The new Springsharp Beta is available

I just received an email from Ian Ross-Gowan saying that the third Beta of Springsharp is now available for download.

The CSS Virginia photo

I have my CSS Virginia photograph posted at the "My Victorian Navy" blog along with the specs.

The GB/CA/1906 design

I am not sure why this ship now works so well, but it does. This is the alternative to the armoured cruisers actually built. The armament is 16-9.2in/50 and 16-4in QF guns. The armour basis is 6in, with a 2in deck. The speed is 25.5 knots. The ship is powered by steam turbines and the boilers are coal-fired. The photograph is of one of these ships. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/CA/1906, Great Britain Armoured Cruiser laid down 1906 (Engine 1911)

Displacement:
 16,589 t light; 17,545 t standard; 20,283 t normal; 22,474 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (587.00 ft / 580.00 ft) x 80.00 ft x (25.00 / 27.23 ft)
 (178.92 m / 176.78 m) x 24.38 m  x (7.62 / 8.30 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, 1906 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      12 - 9.20" / 234 mm 50.0 cal guns - 380.00lbs / 172.37kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1906 Model
   6 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.27lbs / 14.64kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1906 Model
   16 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 6,596 lbs / 2,992 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 405.00 ft / 123.44 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 175.00 ft / 53.34 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   Main Belt covers 107 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 405.00 ft / 123.44 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: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  6.00" / 152 mm
 3rd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks: 2.00" / 51 mm For and Aft decks
 Forecastle: 2.00" / 51 mm  Quarter deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 6.00" / 152 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 58,126 shp / 43,362 Kw = 25.50 kts
 Range 5,400nm at 16.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,930 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 849 - 1,104

Cost:
 £1.655 million / $6.619 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,725 tons, 8.5 %
 Armour: 5,550 tons, 27.4 %
    - Belts: 2,061 tons, 10.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 375 tons, 1.8 %
    - Armament: 1,739 tons, 8.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,279 tons, 6.3 %
    - Conning Tower: 96 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 2,595 tons, 12.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,720 tons, 33.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,694 tons, 18.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   32,664 lbs / 14,816 Kg = 83.9 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 4.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
 Metacentric height 4.7 ft / 1.4 m
 Roll period: 15.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 67 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.76
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.34

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low quarterdeck ,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.612 / 0.622
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.25 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.08 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 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: 22.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarter deck: 28.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard:  23.19 ft / 7.07 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 99.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 194.7 %
 Waterplane Area: 34,318 Square feet or 3,188 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 116 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 149 lbs/sq ft or 727 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.65
  - 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

"HMS Unapproachable": a new attempt

After looking at this photograph again, I decided to see if I could make a reasonable Springsharp design for the original concept: 4-9.2in, 12-7.5in, and possibly 16-4in guns. The ship is based on the sketch in Dr. Oscar Parkes' book British Battleships. The ship can fire 2-9.2 and 8-7.5 guns forward and aft, if blast effects are accepted. The broadside is 4-9.2in and 6-7.5in guns. A not-so minor detail is that the original concept may have had reciprocating engines,but I don't think that it is too great a stretch to use steam turbines. This is the Springsharp report:

Unapproachable, Great Britain Armoured Cruiser laid down 1904 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 14,711 t light; 15,446 t standard; 18,283 t normal; 20,552 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (572.00 ft / 565.00 ft) x 78.00 ft x (24.00 / 26.45 ft)
 (174.35 m / 172.21 m) x 23.77 m  x (7.32 / 8.06 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, 1904 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      12 - 7.50" / 191 mm 50.0 cal guns - 200.00lbs / 90.72kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1904 Model
   6 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
  6 raised mounts
      16 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1904 Model
   16 x Single mounts on sides amidships
  16 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 4,432 lbs / 2,010 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 410.00 ft / 124.97 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 155.00 ft / 47.24 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   Main Belt covers 112 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 410.00 ft / 124.97 m 24.00 ft / 7.32 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: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks: 2.00" / 51 mm For and Aft decks
 Forecastle: 2.00" / 51 mm  Quarter deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 6.00" / 152 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines,
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 50,795 shp / 37,893 Kw = 25.00 kts
 Range 5,400nm at 16.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 5,105 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 785 - 1,021

Cost:
 £1.346 million / $5.386 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,170 tons, 6.4 %
 Armour: 5,064 tons, 27.7 %
    - Belts: 2,020 tons, 11.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 364 tons, 2.0 %
    - Armament: 1,382 tons, 7.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,208 tons, 6.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 90 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 2,540 tons, 13.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,938 tons, 32.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,571 tons, 19.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   29,620 lbs / 13,435 Kg = 76.1 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 4.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.17
 Metacentric height 4.6 ft / 1.4 m
 Roll period: 15.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 66 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.54
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.33

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low quarterdeck ,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.605 / 0.617
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.24 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 23.77 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard:  21.63 ft / 6.59 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 93.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 168.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 32,383 Square feet or 3,008 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 125 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 138 lbs/sq ft or 671 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.49
  - 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

My early concept for a large German battleship: the Ger/BB/1940

When I was young and had not seen the specifications for the German battleship Bismarck, I had my own concept for what the ship would be like. It would be at least 900ft long and have 16in guns. Ten guns seemed like a good number, although I should have known that the Bismarck had only eight large guns. This is my attempt at recreating my original design concept:

Ger/BB/1940, Germany Battleship laid down 1940

Displacement:
 63,666 t light; 67,025 t standard; 73,315 t normal; 78,347 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (934.70 ft / 920.00 ft) x 130.00 ft x (35.00 / 36.99 ft)
 (284.90 m / 280.42 m) x 39.62 m  x (10.67 / 11.27 m)

Armament:
      10 - 16.00" / 406 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2,065.00lbs / 936.67kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1940 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm 55.0 cal guns - 115.00lbs / 52.16kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1940 Model
   6 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      16 - 4.10" / 104 mm 55.0 cal guns - 37.20lbs / 16.87kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1940 Model
   8 x Twin mounts on sides, aft deck forward
  8 raised mounts
      48 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm 60.0 cal guns - 1.69lbs / 0.77kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1940 Model
   24 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  16 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 22,706 lbs / 10,299 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 16.0" / 406 mm 610.00 ft / 185.93 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: 6.00" / 152 mm 310.00 ft / 94.49 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   Main Belt covers 102 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  6.00" / 152 mm 610.00 ft / 185.93 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  16.0" / 406 mm
 2nd: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  6.00" / 152 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks: 6.00" / 152 mm For and Aft decks
 Forecastle: 6.00" / 152 mm  Quarter deck: 6.00" / 152 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 16.00" / 406 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 208,569 shp / 155,592 Kw = 30.00 kts
 Range 12,000nm at 17.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 11,322 tons

Complement:
 2,227 - 2,896

Cost:
 £31.038 million / $124.154 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,929 tons, 5.4 %
 Armour: 29,117 tons, 39.7 %
    - Belts: 7,807 tons, 10.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 4,740 tons, 6.5 %
    - Armament: 6,058 tons, 8.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 9,908 tons, 13.5 %
    - Conning Tower: 604 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 5,577 tons, 7.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 25,044 tons, 34.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 9,648 tons, 13.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   147,419 lbs / 66,868 Kg = 72.0 x 16.0 " / 406 mm shells or 35.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.25
 Metacentric height 11.2 ft / 3.4 m
 Roll period: 16.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 63 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.41
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.27

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   an extended bulbous bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.613 / 0.620
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.08 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 30.33 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 17.00 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 %,  35.00 ft / 10.67 m,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  26.00 ft / 7.92 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:  27.28 ft / 8.31 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 62.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 200.1 %
 Waterplane Area: 88,540 Square feet or 8,226 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 120 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 222 lbs/sq ft or 1,082 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.98
  - Longitudinal: 1.14
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Why is this so good? (i.e., what is wrong with it?)

My design for a US/CL/1941 design is so good, I have to ask "what did I do wrong?" The design seems too good to be true. The ship carries 15-6in QF, 12-5in DP, and 48-40mm AA gus at a speed of 35 knots. The range is 8,500nm at 17 knots. I would think that the protection is adequate, by the standard of ships actually built. This is the Springsharp report:

US/CL/1941, United States Light Cruiser laid down 1941 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 13,114 t light; 13,632 t standard; 15,286 t normal; 16,609 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (660.91 ft / 654.00 ft) x 67.00 ft x (22.00 / 23.45 ft)
 (201.45 m / 199.34 m) x 20.42 m  x (6.71 / 7.15 m)

Armament:
      15 - 6.00" / 152 mm 55.0 cal guns - 116.57lbs / 52.88kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1941 Model
   5 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      12 - 5.00" / 127 mm 38.0 cal guns - 59.33lbs / 26.91kg shells, 150 per gun
   Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1941 Model
   6 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      48 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 55.0 cal guns - 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1941 Model
   8 x Quad mounts on sides, aft deck forward
  4 raised mounts - superfiring
      Weight of broadside 2,557 lbs / 1,160 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 435.00 ft / 132.59 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 102 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  0.80" / 20 mm 435.00 ft / 132.59 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: 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  1.00" / 25 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks: 3.00" / 76 mm For and Aft decks
 Forecastle: 3.00" / 76 mm  Quarter deck: 3.00" / 76 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 4.00" / 102 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 135,115 shp / 100,796 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 8,500nm at 17.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,977 tons

Complement:
 686 - 893

Cost:
 £7.285 million / $29.140 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 651 tons, 4.3 %
 Armour: 3,541 tons, 23.2 %
    - Belts: 861 tons, 5.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 283 tons, 1.9 %
    - Armament: 553 tons, 3.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,790 tons, 11.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 53 tons, 0.3 %
 Machinery: 3,232 tons, 21.1 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,689 tons, 37.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,173 tons, 14.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   22,862 lbs / 10,370 Kg = 211.7 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 2.9 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
 Metacentric height 3.4 ft / 1.0 m
 Roll period: 15.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.52
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.07

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   an extended bulbous bow and large transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.555 / 0.566
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.76 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.06 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
 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 %,  31.00 ft / 9.45 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Average freeboard:  24.53 ft / 7.48 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 121.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 210.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 31,990 Square feet or 2,972 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 122 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 116 lbs/sq ft or 568 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.60
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent