SDN World 3 Ship Design Thread

[Steve]

For those naval design amateurs playing with SpringSharp, how the process really goes.

Beware admirals with potato-baking forks!

[Thanas]

That essay by Stuart is one of my favorites. Funny and to the point.

[Ryan Thunder]

[...] Somebody comes up with a design that uses the extra size for a large number of guns rather than caliber. This leads to a ship with 20 12-inch guns in 5 quadruple turrets, 32 knots and armored against 6-inch gunfire. Nobody plans to actually build this design but the question is, what would somebody else use such a ship for and do we have to worry about similar designs? [...]

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Holy Cow.. a ship that carries 12 18"/45 guns, and about 62,000tonnes! Woot!

John II Komnenos, Byzantine Empire Battleship laid down 1928

Displacement:
58,471 t light; 62,013 t standard; 65,378 t normal; 68,070 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(793.73 ft / 771.00 ft) x 118.11 ft (Bulges 121.39 ft) x (39.37 / 40.76 ft)
(241.93 m / 235.00 m) x 36.00 m (Bulges 37.00 m) x (12.00 / 12.42 m)

Armament:
12 - 18.00" / 457 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3,000.01lbs / 1,360.78kg shells, 80 per gun
Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1928 Model
4 x 3-gun mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
2 raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 5.00" / 127 mm 38.0 cal guns - 59.33lbs / 26.91kg shells, 1,000 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1928 Model
8 x 2-gun mounts on sides, evenly spread
4 raised mounts
40 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 56.0 cal guns - 2.12lbs / 0.96kg shells, 2,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1928 Model
8 x Twin mounts on side ends, evenly spread
4 raised mounts - superfiring
40 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm 70.0 cal guns - 0.26lbs / 0.12kg shells, 2,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1928 Model
8 x Quad mounts on side ends, evenly spread
16 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm 12.0 cal guns - 0.04lbs / 0.02kg shells, 3,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1928 Model
16 x Single mounts on centreline, aft deck forward
Weight of broadside 37,045 lbs / 16,803 kg

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 16.0" / 406 mm 500.00 ft / 152.40 m 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
Main Belt inclined 20.00 degrees (positive = in)

- Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
4.00" / 102 mm 500.00 ft / 152.40 m 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
Beam between torpedo bulkheads 75.00 ft / 22.86 m

- Hull Bulges:
2.00" / 51 mm 500.00 ft / 152.40 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 21.0" / 533 mm 16.0" / 406 mm 16.0" / 406 mm
2nd: 2.50" / 64 mm 2.50" / 64 mm 2.50" / 64 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
5th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armoured deck - multiple decks:
For and Aft decks: 8.00" / 203 mm
Forecastle: 2.00" / 51 mm Quarter deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

- Conning towers: Forward 16.00" / 406 mm, Aft 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Electric motors, 4 shafts, 87,017 shp / 64,915 Kw = 24.00 kts
Range 8,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 6,057 tons

Complement:
2,043 - 2,657

Cost:
£22.141 million / $88.565 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 6,882 tons, 10.5 %
- Guns: 6,882 tons, 10.5 %
Armour: 26,052 tons, 39.8 %
- Belts: 6,293 tons, 9.6 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 2,368 tons, 3.6 %
- Bulges: 370 tons, 0.6 %
- Armament: 7,644 tons, 11.7 %
- Armour Deck: 8,713 tons, 13.3 %
- Conning Towers: 664 tons, 1.0 %
Machinery: 2,709 tons, 4.1 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 22,708 tons, 34.7 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,907 tons, 10.6 %
Miscellaneous weights: 120 tons, 0.2 %
- Hull above water: 20 tons
- On freeboard deck: 100 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
88,199 lbs / 40,006 Kg = 30.2 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 16.9 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.01
Metacentric height 6.5 ft / 2.0 m
Roll period: 20.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.99
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.32

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck,
an extended bulbous bow and a round stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.621 / 0.625
Length to Beam Ratio: 6.35 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.77 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 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 %, 39.37 ft / 12.00 m, 22.97 ft / 7.00 m
- Forward deck: 30.00 %, 22.97 ft / 7.00 m, 21.03 ft / 6.41 m
- Aft deck: 35.00 %, 21.03 ft / 6.41 m, 21.03 ft / 6.41 m
- Quarter deck: 15.00 %, 21.03 ft / 6.41 m, 21.03 ft / 6.41 m
- Average freeboard: 23.02 ft / 7.02 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 95.8 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 136.0 %
Waterplane Area: 67,917 Square feet or 6,310 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 103 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 269 lbs/sq ft or 1,312 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.45
- Overall: 1.00
Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Excellent accommodation and workspace room
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[Thanas]

*snipp*

That is a good design, quite similar to some of mine. However, the problem with it is that you cannot built it except for in two or three game years and only if you built new shipyards....

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

That is a good design, quite similar to some of mine. However, the problem with it is that you cannot built it except for in two or three game years and only if you built new shipyards....

Well, there are 3 slipways on the way....

[Thanas]

Ah, okay. Wasn't that sure about it as I did not know your building queue.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Ah, okay. Wasn't that sure about it as I did not know your building queue.

To be honest, I didn't fancy making a 55ktonne ship with 12 18"/45 guns because of the loads of compromises to be made, and it will be still pretty hard to squeeze all that armament into a ship that size without having to worry about recoil and steadiness etc. And retaining a tall enough belt to withstand 3000lb 18" shells.

[CmdrWilkens]

To be honest, I didn't fancy making a 55ktonne ship with 12 18"/45 guns because of the loads of compromises to be made, and it will be still pretty hard to squeeze all that armament into a ship that size without having to worry about recoil and steadiness etc. And retaining a tall enough belt to withstand 3000lb 18" shells.

That was why my 55kt ship only has 9/ 18", I just couldn't find a way to fit a heavier main battery onboard without either sacrificing speed, armor, or range. Two of those would have defeated the purpose of building it as a battlecruiser. Anyway working with more and more bits from this thread is partly why my 1928 series is upping to 12 since I'm learning to play with SS better:

Wilkonia, Mexico Battleship laid down 1928

Displacement:
57,504 t light; 60,908 t standard; 64,500 t normal; 67,373 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(863.60 ft / 855.00 ft) x 112.00 ft (Bulges 122.00 ft) x (36.00 / 37.43 ft)
(263.23 m / 260.60 m) x 34.14 m (Bulges 37.19 m) x (10.97 / 11.41 m)

Armament:
12 - 18.00" / 457 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3,000.01lbs / 1,360.78kg shells, 100 per gun
Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1925 Model
3 x 4-gun mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
1 raised mount - superfiring
12 - 5.00" / 127 mm 38.0 cal guns - 59.33lbs / 26.91kg shells, 120 per gun
Quick firing guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1916 Model
6 x 2-gun mounts on side ends, majority aft
16 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm 39.0 cal guns - 12.28lbs / 5.57kg shells, 600 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts, 1922 Model
4 x 2 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
16 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm 39.0 cal guns - 0.22lbs / 0.10kg shells, 600 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1922 Model
4 x 2 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
16 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm 12.0 cal guns - 0.04lbs / 0.02kg shells, 150 per gun
Machine guns in deck mounts, 1909 Model
8 x Single mounts on sides, forward deck aft
8 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck aft
Weight of broadside 36,913 lbs / 16,743 kg

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 17.0" / 432 mm 420.00 ft / 128.02 m 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 76 % of normal length
Main Belt inclined 18.00 degrees (positive = in)

- Torpedo Bulkhead - Strengthened structural bulkheads:
4.00" / 102 mm 850.00 ft / 259.08 m 36.00 ft / 10.97 m
Beam between torpedo bulkheads 112.00 ft / 34.14 m

- Hull Bulges:
2.00" / 51 mm 500.00 ft / 152.40 m 36.00 ft / 10.97 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 22.0" / 559 mm 16.0" / 406 mm 16.0" / 406 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm

- Armoured deck - single deck:
For and Aft decks: 8.00" / 203 mm
Forecastle: 2.00" / 51 mm Quarter deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

- Conning towers: Forward 16.00" / 406 mm, Aft 4.00" / 102 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 149,606 shp / 111,606 Kw = 28.00 kts
Range 10,000nm at 14.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 6,465 tons

Complement:
2,022 - 2,630

Cost:
£22.982 million / $91.927 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 6,822 tons, 10.6 %
- Guns: 6,822 tons, 10.6 %
Armour: 27,398 tons, 42.5 %
- Belts: 5,813 tons, 9.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 4,529 tons, 7.0 %
- Bulges: 1,332 tons, 2.1 %
- Armament: 6,032 tons, 9.4 %
- Armour Deck: 8,998 tons, 14.0 %
- Conning Towers: 693 tons, 1.1 %
Machinery: 4,658 tons, 7.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 18,626 tons, 28.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 6,996 tons, 10.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
75,286 lbs / 34,149 Kg = 25.8 x 18.0 " / 457 mm shells or 15.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.04
Metacentric height 6.5 ft / 2.0 m
Roll period: 20.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.83
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.11

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck,
a normal bow and a cruiser stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.601 / 0.604
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.01 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 29.24 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 48 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 63
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 16.00 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 %, 30.00 ft / 9.14 m, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Forward deck: 35.00 %, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Aft deck: 30.00 %, 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: 20.80 ft / 6.34 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 70.8 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 132.1 %
Waterplane Area: 70,114 Square feet or 6,514 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 94 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 264 lbs/sq ft or 1,288 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.98
- Longitudinal: 1.16
- Overall: 1.00
Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Excellent accommodation and workspace room
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

The old 18.8" of belt has been replaced by 17" belts. I sacrificed a bit of seakeeping and added about 500t of weight to go to the 3x 4-gun arrangement but it let me keep the designed 28/14 knot speed with 10,000 nm range.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

You sure you don't want to allow for less beam between bulkheads? I also note you are relying on a strengthened bulkhead as well. I'm not sure how that will perform against torpedoes.

I actually have a 9 18"/45 gun design that is meant to run at 30knots max. The only thing is that it's a 65,000tonne ship.

[Ryan Thunder]

Tormenta, Gran Colombia supercruiser laid down 1925

Displacement:
37 065 t light; 38 318 t standard; 41 600 t normal; 44 225 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(902.23 ft / 902.23 ft) x 82.02 ft x (32.81 / 34.51 ft)
(275.00 m / 275.00 m) x 25.00 m x (10.00 / 10.52 m)

Armament:
2 - 17.72" / 450 mm 45.0 cal guns - 3 306.93lbs / 1 500.00kg shells, 100 per gun
Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1925 Model
2 x Single mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
4 - 5.91" / 150 mm 45.0 cal guns - 110.23lbs / 50.00kg shells, 200 per gun
Quick firing guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1925 Model
4 x Single mounts on side ends, evenly spread
2 - 3.15" / 80.0 mm 60.0 cal guns - 14.33lbs / 6.50kg shells, 200 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
2 x Single mounts on sides, aft deck forward
16 - 0.57" / 14.5 mm 80.0 cal guns - 0.11lbs / 0.05kg shells, 2 000 per gun
Machine guns in deck mounts, 1917 Model
4 x 2 row quad mounts on sides, forward deck aft
Weight of broadside 7 085 lbs / 3 214 kg

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 17.7" / 450 mm 586.45 ft / 178.75 m 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
Main Belt inclined -20.00 degrees (positive = in)

- Torpedo Bulkhead - Strengthened structural bulkheads:
3.94" / 100 mm 586.45 ft / 178.75 m 32.81 ft / 10.00 m
Beam between torpedo bulkheads 82.02 ft / 25.00 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 21.7" / 550 mm 15.7" / 400 mm 15.7" / 400 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 0.98" / 25 mm

- Armoured deck - multiple decks:
For and Aft decks: 7.87" / 200 mm
Forecastle: 1.97" / 50 mm Quarter deck: 1.97" / 50 mm

- Conning towers: Forward 15.75" / 400 mm, Aft 3.94" / 100 mm

Machinery:
Diesel Internal combustion generators plus batteries,
Electric motors, 4 shafts, 139 498 shp / 104 066 Kw = 30.00 kts
Range 10 000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5 907 tons

Complement:
1 456 - 1 893

Cost:
£8.169 million / $32.676 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1 190 tons, 2.9 %
- Guns: 1 190 tons, 2.9 %
Armour: 19 422 tons, 46.7 %
- Belts: 6 971 tons, 16.8 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 2 803 tons, 6.7 %
- Armament: 2 304 tons, 5.5 %
- Armour Deck: 6 835 tons, 16.4 %
- Conning Towers: 509 tons, 1.2 %
Machinery: 4 529 tons, 10.9 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 11 824 tons, 28.4 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4 535 tons, 10.9 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.2 %
- On freeboard deck: 100 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
100 038 lbs / 45 377 Kg = 36.0 x 17.7 " / 450 mm shells or 17.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
Metacentric height 4.3 ft / 1.3 m
Roll period: 16.6 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.85
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck ,
a normal bow and a cruiser stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.600 / 0.606
Length to Beam Ratio: 11.00 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.04 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 44 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 35
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 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 %, 49.21 ft / 15.00 m, 39.37 ft / 12.00 m
- Forward deck: 30.00 %, 39.37 ft / 12.00 m, 32.81 ft / 10.00 m
- Aft deck: 35.00 %, 32.81 ft / 10.00 m, 32.81 ft / 10.00 m
- Quarter deck: 15.00 %, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Average freeboard: 33.43 ft / 10.19 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 49.0 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 243.0 %
Waterplane Area: 54 109 Square feet or 5 027 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 123 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 152 lbs/sq ft or 744 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.93
- Longitudinal: 1.93
- Overall: 1.00
Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Excellent accommodation and workspace room
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

[RogueIce]

The vast majority of the work was done ever so kindly by Steve. I merely made a couple of tweaks. So the awesomeness of the design goes to him, and any lameness is clearly my own ineptitude.

Tampa, United States Heavy Cruiser laid down 1925

Displacement:
23,529 t light; 24,597 t standard; 28,543 t normal; 31,700 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(737.62 ft / 730.00 ft) x 92.00 ft x (29.75 / 32.12 ft)
(224.83 m / 222.50 m) x 28.04 m x (9.07 / 9.79 m)

Armament:
9 - 10.00" / 254 mm 50.0 cal guns - 529.32lbs / 240.10kg shells, 100 per gun
Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1925 Model
3 x 3-gun mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
1 raised mount - superfiring
16 - 5.00" / 127 mm 43.0 cal guns - 61.05lbs / 27.69kg shells, 300 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1925 Model
8 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
4 raised mounts
24 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 40.0 cal guns - 1.87lbs / 0.85kg shells, 2,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
6 x 2 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
6 raised mounts
32 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm 70.0 cal guns - 0.55lbs / 0.25kg shells, 2,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
8 x 4 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 5,803 lbs / 2,632 kg
Main Torpedoes
4 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 16.00 ft / 4.88 m torpedoes - 1.086 t each, 4.345 t total
In 2 sets of deck mounted side rotating tubes
2nd Torpedoes
12 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 16.00 ft / 4.88 m torpedoes - 1.086 t each, 13.036 t total
In 1 sets of deck mounted reloads

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 475.00 ft / 144.78 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
Main Belt inclined 15.00 degrees (positive = in)

- Torpedo Bulkhead - Strengthened structural bulkheads:
2.50" / 64 mm 475.00 ft / 144.78 m 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
Beam between torpedo bulkheads 76.00 ft / 23.16 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 11.0" / 279 mm 10.0" / 254 mm 10.0" / 254 mm
2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm - 3.00" / 76 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armoured deck - multiple decks:
For and Aft decks: 4.50" / 114 mm
Forecastle: 1.00" / 25 mm Quarter deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

- Conning towers: Forward 10.00" / 254 mm, Aft 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Electric cruising motors plus geared drives, 4 shafts, 147,744 shp / 110,217 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 10,000nm at 18.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 7,102 tons

Complement:
1,097 - 1,427

Cost:
£6.820 million / $27.281 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1,725 tons, 6.0 %
- Guns: 1,700 tons, 6.0 %
- Weapons: 25 tons, 0.1 %
Armour: 8,657 tons, 30.3 %
- Belts: 2,244 tons, 7.9 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,318 tons, 4.6 %
- Armament: 1,628 tons, 5.7 %
- Armour Deck: 3,204 tons, 11.2 %
- Conning Towers: 262 tons, 0.9 %
Machinery: 4,797 tons, 16.8 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,284 tons, 29.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,014 tons, 17.6 %
Miscellaneous weights: 67 tons, 0.2 %
- On freeboard deck: 67 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
41,106 lbs / 18,646 Kg = 82.2 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 7.9 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
Metacentric height 5.0 ft / 1.5 m
Roll period: 17.3 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 78 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.45
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.11

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck,
a normal bow and large transom stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.514
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.93 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 31.42 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 70
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
Fore end, Aft end
- Forecastle: 20.00 %, 30.00 ft / 9.14 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: 30.00 %, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Quarter deck: 20.00 %, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Average freeboard: 23.72 ft / 7.23 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 90.0 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 182.3 %
Waterplane Area: 46,533 Square feet or 4,323 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 119 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 157 lbs/sq ft or 764 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.44
- Overall: 1.01
Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Excellent accommodation and workspace room
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

2 Scout Aircraft Included

This is obsolete, scroll down.

[CmdrWilkens]

Tormenta, Gran Colombia supercruiser laid down 1925
- Armoured deck - multiple decks:
For and Aft decks: 7.87" / 200 mm
Forecastle: 1.97" / 50 mm Quarter deck: 1.97" / 50 mm

Machinery:
Diesel Internal combustion generators plus batteries,
Electric motors, 4 shafts, 139 498 shp / 104 066 Kw = 30.00 kts
Range 10 000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5 907 tons

Two thoughts: Multiple protected decks makes sense if you are worried about air strikes but separating the deck plates makes them less effective in total...and you run the risk of the top deck deflecting a skipping projectile downwards. There are good reasons for going to multiple decks just make sure you understand why.

For the second thing I don't think any warship in the 40kt range ever used diesel electric, certainly not with battery backup.

[RogueIce]

And now, the St Petersburg Toronto class CL. Noticing a certain bias in my namings?

Toronto, United States Light Cruiser laid down 1926

Displacement:
9,264 t light; 9,636 t standard; 10,798 t normal; 11,727 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(587.89 ft / 580.00 ft) x 59.00 ft x (22.00 / 23.39 ft)
(179.19 m / 176.78 m) x 17.98 m x (6.71 / 7.13 m)

Armament:
12 - 6.00" / 152 mm 53.0 cal guns - 115.76lbs / 52.51kg shells, 150 per gun
Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1926 Model
4 x Twin mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread
2 raised mounts - superfiring
4 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
8 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm 38.0 cal guns - 12.81lbs / 5.81kg shells, 130 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1926 Model
8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
4 raised mounts
10 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 1.97lbs / 0.89kg shells, 3,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1926 Model
5 x 2 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
2 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm 50.0 cal guns - 0.07lbs / 0.03kg shells, 2,000 per gun
Machine guns in deck mounts, 1926 Model
8 x 4 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 1,512 lbs / 686 kg
Main Torpedoes
12 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 16.00 ft / 4.88 m torpedoes - 1.090 t each, 13.084 t total
In 2 sets of deck mounted side rotating tubes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 415.40 ft / 126.61 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 110 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm - 2.00" / 51 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Protected deck - single deck:
For and Aft decks: 1.00" / 25 mm
Forecastle: 1.00" / 25 mm Quarter deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

- Conning towers: Forward 4.00" / 102 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 99,495 shp / 74,223 Kw = 33.50 kts
Range 8,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,091 tons

Complement:
529 - 688

Cost:
£3.229 million / $12.916 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 478 tons, 4.4 %
- Guns: 452 tons, 4.2 %
- Weapons: 26 tons, 0.2 %
Armour: 1,784 tons, 16.5 %
- Belts: 673 tons, 6.2 %
- Armament: 632 tons, 5.9 %
- Armour Deck: 436 tons, 4.0 %
- Conning Tower: 42 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 3,185 tons, 29.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,779 tons, 35.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,534 tons, 14.2 %
Miscellaneous weights: 38 tons, 0.4 %
- On freeboard deck: 38 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
9,930 lbs / 4,504 Kg = 91.9 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 1.6 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.00
Metacentric height 2.3 ft / 0.7 m
Roll period: 16.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 61 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.51
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.00

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck,
a normal bow and small transom stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.502 / 0.513
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.83 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 25.86 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 60 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 61
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 9.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 2.50 ft / 0.76 m
Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
Fore end, Aft end
- Forecastle: 14.19 %, 34.00 ft / 10.36 m, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Forward deck: 50.00 %, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Aft deck: 21.62 %, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Quarter deck: 14.19 %, 20.00 ft / 6.10 m, 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Average freeboard: 21.01 ft / 6.40 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 110.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 165.3 %
Waterplane Area: 23,389 Square feet or 2,173 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 102 lbs/sq ft or 500 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.95
- Longitudinal: 1.54
- Overall: 1.00
Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Excellent accommodation and workspace room

1 Scout Aircraft Included

This is a mix between me trying to invent a half-Omaha/half-Brooklyn, and Steve saving me from the fact I originally used 3b2 and so when I switched over to 3b3 my composite strength went down. That and I used a version of his Tampa cruiser (posted above) as a base, though I wound up changing a good deal of the numbers.

EDIT: Made a slight change, and increased the max speed from 33 knots to 33.5 knots.
EDIT2: And I increased the armor so my main belt would cover the magazines and machinery, which I am led to believe is somewhat important.
EDIT3: Changed name to Toronoto class.

[Ryan Thunder]

Tormenta, Gran Colombia supercruiser laid down 1925
- Armoured deck - multiple decks:
For and Aft decks: 7.87" / 200 mm
Forecastle: 1.97" / 50 mm Quarter deck: 1.97" / 50 mm

Machinery:
Diesel Internal combustion generators plus batteries,
Electric motors, 4 shafts, 139 498 shp / 104 066 Kw = 30.00 kts
Range 10 000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5 907 tons

Two thoughts: Multiple protected decks makes sense if you are worried about air strikes but separating the deck plates makes them less effective in total...and you run the risk of the top deck deflecting a skipping projectile downwards. There are good reasons for going to multiple decks just make sure you understand why.

I'm not sure I follow. Are you saying the end armour should be the same as the main deck? Because I cribbed the armour set up from your new Mexico class in an attempt to make a smaller and thus more quickly-produced class that would still be able to go toe to toe with yours in greater numbers.

But I just used multiple decks because it was the default, to be honest.

What's the difference between armoured and protected in this context, anyway?

For the second thing I don't think any warship in the 40kt range ever used diesel electric, certainly not with battery backup.

Ah. Is there some kind of limitation on diesel electric engines in this period that wouldn't allow them to power it? I don't save any weight by converting to anything else, unless I'm mistaken.

[RogueIce]

Because I cribbed the armour set up from your new Mexico class in an attempt to make a smaller and thus more quickly-produced class that would still be able to go toe to toe with yours in greater numbers.

Anything over 25,000t is going to take 3 years to construct and fit out anyway. It'll be cheaper to build, certainly, but not any faster. To get it faster, you'll have to find out a way to stick 18" guns on something less than 25,000t. Have fun with that.

[Ryan Thunder]

Because I cribbed the armour set up from your new Mexico class in an attempt to make a smaller and thus more quickly-produced class that would still be able to go toe to toe with yours in greater numbers.

Anything over 25,000t is going to take 3 years to construct and fit out anyway. It'll be cheaper to build, certainly, but not any faster. To get it faster, you'll have to find out a way to stick 18" guns on something less than 25,000t. Have fun with that.

d'oh.

[RogueIce]

Modified version of the Tampa posted above. I squeezed an extra knot and a half out of it, while staying under the all-important 25kt limit.

Tampa, United States Heavy Cruiser laid down 1925

Displacement:
23,990 t light; 24,964 t standard; 27,915 t normal; 30,276 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(737.62 ft / 730.00 ft) x 92.00 ft x (29.75 / 31.54 ft)
(224.83 m / 222.50 m) x 28.04 m x (9.07 / 9.61 m)

Armament:
9 - 10.00" / 254 mm 50.0 cal guns - 529.33lbs / 240.10kg shells, 100 per gun
Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1925 Model
3 x 3-gun mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 5.00" / 127 mm 43.0 cal guns - 61.05lbs / 27.69kg shells, 300 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1925 Model
4 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
24 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 40.0 cal guns - 1.87lbs / 0.85kg shells, 2,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
6 x 2 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
6 raised mounts
32 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm 70.0 cal guns - 0.55lbs / 0.25kg shells, 2,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
8 x 4 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 5,315 lbs / 2,411 kg
Main Torpedoes
4 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 16.00 ft / 4.88 m torpedoes - 1.086 t each, 4.345 t total
In 2 sets of deck mounted side rotating tubes
2nd Torpedoes
12 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 16.00 ft / 4.88 m torpedoes - 1.086 t each, 13.036 t total
In 1 sets of deck mounted reloads

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 7.00" / 178 mm 475.00 ft / 144.78 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
Main Belt inclined 15.00 degrees (positive = in)

- Torpedo Bulkhead - Strengthened structural bulkheads:
2.50" / 64 mm 475.00 ft / 144.78 m 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
Beam between torpedo bulkheads 76.00 ft / 23.16 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 11.0" / 279 mm 10.0" / 254 mm 10.0" / 254 mm
2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm - 3.00" / 76 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armoured deck - multiple decks:
For and Aft decks: 4.50" / 114 mm
Forecastle: 1.00" / 25 mm Quarter deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

- Conning towers: Forward 10.00" / 254 mm, Aft 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Electric cruising motors plus geared drives, 4 shafts, 173,327 shp / 129,302 Kw = 34.55 kts
Range 7,500nm at 18.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5,312 tons

Complement:
1,079 - 1,403

Cost:
£7.108 million / $28.433 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1,617 tons, 5.8 %
- Guns: 1,592 tons, 5.7 %
- Weapons: 25 tons, 0.1 %
Armour: 8,580 tons, 30.7 %
- Belts: 2,242 tons, 8.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,318 tons, 4.7 %
- Armament: 1,591 tons, 5.7 %
- Armour Deck: 3,171 tons, 11.4 %
- Conning Towers: 258 tons, 0.9 %
Machinery: 5,627 tons, 20.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,098 tons, 29.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,925 tons, 14.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 67 tons, 0.2 %
- On freeboard deck: 67 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
35,796 lbs / 16,237 Kg = 71.6 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 6.5 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
Metacentric height 5.1 ft / 1.5 m
Roll period: 17.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.38
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.01

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck,
a normal bow and large transom stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.489 / 0.500
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.93 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 31.47 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 70
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
Fore end, Aft end
- Forecastle: 20.00 %, 30.00 ft / 9.14 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: 30.00 %, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Quarter deck: 20.00 %, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Average freeboard: 23.72 ft / 7.23 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 101.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 183.4 %
Waterplane Area: 46,062 Square feet or 4,279 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 111 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 154 lbs/sq ft or 753 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.42
- Overall: 1.00
Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Excellent accommodation and workspace room
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

2 Scout Aircraft Included

[RogueIce]

I just can't leave well enough alone, can I?

Tampa CA1925, United States Heavy Cruiser laid down 1925

Displacement:
23,932 t light; 24,910 t standard; 28,080 t normal; 30,616 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(707.71 ft / 700.00 ft) x 90.00 ft x (30.00 / 32.00 ft)
(215.71 m / 213.36 m) x 27.43 m x (9.14 / 9.75 m)

Armament:
9 - 10.00" / 254 mm 50.0 cal guns - 529.32lbs / 240.10kg shells, 100 per gun
Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1925 Model
3 x 2-gun mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 5.00" / 127 mm 43.0 cal guns - 61.05lbs / 27.69kg shells, 300 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1925 Model
8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
4 raised mounts
24 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 40.0 cal guns - 1.87lbs / 0.85kg shells, 2,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
6 x 2 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
6 raised mounts
32 - 1.00" / 25.4 mm 70.0 cal guns - 0.55lbs / 0.25kg shells, 2,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1925 Model
8 x 4 row quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 5,315 lbs / 2,411 kg
Main Torpedoes
4 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 16.00 ft / 4.88 m torpedoes - 1.086 t each, 4.345 t total
In 2 sets of deck mounted side rotating tubes
2nd Torpedoes
12 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 16.00 ft / 4.88 m torpedoes - 1.086 t each, 13.036 t total
In 1 sets of deck mounted reloads

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 13.0" / 330 mm 452.95 ft / 138.06 m 11.38 ft / 3.47 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
Main Belt inclined 15.00 degrees (positive = in)

- Torpedo Bulkhead - Strengthened structural bulkheads:
2.00" / 51 mm 437.36 ft / 133.31 m 26.94 ft / 8.21 m
Beam between torpedo bulkheads 70.00 ft / 21.34 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 11.0" / 279 mm 10.0" / 254 mm 10.0" / 254 mm
2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm - 3.00" / 76 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armoured deck - multiple decks:
For and Aft decks: 5.00" / 127 mm
Forecastle: 1.00" / 25 mm Quarter deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

- Conning towers: Forward 10.00" / 254 mm, Aft 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Electric cruising motors plus geared drives, 4 shafts, 157,198 shp / 117,270 Kw = 33.40 kts
Range 8,000nm at 18.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5,707 tons

Complement:
1,083 - 1,409

Cost:
£6.862 million / $27.446 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1,644 tons, 5.9 %
- Guns: 1,619 tons, 5.8 %
- Weapons: 25 tons, 0.1 %
Armour: 9,096 tons, 32.4 %
- Belts: 2,842 tons, 10.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 872 tons, 3.1 %
- Armament: 1,676 tons, 6.0 %
- Armour Deck: 3,448 tons, 12.3 %
- Conning Towers: 259 tons, 0.9 %
Machinery: 5,104 tons, 18.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,021 tons, 28.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,148 tons, 14.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 67 tons, 0.2 %
- On freeboard deck: 67 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
37,962 lbs / 17,219 Kg = 75.9 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 6.7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
Metacentric height 4.7 ft / 1.4 m
Roll period: 17.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.41
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.00

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck,
a normal bow and large transom stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.520 / 0.532
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.78 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.75 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 70
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 5.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
Fore end, Aft end
- Forecastle: 18.76 %, 31.00 ft / 9.45 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: 32.48 %, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Quarter deck: 18.76 %, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m, 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Average freeboard: 23.73 ft / 7.23 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 99.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 176.0 %
Waterplane Area: 44,481 Square feet or 4,132 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 114 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 151 lbs/sq ft or 738 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.48
- Overall: 1.00
Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Excellent accommodation and workspace room
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

2 Scout Aircraft Included

[CmdrWilkens]

Two thoughts: Multiple protected decks makes sense if you are worried about air strikes but separating the deck plates makes them less effective in total...and you run the risk of the top deck deflecting a skipping projectile downwards. There are good reasons for going to multiple decks just make sure you understand why.

I'm not sure I follow. Are you saying the end armour should be the same as the main deck? Because I cribbed the armour set up from your new Mexico class in an attempt to make a smaller and thus more quickly-produced class that would still be able to go toe to toe with yours in greater numbers.

But I just used multiple decks because it was the default, to be honest.

What's the difference between armoured and protected in this context, anyway?

Okay SS actually has a pretty cool diagram of this but to go quickly on it:
Armoired Deck means the top most surface deck (the one your crewman on Captain's Mast have to spend all their time scrubbing ) is the one with armored plates attached to it. It makes the ship a bit more top heavy but also means that it protects the entirety of the ship below (a multiple deck design simply means this is the first of several decks with armor)
Protected Deck means that the first deck down is the one which receives first protection. This lowers your center of gravity and makes for a more stable ship but renders the space vulnerable to plunging fire. Since your barbettes and conning tower are protected this space usually doesn't include anything vital (store rooms, passageways, crew quarters, etc) you aren't automatically leaving yourself more vulnerable but your lightweight top deck is more likely to deflect shells downward and your deck armor really depends on the angle of impact to give it the chance of resisting a shell hit

I was really commenting more on the multiple deck versus single deck scheme. Again there are reasons for this (mostly AA defense reasons) just make sure you are aware of them.

For the second thing I don't think any warship in the 40kt range ever used diesel electric, certainly not with battery backup.

Ah. Is there some kind of limitation on diesel electric engines in this period that wouldn't allow them to power it? I don't save any weight by converting to anything else, unless I'm mistaken.

The main thing is nobody made a diesel engines for warships that large. The first Diesel-electric warship wasn't laid down until 1929 and that was a little 4kt CL/MN and even direct diesel system suffer from the power to space ratio issue. Most navies went from Steam Turbines to Gas Turbines or they stuck with steam and switched to nuclear.

So basically the big diesel (plus batteries and the electric motors) just makes it more likely that a penetration would strikes something important. Its also a relatively complex system that your designers would have to build from scratch with no reference to previous design iterations which means your likelyhood of routine failure would be higher and your shakedown and sea trials period would likely (though not certainly) be extended.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

I believe they considered diesel engines for the Yamato, but they switched back to Turbines anyway. I forgot the reason though, but likely it's to do with compactness, fuel consumption etc. The ship was already at 65,000tonnes standard, and the range was already kind of limited vis a' vis most US battleships.

[CmdrWilkens]

I'm not sure I follow. Are you saying the end armour should be the same as the main deck? Because I cribbed the armour set up from your new Mexico class in an attempt to make a smaller and thus more quickly-produced class that would still be able to go toe to toe with yours in greater numbers.

I also wanted to throw one thing out there. The problem with this theory is that each ship has to do its own range-finding. Since you only have two barrels to work with per ship it would take longer to find and bracket me. Basically aside from the problem Rogue already mentioned it would be only marginally effective against the Majestuoso or Wilkonia class, and even against the Santa Ana or Virtuoso class it might have issues even if it outnumbered my ships noticeably.

Certainly from an IBP standpoint you could afford a lot more of these but since you have limited slipway space available it would cause issues there.

[Ryan Thunder]

I also wanted to throw one thing out there. The problem with this theory is that each ship has to do its own range-finding. Since you only have two barrels to work with per ship it would take longer to find and bracket me.

Well, yes, but on the other hand you would have to range-find two different ships at the very least.

Basically aside from the problem Rogue already mentioned it would be only marginally effective against the Majestuoso or Wilkonia class, and even against the Santa Ana or Virtuoso class it might have issues even if it outnumbered my ships noticeably.

Certainly from an IBP standpoint you could afford a lot more of these but since you have limited slipway space available it would cause issues there.

True enough. I'm probably not going to go through with it for that reason alone.

[Raesene]

I'm not sure I follow. Are you saying the end armour should be the same as the main deck? Because I cribbed the armour set up from your new Mexico class in an attempt to make a smaller and thus more quickly-produced class that would still be able to go toe to toe with yours in greater numbers.

I also wanted to throw one thing out there. The problem with this theory is that each ship has to do its own range-finding. Since you only have two barrels to work with per ship it would take longer to find and bracket me. Basically aside from the problem Rogue already mentioned it would be only marginally effective against the Majestuoso or Wilkonia class, and even against the Santa Ana or Virtuoso class it might have issues even if it outnumbered my ships noticeably.

Certainly from an IBP standpoint you could afford a lot more of these but since you have limited slipway space available it would cause issues there.

That's what I told him when he proposed his first cruiser with a few 14'' guns.
However, the Imperial Russian Black Sea fleet trained its predreadnoughts to simulate a dreadnought-type battleship and seek the range together as one unit. Skimmer or Hipper might know more about that.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

It took considerable effort, tweaking the ships's length and beam, and hull form, and I got this:

Colosseum, Byzantium Cruiser laid down 1928

Displacement:
32,576 t light; 34,429 t standard; 38,046 t normal; 40,940 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(804.96 ft / 771.00 ft) x 95.14 ft x (36.09 / 38.11 ft)
(245.35 m / 235.00 m) x 29.00 m x (11.00 / 11.62 m)

Armament:
9 - 12.00" / 305 mm 50.0 cal guns - 999.99lbs / 453.59kg shells, 120 per gun
Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1928 Model
3 x 3-gun mounts on centreline ends, majority forward
1 raised mount - superfiring
12 - 5.00" / 127 mm 38.0 cal guns - 59.33lbs / 26.91kg shells, 1,000 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1928 Model
8 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
4 raised mounts
32 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 60.0 cal guns - 2.14lbs / 0.97kg shells, 2,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1928 Model
8 x 4-gun mounts on sides, evenly spread
4 raised mounts
40 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm 39.0 cal guns - 0.22lbs / 0.10kg shells, 4,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1928 Model
10 x 4-gun mounts on sides, evenly spread
16 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm 12.0 cal guns - 0.04lbs / 0.02kg shells, 3,000 per gun
Machine guns in deck mounts, 1928 Model
16 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 9,790 lbs / 4,441 kg
Main Torpedoes
6 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 30.00 ft / 9.14 m torpedoes - 1.918 t each, 11.510 t total
In 12 sets of deck mounted carriage/fixed tubes
2nd Torpedoes
6 - 21.0" / 533 mm, 30.00 ft / 9.14 m torpedoes - 1.918 t each, 11.510 t total
In 12 sets of deck mounted carriage/fixed tubes
Mines
6 - 0.00 lbs / 0.00 kg mines + 6 reloads - 0.000 t total
in Above water - Stern racks/rails

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 12.5" / 318 mm 500.00 ft / 152.40 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
Main Belt inclined 19.00 degrees (positive = in)

- Torpedo Bulkhead - Additional damage containing bulkheads:
3.00" / 76 mm 500.00 ft / 152.40 m 33.00 ft / 10.06 m
Beam between torpedo bulkheads 70.00 ft / 21.34 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 15.0" / 381 mm 10.0" / 254 mm 12.5" / 318 mm
2nd: 2.50" / 64 mm 2.50" / 64 mm 2.50" / 64 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
5th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armoured deck - multiple decks:
For and Aft decks: 5.00" / 127 mm
Forecastle: 1.00" / 25 mm Quarter deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

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

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Electric motors, 4 shafts, 185,246 shp / 138,194 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 12,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 6,511 tons

Complement:
1,361 - 1,770

Cost:
£10.941 million / $43.763 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,191 tons, 5.8 %
- Guns: 2,162 tons, 5.7 %
- Weapons: 29 tons, 0.1 %
Armour: 12,463 tons, 32.8 %
- Belts: 4,206 tons, 11.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,832 tons, 4.8 %
- Armament: 2,416 tons, 6.3 %
- Armour Deck: 3,693 tons, 9.7 %
- Conning Towers: 317 tons, 0.8 %
Machinery: 5,767 tons, 15.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 12,079 tons, 31.7 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 5,470 tons, 14.4 %
Miscellaneous weights: 75 tons, 0.2 %
- On freeboard deck: 75 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
46,387 lbs / 21,041 Kg = 53.7 x 12.0 " / 305 mm shells or 5.0 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.00
Metacentric height 4.6 ft / 1.4 m
Roll period: 18.6 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 72 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.58
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.05

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck,
an extended bulbous bow and small transom stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.503 / 0.513
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.10 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.08 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 68
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 13.12 ft / 4.00 m
Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
Fore end, Aft end
- Forecastle: 30.00 %, 36.09 ft / 11.00 m, 26.25 ft / 8.00 m
- Forward deck: 25.00 %, 26.25 ft / 8.00 m, 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Aft deck: 30.00 %, 19.69 ft / 6.00 m, 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Quarter deck: 15.00 %, 19.69 ft / 6.00 m, 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Average freeboard: 23.65 ft / 7.21 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 99.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 146.9 %
Waterplane Area: 50,185 Square feet or 4,662 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 116 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 172 lbs/sq ft or 842 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.45
- Overall: 1.00
Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Excellent accommodation and workspace room
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

I would imagine a decade or so from now, an Alaska BC would be quite possible.