Vilnius Union Ships, 1920+: Electric Drive Boogaloo

[The Rock Doctor]

Alright, I didn't quite appreciate how short that actually is.  Shorter than my most recent monitor.

Still:

[Jefgte]

She is very similar to the Byzantine BB7.
1xBB6 = 2xBB7
30600t = 2x15300t

[Desertfox]

Cute ship! I like it.

[The Rock Doctor]

Two Warta-class protected cruisers will be laid down in 1920.

Following recent trends, their armament consists of a decent number of the reliable 130mm quick-firing gun.  Whereas the preceding Magdala and Bug II classes had a pair of singles on the sides amidships to boost fore/aft firepower, the Warta simply adds a fifth twin mount aft in a double-superfiring position.  While the navy acknowledges that the 130mm lacks penetrating power compared to a 150mm or 170mm sized gun, it doesn't have those guns to employ.  Plus 10 quick-firing guns should still make a mess of enemy torpedo-craft and find plenty of unarmored bits on enemy cruisers anyway.  Right?  Right.

The type has considerably more bunkerage than preceding types, which accounts for most of the size increase, really.  They're built to keep up mile-for-mile with the Czarownik class cruisers of the line and have an additional knot of speed for incremental station-keeping purposes.

The other change of interest is provision for a single armed floatplane on deck between the first and second funnels.  This would be used for scouting, perhaps spotting, and will build on operational experience gained by the training cruiser Danube's embarkation of a single floatplane in this time period.  The ship may have a canvas shelter or such for the plane when completed but for now is shown just with basic deck stowage.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1920

Displacement:
   5,974 t light; 6,210 t standard; 7,068 t normal; 7,755 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (491.48 ft / 479.00 ft) x 48.23 ft x (22.31 / 23.90 ft)
   (149.80 m / 146.00 m) x 14.70 m  x (6.80 / 7.28 m)

Armament:
      10 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.61lbs / 30.67kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1920 Model
     4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts - superfiring
     1 x Twin mount on centreline, aft deck forward
      1 double raised mount aft
      2 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3.85lbs / 1.74kg shells, 150 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1920 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, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1920 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   380.58 ft / 116.00 m   15.75 ft / 4.80 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 122 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.98" / 25 mm      3.15" / 80 mm
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.20" / 5 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,
   Geared drive, 2 shafts, 65,683 shp / 49,000 Kw = 31.05 kts
   Range 18,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,545 tons

Complement:
   385 - 501

Cost:
   £1.407 million / $5.629 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 148 tons, 2.1 %
      - Guns: 148 tons, 2.1 %
   Armour: 1,099 tons, 15.6 %
      - Belts: 750 tons, 10.6 %
      - Armament: 47 tons, 0.7 %
      - Armour Deck: 278 tons, 3.9 %
      - Conning Tower: 25 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 2,297 tons, 32.5 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,069 tons, 29.3 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,094 tons, 15.5 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 361 tons, 5.1 %
      - Hull below water: 30 tons
      - Hull above water: 30 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 160 tons
      - Above deck: 141 tons

Fittings
-15 t:  1912 Fire control (AD)
-25 t:  L/R wireless (AD)
-100 t:  Flag facilities (AD)
-24 t:  2x3 530mm torpedo carriages
-25 t:  Provisions for one armed floatplane
-25 t:  Night-fighting doodads
-84 t:  Weight reserve
-60 t:  Additional damage control equipment (BW/AW)

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     5,164 lbs / 2,343 Kg = 77.0 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 1.0 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
   Metacentric height 2.0 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 14.5 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.49
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.12

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.480 / 0.492
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.93 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 21.89 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 54
   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 %,  25.26 ft / 7.70 m,  20.34 ft / 6.20 m
      - Forward deck:   45.00 %,  20.34 ft / 6.20 m,  20.34 ft / 6.20 m
      - Aft deck:   20.00 %,  12.47 ft / 3.80 m,  12.47 ft / 3.80 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  12.47 ft / 3.80 m,  12.47 ft / 3.80 m
      - Average freeboard:      17.98 ft / 5.48 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 115.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 134.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 15,118 Square feet or 1,405 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 75 lbs/sq ft or 368 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.82
      - Longitudinal: 1.89
      - Overall: 0.90
   Caution: Hull subject to strain in open-sea
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room

[Jefgte]

...Plus 10 quick-firing guns should still make a mess of enemy torpedo-craft and find plenty of unarmored bits on enemy cruisers anyway.  Right?  Right...

Right  ;)

[Jefgte]

Displacement:
   5,974 t light; 6,210 t standard; 7,068 t normal; 7,755 t full load

Finally, for 1919, I am not a Fan of this type of ship (Atlanta / Dido).
I think 4 x 1500t DDs - 2T2x130 + 6TTx533 - 32kts is a better investment.

[The Rock Doctor]

Airstrip One, with a battlecruiser for scale/escort.

-As a reminder, the island is on the centreline, with dual flight decks to port and starboard.

-Yes, that is a "foot bridge" between forward and aft islands, elevated to allow aircraft to be passed underneath.

-Yes, there is an extra anchor hole forward.

-Elevators are at the ends of the flight deck, in theory. Pairs of them, in fact.

-But only one hanger level.

[Kaiser Kirk]

-Yes, that is a "foot bridge" between forward and aft islands, elevated to allow aircraft to be passed underneath.

Interesting.
I'm eying something like Glorious, but with two islands connected with a skyway - like the letter H.
I was surprised to find the Brits actually considered something like that early on.

[Kaiser Kirk]

Displacement:
   5,974 t light; 6,210 t standard; 7,068 t normal; 7,755 t full load

Finally, for 1919, I am not a Fan of this type of ship (Atlanta / Dido).
I think 4 x 1500t DDs - 2T2x130 + 6TTx533 - 32kts is a better investment.

The heavy all centerline twin light mounts on a large ship is an odd combo.
Even with my Bakr, specifically meant for a screening unit, I finally with with 165mm...and a heavier belt...and a heavier deck.
But not as much speed as it's a screening unit, not indep. ops.

Now, the Romans use 140mm on their cruisers, so 130mm isn't far behind,
but the Norse cruisers were using 155mm. 
Compared to the Norse 1915 Danae, 10 vs 6 barrels, basically the same  belt, same deck, and 1knot in speed, but 25% larger.
Jefgte's follow up the Geilo class is similar but more robust.

You can't dictate the range reliably, so you will have to rely on a soft kill before they get a hard kill.
That's not to horrible as neither of you will be penetrating belts over ~9000m, but at that range the hit % is high.
Shell spotting range comes into it - as fire control computers get better, splash ranging becomes less important, but if you're counting on lots of hits, you need it.

So your 'fighting range' will be ~10-12,000m, and you'll have to work to keep him at that range with only 1 knot advantage, but if he veers away slightly you'll quickly
loose hit %, while if you both veer in, you'll close to where he can score some real damage.

However, that all presumes a daytime combat in decent visibility with freedom to maneuver. Further, you assume you can turn sufficiently to bring the rear 3 mounts to bear.

Me, I went with the larger gun in fewer mounts. Of course I was also sacrificing top speed...and Jefgte is now churning out even more 191mm ships, argh.

*Shell splashes - gun research - historically there seems to have been a range at which shell splashes could be used, varying by size. For simplicity I put down 1000m per 1 CM bore. The reality seems to be more like 1100-1200 per 1CM, but it's close. The drop off in SeeKrieg is 5-10%, which is not much close in, but at range matters alot.

[The Rock Doctor]

I'm blaming Jef for this one.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1921

Displacement:
   27,840 t light; 29,254 t standard; 31,143 t normal; 32,653 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (572.81 ft / 557.74 ft) x 104.99 ft (Bulges 111.55 ft) x (29.20 / 30.43 ft)
   (174.59 m / 170.00 m) x 32.00 m (Bulges 34.00 m)  x (8.90 / 9.28 m)

Armament:
      6 - 15.75" / 400 mm 45.0 cal guns - 1,984.16lbs / 900.00kg shells, 100 per gun
     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1921 Model
     2 x 3-gun mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      12 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.61lbs / 30.67kg shells, 250 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1921 Model
     4 x 2-gun mounts on sides, evenly spread
     2 x 2-gun mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      2 raised mounts
      4 - 3.94" / 100 mm 45.0 cal guns - 30.77lbs / 13.96kg shells, 250 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1921 Model
     4 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      8 - 0.39" / 10.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.03lbs / 0.01kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1921 Model
     8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      8 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 12,840 lbs / 5,824 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13.8" / 350 mm   362.53 ft / 110.50 m   16.37 ft / 4.99 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
      1.57" / 40 mm   362.53 ft / 110.50 m   28.35 ft / 8.64 m
   Beam between torpedo bulkheads 85.30 ft / 26.00 m

   - Hull Bulges:
      0.39" / 10 mm   362.53 ft / 110.50 m   28.35 ft / 8.64 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   15.7" / 400 mm   7.87" / 200 mm      13.8" / 350 mm
   2nd:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.79" / 20 mm      1.97" / 50 mm
   3rd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.39" / 10 mm            -

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
   For and Aft decks: 5.51" / 140 mm
   Forecastle: 3.94" / 100 mm  Quarter deck: 5.51" / 140 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 13.78" / 350 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 96,514 shp / 72,000 Kw = 26.59 kts
   Range 16,400nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3,399 tons

Complement:
   1,171 - 1,523

Cost:
   £6.680 million / $26.721 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 2,592 tons, 8.3 %
      - Guns: 2,592 tons, 8.3 %
   Armour: 11,047 tons, 35.5 %
      - Belts: 3,687 tons, 11.8 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 599 tons, 1.9 %
      - Bulges: 150 tons, 0.4 %
      - Armament: 2,027 tons, 6.5 %
      - Armour Deck: 4,291 tons, 13.8 %
      - Conning Tower: 294 tons, 0.9 %
   Machinery: 3,323 tons, 10.7 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 10,212 tons, 32.8 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,303 tons, 10.6 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 665 tons, 2.1 %
      - On freeboard deck: 265 tons
      - Above deck: 400 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     46,750 lbs / 21,205 Kg = 23.9 x 15.7 " / 400 mm shells or 7.9 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.22
   Metacentric height 7.8 ft / 2.4 m
   Roll period: 16.8 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.40
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

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: 5.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 23.62 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 68
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 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 %,  27.89 ft / 8.50 m,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Aft deck:   35.00 %,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m,  22.97 ft / 7.00 m
      - Average freeboard:      23.36 ft / 7.12 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 85.8 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 160.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 42,827 Square feet or 3,979 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 191 lbs/sq ft or 931 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.91
      - Longitudinal: 2.32
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

[Jefgte]

Hmmm a pocket Rodney

;)

[The Rock Doctor]

I suppose I could add a bit of length and a bit of speed to her for less than 30,000 tonnes.

[The Rock Doctor]

Some wags in the design bureau were looking at the seaplane carrier Oriona and taking note of the utility of the taking-off ramp and two wheeled fighter planes as a defensive asset.

Sadly, of course, Oriona is far too slow to keep up with capital units that might desire friendly air cover.  If the fleet's going to have friendly fighters overhead, they have to launch from something fast.  Like a cruiser. 

The wags thus grabbed blueprints of the Warta-class cruiser, made a copy, and started wreaking dark and terrible magics upon it.  They got rid of "B" gun.  They trunked the exhaust uptakes into two larger funnels rather than three small ones.  They then offset the forward funnel (only) to starboard.  They then narrowed Level 3 of the forward superstructure, offset it to starboard as well, and merged it with the forward funnel to reduce air turbulence.

Then they got rid of the stuff between the funnels like the torpedo carriages and the scouting floatplane.  Instead, they smooshed a hanger atop the main deck from beside the forward funnel to just forward of the aft funnel.  A single, not-too-big hydraulic lift and (they reckon) four wheeled fighters will just fit in there, with the roof serving as the rear of an unarmored flight deck which passes to port of the superstructure and terminates where "B" gun used to be. 

In times of combat, the fighters would be launched to attack or scatter enemy spotters or recce aircraft/airships, then ditched for pilot rescue.  In times of peace, the cruiser (and it is still considered a cruiser, just a weird one) would practice launching her complement toward friendly aerodromes ashore.

The pic shows the aviation cruiser above and the original Warta below.

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1921

Displacement:
   5,999 t light; 6,219 t standard; 7,068 t normal; 7,748 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (491.48 ft / 479.00 ft) x 48.23 ft x (22.31 / 23.88 ft)
   (149.80 m / 146.00 m) x 14.70 m  x (6.80 / 7.28 m)

Armament:
      8 - 5.12" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 67.61lbs / 30.67kg shells, 260 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1921 Model
     3 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, majority aft
      1 raised mount aft - superfiring
     1 x Twin mount on centreline, aft deck forward
      1 double raised mount aft
      2 - 1.97" / 50.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3.85lbs / 1.74kg shells, 150 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1921 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, 4,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1921 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 549 lbs / 249 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   3.15" / 80 mm   380.58 ft / 116.00 m   15.75 ft / 4.80 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 122 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.98" / 25 mm      3.15" / 80 mm
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.20" / 5 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,
   Geared drive, 2 shafts, 65,683 shp / 49,000 Kw = 31.05 kts
   Range 18,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 1,529 tons

Complement:
   385 - 501

Cost:
   £1.473 million / $5.891 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 119 tons, 1.7 %
      - Guns: 119 tons, 1.7 %
   Armour: 1,088 tons, 15.4 %
      - Belts: 747 tons, 10.6 %
      - Armament: 38 tons, 0.5 %
      - Armour Deck: 278 tons, 3.9 %
      - Conning Tower: 25 tons, 0.4 %
   Machinery: 2,262 tons, 32.0 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,045 tons, 28.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,070 tons, 15.1 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 485 tons, 6.9 %
      - Hull below water: 30 tons
      - Hull above water: 30 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 235 tons
      - Above deck: 190 tons

Fittings:
-12 t:  Current-gen FC (AD)
-25 t:  L/R wireless (AD)
-100 t:  Air operations centre (AD)
-100 t:  4 wheeled fighters (split between AD and FD)
-25 t:  Night-fighting doodads (FD)
-163 t:  Weight reserve (3 t AD, else FD)
-60 t:  Additional damage control equipment (AW/BW)

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     5,446 lbs / 2,470 Kg = 81.2 x 5.1 " / 130 mm shells or 1.0 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
   Metacentric height 1.9 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 14.6 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.39
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.12

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.480 / 0.491
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.93 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 21.89 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
   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 %,  25.26 ft / 7.70 m,  20.34 ft / 6.20 m
      - Forward deck:   45.00 %,  20.34 ft / 6.20 m,  20.34 ft / 6.20 m
      - Aft deck:   20.00 %,  12.47 ft / 3.80 m,  12.47 ft / 3.80 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  12.47 ft / 3.80 m,  12.47 ft / 3.80 m
      - Average freeboard:      17.98 ft / 5.48 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 112.3 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 134.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 15,118 Square feet or 1,405 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 74 lbs/sq ft or 361 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.82
      - Longitudinal: 1.88
      - Overall: 0.90
   Caution: Hull subject to strain in open-sea
   Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room

[Desertfox]

Weird... I love it!

[The Rock Doctor]

I'll probably explore something that is full deck forward as well. 

Maybe also an unarmored hull built up as a proper CV rather than a "6 A/C so not a carrier" cruiser.

The lengthy delay in acquiring any kind of landing deck capability is a bit of a nuisance here.