Tomorrow is a big anniversary: May 31, 1916, the start of the Battle of Jutland

All those enthusiasts interested in naval history and warships from 1900 to 1921 know what May 31st is about: the anniversary of the start of the Battle of Jutland in 1916. This picture, of course, shows the unfortunate loss of HMS Invincible (from Wikipedia).

The World War Two British Emergency War Programme

The British World War Two Emergency War Programme (as they say) was very inadequate for rebuilding the navy from the losses of 1941 and 1942. The Battle for Crete took a heavy toll of cruisers and destroyers. We might as why they wanted to build the Colony class cruisers. They were too small for their armament and were not able to take battle damage. They really needed to build a mix, such as larger Liverpool class ships, more Dido light cruisers, and perhaps more Leander class ships. Then again, nine-gun Colony class ships might have been equivalent.

My fast Italian six inch gunned cruiser concept

I have a photograph of what I have thought that the more modern fast Italian six inch gunned cruiser would look like. The ships would look a lot like the Attilio Regolo, except longer and lower, with eight six inch guns.

My first attempt in a Springsharp design in years

I have had the concept for a modernized version of the early Italian fast light cruisers. I can tell that I have become extremely rusty using SpringSharp. This is supposed to be a flush-decked version, sort of like the Capitani Romani ships. I thought that 8-6in guns, 8-4in DP, and 8 torpedo tubes might work. I wanted to get 36 knots out of the design. I am not even sure any more how to publish the report. I gave it some armor and machinery, but I am sure that I am doing something inappropriate:

Fast Light Cruiser, Italy Light Cruiser laid down 1941

Displacement:
 9,685 t light; 10,001 t standard; 11,129 t normal; 12,031 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (564.95 ft / 555.00 ft) x 62.00 ft x (22.00 / 23.32 ft)
 (172.20 m / 169.16 m) x 18.90 m  x (6.71 / 7.11 m)

Armament:
      8 - 5.91" / 150 mm 50.0 cal guns - 109.02lbs / 49.45kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1941 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on centreline, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts
      8 - 3.94" / 100.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 30.77lbs / 13.96kg shells, 150 per gun
   Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1941 Model
   8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  8 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 1,118 lbs / 507 kg
      Main Torpedoes
      8 - 20.9" / 530 mm, 68.90 ft / 21.00 m torpedoes - 4.227 t each, 33.817 t total
 In 4 sets of deck mounted side rotating tubes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 2.00" / 51 mm 350.00 ft / 106.68 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: 1.00" / 25 mm 100.00 ft / 30.48 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
   105.00 ft / 32.00 m Unarmoured ends
   Main Belt covers 97 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
   Main Belt inclined 2.00 degrees (positive = in)

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Strengthened structural bulkheads:
  0.75" / 19 mm 360.00 ft / 109.73 m 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
 Beam between torpedo bulkheads 54.00 ft / 16.46 m

   - Hull Bulges:
  0.50" / 13 mm 360.00 ft / 109.73 m 15.00 ft / 4.57 m

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

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
 For and Aft decks: 2.00" / 51 mm
 Forecastle: 1.00" / 25 mm  Quarter deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 2.00" / 51 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 156,810 shp / 116,980 Kw = 36.00 kts
 Range 3,500nm at 22.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,030 tons

Complement:
 541 - 704

Cost:
 £6.396 million / $25.583 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 361 tons, 3.2 %
    - Guns: 294 tons, 2.6 %
    - Weapons: 68 tons, 0.6 %
 Armour: 1,672 tons, 15.0 %
    - Belts: 389 tons, 3.5 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 150 tons, 1.3 %
    - Bulges: 100 tons, 0.9 %
    - Armament: 216 tons, 1.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 796 tons, 7.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 21 tons, 0.2 %
 Machinery: 4,144 tons, 37.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,507 tons, 31.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,444 tons, 13.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   7,239 lbs / 3,284 Kg = 70.3 x 5.9 " / 150 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.02
 Metacentric height 2.5 ft / 0.8 m
 Roll period: 15.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 57 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.40
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 0.71

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   an extended bulbous bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.550 / 0.561
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.57 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 23.56 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 66 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 80
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 12.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Forward deck: 35.00 %,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Aft deck: 25.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Average freeboard:  20.50 ft / 6.25 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 149.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 140.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 24,014 Square feet or 2,231 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 101 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 100 lbs/sq ft or 489 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.52
  - Overall: 0.99
 Caution: Hull subject to strain in open-sea
 Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
 Excellent accommodation and workspace room
 Poor seaboat, wet and uncomfortable, reduced performance in heavy weather

Jutland

We almost got by the anniversary of the Battle of Jutland (May 31-June 1, 1916) without some mention. This Wikipedia image shows the British battle cruiser Queen Mary exploding. There is a Lion-class ship to the left.

Today was the annivesary of the Battle of Dogger Bank in 1915

I noticed two good photographs from the Battle of Dogger Bank (24 January 1915). I hope that these will work for us: the Seydlitz on fire and low in the water (from www.cityofart.net/bship/gun_ops.html)

the Derfflinger, Seydlitz, and Von der Tann on the way to the battle (from www.sms-navy.com)

Cruising formations for Dutch warships?

One question that I have is if the Dutch sailed in some cruising formation with their fleet when not engaged in actual fighting. I have speculated that the ships in the same squadron sailed as a clump and that the fleet consisted of clumps, grouped by squadron. Is there a more definitive answer?

Another run at the GB/CB/1905 fast battlecruiser design

I have tended to be obsessed with Cliff's design for a fast British battlecruiser, what we called the GB/CB/1905 design. I just got a good result by using light weight machinery. I am mystified why the protection is so good, considering the armour basis of 4in:

GB/CB/1905, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1905 (Engine 1910)

Displacement:
 23,677 t light; 24,490 t standard; 27,903 t normal; 30,632 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (778.00 ft / 770.00 ft) x 80.00 ft x (27.50 / 29.67 ft)
 (237.13 m / 234.70 m) x 24.38 m  x (8.38 / 9.04 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
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      9 - 6.00" / 152 mm 50.0 cal guns - 114.33lbs / 51.86kg 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 deck aft
  1 raised mount
      Weight of broadside 4,429 lbs / 2,009 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 580.00 ft / 176.78 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 116 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
  1.50" / 38 mm 580.00 ft / 176.78 m 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
 Beam between torpedo bulkheads 56.00 ft / 17.07 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 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 8.00" / 203 mm, Aft 5.00" / 127 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 168,353 shp / 125,591 Kw = 33.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 17.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,142 tons

Complement:
 1,079 - 1,403

Cost:
 £2.236 million / $8.944 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 923 tons, 3.3 %
    - Guns: 923 tons, 3.3 %
 Armour: 5,984 tons, 21.4 %
    - Belts: 1,501 tons, 5.4 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 869 tons, 3.1 %
    - Armament: 1,029 tons, 3.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,327 tons, 8.3 %
    - Conning Towers: 258 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 6,957 tons, 24.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,813 tons, 35.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,226 tons, 15.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   36,559 lbs / 16,583 Kg = 42.3 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 4.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.17
 Metacentric height 4.8 ft / 1.5 m
 Roll period: 15.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 65 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.55
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.30

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low quarterdeck ,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.577 / 0.587
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.63 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.75 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
 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: 30.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Aft deck: 10.00 %,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Quarter deck: 30.00 %,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Average freeboard:  27.23 ft / 8.30 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 136.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 225.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 44,072 Square feet or 4,094 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 116 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 145 lbs/sq ft or 706 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.97
  - Longitudinal: 1.36
  - Overall: 1.00
 Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
 Excellent accommodation and workspace room
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Sadly, Alt_Naval seems to be gone

One of my inspiration for making imaginary ship photographs, Alt_Naval, seems to be gone. I tried to go there and found that the page was not there. I did a Google search and could not find a new URL for the site. It is gone. Thankfully, the "Wolf's Den" still exists. That was the first site that I had found with fake ship photographs. "Wolf's Den" has a new URL, but still lives on! I still like the classic Queen Victoria class pictures.

A super American battlecruiser: the US/CB/1943

I have been toying with very large battleship and battlecruiser designs since I was young. This is a fast battlecruiser armed with 12-21in/55 guns. I don't like the deep draft, but I don't see an alternative.

US-CB-1943, United States Battlecruiser laid down 1943

Displacement:
 192,480 t light; 201,981 t standard; 217,137 t normal; 229,261 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (1,366.74 ft / 1,350.00 ft) x 188.00 ft x (38.00 / 39.85 ft)
 (416.58 m / 411.48 m) x 57.30 m  x (11.58 / 12.15 m)

Armament:
      12 - 21.00" / 533 mm 55.0 cal guns - 5,000.00lbs / 2,267.96kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1943 Model
   3 x Quad mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm 55.0 cal guns - 72.00lbs / 32.66kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1943 Model
   12 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  4 raised mounts - superfiring
      88 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 60.0 cal guns - 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 150 per gun
   Breech loading guns in deck mounts, 1943 Model
   22 x 4-gun mounts on sides, evenly spread
  12 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 61,904 lbs / 28,079 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 900.00 ft / 274.32 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 14.0" / 356 mm 900.00 ft / 274.32 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
   Main Belt covers 103 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
   Main Belt inclined -17.00 degrees (positive = in)

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
  8.00" / 203 mm 900.00 ft / 274.32 m 37.00 ft / 11.28 m
 Beam between torpedo bulkheads 80.00 ft / 24.38 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 20.0" / 508 mm 15.0" / 381 mm  20.0" / 508 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks:
 For and Aft decks: 8.00" / 203 mm
 Forecastle: 5.00" / 127 mm  Quarter deck: 8.00" / 203 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 20.00" / 508 mm, Aft 15.00" / 381 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 10 shafts, 637,542 shp / 475,606 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 12,000nm at 18.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 27,280 tons

Complement:
 5,029 - 6,538

Cost:
 £105.209 million / $420.837 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 11,042 tons, 5.1 %
    - Guns: 11,042 tons, 5.1 %
 Armour: 69,922 tons, 32.2 %
    - Belts: 11,396 tons, 5.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 9,857 tons, 4.5 %
    - Armament: 12,878 tons, 5.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 33,067 tons, 15.2 %
    - Conning Towers: 2,724 tons, 1.3 %
 Machinery: 16,465 tons, 7.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 95,051 tons, 43.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 24,657 tons, 11.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   495,302 lbs / 224,665 Kg = 107.0 x 21.0 " / 533 mm shells or 150.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.36
 Metacentric height 22.2 ft / 6.8 m
 Roll period: 16.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 58 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.32
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.15

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   an extended bulbous bow and large transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.788 / 0.793
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.18 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 41.90 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 49 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 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 %,  46.00 ft / 14.02 m,  40.00 ft / 12.19 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  40.00 ft / 12.19 m,  38.00 ft / 11.58 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  38.00 ft / 11.58 m,  37.00 ft / 11.28 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  37.00 ft / 11.28 m,  38.00 ft / 11.58 m
    - Average freeboard:  38.93 ft / 11.87 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 129.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 332.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 229,646 Square feet or 21,335 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 128 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 352 lbs/sq ft or 1,718 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 1.18
  - Longitudinal: 0.95
  - Overall: 1.00
 Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
 Excellent accommodation and workspace room

The picture posted "May 31, 1916"

Rob pointed out to me that the picture I posted five weeks ago was actually from the Battle of the Dogger Bank. The Tiger is steaming at high speed towards the left of the picture while in the background, on the right, is the burning, sinking Blücher.

May 31, 1916

In my younger years, I was focused on the Battle of Jutland and the events leading up to the war at sea (1905-1918). Today is the anniversary of the start of the Battle of Jutland. This seemed like a good Jutland picture.

A fast version of the Ger/CB/1905

The Ger/CB/1905 design is the classic light battlecruiser type. The design in anachronistic and looks British, but it works well. I wanted to see how much speed I could achieve with it, and the answer is that I could get 35 knots without a lot of trouble. Of course, it relies on very light machinery:

Ger/CB/1905 Fast, Germany Light Battlecruiser laid down 1905 (Engine 1923)

Displacement:
 18,384 t light; 19,004 t standard; 20,886 t normal; 22,392 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (707.00 ft / 700.00 ft) x 80.00 ft x (24.40 / 25.77 ft)
 (215.49 m / 213.36 m) x 24.38 m  x (7.44 / 7.85 m)

Armament:
      4 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 850.00lbs / 385.55kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1905 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      12 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.27lbs / 14.64kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1905 Model
   6 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
   6 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
      Weight of broadside 3,787 lbs / 1,718 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 440.00 ft / 134.11 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 3.00" / 76 mm 440.00 ft / 134.11 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 97 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

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

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 9.00" / 229 mm, Aft 4.00" / 102 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 185,595 shp / 138,454 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 17.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,388 tons

Complement:
 868 - 1,129

Cost:
 £1.856 million / $7.424 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 689 tons, 3.3 %
    - Guns: 689 tons, 3.3 %
 Armour: 3,897 tons, 18.7 %
    - Belts: 1,032 tons, 4.9 %
    - Armament: 498 tons, 2.4 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,154 tons, 10.3 %
    - Conning Towers: 212 tons, 1.0 %
 Machinery: 6,203 tons, 29.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,596 tons, 36.4 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,502 tons, 12.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   21,714 lbs / 9,849 Kg = 25.1 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.30
 Metacentric height 5.8 ft / 1.8 m
 Roll period: 14.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.29
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.07

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.535 / 0.543
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.75 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 26.46 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
 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: 32.00 %,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Aft deck: 23.00 %,  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:  24.94 ft / 7.60 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 111.3 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 201.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 38,537 Square feet or 3,580 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 133 lbs/sq ft or 650 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.48
  - Overall: 1.00
 Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
 Excellent accommodation and workspace room

Naval Airship Command comments on my MySpace page

Naval Airship Command has posted some great pictures in the comments on my MySpace page. They include U.S. Navy blimps and dirigibles.

My latest attempt at a very fast 1921-style battlecruiser

One of my long term obsessions is with very fast 1921-style battlecruisers. This latest one relies upon the lightest weight machinery to achieve 38 knots. The battlecruiser carries 6-16in/45 guns and has a 9in belt and 3in deck armour. This is the Springsharp design:

GB/CB/1921, Great Britain Fast Battlecruiser laid down 1921 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 41,653 t light; 43,329 t standard; 46,991 t normal; 49,921 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (889.32 ft / 874.00 ft) x 108.00 ft x (33.00 / 34.53 ft)
 (271.07 m / 266.40 m) x 32.92 m  x (10.06 / 10.52 m)

Armament:
      6 - 16.00" / 406 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2,065.00lbs / 936.67kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1921 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline, forward deck forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      12 - 5.50" / 140 mm 50.0 cal guns - 85.00lbs / 38.56kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1921 Model
   6 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
      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, forward deck aft
  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 2 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 13,788 lbs / 6,254 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 580.00 ft / 176.78 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
   Main Belt inclined -10.00 degrees (positive = in)

   - Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
  2.00" / 51 mm 580.00 ft / 176.78 m 33.00 ft / 10.06 m
 Beam between torpedo bulkheads 64.00 ft / 19.51 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  10.0" / 254 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 333,404 shp / 248,720 Kw = 38.00 kts
 Range 8,500nm at 18.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,592 tons

Complement:
 1,595 - 2,074

Cost:
 £9.863 million / $39.453 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,448 tons, 5.2 %
    - Guns: 2,448 tons, 5.2 %
 Armour: 11,045 tons, 23.5 %
    - Belts: 2,633 tons, 5.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,416 tons, 3.0 %
    - Armament: 2,847 tons, 6.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 3,756 tons, 8.0 %
    - Conning Towers: 393 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 7,976 tons, 17.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 20,184 tons, 43.0 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,338 tons, 11.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   72,600 lbs / 32,931 Kg = 35.4 x 16.0 " / 406 mm shells or 9.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
 Metacentric height 6.8 ft / 2.1 m
 Roll period: 17.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 56 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.66
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.10

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   an extended bulbous bow and large transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.528 / 0.536
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.09 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 34.21 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 51
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 18.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  41.00 ft / 12.50 m,  36.00 ft / 10.97 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  36.00 ft / 10.97 m,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Aft deck: 30.00 %,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Average freeboard:  34.25 ft / 10.44 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 135.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 266.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 67,154 Square feet or 6,239 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 119 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 209 lbs/sq ft or 1,021 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.84
  - Overall: 1.00
 Cramped machinery, storage, compartmentation space
 Excellent accommodation and workspace room

Gas turbine propulsion

I am curious to know about naval gas turbine propulsion. I have heard from a knowledgeable source that the power output of turbines might be able to be increased considerably beyond the nominal figures. We now have some quite large naval ships, such as the new American helicopter carriers, that are gas turbine powered. We could be talking 40,000 ton or larger ships. If we want to speculate about maximum speeds, we would need to have some idea about what is possible.

Lou Coatney has more drawings of the same sort

If you have a need, these are really useful. Lou Coatney points out on the NavWarGames Yahoo Group that he has even more of the ONI ship drawings.

Lou Coatney has ONI WWII ship drawings

Thanks to Paolo Disalvo, on the NavWarGames Yahoo Group, I found out about Lou Coatney's page of links to the U.S.Navy ONI WWII ship drawings.

More about the Makin Island

I wondered if by lightening the ship if the Makin Island could make a higher speed than 25 knots. I was not very successful, but I thought that I would make the Springsharp report available to those who are interested. I did not attempt to do anything except get a reasonably good speed for the dimensions, power, number of shafts, and displacement. I didn't attempt to deal with the actual ship configuration:

Makin Island, United States LHD laid down 1950

Displacement:
 35,420 t light; 36,197 t standard; 38,843 t normal; 40,960 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (808.09 ft / 780.00 ft) x 106.00 ft x (27.00 / 28.17 ft)
 (246.31 m / 237.74 m) x 32.31 m  x (8.23 / 8.58 m)

Machinery:
 Diesel Internal combustion motors, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 70,363 shp / 52,491 Kw = 25.46 kts
 Range 9,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,762 tons

Complement:
 1,383 - 1,798

Cost:
 £11.535 million / $46.139 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 0 tons, 0.0 %
 Machinery: 1,683 tons, 4.3 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 33,737 tons, 86.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,423 tons, 8.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   358,561 lbs / 162,641 Kg = 3,320.0 x 6 " / 152 mm shells or 29.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
 Metacentric height 6.0 ft / 1.8 m
 Roll period: 18.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 100 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.00
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   an extended bulbous bow and large transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.609 / 0.616
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.36 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 32.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 44 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  40.00 ft / 12.19 m,  40.00 ft / 12.19 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  40.00 ft / 12.19 m,  40.00 ft / 12.19 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  40.00 ft / 12.19 m,  40.00 ft / 12.19 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  40.00 ft / 12.19 m,  40.00 ft / 12.19 m
    - Average freeboard:  40.00 ft / 12.19 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 16.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 350.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 63,568 Square feet or 5,906 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 1,000 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 343 lbs/sq ft or 1,674 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 2.40
  - Longitudinal: 6.34
  - Overall: 2.64
 Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
 Excellent accommodation and workspace room
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, rides out heavy weather easily

The Makin Island (LHD-8)

I was interested in seeing some photographs of the new amphib, Makin Island (LHD-8). From some angles, the ship seems pretty warlike and impressive. Wikipedia is saying that the ship can only make 20 knots, but gives the dimensions and the power. The ship is about 780ft LWL x 106ft x 27ft. A reasonable normal displacement is 41,000 tons. With power of 70,000 SHP, I thought that a higher speed should be possible. I ran an experiment with Springsharp and it seems that the ship, at about 41,500 tons should be able to make 25 knots.

I was interested in the story behind the ship name, and Carlson's Raiders attack on Makin Island in 1942. The Nautilus and Argonaut seem to have been originally intended as cruiser submarines when they were designed. The German success with cruiser submarines in the Great War seemed to argue for the type having usefulness, but the Japanese were the only great power to have any success at all with the type after 1918.