Swiss Heavy Cruiser for 1906

[Desertfox]

While Im still not sure on heavier ships, this one will be built in 1906. She is a development of the Antares class.


NSS Constellation, New Switzerland Heavy Cruiser laid down 1906 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   11,019 t light; 11,615 t standard; 13,750 t normal; 15,458 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   552.10 ft / 550.00 ft x 70.00 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
   168.28 m / 167.64 m x 21.34 m  x 7.62 m

Armament:
      8 - 8.00" / 203 mm guns (4x2 guns), 256.00lbs / 116.12kg shells, 1906 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      8 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1906 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
      8 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1906 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      8 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1.95lbs / 0.88kg shells, 1915 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 3,184 lbs / 1,444 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 170
   8 - 18.0" / 457.2 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   7.00" / 178 mm   290.00 ft / 88.39 m   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
   Ends:   3.00" / 76 mm   260.00 ft / 79.25 m   10.00 ft / 3.05 m
   Upper:   3.00" / 76 mm   290.00 ft / 88.39 m   7.00 ft / 2.13 m
     Main Belt covers 81 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   7.00" / 178 mm   5.00" / 127 mm      7.00" / 178 mm
   3rd:   3.00" / 76 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 5.00" / 127 mm

Machinery:
   Coal and oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 47,526 shp / 35,455 Kw = 27.00 kts
   Range 15,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3,843 tons (90% coal)

Complement:
   634 - 825

Cost:
   £1.049 million / $4.197 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 398 tons, 2.9 %
   Armour: 3,328 tons, 24.2 %
      - Belts: 1,460 tons, 10.6 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 819 tons, 6.0 %
      - Armour Deck: 987 tons, 7.2 %
      - Conning Tower: 62 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 2,353 tons, 17.1 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,830 tons, 35.1 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,731 tons, 19.9 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 110 tons, 0.8 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     18,584 lbs / 8,430 Kg = 72.6 x 8.0 " / 203 mm shells or 2.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 3.5 ft / 1.1 m
   Roll period: 15.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.51
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.23

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
     and transom stern
   Block coefficient: 0.500
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.86 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 27.30 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 58
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      24.00 ft / 7.32 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   19.00 ft / 5.79 m
      - Mid (50 %):      19.00 ft / 5.79 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   19.00 ft / 5.79 m
      - Stern:      19.00 ft / 5.79 m
      - Average freeboard:   19.40 ft / 5.91 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 79.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 136.3 %
   Waterplane Area: 26,676 Square feet or 2,478 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 121 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 119 lbs/sq ft or 583 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.95
      - Longitudinal: 1.60
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[P3D]

1/ a bit low shell allowance per gun, considering the range requirements.
2/ Above water torpedoes for a ship designed primarily for gunfight might not be a good idea, even if you have 3-4kts (worst case) speed advantage.
3/ make the upper armor deep enough to cover at least one deck ~7'.

Otherwise looks OK.

[Desertfox]

1. Ammo increased.

2. NS likes torpedoes, they stay.

3. Fixed, upper and end belts reduced to 3" to compensate.

[P3D]

I'd place the torpedoes below water. Torpedoes and reloads stored on the upper deck are pretty vulnerable even to 4" guns, and I would not want a 400kg warhead explode and put another 400kg of gasoline on fire.