Protected and Light Cruisers

[The Rock Doctor]

Definition: 

Cruisers with deck/hoist-served guns of 152mm and below; protective deck +/- belt armor

Nomenclature

Initially, named for Belgian provinces

[The Rock Doctor]

Antwerp Class Protected Cruisers

Initial class of protected cruisers, built in the United Kingdom with Belgian design input.  These are the largest ships of the Marine Royale.  Miscellaneous weight of 47 t probably includes both command facilities and an actual weight reserve - some of which will go to wireless at the appropriate time.

The designed range - 7,000 nm - allows for an uninterupted cruise between Belgium and CFS, with a reserve for high-speed activity.  It'll be the standard for ocean-going vessels for a bit.

Antwerp, laid down 1898
Oost-Vlaanderen, laid down 1898

Protected Cruiser, laid down 1898

Displacement:
   2,562 t light; 2,667 t standard; 3,173 t normal; 3,578 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (390.42 ft / 387.14 ft) x 42.65 ft x (13.45 / 14.74 ft)
   (119.00 m / 118.00 m) x 13.00 m  x (4.10 / 4.49 m)

Armament:
      8 - 4.02" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.65lbs / 14.81kg shells, 250 per gun
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts, 1898 Model
     2 x Single mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
     6 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 5.71lbs / 2.59kg shells, 350 per gun
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1898 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      4 - 0.31" / 8.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.02lbs / 0.01kg shells, 15,000 per gun
     Machine guns in deck mounts, 1898 Model
     4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 284 lbs / 129 kg
      Main Torpedoes
      2 - 16.0" / 406 mm, 13.12 ft / 4.00 m torpedoes - 0.363 t each, 0.725 t total
   In 2 sets of deck mounted carriage/fixed tubes

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   0.79" / 20 mm            -
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm         -               -

   - Protected deck - single deck:
   For and Aft decks: 1.97" / 50 mm
   Forecastle: 1.18" / 30 mm  Quarter deck: 1.18" / 30 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 3.94" / 100 mm, Aft 3.94" / 100 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 6,000 ihp / 4,476 Kw = 18.65 kts
   Range 7,000nm at 10.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 911 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   210 - 274

Cost:
   £0.239 million / $0.956 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 47 tons, 1.5 %
      - Guns: 46 tons, 1.4 %
      - Weapons: 1 tons, 0.0 %
   Armour: 463 tons, 14.6 %
      - Armament: 52 tons, 1.7 %
      - Armour Deck: 374 tons, 11.8 %
      - Conning Towers: 37 tons, 1.2 %
   Machinery: 968 tons, 30.5 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,038 tons, 32.7 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 611 tons, 19.3 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 47 tons, 1.5 %
      - Hull above water: 47 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     4,223 lbs / 1,916 Kg = 130.4 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 3.3 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.55
   Metacentric height 2.9 ft / 0.9 m
   Roll period: 10.5 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.08
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.515
   Length to Beam Ratio: 9.08 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 19.68 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 39 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 35
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -5.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 3.28 ft / 1.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   20.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Forward deck:   20.00 %,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m,  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
      - Aft deck:   45.00 %,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m
      - Quarter deck:   15.00 %,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m,  11.81 ft / 3.60 m
      - Average freeboard:      14.96 ft / 4.56 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 106.0 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 141.6 %
   Waterplane Area: 11,001 Square feet or 1,022 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 123 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 59 lbs/sq ft or 290 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.94
      - Longitudinal: 1.59
      - Overall: 1.00
   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
   Excellent accommodation and workspace room
   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
   Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather