The Ger/BB/1915 CDV

We were toying with the idea of having coast defense battleships, back in the early 1970's. Since we were gaming the 1905 to 1918 period, it was only natural to place this design in 1915, as part of the emergency war program for Germany. This is the original specification:

Ger/BB/1915 CDV
D=28,000 tons    585ft x 100ft x 50ft Depth  draft=29.1ft
Cp=0.62  Cm=0.97  V=20 knots
1000 tons oil fuel   150 tons feed water
29,150 tons full load
25,000 SHP at 30SHP/ton
4-18in/45 (180 ton), 20-5in QF (5 ton)

Weights:
 7,000 tons  Hull
   834 tons  Machinery
 1,070 tons  Aux. Machinery
 1,886 tons  Armament
14,970 tons  Protection
 2,240 tons  Miscellaneous

This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1915 CDV, Germany Coast Defense Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1941)

Displacement:
 26,618 t light; 27,829 t standard; 29,083 t normal; 30,086 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (585.00 ft / 585.00 ft) x 100.00 ft x (29.00 / 29.82 ft)
 (178.31 m / 178.31 m) x 30.48 m  x (8.84 / 9.09 m)

Armament:
      4 - 18.00" / 457 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2,950.00lbs / 1,338.10kg shells, 80 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1915 Model
   2 x Twin mounts on centreline, forward deck forward
      20 - 5.00" / 127 mm 45.0 cal guns - 63.03lbs / 28.59kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1915 Model
   10 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  4 raised mounts - superfiring
      Weight of broadside 13,061 lbs / 5,924 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 330.00 ft / 100.58 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
 Upper: 14.0" / 356 mm 330.00 ft / 100.58 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 87 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  6.00" / 152 mm 330.00 ft / 100.58 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 10.0" / 254 mm  18.0" / 457 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks: 6.00" / 152 mm For and Aft decks
 Forecastle: 6.00" / 152 mm  Quarter deck: 6.00" / 152 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 18.00" / 457 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 28,862 shp / 21,531 Kw = 20.00 kts
 Range 4,500nm at 16.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,257 tons

Complement:
 1,113 - 1,447

Cost:
 £3.279 million / $13.117 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,092 tons, 7.2 %
 Armour: 13,569 tons, 46.7 %
    - Belts: 3,875 tons, 13.3 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 2,125 tons, 7.3 %
    - Armament: 2,416 tons, 8.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 4,788 tons, 16.5 %
    - Conning Tower: 367 tons, 1.3 %
 Machinery: 763 tons, 2.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 10,194 tons, 35.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,465 tons, 8.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   64,267 lbs / 29,151 Kg = 22.0 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 15.9 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.23
 Metacentric height 7.3 ft / 2.2 m
 Roll period: 15.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 91 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.62
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.81

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.600 / 0.604
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.85 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.19 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 42 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard:  20.94 ft / 6.38 m
 Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 58.4 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 149.8 %
 Waterplane Area: 42,786 Square feet or 3,975 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 109 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 185 lbs/sq ft or 903 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.93
  - Longitudinal: 2.05
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

The Ger/CBL/1915 design

Back when I conceived of the Ger/CBL/1915 design, I did not know about the 75,000 SHP limitation on each propellor shaft. Above that loading, the shaft will fail. Frank Fox had told me about that issue when I was doing more active design work on warship designs. I was able to achieve a 40 knot speed with the lightest machinery and with six shafts. The whole idea of this ship is to kill lesser cruisers by running in close and blasting with the 2-12in guns and having the 6in guns in case one of the ships actually has a fight.

Ger/CBL/1915, Germany Light Battlecruiser laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 21,413 t light; 22,061 t standard; 23,131 t normal; 23,988 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (806.67 ft / 800.00 ft) x 80.00 ft x (23.00 / 23.67 ft)
 (245.87 m / 243.84 m) x 24.38 m  x (7.01 / 7.22 m)

Armament:
      2 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 850.00lbs / 385.55kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mount, 1915 Model
   1 x Twin mount on centreline, forward deck forward
      12 - 6.00" / 152 mm 45.0 cal guns - 100.00lbs / 45.36kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1915 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
      Weight of broadside 2,900 lbs / 1,315 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 90 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  1.00" / 25 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 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: 3.00" / 76 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 6.00" / 152 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 6 shafts, 319,174 shp / 238,104 Kw = 40.00 kts
 Range 4,800nm at 16.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,928 tons

Complement:
 937 - 1,219

Cost:
 £3.061 million / $12.245 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 657 tons, 2.8 %
 Armour: 3,537 tons, 15.3 %
    - Belts: 941 tons, 4.1 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 400 tons, 1.7 %
    - Armament: 427 tons, 1.8 %
    - Armour Deck: 1,664 tons, 7.2 %
    - Conning Tower: 105 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 7,636 tons, 33.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,583 tons, 41.4 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,719 tons, 7.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   23,402 lbs / 10,615 Kg = 27.1 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 2.5 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
 Metacentric height 5.0 ft / 1.5 m
 Roll period: 15.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 56 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.31
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.13

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.550 / 0.554
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 7.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 35.00 %,  38.00 ft / 11.58 m,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Aft deck: 20.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Average freeboard:  30.04 ft / 9.16 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 157.8 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 261.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 44,665 Square feet or 4,150 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 107 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 134 lbs/sq ft or 655 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.69
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Extreme measures: the Super Swift

Given my experience in the last month with Springsharp, I thought I was ready to try a "Super Swift" design. In Vol.I of The World Crisis, Winston Churchill and Admiral Fisher discussed ideas for a new light cruiser for the British navy. One alternative was an enlarged version of the super destroyer Swift. That concept has caught my imagination for a long time. The ship was to carry 6-4in QF guns and I would expect that it would have had 4-21in TT. The speed was to be 37 knots with no armour protection. I had to resort to "extreme measures" to make the design work in Springsharp, such as having a very high freeboard. Admiral Fisher really liked the idea. It was his ideal for a scout that would work with aircraft and submarines. This is the Springsharp report:

Super Swift, Great Britain Scout laid down 1912 (Engine 1950)
Armoured gunboat

Displacement:
 1,857 t light; 1,922 t standard; 2,104 t normal; 2,251 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (374.73 ft / 372.00 ft) x 36.00 ft x (12.50 / 13.08 ft)
 (114.22 m / 113.39 m) x 10.97 m  x (3.81 / 3.99 m)

Armament:
      6 - 4.00" / 102 mm 50.0 cal guns - 33.88lbs / 15.37kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1912 Model
   2 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck forward
   4 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck aft
   Main guns limited to end-on fire
      Weight of broadside 203 lbs / 92 kg
      4 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m torpedoes - 1.389 t each, 5.557 t total
 In 2 sets of deck mounted centre rotating tubes

Armour:
   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 59,333 shp / 44,263 Kw = 37.00 kts
 Range 4,500nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 329 tons

Complement:
 154 - 201

Cost:
 £0.246 million / $0.984 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 68 tons, 3.2 %
    - Guns: 62 tons, 3.0 %
    - Torpedoes: 6 tons, 0.3 %
 Armour: 43 tons, 2.0 %
    - Armament: 43 tons, 2.0 %
 Machinery: 1,136 tons, 54.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 610 tons, 29.0 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 247 tons, 11.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   559 lbs / 254 Kg = 17.5 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.24
 Metacentric height 1.6 ft / 0.5 m
 Roll period: 11.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.31
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a normal bow and large transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.440 / 0.450
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.33 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 22.12 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 71 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 6.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 17.00 %,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Forward deck: 15.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m
    - Aft deck: 53.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Average freeboard:  18.70 ft / 5.70 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 183.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 158.0 %
 Waterplane Area: 8,801 Square feet or 818 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 68 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 33 lbs/sq ft or 160 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.43
  - Longitudinal: 2.92
  - Overall: 0.52
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

A 35-knot 1905 Tribal class design

I wondered what might be required to obtain a higher speed from a 1905 British Tribal class destroyer. The answer, in Springsharp, is to increase the freeboard and draft. By doing that, keeping the lightest machinery possible, and cutting the range to just 2,500 nm at 14 knots, the new version can make 35 knots:

GB/DD/1905 generic Tribal class, Great Britain Destroyer laid down 1905 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 814 t light; 839 t standard; 894 t normal; 938 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (276.92 ft / 275.00 ft) x 28.00 ft x (10.50 / 10.83 ft)
 (84.41 m / 83.82 m) x 8.53 m  x (3.20 / 3.30 m)

Armament:
      2 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.27lbs / 14.64kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1905 Model
   2 x Single mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 65 lbs / 29 kg
      2 - 18.0" / 457 mm, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m torpedoes - 0.865 t each, 1.729 t total
 In 2 sets of deck mounted centre rotating tubes

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 2 shafts, 38,213 shp / 28,507 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 2,400nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 99 tons

Complement:
 81 - 106

Cost:
 £0.102 million / $0.407 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 13 tons, 1.5 %
    - Guns: 12 tons, 1.3 %
    - Torpedoes: 2 tons, 0.2 %
 Machinery: 501 tons, 56.1 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 299 tons, 33.5 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 80 tons, 8.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   245 lbs / 111 Kg = 7.7 x 4.0 " / 102 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.28
 Metacentric height 1.1 ft / 0.4 m
 Roll period: 11.0 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.11
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a normal bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.387 / 0.394
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.82 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 16.58 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 74 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 14.00 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Forward deck: 15.00 %,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Aft deck: 56.00 %,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m,  13.00 ft / 3.96 m
    - Average freeboard:  15.38 ft / 4.69 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 184.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 123.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 4,698 Square feet or 436 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 48 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 26 lbs/sq ft or 127 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.40
  - Longitudinal: 4.96
  - Overall: 0.52
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

A Ger/BB/1905 variant design

I had skipped over this, but I thought that I would try this variant design for the Ger/BB/1905 specification. The ship has the forward turret sited further aft and the after turret much closer to the stern than the classic version. This photograph actually has the correct dimensions. The ship was intended to be a 22,000 ton battleship with 8-12in/BLR, 12-4in QF guns and a speed of 23 knots. The lower belt is 11in. This is the Springsharp report:

Ger/BB/1905 variant, Germany Battleship laid down 1905

Displacement:
 20,360 t light; 21,219 t standard; 23,922 t normal; 26,085 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (585.00 ft / 580.00 ft) x 90.00 ft x (26.60 / 28.58 ft)
 (178.31 m / 176.78 m) x 27.43 m  x (8.11 / 8.71 m)

Armament:
      8 - 12.00" / 305 mm 45.0 cal guns - 871.00lbs / 395.08kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1905 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      12 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.27lbs / 14.64kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in casemate mounts, 1905 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 7,355 lbs / 3,336 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 11.0" / 279 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 4.00" / 102 mm 170.00 ft / 51.82 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
   40.00 ft / 12.19 m Unarmoured ends
 Upper: 8.00" / 203 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 98 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 380.00 ft / 115.82 m 26.60 ft / 8.11 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 11.0" / 279 mm 6.00" / 152 mm  11.0" / 279 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 11.00" / 279 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Direct drive, 4 shafts, 43,412 shp / 32,386 Kw = 23.00 kts
 Range 5,600nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 4,866 tons

Complement:
 961 - 1,250

Cost:
 £1.842 million / $7.370 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,308 tons, 5.5 %
 Armour: 7,829 tons, 32.7 %
    - Belts: 2,871 tons, 12.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 748 tons, 3.1 %
    - Armament: 1,872 tons, 7.8 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,141 tons, 8.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 197 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 3,289 tons, 13.7 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,934 tons, 33.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,562 tons, 14.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   37,217 lbs / 16,881 Kg = 43.1 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 6.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.22
 Metacentric height 6.1 ft / 1.9 m
 Roll period: 15.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 78 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.55
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.56

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.603 / 0.612
 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): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 30.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Forward deck: 32.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Aft deck: 23.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard:  22.20 ft / 6.77 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 90.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 164.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 38,285 Square feet or 3,557 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 115 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 155 lbs/sq ft or 759 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.63
  - 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

A "moderate dimensions" ship: GB/BB/1915 small

Many authorities, including Lord Brassey, were advocating battleships of "moderate dimensions" in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Back in the early 1970's, we had experimented with such a ship design to see what could be achieved. This version, which I just created, has my 17in/45 gun, which weighed 138.6 tons, and fired an AP shot of 2814 lbs at a velocity of 2,850 ft/sec. The original specification did not specify a gun caliber, but the guns were clearly large, as the barrels were quite long. The main armament is 6-17in/45 BLR and the secondary armament is 10-5.5in QF guns. The belt is only 10in. The design depends on having the lightest weight machinery allowed. This is the Springsharp report:

GB/BB/1915 Small, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 27,456 t light; 28,879 t standard; 30,134 t normal; 31,138 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (628.00 ft / 625.00 ft) x 100.00 ft x (25.00 / 25.72 ft)
 (191.41 m / 190.50 m) x 30.48 m  x (7.62 / 7.84 m)

Armament:
      6 - 17.00" / 432 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2,814.00lbs / 1,276.41kg shells, 80 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1915 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline, forward deck forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      10 - 5.50" / 140 mm 45.0 cal guns - 83.90lbs / 38.05kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1915 Model
   10 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      Weight of broadside 17,723 lbs / 8,039 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 79 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  4.00" / 102 mm 320.00 ft / 97.54 m 24.40 ft / 7.44 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 8.00" / 203 mm  12.0" / 305 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks: 4.00" / 102 mm For and Aft decks
 Forecastle: 3.00" / 76 mm  Quarter deck: 4.00" / 102 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 10.00" / 254 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 70,682 shp / 52,729 Kw = 25.00 kts
 Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,259 tons

Complement:
 1,143 - 1,486

Cost:
 £3.873 million / $15.490 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 2,579 tons, 8.6 %
 Armour: 9,652 tons, 32.0 %
    - Belts: 2,401 tons, 8.0 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,156 tons, 3.8 %
    - Armament: 2,344 tons, 7.8 %
    - Armour Deck: 3,542 tons, 11.8 %
    - Conning Tower: 209 tons, 0.7 %
 Machinery: 1,691 tons, 5.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 13,535 tons, 44.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,678 tons, 8.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   55,000 lbs / 24,948 Kg = 22.4 x 17.0 " / 432 mm shells or 9.9 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 6.8 ft / 2.1 m
 Roll period: 16.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 63 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.94
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.27

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.675 / 0.678
 Length to Beam Ratio: 6.25 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 25.00 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -2.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -1.00 ft / -0.30 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Forward deck: 42.00 %,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Aft deck: 18.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard:  23.56 ft / 7.18 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 77.9 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 192.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 48,982 Square feet or 4,551 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 219 lbs/sq ft or 1,068 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.92
  - Longitudinal: 2.04
  - 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

The S8 scout cruisers (Ger/CS/1915)

The next sketch design in "The Red Book" is a German scout cruiser (ships S-8 to S-19). The short specification is for a 2,400 ton ship with a speed of 35 knots. The armament is 4-6in/45 QF guns and 4-24in TT. The only dimensions specified are the length and beam: 355ft x 37ft. There is superfiring gun aft. This is the Springsharp design:

Ger/CS/1915 "S8" class, Germany Scout Cruiser laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 1,926 t light; 2,010 t standard; 2,162 t normal; 2,283 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (358.65 ft / 355.00 ft) x 37.00 ft x (12.00 / 12.49 ft)
 (109.32 m / 108.20 m) x 11.28 m  x (3.66 / 3.81 m)

Armament:
      4 - 6.00" / 152 mm 45.0 cal guns - 100.00lbs / 45.36kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1915 Model
   3 x Single mounts on centreline ends, majority aft
  1 raised mount aft - superfiring
   1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck forward
      Weight of broadside 400 lbs / 181 kg
      4 - 24.0" / 610 mm, 23.00 ft / 7.01 m torpedoes - 1.877 t each, 7.507 t total
 In 2 sets of deck mounted centre rotating tubes

Armour:
   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 61,370 shp / 45,782 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 4,000nm at 14.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 273 tons

Complement:
 158 - 206

Cost:
 £0.390 million / $1.561 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 123 tons, 5.7 %
    - Guns: 116 tons, 5.4 %
    - Torpedoes: 8 tons, 0.3 %
 Armour: 41 tons, 1.9 %
    - Armament: 41 tons, 1.9 %
 Machinery: 1,141 tons, 52.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 620 tons, 28.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 236 tons, 10.9 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   524 lbs / 238 Kg = 4.9 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
 Metacentric height 1.6 ft / 0.5 m
 Roll period: 12.5 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.66
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a normal bow and a round stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.480 / 0.487
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.59 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 18.84 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 72 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 8.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 15.00 %,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Forward deck: 13.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Aft deck: 57.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m,  17.00 ft / 5.18 m
    - Average freeboard:  19.30 ft / 5.88 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 187.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 152.9 %
 Waterplane Area: 8,596 Square feet or 799 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 64 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 35 lbs/sq ft or 172 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.41
  - Longitudinal: 3.21
  - Overall: 0.51
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

How about a modernized Centurion battleship?

This is not an original idea, but when I heard about this, I was interested. I did this unencumbered by a drawing or details, but this at least seems plausible. I tried a modernized version of the battleship Centurion, updated somewhat similar to the Queen Elizabeth class, except faster. I removed the center turret, so the armament becomes 8-13.5in/45 BLR, 20-4.5in DP, and 32-2pdr AA guns. The armour basis is 12in with a 5in deck. The ship is bulged to 104ft and has a 4in torpedo bulkhead and 1in in the bulges (whatever that means to Springsharp). I have omitted aircraft, which you might want to add. To be able to have DP guns, Springsharp requires that the laid down date be moved up, as you are not allowed to use them on a 1911 ship. This is the Springsharp report:

Centurion-modernized, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1938

Displacement:
 27,259 t light; 28,432 t standard; 29,760 t normal; 30,822 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (604.50 ft / 597.50 ft) x 89.00 ft (Bulges 104.00 ft) x (29.00 / 29.98 ft)
 (184.25 m / 182.12 m) x 27.13 m (Bulges 31.70 m)  x (8.84 / 9.14 m)

Armament:
      8 - 13.50" / 343 mm 45.0 cal guns - 1,240.68lbs / 562.76kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1938 Model
   8 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      20 - 4.50" / 114 mm 45.0 cal guns - 45.95lbs / 20.84kg shells, 150 per gun
   Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1938 Model
   6 x Twin mounts on sides, forward deck aft
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, aft deck forward
      32 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1938 Model
   8 x 2 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
  8 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 10,908 lbs / 4,948 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 440.00 ft / 134.11 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
 Ends: 5.00" / 127 mm 150.00 ft / 45.72 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
   7.50 ft / 2.29 m Unarmoured ends
 Upper: 9.00" / 229 mm 440.00 ft / 134.11 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
   Main Belt covers 113 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  4.00" / 102 mm 440.00 ft / 134.11 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Hull Bulges:
  1.00" / 25 mm 440.00 ft / 134.11 m 29.00 ft / 8.84 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 9.00" / 229 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  2.00" / 51 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 9.00" / 229 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 93,477 shp / 69,734 Kw = 27.00 kts
 Range 5,400nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,389 tons

Complement:
 1,132 - 1,472

Cost:
 £13.134 million / $52.536 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 1,934 tons, 6.5 %
 Armour: 12,870 tons, 43.2 %
    - Belts: 3,439 tons, 11.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,888 tons, 6.3 %
    - Bulges: 472 tons, 1.7 %
    - Armament: 3,334 tons, 11.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 3,550 tons, 11.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 186 tons, 0.6 %
 Machinery: 2,560 tons, 8.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,895 tons, 33.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,501 tons, 8.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   51,396 lbs / 23,313 Kg = 41.8 x 13.5 " / 343 mm shells or 11.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.18
 Metacentric height 5.7 ft / 1.7 m
 Roll period: 18.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.49
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.11

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a ram bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.578 / 0.579
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.75 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.44 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 (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 30.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Forward deck: 37.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Aft deck: 18.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Average freeboard:  24.36 ft / 7.42 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 76.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 156.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 38,100 Square feet or 3,540 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 108 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 179 lbs/sq ft or 876 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.80
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Page about the battleship Malaya

This page about the British battleship Malaya is nice. You could use the drawing as the basis for a wargame piece. Presumably, there are other like it on the site. Yes, there are from this page.

The BBX "Mod. A" version

I had this concept about how to turn my friend Cliff's BBX design into a fast battleship, with a 28 knot speed. I realized when looking at the specification that the original version wanted 30 SHP/ton machinery, not the heavier machinery that I used. The BBX Mod.A had 40 SHP/ton machinery specified. Amazingly enough, my estimate of 180,000 SHP was pretty close to what Springsharp calculates. This is the revised Springsharp report:

GB/BB/1915 "BBX" Mod. A, Great Britain Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1937)

Displacement:
 69,118 t light; 72,755 t standard; 77,066 t normal; 80,514 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (807.44 ft / 800.00 ft) x 135.00 ft x (37.00 / 38.43 ft)
 (246.11 m / 243.84 m) x 41.15 m  x (11.28 / 11.71 m)

Armament:
      9 - 20.00" / 508 mm 45.0 cal guns - 4,370.00lbs / 1,982.20kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1915 Model
   3 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm 45.0 cal guns - 65.00lbs / 29.48kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1915 Model
   12 x Twin mounts on sides, aft deck forward
      Weight of broadside 40,890 lbs / 18,547 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 445.00 ft / 135.64 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 86 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  6.00" / 152 mm 445.00 ft / 135.64 m 37.00 ft / 11.28 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 12.0" / 305 mm  18.0" / 457 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

   - Armoured deck - multiple decks: 8.00" / 203 mm For and Aft decks
 Forecastle: 7.00" / 178 mm  Quarter deck: 8.00" / 203 mm

   - Conning towers: Forward 18.00" / 457 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 180,161 shp / 134,400 Kw = 28.00 kts
 Range 10,000nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 7,759 tons

Complement:
 2,312 - 3,006

Cost:
 £9.664 million / $38.657 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 5,675 tons, 7.4 %
 Armour: 29,670 tons, 38.5 %
    - Belts: 5,949 tons, 7.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 3,655 tons, 4.7 %
    - Armament: 6,930 tons, 9.0 %
    - Armour Deck: 12,433 tons, 16.1 %
    - Conning Tower: 702 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 4,993 tons, 6.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 28,780 tons, 37.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 7,948 tons, 10.3 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   123,397 lbs / 55,972 Kg = 30.8 x 20.0 " / 508 mm shells or 25.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.23
 Metacentric height 11.4 ft / 3.5 m
 Roll period: 16.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 59 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.63
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.17

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   an extended bulbous bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.675 / 0.679
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.93 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 12.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  35.00 ft / 10.67 m,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Aft deck: 30.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard:  27.20 ft / 8.29 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 73.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 181.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 84,640 Square feet or 7,863 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 270 lbs/sq ft or 1,316 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.69
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

My friend Cliff's "BBX" design (GB/BB/1915)

In our wargame campaign from the early 1970's, my friend Cliff planned to build some very heavily armed and protected battleships that he called the "BBX". The designation was GB/BB/1915, as they would have been laid down in 1915 by the British navy. The ships were greatly beyond anything that would have been considered in that period, but they were the sort of ship we were considering at the time. This is Cliff's specification:

BBX
800ft x 135ft x 36.5ft (light)  Hull depth=60ft
Displacement=70,000 tons  Cp=0.64  Cm=0.97
9-20in/45 (202 ton) wt of AP shot=4,370 lbs at 2,700 ft/sec
24-5in QF guns (5 tons) 
Speed = 20 knots
SHP=89,300 tons at a normal displacement of 71,500 tons

Weights
18,800 tons  Hull
 2,450 tons  Aux Machinery
 2,980 tons  Machinery
 4,461 tons  Armament
35,709 tons  Protection
 5,600 tons  Miscellaneous

This is the Springsharp report that I was able to achieve:

GB/BB/1915 "BBX", Great Britain Battleship laid down 1915

Displacement:
 66,883 t light; 70,521 t standard; 77,066 t normal; 82,302 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (807.44 ft / 800.00 ft) x 135.00 ft x (37.00 / 39.17 ft)
 (246.11 m / 243.84 m) x 41.15 m  x (11.28 / 11.94 m)

Armament:
      9 - 20.00" / 508 mm 45.0 cal guns - 4,370.00lbs / 1,982.20kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1915 Model
   3 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      24 - 5.00" / 127 mm 45.0 cal guns - 65.00lbs / 29.48kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1915 Model
   12 x Twin mounts on sides, aft deck forward
      Weight of broadside 40,890 lbs / 18,547 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 445.00 ft / 135.64 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 86 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  8.00" / 203 mm 445.00 ft / 135.64 m 37.00 ft / 11.28 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 12.0" / 305 mm  18.0" / 457 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 18.00" / 457 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 50,165 shp / 37,423 Kw = 20.00 kts
 Range 11,000nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 11,781 tons

Complement:
 2,312 - 3,006

Cost:
 £8.920 million / $35.682 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 5,675 tons, 7.4 %
 Armour: 31,079 tons, 40.3 %
    - Belts: 5,949 tons, 7.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 4,874 tons, 6.3 %
    - Armament: 6,930 tons, 9.0 %
    - Armour Deck: 12,624 tons, 16.4 %
    - Conning Tower: 702 tons, 0.9 %
 Machinery: 1,900 tons, 2.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 28,229 tons, 36.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 10,183 tons, 13.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   154,887 lbs / 70,256 Kg = 38.7 x 20.0 " / 508 mm shells or 40.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.23
 Metacentric height 11.4 ft / 3.5 m
 Roll period: 16.8 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 85 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.77
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.70

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   an extended bulbous bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.675 / 0.681
 Length to Beam Ratio: 5.93 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.28 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 36 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 12.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  35.00 ft / 10.67 m,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Aft deck: 30.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Average freeboard:  27.20 ft / 8.29 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 58.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 181.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 84,640 Square feet or 7,863 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 113 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 265 lbs/sq ft or 1,292 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.73
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

A fast Italian cruiser design

I wondered what sort of Italian cruiser design that I could make work with Springsharp. My ship is sort of an enlarged Capitani Romani type, in that my ship is flush-decked. My ship, though, is armoured more like one of the earlier ships. By going large, my ship carries 9-6in/55, 8-4in AA, 12-37mm AA guns, and 6-21in TT at 37 knots. This is the Springsharp report:

It/CL/1939, Italy Light Cruiser laid down 1939 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 9,533 t light; 9,863 t standard; 10,532 t normal; 11,068 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (644.00 ft / 638.00 ft) x 60.00 ft x (18.00 / 18.68 ft)
 (196.29 m / 194.46 m) x 18.29 m  x (5.49 / 5.69 m)

Armament:
      9 - 6.00" / 152 mm 55.0 cal guns - 116.57lbs / 52.88kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1939 Model
   3 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      8 - 4.00" / 102 mm 55.0 cal guns - 32.00lbs / 14.51kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1939 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on sides, aft deck forward
  4 raised mounts
      12 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm 60.0 cal guns - 1.69lbs / 0.77kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1939 Model
   12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 1,325 lbs / 601 kg
      6 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m torpedoes - 1.497 t each, 8.983 t total
 In 2 sets of deck mounted carriage/fixed tubes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 2.00" / 51 mm 420.00 ft / 128.02 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 101 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  0.70" / 18 mm 420.00 ft / 128.02 m 18.00 ft / 5.49 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm  3.00" / 76 mm
 2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  1.00" / 25 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 3.00" / 76 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 133,798 shp / 99,813 Kw = 37.00 kts
 Range 4,700nm at 16.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 1,205 tons

Complement:
 519 - 675

Cost:
 £5.464 million / $21.858 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 387 tons, 3.7 %
    - Guns: 378 tons, 3.6 %
    - Torpedoes: 9 tons, 0.1 %
 Armour: 1,392 tons, 13.2 %
    - Belts: 412 tons, 3.9 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 196 tons, 1.9 %
    - Armament: 241 tons, 2.3 %
    - Armour Deck: 511 tons, 4.9 %
    - Conning Tower: 31 tons, 0.3 %
 Machinery: 3,201 tons, 30.4 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 4,554 tons, 43.2 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 999 tons, 9.5 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   11,722 lbs / 5,317 Kg = 108.5 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 1.6 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
 Metacentric height 2.8 ft / 0.9 m
 Roll period: 14.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.41
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   an extended bulbous bow and large transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.535 / 0.542
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.63 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.58 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  34.00 ft / 10.36 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard:  23.39 ft / 7.13 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 168.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 223.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 27,416 Square feet or 2,547 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 113 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 104 lbs/sq ft or 507 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

The 2007 Weblog Awards

Kevin Alyward has opened nominations for the 2007 Weblog Awards.

Kevin is proprietor and founder of the Wizbang! blog.

The GB/CB/1916 design study

The specification for the GB/CB/1916 will not work as I had originally hoped:

GB/CB/1916
6-18in (190 ton) and 16-5in (5 ton) guns
Cp=0.56  Cm=0.95  C=0.29 (hull wt coeff)
787-1/2ft x 90ft x 53ft (depth)  draft=30.7ft deep
32,000 tons standard 33,150 tons full load
10,900 tons   hull
 5,225 tons   machinery
 1,240 tons   aux machinery
 2,806 tons   armament
 9,269 tons   protection
210,0000 SHP at 40 SHP/ton of machinery weight

The original beam was too narrow to allow for the armament. I had to increase the beam to 98ft and increase the draft to 31ft. I had greatly underestimated the hull weight that would be needed. That allowed the design to work:

GB/CB/1916, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1916 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 33,055 t light; 34,751 t standard; 36,365 t normal; 37,656 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (793.32 ft / 787.50 ft) x 98.00 ft x (31.00 / 31.85 ft)
 (241.80 m / 240.03 m) x 29.87 m  x (9.45 / 9.71 m)

Armament:
      6 - 18.00" / 457 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2,950.00lbs / 1,338.10kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1916 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline, forward deck forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      16 - 5.00" / 127 mm 45.0 cal guns - 63.03lbs / 28.59kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
   16 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 18,709 lbs / 8,486 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 430.00 ft / 131.06 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:
  3.00" / 76 mm 430.00 ft / 131.06 m 31.00 ft / 9.45 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 8.00" / 203 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 197,623 shp / 147,427 Kw = 33.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 2,904 tons

Complement:
 1,316 - 1,711

Cost:
 £5.824 million / $23.294 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,001 tons, 8.3 %
 Armour: 9,061 tons, 24.9 %
    - Belts: 2,399 tons, 6.6 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,480 tons, 4.1 %
    - Armament: 2,033 tons, 5.6 %
    - Armour Deck: 2,961 tons, 8.1 %
    - Conning Tower: 189 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 4,728 tons, 13.0 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 16,265 tons, 44.7 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,310 tons, 9.1 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   43,633 lbs / 19,792 Kg = 15.0 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 6.2 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
 Metacentric height 5.8 ft / 1.8 m
 Roll period: 17.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 51 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.95
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.532 / 0.536
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.04 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 28.06 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -3.00 ft / -0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 28.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Forward deck: 35.00 %,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m,  26.00 ft / 7.92 m
    - Aft deck: 22.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard:  23.82 ft / 7.26 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 107.1 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 175.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 52,961 Square feet or 4,920 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 223 lbs/sq ft or 1,087 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.58
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

My It/CL/1928 design

I have been writing about the Second Battle of Sirte that involved the Italian 6in gun cruiser Giovanni della Bande Nere. I thought that I would try a Springsharp design for a similar ship. The Springsharp design is disappointing. My design can only make 34.5 knots with 94,136 SHP on with a Standard displacement of 6,554 tons. The real ship could supposedly make 37 knots with 95,000 SHP on a displacement of 6,571 tons standard:

It/CL/1928, Italy Light Cruiser laid down 1928 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 6,312 t light; 6,554 t standard; 7,076 t normal; 7,494 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (555.00 ft / 555.00 ft) x 51.00 ft x (17.50 / 18.28 ft)
 (169.16 m / 169.16 m) x 15.54 m  x (5.33 / 5.57 m)

Armament:
      8 - 6.00" / 152 mm 55.0 cal guns - 116.57lbs / 52.88kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1928 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      6 - 4.00" / 102 mm 45.0 cal guns - 32.27lbs / 14.64kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1928 Model
   6 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
  6 raised mounts
      8 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm 55.0 cal guns - 1.67lbs / 0.76kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1928 Model
   8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
      Weight of broadside 1,140 lbs / 517 kg
      4 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m torpedoes - 1.453 t each, 5.813 t total
 In 2 sets of deck mounted side rotating tubes

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 370.00 ft / 112.78 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 103 % of normal length
   Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  1.00" / 25 mm

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 94,136 shp / 70,225 Kw = 34.50 kts
 Range 3,800nm at 18.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 940 tons

Complement:
 385 - 501

Cost:
 £2.534 million / $10.137 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 324 tons, 4.6 %
    - Guns: 318 tons, 4.5 %
    - Torpedoes: 6 tons, 0.1 %
 Armour: 614 tons, 8.7 %
    - Belts: 180 tons, 2.5 %
    - Armament: 82 tons, 1.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 352 tons, 5.0 %
 Machinery: 2,252 tons, 31.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,122 tons, 44.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 764 tons, 10.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   6,371 lbs / 2,890 Kg = 59.0 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 1.0 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
 Metacentric height 2.0 ft / 0.6 m
 Roll period: 15.2 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 67 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.73
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.33

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has raised forecastle,
   a normal bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.507
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.88 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 23.56 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 27.00 %,  29.00 ft / 8.84 m,  28.00 ft / 8.53 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Aft deck: 28.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Average freeboard:  22.27 ft / 6.79 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 119.7 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 182.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 18,859 Square feet or 1,752 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 112 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 90 lbs/sq ft or 439 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.91
  - Longitudinal: 2.51
  - 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

The GB/CB/1916 design study

I have this sketch design of a 1921-like British battle cruiser, without a designation, but clearly intended to be some date like 1916. This is the original specification:

GB/CB/1916 C-0.24 (hull weight coeff.) 48,000 tons 9-16in (105 tons) 20-5in (5 ton)
30 knots  855ft x 105ft x 33.3ft  Hull depth=58ft
143,500 SHP
Weights
 1,780 tons   Aux Mach
 4,783 tons   Machinery
12,500 tons   Hull
 2,410 tons   Armament
22,687 tons   Protection
 3,840 tons   Miscellaneous

This is the Springsharp report for my implementation of this specification:

GB/CB/1916, Great Britain Battlecruiser laid down 1916 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 44,588 t light; 46,621 t standard; 49,967 t normal; 52,644 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (860.20 ft / 855.00 ft) x 105.00 ft x (33.30 / 34.71 ft)
 (262.19 m / 260.60 m) x 32.00 m  x (10.15 / 10.58 m)

Armament:
      9 - 16.00" / 406 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2,065.00lbs / 936.67kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1916 Model
   3 x Triple mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
   Main guns limited to end-on fire
      20 - 5.00" / 127 mm 45.0 cal guns - 63.00lbs / 28.58kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
   10 x Twin mounts on sides amidships
  4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 19,845 lbs / 9,002 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 14.0" / 356 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 81 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  5.00" / 127 mm 450.00 ft / 137.16 m 33.30 ft / 10.15 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 12.0" / 305 mm 9.00" / 229 mm  12.0" / 305 mm
 2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 4.00" / 102 mm  5.00" / 127 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 12.00" / 305 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 152,135 shp / 113,493 Kw = 30.00 kts
 Range 7,500nm at 18.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 6,023 tons

Complement:
 1,670 - 2,172

Cost:
 £6.419 million / $25.676 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,287 tons, 6.6 %
 Armour: 17,679 tons, 35.4 %
    - Belts: 4,446 tons, 8.9 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 2,772 tons, 5.5 %
    - Armament: 3,924 tons, 7.9 %
    - Armour Deck: 6,187 tons, 12.4 %
    - Conning Tower: 351 tons, 0.7 %
 Machinery: 3,640 tons, 7.3 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 19,982 tons, 40.0 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,380 tons, 10.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   97,240 lbs / 44,107 Kg = 47.5 x 16.0 " / 406 mm shells or 17.7 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
 Metacentric height 5.9 ft / 1.8 m
 Roll period: 18.1 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 81 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 1.21
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.63

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and small transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.585 / 0.591
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.14 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 31.50 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 49 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 8.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  37.00 ft / 11.28 m,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m,  31.00 ft / 9.45 m
    - Aft deck: 30.00 %,  31.00 ft / 9.45 m,  31.00 ft / 9.45 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  31.00 ft / 9.45 m,  32.00 ft / 9.75 m
    - Average freeboard:  31.98 ft / 9.75 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 71.2 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 236.6 %
 Waterplane Area: 66,372 Square feet or 6,166 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 213 lbs/sq ft or 1,038 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.94
  - Longitudinal: 1.73
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
 Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
 Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

The Ger/CB/1915 design study

The Red Book has a specification that I am calling the Ger/CB/1915 design study:

CB  35,000 tons  6-18in, 16-5in QF guns
875ft x 105ft (58ft depth) 23.7ft light, 26.9ft deep
Cp=0l58  Cm=0.97  C=0.24
40,000 tons full load   35 knots

Weights

 4,800 tons  machinery
12,800 tons  hull
 1,500 tons  aux machinery
 2,670 tons  armament
10,430 tons  protection
 2,800 tons  miscellaneous

This is the Springsharp report for what I actually implemented:

Ger/CB/1915 design study, Germany Battlecruiser laid down 1915 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 41,081 t light; 42,950 t standard; 44,868 t normal; 46,402 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (881.70 ft / 875.00 ft) x 105.00 ft x (26.50 / 27.27 ft)
 (268.74 m / 266.70 m) x 32.00 m  x (8.08 / 8.31 m)

Armament:
      6 - 18.00" / 457 mm 45.0 cal guns - 2,950.00lbs / 1,338.10kg shells, 90 per gun
   Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1915 Model
   2 x Triple mounts on centreline, forward deck forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      16 - 5.00" / 127 mm 45.0 cal guns - 65.00lbs / 29.48kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1915 Model
   16 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  4 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 18,740 lbs / 8,500 kg

Armour:
   - Belts:  Width (max) Length (avg)  Height (avg)
 Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 640.00 ft / 195.07 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
 Ends: Unarmoured
   Main Belt covers 113 % of normal length

   - Torpedo Bulkhead:
  2.00" / 51 mm 640.00 ft / 195.07 m 26.50 ft / 8.08 m

   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 5.00" / 127 mm  8.00" / 203 mm
 2nd: 4.00" / 102 mm 3.00" / 76 mm  4.00" / 102 mm

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

   - Conning towers: Forward 8.00" / 203 mm,  Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 4 shafts, 289,844 shp / 216,224 Kw = 35.00 kts
 Range 6,500nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 3,452 tons

Complement:
 1,540 - 2,003

Cost:
 £6.034 million / $24.138 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 3,001 tons, 6.7 %
 Armour: 10,252 tons, 22.8 %
    - Belts: 2,546 tons, 5.7 %
    - Torpedo bulkhead: 1,255 tons, 2.8 %
    - Armament: 2,318 tons, 5.2 %
    - Armour Deck: 3,915 tons, 8.7 %
    - Conning Tower: 218 tons, 0.5 %
 Machinery: 6,934 tons, 15.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 20,894 tons, 46.6 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,787 tons, 8.4 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   67,333 lbs / 30,542 Kg = 23.1 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 8.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
 Metacentric height 6.8 ft / 2.1 m
 Roll period: 16.9 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.94
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has rise forward of midbreak,
   an extended bulbous bow and a cruiser stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.645 / 0.648
 Length to Beam Ratio: 8.33 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 29.58 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: -2.00 ft / -0.61 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 30.00 %,  38.00 ft / 11.58 m,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Forward deck: 40.00 %,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m,  33.00 ft / 10.06 m
    - Aft deck: 10.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m
    - Quarter deck: 20.00 %,  25.00 ft / 7.62 m,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m
    - Average freeboard:  31.40 ft / 9.57 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 105.2 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 272.1 %
 Waterplane Area: 70,059 Square feet or 6,509 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 110 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 219 lbs/sq ft or 1,067 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.95
  - Longitudinal: 1.52
  - Overall: 1.00
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The It/CL/1939 design: another attempt

After some relative success with very fast ships, I thought that I might try an Italian light cruiser that resembles the Capitani Romani type. The ship has 8-5.3in/45 QF and 8-37mm/54 AA guns. There are also 8-21in TT. The speed that I could attain is just 39 knots. The range is 4200 nm at 15 knots. I wanted to do it without resorting to a deep draft, which is "cheating". This is the Springsharp report:

It/CL/1939, Italy Light Cruisers laid down 1939 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 3,482 t light; 3,611 t standard; 3,904 t normal; 4,138 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (466.32 ft / 460.00 ft) x 47.00 ft x (16.00 / 16.59 ft)
 (142.13 m / 140.21 m) x 14.33 m  x (4.88 / 5.06 m)

Armament:
      8 - 5.30" / 135 mm 45.0 cal guns - 75.00lbs / 34.02kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1939 Model
   4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
  2 raised mounts - superfiring
      8 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm 54.0 cal guns - 1.66lbs / 0.75kg shells, 150 per gun
   Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1939 Model
   8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
  8 raised mounts
      Weight of broadside 613 lbs / 278 kg
      8 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m torpedoes - 1.497 t each, 11.977 t total
 In 2 sets of deck mounted side rotating tubes

Armour:
   - Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
 Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm  1.00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 94,516 shp / 70,509 Kw = 39.00 kts
 Range 4,200nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 526 tons

Complement:
 246 - 321

Cost:
 £2.780 million / $11.122 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 154 tons, 4.0 %
    - Guns: 142 tons, 3.6 %
    - Torpedoes: 12 tons, 0.3 %
 Armour: 74 tons, 1.9 %
    - Armament: 74 tons, 1.9 %
 Machinery: 2,128 tons, 54.5 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 1,138 tons, 29.1 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 422 tons, 10.8 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   967 lbs / 438 Kg = 13.0 x 5.3 " / 135 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.28
 Metacentric height 2.5 ft / 0.8 m
 Roll period: 12.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.44
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   an extended bulbous bow and large transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.395 / 0.404
 Length to Beam Ratio: 9.79 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.87 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 68 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 7.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  27.00 ft / 8.23 m,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m
    - Forward deck: 30.00 %,  23.00 ft / 7.01 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m,  19.00 ft / 5.79 m
    - Average freeboard:  21.05 ft / 6.41 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 189.5 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 209.3 %
 Waterplane Area: 13,766 Square feet or 1,279 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 76 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 45 lbs/sq ft or 218 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.44
  - Longitudinal: 2.06
  - Overall: 0.51
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

The Ger/CM/1915 design study

This is the middle member of the family of fast German minelayers. This ship now carries 360 mines at 38.5 knots. The ship has 3-5in guns with one superfiring, forward. The mines are carried on rails at the stern. This is the Springsharp report:

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

Displacement:
 3,238 t light; 3,327 t standard; 3,606 t normal; 3,830 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (453.37 ft / 450.00 ft) x 44.00 ft x (17.00 / 17.63 ft)
 (138.19 m / 137.16 m) x 13.41 m  x (5.18 / 5.37 m)

Armament:
      3 - 5.00" / 127 mm 45.0 cal guns - 65.00lbs / 29.48kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1915 Model
   3 x Single mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
  1 raised mount - superfiring
      Weight of broadside 195 lbs / 88 kg

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 84,825 shp / 63,279 Kw = 38.50 kts
 Range 4,200nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 503 tons

Complement:
 232 - 302

Cost:
 £0.578 million / $2.310 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 51 tons, 1.4 %
 Armour: 45 tons, 1.3 %
    - Armament: 45 tons, 1.3 %
 Machinery: 1,898 tons, 52.6 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 933 tons, 25.9 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 368 tons, 10.2 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 311 tons, 8.6 %
    - On freeboard deck: 311 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   925 lbs / 420 Kg = 14.8 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
 Metacentric height 1.9 ft / 0.6 m
 Roll period: 13.3 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 58 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.17
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.02

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and large transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.375 / 0.384
 Length to Beam Ratio: 10.23 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 24.59 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 67 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 57
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 8.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 25.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m
    - Forward deck: 25.00 %,  21.00 ft / 6.40 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Aft deck: 35.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m,  16.00 ft / 4.88 m
    - Average freeboard:  18.78 ft / 5.72 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 174.6 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 184.4 %
 Waterplane Area: 12,450 Square feet or 1,157 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 79 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 40 lbs/sq ft or 193 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.46
  - Longitudinal: 1.75
  - Overall: 0.52
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

An alternative Ger/CM/1914 design

There is a sketch of the largest ship in the family of specifications for fast German minelayers. That ship is flush-decked. That inspired me to try a flush-decked alternative to what I last wrote about. This would be a Ger/CM/1914 that tries to have a more typical draft, or at least not an oddly deep draft. That is the main difference. The ship might well not have had the mines on the upper deck, but I kept them there. The Germans only used 5in guns in my alternate universe, of course. This is at least a more rational design, in my opinion, although not quite as fast:

Ger/CM/1914, Germany Cruiser Minelayer laid down 1914 (Engine 1950)

Displacement:
 3,323 t light; 3,414 t standard; 3,733 t normal; 3,989 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
 (437.95 ft / 435.00 ft) x 38.00 ft x (17.00 / 17.81 ft)
 (133.49 m / 132.59 m) x 11.58 m  x (5.18 / 5.43 m)

Armament:
      3 - 5.00" / 127 mm 45.0 cal guns - 65.00lbs / 29.48kg shells, 150 per gun
   Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1914 Model
   1 x Single mount on centreline forward
   1 x Single mount on centreline, aft deck forward
      Weight of broadside 195 lbs / 88 kg

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

Machinery:
 Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 
 Geared drive, 2 shafts, 99,257 shp / 74,046 Kw = 39.00 kts
 Range 4,800nm at 15.00 kts
 Bunker at max displacement = 575 tons

Complement:
 238 - 310

Cost:
 £0.562 million / $2.248 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
 Armament: 51 tons, 1.4 %
 Armour: 31 tons, 0.8 %
    - Armament: 31 tons, 0.8 %
 Machinery: 2,195 tons, 58.8 %
 Hull, fittings & equipment: 908 tons, 24.3 %
 Fuel, ammunition & stores: 411 tons, 11.0 %
 Miscellaneous weights: 138 tons, 3.7 %
    - On freeboard deck: 138 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
 Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
   740 lbs / 335 Kg = 11.8 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 0.3 torpedoes
 Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.21
 Metacentric height 1.7 ft / 0.5 m
 Roll period: 12.4 seconds
 Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
   - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.25
 Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.10

Hull form characteristics:
 Hull has a flush deck,
   a normal bow and large transom stern
 Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.465 / 0.474
 Length to Beam Ratio: 11.45 : 1
 'Natural speed' for length: 23.66 kts
 Power going to wave formation at top speed: 70 %
 Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 55
 Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 7.00 degrees
 Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
 Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
    Fore end,  Aft end
    - Forecastle: 20.00 %,  24.00 ft / 7.32 m,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m
    - Forward deck: 25.00 %,  22.00 ft / 6.71 m,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m
    - Aft deck: 40.00 %,  20.00 ft / 6.10 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Quarter deck: 15.00 %,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m,  18.00 ft / 5.49 m
    - Average freeboard:  20.11 ft / 6.13 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
 Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 194.2 %
  - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 175.5 %
 Waterplane Area: 11,095 Square feet or 1,031 Square metres
 Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 73 %
 Structure weight / hull surface area: 36 lbs/sq ft or 173 Kg/sq metre
 Hull strength (Relative):
  - Cross-sectional: 0.42
  - Longitudinal: 2.56
  - Overall: 0.51
 Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
 Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent