F/CL/1916, France Light Cruiser laid down 1916 (Engine 1920)
Displacement:
7,866 t light; 8,116 t standard; 8,850 t normal; 9,438 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
548.36 ft / 545.00 ft x 54.00 ft x 18.00 ft (normal load)
167.14 m / 166.12 m x 16.46 m x 5.49 m
Armament:
4 - 5.91" / 150 mm guns in single mounts, 102.98lbs / 46.71kg shells, 1916 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 5.91" / 150 mm guns in single mounts, 102.98lbs / 46.71kg shells, 1916 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, evenly spread
4 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns in single mounts, 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1916 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (8x2 guns), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1916 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 963 lbs / 437 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 120
6 - 21.7" / 549.9999 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 380.00 ft / 115.82 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 2.00" / 51 mm 132.00 ft / 40.23 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
33.00 ft / 10.06 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 107 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 3.00" / 76 mm
2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 3.00" / 76 mm
- Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 84,462 shp / 63,009 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,322 tons
Complement:
456 - 593
Cost:
£1.293 million / $5.170 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 120 tons, 1.4 %
Armour: 1,553 tons, 17.5 %
- Belts: 643 tons, 7.3 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 97 tons, 1.1 %
- Armour Deck: 785 tons, 8.9 %
- Conning Tower: 28 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 2,953 tons, 33.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,240 tons, 36.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 984 tons, 11.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
8,597 lbs / 3,900 Kg = 83.5 x 5.9 " / 150 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.28
Metacentric height 3.1 ft / 0.9 m
Roll period: 12.9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 57 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.34
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.14
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.585
Length to Beam Ratio: 10.09 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 23.35 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (67 %): 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: 20.60 ft / 6.28 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 118.8 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 156.7 %
Waterplane Area: 21,219 Square feet or 1,971 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 90 lbs/sq ft or 439 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.95
- Longitudinal: 1.66
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
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Saturday, April 08, 2006
The F/CL/1916 design is a much better ship
The F/CL/1916 design still has single mounted guns, with some on the broadside, but the caliber is now 15cm and there are two superfiring guns, one forward and one aft. The other parts of the armament also increased and the maximum speed is now 32 knots. The design has a long forecastle and a lower quarterdeck. This is the Springsharp report:
Friday, April 07, 2006
The F/CL/1914 design
We now start a series of light cruiser designs for the French. The first is the F/CL/1914 design, with an archaic armament layout, but otherwise a good ship. The speed is moderate at 29 knots, and the gun caliber is just 5.5in, but British opinion, at one point, thought that caliber superior to the 6in gun, in that the shells were more easily handled, as light cruiser guns were hand-worked in WWI. Since the real French ships were coal-fired for a long time, using oil fuel in these is somewhat "edgy". This is the Springsharp report:
F/CL/1914, France Light Cruiser laid down 1914 (Engine 1918)
Displacement:
6,155 t light; 6,366 t standard; 7,050 t normal; 7,598 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
515.36 ft / 512.00 ft x 52.00 ft x 16.00 ft (normal load)
157.08 m / 156.06 m x 15.85 m x 4.88 m
Armament:
2 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.19lbs / 37.73kg shells, 1914 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread
8 - 5.50" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.19lbs / 37.73kg shells, 1914 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, evenly spread
2 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns in single mounts, 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1914 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns in single mounts, 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1914 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 902 lbs / 409 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 120
4 - 21.7" / 549.9999 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 380.00 ft / 115.82 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 2.00" / 51 mm 132.00 ft / 40.23 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Main Belt covers 114 % of normal length
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 3.00" / 76 mm
2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 3.00" / 76 mm
- Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Direct drive, 2 shafts, 50,551 shp / 37,711 Kw = 29.00 kts
Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,232 tons
Complement:
384 - 500
Cost:
£0.720 million / $2.878 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 113 tons, 1.6 %
Armour: 1,480 tons, 21.0 %
- Belts: 639 tons, 9.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 111 tons, 1.6 %
- Armour Deck: 707 tons, 10.0 %
- Conning Tower: 24 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 1,824 tons, 25.9 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,738 tons, 38.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 895 tons, 12.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
10,528 lbs / 4,775 Kg = 126.6 x 5.5 " / 140 mm shells or 1.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.22
Metacentric height 2.7 ft / 0.8 m
Roll period: 13.3 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 74 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.43
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.48
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.579
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.85 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 22.63 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
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: 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (67 %): 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: 20.60 ft / 6.28 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 96.6 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 175.2 %
Waterplane Area: 19,098 Square feet or 1,774 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 83 lbs/sq ft or 407 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.94
- Longitudinal: 1.89
- 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
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily
Thursday, April 06, 2006
The last in the series: F/CA/1941
The F/CA/1941 design is a jump in capability, and a rather radical recasting of the type. The hull is now flush-decked with a transom stern. The speed is increased to 35 knots and the range is increased to 7,500nm at 15 knots. The secondary armament is increased to 12-5.1in DP guns, and the light AA armament is increased to 48-47mm AA guns in twin mounts. Making the hull flush-decked made the recoil more of an issue, and I had to adjust dimensions and other characteristics to bring the number under 1.0. This is the Springsharp report:
F/CA/1941, France Cruiser laid down 1941 (Engine 1945)
Displacement:
16,230 t light; 16,903 t standard; 18,100 t normal; 19,058 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
688.80 ft / 684.00 ft x 69.00 ft x 22.00 ft (normal load)
209.95 m / 208.48 m x 21.03 m x 6.71 m
Armament:
9 - 9.45" / 240 mm guns (3x3 guns), 421.80lbs / 191.32kg shells, 1941 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
12 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns (6x2 guns), 67.03lbs / 30.41kg shells, 1941 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
16 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns (8x2 guns), 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
48 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (24x2 guns), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 16 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 5,241 lbs / 2,377 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100
8 - 21.7" / 549.9999 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 460.00 ft / 140.21 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 103 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.00" / 25 mm 460.00 ft / 140.21 m 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
- Armour deck: 2.50" / 64 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 151,777 shp / 113,226 Kw = 35.00 kts
Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,155 tons
Complement:
779 - 1,014
Cost:
£10.230 million / $40.921 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 655 tons, 3.6 %
Armour: 3,994 tons, 22.1 %
- Belts: 1,225 tons, 6.8 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 374 tons, 2.1 %
- Armament: 655 tons, 3.6 %
- Armour Deck: 1,680 tons, 9.3 %
- Conning Tower: 59 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 3,833 tons, 21.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,747 tons, 42.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,870 tons, 10.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
24,189 lbs / 10,972 Kg = 57.3 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 2.8 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
Metacentric height 3.5 ft / 1.1 m
Roll period: 15.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.94
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.05
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.610
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.91 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 29.53 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
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: 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
- Mid (67 %): 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 space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 135.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 194.5 %
Waterplane Area: 36,325 Square feet or 3,375 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 134 lbs/sq ft or 654 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.95
- Longitudinal: 1.61
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
The F/CA/1937 design
The F/CA/1937 design is a modest improvement over its predecessor. I was only able to achieve a 1/2 knot speed increase (to 33.5 knots) and added more 10cm AA guns to bring to the total to 16, now correctly categorized as "mount and hoist". The freeboard was increased by a foot to improve the seakeeping, and the displacement needed to rise to achieve adequate strength. This is the Springsharp report:
F/CA/1937, France Cruiser laid down 1937 (Engine 1942)
Displacement:
14,834 t light; 15,453 t standard; 16,500 t normal; 17,338 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
671.80 ft / 667.00 ft x 66.00 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
204.76 m / 203.30 m x 20.12 m x 7.01 m
Armament:
9 - 9.45" / 240 mm guns (3x3 guns), 421.80lbs / 191.32kg shells, 1937 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
Main guns limited to end-on fire
8 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns (4x2 guns), 67.03lbs / 30.41kg shells, 1937 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
16 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns (8x2 guns), 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1937 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
32 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (16x2 guns), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1937 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 12 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 4,922 lbs / 2,233 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100
8 - 21.7" / 549.9999 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 460.00 ft / 140.21 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 106 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.00" / 25 mm 460.00 ft / 140.21 m 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
- Armour deck: 2.50" / 64 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 135,902 shp / 101,383 Kw = 33.50 kts
Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,885 tons
Complement:
727 - 946
Cost:
£8.362 million / $33.448 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 615 tons, 3.7 %
Armour: 3,695 tons, 22.4 %
- Belts: 1,217 tons, 7.4 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 374 tons, 2.3 %
- Armament: 600 tons, 3.6 %
- Armour Deck: 1,448 tons, 8.8 %
- Conning Tower: 56 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 3,550 tons, 21.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,973 tons, 42.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,666 tons, 10.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
20,207 lbs / 9,166 Kg = 47.9 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 2.5 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 3.2 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 15.5 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 1.04
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.10
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.570
Length to Beam Ratio: 10.11 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 25.83 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
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: 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 space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 140.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 169.2 %
Waterplane Area: 31,315 Square feet or 2,909 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 134 lbs/sq ft or 652 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.54
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
British Capital Ships
The British apparently seriously considered a 16.5in gun for the "1921" battlecruisers, but finally opted for the 16in gun to contain the size and cost. The corresponding battleships were about the same size, but with 18in guns and low speed. Even at this date, the British were apparently feeling financial pressures.
The remnants of the 1921 ships were evident in the Nelson and Rodney. They were too slow, and the remnants of older technology (and metalurgical problems) reduced their value further. The Nelson was severely flooded from a torpedo hit that spread due to the underwater torpedo rooms. Still, the Rodney was able to play a key role in the Bismarck action. Her 16in guns made short work of the Bismarck.
The King George V class were ruined by the combination of the Britain's posture in treaty formulation and by financial pressures. They were underarmed with the final armament of 10-14in guns. They would have been better, if they could have been armed with the original 12-14in guns, but by the date that they were completed, the 14in gun was outclassed. Aside from that, their underwater protection was suspect, due to the circumstances surrounding the loss of the Prince of Wales. One suggestion was that there was poorly repaired damage from the Bismarck action, but that is just a guess. They still ended up over the treat limit, without a great deal to show for the size overrun. They seemed to suffer from the chronic tendency to overspecify characteristics that plagued weapon systems from the 1960's and beyond.
Monday, April 03, 2006
The F/CA/1933 design
The F/CA/1933 design is actually better protected, due to the "all-or-nothing" approach. Belt is 16ft high and 10ft longer. The torpedo bulkhead is a foot higher. The armour deck is now 2.5in. The armament is somewhat improved, as the 13cm guns are now dual-purpose, and the heavy AA guns (perhaps redundant) are now 10cm. There are more light AA guns, as well. The torpedo armament is now 8-21.6in TT. The roll period is greater: 15.2 seconds. This is the Springsharp report:]
F/CA/1933, France Cruiser laid down 1933 (Engine 1938)
Displacement:
14,338 t light; 14,939 t standard; 16,000 t normal; 16,849 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
669.71 ft / 665.00 ft x 66.00 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
204.13 m / 202.69 m x 20.12 m x 7.01 m
Armament:
9 - 9.45" / 240 mm guns (3x3 guns), 421.80lbs / 191.32kg shells, 1933 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns (4x2 guns), 67.03lbs / 30.41kg shells, 1933 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
12 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns (6x2 guns), 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1933 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
32 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (16x2 guns), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1933 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 12 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 4,800 lbs / 2,177 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100
8 - 21.7" / 549.9999 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 460.00 ft / 140.21 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 106 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.00" / 25 mm 460.00 ft / 140.21 m 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
- Armour deck: 2.50" / 64 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 124,748 shp / 93,062 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,911 tons
Complement:
710 - 924
Cost:
£7.015 million / $28.062 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 600 tons, 3.7 %
Armour: 3,652 tons, 22.8 %
- Belts: 1,216 tons, 7.6 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 374 tons, 2.3 %
- Armament: 584 tons, 3.7 %
- Armour Deck: 1,423 tons, 8.9 %
- Conning Tower: 55 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 3,416 tons, 21.3 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,670 tons, 41.7 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,662 tons, 10.4 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
19,544 lbs / 8,865 Kg = 46.3 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 2.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
Metacentric height 3.3 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 15.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.93
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.08
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.555
Length to Beam Ratio: 10.08 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 25.79 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
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: 31.00 ft / 9.45 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: 22.84 ft / 6.96 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 140.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 163.0 %
Waterplane Area: 30,767 Square feet or 2,858 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 133 lbs/sq ft or 648 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.42
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Sunday, April 02, 2006
The F/CA/1927 design
The F/CA/1927 design has a 33-knot top speed. That is the main improvement in this design. The machinery is not very lightweight, as it is 33.8 SHP/ton, which is sub-par. This is caused by the feature of Springsharp that the machinery tends to be heavy for the date. I tried to compensate for that by adjusting the machinery date, but I hesitated to have too great a gap between the date laid down and the machinery date (although I often resort to that very thing, a great difference). In any case, the result is a hard-hitting, well-protected modern armoured cruiser. This is the Springsharp report:
F/CA/1927, France Cruiser laid down 1927 (Engine 1932)
Displacement:
14,018 t light; 14,594 t standard; 15,700 t normal; 16,585 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
669.71 ft / 665.00 ft x 66.00 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
204.13 m / 202.69 m x 20.12 m x 7.01 m
Armament:
9 - 9.45" / 240 mm guns (3x3 guns), 421.80lbs / 191.32kg shells, 1927 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns in single mounts, 67.03lbs / 30.41kg shells, 1927 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
6 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns (4 mounts), 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1927 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (16 mounts), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1927 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 16 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 4,542 lbs / 2,060 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100
6 - 21.7" / 549.9999 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 3.00" / 76 mm 205.00 ft / 62.48 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
10.00 ft / 3.05 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 104 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.00" / 25 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
- Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 122,716 shp / 91,546 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,990 tons
Complement:
700 - 911
Cost:
£5.362 million / $21.449 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 568 tons, 3.6 %
Armour: 3,247 tons, 20.7 %
- Belts: 1,122 tons, 7.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 350 tons, 2.2 %
- Armament: 594 tons, 3.8 %
- Armour Deck: 1,127 tons, 7.2 %
- Conning Tower: 54 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 3,622 tons, 23.1 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,581 tons, 41.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,682 tons, 10.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
18,072 lbs / 8,198 Kg = 42.8 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 2.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
Metacentric height 3.4 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 15.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.88
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.05
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.544
Length to Beam Ratio: 10.08 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 25.79 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: 31.00 ft / 9.45 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: 22.84 ft / 6.96 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 146.6 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 170.0 %
Waterplane Area: 30,469 Square feet or 2,831 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 132 lbs/sq ft or 643 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.36
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Saturday, April 01, 2006
The F/CA/1923 heavy cruiser
The F/CA/1923 design now has 9-9.4in guns in triple turrets, 8-5.1in QF guns, 6-90mm AA, and 24-47mm AA guns. The torpedo armament is still 6-21.6in TT. The range is now 6,500nm at 15 knots. The maximum speed is still 32 knots. The protection is unchanged, except that the belt is longer and the torpedo bulkhead is taller. This is the Springsharp report:
F/CA/1923, France Cruiser laid down 1923 (Engine 1928)
Displacement:
13,693 t light; 14,264 t standard; 15,400 t normal; 16,309 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
659.71 ft / 655.00 ft x 66.00 ft x 22.00 ft (normal load)
201.08 m / 199.64 m x 20.12 m x 6.71 m
Armament:
9 - 9.45" / 240 mm guns (3x3 guns), 421.80lbs / 191.32kg shells, 1923 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns in single mounts, 67.03lbs / 30.41kg shells, 1923 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
6 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns (4 mounts), 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1923 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (16 mounts), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1923 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 16 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 4,542 lbs / 2,060 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100
6 - 21.7" / 549.9999 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 3.00" / 76 mm 205.00 ft / 62.48 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Main Belt covers 106 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.00" / 25 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
- Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 109,162 shp / 81,435 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,045 tons
Complement:
690 - 898
Cost:
£4.166 million / $16.663 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 568 tons, 3.7 %
Armour: 3,253 tons, 21.1 %
- Belts: 1,122 tons, 7.3 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 350 tons, 2.3 %
- Armament: 594 tons, 3.9 %
- Armour Deck: 1,134 tons, 7.4 %
- Conning Tower: 53 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 3,399 tons, 22.1 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 6,474 tons, 42.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,707 tons, 11.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
18,919 lbs / 8,582 Kg = 44.9 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 2.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
Metacentric height 3.4 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 15.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.89
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.09
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.567
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.92 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 25.59 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: 31.00 ft / 9.45 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: 22.84 ft / 6.96 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 142.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 173.2 %
Waterplane Area: 30,647 Square feet or 2,847 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 131 lbs/sq ft or 640 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.35
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Friday, March 31, 2006
The F/CA/1921 design
The F/CA/1921 design was an attempt to have harder-hitting guns that what had been carried previously. The design now has 8-9.4in (24cm) guns for the main armament. The AA armament was increased, as well. The heavy AA armament now has 6-90mm guns. This is the Springsharp report:
F/CA/1921, France Cruiser laid down 1921 (Engine 1925)
Displacement:
13,119 t light; 13,650 t standard; 14,600 t normal; 15,360 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
634.71 ft / 630.00 ft x 64.00 ft x 22.00 ft (normal load)
193.46 m / 192.02 m x 19.51 m x 6.71 m
Armament:
8 - 9.45" / 240 mm guns (4x2 guns), 421.80lbs / 191.32kg shells, 1921 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts
Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
8 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns in single mounts, 67.03lbs / 30.41kg shells, 1921 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
6 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns (4 mounts), 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1921 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (16 mounts), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1921 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 4,120 lbs / 1,869 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100
6 - 21.7" / 549.9999 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 430.00 ft / 131.06 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 3.00" / 76 mm 175.00 ft / 53.34 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
25.00 ft / 7.62 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 105 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.00" / 25 mm 430.00 ft / 131.06 m 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
- Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 107,854 shp / 80,459 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,711 tons
Complement:
663 - 863
Cost:
£3.518 million / $14.071 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 515 tons, 3.5 %
Armour: 3,109 tons, 21.3 %
- Belts: 1,051 tons, 7.2 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 286 tons, 2.0 %
- Armament: 653 tons, 4.5 %
- Armour Deck: 1,067 tons, 7.3 %
- Conning Tower: 51 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 3,502 tons, 24.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,993 tons, 41.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,481 tons, 10.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
16,059 lbs / 7,284 Kg = 38.1 x 9.4 " / 240 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 3.1 ft / 0.9 m
Roll period: 15.3 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.96
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.07
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.576
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.84 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 25.10 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
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: 31.00 ft / 9.45 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: 22.84 ft / 6.96 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 151.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 168.2 %
Waterplane Area: 28,836 Square feet or 2,679 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 103 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 126 lbs/sq ft or 616 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.45
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Thursday, March 30, 2006
The F/CA/1918 is a much more modern design
The F/CA/1918, with four twin 7.6in (19.5cm) gun turrets is a much more modern design than its predecessor. The secondary armament is reduced in caliber to 5.1in guns (13cm). The ship has a torpedo armament, as well. The speed is increased to 32 knots, a modern minimum. This is the Springsharp report:
F/CA/1918, France Cruiser laid down 1918 (Engine 1922)
Displacement:
11,584 t light; 11,989 t standard; 12,900 t normal; 13,629 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
619.10 ft / 615.00 ft x 62.00 ft x 20.00 ft (normal load)
188.70 m / 187.45 m x 18.90 m x 6.10 m
Armament:
8 - 7.68" / 195 mm guns (4x2 guns), 226.24lbs / 102.62kg shells, 1918 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts
Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
8 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns in single mounts, 67.03lbs / 30.41kg shells, 1918 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
4 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns in single mounts, 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1918 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns in single mounts, 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1918 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 2,486 lbs / 1,128 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100
4 - 21.7" / 549.9999 mm above water torpedoes
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 3.00" / 76 mm 175.00 ft / 53.34 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
40.00 ft / 12.19 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.00" / 25 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
- Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 101,743 shp / 75,901 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,640 tons
Complement:
604 - 786
Cost:
£2.299 million / $9.197 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 311 tons, 2.4 %
Armour: 2,846 tons, 22.1 %
- Belts: 997 tons, 7.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 266 tons, 2.1 %
- Armament: 511 tons, 4.0 %
- Armour Deck: 1,024 tons, 7.9 %
- Conning Tower: 47 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 3,451 tons, 26.8 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,976 tons, 38.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,316 tons, 10.2 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
14,776 lbs / 6,702 Kg = 65.3 x 7.7 " / 195 mm shells or 1.9 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
Metacentric height 3.3 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 14.3 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.59
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.04
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.592
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.92 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 24.80 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: 30.00 ft / 9.14 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: 21.84 ft / 6.66 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 155.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 175.6 %
Waterplane Area: 27,681 Square feet or 2,572 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 112 lbs/sq ft or 547 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.27
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
The F/CA/1916 design actually has a mixed armament
The F/CA/1916 design has somewhat of a pre-Dreadnought flavor, in that the armament is mixed, although it resembles a more conventional, uniform armament. If the design did not have a secondary armament of 5.5in guns, it would be quite conventional. With the secondary armament, we see shades of the late 19th or early 20th Century (much earlier than 1916). The AA armament has been increased, due to year and the size of the ship. The speed was raised to 31 knots, but the range kept at the rather short 5,400nm at 15 knots. The ships probably would be used on the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean Sea, so long range is less of an issue. This is the Springsharp report:
F/CA/1916, France Cruiser laid down 1916 (Engine 1920)
Displacement:
10,328 t light; 10,728 t standard; 11,600 t normal; 12,297 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
618.96 ft / 615.00 ft x 60.00 ft x 19.00 ft (normal load)
188.66 m / 187.45 m x 18.29 m x 5.79 m
Armament:
9 - 7.68" / 195 mm guns in single mounts, 226.24lbs / 102.62kg shells, 1916 Model
Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts
8 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.98kg shells, 1916 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
4 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns in single mounts, 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1916 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns in single mounts, 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1916 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 2,846 lbs / 1,291 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 3.00" / 76 mm 175.00 ft / 53.34 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
40.00 ft / 12.19 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.00" / 25 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
- Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 82,941 shp / 61,874 Kw = 31.00 kts
Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,569 tons
Complement:
558 - 726
Cost:
£1.745 million / $6.979 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 356 tons, 3.1 %
Armour: 2,573 tons, 22.2 %
- Belts: 994 tons, 8.6 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 266 tons, 2.3 %
- Armament: 289 tons, 2.5 %
- Armour Deck: 979 tons, 8.4 %
- Conning Tower: 44 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 2,900 tons, 25.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,500 tons, 38.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,272 tons, 11.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
13,850 lbs / 6,282 Kg = 61.2 x 7.7 " / 195 mm shells or 1.9 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.22
Metacentric height 3.3 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 13.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 56 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.68
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.12
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.579
Length to Beam Ratio: 10.25 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 24.80 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: 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (67 %): 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: 20.76 ft / 6.33 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 156.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 187.8 %
Waterplane Area: 26,465 Square feet or 2,459 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 103 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 107 lbs/sq ft or 522 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.99
- Longitudinal: 1.16
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Monday, March 27, 2006
The F/CA/1914 cruiser design
The F/CA/1914 design is trying to be pretty conservative, while having adequate performance. The result is pretty reasonable. The design does depend on lightweight machinery, but otherwise is not pushing the limits. The main armament is 9-7.6in guns while the secondary armament is 8-5.5in QF guns. There is a limited AA armament, suitable for the date. This is the Springsharp report:
F/CA/1914, France Cruiser laid down 1914 (Engine 1918)
Displacement:
8,974 t light; 9,341 t standard; 10,200 t normal; 10,887 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
578.42 ft / 575.00 ft x 59.00 ft x 18.00 ft (normal load)
176.30 m / 175.26 m x 17.98 m x 5.49 m
Armament:
9 - 7.68" / 195 mm guns in single mounts, 226.24lbs / 102.62kg shells, 1914 Model
Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts
8 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83.72lbs / 37.98kg shells, 1914 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
2 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns in single mounts, 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1914 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns in single mounts, 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1914 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 2,776 lbs / 1,259 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: 3.00" / 76 mm 175.00 ft / 53.34 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Main Belt covers 107 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.00" / 25 mm 400.00 ft / 121.92 m 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
- Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm, Conning tower: 4.00" / 102 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Direct drive, 4 shafts, 60,831 shp / 45,380 Kw = 29.00 kts
Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,547 tons
Complement:
506 - 659
Cost:
£1.162 million / $4.647 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 347 tons, 3.4 %
Armour: 2,475 tons, 24.3 %
- Belts: 990 tons, 9.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 252 tons, 2.5 %
- Armament: 289 tons, 2.8 %
- Armour Deck: 905 tons, 8.9 %
- Conning Tower: 41 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 2,194 tons, 21.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,957 tons, 38.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,226 tons, 12.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
13,810 lbs / 6,264 Kg = 61.0 x 7.7 " / 195 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.21
Metacentric height 3.2 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 13.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 57 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.70
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.14
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.585
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.75 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 23.98 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 3.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Mid (67 %): 22.00 ft / 6.71 m (14.00 ft / 4.27 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
- Stern: 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
- Average freeboard: 19.76 ft / 6.02 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 144.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 182.2 %
Waterplane Area: 24,458 Square feet or 2,272 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 105 lbs/sq ft or 511 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.98
- Longitudinal: 1.14
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Sunday, March 26, 2006
The F/BB/1941 battleship
The F/BB/1941 battleship now has a 32-knot speed and a 16in armour basis. The torpedo bulkhead is also increased to 5in in thickness. The French need is for a ship with good speed for operating on both the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean Sea. This is the ultimate design in this series, although the armament is unchanged, as what we have been using seems to be sufficient. This is the Springsharp report:
F/BB/1941, France Battleship laid down 1941
Displacement:
66,183 t light; 68,781 t standard; 72,250 t normal; 75,025 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
910.89 ft / 905.00 ft x 120.00 ft x 35.00 ft (normal load)
277.64 m / 275.84 m x 36.58 m x 10.67 m
Armament:
8 - 18.00" / 457 mm guns (2x4 guns), 2,916.00lbs / 1,322.68kg shells, 1941 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
18 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns (6x3 guns), 83.72lbs / 37.98kg shells, 1941 Model
Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns (8x2 guns), 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
48 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (24x2 guns), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1941 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 18 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 25,475 lbs / 11,555 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 80
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 16.0" / 406 mm 620.00 ft / 188.98 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 105 % of normal length
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
5.00" / 127 mm 620.00 ft / 188.98 m 34.00 ft / 10.36 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 16.0" / 406 mm 12.0" / 305 mm 16.0" / 406 mm
2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm
- Armour deck: 8.00" / 203 mm, Conning tower: 16.00" / 406 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 270,882 shp / 202,078 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 8,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 6,244 tons
Complement:
2,202 - 2,864
Cost:
£37.051 million / $148.203 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 3,184 tons, 4.4 %
Armour: 28,656 tons, 39.7 %
- Belts: 6,775 tons, 9.4 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 3,900 tons, 5.4 %
- Armament: 4,897 tons, 6.8 %
- Armour Deck: 12,486 tons, 17.3 %
- Conning Tower: 598 tons, 0.8 %
Machinery: 7,159 tons, 9.9 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 27,184 tons, 37.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,067 tons, 8.4 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
111,186 lbs / 50,433 Kg = 38.1 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 20.5 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
Metacentric height 8.3 ft / 2.5 m
Roll period: 17.5 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.64
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.09
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.665
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.54 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.08 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 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 tends to be wet forward
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 78.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 195.5 %
Waterplane Area: 84,364 Square feet or 7,838 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 106 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 235 lbs/sq ft or 1,149 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.98
- Longitudinal: 1.28
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Saturday, March 25, 2006
The F/BB/1937 design HAD to have 18in guns
I felt like any ship laid down in 1937 that didn't need to follow restrictive treaties needed 18in guns. The F/BB/1937 has eight in two quadruple turrets mounted forward. The armour basis was increased to 15in, the deck to 8in, and the speed to 31 knots. The speed increase was costly, as achieving adequate seakeeping involved increasing freeboard and length. The need for hull strength ballooned the displacement, making achieving the minimum acceptable seakeeping that much more difficult. This is the Springsharp report:
F/BB/1937, France Battleship laid down 1937
Displacement:
60,805 t light; 63,293 t standard; 66,700 t normal; 69,426 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
862.80 ft / 857.00 ft x 118.00 ft x 34.00 ft (normal load)
262.98 m / 261.21 m x 35.97 m x 10.36 m
Armament:
8 - 18.00" / 457 mm guns (2x4 guns), 2,916.00lbs / 1,322.68kg shells, 1937 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
18 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns (6x3 guns), 83.72lbs / 37.98kg shells, 1937 Model
Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns (8x2 guns), 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1937 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
48 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (24x2 guns), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1937 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 18 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 25,475 lbs / 11,555 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 80
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 15.0" / 381 mm 570.00 ft / 173.74 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: 5.00" / 127 mm 241.00 ft / 73.46 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
46.00 ft / 14.02 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 102 % of normal length
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
4.00" / 102 mm 570.00 ft / 173.74 m 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 15.0" / 381 mm 12.0" / 305 mm 15.0" / 381 mm
2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm 5.00" / 127 mm
- Armour deck: 8.00" / 203 mm, Conning tower: 15.00" / 381 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 234,595 shp / 175,008 Kw = 31.00 kts
Range 8,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 6,133 tons
Complement:
2,074 - 2,697
Cost:
£31.164 million / $124.656 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 3,184 tons, 4.8 %
Armour: 25,847 tons, 38.8 %
- Belts: 6,436 tons, 9.6 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 2,531 tons, 3.8 %
- Armament: 4,577 tons, 6.9 %
- Armour Deck: 11,772 tons, 17.6 %
- Conning Tower: 532 tons, 0.8 %
Machinery: 6,502 tons, 9.7 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 25,272 tons, 37.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,895 tons, 8.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
98,262 lbs / 44,571 Kg = 33.7 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 16.5 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
Metacentric height 8.0 ft / 2.4 m
Roll period: 17.5 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.65
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.04
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.679
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.26 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 29.27 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
- Mid (67 %): 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: 25.68 ft / 7.83 m
Ship tends to be wet forward
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 81.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 188.4 %
Waterplane Area: 79,538 Square feet or 7,389 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 234 lbs/sq ft or 1,143 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.30
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Friday, March 24, 2006
Not inspiring, but workmanlike: the F/BB/1933 battleship design
The F/BB/1933 design has nothing very exciting about it, but it is pretty compact and capable. The main improvements are a 30 knot speed and improved AA armament. The heavy AA guns are now 100mm, with 40-47mm AA guns. For a small increase and length and displacement, a higher speed was able to be achieved. The ship is only slightly faster than the optimal speed for the length. The only knock on the design is that it "tends to be wet forward". As an aside, Frank Fox says that most of the American fast battleships tended to be wet, and not have the best seakeeping characteristics. This is the Springsharp report:
F/BB/1933, France Battleship laid down 1933
Displacement:
50,954 t light; 53,056 t standard; 56,200 t normal; 58,715 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
819.71 ft / 815.00 ft x 112.00 ft x 33.00 ft (normal load)
249.85 m / 248.41 m x 34.14 m x 10.06 m
Armament:
8 - 16.93" / 430 mm guns (2x4 guns), 2,425.91lbs / 1,100.37kg shells, 1933 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
18 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns (6x3 guns), 83.72lbs / 37.98kg shells, 1933 Model
Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 3.94" / 100 mm guns (8x2 guns), 30.51lbs / 13.84kg shells, 1933 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
40 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (20x2 guns), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1933 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 16 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 21,529 lbs / 9,765 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 80
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 560.00 ft / 170.69 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: 5.00" / 127 mm 235.00 ft / 71.63 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
20.00 ft / 6.10 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 106 % of normal length
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
3.00" / 76 mm 550.00 ft / 167.64 m 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 11.0" / 279 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: 15.00" / 381 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 186,456 shp / 139,096 Kw = 30.00 kts
Range 8,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5,660 tons
Complement:
1,824 - 2,372
Cost:
£22.712 million / $90.850 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,691 tons, 4.8 %
Armour: 21,248 tons, 37.8 %
- Belts: 5,890 tons, 10.5 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,832 tons, 3.3 %
- Armament: 3,972 tons, 7.1 %
- Armour Deck: 9,080 tons, 16.2 %
- Conning Tower: 474 tons, 0.8 %
Machinery: 5,433 tons, 9.7 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 21,582 tons, 38.4 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,246 tons, 9.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
82,674 lbs / 37,500 Kg = 34.1 x 16.9 " / 430 mm shells or 13.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
Metacentric height 7.2 ft / 2.2 m
Roll period: 17.5 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.68
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.09
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.653
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.28 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.55 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
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: 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Mid (67 %): 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: 24.68 ft / 7.52 m
Ship tends to be wet forward
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 82.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 181.5 %
Waterplane Area: 70,118 Square feet or 6,514 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 224 lbs/sq ft or 1,094 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.35
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Thursday, March 23, 2006
The F/BB/1927 design
The F/BB/1927 design has 8-43cm guns (16.9in), 18-5.5in QF guns, 12-90mm AA guns, and 36-47mm AA guns. The armour basis is now 15 in with a 7in deck. The main armament is now in two quadruple turrets, grouped forward. In Springsharp, that is more costly than having one at either end. The maximum speed is still 29 knots, but the range is now 8,500nm at 15 knots. This is the Springsharp report:
F/BB/1927, France Battleship laid down 1927
Displacement:
49,475 t light; 51,536 t standard; 54,800 t normal; 57,412 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
799.71 ft / 795.00 ft x 112.00 ft x 33.00 ft (normal load)
243.75 m / 242.32 m x 34.14 m x 10.06 m
Armament:
8 - 16.93" / 430 mm guns (2 mounts), 2,425.91lbs / 1,100.37kg shells, 1927 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline, all forward, 3 raised guns - superfiring
18 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns (6x3 guns), 83.72lbs / 37.98kg shells, 1927 Model
Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1927 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
36 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns (18x2 guns), 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1927 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 12 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 21,295 lbs / 9,659 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 80
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 560.00 ft / 170.69 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: 5.00" / 127 mm 235.00 ft / 71.63 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Main Belt covers 108 % of normal length
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
3.00" / 76 mm 550.00 ft / 167.64 m 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 11.0" / 279 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: 15.00" / 381 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 162,387 shp / 121,140 Kw = 29.00 kts
Range 8,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5,876 tons
Complement:
1,790 - 2,328
Cost:
£17.037 million / $68.149 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,662 tons, 4.9 %
Armour: 20,931 tons, 38.2 %
- Belts: 5,877 tons, 10.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,832 tons, 3.3 %
- Armament: 3,902 tons, 7.1 %
- Armour Deck: 8,855 tons, 16.2 %
- Conning Tower: 466 tons, 0.9 %
Machinery: 5,126 tons, 9.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 20,756 tons, 37.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,325 tons, 9.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
81,413 lbs / 36,928 Kg = 33.6 x 16.9 " / 430 mm shells or 13.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
Metacentric height 7.4 ft / 2.2 m
Roll period: 17.3 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 58 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.67
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.15
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.653
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.10 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.20 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: 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Mid (67 %): 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: 24.68 ft / 7.52 m
Ship tends to be wet forward
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 81.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 180.3 %
Waterplane Area: 68,382 Square feet or 6,353 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 221 lbs/sq ft or 1,079 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.40
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
The F/BB/1923 design
The main improvements in the F/BB/1923 design are the 29 knot speed and the main armament now being 9-16.5in guns in triple turrets. The freeboard is a foot higher, and this ship is not wet forward. The protection against gunfire seems adequate, while the underwater protection is above-average (if it will take 11 torpedoes, that is how I would rate the design). The AA armament is sub-standard, but in 1923, it matters little. This is the Springsharp report:
F/BB/1923, France Battleship laid down 1923
Displacement:
47,998 t light; 50,041 t standard; 53,000 t normal; 55,367 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
789.71 ft / 785.00 ft x 108.00 ft x 33.00 ft (normal load)
240.70 m / 239.27 m x 32.92 m x 10.06 m
Armament:
9 - 16.54" / 420 mm guns (3x3 guns), 2,260.56lbs / 1,025.37kg shells, 1923 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
16 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns (8x2 guns), 83.72lbs / 37.98kg shells, 1923 Model
Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns in single mounts, 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1923 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
16 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns in single mounts, 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1923 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 21,824 lbs / 9,899 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 80
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 550.00 ft / 167.64 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: 5.00" / 127 mm 195.00 ft / 59.44 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
40.00 ft / 12.19 m Unarmoured ends
Main Belt covers 108 % of normal length
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
3.00" / 76 mm 550.00 ft / 167.64 m 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 11.0" / 279 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, 159,715 shp / 119,147 Kw = 29.00 kts
Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5,327 tons
Complement:
1,746 - 2,270
Cost:
£13.727 million / $54.910 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,728 tons, 5.1 %
Armour: 20,003 tons, 37.7 %
- Belts: 5,688 tons, 10.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,832 tons, 3.5 %
- Armament: 4,763 tons, 9.0 %
- Armour Deck: 7,295 tons, 13.8 %
- Conning Tower: 426 tons, 0.8 %
Machinery: 5,338 tons, 10.1 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 19,928 tons, 37.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,002 tons, 9.4 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
72,365 lbs / 32,824 Kg = 32.0 x 16.5 " / 420 mm shells or 11.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
Metacentric height 6.4 ft / 2.0 m
Roll period: 17.9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.78
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.09
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.663
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.27 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.02 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: 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Mid (67 %): 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: 24.68 ft / 7.52 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 87.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 177.7 %
Waterplane Area: 65,725 Square feet or 6,106 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 101 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 218 lbs/sq ft or 1,065 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.29
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
The drawings at Alt Naval are quite good (Corrected)
Roger, who handles Greece at Wesworld (says Gavin), has some good drawings on his Alt Naval site for the Japanese navy alternate history portion of his site. They are really top quality, and I am impressed. i have tried my hand at this, and it is not easy, although if you work at a large enough scale, it is easier. The main challenge is how to follow scale measurements, and to know the correct size to make things. Gavin, who is the Red Admiral at Wesworld, corrected my misunderstanding.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
The French battleship design F/BB/1921
Blogger was down last night, so I am posting this today, instead of yesterday. The next logical step seemed to be to move to a larger caliber gun for French battleships. We are designing ships as if the Washington Naval Treaty didn't exist, so we can go larger and have larger guns than was the case in "real life". This design has 8-16.5in guns in quadruple turrets, 16-5.5in QF guns in twin turrets, and the usual AA armament. The speed is now 28 knots with a range of 7.500nm at 15 knots. The armour basis is 14 inches with a 6 inch deck. This is the Springsharp report:
F/BB/1921, France Battleship laid down 1921
Displacement:
42,864 t light; 44,697 t standard; 47,500 t normal; 49,743 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
749.03 ft / 745.00 ft x 102.00 ft x 33.00 ft (normal load)
228.30 m / 227.08 m x 31.09 m x 10.06 m
Armament:
8 - 16.54" / 420 mm guns (2x4 guns), 2,260.56lbs / 1,025.37kg shells, 1921 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 1 raised mount
16 - 5.51" / 140 mm guns (8x2 guns), 83.72lbs / 37.98kg shells, 1921 Model
Quick firing guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm guns in single mounts, 22.24lbs / 10.09kg shells, 1921 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
16 - 1.85" / 47.0 mm guns in single mounts, 3.17lbs / 1.44kg shells, 1921 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 19,564 lbs / 8,874 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 80
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 550.00 ft / 167.64 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: 5.00" / 127 mm 195.00 ft / 59.44 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Main Belt covers 114 % of normal length
- Torpedo Bulkhead:
3.00" / 76 mm 550.00 ft / 167.64 m 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 11.0" / 279 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, 131,943 shp / 98,430 Kw = 28.00 kts
Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5,046 tons
Complement:
1,608 - 2,091
Cost:
£10.667 million / $42.667 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,445 tons, 5.1 %
Armour: 17,927 tons, 37.7 %
- Belts: 5,632 tons, 11.9 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,832 tons, 3.9 %
- Armament: 3,529 tons, 7.4 %
- Armour Deck: 6,539 tons, 13.8 %
- Conning Tower: 396 tons, 0.8 %
Machinery: 4,544 tons, 9.6 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 17,948 tons, 37.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,636 tons, 9.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
64,308 lbs / 29,169 Kg = 28.4 x 16.5 " / 420 mm shells or 10.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.06
Metacentric height 5.7 ft / 1.7 m
Roll period: 17.9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.88
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.09
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
Block coefficient: 0.663
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.30 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.29 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
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: 29.00 ft / 8.84 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: 23.60 ft / 7.19 m
Ship tends to be wet forward
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 86.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 166.0 %
Waterplane Area: 58,907 Square feet or 5,473 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 102 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 216 lbs/sq ft or 1,054 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.40
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Monday, March 20, 2006
Brasseys for 1919, 1920, and 1921
If you are interested in the ships planned but not built due to the Washington Naval Treaty, the 1919, 1920, and 1921 Brassey's Naval Annual volumes are a "must read". One of the features that I particularly was interested in was the lists of guns that were either planned or under develpment by the various nations. If nothing else, you can see the manifestation of what information made its way into the public eye, whether it was correct or not. Copies, when found, are often over $100 (US).
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