Gunboats

[Desertfox]

NSS Solomon Sea

Solomon Sea class, New Switzerland Gunboat laid down 1908 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
   590 t light; 644 t standard; 710 t normal; 763 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   270.00 ft / 270.00 ft x 27.00 ft x 7.10 ft (normal load)
   82.30 m / 82.30 m x 8.23 m  x 2.16 m

Armament:
      2 - 8.00" / 203 mm guns in single mounts, 250.00lbs / 113.40kg shells, 1905 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on centreline, evenly spread
      4 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1905 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, all amidships
      4 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns in single mounts, 1.95lbs / 0.88kg shells, 1905 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      4 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1905 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 636 lbs / 289 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 105

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.00" / 25 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
   Coal and oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 1 shaft, 4,144 shp / 3,091 Kw = 21.00 kts
   Range 3,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 119 tons (50% coal)

Complement:
   68 - 89

Cost:
   £0.107 million / $0.428 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 81 tons, 11.4 %
   Armour: 98 tons, 13.8 %
      - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 10 tons, 1.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 85 tons, 11.9 %
      - Conning Tower: 3 tons, 0.5 %
   Machinery: 131 tons, 18.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 276 tons, 38.9 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 120 tons, 16.9 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 4 tons, 0.6 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     386 lbs / 175 Kg = 1.5 x 8.0 " / 203 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.38
   Metacentric height 1.2 ft / 0.4 m
   Roll period: 10.2 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.78
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.20

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0.480
   Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 16.43 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 58
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      14.00 ft / 4.27 m
      - Forecastle (31 %):   9.00 ft / 2.74 m
      - Mid (40 %):      9.00 ft / 2.74 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   7.00 ft / 2.13 m
      - Stern:      7.00 ft / 2.13 m
      - Average freeboard:   8.87 ft / 2.70 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 145.2 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 104.5 %
   Waterplane Area: 4,569 Square feet or 425 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 62 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 38 lbs/sq ft or 188 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.75
      - Longitudinal: 1.16
      - Overall: 0.78
   Caution: Hull subject to strain in open-sea
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily