New French Battleships

[P3D]

From hazegray, ship size increase looks like this:
(laying down dates)

UK
1905: 18000 (Dreadnought)
1909: 26000 (Lion)
1916: 40000 (Hood)
1921: 48000 (G3/N3)

Germany
1907: 18000
1909: 24000
1915: 30000
1919: 44000

Japan
1909: 20000
1912: 30000
1920: 40000

Basically a 2000t/year increase in capital ship displacement in 1905-1920.

[maddox]

A young guy, sitting in a bar in Brest, drinking himself to a stupor. Again, his plan for a battleship that is capable , affordable and to build with the current French materials is denied because a lack of grandeur.

A grey haired straight spined blue eyed uniformed man comes in the bar and sees a glimps of the drawings.....

Valeur, French Battleship laid down 1906 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   16.515 t light; 17.447 t standard; 19.104 t normal; 20.429 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   498,69 ft / 492,13 ft x 88,58 ft x 27,89 ft (normal load)
   152,00 m / 150,00 m x 27,00 m  x 8,50 m

Armament:
     6 - 13,39" / 340 mm guns (3x2 guns), 1.199,24lbs / 543,97kg shells, 1905 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline, evenly spread
     Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
     12 - 6,50" / 165 mm guns in single mounts, 137,06lbs / 62,17kg shells, 1906 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, all amidships
     4 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in all but light seas
     18 - 4,13" / 105 mm guns in single mounts, 35,32lbs / 16,02kg shells, 1903 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread, 6 raised mounts
     4 - 1,85" / 47,0 mm guns in single mounts, 3,17lbs / 1,44kg shells, 1906 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 9.489 lbs / 4.304 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
  - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   11,0" / 279 mm   319,88 ft / 97,50 m   11,29 ft / 3,44 m
   Ends:   8,00" / 203 mm   172,21 ft / 52,49 m   11,29 ft / 3,44 m
   Upper:   8,00" / 203 mm   319,88 ft / 97,50 m   8,01 ft / 2,44 m
     Main Belt covers 100% of normal length

  - Torpedo Bulkhead:
      1,50" / 38 mm   400,00 ft / 121,92 m   32,00 ft / 9,75 m

  - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   11,0" / 279 mm   9,00" / 229 mm      9,00" / 229 mm
   2nd:   8,00" / 203 mm   2,00" / 51 mm      2,00" / 51 mm
   3rd:   2,00" / 51 mm   2,00" / 51 mm      2,00" / 51 mm

  - Armour deck: 2,50" / 64 mm, Conning tower: 11,00" / 279 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 22.998 shp / 17.157 Kw = 20,00 kts
   Range 6.000nm at 12,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2.982 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   812 - 1.056

Cost:
   £1,735 million / $6,941 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1.186 tons, 6,2%
   Armour: 7.303 tons, 38,2%
      - Belts: 3.240 tons, 17,0%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 710 tons, 3,7%
      - Armament: 1.776 tons, 9,3%
      - Armour Deck: 1.407 tons, 7,4%
      - Conning Tower: 169 tons, 0,9%
   Machinery: 1.150 tons, 6,0%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 6.776 tons, 35,5%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2.589 tons, 13,6%
   Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0,5%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     26.905 lbs / 12.204 Kg = 22,4 x 13,4 " / 340 mm shells or 5,3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,16
   Metacentric height 5,5 ft / 1,7 m
   Roll period: 15,9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 75 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,50
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,50

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0,550
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5,56 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 22,18 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 46 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -5,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 6,56 ft / 2,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      26,90 ft / 8,20 m
      - Forecastle (20%):   19,69 ft / 6,00 m
      - Mid (50%):      16,40 ft / 5,00 m (15,52 ft / 4,73 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15%):   15,52 ft / 4,73 m
      - Stern:      15,52 ft / 4,73 m
      - Average freeboard:   17,69 ft / 5,39 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 86,8%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 119,1%
   Waterplane Area: 30.424 Square feet or 2.826 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 160 lbs/sq ft or 779 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,94
      - Longitudinal: 1,94
      - Overall: 1,01
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

[Desertfox]

Its reasonable, Nooooo!!!

[maddox]

France does have enough advanced 1909 turbines to build a core of 13 of these ships..... (3 turbines are in the Napoleon the Great)

[The Rock Doctor]

Happily, at that precise moment, a bar wench of Gran Colombian descent conveniently spills a tankard of dark ale on the drawings...

[maddox]

I do like the battlecruiser version of Valeur.

Galope, French Large Cruiser laid down 1906 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   15.346 t light; 16.139 t standard; 17.715 t normal; 18.975 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   498,69 ft / 492,13 ft x 88,58 ft x 27,89 ft (normal load)
   152,00 m / 150,00 m x 27,00 m  x 8,50 m

Armament:
      6 - 12,01" / 305 mm guns (3x2 guns), 865,70lbs / 392,68kg shells, 1905 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline, evenly spread
     Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
      12 - 6,50" / 165 mm guns in single mounts, 137,06lbs / 62,17kg shells, 1906 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, all amidships
     4 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in all but light seas
      18 - 4,13" / 105 mm guns in single mounts, 35,32lbs / 16,02kg shells, 1903 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread, 6 raised mounts
      4 - 1,85" / 47,0 mm guns in single mounts, 3,17lbs / 1,44kg shells, 1906 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 7.487 lbs / 3.396 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   9,00" / 229 mm   319,88 ft / 97,50 m   11,29 ft / 3,44 m
   Ends:   6,00" / 152 mm   172,21 ft / 52,49 m   11,29 ft / 3,44 m
   Upper:   6,00" / 152 mm   319,88 ft / 97,50 m   8,01 ft / 2,44 m
     Main Belt covers 100% of normal length
     Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
      1,00" / 25 mm   400,00 ft / 121,92 m   32,00 ft / 9,75 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   9,00" / 229 mm   9,00" / 229 mm      9,00" / 229 mm
   2nd:   6,00" / 152 mm   2,00" / 51 mm      2,00" / 51 mm
   3rd:   2,00" / 51 mm   2,00" / 51 mm      2,00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 2,00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 9,00" / 229 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 48.022 shp / 35.825 Kw = 24,50 kts
   Range 6.000nm at 12,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2.836 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   767 - 998

Cost:
   £1,659 million / $6,638 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 936 tons, 5,3%
   Armour: 5.725 tons, 32,3%
      - Belts: 2.544 tons, 14,4%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 474 tons, 2,7%
      - Armament: 1.492 tons, 8,4%
      - Armour Deck: 1.085 tons, 6,1%
      - Conning Tower: 132 tons, 0,7%
   Machinery: 2.401 tons, 13,6%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 6.183 tons, 34,9%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2.369 tons, 13,4%
   Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0,6%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     20.701 lbs / 9.390 Kg = 23,9 x 12,0 " / 305 mm shells or 3,6 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,22
   Metacentric height 6,0 ft / 1,8 m
   Roll period: 15,2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,32
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,03

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0,510
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5,56 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 22,18 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -5,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 6,56 ft / 2,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      26,25 ft / 8,00 m
      - Forecastle (20%):   19,69 ft / 6,00 m
      - Mid (50%):      16,40 ft / 5,00 m (15,52 ft / 4,73 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15%):   15,52 ft / 4,73 m
      - Stern:      15,52 ft / 4,73 m
      - Average freeboard:   17,63 ft / 5,38 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 109,3%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 121,5%
   Waterplane Area: 29.312 Square feet or 2.723 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 98%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 150 lbs/sq ft or 733 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,93
      - Longitudinal: 1,89
      - Overall: 1,00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

[P3D]

Way too heavy secondaries for my taste. Although most countries are apparently content with 5-6kyds fighting distance, so it does make some sense.

[Ithekro]

Considering how few of us actually have real fire control at this date, it makes sense we expect to fight in close and dirty.

[P3D]

That's my point exactly.

[Borys]

Ahoj!
Looking at the plans, von Fernseher, the Habsburg Naval Atache, says "Ya, Junge, guttes dravings. Now, trink some more, ya? Ay veel vipe ze plans dry on the skirt of ze Sudamerikaner madeln ... "

Going by those upper and side belts, I'd recommend upping the Secondaries into Second Main Calibre guns, of whatever queer calibre France uses in the 8-10 inch range.
I thus change my advice for Rohan - go with 6x14" plus 8-12x9".

Borys

[maddox]

It is just a fast one , based on valeur, just changed the 340mm for 305mm guns, to get weight and space for the turbines.

A bit of toying and cutting into cruise speed ,less and smaller secundaries remove and then you get this cheap monster

Galope, French Large Cruiser laid down 1906 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   15.816 t light; 16.635 t standard; 17.715 t normal; 18.578 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   498,69 ft / 492,13 ft x 88,58 ft x 27,89 ft (normal load)
   152,00 m / 150,00 m x 27,00 m  x 8,50 m

Armament:
     6 - 13,39" / 340 mm guns (3x2 guns), 1.199,24lbs / 543,97kg shells, 1905 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline, evenly spread
     Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
     8 - 5,51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83,72lbs / 37,98kg shells, 1906 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, all amidships
     4 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in all but light seas
     8 - 4,13" / 105 mm guns in single mounts, 35,32lbs / 16,02kg shells, 1903 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread, 6 raised mounts
     4 - 1,85" / 47,0 mm guns in single mounts, 3,17lbs / 1,44kg shells, 1906 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 8.160 lbs / 3.702 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
  - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   9,00" / 229 mm   319,88 ft / 97,50 m   11,29 ft / 3,44 m
   Ends:   6,00" / 152 mm   172,21 ft / 52,49 m   11,29 ft / 3,44 m
   Upper:   6,00" / 152 mm   319,88 ft / 97,50 m   8,01 ft / 2,44 m
     Main Belt covers 100% of normal length
     Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

  - Torpedo Bulkhead:
      1,00" / 25 mm   400,00 ft / 121,92 m   32,00 ft / 9,75 m

  - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   9,00" / 229 mm   9,00" / 229 mm      9,00" / 229 mm
   2nd:   6,00" / 152 mm   2,00" / 51 mm      2,00" / 51 mm
   3rd:   2,00" / 51 mm   2,00" / 51 mm      2,00" / 51 mm

  - Armour deck: 2,00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 9,00" / 229 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 48.022 shp / 35.825 Kw = 24,50 kts
   Range 6.000nm at 10,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1.944 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   767 - 998

Cost:
   £1,747 million / $6,986 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1.020 tons, 5,8%
   Armour: 5.682 tons, 32,1%
      - Belts: 2.544 tons, 14,4%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 474 tons, 2,7%
      - Armament: 1.449 tons, 8,2%
      - Armour Deck: 1.085 tons, 6,1%
      - Conning Tower: 132 tons, 0,7%
   Machinery: 2.401 tons, 13,6%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 6.663 tons, 37,6%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1.898 tons, 10,7%
   Miscellaneous weights: 50 tons, 0,3%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     19.589 lbs / 8.885 Kg = 16,3 x 13,4 " / 340 mm shells or 3,4 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,18
   Metacentric height 5,6 ft / 1,7 m
   Roll period: 15,7 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,38
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0,510
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5,56 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 22,18 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -5,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 6,56 ft / 2,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      26,25 ft / 8,00 m
      - Forecastle (20%):   19,69 ft / 6,00 m
      - Mid (50%):      16,40 ft / 5,00 m (15,52 ft / 4,73 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15%):   15,52 ft / 4,73 m
      - Stern:      15,52 ft / 4,73 m
      - Average freeboard:   17,63 ft / 5,38 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 113,2%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 121,5%
   Waterplane Area: 29.312 Square feet or 2.723 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 95%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 162 lbs/sq ft or 790 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,94
      - Longitudinal: 1,99
      - Overall: 1,02
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

[Borys]

Ahoj!
Not enough armour. I'm afraid your belt is close to be vulnerable to 8-10 inch shells at 5000 yards.
Even with no pentration, you'll have splinters flying.

Borys

[maddox]

Borys, these fast ships are just cariations on the "French common sence". We can't have that, can't we?

The 24 kts large or armored cruisers are at best second class battleships.

Galope, French armored cruiser laid down 1906 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   16.040 t light; 16.809 t standard; 17.898 t normal; 18.770 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   501,62 ft / 492,13 ft x 85,30 ft x 27,23 ft (normal load)
   152,89 m / 150,00 m x 26,00 m  x 8,30 m

Armament:
      4 - 13,39" / 340 mm guns (2x2 guns), 1.199,24lbs / 543,97kg shells, 1905 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
      8 - 7,68" / 195 mm guns (4x2 guns), 226,24lbs / 102,62kg shells, 1906 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on side, all amidships, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      12 - 4,13" / 105 mm guns in single mounts, 35,32lbs / 16,02kg shells, 1903 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread, 6 raised mounts
      4 - 1,85" / 47,0 mm guns in single mounts, 3,17lbs / 1,44kg shells, 1906 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 7.043 lbs / 3.195 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   9,00" / 229 mm   319,88 ft / 97,50 m   11,29 ft / 3,44 m
   Ends:   8,00" / 203 mm   172,21 ft / 52,49 m   11,29 ft / 3,44 m
   Upper:   8,00" / 203 mm   319,88 ft / 97,50 m   8,01 ft / 2,44 m
     Main Belt covers 100% of normal length
     Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
      1,00" / 25 mm   400,00 ft / 121,92 m   32,00 ft / 9,75 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   9,00" / 229 mm   9,00" / 229 mm      9,00" / 229 mm
   2nd:   8,00" / 203 mm   6,00" / 152 mm      8,00" / 203 mm
   3rd:   2,00" / 51 mm   2,00" / 51 mm      2,00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 2,00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 11,00" / 279 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 3 shafts, 45.032 shp / 33.594 Kw = 24,00 kts
   Range 6.000nm at 10,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1.961 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   773 - 1.005

Cost:
   £1,616 million / $6,465 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 880 tons, 4,9%
   Armour: 6.293 tons, 35,2%
      - Belts: 2.911 tons, 16,3%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 474 tons, 2,6%
      - Armament: 1.664 tons, 9,3%
      - Armour Deck: 1.082 tons, 6,0%
      - Conning Tower: 162 tons, 0,9%
   Machinery: 2.252 tons, 12,6%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 6.565 tons, 36,7%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1.858 tons, 10,4%
   Miscellaneous weights: 50 tons, 0,3%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     21.550 lbs / 9.775 Kg = 18,0 x 13,4 " / 340 mm shells or 3,8 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,09
   Metacentric height 4,7 ft / 1,4 m
   Roll period: 16,6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,46
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,04

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0,548
   Length to Beam Ratio: 5,77 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 22,18 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 6,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 6,56 ft / 2,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      27,89 ft / 8,50 m
      - Forecastle (20%):   22,97 ft / 7,00 m
      - Mid (50%):      16,40 ft / 5,00 m (15,52 ft / 4,73 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15%):   15,52 ft / 4,73 m
      - Stern:      15,52 ft / 4,73 m
      - Average freeboard:   18,65 ft / 5,69 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 102,5%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 125,7%
   Waterplane Area: 29.242 Square feet or 2.717 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 157 lbs/sq ft or 769 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,93
      - Longitudinal: 1,92
      - Overall: 1,00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

[Borys]

Ahoj!
Yes, AC.
Borys

[Ithekro]

Now remember kids, the armored cruisers don't have the best gun of the fleet normally  (though Invincible, her sisters and the Japanese Kongos did).

Rohan will go with the 8 x 14" and the 12 x 6" for the next normal battleship.  Should the sizes and numbers of guns increase radically again, then well the Maek will need to either return to the 9" secondary main batteries, Add a fifth centerline 14" turret (or two wing turrets) or invest in triple 14" turrets.  (I see Nevada and Pennsylvania types in the future).  Rohan may also need to invest in a longer barrelled 14" guns if they wish to keep the fighting out of secondary ranges.  Or attempt to construct a 16" cannon to counter the rumored 15" guns.  Rohan does hope this will be a long time before there is need of such a gigantic weapon on a battleship.