Vilnius Union Ships, 1911 - 1919

[snip]

Could also make a nice little colonial battleship as a replacement for pre-dreads as they age up. I wonder if going to a single deck that is thinner rather than a multideck setup would allow for a thick enough belt to make it a worthwhile trade. A true Armored Raft.

[The Rock Doctor]

Oh, I forgot that multiple deck thing again.  Had assumed a single deck.

[Jefgte]

Byzantine choose similar options but for a pocket BC (AC7)
15800t - 6x343 - belt 230 & speed 27kts

=> Excellent pocket BB perfectly designed for the missions assigned to it.

[The Rock Doctor]

With Union construction still bottlenecked on battleships, there's not a lot of flex for new builds in 1915.

A few more torpedo-boats are in order, though.  Nothing spectacular, really.  A bit of minelaying capability, some fish - no sense in carrying reloads if combat survivability can be measured in minutes, though.

L-class torpedo-boat, laid down 1915

Displacement:
   999 t light; 1,041 t standard; 1,155 t normal; 1,247 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (304.77 ft / 301.18 ft) x 29.53 ft x (10.83 / 11.41 ft)
   (92.89 m / 91.80 m) x 9.00 m  x (3.30 / 3.48 m)

Armament:
      4 - 3.94" / 100 mm 45.0 cal guns - 30.77lbs / 13.96kg shells, 250 per gun
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts, 1915 Model
     4 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts
      1 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal gun - 3.85lbs / 1.74kg shells, 200 per gun
     Anti-air gun in deck mount, 1915 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck forward
      4 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.03lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1915 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 127 lbs / 58 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -
   2nd:   0.39" / 10 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -
   3rd:   0.20" / 5 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 24,129 shp / 18,000 Kw = 30.61 kts
   Range 6,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 207 tons

Complement:
   98 - 128

Cost:
   £0.184 million / $0.735 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 20 tons, 1.8 %
      - Guns: 20 tons, 1.8 %
   Armour: 15 tons, 1.3 %
      - Armament: 15 tons, 1.3 %
   Machinery: 608 tons, 52.6 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 293 tons, 25.4 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 156 tons, 13.5 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 63 tons, 5.5 %
      - Hull above water: 0 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 53 tons
      - Above deck: 10 tons

Fittings:
-4 t:  Redundant 1908 FC
-18 t:  2x3 – 530mm torpedoes (no reloads)
-30 t:  Capacity for 30 mines
-11 t:  Weight reserve


Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     305 lbs / 139 Kg = 10.0 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
   Metacentric height 1.1 ft / 0.3 m
   Roll period: 11.8 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.23
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.420 / 0.430
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.20 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 17.35 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 67 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 69
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 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 %,  20.34 ft / 6.20 m,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  8.53 ft / 2.60 m,  8.53 ft / 2.60 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  8.53 ft / 2.60 m,  8.53 ft / 2.60 m
      - Average freeboard:      12.78 ft / 3.90 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 176.0 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 131.1 %
   Waterplane Area: 5,544 Square feet or 515 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 59 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 28 lbs/sq ft or 135 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.50
      - Longitudinal: 1.79
      - Overall: 0.56
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

[The Rock Doctor]

Apparently I didn't toggle the main battery as QF guns, so that'll be show up in the final draft.  Tsk, tsk.

[The Rock Doctor]

I thought I'd look at the possibility of a dedicated minelayer variant of the torpedo-boat.  Dump "Y" gun and the AA gun, use the weight savings and essentially all of the existing misc. weight for mines.

Problem:  Yanking out those two guns saves weight, but also removes their ammunition, which causes the light displacement to rise above 1,000 t, which I cannot yet exceed.

[TacCovert4]

I thought I'd look at the possibility of a dedicated minelayer variant of the torpedo-boat.  Dump "Y" gun and the AA gun, use the weight savings and essentially all of the existing misc. weight for mines.

Problem:  Yanking out those two guns saves weight, but also removes their ammunition, which causes the light displacement to rise above 1,000 t, which I cannot yet exceed.

Yeah it's a complete pain.  Then your engine tonnage drops under 50 percent and everything goes insane

[The Rock Doctor]

I suppose I should step back and ask myself where I'd expect to need/want high-speed offensive minelaying operations.

[TacCovert4]

I'd say anywhere that you're dealing with confined waters that are relatively shallow. 

[The Rock Doctor]

*Mines the Baltic*

[The Rock Doctor]

The Union has a fair number of torpedo-boats and protected cruisers with limited to modest minelaying capabilities.  Its minesweepers can also carry modest numbers of mines.

I think I'll look to complement these with a couple of large, fast ships, and a few small/slow ships that can lay offensive and defensive fields, respectively.

The fast type has enough guns to fend off a nosy patrol boat or destroyer but will rely on its cruiser-ish speed, not armor, to survive more powerful threats; kind looks like this:

Kopparberg, fast minelayer laid down 1915

Displacement:
   2,492 t light; 2,608 t standard; 2,877 t normal; 3,092 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (407.30 ft / 396.98 ft) x 39.04 ft x (14.76 / 15.53 ft)
   (124.15 m / 121.00 m) x 11.90 m  x (4.50 / 4.73 m)

Armament:
      5 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.61lbs / 30.67kg shells, 300 per gun
     Breech loading guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1915 Model
     3 x Single mounts on centreline ends, majority aft
      1 raised mount aft - superfiring
     2 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck centre
      2 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3.85lbs / 1.74kg shells, 200 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1915 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      2 raised mounts
      4 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.03lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1915 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 346 lbs / 157 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.79" / 20 mm      1.97" / 50 mm
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -
   3rd:   0.39" / 10 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 26,810 shp / 20,000 Kw = 28.20 kts
   Range 8,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 484 tons

Complement:
   196 - 255

Cost:
   £0.381 million / $1.525 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 93 tons, 3.2 %
      - Guns: 93 tons, 3.2 %
   Armour: 77 tons, 2.7 %
      - Armament: 77 tons, 2.7 %
   Machinery: 1,016 tons, 35.3 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,049 tons, 36.5 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 385 tons, 13.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 258 tons, 9.0 %
      - On freeboard deck: 198 tons
      - Above deck: 60 tons
Fittings:
-10 t:  1908 Fire Control
-25 t:  L/R Wireless
-25 t:  Night-fighting doodads
-12 t:  2x2 530mm torpedos, no reloads
-26 t:  Weight reserve
-160 t:  Mines

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     2,215 lbs / 1,005 Kg = 33.0 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 0.6 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
   Metacentric height 1.5 ft / 0.5 m
   Roll period: 13.4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.41
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.43

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has low quarterdeck ,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.440 / 0.450
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.17 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.92 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 42
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 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 %,  21.33 ft / 6.50 m,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      - Aft deck:   40.00 %,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      - Quarter deck:   10.00 %,  8.53 ft / 2.60 m,  8.53 ft / 2.60 m
      - Average freeboard:      16.01 ft / 4.88 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 126.1 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 156.3 %
   Waterplane Area: 9,807 Square feet or 911 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 58 lbs/sq ft or 286 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.81
      - Longitudinal: 2.23
      - Overall: 0.90
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[The Rock Doctor]

The small, slow type has a single wee gun for self-defence against canoes, but plenty of mines for defensive fields and some gear to haul them back in again if necessary.  They're built cheap and expendable, but with the legs to cross the Atlantic if absolutely necessary.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1915

Displacement:
   762 t light; 781 t standard; 885 t normal; 969 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (223.58 ft / 213.25 ft) x 32.81 ft x (8.86 / 9.48 ft)
   (68.15 m / 65.00 m) x 10.00 m  x (2.70 / 2.89 m)

Armament:
      1 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm 45.0 cal gun - 12.98lbs / 5.89kg shells, 150 per gun
     Quick firing gun in deck mount, 1915 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline, forward deck centre
      1 raised mount
      3 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.03lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1915 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides amidships
      2 raised mounts
     1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck centre
      1 raised mount
      Weight of broadside 13 lbs / 6 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -
   3rd:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 2,413 ihp / 1,800 Kw = 17.06 kts
   Range 4,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 187 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   80 - 105

Cost:
   £0.072 million / $0.288 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 3 tons, 0.3 %
      - Guns: 3 tons, 0.3 %
   Armour: 5 tons, 0.6 %
      - Armament: 5 tons, 0.6 %
   Machinery: 158 tons, 17.9 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 364 tons, 41.1 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 124 tons, 14.0 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 232 tons, 26.2 %
      - On freeboard deck: 232 tons

Fittings:
-50 t:  Sweeping kit
-170 t:  Mines
-12 t:  Weight Reserve

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     2,770 lbs / 1,256 Kg = 215.2 x 3.0 " / 75 mm shells or 1.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
   Metacentric height 1.3 ft / 0.4 m
   Roll period: 12.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.03
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has low quarterdeck ,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.511
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.50 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 14.60 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 35
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 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 %,  21.33 ft / 6.50 m,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      - Aft deck:   30.00 %,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m,  16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      - Quarter deck:   20.00 %,  8.53 ft / 2.60 m,  8.53 ft / 2.60 m
      - Average freeboard:      15.22 ft / 4.64 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 60.0 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 182.1 %
   Waterplane Area: 4,662 Square feet or 433 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 158 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 40 lbs/sq ft or 196 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.80
      - Longitudinal: 6.94
      - Overall: 1.00
   Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent 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

[snip]

28knts might be a little slow if the intent is to outrun what it cant hope to hurt badly. Can you get it up to 30knts without the displacement getting to high up?

[The Rock Doctor]

28knts might be a little slow if the intent is to outrun what it cant hope to hurt badly. Can you get it up to 30knts without the displacement getting to high up?

Looks like that would boot it up to ~3,000 - 3,100 t.

[The Rock Doctor]

...Or 29 knots on 2,700 t.