CSA Speculative Design Studies

[Guinness]

Since it's Friday night and I've got nothing better to do, I've been kicking around an even more radical reconstruction for the semi-dreads.

It's a..... really fast pre-dread!

The amidships turret and barbette is removed and replaced with new more powerful machinery. In addition, freeboard forward is raised by addition of a third deck and a little bit of a clipper bow.

And no, it's probably not worth it, but I figured I'd share anyway.

CSS Nuevo Leon Fast Reconstruction, Confederate States of America Battleship laid down 1907 (Engine 1916)

Displacement:
   17,000 t light; 17,814 t standard; 18,852 t normal; 19,682 t full load

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

Armament:
      4 - 13.50" / 343 mm guns (2x2 guns), 1,250.00lbs / 566.99kg shells, 1907 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline, evenly spread
      12 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 75.00lbs / 34.02kg shells, 1917 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     12 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      2 - 1.58" / 40.0 mm guns in single mounts, 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1917 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      8 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1917 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      8 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns (4x2 guns), 75.00lbs / 34.02kg shells, 1907 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 6,508 lbs / 2,952 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 116

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13.7" / 348 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   3.50" / 89 mm      12.6" / 320 mm
   2nd:   5.25" / 133 mm         -         3.45" / 88 mm
   3rd:         -      1.00" / 25 mm            -
   4th:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -
   5th:   1.50" / 38 mm   1.00" / 25 mm      3.00" / 76 mm

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

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 47,500 shp / 35,435 Kw = 24.14 kts
   Range 6,710nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,867 tons

Complement:
   803 - 1,045

Cost:
   £1.535 million / $6.140 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 824 tons, 4.4 %
   Armour: 7,415 tons, 39.3 %
      - Belts: 3,709 tons, 19.7 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 1,246 tons, 6.6 %
      - Armour Deck: 2,236 tons, 11.9 %
      - Conning Tower: 224 tons, 1.2 %
   Machinery: 1,770 tons, 9.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,634 tons, 35.2 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,852 tons, 9.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 357 tons, 1.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     30,457 lbs / 13,815 Kg = 24.8 x 13.5 " / 343 mm shells or 3.5 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
   Metacentric height 4.7 ft / 1.4 m
   Roll period: 15.8 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.49
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.20

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   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: 53 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 58
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 18.44 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 %):   24.00 ft / 7.32 m
      - Mid (46 %):      24.00 ft / 7.32 m (16.00 ft / 4.88 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Stern:      16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Average freeboard:   19.68 ft / 6.00 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 66.3 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 159.5 %
   Waterplane Area: 35,026 Square feet or 3,254 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 139 lbs/sq ft or 677 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.95
      - Longitudinal: 1.44
      - 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 Weight:
250t: Fire Control
25t: Long Range Wireless
10t: Short Range Wireless
50t: Flag Facilities
22t: Reserve and Misc Equipment

Costs:

Refurbishment cost: $4.25
New Armament: $0.49, 0.25 BP
New Armor: $0.23, 0.23 BP
New Machinery: $3.5, 1.77 BP
Fire Control and Functional Misc: $0.26, 0.26 BP
Non-functional misc: $0.77

Totals: $9.50 and 3.28 BP
Time: 13 months (minimum)

[The Rock Doctor]

If you're going to start thinking that far outside the box, why not consider the standard question of "Would a converted PDN make a good amphibious warfare ship?"

[Guinness]

That's an idea too, but first, this:

Lengthen her by 45 feet, inserting a section toward the bow, and a new section aft of the second turret housing a new 4th turret. Beam increases slightly where the plug was inserted amidships, and BC goes up a little bit (longer almost parallel hull section).

It's costly, but actually results in a pretty effective little ship:

CSS Nuevo Leon 4th turret reconstruction, Confederate States of America Battleship laid down 1907 (Engine 1916)

Displacement:
   19,300 t light; 20,438 t standard; 21,206 t normal; 21,820 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   595.00 ft / 595.00 ft x 84.00 ft x 22.00 ft (normal load)
   181.36 m / 181.36 m x 25.60 m  x 6.71 m

Armament:
      8 - 13.50" / 343 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1,250.00lbs / 566.99kg shells, 1907 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline, evenly spread
     Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
      12 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 75.00lbs / 34.02kg shells, 1917 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     12 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      2 - 1.58" / 40.0 mm guns in single mounts, 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1917 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      8 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1917 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 10,908 lbs / 4,948 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 116

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13.7" / 348 mm   395.00 ft / 120.40 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 102 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   14.7" / 373 mm   3.50" / 89 mm      12.6" / 320 mm
   2nd:   5.25" / 133 mm         -         3.45" / 88 mm
   3rd:         -      1.00" / 25 mm            -
   4th:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -

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

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 25,000 shp / 18,650 Kw = 20.16 kts
   Range 6,440nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,382 tons

Complement:
   878 - 1,142

Cost:
   £1.945 million / $7.780 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,356 tons, 6.4 %
   Armour: 8,716 tons, 41.1 %
      - Belts: 3,999 tons, 18.9 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 1,975 tons, 9.3 %
      - Armour Deck: 2,500 tons, 11.8 %
      - Conning Tower: 243 tons, 1.1 %
   Machinery: 931 tons, 4.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,896 tons, 37.2 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,906 tons, 9.0 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 400 tons, 1.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     31,427 lbs / 14,255 Kg = 25.5 x 13.5 " / 343 mm shells or 3.7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 4.6 ft / 1.4 m
   Roll period: 16.4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.66
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.24

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.675
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.08 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 24.39 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 40 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 57
   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 (25 %):   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:   16.80 ft / 5.12 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 65.3 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 136.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 39,170 Square feet or 3,639 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 97 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 154 lbs/sq ft or 750 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.99
      - Longitudinal: 1.07
      - 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 Weight:
250t: Fire Control
25t: Long Range Wireless
10t: Short Range Wireless
50t: Flag Facilities
26t: Reserve and Misc Equipment

Costs:

Reconstruction cost: $4.25, 1.70 BP
New Armament: $0.86, 0.43 BP
New Armor: $0.61, 0.23 BP
New Machinery: $1.90, 0.95 BP
Fire Control and Functional Misc: $0.26, 0.26 BP
Non-functional misc: $0.76
Changes to hull: $4.6 and 4.6 BP

Totals: $13.24 and 8.17 BP
Time: 17 months (minimum)

[maddox]

With 20 kts, she's also fit to fall in the French Battleline.  A rather elegant solution to a difficult problem.

France can't build a $13.24 6.47bp  BB in 17 months.

[Korpen]

That's an idea too, but first, this:

Lengthen her by 45 feet, inserting a section toward the bow, and a new section aft of the second turret housing a new 4th turret. Beam increases slightly where the plug was inserted amidships, and BC goes up a little bit (longer almost parallel hull section).

It's costly, but actually results in a pretty effective little ship:
CSS Nuevo Leon 4th turret reconstruction, Confederate States of America Battleship laid down 1907 (Engine 1916)

Costs:

Refurbishment cost: $4.25

It is not a refurbishment, but a reconstruction, so there is a 10% BP cost as well (but I see you used the reconstruction price).

[Guinness]

Korpen: Indeed, I've updated the calculations above. I need to make myself a refit/refurb/reconstruction spreadsheet...

Maddox: I think I'd still like to find a way to work in some sort of underwater protection, so I'm still working on a version that's got bulges too, but yeah, I'm pretty happy with this.

Doesn't yet mean I'm going to do it though :)

[Guinness]

One more tiresome iteration:

This one is lengthened by 27.5 feet amidships (5%), and bulged. The 4th turret is added, and secondary etc. batteries updated. Machinery is replaced with modern, range increased, and a few little other detail changes.

I did a spreadsheet today to try to encapsulate all the Overhaul, Refit, Refurb, Reconstruction rules, and used that to calculate the costs. There could be bugs in the spreadsheet still, but I'm pretty confident the costs came out correctly.

These ships would be broadly equivalent in capability to the Oklahoma class, maybe even a little bit better protected. The refit would cost about 70% in $ and 46% in BP compared to a new Oklahoma. Of course, the conversion time is also only about 54% as long as the new construction time of an Oklahoma as well.

So there is still the question of whether or not it would be worth it.

CSS Nuevo Leon 4th turret reconstruction bulges, Confederate States of America Battleship laid down 1907 (Engine 1916)

Displacement:
   19,100 t light; 20,260 t standard; 21,161 t normal; 21,882 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   577.50 ft / 577.50 ft x 82.00 ft (Bulges 89.00 ft) x 22.00 ft (normal load)
   176.02 m / 176.02 m x 24.99 m (Bulges 27.13 m)  x 6.71 m

Armament:
      8 - 13.50" / 343 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1,250.00lbs / 566.99kg shells, 1907 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline, evenly spread
     Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
      16 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 75.00lbs / 34.02kg shells, 1917 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     12 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      2 - 1.58" / 40.0 mm guns in single mounts, 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1917 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      8 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (4x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1917 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 11,208 lbs / 5,084 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 116

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13.7" / 348 mm   367.50 ft / 112.01 m   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Ends:   5.25" / 133 mm   200.00 ft / 60.96 m   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
     10.00 ft / 3.05 m Unarmoured ends
   Upper:   5.25" / 133 mm   327.50 ft / 99.82 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   3.50" / 89 mm      12.6" / 320 mm
   2nd:   5.25" / 133 mm         -         3.45" / 88 mm
   3rd:         -      1.00" / 25 mm            -
   4th:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -

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

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 25,000 shp / 18,650 Kw = 20.11 kts
   Range 7,780nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,621 tons

Complement:
   876 - 1,140

Cost:
   £1.973 million / $7.891 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,398 tons, 6.6 %
   Armour: 8,483 tons, 40.1 %
      - Belts: 3,871 tons, 18.3 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 2,044 tons, 9.7 %
      - Armour Deck: 2,326 tons, 11.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 242 tons, 1.1 %
   Machinery: 931 tons, 4.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,888 tons, 37.3 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,061 tons, 9.7 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 400 tons, 1.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     30,201 lbs / 13,699 Kg = 24.5 x 13.5 " / 343 mm shells or 3.7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
   Metacentric height 4.8 ft / 1.4 m
   Roll period: 17.1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.54
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.24

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.655
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.49 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 24.03 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 41 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 57
   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 %):   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): 66.9 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 126.8 %
   Waterplane Area: 36,443 Square feet or 3,386 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 97 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 159 lbs/sq ft or 778 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.99
      - Longitudinal: 1.12
      - Overall: 1.01
   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 Weight:
250t: Fire Control
25t: Long Range Wireless
10t: Short Range Wireless
50t: Flag Facilities
65t: Reserve and Misc Equipment

Base Cost:            $4.25   1.70
Armament:         583   $1.17   0.58
Machinery:         931   $1.86   0.93
Armor:            926   $0.93   0.93
Other Functional Misc:      260   $0.26   0.26
Hull, Fittings, and Equipment:   0   $4.20   4.20
Fuel, Ammunition, Stores:   217   $0.11   0.00
Other Non-Functional Misc:   115   $0.06   0.00

Total Costs:            $12.83   8.60
Time to Complete:      15   Months

[Carthaginian]

A pretty cheap way to achieve parity with one's adversaries...
Not a bad design.

[Guinness]

Something a little different. A 1500t Torpedo Ram, designed for two roles: first to add hulls and eyes to the Confederate scouting force, and second as a tradition flotilla leader.

Large TR Concept, CSA Torpedo Ram laid down 1917 (Engine 1916)

Displacement:
   1,500 t light; 1,554 t standard; 1,803 t normal; 2,002 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   375.00 ft / 370.00 ft x 34.75 ft x 11.42 ft (normal load)
   114.30 m / 112.78 m x 10.59 m  x 3.48 m

Armament:
      3 - 4.75" / 121 mm guns in single mounts, 50.00lbs / 22.68kg shells, 1917 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on centreline, evenly spread, 1 raised mount
      4 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (2x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1917 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
      1 - 1.58" / 40.0 mm guns in single mounts, 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1917 Model
     Anti-aircraft gun in deck mount
     on centreline aft, 1 raised gun
   Weight of broadside 154 lbs / 70 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 200
   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         -               -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 35,000 shp / 26,110 Kw = 32.12 kts
   Range 7,000nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 449 tons

Complement:
   137 - 179

Cost:
   £0.373 million / $1.494 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 21 tons, 1.1 %
   Armour: 9 tons, 0.5 %
      - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 9 tons, 0.5 %
      - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 969 tons, 53.7 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 413 tons, 22.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 303 tons, 16.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 89 tons, 4.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     408 lbs / 185 Kg = 7.6 x 4.8 " / 121 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.41
   Metacentric height 1.9 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 10.7 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.10
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 0.95

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.430
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.65 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.24 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 64 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 73
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 13.10 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      21.50 ft / 6.55 m
      - Forecastle (15 %):   19.00 ft / 5.79 m
      - Mid (37 %):      17.50 ft / 5.33 m (9.50 ft / 2.90 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (10 %):   9.50 ft / 2.90 m
      - Stern:      9.50 ft / 2.90 m
      - Average freeboard:   12.98 ft / 3.96 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 187.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 91.7 %
   Waterplane Area: 8,074 Square feet or 750 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 63 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 29 lbs/sq ft or 143 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.50
      - Longitudinal: 0.95
      - Overall: 0.53
   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
   Poor seaboat, wet and uncomfortable, reduced performance in heavy weather

Misc Weights:
25 tons: Fire control
25 tons: Long Range Wireless
10 tons: Captain(TR) facilities
12 tons: Torpedoes
4 tons: 12 depth charges (launched from stern racks)
13 tons: Reserve

Seakeeping at 28.5 knots: 1.24
Trial Speed: 32.79 knots

Range at 15 knots: 4250 nm
Range at 20 knots: 2040 nm
Range at 25 knots: 1095 nm
Range at 28.5 knots: 739 nm
Range at top speed: 507 nm

[The Rock Doctor]

My recollection is that your previous torpedo ram had more guns and almost as much speed - what does this design give you that the previous ones lacked?

[Guinness]

My recollection is that your previous torpedo ram had more guns and almost as much speed - what does this design give you that the previous ones lacked?

The last one built has 4x4" guns (120lb broadside) and 6x20" torpedoes. This one has 3x4.75" guns (150lb broadside) and 6x21" torpedoes. It also has a little bit more speed, 1000nm more range, and significantly better accommodation and seakeeping.

The difference is the roles. This one is also going to have about a 100 foot tall spotting top and is designed to cruise comfortably with the light cruisers and battlecruisers of the scouting force, even in heavier seas. The idea being that instead of building 6 more light cruisers, about 20ish of these can be built and can perform the same tactical scouting function. Plus, unlike 12 light cruisers, 20 of these might actually be able to make a run at and sink a BC or two.

These aren't to be built instead of another class of fleet boats. I'm also working on a smaller regular fleet boat with the same armament but less range and other extras on about 1050 tons to follow up the previous E-class.

[The Rock Doctor]

Okay, I missed the larger gun consideration, and the accommodation/seakeeping are important with the functions you have in mind.

So, in that case, have at it...

[Guinness]

Okay, I missed the larger gun consideration, and the accommodation/seakeeping are important with the functions you have in mind.

So, in that case, have at it...

Good, because the illustration is about half done already  :P

DDs are fun to do art for, because you can finish them in a couple of nights, unlike the two week+ effort a new capital ship takes.

[The Rock Doctor]

I'll be sure to voice arbitrary objections to your capital ships much earlier, then.

Look forward to seeing the picture...

[Guinness]

Because I'm stuck on a conference call for an event tonight...

A liner!

Leviathan, Confederate States of America Liner laid down 1920

Displacement:
   40,440 t light; 41,439 t standard; 49,963 t normal; 56,783 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   885.00 ft / 864.50 ft x 102.00 ft x 30.51 ft (normal load)
   269.75 m / 263.50 m x 31.09 m  x 9.30 m

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Electric motors, 4 shafts, 146,026 shp / 108,936 Kw = 29.00 kts
   Range 8,193nm at 23.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 15,343 tons

Complement:
   1,670 - 2,172

Cost:
   £5.035 million / $20.140 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 5,106 tons, 10.2 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 13,384 tons, 26.8 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 9,523 tons, 19.1 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 21,950 tons, 43.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     70,139 lbs / 31,815 Kg = 649.4 x 6 " / 152 mm shells or 4.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 6.2 ft / 1.9 m
   Roll period: 17.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.00
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle, raised quarterdeck
   Block coefficient: 0.650
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.48 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 29.40 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 48 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 30
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 14.04 degrees
   Stern overhang: 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      42.00 ft / 12.80 m
      - Forecastle (15 %):   40.00 ft / 12.19 m (32.00 ft / 9.75 m aft of break)
      - Mid (50 %):      30.00 ft / 9.14 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   39.00 ft / 11.89 m (31.00 ft / 9.45 m before break)
      - Stern:      42.00 ft / 12.80 m
      - Average freeboard:   33.72 ft / 10.28 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 81.5 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 236.9 %
   Waterplane Area: 67,550 Square feet or 6,276 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 155 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 131 lbs/sq ft or 642 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.97
      - Longitudinal: 1.26
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, rides out heavy weather easily

Misc Weight (Liner):

50t: Two Long Range Wireless Sets
6800t: 400 1st Class Passengers
5100t: 600 2nd Class Passengers
7000t: 1750 3rd Class Passengers
3000t: Cargo

Misc Weights (as troop transport):
50t: Two long range wireless sets
18900t: Between 7000 and 9500 troops (depending on distance to be traveled)
3000t: Cargo