WesWorld

1946 Naval Planning Committee

Work has begun on refitting the Saint Vincent and Victorious classes with modernised light AA batteries and radio-direction equipment. The entire programme will not be completed until the end of 1947. The retirement of the Queen Elizabeths will be delayed until at least four Saint Vincents are refitted, giving a date of late 1946.
The Committee has abandoned any follow-on classes to the Admiral Class.

HMS Ocean has been successfully rebuilt with a prototype steam catapult and trials are underway. The remaining three ships in the class have received identical radio-direction set fits for fighter-direction and are now much more capable escorting carriers. Construction work is well underway on Carriers K & L (HMS Albion and HMS Centaur) which should commission in early 1947. No further ships of the class are currently planned but the Fifth Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Denis William Boyd, has suggested that two further units be built to replace two of the oldest Ocean Class carriers from 1949-50.

The Kent Class replacements have been laid down, four ships known as the Northumberland Class. A proposal to lay down another four during 1946 to replace the Howe Class from 1948 was approved by the committee. A decision that had been backed by the Commander in Chief Mediterranean, Admiral Andrew Cunningham, to match newer Italian cruiser designs. The DNO reported on the progress of the automatic 6in mount programme during the past twelve months. Vickers have stated that they now have two prototype turrets under construction and attention has now turned to refitting a light cruiser as a trials platform for the new turret. There are still some issues with the brass shell cases, but improved manufacturing techniques have helped in this regard. DNC has drawn up some sketch designs for a trials conversion. A Colony Class conversion was ruled out as too complicated and expensive. A Scylla conversion replacing A and X turrets with two automatic turrets is feasible and allows for 40 tons of extra generating gear and associated equipment to be added to the ship. A conversion based on an L Class cruiser was almost as complicated as a Colony conversion and would require greater additional generator capacity but from the initial calculations ample weight can be found to install these, although internal space may be lost. Losing two 3.7in mounts may not be necessary but may help to free up internal space. DNC has also drawn up a sketch design of a purpose-built ship. This is basically a Scylla hull with a new 60,000hp YARD powerplant with the two 6in automatic mounts in A and X positions and with three 4.5in Mk.VI mounts and light AA and operational electronics and Scylla armour (with a slightly longer and deeper belt). Displacing some 6,500 tons it is not expensive and could serve as the basis of a new class of escort cruiser. Controller Admiral Charles Saumarez Daniel felt the new-build design had promise but was worried that the armour scheme was outdated and that a trials ship might not ever become operational and therefore might not need armour. DNC said omitting a belt could save 500 tons and enable the ship to reach almost 32 knots. First Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet John Tovey, felt that HMS Revolution was a one-off experimental special at high cost, now HMS Ocean had been lost (albeit temporarily) to experimental work and he did not want the Navy to become a series of prototypes. Without any cruisers yet designed for the automatic mount it seemed likely that a conversion might need to be converted back again. A new-built ship could not be converted with older-style armament and would not be a frontline capable ship even if it were.

The design of the Battle Class, an improved Weapon, for the 1946 programme is completed. Following studies of longitudinal stresses and the problems presented by forecastle breaks on hull strength, the DNC has redesigned the Daring hull as a flush-deck design which is stronger and offers more internal space. This is especially welcome as early reports from the initial Weapons indicate that conditions belowdecks are especially cramped. It was decided to make full use of available dock space and lay down all sixteen hulls this year. The proposed Q and P Classes will then be brought forward for construction in 1947 rather than the staggered 1947-48 programme initially envisioned. This anti-submarine destroyers will not have a flush deck, they only have one twin 4.5in Mk.VI mount forward and light AA aft along with the new Mortar D currently being developed by ASWRE. DNO felt that two 4.5in mounts should be fitted for surface and long-range AA firepower, but the DNC pointed out that would add 10ft to the length and 1ft to the beam and increase the displacement to 1,799 tons. Controller was not happy with the 31.5kts speed and there was some discussion as to whether these were destroyers or simply fast sloops. DNC was directed to consider a larger two-mount ship with a speed of 33kts but to keep the cost down to the minimum.
The ‘Special’ HMS Revolution is now complete and extensive trials with the various systems aboard her are proceeding and static gun mount trials are still underway with mixed success.
The old E Class are being refitted in early 1946. A proposal to fit a mixed 4.5in DP and 6pdr AA armament was dropped. Instead three twin 4.5in mounts will be fitted and 2pdr light AA fitted. Torpedoes and depth-charges have been retained

The River Class sloops continue to commission in batches of four, the fifth batch was laid down during 1946 and a sixth batch was approved for 1947. Guns from the scrapped battlecruisers and E Class light cruisers have enabled a further seven improved Orpheus Class sloops to be added to the programme during 1946. This design differs from the Batch II in having an 6pdr AA mount fitted aft.

Four additional Beach Class Landing Ship Tanks have been approved for 1947.

The five W Class submarines will complete in early 1946. Another five have been authorised.

Treasury approval for a Polar expedition ship is still not forthcoming.

Quoted

Battle Class Destroyers, Great Britain Destroyer laid down 1946

Displacement:
2,019 t light; 2,133 t standard; 2,390 t normal; 2,595 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
378.59 ft / 366.00 ft x 40.00 ft x 13.70 ft (normal load)
115.39 m / 111.56 m x 12.19 m x 4.18 m

Armament:
6 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (3x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1945 Model
Automatic rapid fire guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, majority forward, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1945 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (2x2 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1944 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 287 lbs / 130 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 400
5 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
2nd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 45,000 shp / 33,570 Kw = 34.02 kts
Range 5,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 462 tons

Complement:
170 - 222

Cost:
£1.790 million / $7.159 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 43 tons, 1.8 %
Armour: 20 tons, 0.9 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 20 tons, 0.9 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 1,040 tons, 43.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 756 tons, 31.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 371 tons, 15.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 160 tons, 6.7 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
868 lbs / 394 Kg = 19.1 x 4.5 " / 114 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.25
Metacentric height 1.9 ft / 0.6 m
Roll period: 12.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.34
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.07

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.417
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.15 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 22.24 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 69 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 47
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 25.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Mid (45 %): 16.50 ft / 5.03 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 16.50 ft / 5.03 m
- Stern: 16.50 ft / 5.03 m
- Average freeboard: 18.20 ft / 5.55 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 163.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 123.7 %
Waterplane Area: 9,455 Square feet or 878 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 86 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 40 lbs/sq ft or 196 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.50
- Longitudinal: 2.67
- Overall: 0.59
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Class Names: Cadiz, Gravelines, Sluys, Vigo, Albuera, Barrosa, Mons, Somme, Waterloo, Belleisle, Aisne, Marne, St. Lucia, Lagos, Armada, Hastings

Misc weight includes:
ASDIC Type 148
Depth-Finding ASDIC Type 145
Passive ASDIC Type 147
Aerial/Surface Search Set Type 278
Gunnery Director Set Type 288
Heavy Automatic Gunnery Director Type 289
HF/DF Type 292
Passive Radio Intercept Type 293 series
Passive Radar Intercept Type 297
2 Squid A/S mortar and ammunition

Quoted

Orpheus Batch III/ Penelope Class , Great Britain Sloop laid down 1946

Displacement:
1,166 t light; 1,229 t standard; 1,410 t normal; 1,555 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
300.91 ft / 296.50 ft x 38.00 ft x 10.95 ft (normal load)
91.72 m / 90.37 m x 11.58 m x 3.34 m

Armament:
4 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (2x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1936 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts
on centreline ends, evenly spread
2 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (1x2 guns), 6.00lbs / 2.72kg shells, 1940 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mount
on centreline aft, all raised guns - superfiring
4 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (2x2 guns), 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1945 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (2x2 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1936 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 201 lbs / 91 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 300

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm -
2nd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -

- Conning tower: 1.00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 6,500 shp / 4,849 Kw = 22.32 kts
Range 9,500nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 325 tons

Complement:
114 - 149

Cost:
£0.601 million / $2.403 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 25 tons, 1.8 %
Armour: 22 tons, 1.5 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 19 tons, 1.3 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 3 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 162 tons, 11.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 722 tons, 51.2 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 244 tons, 17.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 235 tons, 16.7 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
3,821 lbs / 1,733 Kg = 83.9 x 4.5 " / 114 mm shells or 1.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
Metacentric height 1.5 ft / 0.5 m
Roll period: 12.9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.17
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 2.00

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.400
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.80 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 20.36 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 25
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
- Forecastle (35 %): 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Mid (50 %): 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
- Quarterdeck (25 %): 10.00 ft / 3.05 m (17.00 ft / 5.18 m before break)
- Stern: 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
- Average freeboard: 17.80 ft / 5.42 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 71.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 215.7 %
Waterplane Area: 7,198 Square feet or 669 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 180 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 50 lbs/sq ft or 246 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.81
- Longitudinal: 6.38
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

Names: HMS Penelope, Andromeda, Bacchante, Diomede, Ariadne, Perimede, Mytilene

Electronic Equipment
One Type 287 TIU set
One Type 278 (aerial/ surface search)
One Type 286P (gunnery & surface search) set
One Type 289 gunnery direction set on CRBF director
HF/DF Type 292
ASDIC Type 147 (Deep Type 144Q)
Passive ASDIC Type 148

Misc Weight
40 tons for ASDIC
15 tons for Mortar B (Squid) in B position
25 tons for two DCR and two DCT for 40 DCs
25 tons for four radars
30 tons for extra accommodation and crew comfort
20 tons for air conditioning
30 tons for CIC
50 tons for growth

Quoted

6in Automatic Trials Ship, Great Britain Experimental Cruiser laid down 1946

Displacement:
6,531 t light; 6,818 t standard; 7,654 t normal; 8,322 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
556.65 ft / 545.00 ft x 56.60 ft x 16.70 ft (normal load)
169.67 m / 166.12 m x 17.25 m x 5.09 m

Armament:
4 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (2x2 guns), 112.00lbs / 50.80kg shells, 1946 Model
Automatic rapid fire guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread
6 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (3x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1945 Model
Automatic rapid fire guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all aft, 1 raised mount - superfiring
8 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1.95lbs / 0.89kg shells, 1946 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all forward, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 734 lbs / 333 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 300

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 315.00 ft / 96.01 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 89 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
2nd: 1.50" / 38 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -

- Armour deck: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 60,000 shp / 44,760 Kw = 31.34 kts
Range 8,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,504 tons

Complement:
408 - 531

Cost:
£3.750 million / $15.001 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 108 tons, 1.4 %
Armour: 1,396 tons, 18.2 %
- Belts: 483 tons, 6.3 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 107 tons, 1.4 %
- Armour Deck: 806 tons, 10.5 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 1,499 tons, 19.6 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,279 tons, 42.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,122 tons, 14.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 250 tons, 3.3 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
15,149 lbs / 6,871 Kg = 140.3 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
Metacentric height 2.9 ft / 0.9 m
Roll period: 13.9 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.30
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.53

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.520
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.63 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 26.66 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 46
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
- Mid (75 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m (14.00 ft / 4.27 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
- Stern: 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
- Average freeboard: 22.81 ft / 6.95 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 79.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 237.0 %
Waterplane Area: 21,779 Square feet or 2,023 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 139 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 88 lbs/sq ft or 430 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.91
- Longitudinal: 2.30
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

I've also run up a modest refit of the Cathedral Class scouts. I thought about rebuilding them for the new 4.5in Mk.VI but I could only get two or three mounts aboard (only two satisfactorily), so this is a modest upgrading of capability.
When completed these ships will no longer be classed as light cruisers and will become destroyers and will probably also become replacements for the remaining torpedo escort ships.


Cathedral Class, Great Britain Scout Cruiser laid down 1936

Displacement:
2,399 t light; 2,511 t standard; 2,891 t normal; 3,195 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
409.10 ft / 400.00 ft x 36.50 ft x 15.00 ft (normal load)
124.69 m / 121.92 m x 11.13 m x 4.57 m

Armament:
8 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (4x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1945 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 376 lbs / 171 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 250
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm
2nd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 50,000 shp / 37,300 Kw = 34.06 kts
Range 6,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 684 tons

Complement:
196 - 256

Cost:
£1.634 million / $6.536 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 48 tons, 1.6 %
Armour: 18 tons, 0.6 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 18 tons, 0.6 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 1,329 tons, 46.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 920 tons, 31.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 492 tons, 17.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 85 tons, 2.9 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
1,091 lbs / 495 Kg = 23.9 x 4.5 " / 114 mm shells or 0.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.34
Metacentric height 1.8 ft / 0.6 m
Roll period: 11.3 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 50 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.59
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.43

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.462
Length to Beam Ratio: 10.96 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 22.77 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 66 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 35
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 21.50 ft / 6.55 m
- Mid (50 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 11.00 ft / 3.35 m (20.00 ft / 6.10 m before break)
- Stern: 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
- Average freeboard: 19.46 ft / 5.93 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 165.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 93.9 %
Waterplane Area: 9,774 Square feet or 908 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 88 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 40 lbs/sq ft or 195 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.50
- Longitudinal: 3.29
- Overall: 0.60
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Class Names: Lincoln, Salisbury, Chichester, Llandaff, Norwich, Canterbury, Bury St Edmunds, Winchester

Misc weight includes:
1x ASDIC
1x RDF set
Gunnery Director RDF
24 DCs (two racks and two throwers)
8 torpedoes and handling gear (no reloads)
10 tons growth

Refit Notes
Quad pom-pom replaced by two twin 2pdr twin mounts
Multiple 0.661in HMG mounts replaced by two twin 2pdr mounts
HA and LA Directors replaced by one Gunnery Director Type 288 Set (no Tallboy console)
ASDIC Type 142 replaced by Type 148 set
RDF Type 79 replaced by Aerial/Surface search Type 278 set
HD/DF Type 292 added
Passive Radio Intercept Type 293 series added
Refurbishment of internal fittings for life extension

This is a more mammoth project, a complete rebuild from the upper hangar deck of Ark Royal starting in late 1946 or more likely 1947.

The intention is to rebuild the ship as a modern carrier able to carry and operate modern naval aircraft.
The main problem is the 16ft high double hangars which are too low to stow the latest generation of aircraft. When these were first built, RLBH introduced the first monoplane fighters into FAA service and the Swordfish was the main strike aircraft.

The salient features are:

Rebuilding the upper hangar to give an additional 18 inches of headroom
Halving the lower hangar and using it more as a maintenance/ store and for smaller aircraft. The fore end will be converted into two decks of extra accommodation. Air group will fall to around 48 aircraft
Addition of the first two production steam catapults and to service them, a new modern high-pressure steam plant (I've devoted 5,000hp in the SS report to boilers to maintain speed when using them)
New lifts and arrestor gear (probably might have to move the forward lift, its bottom section will be removed anyway)
Additional 0.5in torpedo bulkhead added
New battery of DP and AA guns
Modern radars and the latest fighter direction equipment


Ark Royal, Great Britain Aircraft Carrier laid down 1932 (Engine 1947)

Displacement:
20,971 t light; 21,763 t standard; 25,009 t normal; 27,606 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
691.38 ft / 685.00 ft x 94.75 ft x 27.75 ft (normal load)
210.73 m / 208.79 m x 28.88 m x 8.46 m

Armament:
16 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (8x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1945 Model
Automatic rapid fire guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side ends, evenly spread
12 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 6.00lbs / 2.72kg shells, 1945 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (8x2 guns), 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1932 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 824 lbs / 374 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 600

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 485.00 ft / 147.83 m 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 109 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.50" / 38 mm 485.00 ft / 147.83 m 26.00 ft / 7.92 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
2nd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -

- Armour deck: 2.50" / 64 mm, Conning tower: 5.00" / 127 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 125,000 shp / 93,250 Kw = 32.14 kts
Range 16,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 5,843 tons

Complement:
993 - 1,292

Cost:
£5.766 million / $23.065 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 122 tons, 0.5 %
Armour: 3,906 tons, 15.6 %
- Belts: 980 tons, 3.9 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 700 tons, 2.8 %
- Armament: 81 tons, 0.3 %
- Armour Deck: 2,053 tons, 8.2 %
- Conning Tower: 92 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 3,088 tons, 12.3 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 7,855 tons, 31.4 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,038 tons, 16.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 6,000 tons, 24.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
40,431 lbs / 18,339 Kg = 887.4 x 4.5 " / 114 mm shells or 6.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
Metacentric height 5.4 ft / 1.7 m
Roll period: 17.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.05
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.23

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.486
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.23 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.75 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 57 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 57
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 12.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Mid (25 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Stern: 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Average freeboard: 24.48 ft / 7.46 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 90.8 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 204.4 %
Waterplane Area: 44,392 Square feet or 4,124 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 147 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 124 lbs/sq ft or 606 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.98
- Longitudinal: 1.53
- Overall: 1.02
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

75% rebuild changes
Upper hangar deck: 568' x 60' x 17.5' (34 aircraft capacity)
Lower hangar deck: 230' x 60' x 16' (12 aircraft capacity)
12 spare aircraft carried disassembled for attrition replacement

Twin 4.7in mounts replaced by 4.5in Mk. VI automatic twin mounts
Octuple 2pdr mounts replaced by twin 57mm 6pdr automatic twin mounts
HMG mounts replaced by six 40mm 2pdr twin mounts
Two steam catapults BAH.II fitted
New lifts and arrestor gear of 40,000lb capacity
New AIO installed in hull linked to revised bridges

Addition of electrical equipment:
One Type 971 aerial search set
Two Type 972 Height-Finding sets
One Type 980 Target-Indication set
One Type 276 high definition surface search set
One Mk VI director with Type 288 gunnery direction set with Tallboy barrage unit
Six CRBF with Type 289 gunnery direction sets
Type 295 VHF Direction Finder
Passive Radio Intercept Type 293 series
Passive Radio-Location Intercept Type 294 series
Radio-Location Jammer RU series


So the question is, am I crazy?
If so, tell me how I can get another modern fleet carrier without shelling out 40-45,000 tons? At less than 16,000 tons this is a snip I feel. Two years to complete feel about right too for the timeline of the gear aboard her.

Quoted

So the question is, am I crazy?

"Yes, you are," Says the Dutch Lunatic.

Quoted

If so, tell me how I can get another modern fleet carrier without shelling out 40-45,000 tons?

Instead of rebuilding Ark Royal like that, why not build a carrier like this from scratch? Keep Ark Royal as is + a few modernizations here and there. Maybe it is cheaper to adapt a plane design to fit into the 16' hangar rather than to rebuild the hangar so it is a bit higher. Or just put the smaller planes on the Ark Royal and station the bigger planes on other carriers that can handle them.

Quoted

Addition of the first two production steam catapults and to service them, a new modern high-pressure steam plant (I've devoted 5,000hp in the SS report to boilers to maintain speed when using them)

Not sure if I read it correctly, but to me that means that the 5,000 shp is purely for the catapults and has no influence on the ship's speed. Am I right?

That is an option, the three Swiftsures were given comprehensive 25% refits and this could easily be done but they have higher hangars. Ark Royal and Majestic (now sold) were the only modern RN carriers with 16ft high hangars so they are an anomaly now. Right now Ark can carry the Sea Fang, Barracuda and maybe the new Sea Meteor. By 1950 that's simply not going to cut it.

Plan B is simply to sell/scrap Ark Royal and pencil in four improved Audacious Class to replace the three Swiftsures and perhaps Eagle around 1950+, although all of these latter ships are less than 12 years old so I'd like to make further refits first if possible.

The only historical carrier rebuild on this scale I can think of is Victorious and that didn't turn out too well.

I've had another thought regarding Ark Royal, to covert her into another carrier tender like HMS Unicorn.

I haven't worked up an SS report yet, but I envision using the lower deck for storage and workshops and the upper deck for working on aircraft and stowage and perhaps 4-6 fighters as CAP in wartime. Might still fit some new radars to act as a fighter direction station. I reckon I could get around 40 crated spare aircraft aboard and leave ample room for workshops etc. and aircraft being worked on. It would carry a couple of self-propelled lighters, but would have side loading gantries as opposed to the stern gantry of Unicorn. Probably need a more hefty crane on the flightdeck too.

The other option is to fit the steam catapults without the 50% rebuild changes and use her for trials and as a fighter carrier with 72 fighters.
Another option is a more limited non-catapult refit like the Swiftsures.

Any thoughts?

I'm not sold on the concept of the aircraft maintenance ship - it seems a waste of a flight deck; but I also recognize the historical hangar issue. Two other options come to mind - find a foreign buyer for her (like Majestic) or consider working her up as a prototype commando carrier/amphibious command ship. Decent helicopters should be coming along in a few years - it would be a shame not take advantage of it.

Hmmm, I'm liking that idea.

My helicopter plans are somewhat slower than some other nations, the Sycamore is unlikely to appear and be workable much before 1950, a tandem-rotor design probably around 1953.
Also, I'm not sure the concept is quite ready yet in 1946 for vertical assault (para assault still being an early child, though I'm hoping operations in Ubangi-Shari will show more of that in the medium term, I have thought about choppers for that scenario too so its possible the light bulb moment in the Admiralty will happen before 1950.

The old F Class cruiser in Iraqi service will receive a modest brush up to keep her effective a little while longer.
The old S & T Class destroyers will be disposed of and the Basrah transferred to Egypt.

King Ghazi (ex- HMS Formidable), Great Britain Light Cruiser laid down 1925

Displacement:
7,504 t light; 7,862 t standard; 9,575 t normal; 10,946 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
608.19 ft / 598.00 ft x 60.00 ft x 19.50 ft (normal load)
185.38 m / 182.27 m x 18.29 m x 5.94 m

Armament:
8 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (4x2 guns), 112.00lbs / 50.80kg shells, 1925 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 3.70" / 94.0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 25.00lbs / 11.34kg shells, 1936 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships
16 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (8x2 guns), 2.00lbs / 0.91kg shells, 1945 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
4 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1925 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 1,128 lbs / 512 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 250
6 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.50" / 89 mm 415.00 ft / 126.49 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 107 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -

- Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 70,542 shp / 52,624 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 12,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 3,083 tons

Complement:
483 - 629

Cost:
£2.286 million / $9.145 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 137 tons, 1.4 %
Armour: 1,252 tons, 13.1 %
- Belts: 598 tons, 6.2 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 202 tons, 2.1 %
- Armour Deck: 451 tons, 4.7 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 2,290 tons, 23.9 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 3,695 tons, 38.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,071 tons, 21.6 %
Miscellaneous weights: 130 tons, 1.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
14,004 lbs / 6,352 Kg = 129.7 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 1.7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.22
Metacentric height 3.4 ft / 1.0 m
Roll period: 13.7 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.32
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.21

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.479
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.97 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 27.98 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 58
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (58 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m (15.00 ft / 4.57 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
- Stern: 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
- Average freeboard: 20.04 ft / 6.11 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 91.5 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 159.5 %
Waterplane Area: 24,385 Square feet or 2,265 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 136 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 97 lbs/sq ft or 473 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.33
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Refit Notes

Replacement of single 4in mounts with four twin 3.7in DP mounts
Replacement of single pom-poms with eight twin 40mm 2pdr L/70 mounts
Replacement of single 20mm cannon with four Vickers 12.7mm HMG
Replacement of HA/LA directors with two CRBF directors (with Type 289 RDF) for AA weapons
Modernisation of main DCT plus fitting of Type 288 RDF (no Tallboy console)
Addition of Type 970 surface search RDF set
Addition of air conditioning
Refurbishment of internal fittings for life extension
Additional 150kW generator