WesWorld

I've previously posted CL and CVE designs, this time I'll have them specifically tailored for the Siamese Navy. They will both be based on the hull of the same dimensions and same machinery, and displace 6000 t standard. It seems like that Siam is in AEGIS, so I'll be using some Italian weaponry along with some proposed new weaponry.


Bangkok, Siam Light Cruiser laid down 1938

Displacement:
5,644 t light; 6,000 t standard; 6,974 t normal; 7,754 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(533.61 ft / 524.93 ft) x 52.49 ft x (17.72 / 19.15 ft)
(162.64 m / 160.00 m) x 16.00 m x (5.40 / 5.84 m)

Armament:
8 - 5.91" / 150 mm 60.0 cal guns - 110.23lbs / 50.00kg shells, 200 per gun
Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1938 Model
2 x Quad mounts on centreline, forward deck forward
1 raised mount - superfiring
12 - 3.94" / 100.0 mm 65.0 cal guns - 33.07lbs / 15.00kg shells, 400 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1938 Model
6 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
2 raised mounts
24 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 60.0 cal guns - 2.12lbs / 0.96kg shells, 1,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1938 Model
6 x Quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
4 raised mounts
12 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm 80.0 cal guns - 0.28lbs / 0.13kg shells, 1,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1938 Model
12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 1,333 lbs / 605 kg
Main Torpedoes
8 - 23.6" / 600 mm, 29.53 ft / 9.00 m torpedoes - 2.402 t each, 19.214 t total
In 2 sets of deck mounted carriage/fixed tubes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 2.95" / 75 mm 344.49 ft / 105.00 m 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 101% of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 2.95" / 75 mm 1.97" / 50 mm 2.95" / 75 mm
2nd: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 0.98" / 25 mm
3rd: 0.79" / 20 mm - -
4th: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

- Armoured deck - multiple decks:
For and Aft decks: 1.97" / 50 mm
Forecastle: 0.98" / 25 mm Quarter deck: 0.98" / 25 mm

- Conning towers: Forward 2.95" / 75 mm, Aft 0.98" / 25 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 47,639 shp / 35,539 Kw = 30.00 kts
Range 9,360nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,754 tons

Complement:
381 - 496

Cost:
£3.133 million / $12.530 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 453 tons, 6.5%
- Guns: 429 tons, 6.2%
- Weapons: 24 tons, 0.3%
Armour: 1,202 tons, 17.2%
- Belts: 343 tons, 4.9%
- Armament: 193 tons, 2.8%
- Armour Deck: 636 tons, 9.1%
- Conning Towers: 31 tons, 0.4%
Machinery: 1,304 tons, 18.7%
Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,644 tons, 37.9%
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,330 tons, 19.1%
Miscellaneous weights: 40 tons, 0.6%
- Above deck: 40 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
9,933 lbs / 4,506 Kg = 96.5 x 5.9 " / 150 mm shells or 0.9 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
Metacentric height 2.2 ft / 0.7 m
Roll period: 14.7 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 58 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.58
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.15

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: 10.00 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 26.15 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 15.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 1.64 ft / 0.50 m
Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
Fore end, Aft end
- Forecastle: 20.00%, 26.25 ft / 8.00 m, 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Forward deck: 30.00%, 19.69 ft / 6.00 m, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Aft deck: 35.00%, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Quarter deck: 15.00%, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Average freeboard: 18.08 ft / 5.51 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 85.5%
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 159.8%
Waterplane Area: 19,093 Square feet or 1,774 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 126%
Structure weight / hull surface area: 94 lbs/sq ft or 459 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



Bangkok, Siam Escort Carrier laid down 1938

Displacement:
5,752 t light; 6,000 t standard; 6,974 t normal; 7,754 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(533.61 ft / 524.93 ft) x 52.49 ft x (17.72 / 19.15 ft)
(162.64 m / 160.00 m) x 16.00 m x (5.40 / 5.84 m)

Armament:
8 - 3.94" / 100.0 mm 65.0 cal guns - 33.07lbs / 15.00kg shells, 400 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1938 Model
4 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
4 raised mounts
24 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 60.0 cal guns - 2.12lbs / 0.96kg shells, 1,600 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1938 Model
6 x Quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
6 raised mounts
16 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm 80.0 cal guns - 0.29lbs / 0.13kg shells, 1,600 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1938 Model
8 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 320 lbs / 145 kg

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 1.97" / 50 mm 344.49 ft / 105.00 m 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 101% of normal length
Main Belt inclined 15.00 degrees (positive = in)

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 0.98" / 25 mm
2nd: 0.79" / 20 mm - -
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

- Armoured deck - single deck:
For and Aft decks: 1.57" / 40 mm
Forecastle: 1.57" / 40 mm Quarter deck: 1.57" / 40 mm

- Conning towers: Forward 1.97" / 50 mm, Aft 0.98" / 25 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 47,639 shp / 35,539 Kw = 30.00 kts
Range 9,360nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,754 tons

Complement:
381 - 496

Cost:
£2.407 million / $9.630 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 109 tons, 1.6%
- Guns: 109 tons, 1.6%
Armour: 848 tons, 12.2%
- Belts: 228 tons, 3.3%
- Armament: 36 tons, 0.5%
- Armour Deck: 561 tons, 8.0%
- Conning Towers: 23 tons, 0.3%
Machinery: 1,304 tons, 18.7%
Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,341 tons, 33.6%
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,222 tons, 17.5%
Miscellaneous weights: 1,150 tons, 16.5%
- Hull above water: 300 tons
- On freeboard deck: 600 tons
- Above deck: 250 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
11,642 lbs / 5,281 Kg = 381.6 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 1.9 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
Metacentric height 2.3 ft / 0.7 m
Roll period: 14.7 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 54 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.15
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.20

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: 10.00 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 26.15 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 45
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 15.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 1.64 ft / 0.50 m
Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
Fore end, Aft end
- Forecastle: 20.00%, 26.25 ft / 8.00 m, 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Forward deck: 30.00%, 19.69 ft / 6.00 m, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Aft deck: 35.00%, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Quarter deck: 15.00%, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m, 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Average freeboard: 18.08 ft / 5.51 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 73.1%
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 163.8%
Waterplane Area: 19,093 Square feet or 1,774 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 139%
Structure weight / hull surface area: 79 lbs/sq ft or 384 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.37
- Overall: 1.00
Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Excellent accommodation and workspace room
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily


-Still think that an airgroup of 24 is possible

24 biplanes of world war one vintage probably.... :o)

Even as a floatplane carrier she will be stressed to operate that many planes. Expecially with all the other stuff on her. Have you tried to draw her to get an idea of hangar size etc.? Where will you place workshops, crewquarters, magazines, spareparts?

All those guns eat up a lot of deckspace, need many crews, add top weight....

Quoted

Originally posted by HoOmAn
24 biplanes of world war one vintage probably.... :o)

Even as a floatplane carrier she will be stressed to operate that many planes. Expecially with all the other stuff on her. Have you tried to draw her to get an idea of hangar size etc.? Where will you place workshops, crewquarters, magazines, spareparts?

All those guns eat up a lot of deckspace, need many crews, add top weight....

No, I have not tried to draw her. I don't possess the expertise to do that yet.

However, using the rules here the size I can handle is 160 x 16 / 70 = 36.6, that's far more than 24 that I stated. I also have 1150 tons of total misc weight for aircraft operations. That should be enough for what I stated too.

Well, you have been told that these "rules" do not apply well on small designs. Springsharp, good as it is, has its limits. That´s one of the things you need to accept. SS offers a guideline but is not true sience.

It´s always good to compare your designs to historical ones.

Can you name me one historical design of 6k ts that could operate that many planes? You may also want to list floatplane carriers.

Whaaaaat, the forum ate some of my posts!

Fortunately, I saved *one* of them...

Quoted

Originally posted by HoOmAn
Why not add floatplane carriers as well? The French had at least one comparable in capability and the Americans operated some large ones too. As did the Japanese, IIRC....

- FS Commandant Teste: 26 floatplanes, 10,000 tonnes standard, 167x27m, 20.5 knots.
- RAN HMAS Albatross: 4,800 tons (standard), 433.7x78', 6 planes, 23 knots.
- IJN Nisshin, 11320 tons, 188x20m, 20 floatplanes, 28 knots.
- USN Curtiss-class, 527x69', 20 knots, no info on planes.
- USN Currituck-class: 14,000 tons.
- USN Barnegat-class: 2,750 tons, looks like a DDE with cranes.

I believe the USN generally used its seaplane ships as seaplane tenders rather than seaplane carriers. For instance, for the Mars flying boats. So the USN ships have pretty minor carrying capacity in exchange for major repair and refit facilities. (For this reason, we used a lot of converted merchantmen of the C3 type, such as the Chandeleur-class.)

I also had a post showing the dimensions, tonnage, and airgroup of all small aircraft carriers, but that appears to have been lost. I must re-write it.

lol, the forum also ate some of my posts.

Anyways, I can boost the beam to 18m and still maintain roughly 6000 t standard.

Bangkok, Siam Escort Carrier laid down 1938

Displacement:
5,895 t light; 6,139 t standard; 6,947 t normal; 7,593 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)
(510.64 ft / 501.97 ft) x 59.06 ft x (16.40 / 17.51 ft)
(155.64 m / 153.00 m) x 18.00 m x (5.00 / 5.34 m)

Armament:
8 - 3.94" / 100.0 mm 65.0 cal guns - 33.07lbs / 15.00kg shells, 400 per gun
Dual purpose guns in deck and hoist mounts, 1938 Model
4 x Twin mounts on sides, evenly spread
4 raised mounts
24 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 60.0 cal guns - 2.12lbs / 0.96kg shells, 1,600 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1938 Model
6 x Quad mounts on sides, evenly spread
6 raised mounts
12 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm 80.0 cal guns - 0.28lbs / 0.13kg shells, 1,000 per gun
Anti-air guns in deck mounts, 1938 Model
12 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread
12 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 319 lbs / 145 kg

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 1.97" / 50 mm 328.08 ft / 100.00 m 9.02 ft / 2.75 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 101% of normal length
Main Belt inclined 15.00 degrees (positive = in)

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.97" / 50 mm 0.98" / 25 mm 0.98" / 25 mm
2nd: 0.79" / 20 mm - -
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -

- Armoured deck - single deck:
For and Aft decks: 1.57" / 40 mm
Forecastle: 1.57" / 40 mm Quarter deck: 1.57" / 40 mm

- Conning towers: Forward 1.97" / 50 mm, Aft 0.98" / 25 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 48,700 shp / 36,330 Kw = 30.00 kts
Range 7,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,454 tons

Complement:
379 - 494

Cost:
£2.457 million / $9.828 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 108 tons, 1.6%
- Guns: 108 tons, 1.6%
Armour: 908 tons, 13.1%
- Belts: 244 tons, 3.5%
- Armament: 38 tons, 0.5%
- Armour Deck: 603 tons, 8.7%
- Conning Towers: 23 tons, 0.3%
Machinery: 1,334 tons, 19.2%
Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,395 tons, 34.5%
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,052 tons, 15.1%
Miscellaneous weights: 1,150 tons, 16.6%
- Hull above water: 300 tons
- On freeboard deck: 600 tons
- Above deck: 250 tons

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
12,214 lbs / 5,540 Kg = 400.3 x 3.9 " / 100 mm shells or 2.0 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.19
Metacentric height 3.1 ft / 0.9 m
Roll period: 14.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 52 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.10
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.03

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck,
a normal bow and large transom stern
Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.500 / 0.512
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.50 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 25.90 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 15.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 1.64 ft / 0.50 m
Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):
Fore end, Aft end
- Forecastle: 20.00%, 26.25 ft / 8.00 m, 20.18 ft / 6.15 m
- Forward deck: 30.00%, 20.18 ft / 6.15 m, 15.75 ft / 4.80 m
- Aft deck: 35.00%, 15.75 ft / 4.80 m, 15.75 ft / 4.80 m
- Quarter deck: 15.00%, 15.75 ft / 4.80 m, 15.75 ft / 4.80 m
- Average freeboard: 17.78 ft / 5.42 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 74.6%
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 173.1%
Waterplane Area: 20,539 Square feet or 1,908 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 135%
Structure weight / hull surface area: 82 lbs/sq ft or 399 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.36
- Overall: 1.00
Excellent machinery, storage, compartmentation space
Excellent accommodation and workspace room



However, I'd still like to use the cruiser hull I have before if possible. Yes, aircraft handling will not be ideal, but I'm still hoping that it can still give some of those capabilities to an acceptable level.

Incidentally, the Italian Condottieri I cruiser/aircraft carrier here in Wesworld is similiar to my previous design. Although I'm not sure how much aircrafts she carries after refit, I managed to get almost 50% more misc weight onto my design, so I should be able to get a much larger airgroup.

Going back to one of my disappeared posts, I was noting that there are only two historical aircraft carriers of under 8,000 tons: Casablanca-class (7,800 tons) and Hosho (7,450 tons). Compared to this design, Hosho comes the closest, being 2 meters wider on the beam and 5 meters longer, operating 27 Jean torpedo planes. She was also limited to 25 knots.

Casablanca is a bit shorter, but substantially more beamy.

I'd be interested to see what this design's overall beam is, rather than the waterline beam Springsharp presents.

Edit: the new design came in ahead of this post.

Quoted

Incidentally, the Italian Condottieri I cruiser/aircraft carrier here in Wesworld is similiar to my previous design. Although I'm not sure how much aircrafts she carries after refit, I managed to get almost 50% more misc weight onto my design, so I should be able to get a much larger airgroup.

They came from having some fairly poor light cruisers available. With some reasonably cheap modifications they turned into aircraft carriers capable of carrying fighters (no storage for bombs). Looks like space for 12 from the drawing I did though that's probably still too many.

However, there is no design stretch. Building such a small carrier means you're limited to small planes and not very many of them. If naval airpower is needed, something larger is needed. Probably around 15,000tons to give decent capability. Does Siam need an aircraft carrier for typical operations? I wouldn't really think so. I'd prefer some decent land based air instead.

I'm not too keen on the cruiser either. It's very slow and armour isn't that great either. Quadruple turrets, both forwards and with limited beam is rather asking for trouble. I think you're better off with the guns in duples.

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral

They came from having some fairly poor light cruisers available. With some reasonably cheap modifications they turned into aircraft carriers capable of carrying fighters (no storage for bombs). Looks like space for 12 from the drawing I did though that's probably still too many.

However, there is no design stretch. Building such a small carrier means you're limited to small planes and not very many of them. If naval airpower is needed, something larger is needed. Probably around 15,000tons to give decent capability. Does Siam need an aircraft carrier for typical operations? I wouldn't really think so. I'd prefer some decent land based air instead.

How about after the refit she had in 1935?

I still think that Siam would want a slightly larger successor to the previous aircraft carrier she built and sold to China.

Quoted

Originally posted by Red AdmiralI'm not too keen on the cruiser either. It's very slow and armour isn't that great either. Quadruple turrets, both forwards and with limited beam is rather asking for trouble. I think you're better off with the guns in duples.

I should first state that this cruiser is meant as a second rate cruiser.

Yes, I agree she's slow for a cruiser. However, considering that she can operate in less open seas near Siam where friendly ports are plenty and available nearby, I'm not too worried as she can retreat in the face of what she can be outfighted. But yes, this cruiser is more designed for ground support and other secondary roles where speed is not the essence.

Regardiing her armor, I believe it's good enough for her size, while regarding her quad mounts, yes they might be a problem, but I believe not to severe or else my stability and recoil (which I can improve further by more trimming) will stink.

To my mind, Siam has no need for a carrier, while it does have a rather large need for at least 1 solid first-class CL (it has a number of older CLs that can handle the roles you're describing.). Siam also could use some modern DDs, preferably ones that were built after 1930.......

I would tend to agree, but I would think you need destroyers first, just because your fastest destroyer is 30 knots.

Quoted

How about after the refit she had in 1935?

I still think that Siam would want a slightly larger successor to the previous aircraft carrier she built and sold to China.

There's still not that much space available on the ship. I can't see many more than a dozen aircraft being operated.

I think a large successor is needed as well (if Siam is best served by having a carrier?), in which case I'd go to 15,000tons+

Quoted

Regardiing her armor, I believe it's good enough for her size, while regarding her quad mounts, yes they might be a problem, but I believe not to severe or else my stability and recoil (which I can improve further by more trimming) will stink.

The quad mounts are probably a bit much, especially if designed and built in Siam. If going for a second rate cruiser, might as well put 203mm guns on her and drop the speed a bit more. I think some large destroyers might be a better investment though.

Siam can affort second rate cruisers? I thought they would need all resources to get at least some first line units... But that´s probably just me.

It may sound harsh but your overall strategy seems flawed to me.

"Yes, I agree she's slow for a cruiser. However, considering that she can operate in less open seas near Siam where friendly ports are plenty and available nearby, I'm not too worried as she can retreat in the face of what she can outfight. But yes, this cruiser is more designed for ground support and other secondary roles where speed is not the essence."

Seems like you´re looking for a CDS instead of a cruiser. If the ship is not meant to operate in the open sea but should provide fire power for ground forces, why not choose to build a monitor instead? (Btw, what ground forces?)

There may be friendly ports plenty and nearby - but those most likely have no infrastructure to serve a modern warship. In fact, the ship might not even be capable to enter those small fishery harbours. Also, when retreated to a port the ship just sits in a death trap and will be mauled. Except, of course, you have massive investment put into fortification of your coast, build some kind of Atlantic Wall with massive firepower backup by large caliber guns. Otherwise a harbour means no protection, no safety for an inferior warship in the face of superior forces.

Btw, if speed is not essential I propose to reduce her to 18 knots - enough to sheppard merchants and run down submarines but low enough to save a lot of weight and room within her hull.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
To my mind, Siam has no need for a carrier, while it does have a rather large need for at least 1 solid first-class CL (it has a number of older CLs that can handle the roles you're describing.). Siam also could use some modern DDs, preferably ones that were built after 1930.......

Will post designs for those later.

Quoted

Originally posted by HoOmAn
Siam can affort second rate cruisers? I thought they would need all resources to get at least some first line units... But that´s probably just me.

It may sound harsh but your overall strategy seems flawed to me.

"Yes, I agree she's slow for a cruiser. However, considering that she can operate in less open seas near Siam where friendly ports are plenty and available nearby, I'm not too worried as she can retreat in the face of what she can outfight. But yes, this cruiser is more designed for ground support and other secondary roles where speed is not the essence."

Seems like you´re looking for a CDS instead of a cruiser. If the ship is not meant to operate in the open sea but should provide fire power for ground forces, why not choose to build a monitor instead? (Btw, what ground forces?)

There may be friendly ports plenty and nearby - but those most likely have no infrastructure to serve a modern warship. In fact, the ship might not even be capable to enter those small fishery harbours. Also, when retreated to a port the ship just sits in a death trap and will be mauled. Except, of course, you have massive investment put into fortification of your coast, build some kind of Atlantic Wall with massive firepower backup by large caliber guns. Otherwise a harbour means no protection, no safety for an inferior warship in the face of superior forces.

Btw, if speed is not essential I propose to reduce her to 18 knots - enough to sheppard merchants and run down submarines but low enough to save a lot of weight and room within her hull.

Hmmm... you have many good points. Perhaps I should really work for a first rate 10000 t cruiser for Siam.

You would have to foreign build it, you have 2 type 1 slips, and 8,000 tons of material a year. Best you can do is a destroyer.

Quoted

Originally posted by TexanCowboy
You would have to foreign build it, you have 2 type 1 slips, and 8,000 tons of material a year. Best you can do is a destroyer.

Yes, currently hoping the Italians are willing to build a Lombardia class cruiser tailored to Siamese needs, so basing my designs on that.

Did anyone actually approve you to play Siam?

Quoted

Originally posted by TexanCowboy
Did anyone actually approve you to play Siam?

Nope, so it's all proposals only. :p