New GC ships for 1915

[The Rock Doctor]

Known affectionately to some as Nutcracker, this monitor is a test-bed for the triple 35cm turret that will also be used on the Radiante class battleships.  Although they happen to be laid down around the same time, the monitor will be completed nearly two years sooner - providing a fair bit of time to work out whatever bugs lurk in the main battery.

Full fire control is provided, and the hull is extensively armored.  Range is modest, but she's not exactly built for sailing across oceans.

Her actual name is still to be determined, but will probably be related to an army officer or land battle.



Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1950 (Engine 1912)

Displacement:
   7,519 t light; 7,939 t standard; 8,406 t normal; 8,779 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   331.36 ft / 331.36 ft x 88.58 ft x 15.42 ft (normal load)
   101.00 m / 101.00 m x 27.00 m  x 4.70 m

Armament:
      3 - 13.78" / 350 mm guns (1x3 guns), 1,308.20lbs / 593.39kg shells, 1950 Model
     Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
     on centreline forward, all raised guns
      2 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.97kg shells, 1950 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, all forward
      4 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.97kg shells, 1950 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, all aft, 1 raised mount
      1 - 2.56" / 65.0 mm guns in single mounts, 8.38lbs / 3.80kg shells, 1950 Model
     Anti-aircraft gun in deck mount
     on centreline aft, 1 raised gun
      2 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1950 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 4,435 lbs / 2,012 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   3.94" / 100 mm   215.39 ft / 65.65 m   14.44 ft / 4.40 m
   Ends:   0.98" / 25 mm   115.94 ft / 35.34 m   14.44 ft / 4.40 m
   Upper:   0.98" / 25 mm     96.13 ft / 29.30 m   8.01 ft / 2.44 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
      1.97" / 50 mm   215.39 ft / 65.65 m   14.80 ft / 4.51 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   11.8" / 300 mm   2.95" / 75 mm      7.87" / 200 mm
   2nd:   1.97" / 50 mm         -         2.95" / 75 mm
   3rd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -
   4th:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 2.95" / 75 mm, Conning tower: 3.94" / 100 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 4,039 shp / 3,013 Kw = 13.56 kts
   Range 6,000nm at 10.00 kts (Bunkerage = 840 tons)

Complement:
   438 - 570

Cost:
   £5.875 million / $23.499 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 554 tons, 6.6 %
   Armour: 2,555 tons, 30.4 %
      - Belts: 685 tons, 8.2 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 232 tons, 2.8 %
      - Armament: 374 tons, 4.5 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,228 tons, 14.6 %
      - Conning Tower: 35 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 161 tons, 1.9 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,944 tons, 46.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 887 tons, 10.5 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 305 tons, 3.6 %
   -250 t:  Fire Control
   -30 t:  Weight Reserve
   -25 t:  Long-Range Wireless


Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     10,519 lbs / 4,771 Kg = 8.0 x 13.8 " / 350 mm shells or 3.0 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.23
   Metacentric height 6.1 ft / 1.9 m
   Roll period: 15.0 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.23
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.07

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle
   Block coefficient: 0.650
   Length to Beam Ratio: 3.74 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 18.20 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 40 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 66
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -1.64 ft / -0.50 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      12.80 ft / 3.90 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   12.80 ft / 3.90 m (9.84 ft / 3.00 m aft of break)
      - Mid (50 %):      9.84 ft / 3.00 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   9.84 ft / 3.00 m
      - Stern:      9.84 ft / 3.00 m
      - Average freeboard:   10.43 ft / 3.18 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 77.7 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 96.2 %
   Waterplane Area: 22,486 Square feet or 2,089 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 110 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 155 lbs/sq ft or 755 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.93
      - Longitudinal: 1.89
      - Overall: 1.00
   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

[Guinness]

I post a news thread speculating about GC coming over and shelling my coast, and you design a ship explicitly for the task! Eerie.

Seriously though: Other than being a test bed, what's her mission? Coast defense seems the most likely role. I guess you could anchor her outside Cartagena. Still, for coast defense, shore batteries are usually cheaper and more survivable, unless you really need them to be able to move.

[The Rock Doctor]

I know, it's like I'm trying to make you paranoid.  Which I'm not...or am I?

I've never been real keen on the coastal defence mission, but it could be used for it.

The more likely secondary use is for shore bombardment in an amphib operation.  Unless y'all are standing around watching me beat up some hapless little NPC, I'd probably not have any dreadnoughts to spare for the role.

[The Rock Doctor]

Silly me, I did give her a name already:  Antonio Jose de Sucre.

[The Rock Doctor]

The Radiante class battleships are Gran Colombia's response to recent French behemoths and expectations of similar large capital ships from Rohan and the CSA.  A 30,000 t design with six twin 35 cm turrets - akin to a larger Triunfante - was the Armada's preferred design but it was considered politically necessary to "make a statement" with more guns.  As usual, political considerations won out.

The class introduces several new features in GC capital ships, such as: 

-Triple turrets for the main battery
-Use of deck mounts (with heavily armored hoists) as part of the secondary battery
-An fully enclosed control top with main fire control atop it
-Secondary fire-control directors
-Increased range to allow easier deployment to distal conflict areas

Top-weight is such that trimming the ship to achieve high steadiness (i.e., 70%) is impractical, so the ship has instead been trimmed for maximum stability and average steadiness - fifteen guns and fire control should make up some of the difference.



Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1914 (Engine 1912)

Displacement:
   35,805 t light; 37,833 t standard; 40,163 t normal; 42,027 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   720.43 ft / 715.22 ft x 104.00 ft x 29.53 ft (normal load)
   219.59 m / 218.00 m x 31.70 m  x 9.00 m

Armament:
      15 - 13.78" / 350 mm guns (5x3 guns), 1,322.77lbs / 600.00kg shells, 1914 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, majority aft, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.97kg shells, 1914 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on centreline, all forward
     16 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      6 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.97kg shells, 1914 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
      2 - 2.56" / 65.0 mm guns in single mounts, 8.38lbs / 3.80kg shells, 1914 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
      6 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1914 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 21,700 lbs / 9,843 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13.8" / 350 mm   465.88 ft / 142.00 m   14.76 ft / 4.50 m
   Ends:   3.94" / 100 mm   249.31 ft / 75.99 m   11.81 ft / 3.60 m
   Upper:   5.51" / 140 mm   295.28 ft / 90.00 m   16.01 ft / 4.88 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
      1.97" / 50 mm   465.88 ft / 142.00 m   28.12 ft / 8.57 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   13.8" / 350 mm   7.87" / 200 mm      13.8" / 350 mm
   2nd:   3.94" / 100 mm         -         7.87" / 200 mm
   3rd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -
   4th:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -
   5th:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 3.15" / 80 mm, Conning tower: 13.78" / 350 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 48,881 shp / 36,465 Kw = 22.11 kts
   Range 12,000nm at 10.00 kts (Bunkerage = 4,194 tons)

Complement:
   1,418 - 1,844

Cost:
   £4.813 million / $19.252 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 2,685 tons, 6.7 %
   Armour: 15,086 tons, 37.6 %
      - Belts: 5,817 tons, 14.5 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 954 tons, 2.4 %
      - Armament: 4,677 tons, 11.6 %
      - Armour Deck: 3,290 tons, 8.2 %
      - Conning Tower: 348 tons, 0.9 %
   Machinery: 1,949 tons, 4.9 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 15,600 tons, 38.8 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,358 tons, 10.9 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 485 tons, 1.2 %
   -250 t:  Fire control
   -85 t:  Weight reserve
   -50 t:  Flag facilities
   -50 t:  Long-range wireless and extra signalling equipment
   -50 t:  Extra pumps for damage control purposes
   

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     45,922 lbs / 20,830 Kg = 35.1 x 13.8 " / 350 mm shells or 6.6 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
   Metacentric height 6.6 ft / 2.0 m
   Roll period: 16.9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.69
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.29

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.640
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.88 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 26.74 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 41 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 39
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -3.28 ft / -1.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      29.53 ft / 9.00 m
      - Forecastle (16 %):   24.61 ft / 7.50 m
      - Mid (47 %):      24.61 ft / 7.50 m (16.73 ft / 5.10 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   16.73 ft / 5.10 m
      - Stern:      16.73 ft / 5.10 m
      - Average freeboard:   20.75 ft / 6.32 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 83.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 153.7 %
   Waterplane Area: 56,462 Square feet or 5,245 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 98 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 206 lbs/sq ft or 1,006 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.98
      - Longitudinal: 1.17
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[miketr]

WOW...  Thats big...  Iberia is odds are going to build 5x2 again for its next BB.

Michael

[Guinness]

Theoretically equal to two of the current generation of CSN battleships. Impressive.

Have you considered giving up some range for some freeboard? If you do that, you could get more favorable steadiness, I think.

[P3D]

I'd increase draught and reduce freeboard a bit.

[Tanthalas]

WOW is all I can come up with...

[ctwaterman]

 :'(

I wish I could afford something like that.....

[Jefgte]

Well balanced BB

This class is not realy a surprise for Peru  :D


;)

[The Rock Doctor]

Iberia is odds are going to build 5x2 again for its next BB.

This is probably a more sensible approach than the Radiantes.

Have you considered giving up some range for some freeboard? If you do that, you could get more favorable steadiness, I think.

I tinkered with the hull and freeboard a lot, and didn't get a lot of bang for the buck - I think there's just too much stuff up high to allow it.

I'd increase draught and reduce freeboard a bit.

I thought increased draught would be unreasonable for a ship of her displacement.  With respect to freeboard, I don't want it any lower aft, and am retaining the hull break, so that's not really an option.

I wish I could afford something like that.....

Capture the New Zionite Treasury intact and maybe you can...

[P3D]

I thought increased draught would be unreasonable for a ship of her displacement.  With respect to freeboard, I don't want it any lower aft, and am retaining the hull break, so that's not really an option.

Let's see...
Kaga - 31'
Littorio - 31.5'
Richelieu - 31.5'
Sodak (BB49) - 33'
NoCal - 33'
SoDak (BB 57) - 35'
Iowa - 38'

[The Rock Doctor]

If those are "normal displacement" figures, perhaps I have some more tinkering to do.

[P3D]

If those are "normal displacement" figures, perhaps I have some more tinkering to do.

From Hazegray, so most probably. However, RN and German ships had less draught - constraints either by facilities or the Kiel canal.