New GC ships for 1915

[The Rock Doctor]

It's unfortunate I can't find much info on harbour depths for the main GC ports.

[The Rock Doctor]

Since medium ACs are the trendy discussion peice today, I present the armored cruiser Arquero.  Russia has kindly laid one down for Gran Colombia; a second will be commenced domestically just as soon as Gran Colombia Nerds finish the next generation of turbines.  They will replace the Furious class ACs in service.

The class is designed for battleline-scouting, commerce protection, and hit-and-run strikes against targets of opportunity.  Apart from reintroducing 275mm guns to the Armada, the primary new feature is the use of deck mounts exclusively for the secondaries; it is felt that the usual hull casemates would be too wet at 31 kts.



Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1913 (Engine 1916)

Displacement:
   17,812 t light; 18,554 t standard; 19,865 t normal; 20,913 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   707.25 ft / 702.10 ft x 75.46 ft x 26.25 ft (normal load)
   215.57 m / 214.00 m x 23.00 m  x 8.00 m

Armament:
      6 - 10.83" / 275 mm guns (3x2 guns), 661.39lbs / 300.00kg shells, 1913 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      12 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.97kg shells, 1913 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
      2 - 2.56" / 65.0 mm guns in single mounts, 8.38lbs / 3.80kg shells, 1913 Model
     Anti-airship guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      6 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1913 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 4,990 lbs / 2,263 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 120

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   7.87" / 200 mm   426.51 ft / 130.00 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
   Ends:   2.95" / 75 mm   275.56 ft / 83.99 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
   Upper:   2.95" / 75 mm   426.51 ft / 130.00 m   12.01 ft / 3.66 m (average height)
     Main Belt covers 93 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   9.06" / 230 mm   3.94" / 100 mm      7.87" / 200 mm
   2nd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -         2.95" / 75 mm
   4th:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -
   5th:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 1.97" / 50 mm, Conning tower: 9.06" / 230 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 108,000 shp / 80,568 Kw = 31.06 kts
   Range 12,000nm at 10.00 kts (Bunkerage = 2,359 tons)

Complement:
   836 - 1,087

Cost:
   £1.848 million / $7.391 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 604 tons, 3.0 %
   Armour: 5,278 tons, 26.6 %
      - Belts: 2,902 tons, 14.6 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 947 tons, 4.8 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,286 tons, 6.5 %
      - Conning Tower: 143 tons, 0.7 %
   Machinery: 4,024 tons, 20.3 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,503 tons, 37.8 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,053 tons, 10.3 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 404 tons, 2.0 %
   -250 t:  Fire control
   -79 t:  Weight reserve
   -50 t:  Flag facilities
   -25 t:  Wireless


Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     22,758 lbs / 10,323 Kg = 35.9 x 10.8 " / 275 mm shells or 2.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
   Metacentric height 3.9 ft / 1.2 m
   Roll period: 16.1 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.58
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.12

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.500
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.30 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 26.50 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -3.28 ft / -1.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      29.20 ft / 8.90 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   24.28 ft / 7.40 m
      - Mid (50 %):      24.28 ft / 7.40 m (16.40 ft / 5.00 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      - Stern:      16.40 ft / 5.00 m
      - Average freeboard:   20.73 ft / 6.32 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 91.5 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 161.2 %
   Waterplane Area: 35,299 Square feet or 3,279 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 137 lbs/sq ft or 671 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.98
      - Longitudinal: 1.17
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

[Guinness]

This feels like I'm shooting holes in this ship, which wasn't the intent, but accept my apologies in advance.

Hmmm.... Interesting. Ships such as these would likely make for a good counter for the CSA's likely 13,000 ton 10x7.5" midweight cruisers of the future.

Still, I wonder if the effort might better be spent on either more ACs of the Warrior type, but maybe with 1916 engines for more speed, or something in the sub 15,000 ton range with a larger number of smaller guns. You've got a reasonably modern 234mm gun design, as I understand it. The natural prey of this ship seem to be old-style 9.2"(ish) armed ACs, but either one of your existing BC designs or a fast new 9.2" armed AC ought to be able to handle one of the old 21 knot variety.

I also suspect that maybe the deck armor could afford to be a little thinner, unless she's specifically designed to take on a 12" armed opponent.

[The Rock Doctor]

Fear not, the 200mm belt is proof against your shooting.  And since I'm on that topic, I thought the deck was reasonable if she's potentially fighting ships with 9-10-11 inch guns. 

I contemplated the size question as well, and did consider smaller ACs with 234mm as you suggested.  But, compared to the ~13 - 14,000 t ships I was producing, it just seemed sensible to scale up to something sturdier.  I figure I can afford the extra size.

(Truth be told, though, if I had a modern 194mm gun, I'd be building small ACs with those.  But I designed a 234 instead, and none of my usual suppliers have anything similar and modern.  So it's not happening for a while yet.)

Agree with you about an improved Warrior type, though, so you can look forward to seeing Avenger laid down in the not-so-distant future.

[Guinness]

Looks in artillery list...

Yup, I've got a 190mm gun. I suppose the CSA could be persuaded to sell, for a price. :)

[The Rock Doctor]

I dunno...if I gave you Cuba, it'd take a long time for you to manufacture an appropriate number of guns.

[Guinness]

If you gave me cuba, I'd dedicate all my BP to the task for quite a long time.

[The Rock Doctor]

That so?

[Sachmle]

Oh..hey! WTF here..GC isn't supposed to play nice w/ CSA.. ???

[The Rock Doctor]

Hey, if he gave me enough munitions for it, I could just march in and reclaim it.

Besides, it's an alternate fiction law that if there's a CSA, it must own Cuba.  Can't have GC breaking the law, now, can we?

[Sachmle]

No never.  ;)

[The Rock Doctor]

The Avenger will round out the Armada's intended six-strong armored cruiser force.  She is improved on the Warrior class in all respects - heavier main battery, heavier armor scheme, faster. 

Built and operated by the Jamaican contingent, she will be the largest warship ever built there.  The Armada views her as the largest armored cruiser that can be constructed without resorting to longer slipways - anything heavier will require a wider beam or deeper draught, which is not conducive to high speed and decent seakeeping.



Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1912 (Engine 1916)

Displacement:
   30,463 t light; 31,812 t standard; 33,597 t normal; 35,024 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   721.86 ft / 716.54 ft x 101.05 ft x 29.53 ft (normal load)
   220.02 m / 218.40 m x 30.80 m  x 9.00 m

Armament:
      8 - 13.78" / 350 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1,322.77lbs / 600.00kg shells, 1912 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      12 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.97kg shells, 1912 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, all forward
     12 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      4 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.98kg shells, 1912 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
      2 - 2.56" / 65.0 mm guns in single mounts, 8.38lbs / 3.80kg shells, 1912 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      6 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1912 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 11,939 lbs / 5,415 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   13.0" / 330 mm   465.88 ft / 142.00 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
   Ends:   3.94" / 100 mm   250.62 ft / 76.39 m   13.12 ft / 4.00 m
   Upper:   3.94" / 100 mm   465.88 ft / 142.00 m   8.01 ft / 2.44 m
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
      1.57" / 40 mm   465.88 ft / 142.00 m   24.08 ft / 7.34 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   13.0" / 330 mm   7.87" / 200 mm      13.0" / 330 mm
   2nd:   3.94" / 100 mm         -         5.91" / 150 mm
   3rd:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -
   4th:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -
   5th:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 3.15" / 80 mm, Conning tower: 12.99" / 330 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 4 shafts, 112,000 shp / 83,552 Kw = 28.52 kts
   Range 12,000nm at 10.00 kts (Bunkerage = 3,212 tons)

Complement:
   1,240 - 1,613

Cost:
   £2.892 million / $11.567 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 1,478 tons, 4.4 %
   Armour: 11,402 tons, 33.9 %
      - Belts: 4,538 tons, 13.5 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 654 tons, 1.9 %
      - Armament: 2,974 tons, 8.9 %
      - Armour Deck: 2,944 tons, 8.8 %
      - Conning Tower: 291 tons, 0.9 %
   Machinery: 4,173 tons, 12.4 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,915 tons, 38.4 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,134 tons, 9.3 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 495 tons, 1.5 %
-250 t:  Fire control
-120 t:  Weight reserve
-50 t:  Flag facilities
-50 t:  Extra pumps and damage control equipment
-25 t:  Wireless

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     35,733 lbs / 16,208 Kg = 27.3 x 13.8 " / 350 mm shells or 4.9 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
   Metacentric height 5.9 ft / 1.8 m
   Roll period: 17.4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.53
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.12

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   Block coefficient: 0.550
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7.09 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 26.77 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: -3.28 ft / -1.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      30.18 ft / 9.20 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   25.92 ft / 7.90 m
      - Mid (50 %):      25.92 ft / 7.90 m (18.04 ft / 5.50 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   18.04 ft / 5.50 m
      - Stern:      18.04 ft / 5.50 m
      - Average freeboard:   22.32 ft / 6.80 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 94.0 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 168.3 %
   Waterplane Area: 50,531 Square feet or 4,695 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 183 lbs/sq ft or 892 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.97
      - Longitudinal: 1.28
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

[Borys]

Not bad, though I'd not build anything with stability under 1,10.
Borys

[Jefgte]

Armor 34%...
That is a fast battleship.

Good glle concept

How many to built?

;)

[The Rock Doctor]

Just one, for now.