The first example of the Torpedo Boat Destroyer (later shortened to Destroyer) type in the Imperial Navy. While a decent ship in her day, by 1910 the class is hopelessly obsolete and maintained to supplement the coastal defense responsibilities of the Navy.
Ten Ships:
--Pennant Number 1 to Number 10
QuoteA-Class, Roman Imperial Republic Destroyer laid down 1892
Displacement:
400 t light; 410 t standard; 455 t normal; 492 t full load
Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(200.13 ft / 196.85 ft) x 19.69 ft x (9.84 / 10.37 ft)
(61.00 m / 60.00 m) x 6.00 m x (3.00 / 3.16 m)
Armament:
1 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm 45.0 cal gun - 13.23lbs / 6.00kg shells, 90 per gun
Breech loading gun in deck mount, 1885 Model
1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck aft
4 - 1.77" / 45.0 mm 40.0 cal guns - 2.76lbs / 1.25kg shells, 150 per gun
Breech loading guns in deck mounts, 1885 Model
4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 24 lbs / 11 kg
Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.39" / 10 mm - -
2nd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -
Machinery:
Coal fired boilers, simple reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 2 shafts, 6,500 ihp / 4,849 Kw = 24.38 kts
Range 1,750nm at 10.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 81 tons (100% coal)
Caution: Delicate, lightweight machinery
Complement:
49 - 64
Cost:
£0.054 million / $0.215 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 4 tons, 0.9 %
- Guns: 4 tons, 0.9 %
Armour: 5 tons, 1.0 %
- Armament: 5 tons, 1.0 %
Machinery: 276 tons, 60.6 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 99 tons, 21.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 56 tons, 12.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 16 tons, 3.5 %
- On freeboard deck: 16 tons
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
89 lbs / 41 Kg = 6.9 x 3.0 " / 75 mm shells or 0.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.46
Metacentric height 0.8 ft / 0.3 m
Roll period: 9.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.07
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 0.95
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck,
a ram bow and a cruiser stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.418 / 0.428
Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 14.03 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 65 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
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 %, 8.20 ft / 2.50 m, 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
- Forward deck: 30.00 %, 8.20 ft / 2.50 m, 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
- Aft deck: 35.00 %, 8.20 ft / 2.50 m, 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
- Quarter deck: 15.00 %, 8.20 ft / 2.50 m, 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
- Average freeboard: 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
Ship tends to be wet forward
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 197.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 76.9 %
Waterplane Area: 2,412 Square feet or 224 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 18 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 20 lbs/sq ft or 98 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.50
- Longitudinal: 1.78
- Overall: 0.57
Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Cramped accommodation and workspace room
Poor seaboat, wet and uncomfortable, reduced performance in heavy weather
Misc Distribution
--On Deck (16t)
----6t 4x350mm Torpedos [Two single tube mounts per side]
----5t Improved spray protections for Torpedo tubes
----5t Construction Reserve.