Audacity class refurbishment

[Valles]

Given how compulsive I am about keeping things orderly, it's probably not a surprise that I'm considering fitting my 250mm guns to the two ACs that I just bought off of Gran Colombia. The engines would be ripped out and replaced to account for the differences in weight and pick up some performance.

Audacity (refurbished), Maoria Armored Cruiser laid down 1893 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   7,863 t light; 8,207 t standard; 9,997 t normal; 11,428 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   389.99 ft / 389.99 ft x 60.01 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
   118.87 m / 118.87 m x 18.29 m  x 7.01 m

Armament:
      6 - 9.84" / 250 mm guns (3x2 guns), 496.04lbs / 225.00kg shells, 1914 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, majority aft
      10 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm guns in single mounts, 13.23lbs / 6.00kg shells, 1914 Model
     Quick firing guns in casemate mounts
     on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
   Weight of broadside 3,109 lbs / 1,410 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 82

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   7.01" / 178 mm   305.12 ft / 93.00 m   9.28 ft / 2.83 m
   Ends:   2.95" / 75 mm     84.84 ft / 25.86 m   9.28 ft / 2.83 m
   Upper:   1.97" / 50 mm   305.12 ft / 93.00 m   8.01 ft / 2.44 m
     Main Belt covers 120 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   9.84" / 250 mm   7.87" / 200 mm      7.01" / 178 mm
   2nd:   1.97" / 50 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 1.26" / 32 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 24,913 ihp / 18,585 Kw = 22.00 kts
   Range 9,600nm at 14.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3,221 tons

Complement:
   499 - 649

Cost:
   £0.833 million / $3.332 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 374 tons, 3.7 %
   Armour: 2,292 tons, 22.9 %
      - Belts: 1,124 tons, 11.2 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 751 tons, 7.5 %
      - Armour Deck: 418 tons, 4.2 %
      - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 1,742 tons, 17.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,255 tons, 32.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,133 tons, 21.3 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 200 tons, 2.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     11,219 lbs / 5,089 Kg = 23.5 x 9.8 " / 250 mm shells or 1.7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 2.8 ft / 0.9 m
   Roll period: 15.1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 59 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.67
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.11

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.650
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.50 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.75 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
   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:      22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   19.91 ft / 6.07 m
      - Mid (50 %):      19.91 ft / 6.07 m (14.01 ft / 4.27 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   14.01 ft / 4.27 m
      - Stern:      14.01 ft / 4.27 m
      - Average freeboard:   17.21 ft / 5.24 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 86.9 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 114.5 %
   Waterplane Area: 17,928 Square feet or 1,666 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 118 lbs/sq ft or 576 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.92
      - Longitudinal: 2.25
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

[The Rock Doctor]

That does not come entirely as a surprise.

It might be worth accepting slightly less speed in exchange for weight to add AA guns and Fire Control.

[Korpen]

Not worth the cost I think, considering the large changes to the main battery, as well as machinery, it is going to be a reconstruction.
Just looking to the changes in armour should be a clue there.
A quick calculation gives a cost of around 3,5BP and 7€ for that kind of rebuild.
I think you would be better of building a new ship instead, as for about the same BP as scrapping them and the cost of rebuilding them (around 5BP) would give you about equal capability in a modern ship as you will get from these two.

[Jefgte]

With 22kts speed, these ACs are made to work in the BBs battle line.
Same job as the Peruvian Escort Cruisers.

Your seaboat quality is not good for 22kts, decrease the BC & increase the lenght & beam for the T2x250.


Jef  ;)

[Korpen]

With 22kts speed, these ACs are made to work in the BBs battle line.
Same job as the Peruvian Escort Cruisers.

Your seaboat quality is not good for 22kts, decrease the BC & increase the lenght & beam for the T2x250.


Jef  ;)

It is a rebuild, so major changes to the hull shape is not an option.

[Jefgte]

Rebuilt...
OK

[Valles]

Hey, Doctor? Do the Audacities have Compound or Krupp Cemented armor in their current forms?

If the latter, Korpen, then I don't think that major changes to the barbettes will be necessary; I can simply replace the shell-handling gear and lay out my new 2x250mm/L50 turrets currently under development to accept two different roller diameters - one for the Audacities and one for the native-built Eagles. Other than the different turrets, there are no changes to the armor thickness or arrangement.

The first 'new' design included 200 tons misc weight, enough for cruiser-class fire control; dropping two knots of speed increases steadiness, lets me add enough misc weight for battleship firecon, and increases range a bit, along with seakeeping. Worth it.

Audacity (refurbished/2), Maoria Armored Cruiser laid down 1893 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   7,540 t light; 7,884 t standard; 9,997 t normal; 11,687 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   389.99 ft / 389.99 ft x 60.01 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
   118.87 m / 118.87 m x 18.29 m  x 7.01 m

Armament:
      6 - 9.84" / 250 mm guns (3x2 guns), 496.04lbs / 225.00kg shells, 1914 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, majority aft
      10 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm guns in single mounts, 13.23lbs / 6.00kg shells, 1914 Model
     Quick firing guns in casemate mounts
     on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
   Weight of broadside 3,109 lbs / 1,410 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 82

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   7.01" / 178 mm   305.12 ft / 93.00 m   9.28 ft / 2.83 m
   Ends:   2.95" / 75 mm     84.84 ft / 25.86 m   9.28 ft / 2.83 m
   Upper:   1.97" / 50 mm   305.12 ft / 93.00 m   8.01 ft / 2.44 m
     Main Belt covers 120 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   9.84" / 250 mm   7.87" / 200 mm      7.01" / 178 mm
   2nd:   1.97" / 50 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 1.26" / 32 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 16,955 ihp / 12,648 Kw = 20.00 kts
   Range 11,385nm at 14.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3,803 tons

Complement:
   499 - 649

Cost:
   £0.744 million / $2.975 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 374 tons, 3.7 %
   Armour: 2,292 tons, 22.9 %
      - Belts: 1,124 tons, 11.2 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 751 tons, 7.5 %
      - Armour Deck: 418 tons, 4.2 %
      - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 1,186 tons, 11.9 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,388 tons, 33.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,457 tons, 24.6 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 300 tons, 3.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     13,883 lbs / 6,297 Kg = 29.1 x 9.8 " / 250 mm shells or 2.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 2.8 ft / 0.9 m
   Roll period: 15.1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.73
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.40

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.650
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.50 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.75 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   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:      22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   19.91 ft / 6.07 m
      - Mid (50 %):      19.91 ft / 6.07 m (14.01 ft / 4.27 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   14.01 ft / 4.27 m
      - Stern:      14.01 ft / 4.27 m
      - Average freeboard:   17.21 ft / 5.24 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 70.2 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 114.5 %
   Waterplane Area: 17,928 Square feet or 1,666 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 126 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 123 lbs/sq ft or 600 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.96
      - Longitudinal: 2.42
      - Overall: 1.05
   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

25 tons long-range wireless
250 tons fire control

[P3D]

My concerns about the rebuild.

I have some doubts that the 250mm guns can fit into the space of the old 234mm ones without major changes that cost more than a turret. Granted, it is a twin turret, so not so cramped as a triple, but still.

The shell is 27% heavier, and the gun is also 20% longer (say 10% higher MV), resulting in an approximate 40% larger recoil impulse the structure has to absorb. Space you won't have much, if the GC naval architects knew their job.

IIRC they were built with an older armor tech, but that one might have been merged into the KC.

[Valles]

I figure that SS is automatically increasing its calculation of the barbette weight/diameter to account for the larger weapons. While, obviously, that change wouldn't be matched in the actual design, the increased weight should account neatly for aftermarket reinforcements for handling the increased load.

[Korpen]

I figure that SS is automatically increasing its calculation of the barbette weight/diameter to account for the larger weapons. While, obviously, that change wouldn't be matched in the actual design, the increased weight should account neatly for aftermarket reinforcements for handling the increased load.

Would still make it a rebuild, so no major change in the cost of the operation.
This apart from sharing P3D doubts about the feasibility of squeezing guns almost at least 25% larger into a similar space as the 234mm gun.

[The Rock Doctor]

Given our current armor techs, they'd have been built with compound armor.