A design study for a compact German battleship

I have a pencil sketch for a compact battleship, with the notation that the full load displacement was 30,000 tons. The two turrets, situated forward, one superfiring, seem to have 16.5in guns, from the size. The layout and length are clearly defined. I estimated the other specifications, and found that the basic concept was sound, as I was easily able to get the Springsharp design to work. it does require lightweight machinery. This is the report:

Ger/BB/1915 Design Study, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1915 (Engine 1931)

Displacement:
 28,012 t light; 29,224 t standard; 30,000 t normal; 30,621 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 620.94 ft / 620.00 ft x 105.00 ft x 30.00 ft (normal load)
 189.26 m / 188.98 m x 32.00 m  x 9.14 m

Armament:
      6 - 16.50" / 419 mm guns (2x3 guns), 2,246.06lbs / 1,018.80kg shells, 1915 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, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 14,476 lbs / 6,566 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 75

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 340.00 ft / 103.63 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 84 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  3.00" / 76 mm 340.00 ft / 103.63 m 30.00 ft / 9.14 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 16.0" / 406 mm 9.00" / 229 mm  14.0" / 356 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm       -         -

   - Armour deck: 4.00" / 102 mm, Conning tower: 14.00" / 356 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 48,081 shp / 35,869 Kw = 23.00 kts
 Range 4,500nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,397 tons

Complement:
 1,139 - 1,481

Cost:
 £3.930 million / $15.719 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,810 tons, 6.0 %
 Armour: 11,171 tons, 37.2 %
    - Belts: 3,714 tons, 12.4 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,132 tons, 3.8 %
    - Armament: 2,710 tons, 9.0 %
    - Armour Deck: 3,323 tons, 11.1 %
    - Conning Tower: 291 tons, 1.0 %
 Machinery: 1,438 tons, 4.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 13,594 tons, 45.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,988 tons, 6.6 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   52,047 lbs / 23,608 Kg = 23.2 x 16.5 " / 419 mm shells or 10.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.04
 Metacentric height 5.8 ft / 1.8 m
 Roll period: 18.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 91 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.97
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.82

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.538
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.90 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.90 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:  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Mid (50 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Stern:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard: 25.16 ft / 7.67 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 74.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 187.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 44,910 Square feet or 4,172 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 213 lbs/sq ft or 1,042 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.90
  - Longitudinal: 2.53
  - 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

My latest attempt at the Ger/CDV/1915 design

The Ger/CDV/1915 design really works well in Springsharp, when I pay attention to the weights that I wanted in 1971 (or so). I am guessing that the guns were 6-15in, but the weights match so well that I am sure that it is correct. This design was trying to be the 1915 analog to the 1880's and 1890's coast defense battleships (or third class battleships). This is the specification from 1971:

Ger/CDV/1915  Cost = £ 1,540,000
Displacement:  17,100 tons
Full Load Displacement: 19,600 tons

450ft x 90ft x 15ft

Cp=0.61  Cm=0.97

Hull weight=0.30 x 450ft x 90ft x 37ft (hull depth)
25,000 SHP, at 27 SHP/ton

Weights:
Hull:      6,000 tons
Armament:  1,332 tons
Misc:      1,370 tons
Prot:      7,473 tons
Mach:        925 tons
Fuel:      1,500 tons
Feedwater: 1,000 tons

This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/CDV/1915, Germany Coast Defense Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
16,952 t light; 17,788 t standard; 18,600 t normal; 19,249 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
459.00 ft / 459.00 ft x 90.00 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
139.90 m / 139.90 m x 27.43 m  x 7.62 m

Armament:
    6 - 15.00" / 381 mm guns (2x3 guns), 1,687.50lbs / 765.44kg shells, 1915 Model
  Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
  on centreline ends, evenly spread
    8 - 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, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 10,989 lbs / 4,985 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 75

Armour:
 - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
Main: 13.0" / 330 mm 250.00 ft / 76.20 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
  Main Belt covers 84 % of normal length
  Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

 - Torpedo Bulkhead:
 2.00" / 51 mm 250.00 ft / 76.20 m 24.00 ft / 7.32 m

 - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 13.0" / 330 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  13.0" / 330 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm       -         -

 - Armour deck: 5.00" / 127 mm, Conning tower: 12.00" / 305 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 29,419 shp / 21,946 Kw = 21.00 kts
Range 3,750nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,461 tons

Complement:
796 - 1,035

Cost:
£2.730 million / $10.922 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1,374 tons, 7.4 %
Armour: 7,473 tons, 40.2 %
   - Belts: 2,466 tons, 13.3 %
   - Torpedo bulkhead: 444 tons, 2.4 %
   - Armament: 1,506 tons, 8.1 %
   - Armour Deck: 2,875 tons, 15.5 %
   - Conning Tower: 181 tons, 1.0 %
Machinery: 929 tons, 5.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,177 tons, 38.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,648 tons, 8.9 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
  24,443 lbs / 11,087 Kg = 14.5 x 15.0 " / 381 mm shells or 4.7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
Metacentric height 5.6 ft / 1.7 m
Roll period: 15.9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
  - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.49
Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.08

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.630
Length to Beam Ratio: 5.10 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 21.42 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
   - Stem:  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
   - Forecastle (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
   - Mid (48 %):  20.00 ft / 6.10 m (12.00 ft / 3.66 m aft of break)
   - Quarterdeck (15 %): 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   - Stern:  12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   - Average freeboard: 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 91.3 %
 - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 114.9 %
Waterplane Area: 31,079 Square feet or 2,887 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 92 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 176 lbs/sq ft or 860 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
 - Cross-sectional: 0.92
 - Longitudinal: 2.03
 - Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

Reducing the maximum speed to 30 knots improves the design

Reducing the maximum speed to 30 knots helps the design that I had just presented. I was able to increase the protection to an 8in belt and increase the range to 5,200 nm. Admittedly, the Germans never adopted the "all-or-nothing" protection scheme, but it had already been invented by 1915. You just have to allow for high-power machinery. The main armament 8-15in guns is in twin-superfiring turrets. The secondary armament of 12-6in guns is in shields on the forecastle deck. This is the revised Springsharp report:

Ger/CB/1915 Design Study, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1915 (Engine 1945)

Displacement:
 24,103 t light; 25,132 t standard; 26,250 t normal; 27,144 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 700.00 ft / 700.00 ft x 90.00 ft x 26.50 ft (normal load)
 213.36 m / 213.36 m x 27.43 m  x 8.08 m

Armament:
      8 - 13.50" / 343 mm guns (2x4 guns), 1,230.19lbs / 558.00kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 1 raised mount
   Main guns limited to end-on fire
      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 11,138 lbs / 5,052 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 460.00 ft / 140.21 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 101 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 460.00 ft / 140.21 m 25.00 ft / 7.62 m

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

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 117,273 shp / 87,486 Kw = 30.00 kts
 Range 5,200nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,012 tons

Complement:
 1,030 - 1,340

Cost:
 £3.531 million / $14.124 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,392 tons, 5.3 %
 Armour: 7,424 tons, 28.3 %
    - Belts: 2,667 tons, 10.2 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 851 tons, 3.2 %
    - Armament: 1,313 tons, 5.0 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,441 tons, 9.3 %
    - Conning Tower: 152 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 2,961 tons, 11.3 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,325 tons, 47.0 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,147 tons, 8.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   40,780 lbs / 18,497 Kg = 33.1 x 13.5 " / 343 mm shells or 5.9 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
 Metacentric height 4.9 ft / 1.5 m
 Roll period: 17.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 65 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 1.01
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.30

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.550
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.78 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 26.46 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
 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:  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): 98.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 217.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 43,980 Square feet or 4,086 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 187 lbs/sq ft or 914 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.93
  - Longitudinal: 1.83
  - 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

Another extreme battlecruiser

This is based on a very incomplete specification in my "Red Book". The specification simply reads:

700ft x 90ft x 26.5ft
Displacement=24,180ton (I believe that his is standard)
Longitudinal coefficient=0.55
Midship coefficient=0.92
Hull weigbht=9,270 tons
Power=120,000 SHP

Immediately preceding this specification is a page with two designs listed, the German BB with 12-16in guns and 21-22knots speed, and a battlecruiser with 8-15in guns and 28-30 knot speed. My first reaction was to turn this into a light battlecruiser, but I thought better of it, and went with a ship with 8-15in guns and at least 31knot speed. What I produced is only possible with extremely light machinery. This is the resulting Springsharp report:

Ger/CB/1915 Design Study, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 24,271 t light; 25,301 t standard; 26,250 t normal; 27,009 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 700.00 ft / 700.00 ft x 90.00 ft x 26.50 ft (normal load)
 213.36 m / 213.36 m x 27.43 m  x 8.08 m

Armament:
      8 - 13.50" / 343 mm guns (2x4 guns), 1,230.19lbs / 558.00kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 1 raised mount
      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 11,138 lbs / 5,052 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 460.00 ft / 140.21 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 101 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 460.00 ft / 140.21 m 25.00 ft / 7.62 m

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

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 152,112 shp / 113,475 Kw = 32.00 kts
 Range 4,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,709 tons

Complement:
 1,030 - 1,340

Cost:
 £3.678 million / $14.711 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,392 tons, 5.3 %
 Armour: 6,757 tons, 25.7 %
    - Belts: 2,001 tons, 7.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 851 tons, 3.2 %
    - Armament: 1,313 tons, 5.0 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,441 tons, 9.3 %
    - Conning Tower: 152 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 3,639 tons, 13.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,483 tons, 47.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,979 tons, 7.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   36,923 lbs / 16,748 Kg = 30.0 x 13.5 " / 343 mm shells or 5.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
 Metacentric height 5.0 ft / 1.5 m
 Roll period: 16.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.94
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.10

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.550
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.78 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 26.46 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: -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): 108.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 217.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 43,980 Square feet or 4,086 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 190 lbs/sq ft or 925 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

This German battleship design study almost ended up as a CDV

In order to make my design for a German battleship, circa 1915 (although it looks more modern), I had to reduce freeboard and range. I was starting to think that to achieve the desired protection, it was turning into a low freeboard coast defense battleship. It is short and wide, so it qualifies in that regard. This is the Springsharp report that shows what I had to do to achieve sufficient stability and hull strength:

Ger/BB/1915 Design Study, Germany Battleship laid down 1915

Displacement:
 44,889 t light; 47,018 t standard; 48,500 t normal; 49,686 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 680.98 ft / 680.00 ft x 120.00 ft x 33.00 ft (normal load)
 207.56 m / 207.26 m x 36.58 m  x 10.06 m

Armament:
      12 - 16.00" / 406 mm guns (4x3 guns), 2,048.00lbs / 928.96kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      20 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (12 mounts), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 12 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 25,826 lbs / 11,714 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 380.00 ft / 115.82 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 86 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  3.00" / 76 mm 380.00 ft / 115.82 m 31.00 ft / 9.45 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  18.0" / 457 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 4.00" / 102 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, 46,317 shp / 34,553 Kw = 21.00 kts
 Range 4,900nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,668 tons

Complement:
 1,633 - 2,124

Cost:
 £6.587 million / $26.347 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,228 tons, 6.7 %
 Armour: 21,697 tons, 44.7 %
    - Belts: 5,383 tons, 11.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,308 tons, 2.7 %
    - Armament: 5,405 tons, 11.1 %
    - Armour Deck: 9,086 tons, 18.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 516 tons, 1.1 %
 Machinery: 1,754 tons, 3.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 18,208 tons, 37.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,611 tons, 7.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   67,145 lbs / 30,456 Kg = 32.8 x 16.0 " / 406 mm shells or 12.9 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.06
 Metacentric height 7.4 ft / 2.3 m
 Roll period: 18.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 62 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.55
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.25

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.630
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.67 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 26.08 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 42 %
 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 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Mid (50 %):  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Stern:  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard: 18.80 ft / 5.73 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 73.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 128.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 61,391 Square feet or 5,703 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 95 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 231 lbs/sq ft or 1,128 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.97
  - Longitudinal: 1.38
  - 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

My early attempts at fuel consumption calculations

In the early 1970's, I had attempted to make fuel consumption and range calculations for the British ships that my friend Cliff had designed. It was based on a fuel consumption figure per SHP.

                             Power
Type        Name             SHP      Speed    Fuel       Range/endurance in hours
GB/CB/1905  Essex     Max    112,000  33 knots 4500 tons  1980nm    60 hours
                      Cruise  35,000  22 knots            9230nm   192 hours
GB/BB/1906  Britannia Max     42,000  24 knots 3700 tons  3210nm   134 hours
                      Cruise  32,000  20 knots            3460nm   173 hours
GB/CB/1910  Tiger     Max    150,000  33 knots 6000 tons  1980nm    60 hours
                      Cruise  42,000  22 knots            4680nm   213 hours

Springsharp doesn't provide a mechanism for doing this sort of calculation directly, although my Warship General Design program might be modified to do so.

My "Official" design for the German 1915 destroyer

For the wargame building game, from 1971, my "Official" design for the Ger/DD/1915 destroyer that would be built in the "Emergency War Program", was cleaner and more progressive. It was a ship with a forecastle that was 30% of the length, had two funnels and a squat, streamlined bridge structure. The armament was just 2-4in QF guns, 4-21in TT, and 30 mines. The speed was modest, being only 32 knots. There is the usual question whether the 850 tons displacement was "standard" or "normal". My investigation with Springsharp led me to assume that it was "normal". This is the Springsharp report:

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

Displacement:
 730 t light; 754 t standard; 850 t normal; 927 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 263.73 ft / 260.00 ft x 26.00 ft x 9.50 ft (normal load)
 80.39 m / 79.25 m x 7.92 m  x 2.90 m

Armament:
      2 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 64 lbs / 29 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 180
 4 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 27,259 shp / 20,335 Kw = 32.00 kts
 Range 3,750nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 174 tons

Complement:
 78 - 102

Cost:
 £0.135 million / $0.539 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 8 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 431 tons, 50.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 261 tons, 30.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 120 tons, 14.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 30 tons, 3.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   240 lbs / 109 Kg = 7.5 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.25
 Metacentric height 1.0 ft / 0.3 m
 Roll period: 11.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.28
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.08

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.463
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 16.12 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 73 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Mid (30 %):  19.00 ft / 5.79 m (13.00 ft / 3.96 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Stern:  13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Average freeboard: 14.96 ft / 4.56 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 175.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 87.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 4,360 Square feet or 405 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 61 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 23 lbs/sq ft or 114 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.40
  - Longitudinal: 4.66
  - Overall: 0.51
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped

A German light cruiser design study

I didn't supply a date or designation to a pencil sketch and specifications, but I thought it might date from 1916. It looks very much like a German WWI light cruiser, except that it has three twin 6in gun mounts. The dimensions are specified as 475ft x 48ft x 16.5ft. The armament is 6-6in QF guns and 4-23.6in TT in twin mounts. The standard displacement is 5,400 tons and the specified machinery power is 60,000 SHP. The weights specified originally are:

• Hull: 1663 tons
• Mach: 1500 tons
• Arm: 93 tons
• Prot: 1712 tons
• Misc: 432 tons

This is the Springsharp report that shows what I was able to achieve in the design. The only reason that this was possible is due to lightweight machinery:

Ger/CL/1916 Design Study, Germany Light Cruiser laid down 1916 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 5,322 t light; 5,503 t standard; 5,850 t normal; 6,127 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 477.87 ft / 475.00 ft x 48.00 ft x 16.50 ft (normal load)
 145.66 m / 144.78 m x 14.63 m  x 5.03 m

Armament:
      6 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (3x2 guns), 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1916 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, majority aft, 1 raised mount aft - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 648 lbs / 294 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 180
 4 - 23.6" / 599.44 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 340.00 ft / 103.63 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 4.00" / 102 mm 190.00 ft / 57.91 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 110 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 340.00 ft / 103.63 m 15.00 ft / 4.57 m

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

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 60,020 shp / 44,775 Kw = 31.00 kts
 Range 4,250nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 624 tons

Complement:
 333 - 434

Cost:
 £0.745 million / $2.980 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 81 tons, 1.4 %
 Armour: 1,659 tons, 28.4 %
    - Belts: 780 tons, 13.3 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 189 tons, 3.2 %
    - Armament: 77 tons, 1.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 586 tons, 10.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 28 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 1,436 tons, 24.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,146 tons, 36.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 528 tons, 9.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   7,970 lbs / 3,615 Kg = 73.8 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 1.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
 Metacentric height 2.3 ft / 0.7 m
 Roll period: 13.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.31
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.544
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.90 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 21.79 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
 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:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Mid (32 %):  23.00 ft / 7.01 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: 17.72 ft / 5.40 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 156.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 126.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 15,827 Square feet or 1,470 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 113 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 80 lbs/sq ft or 390 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.64
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

A new attempt at the Ger/CB/1915A design study

I have this radical battlecruiser design that is titled "Ger/CB/15A" from the early 1970's. I have tried this before, but I had not tried to replicate the weights that I had listed. The dimensions specified were 961ft x 110ft x 31.7ft, with a hull depth of 50ft. The displacment specified was 47,550 tons standard, with 50,000 tons full load. I quickly found the hull weight was inadequate. The normal displacment had to be increased to 53,250 tons for acceptable hull strength. These are the original weights:

Hull:       12,685 tons
Machinery:   6,000 tons
Aux. Mach.:  1,800 tons
Protection: 20,317 tons
Armament:    2,148 tons
Misc.:       3,600 tons
Fuel Oil:    3,000 tons
Feed Water:    450 tons

This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/CB/1915A, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 49,665 t light; 51,396 t standard; 53,250 t normal; 54,733 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 963.24 ft / 961.00 ft x 110.00 ft x 31.70 ft (normal load)
 293.59 m / 292.91 m x 33.53 m  x 9.66 m

Armament:
      6 - 16.50" / 419 mm guns (2x3 guns), 2,246.06lbs / 1,018.80kg shells, 1915 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, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, all amidships, 6 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 14,726 lbs / 6,680 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 570.00 ft / 173.74 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 91 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  3.00" / 76 mm 570.00 ft / 173.74 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  14.0" / 356 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 262,207 shp / 195,606 Kw = 34.00 kts
 Range 5,600nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,337 tons

Complement:
 1,752 - 2,278

Cost:
 £6.055 million / $24.220 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,841 tons, 3.5 %
 Armour: 20,309 tons, 38.1 %
    - Belts: 4,992 tons, 9.4 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,835 tons, 3.4 %
    - Armament: 3,507 tons, 6.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 9,609 tons, 18.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 366 tons, 0.7 %
 Machinery: 6,273 tons, 11.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 21,242 tons, 39.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,585 tons, 6.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   87,670 lbs / 39,766 Kg = 39.0 x 16.5 " / 419 mm shells or 14.1 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
 Metacentric height 7.5 ft / 2.3 m
 Roll period: 16.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 58 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.49
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.17

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.556
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.74 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 31.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
 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:  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Mid (50 %):  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Stern:  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard: 25.56 ft / 7.79 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 78.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 201.7 %
 Waterplane Area: 74,202 Square feet or 6,894 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 203 lbs/sq ft or 993 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.99
  - Longitudinal: 1.05
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

I realize now that most of my old displacements were actually "standard", not "normal": Ger/BB/1905

A note in the "Red Book" clearly states that the Ger/BB/1905 displacement was 22,000 tons standard. I am sure that I have been treating that as the normal displacement. The dimensions are 580ft x 90ft x 26.6ft (normal) . The armament is 8-12in/45 and 12-4in QF guns. The lower belt is 10in and the upper belt is 7in. The ends are 4in, and the belt is not complete. The turrets, barbettes and CT are 11in. The nominal maximum speed is 23 knots. This is my Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1905, Germany Battleship laid down 1905

Displacement:
 20,166 t light; 20,969 t standard; 23,750 t normal; 25,975 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, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 7,296 lbs / 3,309 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 390.00 ft / 118.87 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 120.00 ft / 36.58 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   70.00 ft / 21.34 m Unarmoured ends
 Upper: 7.00" / 178 mm 390.00 ft / 118.87 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 103 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 390.00 ft / 118.87 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, 43,148 shp / 32,188 Kw = 23.00 kts
 Range 5,800nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 5,006 tons

Complement:
 956 - 1,243

Cost:
 £1.930 million / $7.718 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 912 tons, 3.8 %
 Armour: 7,539 tons, 31.7 %
    - Belts: 2,444 tons, 10.3 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 722 tons, 3.0 %
    - Armament: 2,061 tons, 8.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,116 tons, 8.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 196 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 3,269 tons, 13.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,446 tons, 35.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,584 tons, 15.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   34,184 lbs / 15,506 Kg = 39.6 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
 Metacentric height 5.4 ft / 1.6 m
 Roll period: 16.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 76 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.57
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.52

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.599
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.44 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.08 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 48 %
 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:  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Mid (67 %):  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: 21.52 ft / 6.56 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 94.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 165.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 38,130 Square feet or 3,542 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 157 lbs/sq ft or 766 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.59
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Another attempt at a "new age" armoured cruiser for 1905

I have been playing with 1905 style armoured cruiser designs for a long time. This version is rather like the Minotaur class, except for a uniform armament. I was able to achieve 24 knots, as well, thanks to turbines and oil fuel. I opted for superfiring guns, as well. Admiral Fisher had contemplated such a thing, but the very conservative navy rejected them at the time of the Dreadnought. This is my Springsharp report:

GB/CA/1905, Great Britain Armoured Cruiser laid down 1905

Displacement:
 12,770 t light; 13,248 t standard; 14,700 t normal; 15,862 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 527.00 ft / 525.00 ft x 75.00 ft x 24.00 ft (normal load)
 160.63 m / 160.02 m x 22.86 m  x 7.32 m

Armament:
      8 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (2x4 guns), 380.00lbs / 172.37kg shells, 1905 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 1 raised mount
      16 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns (10 mounts), 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1905 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline, evenly spread
      16 - 0.00" / 0.0 mm guns (1x16 guns), 0.00lbs / 0.00kg shells, 1905 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mount 
   on side
 Weight of broadside 3,552 lbs / 1,611 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 155.00 ft / 47.24 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   Main Belt covers 108 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 23.00 ft / 7.01 m

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

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 37,956 shp / 28,315 Kw = 24.00 kts
 Range 4,750nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,613 tons

Complement:
 666 - 867

Cost:
 £1.230 million / $4.921 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 453 tons, 3.1 %
 Armour: 4,243 tons, 28.9 %
    - Belts: 1,877 tons, 12.8 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 315 tons, 2.1 %
    - Armament: 962 tons, 6.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,011 tons, 6.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 78 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 2,875 tons, 19.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,199 tons, 35.4 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,930 tons, 13.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   18,123 lbs / 8,220 Kg = 46.5 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 2.9 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
 Metacentric height 4.5 ft / 1.4 m
 Roll period: 14.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 64 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.39
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.29

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.544
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.00 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 22.91 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 51 %
 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:  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Mid (40 %):  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Stern:  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard: 18.48 ft / 5.63 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 118.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 140.7 %
 Waterplane Area: 27,337 Square feet or 2,540 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 108 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 130 lbs/sq ft or 635 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.48
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

I am embarrassed to say that I hoped for 46 knots from the Ger/CB/1915 design

I had high hopes, back in the early 1970's, for what I am calling the Ger/CB/1915 Design Study. I hoped for 46 knots at full power, and 47.8 knots on 10% overload. I thought that I should be able to get 385,000 SHP from the powerplant, at 40 SHP/ton. The dimensions were 850ft x 105ft x 26.3ft, with a 50ft hull depth. The armament was 6-18in/45 and 16-5in QF guns. The problem is that in Springsharp, even 38 knots is 354,949 tons. That kills the hull strength and seakeeping ability. I had to settle for 35 knots:

Ger/CB/1915 Design Study, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 35,546 t light; 37,147 t standard; 38,500 t normal; 39,582 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 851.73 ft / 850.00 ft x 105.00 ft x 28.00 ft (normal load)
 259.61 m / 259.08 m x 32.00 m  x 8.53 m

Armament:
      6 - 18.00" / 457 mm guns (2x3 guns), 2,916.00lbs / 1,322.68kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
      16 - 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 forward, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 18,496 lbs / 8,390 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
 Ends: 7.00" / 178 mm 180.00 ft / 54.86 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   350.00 ft / 106.68 m Unarmoured ends
   Main Belt covers 58 % 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 25.00 ft / 7.62 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 9.00" / 229 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm       -         -

   - Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 253,699 shp / 189,259 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 5,000nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,435 tons

Complement:
 1,373 - 1,786

Cost:
 £5.870 million / $23.482 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,312 tons, 6.0 %
 Armour: 7,846 tons, 20.4 %
    - Belts: 2,889 tons, 7.5 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 925 tons, 2.4 %
    - Armament: 1,751 tons, 4.5 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,281 tons, 5.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
 Machinery: 6,069 tons, 15.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 19,319 tons, 50.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,954 tons, 7.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   50,876 lbs / 23,077 Kg = 17.4 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 6.1 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 %): 53 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.75
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck
 Block coefficient: 0.539
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.10 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.15 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
 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 %): 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Mid (50 %):  29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Stern:  29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Average freeboard: 29.32 ft / 8.94 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 118.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 248.1 %
 Waterplane Area: 61,661 Square feet or 5,728 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 216 lbs/sq ft or 1,056 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.96
  - Longitudinal: 1.50
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

My Vanguard-like design didn't work, as specified

I have this drawing and partial specification for a Vanguard-like battleship. It is undated but was clearly in the series that began in 1905 and continued into the 1920's. I had understandably expected that since the Vanguard would work, that a similar ship would, as well. The dimensions were 800ft x 108ft x 30.2ft. The standard displacement was to be 41,500 tons. The armament was 8-15in/50 guns and 20-5in QF guns, as was our preference in the early 1970's. The armoring scheme simply can't be reproduced in Springsharp. There was a short, heavy belt, amidships, that was the full, two-deck height. There were decreasing thickness towards the bow and stern. To achieve an acceptable compromise, in Springsharp, the displacement had to increase, as well as the freeboard. This is the resulting report:

GB/BB/1921 Design Study, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1921 (Engine 1941)

Displacement:
 43,147 t light; 44,814 t standard; 46,600 t normal; 48,029 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 801.68 ft / 800.00 ft x 108.00 ft x 32.00 ft (normal load)
 244.35 m / 243.84 m x 32.92 m  x 9.75 m

Armament:
      8 - 15.00" / 381 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1,687.50lbs / 765.44kg shells, 1921 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      16 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (10 mounts), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1921 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
 Weight of broadside 14,500 lbs / 6,577 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
 Ends: 7.00" / 178 mm 200.00 ft / 60.96 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
   150.00 ft / 45.72 m Unarmoured ends
   Main Belt covers 87 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 28.00 ft / 8.53 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  14.0" / 356 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 5.50" / 140 mm, Conning tower: 14.00" / 356 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 210,397 shp / 156,956 Kw = 32.00 kts
 Range 5,600nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,215 tons

Complement:
 1,585 - 2,061

Cost:
 £9.701 million / $38.803 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,813 tons, 3.9 %
 Armour: 17,955 tons, 38.5 %
    - Belts: 5,630 tons, 12.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 932 tons, 2.0 %
    - Armament: 4,632 tons, 9.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 6,369 tons, 13.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 391 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 5,560 tons, 11.9 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 17,819 tons, 38.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,453 tons, 7.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   70,053 lbs / 31,776 Kg = 41.5 x 15.0 " / 381 mm shells or 10.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.06
 Metacentric height 6.3 ft / 1.9 m
 Roll period: 18.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.57
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has low forecastle
 Block coefficient: 0.590
 Length to Beam Ratio: 7.41 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
 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:  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m (26.00 ft / 7.92 m aft of break)
    - 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: 26.36 ft / 8.03 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 83.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 195.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 62,598 Square feet or 5,816 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 200 lbs/sq ft or 978 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.97
  - Longitudinal: 1.27
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The Ger/CL/1920 Fleet Cruiser is really extreme

My Ger/CL/1920 Fleet Cruiser design is really extreme. Like the other light cruiser design, it was intended to be similar to the later Italian designs. This one was intended to be 6,000 tons standard displacement, with 7,500 tons full load. The dimensions are 575ft x 52ft x 17.4ft. The armament is 6-6in guns with 8-23.6in TT. The armor is light, being on the order of 675 tons. The Springsharp machinery is much heavier than what I had planned. My original design had 1,250 ton machinery, while Springsharp required 2,998 tons. Real ships for this period, such as the Japanese light cruisers, were more capable than this design. This is the Springsharp report (I had to reduce the range and cruising speed, as well as the freeboard, to get adequate hull strength and seakeeping):

Ger/CL/1920 Fleet Cruiser, Germany Light Cruiser laid down 1920 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 6,937 t light; 7,127 t standard; 7,300 t normal; 7,439 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 576.26 ft / 575.00 ft x 52.00 ft x 17.40 ft (normal load)
 175.64 m / 175.26 m x 15.85 m  x 5.30 m

Armament:
      6 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (3x2 guns), 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1920 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, majority aft, 1 raised mount aft - superfiring
 Weight of broadside 648 lbs / 294 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120
 8 - 23.6" / 599.44 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 2.25" / 57 mm 263.00 ft / 80.16 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 2.25" / 57 mm 140.00 ft / 42.67 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 70 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 0.95" / 24 mm 0.95" / 24 mm  0.95" / 24 mm

   - Armour deck: 0.75" / 19 mm, Conning tower: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 125,310 shp / 93,481 Kw = 37.00 kts
 Range 2,600nm at 12.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 312 tons

Complement:
 394 - 513

Cost:
 £1.727 million / $6.907 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 81 tons, 1.1 %
 Armour: 676 tons, 9.3 %
    - Belts: 332 tons, 4.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 53 tons, 0.7 %
    - Armour Deck: 274 tons, 3.8 %
    - Conning Tower: 16 tons, 0.2 %
 Machinery: 2,998 tons, 41.1 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,183 tons, 43.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 363 tons, 5.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   5,309 lbs / 2,408 Kg = 49.2 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 0.8 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.24
 Metacentric height 2.8 ft / 0.9 m
 Roll period: 13.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.28
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.491
 Length to Beam Ratio: 11.06 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 23.98 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 62 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
    - Mid (72 %):  22.50 ft / 6.86 m (14.50 ft / 4.42 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 14.50 ft / 4.42 m
    - Stern:  14.50 ft / 4.42 m
    - Average freeboard: 20.38 ft / 6.21 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 141.4 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 153.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 19,762 Square feet or 1,836 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 100 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 90 lbs/sq ft or 441 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.93
  - Longitudinal: 1.80
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

My really radical light cruiser

I have a light cruiser design dating from the early 1970's that is very radical. It has almost no protection. Springsharp required me to give armor to the turret faces and barbettes, which I had been prepared to leave unprotected. The best that I could dor speed was only 35 knots. That requires the lightest possible machinery. The dimensions are 555ft x 50ft x 16.3ft. The standard displacement is 5,000 tons with a 6,500 ton deep load displacement. I have tried this design before, but not with the lightest machinery. The main armament is 8-6in/50 QF guns. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/CL/1919 Fast, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1916 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 5,531 t light; 5,719 t standard; 6,000 t normal; 6,225 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 555.00 ft / 555.00 ft x 50.00 ft x 16.30 ft (normal load)
 169.16 m / 169.16 m x 15.24 m  x 4.97 m

Armament:
      8 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (4x2 guns), 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1916 Model
   Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      4 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1916 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on side, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 992 lbs / 450 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 120
 4 - 23.6" / 599.44 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 0.80" / 20 mm       -   0.70" / 18 mm

   - Conning tower: 3.25" / 83 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 88,189 shp / 65,789 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 3,300nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 506 tons

Complement:
 340 - 443

Cost:
 £0.971 million / $3.882 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 124 tons, 2.1 %
 Armour: 84 tons, 1.4 %
    - Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Armament: 61 tons, 1.0 %
    - Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
    - Conning Tower: 23 tons, 0.4 %
 Machinery: 2,110 tons, 35.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,213 tons, 53.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 469 tons, 7.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   5,333 lbs / 2,419 Kg = 49.4 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 0.9 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
 Metacentric height 2.1 ft / 0.6 m
 Roll period: 14.6 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 77 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.77
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.53

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.464
 Length to Beam Ratio: 11.10 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 23.56 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  30.00 ft / 9.14 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Mid (36 %):  28.00 ft / 8.53 m (20.00 ft / 6.10 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Stern:  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard: 23.04 ft / 7.02 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 129.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 192.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 17,913 Square feet or 1,664 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 113 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 88 lbs/sq ft or 431 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.88
  - Longitudinal: 3.11
  - Overall: 1.00
 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

The Ger/PG/1915 is more marginal in Springsharp than it should be

The Ger/PG/1915 design doesn't work as well in Springsharp as a real ship. The British S-class are a case in point. They were more heavily armed than this design, and were often faster. I imagine that they had a longer range, as well. The specifications were 900 tons (standard displacement, I believe), 280 tons of fuel oil, 36 knots, and 275ft long. In my wildest dreams, I hoped for 75,000 SHP, although the actual design was nominally 25,500 SHP. I think that I credited this ship with 3-5in QF guns, but this time, only 3-4in guns seemed reasonable. For 3-5in QF guns to work, I would have to reduce the speed to 35 knots. For the 3-5in QF and 36 knots to work, I would have to increase the displacement to 1,175 tons and the draft to a ridiculous 15ft. This is the Springsharp report for the 3-4in QF gun ship:

Ger/PG/1915, Germany Fast Gunboat laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 1,002 t light; 1,033 t standard; 1,090 t normal; 1,136 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 275.80 ft / 275.00 ft x 28.00 ft x 14.00 ft (normal load)
 84.06 m / 83.82 m x 8.53 m  x 4.27 m

Armament:
      3 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1915 Model
   Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount
 Weight of broadside 96 lbs / 44 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 180

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 48,176 shp / 35,939 Kw = 36.00 kts
 Range 1,800nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 103 tons

Complement:
 94 - 123

Cost:
 £0.192 million / $0.769 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 12 tons, 1.1 %
 Machinery: 622 tons, 57.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 368 tons, 33.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 88 tons, 8.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   236 lbs / 107 Kg = 7.4 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.26
 Metacentric height 1.1 ft / 0.3 m
 Roll period: 11.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.36
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.08

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.354
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.82 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 16.58 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 73 %
 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:  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Mid (36 %):  21.00 ft / 6.40 m (13.00 ft / 3.96 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Stern:  13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Average freeboard: 16.04 ft / 4.89 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 192.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 141.7 %
 Waterplane Area: 4,673 Square feet or 434 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 45 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 28 lbs/sq ft or 138 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.38
  - Longitudinal: 6.24
  - Overall: 0.51
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Another recalculation of the GB/FG/1913

My friend Cliff wanted to build a destroyer-type ship that was primarily gun-armed, with a minimal torpedo armament. He wanted to give it a distinctive designation, it became an FG. This was rather like a later-Marksman class leader with superfiring guns. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/FG/1913, Great Britain Frigate-Gunboat laid down 1913 (Engine 1927)

Displacement:
 1,035 t light; 1,076 t standard; 1,200 t normal; 1,300 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 315.77 ft / 315.00 ft x 30.00 ft x 10.00 ft (normal load)
 96.25 m / 96.01 m x 9.14 m  x 3.05 m

Armament:
      4 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1913 Model
   Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
      1 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1913 Model
   Quick firing gun in a deck mount with hoist
   on centreline amidships
 Weight of broadside 160 lbs / 73 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 180
 2 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 29,475 shp / 21,988 Kw = 32.00 kts
 Range 3,250nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 224 tons

Complement:
 101 - 132

Cost:
 £0.153 million / $0.614 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 20 tons, 1.7 %
 Machinery: 626 tons, 52.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 389 tons, 32.4 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 165 tons, 13.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   347 lbs / 157 Kg = 10.8 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.34
 Metacentric height 1.4 ft / 0.4 m
 Roll period: 10.7 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 63 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.47
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.26

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.444
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.50 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 17.75 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 68 %
 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:  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Mid (42 %):  20.00 ft / 6.10 m (12.00 ft / 3.66 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
    - Stern:  12.00 ft / 3.66 m
    - Average freeboard: 15.52 ft / 4.73 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 181.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 142.2 %
 Waterplane Area: 6,001 Square feet or 557 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 59 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 28 lbs/sq ft or 138 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.44
  - Longitudinal: 3.00
  - Overall: 0.53
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

The Ger/DD/1915 design vs. my original concept

My Ger/DD/1915 destroyer design was predicated on very lightweight machinery. The displacement was to be 800 tons and the dimensions were 240ft x 26ft. The armament was 2-4in QF guns, 4-21in TT, and 20 mines. The speed was not specified, but the best that I could do with Springsharp was about 32 knots. This is a comparison between the original concept and the Springsharp design:

            Original     Springsharp
Armament:    20 tons        8 tons
Machinery:  444 tons      410 tons
Hull:       272 tons      275 tons
Misc:        64 tons       88 tons
Oil Fuel:   200 tons      119 tons
Feedwater:   50 tons

This is the Springsharp report:

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

Displacement:
 712 t light; 734 t standard; 800 t normal; 853 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 243.77 ft / 240.00 ft x 26.00 ft x 11.00 ft (normal load)
 74.30 m / 73.15 m x 7.92 m  x 3.35 m

Armament:
     2 - 4.00" / 102 mm guns in single mounts, 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 1915 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 64 lbs / 29 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 150
 4 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 27,020 shp / 20,157 Kw = 32.00 kts
 Range 2,600nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 119 tons

Complement:
 74 - 97

Cost:
 £0.129 million / $0.518 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 8 tons, 1.0 %
 Machinery: 410 tons, 51.2 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 275 tons, 34.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 88 tons, 11.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 20 tons, 2.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   229 lbs / 104 Kg = 7.2 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 0.9 ft / 0.3 m
 Roll period: 11.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.28
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.408
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.23 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 15.49 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 74 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
    - Stem:  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Mid (22 %):  21.00 ft / 6.40 m (13.00 ft / 3.96 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Stern:  13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Average freeboard: 14.84 ft / 4.52 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 175.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 73.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 3,859 Square feet or 359 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 58 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 27 lbs/sq ft or 130 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.44
  - Longitudinal: 6.49
  - Overall: 0.58
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped

I have a German battlecruiser design, circa 1907 or so (Updated)

I have a pencil sketch for a German battlecruiser design from about 1907 or slightly later. The design ws to be 21.500 tons, 600ft x 95ft x 24ft, with 8-12in/45 and 12-6in/45 guns. The maximum speed was hoped to be 30 knots, but in another note, the speed is 28.6 knots. The prismatic coefficient was to be 0.57 and the midship coefficient was 0.97. The weights were:

• Hull: 6,950 tons
• Aux. Machinery: 762 tons
• Machinery: 2,690 tons
• Armament: 1,320 tons
• Protection: 6,678 tons
• Miscellaneous: 1,600 tons

The standard displacement was apparently to be 20,000 tons. In one place, I had written that the normal SHP would be 80,600. The machinery was apparently to be very light.

This is the corresponding Springsharp report:

Ger/CB/1907 design study, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1907 (Engine 1933)

Displacement:
 19,623 t light; 20,427 t standard; 21,500 t normal; 22,358 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 600.00 ft / 600.00 ft x 95.00 ft x 27.00 ft (normal load)
 182.88 m / 182.88 m x 28.96 m  x 8.23 m

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm guns (4x2 guns), 864.00lbs / 391.90kg shells, 1907 Model
   Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
   on centreline ends, evenly spread, 1 raised mount aft - superfiring
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1907 Model
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts 
   on side ends, evenly spread
   12 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in heavy seas
 Weight of broadside 8,208 lbs / 3,723 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 80

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 390.00 ft / 118.87 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 8.00" / 203 mm 230.00 ft / 70.10 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.50" / 38 mm 390.00 ft / 118.87 m 26.00 ft / 7.92 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  10.0" / 254 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armour deck: 2.50" / 64 mm, Conning tower: 10.00" / 254 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 90,855 shp / 67,778 Kw = 28.60 kts
 Range 5,200nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,931 tons

Complement:
 887 - 1,154

Cost:
 £1.919 million / $7.677 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,026 tons, 4.8 %
 Armour: 6,742 tons, 31.4 %
    - Belts: 2,264 tons, 10.5 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 563 tons, 2.6 %
    - Armament: 2,010 tons, 9.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,739 tons, 8.1 %
    - Conning Tower: 167 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 2,647 tons, 12.3 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,207 tons, 42.8 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,877 tons, 8.7 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   33,938 lbs / 15,394 Kg = 39.3 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
 Metacentric height 5.8 ft / 1.8 m
 Roll period: 16.6 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 62 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.52
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.23

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.489
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.32 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.49 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
 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:  29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Mid (70 %):  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: 24.76 ft / 7.55 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 96.0 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 203.1 %
 Waterplane Area: 37,600 Square feet or 3,493 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 168 lbs/sq ft or 820 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.92
  - Longitudinal: 2.15
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

My design for the Meteor (my Ger/DM/1913 specification)

I had named my design for a fast destroyer-minelayer Meteor, after the real German minelayer. I had originally called it that Ger/ML/1913, but Ger/DM/1913 seems more appropriate. My nominal displacement target was 1,600 tons, but I have a note that more realistically raised that to 1,850 tons. That allows for a stronger hull and improved seakeeping. It still relies upon the lightest weight machinery possible. The dimensions were specified as 350ft x 36ft, with no draft listed. The speed target was 35 knots, while I had hoped for more, at least a year or so later. It seems not to be reaonable, at least when using Springsharp and requiring both hull strength and adequate seakeeping ability. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/DM/1913 (Meteor), Germany Destroyer-Minelayer laid down 1913 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 1,723 t light; 1,771 t standard; 1,850 t normal; 1,914 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
 350.77 ft / 350.00 ft x 36.00 ft x 17.00 ft (normal load)
 106.91 m / 106.68 m x 10.97 m  x 5.18 m

Armament:
      2 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108.00lbs / 48.99kg shells, 1913 Model
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
   on centreline ends, evenly spread
 Weight of broadside 216 lbs / 98 kg
 Shells per gun, main battery: 90

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 49,596 shp / 36,998 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 2,100nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 143 tons

Complement:
 140 - 183

Cost:
 £0.229 million / $0.916 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 27 tons, 1.5 %
 Machinery: 906 tons, 49.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 540 tons, 29.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 127 tons, 6.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 250 tons, 13.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   410 lbs / 186 Kg = 3.8 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
 Metacentric height 1.3 ft / 0.4 m
 Roll period: 13.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.30
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.09

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak
 Block coefficient: 0.302
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.72 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 18.71 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 64 %
 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:  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Forecastle (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Mid (34 %):  20.00 ft / 6.10 m (12.00 ft / 3.66 m aft of break)
    - Quarterdeck (15 %): 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
    - Stern:  12.00 ft / 3.66 m
    - Average freeboard: 14.88 ft / 4.54 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 183.3 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 150.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 8,048 Square feet or 748 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 65 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 35 lbs/sq ft or 169 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.44
  - Longitudinal: 2.42
  - Overall: 0.52
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent