Belgium, 1900 Onward

[The Rock Doctor]

RIVER BOAT MANIA!!!!!1!!1!

First, we have a lightly armored riverboat to operate on Belgium's own rivers.  These would keep out foreign gunboats, and help break up enemy army efforts to cross rivers such as the Meuse during times of war.

Belgian River Gunboat laid down 1900

Displacement:
   207 t light; 213 t standard; 220 t normal; 225 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (187.70 ft / 187.01 ft) x 26.25 ft x (2.53 / 2.57 ft)
   (57.21 m / 57.00 m) x 8.00 m  x (0.77 / 0.78 m)

Armament:
      2 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 5.70lbs / 2.58kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1900 Model
     2 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      4 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1900 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 11 lbs / 5 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   0.79" / 20 mm     52.49 ft / 16.00 m   6.14 ft / 1.87 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 43 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.79" / 20 mm         -               -
   2nd:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

   - Box over machinery & magazines:
   0.79" / 20 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 0.98" / 25 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, simple reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 100 ihp / 75 Kw = 8.29 kts
   Range 500nm at 8.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 11 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   28 - 37

Cost:
   £0.010 million / $0.042 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 2 tons, 1.1 %
      - Guns: 2 tons, 1.1 %
   Armour: 50 tons, 22.9 %
      - Belts: 14 tons, 6.2 %
      - Armament: 8 tons, 3.5 %
      - Armour Deck: 28 tons, 12.8 %
      - Conning Tower: 1 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 18 tons, 8.1 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 129 tons, 58.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 13 tons, 5.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 7 tons, 3.2 %
      - Hull above water: 7 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     1,661 lbs / 754 Kg = 294.0 x 2.2 " / 57 mm shells or 1.7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.22
   Metacentric height 1.0 ft / 0.3 m
   Roll period: 11.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.03
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.09

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.620 / 0.622
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.13 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 13.68 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 17 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 64
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 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 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Average freeboard:      7.87 ft / 2.40 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 34.7 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 195.9 %
   Waterplane Area: 3,657 Square feet or 340 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 222 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 28 lbs/sq ft or 137 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.96
      - Longitudinal: 1.55
      - Overall: 1.01
   Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

[The Rock Doctor]

Now we have an unarmored gunboat primarily for use policing the locals along the Congo rivershed.  These will be built at Leopoldville (Kinshasa), using materials brought in from Belgium.

Congo Gunboat, laid down 1900

Displacement:
   183 t light; 189 t standard; 200 t normal; 209 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (187.70 ft / 187.01 ft) x 26.25 ft x (2.30 / 2.38 ft)
   (57.21 m / 57.00 m) x 8.00 m  x (0.70 / 0.73 m)

Armament:
      2 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 5.70lbs / 2.58kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1900 Model
     2 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      4 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1900 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 11 lbs / 5 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.79" / 20 mm         -               -
   2nd:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

   - Conning towers: Forward 0.98" / 25 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, simple reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 200 ihp / 149 Kw = 10.33 kts
   Range 1,000nm at 8.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 20 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   26 - 34

Cost:
   £0.012 million / $0.048 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 2 tons, 1.2 %
      - Guns: 2 tons, 1.2 %
   Armour: 8 tons, 4.3 %
      - Armament: 8 tons, 3.9 %
      - Conning Tower: 1 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 35 tons, 17.7 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 127 tons, 63.7 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 17 tons, 8.6 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 9 tons, 4.5 %
      - Hull above water: 9 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     824 lbs / 374 Kg = 145.8 x 2.2 " / 57 mm shells or 0.7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
   Metacentric height 0.9 ft / 0.3 m
   Roll period: 11.5 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.04
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.620 / 0.624
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.13 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 13.68 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 24 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 68
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 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 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Average freeboard:      7.87 ft / 2.40 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 67.3 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 211.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 3,657 Square feet or 340 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 211 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 28 lbs/sq ft or 136 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.95
      - Longitudinal: 1.58
      - Overall: 1.00
   Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

[The Rock Doctor]

...and a larger riverboat designed to transport a platoon of Force Publique troops up and down the river.  It's also got the firepower to project a presence ashore all by itself.

Congo river transport, laid down 1900

Displacement:
   398 t light; 409 t standard; 426 t normal; 440 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (213.94 ft / 213.25 ft) x 32.81 ft x (3.28 / 3.37 ft)
   (65.21 m / 65.00 m) x 10.00 m  x (1.00 / 1.03 m)

Armament:
      2 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 5.70lbs / 2.58kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1900 Model
     2 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      4 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1900 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 11 lbs / 5 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.79" / 20 mm         -               -
   2nd:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

   - Conning towers: Forward 0.98" / 25 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, simple reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 300 ihp / 224 Kw = 10.28 kts
   Range 1,000nm at 8.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 31 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   46 - 60

Cost:
   £0.022 million / $0.088 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 2 tons, 0.6 %
      - Guns: 2 tons, 0.6 %
   Armour: 9 tons, 2.1 %
      - Armament: 8 tons, 1.8 %
      - Conning Tower: 1 tons, 0.3 %
   Machinery: 53 tons, 12.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 209 tons, 49.0 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 28 tons, 6.6 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 125 tons, 29.3 %
      - Hull above water: 125 tons
                      --100 t:  Accommodation for 50 troops/passengers
                      --25 t:  Weight reserve and/or deck cargo

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     1,266 lbs / 574 Kg = 224.0 x 2.2 " / 57 mm shells or 0.8 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.35
   Metacentric height 1.6 ft / 0.5 m
   Roll period: 10.9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 72 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.01
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.05

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.650 / 0.653
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.50 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 14.60 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 24 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 69
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 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 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m,  7.87 ft / 2.40 m
      - Average freeboard:      7.87 ft / 2.40 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 74.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 174.8 %
   Waterplane Area: 5,360 Square feet or 498 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 173 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 33 lbs/sq ft or 159 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.98
      - Longitudinal: 1.13
      - Overall: 1.00
   Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

[The Rock Doctor]

...Harbour tug.  The miscellaneous weight is towing gear, bumpers, and such.  The high hull strength will be useful for bumping into other ships.

Harbour tug laid down 1900

Displacement:
   399 t light; 408 t standard; 454 t normal; 491 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (164.04 ft / 164.04 ft) x 29.53 ft x (6.56 / 6.96 ft)
   (50.00 m / 50.00 m) x 9.00 m  x (2.00 / 2.12 m)

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, simple reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 536 ihp / 400 Kw = 12.51 kts
   Range 2,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 82 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   48 - 63

Cost:
   £0.027 million / $0.109 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 95 tons, 20.9 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 204 tons, 45.0 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 55 tons, 12.1 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 22.0 %
      - Hull above water: 100 tons


Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     935 lbs / 424 Kg = 8.7 x 6 " / 152 mm shells or 0.6 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.47
   Metacentric height 1.6 ft / 0.5 m
   Roll period: 10.0 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 a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.509
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5.56 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 12.81 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 35
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -16.40 ft / -5.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  14.76 ft / 4.50 m,  12.80 ft / 3.90 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  12.80 ft / 3.90 m,  9.84 ft / 3.00 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  9.84 ft / 3.00 m,  9.84 ft / 3.00 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  9.84 ft / 3.00 m,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m
      - Average freeboard:      11.18 ft / 3.41 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 92.2 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 134.8 %
   Waterplane Area: 3,227 Square feet or 300 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 157 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 39 lbs/sq ft or 192 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 1.04
      - Longitudinal: 5.28
      - Overall: 1.22
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, rides out heavy weather easily

[The Rock Doctor]

The Belgian survey ship, which I haven't yet thought out a name for yet.  Miscellaneous weight would be extra crew quarters, cargo, extra boats, and such.  Expect to see this ship poking around the harbours and approaches in Liberia and CFS next year.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1900

Displacement:
   800 t light; 821 t standard; 1,031 t normal; 1,199 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (229.66 ft / 226.38 ft) x 35.99 ft x (8.86 / 9.95 ft)
   (70.00 m / 69.00 m) x 10.97 m  x (2.70 / 3.03 m)

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, simple reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 1,131 ihp / 843 Kw = 13.72 kts
   Range 6,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 378 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   90 - 118

Cost:
   £0.056 million / $0.224 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 200 tons, 19.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 356 tons, 34.5 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 231 tons, 22.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 244 tons, 23.7 %
      - Hull above water: 244 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     2,084 lbs / 945 Kg = 19.3 x 6 " / 152 mm shells or 0.8 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.54
   Metacentric height 2.2 ft / 0.7 m
   Roll period: 10.1 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 a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.518
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.29 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 15.05 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 41 %
   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 %,  14.76 ft / 4.50 m,  12.80 ft / 3.90 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  12.80 ft / 3.90 m,  12.80 ft / 3.90 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  12.80 ft / 3.90 m,  12.80 ft / 3.90 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  12.80 ft / 3.90 m,  12.80 ft / 3.90 m
      - Average freeboard:      12.95 ft / 3.95 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 89.2 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 147.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 5,428 Square feet or 504 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 160 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 41 lbs/sq ft or 202 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.88
      - Longitudinal: 2.99
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, rides out heavy weather easily