New World Ships...

[Carthaginian]

@Carthaginian
With that amount of guns, isn't it more like a destroyer than a torpedo boat?

Yes, it is... in game terms, though, it would be considered a 'torpedo boat' because:
1.) It is 500 tons (normal) or less in displacement.
2.) Its primary anti-ship weapons are the torpedoes.

If clarifications are necessary in the 'Torpedo Boat' section, especially related to gun armament, that IS understandable. The line was somewhat blurry when it came to the early 'Torpedo Boat Destroyer' as to whether a given design was more 'Torpedo Boat' or more 'Destroyer' in nature. Given this ship's small size, short range and small caliber weapons, I called it a 'torpedo boat' rather than a proper 'destroyer.'

Should this issue merit more debate- and it may well, given the fact that Pluton, Furor and Terror were of similar speed, armament and displacement AND were rated as 'destroyers'- we can most certainly discuss that in the 'Rules Discussion' thread. :)

QUESTION:
With a small patrol boat like this you're likely to have some reserves, what would you do with that?

• a) build them to excessive hull strength
  
• b) use 'paper' armor (which I did)
  
• c) declare them as misc weight
  
• d) something else?
  

I might use the weight to embark some Marines, especially in this case. As these ships are largely going to be doing 'Law and Order' type patrols, policing the local seas, the extra personnel might come in handy for searching ships or assisting in rescue operations.
Also, the 'paper' armor isn't so 'paper' when you consider the fact that this vessel will likely only encounter small arms fire in the course of its duties. The armor that you have on these vessels will completely stop even heavy rifle rounds and will deflect some small autocannon rounds. Again, this would be very useful for a vessel on a 'law and Order' type mission.

Whichever way you go, this is a very nice little patrol craft!

[Carthaginian]

A small monitor- something to defend a moderate value settlement; powerful enough that you need to send something big to beat it, small enough that you can build several.

laid down 1901

Displacement:
   2,989 t light; 3,150 t standard; 3,500 t normal; 3,780 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (275.00 ft / 275.00 ft) x 55.00 ft x (12.00 / 12.84 ft)
   (83.82 m / 83.82 m) x 16.76 m  x (3.66 / 3.91 m)

Armament:
      2 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 874.99lbs / 396.89kg shells, 80 per gun
     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mount, 1895 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline, forward deck centre
      4 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 50.0 cal guns - 11.99lbs / 5.44kg shells, 500 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1901 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 1,798 lbs / 816 kg
      Main Torpedoes
      4 - 18.0" / 457 mm, 18.00 ft / 5.49 m torpedoes - 0.675 t each, 2.699 t total
   submerged side tubes

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   5.00" / 127 mm   180.00 ft / 54.86 m   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Ends:   3.00" / 76 mm     95.00 ft / 28.96 m   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
     Main Belt covers 101 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   6.00" / 152 mm   4.00" / 102 mm      5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
   For and Aft decks: 2.00" / 51 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 5.00" / 127 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 1 shaft, 1,600 ihp / 1,194 Kw = 12.17 kts
   Range 2,880nm at 12.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 630 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   226 - 295

Cost:
   £0.305 million / $1.220 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 398 tons, 11.4 %
      - Guns: 393 tons, 11.2 %
      - Weapons: 5 tons, 0.2 %
   Armour: 1,098 tons, 31.4 %
      - Belts: 601 tons, 17.2 %
      - Armament: 115 tons, 3.3 %
      - Armour Deck: 357 tons, 10.2 %
      - Conning Tower: 25 tons, 0.7 %
   Machinery: 246 tons, 7.0 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,202 tons, 34.3 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 511 tons, 14.6 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 45 tons, 1.3 %
      - Hull below water: 45 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     5,507 lbs / 2,498 Kg = 6.4 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 3.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.52
   Metacentric height 4.1 ft / 1.3 m
   Roll period: 11.3 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.27
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.16

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.675 / 0.682
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 16.58 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 37 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 60
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   19.50 %,  14.00 ft / 4.27 m,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m
      - Aft deck:   35.50 %,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m
      - Average freeboard:      8.47 ft / 2.58 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 68.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 79.1 %
   Waterplane Area: 11,732 Square feet or 1,090 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 109 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 97 lbs/sq ft or 475 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.95
      - Longitudinal: 1.58
      - Overall: 1.00
   Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Cramped accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

[Nobody]

Doesn't actually belong here, but I would like to present to you one of my first ever SpringSharp2 attempts:

Goddess class, Orange Schlachtkreuzer laid down 1920 (Engine 1916)

Displacement:
   48.553 t light; 50.458 t standard; 55.272 t normal; 59.122 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   885,83 ft / 879,27 ft x 108,27 ft (Bulges 114,83 ft) x 32,81 ft (normal load)
   270,00 m / 268,00 m x 33,00 m (Bulges 35,00 m)  x 10,00 m

Armament:
      12 - 11,14" / 283 mm guns (4x3 guns), 691,56lbs / 313,69kg shells, 1920 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 5,04" / 128 mm guns (8x2 guns), 63,99lbs / 29,03kg shells, 1920 Model
     Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
      20 - 1,57" / 40,0 mm guns (10x2 guns), 1,95lbs / 0,88kg shells, 1920 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      20 - 0,79" / 20,0 mm guns in single mounts, 0,24lbs / 0,11kg shells, 1920 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 9.366 lbs / 4.249 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 150

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13,8" / 350 mm   524,93 ft / 160,00 m   19,03 ft / 5,80 m
   Ends:   1,97" / 50 mm   354,33 ft / 108,00 m   12,30 ft / 3,75 m
   Upper:   1,57" / 40 mm   557,74 ft / 170,00 m   8,20 ft / 2,50 m
     Main Belt covers 92% of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead and Bulges:
      1,97" / 50 mm   623,36 ft / 190,00 m   36,09 ft / 11,00 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   13,8" / 350 mm   9,84" / 250 mm      12,6" / 320 mm
   2nd:   0,39" / 10 mm   0,39" / 10 mm      0,39" / 10 mm
   3rd:   0,39" / 10 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 6,10" / 155 mm, Conning tower: 14,96" / 380 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 253.358 shp / 189.005 Kw = 33,00 kts
   Range 6.800nm at 18,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 8.664 tons

Complement:
   1.802 - 2.343

Cost:
   £9,465 million / $37,859 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1.171 tons, 2,1%
   Armour: 19.452 tons, 35,2%
      - Belts: 6.586 tons, 11,9%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 1.639 tons, 3,0%
      - Armament: 3.017 tons, 5,5%
      - Armour Deck: 7.743 tons, 14,0%
      - Conning Tower: 468 tons, 0,8%
   Machinery: 9.440 tons, 17,1%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 17.640 tons, 31,9%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6.719 tons, 12,2%
   Miscellaneous weights: 850 tons, 1,5%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     76.665 lbs / 34.775 Kg = 110,9 x 11,1 " / 283 mm shells or 11,5 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,25
   Metacentric height 8,5 ft / 2,6 m
   Roll period: 16,6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,23
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,08

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0,584
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7,66 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 29,65 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0,49 ft / 0,15 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      34,45 ft / 10,50 m
      - Forecastle (25%):   26,25 ft / 8,00 m
      - Mid (52%):      22,97 ft / 7,00 m
      - Quarterdeck (20%):   23,62 ft / 7,20 m
      - Stern:      25,59 ft / 7,80 m
      - Average freeboard:   25,47 ft / 7,76 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 91,1%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 173,6%
   Waterplane Area: 68.590 Square feet or 6.372 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 178 lbs/sq ft or 871 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 1,00
      - Longitudinal: 1,00
      - Overall: 1,00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

[Carthaginian]

An attempt to build a vessel using the Destroyer section of the treaty.
As you can see, she comes up with a pretty respectable range.

Torpedo Ram #41, Torpedo Boat laid down 1898

Displacement:
   423 t light; 440 t standard; 500 t normal; 548 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (250.00 ft / 250.00 ft) x 24.00 ft x (6.50 / 6.94 ft)
   (76.20 m / 76.20 m) x 7.32 m  x (1.98 / 2.11 m)

Armament:
      3 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 50.0 cal guns - 12.00lbs / 5.44kg shells, 300 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1898 Model
     3 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      4 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm 50.0 cal guns - 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 800 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1898 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 38 lbs / 17 kg
      Main Torpedoes
      4 - 18.0" / 457 mm, 16.50 ft / 5.03 m torpedoes - 0.559 t each, 2.237 t total
   In 4 sets of deck mounted carriage/fixed tubes
      2nd Torpedoes
      1 - 18.0" / 457 mm, 16.50 ft / 5.03 m torpedo - 0.559 t total
   In a deck mounted carriage/fixed tube

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 7,904 ihp / 5,897 Kw = 25.91 kts/29.17 kts trial
   Range    220nm at 25.00 kts
   Range 2,475nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 108 tons (100% coal)
     Caution: Delicate, lightweight machinery

Complement:
   52 - 68

Cost:
   £0.060 million / $0.238 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 13 tons, 2.6 %
      - Guns: 10 tons, 1.9 %
      - Weapons: 3 tons, 0.7 %
   Armour: 3 tons, 0.7 %
      - Armament: 3 tons, 0.7 %
   Machinery: 301 tons, 60.1 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 103 tons, 20.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 77 tons, 15.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 3 tons, 0.6 %
      - On freeboard deck: 3 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     112 lbs / 51 Kg = 8.3 x 3.0 " / 76 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.76
   Metacentric height 1.5 ft / 0.5 m
   Roll period: 8.3 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 49 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.05
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 0.73

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.449 / 0.461
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.42 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 15.81 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 63 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 66
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  11.00 ft / 3.35 m,  9.00 ft / 2.74 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  9.00 ft / 2.74 m,  7.50 ft / 2.29 m
      - Aft deck:   30.00 %,  7.50 ft / 2.29 m,  6.50 ft / 1.98 m
      - Quarter deck:   20.00 %,  6.50 ft / 1.98 m,  6.00 ft / 1.83 m
      - Average freeboard:      7.79 ft / 2.37 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 199.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 103.4 %
   Waterplane Area: 3,824 Square feet or 355 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 19 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 19 lbs/sq ft or 91 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.50
      - Longitudinal: 0.58
      - Overall: 0.50
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Adequate accommodation and workspace room
   Poor seaboat, wet and uncomfortable, reduced performance in heavy weather

[Carthaginian]

Doesn't actually belong here, but I would like to present to you one of my first ever SpringSharp2 attempts:

Wish I still had my first Springsharp- was a horrid thing, a predread with 9.2" guns in hull casemates!

[snip]

Mine has been lost to the seas of 1&0s. a huge BC with VTE engines for 31knts of so

[Carthaginian]

Playing around with some rules that will allow us to build period-appropriate small TB's.
If you build to 0.5 Cross Sectional/0.5 Composite and have >60% Machinery Weight, you get a fairly accurate torpedo boat...
You just have to ignore the >24 knot 'Light, Fast Combatant' warning when you do it.

Here's a test boat using those guidelines. She comes out about a knot and a half faster than historic once you use Guinness's Trial Speed Calculator... but if everything is broken equally for everyone, then it isn't really broken. ;) Tell me what ya'll think about working little craft like this into the game. I have the rules to make it work.

Torpedo Ram #1, S.M.H.O.S.J. Torpedo Ram laid down 1895

Displacement:
   92 t light; 95 t standard; 100 t normal; 104 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (120.00 ft / 120.00 ft) x 15.00 ft x (5.00 / 5.12 ft)
   (36.58 m / 36.58 m) x 4.57 m  x (1.52 / 1.56 m)

Armament:
      1 - 2.00" / 50.8 mm 45.0 cal gun - 5.00lbs / 2.27kg shells, 200 per gun
     Quick firing gun in deck mount, 1895 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline, forward deck centre
      3 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.51lbs / 0.23kg shells, 500 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1895 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
     1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck aft
      Weight of broadside 7 lbs / 3 kg
      Main Torpedoes
      4 - 18.0" / 457 mm, 16.50 ft / 5.03 m torpedoes - 0.504 t each, 2.018 t total
   In 4 sets of deck mounted carriage/fixed tubes

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 1,500 ihp / 1,119 Kw = 20.23 kts/26.25 kts Trial Speed
   Range 56nm at 20.00 kts/26.00 kts Trial Speed
   Bunker at max displacement = 8 tons (100% coal)
     Caution: Delicate, lightweight machinery

Complement:
   15 - 20

Cost:
   £0.012 million / $0.048 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 4 tons, 3.7 %
      - Guns: 1 tons, 1.2 %
      - Weapons: 3 tons, 2.5 %
   Machinery: 60 tons, 60.2 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 27 tons, 26.5 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 8 tons, 7.5 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 2 tons, 2.0 %
      - On freeboard deck: 2 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     27 lbs / 12 Kg = 6.7 x 2.0 " / 51 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.53
   Metacentric height 0.6 ft / 0.2 m
   Roll period: 8.1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.05
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 0.86

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.389 / 0.394
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 10.95 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 69 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 58
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  6.00 ft / 1.83 m,  7.00 ft / 2.13 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  7.00 ft / 2.13 m,  6.25 ft / 1.91 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  6.25 ft / 1.91 m,  5.25 ft / 1.60 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  5.25 ft / 1.60 m,  5.00 ft / 1.52 m
      - Average freeboard:      6.09 ft / 1.86 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 198.3 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 78.2 %
   Waterplane Area: 1,100 Square feet or 102 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 19 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 13 lbs/sq ft or 65 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.50
      - Longitudinal: 2.34
      - Overall: 0.58
   IGNORE Caution: Hull subject to strain in open-sea IGNORE
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Cramped accommodation and workspace room
   Poor seaboat, wet and uncomfortable, reduced performance in heavy weather

[Jefgte]

IMO, a too small ship, with low freaboard, unable to work in medium sea & certainly not in heavy sea.

Jef

[Carthaginian]

IMO, a too small ship, with low freaboard, unable to work in medium sea & certainly not in heavy sea.

Jef

Well, they aren't intended to go out and seek battle on the high seas.
They are coastal forces, made for use in relatively protected waters.

Given the way our world is put together, there are several shallow seas and straits where boats like this would be useful.

[KWorld]

Awfully slow for a torpedo boat, isn't she?  Assuming the SS speed is used, she'll be hard pressed to get to the right angle to launch her fish.

[Carthaginian]

Awfully slow for a torpedo boat, isn't she?  Assuming the SS speed is used, she'll be hard pressed to get to the right angle to launch her fish.

OK- the Trial speed is actually her 'theoretical top speed.' She isn't really all that slow, as the torpedo boats I modeled her after made about 24 knots (IJN TB31 class, l.d. 1893). As a harbor defense torpedo boat there is no doubt that she's historically competitive. I have no doubt about her suitability for for duty on the open sea- she'd be unable to steam at top speed in all but the best of conditions

Additionally, notice the date that she was laid down: 1895, a time when the typical battleship made between 16 and 18 knots on trials. If she makes 24 knots, she has a 6 knot speed advantage... so she is 1/3 again as fast as contemporary battleships. That is plenty of speed to get a favorable angle. Even if she can only make 20 knots, she still has a 4 knot advantage over most battleships in commission and a 2 knot advantage over the newest ones at the time of her commission. Considering that the battleships would be approaching her harbor and be tied to a (relatively) fixed course, the torpedo boats don't have a lot of maneuvering to do- they dash out, launch torpedoes, and dash home (if they are lucky).

Mostly, this was just to test what one had to do to duplicate the effects of the small torpedo boats of the 1880's and 1890's. It's a personal experiment that may or may not have bearing on the game, but one I wanted some opinions on. :)

[Carthaginian]

And just for fun, a good old fashioned monitor- suitable for harbor defense and heavy gun training.

laid down 1897

Displacement:
   3,563 t light; 3,725 t standard; 4,000 t normal; 4,220 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (300.00 ft / 300.00 ft) x 60.00 ft x (14.00 / 14.63 ft)
   (91.44 m / 91.44 m) x 18.29 m  x (4.27 / 4.46 m)

Armament:
      2 - 12.00" / 305 mm 40.0 cal guns - 850.00lbs / 385.55kg shells, 80 per gun
     Breech loading guns in Coles/Ericsson turret mount, 1895 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline, forward deck aft
      3 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 45.0 cal guns - 12.00lbs / 5.44kg shells, 300 per gun
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts, 1897 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck centre
     1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck aft
      2 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm 50.0 cal guns - 0.53lbs / 0.24kg shells, 1,500 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1897 Model
     2 x Single mounts on centreline, aft evenly spread
      2 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 1,737 lbs / 788 kg
      Main Torpedoes
      4 - 16.0" / 406 mm, 16.50 ft / 5.03 m torpedoes - 0.433 t each, 1.731 t total
   submerged side tubes
      2nd Torpedoes
      8 - 16.0" / 406 mm, 16.50 ft / 5.03 m torpedoes - 0.433 t each, 3.461 t total
   below water reloads

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   10.0" / 254 mm   180.00 ft / 54.86 m   12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Ends:   3.00" / 76 mm   120.00 ft / 36.58 m   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
     Main Belt covers 92 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   10.0" / 254 mm   4.00" / 102 mm            -

   - Armoured deck - single deck:
   For and Aft decks: 2.00" / 51 mm
   Forecastle: 1.00" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 1 shaft, 1,600 ihp / 1,193 Kw = 12.10 kts
   Range 3,150nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 494 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   250 - 326

Cost:
   £0.301 million / $1.204 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 336 tons, 8.4 %
      - Guns: 329 tons, 8.2 %
      - Weapons: 8 tons, 0.2 %
   Armour: 1,653 tons, 41.3 %
      - Belts: 1,131 tons, 28.3 %
      - Armament: 118 tons, 2.9 %
      - Armour Deck: 404 tons, 10.1 %
   Machinery: 262 tons, 6.6 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,305 tons, 32.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 437 tons, 10.9 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 6 tons, 0.1 %
      - Hull below water: 6 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     6,481 lbs / 2,940 Kg = 7.5 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 6.8 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.37
   Metacentric height 4.0 ft / 1.2 m
   Roll period: 12.5 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.16
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 0.86

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.556 / 0.561
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 17.32 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 33 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 81
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m,  6.00 ft / 1.83 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  6.00 ft / 1.83 m,  6.00 ft / 1.83 m
      - Aft deck:   30.00 %,  6.00 ft / 1.83 m,  6.00 ft / 1.83 m
      - Quarter deck:   20.00 %,  6.00 ft / 1.83 m,  7.00 ft / 2.13 m
      - Average freeboard:      6.26 ft / 1.91 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 54.9 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 56.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 12,259 Square feet or 1,139 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 99 lbs/sq ft or 484 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.98
      - Longitudinal: 1.19
      - Overall: 1.00
   Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Cramped accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Poor seaboat, wet and uncomfortable, reduced performance in heavy weather

[Jefgte]

IMO,
Reduce the armor, increase the speed & add 100mm guns vs DDs attack.

Jef

[Carthaginian]

IMO,
Reduce the armor, increase the speed & add 100mm guns vs DDs attack.

Jef

Something like this, perhaps?
A completely purpose-built shore-bombardment vessel.
They are small and slow, with an obsolescent 12"/L35 mounted on the stern for shore bombardment. They have a relatively heavy anti-TB battery, and also a relatively heavy anti-flyer battery. These ships wouldn't even belong to the Naval Forces (technically it won't make a difference; it would be a storyline issue only), but rather to the Land Forces as an attached support unit.  ;)

laid down 1899

Displacement:
   2,270 t light; 2,400 t standard; 2,500 t normal; 2,580 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (250.00 ft / 250.00 ft) x 50.00 ft x (12.00 / 12.31 ft)
   (76.20 m / 76.20 m) x 15.24 m  x (3.66 / 3.75 m)

Armament:
      1 - 12.00" / 305 mm 35.0 cal gun - 850.00lbs / 385.55kg shells, 60 per gun
     Breech loading gun in turret on barbette mount, 1899 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck aft
      6 - 4.75" / 121 mm 45.0 cal guns - 50.00lbs / 22.68kg shells, 300 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1899 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck forward
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts
      4 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm 50.0 cal guns - 0.51lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1,500 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1899 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck centre
      2 raised mounts
     2 x Single mounts on centreline, aft deck forward
      2 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 1,152 lbs / 523 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   6.00" / 152 mm   150.00 ft / 45.72 m   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
   Ends:   3.00" / 76 mm   100.00 ft / 30.48 m   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
     Main Belt covers 92 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   6.00" / 152 mm         -         6.00" / 152 mm
   2nd:   2.00" / 51 mm         -               -

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
   For and Aft decks: 1.50" / 38 mm
   Forecastle: 1.00" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 6.00" / 152 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, simple reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 1,200 ihp / 896 Kw = 11.97 kts
   Range 1,470nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 181 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   176 - 229

Cost:
   £0.184 million / $0.736 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 195 tons, 7.8 %
      - Guns: 195 tons, 7.8 %
   Armour: 877 tons, 35.1 %
      - Belts: 530 tons, 21.2 %
      - Armament: 91 tons, 3.6 %
      - Armour Deck: 232 tons, 9.3 %
      - Conning Tower: 24 tons, 1.0 %
   Machinery: 214 tons, 8.6 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 893 tons, 35.7 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 230 tons, 9.2 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 90 tons, 3.6 %
      - Hull below water: 40 tons
      - Hull above water: 40 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 10 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     5,443 lbs / 2,469 Kg = 6.3 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 1.7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.58
   Metacentric height 3.8 ft / 1.2 m
   Roll period: 10.8 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.30
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.69

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.583 / 0.587
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 15.81 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 37 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 42
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Forward deck:   20.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
      - Aft deck:   40.00 %,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m
      - Quarter deck:   20.00 %,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m,  8.00 ft / 2.44 m
      - Average freeboard:      11.20 ft / 3.41 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 60.5 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 103.9 %
   Waterplane Area: 9,001 Square feet or 836 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 119 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 83 lbs/sq ft or 405 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.91
      - Longitudinal: 2.43
      - Overall: 1.00
   Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Adequate accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Extra weight is to accommodate 20 soldiers and 2 extra steam launches.
They would be used to 'police the area' before the ship went in (read as: they go out and fine mines).

[Desertfox]

I think I'll throw my hat into the ring...


How does this look? Meets the rules?

Hound, Aztlan Heavy Cruiser laid down 1905

Displacement:
   9,304 t light; 9,689 t standard; 11,000 t normal; 12,048 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (504.23 ft / 500.00 ft) x 70.00 ft x (22.00 / 23.57 ft)
   (153.69 m / 152.40 m) x 21.34 m  x (6.71 / 7.19 m)

Armament:
      4 - 10.00" / 254 mm 45.0 cal guns - 504.26lbs / 228.73kg shells, 100 per gun
     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1905 Model
     4 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      10 - 5.00" / 127 mm 45.0 cal guns - 63.03lbs / 28.59kg shells, 150 per gun
     Breech loading guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1905 Model
     10 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      20 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 150 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1905 Model
     10 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
      10 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 2,657 lbs / 1,205 kg
      Main Torpedoes
      4 - 20.0" / 508 mm, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m torpedoes - 1.053 t each, 4.214 t total
   In 2 sets of deck mounted carriage/fixed tubes
      Mines
      50 - 500.00 lbs / 226.80 kg mines - 11.161 t total
   in Above water - Stern racks/rails

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   7.00" / 178 mm   300.00 ft / 91.44 m   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
   Ends:   3.00" / 76 mm   200.00 ft / 60.96 m   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
     Main Belt covers 92 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   7.00" / 178 mm   3.00" / 76 mm      7.00" / 178 mm
   2nd:   1.00" / 25 mm   1.00" / 25 mm      1.00" / 25 mm
   3rd:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
   For and Aft decks: 3.00" / 76 mm
   Forecastle: 1.00" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 3.00" / 76 mm, Aft 1.00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
   Coal and oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 3 shafts, 15,811 ihp / 11,795 Kw = 20.00 kts
   Range 10,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2,359 tons (90% coal)

Complement:
   536 - 698

Cost:
   £0.893 million / $3.571 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 751 tons, 6.8 %
      - Guns: 732 tons, 6.7 %
      - Weapons: 19 tons, 0.2 %
   Armour: 2,843 tons, 25.8 %
      - Belts: 1,133 tons, 10.3 %
      - Armament: 525 tons, 4.8 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,143 tons, 10.4 %
      - Conning Towers: 43 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 2,269 tons, 20.6 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,342 tons, 30.4 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,696 tons, 15.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.9 %
      - Hull below water: 50 tons
      - Hull above water: 50 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     14,979 lbs / 6,794 Kg = 30.0 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 2.5 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.42
   Metacentric height 5.4 ft / 1.6 m
   Roll period: 12.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 69 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.30
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.72

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.511
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.14 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 22.36 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 40 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 40
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
      - Average freeboard:      17.56 ft / 5.35 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 88.9 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 140.1 %
   Waterplane Area: 23,320 Square feet or 2,166 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 110 lbs/sq ft or 536 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.96
      - Longitudinal: 1.53
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather