Carrier Conversion

[TexanCowboy]

A carrier conversion of the ex-St-Louis. Cost is $.6 for the hangers+planes, plus $.1 for the fuel conversion ??? and $.77 and .31 BP, or $1.47 and .31 BP total. The planes will come out of the Air Force. And yes, I know the laydown date was 1902, but I needed 1918 so I could put the AA guns. I may buuld up to 3.

St.Louis, CSA Carrier Conversion laid down 1918 (Engine 1916)

Displacement:
   3,070 t light; 3,168 t standard; 3,467 t normal; 3,706 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   390.00 ft / 390.00 ft x 41.00 ft x 14.00 ft (normal load)
   118.87 m / 118.87 m x 12.50 m  x 4.27 m

Armament:
      2 - 3.50" / 88.9 mm guns in single mounts, 25.00lbs / 11.34kg shells, 1918 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
     2 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      4 - 3.50" / 88.9 mm guns in single mounts, 25.00lbs / 11.34kg shells, 1918 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     4 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      6 - 2.24" / 56.9 mm guns in single mounts, 6.00lbs / 2.72kg shells, 1918 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     6 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      8 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns in single mounts, 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1918 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     8 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
   Weight of broadside 190 lbs / 86 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 210

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   1.00" / 25 mm   390.00 ft / 118.87 m   6.00 ft / 1.83 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 154 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -
   2nd:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 0.50" / 13 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 12,103 ihp / 9,029 Kw = 22.10 kts
   Range 7,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 538 tons

Complement:
   225 - 293

Cost:
   £0.451 million / $1.805 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 21 tons, 0.6 %
   Armour: 195 tons, 5.6 %
      - Belts: 87 tons, 2.5 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 6 tons, 0.2 %
      - Armour Deck: 102 tons, 3.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   Machinery: 719 tons, 20.7 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,506 tons, 43.4 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 396 tons, 11.4 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 630 tons, 18.2 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     6,037 lbs / 2,738 Kg = 281.6 x 3.5 " / 89 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
   Metacentric height 1.4 ft / 0.4 m
   Roll period: 14.3 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.10
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle
   Block coefficient: 0.542
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.51 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.75 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 49 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 30
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -12.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      25.00 ft / 7.62 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   24.50 ft / 7.47 m (24.00 ft / 7.32 m aft of break)
      - Mid (50 %):      23.50 ft / 7.16 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   23.50 ft / 7.16 m
      - Stern:      23.50 ft / 7.16 m
      - Average freeboard:   23.82 ft / 7.26 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 92.6 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 221.4 %
   Waterplane Area: 11,076 Square feet or 1,029 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 143 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 55 lbs/sq ft or 268 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.80
      - Longitudinal: 7.51
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

400 tons- 16 planes- 6 fighter-scouts, 5 bombers, 5 torpedo bombers
200 tons- hull inefficenticies
25 tons- destroyer FC
5- Misc.

[maddox]

Compared to any otl carrier, conversion or purpose build, very short.

[TexanCowboy]

Using a refits right to increase the length by 20%(10% bow, 10% amidship), and increase the beam by 5%, I did so. (Sigh) But it adds another 1.6 BP and $1.6, making it $3.07 and 2.31 BP. Oh well. Maybe I'll scrap frigates to get the BP.

St.Louis, CSA Carrier Conversion laid down 1918 (Engine 1916)

Displacement:
   3,719 t light; 3,831 t standard; 4,195 t normal; 4,486 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   430.00 ft / 430.00 ft x 45.00 ft x 14.00 ft (normal load)
   131.06 m / 131.06 m x 13.72 m  x 4.27 m

Armament:
      2 - 3.50" / 88.9 mm guns in single mounts, 25.00lbs / 11.34kg shells, 1918 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
     2 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      4 - 3.50" / 88.9 mm guns in single mounts, 25.00lbs / 11.34kg shells, 1918 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     4 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      6 - 2.24" / 56.9 mm guns in single mounts, 6.00lbs / 2.72kg shells, 1918 Model
     Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     6 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      8 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm guns in single mounts, 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 1918 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     8 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
   Weight of broadside 190 lbs / 86 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 210

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   1.00" / 25 mm   280.00 ft / 85.34 m   6.00 ft / 1.83 m
   Ends:   Unarmoured
     Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -
   2nd:   0.50" / 13 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 0.50" / 13 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 15,426 ihp / 11,508 Kw = 23.00 kts
   Range 7,500nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 655 tons

Complement:
   259 - 338

Cost:
   £0.552 million / $2.208 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 21 tons, 0.5 %
   Armour: 222 tons, 5.3 %
      - Belts: 70 tons, 1.7 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
      - Armament: 6 tons, 0.1 %
      - Armour Deck: 124 tons, 3.0 %
      - Conning Tower: 22 tons, 0.5 %
   Machinery: 917 tons, 21.8 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,780 tons, 42.4 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 476 tons, 11.3 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 780 tons, 18.6 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     7,218 lbs / 3,274 Kg = 336.7 x 3.5 " / 89 mm shells or 1.2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
   Metacentric height 1.8 ft / 0.6 m
   Roll period: 14.0 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.07
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has raised forecastle
   Block coefficient: 0.542
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.56 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 20.74 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 48 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 30
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -12.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      25.00 ft / 7.62 m
      - Forecastle (20 %):   24.50 ft / 7.47 m (24.00 ft / 7.32 m aft of break)
      - Mid (50 %):      23.50 ft / 7.16 m
      - Quarterdeck (15 %):   23.50 ft / 7.16 m
      - Stern:      23.50 ft / 7.16 m
      - Average freeboard:   23.82 ft / 7.26 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 95.7 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 232.8 %
   Waterplane Area: 13,403 Square feet or 1,245 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 140 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 60 lbs/sq ft or 292 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.83
      - Longitudinal: 5.25
      - Overall: 1.00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

500 tons- 20 planes- 7 fighter-scouts, 7 bombers, 6 torpedo bombers
250 tons- hull inefficenticies
25 tons- destroyer FC
5- Misc.

[Walter]

I'd love to know how you plan to increase the ship's beam from 41 to 45 feet without bulging it...
... and from reading the construction rules:

The bow may be lengthened by up to 5% of overall length.  A new section may be added amidships, up to 5% of overall length.

So as far as I can see, it is not possible to increase the length by more than 10% (so the maximum overall length is 429 feet)...
... and it is not possible to increase the beam of the ship (unless bulges are used).

[maddox]

Exactly Walter.

[Walter]

It is still too short for a full length deck. On the other hand, no one has that tech yet, so we're dealing with the flying-off deck tech level, so that might work with that short length...

[ctwaterman]

Is this suposed to be a float plane tender or what.... because its certainly not going to be a real carrier.

Charles

[Walter]

As  I said, no one has the proper tech level yet, so it won't be a real carrier until the 1922 tech level is reearched. Personally, your suggestion as floatplane tender is in my eyes the better option right now.

[ctwaterman]

Im looking at a Civilian Merchant Hull built to a military Specs with some cranes, a work shop or two, some small boats and a couple of cranes.  It will be able to support many more aircraft then it can actually carry :)

Considering the availability rates for aircraft of this period seeing half the planes ready to fly on any given day would be an out and out miriacle.   Unless you curtailed operations for a few days to get maximum aircraft into the air.

Charles

[Guinness]

FYI: I believe you can leave the lay down date 1902 and just change the gun date to 1918 so they can be AA guns.

[maddox]

No problem changing deck mounts for more modern ones.

[TexanCowboy]

Ok. Bi-planes won't work? They have greater lifts at slower speeds.

[maddox]

There were biplanes that could take off on the speed of the ship itself, if it was going flank speed against the wind, but those are fragile, slow contraptions.

[TexanCowboy]

Well, its what I'm limited to now. And the RN still used them at Taranto to sink 3 battleships. I see this ship going the way of the Langley.

[maddox]

Big difference between a group of Stringbags/ Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber biplanes and a 1910 30 kts liftoff biplane.