Parthian Empire

[The Rock Doctor]

Yeah, maybe my map-coloring exercise got a little out of hand.

[Kaiser Kirk]

Yeah, maybe my map-coloring exercise got a little out of hand.

You too ?

The conversion of NPCs from 'safely neutral' to PCs with "hey they have an Navy & Army too" also wasn't in the plans...
though it's brought more vitality and balance to things. :)

[The Rock Doctor]

That it has.

[TacCovert4]

Well certainly activity.

[Kaiser Kirk]

Well certainly activity.

Thats what I meant about 'vitality'.

The balance part is there are significant powers outside the European sphere.

[Kaiser Kirk]

So Rocky's cruiser made me figure I should offer my version. I actually have a bunch of various designs from 11-17,000t.
I decided to post a smaller one, closer to Rocky's size- just for contrast.

I tend to favor the slightly larger ones, I really would like to have a TDS.

On this one, at the last moment, I swapped the secondary out for my twin 130mm. Makes it more modern than I like.
Perhaps I should return to the glories of the Casements....or boost size to 12,000 and have both !

The reason I'm fiddling with these designs is the giant battlecruisers are neat and all, but really expensive and will
not be available in quantity.  So I'm thinking the traditional armor cruiser needs to stay the same size or get a little smaller,
refocusing on it's roles as cruiser killer/overseas station/long range independent vessel.

Capharact, Parthian Armored Cruiser laid down 1916

Displacement:
   11,500 t light; 12,111 t standard; 13,430 t normal; 14,485 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (524.93 ft / 518.37 ft) x 66.44 ft x (26.25 / 27.83 ft)
   (160.00 m / 158.00 m) x 20.25 m  x (8.00 / 8.48 m)

Armament:
      8 - 9.06" / 230 mm 43.0 cal guns - 362.64lbs / 164.49kg shells, 140 per gun
     Breech loading guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x 2-gun mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts - superfiring
      12 - 5.12" / 130 mm 50.0 cal guns - 70.55lbs / 32.00kg shells, 190 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x 2-gun mounts on sides, forward evenly spread
      2 raised mounts
     2 x 2-gun mounts on sides, aft deck centre
      4 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 24.25lbs / 11.00kg shells, 500 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 double raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 3,845 lbs / 1,744 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   5.91" / 150 mm   336.94 ft / 102.70 m   11.48 ft / 3.50 m
   Ends:   1.97" / 50 mm   181.40 ft / 55.29 m   11.48 ft / 3.50 m
   Upper:   2.95" / 75 mm   336.94 ft / 102.70 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Hull void:
      0.00" / 0 mm     0.00 ft / 0.00 m   0.00 ft / 0.00 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   6.50" / 165 mm   3.94" / 100 mm      5.91" / 150 mm
   2nd:   2.56" / 65 mm   1.18" / 30 mm      2.56" / 65 mm
   3rd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -         0.59" / 15 mm

   - Protected deck - multiple decks:
   For and Aft decks: 2.76" / 70 mm
   Forecastle: 0.98" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 1.77" / 45 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 5.91" / 150 mm, Aft 2.95" / 75 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 75,144 shp / 56,057 Kw = 29.00 kts
   Range 7,925nm at 14.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2,374 tons

Complement:
   623 - 810

Cost:
   £1.889 million / $7.555 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,002 tons, 7.5 %
      - Guns: 1,002 tons, 7.5 %
   Armour: 3,182 tons, 23.7 %
      - Belts: 1,667 tons, 12.4 %
      - Armament: 316 tons, 2.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,091 tons, 8.1 %
      - Conning Towers: 108 tons, 0.8 %
   Machinery: 2,800 tons, 20.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,155 tons, 30.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,929 tons, 14.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 361 tons, 2.7 %
      - Hull below water: 58 tons
      - Hull void weights: 60 tons
      - Hull above water: 18 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 83 tons
      - Above deck: 142 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     14,854 lbs / 6,738 Kg = 40.0 x 9.1 " / 230 mm shells or 1.8 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 3.2 ft / 1.0 m
   Roll period: 15.5 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.74
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a ram bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.520 / 0.529
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.80 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 22.77 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 15.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -6.56 ft / -2.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  24.11 ft / 7.35 m,  21.65 ft / 6.60 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  21.65 ft / 6.60 m,  19.19 ft / 5.85 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  19.19 ft / 5.85 m,  19.19 ft / 5.85 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  19.19 ft / 5.85 m,  20.01 ft / 6.10 m
      - Average freeboard:      20.31 ft / 6.19 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 93.7 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 141.2 %
   Waterplane Area: 23,371 Square feet or 2,171 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 124 lbs/sq ft or 605 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.92
      - Longitudinal: 2.05
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room

Designed to revert to the original missions of the armored cruiser, in a vessel roughly 50% larger than a protected cruiser, but the final design is closer to twice as large.

This  version sports 230mm weapons capable of threatening older armored cruisers,
and is just proof against it's own gun at current long range (14km)

Abandoning casement guns  for the new twin 130mm

                               
                       2   [4]               6
A                                                [Y]     X
                       1   [3]               5
                                   



The Protective deck is a 25mm cap over the upper belt, and a 45mm main deck behind the main belt.

As such, the 150mm main belt is backed by a 45mm sloped protective deck, which will reject all splinters <270mm and most shells which make it past the belt. 

Miscellaneous Weight :
60t - Construction Reserve
92t - Fire Control
25t - LR Radio
25t - Hulesmeyer detector
25t - "war tuba" listening devices.
58t - 'Windcatcher' evaporative cooling
58t- Extra pumps
18t - 2x3 Torpedoes. Above Water,  Located aft of citadel, just above quarterdeck armor.  The idea being that they are vulnerable outside the armor, but any explosions back there will vent skyward and can't really penetrate the armor to harm the guns or shafts.

Decks :
5.85 - 25mm Weather Deck, top upper belt
3.35 - Battery Deck
             1.85 - Top of main belt, Bottom upper belt
0.85 - 45mm Crown of main protective deck
-1.65 - 1st deck, lower edge protective deck, bottom main belt.
-5.65 - Engineering Deck, 4m high
-6.32 - Double Hull.

[Desertfox]

All these twin small calibre secondaries showing up seem a tad advanced.

I came to the exact same conclusion, which is why I went ahead and built Owari, and keeping an eye out on the second hand market for the big Bulcher style armored cruisers.

[The Rock Doctor]

That's the challenge - our geopolitical rivals have conventional armored cruisers, battlecruisers, sailing frigates, and plain light cruiser to design against.  We haven't got the resources to match them all so compromises have to be made.

[Kaiser Kirk]

All these twin small calibre secondaries showing up seem a tad advanced.

I came to the exact same conclusion, which is why I went ahead and built Owari, and keeping an eye out on the second hand market for the big Bulcher style armored cruisers.

While I posted the ship as a 'just for fun' and an illustration of the low end of the range, I went ahead and swapped it back to casements, which meant I could move it to a VDT layout (doesn't work with deck mounted QF guns) and up the speed.

That's the challenge - our geopolitical rivals have conventional armored cruisers, battlecruisers, sailing frigates, and plain light cruiser to design against.  We haven't got the resources to match them all so compromises have to be made.

I have to pay attention (more) to Jefgte's designs. He's got a large and well thought out fleet.  While this is reasonable against the Northern Europe Cruisers, Byzantium is tougher - His older armored cruisers are better than mine, and this vessel really can't compete with those.  That is where I am really eyeing the 14-17000 ton range as desirable, as I can work in a TDS, and enough firepower/armor to counter those existing ships, and then shoehorn in enough speed to avoid BCs.

Where this 'low end' design might still have a place is the raider/tip and run/ independent cruiser.  Not too expensive, great range @ 14 knots, armored enough a PC needs AP/SAP to hurt it (so less damage).  When I built my raiding cruisers, I expected I'd need a 'heavy' they could run towards in trouble. The idea was to have multiple types so no one class could counter them, and would allow me to either shut down other's sealanes or protect my own.  Meanwhile the existing 16 PCs/ 8 ACs will be battleline escort/scouts.

Capharact, Parthian Armored Cruiser laid down 1916

Displacement:
   11,500 t light; 12,111 t standard; 13,430 t normal; 14,485 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (524.93 ft / 518.37 ft) x 66.44 ft x (26.25 / 27.83 ft)
   (160.00 m / 158.00 m) x 20.25 m  x (8.00 / 8.48 m)

Armament:
      8 - 9.06" / 230 mm 43.0 cal guns - 362.64lbs / 164.49kg shells, 140 per gun
     Breech loading guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
     2 x 2-gun mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
     2 x Single mounts on sides forward
      12 - 5.12" / 130 mm 50.0 cal guns - 70.55lbs / 32.00kg shells, 190 per gun
     Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1916 Model
     12 x Single mounts on sides, forward evenly spread
      12 hull mounts in casemates- Limited use in heavy seas
      4 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 24.25lbs / 11.00kg shells, 500 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 double raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 3,845 lbs / 1,744 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   5.91" / 150 mm   336.94 ft / 102.70 m   11.98 ft / 3.65 m
   Ends:   1.97" / 50 mm   181.40 ft / 55.29 m   11.98 ft / 3.65 m
   Upper:   2.95" / 75 mm   336.94 ft / 102.70 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Hull void:
      0.00" / 0 mm     0.00 ft / 0.00 m   0.00 ft / 0.00 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   6.50" / 165 mm   3.94" / 100 mm      5.91" / 150 mm
   2nd:   2.95" / 75 mm   1.18" / 30 mm      1.18" / 30 mm
   3rd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -         0.59" / 15 mm

   - Protected deck - multiple decks:
   For and Aft decks: 2.76" / 70 mm
   Forecastle: 0.98" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 1.77" / 45 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 5.91" / 150 mm, Aft 2.95" / 75 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 83,499 shp / 62,290 Kw = 29.75 kts
   Range 7,925nm at 14.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2,374 tons

Complement:
   623 - 810

Cost:
   £1.886 million / $7.546 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 912 tons, 6.8 %
      - Guns: 912 tons, 6.8 %
   Armour: 3,227 tons, 24.0 %
      - Belts: 1,715 tons, 12.8 %
      - Armament: 313 tons, 2.3 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,091 tons, 8.1 %
      - Conning Towers: 108 tons, 0.8 %
   Machinery: 3,111 tons, 23.2 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,890 tons, 29.0 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,929 tons, 14.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 361 tons, 2.7 %
      - Hull below water: 58 tons
      - Hull void weights: 60 tons
      - Hull above water: 18 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 83 tons
      - Above deck: 142 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     14,827 lbs / 6,725 Kg = 39.9 x 9.1 " / 230 mm shells or 1.7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
   Metacentric height 3.7 ft / 1.1 m
   Roll period: 14.4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.51
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a ram bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.520 / 0.529
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.80 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 22.77 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 15.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -6.56 ft / -2.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  24.28 ft / 7.40 m,  22.15 ft / 6.75 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  22.15 ft / 6.75 m,  19.36 ft / 5.90 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  19.36 ft / 5.90 m,  19.36 ft / 5.90 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  19.36 ft / 5.90 m,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m
      - Average freeboard:      20.59 ft / 6.28 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 98.4 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 142.9 %
   Waterplane Area: 23,371 Square feet or 2,171 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 116 lbs/sq ft or 565 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.92
      - Longitudinal: 2.06
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room

[Kaiser Kirk]

And this is an example of the 'upper end' of that ACR range.
Still mostly an example, I don't see the budget room to build it.

More traditional one-upsmanship over the 8-10" ACRs out there.

But just as capable of mixing it up with an ACR or PC, still not a threat to a DN
However, I don't consider the various BCs much of a threat to a DN either.

There's a 15-16000 ton 8x 10" version, which matches the older ACs for guns,
while for 3000 tons more...this has 11.8" guns with a much heavier shell and good long distance 'punch'.

She is only 28.25 knots, but going faster means more machinery spaces, and either a narrower TDS, or longer citadel, both got messy. Plus then more freeboard for seakeeping..argh.

But with 7800nm @ 14knots, she can run at top speed for quite a while.
Really torn on when I should drop the partial coal firing, but I think I need more IC and bases with guaranteed oil before I dispense with that.
She'd have a range of 8300nm with pure oil firing, and a littel

Capharact, Pathian Heavy Armored Cruiser laid down 1916

Displacement:
   18,989 t light; 20,163 t standard; 22,056 t normal; 23,571 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (591.68 ft / 583.99 ft) x 75.46 ft x (27.89 / 29.49 ft)
   (180.34 m / 178.00 m) x 23.00 m  x (8.50 / 8.99 m)

Armament:
      8 - 11.81" / 300 mm 41.0 cal guns - 870.83lbs / 395.00kg shells, 140 per gun
     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1916 Model
     3 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
      1 raised mount - superfiring
     1 x 2-gun mount on centreline, forward deck aft
      8 - 5.12" / 130 mm 50.0 cal guns - 70.55lbs / 32.00kg shells, 250 per gun
     Breech loading guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x 2-gun mounts on side ends, evenly spread
      12 - 5.12" / 130 mm 59.0 cal guns - 70.55lbs / 32.00kg shells, 200 per gun
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts, 1916 Model
     12 x Single mounts on sides, forward evenly spread
      12 hull mounts in casemates- Limited use in heavy seas
      4 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 24.25lbs / 11.00kg shells, 350 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x Single mounts on side ends, evenly spread
      4 double raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 8,475 lbs / 3,844 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   7.87" / 200 mm   414.63 ft / 126.38 m   14.76 ft / 4.50 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
   Upper:   2.95" / 75 mm   414.63 ft / 126.38 m   12.04 ft / 3.67 m
     Main Belt covers 109 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
      1.50" / 38 mm   414.63 ft / 126.38 m   26.57 ft / 8.10 m
   Beam between torpedo bulkheads 55.77 ft / 17.00 m

   - Hull void:
      0.00" / 0 mm     0.00 ft / 0.00 m   0.00 ft / 0.00 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   9.45" / 240 mm   4.92" / 125 mm      8.86" / 225 mm
   2nd:   2.56" / 65 mm   1.18" / 30 mm      2.56" / 65 mm
   3rd:   2.95" / 75 mm   1.18" / 30 mm      1.18" / 30 mm

   - Protected deck - multiple decks:
   For and Aft decks: 3.35" / 85 mm
   Forecastle: 1.18" / 30 mm  Quarter deck: 2.17" / 55 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 7.87" / 200 mm, Aft 2.95" / 75 mm

Machinery:
   Coal and oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 3 shafts, 91,548 shp / 68,295 Kw = 28.25 kts
   Range 7,800nm at 14.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3,408 tons (23% coal)

Complement:
   904 - 1,176

Cost:
   £2.966 million / $11.864 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,456 tons, 6.6 %
      - Guns: 1,456 tons, 6.6 %
   Armour: 6,861 tons, 31.1 %
      - Belts: 2,640 tons, 12.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 610 tons, 2.8 %
      - Armament: 1,514 tons, 6.9 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,913 tons, 8.7 %
      - Conning Towers: 183 tons, 0.8 %
   Machinery: 3,484 tons, 15.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,752 tons, 30.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,067 tons, 13.9 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 436 tons, 2.0 %
      - Hull void weights: 170 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 95 tons
      - Above deck: 171 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     27,325 lbs / 12,394 Kg = 33.2 x 11.8 " / 300 mm shells or 3.9 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
   Metacentric height 4.0 ft / 1.2 m
   Roll period: 15.9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.85
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a ram bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.628 / 0.635
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.74 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 24.17 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 15.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -6.56 ft / -2.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   19.00 %,  28.71 ft / 8.75 m,  26.25 ft / 8.00 m
      - Forward deck:   45.00 %,  26.25 ft / 8.00 m,  23.79 ft / 7.25 m
      - Aft deck:   26.00 %,  13.94 ft / 4.25 m,  13.94 ft / 4.25 m
      - Quarter deck:   10.00 %,  13.94 ft / 4.25 m,  14.76 ft / 4.50 m
      - Average freeboard:      21.49 ft / 6.55 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 108.7 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 146.1 %
   Waterplane Area: 33,086 Square feet or 3,074 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 146 lbs/sq ft or 715 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.94
      - Longitudinal: 1.66
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room

The gunlayout is to be like HMS Tiger. The "fore deck aft" has it's base  3m higher than gun on the aft deck, so should clear it without needing to be raised further.

The long "foredeck" of 80m houses 6 casement guns per side, 4.75m off the water.

The long freeboard does demand an odd Upperbelt height.

Freeboard averages 7.625m on the Foredeck (45%) and 4.25 on the aft deck. (25%)
for an overall average of 6.42m high.
This gives a height of 3.67over the top of the belt.

The main belt covers from +1m above the protective deck (2.75m)
to -1.75m below WL.

Decks would be:
7.25    Weather Deck 30mm
4.25
           +2.75 Top of belt
1.75    Protective deck 55mm,
-0.75   Lower edge protective deck
            -1.75 Bottom of Belt
-2.75
-6.75 : Engineering (4m high)
-7.96 : Double bottom

[The Rock Doctor]

I've been tinkering in this size range as well.  I was looking at a high/low mix of this tier and the ~8" type ships but haven't settled on a plan.

[snip]

I'd been tinkering with something in this tonnage range with a 235mm gun and a focus on being a "treaty" cruiser killer, but ultimently there was not enough around for such a ship to hunt. It made more sense to ether 1) Grow the ship into a "proper" BC that was more capable or 2) Split the cost of the ship into several smaller hulls that could be in more than one place at once. Seems I might have been a few years early on the concept and it will likely need to be revisited later on.

[Jefgte]

...I have to pay attention (more) to Jefgte's designs. He's got a large and well thought out fleet.  While this is reasonable against the Northern Europe Cruisers, Byzantium is tougher - His older armored cruisers are better than mine, and this vessel really can't compete with those.  That is where I am really eyeing the 14-17000 ton range as desirable, as I can work in a TDS, and enough firepower/armor to counter those existing ships, and then shoehorn in enough speed to avoid BCs...

I sacrifice a little speed to have stronger cruisers.
BBs do 21-22kts, cruisers to scout them or  for colonies, 27kts.
27kts is a good speed for our "Coloni Romae". I'm not going to have fewer guns or smaller for 1 or 2kts more.
I tried 30kts for 1917, it's too expensive in terms of engines weight.

=> You do not have to reproduce necessarily the historical evolution of the ships (OTL) but to SS them strictly adapted to "Coloni Romae".

[Kaiser Kirk]

I generally agree with Jefgte, and my 1910 cruisers were also at 27 knots -  though my current cruisers are aiming at 28-29 knots.

However, as I resolve matters between the Aztecs and Romans, I am more aware there are some 30knot cruisers out there.
It might be nice to have a couple as fast fleet scouts..or interceptors. At least for a couple years until standards move on.

So I wondered... how fast can I make a moderately armed (by Parthian standards*) and enough armor to try the "fighting from range" thing ?
Oh and I wanted to fit it in as many of my docks as I could. So I tinkered with hull parameters alot.

*which is heavy compared to ..several other navies
Also, the caliber in CM = how far you can spot your splash in KM (as opposed to just rangefinder) and also argues with keeping the 165mm for this role, instead of boosting ROF with 130mm.


So.. an exploration of a fast cruiser :

Shamshir, Pulwar, Parthian Protected Cruiser laid down 1916

Displacement:
   5,996 t light; 6,273 t standard; 7,167 t normal; 7,883 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (520.01 ft / 513.45 ft) x 51.38 ft x (19.03 / 20.45 ft)
   (158.50 m / 156.50 m) x 15.66 m  x (5.80 / 6.23 m)

Armament:
      8 - 6.50" / 165 mm 43.0 cal guns - 143.30lbs / 65.00kg shells, 180 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x Single mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts - superfiring
     4 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      2 raised mounts - superfiring
      4 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 24.25lbs / 11.00kg shells, 350 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x Single mounts on side ends, evenly spread
      4 double raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 1,243 lbs / 564 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   1.77" / 45 mm   410.76 ft / 125.20 m   12.01 ft / 3.66 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 123 % of normal length

   - Hull void:
      0.00" / 0 mm     0.00 ft / 0.00 m   0.00 ft / 0.00 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   1.18" / 30 mm      1.18" / 30 mm

   - Protected deck - multiple decks:
   For and Aft decks: 1.18" / 30 mm
   Forecastle: 1.18" / 30 mm  Quarter deck: 1.18" / 30 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 1.97" / 50 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 3 shafts, 64,112 shp / 47,827 Kw = 31.00 kts
   Range 7,800nm at 14.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,610 tons

Complement:
   389 - 506

Cost:
   £1.057 million / $4.227 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 290 tons, 4.0 %
      - Guns: 290 tons, 4.0 %
   Armour: 836 tons, 11.7 %
      - Belts: 347 tons, 4.8 %
      - Armament: 86 tons, 1.2 %
      - Armour Deck: 387 tons, 5.4 %
      - Conning Tower: 16 tons, 0.2 %
   Machinery: 2,389 tons, 33.3 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,300 tons, 32.1 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,171 tons, 16.3 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 182 tons, 2.5 %
      - Hull void weights: 30 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 98 tons
      - Above deck: 54 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     5,311 lbs / 2,409 Kg = 38.7 x 6.5 " / 165 mm shells or 1.0 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
   Metacentric height 2.3 ft / 0.7 m
   Roll period: 14.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.67
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.20

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a ram bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.511
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.99 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 22.66 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 58
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 15.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -6.56 ft / -2.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   15.00 %,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  20.51 ft / 6.25 m,  18.04 ft / 5.50 m
      - Aft deck:   50.00 %,  18.04 ft / 5.50 m,  18.04 ft / 5.50 m
      - Quarter deck:   5.00 %,  18.04 ft / 5.50 m,  18.86 ft / 5.75 m
      - Average freeboard:      18.95 ft / 5.78 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 122.0 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 159.2 %
   Waterplane Area: 17,572 Square feet or 1,632 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 80 lbs/sq ft or 392 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.85
      - Longitudinal: 1.62
      - Overall: 0.90
   Caution: Hull subject to strain in open-sea
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

Designed as a fast Scouting Cruiser,
to contact and break contact with enemy forces.

As engine technology is rapidly changing, it is understood this role is time limited, so a decent armanent is fitted to allow it more conventional duties.

The experimental Hulesmeyer metal detector is supplemented
by "war tubas" so listeners can try detecting enemy vessels at night.

These may be deleted later and torpedoes fitted.

Guns allow :
6 x 165mm forward,
6x 165mm beam
4x 165mm aft.

As hullspace is <133% a protective deck is fitted
with 30mm on the crown and 75mm on the slopes.
Still, large areas of hull are vulnerable.


Misc Weight
Void
30t - const reserv

AD
25t - LR radio
29t - FC

OD
25t - Hulesmeyer
25t - War Tuba
18t - 2x T3 x "21" 3t torps
30t "Windcatcher" Ventilation.

[The Rock Doctor]

Seems solid enough.