New Zionite ships for 1915

[Jefgte]

Observation baloon is not a new idea.
cruisers raiders Tarapaca & Amazona -1907-1910 - use warm air baloon with 300m cable
(Distance observation 54km).
Warm air was prefered to hydrogene for the security.
-----------------
Almirante Commandante del Armada  - Fidel Salazar Vencedores see them as the "Eyes of the Armada".

;)

[Korpen]

Observation baloon is not a new idea.
cruisers raiders Tarapaca & Amazona -1907-1910 - use warm air baloon with 300m cable
(Distance observation 54km).
Warm air was prefered to hydrogene for the security.

I think that is false economy, as the performance of a hot air balloon is much lower, and as it needs to be much larger to carry the same weight as a hydrogen balloon it requiring much heavier tethering if the ship is moving. Also, the fact that you much have a lot of high-explosive fuel in a hot air balloon to keep it up cancels out much of safety gained by having a non-combustible gas in the balloon itself.

[Guinness]

I don't see any reason why a small enough hydrogen or helium balloon painted a suitable shade would be all that more likely to draw attention to a ship than smoke from coal fired boilers...

[maddox]

Hydrogen balloons need a certain light color to cope with the thermal issues.

Otherwise their buyancy will vary so much it's about impossible to keep them in the air for extended times.

The main reason most airships were painted a silvery color.

[P3D]

The only problem with tethered balloons is that I doubt they are usable at high speeds (say 20kts+) or similar gale-force winds.

[Jefgte]

The only problem with tethered balloons is that I doubt they are usable at high speeds (say 20kts+) or similar gale-force winds.

Exact, during the cruise to Philipines, Tarapaca use her baloon at 5 to 7 kts max.

[maddox]

If using a tethered balloon at high speeds, expect the ballon to start trashing on the tether.
It's even possible that it slams into the sea.

[Desertfox]

The refit of the TR-113 class of destroyers. Cosmetic changes, engine tune-up, armament change, and changing all those labels from English to Hebrew.


Kfir class (ex-TR-113), New Zion (ex-CSA) Destroyer laid down 1898 (Engine 1901)

Displacement:
   540 t light; 561 t standard; 636 t normal; 697 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   240.00 ft / 240.00 ft x 23.50 ft x 9.70 ft (normal load)
   73.15 m / 73.15 m x 7.16 m  x 2.96 m

Armament:
      2 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm guns in single mounts, 13.50lbs / 6.12kg shells, 1898 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
      4 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm guns in single mounts, 13.50lbs / 6.12kg shells, 1898 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
      4 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1898 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 81 lbs / 37 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 150
   4 - 20.0" / 508 mm above water torpedoes

Machinery:
   Coal and oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 10,933 ihp / 8,156 Kw = 27.00 kts
   Range 1,300nm at 15.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 136 tons (50% coal)
     Caution: Delicate, lightweight machinery

Complement:
   63 - 82

Cost:
   £0.081 million / $0.324 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 10 tons, 1.6 %
   Machinery: 382 tons, 60.0 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 144 tons, 22.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 97 tons, 15.2 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 4 tons, 0.6 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     119 lbs / 54 Kg = 8.8 x 3.0 " / 76 mm shells or 0.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.52
   Metacentric height 1.2 ft / 0.4 m
   Roll period: 9.1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.13
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 0.90

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.407
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.21 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 15.49 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 65 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 56
   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:      12.00 ft / 3.66 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   11.00 ft / 3.35 m
      - Mid (50 %):      8.00 ft / 2.44 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   8.00 ft / 2.44 m
      - Stern:      8.00 ft / 2.44 m
      - Average freeboard:   9.13 ft / 2.78 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 206.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 51.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 3,486 Square feet or 324 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 19 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 22 lbs/sq ft or 106 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.50
      - Longitudinal: 1.35
      - Overall: 0.55
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is extremely poor
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped
   Poor seaboat, wet and uncomfortable, reduced performance in heavy weather