Subsidized Merchant Vessels

[Darman]

Several Taku Maru Vessels are currently under consideration for production.  Subject to change...

[Darman]

Taku Maru, Empire of Japan Cargo Vessel laid down 1900

Displacement:
   3,000 t light; 3,078 t standard; 3,902 t normal; 4,561 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (230.00 ft / 230.00 ft) x 40.00 ft x (19.00 / 21.90 ft)
   (70.10 m / 70.10 m) x 12.19 m  x (5.79 / 6.68 m)

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 1 shaft, 1,294 ihp / 966 Kw = 11.30 kts
   Range 10,500nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,483 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   246 - 320

Cost:
   £0.133 million / $0.533 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 202 tons, 5.2 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 648 tons, 16.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 902 tons, 23.1 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 2,150 tons, 55.1 %
      - Hull below water: 1,300 tons
      - Hull above water: 750 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 100 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     5,029 lbs / 2,281 Kg = 46.6 x 6 " / 152 mm shells or 1.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.41
   Metacentric height 2.3 ft / 0.7 m
   Roll period: 11.1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 100 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.00
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.781 / 0.792
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5.75 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 15.17 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 41 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   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 %,  16.68 ft / 5.08 m,  10.62 ft / 3.24 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  10.62 ft / 3.24 m,  10.62 ft / 3.24 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  10.62 ft / 3.24 m,  10.62 ft / 3.24 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  10.62 ft / 3.24 m,  10.62 ft / 3.24 m
      - Average freeboard:      11.10 ft / 3.38 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 74.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 65.3 %
   Waterplane Area: 7,947 Square feet or 738 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 153 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 52 lbs/sq ft or 256 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.91
      - Longitudinal: 2.42
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, rides out heavy weather easily

Misc. Weight:
2,050 tons for 1.025 troops (1/3 brigade)
100 tons for 10 5t launches (20 men)

These are built to merchant specifications, they are standardized cargo vessels, the production of which has been subsidized by the Imperial Japanese Navy with the caveat that they may be requisitioned for use by the Navy.  Specifically they were designed to be quickly modified to transport troops.

Modified Cost: 3,000-2,150= 850
                         850/4= 212.5