A better Ger/BB/1905 (yes, that was the designation)

My original concept was that this ship would be designated the Ger/BB/1905, although I have had second thoughts about that. That is why I did the Ger/BB/1906 Springsharp design. I just did some GIMP hacking on the picture, in hopes of making it better.

The next step

The next step in this design sequence is likely to be a somewhat larger ship with a "1921-style" bridge structure, a pole foremast, and flatter, wider turrets. We would attempt to obtain an even higher speed. The secondary armament would likely be the same, to keep the weight down. The target speed would be 40 knots. Oh, and the main armament would be 6-17in/45 guns firing 2,850 pound shot.

A new GB/CB/1916 Fast battlecruiser concept

I had a concept that has been developing for a few days for a new British fast battlecruiser. As you can see, the photograph is derived from that for the Ger/CB/1912 design. I found that I can run Springsharp 3.0 Beta 3 at my desk, so I developed my initial cut at a design:

GB/CB/1916 Fast, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1916 (Engine 1923)

Displacement:
 42,316 t light; 43,995 t standard; 45,802 t normal; 47,248 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (885.86 ft / 878.00 ft) x 104.00 ft x (33.00 / 33.81 ft)
 (270.01 m / 267.61 m) x 31.70 m  x (10.06 / 10.30 m)

Armament:
      6 - 16.50" / 419 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2,265.21lbs / 1,027.48kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1916 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline, forward deck forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      10 - 6.00" / 152 mm 45.0 cal guns - 100.00lbs / 45.36kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
   10 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      Weight of broadside 14,591 lbs / 6,618 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 480.00 ft / 146.30 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 84 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
   Main Belt inclined -12.00 degrees (positive = in)

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
  2.00" / 51 mm 480.00 ft / 146.30 m 33.00 ft / 10.06 m
 Beam between torpedo bulkheads 74.00 ft / 22.56 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 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 8.00" / 203 mm, Aft 6.00" / 152 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 383,549 shp / 286,127 Kw = 38.00 kts
 Range 4,800nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,253 tons

Complement:
 1,565 - 2,035

Cost:
 £7.601 million / $30.406 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,467 tons, 5.4 %
    - Guns: 2,467 tons, 5.4 %
 Armour: 7,463 tons, 16.3 %
    - Belts: 1,495 tons, 3.3 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,172 tons, 2.6 %
    - Armament: 2,075 tons, 4.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,334 tons, 5.1 %
    - Conning Towers: 386 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 12,819 tons, 28.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 19,567 tons, 42.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,486 tons, 7.6 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   41,045 lbs / 18,618 Kg = 18.3 x 16.5 " / 419 mm shells or 4.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
 Metacentric height 7.0 ft / 2.1 m
 Roll period: 16.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.75
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low quarterdeck ,
   an extended bulbous bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.532 / 0.536
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.44 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.63 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 12.00 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 %,  37.00 ft / 11.28 m,  34.00 ft / 10.36 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  34.00 ft / 10.36 m,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Aft deck: 22.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Quarter deck: 28.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard:  31.35 ft / 9.56 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 165.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 253.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 62,662 Square feet or 5,822 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 99 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 212 lbs/sq ft or 1,035 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.64
  - Overall: 1.00
 Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
 Excellent accommodation and workspace room

I still like the Ger/CB/1912 photograph

I am using this picture as the desktop background on my work laptop. I had forgotten how much I like the picture.

A tweaked version of the Ger/BB/1906 photo

This is a slightly updated version of the Ger/BB/1906 (or is it 1905?) photo.

Oops, the Ger/BB/1906 with coal on board

I reader pointed out that I had neglected to give the Ger/BB/1906 battleship design a range and the associated coal in bunkers. Last night, I reran Springsharp to correct the problem:

Ger/BB/1906, Germany Battleship laid down 1906

Displacement:
 17,607 t light; 18,485 t standard; 21,014 t normal; 23,038 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (489.00 ft / 489.00 ft) x 89.00 ft x (26.00 / 28.12 ft)
 (149.05 m / 149.05 m) x 27.13 m  x (7.92 / 8.57 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.38lbs / 395.25kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1906 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm 45.0 cal guns - 108.93lbs / 49.41kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1906 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 8,278 lbs / 3,755 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 325.00 ft / 99.06 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 5.00" / 127 mm 164.00 ft / 49.99 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Upper: 8.00" / 203 mm 325.00 ft / 99.06 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 102 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
  1.50" / 38 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
 Beam between torpedo bulkheads 59.00 ft / 17.98 m

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

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
 For and Aft decks: 3.00" / 76 mm
 Forecastle: 2.00" / 51 mm  Quarter deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 12.00" / 305 mm, Aft 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 30,859 shp / 23,021 Kw = 21.00 kts
 Range 4,200nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,553 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 872 - 1,134

Cost:
 £1.637 million / $6.549 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,462 tons, 7.0 %
    - Guns: 1,462 tons, 7.0 %
 Armour: 7,294 tons, 34.7 %
    - Belts: 2,691 tons, 12.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 462 tons, 2.2 %
    - Armament: 2,112 tons, 10.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,701 tons, 8.1 %
    - Conning Towers: 328 tons, 1.6 %
 Machinery: 2,204 tons, 10.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,647 tons, 31.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,407 tons, 16.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   33,257 lbs / 15,085 Kg = 38.5 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.7 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.23
 Metacentric height 6.1 ft / 1.9 m
 Roll period: 15.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 68 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.53
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.35

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.650 / 0.659
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.49 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 22.11 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -3.00 ft / -0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 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: 25.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Quarter deck: 20.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  17.50 ft / 5.33 m
    - Average freeboard:  19.73 ft / 6.01 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 98.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 140.7 %
 Waterplane Area: 33,340 Square feet or 3,097 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 159 lbs/sq ft or 774 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.93
  - Longitudinal: 1.85
  - Overall: 1.00
 Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
 Excellent accommodation and workspace room
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Why does this look so good? The Ger/BB/1906 design

The flush-decked, imaginery German battleship Ger/BB/1906 is still one of my favorite designs. I just tried the ship in Springsharp and I was surprised how good the ship is:

Ger/BB/1906, Germany Battleship laid down 1906

Displacement:
 17,273 t light; 18,095 t standard; 18,186 t normal; 18,258 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (489.00 ft / 489.00 ft) x 89.00 ft x (25.00 / 25.08 ft)
 (149.05 m / 149.05 m) x 27.13 m  x (7.62 / 7.64 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.37lbs / 395.24kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1906 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, 1906 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 8,278 lbs / 3,755 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 325.00 ft / 99.06 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 5.00" / 127 mm 164.00 ft / 49.99 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Upper: 8.00" / 203 mm 325.00 ft / 99.06 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 102 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
  1.50" / 38 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
 Beam between torpedo bulkheads 59.00 ft / 17.98 m

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

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
 For and Aft decks: 3.00" / 76 mm
 Forecastle: 2.00" / 51 mm  Quarter deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 12.00" / 305 mm, Aft 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 27,560 shp / 20,560 Kw = 21.00 kts
 Range 0nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 164 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 782 - 1,017

Cost:
 £1.593 million / $6.370 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,462 tons, 8.0 %
    - Guns: 1,462 tons, 8.0 %
 Armour: 7,192 tons, 39.5 %
    - Belts: 2,678 tons, 14.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 444 tons, 2.4 %
    - Armament: 2,173 tons, 11.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,600 tons, 8.8 %
    - Conning Towers: 298 tons, 1.6 %
 Machinery: 1,969 tons, 10.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,651 tons, 36.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 912 tons, 5.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   27,378 lbs / 12,418 Kg = 31.7 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 4.8 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
 Metacentric height 5.5 ft / 1.7 m
 Roll period: 16.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.63
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.43

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.585 / 0.585
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.49 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 22.11 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 50 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -3.00 ft / -0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Aft deck: 25.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Quarter deck: 20.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  18.50 ft / 5.64 m
    - Average freeboard:  20.73 ft / 6.32 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 107.3 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 155.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 31,387 Square feet or 2,916 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 102 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 166 lbs/sq ft or 812 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.92
  - Longitudinal: 2.00
  - Overall: 1.00
 Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
 Excellent accommodation and workspace room
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

My 1905 British fast battleship

Instead of building 21 knot battleships and 25 knot armoured cruisers, why not just build 24 knot fast battleships? That is the premise of my GB/BB/1905 design that has 8-12in/45 and 16-4in QF guns and a 11in belt. "Just for fun," I have a photograph of one, as well! This is the Springsharp report:

GB/BB/1905, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1905 (Engine 1909)

Displacement:
 19,173 t light; 20,005 t standard; 22,462 t normal; 24,429 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (613.00 ft / 605.00 ft) x 84.00 ft x (26.00 / 27.86 ft)
 (186.84 m / 184.40 m) x 25.60 m  x (7.92 / 8.49 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 849.99lbs / 385.55kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1905 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1905 Model
   16 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  8 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 7,312 lbs / 3,317 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 11.0" / 279 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 180.00 ft / 54.86 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   25.00 ft / 7.62 m Unarmoured ends
 Upper: 8.00" / 203 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 102 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Strengthened structural bulkheads:
  1.50" / 38 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
 Beam between torpedo bulkheads 58.00 ft / 17.68 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 11.0" / 279 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  11.0" / 279 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 11.00" / 279 mm, Aft 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
 Coal fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 47,823 shp / 35,676 Kw = 24.00 kts
 Range 4,800nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,424 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
 916 - 1,192

Cost:
 £1.706 million / $6.826 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,382 tons, 6.2 %
    - Guns: 1,382 tons, 6.2 %
 Armour: 7,774 tons, 34.6 %
    - Belts: 3,108 tons, 13.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 599 tons, 2.7 %
    - Armament: 2,362 tons, 10.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,378 tons, 6.1 %
    - Conning Towers: 326 tons, 1.5 %
 Machinery: 2,391 tons, 10.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,626 tons, 33.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,290 tons, 14.6 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   39,707 lbs / 18,011 Kg = 46.0 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 6.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.06
 Metacentric height 4.3 ft / 1.3 m
 Roll period: 16.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 76 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.90
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.51

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low quarterdeck ,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.595 / 0.604
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.20 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.60 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 48 %
 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,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 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:  22.92 ft / 6.99 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 91.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 192.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 36,996 Square feet or 3,437 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 161 lbs/sq ft or 788 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.57
  - Overall: 1.00
 Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
 Excellent accommodation and workspace room
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather