Aztec Ships of the Mid Thirties, a Tale of Three Navies

[TacCovert4]

And finally for 1934 Consideration, a significant update of the Martinique type.  Compared to the Orion it's 20 fewer aircraft in the hangar at a savings of just over 6000t.  But it can be produced both faster and cheaper, which may allow for greater numbers of carriers. 

Martinique, Aztec Aircraft Carrier laid down 1934

Displacement:
   13,754 t light; 14,215 t standard; 15,462 t normal; 16,460 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
   (599.21 ft / 587.27 ft) x 68.90 ft x (23.88 / 25.11 ft)
   (182.64 m / 179.00 m) x 21.00 m  x (7.28 / 7.65 m)

Armament:
      12 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm 55.0 cal guns - 24.01lbs / 10.89kg shells, 400 per gun
     Dual purpose guns in deck mounts, 1934 Model
     6 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
      16 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 2.07lbs / 0.94kg shells, 4,000 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1934 Model
     4 x 4 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
      20 - 1.18" / 30.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 0.87lbs / 0.40kg shells, 1,500 per gun
     Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1934 Model
     20 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      20 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 339 lbs / 154 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   3.15" / 80 mm   405.22 ft / 123.51 m   9.97 ft / 3.04 m
   Ends:   1.97" / 50 mm   182.02 ft / 55.48 m   9.97 ft / 3.04 m
     Main Belt covers 106 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
      1.18" / 30 mm   405.22 ft / 123.51 m   22.05 ft / 6.72 m
   Beam between torpedo bulkheads 55.77 ft / 17.00 m

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   1.97" / 50 mm   1.18" / 30 mm            -
   2nd:   0.79" / 20 mm   0.79" / 20 mm      0.79" / 20 mm

   - Armoured deck - single deck:
   For and Aft decks: 2.36" / 60 mm
   Forecastle: 1.18" / 30 mm  Quarter deck: 1.57" / 40 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 1.97" / 50 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
   Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Geared drive, 4 shafts, 89,733 shp / 66,940 Kw = 30.00 kts
   Range 9,000nm at 14.00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2,245 tons

Complement:
   693 - 901

Cost:
   £4.252 million / $17.008 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 77 tons, 0.5 %
      - Guns: 77 tons, 0.5 %
   Armour: 2,305 tons, 14.9 %
      - Belts: 660 tons, 4.3 %
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 390 tons, 2.5 %
      - Armament: 63 tons, 0.4 %
      - Armour Deck: 1,166 tons, 7.5 %
      - Conning Tower: 26 tons, 0.2 %
   Machinery: 2,581 tons, 16.7 %
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,462 tons, 35.3 %
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,708 tons, 11.0 %
   Miscellaneous weights: 3,328 tons, 21.5 %
      - Hull below water: 1,600 tons
      - Hull above water: 1,600 tons
      - On freeboard deck: 60 tons
      - Above deck: 68 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     29,649 lbs / 13,449 Kg = 1,333.0 x 3.5 " / 90 mm shells or 3.7 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.26
   Metacentric height 4.4 ft / 1.3 m
   Roll period: 13.9 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.05
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck,
     a normal bow and a cruiser stern
   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.560 / 0.567
   Length to Beam Ratio: 8.52 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 24.23 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 35
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
            Fore end,    Aft end
      - Forecastle:   25.00 %,  32.81 ft / 10.00 m,  32.81 ft / 10.00 m
      - Forward deck:   30.00 %,  32.81 ft / 10.00 m,  32.81 ft / 10.00 m
      - Aft deck:   39.00 %,  32.81 ft / 10.00 m,  32.81 ft / 10.00 m
      - Quarter deck:   6.00 %,  32.81 ft / 10.00 m,  32.81 ft / 10.00 m
      - Average freeboard:      32.81 ft / 10.00 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 98.4 %
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 257.0 %
   Waterplane Area: 28,504 Square feet or 2,648 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 140 %
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 95 lbs/sq ft or 463 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0.85
      - Longitudinal: 4.28
      - 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

3040t - 32 Aircraft
25t - LR Radio
10t - Additional SR Radio (for air group control)
8t - 1930 FC
25t - NF Devices
10t - 2 x Catapult in Forward Flight Deck
50t - On Deck Firefighting Equipment
60t - In Hangar Firefighting Equipment
60t - Additional DC Pumps and Lockers

[Jefgte]

... Compared to the Orion it's 20 fewer aircraft in the hangar at a savings of just over 6000t.  But it can be produced both faster and cheaper, which may allow for greater numbers of carriers.

It's relevant not to put all the eggs in one basket.

[Kaiser Kirk]

The reports on wargames in this era seemed to think whomever struck the opposing carriers first would easily knock them out of action, and so have air superiority. So having several platforms gives better redundancy.

The +20 do make a decent size strike group though :)....only a light cruiser in cost...