Another Ger/BB/1916 design

This design's reason for existence is to carry 12-16.5in guns at 28.5 knots. I had originally expected that achieving that speed might involve 200,000 SHP. although I am not sure why. The designed Standard displacement was 60,000 tons. I had to settle for slightly more. The original weights were:

Hull      =21,020 tons
Machinery = 6,700 tons
Armament  = 3,810 tons
Protection=23,670 tons
Misc      = 4,800 tons (8%)

I used the exact dimensions from my specification, and given that there was little guidance with respect to details, I filled those in:

Ger/BB/1916, Germany Battleship laid down 1916 (Engine 1923)

Displacement:
 58,178 t light; 60,913 t standard; 64,300 t normal; 67,010 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 924.24 ft / 920.00 ft x 120.00 ft x 32.80 ft (normal load)
 281.71 m / 280.42 m x 36.58 m  x 10.00 m

Armament:
      12 - 16.50" / 419 mm guns (4x3 guns), 2,246.06lbs / 1,018.80kg shells, 1916 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (8x2 guns), 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1916 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 28,681 lbs / 13,009 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 600.00 ft / 182.88 m 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  4.00" / 102 mm 600.00 ft / 182.88 m 31.00 ft / 9.45 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 10.0" / 254 mm  14.0" / 356 mm
 2nd: 6.00" / 152 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  6.00" / 152 mm

   - Armour deck: 5.00" / 127 mm, Conning tower: 14.00" / 356 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 157,061 shp / 117,167 Kw = 28.50 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,097 tons

Complement:
 2,018 - 2,624

Cost:
 £9.462 million / $37.850 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,585 tons, 5.6 %
 Armour: 23,270 tons, 36.2 %
    - Belts: 6,491 tons, 10.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 2,753 tons, 4.3 %
    - Armament: 5,922 tons, 9.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 7,620 tons, 11.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 484 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 5,249 tons, 8.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 26,074 tons, 40.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,122 tons, 9.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   92,432 lbs / 41,927 Kg = 41.2 x 16.5 " / 419 mm shells or 16.1 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 %): 61 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.69
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.23

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.621
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.67 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 30.33 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 46 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Mid (67 %):  26.00 ft / 7.92 m (18.00 ft / 5.49 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Stern:  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard: 23.84 ft / 7.27 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 82.2 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 184.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 82,377 Square feet or 7,653 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 103 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 237 lbs/sq ft or 1,158 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 1.01
  - Longitudinal: 0.99
  - 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

I need to do some work on the formatting!

I have been trying to tweak the template so that it works acceptably in Internet Explorer 6.0, but so far I have been unsuccessful. I will need to hack on it some more, until the content in the body will move to the top in IE. It works in Firefox without much trouble, except that the image has problems.

I have this clunky looking design that works well

There is a pencil sketch and specifications for a German battleship ("Linienschiffe/Schlachtschiffe"), to be laid down about 1916. I am just guessing at the date, but the drawing is consistent with that date. This ship was trying to carry 9-16.5in guns at 25 knots. The power specified was 120,000 SHP, which was actually sufficient to drive the ship faster than 25 knots. I chose the armour basis to be 14in, as I was trying to achieve a protection weight of about 16,730 tons. I did pretty well, as in the Springsharp design, the protection is 16,698 tons. I had hoped for machinery weight of 2,670 tons in my paper design, but in Springsharp, it is heavier at 3,290 tons. In any case, the design works exceedingly well. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1916 Red Book, Germany Battleship laid down 1916 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
41,637 t light; 43,630 t standard; 46,000 t normal; 47,896 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
755.00 ft / 755.00 ft x 110.00 ft x 32.00 ft (normal load)
230.12 m / 230.12 m x 33.53 m  x 9.75 m

Armament:
     9 - 16.50" / 419 mm guns (3x3 guns), 2,246.06lbs / 1,018.80kg shells, 1916 Model
  Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
  on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
     10 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1916 Model
  Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
  on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 21,295 lbs / 9,659 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
  - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 425.00 ft / 129.54 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
Ends: Unarmoured
  Main Belt covers 87 % of normal length

  - Torpedo Bulkhead:
 4.00" / 102 mm 425.00 ft / 129.54 m 31.00 ft / 9.45 m

  - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 10.0" / 254 mm  14.0" / 356 mm
2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

  - Armour deck: 5.00" / 127 mm, Conning tower: 14.00" / 356 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 118,693 shp / 88,545 Kw = 27.50 kts
Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 4,266 tons

Complement:
1,569 - 2,041

Cost:
£6.797 million / $27.188 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,662 tons, 5.8 %
Armour: 16,698 tons, 36.3 %
   - Belts: 4,536 tons, 9.9 %
   - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,950 tons, 4.2 %
   - Armament: 4,176 tons, 9.1 %
   - Armour Deck: 5,649 tons, 12.3 %
   - Conning Tower: 387 tons, 0.8 %
Machinery: 3,290 tons, 7.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 18,987 tons, 41.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,364 tons, 9.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
  71,599 lbs / 32,477 Kg = 31.9 x 16.5 " / 419 mm shells or 12.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
Metacentric height 6.6 ft / 2.0 m
Roll period: 18.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 69 %
  - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.88
Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.37

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.606
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.86 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.48 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -1.00 degrees
Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
   - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
   - Forecastle (20 %): 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
   - Mid (67 %):  29.00 ft / 8.84 m (21.00 ft / 6.40 m aft of break)
   - Quarterdeck (15 %): 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
   - Stern:  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
   - Average freeboard: 26.68 ft / 8.13 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 81.7 %
 - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 198.6 %
Waterplane Area: 61,072 Square feet or 5,674 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 103 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 221 lbs/sq ft or 1,077 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
 - Cross-sectional: 0.94
 - Longitudinal: 1.64
 - 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

A further variant: the F/CA/1917 Mod.B

On the next page of the Red Book, the French fast cruiser is modified further with a heavier armament and lighter protection. The armament is 6-11in (35 ton) BLR and 8-6in QF (6 ton) guns. I followed the weights as closely as I could. The machinery is intended to be 30 SHP/ton and to have 191,400 SHP. The protection drops to only 1,207 tons, in the specification. I was not able to hit these numbers exactly, but I came close. By the time I adjusted the displacement to achieve an adequate strength and seakeeping, the SHP dropped, along with the machinery weight. This is the new Springsharp report:

F/CA/1917 Mod.A, France Heavy Cruiser laid down 1917 (Engine 1923)

Displacement:
 17,768 t light; 18,499 t standard; 19,900 t normal; 21,021 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 730.08 ft / 729.00 ft x 80.00 ft x 24.00 ft (normal load)
 222.53 m / 222.20 m x 24.38 m  x 7.32 m

Armament:
      6 - 11.00" / 279 mm guns (2x3 guns), 665.50lbs / 301.87kg shells, 1917 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      8 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1917 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all aft
 Weight of broadside 4,857 lbs / 2,203 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120
 6 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 78 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 8.00" / 203 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 176,586 shp / 131,733 Kw = 35.20 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,521 tons

Complement:
 837 - 1,089

Cost:
 £3.560 million / $14.241 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 607 tons, 3.1 %
 Armour: 2,292 tons, 11.5 %
    - Belts: 438 tons, 2.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 1,010 tons, 5.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 717 tons, 3.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 127 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 5,902 tons, 29.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,967 tons, 45.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,132 tons, 10.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   18,002 lbs / 8,165 Kg = 27.1 x 11.0 " / 279 mm shells or 1.8 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 %): 53 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.53
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.498
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.11 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  31.00 ft / 9.45 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Mid (73 %):  26.00 ft / 7.92 m (18.00 ft / 5.49 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Stern:  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard: 24.24 ft / 7.39 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 119.3 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 201.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 38,773 Square feet or 3,602 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 151 lbs/sq ft or 738 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.43
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The 729ft version of the F/CA/1917 (the Mod.A)

I thought I would try the 729ft version of the F/CA/1917 tonight. My goal was to be as close as possible to 180,000 SHP, and 35.5 knots took about that amount. The belt was lengthend, the beam expanded by 1ft and the draft to 23ft. The displacement grew to 18,400 tons normal. It becomes quite a potent ship (as if it wasn't, before). This is the Springsharp report:

F/CA/1917 Mod.A, France Heavy Cruiser laid down 1917 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
 16,610 t light; 17,225 t standard; 18,400 t normal; 19,340 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 730.05 ft / 729.00 ft x 76.00 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
 222.52 m / 222.20 m x 23.16 m  x 7.01 m

Armament:
      8 - 9.45" / 240 mm guns (2x4 guns), 421.80lbs / 191.32kg shells, 1917 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      8 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1917 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all aft
 Weight of broadside 3,630 lbs / 1,647 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120
 6 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 78 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 173,529 shp / 129,453 Kw = 35.50 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,115 tons

Complement:
 789 - 1,026

Cost:
 £2.974 million / $11.897 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 454 tons, 2.5 %
 Armour: 3,376 tons, 18.3 %
    - Belts: 1,032 tons, 5.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 852 tons, 4.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,373 tons, 7.5 %
    - Conning Tower: 120 tons, 0.7 %
 Machinery: 4,810 tons, 26.1 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,971 tons, 43.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,790 tons, 9.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   21,825 lbs / 9,900 Kg = 51.7 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 4.5 ft / 1.4 m
 Roll period: 15.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.45
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.505
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.59 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 27.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Mid (73 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m (17.00 ft / 5.18 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Stern:  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard: 23.24 ft / 7.08 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 103.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 194.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 37,096 Square feet or 3,446 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 140 lbs/sq ft or 684 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.97
  - Longitudinal: 1.31
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The F/CA/1917 heavy cruiser design

In some ways, this is similar to a pre-Dreadnought belted cruiser. The protect consists of a 2in deck (rather than the hoped-for 4in + 3in decks) and an 8in belt. The main armament is 8-9.4in guns in two quadruple turrets forward and the secondary armament is 8-4in QF guns in twin mounts aft. There are also 6-21in TT. The only real recognition of being French are the 24cm guns (9.44in). The drawing looks like a French cruiser of later vintage. I also had a larger version on the same page, which was 729ft long, instead of the 676ft length of this version. My planned names were battleship names, really:

Dunkerque
Strasbourg
Jean Bart
Richelieu
Gascogne
Clemenceau

I stayed as close as I could to the original specifications, but I had to increase the draft to 22ft, to achieve adequate seakeeping. This is the Springsharp report:

F/CA/1917, France Heavy Cruiser laid down 1917 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
 14,924 t light; 15,502 t standard; 16,600 t normal; 17,478 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 677.05 ft / 676.00 ft x 75.00 ft x 22.00 ft (normal load)
 206.36 m / 206.04 m x 22.86 m  x 6.71 m

Armament:
      8 - 9.45" / 240 mm guns (2x4 guns), 421.80lbs / 191.32kg shells, 1917 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      8 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1917 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all aft
 Weight of broadside 3,630 lbs / 1,647 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120
 6 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 340.00 ft / 103.63 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 77 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 143,591 shp / 107,119 Kw = 34.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,976 tons

Complement:
 730 - 950

Cost:
 £2.656 million / $10.623 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 454 tons, 2.7 %
 Armour: 3,196 tons, 19.3 %
    - Belts: 958 tons, 5.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 852 tons, 5.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,274 tons, 7.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 112 tons, 0.7 %
 Machinery: 3,980 tons, 24.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,294 tons, 43.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,676 tons, 10.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   21,636 lbs / 9,814 Kg = 51.3 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 2.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
 Metacentric height 4.3 ft / 1.3 m
 Roll period: 15.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.50
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.521
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.01 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 26.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Mid (73 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m (17.00 ft / 5.18 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Stern:  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard: 23.24 ft / 7.08 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 98.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 194.1 %
 Waterplane Area: 34,435 Square feet or 3,199 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 139 lbs/sq ft or 679 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.46
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

In our game in 1971, we decided to build large ships, starting in 1914

Things got pretty far out of hand, but we decided, in 1971, as part of the Emergency War programs in our game, to start building large ships. The 105,000 ton battleship design study was near the high end of the range. It is unclear if such a large ship could have been built that early, but I think it was possible. The ship would have not been as sound as if it were built at least 25 years later.

A 105,000 ton battleship design

The next page in the Red Book is a set of specifications, although incomplete, for a 105,000 ton German battleship. Germany is not mentioned, but I believe that there is, elsewhere, a sketch that mentions that fact. The armament is 9-19.75in guns, and I assumed a 24-5in QF gun secondary armament. The only other thing that I worked to achieve was the 280,000 SHP machinery. I had hoped for 31 knots for that power, but Springsharp gave me 30.7 knots, instead, which is quite good, given how I had estimated the power back in the early 1970's. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1917, Germany Battleship laid down 1917 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
    96,451 t light; 100,375 t standard; 105,000 t normal; 108,700 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
    1,089.24 ft / 1,085.00 ft x 140.00 ft x 34.00 ft (normal load)
    332.00 m / 330.71 m x 42.67 m  x 10.36 m

Armament:
      9 - 19.75" / 502 mm guns (3x3 guns), 3,851.87lbs / 1,747.18kg shells, 1917 Model
      Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
      on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (12x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1917 Model
      Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
      on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
    Weight of broadside 36,167 lbs / 16,405 kg
    Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:        Width (max)    Length (avg)        Height (avg)
    Main:    18.0" / 457 mm    650.00 ft / 198.12 m    17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    Ends:    Unarmoured
      Main Belt covers 92 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
        7.00" / 178 mm    650.00 ft / 198.12 m    33.00 ft / 10.06 m

   - Gun armour:    Face (max)    Other gunhouse (avg)    Barbette/hoist (max)
    Main:    18.0" / 457 mm    12.0" / 305 mm        18.0" / 457 mm
    2nd:    5.00" / 127 mm    5.00" / 127 mm        5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 7.00" / 178 mm, Conning tower: 18.00" / 457 mm

Machinery:
    Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
    Geared drive, 4 shafts, 280,433 shp / 209,203 Kw = 30.70 kts
    Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
    Bunker at max displacement = 8,326 tons

Complement:
    2,916 - 3,791

Cost:
    £15.296 million / $61.183 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
    Armament: 4,521 tons, 4.3 %
    Armour: 38,388 tons, 36.6 %
       - Belts: 8,702 tons, 8.3 %
       - Torpedo bulkhead: 5,556 tons, 5.3 %
       - Armament: 7,337 tons, 7.0 %
       - Armour Deck: 15,930 tons, 15.2 %
       - Conning Tower: 863 tons, 0.8 %
    Machinery: 8,852 tons, 8.4 %
    Hull, fittings & equipment: 44,690 tons, 42.6 %
    Fuel, ammunition & stores: 8,549 tons, 8.1 %
    Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
    Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
      182,463 lbs / 82,764 Kg = 47.4 x 19.8 " / 502 mm shells or 40.4 torpedoes
    Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.25
    Metacentric height 12.4 ft / 3.8 m
    Roll period: 16.7 seconds
    Steadiness    - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 58 %
            - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.43
    Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.16

Hull form characteristics:
    Hull has a flush deck
    Block coefficient: 0.712
    Length to Beam Ratio: 7.75 : 1
    'Natural speed' for length: 32.94 kts
    Power going to wave formation at top speed: 47 %
    Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
    Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
    Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
    Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
       - Stem:        32.00 ft / 9.75 m
       - Forecastle (20 %):    26.00 ft / 7.92 m
       - Mid (50 %):        26.00 ft / 7.92 m
       - Quarterdeck (15 %):    26.00 ft / 7.92 m
       - Stern:        26.00 ft / 7.92 m
       - Average freeboard:    26.48 ft / 8.07 m
    Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
    Space    - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 70.2 %
        - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 208.9 %
    Waterplane Area: 123,010 Square feet or 11,428 Square metres
    Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
    Structure weight / hull surface area: 285 lbs/sq ft or 1,391 Kg/sq metre
    Hull strength (Relative):
        - Cross-sectional: 1.19
        - Longitudinal: 0.94
        - Overall: 1.00
    Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
    Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

What I am calling the Ger/CB/1917 design

I have a bare drawing from the Red Book (one that I had skipped) without any specifications or designation, but it is obviously a battlecruiser, and from the context, I would expect that it is German. I took that as the starting point for a Springsharp design. The design is partly inspired by the Richelieu, as there are two turrets forward, although I am certain that they are triple 16.5in turrets. They could have been intended for 6-18in, but that seems excessive, given the shallow draft and rather low displacement. I have assumed that a high speed, such as 35 knots, was intended. They are rather like the US Lexingtons, except with only 6 main battery guns. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/CB/1917, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1917 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
 40,735 t light; 42,383 t standard; 45,000 t normal; 47,093 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 876.15 ft / 875.00 ft x 105.00 ft x 28.00 ft (normal load)
 267.05 m / 266.70 m x 32.00 m  x 8.53 m

Armament:
      6 - 16.50" / 419 mm guns (2x3 guns), 2,246.06lbs / 1,018.80kg shells, 1917 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      20 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (10x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1917 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 14,726 lbs / 6,680 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 79 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 26.00 ft / 7.92 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: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 10.00" / 254 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 284,942 shp / 212,567 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,710 tons

Complement:
 1,544 - 2,008

Cost:
 £7.693 million / $30.772 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,841 tons, 4.1 %
 Armour: 10,196 tons, 22.7 %
    - Belts: 2,723 tons, 6.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 866 tons, 1.9 %
    - Armament: 2,562 tons, 5.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 3,772 tons, 8.4 %
    - Conning Tower: 273 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 8,994 tons, 20.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 19,704 tons, 43.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,265 tons, 9.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   56,995 lbs / 25,852 Kg = 25.4 x 16.5 " / 419 mm shells or 6.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 7.3 ft / 2.2 m
 Roll period: 16.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.62
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.612
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.33 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.58 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
    - Mid (64 %):  31.00 ft / 9.45 m (23.00 ft / 7.01 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Stern:  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Average freeboard: 28.28 ft / 8.62 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 118.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 238.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 67,968 Square feet or 6,314 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 205 lbs/sq ft or 1,001 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.98
  - Longitudinal: 1.27
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Now, I changed the armament to something more conventional

I couldn't bring myself to go for a Hood-style layout for the "Super Fast Battlecruiser". I tried 8-14in BLR on the centerline, with one turret forward, one in the center, and two aft with one superfiring. The length and displacement had to rise more to keep a 40-knot speed. The freeboard remains unchanged, but very high. In good battlecruiser fashion, this ship can catch any smaller ship in a seaway and run from any ship that could outgun it. I can tell that my expertise with Springsharp has improved. Gavin, the Red Admiral in Wesworld, showed me some things about how to better use Springsharp, and that greatly helped. I found the documentation, alone, to be inadequate. Actually seeing someone's design helped me understand what to do.This is the Springsharp report for this latest increment (GB/CB/1921 Super Fast Mod.B):

GB/CB/1921 Super Fast Mod.A  Red Book, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1921 (Engine 1945)

Displacement:
 34,791 t light; 36,107 t standard; 38,100 t normal; 39,695 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 896.66 ft / 894.00 ft x 97.00 ft x 31.00 ft (normal load)
 273.30 m / 272.49 m x 29.57 m  x 9.45 m

Armament:
      2 - 14.00" / 356 mm guns (1x2 guns), 1,372.00lbs / 622.33kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
   on centreline forward
      2 - 14.00" / 356 mm guns (1x2 guns), 1,372.00lbs / 622.33kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
   on centreline amidships
      4 - 14.00" / 356 mm guns (2x2 guns), 1,372.00lbs / 622.33kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all aft, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      12 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1921 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships
 Weight of broadside 11,726 lbs / 5,319 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 520.00 ft / 158.50 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 89 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 520.00 ft / 158.50 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 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: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm
 3rd: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 405,739 shp / 302,681 Kw = 40.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,588 tons

Complement:
 1,363 - 1,772

Cost:
 £9.885 million / $39.539 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,466 tons, 3.8 %
 Armour: 5,478 tons, 14.4 %
    - Belts: 1,599 tons, 4.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 558 tons, 1.5 %
    - Armament: 1,045 tons, 2.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,130 tons, 5.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 146 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 10,246 tons, 26.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 17,601 tons, 46.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,309 tons, 8.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   35,207 lbs / 15,970 Kg = 25.7 x 14.0 " / 356 mm shells or 3.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
 Metacentric height 6.6 ft / 2.0 m
 Roll period: 15.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.64
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.496
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.22 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.90 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  38.00 ft / 11.58 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
    - Mid (40 %):  35.00 ft / 10.67 m (27.00 ft / 8.23 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Stern:  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Average freeboard: 30.44 ft / 9.28 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 145.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 237.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 57,571 Square feet or 5,349 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 101 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 195 lbs/sq ft or 952 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.59
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Forty knots and 4-17in guns

I wanted to see if the GB/CB/1921 Super Fast design could be extended to reach 40 knots. I was successful, by increasing the dimensions and displacement. I also took the liberty of replacing the 4in QF guns with the more substantial 5in guns. The result is a ship that can outrun smaller ships in a seaway, even if they somehow were nominally faster. Light weight machinery is essential, of course. I was able to coerce 39.6 SHP/ton from Springsharp. This is not unreasonable for a ship laid down in 1921, as much earlier ships had achieved 50 to 60 SHP/ton. Of course, the power output is very great. It could only fit into the ship if it is higher power output for size and weight. The armour plan is unchanged but the armament is now 4-17in BLR and 12-5in QF guns. The roll period is very good at 15.6 seconds. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/CB/1921 Super Fast Mod.A  Red Book, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1921 (Engine 1945)

Displacement:
 32,693 t light; 33,885 t standard; 35,800 t normal; 37,332 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 881.66 ft / 879.00 ft x 94.00 ft x 31.00 ft (normal load)
 268.73 m / 267.92 m x 28.65 m  x 9.45 m

Armament:
      4 - 17.00" / 432 mm guns (2x2 guns), 2,456.50lbs / 1,114.25kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
      12 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1921 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 10,576 lbs / 4,797 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 520.00 ft / 158.50 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 91 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 520.00 ft / 158.50 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 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: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 390,931 shp / 291,635 Kw = 40.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,446 tons

Complement:
 1,300 - 1,691

Cost:
 £9.257 million / $37.029 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,322 tons, 3.7 %
 Armour: 5,435 tons, 15.2 %
    - Belts: 1,591 tons, 4.4 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 558 tons, 1.6 %
    - Armament: 1,128 tons, 3.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,017 tons, 5.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 140 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 9,872 tons, 27.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 16,064 tons, 44.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,107 tons, 8.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   32,840 lbs / 14,896 Kg = 13.4 x 17.0 " / 432 mm shells or 3.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
 Metacentric height 6.4 ft / 1.9 m
 Roll period: 15.6 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.60
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.489
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.35 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.65 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  38.00 ft / 11.58 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
    - Mid (40 %):  35.00 ft / 10.67 m (27.00 ft / 8.23 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Stern:  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Average freeboard: 30.44 ft / 9.28 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 148.2 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 235.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 54,516 Square feet or 5,065 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 185 lbs/sq ft or 902 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.55
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

I couldn't resist trying the GB/CB/1921 Super Fast design

After the success with the Ger/CBL/1915 Mod.A, faster version, I thought I would try the GB/CB/1921 "Super Fast" battlecruiser design from the Red Book. I used the specified dimensions, although the freeboard is higher. One variation is that the displacement IS LESS than I had specified. Very lightweight machinery is required, but not the lightest weight. The protection is modest, but more than the Ger/CBL/1915 design. 40 knots was not achievable, but 37 knots was, with a not very excessive SHP, and with four shafts, not six or eight. The armament is the 4-17in BLR and 16-4in QF guns. A higher speed could have been achieved, but seakeeping was an issue, partly due to the narrow beam. Seakeeping drove the displacement lower, as 32,000 tons was not compatible with adequate seakeeping. I may experiment with making design changes to see if 40 knots might be possible. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/CB/1921 Super Fast  Red Book, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1921 (Engine 1945)

Displacement:
 24,968 t light; 25,985 t standard; 27,600 t normal; 28,892 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 802.31 ft / 800.00 ft x 85.00 ft x 29.70 ft (normal load)
 244.54 m / 243.84 m x 25.91 m  x 9.05 m

Armament:
      4 - 17.00" / 432 mm guns (2x2 guns), 2,456.50lbs / 1,114.25kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
      4 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns (2x2 guns), 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1921 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
      12 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns (6x2 guns), 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships
 Weight of broadside 10,338 lbs / 4,689 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 90 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 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: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm
 3rd: 3.00" / 76 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 250,474 shp / 186,853 Kw = 37.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,907 tons

Complement:
 1,069 - 1,391

Cost:
 £7.242 million / $28.966 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,292 tons, 4.7 %
 Armour: 4,711 tons, 17.1 %
    - Belts: 1,438 tons, 5.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 504 tons, 1.8 %
    - Armament: 1,007 tons, 3.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,644 tons, 6.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 118 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 6,325 tons, 22.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,639 tons, 45.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,632 tons, 9.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   26,956 lbs / 12,227 Kg = 11.0 x 17.0 " / 432 mm shells or 3.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
 Metacentric height 5.1 ft / 1.6 m
 Roll period: 15.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.78
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.478
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.41 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Mid (40 %):  30.00 ft / 9.14 m (23.00 ft / 7.01 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Stern:  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Average freeboard: 26.04 ft / 7.94 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 142.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 199.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 44,434 Square feet or 4,128 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 178 lbs/sq ft or 869 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.52
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

I wanted to see if I could get more speed from the Ger/CBL/1915 design

I wondered if I could get the Ger/CBL/1915 design to reach 40 knots, but the answer is that can only be done with the lightest possible machinery. The basic dimensions are relatively unchanged, except that the freeboard is raised and the draft slightly increased. The new standard displacement is 19,102 tons. The survivability is acceptable, as the ship can absorb 22 12in hits and could take one torpedo hit without sinking. I don't like the roll period being as quick as it is: 13.9 seconds, but it is acceptable. The modified design can now carry 2-12in BLR and 12-6in QF guns at up to 40 knots or for 7,500nm at 15 knots. The design lacks a torpedo bulkhead. The effect of the weight was prohibitive. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/CBL/1915 Mod.A High Speed  Red Book, Germany Light Battlecruiser laid down 1915 (Engine 1941)

Displacement:
 18,567 t light; 19,195 t standard; 20,600 t normal; 21,724 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 802.24 ft / 800.00 ft x 80.00 ft x 23.50 ft (normal load)
 244.52 m / 243.84 m x 24.38 m  x 7.16 m

Armament:
      2 - 12.00" / 305 mm guns (1x2 guns), 864.00lbs / 391.90kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
   on centreline forward
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 3,024 lbs / 1,372 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 90 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

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

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 5.00" / 127 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 257,302 shp / 191,947 Kw = 39.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,529 tons

Complement:
 859 - 1,117

Cost:
 £2.792 million / $11.167 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 378 tons, 1.8 %
 Armour: 2,634 tons, 12.8 %
    - Belts: 1,350 tons, 6.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 429 tons, 2.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 774 tons, 3.8 %
    - Conning Tower: 81 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 6,800 tons, 33.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,755 tons, 42.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,033 tons, 9.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   19,865 lbs / 9,011 Kg = 23.0 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 1.8 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.34
 Metacentric height 6.0 ft / 1.8 m
 Roll period: 13.7 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.26
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.479
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Mid (68 %):  27.00 ft / 8.23 m (19.00 ft / 5.79 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Stern:  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Average freeboard: 24.84 ft / 7.57 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 121.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 231.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 41,860 Square feet or 3,889 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 136 lbs/sq ft or 664 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.98
  - Longitudinal: 1.23
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The Ger/BB/1915 CDV Design

In the early 1970's, I was interested in coast defense battleships. I was familiar with what had been done in the pre-Dreadnought age, and thought that something good could be done, circa 1915. I have implemented a Springsharp design that is trying to be as faithful to my original intent, as possible. In particular, I wanted the weights to be close to what I had originally specified. I found, though, that I had underestimated the required hull weight to achieve adequate strength. The armor had to be reduced, accordingly, to stay close to the desired displacement. The ship has 4-1in BLR and 20-5in QF guns in twin mounts. The hull is flush-decked and there is a single funnel. The desired speed is modest, being just 20 knots. This is the Sprinsharp report:

Ger/BB/1915 CDV, Germany Coast Defense Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
 26,621 t light; 28,308 t standard; 29,500 t normal; 30,453 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 585.40 ft / 585.00 ft x 100.00 ft x 24.10 ft (normal load)
 178.43 m / 178.31 m x 30.48 m  x 7.35 m

Armament:
      4 - 18.00" / 457 mm guns (2x2 guns), 2,916.00lbs / 1,322.68kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
      20 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (10x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 12,914 lbs / 5,858 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 150

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 360.00 ft / 109.73 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 10.0" / 254 mm 360.00 ft / 109.73 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 95 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  5.00" / 127 mm 360.00 ft / 109.73 m 23.00 ft / 7.01 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 9.00" / 229 mm  14.0" / 356 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 6.00" / 152 mm, Conning tower: 14.00" / 356 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 31,015 shp / 23,137 Kw = 20.00 kts
 Range 4,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,145 tons

Complement:
 1,125 - 1,463

Cost:
 £3.503 million / $14.011 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,614 tons, 5.5 %
 Armour: 12,926 tons, 43.8 %
    - Belts: 3,126 tons, 10.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,532 tons, 5.2 %
    - Armament: 2,625 tons, 8.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 5,356 tons, 18.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 288 tons, 1.0 %
 Machinery: 860 tons, 2.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 11,222 tons, 38.0 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,879 tons, 9.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   59,120 lbs / 26,817 Kg = 20.3 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 13.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
 Metacentric height 6.9 ft / 2.1 m
 Roll period: 16.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 77 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.55
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.53

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.732
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.85 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.19 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 44 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 1.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Mid (50 %):  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Stern:  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard: 20.24 ft / 6.17 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 65.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 163.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 48,248 Square feet or 4,482 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 181 lbs/sq ft or 885 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.55
  - 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
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

I had greatly overestimated speed for power: Ger/CBL/1915 Mod.A

the "Mod.A" version of the Ger/CBL/1915 design attempted to reach very high speeds. The reality was that while the design was workable, the extreme speeds over 40 knots were beyond reach. The design specified a 20,000 ton ship with one twin 12in gun turret forward. There were also 12-6in QF guns grouped in the center. There was a lower quarterdeck for about 33% of the length. I have a photo of the ship:

This is what I have called a "cruiser killer" (Frank Fox's term). I have a Cafe Press product line with this image on it:

For the Springsharp design, I closely followed the original weights and power for the Mod.A version:

Ger/CBL/1915 Mod.A, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1915 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
18,062 t light; 18,624 t standard; 20,000 t normal; 21,101 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
804.17 ft / 800.00 ft x 80.00 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
245.11 m / 243.84 m x 24.38 m  x 7.01 m

Armament:
     2 - 12.00" / 305 mm guns (1x2 guns), 864.00lbs / 391.90kg shells, 1915 Model
  Breech loading guns in a turret (on a barbette)
  on centreline forward
     12 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1915 Model
  Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
  on side, all amidships
Weight of broadside 3,024 lbs / 1,372 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
  - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 540.00 ft / 164.59 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
Ends: Unarmoured
  Main Belt covers 104 % of normal length
  Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

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

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

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 203,756 shp / 152,002 Kw = 37.00 kts
Range 7,200nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,477 tons

Complement:
840 - 1,093

Cost:
£2.531 million / $10.126 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 378 tons, 1.9 %
Armour: 3,630 tons, 18.2 %
   - Belts: 1,518 tons, 7.6 %
   - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
   - Armament: 474 tons, 2.4 %
   - Armour Deck: 1,544 tons, 7.7 %
   - Conning Tower: 95 tons, 0.5 %
Machinery: 5,647 tons, 28.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,406 tons, 42.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,938 tons, 9.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
  24,688 lbs / 11,198 Kg = 28.6 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 2.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.32
Metacentric height 5.9 ft / 1.8 m
Roll period: 13.9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 56 %
  - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.26
Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.12

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.476
Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
   - Stem:  31.00 ft / 9.45 m
   - Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
   - Mid (67 %):  26.00 ft / 7.92 m (18.00 ft / 5.49 m aft of break)
   - Quarterdeck (15 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
   - Stern:  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
   - Average freeboard: 23.76 ft / 7.24 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 106.0 %
 - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 225.0 %
Waterplane Area: 41,719 Square feet or 3,876 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 133 lbs/sq ft or 650 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
 - Cross-sectional: 0.98
 - Longitudinal: 1.14
 - Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

A "Moderate Dimensions" Battleship

The next page in the Red Book is a "Moderate Dimensions" battleship that would have made Charles Beresford happy. There is the pencil sketch, and some specifications. I elaborated on what was there to produce a Springsharp design. I suspect that the design was German, so I went forward on that basis, with my usual "Alternate History" variations. There are two turrets forward with big guns for the size of the ship, one superfiring. The belt is short, but that was the intent. I decided the 23 knots was adequate for the design, given that it is practically a coast defence ship. The resulting Springsharp design was quite acceptable, although it depends on light-weight machinery:

Ger/BB/1915 small, Germany Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1923)

Displacement:
 25,565 t light; 26,796 t standard; 28,600 t normal; 30,043 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 625.00 ft / 625.00 ft x 100.00 ft x 24.40 ft (normal load)
 190.50 m / 190.50 m x 30.48 m  x 7.44 m

Armament:
      6 - 16.00" / 406 mm guns (2x3 guns), 2,048.00lbs / 928.96kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      12 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships
 Weight of broadside 13,038 lbs / 5,914 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 10.0" / 254 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 79 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  4.00" / 102 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 24.00 ft / 7.32 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 9.00" / 229 mm  14.0" / 356 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 14.00" / 356 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 49,139 shp / 36,658 Kw = 23.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,246 tons

Complement:
 1,099 - 1,429

Cost:
 £3.627 million / $14.509 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,630 tons, 5.7 %
 Armour: 9,648 tons, 33.7 %
    - Belts: 2,870 tons, 10.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,137 tons, 4.0 %
    - Armament: 2,687 tons, 9.4 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,673 tons, 9.3 %
    - Conning Tower: 282 tons, 1.0 %
 Machinery: 1,642 tons, 5.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,645 tons, 44.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,035 tons, 10.6 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   51,116 lbs / 23,186 Kg = 25.0 x 16.0 " / 406 mm shells or 9.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
 Metacentric height 6.1 ft / 1.9 m
 Roll period: 17.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 73 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.75
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.47

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.656
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.25 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 25.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 47 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Mid (67 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m (17.00 ft / 5.18 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Stern:  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard: 22.60 ft / 6.89 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 77.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 190.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 48,160 Square feet or 4,474 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 110 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 198 lbs/sq ft or 965 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.75
  - 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

The Red Book version of the Ger/BB/1905 design

If you accept the fact that the Ger/BB/1905 design has relatively light-weight machinery and oil-fired boilers, then the design works well. I actually used the "classic" Blue Book dimensions with the armouring scheme from the page in the Red Book. This portrays the ship as using an "all-or-nothing" armouring scheme. The armament is the 8-12in BLR and 12-4in QF guns. The armour basis is 11in. The deck armour is 3in. The Standard displacement was meant to be 19,000 tons. This design came out just less than that figure, at 18,939 tons (close enough). The ship, in case you are not familiar with the photo art and descriptions, has a long forecastle, superimposed turrets, three funnels, and a tripod foremast with a large top. The originally intended speed was 23 knots, and this version follows that intent. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1905, Germany Battleship laid down 1905 (Engine 1911)

Displacement:
 18,149 t light; 18,939 t standard; 21,000 t normal; 22,649 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 580.00 ft / 580.00 ft x 90.00 ft x 26.60 ft (normal load)
 176.78 m / 176.78 m x 27.43 m  x 8.11 m

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm guns (4x2 guns), 864.00lbs / 391.90kg shells, 1905 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      12 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1905 Model
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts 
   on side, all amidships
 Weight of broadside 7,296 lbs / 3,309 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 11.0" / 279 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 8.00" / 203 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 98 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.50" / 38 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 25.00 ft / 7.62 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 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 38,955 shp / 29,060 Kw = 23.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,710 tons

Complement:
 871 - 1,133

Cost:
 £1.623 million / $6.491 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 912 tons, 4.3 %
 Armour: 7,256 tons, 34.6 %
    - Belts: 2,456 tons, 11.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 513 tons, 2.4 %
    - Armament: 2,124 tons, 10.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,983 tons, 9.4 %
    - Conning Tower: 180 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 1,581 tons, 7.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,400 tons, 40.0 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,851 tons, 13.6 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   39,419 lbs / 17,880 Kg = 45.6 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 7.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
 Metacentric height 4.7 ft / 1.4 m
 Roll period: 17.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 87 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.73
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.73

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.529
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.44 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.08 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 46 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Mid (67 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m (17.00 ft / 5.18 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Stern:  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard: 22.60 ft / 6.89 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 74.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 178.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 35,733 Square feet or 3,320 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 119 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 162 lbs/sq ft or 793 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.93
  - Longitudinal: 1.94
  - 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
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

The Ger/CS/1915 design

I somewhat struggled with the Ger/CS/1915 design, as I had trouble getting adequate seakeeping. The specifications in the Red Book were for 12 ships (S-8 to S-19), with a displacement of 2,400 tons and a speed of 35 knots. The dimensions specified were 355ft x 37ft, without a draft being mentioned. The armament was 4-6in QF guns and 4-23.6in TT. The pencil drawing looks like a large, German destroyer. The freeboard and draft are too great, but they seemed to be necessary for Springsharp. I was able to use heavier machinery than I had expected, once I got the draft and freeboard where they needed to be. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/CS/1915, Germany Scout Cruiser laid down 1915 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
 2,095 t light; 2,172 t standard; 2,400 t normal; 2,583 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 356.82 ft / 355.00 ft x 37.00 ft x 15.00 ft (normal load)
 108.76 m / 108.20 m x 11.28 m  x 4.57 m

Armament:
      4 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 1 raised mount
 Weight of broadside 432 lbs / 196 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120
 4 - 23.6" / 600.0001 mm above water torpedoes

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 52,011 shp / 38,800 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 4,250nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 411 tons

Complement:
 170 - 222

Cost:
 £0.439 million / $1.756 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 54 tons, 2.3 %
 Machinery: 1,308 tons, 54.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 733 tons, 30.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 305 tons, 12.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   583 lbs / 265 Kg = 5.4 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.34
 Metacentric height 1.9 ft / 0.6 m
 Roll period: 11.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 59 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.62
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.17

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
   and transom stern
 Block coefficient: 0.426
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.59 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 21.78 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 71 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Mid (37 %):  24.00 ft / 7.32 m (16.00 ft / 4.88 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Stern:  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Average freeboard: 19.12 ft / 5.83 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 192.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 127.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 8,541 Square feet or 793 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 65 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 37 lbs/sq ft or 181 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.44
  - Longitudinal: 3.73
  - Overall: 0.55
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The BBX-Mod.A design

I had been dissatisfied with the low speed that Cliff had intended for the BBX design. I thought that a ship of that size should have a higher speed, more like a WWII fast battleship. I somewhat reduced the weight given to protection and increased the power, as well as wanted 40SHP/ton machinery. I adjusted the weights to match what I had specified (although the hull weight is much greater, because of the needs of Springsharp to achieve adequate strength). I did not try for a specific speed, but rather, wanted a power output figure of about 179,000 SHP. I was able to come close to what I had specified, and the result seems quite adequate:

GB/BB/BBX Mod.A Red Book, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1941)

Displacement:
 72,616 t light; 76,102 t standard; 79,800 t normal; 82,758 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 802.89 ft / 800.00 ft x 135.00 ft x 37.00 ft (normal load)
 244.72 m / 243.84 m x 41.15 m  x 11.28 m

Armament:
      9 - 20.00" / 508 mm guns (3x3 guns), 4,000.00lbs / 1,814.37kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (12x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 37,500 lbs / 17,010 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 87 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  8.00" / 203 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 36.00 ft / 10.97 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 15.0" / 381 mm  18.0" / 457 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 8.00" / 203 mm, Conning tower: 18.00" / 457 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 173,012 shp / 129,067 Kw = 27.50 kts
 Range 8,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,656 tons

Complement:
 2,373 - 3,086

Cost:
 £10.355 million / $41.421 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 4,688 tons, 5.9 %
 Armour: 33,872 tons, 42.4 %
    - Belts: 7,840 tons, 9.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 4,795 tons, 6.0 %
    - Armament: 7,718 tons, 9.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 12,799 tons, 16.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 719 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 4,572 tons, 5.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 29,485 tons, 36.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 7,184 tons, 9.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   121,265 lbs / 55,005 Kg = 30.3 x 20.0 " / 508 mm shells or 26.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
 Metacentric height 9.8 ft / 3.0 m
 Roll period: 18.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 57 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.60
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.15

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.699
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.93 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Mid (50 %):  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Stern:  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Average freeboard: 26.56 ft / 8.10 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 73.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 180.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 86,483 Square feet or 8,035 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 99 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 259 lbs/sq ft or 1,266 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.55
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

My friend Cliff's BBX design

My friend Cliff conceived of his BBX design as accepting a low speed to achieve a strong armament and protection. I adjusted the characteristics to use the SHP and weights for protection and machinery that he wanted. The speed is actually better than the 20 knots he allowed. The displacement to achieve adequate strength is much greater than the 71,500 tons normal that he had hoped for. The reason is that the hull weight is much greater than the 18,800 tons he allowed. The Springsharp hull weight is 29,331 tons. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/BB/BBX Red Book, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
 72,798 t light; 76,298 t standard; 80,500 t normal; 83,861 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 802.89 ft / 800.00 ft x 135.00 ft x 37.00 ft (normal load)
 244.72 m / 243.84 m x 41.15 m  x 11.28 m

Armament:
      9 - 20.00" / 508 mm guns (3x3 guns), 4,000.00lbs / 1,814.37kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (12x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 37,500 lbs / 17,010 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 21.0" / 533 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 87 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  8.00" / 203 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 36.00 ft / 10.97 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 21.0" / 533 mm 15.0" / 381 mm  21.0" / 533 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 8.00" / 203 mm, Conning tower: 21.00" / 533 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 94,524 shp / 70,515 Kw = 23.50 kts
 Range 8,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 7,563 tons

Complement:
 2,389 - 3,106

Cost:
 £10.041 million / $40.164 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 4,688 tons, 5.8 %
 Armour: 35,796 tons, 44.5 %
    - Belts: 8,714 tons, 10.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 4,795 tons, 6.0 %
    - Armament: 8,573 tons, 10.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 12,870 tons, 16.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 843 tons, 1.0 %
 Machinery: 2,984 tons, 3.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 29,331 tons, 36.4 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 7,702 tons, 9.6 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   135,250 lbs / 61,348 Kg = 33.8 x 20.0 " / 508 mm shells or 32.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
 Metacentric height 9.4 ft / 2.9 m
 Roll period: 18.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 80 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.72
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.60

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.705
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.93 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Mid (50 %):  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Stern:  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Average freeboard: 26.56 ft / 8.10 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 65.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 180.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 86,957 Square feet or 8,079 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 102 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 257 lbs/sq ft or 1,253 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.55
  - 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
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

A design not easily realized

There is a very radical design fast battlecruiser, which I assume that I meant to be German. The design has two triple 18in turrets forward, one in the superfiring position. The secondary armament is 16 single 5in QF guns. I have weights defined, along with dimensions. the specified beam (90ft) and the standard displacement (32,000 tons) is not realizable. To achieve adequate characteristics, the beam was increased to 105ft and the displacement to 39,700 tons, normal. That gives a standard displacement of 37,877 tons, which is closer than I had expected. The draft was increased to 32.5 ft for reasons of seakeeping, but mostly for hull strength. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/CB/1917, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1917 (Engine 1941)

Displacement:
 36,148 t light; 37,877 t standard; 39,700 t normal; 41,158 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 790.39 ft / 787.50 ft x 105.00 ft x 32.50 ft (normal load)
 240.91 m / 240.03 m x 32.00 m  x 9.91 m

Armament:
      6 - 18.00" / 457 mm guns (2x3 guns), 2,916.00lbs / 1,322.68kg shells, 1917 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      16 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1917 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 18,496 lbs / 8,390 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 500.00 ft / 152.40 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 6.00" / 152 mm 500.00 ft / 152.40 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 98 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 500.00 ft / 152.40 m 30.00 ft / 9.14 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 7.00" / 178 mm  9.00" / 229 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 209,175 shp / 156,044 Kw = 33.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,281 tons

Complement:
 1,406 - 1,828

Cost:
 £7.239 million / $28.954 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,312 tons, 5.8 %
 Armour: 9,673 tons, 24.4 %
    - Belts: 2,773 tons, 7.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,110 tons, 2.8 %
    - Armament: 2,459 tons, 6.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 3,106 tons, 7.8 %
    - Conning Tower: 226 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 5,528 tons, 13.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 18,635 tons, 46.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,552 tons, 8.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   48,217 lbs / 21,871 Kg = 16.5 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 6.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
 Metacentric height 6.2 ft / 1.9 m
 Roll period: 17.7 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.87
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.10

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.517
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.50 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.06 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Mid (67 %):  29.00 ft / 8.84 m (21.00 ft / 6.40 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Stern:  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Average freeboard: 26.68 ft / 8.13 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 109.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 203.1 %
 Waterplane Area: 55,962 Square feet or 5,199 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 101 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 227 lbs/sq ft or 1,106 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.82
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

My 1921 battlecruiser design from the Red Book

My 1921-style British battlecruiser from the Red Book sketch and specifications works pretty well. This is a 30-knot design with 9-16in and 20-5in guns. A feature of Springsharp is that hull weights are much greater than I had expected, when I did my designs in the 1970's. This is a much more conventional layout than the actual British 1921 ships, which had the really strange layouts. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/CB/1921, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1921 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
 45,030 t light; 47,014 t standard; 49,400 t normal; 51,309 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 856.73 ft / 855.00 ft x 105.00 ft x 33.30 ft (normal load)
 261.13 m / 260.60 m x 32.00 m  x 10.15 m

Armament:
      9 - 16.00" / 406 mm guns (3x3 guns), 2,048.00lbs / 928.96kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
      20 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (10x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1921 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 19,682 lbs / 8,928 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 13.0" / 330 mm 590.00 ft / 179.83 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 10.0" / 254 mm 590.00 ft / 179.83 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 106 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  3.00" / 76 mm 590.00 ft / 179.83 m 32.00 ft / 9.75 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 13.0" / 330 mm 10.0" / 254 mm  13.0" / 330 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 5.00" / 127 mm, Conning tower: 13.00" / 330 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 161,662 shp / 120,600 Kw = 30.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,294 tons

Complement:
 1,656 - 2,153

Cost:
 £11.091 million / $44.363 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,460 tons, 5.0 %
 Armour: 17,352 tons, 35.1 %
    - Belts: 4,897 tons, 9.9 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 2,096 tons, 4.2 %
    - Armament: 4,031 tons, 8.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 5,952 tons, 12.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 377 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 5,103 tons, 10.3 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 20,114 tons, 40.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,370 tons, 8.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   71,260 lbs / 32,323 Kg = 34.8 x 16.0 " / 406 mm shells or 11.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
 Metacentric height 5.9 ft / 1.8 m
 Roll period: 18.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 69 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.95
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.38

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.578
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.14 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.24 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 49 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Mid (50 %):  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Stern:  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Average freeboard: 27.48 ft / 8.38 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 87.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 199.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 64,342 Square feet or 5,978 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 213 lbs/sq ft or 1,039 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.97
  - 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

One of the alternative CM designs from 1915

This is another of the alternative fast minelayer designs from circa 1915 from the Red Book. I had optimistically hoped for 40 knots, but what I can get is 34 knots, which would have been fast for any real cruiser of the period. I was not willing to have a totally unarmoured cruiser minelayer, so instead, this is a cruiser with splinter protection, only (1in). The armament is 3-5in QF guns and 360 mines. The hull is flush decked with a high freeboard. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/CM/1915 Alt, Germany Cruiser Minelayer laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 4,757 t light; 4,861 t standard; 5,200 t normal; 5,471 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 454.75 ft / 450.00 ft x 42.00 ft x 18.00 ft (normal load)
 138.61 m / 137.16 m x 12.80 m  x 5.49 m

Armament:
      3 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount
 Weight of broadside 188 lbs / 85 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 0

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 300.00 ft / 91.44 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 103 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

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

   - Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 83,015 shp / 61,929 Kw = 34.00 kts
 Range 4,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 610 tons

Complement:
 306 - 398

Cost:
 £0.675 million / $2.701 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 23 tons, 0.5 %
 Armour: 390 tons, 7.5 %
    - Belts: 111 tons, 2.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 25 tons, 0.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 241 tons, 4.6 %
    - Conning Tower: 13 tons, 0.2 %
 Machinery: 1,986 tons, 38.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,997 tons, 38.4 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 443 tons, 8.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 360 tons, 6.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   3,643 lbs / 1,652 Kg = 58.3 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 0.7 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
 Metacentric height 1.6 ft / 0.5 m
 Roll period: 13.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.20
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.19

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.535
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.71 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 21.21 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 66 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Mid (50 %):  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Stern:  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard: 20.40 ft / 6.22 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 134.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 161.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 13,006 Square feet or 1,208 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 70 lbs/sq ft or 343 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.87
  - Longitudinal: 3.56
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

A fast German destroyer minelayer

I am experimenting with the fast minelayer sketch designs on this one page of the Red Book. In one respect, I am pleased that a 36-knot destroyer minelayer is possible, but I had wanted more speed than that. What I called the Ger/DM/1915 design is simply the most completely specified ship on the page. There was no armament specified, so I thought 3-5in QF guns appropriate for a very large destroyer. We know that 6in guns are too large for small ships, so 5in seemed like a reasonable alternative. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/DM/1915, Germany Destroyer Minelayer laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 2,688 t light; 2,764 t standard; 3,000 t normal; 3,189 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 421.31 ft / 420.00 ft x 40.00 ft x 20.00 ft (normal load)
 128.42 m / 128.02 m x 12.19 m  x 6.10 m

Armament:
      3 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, majority forward, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 188 lbs / 85 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 150

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 68,746 shp / 51,284 Kw = 36.00 kts
 Range 4,200nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 425 tons

Complement:
 202 - 263

Cost:
 £0.471 million / $1.884 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 23 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 1,500 tons, 50.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 865 tons, 28.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 312 tons, 10.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 300 tons, 10.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   748 lbs / 339 Kg = 12.0 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
 Metacentric height 1.7 ft / 0.5 m
 Roll period: 13.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 81 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.31
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.62

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.313
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.50 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 20.49 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Mid (50 %):  22.00 ft / 6.71 m (15.00 ft / 4.57 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Stern:  15.00 ft / 4.57 m
    - Average freeboard: 18.74 ft / 5.71 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 178.2 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 180.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 10,502 Square feet or 976 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 79 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 37 lbs/sq ft or 181 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.43
  - Longitudinal: 2.87
  - Overall: 0.52
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

I had some unrealistic ideas in 1971 and 1972

I had been interested in very fast destroyer and cruiser minelayers, back in the early 1970's. The problem is that I had a very little idea about what power was required and what strength and hull volume were required for such performance. The high end of the spectrum was a cruiser minelayer, 625ft long. There were two gun mounts forward and a large number of mines, aft. The hull was flush-decked and there were two wide funnels, with pole masts. There were very few characteristics specified, so I experimented, in Springsharp, with one possibility. The results were pretty disappointing. With the lightest weight machinery possible, I was only able to obtain 37 knots:

Ger/CM/1915, Germany Cruiser Minelayer laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 7,789 t light; 7,987 t standard; 8,450 t normal; 8,821 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 629.75 ft / 625.00 ft x 58.00 ft x 18.00 ft (normal load)
 191.95 m / 190.50 m x 17.68 m  x 5.49 m

Armament:
      4 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (2x2 guns), 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 432 lbs / 196 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120

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

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 129,717 shp / 96,769 Kw = 37.00 kts
 Range 4,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 834 tons

Complement:
 439 - 572

Cost:
 £1.094 million / $4.378 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 54 tons, 0.6 %
 Armour: 474 tons, 5.6 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 36 tons, 0.4 %
    - Armour Deck: 429 tons, 5.1 %
    - Conning Tower: 9 tons, 0.1 %
 Machinery: 3,103 tons, 36.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,677 tons, 43.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 661 tons, 7.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 480 tons, 5.7 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   7,343 lbs / 3,331 Kg = 68.0 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.24
 Metacentric height 3.2 ft / 1.0 m
 Roll period: 13.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 57 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.14
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.13

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.453
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.78 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 25.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 4.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Mid (50 %):  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Stern:  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Average freeboard: 21.32 ft / 6.50 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 130.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 211.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 23,185 Square feet or 2,154 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 93 lbs/sq ft or 456 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.59
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent