WesWorld

Capital Ships

The final pair of Montana class battleships completes this year, therefore USS Texas will be placed in reserve pending a final decision to either scrap her, or sell her to her home state. Future battleship designs that are being considered are smaller, one option being considered is a 32 knot 9x16in design able to work with carrier task forces the USN is forming. Another option is to build two additional Alaska Class Large Armored Cruisers once the current pair are completed. In any case, the USN carrier forces for the next 7 years are likely to be based around two carriers, and 2-4 capital ships whether they be Montana Class battleships, Alaska Class Large Armored Cruisers, Lexington Class battlecruisers, Tennessee Class battleships or New Mexico Class battleships.

Aircraft Carriers

The first Essex Class carrier will be nearing completion at the end of the upcoming fiscal year, and the second the year after therefore the USN is looking at a potential sucessor. The basis for the design is the Essex Class carrier but slightly larger and able to carry 96 aircraft.

Design shown below.

USS Ticonderoga, United States Aircraft Carrier laid down 1945

Displacement:
32,210 t light; 33,113 t standard; 36,707 t normal; 39,583 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
901.74 ft / 850.00 ft x 93.00 ft x 27.50 ft (normal load)
274.85 m / 259.08 m x 28.35 m x 8.38 m

Armament:
8 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (4x2 guns), 55.18lbs / 25.03kg shells, 1945 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns in single mounts, 55.18lbs / 25.03kg shells, 1945 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
48 - 1.50" / 38.1 mm guns (6x8 guns), 1.70lbs / 0.77kg shells, 1945 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
48 - 0.75" / 19.1 mm guns (6x8 guns), 0.25lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1945 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 756 lbs / 343 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 350

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 4.00" / 102 mm 535.28 ft / 163.15 m 11.57 ft / 3.53 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 97 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
2.75" / 70 mm 535.28 ft / 163.15 m 26.18 ft / 7.98 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
2nd: 3.00" / 76 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
3rd: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -
4th: 1.00" / 25 mm 0.50" / 13 mm -

- Armour deck: 2.50" / 64 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 172,118 shp / 128,400 Kw = 33.00 kts
Range 15,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 6,470 tons

Complement:
1,325 - 1,723

Cost:
£12.603 million / $50.413 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 105 tons, 0.3 %
Armour: 5,406 tons, 14.7 %
- Belts: 1,049 tons, 2.9 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 1,426 tons, 3.9 %
- Armament: 96 tons, 0.3 %
- Armour Deck: 2,763 tons, 7.5 %
- Conning Tower: 71 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 4,346 tons, 11.8 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 11,153 tons, 30.4 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 4,498 tons, 12.3 %
Miscellaneous weights: 11,200 tons, 30.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
59,729 lbs / 27,092 Kg = 955.7 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 8.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.09
Metacentric height 5.2 ft / 1.6 m
Roll period: 17.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 65 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.06
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.44

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.591
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.14 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 33.18 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 45
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 30.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
- Forecastle (30 %): 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
- Mid (50 %): 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
- Stern: 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Average freeboard: 28.55 ft / 8.70 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 95.3 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 249.1 %
Waterplane Area: 59,740 Square feet or 5,550 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 140 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 128 lbs/sq ft or 626 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.98
- Longitudinal: 1.11
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

96 aircraft carried

Heavy Cruisers

With the second pair of Los Angeles class cruisers nearing completion, the Navy Department has begun work on an improved pair to be laid down in 1945. Chief among the improvements is replacement of the 8"/55 Mark 15 with the new 8"/55RF Mark 16. Preliminary design study shown below.

Also, the next pair of Northampton class cruisers begins their life-extension refit.

Philadelphia, United States Heavy Cruiser laid down 1945

Displacement:
18,763 t light; 19,638 t standard; 21,441 t normal; 22,883 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
728.78 ft / 720.00 ft x 84.00 ft x 24.00 ft (normal load)
222.13 m / 219.46 m x 25.60 m x 7.32 m

Armament:
12 - 8.00" / 203 mm guns (4x3 guns), 335.00lbs / 151.95kg shells, 1945 Model
Automatic rapid fire guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (6x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1945 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, all raised mounts - superfiring
4 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (2x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1945 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts
40 - 1.50" / 38.1 mm guns (10x4 guns), 1.69lbs / 0.77kg shells, 1945 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
52 - 0.75" / 19.1 mm guns (26x2 guns), 0.21lbs / 0.10kg shells, 1945 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 18 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 5,099 lbs / 2,313 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
12 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 438.48 ft / 133.65 m 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 94 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 3.00" / 76 mm 6.30" / 160 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 2.00" / 51 mm
3rd: 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm 2.00" / 51 mm

- Armour deck: 4.00" / 102 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 118,765 shp / 88,598 Kw = 32.50 kts
Range 10,500nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 3,245 tons

Complement:
885 - 1,151

Cost:
£10.895 million / $43.579 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 596 tons, 2.8 %
Armour: 5,759 tons, 26.9 %
- Belts: 1,649 tons, 7.7 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 959 tons, 4.5 %
- Armour Deck: 3,151 tons, 14.7 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 2,999 tons, 14.0 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 8,609 tons, 40.2 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,678 tons, 12.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 800 tons, 3.7 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
34,317 lbs / 15,566 Kg = 134.1 x 8.0 " / 203 mm shells or 3.4 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.08
Metacentric height 4.5 ft / 1.4 m
Roll period: 16.7 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 68 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.52
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.14

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.517
Length to Beam Ratio: 8.57 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 30.94 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 60
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 7.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 4.36 ft / 1.33 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 36.00 ft / 10.97 m
- Forecastle (21 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (50 %): 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
- Quarterdeck (18 %): 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
- Stern: 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Average freeboard: 23.08 ft / 7.03 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 71.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 169.9 %
Waterplane Area: 42,580 Square feet or 3,956 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 124 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 141 lbs/sq ft or 690 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.97
- Longitudinal: 1.28
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Notes

600t for automated rapid fire 8in
200t for other stuff

Light Cruisers

With the final pair of Olympia Class cruisers beginning construction this fiscal year, the USN begins development of a new class of cruiser. Tentatively named the Worcester Class, these will replace the outgoing Columbia class cruisers which are to be sold to the Mexican Navy. Preliminary design shown below.

USS Worchester, United States Light Cruiser laid down 1944

Displacement:
12,139 t light; 12,773 t standard; 14,377 t normal; 15,660 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
648.57 ft / 640.00 ft x 65.00 ft x 24.00 ft (normal load)
197.69 m / 195.07 m x 19.81 m x 7.32 m

Armament:
12 - 6.00" / 152 mm guns (6x2 guns), 130.00lbs / 58.97kg shells, 1944 Model
Automatic rapid fire guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 3.00" / 76.2 mm guns (12x2 guns), 15.00lbs / 6.80kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships, 6 raised mounts - superfiring
12 - 1.50" / 38.1 mm guns (6x2 guns), 1.69lbs / 0.77kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
12 - 0.75" / 19.1 mm guns (6x2 guns), 0.21lbs / 0.10kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 3 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 1,943 lbs / 881 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 300

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 5.00" / 127 mm 416.00 ft / 126.80 m 10.09 ft / 3.08 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 8.00" / 203 mm 4.00" / 102 mm 5.00" / 127 mm
2nd: 2.00" / 51 mm 1.00" / 25 mm -

- Armour deck: 2.25" / 57 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 100,000 shp / 74,600 Kw = 32.92 kts
Range 12,000nm at 15.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,888 tons

Complement:
656 - 853

Cost:
£6.607 million / $26.427 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 238 tons, 1.7 %
Armour: 2,883 tons, 20.1 %
- Belts: 875 tons, 6.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 804 tons, 5.6 %
- Armour Deck: 1,204 tons, 8.4 %
- Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0.0 %
Machinery: 2,554 tons, 17.8 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 5,864 tons, 40.8 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,238 tons, 15.6 %
Miscellaneous weights: 600 tons, 4.2 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
24,078 lbs / 10,922 Kg = 222.9 x 6.0 " / 152 mm shells or 2.5 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.03
Metacentric height 2.8 ft / 0.8 m
Roll period: 16.4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 85 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.66
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.70

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.504
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.85 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 28.89 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: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Mid (50 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Stern: 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Average freeboard: 27.40 ft / 8.35 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 77.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 226.8 %
Waterplane Area: 28,931 Square feet or 2,688 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 137 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 109 lbs/sq ft or 533 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.90
- Longitudinal: 2.59
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is excellent
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather

210t for automated firing equipment
390t for other stuff.

Refits

The New Mexico Class was not fitted with radar upon completion of their refit. Therefore, the USN has decided to give these ships a final radar refit and improved AA gun armament before these three ships are retired in 1949.

USS New Mexico, United States Battleship laid down 1915 (Engine 1934)

Displacement:
28,879 t light; 30,638 t standard; 31,749 t normal; 32,638 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
624.00 ft / 600.00 ft x 97.50 ft (Bulges 106.00 ft) x 28.00 ft (normal load)
190.20 m / 182.88 m x 29.72 m (Bulges 32.31 m) x 8.53 m

Armament:
12 - 14.00" / 356 mm guns (4x3 guns), 1,575.00lbs / 714.41kg shells, 1915 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
16 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (8x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1934 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
32 - 1.50" / 38.1 mm guns (8x4 guns), 1.69lbs / 0.77kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on centreline, all amidships, 4 raised mounts - superfiring
8 - 1.50" / 38.1 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1.69lbs / 0.77kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on centreline ends, evenly spread, all raised mounts - superfiring
48 - 0.75" / 19.1 mm guns (12x4 guns), 0.21lbs / 0.10kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 6 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 19,978 lbs / 9,062 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 100

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 13.5" / 343 mm 353.00 ft / 107.59 m 11.82 ft / 3.60 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 91 % of normal length

- Torpedo Bulkhead and Bulges:
3.00" / 76 mm 313.63 ft / 95.59 m 27.63 ft / 8.42 m

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 18.0" / 457 mm 5.00" / 127 mm 13.0" / 330 mm
2nd: 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm 1.00" / 25 mm

- Armour deck: 5.50" / 140 mm, Conning tower: 16.00" / 406 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Electric motors, 2 shafts, 37,009 shp / 27,609 Kw = 21.00 kts
Range 10,000nm at 10.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,999 tons

Complement:
1,189 - 1,546

Cost:
£4.366 million / $17.464 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2,193 tons, 6.9 %
Armour: 11,744 tons, 37.0 %
- Belts: 2,541 tons, 8.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 962 tons, 3.0 %
- Armament: 3,444 tons, 10.8 %
- Armour Deck: 4,452 tons, 14.0 %
- Conning Tower: 346 tons, 1.1 %
Machinery: 1,065 tons, 3.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 13,728 tons, 43.2 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2,870 tons, 9.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 150 tons, 0.5 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
50,903 lbs / 23,089 Kg = 37.1 x 14.0 " / 356 mm shells or 9.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.13
Metacentric height 6.0 ft / 1.8 m
Roll period: 18.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 59 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.87
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.47

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has a flush deck
Block coefficient: 0.624
Length to Beam Ratio: 5.66 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 24.49 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 40
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 45.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Forecastle (22 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Mid (60 %): 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
- Quarterdeck (40 %): 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
- Stern: 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
- Average freeboard: 20.82 ft / 6.35 m
Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 80.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 168.2 %
Waterplane Area: 43,753 Square feet or 4,065 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 101 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 224 lbs/sq ft or 1,096 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.93
- Longitudinal: 1.77
- 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

Breakdown of Misc Weight

20t for Air Search Radar
20t for Sea Search Radar

Improvements made to class:
-fitting of radar
-replacement of 1.1in with 1.5in
-additional 1.5in added fore/aft as well as 0.75in added.

Cost for refit - 1444t