Vilnius Union Ships, 1920+: Electric Drive Boogaloo

[The Rock Doctor]

I admit it's hard to keep track of NPCs on account of them being quiet.

While I like the idea of the ship, I'm probably sticking to the ~10,000 t range when I actually build.

[The Rock Doctor]

A floatplane-carrying sloop for escort and patrol duties.

The armored box over the explode-y parts is expensive, and maybe not useful.  The weight could instead go towards extending freeboard aft and expanding the hanger to accommodate another two planes, which is not obviously impractical given the beam amidships.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1925

Displacement:
   2,425 t light; 2,540 t standard; 2,971 t normal; 3,316 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (408.86 ft / 396.98 ft) x 42.65 ft x (12.80 / 13.89 ft)
   (124.62 m / 121.00 m) x 13.00 m  x (3.90 / 4.23 m)

Armament:
      4 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.61lbs / 30.67kg shells, 300 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1925 Model
     2 x 2-gun mounts on centreline, forward evenly spread
      1 raised mount
      2 - 3.94" / 100.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 30.77lbs / 13.96kg shells, 250 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      8 - 0.59" / 15.0 mm 90.0 cal guns - 0.12lbs / 0.05kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
     4 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 333 lbs / 151 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   1.18" / 30 mm      1.97" / 50 mm
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.79" / 20 mm            -
   3rd:   0.59" / 15 mm   0.12" / 3 mm            -

   - Box over machinery & magazines: 1.18" / 30 mm

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

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 2 shafts, 25,470 shp / 19,000 Kw = 27.48 kts
   Range 16,400nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 776 tons

Complement:
   200 - 261

Cost:
   £0.752 million / $3.007 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 85 tons, 2.9 %
   Armour: 365 tons, 12.3 %
      - Armament: 41 tons, 1.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 315 tons, 10.6 %
      - Conning Tower: 9 tons, 0.3 %
   Machinery: 827 tons, 27.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 893 tons, 30.1 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 546 tons, 18.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 255 tons, 8.6 %
      - Hull below water: 25 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 130 tons
      - Above deck: 100 tons

Fittings:
-25 t:  Enhanced Hydrophone Package and Sonar (BW)
-55 t:  2 x armed floatplanes and one gunpowder catapult (FD)
-24 t:  2x3 530mm torpedo carriages (FD)
-15 t:  ASW munitions (FD)
-25 t:  L/R wireless (AD)
-10 t:  Night-fighting doodads (AD)
-9 t:  Fire control (AD)
-50 t:  Command facilities for escort group (AD)
-36t + 6 t:  Weight reserve (FD/AD)

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     3,119 lbs / 1,415 Kg = 46.5 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 0.9 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
   Metacentric height 1.9 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 13.0 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.30
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.35

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.480 / 0.494
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.31 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.92 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 52
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 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,  18.70 ft / 5.70 m
      - Forward deck:   40.00 %,  18.70 ft / 5.70 m,  18.70 ft / 5.70 m
      - Aft deck:   25.00 %,  10.83 ft / 3.30 m,  10.83 ft / 3.30 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  10.83 ft / 3.30 m,  10.83 ft / 3.30 m
      - Average freeboard:      15.94 ft / 4.86 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 101.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 165.4 %
   Waterplane Area: 11,080 Square feet or 1,029 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 116 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 50 lbs/sq ft or 245 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.69
      - Longitudinal: 1.55
      - Overall: 0.75
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[The Rock Doctor]

The 1925 carrier is getting larger.  The picture doesn't change a lot because the length remained constant, but there are some differences in armament disposition, etc.

The big difference in capability is extra speed.  An aft belt provides splinter protection for the stern, which is perhaps relevant as the general expectation will be that the ship will turn away from a surface encounter.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1925

Displacement:
   10,997 t light; 11,322 t standard; 12,452 t normal; 13,355 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (545.08 ft / 529.20 ft) x 75.79 ft x (22.64 / 23.84 ft)
   (166.14 m / 161.30 m) x 23.10 m  x (6.90 / 7.27 m)

Armament:
      6 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.61lbs / 30.67kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1925 Model
     1 x 2-gun mount on centreline, aft deck aft
     2 x 2-gun mounts on sides, aft deck centre
      4 - 3.94" / 100.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 30.77lbs / 13.96kg shells, 250 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      12 - 0.59" / 15.0 mm 90.0 cal guns - 0.12lbs / 0.05kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
     4 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 530 lbs / 240 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   2.95" / 75 mm   371.72 ft / 113.30 m   11.81 ft / 3.60 m
   Ends:   1.18" / 30 mm     78.74 ft / 24.00 m   11.81 ft / 3.60 m
     78.74 ft / 24.00 m Unarmoured ends
     Main Belt covers 108 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   1.18" / 30 mm      1.97" / 50 mm
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.79" / 20 mm            -

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

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 2 shafts, 107,238 shp / 80,000 Kw = 32.04 kts
   Range 18,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2,033 tons

Complement:
   589 - 766

Cost:
   £3.003 million / $12.010 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 133 tons, 1.1 %
   Armour: 1,118 tons, 9.0 %
      - Belts: 585 tons, 4.7 %
      - Armament: 51 tons, 0.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 482 tons, 3.9 %
   Machinery: 3,482 tons, 28.0 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,550 tons, 36.5 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,455 tons, 11.7 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 1,714 tons, 13.8 %
      - Hull below water: 732 tons
      - Hull above water: 720 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 112 tons
      - Above deck: 150 tons

Fittings:
-12 t:  4x lightweight 530mm torpedo tubes, fixed astern (BW)
-1440 t:  18 or 15 aircraft, depending on the vintage (BW/AW)
-25 t:  Hydraulic catapult, starboard bow (FD)
-100 t:  Command and flight operations facilities (FD/AD)
-35 t:  L/R and extra S/R wireless (AD)
-25 t:  Nightfighting doodads (AD)
-14 t:  1918 fire control (AD)
-63 t:  Weight reserve (FD/AD)


Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     16,784 lbs / 7,613 Kg = 250.4 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 1.8 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.26
   Metacentric height 5.0 ft / 1.5 m
   Roll period: 14.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 90 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.09
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.49

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has low forecastle,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.480 / 0.489
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.98 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 23.00 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 63 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 60
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 6.56 ft / 2.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   10.00 %,  25.59 ft / 7.80 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Forward deck:   40.00 %,  29.53 ft / 9.00 m,  29.53 ft / 9.00 m
      - Aft deck:   40.00 %,  29.53 ft / 9.00 m,  29.53 ft / 9.00 m
      - Quarter deck:   10.00 %,  29.53 ft / 9.00 m,  29.53 ft / 9.00 m
      - Average freeboard:      28.78 ft / 8.77 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 107.4 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 250.6 %
   Waterplane Area: 26,247 Square feet or 2,438 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 122 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 103 lbs/sq ft or 503 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.87
      - Longitudinal: 3.39
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[The Rock Doctor]

The Patowmeck class cruisers are odd ducks, with a transitional, mixed main battery of 130mm guns (without hoists) and 100mm guns.  It makes for an underwhelming broadside that is difficult to manage with contemporary fire control practices.

A simple refit would allow for the replacement of the 130mm guns with additional 100mm guns, giving a uniform but low-caliber battery.  A refurbishment really wouldn't allow for useful replacement of the 100mm single mounts either.  So it looks like we're going for an actual reconstruction in this case.

-Entirely new armament:  $0.34 and 0.169 BP (note:  Main battery is A-Q-Xs-Y)

-Armor for that new armament:  $0.08 and 0.075 BP

-Replacement of all functional miscellaneous weight:  $0.18 and 0.181 BP

-The bunkerage is converted to all-oil and slightly enlarged, and magazines enlarged/re-arranged:  $0.43 and 0 BP

-Freeboard adjusted (bow now rises 1.2m to stem) and ship re-trimmed:  $0.82 and 0 BP

-Generic reconstruction costs:  $1.04 and 0.417 BP

-Also I'm removing the aft conning tower because for whatever reason, this version of SS doesn't account for its weight.  But no cost there.

This works out to $2.89 and 0.842 BP in less than six months.

I've opted not to replace the machinery, given that the seakeeping wouldn't allow much of an increase in speed, and I'm satisfied with the existing deck/belt protection.

The end result is a decent escort for the first-generation dreadnoughts, which will primarily be operating in homewaters from 1926 onward.

Patowmeck reconstruction, laid down 1911 (reconstructed 1925/6)

Displacement:
   4,072 t light; 4,261 t standard; 4,689 t normal; 5,031 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (447.08 ft / 442.91 ft) x 44.29 ft x (16.73 / 17.65 ft)
   (136.27 m / 135.00 m) x 13.50 m  x (5.10 / 5.38 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, 1911 Model
     1 x 2-gun mount on centreline, forward deck centre
     3 x 2-gun mounts on centreline, aft evenly spread
      1 raised mount
      4 - 3.94" / 100.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 30.77lbs / 13.96kg shells, 250 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1911 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      12 - 0.59" / 15.0 mm 90.0 cal guns - 0.12lbs / 0.05kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1911 Model
     6 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
      6 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 665 lbs / 302 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   3.15" / 80 mm   298.56 ft / 91.00 m   11.81 ft / 3.60 m
   Ends:   1.57" / 40 mm   144.36 ft / 44.00 m   11.81 ft / 3.60 m
   Upper:   1.57" / 40 mm   287.89 ft / 87.75 m   8.01 ft / 2.44 m
     Main Belt covers 104 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   1.18" / 30 mm      1.97" / 50 mm
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.79" / 20 mm            -
   4th:   0.59" / 15 mm   0.12" / 3 mm            -

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

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

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 30,831 shp / 23,000 Kw = 27.19 kts
   Range 8,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 770 tons

Complement:
   283 - 368

Cost:
   £0.376 million / $1.503 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 169 tons, 3.6 %
   Armour: 1,082 tons, 23.1 %
      - Belts: 699 tons, 14.9 %
      - Armament: 75 tons, 1.6 %
      - Armour Deck: 288 tons, 6.1 %
      - Conning Tower: 19 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 1,251 tons, 26.7 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,389 tons, 29.6 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 617 tons, 13.2 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 181 tons, 3.9 %
      - On freeboard deck: 61 tons
      - Above deck: 120 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     4,831 lbs / 2,191 Kg = 72.1 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 1.0 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 1.8 ft / 0.5 m
   Roll period: 14.0 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 61 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.44
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.19

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.509
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 21.05 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
   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 %,  23.62 ft / 7.20 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Forward deck:   25.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Aft deck:   40.00 %,  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:      15.67 ft / 4.78 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 99.5 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 130.5 %
   Waterplane Area: 13,070 Square feet or 1,214 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 109 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 66 lbs/sq ft or 324 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.85
      - Longitudinal: 1.37
      - Overall: 0.90
   Caution: Hull subject to strain in open-sea
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

[The Rock Doctor]

The Type 1925 harbour patrol boat abandons the previous use of reciprocating machinery for a small, nifty diesel-electric drive that should make for responsive handling in the Union's busy harbours.  Speed, range, and seakeeping should be adequate for an eight or twelve hour shift amongst typical slow mercantile traffic.

The armament remains very minimal, with no protection - the general assumption remains that these ships are, in the worst case, going to be dealing with unlawful civilians who will back down from a small cannon and a couple machine guns pointed their way.  The aft machine gun has been moved up from the aft deck, allowing davits and a couple of small boats to be carried aft for boarding, search and rescue, or whatever.

Some capacity for cargo or passengers, such as law enforcement personnel, is provided for in the cabin.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1925

Displacement:
   47 t light; 48 t standard; 49 t normal; 50 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (89.06 ft / 85.30 ft) x 13.12 ft x (2.95 / 2.98 ft)
   (27.15 m / 26.00 m) x 4.00 m  x (0.90 / 0.91 m)

Armament:
      1 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal gun - 3.85lbs / 1.75kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing gun in deck mount, 1925 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline forward
      3 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.03lbs / 0.01kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
     2 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      2 raised mounts
     1 x Single mount on sides, aft deck forward
      1 raised mount
      Weight of broadside 4 lbs / 2 kg

Machinery:
   Diesel Internal combustion generators,
   Electric motors, 2 shafts, 402 shp / 300 Kw = 15.30 kts
   Range 200nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1 tons

Complement:
   9 - 12

Cost:
   £0.012 million / $0.049 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1 tons, 1.9 %
   Machinery: 13 tons, 26.6 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 20 tons, 40.0 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2 tons, 5.0 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 13 tons, 26.5 %
      - Hull below water: 7 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 5 tons
      - Above deck: 1 tons

Fittings:
-7 t:  D-E machinery, BW
-5 t:  Cargo or passengers, FD
-1 t:  Searchlight, AD

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     70 lbs / 32 Kg = 18.4 x 2.0 " / 50 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
   Metacentric height 0.3 ft / 0.1 m
   Roll period: 9.5 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.10
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.33

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.520 / 0.521
   Length to Beam Ratio: 6.50 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 9.24 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 69 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 45
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 1.97 ft / 0.60 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  10.17 ft / 3.10 m,  8.20 ft / 2.50 m
      - Forward deck:   20.00 %,  8.20 ft / 2.50 m,  6.23 ft / 1.90 m
      - Aft deck:   45.00 %,  6.23 ft / 1.90 m,  6.23 ft / 1.90 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  6.23 ft / 1.90 m,  6.23 ft / 1.90 m
      - Average freeboard:      6.98 ft / 2.13 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 108.0 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 105.1 %
   Waterplane Area: 760 Square feet or 71 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 118 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 12 lbs/sq ft or 60 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.59
      - Longitudinal: 9.56
      - Overall: 0.78
   Caution: Hull subject to strain in open-sea
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[TacCovert4]

I'm kind of the opinion that if you've you've a dedicated harbor defense boat, add the tonnage to toss a basic hydrophone package and a couple tons of depth charges.  Not enough to sub hunt, but enough to deter submarines.   Plus, hydrophones are the most likely tool to detect torpedo boats at night. 

[The Rock Doctor]

Fair points and worth further tinkering.

[Kaiser Kirk]

At 47 tons, there's not much room for expansion.

Trying to cram more multi-use capacity into what started as a coast guard vessel with a primary 'sentry' role
is how my Sentry class ballooned :)

On the other hand I now have a fairly capable coast guard force.

[The Rock Doctor]

I'd need to beef it up to around 55t and maybe build it to military specifications rather than mercantile, but it is doable.

[Kaiser Kirk]

But think, if you put a cage mast on it, you can extend the sighting distance to be equal of a battleship- for the low low cost of 23 tons !
And then, in some weather, a Kite Balloon would make sense, only another 25 tons !
Don't forget enhanced hydrophones can pick up screws a little over the horizon sometimes, ...
and then you'll want some "Y" throwers for those DCs to make a proper pattern.
and more speed so you can catch a surfaced sub,
and then ....
and then ....

[The Rock Doctor]

Don't tempt me, man, I'm on cold meds and susceptible to odd notions.

[The Rock Doctor]

Dammit, Kirk.

This is notionally a civilian build based on a large sea-going barge.  Anchor it somewhere - on the periphery of an amphibious landing, in a strait, something like that.  Set out the torpedo nets.  Deploy and support any attached torpedo-boats.  Look for bad guys.

The floor of the observation cupola atop the cage mast is, by my reckoning, 72' feet above sea level, and the barge's steadiness should allow for good spotting of threats at reasonable distances. 

Edit:  Distance to the horizon is around 10.5 miles or 23,000 yards, according to a website.

Hydrophones for listening for threats, spotlights to light stuff up, enough capacity to tend and resupply a handful of MTBs in a tender capacity (there's a small cut-out on each side of the hull for tying up a couple MTBs.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1925

Displacement:
   940 t light; 967 t standard; 1,017 t normal; 1,057 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (169.15 ft / 164.04 ft) x 39.37 ft x (7.87 / 8.15 ft)
   (51.56 m / 50.00 m) x 12.00 m  x (2.40 / 2.48 m)

Armament:
      2 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 12.98lbs / 5.89kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
     2 x Single mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      3 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3.85lbs / 1.74kg shells, 250 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
     1 x Single mount on centreline, aft evenly spread
      1 raised mount
     2 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
      2 raised mounts
      4 - 0.59" / 15.0 mm 90.0 cal guns - 0.12lbs / 0.05kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
     2 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      2 double raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 38 lbs / 17 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.98" / 25 mm   0.59" / 15 mm            -
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.12" / 3 mm            -
   3rd:   0.59" / 15 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Diesel Internal combustion generators,
   Electric motors, 2 shafts, 1,340 shp / 1,000 Kw = 13.44 kts
   Range 3,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 91 tons

Complement:
   89 - 117

Cost:
   £0.135 million / $0.539 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 8 tons, 0.8 %
   Armour: 11 tons, 1.1 %
      - Armament: 11 tons, 1.1 %
   Machinery: 44 tons, 4.3 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 377 tons, 37.1 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 77 tons, 7.6 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 500 tons, 49.2 %
      - Hull below water: 140 tons
      - Hull above water: 140 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 20 tons
      - Above deck: 200 tons

Fittings:
-25t:  D-E machinery (BW)
-15t:  Enhanced Hydrophone Package (BW)
-100 t:  Supplies and support for attached patrol craft (BW)
-50 t:  Torpedo nets (AW)
-20 t:  Additional sea anchors and supports (AW)
-70 t:  Support facilities for attached patrol craft (AW)
-25 t:  L/R wireless (AD)
-1 t:  Fire control (AD)
-10 t:  Night-fighting doodads (AD)
-150 t:  Cage Mast (AD)
-106 t:  Weight reserve (FD, AD)


Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     4,585 lbs / 2,080 Kg = 356.2 x 3.0 " / 75 mm shells or 1.8 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.23
   Metacentric height 1.8 ft / 0.5 m
   Roll period: 12.3 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 100 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.06
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise aft of midbreak, low quarterdeck ,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.700 / 0.703
   Length to Beam Ratio: 4.17 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 12.81 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   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:   20.00 %,  15.75 ft / 4.80 m,  15.75 ft / 4.80 m
      - Aft deck:   20.00 %,  23.62 ft / 7.20 m,  23.62 ft / 7.20 m
      - Quarter deck:   40.00 %,  15.75 ft / 4.80 m,  15.75 ft / 4.80 m
      - Average freeboard:      17.64 ft / 5.38 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 47.4 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 218.1 %
   Waterplane Area: 5,176 Square feet or 481 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 164 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 44 lbs/sq ft or 213 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.76
      - Longitudinal: 11.82
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

[Desertfox]

And now I need one of those as well...

[Kaiser Kirk]

'If you're evil and you know it, clap your hands '

*clap* *clap*




.. I have a link somewhere to a discussion on cage mast weights, which is where I got the 23 tons for that fitted to USS Texas. 
The 150 would be appropriate for a DN scale tripod.

[The Rock Doctor]

While I'm sure the 23 t was based on factual data, I couldn't help but think it was kind of low for a structure that size, even if it was mostly hollow.