WesWorld

Ok, the theory here is that a Raider or a ship to catcher raiders would need to be fast and be able to take punishment from any know round, but would not need huge guns to deal with the most likely raiders or escort vessels (cruisers and below). These three designs have different main batteries to see which one fits better. The upper armor is to protect the torpedo banks (3 x 5 tube banks on each side) which would be this ship's primary weapon against capital ships only. If they aren't going for a torpedo run on a capital ship, the heavy doors are shut. I might want to make the ship faster, but I don't agree with the "Speed is Armor" group. "Speed is Speed. Armor is Armor". You can't outrun a bullet (or an airplane).

Farscape (Project name):

Chilean Heavy Cruiser laid down 1933

Displacement:
22,407 t light; 23,162 t standard; 25,610 t normal; 27,466 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
723.00 ft / 680.00 ft x 90.75 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
220.37 m / 207.26 m x 27.66 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
8 - 8.27" / 210 mm guns (4x2 guns), 282.57lbs / 128.17kg shells, 1933 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 4.30" / 109 mm guns in single mounts, 39.75lbs / 18.03kg shells, 1933 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
22 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (11x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1933 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 5 raised mounts
10 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1933 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 2,772 lbs / 1,257 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
30 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 15.3" / 387 mm 345.00 ft / 105.16 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Upper: 15.3" / 387 mm 95.00 ft / 28.96 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Main Belt covers 78 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.50" / 38 mm 345.00 ft / 105.16 m 23.00 ft / 7.01 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 15.3" / 387 mm 15.3" / 387 mm 15.3" / 387 mm
2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm - -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.25" / 6 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 16.00" / 406 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Direct drive, 4 shafts, 132,218 shp / 98,635 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 6,000nm at 20.00 kts (Bunkerage = 4,406 tons)

Complement:
1,011 - 1,315

Cost:
£7.633 million / $30.532 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 347 tons, 1.4 %
Armour: 8,672 tons, 33.9 %
- Belts: 3,071 tons, 12.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 440 tons, 1.7 %
- Armament: 2,296 tons, 9.0 %
- Armour Deck: 2,564 tons, 10.0 %
- Conning Tower: 300 tons, 1.2 %
Machinery: 3,853 tons, 15.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,437 tons, 36.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,202 tons, 12.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
37,679 lbs / 17,091 Kg = 133.3 x 8.3 " / 210 mm shells or 5.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.01
Metacentric height 4.4 ft / 1.3 m
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.25
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.04

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.581
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.49 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.18 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 67
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 45.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 37.00 ft / 11.28 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Mid (50 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Stern: 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Average freeboard: 25.85 ft / 7.88 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 78.0 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 144.2 %
Waterplane Area: 46,191 Square feet or 4,291 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 133 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 145 lbs/sq ft or 706 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.00
- Longitudinal: 1.46
- Overall: 1.03
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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chilean Heavy Cruiser laid down 1933

Displacement:
22,346 t light; 23,162 t standard; 25,610 t normal; 27,466 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
725.00 ft / 680.00 ft x 90.75 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
220.98 m / 207.26 m x 27.66 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
6 - 10.00" / 254 mm guns (2x3 guns), 500.00lbs / 226.80kg shells, 1933 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread
12 - 4.30" / 109 mm guns in single mounts, 39.75lbs / 18.03kg shells, 1933 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
22 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (11x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1933 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 5 raised mounts
10 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1933 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 3,512 lbs / 1,593 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
30 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 15.3" / 387 mm 360.00 ft / 109.73 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Upper: 15.3" / 387 mm 95.00 ft / 28.96 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Main Belt covers 81 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.50" / 38 mm 360.00 ft / 109.73 m 23.00 ft / 7.01 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 15.3" / 387 mm 15.3" / 387 mm 15.3" / 387 mm
2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm - -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.25" / 6 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 16.00" / 406 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Direct drive, 4 shafts, 132,218 shp / 98,635 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 6,000nm at 20.00 kts (Bunkerage = 4,406 tons)

Complement:
1,011 - 1,315

Cost:
£7.990 million / $31.960 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 439 tons, 1.7 %
Armour: 8,197 tons, 32.0 %
- Belts: 3,143 tons, 12.3 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 460 tons, 1.8 %
- Armament: 1,730 tons, 6.8 %
- Armour Deck: 2,564 tons, 10.0 %
- Conning Tower: 300 tons, 1.2 %
Machinery: 3,853 tons, 15.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,757 tons, 38.1 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,264 tons, 12.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
38,585 lbs / 17,502 Kg = 77.2 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 5.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
Metacentric height 5.2 ft / 1.6 m
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.26
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.12

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.581
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.49 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.18 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 62
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 45.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 39.00 ft / 11.89 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
- Mid (50 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Stern: 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Average freeboard: 26.88 ft / 8.19 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 81.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 149.8 %
Waterplane Area: 46,191 Square feet or 4,291 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 131 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 148 lbs/sq ft or 723 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.00
- Longitudinal: 1.67
- Overall: 1.05
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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chilean Heavy Cruiser laid down 1933

Displacement:
22,388 t light; 23,162 t standard; 25,610 t normal; 27,466 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
723.50 ft / 680.00 ft x 90.75 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
220.52 m / 207.26 m x 27.66 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
6 - 9.40" / 239 mm guns (3x2 guns), 415.29lbs / 188.37kg shells, 1933 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
12 - 4.30" / 109 mm guns in single mounts, 39.75lbs / 18.03kg shells, 1933 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
22 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (11x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1933 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 5 raised mounts
10 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1933 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 3,003 lbs / 1,362 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
30 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 15.3" / 387 mm 349.50 ft / 106.53 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Upper: 15.3" / 387 mm 95.00 ft / 28.96 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Main Belt covers 79 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.50" / 38 mm 349.50 ft / 106.53 m 23.00 ft / 7.01 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 15.3" / 387 mm 15.3" / 387 mm 15.3" / 387 mm
2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm - -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.25" / 6 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 16.00" / 406 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Direct drive, 4 shafts, 132,218 shp / 98,635 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 6,000nm at 20.00 kts (Bunkerage = 4,406 tons)

Complement:
1,011 - 1,315

Cost:
£7.745 million / $30.979 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 375 tons, 1.5 %
Armour: 8,447 tons, 33.0 %
- Belts: 3,093 tons, 12.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 446 tons, 1.7 %
- Armament: 2,044 tons, 8.0 %
- Armour Deck: 2,564 tons, 10.0 %
- Conning Tower: 300 tons, 1.2 %
Machinery: 3,853 tons, 15.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,613 tons, 37.5 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,222 tons, 12.6 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
38,661 lbs / 17,536 Kg = 93.1 x 9.4 " / 239 mm shells or 5.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.05
Metacentric height 4.8 ft / 1.5 m
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.26
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.09

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.581
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.49 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.18 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 64
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 45.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 37.50 ft / 11.43 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 28.50 ft / 8.69 m
- Mid (50 %): 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Stern: 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Average freeboard: 26.62 ft / 8.11 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 79.0 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 149.1 %
Waterplane Area: 46,191 Square feet or 4,291 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 133 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 146 lbs/sq ft or 715 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.00
- Longitudinal: 1.57
- Overall: 1.04
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

Jeez, and I thought that HoOmAn's Hertog class Battlecruisers were lightly armed with 8x280mm guns on more or less the same displacement.

She's a bit strange but Italy can easily brush off the challenge with this;







PS. Its a submarine that flies.

I'd go with the 10" armed version.

RA - does that puppy count against Treaty tonnage limits? :-P

Quoted

RA - does that puppy count against Treaty tonnage limits? :-P

Better question...
Would it even work?

Quoted

Jeez, and I thought that HoOmAn's Hertog class Battlecruisers were lightly armed with 8x280mm guns on more or less the same displacement.

It is not a Battlecruiser exactly. More of a Heavy Cruiser with way too much armor for a cruiser (hense the large size and displacement). Designed to either hunt raiders, or be a raider, depending on the situation. It might require a different designation.

Quoted

I'd go with the 10" armed version.

I was thinking of going with the 10 inch version as well. My only problem with it is its lack of turrets. While they are armored heavily, there are only two of them. If one fails, I loose half my firepower. I'd rather have three turrets, twins likely, but they would have to be all at freeboard level to keep what seakeeping she has now. As you shall see....

Project: Farscape

Chilean Heavy Cruiser laid down 1933

Displacement:
22,346 t light; 23,162 t standard; 25,610 t normal; 27,466 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
723.50 ft / 680.00 ft x 90.75 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
220.52 m / 207.26 m x 27.66 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
6 - 10.00" / 254 mm guns (3x2 guns), 500.00lbs / 226.80kg shells, 1933 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline, evenly spread
Aft Main mounts separated by engine room
12 - 4.30" / 109 mm guns in single mounts, 39.75lbs / 18.03kg shells, 1933 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
22 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (11x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1933 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 5 raised mounts
10 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1933 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 3,512 lbs / 1,593 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
30 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 15.3" / 387 mm 360.00 ft / 109.73 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Upper: 15.3" / 387 mm 95.00 ft / 28.96 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Main Belt covers 81 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.50" / 38 mm 360.00 ft / 109.73 m 23.00 ft / 7.01 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 15.3" / 387 mm 15.3" / 387 mm 15.3" / 387 mm
2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm - -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.25" / 6 mm - -

- Armour deck: 3.00" / 76 mm, Conning tower: 16.00" / 406 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Direct drive, 4 shafts, 132,218 shp / 98,635 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 6,000nm at 20.00 kts (Bunkerage = 4,406 tons)

Complement:
1,011 - 1,315

Cost:
£7.990 million / $31.960 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 439 tons, 1.7 %
Armour: 8,458 tons, 33.0 %
- Belts: 3,143 tons, 12.3 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 460 tons, 1.8 %
- Armament: 1,991 tons, 7.8 %
- Armour Deck: 2,564 tons, 10.0 %
- Conning Tower: 300 tons, 1.2 %
Machinery: 3,853 tons, 15.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,496 tons, 37.1 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,264 tons, 12.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
37,094 lbs / 16,825 Kg = 74.2 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 5.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.07
Metacentric height 5.0 ft / 1.5 m
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.26
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.07

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.581
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.49 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.18 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 66
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 45.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 37.50 ft / 11.43 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 27.50 ft / 8.38 m
- Mid (50 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Stern: 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Average freeboard: 25.70 ft / 7.83 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 81.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 143.3 %
Waterplane Area: 46,191 Square feet or 4,291 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 130 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 146 lbs/sq ft or 712 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.00
- Longitudinal: 1.52
- Overall: 1.04
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

Quoted

RA - does that puppy count against Treaty tonnage limits? :-P

Guess it depends how you look at it.
If it is a plane that can act as a submarine, then it should be considered to be a plane.
If it is a submarine that can act as a plane, then it should be considered to be a submarine.
:-)

Quoted

Better question...
Would it even work?

Who knows? Man has gone to the moon and back. Surely a plane that can act as a submarine should be possible then.

387mm belt armor -> wow
406mm CT armor -> wo-wow

...but 76mm deck armor?!?!

And no, I´m not going to argue on the design as a whole. No, I surely won´t. ;o)

Has Awott come back to haunt us? This design is simply too large to be taken seriously ( by me at least).
Chile would bankrupt themselves building their latest designs.

I would go with the 10" version as well.

But a couple of points:

1) If the torpedos are going to be her main weapon against capital ships, they'll need to be able to reach out to capital ship ranges, which are well beyond 20,000 yards. With 1933 technology, 21" won't do it. They'll need to be much bigger.

2) What will you do if you encounter a battleship or a Hood/Invincible? Launch a spread of big torpedos and run at 32 knots. In this case, what good will over 15" of belt armor do you? On the other hand, against battleship fire at long range, will 3" of deck armor be enough?

I would cut the belt back to about 9", enough to repel 10-11" fire, and put on enough deck armor to resist battleship fire at over >20,000 yards, which will be quite a lot. I would also cut back the armor on the forward turret and add it to the deck. The forward turret won't be the one taking battleship fire.

This way, you'll be able to survive lucky hits long enough to escape, or until the torpedo bombers get you.

And that's the real problem with the big, fast surface raider strategy. Long-range patrol aircraft will find you, track you, call in heavy units to converge on you from several directions, and then watch while the big guys do you in. The fast, heavily-armed surface raider just isn't a high-payoff strategy any more.

I have to admit it'd be a fascinating design to see tested in a wargame of some kind.

I guess with a ship this size, you would need battleship-scale armor to get the job done, because you'd be attracting capital ship ordnance. Adm K is correct to point out that the deck armor is questionable, though I think you'd want all your guns forward so you can pop away at the target or its escorts as you head in.

As a raider, it's got the dual problems that it's big enough to real stand out - no subterfuge possible - and also big enough to be as much "hunted" as "hunter".

The other issue may be one of numbers - if you're dealing with one raider, you'll need a few of these defenders to station at all the possible places it may show up.

If India's Akbar were to be attacked by Farscape, I expect Akbar would lead her on a long pursuit. With a closing speed of just four knots, it would take an hour or more for Farscape to get in range to volley off the torps. An hour is a long time to let Akbar try and drop a 35 cm shell in your boiler rooms (or, better yet, through the deck into a torpedo carriage).

Attacking Farscape is not an option if Farscape chooses to run - but again, if she runs and she's inside Akbar's range, it'll still take a while to get out of range. Even if Akbar's unable to actually engage, she can still herd Farscape towards a submarine or land-based air or destroyer flotilla.

Food for thought.

Interesting. This is an experiment to see what would be needed to either be a good raider or defeat a good raider (I'm leaning towards the latter myself). All I'm basing my theories on are real life ships that were used as raiders.

What is the idea deck armor to defeat 15 inch gunfire?

My belt is as thick as it is on these ships based on the notion that no ship in the world will be built with anything larger than a 15 inch gun as long at the treaty holds.

I doubt Chile would invest in building this type of vessel give the proposed Tylor and Oyama -classes already on the drawing boards. But this is the sort of ship the nations of this world might see from a smaller nation (such as interwar Germany) that invests in raiders due to lack of ability to build a new battleline. I looked at the 1929 Deutschland (Armoured Cruiser) "Pocket Battleship" design and designed a much larger ship (with lesser guns) to defeat it (as someone in 1933 might want to do). The concept is, higher speed, better armor, and big enough guns to do the job against cruisers. The torpedoes are for bigger targets the 10 inch guns can't handle.

This is the compromise ship based on some of the responces. I've increased the deck armor by 2 inches and reduced all the 15.25 inch armor down to 10 inches (or less for parts of the turrets). I've also rearranged the guns. All 10 inch guns are forward and the secondaries (now 5.9 inch) are aft. The torpedoes are listed as 24 inch.

Project: Farscape

Chilean Heavy Cruiser laid down 1933

Displacement:
22,335 t light; 23,162 t standard; 25,610 t normal; 27,466 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
724.00 ft / 680.00 ft x 90.75 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
220.68 m / 207.26 m x 27.66 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
6 - 10.00" / 254 mm guns (2x3 guns), 500.00lbs / 226.80kg shells, 1933 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
6 - 5.90" / 150 mm guns (2x3 guns), 102.69lbs / 46.58kg shells, 1933 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline, all aft, 1 raised mount - superfiring
22 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (11x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1933 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 5 raised mounts
10 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1933 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 3,651 lbs / 1,656 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
30 - 24.0" / 609.6 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 360.50 ft / 109.88 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Upper: 10.0" / 254 mm 95.00 ft / 28.96 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Main Belt covers 82 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.50" / 38 mm 360.50 ft / 109.88 m 23.00 ft / 7.01 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 8.00" / 203 mm 10.0" / 254 mm
2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 5.00" / 127 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.25" / 6 mm - -

- Armour deck: 5.00" / 127 mm, Conning tower: 10.00" / 254 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Direct drive, 4 shafts, 132,218 shp / 98,635 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 6,000nm at 20.00 kts (Bunkerage = 4,406 tons)

Complement:
1,011 - 1,315

Cost:
£8.057 million / $32.228 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 456 tons, 1.8 %
Armour: 8,164 tons, 31.9 %
- Belts: 2,063 tons, 8.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 460 tons, 1.8 %
- Armament: 1,181 tons, 4.6 %
- Armour Deck: 4,273 tons, 16.7 %
- Conning Tower: 188 tons, 0.7 %
Machinery: 3,853 tons, 15.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,861 tons, 38.5 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,275 tons, 12.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
37,553 lbs / 17,034 Kg = 75.1 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 5.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.10
Metacentric height 5.2 ft / 1.6 m
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.31
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.10

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.581
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.49 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.18 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 64
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 45.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
- Mid (50 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Stern: 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Average freeboard: 25.88 ft / 7.89 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 81.6 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 121.8 %
Waterplane Area: 46,191 Square feet or 4,291 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 131 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 151 lbs/sq ft or 738 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.00
- Longitudinal: 1.67
- Overall: 1.06
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

Fundamentally, I think you're trying to merge two different missions into a single design and it isn't necessarily giving you the best output.

A raider needs to be fast with long legs. Its armament needs to be capable of either overwhelming a typical escort vessel or holding off whatever it can't out run - depends on how aggressively the ship is handled. Placement of the armament will also depend on how the ship is to be handled - heavy forward if aggressively, heavy aft if conservative.

And since a raider needs to be expendable, it needs to be fairly small and economic. After all, it's preying on merchant ships and running from anything with a gun. So a light cruiser might be more effective than a capital ship. Since the merchant victims can be boarded and scuttled, the torpedoes are best kept aft to fire at any would-be pursuers. Speed actually is armor, to a degree.

A raider-catcher needs to be something meaner than whatever raider it's supposed to sink. As fast or faster, better armed, better protected. Armament should be heavy forward to reflect the aggressive mission. I don't think a huge torpedo armament is worth the effort - you'll spend a lot of time chasing, which is not ideal for torpedo usage. Think Dunkerque, which really isn't much bigger than this puppy.

Alternately, of course, you can take the swarm approach for raider management and build enough lighter ships that they can encircle and wear down a raider. Think Exeter, Ajax and Achilles.

Farscape's problem is that she's too big to be an expendable raider, and not mean enough to be a raider-catcher.

Addressing your specific design, 5" is probably good against 15" for the most part. It'll certainly handle anything from a coastal defence armorclad of any kind.

Adding enough miscellaneous weight for two or more floatplanes would be wise. You'll find enemy raiders quicker, and in the raiding role, will know of enemy defenders before the first pattern of tall splashes erupt around you.

As to pocket battleships, we had a discussion at length about them some time ago. It's in the Ship Design area, called, "Panzerschiffe", on page seven. Might be of interest to you.

You're correct that a smaller navy needs to be innovative to make up for its lack of strength. Bear in mind, though, that the smaller navy doesn't have the capacity to get away with too many specialized or unusual designs either.

Hopefully this isn't sounding like heaps of criticism, 'cause I am actually trying to be helpful. Honest!

An interesting read. Aside that this ship is huge, it would work in the role of the "Panzerschiffe".

I'd rather have the vessel protected against 15 inch fire instead of 6 or 8 inch fire, as battleships and battlecruisers are getting fast in Wesworld. With the Inflexibles coming online this year, Hood will no longer be the biggest ship in the world I imagine. I also suspect that someone else has a bigger and nastier ship that the Hood. (the Kii comes the mind for some reason).

This ship would need a longer range to be a raider, but I'd rather it be a raider hunter. (all main guns forward). The originals heavy armor and speed would be if it ran into something it couldn't sink with gunfire (Scharnhorst, if we continue using German vessels as examples of modern raiders). The hope (a limited quantiy in some cases) would be to use this ship's (superior?) protection and speed to get close to the larger raider and attempt to sink it with torpedoes. With the reduction of the belt armor to 10 inches that might not be possible anymore.

Of course the true raider killer would be a decent carrier task group...but such things don't quite exist yet.

Who knows...by 1933 Chile could be building aircraft carriers instead of cruisers. It depends on what happens in the next eight years.

Here is this Project's vessel with the lastest recommended changes (not the ones influenced by the "Panzerschiffe" thread).

Project: Farscape

Chilean Heavy Cruiser laid down 1933

Displacement:
22,643 t light; 23,477 t standard; 25,950 t normal; 27,825 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
724.00 ft / 680.00 ft x 90.75 ft x 25.00 ft (normal load)
220.68 m / 207.26 m x 27.66 m x 7.62 m

Armament:
6 - 10.00" / 254 mm guns (2x3 guns), 500.00lbs / 226.80kg shells, 1933 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline, all forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
6 - 5.90" / 150 mm guns (2x3 guns), 102.69lbs / 46.58kg shells, 1933 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline, all aft, 1 raised mount - superfiring
22 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (11x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1933 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 5 raised mounts
10 - 0.50" / 12.7 mm guns in single mounts, 0.06lbs / 0.03kg shells, 1933 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 8 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 3,651 lbs / 1,656 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
30 - 24.0" / 609.6 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 365.50 ft / 111.40 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Upper: 10.0" / 254 mm 95.00 ft / 28.96 m 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Main Belt covers 83 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.50" / 38 mm 365.50 ft / 111.40 m 23.00 ft / 7.01 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 10.0" / 254 mm 8.00" / 203 mm 10.0" / 254 mm
2nd: 5.00" / 127 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 5.00" / 127 mm
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -
4th: 0.25" / 6 mm - -

- Armour deck: 5.00" / 127 mm, Conning tower: 10.00" / 254 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Direct drive, 4 shafts, 133,864 shp / 99,863 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 6,000nm at 20.00 kts (Bunkerage = 4,451 tons)

Complement:
1,021 - 1,328

Cost:
£8.140 million / $32.560 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 456 tons, 1.8 %
Armour: 8,221 tons, 31.7 %
- Belts: 2,079 tons, 8.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 467 tons, 1.8 %
- Armament: 1,181 tons, 4.6 %
- Armour Deck: 4,304 tons, 16.6 %
- Conning Tower: 189 tons, 0.7 %
Machinery: 3,900 tons, 15.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 9,816 tons, 37.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,307 tons, 12.7 %
Miscellaneous weights: 250 tons, 1.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
37,223 lbs / 16,884 Kg = 74.4 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 5.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
Metacentric height 5.1 ft / 1.5 m
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 71 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.32
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.09

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.589
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.49 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.16 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 59 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 65
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 45.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
- Mid (50 %): 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Stern: 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
- Average freeboard: 25.88 ft / 7.89 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 82.6 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 121.5 %
Waterplane Area: 46,534 Square feet or 4,323 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 130 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 150 lbs/sq ft or 730 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.00
- Longitudinal: 1.64
- Overall: 1.05
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

Remember, you can go below 1.00 cross-sectional if necessary, as long as the overall strength remains 1.00 or greater.

Build this instead; it actually has a chance against capital ships. Or build a 35knt battlecruiser.


Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1927

Displacement:
21,832 t light; 23,132 t standard; 24,845 t normal; 26,216 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
675.99 ft / 656.17 ft x 93.50 ft x 26.25 ft (normal load)
206.04 m / 200.00 m x 28.50 m x 8.00 m

Armament:
6 - 15.00" / 381 mm guns (3x2 guns), 1,687.50lbs / 765.44kg shells, 1927 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, majority forward, 1 raised mount - superfiring
12 - 5.12" / 130 mm guns (6x2 guns), 67.03lbs / 30.40kg shells, 1927 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on side, evenly spread
12 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (6x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1927 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 10,948 lbs / 4,966 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 130

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 9.45" / 240 mm 429.66 ft / 130.96 m 11.61 ft / 3.54 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 101 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.18" / 30 mm 429.66 ft / 130.96 m 23.92 ft / 7.29 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 9.45" / 240 mm 5.91" / 150 mm 8.27" / 210 mm
2nd: 0.79" / 20 mm 0.39" / 10 mm 0.79" / 20 mm

- Armour deck: 3.74" / 95 mm, Conning tower: 2.76" / 70 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 87,959 shp / 65,617 Kw = 29.04 kts
Range 4,000nm at 20.00 kts (Bunkerage = 3,085 tons)

Complement:
989 - 1,286

Cost:
£8.372 million / $33.489 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 1,368 tons, 5.5 %
Armour: 7,076 tons, 28.5 %
- Belts: 2,031 tons, 8.2 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 449 tons, 1.8 %
- Armament: 1,490 tons, 6.0 %
- Armour Deck: 3,055 tons, 12.3 %
- Conning Tower: 51 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 2,776 tons, 11.2 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 10,511 tons, 42.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 3,014 tons, 12.1 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
26,538 lbs / 12,037 Kg = 15.7 x 15.0 " / 381 mm shells or 3.6 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
Metacentric height 6.0 ft / 1.8 m
Roll period: 16.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 53 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.55
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.00

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.540
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.02 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 29.96 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 55 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 53
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 6.56 ft / 2.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 22.97 ft / 7.00 m
- Forecastle (17 %): 20.67 ft / 6.30 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Quarterdeck (17 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Stern: 19.69 ft / 6.00 m
- Average freeboard: 20.17 ft / 6.15 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 100.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 169.5 %
Waterplane Area: 44,153 Square feet or 4,102 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 105 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 177 lbs/sq ft or 864 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.96
- Longitudinal: 1.41
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

There is an interesting example of a cruiser-killer in the 1935 Russian Project X.
Some specs:
17,350 tons
766' length, 76' beam, 22' draft
Armament:
12 - 9.45"/50 (24cm) guns (4x3)
12 - 5.1"/50 (13cm) guns (6x2)
6 - 45mm/46 AA guns (6x1)
6 - 21" TT (2x3)
Aircraft: 9 seaplanes
Small craft: 2 "Bloha" semi-submersible MTB's
Armor: main belt: 4.53"; deck: 2.95"
12 hi-pressure boilers, turbo-electric propulsion, 3 shafts, 230,500 shp max
38 kts full speed, 25 kts economical speed

It was intended to operate in remote areas and attack & destroy Washingto Treaty heavy cruisers.

Not as fast but better armoured

Capitan Oyama

Chilean Heavy Armoured Cruiser laid down 1931

Displacement:
21,407 t light; 22,348 t standard; 24,000 t normal; 25,225 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
700.00 ft / 690.00 ft x 95.00 ft x 28.00 ft (normal load)
213.36 m / 210.31 m x 28.96 m x 8.53 m

Armament:
12 - 10.00" / 254 mm guns (4x3 guns), 500.00lbs / 226.80kg shells, 1931 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 4.30" / 109 mm guns in single mounts, 39.75lbs / 18.03kg shells, 1931 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
20 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (10x2 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1931 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 6 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 6,508 lbs / 2,952 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 125

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 8.33" / 212 mm 424.00 ft / 129.24 m 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 95 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
1.25" / 32 mm 424.00 ft / 129.24 m 20.00 ft / 6.10 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 8.33" / 212 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 8.33" / 212 mm
2nd: 5.50" / 140 mm 4.00" / 102 mm -
3rd: 0.50" / 13 mm - -

- Armour deck: 4.00" / 102 mm, Conning tower: 8.33" / 212 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Direct drive, 4 shafts, 117,710 shp / 87,812 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 8,000nm at 15.00 kts (Bunkerage = 2,973 tons)

Complement:
963 - 1,253

Cost:
£8.402 million / $33.607 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 813 tons, 3.4 %
Armour: 6,907 tons, 28.8 %
- Belts: 1,527 tons, 6.4 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 392 tons, 1.6 %
- Armament: 1,604 tons, 6.7 %
- Armour Deck: 3,235 tons, 13.5 %
- Conning Tower: 150 tons, 0.6 %
Machinery: 3,520 tons, 14.7 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 10,066 tons, 41.9 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,593 tons, 10.8 %
Miscellaneous weights: 100 tons, 0.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
27,207 lbs / 12,341 Kg = 54.4 x 10.0 " / 254 mm shells or 4.0 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.06
Metacentric height 5.2 ft / 1.6 m
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.40
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.06

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.458
Length to Beam Ratio: 7.26 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.98 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 56 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 66
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 11.98 degrees
Stern overhang: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 33.00 ft / 10.06 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (50 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Stern: 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Average freeboard: 21.85 ft / 6.66 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 94.4 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 178.9 %
Waterplane Area: 43,717 Square feet or 4,061 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 117 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 165 lbs/sq ft or 805 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.00
- Longitudinal: 1.52
- Overall: 1.04
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

This will eat our heavy cruisers for an appetizer, and will do in El Cid handily.

Quoted

Originally posted by AdmKuznetsov
This will eat our heavy cruisers for an appetizer, and will do in El Cid handily.

Probably, not sure on El Cid - or anything else that is at least similar in size.

For a fifth rate navy such a vessel would still be a waste of resources I think.

Why not build a small 25000ts BB with probably 8x35cm and ~27kn instead? Such a vessel would easily be able to handle anything short of any other modern capital ship. It could even take on those BBs around that are of WW1-vintage. Couldn´t catch cruisers, sure, but whereever it is no enemy cruiser could be....

Anyway, I´m not an chilean naval designer...

The thing is, Chile has no hope of even keeping up with "established" battleship nations, and remember, they already have two DNs, so a force of "Panzerschiffen" and BCs is a reasonable alternative.