Belgium: Pre-1900

[The Rock Doctor]

Colliers.  There were probably purpose-built, and likely the first units actually ordered for the Belgian Navy (though with the knowledge that other vessels were on the way).  As with other units, they have a limited passenger/cargo capability to supplement the regular packet runs.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1894

Displacement:
   1,921 t light; 2,020 t standard; 4,588 t normal; 6,643 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (354.33 ft / 351.05 ft) x 55.77 ft x (16.40 / 21.92 ft)
   (108.00 m / 107.00 m) x 17.00 m  x (5.00 / 6.68 m)

Armament:
      1 - 4.02" / 102 mm 45.0 cal gun - 32.66lbs / 14.81kg shells, 250 per gun
     Breech loading gun in deck mount, 1894 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck aft
      2 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 5.70lbs / 2.58kg shells, 350 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1894 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides amidships
      Weight of broadside 44 lbs / 20 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.79" / 20 mm            -
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 1,800 ihp / 1,343 Kw = 12.39 kts
   Range 28,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 4,623 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   278 - 362

Cost:
   £0.113 million / $0.452 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 7 tons, 0.2 %
      - Guns: 7 tons, 0.2 %
   Armour: 9 tons, 0.2 %
      - Armament: 9 tons, 0.2 %
   Machinery: 310 tons, 6.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,265 tons, 27.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,667 tons, 58.1 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 330 tons, 7.2 %
      - Hull above water: 330 tons
                     -40 t:  Accommodation for 20 passengers
                     -60 t:  Cargo
                     -200 t:  Coal-handling equipment
                     -30 t:  Weight reserve

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     20,742 lbs / 9,409 Kg = 640.6 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 4.9 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 2.19
   Metacentric height 7.0 ft / 2.1 m
   Roll period: 8.8 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.00
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle, raised quarterdeck ,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.542
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.29 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 18.74 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 27 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 35
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Average freeboard:      14.32 ft / 4.37 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 31.9 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 105.6 %
   Waterplane Area: 13,045 Square feet or 1,212 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 468 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 67 lbs/sq ft or 325 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.94
      - Longitudinal: 1.69
      - 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

[The Rock Doctor]

...and that's the starting Belgian navy.  Things I'll be looking at for 1901 will include river gunboats, surveying vessels, and perhaps dedicated military tugs.