The German battlecruiser design GK-4542

The GK-4542 battlecruiser design dated from 1918. The main improvement was the 30-knot speed with thicker deck armour, along with more beam. The armament is still 8-16.5in BLR, 12-5.9in QF, and 8-88mm AA guns. The lower belt is 11.8in with a 3.94in deck. The dimensions are now 787ft x 110ft x 32.8ft. The displacement is much greater than that which was planned. I had to use very lightweight machinery to keep the displacement from growing even more. The specification is not very complete, so there is some uncertainty in my mind as to what was intended. This is still a very potent ship. The GK-4542 has much more punch than the Hood and is better protected, besides. This is the Springsharp report:

GK-4542, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1918

Displacement:
 40,405 t light; 42,078 t standard; 46,000 t normal; 49,138 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 787.40 ft / 787.40 ft x 109.91 ft x 32.81 ft (normal load)
 240.00 m / 240.00 m x 33.50 m  x 10.00 m

Armament:
      8 - 14.96" / 380 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1,674.25lbs / 759.43kg shells, 1918 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      12 - 5.91" / 150 mm guns in single mounts, 102.98lbs / 46.71kg shells, 1918 Model
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts 
   on side, all amidships
   12 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
      8 - 3.46" / 88.0 mm guns in single mounts, 20.79lbs / 9.43kg shells, 1918 Model
   Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts 
   on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 14,796 lbs / 6,711 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90
 5 - 23.6" / 600 mm submerged torpedo tubes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 11.8" / 300 mm 590.55 ft / 180.00 m 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
 Ends: 3.94" / 100 mm 111.55 ft / 34.00 m 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
   85.30 ft / 26.00 m Unarmoured ends
 Upper: 9.45" / 240 mm 590.55 ft / 180.00 m 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
   Main Belt covers 115 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.36" / 60 mm 590.55 ft / 180.00 m 32.81 ft / 10.00 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 11.8" / 300 mm 7.87" / 200 mm  11.4" / 290 mm
 2nd: 5.91" / 150 mm 5.91" / 150 mm  1.97" / 50 mm

   - Armour deck: 3.94" / 100 mm, Conning tower: 13.78" / 350 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 161,170 shp / 120,233 Kw = 30.00 kts
 Range 10,000nm at 13.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 7,060 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 1,569 - 2,041

Cost:
 £7.726 million / $30.905 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,850 tons, 4.0 %
 Armour: 15,135 tons, 32.9 %
    - Belts: 5,335 tons, 11.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,693 tons, 3.7 %
    - Armament: 3,256 tons, 7.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 4,470 tons, 9.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 381 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 6,396 tons, 13.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 17,025 tons, 37.0 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,595 tons, 12.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   63,360 lbs / 28,740 Kg = 37.8 x 15.0 " / 380 mm shells or 9.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
 Metacentric height 7.5 ft / 2.3 m
 Roll period: 16.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 64 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.54
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.27

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.567
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.16 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.06 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -9.84 ft / -3.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  36.09 ft / 11.00 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 29.53 ft / 9.00 m
    - Mid (64 %):  29.53 ft / 9.00 m (19.69 ft / 6.00 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
    - Stern:  19.69 ft / 6.00 m
    - Average freeboard: 26.51 ft / 8.08 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 95.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 196.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 61,370 Square feet or 5,701 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 108 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 194 lbs/sq ft or 949 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.42
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily