Looking for some Help - what should Orange lay down in 1920?

Nobody · January 31, 2011, 07:41:55 AM

Since we now have a deadline for 1920, I'm in a bit of a pinch. I more or less know what I should lay down, but I'm out of ideas concerning a specific design.
So if you could help me design and decide the following, it would be a great help:

1.   Light Cruisers - 6 inch guns, between 4 and 8 thousand tons. Preferable around 6000 t.
2.   very Heavy Cruisers - 9.2 inch guns, two possible variants: rather slow and heavily armored to fight in the line with the Battleships, or fast for independent actions.
3.   Destroyers - since Orange can now build 2 kt DDs, they might be the obvious choice, but are they that much better than 1500, 1200, 1000 ton destroyers? And what about 750 or 200 ton Torpedoboats? After all Orange could build 46 of the latter per half without worrying about slips.

Available guns:

9.2" in 1-(?), 2- or 3-gun-mounts
6" in 1- or 2-gun-mounts
5" in 1- or 2-gun-mounts
4" in 1- or 2-gun-mounts (although some ships carry 105 or 100 mm guns)
3" (although some ships carry 75 mm guns)
1" (as anti air weapon)
.5" MG or AA

Jefgte · January 31, 2011, 07:58:29 AM

Reinforce the battle line with heavy ECs is an interresting choice.
12000 to 15000t
25 to 30kts
4T3x9"2 - AB-XY & abble to engage 2 # target (cruisers)
-------------------------
Or built coastal BBs to have your "free" heavy BBs
12000 to 15000t
22kts
2T3x343 -
... They could be use if neccesary in the battleline too...

Jef ;)

ledeper · January 31, 2011, 09:11:27 AM

Two of these ;D ;D ,along with some TBts:

QuoteLr/Lc, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1920

Displacement:
   7.277 t light; 7.501 t standard; 8.606 t normal; 9.489 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   551,37 ft / 547,90 ft x 62,34 ft x 19,69 ft (normal load)
   168,06 m / 167,00 m x 19,00 m x 6,00 m

Armament:
6 - 5,91" / 150 mm guns (3x2 guns), 102,98lbs / 46,71kg shells, 1920 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
4 - 1,57" / 40,0 mm guns in single mounts, 1,95lbs / 0,89kg shells, 1920 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
   Weight of broadside 626 lbs / 284 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 150
   4 - 19,7" / 500 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   3,94" / 100 mm   354,33 ft / 108,00 m   12,76 ft / 3,89 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
   Upper:   1,97" / 50 mm   354,33 ft / 108,00 m   8,01 ft / 2,44 m
     Main Belt covers 99 % of normal length

- Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   5,91" / 150 mm   3,94" / 100 mm        -
   2nd:   0,39" / 10 mm     -           -

- Armour deck: 1,97" / 50 mm, Conning tower: 5,91" / 150 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Electric cruising motors plus geared drives, 3 shafts, 60.720 shp / 45.297 Kw = 30,00 kts
   Range 10.000nm at 14,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1.988 tons

Complement:
   446 - 580

Cost:
   £1,460 million / $5,839 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 78 tons, 0,9 %
   Armour: 1.943 tons, 22,6 %
     - Belts: 983 tons, 11,4 %
     - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0,0 %
     - Armament: 115 tons, 1,3 %
     - Armour Deck: 792 tons, 9,2 %
     - Conning Tower: 53 tons, 0,6 %
   Machinery: 2.123 tons, 24,7 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 2.982 tons, 34,7 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1.329 tons, 15,4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 150 tons, 1,7 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     10.923 lbs / 4.954 Kg = 106,1 x 5,9 " / 150 mm shells or 1,7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,13
   Metacentric height 3,1 ft / 0,9 m
   Roll period: 14,9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 84 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,16
   Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1,11

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0,448
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8,79 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 23,41 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 76
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0,00 ft / 0,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
     - Stem:      19,69 ft / 6,00 m
     - Forecastle (20 %):   15,78 ft / 4,81 m
     - Mid (50 %):      15,78 ft / 4,81 m
     - Quarterdeck (15 %):   15,78 ft / 4,81 m
     - Stern:      15,78 ft / 4,81 m
     - Average freeboard:   16,09 ft / 4,91 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 89,6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 136,2 %
   Waterplane Area: 21.750 Square feet or 2.021 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 124 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 91 lbs/sq ft or 447 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,98
      - Longitudinal: 1,20
      - 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

snip · January 31, 2011, 09:15:07 AM

No better way to start the day off...
I decided to go with a larger anti-DD cruiser. it only mounts 5" guns but is is very quick, as fast as she can get with two screws. Guns are arranged in an Atlanta layout.

QuoteEnter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1920

Displacement:
   7,777 t light; 8,017 t standard; 8,828 t normal; 9,477 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   530.00 ft / 530.00 ft x 53.00 ft x 20.00 ft (normal load)
   161.54 m / 161.54 m x 16.15 m x 6.10 m

Armament:
12 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (6x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1920 Model
    Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
    on centreline ends, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns (2x2 guns), 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1920 Model
    Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
    on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1920 Model
    Machine guns in deck mounts
    on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 753 lbs / 341 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 150
   6 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   4.00" / 102 mm   450.00 ft / 137.16 m   8.74 ft / 2.66 m
   Ends:   2.00" / 51 mm    80.00 ft / 24.38 m   8.74 ft / 2.66 m
    Main Belt covers 131 % of normal length

- Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   4.00" / 102 mm   2.00" / 51 mm      6.00" / 152 mm
   2nd:   1.00" / 25 mm    -          -
   3rd:   1.00" / 25 mm    -          -
   4th:   0.25" / 6 mm    -          -

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

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 2 shafts, 80,000 shp / 59,680 Kw = 31.63 kts
   Range 10,000nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,460 tons

Complement:
   454 - 591

Cost:
   £1.756 million / $7.023 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 94 tons, 1.1 %
   Armour: 1,605 tons, 18.2 %
    - Belts: 682 tons, 7.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 123 tons, 1.4 %
    - Armour Deck: 725 tons, 8.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 74 tons, 0.8 %
   Machinery: 2,797 tons, 31.7 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,031 tons, 34.3 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,051 tons, 11.9 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 250 tons, 2.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
    8,104 lbs / 3,676 Kg = 129.7 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
   Metacentric height 2.4 ft / 0.7 m
   Roll period: 14.4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 66 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.37
   Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.12

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.550
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 23.02 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 59
   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:      20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Forecastle (20 %):   20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Mid (50 %):      20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %):   20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Stern:      20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard:   20.00 ft / 6.10 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 114.3 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 140.3 %
   Waterplane Area: 19,603 Square feet or 1,821 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 108 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 88 lbs/sq ft or 430 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.94
      - Longitudinal: 1.72
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

P3D · January 31, 2011, 10:49:38 PM

The very heavy cruiser component is strong enough (6 ships), then you have two BCs. Granted, not the fastest ships around. I see no point of cruisers that could survive in the battleline, there are two light battleships which could be used for that role. So spend stuff on smaller ships.

Destroyers - the large number of patrol crafts available for sub hunting frees up some from that job, but nothing modern. With the open coastlines and few natural harbors, 200t boats would be useful only in the Rift - build like two dozens of them there if you want.

I'd also start constructing a capital ship, if only because as they take so damn long to finish. I'd build a single 35,000t fast ship for killing battlecruisers. Should be launched by the time the next generation of battleship gun and mounts are developed.

Add in some subs, and that leaves 22BP to be spent on a single light cruiser and 6-8 large destroyer in 1920. Build the rest of the cruisers in 1921.

Nobody · March 01, 2011, 08:09:31 AM

Looking into P3D's advice of laying an 35k ship, I thought about an enlarged version of the previous BB with a 3rd turret. However, I couldn't do that ever with paper armor, so in the end I ended up with a much bigger ship that's much better than the previous.

Can you do better?

1920 study, Orange BB laid down 1920

Displacement:
   33.950 t light; 36.313 t standard; 38.623 t normal; 40.471 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   711,94 ft / 711,94 ft x 108,27 ft (Bulges 114,83 ft) x 31,50 ft (normal load)
   217,00 m / 217,00 m x 33,00 m (Bulges 35,00 m) x 9,60 m

Armament:
8 - 16,00" / 406 mm guns (2x4 guns), 2.116,44lbs / 960,00kg shells, 1920 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
16 - 6,00" / 152 mm guns (8x2 guns), 105,82lbs / 48,00kg shells, 1920 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on side, all amidships
8 - 3,00" / 76,2 mm guns in single mounts, 13,50lbs / 6,12kg shells, 1920 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread
10 - 1,57" / 40,0 mm guns in single mounts, 1,95lbs / 0,89kg shells, 1920 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 18.752 lbs / 8.506 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 150

Armour:
- Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13,8" / 350 mm   380,58 ft / 116,00 m   16,40 ft / 5,00 m
   Ends:   3,94" / 100 mm   331,36 ft / 101,00 m   12,66 ft / 3,86 m
   Upper:   3,94" / 100 mm   380,58 ft / 116,00 m   7,87 ft / 2,40 m
     Main Belt covers 82% of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead and Bulges:
      2,36" / 60 mm   446,19 ft / 136,00 m   29,53 ft / 9,00 m

- Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   17,3" / 440 mm   10,2" / 260 mm      16,5" / 420 mm
   2nd:   5,91" / 150 mm   3,15" / 80 mm      4,72" / 120 mm
   3rd:   0,79" / 20 mm     -         0,39" / 10 mm

- Armour deck: 4,92" / 125 mm, Conning tower: 15,75" / 400 mm

Machinery:
   Diesel Internal combustion motors,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 63.025 shp / 47.017 Kw = 24,00 kts
   Range 7.000nm at 15,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 4.158 tons

Complement:
   1.376 - 1.790

Cost:
   £8,065 million / $32,258 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 2.280 tons, 5,9%
   Armour: 14.167 tons, 36,7%
     - Belts: 5.056 tons, 13,1%
     - Torpedo bulkhead: 1.152 tons, 3,0%
     - Armament: 2.788 tons, 7,2%
     - Armour Deck: 4.785 tons, 12,4%
     - Conning Tower: 388 tons, 1,0%
   Machinery: 2.204 tons, 5,7%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 14.799 tons, 38,3%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4.673 tons, 12,1%
   Miscellaneous weights: 500 tons, 1,3%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     50.672 lbs / 22.985 Kg = 24,7 x 16,0 " / 406 mm shells or 9,7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,13
   Metacentric height 7,1 ft / 2,2 m
   Roll period: 18,1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,39
   Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1,13

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0,525
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6,20 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 26,68 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 44 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 63
   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:      19,69 ft / 6,00 m
     - Forecastle (20%):   16,40 ft / 5,00 m
     - Mid (70%):      16,40 ft / 5,00 m
     - Quarterdeck (20%):   16,40 ft / 5,00 m
     - Stern:      16,40 ft / 5,00 m
     - Average freeboard:   16,67 ft / 5,08 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 81,3%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 119,3%
   Waterplane Area: 52.552 Square feet or 4.882 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 211 lbs/sq ft or 1.029 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,98
      - Longitudinal: 1,18
      - 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

Logi · March 01, 2011, 03:05:54 PM

http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=3146.msg67758#msg67758
Or this?

http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=3146.msg68318#msg68318

P3D · March 01, 2011, 07:44:24 PM

3 quadx16" laid down 1920

Displacement:
   35,001 t light; 37,402 t standard; 40,412 t normal; 42,820 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   657.52 ft / 649.61 ft x 108.27 ft x 32.81 ft (normal load)
   200.41 m / 198.00 m x 33.00 m x 10.00 m

Armament:
12 - 16.00" / 406 mm guns (3x4 guns), 2,048.00lbs / 928.96kg shells, 1920 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, majority forward
20 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (10x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1920 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, all amidships
   Weight of broadside 25,826 lbs / 11,714 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 110

Armour:
- Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   14.2" / 360 mm   419.95 ft / 128.00 m   15.75 ft / 4.80 m
   Ends:   3.94" / 100 mm   131.23 ft / 40.00 m   15.75 ft / 4.80 m
     98.43 ft / 30.00 m Unarmoured ends
     Main Belt covers 99 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
      2.95" / 75 mm   419.95 ft / 128.00 m   27.89 ft / 8.50 m

- Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   15.7" / 400 mm   7.87" / 200 mm      15.0" / 380 mm
   2nd:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.79" / 20 mm      0.79" / 20 mm

- Armour deck: 4.33" / 110 mm, Conning tower: 16.54" / 420 mm

Machinery:
   Diesel Internal combustion motors,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 68,737 shp / 51,278 Kw = 24.00 kts
   Range 15,000nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 5,418 tons

Complement:
   1,424 - 1,852

Cost:
   £10.100 million / $40.401 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 3,228 tons, 8.0 %
   Armour: 13,501 tons, 33.4 %
     - Belts: 4,443 tons, 11.0 %
     - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,279 tons, 3.2 %
     - Armament: 3,187 tons, 7.9 %
     - Armour Deck: 4,171 tons, 10.3 %
     - Conning Tower: 420 tons, 1.0 %
   Machinery: 2,403 tons, 5.9 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 15,418 tons, 38.2 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,412 tons, 13.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 450 tons, 1.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     44,590 lbs / 20,226 Kg = 21.8 x 16.0 " / 406 mm shells or 7.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
   Metacentric height 7.2 ft / 2.2 m
   Roll period: 16.9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 59 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.64
   Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.17

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.613
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 25.49 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 15.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
     - Stem:      29.53 ft / 9.00 m
     - Forecastle (20 %):   19.69 ft / 6.00 m
     - Mid (50 %):      18.04 ft / 5.50 m
     - Quarterdeck (15 %):   18.04 ft / 5.50 m
     - Stern:      18.04 ft / 5.50 m
     - Average freeboard:   19.41 ft / 5.92 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 99.2 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 128.3 %
   Waterplane Area: 52,066 Square feet or 4,837 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 91 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 221 lbs/sq ft or 1,077 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.95
      - Longitudinal: 1.57
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

P3D · March 01, 2011, 07:46:02 PM

A 8x16" 29kts version is also possible, just cut armor down.

Logi · March 01, 2011, 08:27:38 PM

Quote98.43 ft / 30.00 m Unarmoured ends

Might want to look into that.

Nobody · March 02, 2011, 02:11:52 AM

I like that one P3D, it has potential. However, no AA at all? We can't have that.

How much armor would remain if I wanted to have 3 quads and a 160k shp power plant?

EDIT
Now I know how you manged that - there is no superfiring turret. Which would cost ~200 tons but 6% structural strength.

mentat · March 02, 2011, 07:02:28 AM

my suggestion - invest in a few fast heavy ships that can go anywhere and handle multiple roles:

1 'Fully Armoured BC' - say 35 k tons 8 x 340mm Belt 340mm Turrets 360 mm Deck 80mm 31? knots + Long Range

1 'Wheeler' - as Heavy Consort (maybe bit less range + Skpg - but more armour vs. Wheeler)

8 new 1800 ton DDs 6 x 5" (2x2, 2x1 - superfiring) 8 x TT 34+ knots

- basically Ships that 'Kick Ass' ;D

Nobody · March 02, 2011, 07:11:47 AM

Quote from: mentat on March 02, 2011, 07:02:28 AM
my suggestion - invest in a few fast heavy ships that can go anywhere and handle multiple roles:

1 'Fully Armoured BC' - say 35 k tons 8 x 340mm Belt 340mm Turrets 360 mm Deck 80mm 31? knots + Long Range

1 'Wheeler' - as Heavy Consort (maybe bit less range + Skpg - but more armour vs. Wheeler)

8 new 1800 ton DDs 6 x 5" (2x2, 2x1 - superfiring) 8 x TT 34+ knots

- basically Ships that 'Kick Ass' ;D

That sounds great, but what actually I need are some SS2 designs which meet your specification.

mentat · March 02, 2011, 07:24:33 AM

I'm sure I have something on the BC (happy to send - when I find it) , Wheeler is easy to copy/adapt - the DDs would need looking at - but I think very doable on 1700-1800 tons ...

P3D · March 02, 2011, 08:14:27 PM

Logi:
Armoring the bow would preserve the speed of the vessel by keeping smaller caliber out. Aft of the citadel it only adds buoyancy protection, while being wasted weight against capital ship shells.

Nobody:
Put whatever AA you want on it.

Mentat: Orange already has two 29kts battleships, no hurry to build more, but a single 31-32kts armored cruiser (just to make others worry) have some merits.