Today is the 90th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Jutland (31 May-1June 1916)

I only now realized that today is a big anniversary: the 90th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Jutland. The battle is significant as the only large bettle between surface ships only in the 20th Century. Airpower was present, but was not a factor in the outcome. No submarines were present, either. The battle was decided with guns and torpedoes fired from surface ships. While the German losses were less, the strategic significance was the German fleet never seriously considered facing the superior British fleet. Germany, like France, considered itself primarily as a military power, so the Navy was never built up enough to be competitive. The British feared in 1908 and 1909 that if they continued to build at a slow pace, the Germans could match them. The result was the 1909 building program, where they built the Colossus, Hercules, Lion, Princess Royal, Orion, Monarch, Thunderer, and Conqueror, eight battleships and battlecruisers, most with 13.5in guns.

Ger/BB/1905 Flush Decked

The specification for the Ger/BB/1905 flush-decked battleship design gives dimensions, power, weights, and armour thickness, so I was able to make the design very close to what was intended. The power specified actually produces 20.5 knots, not 19 knots, so that is a bonus. This is the design that inspired my graphic on Dreadnought Cruisers blog. The concept was to have a flush-decked battleship that was based on the Nassau, but was of a more modern configuration. This is the Sprinsharp report:

Ger/BB/1905, Germany Battleship laid down 1905 (Engine 1917)

Displacement:
 17,391 t light; 18,165 t standard; 20,000 t normal; 21,468 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 492.00 ft / 490.00 ft x 90.00 ft x 28.00 ft (normal load)
 149.96 m / 149.35 m x 27.43 m  x 8.53 m

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm guns (4x2 guns), 864.00lbs / 391.90kg shells, 1905 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1905 Model
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts 
   on side, all amidships
 Weight of broadside 8,208 lbs / 3,723 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 295.00 ft / 89.92 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 93 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  4.00" / 102 mm 295.00 ft / 89.92 m 28.00 ft / 8.53 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 2nd: 6.00" / 152 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  6.00" / 152 mm

   - Armour deck: 4.00" / 102 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 26,280 shp / 19,605 Kw = 20.50 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,303 tons

Complement:
 840 - 1,093

Cost:
 £1.605 million / $6.422 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,026 tons, 5.1 %
 Armour: 8,472 tons, 42.4 %
    - Belts: 2,731 tons, 13.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,222 tons, 6.1 %
    - Armament: 2,014 tons, 10.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,314 tons, 11.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 190 tons, 1.0 %
 Machinery: 963 tons, 4.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,930 tons, 34.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,609 tons, 13.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   34,814 lbs / 15,791 Kg = 40.3 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 8.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
 Metacentric height 5.1 ft / 1.6 m
 Roll period: 16.7 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 77 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.55
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.54

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.567
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.44 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 22.14 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 49 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Mid (50 %):  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Stern:  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard: 18.48 ft / 5.63 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 70.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 127.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 31,269 Square feet or 2,905 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 159 lbs/sq ft or 776 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.92
  - Longitudinal: 2.14
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 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

The Ger/CB/1915 lives up to expectations

I am sure that the intent for the Ger/CB/1915, when I designed it, in the early 1970's, was to achieve a high speed. The main armament is grouped forward and the armoured citadel is short. The one deviation is that I am sure that the originally envisioned displacement was much lower than 40,455 tons standard. The armament is 6-16.5in BLR and 12-6in QF guns. The armour basis is 9in with a 3in deck and torpedo bulkhead. The speed is a nice 36 knots. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/CB/1915, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1915 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
 38,850 t light; 40,455 t standard; 42,750 t normal; 44,586 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 901.73 ft / 900.00 ft x 100.00 ft x 30.00 ft (normal load)
 274.85 m / 274.32 m x 30.48 m  x 9.14 m

Armament:
      6 - 16.50" / 419 mm guns (2x3 guns), 2,246.06lbs / 1,018.80kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (4x3 guns), 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all aft
 Weight of broadside 14,772 lbs / 6,701 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 420.00 ft / 128.02 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 72 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  3.00" / 76 mm 420.00 ft / 128.02 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  9.00" / 229 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 9.00" / 229 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 292,831 shp / 218,452 Kw = 36.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,132 tons

Complement:
 1,486 - 1,932

Cost:
 £5.887 million / $23.547 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,847 tons, 4.3 %
 Armour: 10,159 tons, 23.8 %
    - Belts: 2,877 tons, 6.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,352 tons, 3.2 %
    - Armament: 2,194 tons, 5.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 3,500 tons, 8.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 237 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 8,116 tons, 19.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 18,728 tons, 43.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,900 tons, 9.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   52,051 lbs / 23,610 Kg = 23.2 x 16.5 " / 419 mm shells or 6.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
 Metacentric height 6.6 ft / 2.0 m
 Roll period: 16.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.70
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.554
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.00 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 30.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Mid (74 %):  28.00 ft / 8.53 m (20.00 ft / 6.10 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Stern:  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard: 26.32 ft / 8.02 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 117.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 215.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 63,056 Square feet or 5,858 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 203 lbs/sq ft or 993 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.98
  - Longitudinal: 1.21
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Another version of my friend Cliff's BBX design

The BBX design was intended for building, starting in 1915, in the wargame campaign that we played back in 1971. This was my friend Cliff's concept for a dominant battleship. In this page, in the Red Book, there is a pencil drawing that shows the citadel length and the intended power and speed. The speed and power calculations, in this case, were extremely accurate. I had calculated 179,000 SHP would produce a speed of 28.3 knots. I Springsharp, the speed of 28.4 knots is obtained using 178,280 SHP. Considering that the original was estimated using comparison ships, that was quite acceptable. The armament is 9-18in BLR and 24-5in QF guns. The armour basis is 18in, with an 8in deck and 8in torpedo protection. A range of 10,000nm at 15 knots was possible, due to the rather low protection weight. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/BB/1915 BBX, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
 64,590 t light; 67,422 t standard; 71,500 t normal; 74,762 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 801.62 ft / 800.00 ft x 135.00 ft x 37.00 ft (normal load)
 244.34 m / 243.84 m x 41.15 m  x 11.28 m

Armament:
      9 - 18.00" / 457 mm guns (3x3 guns), 2,916.00lbs / 1,322.68kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (12x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 27,744 lbs / 12,584 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 465.00 ft / 141.73 m 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 89 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  8.00" / 203 mm 465.00 ft / 141.73 m 36.00 ft / 10.97 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 12.0" / 305 mm  18.0" / 457 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 8.00" / 203 mm, Conning tower: 18.00" / 457 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 178,280 shp / 132,997 Kw = 28.40 kts
 Range 10,000nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 7,340 tons

Complement:
 2,186 - 2,842

Cost:
 £8.532 million / $34.127 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,468 tons, 4.9 %
 Armour: 30,992 tons, 43.3 %
    - Belts: 7,235 tons, 10.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 4,955 tons, 6.9 %
    - Armament: 6,154 tons, 8.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 11,980 tons, 16.8 %
    - Conning Tower: 668 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 4,941 tons, 6.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 25,189 tons, 35.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,910 tons, 9.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   114,464 lbs / 51,920 Kg = 39.3 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 27.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
 Metacentric height 10.7 ft / 3.3 m
 Roll period: 17.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.37
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.626
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.93 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  31.00 ft / 9.45 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Mid (50 %):  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Stern:  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Average freeboard: 23.64 ft / 7.21 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 69.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 162.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 80,943 Square feet or 7,520 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 238 lbs/sq ft or 1,164 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.97
  - Longitudinal: 1.40
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Even at 60,000 tons standard, the Ger/BB/1915 is still potent

The only modification that I made to the Ger/BB/1915 60,000 ton specification was to raise the speed and power, so that the ship can make 23 knots. The design does not have the extreme protection that is characteristic of the 72,000 ton version. The protection is still adequate, however. The draft is a much more reasonable 34ft. This design was part of a wargame campaign that ignored air power and submarines. The game was all about building surface fleets to fight Jutland-like battles. This version has 16-6in QF guns as the secondary armament, as all the guns were designed to be in inches, not metric measurement. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1915-Smaller, Germany Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
 57,389 t light; 60,062 t standard; 63,000 t normal; 65,350 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 752.24 ft / 750.00 ft x 130.00 ft x 34.00 ft (normal load)
 229.28 m / 228.60 m x 39.62 m  x 10.36 m

Armament:
      9 - 18.00" / 457 mm guns (3x3 guns), 2,916.00lbs / 1,322.68kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      16 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (8x2 guns), 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 27,972 lbs / 12,688 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 82 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  8.00" / 203 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 33.00 ft / 10.06 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 12.0" / 305 mm  18.0" / 457 mm
 2nd: 6.00" / 152 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  6.00" / 152 mm

   - Armour deck: 8.00" / 203 mm, Conning tower: 18.00" / 457 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 75,765 shp / 56,521 Kw = 23.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 5,288 tons

Complement:
 1,987 - 2,584

Cost:
 £7.621 million / $30.485 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,497 tons, 5.6 %
 Armour: 28,001 tons, 44.4 %
    - Belts: 5,736 tons, 9.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 3,907 tons, 6.2 %
    - Armament: 6,536 tons, 10.4 %
    - Armour Deck: 11,208 tons, 17.8 %
    - Conning Tower: 614 tons, 1.0 %
 Machinery: 2,100 tons, 3.3 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 23,642 tons, 37.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,611 tons, 8.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 150 tons, 0.2 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   115,976 lbs / 52,606 Kg = 39.8 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 28.8 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
 Metacentric height 9.2 ft / 2.8 m
 Roll period: 18.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 80 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.62
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.61

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.665
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.77 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.39 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Mid (50 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Stern:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard: 25.56 ft / 7.79 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 62.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 181.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 75,732 Square feet or 7,036 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 238 lbs/sq ft or 1,163 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.62
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 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

I am amazed at how accurate the 1971 concept for the Ger/BB/1915 design

The original specification for the Ger/BB/1915 design is pretty expansive, and has the extreme draft specified of 40 ft. I followed that specification as closely as possible, in terms of power and weights, except that I slightly reduced the draft. The power specified was 120,000 SHP, and that actually produces slightly more than 25 knots, not just the 20 knots envisioned, so that is good. The protection weight is so great that I had great difficulty in increasing the protection to that amount. The protection is really extreme, as 38,070 tons was specified on a 72,000 tons standard ship. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1915, Germany Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
 69,130 t light; 72,038 t standard; 75,300 t normal; 77,909 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 751.57 ft / 750.00 ft x 130.00 ft x 39.00 ft (normal load)
 229.08 m / 228.60 m x 39.62 m  x 11.89 m

Armament:
      9 - 18.00" / 457 mm guns (3 mounts), 2,916.00lbs / 1,322.68kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, majority forward, 2 raised guns - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (12x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 27,744 lbs / 12,584 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 22.0" / 559 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 82 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  10.0" / 254 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 39.00 ft / 11.89 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 22.0" / 559 mm 14.0" / 356 mm  22.0" / 559 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 10.00" / 254 mm, Conning tower: 22.00" / 559 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 120,277 shp / 89,727 Kw = 25.20 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 5,871 tons

Complement:
 2,272 - 2,954

Cost:
 £8.435 million / $33.742 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,468 tons, 4.6 %
 Armour: 37,997 tons, 50.5 %
    - Belts: 9,500 tons, 12.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 5,772 tons, 7.7 %
    - Armament: 7,511 tons, 10.0 %
    - Armour Deck: 14,368 tons, 19.1 %
    - Conning Tower: 845 tons, 1.1 %
 Machinery: 3,334 tons, 4.4 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 24,182 tons, 32.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,170 tons, 8.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 150 tons, 0.2 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   138,171 lbs / 62,673 Kg = 47.4 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 37.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
 Metacentric height 9.0 ft / 2.7 m
 Roll period: 18.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 69 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.52
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.38

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.693
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.77 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.39 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Mid (50 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Stern:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard: 25.40 ft / 7.74 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 58.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 162.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 77,667 Square feet or 7,216 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 232 lbs/sq ft or 1,135 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.68
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

I tried to reproduce the British Abdiel class minelayer in Springsharp

I have long liked the British fast minelayers of the Abdiel class. I thought that I would try to reproduce that design in Springsharp. The ship is 415ft x 40ft x 14.5ft and is 2,650 tons standard. The designed speed is 39.75 knots at 72,000 SHP. The armament is 6-4in and 4-2pdr guns. The ship is intended to carry as many as 150 mines. With Springsharp, using the lightest machinery possible, I was only able to achieve 36 knots, without making any radical changes:

Abdiel class, Great Britain Cruiser Minelayer laid down 1939 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 2,591 t light; 2,667 t standard; 2,950 t normal; 3,176 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 416.10 ft / 415.00 ft x 40.00 ft x 14.00 ft (normal load)
 126.83 m / 126.49 m x 12.19 m  x 4.27 m

Armament:
      6 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns (3x2 guns), 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1939 Model
   Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      4 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (1x4 guns), 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1939 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mount 
   on centreline aft, all raised guns - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 200 lbs / 91 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 150

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 73,894 shp / 55,125 Kw = 36.00 kts
 Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 509 tons

Complement:
 199 - 260

Cost:
 £1.936 million / $7.744 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 25 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 1,579 tons, 53.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 837 tons, 28.4 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 359 tons, 12.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 150 tons, 5.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   796 lbs / 361 Kg = 24.9 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.36
 Metacentric height 2.2 ft / 0.7 m
 Roll period: 11.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.22
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.20

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.444
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.38 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 20.37 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 68 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Mid (50 %):  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Stern:  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Average freeboard: 19.16 ft / 5.84 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 184.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 191.7 %
 Waterplane Area: 10,540 Square feet or 979 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 76 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 37 lbs/sq ft or 181 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.46
  - Longitudinal: 2.33
  - Overall: 0.54
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The Ger/BB/1916 Large can easily be made faster

I thought the Ger/BB/1916 Large design would be a more effective ship if the speed were higher. It really did not take very much to achieve that. I thought that 27 knots would be adequate. That was the target speed for the American WWII fast battleships North Carolina and Washington. About all that was required was more displacement. This is the revised Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1916 Large Mod.A Red Book, Germany Battleship laid down 1916 (Engine 1923)

Displacement:
 85,001 t light; 88,989 t standard; 92,534 t normal; 95,370 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 905.80 ft / 900.00 ft x 150.00 ft x 35.70 ft (normal load)
 276.09 m / 274.32 m x 45.72 m  x 10.88 m

Armament:
      10 - 21.00" / 533 mm guns (4 mounts), 4,630.50lbs / 2,100.36kg shells, 1916 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (12x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1916 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 47,805 lbs / 21,684 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 505.00 ft / 153.92 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 16.0" / 406 mm 505.00 ft / 153.92 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 86 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  8.00" / 203 mm 505.00 ft / 153.92 m 35.00 ft / 10.67 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  16.0" / 406 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 8.00" / 203 mm, Conning tower: 18.00" / 457 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 169,236 shp / 126,250 Kw = 27.00 kts
 Range 6,000nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,381 tons

Complement:
 2,652 - 3,448

Cost:
 £14.378 million / $57.511 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 5,976 tons, 6.5 %
 Armour: 36,615 tons, 39.6 %
    - Belts: 6,731 tons, 7.3 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 5,232 tons, 5.7 %
    - Armament: 8,243 tons, 8.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 15,616 tons, 16.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 793 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 5,656 tons, 6.1 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 36,753 tons, 39.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 7,534 tons, 8.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   135,108 lbs / 61,284 Kg = 29.2 x 21.0 " / 533 mm shells or 29.9 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 12.5 ft / 3.8 m
 Roll period: 17.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.51
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.21

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low forecastle
 Block coefficient: 0.672
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.00 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 30.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 48 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m (27.00 ft / 8.23 m aft of break)
    - Mid (50 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Stern:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard: 25.86 ft / 7.88 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 78.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 193.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 105,513 Square feet or 9,803 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 97 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 277 lbs/sq ft or 1,352 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.98
  - Longitudinal: 1.22
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

High speed

As an aside from the current theme, writing about the supply of Malta, elsewhere, prompted some thoughts about the value of speed. The rise of aviation removed much of the tactical value of extremely high speeds. Very high speed was still relevant, as it provided a means for inferior forces to escape and for superior forces to catch an enemy surface force.

The British Abdiel class minelayers were very useful for supplying Malta, as they had both good volume and weight carrying characteristics, but they also had the capability for high, sustained speeds. The designed 40 knot speed was probably not practical, especially when loaded, but they were probably good for a sustained speed of 36 knots. That made them good candidates for the Malta resupply mission, especially when the enemy was more active in the air.

In regions such as the Mediterranean Sea the real value was the strategic mobility offered by high speed. That was what made the small Italian cruisers, such as the Attilio Regolo, so valuable.

In the Pacific War, the United States came to desire large, fast destroyers to "run with the carriers". By late in the war, development was underway for the larger sort of destroyer that was commonplace, postwar. As catapult power increased, the need for speed was diminished, as aircraft carriers were able to launch aircraft at lower speeds. The volume and weight carrying capacity of the large destroyers was still valuable at a time when ships were starting to be loaded with electronic equipment.

The large battleship, tweaked

On the next page in the Red Book is a scale pencil drawing (Janes Fighting Ship style), weights, and other specifications. The plan for this design (the Ger/BB/1916) was to build two ships ("AA" and "AB") between August 1915 and December 1917. How such large ships would be built quickly is hard to say. The drawing gives the citadel length, so I adjusted that, increased the height of the torpedo bulkhead, which had been too short. I did not want to lower the range to the point that the oil fuel would be only 5,000 tons. Even at 6,000nm, SPringsharp requires more fuel than that. This is the revised Springsharp report:

      10 - 21.00" / 533 mm guns (4 mounts), 4,630.50lbs / 2,100.36kg shells, 1916 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (12x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1916 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 47,805 lbs / 21,684 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 505.00 ft / 153.92 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 16.0" / 406 mm 505.00 ft / 153.92 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 86 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  8.00" / 203 mm 505.00 ft / 153.92 m 35.00 ft / 10.67 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  16.0" / 406 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 8.00" / 203 mm, Conning tower: 18.00" / 457 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 84,849 shp / 63,298 Kw = 22.70 kts
 Range 6,000nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,162 tons

Complement:
 2,562 - 3,332

Cost:
 £13.507 million / $54.026 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 5,976 tons, 6.8 %
 Armour: 36,162 tons, 40.9 %
    - Belts: 6,724 tons, 7.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 5,232 tons, 5.9 %
    - Armament: 8,243 tons, 9.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 15,193 tons, 17.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 770 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 2,836 tons, 3.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 36,097 tons, 40.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 7,329 tons, 8.3 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   143,423 lbs / 65,056 Kg = 31.0 x 21.0 " / 533 mm shells or 35.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
 Metacentric height 12.1 ft / 3.7 m
 Roll period: 18.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 67 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.55
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.34

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low forecastle
 Block coefficient: 0.642
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.00 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 30.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 38 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m (27.00 ft / 8.23 m aft of break)
    - Mid (50 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Stern:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard: 25.86 ft / 7.88 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 70.3 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 194.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 102,658 Square feet or 9,537 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 99 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 278 lbs/sq ft or 1,359 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.97
  - Longitudinal: 1.27
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

My very large battleship design: Ger/BB/1916

This is another Ger/BB/1916 design, but this ship is very large. The length is relatively short at 900ft, but the displacement is substantial, intended to be 80,000 tons standard , as is the beam at 150ft. The armament is as large as I have used, being 10-21in BLR and 24-5in QF guns. The speed was low, intended to be 20 knots, but the power I specified, 85,000 SHP could produce 22.5 knots for a ship of this length and displacement. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1916 Red Book, Germany Battleship laid down 1916 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
 82,140 t light; 86,128 t standard; 92,500 t normal; 97,597 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 905.80 ft / 900.00 ft x 150.00 ft x 35.70 ft (normal load)
 276.09 m / 274.32 m x 45.72 m  x 10.88 m

Armament:
      10 - 21.00" / 533 mm guns (4 mounts), 4,630.50lbs / 2,100.36kg shells, 1916 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (12x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1916 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 47,805 lbs / 21,684 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 620.00 ft / 188.98 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 16.0" / 406 mm 620.00 ft / 188.98 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 106 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  7.00" / 178 mm 620.00 ft / 188.98 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  16.0" / 406 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 8.00" / 203 mm, Conning tower: 16.00" / 406 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 85,287 shp / 63,624 Kw = 22.50 kts
 Range 12,000nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 11,469 tons

Complement:
 2,651 - 3,447

Cost:
 £13.535 million / $54.140 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 5,976 tons, 6.5 %
 Armour: 37,074 tons, 40.1 %
    - Belts: 7,856 tons, 8.5 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 4,657 tons, 5.0 %
    - Armament: 8,243 tons, 8.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 15,612 tons, 16.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 705 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 2,692 tons, 2.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 36,399 tons, 39.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 10,360 tons, 11.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   158,522 lbs / 71,904 Kg = 34.2 x 21.0 " / 533 mm shells or 38.7 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 12.4 ft / 3.8 m
 Roll period: 17.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 68 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.54
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.35

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low forecastle
 Block coefficient: 0.672
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.00 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 30.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 38 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m (27.00 ft / 8.23 m aft of break)
    - Mid (50 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Stern:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard: 25.86 ft / 7.88 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 66.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 193.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 105,490 Square feet or 9,800 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 102 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 274 lbs/sq ft or 1,339 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.97
  - Longitudinal: 1.25
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

A particularly over-optimistic battleship design

The next page in the Red Book has the specifications for a battleship design that is widely over-optimistic:

50,000 tons  30 knots
9-18in, 20-5in
16in-18in Belt, 7in + 4in Decks, 2in A/T Prot.
Turrets: 12in face, 12in top, 8in sides and rear
16in Barbettes, 16in C.T., 16in Funnel Bases
850ft x 120ft x 30.4ft (Hull depth=60ft)
Hull weight basis=0.24 (L X B X D X HWB = hull weight in tons)
Cp=0.58  Cm=0.97
2.8 SHP/ton = 140,000 SHP
Hull        =14,720 tons
Aux. Mach.  = 4,670 tons
Armament    = 3,330 tons
Protection  =21,380 tons
Misc.       = 4,000 tons

I almost think that my friend Cliff had designed this ship, given its attempt to achieve a great deal on a small displacement. The turret protection also seems to reflect his ideas. If that is the case, then this might have been intended to be a British ship. In any case, I used the power that was planned, but the Springsharp design can only do 27.5 knots for that power. The draft is too shallow for adequate strength. To achieve adequate strength, the displacement needed to be much greater. This is the resulting Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1916 Red Book, Germany Enter ship type laid down 1916 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
 56,428 t light; 58,904 t standard; 62,100 t normal; 64,657 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 854.24 ft / 850.00 ft x 120.00 ft x 32.00 ft (normal load)
 260.37 m / 259.08 m x 36.58 m  x 9.75 m

Armament:
      9 - 18.00" / 457 mm guns (3x3 guns), 2,916.00lbs / 1,322.68kg shells, 1916 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      20 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (10x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1916 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 27,494 lbs / 12,471 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 550.00 ft / 167.64 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 16.0" / 406 mm 550.00 ft / 167.64 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 550.00 ft / 167.64 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  16.0" / 406 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 6.00" / 152 mm, Conning tower: 16.00" / 406 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 140,865 shp / 105,086 Kw = 27.50 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 5,754 tons

Complement:
 1,966 - 2,557

Cost:
 £8.974 million / $35.898 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,437 tons, 5.5 %
 Armour: 22,915 tons, 36.9 %
    - Belts: 6,916 tons, 11.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,180 tons, 1.9 %
    - Armament: 5,478 tons, 8.8 %
    - Armour Deck: 8,800 tons, 14.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 541 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 4,447 tons, 7.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 25,630 tons, 41.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,672 tons, 9.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   99,512 lbs / 45,138 Kg = 34.1 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 15.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
 Metacentric height 7.8 ft / 2.4 m
 Roll period: 18.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.80
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.42

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.666
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.08 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.15 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 48 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Mid (50 %):  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Stern:  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Average freeboard: 27.40 ft / 8.35 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 77.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 207.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 79,281 Square feet or 7,365 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 239 lbs/sq ft or 1,168 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.99
  - Longitudinal: 1.43
  - Overall: 1.03
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

The F/CA/1917 Mod.A from the Red Book drawing

The next page in the Red Book is a drawing of what I have been calling the F/CA/1917 Mod.A cruiser. This drawing has the advantage that it shows the armoured length of the citadel. I have raised the freeboard and increased the draft to see if I could obtain a higher speed, while still maintaining a modest protection. The armament is 9-11in guns in triple turrets, grouped forward, with 8-6in QF guns amidships, with shields. I have included a thin torpedo bulkhead. I also slightly increased the displacement. Springsharp rates the survivability higher than I would have expected:

F/CA/1917, France Heavy Cruiser laid down 1917 (Engine 1941)

Displacement:
 17,267 t light; 17,873 t standard; 19,200 t normal; 20,262 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 731.31 ft / 729.00 ft x 80.00 ft x 24.00 ft (normal load)
 222.90 m / 222.20 m x 24.38 m  x 7.32 m

Armament:
      6 - 11.00" / 279 mm guns (2x3 guns), 665.50lbs / 301.87kg shells, 1917 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      8 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1917 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships
 Weight of broadside 4,857 lbs / 2,203 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 84 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  0.75" / 19 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 23.00 ft / 7.01 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: 1.75" / 44 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 187,527 shp / 139,895 Kw = 36.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,388 tons

Complement:
 815 - 1,060

Cost:
 £3.288 million / $13.150 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 607 tons, 3.2 %
 Armour: 2,833 tons, 14.8 %
    - Belts: 691 tons, 3.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 255 tons, 1.3 %
    - Armament: 589 tons, 3.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,236 tons, 6.4 %
    - Conning Tower: 62 tons, 0.3 %
 Machinery: 4,956 tons, 25.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,871 tons, 46.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,933 tons, 10.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   22,191 lbs / 10,065 Kg = 33.3 x 11.0 " / 279 mm shells or 2.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
 Metacentric height 5.0 ft / 1.5 m
 Roll period: 15.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.54
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.08

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.480
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.11 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Mid (62 %):  28.00 ft / 8.53 m (20.00 ft / 6.10 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Stern:  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard: 25.36 ft / 7.73 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 143.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 224.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 38,169 Square feet or 3,546 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 109 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 150 lbs/sq ft or 730 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.55
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The GB/DL/1916 from the Red Book

I have this design for a super destroyer that I did back in the early 1970's. I suspect that it was mine, and not my friend Cliff's design. My concept for a super destroyer at the time included 6in QF guns, which is probably not such a great idea. Of course, the German Z-class from WWII used them (or at least 15cm QF guns). By using lightweight machinery, I was able to obtain an acceptable result. The pencil drawing only had dimensions and armament, so I had to see what speed could be achieved. By using light machinery, the ship can reach 36 knots, which seems sufficient. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/DL/1916, Great Britain Destroyer Leader laid down 1916 (Engine 1941)

Displacement:
 2,185 t light; 2,234 t standard; 2,450 t normal; 2,623 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 417.31 ft / 415.00 ft x 42.00 ft x 12.00 ft (normal load)
 127.20 m / 126.49 m x 12.80 m  x 3.66 m

Armament:
      4 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1916 Model
   Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline, evenly spread
   Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
 Weight of broadside 432 lbs / 196 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 0
 4 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 64,750 shp / 48,304 Kw = 36.00 kts
 Range 4,250nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 389 tons

Complement:
 173 - 226

Cost:
 £0.510 million / $2.042 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 54 tons, 2.2 %
 Machinery: 1,358 tons, 55.4 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 773 tons, 31.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 265 tons, 10.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   635 lbs / 288 Kg = 5.9 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.49
 Metacentric height 2.7 ft / 0.8 m
 Roll period: 10.7 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.30
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.410
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.88 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 20.37 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 67 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 1.00 ft / 0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Mid (32 %):  23.00 ft / 7.01 m (15.00 ft / 4.57 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Stern:  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Average freeboard: 17.72 ft / 5.40 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 194.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 164.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 10,794 Square feet or 1,003 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 64 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 38 lbs/sq ft or 188 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.46
  - Longitudinal: 1.70
  - Overall: 0.52
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Sorry for the formatting problems

I had fill of the problems with positioning in IE6 with the previous template, so I needed to make a change. I will probably have to tweak this one for a while, as well as adding in things that I omitted while making the changeover. This template already seems promising, as the content is displayed in a way so as to be visible. Of course, I need to check what it is like with Firefox. It was IE6 that drove the change. UPDATE: yes, things are pretty ragged, but at least I can see it in both IE6 and Firefox, in a way that is not too unacceptable. I am sorry to say that Dreadnought Cruisers is optimized for IE6, and tweaked so as to be not too bad in Firefox.

Another Ger/BB/1916 design

This design's reason for existence is to carry 12-16.5in guns at 28.5 knots. I had originally expected that achieving that speed might involve 200,000 SHP. although I am not sure why. The designed Standard displacement was 60,000 tons. I had to settle for slightly more. The original weights were:

Hull      =21,020 tons
Machinery = 6,700 tons
Armament  = 3,810 tons
Protection=23,670 tons
Misc      = 4,800 tons (8%)

I used the exact dimensions from my specification, and given that there was little guidance with respect to details, I filled those in:

Ger/BB/1916, Germany Battleship laid down 1916 (Engine 1923)

Displacement:
 58,178 t light; 60,913 t standard; 64,300 t normal; 67,010 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 924.24 ft / 920.00 ft x 120.00 ft x 32.80 ft (normal load)
 281.71 m / 280.42 m x 36.58 m  x 10.00 m

Armament:
      12 - 16.50" / 419 mm guns (4x3 guns), 2,246.06lbs / 1,018.80kg shells, 1916 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (8x2 guns), 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1916 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 28,681 lbs / 13,009 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 600.00 ft / 182.88 m 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  4.00" / 102 mm 600.00 ft / 182.88 m 31.00 ft / 9.45 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 10.0" / 254 mm  14.0" / 356 mm
 2nd: 6.00" / 152 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  6.00" / 152 mm

   - Armour deck: 5.00" / 127 mm, Conning tower: 14.00" / 356 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 157,061 shp / 117,167 Kw = 28.50 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,097 tons

Complement:
 2,018 - 2,624

Cost:
 £9.462 million / $37.850 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,585 tons, 5.6 %
 Armour: 23,270 tons, 36.2 %
    - Belts: 6,491 tons, 10.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 2,753 tons, 4.3 %
    - Armament: 5,922 tons, 9.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 7,620 tons, 11.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 484 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 5,249 tons, 8.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 26,074 tons, 40.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,122 tons, 9.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   92,432 lbs / 41,927 Kg = 41.2 x 16.5 " / 419 mm shells or 16.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
 Metacentric height 8.1 ft / 2.5 m
 Roll period: 17.7 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 61 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.69
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.23

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.621
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.67 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 30.33 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 46 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Mid (67 %):  26.00 ft / 7.92 m (18.00 ft / 5.49 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Stern:  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard: 23.84 ft / 7.27 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 82.2 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 184.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 82,377 Square feet or 7,653 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 103 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 237 lbs/sq ft or 1,158 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 1.01
  - Longitudinal: 0.99
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

I need to do some work on the formatting!

I have been trying to tweak the template so that it works acceptably in Internet Explorer 6.0, but so far I have been unsuccessful. I will need to hack on it some more, until the content in the body will move to the top in IE. It works in Firefox without much trouble, except that the image has problems.

I have this clunky looking design that works well

There is a pencil sketch and specifications for a German battleship ("Linienschiffe/Schlachtschiffe"), to be laid down about 1916. I am just guessing at the date, but the drawing is consistent with that date. This ship was trying to carry 9-16.5in guns at 25 knots. The power specified was 120,000 SHP, which was actually sufficient to drive the ship faster than 25 knots. I chose the armour basis to be 14in, as I was trying to achieve a protection weight of about 16,730 tons. I did pretty well, as in the Springsharp design, the protection is 16,698 tons. I had hoped for machinery weight of 2,670 tons in my paper design, but in Springsharp, it is heavier at 3,290 tons. In any case, the design works exceedingly well. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1916 Red Book, Germany Battleship laid down 1916 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
41,637 t light; 43,630 t standard; 46,000 t normal; 47,896 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
755.00 ft / 755.00 ft x 110.00 ft x 32.00 ft (normal load)
230.12 m / 230.12 m x 33.53 m  x 9.75 m

Armament:
     9 - 16.50" / 419 mm guns (3x3 guns), 2,246.06lbs / 1,018.80kg shells, 1916 Model
  Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
  on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
     10 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1916 Model
  Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
  on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 21,295 lbs / 9,659 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
  - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 425.00 ft / 129.54 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
Ends: Unarmoured
  Main Belt covers 87 % of normal length

  - Torpedo Bulkhead:
 4.00" / 102 mm 425.00 ft / 129.54 m 31.00 ft / 9.45 m

  - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 10.0" / 254 mm  14.0" / 356 mm
2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

  - Armour deck: 5.00" / 127 mm, Conning tower: 14.00" / 356 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 118,693 shp / 88,545 Kw = 27.50 kts
Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 4,266 tons

Complement:
1,569 - 2,041

Cost:
£6.797 million / $27.188 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,662 tons, 5.8 %
Armour: 16,698 tons, 36.3 %
   - Belts: 4,536 tons, 9.9 %
   - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,950 tons, 4.2 %
   - Armament: 4,176 tons, 9.1 %
   - Armour Deck: 5,649 tons, 12.3 %
   - Conning Tower: 387 tons, 0.8 %
Machinery: 3,290 tons, 7.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 18,987 tons, 41.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,364 tons, 9.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
  71,599 lbs / 32,477 Kg = 31.9 x 16.5 " / 419 mm shells or 12.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
Metacentric height 6.6 ft / 2.0 m
Roll period: 18.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 69 %
  - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.88
Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.37

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.606
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.86 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.48 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -1.00 degrees
Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
   - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
   - Forecastle (20 %): 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
   - Mid (67 %):  29.00 ft / 8.84 m (21.00 ft / 6.40 m aft of break)
   - Quarterdeck (15 %): 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
   - Stern:  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
   - Average freeboard: 26.68 ft / 8.13 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 81.7 %
 - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 198.6 %
Waterplane Area: 61,072 Square feet or 5,674 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 103 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 221 lbs/sq ft or 1,077 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
 - Cross-sectional: 0.94
 - Longitudinal: 1.64
 - Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

A further variant: the F/CA/1917 Mod.B

On the next page of the Red Book, the French fast cruiser is modified further with a heavier armament and lighter protection. The armament is 6-11in (35 ton) BLR and 8-6in QF (6 ton) guns. I followed the weights as closely as I could. The machinery is intended to be 30 SHP/ton and to have 191,400 SHP. The protection drops to only 1,207 tons, in the specification. I was not able to hit these numbers exactly, but I came close. By the time I adjusted the displacement to achieve an adequate strength and seakeeping, the SHP dropped, along with the machinery weight. This is the new Springsharp report:

F/CA/1917 Mod.A, France Heavy Cruiser laid down 1917 (Engine 1923)

Displacement:
 17,768 t light; 18,499 t standard; 19,900 t normal; 21,021 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 730.08 ft / 729.00 ft x 80.00 ft x 24.00 ft (normal load)
 222.53 m / 222.20 m x 24.38 m  x 7.32 m

Armament:
      6 - 11.00" / 279 mm guns (2x3 guns), 665.50lbs / 301.87kg shells, 1917 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      8 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1917 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all aft
 Weight of broadside 4,857 lbs / 2,203 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120
 6 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 78 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 176,586 shp / 131,733 Kw = 35.20 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,521 tons

Complement:
 837 - 1,089

Cost:
 £3.560 million / $14.241 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 607 tons, 3.1 %
 Armour: 2,292 tons, 11.5 %
    - Belts: 438 tons, 2.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 1,010 tons, 5.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 717 tons, 3.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 127 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 5,902 tons, 29.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,967 tons, 45.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,132 tons, 10.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   18,002 lbs / 8,165 Kg = 27.1 x 11.0 " / 279 mm shells or 1.8 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
 Metacentric height 4.9 ft / 1.5 m
 Roll period: 15.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.53
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.498
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.11 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  31.00 ft / 9.45 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Mid (73 %):  26.00 ft / 7.92 m (18.00 ft / 5.49 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Stern:  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard: 24.24 ft / 7.39 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 119.3 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 201.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 38,773 Square feet or 3,602 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 151 lbs/sq ft or 738 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.43
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The 729ft version of the F/CA/1917 (the Mod.A)

I thought I would try the 729ft version of the F/CA/1917 tonight. My goal was to be as close as possible to 180,000 SHP, and 35.5 knots took about that amount. The belt was lengthend, the beam expanded by 1ft and the draft to 23ft. The displacement grew to 18,400 tons normal. It becomes quite a potent ship (as if it wasn't, before). This is the Springsharp report:

F/CA/1917 Mod.A, France Heavy Cruiser laid down 1917 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
 16,610 t light; 17,225 t standard; 18,400 t normal; 19,340 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 730.05 ft / 729.00 ft x 76.00 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
 222.52 m / 222.20 m x 23.16 m  x 7.01 m

Armament:
      8 - 9.45" / 240 mm guns (2x4 guns), 421.80lbs / 191.32kg shells, 1917 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      8 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1917 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all aft
 Weight of broadside 3,630 lbs / 1,647 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120
 6 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 78 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 173,529 shp / 129,453 Kw = 35.50 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,115 tons

Complement:
 789 - 1,026

Cost:
 £2.974 million / $11.897 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 454 tons, 2.5 %
 Armour: 3,376 tons, 18.3 %
    - Belts: 1,032 tons, 5.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 852 tons, 4.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,373 tons, 7.5 %
    - Conning Tower: 120 tons, 0.7 %
 Machinery: 4,810 tons, 26.1 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,971 tons, 43.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,790 tons, 9.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   21,825 lbs / 9,900 Kg = 51.7 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 4.5 ft / 1.4 m
 Roll period: 15.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.45
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.505
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.59 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Mid (73 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m (17.00 ft / 5.18 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Stern:  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard: 23.24 ft / 7.08 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 103.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 194.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 37,096 Square feet or 3,446 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 140 lbs/sq ft or 684 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.97
  - Longitudinal: 1.31
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The F/CA/1917 heavy cruiser design

In some ways, this is similar to a pre-Dreadnought belted cruiser. The protect consists of a 2in deck (rather than the hoped-for 4in + 3in decks) and an 8in belt. The main armament is 8-9.4in guns in two quadruple turrets forward and the secondary armament is 8-4in QF guns in twin mounts aft. There are also 6-21in TT. The only real recognition of being French are the 24cm guns (9.44in). The drawing looks like a French cruiser of later vintage. I also had a larger version on the same page, which was 729ft long, instead of the 676ft length of this version. My planned names were battleship names, really:

Dunkerque
Strasbourg
Jean Bart
Richelieu
Gascogne
Clemenceau

I stayed as close as I could to the original specifications, but I had to increase the draft to 22ft, to achieve adequate seakeeping. This is the Springsharp report:

F/CA/1917, France Heavy Cruiser laid down 1917 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
 14,924 t light; 15,502 t standard; 16,600 t normal; 17,478 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 677.05 ft / 676.00 ft x 75.00 ft x 22.00 ft (normal load)
 206.36 m / 206.04 m x 22.86 m  x 6.71 m

Armament:
      8 - 9.45" / 240 mm guns (2x4 guns), 421.80lbs / 191.32kg shells, 1917 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      8 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1917 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all aft
 Weight of broadside 3,630 lbs / 1,647 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120
 6 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 340.00 ft / 103.63 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 77 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 143,591 shp / 107,119 Kw = 34.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,976 tons

Complement:
 730 - 950

Cost:
 £2.656 million / $10.623 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 454 tons, 2.7 %
 Armour: 3,196 tons, 19.3 %
    - Belts: 958 tons, 5.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 852 tons, 5.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,274 tons, 7.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 112 tons, 0.7 %
 Machinery: 3,980 tons, 24.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,294 tons, 43.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,676 tons, 10.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   21,636 lbs / 9,814 Kg = 51.3 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 2.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
 Metacentric height 4.3 ft / 1.3 m
 Roll period: 15.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.50
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.521
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.01 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 26.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Mid (73 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m (17.00 ft / 5.18 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Stern:  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard: 23.24 ft / 7.08 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 98.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 194.1 %
 Waterplane Area: 34,435 Square feet or 3,199 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 139 lbs/sq ft or 679 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.46
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

In our game in 1971, we decided to build large ships, starting in 1914

Things got pretty far out of hand, but we decided, in 1971, as part of the Emergency War programs in our game, to start building large ships. The 105,000 ton battleship design study was near the high end of the range. It is unclear if such a large ship could have been built that early, but I think it was possible. The ship would have not been as sound as if it were built at least 25 years later.

A 105,000 ton battleship design

The next page in the Red Book is a set of specifications, although incomplete, for a 105,000 ton German battleship. Germany is not mentioned, but I believe that there is, elsewhere, a sketch that mentions that fact. The armament is 9-19.75in guns, and I assumed a 24-5in QF gun secondary armament. The only other thing that I worked to achieve was the 280,000 SHP machinery. I had hoped for 31 knots for that power, but Springsharp gave me 30.7 knots, instead, which is quite good, given how I had estimated the power back in the early 1970's. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1917, Germany Battleship laid down 1917 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
    96,451 t light; 100,375 t standard; 105,000 t normal; 108,700 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
    1,089.24 ft / 1,085.00 ft x 140.00 ft x 34.00 ft (normal load)
    332.00 m / 330.71 m x 42.67 m  x 10.36 m

Armament:
      9 - 19.75" / 502 mm guns (3x3 guns), 3,851.87lbs / 1,747.18kg shells, 1917 Model
      Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
      on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (12x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1917 Model
      Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
      on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
    Weight of broadside 36,167 lbs / 16,405 kg
    Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:        Width (max)    Length (avg)        Height (avg)
    Main:    18.0" / 457 mm    650.00 ft / 198.12 m    17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    Ends:    Unarmoured
      Main Belt covers 92 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
        7.00" / 178 mm    650.00 ft / 198.12 m    33.00 ft / 10.06 m

   - Gun armour:    Face (max)    Other gunhouse (avg)    Barbette/hoist (max)
    Main:    18.0" / 457 mm    12.0" / 305 mm        18.0" / 457 mm
    2nd:    5.00" / 127 mm    5.00" / 127 mm        5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 7.00" / 178 mm, Conning tower: 18.00" / 457 mm

Machinery:
    Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
    Geared drive, 4 shafts, 280,433 shp / 209,203 Kw = 30.70 kts
    Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
    Bunker at max displacement = 8,326 tons

Complement:
    2,916 - 3,791

Cost:
    £15.296 million / $61.183 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
    Armament: 4,521 tons, 4.3 %
    Armour: 38,388 tons, 36.6 %
       - Belts: 8,702 tons, 8.3 %
       - Torpedo bulkhead: 5,556 tons, 5.3 %
       - Armament: 7,337 tons, 7.0 %
       - Armour Deck: 15,930 tons, 15.2 %
       - Conning Tower: 863 tons, 0.8 %
    Machinery: 8,852 tons, 8.4 %
    Hull, fittings & equipment: 44,690 tons, 42.6 %
    Fuel, ammunition & stores: 8,549 tons, 8.1 %
    Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
    Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
      182,463 lbs / 82,764 Kg = 47.4 x 19.8 " / 502 mm shells or 40.4 torpedoes
    Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.25
    Metacentric height 12.4 ft / 3.8 m
    Roll period: 16.7 seconds
    Steadiness    - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 58 %
            - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.43
    Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.16

Hull form characteristics:
    Hull has a flush deck
    Block coefficient: 0.712
    Length to Beam Ratio: 7.75 : 1
    'Natural speed' for length: 32.94 kts
    Power going to wave formation at top speed: 47 %
    Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
    Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
    Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
    Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
       - Stem:        32.00 ft / 9.75 m
       - Forecastle (20 %):    26.00 ft / 7.92 m
       - Mid (50 %):        26.00 ft / 7.92 m
       - Quarterdeck (15 %):    26.00 ft / 7.92 m
       - Stern:        26.00 ft / 7.92 m
       - Average freeboard:    26.48 ft / 8.07 m
    Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
    Space    - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 70.2 %
        - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 208.9 %
    Waterplane Area: 123,010 Square feet or 11,428 Square metres
    Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
    Structure weight / hull surface area: 285 lbs/sq ft or 1,391 Kg/sq metre
    Hull strength (Relative):
        - Cross-sectional: 1.19
        - Longitudinal: 0.94
        - Overall: 1.00
    Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
    Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

What I am calling the Ger/CB/1917 design

I have a bare drawing from the Red Book (one that I had skipped) without any specifications or designation, but it is obviously a battlecruiser, and from the context, I would expect that it is German. I took that as the starting point for a Springsharp design. The design is partly inspired by the Richelieu, as there are two turrets forward, although I am certain that they are triple 16.5in turrets. They could have been intended for 6-18in, but that seems excessive, given the shallow draft and rather low displacement. I have assumed that a high speed, such as 35 knots, was intended. They are rather like the US Lexingtons, except with only 6 main battery guns. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/CB/1917, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1917 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
 40,735 t light; 42,383 t standard; 45,000 t normal; 47,093 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 876.15 ft / 875.00 ft x 105.00 ft x 28.00 ft (normal load)
 267.05 m / 266.70 m x 32.00 m  x 8.53 m

Armament:
      6 - 16.50" / 419 mm guns (2x3 guns), 2,246.06lbs / 1,018.80kg shells, 1917 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      20 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (10x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1917 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 14,726 lbs / 6,680 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 79 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 26.00 ft / 7.92 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  9.00" / 229 mm
 2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 10.00" / 254 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 284,942 shp / 212,567 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,710 tons

Complement:
 1,544 - 2,008

Cost:
 £7.693 million / $30.772 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,841 tons, 4.1 %
 Armour: 10,196 tons, 22.7 %
    - Belts: 2,723 tons, 6.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 866 tons, 1.9 %
    - Armament: 2,562 tons, 5.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 3,772 tons, 8.4 %
    - Conning Tower: 273 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 8,994 tons, 20.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 19,704 tons, 43.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,265 tons, 9.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   56,995 lbs / 25,852 Kg = 25.4 x 16.5 " / 419 mm shells or 6.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 7.3 ft / 2.2 m
 Roll period: 16.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.62
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.612
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.33 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.58 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
    - Mid (64 %):  31.00 ft / 9.45 m (23.00 ft / 7.01 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Stern:  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Average freeboard: 28.28 ft / 8.62 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 118.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 238.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 67,968 Square feet or 6,314 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 205 lbs/sq ft or 1,001 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.98
  - Longitudinal: 1.27
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Now, I changed the armament to something more conventional

I couldn't bring myself to go for a Hood-style layout for the "Super Fast Battlecruiser". I tried 8-14in BLR on the centerline, with one turret forward, one in the center, and two aft with one superfiring. The length and displacement had to rise more to keep a 40-knot speed. The freeboard remains unchanged, but very high. In good battlecruiser fashion, this ship can catch any smaller ship in a seaway and run from any ship that could outgun it. I can tell that my expertise with Springsharp has improved. Gavin, the Red Admiral in Wesworld, showed me some things about how to better use Springsharp, and that greatly helped. I found the documentation, alone, to be inadequate. Actually seeing someone's design helped me understand what to do.This is the Springsharp report for this latest increment (GB/CB/1921 Super Fast Mod.B):

GB/CB/1921 Super Fast Mod.A  Red Book, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1921 (Engine 1945)

Displacement:
 34,791 t light; 36,107 t standard; 38,100 t normal; 39,695 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 896.66 ft / 894.00 ft x 97.00 ft x 31.00 ft (normal load)
 273.30 m / 272.49 m x 29.57 m  x 9.45 m

Armament:
      2 - 14.00" / 356 mm guns (1x2 guns), 1,372.00lbs / 622.33kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
   on centreline forward
      2 - 14.00" / 356 mm guns (1x2 guns), 1,372.00lbs / 622.33kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
   on centreline amidships
      4 - 14.00" / 356 mm guns (2x2 guns), 1,372.00lbs / 622.33kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all aft, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      12 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1921 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships
 Weight of broadside 11,726 lbs / 5,319 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 520.00 ft / 158.50 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 89 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 520.00 ft / 158.50 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  6.00" / 152 mm
 2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm
 3rd: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 6.00" / 152 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 405,739 shp / 302,681 Kw = 40.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,588 tons

Complement:
 1,363 - 1,772

Cost:
 £9.885 million / $39.539 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,466 tons, 3.8 %
 Armour: 5,478 tons, 14.4 %
    - Belts: 1,599 tons, 4.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 558 tons, 1.5 %
    - Armament: 1,045 tons, 2.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,130 tons, 5.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 146 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 10,246 tons, 26.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 17,601 tons, 46.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,309 tons, 8.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   35,207 lbs / 15,970 Kg = 25.7 x 14.0 " / 356 mm shells or 3.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
 Metacentric height 6.6 ft / 2.0 m
 Roll period: 15.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.64
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.496
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.22 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.90 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  38.00 ft / 11.58 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
    - Mid (40 %):  35.00 ft / 10.67 m (27.00 ft / 8.23 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Stern:  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Average freeboard: 30.44 ft / 9.28 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 145.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 237.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 57,571 Square feet or 5,349 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 101 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 195 lbs/sq ft or 952 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.59
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Forty knots and 4-17in guns

I wanted to see if the GB/CB/1921 Super Fast design could be extended to reach 40 knots. I was successful, by increasing the dimensions and displacement. I also took the liberty of replacing the 4in QF guns with the more substantial 5in guns. The result is a ship that can outrun smaller ships in a seaway, even if they somehow were nominally faster. Light weight machinery is essential, of course. I was able to coerce 39.6 SHP/ton from Springsharp. This is not unreasonable for a ship laid down in 1921, as much earlier ships had achieved 50 to 60 SHP/ton. Of course, the power output is very great. It could only fit into the ship if it is higher power output for size and weight. The armour plan is unchanged but the armament is now 4-17in BLR and 12-5in QF guns. The roll period is very good at 15.6 seconds. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/CB/1921 Super Fast Mod.A  Red Book, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1921 (Engine 1945)

Displacement:
 32,693 t light; 33,885 t standard; 35,800 t normal; 37,332 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 881.66 ft / 879.00 ft x 94.00 ft x 31.00 ft (normal load)
 268.73 m / 267.92 m x 28.65 m  x 9.45 m

Armament:
      4 - 17.00" / 432 mm guns (2x2 guns), 2,456.50lbs / 1,114.25kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
      12 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1921 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 10,576 lbs / 4,797 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 520.00 ft / 158.50 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 91 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 520.00 ft / 158.50 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  6.00" / 152 mm
 2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 6.00" / 152 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 390,931 shp / 291,635 Kw = 40.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,446 tons

Complement:
 1,300 - 1,691

Cost:
 £9.257 million / $37.029 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,322 tons, 3.7 %
 Armour: 5,435 tons, 15.2 %
    - Belts: 1,591 tons, 4.4 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 558 tons, 1.6 %
    - Armament: 1,128 tons, 3.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,017 tons, 5.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 140 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 9,872 tons, 27.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 16,064 tons, 44.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,107 tons, 8.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   32,840 lbs / 14,896 Kg = 13.4 x 17.0 " / 432 mm shells or 3.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
 Metacentric height 6.4 ft / 1.9 m
 Roll period: 15.6 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.60
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.489
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.35 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.65 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  38.00 ft / 11.58 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
    - Mid (40 %):  35.00 ft / 10.67 m (27.00 ft / 8.23 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Stern:  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Average freeboard: 30.44 ft / 9.28 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 148.2 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 235.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 54,516 Square feet or 5,065 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 185 lbs/sq ft or 902 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.55
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

I couldn't resist trying the GB/CB/1921 Super Fast design

After the success with the Ger/CBL/1915 Mod.A, faster version, I thought I would try the GB/CB/1921 "Super Fast" battlecruiser design from the Red Book. I used the specified dimensions, although the freeboard is higher. One variation is that the displacement IS LESS than I had specified. Very lightweight machinery is required, but not the lightest weight. The protection is modest, but more than the Ger/CBL/1915 design. 40 knots was not achievable, but 37 knots was, with a not very excessive SHP, and with four shafts, not six or eight. The armament is the 4-17in BLR and 16-4in QF guns. A higher speed could have been achieved, but seakeeping was an issue, partly due to the narrow beam. Seakeeping drove the displacement lower, as 32,000 tons was not compatible with adequate seakeeping. I may experiment with making design changes to see if 40 knots might be possible. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/CB/1921 Super Fast  Red Book, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1921 (Engine 1945)

Displacement:
 24,968 t light; 25,985 t standard; 27,600 t normal; 28,892 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 802.31 ft / 800.00 ft x 85.00 ft x 29.70 ft (normal load)
 244.54 m / 243.84 m x 25.91 m  x 9.05 m

Armament:
      4 - 17.00" / 432 mm guns (2x2 guns), 2,456.50lbs / 1,114.25kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
      4 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns (2x2 guns), 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1921 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      12 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns (6x2 guns), 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships
 Weight of broadside 10,338 lbs / 4,689 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 90 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  6.00" / 152 mm
 2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm
 3rd: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 6.00" / 152 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 250,474 shp / 186,853 Kw = 37.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,907 tons

Complement:
 1,069 - 1,391

Cost:
 £7.242 million / $28.966 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,292 tons, 4.7 %
 Armour: 4,711 tons, 17.1 %
    - Belts: 1,438 tons, 5.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 504 tons, 1.8 %
    - Armament: 1,007 tons, 3.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,644 tons, 6.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 118 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 6,325 tons, 22.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,639 tons, 45.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,632 tons, 9.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   26,956 lbs / 12,227 Kg = 11.0 x 17.0 " / 432 mm shells or 3.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
 Metacentric height 5.1 ft / 1.6 m
 Roll period: 15.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.78
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.478
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.41 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Mid (40 %):  30.00 ft / 9.14 m (23.00 ft / 7.01 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Stern:  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Average freeboard: 26.04 ft / 7.94 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 142.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 199.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 44,434 Square feet or 4,128 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 178 lbs/sq ft or 869 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.52
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent