I can't do math in my head. This is already something that the people who work with me know conclusively :)

This idea was already looking too costly, considering that I can keep building Hatchitigbees at about the same cost...

[P3D]

You are not the first one to notice that VTE engined ships not worth more than a basic overhaul: fit oil burners in the boilers, and chance the bunkers to oil.

[Guinness]

That's an option, but how much would that cost? Can that be done under the normal maintenance overhaul rules?

I'm still leaning toward just scrapping them and the rest of my VTE cruisers, and reusing their guns for shore defense.

[P3D]

That's an option, but how much would that cost? Can that be done under the normal maintenance overhaul rules?

I'm still leaning toward just scrapping them and the rest of my VTE cruisers, and reusing their guns for shore defense.

I'd classify it as a refit and add a nominal 0.1BP/$0.1 cost. They are still useful ships, Keep them in service if the CSN needs the numbers.

[Guinness]

I'm just not sure where these old cruisers fit for the CSA. We don't have a lot of overseas possessions we need to show the flag in.

For anti-commerce raider duty, a smaller, cheaper 6" (well 5.5" for me) cruiser makes more sense. If one of my big boys ran into your average 6" gunned cruiser, almost all of those more modern protected cruisers would outrun them easily. If they ran into a modern AC/Battlecruiser in single ship action, they'd probably get their lunch eaten, and wouldn't be able to run away.

If they are hanging around with the battleline, they aren't any faster than my batleships, so aren't much use for scouting. They'd be death traps if they lined up with the BBs.

So you see my dilemma. The oil vs. coal firing thing is just the tip of the iceberg.

Maybe I should just beach them at major ports and turn them into forts...

[P3D]

Then I'd keep them in line just to preserve the crew, and replace them 1:1 or 2:1 with new ships - scrap when the new ones are finished. Which sane navy would crap old ships without getting replacements for them? More ships (even obsolete ones) mean more command slots, more fleets and more admirals.

Or remove the armament and use the ships for auxiliary roles.  The ships are hardly more than 10 years old, yes, need a refit/overhaul but that's really a spare change.

Or try to sell them (to NPCs?), obsolescent or not. CSA has more BP than money.

[Guinness]

Very good points. I figure I need about 30 light cruisers (including those for use as destroyer leaders), somewhere around 10 "heavy" (or trade protection, or what have you) cruisers, and maybe ultimately 4 armored cruisers/battlecruisers/fast battleships.

Today I have 4 AC's all VTE and slow, 8 ships that fall into the "heavy" category, 11 mostly modern light cruisers, and 22 slower coal fired mostly vte light cruisers.

So I've got a long way to go. The ACs are an easy target, as they don't fit well into fleet doctrine anymore. If I can find a way to reuse the hulls to a useful purpose, I will. Maybe tenders of some sort.

For the others, I think I've found useful employment for the smaller older cruisers as leaders for now, and I have a core of modern useful light cruisers to build on. I guess my goal is to replace the rest 1 for 1 as fast as I can. They are all relatively young, but the turbine revolution, as in real life, means they're already obsolete.

[The Rock Doctor]

I don't think I'd go for an extensive upgrade of the class, but I'd suggest a couple might make for good training ships - I'm not aware of CSA having any specifically assigned to this role.

[Guinness]

Training ships are what patrol sloops are for ;-)

I'm working on an entirely different conversion concept now, but that'll have to wait until Junior's bath and bedtime.

[Guinness]

So, walking home from work today, I was thinking about the problem of my older VTE cruisers, and it occurred to me that they have relatively shallow drafts. So, hence was born a new idea: the amphibious landing cruiser!

In the Buchanan class example:

- remove the 2nd and 3rd main armament mount. Scrap the armor, but we'll save the guns themselves for shore installation later.
- remove the forward half of the boilers, reducing top speed to 18 knots. Convert the rest of the boilers to oil firing. Scrap the removed boilers.
- remove the casemate secondary mounts, relocating some of them in deck mounts.
- remove the old 1" MG mounts, and replace them with 6 of the modern 1" AA twins.
- remove a big chunk of the main belt, which right now runs the whole length of the ship, leaving only a portion amidships.
- remove the conning tower, and scrap that too.
- convert the number 2 and 3 barbettes and magazines to holds.
- convert the former forward boiler spaces to accommodations for troops
- convert the former casemate gun to troop berthing. Likewise build on a deckhouse aft and various other superstructure for troop and officer berthing.
- carry some ballast, since people take up a lot of volume, but don't weigh much (well at least most people).
- embark a bunch of boats on davits and serviced by a boat crane, both amidships and aft.

The CSA doesn't currently have much of an amphibious capability, but does have level one amphibious tech, so this seems like a good way to be able to embark and deliver a battalion of light infantry, and give them artillery support as they go ashore.

CSA Buchanan Amphibious Assault, CSA Amphibious Cruiser laid down 1901

Displacement:
   8,199 t light; 8,470 t standard; 9,159 t normal; 9,711 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   531.00 ft / 531.00 ft x 60.00 ft x 18.00 ft (normal load)
   161.85 m / 161.85 m x 18.29 m  x 5.49 m

Armament:
      2 - 7.50" / 191 mm guns (1x2 guns), 200.00lbs / 90.72kg shells, 1901 Model
     Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
     on centreline forward
      12 - 4.85" / 123 mm guns in single mounts, 55.00lbs / 24.95kg shells, 1901 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
      12 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (6x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1901 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 1,066 lbs / 484 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 130

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   4.00" / 102 mm   400.00 ft / 121.92 m   8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 116 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   3.00" / 76 mm   1.00" / 25 mm      2.00" / 51 mm
   3rd:   1.00" / 25 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 1.50" / 38 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 9,680 ihp / 7,221 Kw = 18.00 kts
   Range 7,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,241 tons

Complement:
   467 - 608

Cost:
   £0.593 million / $2.373 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 139 tons, 1.5 %
   Armour: 1,221 tons, 13.3 %
      - Belts: 527 tons, 5.8 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 72 tons, 0.8 %
      - Armour Deck: 622 tons, 6.8 %
      - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 1,354 tons, 14.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,741 tons, 29.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 960 tons, 10.5 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 2,745 tons, 30.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     10,661 lbs / 4,836 Kg = 50.5 x 7.5 " / 191 mm shells or 1.6 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 2.8 ft / 0.8 m
   Roll period: 15.1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.18
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.54

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.559
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.85 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 23.04 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 32 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 46
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -12.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      17.00 ft / 5.18 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Mid (50 %):      15.00 ft / 4.57 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   15.00 ft / 4.57 m
      - Stern:      16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Average freeboard:   15.51 ft / 4.73 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 92.5 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 139.3 %
   Waterplane Area: 22,423 Square feet or 2,083 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 118 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 84 lbs/sq ft or 411 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 1.01
      - Longitudinal: 0.99
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Misc Weights:

2000 tons: 1000 troops
300 tons: boats etc. for landings
20 tons: weight of decommissioned main battery barbettes
25 tons: marconi
100 tons: messing, sanitary, and other troop accomodations
100 tons: various cargo and stores
200 tons: balast

Conversion costs:
Remove and scrap half the boilers: 1358 tons * 0.15 = .209 bp and $0.209
Remove and scrap part of the armor belt: 102 tons * 0.15 = .015 bp and $0.015
Remove and scrap the conning tower: 38 tons * 0.15 = .006 bp and $0.006
Remove and scrap most of the main armament armor: 69 tons * 0.15 = .010 bp and $0.010

Total scrap proceeds: .38 BP and $0.24

100 tons worth of various hull fittings for troop mess, etc.: 100 tons = 0.1 BP and $0.10
300 tons of boats and fittings: 300 tons = 0.6 BP and $0.60
25 ton marconi: 25 tons = 0.05 BP and $0.05
6 x 1" twin AA mounts: 6 tons = 0.006 BP and $0.006
Convert remaining machinery to 100% oil firing: .1 BP and $0.10

Total conversion cost: .856 BP and $0.856
minus scrap value: .476 BP and $0.616

[P3D]

Half the boilers weight much less, as the VTE engines themselves are pretty heavy.
I'd argue you don't have enough space for 1000 troops and their equipment. 5-600, perhaps, if you do not want to gut the ship fully (and pay for a more expensive reconstruction).

By the rules* you have to pay for the misc weight, although I'd say you could argue that all this can be 'merchant standard' stuff for 1/4 the price.

*Stupid rule, but every time I suggested to change i I was voted down. Won't matter if you are paying 1/4 cost for merchant standard( BTW my suggestion was that general misc weight should not be paid, and merchant standard should cut cost to 1/2 instead of 1/4).

At the end, you can build a more capable merchant standard ship for the same cost.

[Guinness]

I didn't include all the misc weight, as I figured the troops are already payed for, but I'll add some to the cost.

A merchant hull can't carry 2x7.5" and 12x4.85" guns :)

As to machinery, I'm just going by what SS told me, reducing IHP by about half, and then subtracting new machinery weight from old. If that's not ok, I'd have to figure out a new formula.

As to berthing: if this idea actually gets anywhere, I'll probably fire up the bitmap editor, draw it out, and see where I get. Part of what I'm banking on is that this ship would be shipping close to it's minimal crew, so hopefully that's 200 berths right there. The casemate spaces, by sheer estimation based on Carthaginian's original illustration for these ships are about 50 feet long each (and there are 4 of them). I figure each is 20 feet deep. If I also figure one troop bunk takes up approx 5 feet by 7 feet (including space to move around in between), then in those 50 foot x 20 foot spaces, I should be able to pack in 142 troops each (assuming I'm stacking them 5 high). So those spaces give me 568 beds right there. So I'm up to around 768 beds before even building any extra superstructure. I figure the big space left over from the boiler removal, including space topside, gives me space to mess all those troops, and some sanitary facilities and stores. I'm happy to have to pay to frame that out.

The embarked troops probably won't be happy, but maybe then they'll be in a fighting mood when they get where they're going. :)

I figure the ships crew itself can live forward, with the officers aft in existing spaces.

I think the bigger problem may be where to pack in the boats...

[P3D]

A merchant hull can't carry 2x7.5" and 12x4.85" guns :)

But an old 8000t armored cruiser can...