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Saturday, March 31, 2007

An anachronistic Minotaur design

I had an anachronistic drawing of a Minotaur armoured cruiser, dating the the 1980's that I decided to do in Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta. This is a photograph of the pencil drawing:

The design works reasonably well in Springsharp. Probably, if had used turbines and oil fuel, it would have been very good. I may try that, yet. The ship has 4-9.2in/50, 10-7.5in/50, and 16-12pdr QF guns. The armour basis is 6in. The displacement is a bit high, but other wise, the ship is reasonably good. Of course, the machinery is light, although the boilers are coal-fired and the machinery is reciprocating. This is the Springsharp report:
Minotaur class, anchronistic, Great Britain Armoured Cruiser laid down 1908 (Engine 1912)

Displacement:
 13,162 t light; 13,784 t standard; 15,600 t normal; 17,053 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (526.43 ft / 520.00 ft) x 75.00 ft x (25.00 / 26.85 ft)
 (160.46 m / 158.50 m) x 22.86 m  x (7.62 / 8.18 m)

Armament:
      4 - 9.20" / 234 mm 50.0 cal guns - 380.00lbs / 172.37kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1908 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      10 - 7.50" / 191 mm 50.0 cal guns - 200.00lbs / 90.72kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1908 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
   2 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      16 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 45.0 cal guns - 12.00lbs / 5.44kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1908 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  4 raised mounts
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, aft deck forward
  4 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 3,712 lbs / 3,712 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 330.00 ft / 100.58 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 190.00 ft / 57.91 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   Main Belt covers 98 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 330.00 ft / 100.58 m 25.00 ft / 7.62 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  6.00" / 152 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  5.00" / 127 mm
 3rd: 3.00" / 76 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

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

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 39,750 ihp / 29,653 Kw = 24.00 kts
 Range 4,800nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,269 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 697 - 907

Cost:
 £1.256 million / $5.022 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,017 tons, 6.5 %
 Armour: 4,305 tons, 27.6 %
    - Belts: 1,828 tons, 11.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 305 tons, 2.0 %
    - Armament: 1,075 tons, 6.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,017 tons, 6.5 %
    - Conning Tower: 81 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 2,632 tons, 16.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,718 tons, 36.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,438 tons, 15.6 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   22,306 lbs / 10,118 Kg = 57.3 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 3.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
 Metacentric height 4.2 ft / 1.3 m
 Roll period: 15.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 75 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.60
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.50

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.560 / 0.570
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.93 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 22.80 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 9.00 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,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  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:  23.37 ft / 7.12 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 109.4 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 170.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 27,474 Square feet or 2,552 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 134 lbs/sq ft or 653 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.93
  - Longitudinal: 1.97
  - 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

Friday, March 30, 2007

A new Ideal Battleship design

I have changed my mind about one aspect of Colonel Cuniberti's Ideal Battleship design. If built, they would have had turbine machinery, not reciprocating. They also would have been started about the date that construction of the Dreadnought commenced. The one other aspect that I was not able to reproduce is that to achieve adequate characteristics, the displacement has to be much larger than 17,000 tons. The dimensions were retained: 521-1/2ft x 82ft x 27-1/2ft. The armament is the original 12-12in, but 40 caliber, not 45 caliber. The secondary armament is the 12-12pdr QF guns in casemates, with 6-47mm 3pdr pom-poms. There is the amazing 12in complete belt and 24 knot speed. I have assumed that the machinery would have to have been very light, and therefore, a possible weakness, rather than the usual heavy and robust machinery usually specified. This is the Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta report:
Ideal Battleship, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1905 (Engine 1912)

Displacement:
 18,945 t light; 19,960 t standard; 20,832 t normal; 21,529 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (533.50 ft / 521.50 ft) x 82.00 ft x (27.50 / 28.27 ft)
 (162.61 m / 158.95 m) x 24.99 m  x (8.38 / 8.62 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 40.0 cal guns - 850.00lbs / 385.55kg shells, 80 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 raised mounts
      4 - 12.00" / 305 mm 40.0 cal guns - 850.00lbs / 385.55kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1905 Model
   2 x Single mounts on sides, forward evenly spread
   2 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
      12 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 45.0 cal guns - 12.00lbs / 5.44kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts , 1905 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      6 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3.00lbs / 1.36kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts , 1905 Model
   6 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  6 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 10,362 lbs / 10,362 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 171.50 ft / 52.27 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Upper: 12.0" / 305 mm 280.00 ft / 85.34 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 103 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 350.00 ft / 106.68 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: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

Machinery:
 Coal and oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 4 shafts, 49,144 shp / 36,662 Kw = 24.00 kts
 Range 4,500nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,569 tons

Complement:
 866 - 1,127

Cost:
 £1.771 million / $7.085 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,725 tons, 8.3 %
 Armour: 8,006 tons, 38.4 %
    - Belts: 3,304 tons, 15.9 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 356 tons, 1.7 %
    - Armament: 2,971 tons, 14.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,179 tons, 5.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 196 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 1,960 tons, 9.4 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,987 tons, 38.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,887 tons, 9.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   28,458 lbs / 12,908 Kg = 32.9 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 4.7 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.02
 Metacentric height 3.9 ft / 1.2 m
 Roll period: 17.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.89
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has raised forecastle,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.620 / 0.623
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.36 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 22.84 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 49
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 15.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Aft deck: 40.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Average freeboard:  20.20 ft / 6.16 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 89.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 133.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 31,864 Square feet or 2,960 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 172 lbs/sq ft or 841 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.93
  - Longitudinal: 1.82
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Another attempt at a photo of Colonel Cunibert's "Ideal Battleship"

I keep trying to improve my photo of Colonel Cuniberti's "Ideal Battleship for the British Fleet" from the 1903 Jane's All the World's Fighting Ships. This is my latest attempt. I will probably see if I can do a better Springsharp design than I could with the earlier version of Springsharp.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Speaking of fast ships: the Capitani Romani class

Frank Fox has told me that he now believes that the Italians treated the high-speed run of the Capitani Romani class light cruisers as a trial, and may have lightened the ships, so that the extreme speed (43 knots?) was possible and achieved.

A extremely fast ship: GB/CB/1921

I apologize for beating on the large, fast ship topic so hard, but what I have today explores the outer limits of what is possible. I actually suspect that even faster is possible. This is a 42-knot design, with the lightest machinery, that has an 8in armour basis and 6-14in/50, 16-5.5in QF, 6-4.7in AA, and 32-40mm AA guns. The freeboard is quite high and the displacement was reduced. I was pleasantly surprised that the protection and machinery size are as good as they are. This is the Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta report:
GB/CB/1921, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1921 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 45,537 t light; 47,389 t standard; 49,064 t normal; 50,405 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (929.48 ft / 924.00 ft) x 118.00 ft x (35.00 / 35.65 ft)
 (283.31 m / 281.64 m) x 35.97 m  x (10.67 / 10.87 m)

Armament:
      6 - 14.00" / 356 mm 50.0 cal guns - 1,452.00lbs / 658.62kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1921 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline, forward evenly spread
  1 raised mount
      16 - 5.50" / 140 mm 45.0 cal guns - 85.00lbs / 38.56kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1921 Model
   8 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
      6 - 4.70" / 119 mm 45.0 cal guns - 52.35lbs / 23.75kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1921 Model
   6 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
  6 raised mounts
      32 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck mounts , 1921 Model
   8 x 4 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
  6 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 10,450 lbs / 10,450 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 570.00 ft / 173.74 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 95 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 570.00 ft / 173.74 m 35.00 ft / 10.67 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 8 shafts, 476,598 shp / 355,542 Kw = 42.00 kts
 Range 5,600nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,015 tons

Complement:
 1,647 - 2,142

Cost:
 £10.829 million / $43.317 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,054 tons, 4.2 %
 Armour: 11,064 tons, 22.5 %
    - Belts: 3,125 tons, 6.4 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,476 tons, 3.0 %
    - Armament: 2,222 tons, 4.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 4,010 tons, 8.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 231 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 11,402 tons, 23.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 21,804 tons, 44.4 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,527 tons, 7.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   67,884 lbs / 30,792 Kg = 49.5 x 14.0 " / 356 mm shells or 8.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.22
 Metacentric height 9.3 ft / 2.8 m
 Roll period: 16.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.34
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has raised forecastle, rise forward of midbreak,
   a normal bow and large transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.450 / 0.454
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.83 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 35.64 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 8.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  39.00 ft / 11.89 m,  34.00 ft / 10.36 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  34.00 ft / 10.36 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  34.00 ft / 10.36 m
    - Average freeboard:  33.83 ft / 10.31 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 115.3 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 277.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 72,244 Square feet or 6,712 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 205 lbs/sq ft or 999 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.93
  - Longitudinal: 1.83
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Near the limits of what is possible: a 40-knot GB/CB/1905

This is probably not a desirable thing to do, but I had wondered what was possible with the GB/CB/1905 design. It may be that by increasing the freeboard, I might have gotten another knot or two from the ship, but settled for 40 knots. I implemented various weight-saving measures and went to six shafts. Six shafts on a ship with an 85ft beam is not very practical, to say the least. The power plant must use the lightest machinery possible, and really, this is an anachronistic design, as it seems necessary to use geared turbines before their time, to satisfy Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta. Yesterday's design is probably more like what is practically achievable with acceptable protection (if you don't mind a 4in belt, at least). This is an older photo of a ship of the class:

By clicking on the image, you can pop the larger version of the photo. This is the Springsharp report:
GB/CB/1905 very extreme, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1905 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 21,902 t light; 22,620 t standard; 23,667 t normal; 24,504 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (778.00 ft / 770.00 ft) x 85.00 ft x (28.00 / 28.70 ft)
 (237.13 m / 234.70 m) x 25.91 m  x (8.53 / 8.75 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
      9 - 6.00" / 152 mm 50.0 cal guns - 100.00lbs / 45.36kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1905 Model
   8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
   1 x Single mount on centreline, aft evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 4,300 lbs / 4,300 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 410.00 ft / 124.97 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 82 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 410.00 ft / 124.97 m 28.00 ft / 8.53 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm
 2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 316,443 shp / 236,066 Kw = 40.00 kts
 Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,883 tons

Complement:
 953 - 1,240

Cost:
 £2.260 million / $9.039 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 923 tons, 3.9 %
 Armour: 3,389 tons, 14.3 %
    - Belts: 854 tons, 3.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 425 tons, 1.8 %
    - Armament: 492 tons, 2.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,547 tons, 6.5 %
    - Conning Tower: 71 tons, 0.3 %
 Machinery: 7,570 tons, 32.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 10,427 tons, 44.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,765 tons, 7.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   22,968 lbs / 10,418 Kg = 26.6 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 2.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.21
 Metacentric height 5.6 ft / 1.7 m
 Roll period: 15.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.39
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low quarterdeck ,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.452 / 0.457
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.06 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.75 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 52
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  34.00 ft / 10.36 m,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m,  30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Aft deck: 20.00 %,  30.00 ft / 9.14 m,  30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Quarter deck: 30.00 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Average freeboard:  28.61 ft / 8.72 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 157.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 255.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 41,817 Square feet or 3,885 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 153 lbs/sq ft or 748 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.80
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

An extreme sports GB/CB/1905 battlecruiser

Since I can run Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta here at lunch, I thought that I would see just how much speed I could achieve, through really radical measures. The answer is 38.5 knots is what is achievable, doing what I just did. The design is very extreme, as I use very lightweight machinery. To optimize power and strength, I lowered the displacement considerably, so that there is no excess weight going into the hull. As you may recall, this is the best photo:

We could probably achieve some monster speed by allowing for more than four shafts and raising total power about 300,000 SHP. In any case, to not have an error, Springsharp required me to use geared turbines, which is not very likely in real life. Of course, the whole idea of a ship like this would never have been accepted. This is the Springsharp report:
GB/CB/1905 extreme, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1905 (Engine 1941)

Displacement:
 22,731 t light; 23,472 t standard; 24,838 t normal; 25,931 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (778.00 ft / 770.00 ft) x 85.00 ft x (27.50 / 28.39 ft)
 (237.13 m / 234.70 m) x 25.91 m  x (8.38 / 8.65 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
      9 - 6.00" / 152 mm 50.0 cal guns - 100.00lbs / 45.36kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1905 Model
   8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
   1 x Single mount on centreline, aft evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 4,300 lbs / 4,300 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 420.00 ft / 128.02 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 84 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.50" / 38 mm 420.00 ft / 128.02 m 27.50 ft / 8.38 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  6.00" / 152 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 283,267 shp / 211,317 Kw = 38.50 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,458 tons

Complement:
 989 - 1,286

Cost:
 £2.277 million / $9.108 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 923 tons, 3.7 %
 Armour: 4,252 tons, 17.1 %
    - Belts: 1,163 tons, 4.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 641 tons, 2.6 %
    - Armament: 750 tons, 3.0 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,589 tons, 6.4 %
    - Conning Tower: 110 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 7,486 tons, 30.1 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 10,477 tons, 42.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,108 tons, 8.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   26,479 lbs / 12,011 Kg = 30.6 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 3.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
 Metacentric height 5.5 ft / 1.7 m
 Roll period: 15.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 56 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.40
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.05

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low quarterdeck ,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.483 / 0.488
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.06 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.75 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  34.00 ft / 10.36 m,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m,  30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Aft deck: 20.00 %,  30.00 ft / 9.14 m,  30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Quarter deck: 30.00 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Average freeboard:  28.61 ft / 8.72 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 148.4 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 253.1 %
 Waterplane Area: 42,946 Square feet or 3,990 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 151 lbs/sq ft or 739 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.67
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

waddya know? I can run Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta at work, after all

Because Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta doesn't have to be installed, and therefore doesn't mess with the registry, I can run it at work! I have a little project for lunchtime...

Monday, March 26, 2007

Speed and protection

I have some of my photographs on my cube walls at work. My latest GB/CB/1905 photo is prominently placed:

The two main criticisms of the design, by several prominent authors, have been that the ship needed to have eight guns, so that it could fire alternate four gun salvos, as was the British practice. The other is that the belt is too thin, at four inches. One author is prepared to sacrifice speed to achieve better protection while another told me that 6in would be adequate to protect against splinters. He would have an armament of 8-12in/45 guns and a 6in belt. He also told me that Sir Philip Watts would have approved of my design.

(notice the date on the drawing)

Sunday, March 25, 2007

My anachronistic Hood design

My latest design, an anchronistic Hood, is based on a new quick-and-dirty pencil sketch:

The superfiring turret is twin while the others are triple. This is the Springsharp report:
Hood, anachronistic, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1918 (Engine 1923)

Displacement:
 39,971 t light; 41,702 t standard; 44,036 t normal; 45,903 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (861.23 ft / 855.00 ft) x 105.00 ft x (29.00 / 30.00 ft)
 (262.50 m / 260.60 m) x 32.00 m  x (8.84 / 9.14 m)

Armament:
      9 - 15.00" / 381 mm 42.0 cal guns - 1,636.38lbs / 742.25kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1918 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline, forward evenly spread
   1 x Twin mount on centreline, forward evenly spread
  1 raised mount
      16 - 5.50" / 140 mm 50.0 cal guns - 85.00lbs / 38.56kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1918 Model
   8 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  8 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 16,087 lbs / 16,087 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 425.00 ft / 129.54 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 430.00 ft / 131.06 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Upper: 8.00" / 203 mm 425.00 ft / 129.54 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 76 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 425.00 ft / 129.54 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 13.0" / 330 mm 9.00" / 229 mm  13.0" / 330 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 4.00" / 102 mm, Conning tower: 13.00" / 330 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 173,386 shp / 129,346 Kw = 31.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,202 tons

Complement:
 1,519 - 1,975

Cost:
 £7.280 million / $29.122 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,640 tons, 6.0 %
 Armour: 14,096 tons, 32.0 %
    - Belts: 4,072 tons, 9.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 912 tons, 2.1 %
    - Armament: 3,940 tons, 8.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 4,823 tons, 11.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 349 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 5,795 tons, 13.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 18,378 tons, 41.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,065 tons, 9.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   65,791 lbs / 29,842 Kg = 39.0 x 15.0 " / 381 mm shells or 9.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
 Metacentric height 6.7 ft / 2.0 m
 Roll period: 17.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 58 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.65
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.16

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.592 / 0.596
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.14 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.24 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 9.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 1.00 ft / 0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Average freeboard:  25.68 ft / 7.83 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 89.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 201.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 65,170 Square feet or 6,055 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 201 lbs/sq ft or 983 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.99
  - Longitudinal: 1.14
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Saturday, March 24, 2007

The drawing of the anachronistic Repulse

This is the quick drawing I made of the anachronistic Repulse. I find that having a sketch results in a better design, as things such as the belt length have a more reasonable basis.

I had to reduce to image size to work in Internet Explorer (which most people use). I use Mozilla Firefox, and the larger size worked just fine with it.

My anachronistic Repulse design

Today, I thought that I would try an anachronistic Repulse design, somewhat along the lines of what I had drawn almost 20 years ago. My pencil drawing from tonight is not as polished as what I had done in the past, sadly. My main tweaks are a flush-decked hull and two triple 15in turrets forward. The side armour is 6in, with 4in at the ends. The deck is 3in with a 1.5in torpedo bulkhead. The maximum on the turrets and barbettes is 8in. I settled for a speed of 31 knots. The design works reasonably well, except that the displacement needed to be substantially more to achieve adequate strength, while keeping the draft at just 27ft. This is the Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta report:
Repulse, anachronistic, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1914 (Engine 1917)

Displacement:
 28,106 t light; 29,355 t standard; 31,201 t normal; 32,678 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (800.23 ft / 794.00 ft) x 90.00 ft x (27.00 / 28.02 ft)
 (243.91 m / 242.01 m) x 27.43 m  x (8.23 / 8.54 m)

Armament:
      6 - 15.00" / 381 mm 42.0 cal guns - 1,940.00lbs / 879.97kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1914 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline, forward evenly spread
  1 raised mount
      16 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.27lbs / 14.64kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1914 Model
   8 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  8 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 12,156 lbs / 12,156 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 425.00 ft / 129.54 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   49.00 ft / 14.94 m Unarmoured ends
   Main Belt covers 82 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 425.00 ft / 129.54 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
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 140,589 shp / 104,879 Kw = 31.00 kts
 Range 5,600nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,323 tons

Complement:
 1,173 - 1,525

Cost:
 £3.321 million / $13.285 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,635 tons, 5.2 %
 Armour: 7,824 tons, 25.1 %
    - Belts: 2,542 tons, 8.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 849 tons, 2.7 %
    - Armament: 1,453 tons, 4.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,810 tons, 9.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 171 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 5,154 tons, 16.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 14,052 tons, 45.0 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,095 tons, 9.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   43,986 lbs / 19,952 Kg = 26.1 x 15.0 " / 381 mm shells or 5.8 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
 Metacentric height 5.3 ft / 1.6 m
 Roll period: 16.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 64 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.96
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.28

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.566 / 0.571
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.82 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.18 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 9.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 1.00 ft / 0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Average freeboard:  25.68 ft / 7.83 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 103.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 203.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 50,626 Square feet or 4,703 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 187 lbs/sq ft or 913 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.37
  - 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

Friday, March 23, 2007

Give me a fast ship

I was interested to read, in Friedman's U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History about how the U.S. Navy decided in the 1920's that they did not need large, fast ships above the size of destroyers. The reasoning was that aviation obviated the need for speed. The last fast ship designs that were actually built, in some form, in the period were the Omaha class light cruisers and the Lexington and Saratoga. The heavy cruisers were built with moderate speeds, despite the American toying, in the 1916 to 1921 period with 35-knot ships. The Japanese went ahead and built their 35 knot 8in-gunned cruisers, but the Americans didn't. This attitude about speed prevailed up through the early 1940's. The only reason that the Iowa class fast battleships were built is that they were championed by President Roosevelt. The navy opposed them. They were such a "bad idea" that they lasted in service much longer than any other battleship.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Something about my anachronistic Inconstant design is bothering Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta

I was surprised that I am having so much trouble with Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta, tonight. It has been well-behaved as of late, so this is a nasty surprise. The problem has to do with boilers, percentage coal, and drives. I still have a drive error and can't tell why. I am trying to make an anachronistic Inconstant design. For whatever reason, this has triggered by Springsharp woes. I used my one rule for converting 1860's and 1870's guns to more modern guns, so that the anachronistic ship has 10-7.6in/40 BLR and 6-5.5in/50 QF guns. I moved all the guns to casemates on the hull, so that fixed my recoil and stability problems. The ship is pretty well-protected with a 3in deck and a 1in torpedo bulkhead. This is the Springsharp report:
Inconstant, anachronistic, Great Britain Cruiser laid down 1907 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 4,267 t light; 4,598 t standard; 5,684 t normal; 6,553 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (348.00 ft / 337.00 ft) x 50.00 ft x (25.50 / 28.30 ft)
 (106.07 m / 102.72 m) x 15.24 m  x (7.77 / 8.63 m)

Armament:
      10 - 7.60" / 193 mm 40.0 cal guns - 210.00lbs / 95.25kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in casemate mounts , 1907 Model
   10 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  10 hull mounts in casemates- Limited use in heavy seas
      6 - 5.50" / 140 mm 50.0 cal guns - 85.00lbs / 38.56kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts , 1907 Model
   6 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  6 hull mounts in casemates- Limited use in heavy seas
 Weight of broadside 2,610 lbs / 2,610 kg

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

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 215.00 ft / 65.53 m 25.50 ft / 7.77 m

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

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 2 shafts, 31,724 shp / 23,666 Kw = 25.50 kts
 Range 5,600nm at 16.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,955 tons

Complement:
 326 - 425

Cost:
 £0.467 million / $1.867 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 374 tons, 6.6 %
 Armour: 1,146 tons, 20.2 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 203 tons, 3.6 %
    - Armament: 313 tons, 5.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 603 tons, 10.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 27 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 1,442 tons, 25.4 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,541 tons, 27.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,417 tons, 24.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   6,990 lbs / 3,170 Kg = 31.8 x 7.6 " / 193 mm shells or 1.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.96
 Metacentric height 5.2 ft / 1.6 m
 Roll period: 9.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 62 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.18
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.24

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a ram bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.463 / 0.481
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.74 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 18.36 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 63 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -3.00 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 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard:  16.59 ft / 5.06 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 172.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 103.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 10,865 Square feet or 1,009 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 78 lbs/sq ft or 379 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.86
  - Longitudinal: 4.11
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

The anachronistic Ger/BB/1905 design

My anachronistic Ger/BB/1905 works well in Springsharp, if I follow my usual practices. The speed is much higher than what I had envisioned. I had expected that the ship could be pressed to reach 22 nkots. With the sort of machinery that the design has, the ship can reach 25 knots and has 15 knot cruising speed. The ship is much better armed and protected than the Nassau type. This is the Springsharp report:
Ger/BB/1905 anachronistic, Germany Battleship laid down 1908 (Engine 1911)

Displacement:
 17,913 t light; 19,019 t standard; 20,828 t normal; 22,275 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (490.00 ft / 490.00 ft) x 90.00 ft x (29.00 / 30.61 ft)
 (149.35 m / 149.35 m) x 27.43 m  x (8.84 / 9.33 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1908 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm 45.0 cal guns - 108.92lbs / 49.41kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts , 1908 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
 Weight of broadside 8,278 lbs / 8,278 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 310.00 ft / 94.49 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 8.00" / 203 mm 310.00 ft / 94.49 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 97 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 310.00 ft / 94.49 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 2nd: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  6.00" / 152 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 59,633 shp / 44,486 Kw = 25.00 kts
 Range 5,600nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,255 tons

Complement:
 866 - 1,126

Cost:
 £1.678 million / $6.713 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,462 tons, 7.0 %
 Armour: 7,388 tons, 35.5 %
    - Belts: 2,223 tons, 10.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 665 tons, 3.2 %
    - Armament: 1,984 tons, 9.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,321 tons, 11.1 %
    - Conning Tower: 196 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 2,420 tons, 11.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,257 tons, 34.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,915 tons, 14.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   29,590 lbs / 13,422 Kg = 34.2 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
 Metacentric height 6.0 ft / 1.8 m
 Roll period: 15.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.46
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.570 / 0.577
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.44 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 22.14 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 51
 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: 20.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard:  19.70 ft / 6.00 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 90.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 132.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 31,360 Square feet or 2,913 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 110 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 163 lbs/sq ft or 794 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.92
  - Longitudinal: 2.26
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

My flush-decked, 1905 German battleship is also an anchronistic design

I was staring at a print of my 1905 German flush-decked battleship photo, and realized that this was another anachronistic design. It is a ship with the dimensions of the Nassau (I think), with super-firing turrets and the forecastle slanting up to a higher, straight bow:

If the design is not using the Nassau dimensions, the dimensions used are not much larger. The bridge structure and mast are more like 1915 or later.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

The anachronistic Indefatigable with oil-fired boilers

The anachronistic Indefatigable makes a much better ship with oil-fired boilers. This version can make a top speed of 27 knots. The ship is otherwise the same. This is the Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta report:
Indefatigable class, anachronistic, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1911 (Engine 1914)

Displacement:
 16,713 t light; 17,475 t standard; 18,958 t normal; 20,144 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (585.75 ft / 580.00 ft) x 80.00 ft x (26.00 / 27.28 ft)
 (178.54 m / 176.78 m) x 24.38 m  x (7.92 / 8.32 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 , 1911 Model
   1 x Twin mount on centreline, forward evenly spread
  1 raised mount
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
      16 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.27lbs / 14.64kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1911 Model
   8 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  8 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 7,316 lbs / 7,316 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 390.00 ft / 118.87 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 190.00 ft / 57.91 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   Main Belt covers 103 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 390.00 ft / 118.87 m 26.00 ft / 7.92 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  7.00" / 178 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 68,109 shp / 50,809 Kw = 27.00 kts
 Range 5,600nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,668 tons

Complement:
 807 - 1,050

Cost:
 £1.653 million / $6.612 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,353 tons, 7.1 %
 Armour: 5,293 tons, 27.9 %
    - Belts: 2,050 tons, 10.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 750 tons, 4.0 %
    - Armament: 1,295 tons, 6.8 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,198 tons, 6.3 %
    - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
 Machinery: 2,624 tons, 13.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,962 tons, 42.0 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,245 tons, 11.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   29,281 lbs / 13,282 Kg = 33.9 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 4.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 4.9 ft / 1.5 m
 Roll period: 15.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 56 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.82
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.40

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.550 / 0.557
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.25 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.08 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 40
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 9.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 1.00 ft / 0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  30.00 ft / 9.14 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Average freeboard:  25.75 ft / 7.85 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 104.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 192.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 32,382 Square feet or 3,008 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 110 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 157 lbs/sq ft or 768 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.91
  - Longitudinal: 2.22
  - 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

An anachronistic Indefatigable design

One of my drawings in the same style as the Cressy is the Indefatigable. This is another anachronistic design with a flush deck and several triple turrets. I have a drawing:

For some reason, the photograph is better. This is the Springsharp report:
Indefatigable class, anachronistic, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1911 (Engine 1914)

Displacement:
 16,158 t light; 16,920 t standard; 18,958 t normal; 20,588 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (585.75 ft / 580.00 ft) x 80.00 ft x (26.00 / 27.76 ft)
 (178.54 m / 176.78 m) x 24.38 m  x (7.92 / 8.46 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 , 1911 Model
   1 x Twin mount on centreline, forward evenly spread
  1 raised mount
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
      16 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.27lbs / 14.64kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1911 Model
   8 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  8 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 7,316 lbs / 7,316 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 390.00 ft / 118.87 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 190.00 ft / 57.91 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   Main Belt covers 103 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 390.00 ft / 118.87 m 26.00 ft / 7.92 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  7.00" / 178 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 50,216 shp / 37,461 Kw = 25.00 kts
 Range 5,600nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,668 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 807 - 1,050

Cost:
 £1.564 million / $6.256 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,353 tons, 7.1 %
 Armour: 5,293 tons, 27.9 %
    - Belts: 2,050 tons, 10.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 750 tons, 4.0 %
    - Armament: 1,295 tons, 6.8 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,198 tons, 6.3 %
    - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
 Machinery: 2,128 tons, 11.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,903 tons, 41.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,800 tons, 14.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   32,782 lbs / 14,870 Kg = 37.9 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
 Metacentric height 4.9 ft / 1.5 m
 Roll period: 15.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 67 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.89
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.68

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.550 / 0.559
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.25 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.08 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 40
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 9.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 1.00 ft / 0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  30.00 ft / 9.14 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Average freeboard:  25.75 ft / 7.85 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 93.4 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 192.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 32,382 Square feet or 3,008 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 156 lbs/sq ft or 762 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.91
  - Longitudinal: 2.25
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

I wish that there was a convenient way in Springsharp to have paddle wheel propulsion

I have this anachronistic drawing of the American paddle frigate Mississippi that fought for the Union in the American Civil War. I wish that I could do a Springsharp design for the drawing, but it seems impossible, as Springsharp is hard-wired for screw propulsion. I may still post a photograph of my drawing, as I like how the drawing that I did in the latter 1980s looks.

Monday, March 19, 2007

An anachronistic Cressy design

One of my alternate looks is rather 1930's Italian-looking (I fancy). This is another drawing dating from the 1980's:

The ship works pretty well in Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta. I used coal-fired boilers and reciprocating machinery. I used something similar to the original armament, except arranged differently. I omitted any guns smaller than 6in. This is the Springsharp report:
Cressy class, Great Britain Armoured Cruiser laid down 1911 (Engine 1914)

Displacement:
 9,675 t light; 10,080 t standard; 12,000 t normal; 13,536 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (477.48 ft / 472.00 ft) x 69.00 ft x (26.00 / 28.49 ft)
 (145.54 m / 143.87 m) x 21.03 m  x (7.92 / 8.68 m)

Armament:
      2 - 9.20" / 234 mm 45.0 cal guns - 392.66lbs / 178.11kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mount , 1911 Model
   1 x Twin mount on centreline, forward deck forward
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm 45.0 cal guns - 100.00lbs / 45.36kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1911 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  1 raised mount - superfiring
   2 x Triple mounts on sides, forward deck aft
 Weight of broadside 1,985 lbs / 1,985 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 300.00 ft / 91.44 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 172.00 ft / 52.43 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   Main Belt covers 98 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 300.00 ft / 91.44 m 26.00 ft / 7.92 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  6.00" / 152 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

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

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 34,142 ihp / 25,470 Kw = 24.00 kts
 Range 6,200nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,455 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 573 - 745

Cost:
 £0.850 million / $3.400 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 473 tons, 3.9 %
 Armour: 3,399 tons, 28.3 %
    - Belts: 1,655 tons, 13.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 289 tons, 2.4 %
    - Armament: 588 tons, 4.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 800 tons, 6.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 68 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 2,246 tons, 18.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,795 tons, 31.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,325 tons, 19.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   16,829 lbs / 7,633 Kg = 43.2 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 2.9 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.30
 Metacentric height 4.6 ft / 1.4 m
 Roll period: 13.6 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 65 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.26
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.29

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.496 / 0.511
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.84 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 21.73 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 9.00 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 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  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:  17.75 ft / 5.41 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 107.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 123.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 21,621 Square feet or 2,009 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 123 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 113 lbs/sq ft or 551 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.93
  - Longitudinal: 1.88
  - 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

Making anachronistic ship designs

My approach to making an anachronistic design of a ship dating from the 1860's, usually dated after 1905 but before 1914, is to take the original dimensions and make drawing to look like what you want. You can see the sort of look that has struck my fancy in the past. If the original ship had a waterline length equal to the length "between perpendiculars", I might multiply that by 1.045, or some number like that, to produce a waterline length for a more modern looking hull. The trickiest part is choosing an armament. For ships such as screw frigates, corvettes, or sloops, with many guns, I would rather use a smaller number of larger guns. I am not sure what system I used 18 or 19 years ago. I am not sure of a principled way to do it. At this distance, I would guess that I chose the armament to be rather heavy, using standard sized guns, and used that. For wooden ships, I would rather not use much more than a protective deck and possibly a torpedo bulkhead. Obviously, you also need to armour turrets and barbettes.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

My anachornistic Mersey screw frigate design

I have this pencil drawing from the 1980's of an anachronistic Mersey screw frigate design:

Amazingly enough, this design works well in Springsharp. The armament is 7-7in/45 BLR and 6-5.5in/45 BLR guns. The protection is mainly a 2in deck, with the guns protected, as well as there being a 1in torpedo bulkhead. The speed is decent, at 21 knots. The cruising speed is high, at 15 knots, as that helps the recoil issue, as well as stability. This is the Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta report:
Mersey, anachronistic, Great Britain Cruiser (screw frigate) laid down 1907 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 4,353 t light; 4,608 t standard; 5,640 t normal; 6,467 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (345.00 ft / 345.00 ft) x 52.00 ft x (21.00 / 23.45 ft)
 (105.16 m / 105.16 m) x 15.85 m  x (6.40 / 7.15 m)

Armament:
      7 - 7.00" / 178 mm 45.0 cal guns - 170.00lbs / 77.11kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline, forward deck forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
   1 x Triple mount on centreline, aft deck aft
      6 - 5.50" / 140 mm 45.0 cal guns - 85.00lbs / 38.56kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
   1 x Twin mount on centreline, aft deck forward
  1 raised mount
 Weight of broadside 1,700 lbs / 1,700 kg

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

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 225.00 ft / 68.58 m 21.00 ft / 6.40 m

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

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

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 1 shaft, 14,417 ihp / 10,755 Kw = 21.00 kts
 Range 4,700nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,859 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 325 - 423

Cost:
 £0.469 million / $1.877 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 389 tons, 6.9 %
 Armour: 1,073 tons, 19.0 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 175 tons, 3.1 %
    - Armament: 435 tons, 7.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 436 tons, 7.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 27 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 1,109 tons, 19.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,978 tons, 35.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,287 tons, 22.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   6,315 lbs / 2,864 Kg = 36.8 x 7.0 " / 178 mm shells or 1.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
 Metacentric height 2.4 ft / 0.7 m
 Roll period: 14.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 63 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.72
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.27

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.524 / 0.538
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.63 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 18.57 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 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: 20.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 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,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Average freeboard:  15.51 ft / 4.73 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 147.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 105.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 11,797 Square feet or 1,096 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 100 lbs/sq ft or 489 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.90
  - Longitudinal: 2.57
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Springsharp forced me to use geared turbines

For my anachronistic Agincourt design, to make Springsharp "happy" required that I use geared turbines for the drive, due to the machinery date. This is my original pencil drawing:

The 12in guns are in two quadruple and two triple turrets, with the triple in the superfiring position. I gave up and used oil fuel, since that seemed to be necessary to make the design work better. The 20-6in guns are in four triple and four twin turrets. This is the Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta report:
Agincourt, anachronistic, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1916 (Engine 1919)

Displacement:
 25,197 t light; 26,518 t standard; 27,503 t normal; 28,291 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (675.91 ft / 671.00 ft) x 89.00 ft x (27.00 / 27.63 ft)
 (206.02 m / 204.52 m) x 27.13 m  x (8.23 / 8.42 m)

Armament:
      14 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 850.00lbs / 385.55kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1916 Model
   4 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      20 - 6.00" / 152 mm 45.0 cal guns - 100.00lbs / 45.36kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1916 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
   4 x Triple mounts on sides amidships
      10 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 50.0 cal guns - 12.00lbs / 5.44kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts , 1916 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
   1 x Twin mount on centreline, aft deck forward
  1 raised mount
 Weight of broadside 14,020 lbs / 14,020 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 440.00 ft / 134.11 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 5.00" / 127 mm 200.00 ft / 60.96 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   31.00 ft / 9.45 m Unarmoured ends
 Upper: 6.00" / 152 mm 440.00 ft / 134.11 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 101 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 440.00 ft / 134.11 m 27.00 ft / 8.23 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: 5.00" / 127 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  5.00" / 127 mm
 3rd: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 52,378 shp / 39,074 Kw = 24.00 kts
 Range 5,400nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,772 tons

Complement:
 1,067 - 1,388

Cost:
 £4.095 million / $16.382 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,702 tons, 9.8 %
 Armour: 9,390 tons, 34.1 %
    - Belts: 2,561 tons, 9.3 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 879 tons, 3.2 %
    - Armament: 3,355 tons, 12.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,417 tons, 8.8 %
    - Conning Tower: 177 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 1,860 tons, 6.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,328 tons, 44.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,306 tons, 8.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   46,458 lbs / 21,073 Kg = 53.8 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 7.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
 Metacentric height 5.4 ft / 1.7 m
 Roll period: 16.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 41 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.94
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.32

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.597 / 0.600
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.54 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 25.90 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 25
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 9.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  31.00 ft / 9.45 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Average freeboard:  25.10 ft / 7.65 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 86.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 190.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 43,555 Square feet or 4,046 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 192 lbs/sq ft or 938 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.61
  - 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

Friday, March 16, 2007

An anachronistic Warrior design

The anachronistic Warrior design is even more of a challenge than the Black Prince, because the Warrior has 6-7in guns mounted in superfiring position in two triple turrets. The beam is a more realistic 58.33ft, which makes the stability and recoil issues even more critical. The armament is 4-8in/45 BLR, 14-7in BLR, and 4-4in QF guns. The armour basis is still 4.5in with a 2in deck. The freeboard and maximum speed are lower than the Black Prince design, due to the recoil issue, particularly. Back when I drew the drawing and wrote the specs, I designated the Warrior "BB-1". This is the Springsharp report:
Warrior, anachronistic design, Great Britain Armoured Cruiser laid down 1907 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 7,296 t light; 7,774 t standard; 9,134 t normal; 10,222 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (400.00 ft / 400.00 ft) x 58.33 ft x (26.00 / 28.47 ft)
 (121.92 m / 121.92 m) x 17.78 m  x (7.92 / 8.68 m)

Armament:
      4 - 8.00" / 203 mm 45.0 cal guns - 250.00lbs / 113.40kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      14 - 7.00" / 178 mm 45.0 cal guns - 172.96lbs / 78.45kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
      4 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.27lbs / 14.64kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck forward
 Weight of broadside 3,551 lbs / 3,551 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.50" / 114 mm 265.00 ft / 80.77 m 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 102 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.50" / 38 mm 265.00 ft / 80.77 m 27.00 ft / 8.23 m

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

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 4.50" / 114 mm

Machinery:
 Coal and oil fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 ERROR: Revise drives, 1 shaft, 10,124 ihp / 7,553 Kw = 18.00 kts
 Range 5,600nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,448 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 466 - 607

Cost:
 £0.701 million / $2.806 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 809 tons, 8.9 %
 Armour: 2,758 tons, 30.2 %
    - Belts: 770 tons, 8.4 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 397 tons, 4.3 %
    - Armament: 979 tons, 10.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 570 tons, 6.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 42 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 779 tons, 8.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,358 tons, 36.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,838 tons, 20.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   12,910 lbs / 5,856 Kg = 50.4 x 8.0 " / 203 mm shells or 2.9 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
 Metacentric height 2.4 ft / 0.7 m
 Roll period: 15.7 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 38 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.98
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.14

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a ram bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.527 / 0.539
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.86 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 20.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 43 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 26
 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: 20.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 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:  15.67 ft / 4.77 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 95.4 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 95.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 15,394 Square feet or 1,430 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 121 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 130 lbs/sq ft or 634 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.91
  - Longitudinal: 2.28
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Another anachronistic Black Prince design

I have a set of anachronistic ship drawings that I really like. They do not work very well in Springsharp, but I like them anyway. This design is based on an anachronistic Black Prince design (designated BB-2) that I drew sometime in the latter 1980's. I have the drawing, although I seem not be able to take a good photograph, for some reason:

You can at least get the idea. They are 1918-ish designs, with the 1860s dimensions and armour thickness. The armament is 4-8in/45 BLR, 12-7in/45 BLR, and 4-4in QF guns. The armour basis is 4.5in. This is the best Springsharp design that I was able to achieve:
Black Prince, anachronistic design, Great Britain Armoured Cruiser laid down 1907 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 7,642 t light; 8,094 t standard; 9,239 t normal; 10,155 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (404.00 ft / 400.00 ft) x 60.00 ft x (27.00 / 29.09 ft)
 (123.14 m / 121.92 m) x 18.29 m  x (8.23 / 8.87 m)

Armament:
      4 - 8.00" / 203 mm 45.0 cal guns - 250.00lbs / 113.40kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      12 - 7.00" / 178 mm 45.0 cal guns - 172.96lbs / 78.45kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
      4 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.27lbs / 14.64kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck forward
 Weight of broadside 3,205 lbs / 3,205 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.50" / 114 mm 265.00 ft / 80.77 m 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 102 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.50" / 38 mm 265.00 ft / 80.77 m 27.00 ft / 8.23 m

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

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 4.50" / 114 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 1 shaft, 22,024 shp / 16,430 Kw = 22.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,061 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 470 - 612

Cost:
 £0.726 million / $2.905 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 731 tons, 7.9 %
 Armour: 2,751 tons, 29.8 %
    - Belts: 770 tons, 8.3 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 397 tons, 4.3 %
    - Armament: 973 tons, 10.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 568 tons, 6.1 %
    - Conning Tower: 43 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 1,101 tons, 11.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,427 tons, 37.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,597 tons, 17.3 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   12,037 lbs / 5,460 Kg = 47.0 x 8.0 " / 203 mm shells or 2.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.01
 Metacentric height 2.4 ft / 0.7 m
 Roll period: 16.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 46 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.96
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.12

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a ram bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.499 / 0.509
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.67 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 20.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 37
 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: 20.00 %,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard:  17.59 ft / 5.36 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 104.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 107.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 15,354 Square feet or 1,426 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 118 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 128 lbs/sq ft or 627 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.90
  - Longitudinal: 2.65
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

My anachronistic version of the screw frigate Ariadne

This is based on my design for an anachronistic version of the British screw frigate Ariadne. I drew a pencil drawing and wrote down some specifications in the latter 1980's (I think). I went ahead and took advantage of the capacity in the design to better than I had thought at the time. This is the Springsharp report:
Ariadne, anachronistic, Great Britain Cruiser laid down 1907 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 3,372 t light; 3,561 t standard; 4,427 t normal; 5,120 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (290.00 ft / 290.00 ft) x 50.00 ft x (21.33 / 23.94 ft)
 (88.39 m / 88.39 m) x 15.24 m  x (6.50 / 7.30 m)

Armament:
      6 - 7.00" / 178 mm 45.0 cal guns - 172.00lbs / 78.02kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1907 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      2 - 5.50" / 140 mm 45.0 cal guns - 83.90lbs / 38.05kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mount , 1907 Model
   1 x Twin mount on centreline, forward deck centre
  1 raised mount
 Weight of broadside 1,200 lbs / 1,200 kg

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

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 180.00 ft / 54.86 m 21.33 ft / 6.50 m

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

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 1 shaft, 11,056 ihp / 8,248 Kw = 20.00 kts
 Range 5,300nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,559 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 270 - 352

Cost:
 £0.351 million / $1.402 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 273 tons, 6.2 %
 Armour: 902 tons, 20.4 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 142 tons, 3.2 %
    - Armament: 244 tons, 5.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 516 tons, 11.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
 Machinery: 850 tons, 19.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,485 tons, 33.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,055 tons, 23.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   5,400 lbs / 2,449 Kg = 31.5 x 7.0 " / 178 mm shells or 1.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.25
 Metacentric height 2.6 ft / 0.8 m
 Roll period: 12.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 63 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.54
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.27

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a ram bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.501 / 0.516
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.80 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 17.03 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = 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 tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 144.4 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 98.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 9,297 Square feet or 864 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 120 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 93 lbs/sq ft or 452 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.87
  - Longitudinal: 3.49
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

A weird, anachronistic CSS Virginia

This is my rather weird CSS Virginia design, which is, of course, anachronistic. The hull is flush-decked and there is a single funnel. All guns are in twin turrets, except that the 2-3in QF are in a twin mount, mounted on the superstructure. The belt and turrets are 4in witha 2in deck. I included a 1in torpedo bulkhead. I had to lower the freeboard, increase the range and speed, to achieve adequate stability and acceptable recoil effects. This is the Springsharp report:
CSS Virginia-anachronistic, Confederate States of America Armoured Ship laid down 1907 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 3,258 t light; 3,422 t standard; 4,006 t normal; 4,473 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (284.00 ft / 275.00 ft) x 38.50 ft x (22.00 / 24.11 ft)
 (86.56 m / 83.82 m) x 11.73 m  x (6.71 / 7.35 m)

Armament:
      2 - 7.00" / 178 mm 45.0 cal guns - 170.00lbs / 77.11kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mount , 1907 Model
   1 x Triple mount on centreline, forward deck forward
      2 - 6.40" / 163 mm 45.0 cal guns - 132.00lbs / 59.87kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mount , 1907 Model
   1 x Twin mount on centreline, aft deck aft
      6 - 5.10" / 130 mm 45.0 cal guns - 65.00lbs / 29.48kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1907 Model
   6 x Triple mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      2 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 45.0 cal guns - 12.00lbs / 5.44kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mount , 1907 Model
   1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck forward
  1 raised mount
 Weight of broadside 1,018 lbs / 1,018 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 275.00 ft / 83.82 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 154 % 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 22.00 ft / 6.71 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm
 3rd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm
 4th: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

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

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 8,769 ihp / 6,542 Kw = 19.00 kts
 Range 5,500nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,051 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 251 - 327

Cost:
 £0.307 million / $1.227 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 239 tons, 6.0 %
 Armour: 1,318 tons, 32.9 %
    - Belts: 488 tons, 12.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 155 tons, 3.9 %
    - Armament: 366 tons, 9.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 287 tons, 7.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 22 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 675 tons, 16.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,148 tons, 28.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 749 tons, 18.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   4,445 lbs / 2,016 Kg = 25.9 x 7.0 " / 178 mm shells or 1.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.02
 Metacentric height 1.2 ft / 0.4 m
 Roll period: 14.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.92
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.17

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.602 / 0.613
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.14 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 16.58 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 44
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -3.00 ft / -0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Average freeboard:  13.48 ft / 4.11 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 162.4 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 76.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 7,758 Square feet or 721 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 80 lbs/sq ft or 390 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.88
  - Longitudinal: 3.20
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped

A suitable 1941-style British light cruiser

I would say that a suitable British light cruiser, to be built as part of a program that included my battleship, battlecruiser, and heavy cruiser designs, would be about 12,000 tons and have 12-6in QF and 12-4in AA guns, with a suitable light AA armament, as well. We could probably live with a 2in deck and 4in side armour. I would want to see a 34 knot speed and a range of at least 8500nm.

Monday, March 12, 2007

I severely underestimated the displacement needed for the GB/BB/1941 design

While the battlecruiser worked well, I found that I had severely underestimated the displacment needed for a battleship with 9-18in guns and a speed of 28 knots. Unlike the battlecruiser, I included a light AA armament of sextuple 40mm guns. The belt is 15in and the deck is 7in, so the ship is reasonably well-protected. This is the Springsharp report:
GB/BB/1941, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1941

Displacement:
 59,031 t light; 62,186 t standard; 65,325 t normal; 67,836 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (920.54 ft / 915.00 ft) x 120.00 ft x (33.00 / 34.02 ft)
 (280.58 m / 278.89 m) x 36.58 m  x (10.06 / 10.37 m)

Armament:
      9 - 18.00" / 457 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2,940.86lbs / 1,333.95kg shells, 120 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1941 Model
   3 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      20 - 4.50" / 114 mm 45.0 cal guns - 45.95lbs / 20.84kg shells, 150 per gun
   Dual purpose guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1941 Model
   6 x Twin mounts on sides, forward evenly spread
  6 raised mounts
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, aft evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
      42 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 1.97lbs / 0.89kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck mounts , 1941 Model
   3 x 2 row sextuple mounts on centreline ends, majority aft
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
   4 x 2 row sextuple mounts on sides, evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 27,469 lbs / 27,469 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 15.0" / 381 mm 570.00 ft / 173.74 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 96 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  4.00" / 102 mm 570.00 ft / 173.74 m 35.00 ft / 10.67 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 16.0" / 406 mm 12.0" / 305 mm  15.0" / 381 mm
 2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  3.00" / 76 mm
 3rd: 1.00" / 25 mm       -         -

   - Armour deck: 7.00" / 178 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 132,552 shp / 98,884 Kw = 28.00 kts
 Range 8,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 5,650 tons

Complement:
 2,042 - 2,655

Cost:
 £31.625 million / $126.499 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 4,343 tons, 6.6 %
 Armour: 25,973 tons, 39.8 %
    - Belts: 5,932 tons, 9.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 2,953 tons, 4.5 %
    - Armament: 5,507 tons, 8.4 %
    - Armour Deck: 11,163 tons, 17.1 %
    - Conning Tower: 419 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 3,503 tons, 5.4 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 26,508 tons, 40.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,294 tons, 9.6 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   127,372 lbs / 57,775 Kg = 43.7 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 26.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
 Metacentric height 8.5 ft / 2.6 m
 Roll period: 17.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 74 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.77
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.48

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and small transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.631 / 0.636
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.63 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 34.78 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 9.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 22.00 %,  35.00 ft / 10.67 m,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Aft deck: 33.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard:  27.01 ft / 8.23 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 64.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 208.7 %
 Waterplane Area: 86,200 Square feet or 8,008 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 232 lbs/sq ft or 1,131 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.97
  - Longitudinal: 1.22
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

I have an 18in gunned battleship design, similar to the battlecruiser

I have a pencil drawing and specifications for a British battleship, circa 1941, that has 9-18in guns. I will do a Springsharp design and post the photo, as well. This series all are equipped with a hanger and cross-deck catapult for aircraft. I must admit that I did not allow for that in the battlecruiser Springsharp design. I probably need to see what sort of weights are involved, if I can find them.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

The GB/CB/1941 design

I tried the GB/CB/1941 design, dating from work I did in the 1980's and the ship worked extremely well in Springsharp 3.0b1 Beta. This is a photograph of my original drawing:

The ship is a 35 knot battlecruiser with 9-16in/50 and 20-4.5in DP guns. The belt is 11in. This is the Springsharp report:
GB/CB/1941, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1941

Displacement:
 58,733 t light; 61,433 t standard; 66,120 t normal; 69,870 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (1,007.92 ft / 1,000.00 ft) x 120.00 ft x (35.00 / 36.50 ft)
 (307.21 m / 304.80 m) x 36.58 m  x (10.67 / 11.13 m)

Armament:
      9 - 16.00" / 406 mm 50.0 cal guns - 2,168.09lbs / 983.43kg shells, 120 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1941 Model
   3 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      20 - 4.50" / 114 mm 45.0 cal guns - 45.95lbs / 20.84kg shells, 150 per gun
   Dual purpose guns in turret on barbette mounts , 1941 Model
   6 x Twin mounts on sides, forward evenly spread
  6 raised mounts
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, aft evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 20,432 lbs / 20,432 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 11.0" / 279 mm 575.00 ft / 175.26 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 88 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  4.00" / 102 mm 575.00 ft / 175.26 m 35.00 ft / 10.67 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 15.0" / 381 mm 10.0" / 254 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

   - Armour deck: 5.00" / 127 mm, Conning tower: 10.00" / 254 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 289,659 shp / 216,086 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 13,000nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 8,437 tons

Complement:
 2,061 - 2,680

Cost:
 £32.369 million / $129.477 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,744 tons, 5.7 %
 Armour: 20,347 tons, 30.8 %
    - Belts: 4,393 tons, 6.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 2,979 tons, 4.5 %
    - Armament: 4,551 tons, 6.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 8,073 tons, 12.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 352 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 7,655 tons, 11.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 28,220 tons, 42.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 7,387 tons, 11.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   117,863 lbs / 53,462 Kg = 57.6 x 16.0 " / 406 mm shells or 19.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
 Metacentric height 8.1 ft / 2.5 m
 Roll period: 17.7 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.71
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.43

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and small transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.551 / 0.558
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.33 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 36.40 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 9.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 22.00 %,  50.00 ft / 15.24 m,  35.00 ft / 10.67 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  35.00 ft / 10.67 m,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Aft deck: 33.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Average freeboard:  35.06 ft / 10.69 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 80.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 270.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 87,272 Square feet or 8,108 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 119 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 223 lbs/sq ft or 1,091 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.47
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

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