Not-so-new GC ships

[The Rock Doctor]

This is for your out-of-character information only.  Operational security around this class of ship has been high, and their use carefully controlled to keep their nature concealed.   I have no particular reason to think any other nation would be aware of them.

These three ships are nominally from a large class of tramp freighters built by the dozen in various Colombian yards.  They are, however, somewhat different in that they've been modified for what the Armada describes as "Atypical Operations".  This decision was made in the aftermath of the Second Pacific War, during which Colombian observers became aware of situations in which so-called Q-ships could have been rather useful.

The 65 mm gun is a normal, unconcealed mount for self-defence.  Fittings for the other weapons are typically concealed as other things - lighting fixtures, etc - with the weapons and ammunition stored in a hidden but easily accessible compartments below decks.  These weapons are primarily intended for defence against boardings and "sweeping" personnel on the deck of a nearby ship (say, a nosy patrol boat); they are not intended to sink a warship.  The weapons are simmed as casemate mounts to reflect their concealed nature.

The torpedos are in pairs, under the forward and aft holds.  One tube of each pair fires to each side, for a two-tube salvo spaced around thirty metres apart. 

Twenty-four mines can be stored in two rails under the aft hold; these are launched to the sides of the ship, the rails being concealed by very carefully fitted hatches disguised as plating.

There are compartments to hide equipment and personnel (the latter for up to a day - not living quarters)

The holds themselves have false floors, and are typically filled with bulk cargo such as grain or iron ore pellets which would fill the hold and covering the hold's floor - concealing the fact that the holds aren't as deep as they ought to be.  They typically run routes to and from nations with less-than-perfect customs and inspections regimes. 



As de Espadas, IX-1, laid down 1900, refurbished 1909
Campanas des Infierno, IX-2, laid down 1901, refurbished 1909
Vuelves en Negro, IX-3, laid down 1902, refurbished 1909

As de Espadas class, Gran Colombian Q-Ship, laid down 1901, Refurbished 1909.

Displacement:
   1,799 t light; 1,851 t standard; 2,311 t normal; 2,680 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   239.50 ft / 229.66 ft x 55.77 ft x 11.48 ft (normal load)
   73.00 m / 70.00 m x 17.00 m  x 3.50 m

Armament:
      1 - 2.56" / 65.0 mm guns in single mounts, 8.38lbs / 3.80kg shells, 1901 Model
     Quick firing gun in deck mount
     on centreline, aft
      8 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns in single mounts, 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1901 Model
     Quick firing guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
                  4 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      8 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 1901 Model
     Machine guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 34 lbs / 15 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 200
   4 - 18.0" / 457 mm submerged torpedo tubes

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.98" / 25 mm         -               -
   2nd:   0.98" / 25 mm   0.98" / 25 mm      0.98" / 25 mm
   3rd:   0.39" / 10 mm         -               -

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 2,000 ihp / 1,492 Kw = 13.77 kts
   Range 8,000nm at 10.00 kts (Bunkerage = 829 tons)

Complement:
   166 - 216

Cost:
   £0.110 million / $0.438 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 4 tons, 0.2 %
   Armour: 9 tons, 0.4 %
      - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 9 tons, 0.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 308 tons, 13.3 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 733 tons, 31.7 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 512 tons, 22.1 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 746 tons, 32.3 %
   -623 t:  Cargo
   -50 t:  Accommodation for twenty passengers or "passengers"
   -20 t:  Secret compartments for hiding items and "passengers"
   -25 t:  Long-range wireless
   -24 t:  Twenty-four mines
   -4 t:  Four torpedoes
   

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     4,256 lbs / 1,931 Kg = 508.0 x 2.6 " / 65 mm shells or 1.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.32
   Metacentric height 3.4 ft / 1.0 m
   Roll period: 12.7 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.01
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle, rise aft of midbreak, low quarterdeck
   Block coefficient: 0.550
   Length to Beam Ratio: 4.12 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 15.15 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 48 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 35
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      21.00 ft / 6.40 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   21.00 ft / 6.40 m (13.12 ft / 4.00 m aft of break)
      - Mid (50 %):      13.12 ft / 4.00 m (21.00 ft / 6.40 m aft of break)
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   13.12 ft / 4.00 m (21.00 ft / 6.40 m before break)
      - Stern:      13.12 ft / 4.00 m
      - Average freeboard:   17.45 ft / 5.32 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 90.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 178.1 %
   Waterplane Area: 8,939 Square feet or 830 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 165 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 58 lbs/sq ft or 281 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.85
      - Longitudinal: 4.28
      - 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
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

[Desertfox]

Interesting names. 

*Orders a couple*

;D

[Sachmle]

Interesting names. 

*Orders a couple*

;D

Yeah..would be even better if all three were from the same band.

[The Rock Doctor]

Complain, complain...