WesWorld

1938 Naval Planning Committee Report

Planning has begun for a new class of fast battleships to replace the Queen Elizabeth Class. Several schemes were drawn up by the DNC during 1937 ranging from nine to twelve 15in or 16.5in guns with ample armour to defeat likely enemy 18in shells. While the Planning Committee has decided that five ships are required it has not decided which is the best design to proceed with from 1939. HMS Lion is now well underway and from 1938 ample slip space is available for these ships.
The Queen Elizabeth refit programme is now on track and the following schedule approved at the meeting. HMS Barham will be complete in Feb 1938, QE completes in Dec 38, next to refit will be HMS Warspite (Mar 38 -Sept 39), then HMS Valiant (Jan 39-July 40) and finally HMS Malaya (Oct 39-April 41). Malaya may have different AA and radar systems fitted.
There was also support from Commander in Chief China and Far East Admiral Charles Morton Forbes and Commander in Chief North Atlantic Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay for a reconstruction programme on the Resolution Class battleships along very similar lines to the Queen Elizabeth Class but the Committee could not decide on when these refits would take place and how many ships would be eventually rebuilt as an interim to the new battleships entering service from 19430-44.

Commander in Chief Fleet Air Aim Admiral R. G. H. Henderson succeeded in gaining funding for Carriers I and J when G (HMS Ocean) and H (HMS Theseus) complete and these will be laid down next year as HMS Hercules and HMS Triumph. These two carriers will equip a new squadron intended to cover the Atlantic area owing to the increasing numbers of carriers in the South American nations and can be used as training carriers. Plans for two further Ocean Class carriers (K & L) are still on hold. Admiral Henderson is now looking at two new fleet carriers (M & N) after HMS Eagle completes this year. The focus is on two similar carriers primarily for strike wings. Eagle is the basis of the new designs but some are around 50 feet longer and 10 feet beamier with much more stowage for dissembled spare aircraft and weapons and fuel. When the Assistant Chief of Staff (Home Waters) (ANCS (H)) asked Henderson which was more important, the un-built carrier tender or the new strike carrier, he replied he wanted the tender in service as a matter of priority to enable proper carrier support to be carried out aboard and the design could easily function as a small carrier herself in wartime. It was decided to defer the carriers K, L, M and N until 1939-40 at the earliest.
The tender, HMS Unicorn, was to be ordered in 1938 but owing to Admiral Henderson's pressing for urgency work actually began in 1937 as spare slip space presented itself and this would allow a quicker laying down of a new fleet carrier in the future. From being a simple mini-carrier design, demands for more capability, including extra hangar space, a second lift, and 24kts speed increased displacement beyond the 14,000 ton limit set by the First Sea Lord. Henderson largely has got his own way and his arguments for an accelerator and limited wartime carrier capability were won. The DNC backed his proposal for 25,000 gallons of aviation fuel. The DGD wanted 4.5in guns and 57mm guns but now only two quad 2pdr mounts will be fitted alongside the four twin 4.5in guns. These are standard shielded DP mounts.

The cruiser programme will continue; the five final Scylla Class light cruisers will be laid down during 1938 as will the two final Colony Class cruisers. In addition to these ships the last four Cathedral Class scouts will be laid down in 1938. A follow-on to the Colonies is under development for laying down in 1939.

Heated debate ranged among the Admirals over the planned AA Cruiser conversion programme last year. Under new plans drawn up by the Director of Naval Ordnance (DNO) the four remaining Ceres Class vessels may be converted this year because of the calls for more AA support from the new Commander in Chief Mediterranean, Admiral Andrew Cunningham. Plans by the DNC now indicate a fit of three 4.5in DP twin mounts and five twin 6pdr AA and four sextuple 0.661in HMG mounts. Other refits planed include the Kent Class. A refit will install four twin 3.7in DP mounts, two octuple 2pdr AA mounts and two sextuple .661in HMG mounts alongside two HACS Mk. III. Two triple 24.5in torpedo tubes will also be fitted. The Howe Class will be refitted with the triple 24.5in torpedo tubes and the current four quad 2pdr mounts will be upgraded to octuple mounts.

The heavy cruiser programme has begun, albeit slowly owing to lack of slip space and the cost of the cruisers. The First Sea Lord’s initial desire to have ten ships is now very unlikely and since the second pair of Princess Royals have not yet been laid down it seems likely the fifth to eighth won’t be built until 1940 at the earliest and may be to a modified design.

After much delay the 600 Ton Colonial torpedo boat programme has begun with eight ships nearing completion by 1938 and another eight to be built during 1938.

The follow-on J Class destroyers for 1937 are repeats of the H Class with identical armament but some 200 tons heavier. Range has been increased to 5,000nm at 16kts and new 45,000hp machinery that will become the standard destroyer plant. The DGD having revealed several problems with the semi-auto 6pdr AA gun has decided to revert to the quadruple 2pdr mount. The DNC has raised the freeboard to increase sea keeping. HACS Mk II in addition to the HA/LA director and Asdic Type 142 is fitted.
The Commander in Chief China and Far East, Admiral Charles Morton Forbes, has called for a new class of destroyer. He has drawn up what he calls an ‘Escort Destroyer.’ In wartime the Far Eastern Fleet will be built up to its full strength from ships transferred from Home waters and the Mediterranean. These forces would require escort forces, especially as they near the war zone. Therefore the ‘Escort Destroyer’ has the armament of a destroyer but has a very high range. The DNC has taken his sketch and presented a polished version for the committee. Basically an enlarged J Class (375 foot waterline, 37 foot beam) it has identical armament, except for two twin 57mm at the insistence of the DGD, and a range of 7,000nm at 20kts. This comes at the expense of speed which is reduced to 32kts on 40,000shp. The DGD argued for four twin 4.5in mounts and two twin 6pdr at the expense of torpedo armament given their likely AA escort role but the DNO felt happy with the standard destroyer armament, partly to keep weight down, and the requirements for anti-submarine warfare over likely surface actions. It was suggested to drop one torpedo mount but in the event it was kept. The First Sea Lord argued these destroyers were expensive but not prohibitively so compared to light cruisers. He said he felt that the type would have been larger but was pleased with the outcome. Admiral Forbes also backed the design and Commander in Chief Western Approaches, Admiral William Wordsworth Fisher, saw obvious potential for Atlantic use. The discussion moved on to how to build these destroyers. The J Class as first-rate destroyers are badly needed to modernise the fleet and the 700 Ton Class are also needed for colonial duties and are long delayed already. The Cathedral Class has taken up the remaining slack in the building programme and therefore the ‘Escort Destroyer’ may be deferred until 1940.

I wish I had the industrial power for such a programm. There are so many RSAN units that are aging and need a refit and dozen of losses to compensate....

That makes two of us Stephen! I'm really pushing it with my 6 battleships and 6 carriers in 4 years. Along with my destroyer replacement program its taking up a huge chunk of my factory output.

Now if I had 10 extra factory's......

...he says to players who only have 10 factories.

Quoted

...he says to players who only have 10 factories.

Then perhaps as punishment for making that remark, you should strip him of 10 factories and confiscate them.

Since you came up with that idea I think you just volunteered!

You won't like what happens if you do.

Even Mr Bear addresses him respectfully.

Quoted

Originally posted by ShinRa_Inc
...he says to players who only have 10 factories.

...he says to the player who has 6 (Turkey) and 4 (colombia) factory's!

Quoted

Since you came up with that idea I think you just volunteered!

Well, I am not the one who is complaining so I am not vollunteering for anything. If I were to complain, it would be about the idiots at work and thus not sim related.

Quoted

...he says to the player who has 6 (Turkey) and 4 (colombia) factory's!

... and 31 for a total of 41 factories.

Well your not getting them Turkey and Colombia have their own naval programs to worry about so unless Atlantis annexes them both I'm still stuck at 31 for Atlantis. You are also forgeting Byzantiums factory..

*insert shameless "I have 42 factory's under my belt" quote here*

You must remember that my output has to be cut so many ways. I have global requirements and although the threat in Europe is reduced and in the Far East there is room for improvement.

I began with ten old BBs, a flawed Hood and two weird G3 Class BCs plus the first four fast BC laid down by RLBH. The newly completed Victorious Class (this quarter) and the Lion are re-hashes of that design to give me newer ships but they are not earth-shattering. Future plans are tight lipped.

With carriers I had three old conversions and the three carriers RLBH had planned. Really I've only finished those carriers and added another fleet and two light carriers so far. I need more to fully make enough flattops for all needs and training.

Stacks of cruisers, many are quite new so I'm not crying and all the 1915-1920 types are leaving service as new types are built or converted for other duties like AA since I can't afford a purpose-built AA cruiser class.

Destroyers, loads but most are Great war vintage, many of Gravina's and RLBH's are getting on too and all need updating. It will cost a lot of tonnage. I just can't build enough new ones to replace all the S, V and W yet.

Sloops and escorts, enough but not enough for a war.

Amphib units, your kidding!

Tankers and auxillaries, all Great War except for a few new tenders.


Actually if you note there is not a single new class apart from the DDs for 1938 and the CA programme and General Class gunboats are way behind schedule. 1938 is a year to clear the stocks, build up the smaller ships before building another class of BBs which will hog the 1940s budgets with some new carriers.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
Destroyers, loads but most are Great war vintage, many of Gravina's and RLBH's are getting on too and all need updating. It will cost a lot of tonnage. I just can't build enough new ones to replace all the S, V and W yet.

Sloops and escorts, enough but not enough for a war.

Which is part of the reason behind my program in Ireland. The INS is building DDs and ASW sloops - the Shannon-class is, I hardly need to say, little more than a Black Swan-class in Irish uniform, and the Dierdre-class fisheries sloops can make a passable imitation of a Flower-class. It's a fleet designed to aid the RN on an ASW campaign in any major war: though the Irish might not be fighting in that war per se, I'd offer no small number of ships for "lend-lease" should Britain be in a buying mood.

The historical tentative fleet plan for the RN between 1936 and 1945 consisted of the following vessels.

18 Battleships (5 x KGV, 5 x Vanguard, 8 x Lion)
8 Fleets carriers (inc one training)
5 Trade protection carriers
8 8in Cruisers (treaty 10,000 ton type)
37 large 6in cruisers (Belfast & Fiji types)
18 Small cruisers (eventually Didos)
2 Fast mine layers
24 Tribal class destroyers
90 J onwards type
3 AA sloops
37 MS sloops
13 Coastal sloops

For WW, I think the following;

Battleships, refit the QE class to give some second line ships. Scrap the Rs and build 5 Vanguards in their place. They just have insufficient growth margins to allow for more useful modifications to be made. Along with the ten fairly homogeneous battlecruisers there's a fairly strong force just there. I'd go for some new battleships to replace the QEs eventually. Probably something like one of the larger Lion designs. Basically you'd end up with 5+4? Vanguards of which some have 8x15" and some with 9x16" on 45000tons. There's no need to go any larger.

Aircraft carriers, for some reason the armoured deck has been avoided but the four new Ark Royal types aren't bad. Really need something like Audacious or Malta for expected operations in the Indian/Pacific. The light fleet carriers are very useful but nowhere near as cheap here as historically.

Cruisers? ridiculous numbers thereof. Without wartime developments of heavy automatic weapons I don't see any reason to change from the Fiji design. The auto 5.25" and 6" guns aren't around yet for the later ship designs. There were some interesting Fiji designs with 14x5.25".

Lots of destroyers already. The G-Class looks good and will probably grow a few hundred tons to cope with extra equipment but stats hardly change. Maybe something like the Darings with three of the enclosed 4.5" turrets.

Sloops and escorts are only really useful in wartime and are cheap to build. Unless war is certain then they should really be avoided being built. They are extremely manpower hungry and have essentially no use in peacetime. I'd just move towards a design suitable for mass production (e.g. the Lochs) then churn out loads if the need arises.

Not many submarines around.

Really I think the program is too manpower hungry even disregarding costs, though most countries have similar problems.

Several disscussions were raised about the Princess Royal Class. There were numerous construction flaws and problems that meant the ships were overweight and had compromised anti-aircraft equipment.

The Vickers Export Heavy Cruiser seemed to point the way towards a better design and the DNC was asked to redesign the Princess Royals.

The barbette armour was too thick and was reduced and the secondaries altered and numerous internal arrangements altered. The remaining Princess Royals were cancelled and re-ordered as the Iron Duke Class.


Iron Duke Class, Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1939

Displacement:
15,395 t light; 16,323 t standard; 18,562 t normal; 20,354 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
675.29 ft / 670.00 ft x 80.00 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
205.83 m / 204.22 m x 24.38 m x 7.01 m

Armament:
12 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (4x3 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (4x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all aft
12 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 6.00lbs / 2.72kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
48 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (8x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 6,559 lbs / 2,975 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 410.00 ft / 124.97 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 94 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 5.00" / 127 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

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

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 85,000 shp / 63,410 Kw = 30.27 kts
Range 12,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 4,030 tons

Complement:
794 - 1,033

Cost:
£8.131 million / $32.524 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 639 tons, 3.4 %
Armour: 3,921 tons, 21.1 %
- Belts: 1,054 tons, 5.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 708 tons, 3.8 %
- Armour Deck: 2,114 tons, 11.4 %
- Conning Tower: 45 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,300 tons, 12.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,336 tons, 44.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,167 tons, 17.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 200 tons, 1.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
34,993 lbs / 15,873 Kg = 89.9 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 3.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
Metacentric height 4.6 ft / 1.4 m
Roll period: 15.7 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.88
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.33

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.527
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.38 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 29.87 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
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: 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Mid (70 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m (19.00 ft / 5.79 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Average freeboard: 24.22 ft / 7.38 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 69.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 195.2 %
Waterplane Area: 38,097 Square feet or 3,539 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 134 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 149 lbs/sq ft or 729 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.95
- Longitudinal: 1.68
- 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
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Class Names: Iron Duke, Edgar

Radar Equipment: Classified

Hmmmm. I can't say that I like this design. The armor seems too light in comparison to the main battery (the turret armor is particularly light), the secondary battery is weak (with only 4 barrels at most bearing on any target), and the speed is low. But then, they're pretty similar to the Princess Royals, which I'm not fond of either, so I suppose I shall be quiet. Probably the consequence of trying to fit 4 triple 9.2" turrets into a smallish hull.

What?! Edgar?! Don't you mean Edmund "The Black Adder" Plantagenet, Duke of Edinburgh, Laird of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles, Lord Warden of the Royal Privies and Archbishop of Canterbury??

Quoted

Hmmmm. I can't say that I like this design. The armor seems too light in comparison to the main battery (the turret armor is particularly light), the secondary battery is weak (with only 4 barrels at most bearing on any target), and the speed is low. But then, they're pretty similar to the Princess Royals, which I'm not fond of either, so I suppose I shall be quiet. Probably the consequence of trying to fit 4 triple 9.2" turrets into a smallish hull.

I agree with you regarding its lesser points, but despite those points I still like it.

I like the drawing.

If only she had twins - for higher ROF and better protection....

Is this better, 1-2in more on turret face and sides, 2ft higher belt? It's not fast but packing twelve 9.2in guns each blasting out a 510lb shell I think most older CAs and CLs would steer clear. Working with light carriers as part of a task force they will be very powerful and much more flexible.

Iron Duke Class, Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1939

Displacement:
15,753 t light; 16,681 t standard; 18,562 t normal; 20,067 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
675.29 ft / 670.00 ft x 80.00 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
205.83 m / 204.22 m x 24.38 m x 7.01 m

Armament:
12 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (4x3 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (4x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all aft
12 - 2.24" / 57.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 6.00lbs / 2.72kg shells, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
48 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (8x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 6,559 lbs / 2,975 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 410.00 ft / 124.97 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 94 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 4.00" / 102 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

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

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 85,000 shp / 63,410 Kw = 30.27 kts
Range 10,000nm at 16.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 3,386 tons

Complement:
794 - 1,033

Cost:
£8.204 million / $32.815 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 639 tons, 3.4 %
Armour: 4,255 tons, 22.9 %
- Belts: 1,264 tons, 6.8 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 831 tons, 4.5 %
- Armour Deck: 2,114 tons, 11.4 %
- Conning Tower: 45 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,300 tons, 12.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,360 tons, 45.0 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,809 tons, 15.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 200 tons, 1.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
34,641 lbs / 15,713 Kg = 89.0 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 3.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
Metacentric height 4.4 ft / 1.3 m
Roll period: 16.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.89
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.32

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.527
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.38 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 29.87 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
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: 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Mid (70 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m (19.00 ft / 5.79 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Average freeboard: 24.22 ft / 7.38 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 69.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 195.2 %
Waterplane Area: 38,097 Square feet or 3,539 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 131 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 150 lbs/sq ft or 731 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.94
- Longitudinal: 1.67
- 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
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Class Names: Iron Duke, Edgar

Radar Equipment: Classified

Armor is better, still very comparable to late Treaty period CA armor. The secondary battery remains weak, and the positioning of the two mounts per side so close together is also problematic. With the lower than standard speed, most Treaty CAs will be able to steer clear. How does this ships speed compare with your CVLs?

Another revised design, better armour, extra 4.5in guns etc.
Hrolf, the speed of my light carriers is 30kts.


Iron Duke Class, Great Britain Heavy Cruiser laid down 1939

Displacement:
16,359 t light; 17,305 t standard; 18,562 t normal; 19,568 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
675.29 ft / 670.00 ft x 80.00 ft x 23.00 ft (normal load)
205.83 m / 204.22 m x 24.38 m x 7.01 m

Armament:
12 - 9.20" / 234 mm guns (4x3 guns), 510.00lbs / 231.33kg shells, 1936 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 4.50" / 114 mm guns (6x2 guns), 45.00lbs / 20.41kg shells, 1935 Model
Dual purpose 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, 1935 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
48 - 0.66" / 16.8 mm guns (8x6 guns), 0.14lbs / 0.06kg shells, 1935 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
Weight of broadside 6,739 lbs / 3,057 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 24.5" / 622.3 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 6.00" / 152 mm 420.00 ft / 128.02 m 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 96 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 6.00" / 152 mm 6.00" / 152 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

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

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 85,000 shp / 63,410 Kw = 30.27 kts
Range 12,000nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,263 tons

Complement:
794 - 1,033

Cost:
£8.439 million / $33.754 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 662 tons, 3.6 %
Armour: 4,673 tons, 25.2 %
- Belts: 1,289 tons, 6.9 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 1,224 tons, 6.6 %
- Armour Deck: 2,114 tons, 11.4 %
- Conning Tower: 45 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,300 tons, 12.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,525 tons, 45.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,203 tons, 11.9 %
Miscellaneous weights: 200 tons, 1.1 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
34,535 lbs / 15,665 Kg = 88.7 x 9.2 " / 234 mm shells or 3.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.15
Metacentric height 4.6 ft / 1.4 m
Roll period: 15.6 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.79
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.28

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has rise forward of midbreak
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.527
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.38 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 29.87 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 53 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 42
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: 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Mid (70 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m (19.00 ft / 5.79 m aft of break)
- Quarterdeck (20 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Stern: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Average freeboard: 24.22 ft / 7.38 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 70.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 195.2 %
Waterplane Area: 38,097 Square feet or 3,539 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 126 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 153 lbs/sq ft or 746 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.94
- Longitudinal: 1.64
- 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

Class Names: Iron Duke, Edgar

Radar Equipment: Classified