Vilnius Union Ships, 1911 - 1919

[The Rock Doctor]

That's as opposite a design as it gets for a minesweeper as I'm doing. I take it Wilno is planning for offensive minesweeping operations?

Not so much a matter of Union intentions as a question of what might be needed if forced to do something like the Roman's opposed transit into the Caicos in August.  The Romans used destroyers as minesweepers, which got the job done but at heavy cost.  A few of these might last longer in the primary role of clearing a channel for the capital units, while allowing actual destroyers to go destroy things.

Obviously if not needed for that specific task, they can do other minesweeping activities, or take a roll as a surface escort/patrol unit.  Perhaps I will tweak their size upward slightly to provide a little more miscellaneous weight.

[snip]

Its worth noting that a big reason I had the destroyers doing the sweeping is that they were literally the only things I had with sweeping gear.

[The Rock Doctor]

Some bright young fellow in the Design Bureau thought, "We have fireboats that assist in salvage and rescue in our ports.  But our navy is most likely to need salvage and rescue at sea, right after combat.  Maybe even during combat.  What if we had a ship that could help out a battleship or cruiser that had fallen out of line?"

So what did that mean, exactly?  Well, water-cannons, elevated to improve their reach when fighting fires on a stricken ship.  And pumps to help remove water from them.  And a tow reel.  And an armored bow to push ships with.  And extra boats.  And a reinforced hull for bumping up against other vessels.

And it's got to be capable of keeping pace with the battleline it's supposed to support - so it's got to have a few guns for self-defence and, oh, a couple extra knots to allow for station-keeping and rapid response.

And this is what he drafted up.  Does it meet the criteria for mercantile construction?  Technically yes.  Will the Union build it?  I dunno.

Combat Salvage Vessel, laid down 1916

Displacement:
   2,661 t light; 2,742 t standard; 3,008 t normal; 3,220 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (400.26 ft / 393.70 ft) x 39.37 ft x (15.09 / 15.84 ft)
   (122.00 m / 120.00 m) x 12.00 m  x (4.60 / 4.83 m)

Armament:
      2 - 3.94" / 100 mm 45.0 cal guns - 30.77lbs / 13.96kg shells, 300 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline, forward deck centre
     1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck centre
      1 raised mount aft
      2 - 3.94" / 100 mm 45.0 cal guns - 30.77lbs / 13.96kg shells, 300 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck centre
      4 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.03lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 123 lbs / 56 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Ends:   1.97" / 50 mm     21.33 ft / 6.50 m   15.75 ft / 4.80 m
     372.38 ft / 113.50 m Unarmoured ends

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

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 28,150 shp / 21,000 Kw = 28.27 kts
   Range 8,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 477 tons

Complement:
   202 - 263

Cost:
   £0.403 million / $1.610 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 22 tons, 0.7 %
      - Guns: 22 tons, 0.7 %
   Armour: 37 tons, 1.2 %
      - Belts: 24 tons, 0.8 %
      - Armament: 12 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 1,049 tons, 34.9 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,060 tons, 35.2 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 347 tons, 11.5 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 493 tons, 16.4 %
      - Hull below water: 80 tons
      - Hull above water: 80 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 283 tons
      - Above deck: 50 tons

Fittings:
-100 t:  Water cannons and pumps (includes some below hull/deck weight)
-100 t:  Extra pumps and hoses (includes some below deck weight)
-100 t:  Tow gear
-40 t:  Extra 20 t crane aft
-153 t:  Don't know yet but it will be awesome

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     2,443 lbs / 1,108 Kg = 80.1 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 0.7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
   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): 0.07
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.11

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.450 / 0.459
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.84 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 54
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 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 %,  22.64 ft / 6.90 m,  17.72 ft / 5.40 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  17.72 ft / 5.40 m,  17.72 ft / 5.40 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  9.84 ft / 3.00 m,  9.84 ft / 3.00 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  9.84 ft / 3.00 m,  9.84 ft / 3.00 m
      - Average freeboard:      14.17 ft / 4.32 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 121.5 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 125.6 %
   Waterplane Area: 9,887 Square feet or 919 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 62 lbs/sq ft or 301 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.99
      - Longitudinal: 1.76
      - Overall: 1.05
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room

[The Rock Doctor]

Having gone in circles with ideas to refurbish the Union's middle-aged pre-dreadnoughts and armored cruisers, the Design Bureau stepped back and had a look at the Lippe class protected cruisers.  Six were built between 1905 and 1907.  With early turbines and a mixed bunkerage, they are not spectacular cruisers but they offer a reasonable foundation for improvement.

A refurbishment would:

-Strip out the 10x100mm battery and 8x50mm battery, replacing it with twin 130mm fore and aft, two single 130mm on each beam, and two 50 mm AA guns on the beam.  This is notionally less complicated than trying to stick a third twin on the centreline somewhere.

-New turbine machinery would allow for almost five knots of additional speed (26.2 kts) - enough for station-keeping around the early dreadnoughts.

-A switch to fuel oil bunkerage almost doubles operating range.

-And there'd be the usual fiddling with miscellaneous weight - bigger torpedoes, updated fire control etc.

This is expensive in cash ($3.32) but not bad for BP (1.793).  If the Union goes ahead, it'd do one ship per half-year for three years.


Lippe Reloaded, laid down 1905 (Engine 1916)

Displacement:
   3,516 t light; 3,673 t standard; 3,964 t normal; 4,197 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (396.98 ft / 393.70 ft) x 44.29 ft x (15.91 / 16.61 ft)
   (121.00 m / 120.00 m) x 13.50 m  x (4.85 / 5.06 m)

Armament:
      8 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.61lbs / 30.67kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1905 Model
     2 x Twin mounts on centreline, evenly spread
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      2 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3.85lbs / 1.74kg shells, 250 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides amidships
      2 raised mounts
      6 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.03lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1905 Model
     6 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      6 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 549 lbs / 249 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   3.15" / 80 mm   255.91 ft / 78.00 m   11.81 ft / 3.60 m
   Ends:   1.57" / 40 mm   137.76 ft / 41.99 m   11.81 ft / 3.60 m
   Upper:   1.57" / 40 mm   255.91 ft / 78.00 m   7.87 ft / 2.40 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.18" / 30 mm   1.18" / 30 mm      1.18" / 30 mm
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm         -               -
   3rd:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

   - Armoured 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 3.15" / 80 mm, Aft 3.15" / 80 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 25,470 shp / 19,000 Kw = 26.19 kts
   Range 7,500nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 524 tons

Complement:
   249 - 324

Cost:
   £0.308 million / $1.231 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 138 tons, 3.5 %
      - Guns: 138 tons, 3.5 %
   Armour: 967 tons, 24.4 %
      - Belts: 620 tons, 15.6 %
      - Armament: 57 tons, 1.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 256 tons, 6.5 %
      - Conning Towers: 34 tons, 0.9 %
   Machinery: 949 tons, 23.9 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,280 tons, 32.3 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 448 tons, 11.3 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 182 tons, 4.6 %
      - On freeboard deck: 182 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     5,050 lbs / 2,291 Kg = 75.3 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
   Metacentric height 1.9 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 13.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.32
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.10

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.507
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.89 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.84 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 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 %,  23.62 ft / 7.20 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Forward deck:   20.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Aft deck:   45.00 %,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m
      - Average freeboard:      15.28 ft / 4.66 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 91.2 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 126.5 %
   Waterplane Area: 11,618 Square feet or 1,079 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 70 lbs/sq ft or 341 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.94
      - Longitudinal: 1.68
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room

[The Rock Doctor]

...And I guess this would also leave me with six sets of 1905 vintage, 9000 kW turbines for re-use in something where reliability is good but speed not so important.  Patrol vessels or auxiliaries, perhaps. 

[The Rock Doctor]

Oh, there's no BP charge for the fuel change.  That makes the refurb more like $3.32 and 1.27 BP.  Makes it a more attractive option, really.

[Kaiser Kirk]

This is expensive in cash ($3.32) but not bad for BP (1.793).  If the Union goes ahead, it'd do one ship per half-year for three years.

Which is typical of such rebuilds.
If I wasn't spending $ like water on the stupid Freeport drydocks I promised..and everything else....

[The Rock Doctor]

This is expensive in cash ($3.32) but not bad for BP (1.793).  If the Union goes ahead, it'd do one ship per half-year for three years.

Which is typical of such rebuilds.
If I wasn't spending $ like water on the stupid Freeport drydocks I promised..and everything else....

*Laughs in Canal-ese*

[The Rock Doctor]

The Union's 1916 protected cruiser type sees the introduction of twin 130mm mountings and 1912 fire control systems. 

Consideration was given toward a ship with five twin mountings, leading to the question of how best to situate that fifth mount.  Super-er-firing forward or aft for maximum axial firepower, at the expense of stability?  In a C or W position to enhance broadsides?  The Union settled on two single, superfiring mounts amidships instead; these should have good fore and aft firing arcs, and one can add to each broadside.  Nine-gun broadsides might sound quaint but it beats the performance of existing Union cruisers.

The class also more fully considers the lessons gained from the loss of the Bug in 1912.  This includes a higher main belt, and additional fire-fighting and pumping equipment (including hoses, generators, and all that stuff). 

Also considered is a more explicit effort to improve habitability, particularly in tropical climates where the Union has only recently started deploying.  Crews on many ship types in the tropics have reported that heat and humidity below decks are often unbearable, if not uncomfortable, and could pose genuine threats to crew performance in battle.  Consequently, some efforts have been made to provide air-cooling and air-freshening equipment.  This will show up in other designs, of course.

As usual, the cruiser has some command facilities, night-fighting gear, and torpedoes, but omits dedicated minelaying equipment.

A production run of five units in 1916 and 1917 is anticipated - sufficient to screen a division of capital ships and to replace Bug.


CL1916C, laid down 1916

Displacement:
   5,211 t light; 5,424 t standard; 5,929 t normal; 6,332 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (470.22 ft / 465.88 ft) x 46.59 ft x (20.34 / 21.34 ft)
   (143.32 m / 142.00 m) x 14.20 m  x (6.20 / 6.51 m)

Armament:
      10 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.62lbs / 30.67kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts - superfiring
     2 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      2 raised mounts
      2 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3.86lbs / 1.75kg shells, 150 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck centre
      4 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 684 lbs / 310 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   3.15" / 80 mm   360.89 ft / 110.00 m   15.75 ft / 4.80 m
   Ends:   0.98" / 25 mm   104.95 ft / 31.99 m   11.81 ft / 3.60 m
     Main Belt covers 119 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.79" / 20 mm      3.15" / 80 mm
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -
   3rd:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

   - Armoured deck - single deck:
   For and Aft decks: 0.98" / 25 mm
   Forecastle: 0.98" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 0.98" / 25 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 3.15" / 80 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 50,938 shp / 38,000 Kw = 29.93 kts
   Range 10,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 908 tons

Complement:
   337 - 439

Cost:
   £0.839 million / $3.357 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 160 tons, 2.7 %
      - Guns: 160 tons, 2.7 %
   Armour: 1,093 tons, 18.4 %
      - Belts: 758 tons, 12.8 %
      - Armament: 54 tons, 0.9 %
      - Armour Deck: 258 tons, 4.4 %
      - Conning Tower: 22 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 1,898 tons, 32.0 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,793 tons, 30.2 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 718 tons, 12.1 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 267 tons, 4.5 %
      - On freeboard deck: 227 tons
      - Above deck: 40 tons

Fittings: 
-32 t:  Redundant 1912 fire control
-50 t:  Flag facilities
-25 t:  L/R wireless
-25 t:  Night-fighting doodads
-25 t:  Additional fire-fighting mains
-25 t:  Additional pumps
-25 t:  Additional climate-control systems
-18 t:  2x3 530mm torpedoes, no reloads
-43 t:  Weight reserve

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     4,569 lbs / 2,072 Kg = 68.2 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 0.9 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
   Metacentric height 1.9 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 14.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.49
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.18

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.470 / 0.478
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 21.58 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 51
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 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 %,  24.61 ft / 7.50 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Forward deck:   45.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Aft deck:   20.00 %,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m
      - Average freeboard:      17.32 ft / 5.28 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 114.9 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 137.4 %
   Waterplane Area: 14,080 Square feet or 1,308 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 103 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 72 lbs/sq ft or 351 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.83
      - Longitudinal: 1.78
      - Overall: 0.90
   Caution: Hull subject to strain in open-sea
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room

[The Rock Doctor]

After going back and forth with the Sejm a few times, the Union Navy has secured funding for a pair of "armored cruisers" for 1916-17. 
This began the popularization of the use of "air quotes" with the Union Navy, for there was not a lot of doubt internally - or even in the Sejm, for that matter - that these are more along the lines of the "unified large combat vessel" or "fast battleship" that some academics have been muttering about since turbines first became practical.

The class borrows heavily from the recent Angstrom class battleships, in no small part because the Union has not yet developed a larger weapon than the triple 35cm/45cal gun.  The secondary has been moved from casemates to twin mountings on the main deck, which will ensure they're useful in all manner of sea conditions.  The tertiary battery is limited to four mountings, which will also serve as saluting and starshell-firing mounts as required; there is less of a panic about torpedo-craft swarming these vessels at top speed with their expected seakeeping characteristics.

Considerable effort and expense has been made to increase the survivability of the class, whether through a higher belt, incorporation of bulges, or simply more pumps and more extensive fire mains. 

The lead unit, Szermierz, is being laid down in 1/16.  An as-yet unnamed sister is on order for 1/17.  They will replace the Dragon-class armored cruisers.


Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1916

Displacement:
   32,900 t light; 34,456 t standard; 36,342 t normal; 37,850 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (750.07 ft / 738.19 ft) x 91.86 ft (Bulges 95.14 ft) x (30.18 / 31.25 ft)
   (228.62 m / 225.00 m) x 28.00 m (Bulges 29.00 m)  x (9.20 / 9.52 m)

Armament:
      9 - 13.78" / 350 mm 45.0 cal guns - 1,319.36lbs / 598.45kg shells, 100 per gun
     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1916 Model
     3 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
      1 raised mount - superfiring
      16 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.62lbs / 30.67kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
     8 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      4 - 3.94" / 100 mm 45.0 cal guns - 30.78lbs / 13.96kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      4 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3.86lbs / 1.75kg shells, 150 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      8 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1916 Model
     8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      8 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 13,095 lbs / 5,940 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13.0" / 330 mm   528.22 ft / 161.00 m   15.75 ft / 4.80 m
   Ends:   1.97" / 50 mm   209.97 ft / 64.00 m   11.81 ft / 3.60 m
     Main Belt covers 110 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
      3.15" / 80 mm   479.82 ft / 146.25 m   28.35 ft / 8.64 m
   Beam between torpedo bulkheads 78.74 ft / 24.00 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   15.7" / 400 mm   5.91" / 150 mm      11.8" / 300 mm
   2nd:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.98" / 25 mm      3.94" / 100 mm
   3rd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -
   4th:   0.39" / 10 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -
   5th:   0.20" / 5 mm         -               -

   - Armoured deck - single deck:
   For and Aft decks: 3.54" / 90 mm
   Forecastle: 2.95" / 75 mm  Quarter deck: 3.54" / 90 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 12.99" / 330 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 134,049 shp / 100,000 Kw = 29.51 kts
   Range 12,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3,394 tons

Complement:
   1,315 - 1,710

Cost:
   £5.020 million / $20.081 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 2,286 tons, 6.3 %
      - Guns: 2,286 tons, 6.3 %
   Armour: 12,122 tons, 33.4 %
      - Belts: 4,666 tons, 12.8 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,585 tons, 4.4 %
      - Armament: 2,336 tons, 6.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 3,229 tons, 8.9 %
      - Conning Tower: 307 tons, 0.8 %
   Machinery: 4,994 tons, 13.7 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,667 tons, 34.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,442 tons, 9.5 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 830 tons, 2.3 %
      - Hull below water: 200 tons
      - Hull above water: 200 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 330 tons
      - Above deck: 100 tons

Fittings
-329 t:  Extra damage control capabilities
-229 t:  1912 fire control
-122 t:  Weight reserve
-100 t:  Flag facilities
-50 t:  Redundant LR wireless


Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     48,917 lbs / 22,189 Kg = 37.4 x 13.8 " / 350 mm shells or 7.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
   Metacentric height 5.6 ft / 1.7 m
   Roll period: 16.9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 61 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.73
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.21

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.600 / 0.604
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.76 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 27.17 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   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 %,  30.18 ft / 9.20 m,  24.28 ft / 7.40 m
      - Forward deck:   35.00 %,  24.28 ft / 7.40 m,  24.28 ft / 7.40 m
      - Aft deck:   30.00 %,  24.28 ft / 7.40 m,  24.28 ft / 7.40 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  24.28 ft / 7.40 m,  24.28 ft / 7.40 m
      - Average freeboard:      24.75 ft / 7.54 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 89.5 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 174.4 %
   Waterplane Area: 49,597 Square feet or 4,608 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 182 lbs/sq ft or 889 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.96
      - Longitudinal: 1.41
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[Jefgte]

Rocky's first over 30,000t

;)

[The Rock Doctor]

Rocky's first over 30,000t

;)

Sadly, yes.  Can't say I really wanted to escalate this quickly, but it seemed unavoidable.

[snip]

A nasty customer for sure.

[Kaiser Kirk]

reminiscent of the 1914 Mackensen but with 3x3 instead of 4x2.

The 350mm is fitted to single slide triples I see.
Face armor good, but barbette lacking.

Full secondary twin mounts-
allowed, but I thought you brought up just that on one of my designs...
I may misremember, many folks comment.
Why is the secondary barbette armor twice the face?
Looks like they are set to be clustered like Litorrio's 90mm battery.

The TDS is plenty thick, but very shallow, even with the .5m bulge.

Again, I really hate the "extra DC" type stuff from the "how do I assess this" point of view.
Though the fact it is considerable tonnage tells me 'something'. I still go back to the basic
idea that the original ships were considered to have 'enough'.

So is this effective extra,
redundancy that doesn't do more unless the first system goes down, perhaps
there's a triple redundancy and this makes a quadruple redundancy.

I kinda "know" 1200 tons for electric drive buys better torpedo avoidance, better DC, more torpedo hits,..
what does 329t Extra damage control capabilities... do.

It's come up before, but there probably should be a 'all hands' meeting room
discussion at some point because folks just randomly dump tonnage in it.

[The Rock Doctor]

Belt length and internal volume would allow for deeper TDS, you're right.

I suppose I should play with a 30cm belt/30cm barbette variant, if I haven't already.

It would be good to iron out the miscellaneous weight question, because if there aren't going to be material benefits from it, I might as well dump the weight into protection somewhere.