The Flying Squad

[mentat]

Seems to be more Options for Fast Cruisers for Offensive Operations as shp per shaft is increasing ...

The Wheelers are nice - but there is scope to go further

Some designs to give a Very Capable Long Range Strike Force based around:



  1.  The Heavy Unit - Fast Long Legs and Heavy Armament - but focused very much vs Cruisers - so 12 x 9.75" and 16 x 6.5" - giving a Broadfside of over 8000lbs (went for 6.5" since SS allows Quick Firing - and is biig enough for a decent sized HE/Incendiary Shell

The idea being that vs. Main Opponents the Main Armament fires AP and the heavy Secondaries fire HE/Incendiary - is this more effective vs Cruisers than say 9 x 12 inch (which is doable at same size) ? - interested in views - but maximum no. of hits seems to be most effective in first damaging then taking out opponent

Calling this one 'Great Cruiser' (which it is - great in size that is) - since Large is boring and Battlecruiser can denote can go in the Battle Line - which it is NOT for ...


2. Fast Pursuit Cruiser - very fast and very long legs - capable of Independent Operations - but can also play Prinz Eugen to Big Brother - with 12 x 6.5" - designed to track down and kill any normal sized raider

3. Scout/Aviation Cruiser - fast + long legs as well to accompany either of the Big ones - vital to extend the Scouting capability - only 6 x 6.5" to handle combat vs. smaller/mdm CLs

4. And of course a Fast Tanker/Supply Vessel - to extend range of Strike operation - allow high speed without sacrificing long combat range

They are expensive - but only needed in small numbers to have Major Deterrent value ....

- and of course - they would look Great ....



  1. The Great Cruiser:

Panther, BAE Great Cruiser laid down 1918

Displacement:
   23,775 t light; 25,249 t standard; 29,656 t normal; 33,182 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   803.99 ft / 785.00 ft x 92.50 ft x 25.30 ft (normal load)
   245.06 m / 239.27 m x 28.19 m  x 7.71 m

Armament:
      12 - 9.75" / 248 mm guns (4x3 guns), 485.00lbs / 219.99kg shells, 1918 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 6.50" / 165 mm guns (10 mounts), 142.50lbs / 64.64kg shells, 1918 Model
     Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
      4 - 3.25" / 82.6 mm guns in single mounts, 18.50lbs / 8.39kg shells, 1918 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      24 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (16 mounts), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1918 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 8,186 lbs / 3,713 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 185
   8 - 22.0" / 558.8 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   7.00" / 178 mm   445.00 ft / 135.64 m   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
   Upper:   4.00" / 102 mm   280.00 ft / 85.34 m   8.00 ft / 2.44 m
     Main Belt covers 87 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   8.00" / 203 mm   3.00" / 76 mm      7.00" / 178 mm
   2nd:   4.00" / 102 mm   2.00" / 51 mm      3.50" / 89 mm
   3rd:   1.20" / 30 mm   0.70" / 18 mm            -
   4th:   0.80" / 20 mm   0.60" / 15 mm            -

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 9.00" / 229 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 137,954 shp / 102,914 Kw = 31.00 kts
   Range 15,000nm at 15.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 7,933 tons

Complement:
   1,129 - 1,468

Cost:
   £4.704 million / $18.815 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 980 tons, 3.3 %
   Armour: 6,043 tons, 20.4 %
      - Belts: 2,056 tons, 6.9 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 1,900 tons, 6.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,902 tons, 6.4 %
      - Conning Tower: 186 tons, 0.6 %
   Machinery: 4,977 tons, 16.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 11,425 tons, 38.5 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,881 tons, 19.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 350 tons, 1.2 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     39,534 lbs / 17,932 Kg = 85.3 x 9.8 " / 248 mm shells or 3.4 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
   Metacentric height 5.6 ft / 1.7 m
   Roll period: 16.4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 72 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.53
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.15

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.565
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.49 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 28.02 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 62
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 25.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      30.00 ft / 9.14 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   26.00 ft / 7.92 m
      - Mid (50 %):      26.00 ft / 7.92 m (18.00 ft / 5.49 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   18.00 ft / 5.49 m
      - Stern:      20.00 ft / 6.10 m
      - Average freeboard:   22.47 ft / 6.85 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 82.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 172.4 %
   Waterplane Area: 51,394 Square feet or 4,775 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 123 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 159 lbs/sq ft or 774 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 1.00
      - Longitudinal: 1.01
      - 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


  - or Even Bigger - max speed to 33 knots and add a much needed TPS  - but = 29 k tons!

  Excalibur, BAE Great Cruiser laid down 1920

Displacement:
   29,429 t light; 30,883 t standard; 33,867 t normal; 36,254 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   798.99 ft / 785.00 ft x 100.00 ft x 30.20 ft (normal load)
   243.53 m / 239.27 m x 30.48 m  x 9.20 m

Armament:
      12 - 9.75" / 248 mm guns (4x3 guns), 525.00lbs / 238.14kg shells, 1920 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 6.50" / 165 mm guns (8x2 guns), 150.00lbs / 68.04kg shells, 1920 Model
     Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
      6 - 3.85" / 97.8 mm guns in single mounts, 28.50lbs / 12.93kg shells, 1920 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      32 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (14 mounts), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1920 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 8,887 lbs / 4,031 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 150

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   8.00" / 203 mm   630.00 ft / 192.02 m   14.00 ft / 4.27 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 123 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
      1.50" / 38 mm   685.00 ft / 208.79 m   32.00 ft / 9.75 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   8.00" / 203 mm   4.00" / 102 mm      7.00" / 178 mm
   2nd:   4.00" / 102 mm   2.50" / 64 mm      4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 187,291 shp / 139,719 Kw = 33.00 kts
   Range 10,000nm at 15.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 5,371 tons

Complement:
   1,247 - 1,622

Cost:
   £6.574 million / $26.294 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 993 tons, 2.9 %
   Armour: 8,304 tons, 24.5 %
      - Belts: 2,885 tons, 8.5 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,217 tons, 3.6 %
      - Armament: 2,087 tons, 6.2 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,935 tons, 5.7 %
      - Conning Tower: 180 tons, 0.5 %
   Machinery: 6,549 tons, 19.3 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 13,233 tons, 39.1 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,438 tons, 13.1 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 350 tons, 1.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     42,059 lbs / 19,078 Kg = 90.8 x 9.8 " / 248 mm shells or 5.9 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 6.0 ft / 1.8 m
   Roll period: 17.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.51
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.12

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.500
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.85 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 28.02 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 63
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 25.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      30.00 ft / 9.14 m
      - Forecastle (15 %):   29.00 ft / 8.84 m
      - Mid (50 %):      28.00 ft / 8.53 m (20.00 ft / 6.10 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   20.00 ft / 6.10 m
      - Stern:      21.00 ft / 6.40 m
      - Average freeboard:   24.46 ft / 7.46 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 109.2 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 193.7 %
   Waterplane Area: 52,303 Square feet or 4,859 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 174 lbs/sq ft or 850 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.98
      - Longitudinal: 1.28
      - 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




  2. The Pursuit Cruiser:

Cheetah, BAE Pursuit / Trade Protection Cruiser laid down 1918

Displacement:
   14,171 t light; 14,732 t standard; 17,707 t normal; 20,087 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   660.99 ft / 645.00 ft x 75.00 ft (Bulges 78.50 ft) x 22.50 ft (normal load)
   201.47 m / 196.60 m x 22.86 m (Bulges 23.93 m)  x 6.86 m

Armament:
      12 - 6.50" / 165 mm guns (4x3 guns), 145.00lbs / 65.77kg shells, 1918 Model
     Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      4 - 3.25" / 82.6 mm guns in single mounts, 18.50lbs / 8.39kg shells, 1918 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
      24 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (16 mounts), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1918 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 1,826 lbs / 828 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 200
   12 - 22.0" / 558.8 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   4.25" / 108 mm   440.00 ft / 134.11 m   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 105 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   5.00" / 127 mm   2.50" / 64 mm      4.00" / 102 mm
   2nd:   1.50" / 38 mm   0.80" / 20 mm            -

   - Armour deck: 1.60" / 41 mm, Conning tower: 5.00" / 127 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 138,691 shp / 103,463 Kw = 33.00 kts
   Range 14,000nm at 15.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 5,356 tons

Complement:
   766 - 997

Cost:
   £2.756 million / $11.023 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 216 tons, 1.2 %
   Armour: 2,484 tons, 14.0 %
      - Belts: 941 tons, 5.3 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 476 tons, 2.7 %
      - Armour Deck: 994 tons, 5.6 %
      - Conning Tower: 73 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 5,003 tons, 28.3 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,168 tons, 34.8 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,536 tons, 20.0 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 300 tons, 1.7 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     20,779 lbs / 9,425 Kg = 151.3 x 6.5 " / 165 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.28
   Metacentric height 5.1 ft / 1.6 m
   Roll period: 14.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 64 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.20
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.544
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.22 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 25.40 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 60
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 25.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      30.00 ft / 9.14 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   27.00 ft / 8.23 m
      - Mid (50 %):      27.00 ft / 8.23 m (19.00 ft / 5.79 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   19.00 ft / 5.79 m
      - Stern:      21.00 ft / 6.40 m
      - Average freeboard:   23.39 ft / 7.13 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 103.7 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 153.9 %
   Waterplane Area: 33,571 Square feet or 3,119 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 122 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 119 lbs/sq ft or 582 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.96
      - Longitudinal: 1.36
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent



3. Aviation/Scout Cruiser

Lynx, BAE LR Aviation/Scout Cruiser laid down 1918

Displacement:
   9,072 t light; 9,374 t standard; 10,969 t normal; 12,246 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   572.32 ft / 555.00 ft x 58.50 ft x 21.50 ft (normal load)
   174.44 m / 169.16 m x 17.83 m  x 6.55 m

Armament:
      6 - 6.50" / 165 mm guns (3x2 guns), 145.00lbs / 65.77kg shells, 1918 Model
     Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      4 - 3.50" / 88.9 mm guns in single mounts, 21.50lbs / 9.75kg shells, 1918 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
      16 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (12 mounts), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1918 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 964 lbs / 437 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 150
   8 - 22.0" / 558.8 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   2.00" / 51 mm   320.00 ft / 97.54 m   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 89 % of normal length
     Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   3.00" / 76 mm   2.00" / 51 mm      2.50" / 64 mm
   3rd:   1.00" / 25 mm   0.80" / 20 mm            -
   4th:   0.80" / 20 mm   0.60" / 15 mm            -

   - Armour deck: 1.20" / 30 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 111,277 shp / 83,013 Kw = 33.25 kts
   Range 9,500nm at 15.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2,771 tons

Complement:
   535 - 696

Cost:
   £1.952 million / $7.807 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 115 tons, 1.0 %
   Armour: 1,000 tons, 9.1 %
      - Belts: 274 tons, 2.5 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 192 tons, 1.7 %
      - Armour Deck: 503 tons, 4.6 %
      - Conning Tower: 32 tons, 0.3 %
   Machinery: 4,014 tons, 36.6 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,693 tons, 33.7 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,798 tons, 16.3 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 350 tons, 3.3 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     7,785 lbs / 3,531 Kg = 56.7 x 6.5 " / 165 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.17
   Metacentric height 3.0 ft / 0.9 m
   Roll period: 14.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.29
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.05

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.550
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.49 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 23.56 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 62 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 67
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      30.00 ft / 9.14 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   27.00 ft / 8.23 m
      - Mid (50 %):      24.00 ft / 7.32 m (16.00 ft / 4.88 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Stern:      18.00 ft / 5.49 m
      - Average freeboard:   21.44 ft / 6.53 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 129.3 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 133.8 %
   Waterplane Area: 22,659 Square feet or 2,105 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 108 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 95 lbs/sq ft or 464 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.93
      - Longitudinal: 1.75
      - 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

               Aviation - provisionally 100 tons allocated to 4/5 Lt Seaplanes of this era + Catapult

              NB - also ideal Size and Capability as Raiders


4. - and Finally the Fast Tanker/Supply Vessel - not sure if I got this right - my first go at one of these:

Provider, BAE Fast Tanker laid down 1920

Displacement:
   4,929 t light; 5,179 t standard; 11,907 t normal; 17,289 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   528.01 ft / 520.00 ft x 68.50 ft x 18.00 ft (normal load)
   160.94 m / 158.50 m x 20.88 m  x 5.49 m

Armament:
      4 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns (2x2 guns), 67.50lbs / 30.62kg shells, 1920 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 270 lbs / 122 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Machinery:
   Diesel Internal combustion motors,
   Geared drive, 2 shafts, 24,958 shp / 18,618 Kw = 22.00 kts
   Range 42,500nm at 15.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 12,110 tons

Complement:
   569 - 740

Cost:
   £0.763 million / $3.052 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 34 tons, 0.3 %
   Machinery: 873 tons, 7.3 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,323 tons, 27.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,978 tons, 58.6 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 700 tons, 5.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     52,973 lbs / 24,028 Kg = 790.2 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 6.7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.71
   Metacentric height 6.8 ft / 2.1 m
   Roll period: 11.0 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 100 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.02
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle
   Block coefficient: 0.650
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.59 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 22.80 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 46 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      22.00 ft / 6.71 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   22.00 ft / 6.71 m (20.00 ft / 6.10 m aft of break)
      - Mid (50 %):      20.00 ft / 6.10 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   20.00 ft / 6.10 m
      - Stern:      21.00 ft / 6.40 m
      - Average freeboard:   20.48 ft / 6.24 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 33.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 182.7 %
   Waterplane Area: 27,287 Square feet or 2,535 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 439 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 85 lbs/sq ft or 415 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.97
      - Longitudinal: 1.30
      - 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
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

          Misc Weight - provisionally – 600 tons for Supply Store


  A Full Task Force - 1 Great Cruiser, 1 Fast Pursuit Cruiser, 2 Scout Cruisers and 2 Tanker/Supply ships - is about 60 k tons - expensive - but worth it for Aggressive Operations ...

[P3D]

The 6.5" guns would have marginal utility at longer ranges, and half of them would be useless all the time. Larger guns also throw more HE.

[maddox]

6.5" QF version... sturdy guys lifting that ammo.  It's between 80 and 90 kg for a full shell and case.

[mentat]

I'm assuming most of engagement will be at Medium Range say 10-15 k yards  (higher hit rate gives more effective use of shells) - so the 6.5" are well in play

For Shell handling - yes I'm assuming Shell and Fixed Case - therefore mechanical ammunition handling in Twin Turrets - this OK with Weight assumptions in SS?

[maddox]

The twin and tripple turret and barbette designs can handle that muntion, yes.

But, compared to bigger calibers, is it an advantage there? After all, those ships are awfully big for such a "small" caliber main gun.