My first attempt at an Italian heavy cruiser: It/CA/1929

This design is somewhat similar to the real thing. I could not make a flush-decked It/CA/1929 work, so I went with a raised forecastle. It certainly only is possible with extremely lightweight machinery (39.6 SHP/ton). This ship has 8-8in guns, 3in armour and a 35 knot speed. I am pleased that we could achieve this much. This is the Springsharp report:

It/CA/1929, Italy Heavy Cruiser laid down 1929 (Engine 1945)

Displacement:
 11,861 t light; 12,274 t standard; 12,900 t normal; 13,401 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 646.47 ft / 645.00 ft x 67.00 ft x 21.00 ft (normal load)
 197.04 m / 196.60 m x 20.42 m  x 6.40 m

Armament:
      8 - 8.00" / 203 mm guns (4x2 guns), 256.00lbs / 116.12kg shells, 1929 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      6 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1929 Model
   Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships
      16 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (8x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1929 Model
   Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts 
   on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 2,265 lbs / 1,027 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120
 8 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 410.00 ft / 124.97 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 98 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 410.00 ft / 124.97 m 19.00 ft / 5.79 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: 1.00" / 25 mm       -   1.00" / 25 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 137,919 shp / 102,887 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 4,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,126 tons

Complement:
 604 - 786

Cost:
 £4.562 million / $18.248 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 283 tons, 2.2 %
 Armour: 2,560 tons, 19.8 %
    - Belts: 618 tons, 4.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 288 tons, 2.2 %
    - Armament: 543 tons, 4.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,063 tons, 8.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 47 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 3,483 tons, 27.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,535 tons, 42.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,039 tons, 8.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   15,543 lbs / 7,050 Kg = 60.7 x 8.0 " / 203 mm shells or 2.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
 Metacentric height 3.6 ft / 1.1 m
 Roll period: 14.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.46
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.498
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.63 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 25.40 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Mid (50 %):  27.00 ft / 8.23 m (19.00 ft / 5.79 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Stern:  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Average freeboard: 23.08 ft / 7.03 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 149.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 179.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 28,728 Square feet or 2,669 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 109 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 119 lbs/sq ft or 582 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.50
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent