WesWorld

Thought I would try and design an Anti-Air Cruiser for the Brazilian navy. Just a design study. lighter than Atlanta, comparable 5 in armament.

Patagonia, Empire of Brazil Light Cruiser laid down 1944

Displacement:
4,679 t light; 4,890 t standard; 6,000 t normal; 6,888 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
470.00 ft / 470.00 ft x 50.00 ft x 20.00 ft (normal load)
143.26 m / 143.26 m x 15.24 m x 6.10 m

Armament:
16 - 5.00" / 127 mm guns (8x2 guns), 62.50lbs / 28.35kg shells, 1944 Model
Dual purpose guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 5 raised mounts - superfiring
24 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (6x4 guns), 1.95lbs / 0.89kg shells, 1944 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships
20 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1944 Model
Quick firing guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 1,052 lbs / 477 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 150
8 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 0.50" / 13 mm 258.50 ft / 78.79 m 8.49 ft / 2.59 m
Ends: 0.50" / 13 mm 211.48 ft / 64.46 m 8.49 ft / 2.59 m
Upper: 0.50" / 13 mm 258.50 ft / 78.79 m 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Main Belt covers 85 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

- Torpedo Bulkhead:
2.00" / 51 mm 258.50 ft / 78.79 m 15.59 ft / 4.75 m

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

- Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 3 shafts, 51,368 shp / 38,321 Kw = 30.00 kts
Range 4,600nm at 23.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,999 tons

Complement:
340 - 443

Cost:
£3.080 million / $12.320 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 131 tons, 2.2 %
Armour: 849 tons, 14.1 %
- Belts: 125 tons, 2.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 298 tons, 5.0 %
- Armament: 128 tons, 2.1 %
- Armour Deck: 277 tons, 4.6 %
- Conning Tower: 21 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 1,312 tons, 21.9 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,307 tons, 38.4 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,321 tons, 22.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 80 tons, 1.3 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
8,389 lbs / 3,805 Kg = 134.2 x 5.0 " / 127 mm shells or 1.6 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.21
Metacentric height 2.5 ft / 0.8 m
Roll period: 13.3 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 55 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.51
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.10

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
Block coefficient: 0.447
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.40 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 21.68 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 58 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 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 (20 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Mid (50 %): 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
- Quarterdeck (25 %): 13.00 ft / 3.96 m (16.00 ft / 4.88 m before break)
- Stern: 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
- Average freeboard: 17.52 ft / 5.34 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 149.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 116.0 %
Waterplane Area: 14,951 Square feet or 1,389 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 130 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 88 lbs/sq ft or 429 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.93
- Longitudinal: 1.85
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

Odd choice of names - Patagonia isn't anywhere near Brazil.

Regarding the ship itself, I see several places for improvement.
- I have my doubts that so many twin 5" guns can be placed on a hull so much significantly smaller than the historical Atlanta-class while still having room for other things. Putting them all on the centerline exacerbates the problem.
- Fifty feet of beam is way, way too little to fit a torpedo defense system, let alone one as hefty as a 2" underwater belt. Without having significant depth behind it, it does almost nothing; it may as well be wasted weight in this case.
- End and upper belts aren't very useful in most cases. I'd delete them and strengthen the main belt - or better yet, armour the hoists.
- Speed is low.
- I'd drop to two shafts for propulsion. Three shafts will probably cramp the internal arrangements too much.
- Miscellaneous weight is low.
- Ammunition storage for the main guns is minimal for a dual-purpose battery. I suggest raising the number of rounds per gun to at least five hundred.
- Switch the guns to mount-and-hoist, rather than turret-and-barbette, particularly since you don't have any armour for the barbettes.
- Brazil uses the 120mm dual-purpose semi-automatic gun, and the 37mm anti-aircraft gun. (You should also sim the 37mm and 20mm guns as 'anti-air' rather than 'quick-firing' guns: quick-firing guns are like the old late 1800s hand-loaded 57mm, 75mm, or 4" sized deck guns.)

In my personal opinion, a single flak cruiser, while it may be impressive, is generally less useful than a pair of destroyers.

Eight centreline turrets will not fit a ship this size and having eight barbettes cut into the strength decks will weaken the ship. Magazines will be cramped too. Mount and hoist is the best mount for this type of gun.
I agree with Brock's points on the armour and torpedo bulkhead. To be honest the armour on this design is so thin its not worth its weight. It's nothing more than splinter protection and the deck won't stop much either. I always prefer a 3in belt and 2in deck for light cruisers as a minimum.
Speed should be higher but realistically the hull is so cramped with those turrets its the best you will achieve. Better to have 4x2 or x2 5in and then boost speed to 33kts.

Overall not an impressive design but one that has potential to be a good all-round AACL and DD flotilla leader with the right armament and speed.

Well. I have made improvements thought up a better name. gave her more speed and reduced armament. she is also heavier. still less than Atlanta and it shows. I think it may be worthwhile to redesign from scratch. still I found it an interesting design challenge.

Amazon, Empire of Brazil Light Cruiser laid down 1944

Displacement:
5,078 t light; 5,381 t standard; 6,506 t normal; 7,407 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
475.00 ft / 475.00 ft x 48.00 ft x 20.30 ft (normal load)
144.78 m / 144.78 m x 14.63 m x 6.19 m

Armament:
10 - 4.72" / 120 mm guns (5x2 guns), 52.72lbs / 23.91kg shells, 1944 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, majority forward, 3 raised mounts - superfiring
32 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread
20 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 582 lbs / 264 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 500
4 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 2.40" / 61 mm 233.75 ft / 71.25 m 8.49 ft / 2.59 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Main Belt covers 76 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.00" / 25 mm - 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 1.00" / 25 mm - -
4th: 1.00" / 25 mm - -

- Armour deck: 1.00" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 2.00" / 51 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 76,047 shp / 56,731 Kw = 32.50 kts
Range 4,400nm at 23.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2,026 tons

Complement:
361 - 470

Cost:
£3.435 million / $13.742 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 73 tons, 1.1 %
Armour: 534 tons, 8.2 %
- Belts: 208 tons, 3.2 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 32 tons, 0.5 %
- Armour Deck: 279 tons, 4.3 %
- Conning Tower: 15 tons, 0.2 %
Machinery: 1,942 tons, 29.8 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,389 tons, 36.7 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,428 tons, 22.0 %
Miscellaneous weights: 140 tons, 2.2 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
6,975 lbs / 3,164 Kg = 132.3 x 4.7 " / 120 mm shells or 1.1 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.20
Metacentric height 2.3 ft / 0.7 m
Roll period: 13.2 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 66 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.37
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.20

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
Block coefficient: 0.492
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.90 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 21.79 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 63 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 55
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 24.40 ft / 7.44 m
- Mid (50 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Quarterdeck (25 %): 13.00 ft / 3.96 m (18.00 ft / 5.49 m before break)
- Stern: 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
- Average freeboard: 19.75 ft / 6.02 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 110.1 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 145.1 %
Waterplane Area: 15,081 Square feet or 1,401 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 127 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 81 lbs/sq ft or 397 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.90
- Longitudinal: 2.65
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

Better. Just one comment:

Quoted from "Alias72"

Armament:
10 - 4.72" / 120 mm guns (6 mounts), 52.72lbs / 23.91kg shells, 1944 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, evenly spread, 6 raised mounts - superfiring

Suggest you use five mounts with three raised (a la Dido-class).

that was a mistake. thanks for pointing it out.

Several things jump out immediately:

You have all the main guns in raised mounts; that is far too many - only six of them (three turrets worth) should be in raised mounts above the freeboard.

The ship should be fitted with a transom stern - this is a common feature for a high speed modern vessel - it saves on construction weight while giving the benefits of length. It ought to give you options so you can deal with other issues

The armor belt really needs to cover the engineering and other vital spaces, as a minimum. Adopting a transom stern will help with this.

She is very short legged for oceanic work. Shaving even a half-knot off her speed might help in this regard. My personal design philosophy favors most other elements over extreme speed; others here disagree. For me, it is far better to be able to maintain speed in a seaway than rely on "measured mile" speeds.

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

She is very short legged for oceanic work. Shaving even a half-knot off her speed might help in this regard. My personal design philosophy favors most other elements over extreme speed; others here disagree. For me, it is far better to be able to maintain speed in a seaway than rely on "measured mile" speeds.

I disagree. Over 22% of her displacement is tallied up for fuel, and that's an extremely high percentage for any ship that's not a tanker. Raising it even higher doesn't make much sense. 15-18% is more normal.

Oh I agree on the fuel percentage as being on the cusp. But I think adoption of a transom stern will help a bit in that regard; and now I see the 4400 nm range is predicated on a very high cruising speed - far higher than is likely for oceanic work.

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

Oh I agree on the fuel percentage as being on the cusp. But I think adoption of a transom stern will help a bit in that regard; and now I see the 4400 nm range is predicated on a very high cruising speed - far higher than is likely for oceanic work.

It is pretty high, yes, though it comes out to about 8,150nm at 18.00 knots.

I had a go at the design myself using my Brazilian design guide:

Quoted

Enter ship name, Enter country Enter ship type laid down 1944

Displacement:
5,200 t light; 5,503 t standard; 6,516 t normal; 7,326 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
485.55 ft / 475.72 ft x 47.90 ft x 20.34 ft (normal load)
148.00 m / 145.00 m x 14.60 m x 6.20 m

Armament:
10 - 4.72" / 120 mm guns (5x2 guns), 52.72lbs / 23.92kg shells, 1944 Model
Automatic rapid fire guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, majority forward, 3 raised mounts - superfiring
32 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, all amidships
20 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1944 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, all raised mounts
Weight of broadside 582 lbs / 264 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 500
4 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.57" / 40 mm 0.79" / 20 mm 0.79" / 20 mm
2nd: 0.98" / 25 mm 0.59" / 15 mm -
3rd: 0.59" / 15 mm - -

- Armour deck: 0.98" / 25 mm, Conning tower: 2.95" / 75 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 64,888 shp / 48,406 Kw = 32.50 kts
Range 8,150nm at 18.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,823 tons

Complement:
362 - 471

Cost:
£3.270 million / $13.081 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 86 tons, 1.3 %
Armour: 356 tons, 5.5 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 48 tons, 0.7 %
- Armour Deck: 285 tons, 4.4 %
- Conning Tower: 22 tons, 0.3 %
Machinery: 1,657 tons, 25.4 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,882 tons, 44.2 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,316 tons, 20.2 %
Miscellaneous weights: 220 tons, 3.4 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
8,652 lbs / 3,925 Kg = 164.1 x 4.7 " / 120 mm shells or 1.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.14
Metacentric height 2.1 ft / 0.6 m
Roll period: 13.8 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 59 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.38
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.19

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.492
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.93 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 24.93 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 62 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 20.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 24.40 ft / 7.44 m
- Mid (50 %): 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
- Quarterdeck (25 %): 13.00 ft / 3.96 m (20.00 ft / 6.10 m before break)
- Stern: 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
- Average freeboard: 20.00 ft / 6.10 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 98.7 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 153.7 %
Waterplane Area: 15,672 Square feet or 1,456 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 142 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 96 lbs/sq ft or 469 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 1.06
- Longitudinal: 3.27
- Overall: 1.19
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent

This Design challenge has helped me greatly. I agree with much of what you have said. there are a few things I want to point out.

Brazil's position in the Atlantic means that the ship does not need as much range as a ship serving in the pacific. there are a few islands that can be used as bases and it is improbable that Brazil can successfully conduct operations off the South African coast. therefore the ship needs to be able to reach Uraguya and the Nigerian Coast. that is about 15 degrees longitude difference (and at the equator) 4800 nmi gives us 70 degree range so 35 degree area of operations, at the equator. if operations cannot be successfully maintained off the Nigerian coast then there is no hope of operating off of South Africa regardless of our ability to reach that theater. If operations CAN be maintained off the Nigerian coast then bases there can be used to extend the range of the fleet to South Africa.

Fast speed is a new priority. Because of the superiority of OPFOR ships must be able to disengage quickly, as well as disperse making recon more difficult for potential opponents.

Amazon, Empire of Brazil Light Cruiser laid down 1944

Displacement:
5,056 t light; 5,353 t standard; 6,200 t normal; 6,878 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
475.00 ft / 475.00 ft x 48.00 ft x 20.30 ft (normal load)
144.78 m / 144.78 m x 14.63 m x 6.19 m

Armament:
10 - 4.72" / 120 mm guns (5x2 guns), 52.72lbs / 23.92kg shells, 1937 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, majority forward, 3 raised mounts - superfiring
32 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1942 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread
20 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1942 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 582 lbs / 264 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 500
8 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 8.31 ft / 2.53 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Upper: 1.00" / 25 mm 300.00 ft / 91.44 m 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Main Belt covers 152 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.50" / 38 mm - 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 1.00" / 25 mm - -
4th: 1.00" / 25 mm - -

- Armour deck: 1.60" / 41 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 58,394 shp / 43,562 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 4,800nm at 21.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,525 tons

Complement:
349 - 454

Cost:
£3.006 million / $12.023 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 73 tons, 1.2 %
Armour: 1,020 tons, 16.5 %
- Belts: 500 tons, 8.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 43 tons, 0.7 %
- Armour Deck: 455 tons, 7.3 %
- Conning Tower: 22 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 1,491 tons, 24.1 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,332 tons, 37.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,144 tons, 18.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 140 tons, 2.3 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
8,630 lbs / 3,914 Kg = 163.7 x 4.7 " / 120 mm shells or 1.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.11
Metacentric height 2.0 ft / 0.6 m
Roll period: 14.1 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.42
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.26

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.469
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.90 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 24.99 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 56
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 24.40 ft / 7.44 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Quarterdeck (25 %): 13.00 ft / 3.96 m (18.00 ft / 5.49 m before break)
- Stern: 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
- Average freeboard: 19.47 ft / 5.94 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 92.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 128.6 %
Waterplane Area: 15,355 Square feet or 1,427 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 131 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 80 lbs/sq ft or 393 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.90
- Longitudinal: 2.64
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily


This is an attempt by me to correct some deficiencies in the design. first I have made a slight increase in the range. 4800 which is my new benchmark, should be sufficient for the tactical landscape as I envision it. (I feel it is important to take a strong stance on design at the outset. I realize I am not in actual control.)

I applied a Transom stern, which helped greatly (Thanks). I also bumped up the cruise speed slightly. armor too.

Seems to be working out much better overall, I think.

You might want to consider using an angled bow; the straight stem is rather passé design wise for the mid 1940s. You might also want to consider the freeboard - the difference between the freeboard at the quarterdeck and the freeboard at the bow is very extreme - nearly 5 meters. That is a design factor that takes a while to dial in - it took me quite a while to do so.

Amazon, Empire of Brazil Light Cruiser laid down 1944

Displacement:
5,056 t light; 5,353 t standard; 6,200 t normal; 6,878 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
479.41 ft / 475.00 ft x 48.00 ft x 20.30 ft (normal load)
146.12 m / 144.78 m x 14.63 m x 6.19 m

Armament:
10 - 4.72" / 120 mm guns (5x2 guns), 52.72lbs / 23.92kg shells, 1937 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on centreline ends, majority forward, 3 raised mounts - superfiring
32 - 1.46" / 37.0 mm guns (8x4 guns), 1.55lbs / 0.70kg shells, 1942 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side ends, evenly spread
20 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1942 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 582 lbs / 264 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 500
8 - 21.0" / 533.4 mm above water torpedoes

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 3.00" / 76 mm 470.00 ft / 143.26 m 8.31 ft / 2.53 m
Ends: Unarmoured
Upper: 1.00" / 25 mm 300.00 ft / 91.44 m 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Main Belt covers 152 % of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 1.50" / 38 mm - 1.00" / 25 mm
3rd: 1.00" / 25 mm - -
4th: 1.00" / 25 mm - -

- Armour deck: 1.60" / 41 mm, Conning tower: 3.00" / 76 mm

Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 58,394 shp / 43,562 Kw = 32.00 kts
Range 4,800nm at 21.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 1,525 tons

Complement:
349 - 454

Cost:
£3.006 million / $12.023 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 73 tons, 1.2 %
Armour: 1,020 tons, 16.5 %
- Belts: 500 tons, 8.1 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 43 tons, 0.7 %
- Armour Deck: 455 tons, 7.3 %
- Conning Tower: 22 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 1,491 tons, 24.1 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,332 tons, 37.6 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,144 tons, 18.5 %
Miscellaneous weights: 140 tons, 2.3 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
8,572 lbs / 3,888 Kg = 162.6 x 4.7 " / 120 mm shells or 1.3 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.12
Metacentric height 2.1 ft / 0.6 m
Roll period: 14.0 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.40
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.30

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has low quarterdeck
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.469
Length to Beam Ratio: 9.90 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 24.99 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 61 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 54
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 10.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
- Forecastle (20 %): 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
- Mid (50 %): 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
- Quarterdeck (25 %): 16.40 ft / 5.00 m (18.00 ft / 5.49 m before break)
- Stern: 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
- Average freeboard: 19.79 ft / 6.03 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 92.2 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 126.2 %
Waterplane Area: 15,355 Square feet or 1,427 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 131 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 80 lbs/sq ft or 388 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.90
- Longitudinal: 2.73
- Overall: 1.00
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is excellent
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily


TADA! changed the freeboard and the bow. ships better as well.

The latest iteration looks much improved.

Great progress. Your getting the hang of this and I agree with your range/speed rationale. Argentina faces a similar situation but I have factored in more range lately because of the shortage of replenishment tankers and having war experience of commerce raiding, the loiter time at sea is invaluable. Plus I like to be able to escort convoys around the Horn. For Brazil you would need escorts to operate as far south as the Horn and as far north as the Caribbean/ Gulf of Mexico.

What about the panama canal and Argentinian ports? I know that becomes a political question with regards to the USA and Argentina. with those my ability to protect commerce is improved I can protect the canal and with Argentinian bases, the horn. considering the opponent in question is an enemy of argentina I expect their cooperation. If Argentina is an adversary then the horn becomes an impossible situation, and the canal becomes the only option.

Quoted from "Alias72"

What about the panama canal and Argentinian ports? I know that becomes a political question with regards to the USA and Argentina. with those my ability to protect commerce is improved I can protect the canal and with Argentinian bases, the horn. considering the opponent in question is an enemy of argentina I expect their cooperation. If Argentina is an adversary then the horn becomes an impossible situation, and the canal becomes the only option.

The Panama Canal is under Iberian control. The US controls the Mexican Canal.

thanks for that. now I have even more options!