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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

My anachronistic Lion design with drawing

This is another version of my anachronistic Lion design, dating from the 1980's. I have a photograph of my original pencil drawing that I had to enhance, which darkened it considerably:

I thought that this was the best way to show the sort of look I liked "back when". For some reason, the protection is adequate and the roll period is quite nice at 15.9 seconds. The design turned out pretty well in Springsharp 3.0b Beta:
GB/CB/1909 Lion, anchronistic version, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1909 (Engine 1912)

Displacement:
 23,109 t light; 24,210 t standard; 27,942 t normal; 30,927 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (702.45 ft / 700.00 ft) x 88.00 ft x (27.00 / 29.35 ft)
 (214.11 m / 213.36 m) x 26.82 m  x (8.23 / 8.94 m)

Armament:
      8 - 13.50" / 343 mm 45.0 cal guns - 1,250.00lbs / 566.99kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1909 Model
   2 x 3-gun mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
   1 x Twin mount on centreline, forward deck aft
  1 raised mount
      16 - 4.00" / 102 mm 50.0 cal guns - 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1909 Model
   6 x Twin mounts on sides, forward evenly spread
  6 raised mounts
   2 x Twin mounts on sides, aft evenly spread
  2 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 10,512 lbs / 10,512 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 435.00 ft / 132.59 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 250.00 ft / 76.20 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   15.00 ft / 4.57 m Unarmoured ends
 Upper: 6.00" / 152 mm 435.00 ft / 132.59 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 96 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 435.00 ft / 132.59 m 27.00 ft / 8.23 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  9.00" / 229 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 81,398 shp / 60,723 Kw = 27.00 kts
 Range 7,800nm at 17.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,717 tons

Complement:
 1,079 - 1,404

Cost:
 £2.247 million / $8.989 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,095 tons, 7.5 %
 Armour: 7,743 tons, 27.7 %
    - Belts: 2,545 tons, 9.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 869 tons, 3.1 %
    - Armament: 1,678 tons, 6.0 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,473 tons, 8.8 %
    - Conning Tower: 179 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 3,246 tons, 11.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 10,948 tons, 39.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,833 tons, 17.3 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   43,104 lbs / 19,552 Kg = 35.0 x 13.5 " / 343 mm shells or 6.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
 Metacentric height 5.4 ft / 1.7 m
 Roll period: 15.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 69 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.78
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.38

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.588 / 0.599
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.95 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 26.46 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 49 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Forward deck: 21.00 %,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Aft deck: 44.00 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Average freeboard:  22.78 ft / 6.94 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 90.3 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 174.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 44,550 Square feet or 4,139 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 118 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 169 lbs/sq ft or 827 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.34
  - 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

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

One of my 1980's designs: the GB/CL/1915 with 5in guns

This is a design that I created in the latter 1980's for a 5in-gunned light cruiser. This is sort of a modified Birmingham class ship, except faster, with geared turbines and oil-fired boilers. This ship does not have the machinery error that I have been getting. The armament is 8-5in guns and 4-21in TT. The belt is 4in with a 2in deck. This is the Springsharp report:
GB/CL/1915, Great Britain Light Cruiser laid down 1915

Displacement:
 4,494 t light; 4,643 t standard; 5,250 t normal; 5,736 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (476.68 ft / 475.00 ft) x 49.00 ft x (15.74 / 16.84 ft)
 (145.29 m / 144.78 m) x 14.94 m  x (4.80 / 5.13 m)

Armament:
      8 - 5.00" / 127 mm 50.0 cal guns - 65.00lbs / 29.48kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1915 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 520 lbs / 520 kg
 4 - 21.0" / 533 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 345.00 ft / 105.16 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 3.00" / 76 mm 175.00 ft / 53.34 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 112 % of normal length

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 3.00" / 76 mm       -   3.00" / 76 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 31,471 shp / 23,478 Kw = 27.00 kts
 Range 5,200nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,094 tons

Complement:
 307 - 400

Cost:
 £0.553 million / $2.212 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 127 tons, 2.4 %
 Armour: 1,296 tons, 24.7 %
    - Belts: 648 tons, 12.3 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 74 tons, 1.4 %
    - Armour Deck: 575 tons, 10.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
 Machinery: 1,192 tons, 22.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,939 tons, 36.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 756 tons, 14.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   8,153 lbs / 3,698 Kg = 130.4 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 1.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 2.3 ft / 0.7 m
 Roll period: 13.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 74 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.32
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.48

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.502 / 0.512
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.69 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 21.79 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
 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 (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Forward deck: 21.00 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Aft deck: 44.00 %,  14.00 ft / 4.27 m,  14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  14.00 ft / 4.27 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Average freeboard:  17.52 ft / 5.34 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 84.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 140.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 15,530 Square feet or 1,443 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 125 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 75 lbs/sq ft or 367 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.56
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Monday, February 26, 2007

The "Ideal Battleship" with oil-fired boilers and turbines is really interesting

If you allow the "Ideal Battleship" to have turbine engines and oil-fired boilers, the ship becomes really interesting. Oil-fired boilers seems to make a big difference. All the specifications stay the same, but the displacement drops. This is the Springsharp report from Springsharp 3.0b Beta:
Ideal Battleship-Modified, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1905 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 22,302 t light; 23,335 t standard; 25,094 t normal; 26,501 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (603.00 ft / 589.00 ft) x 87.00 ft x (29.50 / 30.84 ft)
 (183.79 m / 179.53 m) x 26.52 m  x (8.99 / 9.40 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
   2 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  2 double raised mounts
      4 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
   4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      12 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 45.0 cal guns - 13.62lbs / 6.18kg shells, 90 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts , 1905 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  12 hull mounts in casemates- Limited use in heavy seas
 Weight of broadside 10,620 lbs / 10,620 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 350.00 ft / 106.68 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 12.0" / 305 mm 239.00 ft / 72.85 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Upper: 12.0" / 305 mm 230.00 ft / 70.10 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 91 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.50" / 38 mm 350.00 ft / 106.68 m 29.50 ft / 8.99 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 7.00" / 178 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 2nd: 12.0" / 305 mm 7.00" / 178 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 3rd: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 4 shafts, 51,490 shp / 38,411 Kw = 24.00 kts
 Range 5,200nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,165 tons

Complement:
 996 - 1,295

Cost:
 £2.092 million / $8.370 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,031 tons, 8.1 %
 Armour: 8,923 tons, 35.6 %
    - Belts: 3,431 tons, 13.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 573 tons, 2.3 %
    - Armament: 3,334 tons, 13.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,362 tons, 5.4 %
    - Conning Tower: 222 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 2,340 tons, 9.3 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,868 tons, 39.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,791 tons, 11.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   35,234 lbs / 15,982 Kg = 40.8 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.8 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.01
 Metacentric height 4.2 ft / 1.3 m
 Roll period: 17.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.84
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.17

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has raised forecastle,
   a ram bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.581 / 0.587
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.77 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.27 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 45
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 8.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Aft deck: 47.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard:  20.64 ft / 6.29 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 85.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 140.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 36,817 Square feet or 3,420 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 109 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 184 lbs/sq ft or 896 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.58
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Adequate length makes a big difference in a design

One mistake that I made with the GB/CB/1905 design in 1971 was that the length was 770ft for a 25,000 ton Standard displacement (a displacement specification not created until 1921) ship that was designed for a 33 knot speed. For large, fast ships, length is critical, as the power required is so dependent on length. That is why my modified "Ideal Battleship" needed to be something like 586ft long, given the 12-12in guns and the complete 12in belt, and the specified 24 knot speed. 521-1/2ft was just not enough. As it is, Colonel Cuniberti's 17,000 ton normal displacement was grossly inadequate to provide sufficient structural strength. The size needed to be much larger, as well, so that adequate seakeeping could be achieved at a 24 knot speed.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Moving to turbines really helps the "Ideal Battleship"

By changing the machinery to steam turbines, my expansive version of Colonel Cuniberti's "Ideal Battleship" is greatly helped. The displacement can be considerably reduced, still with the expansive dimensions. This is a photograph of the larger design:

I will probably do one or more tweaks to see what other improvements I can make, but this is the turbine-powered, coal-fired boiler version that can make 24 knots with a complete 12in belt:
Ideal Battleship-Modified, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1905 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 22,637 t light; 23,691 t standard; 26,173 t normal; 28,159 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (603.00 ft / 589.00 ft) x 87.00 ft x (29.50 / 31.34 ft)
 (183.79 m / 179.53 m) x 26.52 m  x (8.99 / 9.55 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
   2 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  2 double raised mounts
      4 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
   4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      12 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 45.0 cal guns - 13.62lbs / 6.18kg shells, 90 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts , 1905 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  12 hull mounts in casemates- Limited use in heavy seas
 Weight of broadside 10,620 lbs / 10,620 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 350.00 ft / 106.68 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 12.0" / 305 mm 239.00 ft / 72.85 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Upper: 12.0" / 305 mm 230.00 ft / 70.10 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 91 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.50" / 38 mm 350.00 ft / 106.68 m 29.50 ft / 8.99 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 7.00" / 178 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 2nd: 12.0" / 305 mm 7.00" / 178 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 3rd: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 4 shafts, 53,337 shp / 39,790 Kw = 24.00 kts
 Range 5,200nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,468 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 1,028 - 1,337

Cost:
 £2.150 million / $8.600 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,031 tons, 7.8 %
 Armour: 8,963 tons, 34.2 %
    - Belts: 3,434 tons, 13.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 573 tons, 2.2 %
    - Armament: 3,334 tons, 12.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,394 tons, 5.3 %
    - Conning Tower: 228 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 2,667 tons, 10.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,835 tons, 37.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,537 tons, 13.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   35,748 lbs / 16,215 Kg = 41.4 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.8 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.02
 Metacentric height 4.2 ft / 1.3 m
 Roll period: 17.7 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.83
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.15

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has raised forecastle,
   a ram bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.606 / 0.614
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.77 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.27 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 47
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 8.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Aft deck: 47.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard:  20.64 ft / 6.29 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 87.4 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 139.7 %
 Waterplane Area: 37,689 Square feet or 3,501 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 180 lbs/sq ft or 877 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.52
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Saturday, February 24, 2007

A big ship is necessary to implement Colonel Cuniberti's ideas in Springsharp 3.0b Beta

I was able to get Colonel Cuniberti's ideas to work in Springsharp 3.0b Beta, but the ship had to have a great displacement and large dimensions. Lightweight machinery was also required, but I was able to use his armament layout and a 24 knot speed, with a complete 12in belt. This ship is really a battleship-cruiser of the sort advocated by William Hovgaard. This is the Springsharp report:
Ideal Battleship-Modified, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1905 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 24,583 t light; 25,679 t standard; 28,203 t normal; 30,223 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (603.00 ft / 589.00 ft) x 87.00 ft x (29.50 / 31.30 ft)
 (183.79 m / 179.53 m) x 26.52 m  x (8.99 / 9.54 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
   2 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  2 double raised mounts
      4 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
   4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      12 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 45.0 cal guns - 13.62lbs / 6.18kg shells, 90 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts , 1905 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  12 hull mounts in casemates- Limited use in heavy seas
 Weight of broadside 10,620 lbs / 10,620 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 350.00 ft / 106.68 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 12.0" / 305 mm 239.00 ft / 72.85 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Upper: 12.0" / 305 mm 230.00 ft / 70.10 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 91 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.50" / 38 mm 350.00 ft / 106.68 m 29.50 ft / 8.99 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 7.00" / 178 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 2nd: 12.0" / 305 mm 7.00" / 178 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 3rd: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 4 shafts, 56,834 ihp / 42,398 Kw = 24.00 kts
 Range 5,200nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,545 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 1,087 - 1,414

Cost:
 £2.457 million / $9.827 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,031 tons, 7.2 %
 Armour: 9,041 tons, 32.1 %
    - Belts: 3,438 tons, 12.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 573 tons, 2.0 %
    - Armament: 3,334 tons, 11.8 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,456 tons, 5.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 240 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 4,372 tons, 15.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,999 tons, 35.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,620 tons, 12.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   31,520 lbs / 14,297 Kg = 36.5 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 4.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.04
 Metacentric height 4.4 ft / 1.3 m
 Roll period: 17.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.80
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.08

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has raised forecastle,
   a ram bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.653 / 0.660
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.77 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.27 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 8.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Aft deck: 47.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard:  20.64 ft / 6.29 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 106.3 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 138.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 39,363 Square feet or 3,657 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 177 lbs/sq ft or 863 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.39
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Friday, February 23, 2007

Colonel Cuniberti had done tank-testing with a model for his design

I was re-reading Colonel Cuniberti's article about "An Ideal Battleship for the British Fleet" in the 1903 Jane's All the World's Fighting Ships. He mentions that he had done model-testing, in a tank, presumably, to check the propulsion figures. I am certain that he intended to use reciprocating engines for his ship, as that was really the only option in 1903. The boilers would have been coal-fired, of course. The main issue with the design is that the displacement seems to be inadequate to carry the weights. Colonel Cuniberti specified a 17,000 ton displacement, along with dimensions. We would expect that this was a normal displacement and the 27.5ft draught would be at that displacement. Even if we use extremely light machinery, that seems to be a problem. Also, he specified an archaic armour design, with a complete 12in belt, which is extremely costly in weight. Springsharp complains about stability, gun recoil, seakeeping, and structural strength, all major issues. We would be extremely interested to know if Colonel Cuniberti's papers have survived, including his design for this ship, so we could know something about his weight and stability calculations.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

My latest (failed) attempt at Colonel Cuniberti's "Ideal Battleship"

My latest attempt to design Colonel Cuniberti's "An Ideal Battleship for the British Fleet" works no better than any other attempt. Perhaps that is an exaggeration, to some extent, as this ship has adequate stability, seakeeping, and the recoil is acceptable. The steadiness is substandard, and probably the only way to fix that is to increase the beam or change the gun layout. The protection is also reduced, as there is no complete 12in belt. The ends are 6in, in this version, done with Springsharp 3.0b Beta. This is the Springsharp report:
Ideal Battleship, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1904 (Engine 1912)

Displacement:
 19,106 t light; 20,064 t standard; 21,436 t normal; 22,534 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (535.50 ft / 521.50 ft) x 82.00 ft x (27.50 / 28.69 ft)
 (163.22 m / 158.95 m) x 24.99 m  x (8.38 / 8.74 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1904 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
   2 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  2 double raised mounts
      4 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1904 Model
   4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      12 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 45.0 cal guns - 12.00lbs / 5.44kg shells, 90 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts , 1904 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  12 hull mounts in casemates- Limited use in heavy seas
 Weight of broadside 10,600 lbs / 10,600 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 340.00 ft / 103.63 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 6.00" / 152 mm 181.50 ft / 55.32 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Upper: 12.0" / 305 mm 190.00 ft / 57.91 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 340.00 ft / 103.63 m 27.50 ft / 8.38 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 7.00" / 178 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 2nd: 12.0" / 305 mm 7.00" / 178 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 3rd: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 4 shafts, 35,655 shp / 26,599 Kw = 22.00 kts
 Range 5,200nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,470 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 885 - 1,151

Cost:
 £1.872 million / $7.487 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,031 tons, 9.5 %
 Armour: 7,769 tons, 36.2 %
    - Belts: 2,691 tons, 12.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 346 tons, 1.6 %
    - Armament: 3,334 tons, 15.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,199 tons, 5.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 200 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 1,564 tons, 7.3 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,601 tons, 40.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,331 tons, 10.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   31,135 lbs / 14,122 Kg = 36.0 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.03
 Metacentric height 4.0 ft / 1.2 m
 Roll period: 17.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 45 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.98
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.11

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has raised forecastle,
   a ram bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.638 / 0.643
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.36 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 22.84 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 36
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 8.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Aft deck: 47.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard:  20.64 ft / 6.29 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 86.3 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 139.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 32,400 Square feet or 3,010 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 182 lbs/sq ft or 891 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.93
  - Longitudinal: 1.87
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

I had to switch so that we can see the Springsharp reports

This template seems to work better, even though I liked the colors on the other one I tried. A feature of switching the new age Blogger layouts si that all the page elements are retained, although they got jumbled. I took about 15 minutes to get them into a better order.

This layout doesn't work very well

This layout does not work well, as it cuts off the Springsharp reports. I will try and switch to another layout.

An anachronistic torpedo-ram Polyphemus

I tried to design an anachronistic version of the torpedo-ram Polyphemus. Mine, given the later building date can make a maximum speed of 21 knots. The range is 3,200nm at 14 knots. My ship still has coal-fired boilers and reciprocating engines. The protection is a 3in deck. The ship might well have benefitted from torpedo bulkheads, but this version lacks them. This is the Springsharp report:
Polyphemus, Great Britain Torpedo-Ram laid down 1907

Displacement:
 2,090 t light; 2,141 t standard; 2,535 t normal; 2,850 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (264.00 ft / 254.00 ft) x 40.00 ft x (20.50 / 22.24 ft)
 (80.47 m / 77.42 m) x 12.19 m  x (6.25 / 6.78 m)

Armament:
      6 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm 45.0 cal guns - 0.50lbs / 0.23kg shells, 350 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Single mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
   4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 3 lbs / 3 kg
 5 - 14.0" / 356 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 3rd: 2.00" / 51 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 6.00" / 152 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 2 shafts, 9,717 ihp / 7,249 Kw = 21.00 kts
 Range 3,200nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 710 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 178 - 232

Cost:
 £0.224 million / $0.894 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1 tons, 0.0 %
 Armour: 414 tons, 16.3 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 37 tons, 1.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 353 tons, 13.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 24 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 1,071 tons, 42.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 604 tons, 23.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 446 tons, 17.6 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   1,313 lbs / 595 Kg = 12.2 x 6 " / 152 mm shells or 0.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.40
 Metacentric height 2.3 ft / 0.7 m
 Roll period: 11.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 64 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.00
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.13

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has raised forecastle,
   a ram bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.426 / 0.442
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.35 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 15.94 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 56
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  9.00 ft / 2.74 m,  9.00 ft / 2.74 m
    - Aft deck: 30.00 %,  9.00 ft / 2.74 m,  9.00 ft / 2.74 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  9.00 ft / 2.74 m,  9.00 ft / 2.74 m
    - Average freeboard:  11.10 ft / 3.38 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 137.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 52.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 6,361 Square feet or 591 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 98 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 54 lbs/sq ft or 262 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.88
  - Longitudinal: 3.01
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped

As you can see, this is the new blog layout

I have now converted to the new Blogger layout, so that I can modify the layout without breaking the HTML.

I will be switching to the new Blogger layout soon

I have already switched Former Naval Person and Anglo-Dutch Wars to the new-style Blogger layout that replaces the old template. I will be doing the same to the rest of my blogs, including Dreadnought Cruisers. I expect to make the switch in a few days. This will be the second template switch that I have made, and both were driven by the need to stop jumbling the blog layout.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

My photos at Graphic-Artist-2.com

You can browse my photos of warships at graphic-artist-2.com. You can also see some of my other work there, such as scale drawings of ships. There are also some aircraft photos that I wanted to host for the Panzer Abwehr blog.

Monday, February 19, 2007

My new photo

I have a new photo of a version of Colonel Cuniberti's "An Ideal Battleship for the British Fleet". I am still amazed that I have a copy of the 1903 Jane's All the World's Fighting Ships, the issue that has Colonel Cuniberti's article, with the scale drawing and specifications. I was just lucky and had the money when this issue came on the market. I really wanted the 1904 issue, but this is about as good. Here is my latest photo of the ship. I probably will be further revising this, as I am sure that I can do better:

I want to do Colonel Cuniberti's "Ideal Battleship" in Springsharp 3.0b Beta

I need to hack on my photo of Colonel Cuniberti's "Ideal Battleship" so that the look is more British than Italian:

I still like this photo, and I would like to try the design in the new Springsharp 3.0b Beta. I expect that I will be able to better describe the armament layout than has been possible with the 2.1 version.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

An anachronistic CSS Alabama cruiser design

I was not particularly happy with this, but Conway's did not have a displacement or draft for the CSS Alabama, and I had not looked to see if I could find it online. This is my rather unsatisfactory Alabama Springsharp design:]
CSS Alabama, anachronistic, Confederate States of America Cruiser laid down 1907

Displacement:
 1,272 t light; 1,336 t standard; 1,648 t normal; 1,898 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (227.79 ft / 220.00 ft) x 31.67 ft x (15.00 / 16.80 ft)
 (69.43 m / 67.06 m) x 9.65 m  x (4.57 / 5.12 m)

Armament:
      1 - 5.50" / 140 mm 45.0 cal gun - 83.90lbs / 38.05kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading gun in deck and hoist mount , 1907 Model
   1 x Single mount on centreline, forward deck forward
   Main guns limited to end-on fire
      1 - 5.30" / 135 mm 45.0 cal gun - 75.07lbs / 34.05kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing gun in deck and hoist mount , 1907 Model
   1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck aft
      6 - 4.00" / 102 mm 50.0 cal guns - 33.88lbs / 15.37kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1907 Model
   6 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 362 lbs / 362 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 3.00" / 76 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm
 2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm
 3rd: 3.00" / 76 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 2 shafts, 4,386 ihp / 3,272 Kw = 18.00 kts
 Range 4,800nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 563 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 129 - 168

Cost:
 £0.150 million / $0.599 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 105 tons, 6.4 %
 Armour: 150 tons, 9.1 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 60 tons, 3.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 90 tons, 5.5 %
    - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
 Machinery: 487 tons, 29.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 591 tons, 35.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 376 tons, 22.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   1,468 lbs / 666 Kg = 17.6 x 5.5 " / 140 mm shells or 0.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
 Metacentric height 1.1 ft / 0.3 m
 Roll period: 12.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 100 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 1.20
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.552 / 0.568
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.95 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 14.83 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 6.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Average freeboard:  15.24 ft / 4.64 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 116.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 107.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 4,872 Square feet or 453 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 55 lbs/sq ft or 269 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.80
  - Longitudinal: 7.71
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Saturday, February 17, 2007

An anachronistic USS Wampanoag cruiser

I thought that I would like to try an American cruiser, the Wampanoag, as an anachronistic design. I had to modify my anachronistic gun list, first. I will post that separately. I added some protection to the Wampanoag to see if I could increase the roll period. This design is done with the Springsharp 3.0b Beta. I am starting to develop some facility with the program and like it much better than 2.1, which I liked a lot. I like being able to visualize the freeboard and having control over gun lengths. I am still getting the "drive" error message, however. This is the Springsharp report:
Wampanoag, United States Cruiser laid down 1906

Displacement:
 3,500 t light; 3,658 t standard; 4,216 t normal; 4,662 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (339.00 ft / 335.00 ft) x 48.00 ft x (18.50 / 19.96 ft)
 (103.33 m / 102.11 m) x 14.63 m  x (5.64 / 6.08 m)

Armament:
      3 - 4.70" / 119 mm 45.0 cal guns - 52.35lbs / 23.75kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1906 Model
   3 x Single mounts on centreline, evenly spread
   Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
      10 - 5.00" / 127 mm 51.0 cal guns - 66.46lbs / 30.15kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts , 1906 Model
   10 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      2 - 4.00" / 102 mm 50.0 cal guns - 33.88lbs / 15.37kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1906 Model
   2 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
 Weight of broadside 889 lbs / 889 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Ends: Unarmoured

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  0.70" / 18 mm 180.00 ft / 54.86 m 18.50 ft / 5.64 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 3.00" / 76 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm
 2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm
 3rd: 2.00" / 51 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 2 shafts, 11,965 ihp / 8,926 Kw = 21.00 kts
 Range 5,000nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,003 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 261 - 340

Cost:
 £0.419 million / $1.675 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 194 tons, 4.6 %
 Armour: 372 tons, 8.8 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 86 tons, 2.0 %
    - Armament: 88 tons, 2.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 197 tons, 4.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
 Machinery: 1,701 tons, 40.4 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,358 tons, 32.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 716 tons, 17.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   2,618 lbs / 1,187 Kg = 50.4 x 4.7 " / 119 mm shells or 0.7 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.33
 Metacentric height 2.8 ft / 0.8 m
 Roll period: 12.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 100 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.40
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.97

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.496 / 0.508
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.98 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 18.30 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 72
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Aft deck: 30.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard:  17.48 ft / 5.33 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 246.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 132.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 10,675 Square feet or 992 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 97 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 72 lbs/sq ft or 354 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.89
  - Longitudinal: 3.07
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is extremely poor
 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

Friday, February 16, 2007

The Ger/CB/1905 needed oil-fired boilers

The Ger/CB/1905 design is so tight, that I needed to use the originally intended oil-fired boilers and lightweight machinery. Perhaps, if I had let the normal displacement rise further, I might have been able to make it work with coal. I very carefully used the original armour design, which is marked on a large scale drawing. I guess that I should be happy that it works under any circumstances, given our approach to design, when we did the work in 1971. The ship can make 31 knots and has a 4in armour basis. The armament is 4-12in/45 and 12-4in/50 QF guns. This is the Springsharp report:
Ger/CB/1905, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1905 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 18,533 t light; 19,156 t standard; 21,082 t normal; 22,622 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (710.00 ft / 700.00 ft) x 80.00 ft x (24.40 / 25.79 ft)
 (216.41 m / 213.36 m) x 24.38 m  x (7.44 / 7.86 m)

Armament:
      4 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 850.00lbs / 385.55kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      12 - 4.00" / 102 mm 50.0 cal guns - 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts , 1905 Model
   6 x Single mounts on sides, forward evenly spread
   6 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
 Weight of broadside 3,784 lbs / 3,784 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 365.00 ft / 111.25 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 3.00" / 76 mm 365.00 ft / 111.25 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 80 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 365.00 ft / 111.25 m 24.40 ft / 7.44 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 4 shafts, 114,401 shp / 85,343 Kw = 31.00 kts
 Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,465 tons

Complement:
 874 - 1,137

Cost:
 £1.724 million / $6.895 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 700 tons, 3.3 %
 Armour: 4,795 tons, 22.7 %
    - Belts: 1,025 tons, 4.9 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 659 tons, 3.1 %
    - Armament: 814 tons, 3.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,149 tons, 10.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 148 tons, 0.7 %
 Machinery: 5,200 tons, 24.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,124 tons, 38.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,549 tons, 12.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   30,670 lbs / 13,912 Kg = 35.5 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 3.7 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.26
 Metacentric height 5.4 ft / 1.7 m
 Roll period: 14.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.40
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.42

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low quarterdeck ,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.540 / 0.548
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.75 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 26.46 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Forward deck: 25.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Aft deck: 12.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Quarter deck: 38.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Average freeboard:  25.55 ft / 7.79 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 127.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 236.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 38,718 Square feet or 3,597 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 136 lbs/sq ft or 664 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.48
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Thursday, February 15, 2007

The Ger/BB/1905 in Springsharp 3.0b Beta

I made the Ger/BB/1905 design with coal-fired boilers, while the original concept had oil-fired boilers. I thought that coal would be more reasonable, given the date and country. This is the latest photo:

The ship carried 8-12in/45 BL and 12-4in QF guns. The armour basis was 10in with a 3in deck. The maximum speed was 23 knots. I was able to achieve a 6,400nm range at 12 knots. This is the Springsharp report:
Ger/BB/1905, Germany Battleship laid down 1905

Displacement:
 19,735 t light; 20,568 t standard; 23,089 t normal; 25,106 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (590.00 ft / 580.00 ft) x 90.00 ft x (26.60 / 28.48 ft)
 (179.83 m / 176.78 m) x 27.43 m  x (8.11 / 8.68 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 850.00lbs / 385.55kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      12 - 4.00" / 102 mm 50.0 cal guns - 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts , 1905 Model
   6 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
   6 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
 Weight of broadside 7,184 lbs / 7,184 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 375.00 ft / 114.30 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 8.00" / 203 mm 375.00 ft / 114.30 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 99 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 375.00 ft / 114.30 m 26.60 ft / 8.11 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 7.00" / 178 mm  10.0" / 254 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 11.00" / 279 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 4 shafts, 42,135 shp / 31,433 Kw = 23.00 kts
 Range 6,400nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,537 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 936 - 1,217

Cost:
 £1.855 million / $7.419 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,320 tons, 5.7 %
 Armour: 7,122 tons, 30.8 %
    - Belts: 2,361 tons, 10.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 738 tons, 3.2 %
    - Armament: 1,747 tons, 7.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,083 tons, 9.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 192 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 3,511 tons, 15.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,301 tons, 36.0 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,355 tons, 14.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   33,599 lbs / 15,240 Kg = 38.9 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.22
 Metacentric height 6.2 ft / 1.9 m
 Roll period: 15.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 82 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.56
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.64

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.582 / 0.591
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.44 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.08 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 48 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 35.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Forward deck: 35.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Aft deck: 15.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Average freeboard:  22.02 ft / 6.71 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 97.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 165.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 37,540 Square feet or 3,488 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 155 lbs/sq ft or 758 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.69
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 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

My current gun list for anachronistic designs

I will continue to extend this list for other nations, so that I have more complete coverage of the 1860 to 1880 period. I really need to add the French, so that we can have anachronistic designs for them, as well, as they were major players in this periond. This is the current list:
Old gun             Wt          New gun   Wt
110pdr Armstrong BL 4 tons      5in/51    4 tons
 40pdr Armstrong BL 1.5 tons    4in/40    1.5 tons
 20pdr Armstrong BL 0.5 tons    57mm      0.5 tons
 64pdr MLSB         2.9 tons    4in/50    2.9 tons
9in SB Somerset     6.25 tons   5.5in/50  6.5 tons
10.5in Woolwich    12 tons      7.6in/40 12.5 tons
13in Armstrong     22.5 tons    9.4in/40 22.75 tons
     32pdr SB       3 tons      4in/50    2.9 tons
1864 6.3in 64cwt    3.2 tons    5in/40    3.1 tons
1864 6.6in 71cwt    3.55 tons   4.7in/50  3.7 tons
1865 7in            6.5 tons    5.5in/50  6.5 tons
1866 8in            9 tons      6.5in/45  9.0 tons
1865 9in           12 tons      7.6in/40 12.5 tons
1868 10in          18 tons      8in/40   18.1 tons
1867 11in          25 tons      9.4in/50 24 tons
1870 12in          25 tons      9.2in/40 24.338 tons
1871 12in          35 tons     10in/40   34.6 tons
1875 12.5in        38 tons     10.8in/45 35.5 tons
1878 16in          80 tons     13.5in/45 80 tons

American guns

11in SB Dahlgren    7.1 tons    6in/45    7 tons
9in SB Dahlgren     4.1 tons    5in/51    4 tons
32pdr SB            2 tons      4in/50    2 tons
8in Parrott RML     7.4 tons    6in/45    7.5 tons
6.4in Parrott RML   4.4 tons    5.5in/45  4.5 tons
5.3in Parrott RML   2.4 tons    4.7in/45  2.25 tons
4.2in Parrott RML   1.56 tons   4in/40    1.5 tons

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

I may bore people, but I want to rework old designs in Springsharp 3.0

I want to rework designs from our 1971 naval building program wargame in Springsharp 3.0. I wish that there were a more convenient way to display the freeboard diagram, as I really like that feature from the 3.0 Beta. Anyway, some of the ships I want to try are:

The Ger/BB/1905

The Ger/CB/1905

And the Ger/CB/1906

I also need to see if I can improve on these photos.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

My first attempt at the Ger/CS/1905 design in Springsharp 3.0b Beta

I went ahead got a Ger/CS/1905 scout cruiser design done with Springsharp 3.0b Beta. The main problem is that too much power is required for the size ship. I always tell myself the HMS Swift, a similar ship, could achieve up to 60 SHP/ton of machinery. This is the Springsharp report:
Ger/CS/1905, Germany Scout Cruiser laid down 1905 (Engine 1945)

Displacement:
 2,304 t light; 2,368 t standard; 2,542 t normal; 2,681 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (371.75 ft / 370.00 ft) x 38.00 ft x (14.00 / 14.54 ft)
 (113.31 m / 112.78 m) x 11.58 m  x (4.27 / 4.43 m)

Armament:
      3 - 4.00" / 102 mm 50.0 cal guns - 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in deck and hoist mount , 1905 Model
   2 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck centre
  2 raised mounts
      2 - 4.00" / 102 mm 50.0 cal guns - 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1905 Model
   1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck forward
  1 raised mount
   1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck aft
  1 raised mount
 Weight of broadside 160 lbs / 160 kg
 2 - 18.0" / 457 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 2.00" / 51 mm 160.00 ft / 48.77 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 2.00" / 51 mm 100.00 ft / 30.48 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 67 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 2.00" / 51 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 2 shafts, 64,846 shp / 48,375 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 4,000nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 313 tons

Complement:
 178 - 232

Cost:
 £0.291 million / $1.163 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 52 tons, 2.0 %
 Armour: 201 tons, 7.9 %
    - Belts: 195 tons, 7.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 6 tons, 0.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
 Machinery: 1,371 tons, 53.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 710 tons, 27.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 238 tons, 9.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   611 lbs / 277 Kg = 19.1 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.21
 Metacentric height 1.7 ft / 0.5 m
 Roll period: 12.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 64 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.25
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has raised forecastle,
   a normal bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.452 / 0.459
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.74 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 19.24 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 70 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 62
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 35.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Aft deck: 20.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Average freeboard:  18.08 ft / 5.51 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 180.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 133.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 8,983 Square feet or 835 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 70 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 37 lbs/sq ft or 180 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.48
  - Longitudinal: 2.58
  - Overall: 0.57
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

I hoping to try the Ger/CS/1905 design in Springsharp 3.0

I have this design dating from 1971 of a fast German scout, along the lines that were proposed in Great Britain in 1912. I called my design the Ger/CS/1905, and in our naval building program game, I was going to build the ship in large numbers. I have a nice, very large GIF file, along the lines of what I had seen on a really interesting site. This is the low res version of it:

If you click on it, you can see the high-res image in another window. I want to try this design in the Springsharp 3.0 Beta to see if I can make it work better than what is possible in Springsharp 2.1.

Monday, February 12, 2007

An anachronistic USS Kearsarge sloop

I thought I would try my hand at an anachronistic design for the USS Kearsarge, the sloop laid down in 1861. I did some research about American guns in the Civil War time period and made some conversion decisions:
American guns

11in SB Dahlgren    7.1 tons   6in/45    7 tons
9in SB Dahlgren     4.1 tons   5in/51    4 tons
32pdr SB            2 tons     4in/50    2 tons
8in Parrott RML     7.4 tons   6in/45    7.5 tons
6.4in Parrott RML   4.4 tons   5.5in/45  4.5 tons
5.3in Parrott RML   2.4 tons   4.7in/45  2.25 tons
4.2in Parrott RML   1.56 tons  4in/40    1.5 tons

A nice feature of Springsharp 3.0, of which I just now took advantage, is that you can specify the length in calibers, as well as the bore diameter. The Kearsarge originally had 1-4.2in Parrott RML, 2-11in SB, 4-32pdr SB guns. My anachronistic design has 2-6in/45, 1-4in/40, and 4-4in/50 guns. This is the resulting Springsharp 3.0 beta design:
USS Kearsarge, anachronistic, United States Sloop laid down 1907

Displacement:
 1,245 t light; 1,309 t standard; 1,576 t normal; 1,790 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (216.89 ft / 214.00 ft) x 33.00 ft x (15.50 / 17.08 ft)
 (66.11 m / 65.23 m) x 10.06 m  x (4.72 / 5.21 m)

Armament:
      2 - 6.00" / 152 mm 45.0 cal guns - 108.92lbs / 49.41kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Single mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
   Main guns limited to end-on fire
      1 - 4.00" / 102 mm 40.0 cal gun - 30.67lbs / 13.91kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading gun in deck and hoist mount , 1907 Model
   1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck aft
      4 - 4.00" / 102 mm 50.0 cal guns - 33.88lbs / 15.37kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1907 Model
   4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 384 lbs / 384 kg

Armour:
   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 2.00" / 51 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm
 3rd: 2.00" / 51 mm       -   2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 2 shafts, 5,342 ihp / 3,985 Kw = 19.00 kts
 Range 4,200nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 481 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 124 - 162

Cost:
 £0.164 million / $0.657 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 107 tons, 6.8 %
 Armour: 36 tons, 2.3 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 36 tons, 2.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
 Machinery: 592 tons, 37.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 572 tons, 36.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 331 tons, 21.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   865 lbs / 393 Kg = 8.0 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.06
 Metacentric height 1.1 ft / 0.3 m
 Roll period: 13.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 100 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 1.15
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.79

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.504 / 0.519
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.48 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 14.63 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 75
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  14.00 ft / 4.27 m,  14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  14.00 ft / 4.27 m,  14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  14.00 ft / 4.27 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Average freeboard:  14.39 ft / 4.39 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 143.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 101.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 4,722 Square feet or 439 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 58 lbs/sq ft or 285 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.82
  - Longitudinal: 6.91
  - Overall: 1.01
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

I don't understand if the error message that I see in the Springsharp 3.0 report is an error on my part, or a bug in the program

The Springsharp 3.0 Beta seems to be a nice improvement over the preceding version. The work is still moving forward and will culminate with a better speed-power calculation. The freeboard display should help me better understand what their program is doing and make better freeboard inputs. I have an image, but there seems to be a problem with the image size that I cannot correct now, until I get home, as I cannot upload files at work, as the control panel is blocked by the firewall. You can see the image here. I keep getting this error message in everything I do:
"Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 4 shafts, 172,585 shp / 128,748 Kw = 33.00 kts
 Range 6,200nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,615 tons (100% coal)
"

Sunday, February 11, 2007

A revised GB/CB/1905 battlecruiser done with Springsharp 3.0 Beta

I have revised my GB/CB/1905 design, done with Springsharp 3.0 Beta. I am getting somewhat better at using the program and had also decided to use coal-fired boilers, as that is more usual for 1905. The ship can still make 33 knots, with lighter weight machinery. I am still getting a Springsharp error that I do not understand. As you just saw, this is the photograph of one of the ships:

I lowered the freeboard by a foot, since there is plenty of seakeeping ability. This is the new Springsharp 3.0 freeboard display. I did that to save weight. I also lowered the maximum speed to the originally designed 33 knots. I fixed the bow type to be a ram. I had wondered why I was not able set that as an option. This is the Springsharp report:
GB/CB/1905, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1905 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 24,223 t light; 25,054 t standard; 28,729 t normal; 31,669 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (778.00 ft / 770.00 ft) x 85.00 ft x (27.00 / 29.21 ft)
 (237.13 m / 234.70 m) x 25.91 m  x (8.23 / 8.90 m)

Armament:
      4 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
   2 x Single mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      9 - 6.00" / 152 mm 45.0 cal guns - 108.92lbs / 49.41kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in deck mounts , 1905 Model
   1 x Single mount on centreline, aft evenly spread
   8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 4,466 lbs / 4,466 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 540.00 ft / 164.59 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 108 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 540.00 ft / 164.59 m 27.00 ft / 8.23 m

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

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

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 4 shafts, 172,585 shp / 128,748 Kw = 33.00 kts
 Range 6,200nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,615 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 1,103 - 1,434

Cost:
 £2.428 million / $9.710 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 908 tons, 3.2 %
 Armour: 5,190 tons, 18.1 %
    - Belts: 1,438 tons, 5.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,079 tons, 3.8 %
    - Armament: 791 tons, 2.8 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,720 tons, 6.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 162 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 8,629 tons, 30.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,962 tons, 34.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,505 tons, 15.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   31,789 lbs / 14,419 Kg = 36.8 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 3.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.39
 Metacentric height 7.0 ft / 2.1 m
 Roll period: 13.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 62 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.30
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.25

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low quarterdeck ,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.569 / 0.580
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.06 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.75 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 30.00 %,  31.00 ft / 9.45 m,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Forward deck: 34.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Aft deck: 3.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Quarter deck: 33.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Average freeboard:  25.17 ft / 7.67 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 143.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 216.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 46,499 Square feet or 4,320 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 141 lbs/sq ft or 690 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.98
  - Longitudinal: 1.22
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Saturday, February 10, 2007

A Bug?

I tried my first design in Springsharp 3.0 Beta. I wanted to see how the GB/CB/1905 designwould work. The one thing that I see is that despite the fact that I have the engine date set to 1909, the program is using 1898 for the drive date and is complaining, as that would a rather edgy date for a turbine-powered ship. I like the freeboard page and the gun pages, as they are an improvement over what we had before. The ship is a classic design from my friend Cliff, dating from 1971:

This is the Springsharp report:
GB/CB/1905, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1905 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
    24,982 t light; 25,799 t standard; 28,577 t normal; 30,800 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
    (770.00 ft / 770.00 ft) x 85.00 ft x (27.00 / 28.68 ft)
    (234.70 m / 234.70 m) x 25.91 m  x (8.23 / 8.74 m)

Armament:
      4 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 850.00lbs / 385.55kg shells, 90 per gun
      Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
      2 x Single mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
        2 raised mounts
      9 - 6.00" / 152 mm 45.0 cal guns - 100.00lbs / 45.36kg shells, 150 per gun
      Breech loading guns in deck mounts , 1905 Model
      1 x Single mount on centreline, aft evenly spread
      8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
        8 raised mounts
    Weight of broadside 4,300 lbs / 4,300 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:        Width (max)    Length (avg)        Height (avg)
    Main:    4.00" / 102 mm    540.00 ft / 164.59 m    16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    Ends:    Unarmoured
      Main Belt covers 108 % of normal length
      Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
        2.00" / 51 mm    540.00 ft / 164.59 m    27.00 ft / 8.23 m

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

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

Machinery:
    Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
    ERROR: Revise drives, 4 shafts, 193,771 shp / 144,553 Kw = 34.00 kts
    Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
    Bunker at max displacement = 5,001 tons

Complement:
    1,098 - 1,428

Cost:
    £2.479 million / $9.917 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
    Armament: 908 tons, 3.2 %
    Armour: 5,293 tons, 18.5 %
       - Belts: 1,438 tons, 5.0 %
       - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,079 tons, 3.8 %
       - Armament: 900 tons, 3.1 %
       - Armour Deck: 1,716 tons, 6.0 %
       - Conning Tower: 161 tons, 0.6 %
    Machinery: 8,808 tons, 30.8 %
    Hull, fittings & equipment: 10,439 tons, 36.5 %
    Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,595 tons, 12.6 %
    Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
    Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
      29,879 lbs / 13,553 Kg = 34.6 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 3.4 torpedoes
    Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.30
    Metacentric height 6.3 ft / 1.9 m
    Roll period: 14.3 seconds
    Steadiness    - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 58 %
            - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.36
    Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.16

Hull form characteristics:
    Hull has low quarterdeck ,
      a normal bow and a cruiser stern
    Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.566 / 0.574
    Length to Beam Ratio: 9.06 : 1
    'Natural speed' for length: 27.75 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: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
    Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
                Fore end,     Aft end
       - Forecastle:    30.00 %,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
       - Forward deck:    30.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
       - Aft deck:    7.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
       - Quarter deck:    33.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
       - Average freeboard:        26.17 ft / 7.98 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
    Space    - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 146.4 %
        - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 225.2 %
    Waterplane Area: 46,368 Square feet or 4,308 Square metres
    Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 108 %
    Structure weight / hull surface area: 147 lbs/sq ft or 718 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

The Springsharp 3.0 Beta is now available

The early Beta of Springsharp 3.0 is now available for download from the Springsharp website. I will be trying it today.

Friday, February 09, 2007

An anachronisitic armoured ram, the Belleisle

I thought that I would see what could be done with the Belleisle and Orion sort of ship. I made an anachronistic design from the Belleisle, that has turrets and 4 quick-firing guns (6pdr). The belt is a substantial 12in, although, like the original, the speed is too low. All I was able to achieve was 17 knots. The range is a meager 3,000nm at 11 knots. This is the Springsharp report:
Belleisle, Great Britain Armoured Ram laid down 1910

Displacement:
 4,337 t light; 4,567 t standard; 4,870 t normal; 5,112 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 257.00 ft / 254.00 ft x 52.00 ft x 21.00 ft (normal load)
 78.33 m / 77.42 m x 15.85 m  x 6.40 m

Armament:
      4 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (2x2 guns), 389.34lbs / 176.60kg shells, 1910 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
      4 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns in single mounts, 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1910 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 1,580 lbs / 717 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 150
 2 - 18.0" / 457.2 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 160.00 ft / 48.77 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
 Ends: 6.00" / 152 mm   94.00 ft / 28.65 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
   Main Belt covers 97 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  0.50" / 13 mm 120.00 ft / 36.58 m 16.50 ft / 5.03 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  10.0" / 254 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

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

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 6,893 ihp / 5,142 Kw = 17.00 kts
 Range 3,000nm at 11.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 545 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 290 - 378

Cost:
 £0.382 million / $1.528 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 197 tons, 4.1 %
 Armour: 2,187 tons, 44.9 %
    - Belts: 1,085 tons, 22.3 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 37 tons, 0.8 %
    - Armament: 466 tons, 9.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 543 tons, 11.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 56 tons, 1.1 %
 Machinery: 460 tons, 9.4 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,494 tons, 30.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 533 tons, 10.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   7,045 lbs / 3,195 Kg = 18.1 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.01
 Metacentric height 1.9 ft / 0.6 m
 Roll period: 15.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.59
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.09

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.615
 Length to Beam Ratio: 4.88 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 15.94 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 47
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Mid (50 %):  14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Stern:  14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Average freeboard: 14.24 ft / 4.34 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 102.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 83.1 %
 Waterplane Area: 9,792 Square feet or 910 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 98 lbs/sq ft or 477 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.87
  - Longitudinal: 3.56
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped

Thursday, February 08, 2007

The corvette June, and anachronistic design

I tried my hand at doing an 1860's corvette as an anachronistic design. I chose the Juno, as it had fewer guns. I had to extend my system to handle the 64pdr MLR. The anachronistic Juno can make 18 knots and has a twin 5.5in turret forward and 4-4in guns on the sides, in mounts with shields. The range is 4,700nm at 12 knots. This is the Springsharp report:
Juno, Great Britain Corvette laid down 1906

Displacement:
 1,641 t light; 1,710 t standard; 2,083 t normal; 2,381 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 203.94 ft / 200.00 ft x 40.00 ft x 16.50 ft (normal load)
 62.16 m / 60.96 m x 12.19 m  x 5.03 m

Armament:
      2 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns (1x2 guns), 83.19lbs / 37.73kg shells, 1906 Model
   Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
   on centreline forward
      4 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1906 Model
   Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 294 lbs / 134 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 150

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Ends: Unarmoured

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  0.50" / 13 mm 120.00 ft / 36.58 m 16.50 ft / 5.03 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 5,608 ihp / 4,184 Kw = 18.00 kts
 Range 4,700nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 671 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 153 - 200

Cost:
 £0.200 million / $0.799 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 37 tons, 1.8 %
 Armour: 215 tons, 10.3 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 37 tons, 1.8 %
    - Armament: 60 tons, 2.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 104 tons, 5.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 14 tons, 0.7 %
 Machinery: 795 tons, 38.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 595 tons, 28.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 442 tons, 21.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   1,244 lbs / 564 Kg = 15.0 x 5.5 " / 140 mm shells or 0.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
 Metacentric height 1.7 ft / 0.5 m
 Roll period: 12.7 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 87 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.36
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.25

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.552
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.00 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 14.14 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 65 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 70
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Mid (50 %):  14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Stern:  14.00 ft / 4.27 m
    - Average freeboard: 14.32 ft / 4.36 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 274.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 97.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 5,595 Square feet or 520 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 99 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 61 lbs/sq ft or 299 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.83
  - Longitudinal: 5.12
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is extremely poor
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Another anachronistic Shannon design

I have this drawing of an anachronistic Shannon armoured cruiser design. One thing that I changed was to use my new system for choosing gun calibers for the anachronistic design. This version has 2-8in, 7-7.6in and 6-6pdr QF guns. The belt is 9in and the speed is rather low at 17 knots. The range is also short at 3,350nm at 12 knots. This is the Springsharp report:
Shannon, anachronistic, Great Britain Armoured Cruiser laid down 1910

Displacement:
 4,992 t light; 5,221 t standard; 5,670 t normal; 6,030 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 275.00 ft / 275.00 ft x 54.00 ft x 22.00 ft (normal load)
 83.82 m / 83.82 m x 16.46 m  x 6.71 m

Armament:
      2 - 8.00" / 203 mm guns (1x2 guns), 256.00lbs / 116.12kg shells, 1910 Model
   Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
   on centreline forward
      3 - 7.60" / 193 mm guns (1x3 guns), 219.49lbs / 99.56kg shells, 1910 Model
   Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
   on centreline aft
      4 - 7.60" / 193 mm guns (2x2 guns), 219.49lbs / 99.56kg shells, 1910 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all amidships
      6 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns in single mounts, 5.65lbs / 2.56kg shells, 1910 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all aft, all raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 2,082 lbs / 945 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 160.00 ft / 48.77 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 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 160.00 ft / 48.77 m 22.00 ft / 6.71 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: 9.00" / 229 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  9.00" / 229 mm
 3rd: 8.00" / 203 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  8.00" / 203 mm

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

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 7,252 ihp / 5,410 Kw = 17.00 kts
 Range 3,350nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 809 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 326 - 424

Cost:
 £0.461 million / $1.844 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 260 tons, 4.6 %
 Armour: 2,246 tons, 39.6 %
    - Belts: 668 tons, 11.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 130 tons, 2.3 %
    - Armament: 779 tons, 13.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 607 tons, 10.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 62 tons, 1.1 %
 Machinery: 483 tons, 8.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,002 tons, 35.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 678 tons, 12.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   8,835 lbs / 4,007 Kg = 34.5 x 8.0 " / 203 mm shells or 2.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.02
 Metacentric height 2.1 ft / 0.6 m
 Roll period: 15.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.80
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.51

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.607
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.09 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 16.58 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 35
 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:  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Mid (50 %):  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Stern:  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard: 17.24 ft / 5.25 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 99.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 108.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 10,937 Square feet or 1,016 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 113 lbs/sq ft or 551 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.84
  - Longitudinal: 4.73
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

My anachronistic version of the Devastation

I have been contemplating an anachronistic Devastation design. I finally made the design today, and was amazed at how well the Devastation worked. The anachronistic ship has 4-10in guns and a speed of 19 knots. The range is 4,450nm at an amazing 15 knots. This is the Springsharp report:
Devastation, anachronistic, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1908

Displacement:
 7,579 t light; 7,866 t standard; 9,330 t normal; 10,501 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 310.05 ft / 307.00 ft x 62.00 ft x 26.67 ft (normal load)
 94.50 m / 93.57 m x 18.90 m  x 8.13 m

Armament:
      4 - 10.00" / 254 mm guns (2x2 guns), 500.00lbs / 226.80kg shells, 1908 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 2,000 lbs / 907 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 190.00 ft / 57.91 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: 8.50" / 216 mm 117.00 ft / 35.66 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Main Belt covers 95 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 190.00 ft / 57.91 m 26.67 ft / 8.13 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 10.0" / 254 mm  12.0" / 305 mm

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

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 15,113 ihp / 11,274 Kw = 19.00 kts
 Range 4,450nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,636 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 474 - 617

Cost:
 £0.668 million / $2.670 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 250 tons, 2.7 %
 Armour: 3,516 tons, 37.7 %
    - Belts: 1,698 tons, 18.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 187 tons, 2.0 %
    - Armament: 740 tons, 7.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 804 tons, 8.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 86 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 1,374 tons, 14.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,440 tons, 26.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,751 tons, 18.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   12,415 lbs / 5,631 Kg = 24.8 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 2.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
 Metacentric height 2.8 ft / 0.9 m
 Roll period: 15.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.40
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.643
 Length to Beam Ratio: 4.95 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 17.52 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
 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:  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Mid (50 %):  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Stern:  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard: 17.24 ft / 5.25 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 101.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 99.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 14,491 Square feet or 1,346 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 113 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 107 lbs/sq ft or 521 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.87
  - Longitudinal: 3.35
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

Monday, February 05, 2007

An anachronistic cruiser Inconstant

I wanted to design an anachronistic cruiser from the 1860's or 1870's. I chose the Inconstant, which was pretty amazing ship that was only broken up in 1956, after long service as a hulk. The Inconstant was originally an iron frigate, built to counter the American Wampanoag class ships. The Inconstant was designed by Sir Edward Reed and was completed in 1869. The original Inconstant was pretty fast, with a speed of 16.2 knots. My anachronistic Inconstant has a flush deck, four turrets, two with triple 7.6in guns and two with twin 7.6in guns, all distributed on the centerline at the same level. There are also 6-5.5in guns in casemates. My design has additional protection, as I gave it a 1in deck and torpedo bulkheads. The turrets and barbettes are 3in. This is the Springsharp report:
Inconstant, anachronistic version, Great Britain Cruiser laid down 1907

Displacement:
 4,928 t light; 5,198 t standard; 5,780 t normal; 6,245 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 348.05 ft / 345.00 ft x 50.00 ft x 25.50 ft (normal load)
 106.09 m / 105.16 m x 15.24 m  x 7.77 m

Armament:
      10 - 7.60" / 193 mm guns (4 mounts), 219.49lbs / 99.56kg shells, 1907 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, evenly spread
   Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
      6 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.19lbs / 37.73kg shells, 1907 Model
   Breech loading guns in casemate mounts 
   on side, all amidships
   6 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
 Weight of broadside 2,694 lbs / 1,222 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Ends: Unarmoured

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 170.00 ft / 51.82 m 25.50 ft / 7.77 m

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

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 15,693 ihp / 11,707 Kw = 21.50 kts
 Range 4,300nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,047 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 330 - 430

Cost:
 £0.699 million / $2.798 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 337 tons, 5.8 %
 Armour: 748 tons, 12.9 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 160 tons, 2.8 %
    - Armament: 361 tons, 6.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 205 tons, 3.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 21 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 1,744 tons, 30.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,100 tons, 36.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 852 tons, 14.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   2,992 lbs / 1,357 Kg = 13.6 x 7.6 " / 193 mm shells or 0.7 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
 Metacentric height 2.5 ft / 0.8 m
 Roll period: 13.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.91
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.30

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.460
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.90 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 18.57 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 40
 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:  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Mid (50 %):  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Stern:  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Average freeboard: 16.32 ft / 4.97 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 234.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 102.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 11,094 Square feet or 1,031 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 83 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 104 lbs/sq ft or 508 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.89
  - Longitudinal: 3.02
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is extremely poor
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Sunday, February 04, 2007

The anachronistic Achilles design

The anachronistic version of the Achilles is more capable in many ways. I chose the 1868 armament, which was 4-7in MLR on the upper deck and 4-8in MLR and 18-7in MLR on the main deck. The armour basis is just 4.5in, but the speed is now 23 knots and the range is 4,900nm at 14 knots. The anachronistic armament includes 4-6.5in in twin turrets with 6-5.5in in two triple turrets. The other 16-5.5in guns are in casemates. This is the Springsharp report:
Achilles, anachronistic version, Great Britain Armoured Cruiser laid down 1907

Displacement:
 8,143 t light; 8,520 t standard; 9,820 t normal; 10,860 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 385.15 ft / 382.00 ft x 58.00 ft x 27.00 ft (normal load)
 117.39 m / 116.43 m x 17.68 m  x 8.23 m

Armament:
      4 - 6.50" / 165 mm guns (2x2 guns), 137.31lbs / 62.28kg shells, 1907 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
      6 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns (2x3 guns), 83.19lbs / 37.73kg shells, 1907 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      16 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.19lbs / 37.73kg shells, 1907 Model
   Breech loading guns in casemate mounts 
   on side, evenly spread
   16 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
 Weight of broadside 2,379 lbs / 1,079 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.50" / 114 mm 225.00 ft / 68.58 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: 2.50" / 64 mm 147.00 ft / 44.81 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   10.00 ft / 3.05 m Unarmoured ends
   Main Belt covers 91 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 190.00 ft / 57.91 m 27.00 ft / 8.23 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 4.50" / 114 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.50" / 114 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm
 3rd: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 4.50" / 114 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 28,841 ihp / 21,516 Kw = 23.00 kts
 Range 4,900nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,339 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 493 - 641

Cost:
 £0.983 million / $3.934 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 297 tons, 3.0 %
 Armour: 1,962 tons, 20.0 %
    - Belts: 939 tons, 9.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 190 tons, 1.9 %
    - Armament: 496 tons, 5.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 293 tons, 3.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 44 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 3,205 tons, 32.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,679 tons, 27.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,677 tons, 17.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   6,146 lbs / 2,788 Kg = 44.8 x 6.5 " / 165 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.30
 Metacentric height 3.5 ft / 1.1 m
 Roll period: 13.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 57 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.43
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.13

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.575
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.59 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 19.54 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:  22.00 ft / 6.71 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: 18.32 ft / 5.58 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 196.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 110.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 15,823 Square feet or 1,470 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 91 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 100 lbs/sq ft or 488 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.90
  - Longitudinal: 2.56
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

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