The F/CA/1914 cruiser design

The F/CA/1914 design is trying to be pretty conservative, while having adequate performance. The result is pretty reasonable. The design does depend on lightweight machinery, but otherwise is not pushing the limits. The main armament is 9-7.6in guns while the secondary armament is 8-5.5in QF guns. There is a limited AA armament, suitable for the date. This is the Springsharp report:

F/CA/1914, France Cruiser laid down 1914 (Engine 1918)

Displacement:
 8,974 t light; 9,341 t standard; 10,200 t normal; 10,887 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 578.42 ft / 575.00 ft x 59.00 ft x 18.00 ft (normal load)
 176.30 m / 175.26 m x 17.98 m  x 5.49 m

Armament:
      9 - 7.68" / 195 mm guns in single mounts, 226.24lbs / 102.62kg shells, 1914 Model
   Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts
      8 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.98kg shells, 1914 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships
      2 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns in single mounts, 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1914 Model
   Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts 
   on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
      8 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns in single mounts, 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1914 Model
   Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts 
   on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 2,776 lbs / 1,259 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: 3.00" / 76 mm 175.00 ft / 53.34 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
   Main Belt covers 107 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 60,831 shp / 45,380 Kw = 29.00 kts
 Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,547 tons

Complement:
 506 - 659

Cost:
 £1.162 million / $4.647 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 347 tons, 3.4 %
 Armour: 2,475 tons, 24.3 %
    - Belts: 990 tons, 9.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 252 tons, 2.5 %
    - Armament: 289 tons, 2.8 %
    - Armour Deck: 905 tons, 8.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 41 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 2,194 tons, 21.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,957 tons, 38.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,226 tons, 12.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   13,810 lbs / 6,264 Kg = 61.0 x 7.7 " / 195 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.21
 Metacentric height 3.2 ft / 1.0 m
 Roll period: 13.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 57 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.70
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.14

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.585
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.75 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 23.98 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Mid (67 %):  22.00 ft / 6.71 m (14.00 ft / 4.27 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Stern:  14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Average freeboard: 19.76 ft / 6.02 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 144.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 182.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 24,458 Square feet or 2,272 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 105 lbs/sq ft or 511 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.98
  - Longitudinal: 1.14
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent