Vilnius Union Ships, 1911 - 1919

[The Rock Doctor]

As part of a build-up on its anti-submarine capabilities, the Vilnius Union will build a good-sized batch of submarine chasers.  With a basic hydrophone package, two quick-firing guns, and a bunch of depth charges, it's expected to be a serious threat to a submarine it happens to encounter - or at least make life difficult for said submarine.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1917

Displacement:
   201 t light; 206 t standard; 220 t normal; 231 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (138.21 ft / 131.23 ft) x 19.03 ft x (6.56 / 6.80 ft)
   (42.13 m / 40.00 m) x 5.80 m  x (2.00 / 2.07 m)

Armament:
      2 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3.85lbs / 1.74kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1917 Model
     2 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      3 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.03lbs / 0.01kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1917 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
      2 raised mounts
     1 x Single mount on centreline, forward deck centre
      1 raised mount
      Weight of broadside 8 lbs / 4 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.98" / 25 mm   0.12" / 3 mm            -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 2,413 shp / 1,800 Kw = 19.95 kts
   Range 2,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 25 tons

Complement:
   28 - 37

Cost:
   £0.036 million / $0.145 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 2 tons, 0.8 %
      - Guns: 2 tons, 0.8 %
   Armour: 3 tons, 1.2 %
      - Armament: 3 tons, 1.2 %
   Machinery: 88 tons, 40.2 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 89 tons, 40.3 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 20 tons, 8.9 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 19 tons, 8.6 %
      - Hull below water: 5 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 14 tons

Fittings:
-5 t:  Basic hydrophone package (below water)
-1 t:  1912 fire control
-13 t:  ASW weaponry

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     188 lbs / 85 Kg = 49.3 x 2.0 " / 50 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
   Metacentric height 0.6 ft / 0.2 m
   Roll period: 10.5 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.05
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.13

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.470 / 0.476
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.90 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 11.46 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 72 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 15.00 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 %,  13.78 ft / 4.20 m,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  11.81 ft / 3.60 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:      9.41 ft / 2.87 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 135.2 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 96.8 %
   Waterplane Area: 1,620 Square feet or 151 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 108 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 25 lbs/sq ft or 124 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.79
      - Longitudinal: 8.48
      - Overall: 1.00
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Adequate accommodation and workspace room

[The Rock Doctor]

Complementing the submarine chaser would be a larger corvette ("korweta") with a heavier armament, enhanced hydrophone package, and electric drives to allow more precise maneuvering in pursuit of targets.  It's still a coastal defence vessel, though - not long-legged for cross-ocean work.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1917

Displacement:
   442 t light; 458 t standard; 490 t normal; 516 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (162.59 ft / 157.48 ft) x 24.61 ft x (9.84 / 10.21 ft)
   (49.56 m / 48.00 m) x 7.50 m  x (3.00 / 3.11 m)

Armament:
      1 - 3.94" / 100 mm 45.0 cal gun - 30.77lbs / 13.96kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing gun in deck mount, 1917 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline, forward deck centre
      2 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3.85lbs / 1.74kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1917 Model
     2 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      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, 1917 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 39 lbs / 18 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.12" / 3 mm            -
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.12" / 3 mm            -
   3rd:   0.79" / 20 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Electric motors, 2 shafts, 4,022 shp / 3,000 Kw = 20.46 kts
   Range 3,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 59 tons

Complement:
   51 - 67

Cost:
   £0.069 million / $0.277 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 7 tons, 1.5 %
      - Guns: 7 tons, 1.5 %
   Armour: 12 tons, 2.3 %
      - Armament: 12 tons, 2.3 %
   Machinery: 147 tons, 30.1 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 197 tons, 40.3 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 49 tons, 9.9 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 78 tons, 15.9 %
      - Hull below water: 52 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 24 tons
      - Above deck: 2 tons

Fittings:
-37 t:  T-E drive (below water)
-15 t:  Enhanced hydrophone package (below water)
-1 t:  1912 fire control
-15 t:  A/S weaponry
-10 t:  Weight reserve

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     605 lbs / 274 Kg = 19.8 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.28
   Metacentric height 1.0 ft / 0.3 m
   Roll period: 10.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.15
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.58

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.450 / 0.457
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.40 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 12.55 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 70 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 38
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 1.64 ft / 0.50 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  15.75 ft / 4.80 m
      - Forward deck:   40.00 %,  15.75 ft / 4.80 m,  15.75 ft / 4.80 m
      - Aft deck:   25.00 %,  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:      12.91 ft / 3.94 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 114.0 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 117.4 %
   Waterplane Area: 2,472 Square feet or 230 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 122 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 34 lbs/sq ft or 167 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.76
      - Longitudinal: 12.44
      - Overall: 1.00
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Adequate accommodation and workspace room
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

[The Rock Doctor]

The torpedo-boat carrier Rybolow is just slightly different from what I'd posted a few pages back, but is definitely happening.  This version is a little faster and just short enough to fit in a 150m dock.  It's also got a slightly higher weight reserve. 

Being wet forward is unfortunate but I don't seem to be able to do much about that.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1917

Displacement:
   4,291 t light; 4,428 t standard; 4,776 t normal; 5,054 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (491.08 ft / 482.28 ft) x 45.93 ft x (15.09 / 15.75 ft)
   (149.68 m / 147.00 m) x 14.00 m  x (4.60 / 4.80 m)

Armament:
      4 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.62lbs / 30.67kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1917 Model
     2 x Twin mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      4 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1917 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      2 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 12.99lbs / 5.89kg shells, 250 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1917 Model
     2 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 297 lbs / 135 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:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -
   3rd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 46,917 shp / 35,000 Kw = 30.39 kts
   Range 8,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 626 tons

Complement:
   286 - 373

Cost:
   £0.760 million / $3.040 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 64 tons, 1.3 %
      - Guns: 64 tons, 1.3 %
   Armour: 22 tons, 0.5 %
      - Armament: 22 tons, 0.5 %
   Machinery: 1,720 tons, 36.0 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,607 tons, 33.7 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 485 tons, 10.2 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 878 tons, 18.4 %
      - Hull below water: 179 tons
      - Hull above water: 150 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 514 tons
      - Above deck: 35 tons

Fittings:
-480 t:  Cradles and cranes for 8 MTB-B or –D @60 t per (on deck)
-148 t:  MTB Accommodation for 8 boats @ 6 crew each (above water)
-148 t:  Fuel and ordinance for 16 MTB sorties (below water)
-25 t:  Night-fighting doodads
-25 t:  L/R wireless
-7 t:  Fire control
-45 t:  Weight reserve

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     3,339 lbs / 1,515 Kg = 49.8 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 0.8 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
   Metacentric height 1.9 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 14.1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.20
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.28

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.507
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.50 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 21.96 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 55
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 4.92 ft / 1.50 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  21.98 ft / 6.70 m,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m
      - Forward deck:   40.00 %,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m
      - Aft deck:   20.00 %,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m
      - Quarter deck:   20.00 %,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m
      - Average freeboard:      17.45 ft / 5.32 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 129.9 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 167.7 %
   Waterplane Area: 14,759 Square feet or 1,371 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 64 lbs/sq ft or 312 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.85
      - Longitudinal: 1.49
      - 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
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[TacCovert4]

Ok, so will this be a carrier-tender for mercantile tonnage use, or a combat carrier?

Also, on your subchasers, with submarines rapidly improving to the larger gunned models, I'd worry that your 200t subchaser would be unable to effectively compete with the subs in the 750-1000t range where they have a relatively substantial gun armament.  Your larger subhunter looks good though.  That's something that I've been tossing about as well, the thoughts bouncing between a lightweight GTB-based fast subchaser, or a slower subhunter like what you have.

[The Rock Doctor]

The TB carrier's a full combat ship and paid in full.  The armament/armor weight simply reflects a speed-is-life outlook for the type rather than an effort to slip in under 2%.

I agree the subchaser will be outgunned by big subs, but even a few 50mm shell hits will be bad for a submarine in general.  If I lose a 200 t chaser to cripple a sub, it's probably decent value for money.

[TacCovert4]

The TB carrier's a full combat ship and paid in full.  The armament/armor weight simply reflects a speed-is-life outlook for the type rather than an effort to slip in under 2%.

I agree the subchaser will be outgunned by big subs, but even a few 50mm shell hits will be bad for a submarine in general.  If I lose a 200 t chaser to cripple a sub, it's probably decent value for money.

Ahh.  I've been bandying about MTB carriers but current requirements just keep making them a luxury I can't afford to do.

Makes sense.  I guess the 200 tonner is more for inshore work around your ports while the larger model is more of a convoy escort?

[The Rock Doctor]

I figure the TB carrier is obsolete as soon as we've got viable aircraft carriers but it's amusing to play with for now.  Don't expect I'll lay down any more after this one.

The 200 t is probably port defence/coastal patrol stuff, and a few could team up with the larger corvette to do coastal convoy work.

The 440 t boat really lacks the legs to do trans-Atlantic work, but could rove more extensively along the coast of a colony or coordinate a pack of 200 t if/when hunting group tactics evolve.

I expect a larger ocean-going escort is still to come in some fashion - the question is whether I try to built it to civilian specs with limited capability or take the tonnage hit and go with something sloop-ish.

[Desertfox]

Japan will build one but with only 4 MTBs aboard. I wouldn't say they will become automatically obsolete once carriers arrive. Carriers will be limited to daytime operations for a long time and MTBs have a lot more deployed staying power. Both of them could coexist for a while. I do want to see MTBs get wireless so they can be used as scouts. Also MTB carriers will probably be quite useful as fast transports down the line.

[The Rock Doctor]

Japan will build one but with only 4 MTBs aboard. I wouldn't say they will become automatically obsolete once carriers arrive. Carriers will be limited to daytime operations for a long time and MTBs have a lot more deployed staying power. Both of them could coexist for a while. I do want to see MTBs get wireless so they can be used as scouts. Also MTB carriers will probably be quite useful as fast transports down the line.

I had that thought as well - swap out the MTB for landing craft and find some weight to use for additional troops and it's a fun little raiding craft.

In fact, maybe I should take a step back and look at that for this design.

[The Rock Doctor]

Revised the torpedo-boat carrier.  Slightly bigger, slightly slower, but allows multiple missions:

-8 MTB-B or -C, or
-2 MTB-B/C and 6 x 20 t landing craft, with 120 marines
-Or some intermediate mixture of the two.

This implies I may need to reconsider the nomenclature of the ship - maybe something like a raider or strike carrier or something.  Will have to see how these translate to Polish.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1917

Displacement:
   4,368 t light; 4,507 t standard; 4,880 t normal; 5,178 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (491.08 ft / 482.28 ft) x 45.93 ft x (15.42 / 16.13 ft)
   (149.68 m / 147.00 m) x 14.00 m  x (4.70 / 4.92 m)

Armament:
      4 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.62lbs / 30.67kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1917 Model
     2 x Twin mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      4 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1917 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      2 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 12.99lbs / 5.89kg shells, 250 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1917 Model
     2 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 297 lbs / 135 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:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -
   3rd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 45,577 shp / 34,000 Kw = 30.07 kts
   Range 8,500nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 671 tons

Complement:
   291 - 379

Cost:
   £0.752 million / $3.010 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 64 tons, 1.3 %
      - Guns: 64 tons, 1.3 %
   Armour: 22 tons, 0.5 %
      - Armament: 22 tons, 0.5 %
   Machinery: 1,671 tons, 34.2 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,613 tons, 33.0 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 512 tons, 10.5 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 999 tons, 20.5 %
      - Hull below water: 160 tons
      - Hull above water: 300 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 480 tons
      - Above deck: 59 tons

Fittings:
-480 t:  Cradles for 8 x MTB-B or -C, or 20 t landing craft
-300 t:  Accommodation for 150 personnel (120 marines, 18 landing craft crew and 12 MTB crew or just 48 MTB crew)
-148 t:  Fuel and ordinance for 16 MTB sorties (below water)
-25 t:  Night-fighting doodads
-25 t:  L/R wireless
-7 t:  Fire control
-14 t:  Weight reserve

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     3,503 lbs / 1,589 Kg = 52.3 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 0.8 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
   Metacentric height 1.8 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 14.3 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.20
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.30

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.507
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.50 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 21.96 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 54
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 4.92 ft / 1.50 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  21.98 ft / 6.70 m,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m
      - Forward deck:   40.00 %,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m
      - Aft deck:   20.00 %,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m
      - Quarter deck:   20.00 %,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m,  17.06 ft / 5.20 m
      - Average freeboard:      17.45 ft / 5.32 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 126.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 164.8 %
   Waterplane Area: 14,759 Square feet or 1,371 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 64 lbs/sq ft or 312 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.85
      - Longitudinal: 1.50
      - 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
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[TacCovert4]

I figure the TB carrier is obsolete as soon as we've got viable aircraft carriers but it's amusing to play with for now.  Don't expect I'll lay down any more after this one.

The 200 t is probably port defence/coastal patrol stuff, and a few could team up with the larger corvette to do coastal convoy work.

The 440 t boat really lacks the legs to do trans-Atlantic work, but could rove more extensively along the coast of a colony or coordinate a pack of 200 t if/when hunting group tactics evolve.

I expect a larger ocean-going escort is still to come in some fashion - the question is whether I try to built it to civilian specs with limited capability or take the tonnage hit and go with something sloop-ish.

I was looking at your 400 tonner for the Caribbean mostly.  I still have to develop a colonial sloop or destroyer,  that'll probably have decent legs.  I keep revising the scimitar class but the legs are so short it's just not worth it. 

[The Rock Doctor]

Sketch of Rybolow.  If you said, "Hey, Rock, it looks like you just cut Orzel open and shoved a chunk of hull in aft of the third funnel", I mean, you wouldn't be far off.

[The Rock Doctor]

The 440 t (left) and 201 t (right) ASW tubs.  I have to admit I'm not terribly excited with how the bigger one looks - stout - but there's no law that says all my ships must be sexy.

[The Rock Doctor]

The Nurnberg class torpedo-boats are actually not really torpedo-boats, at least in the general sense of what they're supposed to be doing.

Rather than being part of a screen or a torpedo attack, they're actually intended to operate on the disengaged beam of the battleline as dedicated signal-repeaters and to otherwise be a "tender" to the flagship of a battlegroup.  That can require the ship to move key personnel between capital ships and/or shore, and to function as a temporary flagship, if necessary, while this takes place. 

This requires some additional capabilities that the current ~1,000 t torpedo-boats can't ship, such as flag facilities, a long-range wireless, a high sprint speed, long legs, and supplemental signaling capabilities.  The larger N class has room for these, though its torpedo and ASW armaments are somewhat reduced compared to the L/M classes.  As noted, those weapons are there if needed, not because they're primary functions.

It was suggested that electric drives might be handy for the whole "transport between ships" function, but the boffins simply couldn't make it work with the other design parameters provided.

Consideration was given towards a modification of the Kopparberg class cruiser-minelayers for this new type, but frugality won out; the navy had enough trouble convincing the government it needed special ships for admirals as it was.  Securing additional Magdala class cruisers - which could easily do the job - was right out.

The exact size of the class is unclear at this time - a minimum of three units seems likely, but there could be up to five.

Nurnberg class TB, laid down 1917

Displacement:
   1,499 t light; 1,552 t standard; 1,760 t normal; 1,926 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (374.96 ft / 362.86 ft) x 32.81 ft x (12.47 / 13.25 ft)
   (114.29 m / 110.60 m) x 10.00 m  x (3.80 / 4.04 m)

Armament:
      4 - 3.94" / 100 mm 45.0 cal guns - 30.78lbs / 13.96kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1917 Model
     4 x Single mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts - superfiring
      1 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal gun - 3.86lbs / 1.75kg shells, 150 per gun
     Anti-air gun in deck mount, 1917 Model
     1 x Single mount on sides, aft deck centre
      1 raised mount
      4 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1917 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:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.79" / 20 mm            -
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm         -               -
   3rd:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 30,161 shp / 22,500 Kw = 31.14 kts
   Range 9,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 375 tons

Complement:
   135 - 176

Cost:
   £0.341 million / $1.366 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 35 tons, 2.0 %
      - Guns: 35 tons, 2.0 %
   Armour: 27 tons, 1.5 %
      - Armament: 27 tons, 1.5 %
   Machinery: 880 tons, 50.0 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 407 tons, 23.2 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 261 tons, 14.8 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 150 tons, 8.5 %
      - Hull below water: 15 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 71 tons
      - Above deck: 64 tons

Fittings:
-25 t:  Extra signalling gear (larger masts, flag lockers, signal lamps) (AD)
-25 t:  L/R wireless (AD)
-10 t:  Additional S/R wireless (AD)
-4 t:  1912 fire control (AD)
-50 t:  Flag facilities (FD)
-5 t:  ASW Weaponry (FD)
-12 t:  1x3 Model 1913 530mm torpedoes (no reloads)
-4 t:  Weight reserve (FD)
-15 t:  Enhanced hydrophone package (BW)

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     443 lbs / 201 Kg = 14.5 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
   Metacentric height 1.2 ft / 0.4 m
   Roll period: 12.7 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.29
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.415 / 0.427
   Length to Beam Ratio: 11.06 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.05 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 62 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 59
   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 %,  20.67 ft / 6.30 m,  15.75 ft / 4.80 m
      - Forward deck:   40.00 %,  15.75 ft / 4.80 m,  15.75 ft / 4.80 m
      - Aft deck:   25.00 %,  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:      12.99 ft / 3.96 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 169.3 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 132.7 %
   Waterplane Area: 7,397 Square feet or 687 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 70 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 31 lbs/sq ft or 150 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.50
      - Longitudinal: 1.11
      - Overall: 0.54
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room

[Kaiser Kirk]

The 440 t (left) and 201 t (right) ASW tubs.  I have to admit I'm not terribly excited with how the bigger one looks - stout - but there's no law that says all my ships must be sexy.

You don't want them Toooo sexy....

I'm too sexy for my Navy
Too sexy for my Navy
Wilno's going to leave me

I'm too sexy for my Navy
Too sexy for my Navy
So sexy it hurts

And I'm too sexy for Stockholm
Too sexy for Stockholm,
Copenhagen and Bremmerhaven

....I detect a disturbance in the force....